How I Made My Ideal Writing Space by Nessa Claugh – Guest Blog and Giveaway

December 2, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nessa Claugh 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.

I Made My Ideal Writing Space

Having a writing space can be an absolute luxury, and I’m extraordinarily lucky that my house has a weird tiny room that I was able to convert into an office. For me, an ideal writing space has to be quiet, and having a door that closes can do that. I’ve written in long closets or my car before to get some peace, so I know you have to make do with what words for you. My office shares a wall with my bathroom and closet, so the only time I get any noise in there is when someone is using the shower.

Some people prefer a minimalist office space with no distractions, but my office is really the only place I have to store the books and some of the art/posters I’ve picked up over the years. I try to stick with pieces that get my imagination going, so I have a large framed Dinotopia print repping my love for fantasy (and the weredinosaurs from my DINOSAUR SHIFTER ISLAND series), a few prints from Chad Wehle, and a set of science fiction concept art canvas prints. A few other pieces of art stick out; a Frankenstein quote, a poster from the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, and prints and originals from R. Wayt Smith.

I built my computer myself and keep it very organized so I’m not getting distracted by a bunch of random stuff on my desktop. The lights on the keyboard and interior of the case let me change the lighting to suit my mood, which is kind of fun depending on the scene I’m writing.

I keep a number of reference books on general writing and research I’ve had to do for different projects, and I might be a little bit of a book hoarder.

One thing that’s also helped with keeping a good writing space is minimizing everything that could be a distraction while I’m trying to write. Social media and the internet are great things for research purposes, but they can also be huge distractions. Free programs like Cold Turkey can shut out access to every other program on the computer until you reach your word count. It’s mean, but it works. If that makes you anxious, you can use an application like Write or Die, which tries to eliminate writer’s block by providing consequences and rewards.

Music also helps set the mood. Whether you’re using a surround sound speaker system, headphones, or just a pair of desktop speakers, having the right musical ambiance can really help get the creative juices flowing. I prefer music from Spotify that either doesn’t feature English so I’m not getting caught up in the lyrics or something completely instrumental. They have a lot of curated options, so whether you’re looking for space synthwave for writing those nifty galactic exploration scenes, bedroom music to match those sultry scenes that may not actually be taking place in a bedroom, or explosive background music for those fast-paced chase scenes, it’s a free option that can help you really sink into the scene.

How you set up your writing space is up to you. Whether you’re frantically scribbling words on a notepad in your car on your lunch break, settling into your job as a full time writer in your office at home, or like me you’re sneaking words into a Google Doc while trying to maintain your day job, the important thing is that you’re writing. You’re creating stories, and only you know what’s going to work for you. So play music or write in silence. Handwrite in a notebook, type in Google Docs, or write in Vellum.

Just write.


‘Your dad invited your ex-boyfriend.’ Already committed to going home for Hanukkah, Leah panics at her mother’s text and invites her crush to come with her. The catch? They aren’t dating. The other catch? He isn’t Jewish. He isn’t even human.

Knar has been studying the physiology of humans for years in preparation to introduce Earth to the rest of the galaxy and present them as a species that can adapt to change well. Although he believes in his mission, he’s also had his eye on his coworker Leah, and her invitation to come home with her for the holidays is just the opportunity he’s been looking for.

Going home for Hanukkah is normally the least of Leah’s worries until her mom lets it slip that her dad invited her ex-boyfriend. Desperate to keep him at arm’s length, Leah invites her handsome coworker Kenneth Knar to be a buffer against her family. Having to pretend he’s her new boyfriend doesn’t hurt, and if it annoys her parents, all the better.

He just has to find some way to tell her that he’s more than just a gentile. He’s not even from this planet. And Leah hates liars.

The menorah isn’t the only thing getting hot this holiday season…

Enjoy an Excerpt

Leah finally came into the kitchen. “You made him lunch? Mom! I was going to take him out to Bernie’s!”

“Bernie’s closed a while ago,” her mother said. “Besides, it looks like you feed him plenty at home.”

She poked my deltoid and Leah blushed. “It’s not like he’s hard to cook for,” she said defensively. “Really? Bernie’s closed?”

“Last year,” Deborah said. “If you’d come home more you could have eaten there more before they shut down.”

