The Perils of Paris by Ana T. Drew – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 7, 2022 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ana T. Drew will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When someone tries to kill her sister,
it’s time for Julie Cavallo to don her sleuthing cap!

The Provence sweet shop owner rushes to the home of her twin sister in Paris.
Julie’s main question is: Who would want Cat, a professional medium, dead?
Unfortunately, Cat doesn’t have a clue.
But since when has the absence of clues deterred Julie?

Soon enough, she uncovers a suspicious death, unsolved disappearances, and a spiritual community with a dark secret to protect.
By the time Julie realizes she opened a big can of worms, she’s in too deep.
And her life is in danger.

Cue the handsome captain Gabriel Adinian, Julie’s longtime crush.
Why is he in Paris?
Probably on assignment for the Gendarmerie Nationale. Or maybe a private matter unrelated to Julie.
But what if he’s taken leave to watch over her?
Then, Julie hopes he’ll do a little more than watch—professionally and… otherwise.

Can Julie, with the help of her friends, solve the far-reaching case and cheat death once again?

Enjoy an Excerpt

“I knew yoga makes one bendy,” Cat muses, staring at the door. “But I had no idea it also makes one super speedy.”

“Rose’s speed isn’t from yoga,” I say. “It’s from chasing after the dog.”

Cat expels an incredulous snort. “Why would Grandma chase after Lady?”

“To recover her slipper.”

Should I reveal the whole shocking truth?

It feels like a betrayal but also a moral obligation. Cat has the right to know.

“They take turns,” I say.

“You mean Lady chases after Grandma?”

“Yup.”

Cat narrows her eyes. “Why would she do that?”

“Wouldn’t you, if somebody snatched your chewy bone?”

Cat’s mouth forms an O. “I totally would!”

About the Author:Ana T. Drew is the evil mastermind behind the recent series of murders in the fictional French town of Beldoc. When she is not writing cozy mysteries or doing mom-and-wife things, she can be found watching “The Rookie” to help her get over “Castle”. She lives in Paris but her heart is in Provence.

>>> Visit ana-drew.com for a free cookbook and a game!

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What Would I Tell a New Author? by Darci Garcia – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 4, 2022 By 9 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darci Garcia will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would I tell a new author?

I think the most important thing would be to remain open to both the accolades and the criticism that will invariably make its way to you. Be entirely open to learning especially during the editing phase. I would have never believed how difficult I actually found it to make changes!! Of equal importance is to write every single day. It is SO difficult especially if you are not necessarily feeling creative. I have found, interestingly enough, it is during those times that I seem to produce some of my best work. You should know that the only way to hone your craft is to continue to write. The utilization of beta readers in my opinion, is a must. Try to have people that do not know you personally read your work, otherwise, I’m not sure you will get a true evaluation of your work. Lastly, believe in yourself. No matter what, no matter the feedback, no matter the white noise, stay true to your passion. That alone will make you a success!

Megan Cunningham could never have imagined she would meet her handsome neighbor while chasing her badly behaved Boston Terrier Lucy but that is exactly what happened! After careening headlong into Brice Castillo’s chest and gazing into his icy blue eyes the fireworks began!

Brice is head over heels for the beautiful blonde and cannot help but pursue her. Still, there is something he is holding back that may just keep these two hearts apart forever! They are both determined to find a way and may just have sealed their happily ever after.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Panicked, Megan reached the open door. Just as she was about to enter, she crashed
headlong into a chest. A very large, very male chest. Immediately a strong hand
grasped her shoulder, helping to steady her as she rocked back from the impact.
Breathless, she looked up. The stranger’s eyes were startling, an icy blue mixed with
slate. “Extraordinary,” she thought, fascinated by their hue.

“Are you ok?” the man asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

“What?” Megan babbled, staring up at him, completely unable to form a cohesive thought.

“This is exactly why you’re still single,” she thought, still mute. Just then Lucy began barking furiously. Horrified, Megan observed her errant dog as she ran deliriously over the stranger’s very expensive leather couch. Her tongue hung almost to her feet as she trailed drool joyously. The man had turned away from her, both of them staring incredulously.

“Is that your dog?” he asked without turning.

“That dog?” Megan squeaked. “No. I mean yes, yes of course she is,” then, pushing past the stranger, Megan ran towards Lucy who wasn’t the least bit concerned by the murderous look on Megan’s face.

About the Author:Darci Garcia is a contemporary romance writer with a penchant for including members of the animal kingdom in her stories. Although she studied business, her first love has always been the written word.

She believes a sense of humor can cure most anything and laughs at herself most of all.
An animal rights activist, she has spent most of her life working behind the scenes assisting in the rescue of dogs.

These days you will find her in sunny Florida, although she was born and raised in New England, which, she maintains, still holds her heart. She is living out her own happily ever after along with her husband, children and of course her rescues which, at last count, equaled five!

