Renee's Author Spotlight

About the Book

Larry Kavanaugh is an ordinary kind of guy. He’s got a nagging wife and two kids, both annoyingly gifted. No matter what he does, there is no end to what his family needs. What’s a regular, everyday guy to do? Well, he cuts a few corners, obviously – one very big corner. He sells his soul to the Devil.

Maybe it’s not the actual Devil, but Larry is ready to make a deal with one of the Devil’s minions. He meets some demon whose name he can’t remember. Funny, it was right on the tip of his tongue, a name of something you step on. Roach the Demon has sort of good intentions. He just wants a re-write of Dante’s Inferno with himself as the star.

Roach goes after Larry as a rogue operation. He needs to make a point to his boss, Satan, so he uses the body of a human to follow Larry around and stir up trouble. He offers Larry an airtight guarantee that nothing could possibly go wrong. After all, Larry does not feel like he has much to lose – or does he? Even Roach might be in over his head this time.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

Grace then started to recite Canto 5 of the Inferno, pausing often for questions and comments. Kathleen went back inside as dusk fell and the street lights went on.

She tried to imagine what it was like, a place where the wind blew at 5,400 miles per hour. Simply beyond her imagination. Yet Dante had come up with it, so many centuries ago.

Jeanine said, “It’s a real place.”

It was hardly the sort of place anyone would care to visit. The fact that it was 63 light years away did not make it any less real.

A real place.

That night, Kathleen managed to sleep without the help of a pill. But she dreamed of Larry, in the den, signing a contract with a man who looked and acted like a normal person. But was not. In the background, Jeanine was saying, “It’s a real place, Mom, just like Dante and Virgil said. It’s a real place.”

It’s real. Even though you can’t see or touch it. Or it’s in another dimension. Or 63 light years away. Or you can’t imagine it. It’s real, Mom.

It’s real.

Wednesday, 29 August 2018

Surrender Series: A #Romance #Novel #Series by Deanna Jewel

Deanna Jewel lives in the Pacific Northwest and has been writing multi-genre romance since 1991. She is married to a retired captain of the fire department. He’s also owned his own businesses for 28 years. They have two Siamese cats: Zoie and Sinbad, who keep them entertained. Deanna has enjoyed reading historical romance novels for over thirty years, gardening, and traveling.

She writes to draw the reader into the story to experience what the characters feel, to show both the hero's and heroine's points of view, and to take the reader away from their everyday stress to a place not yet visited.

A trip to Dubois, Wyoming, south of Yellowstone, inspired her time-travel novel. The landscape and town locations described in NEVER SURRENDER are real. Jon Daley, a professor at Boise State University, translated the Shoshone language that you will find in the book. This novel won an Honorable Mention in the 2008 Quill Awards at Writing.com and in 2016 won the Marie M. Irvine Literary Excellence Award.

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About the Books

Is it possible for souls to travel through time and reunite more than one hundred years later? Does the soul continually search until somehow, it finds the one true soul mate even through time? Anything is possible when one believes in soul reincarnation. A half-breed warrior has entered into Kate’s dream, in search of her as his soul mate and doesn’t let her rest until she is reunited in time with her true lover from a past life. Kate and Taima endure personality clashes, jealousy and shapeshifters before they understand what the Great Spirit has planned for them.

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Brandon wears an heirloom passed down to him from his father and grandfather. From the time he began wearing the emerald-studded ring, visions of a woman appeared in his dreams. For years, he’s been on the search for her so he can get on with his life…and hers. Is it possible to reconnect with a soul mate from a previous life? Once he finds his dream woman, he’ll soon find the answers he’s been seeking!

Kate and Brandon have just met, yet their souls have reconnected from a past life each of them must now learn more about. Kate’s previous dreams are becoming reality as she talks with Brandon about her dream-travel back in time. She can’t believe the resemblance that Brandon has to the man in her dream-travel, nor the romantic feelings she has toward a man she’s never met.

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Keep reading for an excerpt from Never Surrender:

Keeping his gaze trained ahead of him, Taima strode past a group of giggling young girls, wishing Ahanu would catch up with him. He needed to talk with Sakima and inform him of Kate’s presence and why she was here, though the older man had probably seen her arrival in one of his visions. Sakima’s knowledge always seemed to astound Taima. For one individual to know so much of what the spirit gods sent their way proved fact enough that Sakima was their chosen shaman.

He sat cross-legged before a fire, wrapped in a buffalo hide. Wise beyond his fifty summers, Sakima’s dark eyes met Taima’s. Their gazes never broke as Taima sat across from him at the fire, next to Ahanu. The three sat in silence for a long time.

“You are troubled, my son.”

Taima looked into the fire, then poked at the glowing embers with a stick. “Noshi...father...capturing the white woman has disturbed memories I would rather not dwell on.”

“Sometimes the spirits know more than we do. Perhaps they think it is time you did dwell on your memories. Perhaps now, it is time to think of the past again.”

Taima gazed into the older warrior’s profound, dark eyes, not wanting to stir his own painful thoughts. “Noshi, please . . .”

The shaman nodded slowly. “Nechan...my son...I, too, have memories of your mother. She came to mean more than life to me. But from the Great Spirits, I’ve learned we must often face the past in order to carry on into our future.”

Taima sighed and stared at the early stars. “Have your Great Spirits advised you how to deal with the sorrow of dredging up what’s better left in the past?” He glanced back at his father, trying to read his thoughts through the seasoned dark eyes that gazed back at him.

“Yes, Nechan...and you will always feel a tug on your heart whenever you think of your wife or mother. But you have dealt with these emotions before and though our group here is small, our people look to you for strength and guidance. You’ve never disappointed them in this task. Now it is your turn to learn to pull strength from those around you.”