Leah’s shoulders tightened, and I was starting to see what she’d meant about needing a buffer between her and her family. I’d gotten what she’d promised and more. Time to go to work.

“We have plenty of good restaurants in Kansas,” I said, hoping it would be enough to change the subject. “No food like this, but I’m sure there is food we can get there that we can’t find here.”

“Nothing like Kansas barbecue,” Leah said.

Deborah’s lips thinned. “You aren’t eating pork.” It was a statement and she stared at
Leah as though begging her to argue.

“You know barbecue isn’t just pig, right Mom?” she asked.

Diversion time. I started listing off all the animals you could barbecue, and by the time I got to what I’d read about the invasive reptiles in Florida, both Leah and her mother were suitably horrified to the point where we were off the topic of Leah’s lack of visits and whether she’d eaten pork in Kansas or not.

About the Author: Nessa grew up thriving on trips to natural history museums and Jurassic Park. Once adulthood was upon her, it was only a matter of time before she discovered dominant aliens and shifter erotica. She enjoys titillating the Triassic and stargazing.

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Five to Ten Musts Every Story in My Genre Should Have by Mark M. Bello – Guest Blog and Giveaway

December 1, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Mark M. Bello 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.

Five to Ten Musts Every Story in My Genre Should Have

Good legal thrillers usually feature a ‘David v. Goliath’ plot. Thus, first and foremost, especially for the first novel, the writer needs a flawed but valiant legal ‘David. In my first novel, Betrayal of Faith, Zachary Blake was the perfect protagonist, talented, but lost his way, looking for the big case that would bail him out of his current situation. The phone rings . . .
The second ‘must’ is an antagonist, a ‘Goliath’ villain. Zachary Blake has taken on an evil church and its clandestine ‘clean-up crew’ in Betrayal of Faith., a white supremacist an evil president of the United States in Betrayal of Justice and Betrayal in Blue, A racist police department in Betrayal in Black, a greedy black market gun manufacturer in Betrayal High, an evil (perhaps the most evil villain I’ve created) judge, a candidate for the United States Supreme Court who will do anything to secure the nomination in Supreme Betrayal, and the United States immigration and foreign policy systems in Betrayal at the Border, my latest Zachary Blake social justice legal thriller.

There must be a time element—it does not have to be a ‘race against time,’ but there must be pressure to complete the task. For my books, A compelling legal/justice issue is necessary, one for which Zack faces a potential court challenge. Finally, there should be an unexpected ‘twist.’ I don’t want my novels to be too predictable.

In Betrayal at the Border, attorney Zachary Blake returns to tackle two cases that strike at the heart of our nation’s contentious immigration debate.

In Riverview, Michigan, undocumented immigrants Miguel and Mary Carmen Gonzalez are determined to realize the American dream. They find jobs at a local filler plant, have children, and lead an all-American life, that is until ICE raids their plant . . .

Canan and Karim Izady are naturalized citizens of the United States. They have immigrated legally from Kurdistan and have an American born daughter, Hana. Unable to persuade her mother to follow the young family to America, Canan and Hana travel to an ISIS hotbed so the child may meet her grandmother for the first time. With the war over, what could possibly go wrong?

Two unique immigrant families, two uniquely dangerous consequences of America’s dysfunctional immigration system. Enter Zachary Blake, superstar lawyer.

But, for the first time in a long time, Blake is out of his element—immigration law calls for the expertise of his specialist/partner, Marshall Mann. Together, two extraordinary lawyers take on a terrorist network and a broken immigration system. And master investigator Micah Love returns, racing against the clock to prevent tragic circumstances. In our politically charged, anti-immigrant international climate, will a Hail Mary be their only move?

Award-winning legal thriller author, Mark M. Bello, pits our nation’s broken immigration system against important human and social justice rights issues, spinning a tale that shines a bright light on the everyday fears of immigrants all over these United States. Can Blake, Mann, and Love prevent a Betrayal at the Border?

Enjoy an Excerpt

The Gonzalez children were both born in Lincoln Park. The city was a part of the Downriver Community, southwest of Detroit. Their little three-bedroom bungalow was the only home they had ever known. In a city of approximately 37,000, only 20% were of Latino descent, nearly a 50% increase since 2010.