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How I Handled the Research for the Book by Zanne Raby – Guest Post and Giveaway

March 2, 2022 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Zanne Raby will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****
Greetings Book Lovers! A big thank you to Long and Short reviews for having me on your site. And let me extend a big hello to everyone who’s joining me here today. So, I’ve been asked to write about how I handled the research for my latest book, Descent into Darkness, which is the second novel in the space opera/ science-fiction series, “The Chronicles of Deneb”. But before I start, I want to let everybody know that I began working on the series back in March 2018. Just remember that, because I’m going to warn you that the springboard for the series was a man-made pandemic, crafted and created by bio-terrorists with a view of reducing the global population in a world decimated by climate change. So no, I didn’t capitalize on the current Coronavirus pandemic. But talk about a Nostradamus moment!

I was pretty fortunate, since at the time I began writing I was stationed at a military training base that hosts the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence Training Academy. I discussed the pandemic angle of the plot with one of the instructors who referred me to a couple of books by Ken Alibek. A Colonel in the Soviet military, Dr. Alibek was one of the leading Soviet researchers in the area of biological warfare before he defected to the United States. Using his research, as well as that of Dr. I.W. Fong (an infectious disease specialist), I developed a Chimera bacterial viral combo that’s set to strike our planet in the year 2080 ¬– the year the story opens.

The pandemic catapults my characters from their comfortable lives on Earth into space, where they seek a safe haven to set up sticks. After a journey across the Milky Way, they reach a lovely little planet called Deneb7 tucked away in the Goldilocks zone of a supergiant blue-white star named Deneb. It really would be lovely, except it’s already inhabited by three races who just can’t seem to get along.

Now, just a little bit of information about me. I’ve got a university degree in Economics and Commerce from the Royal Military College of Canada and I served in the Air Force for thirty eight years as a transportation and movements officer. None of this stuff qualifies me to write about space travel, so I spend hours upon hours reading everything I can on the subject and taking oodles of notes. I have binders filled with research that I constantly refer to. At the same time I was writing about a fictional wormhole, the first images of a black hole were being streamed live. I must’ve watched that moment over and over again until the image was burned onto my computer screen.

In Descent into Darkness, with the characters trying their best to integrate into an alien culture, a massive conflict breaks out that pits a superpower nation against a coalition force. One of my characters is a top gun space ace and to get the air combat scenes right I tapped into some of my pilot friends in the Air Force. That and watching Sky Fighters and tons of YouTube videos of aerial combat for hours on end. I even started talking with my hands for a while! To get inspiration for the weaponry in the book, I checked out what the world’s superpowers are working on and then I took it to another level to craft an even more deadly and futuristic arsenal.
I know, I know… here I am talking about combat and weapons (I mean, after all, I’m an Air Force veteran right?), but Descent into Darkness also features powerful people spinning lies and conspiracies and intent on grabbing power. Sweet love and bad romance. The concept of tradition versus new ideas. And rebels fighting for their rights. All things I didn’t have to research since we’ve all lived through this stuff, right?

Let me get back to the research though. Some months that’s all I do. Watch videos, read books, consult with experts. That gets the facts down, and of course I play around with them since the series takes place in the future. Then the creative juices begin to flow, wrapping a good plot around what’s more or less based on the factual. So when my top gun space ace talks about “angels” and “cherubs”, he doesn’t mean the ones up in heaven, does he? Yup, that’s right… I’m leaving you with a little of a mystery of your own for you to research. Or instead, you can read about it in Descent into Darkness. Maybe afterwards, you’ll be talking with your hands too!

Descent into Darkness: Mayhem follows the Mayflower in the second book of The Chronicles of Deneb series. Journey along with the crew of the Space Ark Mayflower as they adapt to their new home on the planet Deneb. But along with their struggle to integrate into an alien culture, a new battle sweeps across the planet with the arrival of the human-transmitted Chimera bactovirus, bringing war and fanning the flames of racial intolerance. With a bloody conflict raging across the planet, the crew of the Mayflower is split between the two factions and embroiled in the chaos and destruction. Descend with the crew into darkness, where the only survivors of a global war will be on the right side of the border.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Pallav? You alright?” Tara’s voice broke him from his reverie and he pasted on a phony smile.

“Sorry darling, I was a million light years away. I’ll be fine,” he promised. Sweat trickled down his back in the unrelenting heat of the Denebian day, his disruptive pattern shirt already sticking to his body as he shrugged into his rucksack.

“Daddy, I’m gonna miss you.” The chirpy sing-song voice of little Jolanta gave him cause to smile at the child as she held out her arms to him. Swooping her up, Pallav dropped a kiss on the little girl’s rosy brown cheek, her eyes glistening with tears.