This time, Ahanu poked the fire with a twig. Taima watched the tip dig through the glowing embers, feeling his heartburn with pain, as though the coals were within his chest.

He fought against the memories that never disappeared from his thoughts. The vision of his slender wife, her dark eyes gazing from a delicate, oval face, never disappeared from his mind’s eye or the memory of her hair’s silkiness when he ran his fingers through its length, nor the softness of her warm, naked flesh against his own. His heart ached to be with her, something he wished for daily. Because of the white man, he would never again see or touch her...and he could not allow a white woman to replace those thoughts and memories.

The white man had also robbed him of a mother with more tenderness and spirit than three women put together. Her loving blue eyes would forever haunt his dreams.

The fire before him blurred as Taima blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

Kate was white...and beautiful, but that was not her fault, and he honestly couldn’t hate her for it. What he did not want was to fall in love with her, to have her memory invade his thoughts. Those tender thoughts were reserved only for his wife. He knew he couldn’t be around Kate but to release her into the wilderness after the raid would have been the same as murder.

Ahanu’s wife, Aiyana, could see to her training. Kate would be a needed worker, one to help with the meat and hides of the coming hunt. She would be kept too busy to cause anyone problems, especially him.

“Your anger and hatred are easily read in your eyes, Nechan. You must learn to control your emotions. I, too, am angry at the white man for taking my woman from me.” His father paused a moment before continuing. “How are you going to deal with this new woman?”

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

Clandestine Volume 1: Loyalty - An #Action #Adventure #Novel by Morgan LionHeart

Today, I had a very interesting conversation come up when I was talking to someone who I consider a good friend. "What is your dream?" I think as we live and grow, those change and, that's OK. We're all following what I think we all consider sometimes to be "clumsy dreams"

My dream, might sound a bit clechè and just like words but here it is.

When I was about 16, and just beginning to appreciate anime. My cousin introduced me to "Bleach" those who have heard of it will think what you will but the thing I got most from it was perseverance.

Later, although I liked anime like that still, I found I was looking for something else. That's when I found "Kanon" What an incredible and interesting story.

It laid out some things very clearly

death
disease
depression
loss
malice

But it also showed something else

perseverance
joy
living each day happy even if you had no idea if tomorrow would come
family
comfort
never EVER giving up on those who matter to you, even if you're not sure sometimes why they matter
miracles (big and small)

I came across others with those same elements. Including. Anime from the same company as "Kanon" itself.

Here's the part that may seem a bit clichè and some might think a bit fake. I'm not afraid to say some might believe that.

I don't really care about the popularity or success of my books. Sure getting readers and likes, followers, shares, they feel good. But I don't really care if only one person reads. As long as they understand and it inspires them, like those anime did for me.

Some of my content is and will continue to be brash, harsh, hard to read but, in a world like we live in now. I believe it's necessary, putting these things in such a way that hard and stubborn hearts will understand.

That's my dream.

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About the Book

Three-year-old Kai's life was changed forever when his home was attacked one fateful day.

A shadowy figure stole everything from him. Until his saviour took him in and once again gave him a family. To this day, dreams of that tragedy plague him... Besides that, he lives a pretty happy life with that woman and her daughter, Himari..

When he was 15 years old his Foster mother brought him into the ranks of the V.H.A (Vampire Hunting Association) Their job, protect the humans from the supernaturals who try to do them harm and protect the ones that simply want a better life.

Now, he's the best of the best, but secrets, lies, and a new partner might take away everything they've built.

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You can watch the trailer here!

Keep reading for an excerpt:

A chuckle escaped the man's lips. "Kai, you're a daywalker correct?”

He nodded his head in response to the man's inquisition.

"That means you walk a sort of line. You live with that every day. Not one of them, but not one of the humans either."

Kai nodded. "So what's your point?"

The man simply sighed. “You really don't see it? She is a human born with the knowledge and power of a supernatural. It doesn't take much to see you both walk the tightrope along that very thin line between man and, well, something else."

Truth was, he had never thought of it like that before—all he really knew was how annoying she had been to him all these years. But hearing it like that really made him think.

Wednesday, 15 August 2018

Tower of Babel: A #Fantasy #Novel by Carol Roberts

Carol Roberts is a freelance writer with particular interest in cultural myth. Originally from Vienna, she has spent all of her adult life in the Far North of New Zealand. Her work took her to several different countries, where she indulged her fascination with stories. 'Tower of Babel' is her second novel.

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About the Book

An ancient text has corrupted the mind of King Ninus, Babylon 3000 BC. At the peak of his rulership there is one power he desires above all else, but it is not in his control, and his symbol of conquest (tower of Babel) lies incomplete.

A man has been seriously injured and is without any memory of who he is. The woman, who finds him, saves his life and hides him from the king until he has fully recovered and can start to retrace his steps. But as Rihat’s memory starts to release his name and fragments of his life, he becomes once again embroiled in the past, thereby putting her in great danger. Because like him, she is compromised by a destiny beyond her own will, and like him, she is not free to follow the calling of her own heart.

When he eventually re-lives the agony of who he is and why he has become that way, he is forced into choices that will affect both past and future.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

It was past midnight when the sound of a horse’s hooves in the small outdoor patio woke her. It was highly unusual for anyone to visit at this hour of night, but she needed to know who had arrived, so she got out of bed and lit one of her oil lanterns. Before she had time to reach the door, however, there was a thump as though a sack of grain had been dropped off outside, and she decided to look out of the window first. She could only make out the tail and back of a horse, which seemed riderless, so she called out for the person to identify himself. There was no reply.

Carefully she opened the door and looked outside. She lifted her oil lantern and nearly dropped it when she saw a man lying on the ground in a pool of blood, which was quickly spreading. She started to shake and lifted the lantern higher to see the horse. It was a beautifully kept, strong-looking, grey stallion, but its eyes were rolling to the back of its head, it was frothing from the mouth, and it, too, was covered with blood.

She could not tell if the horse was injured or not, as there was only a thick, red streak on the horse’s side, where the rider had slid off and fallen to the ground. She stood frozen with panic, and her first impulse was to call out for help. Instead, she put her hand over her mouth to muffle all sounds, as she did not know where the attacker was. She had seen wounds and blood before, but this was the first time she faced it on her own. She knew she had to do something.

Monday, 13 August 2018

The Witching Well: #ChildrensFiction by S.D. Hintz

S.D. Hintz’s novel The Witching Well will be published by Grinning Skull Press in Summer 2018., as well as his novella Bauble by World Castle Publishing in October 2018. In 2017 he had 5 short stories, 1 poem, and a novel published. Vigilance & Vengeance (novel) by Solstice Publishing, Bellows by Dark Alley Press in Ink Stains, Volume 4, Housecall by MacKenzie Publishing in the Two Eyes Open anthology, Temporary in The Misbehaving Dead collection by A Murder of Storytellers, The Devil’s Embrace in the Beautiful Lies, Painful Truths anthology by Left Hand Publishers, Collingwood in the Scarlet Leaf Review, and Aspects of a Rose (poem) in the Cold Creek Review. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of KHP Publishers and extremely active on social media. He currently lives in Minnesota with his wife and two children.

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About the Book

It's the end of the world…

…as Murray Macabe knows it. The security of his home life has been ripped out from under him when his mother was brutally murdered. Rejected by his aunt, Murray only has one place left to go, and that's to live the rest of his life with a woman he barely knows.

To Grandmother's House He Goes

At first, life with his grandmother doesn't seem like it's going to be that bad, but Murray soon learns his grandmother harbors dark secrets.

Double, Double Toil and Trouble; Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

As bad as Grandma's secrets might be, they are nothing compared to the secrets held by the neighbors, three elderly women who have set their sights on Murray for their own dastardly purposes. Soon Murray finds himself fighting for his very life, and there's no one to turn to for help because everyone knows there's no such thing as witches.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

Grandma stood with a slight groan. “Murray? Would you be a dear and go turn on the hose for me? The spigot’s on the side of the house, just off the path.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you, sweetie.”

Murray turned and headed toward the path winding to the front yard. The roses flanked him momentarily, swaying, leaning after him. He stepped up his pace. He sighed as the garden receded like waves on a shore, the haunts failing to snag him in their undertow. He set foot on the sun-bleached bricks and hurried to the corner of the house.

The neighboring dreary dwelling came into view. A mighty oak cast the fenceless backyard in shadows. Dandelions and creeping Charlie dotted the ankle-high lawn. A rusted, chain link dog kennel begged for use beside an overgrown mulberry. The house itself — two stories tall, split-level, and stucco with shuttered windows. The slate half hip roof added to the overall resemblance of a giant tombstone. Murray figured it was either haunted or once served as a mortuary.

He spotted the white spigot protruding from the side of the house, fastened to the green hose. A trickle of water seeped from the connection and dripped below. Murray approached it and reached for the red handle.

A shadow flitted out of the corner of his eye. A guttural growl stopped him in his tracks, his hand frozen on the handle.

He turned his head and looked over his shoulder. A jet-black Rottweiler crept from the shadows of the yard. Murray’s first thought was Cujo, even though the breed differed. A brown streak curved from its hooked nose to the tip of its tail. It bared its fangs, snarling as it slunk between the oaks, pursuing its prey like a starved lion.

Murray’s heart somersaulted and his body broke into a sweat. He looked to his right. Grandma Anna remained in the backyard, out of sight.

He let go of the handle and backpedaled. He grunted as the spigot jabbed him in the calf. Cornered! His mind hurtled through corridors of past advice. He knew it wise to stand tall and allow a dog to sniff the hand. Yet with a hostile animal, did the same rules apply? He knew he could make a run for it, but doubted he would win the race.

The Rottweiler continued to approach, slowly, stalking through the shadows. It crossed the property line, which was divided by a sunray. Its gaze narrowed, full of rage, as if the mere sight of a child ruined its day.

Murray glanced about, eyes wide, praying Grandma Anna would show up, perhaps wondering what prolonged his departure. No such luck.

The Rottweiler sprinted toward him, barking breathlessly. It stopped a yard away and snapped its jaws. Murray cringed against the house.

Friday, 10 August 2018

The Lost Tayamu: A #Fantasy #Novel by Ben Cass

From a young age, Ben Cass was in love with the premises of fantasy novels and comic books: amazing creatures, fantastic heroes, and magical powers that existed right beneath our noses. He created detailed storylines to act out with his toys, often updating the stories until he was satisfied with the plots.

A native Floridian, Ben attended Florida Southern College, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, double-majoring in Secondary Education. Ben graduated in 1998, and has been working in the field of education ever since.

Ben lives in beautiful Broward County, Florida, with his wife and son, where he continues his career as an educator and is currently working on the second book in the Legends of Kiamada series, "The Uncrowned Queen".

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About the Book

At 16 years old, Jen stumbled out of the forest and into the woods that fringe the small midwestern town of Groverton, remembering nothing about her life except her first name and age. She was soon adopted by the Aston family, whose young daughter Ellie was thrilled to get a sibling.

Now, twelve years later, Jen is living a good life as a news anchor, raising Ellie after their parents were killed in a house fire. Jen still can’t remember her past, but that doesn’t really bother her, since she and Ellie are in a good place now.

Things suddenly change when Jen barely escapes three attempts on her life, leaving the sisters shaken and afraid. Jen owes her life to the secretive new PE teacher, Coach Doyle, who has miraculously appeared to save her every time. Doyle has fighting skills fit for a martial arts movie and reflexes just this side of impossible, but how long can he keep them safe? And why does Jen feel like she should know him?