“And I’m going to miss you too, little one.” Hugging the orphaned girl to his chest, he burrowed his face into the cloud of dark hair that was as soft as a feather before pinching her cheek and gently setting her down. Guilt pierced his heart at the sad resigned look on the child’s face. Had it not been for him, Jolanta would be snug as a bug with her biological parents and not in lockdown high above the capital city living with a pair of humans.

Poor little thing… she’s known so much loss in her short life, he thought. Surrounded by death as the human Chimera bactovirus raged across Deneb, Jolanta had been cruelly abandoned by her mother after Tara retrieved the fallen child from the cobblestoned marketplace in the centre of the capital city. He could still picture his wife walking through the door with the tiny tot in tow. Shocked, surprised, but then captivated, Pallav let the child into his heart. It wasn’t like his two teenagers wanted him around anymore. No, Luke and Isabella were busy chartering their own course in the Wessel world with Gomalan insisting that they attend the best boarding school in the nation.

Taking advantage of his position, Pallav had initiated a thorough search for Jolanta’s parents only to get confirmation that they were amongst the thousands in Styria who had succumbed to the pandemic. Since her arrival, the young orphan had been his little shadow, never leaving his side, following the big man’s movements with her luminous opalescent eyes. He smiled inwardly at the thought of Jolanta climbing into her little cot and begging her new daddy for a bedtime story. Guilt-ridden he realized that he’d miss her more than his own children who were so immersed in their new lives that even their weekly holotalks were rushed and awkward. Laughing at himself, Pallav knew he was totally under the child’s spell.

“I promise to be back in time for market day, so no tears, okay?” Taking the little urchin’s chin in his hands, Pallav stared into her eyes. “And you have a promise to make to me too young lady, don’t you?” The little brown head nodded up and down, serious eyes acknowledging the responsibility her adopted father had assigned to her.

About the Author:

Since the days of the Napoleonic War, there has always been a member of Zanne’s family in uniform. Choosing to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors, Zanne joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1980, and was selected to attend the Royal Military College of Canada – the first year that women were accepted into that prestigious academy of learning. After graduation, she studied to become a Transportation and Movements Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

During a career spanning 38 years, some of the most memorable experiences involved command of 8 Mission Support Squadron as part of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, leading a study on support to the Canadian Arctic involving several trips to Northern Canada, including Canadian Forces Station Alert (the most northern settlement in the world), a three–year tour with NATO at Joint Force Command Brunssum, a deployment as the NATO Liaison Officer to United States Central Command, and finally a nomination as the Deputy Commander for the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group.

After hanging up the uniform and putting away the combat boots, Zanne bought a small acreage in Central Ontario and designed her own house. With an office overlooking the picturesque shores of Georgian Bay, surrounded by maps and images of alien worlds, she is pursuing her life-long ambition to become an author. Enough of the reports and returns that littered her desk over her career, now she could turn her attention to unleashing the creativity that had taken a back seat to the analytical world of logistics. The time had come to shake the dust off and begin a new career. The winds of change had called.

Zanne is currently crafting The Chronicles of Deneb, a sci-fi series that will take the reader from a dystopian earth on a voyage across the galaxy in search of a safe haven. But the planets the team discover provide anything but the sanctuary they sought. In her spare time, Zanne enjoys travel, photography, hiking, and gardening. And always, a good story to pass the time.

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How to Handle Negative Criticism by Mike J Masse – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 2, 2022 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mike J Masse will be awarding $15 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.

How to Handle Negative Criticism

I believe I am like most humans, I resist those negative and often uncomfortable emotional experiences that arise with external criticism. I figure I have enough internal criticism going on I don’t need anyone else adding to it (hence why I got into mindfulness). I like when people are into what I am talking about, or they are a fan of my work, and I don’t like that feeling of judgment that I use to associate with criticism. Being a public speaker (and a new author) I am familiar with my own criticism and other people being negative, and the occasionally criticism when talking to thousands of humans a year. When I left social work to become a full time public speaker and facilitator, I noticed that my mind would automatically focus on those that I thought were not into my workshop. I noticed a) this want to win them over and b) I’d be projecting a potential argument or debate with those that are not into all things mindfulness (my main topic for training).

After some time, and many hours of talking and training humans, I realized that my mind was looking and focusing on the negative, and I was missing those positive present moments that were actually happening. I found the seed of an even a slight criticism once planted in my mind would grow and grow and grow. I would drive home from my talk replaying the workshop, or yelling at that person in my head. I realized one day that this was a waste of my energy and time. I started to then focus on those humans that wanted the information I have, and not the ones that have to be there because their boss told them to.

This same concept I use with criticism, when someone has any type of criticism, I first zoom out and look at what they are saying objectively, then I usually implement a choice point. Do I go into the basement and be mad, anger, defensive, or play should of or could of. OR can I take the stairs up and look at what can I learn from this situation or how can it make me better. This isn’t the same as ignoring the negative, or just looking for the positive in life, it’s radically acknowledging what is present and exploring how I can learn from this current situation, so that it’s will a) avoid happening again or b) so I can respond better on the future.

I’ll share one recent experience. I had this large webinar I was hosting, there was over 400 people logged in. I thought the session was going great, and 45mins in to my talk, 3 people left. I see that they left on the app I was using, and I was automatically hit with internal criticism and judgment. Those emotions then turned to anger as I cursed them in my head “well bleep you JessicaJSJ”. I then laughed (mind you this is during my talk) and thought “Mike, maybe they have a meeting, the webinar is only 60mins long, or maybe they got what they needed” but of course I added in “well maybe they don’t like this and that’s ok too” I noticed that my mind was focusing on the 3 that left and not the 397 that were still online with me in the present moment. My internal criticism is much much worst then external, and once I learned how to work and manage that, using the same tools with others has allowed me to work with less resistance, and judgment.

Children can develop the ability to respond to their emotions in a healthy way through the practice of mindfulness. Andy Gets Angry is a great introduction for children to learn a fun and simple breath technique to respond to their emotions. The beautifully hand-painted illustrations provide the perfect landscape to tell the story of Andy and his journey in learning the wonderful skill of mindfulness. Share the book with your loved ones, and help us all plant the seed to be present!

Enjoy an Excerpt

Andy has a brother, Bobby. Bobby can be pretty silly.

Andy also has a sister, Sierra, who sings all the time.

Andy loves watching funny videos, he enjoys playing some sports and he loves video games.

But sometimes, Andy gets angry!

About the Author:Mike Masse is a mindfulness consultant and public speaker who specializes in mindfulness-based stress reduction. For over a decade, he has been teaching adults, youth, and children mindfulness skills to help reduce their levels of stress and anxiety. A highly sought-after trainer, Mike facilitates workshops with educators, first responders, health care providers, and others who work in high-stress environments. Mike lives in Stratford, Ontario with his two sons and his wife.

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Why Do I Write? by Brian H. Roberts

February 28, 2022 By 20 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Brian H. Roberts will be awarding a $75 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Why Do I Write?

I first realized I had a knack for writing in my junior high creative writing class. My teacher, Joel Berman, encouraged me to focus on descriptive writing – painting a picture with words. He taught me to observe a scene with my mind’s eye and describe what I see. It’s a skill the most successful writers have all mastered.

I love thrillers. Dean Koonz, Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, Michael Crichton, Lee Child, Lisa Jackson – I can’t read enough of them. At the same time, I love hard Sci-Fi. Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert, Kim Stanley Robinson, Andy Weir. My work is a combination of the two genres – thrillers set in the near-future. I incorporate the action, suspense and surprises of the thriller genre, as I hew closely to real-world science and physics and where it will take us in the next fifteen years or so.

So how does a love for reading translate into a love of writing? All those bad guys I concoct are really just there to provide adversity for my protagonists to overcome. At my core I’m an optimist. I believe that good will always triumph – maybe not today, but it will always triumph in the end. So, I love to tell the story of the struggle of good over evil, charity over malice, concern for one’s fellow man (or woman) over selfishness, love over hate. In many ways its personally cathartic to write. And I hope, entertaining for those who read what I write. So buckle up and come along for the ride!

How do you fight a hidden adversary on Mars?

Dallas Gordon’s miners keep disappearing. Back on Earth, general Zhang Aiguo has seized control of the Chinese military and declared himself emperor. His forces have secretly dispatched to the Red Planet to plunder EPSILON’s hard-won treasure.

Time is running out. Can Dallas Gordon and the Prospector team find Zhang’s hidden bases before they are all killed?

Enjoy an Excerpt

“I’ve lost contact with Dave!”

Allie stood in the shop doorway, her eyes wide as saucers.

Dallas looked up from the shop bench, saw the panic in her eyes, and started toward the door. He briskly accompanied her to the common room.

“Tell me everything you know.”

Allie spoke in a torrent, “I compiled the latest welfare check just five minutes ago. The drill rig was still parked at Site 7. Dave and Number Two were positioned a hundred yards to the northwest of the drill rig. Dave’s heart rate, respiration and core temp were all nominal. Radio check was normal, using MGPS comm band.”

Allie sat down hard at the communication console.

“I no sooner sent the report to you and Doc when I looked up at the MGPS locator map and saw this!”

She stabbed an index finger at the display. Dallas followed her extended finger to the screen. A solid X labeled “Drill Rig” occupied the center of the screen. Three inches higher and to the left, another X was labelled “Site 7.” Other than topographic contour lines, the screen was blank.
Dallas ordered, “Show me where Dave and Number Two were located when you compiled the welfare report.”

Allie’s finger slid a few inches higher and to the left, then hovered over the X at Site 7.

About the Author:In his first life, Brian worked as a contractor and civil engineer in bustling Seattle. Desiring a change, he and his wife traded big city life for the outdoor adventures of Central Oregon. His writing draws deeply on his lifelong loves of science/technology and adventure sports. His EPSILON Sci-Fi Thriller series now boasts two novels: Red Dragon and Crimson Lucre.