While Jen starts to fall in love with the charming Doyle, Ellie is shocked when she discovers something otherworldly in the coach’s barn, convincing her that Doyle is definitely not a PE teacher. Ellie does not like secrets being kept from her, and is determined to unravel the enigma that is Coach Doyle. The truths that will be revealed, however, will change all their lives forever…and just might help save the magical land of Kiamada.

Get it today on Amazon!

Keep reading for an interview with the author:

Did you have a hard time sharing your work with the public?

Very hard. I spent 13 years honing this book. There were stretches where I didn't write for several years, literally. I built up the courage in January after my grandmother passed away. The day after she died, I felt a push to post on the NaNoWriMo forums, in the critique partner area. I finally did, and within a day, had a response from somebody (the amazing Ava Larksen) who said she felt a push to reply to me. We quickly became friends, and her critique suggestions helped me nearly double the size of the book and expand on things that I'd just glossed over. I added other critique partners when I joined Twitter, and they were just as sweet and helpful. Ava and I have never met or spoken, aside from chatting online, but she is the first person I go to for this series because she's as invested in the characters as I am. Her reaction helped me get over the fear of sharing.

Where are you from?

I'm a native Floridian. I grew up in Central Florida, then moved to South Florida a few years ago. I have no idea about the writing community because I'm an introvert and don't really seek people out. My friends live several states away now, and I have a very difficult time putting myself out there, so I haven't sought out any other writers in the area.

Do you have a "day job"?

Of course, I do! I spent almost 20 years teaching middle/high school math, and then in year 20, left the classroom to become an instructional technologist. So, I now train teachers to use technology, run the LMS for the school, learn to use all the programs the director purchases, troubleshoot things for the IT director when he's handling bigger things...all that fun stuff. I love it, and have no intention of leaving my career. Besides....where else can you get such amazing research? I write a lot of teenage characters, and I'm around teens all day, every day!

What genres do you write?

Fantasy. I don't do high fantasy, though. No dragons, elves, orcs, dwarves, etc. I really do prefer contemporary fantasy, where the magic is in our world but nobody really knows about it. It's just more fun.

What is the oddest thing you've ever researched for one of your books?

Missed flirting clues. I'm probably the most oblivious person to flirting. My wife had to literally tell me she was flirting with me because I didn't understand that "Sure is cold tonight!" was code for "put your arm around me." (I was 20, almost 21, at the time, so there you go.) I have a male character with that same trait, so trying to write scenes where the girl is flirting and he's not getting it requires me to figure out potential flirting scenarios. Since I'm clueless...well, there you go.

When did you first consider yourself an author?

When I had multiple critique partners tell me the book was amazing and needed to be published. I referred to myself as an "aspiring author", as many others do on Twitter, but I saw a post that basically said "you're not aspiring, you're an author. You're just not published yet." I liked that, so I changed my profile to say "author" instead of "aspiring author".

What are your goals as an author?

I approach my writing the same way I approach teaching: if I only have a positive impact on one person, that's a victory and validates what I've done. In teaching, you have to realize that not every student is going to like you or be inspired by you or even going to do well in your class. It's the same with writing. Sure, some people may hate my books. Maybe most people will. But as long as I have that one person who says, "Ben, your stories make me happy and I love reading them!"....well, then as far as I'm concerned, I've made it.

What made you decide to self-publish?

I just wanted my story out there. I didn't care to wait for, possibly, years for a publisher to pick it up.

Do you write in first or third person, past or present tense, and why?

For this series, I write in third-person, past tense. I've tried first-person, but it just never works out well for me, in large part because I have multiple POV's. "The Lost Tayamu" is primarily told from Ellie's POV and Jen's POV, but we get some scenes from the others as well. Being in first-person would make it harder, in my opinion, to develop a distinct voice for each character.

Are you a pantser or outliner?

Pantser. I mean, I know WHERE the story is going, yes. I know the major plot points--well, most of them, at least--but I simply can't sit down and figure out everything that happens. Sometimes, the characters force me to go a different path, as Jerry did with his story arc in "The Lost Tayamu". So, so bossy!

How do you come up with the titles for your books?

For the longest time, this book was called "Saving Kiamada", but when I split that into multiple stories, it became "The Lost Tayamu". The title came easily to me; this book is about the lost Tayamu and his relationships with the two main characters. The sequel is called "The Uncrowned Queen", because it focuses--surprise, surprise!--on the uncrowned queen, who was talked about in the first book. I didn't even have to think about that one.

Do you write about real life experiences, or does everything come from your imagination?

Real-life experiences definitely play a part. In "The Lost Tayamu", the relationship between Doyle and Ellie is completely based on the relationship between myself and my wife's younger sister. She and I are closer in age (8 years apart) then Doyle and Ellie are (12 years apart), but most of their interactions are either things that happened between us (younger girl crushing on older sister's boyfriend, for example) or simply inspired by the way we act around each other.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

I don't base my characters on people, no, but I do take things (expressions, body language, ways of speaking, etc) from people I know and mash them all together to make my characters. So, you might see a bit of yourself in one character, but see a bit of my aunt in there, too. I've found that my characters are a lot stronger when I go hunting through my brain for character traits of friends and family.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the sequel to "The Lost Tayamu", which is titled "The Uncrowned Queen". Hopefully, this won't take me 13 years to finish! I'm aiming to have it done by December, but we'll see how that goes.

Monday, 6 August 2018

The Scarlet Wedding: A #Christian #Fiction #Novel by Lorana Hoopes

Lorana Hoopes is a teacher originally from Texas who now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. When not writing, she can be seen kickboxing at her gym, acting on stage, or singing at her church.

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About the Book

Will there be a happily ever after?