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The Order of Time Series by Scott P. Southall – Q&A and Giveaway

February 24, 2022 By 9 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would we find under your bed?

“What wouldn’t you find under your bed?” That is probably a better question given the fact that it’s a king-sized bed and my wife does not like a cluttered bedroom. There is luggage under there, an extra comforter, a guitar, my wife’s wedding dress, wooden clothes hangers, and a plastic bag full of throw pillows. That’s just the stuff I can identify without a flashlight.

What was the scariest moment of your life?

I think the scariest moment in my life was the birth of my son. He was born premature and initially struggled with his breathing. It was terrifying for my wife and I to feel powerless to help someone you love so fundamentally. Luckily we had great doctors and he came through everything with flying colors. Hard to believe he is about to turn 9 now.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?

I do pop in my AirPods to help me zone out while I am writing. Most of the time it’s something mellow that serves as background noise so I don’t end up singing instead of writing. Some jazz like Janet Seidel or Melody Gardot works really well. That being said I don’t mind a little country music if I’m in the mood either. I think it must be because most country songs are little stories in themselves.

What is something you’d like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

I am planning to launch audio books next year when The Order of Time and Odin’s Door is released which I am really excited about. I initially shied away from the idea because it didn’t fit with my old school ideas of reading. While many people still gravitate towards traditional hardbacks or paperbacks, ebooks and audio books are here to stay. Audio books also make a huge amount of sense for kids while they are in the car. I would also prefer my kids to be listening to stories and stretching their imagination as opposed to watching iPads.

How long did it take you to write this book?

The first draft of The Order of Time and Odin’s Door took about eight months to write across two different blocks of time. Most of my writing happens at night after the kids are asleep which generally limits me to a maximum of two hours a night. This book started well and I knocked out the first one hundred pages pretty quickly. I hit a wall when my job responsibilities expanded and I didn’t write at all for four or five months. Once things normalized I was able to reintegrate writing into my schedule and finished the rest of the draft. Editing took another few months. End to end it was probably ten months of night time work to complete.

About the Series

Picture two twelve-year-old fraternal twins who are like night and day. She is a smart and highly organised MMA fighter. He’s not a fighter, he’s a lover of history, art and Star Wars. Despite their differences they are one formidable team. Together Anastasia and Edward Upston travel through time and navigate ancient civilisations, angry gods and mythical monsters in their quest to protect the integrity of human history.

About The Order of Time

Anastasia and Edward Upston are eleven year old twins who are different in almost every way. Despite this they are inseparable and he best of friends. They tackle the highs and lows of sixth grade together whether they are fending off bullies at the elite Blake Academy or examining rare antiquities at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Then: life gets complicated.

They discover that their friend and mentor, Dr. Gregorian, is part of a secret society called the Order of Time. It turns out that time is not fixed, it’s a fluid continuum where changes to the past can create ripples all the way through to the present. It unwittingly falls to the twins to travel back through time to ancient Egypt where they must overcome deadly assassins, evil high priests and vengeful gods in order to prevent disaster. Together Anastasia and Edward must navigate all obstacles to preserve the past and find their way back home.

About The Order of Time and Odin’s Door

The orange light bathed the snow-covered fields as the fiery globe began to dip below the horizon. It was strange that something so beautiful could signal the arrival of something so evil. One thing twelve-year-old twins Anastasia and Edward Upston knew for sure was that when mortals were caught between two bickering gods nothing good would come of it. Surviving the Viking Age may be the hardest thing they ever do, if they can…

Enjoy an Excerpt from The Order of Time

They started to leave when the room suddenly lit up with a strange purple light coming from under a closet door.

“Why is the closet glowing?” asked Edward, his voice trailing up an octave. “Maybe we should get out of here.”

“What if Dr. G’s in there? You know he always locks his door, but it was open tonight. Maybe he’s still here. He might need our help,” Anastasia said emphatically.

The light was getting brighter by the second. Now Edward could also hear a low humming noise.

“Stop being crazy, Anastasia! This is the part in the movies where you yell at the screen for the characters not to open the door. We are not going to open that door.”

“I’m not being crazy. If Dr. G is in there and needs help, we’ll never forgive ourselves.”

Edward looked at her pleadingly, but she wasn’t giving in. His shoulders slumped in defeat. Oh god, please don’t let there be a monster or anything really scary in there. Anastasia dragged him over to the closet door. The light pouring out around the cracks was incredibly bright and the humming was getting louder. She gripped the large, brass doorknob, took a breath, and opened the door.

About the Author:Scott is an American author and banking executive who lives in Sydney, Australia. He grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and attended Georgetown University. While he loves his job as a global banker, his true passion is making up stories with his children. His debut novel, The Order of Time, reached #1 in its category on Amazon and was the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Winner in the Children’s – Mythology/Fairy Tale genre.