William wanted nothing more than to marry Emma, but shortly after his proposal, his past comes back to haunt him. Unable to leave men in danger, William mounts up and rides again. Will he be able to fulfill his duty and get back to Emma?

Emma had no doubts when she said yes to William's proposal, but then things began happening to delay the wedding. When her sister gets sick, she wonders if these signs are God's way of telling her she shouldn't marry William.

Will the two find their happily ever after or will events out of their control tear them apart?

Get it today on Amazon!

Keep reading for an excerpt:

“You’re so lucky” Carrie sighed as the girls got ready for bed that night. “That proposal was so romantic.”

“I’m sure yours will come soon,” Emma said with a smile. “I saw you dancing with Phillip Alder, and he had stars in his eyes.”

“What about me?” Jennie asked.

Emma laughed. “You have a few years yet, Jennie Bean, but there’s a man out there for you as well. You just have to be patient.”

Jennie’s lower lip fell out in an adorable pout. “I want to be older now. I want to be kissed like you were, Emma. It looked so romantic.” She put her little hand on her forehead and fell onto the bed.

“Oh, dear,” Emma said. “We have our work cut out for us with this one.” She slipped her dress off and her nightgown on and climbed into bed beside Jennie. Carrie followed suit and climbed in on the other side of Jennie.

“Have you thought about the wedding yet?” Carrie asked.

“He just proposed tonight,” Emma said as if dismissing the motion. The truth was she had already been thinking about the wedding. She wanted it in the church of course. Carrie would be a bridesmaid and Jennie the flower girl. Emma wondered if William would ask Samuel to be his best man. The two had been spending a lot of time together building William’s homestead, but there was also Jesse Jennings, who William had become close with.

Of course, Emma had also become good friends Kate Jennings. The two were fairly close in age and had begun spending more time together a few months earlier when William had made it clear he was staying and courting Emma. Once or twice a week, they would get together and trade secrets and recipes. They also spoke often of children.

Kate was going to reach that milestone first. She was already with child and nearing her fifth month. Though Emma enjoyed seeing her friend grow, she couldn’t help feeling jealous, and so she hoped William would be okay with a fairly short engagement. She wanted to start a family with him.

“I know he just proposed tonight,” Carrie continued, “but I bet you’ve been thinking about the wedding since the first day he kissed you.”

Emma was glad the light from the lantern was low so her sisters wouldn’t see her blush. She had been thinking about the wedding since that day. Well, not the wedding itself, but the marriage. She had already had one wedding, so even though they were enjoyable and beautiful, that wasn’t her main focus. Her focus was on being a wife and mother. Something she had hoped for with her first marriage, but it had ended so shortly it was almost nonexistent.

As much as Emma loved her family, she wanted to be a wife again, to run her own homestead, cook for her husband, and enjoy quiet times in front of the fire. And, eventually she hoped to fill the house with children, but that was at least a year away.

“Get some sleep,” Emma said in answer. “We can talk more about the wedding tomorrow.”

“Do I get to throw the flowers again?” Jennie asked, her voice heavy with sleep.

“Yes, Jennie Bean, you can throw the flowers. Now, get some sleep.”

Carrie and Jennie obliged and soon were breathing softly beside her, but it was Emma’s own mind that refused to shut down. When it wasn’t reliving the wonderful night and the proposal, it was thinking forward to what had to be done for a wedding. She would need to make the cake, get flowers, and see if she could alter her old wedding dress a little. Emma couldn’t afford a new one, and it would have been a frivolous waste of money anyway.

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

Legends: Catori - A #Romance #Novel by Maggie Adams

Maggie Adams is an Amazon best-selling romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the Amazon Top 100 list with her Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into international recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK. She is the recipient of various awards for excellence including Dayreader Reviews Best of 2015, the Readers Favorite Award 2016, the Indie Romance Convention Romantic Comedy Award 2017 and the 2017 New Apple Awards -Suspense
She also writes erotica, paranormal romance, young adult romance and women’s fiction. Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback on her website and all book sites.

When she’s not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking (usually all at the same time), and spending time with her family and friends.

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About the Book

It’s hard to keep secrets in a small town…It’s even harder to keep a secret that could expose not only your family but an entire species. That’s what Frankie Cavanaugh must do. As the daughter of the leader of the Wisdom Council, it’s up to her to step into her father’s shoes until another leader is chosen.

Tanner Coalson is fresh out of college and ready to tackle whatever life has in store for him. First item on his to-do list is marrying the woman he has loved for years. He knows Frankie will balk at the notion because she’s fifteen years older and was his childhood sitter.

But convincing her they are destined to be together gets much harder when she is kidnapped by an old enemy. Frankie may have to reveal her secret, and Tanner may have to accept what seems impossible or reject the love of his life.

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Keep reading for an interview with the author:

Where are you from? Does your area have a good writing community?

I'm originally from the small town of Grafton, IL, which is the setting for most of my books. It was a village along the Mississippi River, with small fishing shacks and few amenities. But in 1993, the Mississippir River overflowed it's banks and our town was thirty feet above flood stage. Mostly you could see rooftops. When the river receded, then came the cleanup and rebuild. It's now bigger and better than ever - a regular tourist spot! So that's how I got my idea for the Tempered Steel Series, seven brothers and community rebuilding their hometown. Grafton also boasts a depiction of the "Piasa Bird" a Native American legend about a winged monster that carries off humans. That is where my newest series, Legends, comes from. So Yes! I have a great writing community and plenty of inspiration in my hometown.

Do you have a "day job"?

By day, I'm a mild-mannered daycare owner - infants to age 10. By night, the voracious writer of steamy tales of suspense and intrigue and things that go bump in the night!

What genres do you write?

contemporary romance - all subgenres, including women's sensual erotica

What is the oddest thing you've ever researched for one of your books?

How to shoot someone in the neck in a driveby using a small gun riding a motorcycle.

What is the most difficult thing you've ever researched?

BDSM - I always want to know the "why" of things; it was difficult to phrase my questions and keep the conversation open and honest. I was afraid I would offend or insult, but most people I interviewed were quite open and honest and understood what I was trying to say when I fumbled with wording.

When did you first consider yourself an author?

When I hit publish on "Whistlin' Dixie", my first novel. It didn't matter if I sold one or thousands; I had done it - I made my dream a reality.

What is the biggest obstacle you face as an author and what do you do to overcome it?

I'm my own worst critic, and it's sabotaged me time and again. Now when I feel inadequate, I put up mental blocks by telling myself to look at all I've accomplished with my life.

Does your family support you in your writing, or are you on your own?

My family supports me unequivocally - my son set up my website and social media, my daughter took care of the business infrastructure, my husband is head of my research and development (and not just of the sexy stuff! lol) and I have other relatives that beta read and proofread for me.

Have you ever had a particularly harsh critique?

Yes. While I try to use all criticism as a learning experience, there was one reviewer who didn't critique the book, she critiqued the genre, my readers, and myself with insulting comments like "if you read this kind of stuff" or "how you manage not to vomit at love scenes". This, of course, was a reflection of her lack of decorum with polite discourse, but I couldn't let her go comments go unanswered. I politely made reference to the millions of loyal romance book readers and that although I found her criticism to be lacking in specific points, I, unlike her, was willing to accept her opinion on my profession as opposed to my specific book. However, her insults to my friends and fans were uncalled for and reflected poorly on her own character.

Do you have anything specific you'd like to say to your readers?

No matter what genre you read, PLEASE continue to read, review and recommend books!

Monday, 23 July 2018

Her Legend Lives in You - The Untold Creation Story Honoring The Goddess and Our Daughters: A #Fantasy #Novel by Myron J Clifton

Myron J. Clifton is slightly older than fifty, lives in Sacramento, California, and is an avid Bay Area sports fan. He likes comic books, telling stories about his late mom to his beloved daughter Leah, and talking to his friends.

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About the Book

This story is a new mythology that captures the Divine Feminine and draws the reader into its sisterhood with magical creatures and utopian dreams. Both Whimsical and darkly serious, this previously untold creation story, presented as a prose-poem, reveres the Mother as creator. The reader of this epic prose-poem cannot help but be drawn into the sisterhood of the divine feminine. Their story is here and it lives in you.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

BIRTHING

All of Creation is merely a birthing story.

The echo of her first birth can still be heard in all the Universe. The sound is in the background of all universal sounds.

The Goddess was busy!

With her name singing an eternal song during those first few nanoseconds, the Goddess opened herself and her power flowed all at once and in all directions in a magnificent expression of herself.

And in those milliseconds her Universe was now immeasurable.

This was the first birth in her new Universe. The Goddess’ power was soft, curved, slow and smooth. There were a few sharp angles but she preferred gentle bends, segues, and agreement in form and all that she created.

The Original’s name for the Goddess informed her purpose, and her essence fueled her creative expressions. In those first few million years the Goddess played with things that would forever be unseen but which would be studied and she left her presence in all things she birthed.

All things in her Universe are made of her.

The Goddess paused to observe her Universe and then she smiled to herself. She knew what her Universe needed.

I will make a garden, the Goddess said.

What is purpose if not growing and tending a garden where one may contemplate, she asked and answered herself. And so, she planted simple galaxies and spiral galaxies, there and there.

Just a simple garden, she told herself.

Next were gas clouds that were as big as galaxies, and nebulas that were as original in all universes as they were awe-inspiring. She grew stars that burned slowly — perennials she called them, and others that burned out quickly in a few billion years — seasonals, those were called.

She planted black holes, strung star systems all around, and placed comets and asteroid belts all over.

And she took from her own light and planted growing balls of fire to warm her garden while night stars and moons kept her garden comforted, and to provide for the small things that she planted in the garden — to live, feed, and help the garden birth its own.

Finally, over there she decided to plant orbs that circled her stars and to the orbs some were given their own orbs that circled them. And they were given fire to help forge the garden.

The Goddess paused for a few billion years before noticing one of her stars calling to her because it was lonely.

Then she smiled a mischievous smile and laughed to herself at her garden — it was lovely!

She was well pleased but not finished!

The star that called to her informed her that one of the orbs was sad and longed for the Goddess’ attention.

Friday, 13 July 2018

A Head Full of Random Thoughts: A #Poetry #Book by Rick Perry

Rick Perry is a retired English teacher, coach, and administrator with an avid interest in books, movies, sports, politics, education, and current events. After 35 years experience in both public and private education, he is eager to spend time writing and sharing his thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of subjects.

Rick has been married to his wife Patti for thirty years and they have two children, Scott and Caitlin. His first novel The What If Project was written in November during the 2016 NaNoWriMo event. The book is now available in paperback and multiple ebook formats. Recently, he released a collection of poetry A Head Full of Random Thoughts. He is currently working on a new novel and finishing a previously begun young adult tale. Two other novels are in the revising and editing stages.

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About the Book

A Head Full of Random Thoughts is a collection of accessible modern poetry inspired by the people and memories of an everyday life. Although a handful have been posted online, most are being seen for the very first time! The book features over 80 original poems grouped into five sections. A handful have been published online, but most have never been shared before now.

In “Observations on an Everyday Life,” the poet takes a look at a variety of common, ordinary situations. “People” includes a series of tribute poems about family and friends. “Social Commentary” contains poems about politics and current events, from the view of a Christian conservative. “Memories of Days Gone By” looks at childhood memories, or fragments of the past. The final section, “Just the Way I Feel,” contains the odds and ends, those introspective pieces that come late at night.