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The Most Eligible Bride in London by Ella Quinn – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 23, 2022 By 8 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be giving away a $20 Amazon/BN Card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Love conquers even the most unlikely lord in USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s delightful Lords of London series, as a reformed rogue endeavors to prove himself worthy of his chosen bride . . .

Mistakes happen, to be sure. Rarely are those mistakes as unfortunate as the one made by Nathanael, Viscount Fotherby, when he abducted the now Lady Merton to save his friend from marriage. Nate has been trying to make amends ever since, leaving behind his self-centered ways to fulfill his duties—and that includes finding a wife of his own. One woman sparks his interest above all others—a lady he helped when she was rescuing a child. Alas, there is a devilish complication . . .

Miss Henrietta Stern, Lady Merton’s younger sister, is intrigued by the stranger who comes to her aid—until she learns his identity. Nate’s stunt could have ruined her sister’s reputation, and her family may never forgive him. With beauty, connections, and a sizeable dowry, Henrietta has plenty of admirers. Yet no other suitor quickens her pulse quite like Nate does. Her heart insists that the gentleman has changed for the better. But can a renowned scoundrel possibly prove himself to be the perfect husband?

Enjoy an Excerpt

His mother was sitting on a small sofa and a tea tray had been placed on the low table in front of it. “Fotherby, I thought you had work to do.”

“There was nothing pressing, but I realized that as soon as people know we are here, we will begin receiving invitations. And we have never discussed what I want in a wife.” He didn’t quite know how to bring up the lady he’d assisted. There was always the chance his mother knew her family. He might as well just say it. “Also, while I was at the workhouse, fetching Miss Odell and her baby, I discovered that there are charities that save children. That is something I would be interested in. Do you know any of them?”

“Please stop looming over me and have a cup of tea. We shall address the requirement of a wife first. Then I shall give some thought to the charities.” He selected a chintz-covered chair, and she handed him a cup. “What do you want in a wife?”

“I want her to be down-to-earth, intelligent, and”—he wanted to say “courageous,” but how to explain that?—“and be equal to me.” He’d seen that in the Odells and some other couples. “But not stuffy or too serious.” He wanted her to love him, not who he was. He’d heard Merton had found that and was happier for it.

“Well, that is an interesting combination.” She sipped her tea. “Do you want beauty and grace?”

A pair of light eyes—he wished he knew the color—under long, thick, black lashes passed through his mind. “Some beauty. I do like the combination of black hair and light eyes. I suppose most ladies are graceful.”

“Yes, most are.” His mother turned to her maid. “Bring me my pocketbook.” Once it was handed to her, she began making notes. “Is there anything else?”

He thought about the lady again. “Someone not in her first Season. I want someone who has maturity, if not in age, than in behavior.”

Mama drew her lips under as she wrote again. “Very well. I shall see who is here for the Season.” She put the pocketbook on a side table. “Do you know anyone who meets these criterion?”

Nate felt heat rise in his neck. “I did, in a loose meaning of the term, meet a lady.” He supposed he’d now have to tell his mother where. “When Mr. Odell was in speaking with Miss Bywater—although she is now Miss Odell—I saw a lady in need of assistance.”

His mother pursed her lips. “And you were able to render it?”

“Yes.” Damn, he never should have said anything.

“You are certain she is a lady?”

“Absolutely certain.”

Her brows rose. “And would this have anything to do with searching for a charity?”

“Er. Yes.” He downed his tea. “I believe she is working for a charity.”

“You do know that if she is working, she will not have a dowry.” Mama’s face was a mask, and he wished he knew what she was thinking. Still, he did not think she disapproved.

“That does not matter to me. What I want is a lady of character and compassion.” After all, he was the one who would have to live with her.

She met his gaze and seemed to study him for a long few moments. Finally she nodded. “Very well. I shall make inquiries. I hope for your sake that she is a lady.”

“She is a lady.” He almost growled the words. He did not have to hope at all. He, like everyone else, knew when a female was a lady. Nate rose. “I am well acquainted with the breed. I’ll see you in the drawing room.”

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side (political science professor and lawyer). Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of almost fourty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, a Great Dane named Lilibet, and a cat named Winnie. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true lived on sailboat for three years. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She’s currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement. She expects to be back on the boat in 2022.

Ella loves when readers connect with her.

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The Lady’s Hand by Bobbi Smith – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 22, 2022 By 8 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bobbi Smith will be awarding a $10 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.

Unlucky At Cards…

Cool-headed and ravishingly beautiful, Brandy O’Neill knew how to hold her own with the riverboat gamblers on The Pride of New Orleans. But she met her match in Rafe Morgan when she bet everything she had on three queens and discovered the wealthy plantation owner had a far-from-gentlemanly notion of how she should make good on her wagers.

Lucky In Love…

Disillusioned with romance, Rafe wanted a child of his own to care for, without the complications of a woman to break his heart. Now, a full house had given him just the opportunity he was looking for – he would force the lovely cardsharp to marry him and give him a child before he’d set her free. But a hot wedding night and a glimpse into Brandy’s tender heart soon made Rafe realize he’d been luckier than he’d ever imagined when he won… The Lady’s Hand.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Have you been to the bar yet?” one of the men sharing their dinner table on The Pride of New Orleans asked Rafe and Marc as they finished eating.

“No, not yet,” Rafe answered.

“You’re in for a treat then,” the man told him.

“What kind of treat?”

“You’ll get to meet Brandy tonight.”

“Who’s Brandy?” Marc asked.

“You haven’t heard about Miss Brandy, the best poker player on the Mississippi?” he said with a grin. “I lost about two hundred dollars to her last night.”

“And you’re smiling?” Rafe was surprised by his attitude. Most men didn’t like to lose.

“You’ll have to meet her before you’ll understand.”

“She sounds interesting.”

“Brandy’s more than interesting. Why don’t you come down to the bar with us now? She should be there.”

Rafe and Marc agreed, thinking they would enjoy a good poker game tonight.

“There’s a mystery about Brandy,” the man said. “Very little is known about her past. Many men have tried to convince her to do more than gamble with them, but Brandy remains aloof. She refuses all advances.”

Rafe was intrigued, and when they entered the bar, they found a group of men standing around a table in the back of the room.

“She’s here,” the man pointed out.

They made their way over to stand by the table, and Rafe and Marc understood immediately what the other man had been saying. It was no wonder men didn’t mind losing to her. Brandy was beautiful enough to distract even the most accomplished poker player.

About the Author: After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore, Bobbi gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in 1982.

Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and 6 novellas. To date, there are more than five million copies of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic Times Storyteller Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List, the USA Today Best Seller List and the Wal-Mart Best Seller List.

The rights to Ms. Smith’s books have been sold to China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Russia and Sweden. Bobbi has also written two faith-based contemporary novels – Haven and Miracles – using the pseudonym, Julie Marshall.

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Top Five Things Literary Fiction Must Have by S.S. Turner – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 22, 2022 By 10 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Top Five Things Literary Fiction Must Have

Here’s my top list of five literary fiction must-haves:

1) Compelling characters – Good characters are important in all genres but I believe they are particularly important in literary fiction because there aren’t as many smoke and mirrors to play with. I liken literary fiction to Acapulco singing in that there generally isn’t a murder, romance, or political scandal to center the story around. As a result, the characters need to carry more than their fair share of the reader’s interest.

2) Multiple layers to the story – One of my favorite literary fiction novels is Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. It’s a great example of a multi-layered story which the reader can interpret as they see fit. For me, this is why literary fiction is such an exciting storytelling genre. They enter the novel’s world and then choose how to read the book. It’s a far more fulfilling reading experience than a more prescriptive genre.

3) Strong voice – A strong voice is equally important as compelling characters, and is equally exposed in a literary fiction novel. Some would argue the main reason The Catcher in the Rye is such a compelling read is because of the unique and memorable narrator’s voice. As you read the novel, you feel as though the narrator is sitting next to you as he tells you his most heartfelt truths and secrets. It’s a great example of how a strong voice can make a literary fiction novel great.

4) Unique/different storylines – Literary fiction travels where the other genres don’t or won’t go. This presents a wonderful freedom for writers to create truly unique and different storylines which inspire and challenge their readers. Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a great example of a unique storyline which takes the reader to a place they’ve never visited before.

5) A reason to read through to the end – Without an unsolved murder mystery or the like to maintain a reader’s interest all the way through to the end of the book, good literary fiction novels give their readers a compelling reason to make the full reading journey. Whether it be a mysterious character with a dubious motive, a journey which needs to be completed, or a relationship which needs to be healed, readers deserve a reason to make it to the end.

As Freddy gazes at the majestic river gushing past him in the depths of a Scottish winter, he’s ready to jump in and end his life. But what happens next is not what Freddy expects. From the moment he enters the river, Freddy starts a journey which is more beautiful, funny, and mysterious than he could have imagined. And through this journey Freddy’s story becomes interweaved with a cast of unforgettable characters who are equally lost and in search of answers. Eventually they all unite in their quest for an answer to the biggest question of them all: will the river take them where they want to go?

In the tradition of inspirational works of fiction like The Alchemist and Life of Pi, Secrets of a River Swimmer is at once a profound exploration into living with meaning and an affecting story of people on the cusp of change.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I dip my toe in.

It’s f****** freezing.