Written over the last two years, these are the random thoughts that bounce around inside the head of a poet. Some are serious, some are whimsical, but all are honest and heartfelt.

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Keep reading for an interview with the author:

Why did you decide to be a writer?

I am a retired educator and I have always loved to write. Following my retirement, my son encouraged me to look into NaNoWriMo and I wrote my first novel in 2016 just to see if I could do it. Since then, I have written two more novels and my recent book of poetry.

Did you have a hard time sharing your work with the public?

After I completed my first novel, I had a very easy time sharing it. I gave it to a few close friends, did some revising and editing and found myself eager to publish. It was a little scary waiting for reactions, but overall, I was excited to be able to share my stories with other people.

Do you have a "day job"?

I spent thirty-five years in education, teaching English, coaching, and eventually going into administration. After retiring in 2015, I have committed to investing time in writing.

What genres do you write?

Up to this point, I have written mostly fiction. My latest project is a collection of poetry, but I have already begun work on my next novel.

Is there a genre that you've been wanting to experiment with?

I have an idea for a science fiction novel, but it is somewhat out of my comfort zone and I have not yet worked up the courage to begin. What attracts me, and scares me, is that it is not like anything I have written before.

How often do you write?

When I am in the middle of a project, I try to write at least something each day. Revising and editing are much harder for me and I tend to write much less when I am doing so. I also blog weekly.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

Two of my three completed novels were done during NaNoWriMo and completed in 30 days. That doesn't count the revision process which obviously adds to the time devoted to the novel. The third novel took about two and a half months. Once I have begun, I tend to get the first draft done fairly quickly.

What authors/books have most influenced you?

My favorite author is Stephen King, but I also love John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Lee Child, and Gillian Flynn.

When did you first consider yourself an author?

Probably when my first book was published and I actually held the first printed copy of the paperback in my hands.

What are your goals as an author?

My current goals are to publish the next two novels (which are already written) and complete at least one more that is in the planning stages. Beyond that, I want to keep writing and try to get my books out to a wider audience.

Are you a pantser or outliner?

I am a little of both, but mostly a pantser. I have a very broad outline in mind when I begin, but the story often takes its own course once I start. As I write, new characters appear, and new situations pop up that I never anticipated, and I go with the flow.

Do you write about real life experiences, or does everything come from your imagination?

My first book was entirely fictional, but my latest is almost all based on my experiences in education. Although I am writing it as fiction, most of the stories are based on actual events. I am changing the outcomes and combining different locations, but most of the experiences really happened.

Do you ever base your characters on people you know?

The book I hope to publish next is a fictionalized memoir about my experiences in education. Most of the characters in the book are based on real people. Fortunately, as a work of fiction, I can combine characters and their actions and even make them nicer (or meaner) than the real people on whom they are based.

Monday, 9 July 2018

I Promise: A #Romance #Novel by Tonya Coffey

Tonya lives in a small town in southern Kentucky with her husband and two sons. They spend most of their time outdoors, discovering the beauty of the world. If she isn't reading or writing, you will find her sitting in front of a canvas, painting the landscape around her home.

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About the Book

Do you remember your first high school crush?

Would he jump into danger for you?

Mine did...

My daddy warned me to not walk down Cider Avenue after school. I thought the threat on my life was nonsense, just like the other times before... But when arms engulfed me, tugging me into a van, on that very street, I wished I had listened.

My only hope is in the motorcycle club, Night Hawks. I couldn't deny, the son of the club's president had swept me off my feet. I was drawn to the boy with rugged looks and a heart of gold.

As my world collapses into chaos, will he pull me from the clutches of my enemies or will our families be drawn into a war of blood, guns and broken promises?

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

When my captures threw me in here, I was afraid I would take my last breath in this dirty, smelling place. I expected to hear the hammer click back on a weapon and feel the steal against my temple. Instead, my ties were removed and a door slammed shut behind me, causing me to remove my hood and take in my surroundings. My eyes worked around the small shed. When I saw no way out, I fell to my knees and tears filled my eyes. I wanted to cry but I didn’t. To stop them, I sucked in a ragged breath and scooted back into the corner.

My heartbeat steadied as I thought about Dad. He warned me and I didn’t listen. I had to let my hormones drive me. I had to defy him for a boy. It was my entire fault.

I nestled my cheek against my knee as I closed my eyes. The whistle of a train blew as it sped by. Every few hours another train rolled along the tracks alerting me to where I was. It was the only part of town where a road crossed the train tracks. It was the southern part, the worst part of our county. If it was the first time one laid eyes on it, it would remind someone of a deserted city. Large block buildings and overgrown concrete setting in the middle of fields. Repossessed homes, broken structures and forests were everywhere around me.

Each whistle made the time speed by, my stomach ached. It wasn’t because I hadn’t eaten since lunch. It had to do with the fear that grew in the pit. Right now it was a seed but with each minute a new root took shape. A new sprout formed, taking over my strength. I was afraid what would happen if it grew into my core. I won’t let it.

Standing, I refused to let the fear take hold, to grow into more. I wanted to squash it like a bug, so I paced, making the blood flow through my body and help my limbs not feel as cold.

Turning again, I faced the door. I stared at the wooden planks and broken beams. It was old but whoever had me in here reinforced the broken pieces in case the person inside tried to escape. Premeditated, I thought.

I made my way to the door. I stared at it as if it were a stranger. Slowly I raised my hand, holding it inches from the wood as if a fire roared on the other side and the door was too hot to touch.

I gripped the handle. The cool steal felt as if it burned into my flesh. Ignoring the feeling, I took a breath and pulled. It didn’t move. Placing my other hand against the door frame, for leverage, I tugged harder. Nothing.