I sit and watch the majestically sinister Scottish river hurtle along below me. I’m not sure whether to be in awe or terrified, but that was always going to be the case today, my last day. The idea of jumping into the river reminds me of the feeling you experience when you arrive at the beach, and you’re thinking about jumping into the sea, but you know it’s going to cause you grievous bodily harm from your nether regions up. For some reason, your legs are the one part of your body which can handle intense cold without too much stress. But all body parts above your legs are a whole different story. My voice just rose an octave, and I’m not even talking.

So you sit and watch the sea while contemplating your next move, as if this thinking time will give you the required mental strength to leap into the cold blue water. However, this thinking time just gives the water an opportunity to look you in the eye with laughing menace, because the water knows the questions you are grappling with deep in your soul. The water understands it is strong and you are weak—the eternal power imbalance at play.

The waiting period only makes it worse, of course. All it does is allow you to hand more mental power over to the cold water than a short and simple jumping-in maneuver would have done. Why do we employ such counter-productive strategies in our lives?

About the Author:S.S. Turner has been an avid reader, writer, and explorer of the natural world throughout his life which has been spent in England, Scotland and Australia. Just like Freddy in his first novel, Secrets of a River Swimmer, he worked in the global fund management sector for many years but realized it didn’t align with his values. In recent years, he’s been focused on inspiring positive change through his writing as well as trying not to laugh in unfortunate situations. He now lives in Australia with his wife, daughter, two dogs, two cats, and ten chickens.

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On Character Creation by Henry Mitchell – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 21, 2022 By 9 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Henry Mitchell will be awarding a $25 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.

On Character Creation

I am convinced that I don’t create my characters. I firmly believe they existed with their own lives and stories before we ever met on the pages of a first draft. They all seem to resemble people I know, but they always have some surprising quality I never expected when I began to write them. One shouldn’t rush one’s characters as they begin to reveal themselves. If you will allow yourself time to get to know them, with all their gifts and flaws, they will show you the story you are trying to write.

The first character in a new story, at least, the one I begin with, is a place. I do a lot of scene setting in the first draft, which gets pruned mercilessly in succeeding iterations, but that is where I find my character. What sort of setting is this? What sort of place? What kind of character would be living here? What would they be doing in such a place as this? Where will they find their pain and their joy?

Once you see your first character, you just follow along and try not to interfere. They will show you where to go, where the story lies, what are the issues that lead to crisis and resolution. Don’t put words into your character’s mouth. Listen to them. Befriend them, even (and especially) the ones you don’t particularly like. They will tell you what they need to do and want to say.

Over five novels and two collections of short stories, I’ve acquired a little company of characters who travel with me from book to book, answering to different names and wearing different costumes according to the occasion, like a touring theatrical troupe. Readers are sometimes surprised to recognize them from a former encounter in an earlier story, and greet them like old friends -which they are.

An adult fairytale about a girl who might know how to fly, a neurobotanist who might be a dragon, an innkeeper who might be a machine and a politician who might be the antichrist.

Millicent McTeer grows to adulthood in Ashton, an Appalachian tourist town, convinced she knows how to fly. With a new president in power, the life Millicent knew changes. The government has spies on every corner, coercing citizens to follow the new order. As the country descends into anarchy, Millicent is drawn into political activism by her professor and becomes an exile.

In the Laurel Creek Containment District, separated from the chaos of the Atlantic American Republic, she finds a new life. As she develops her unique abilities and leads the exiles, incursions from the outside world threaten to destroy the tranquil life they have built together. Will Millicent reclaim her reality and discover the peace that has eluded her?

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Do you have wings, Dad?”

“Sure I do. Runs in the family.”

“So, why don’t you ever fly?”

Joshua shot her a convincingly wistful glance. “Grownups aren’t allowed to fly in this country, Angel. Otherwise, on special occasions, like birthdays, I just might.”

“That would be showing off,” said Millicent, affecting her mother’s stern expression.

“I suppose it would, but that didn’t stop you trying, did it?”

Millicent couldn’t summon a proper retort, stared intently at the road ahead.

Joshua rescued her from silence. “Anyway, grownups can’t fly, except on airplanes. It’s the law.”

“Then, I don’t want to grow up,” declared Millicent. “Ever.”

“I truly hope you don’t,” said her father, watching the truck in front of them turn without flashing a signal. “I hope that when you become a woman grown and strong, you are still my little girl inside.”

Millicent found no more words to say over the next two blocks until they turned onto McTeer Street. Ahead, she could see Hillhaven, the inn that had been run by their family ever since her great-grandmother Alice inherited it from her employer and life-long friend, who had no family of her own to whom she could pass it on.

“Will you always be my dad?” Millicent asked, gazing up at her father, who kept his eyes on his road.

“I’ll always be your dad, Angel,” he said. “Ever and ever amen.”

That sounded to her like an impossible promise. “Even when you are dead and gone?” she asked, using a phrase she’d overheard from one of the guests at the inn.

“Nobody’s ever dead and gone, Angel.”

About the Author:Henry Mitchell reads and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

He has written five novels and two collections of short stories.

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