Monday, 2 July 2018

Hell Hole: The Official Screenplay by Donald Firesmith #SciFi

A geek by day, Donald Firesmith works as a system and software engineer helping the US Government acquire large, complex software-intensive systems. In this guise, he has authored seven technical books, written numerous software- and system-related articles and papers, and spoken at more conferences than he can possibly remember. He's also proud to have been named a Distinguished Engineer by the Association of Computing Machinery, although his pride is tempered somewhat by his fear that the term "distinguished" makes him sound like a graybeard academic rather than an active engineer whose beard is still slightly more red than gray.

By night and on weekends, his alter ego writes modern paranormal fantasy, apocalyptic science fiction, action and adventure novels and relaxes by handcrafting magic wands from various magical woods and mystical gemstones. His first foray into fiction is the book Magical Wands: A Cornucopia of Wand Lore written under the pen name Wolfrick Ignatius Feuerschmied. He lives in Crafton, Pennsylvania with his wife Becky, and his son Dane, and varying numbers of dogs and cats.

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About the Book

When a huge hole opens up in the path of a controversial new pipeline, the oil company’s head of safety convinces her estranged husband to fly up to Alaska’s North Slope and investigate. But when the geologist Jack Oswald rappels down into the mysterious pit, he discovers it is unlike anything he has ever seen before. Meanwhile, giant wolf-like creatures slaughter both wildlife and people, and they attack the nearby protester camp, indiscriminately killing protesters and even the oil company’s armed guards. This prompts a reporter to reveal herself as a member of an ancient secret society dedicated to defending humanity from demons. The survivors soon learn there are worse monsters than hellhounds. To repair his broken marriage, the middle-aged geology professor only needs to save his wife, defeat a devil, seal the hell hole, and put an end to Armageddon. What could possibly go wrong?

This movie script for the full-length feature film, Hell Hole, is based on Donald Firesmith's novel, Hell Holes: What Lurks Below.

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Wednesday, 27 June 2018

My Life As A Rock Album: A #Romance #Novel by LJ Evans

Award-winning author, LJ Evans, is known for binge reading, binge-watching, and binge writing. She is routinely inspired by music and will pull over the car to write a book scene when a particular song strikes her imagination. Her my life as an album series debuted in 2017 with my life as a country album which won The Independent Author Network’s Young Adult Book of the Year and was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards. The second in the series, my life as a pop album, released in January. The third book, my life as a rock album, releases in June 2018. By day she’s a 1st-grade teacher in a public school in California’s Central Valley. By night, she’s a wife, mother, and pillow for the 3 terrors known as cats. Find out more about LJ and her books at www.ljevansbooks.com

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About the Book

“They took broken and made it art”

SETH
I’m a trash artist.
I’m a recovering alcoholic.
I’m a rude bastard.

It’s why I was better of alone until feisty blogger PJ Hensley entered my life with her fairy-like quality. Suddenly I couldn’t imagine a life without her in it. And when she loved me and left me, it was what I expected but it isn’t what I wanted.

And because I couldn’t just let her go, I’ve spent the last five months writing her letters trying to convince her to come home even though I know she won’t. I don’t deserve for her to come back.

PJ
I was ignoring my screwed up past and a bunch of stalker-like texts while focusing on graduating college. The last thing I needed was a moody trash artist entering my world. But like all things Seth, he entered my life anyway with an intensity and focus that left me breathless.

And when the summer collided into one big mess, I ran. To try to heal. To try and escape. But Seth’s letters are tearing at my soul and slowly reeling me back in. He’s almost convinced me that he can weld our lives back together into something beautiful. Almost…

From award-winning author LJ Evans comes a novel inspired by Bon Jovi songs that shows how love and acceptance can heal even the toughest scars.

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Keep reading for an excerpt:

PJ opens the letter from Seth with trepidation. She’d moved almost three thousand miles away from him on purpose. It wasn’t just to attend grad school. Although that was what she told him and everyone else in her life.

She’d walked way because she’d been drowning.

She’d been lost in a wave of Seth.

She’d been lost in her own past and her own mistakes.

She’d moved to New York so she could breathe.

And she is. Breathing. Living. She’s started school. She’s going out with Haley and Mina without having as many anxiety attacks. She’s enjoying her classes.

It’s why she’d waited two days before opening the letter. She hadn’t been sure she could handle the intensity of Seth. It was why she hadn’t given him her new phone number because she’d known he couldn’t resist calling and demanding that she respond. She’d known his voice would draw her back into the depths of the sea she’d just escaped.

She’d given him the address to the apartment instead. She’d assumed a letter would be safer. That she could read a letter and set it aside without feeling like she had to respond right away, if at all. And, if she was being honest, she hadn’t thought he’d write. Seth, artist that he was, was always a man of few words and letters seemed like more words than he was capable of.

She hadn’t counted on his need for her to counter his lack of communication skills.

As soon as she reads the letter it brings her back to him and everything that happened in the crazy three and half months that they were together.

What she hadn’t expected was to be filled with such longing. Longing to wrap her arms around his muscled torso. Longing to reassure the man with the broken kid inside of him that she did in fact still love him. Longing to feel beautiful, adored, and safe as she always had when she was with him.

But. That longing. All of those feelings. They were exactly why she had left. There was more to her than longing. There was more to her than being Seth’s whole world.

She needs to do this for her. She needs to do this for him. She needs to do this for them.

Friday, 15 June 2018

Altered Seasons: Monsoonrise - A #SciFi #Novel by Paul Briggs

Paul Briggs learned to read and write when he was two, the same time he was learning to talk. He spent the next twenty years learning that nobody talks the same way they write, or vice versa.

He lives in Easton, Maryland, has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is the author of two middle-grade science fiction novels, "Locksmith's Closet" and "Locksmith's Journeys." He is working on the concluding volume of the trilogy, "Locksmith's War." Paul has also written several short plays, two of which ("The Worst Super Power Ever" and "The Picture of Health") have won awards.

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