Emma and Emilio’s parents, Mary Carmen and Miguel Gonzalez, immigrated to Lincoln Park in 2011 when Mary Carmen was pregnant with Emma. Papa found a job, mixing compounds at an adhesive and filler plant in nearby Riverview. Emma was born soon after her parents moved into the house. Two years later, her little brother was born.

When they were old enough to be placed in daycare, Mama secured a job at the same filler plant as her father. The two siblings depended on each other. They were attached at the hip until Emma was old enough to go to Kindergarten. It was a very traumatic time for Emilio. He started behaving as if his sister died.

Emma promised to play with him after school, but Emilio carried on to the point where Emma pushed back and refused to go to school. Promises of candy and ice cream after Mama got home from work finally persuaded both children to go separate ways. As time went on, they adapted to the new routine.

Two years later, Emilio started Kindergarten, and all was forgotten—the siblings were reunited at Raupp Elementary School. Both children spoke fluent Spanish and English and did well in school. The children were now entering fourth and second grade, respectively, and thriving.

The Gonzalez children made friends easily and were well-liked in the school. Emma and Emilio were Americans. Although Mama taught them Venezuelan games and customs and tried to convey a sense of their Latino heritage, the kids had experienced life in no other country but America. They spoke fluent English, celebrated the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving, and proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Emma collected dolls while Emilio collected baseball cards—he worshipped Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers and treasured his 2012 Cabrera Triple Crown card. Emma and Emilio did everything other American children did.

Their parents were determined to raise them in America, with American values and an American education. They dreamt of a better life, with higher education and, perhaps, affluence for their children. But these dreams were clouded by a secret reality—the Gonzalez family, as ‘American’ as they appeared, protected an important family secret, far more important than the Frozen game. This one could derail all of their dreams.

Emma and Emilio were taught to be careful and quiet, even though they didn’t understand why this was a big deal. But they knew Mama and Papa feared their secret would one day be discovered. Their parents’ fear was so intense; Emma and Emilio were frightened too.

Emma was conflicted. Mama once taught her that telling and keeping secrets was bad. She shouldn’t tease her little brother by telling him she knew something he didn’t know. She shouldn’t keep things from her friends, and, most of all, she shouldn’t keep any secrets from Mama and Papa. So, why was this secret okay?

Mama carefully explained the delicate situation to her children: She and Miguel came into the country legally but stayed longer than they were welcome. As a result, Mama and Papa were not citizens and did not have the protection some of their friends’ parents had. They could be picked up by the police at any time, put in jail, and even sent back to Venezuela, where conditions were terrible, especially for people who ran away and were later returned by government mandate. It didn’t matter if their minor children were citizens. If the family secret were discovered, her mother decried, it could mean hasta la vista, forever.

The threat of permanent separation from her parents terrified Emma. A secret preventing her from losing them, perhaps forever, was one worth keeping. Emilio was too young to understand, but Emma made him pinky swear to silence.

About the Author As an attorney and civil justice advocate, author Mark M. Bello draws upon over 40 years of courtroom experience in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series.
A Michigan native, Mark received his B.A. in English Literature from Oakland University and his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. After working extremely high-profile legal cases, Mark wanted to give the public a front-row glimpse of what victims face when standing up for justice.

Combining his legal experience and passion for justice with a creative writing style, Mark not only brings high-quality legal services to his clients but captivating novels to his readers.

When Mark’s not writing legal and political novels, he writes and posts about fairness and justice in the civil justice system on his website, Legal Examiner and NotFakeNews. In his spare time, Mark enjoys traveling and spending time with his family. Mark and his wife, Tobye, have four children and 8 grandchildren.

For more information about Mark, please click here.

Mark loves hearing from his readers!

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Research for the Book by Pam Vivian – Guest Blog and Getaway

December 1, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pam Vivian will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****

I put a lot of research into my book “Low Sodium Cooking from the Heart”. It began with gathering ideas for recipes and picking some that could be adjusted to be low sodium. The biggest recipe challenge was the cakes. Cake recipes use salt to rise and make them light and fluffy. I came up with an alternative using eggs differently.

Once I had my recipes together I rented an app to calculate the sodium in each recipe. There are some free ones now but I could not find any when I needed it.

My next step was to get input from experts in the field. I sent my book out to the University of Alberta to one of our leading Hepatologists and Gastroenterologists. She thought it was amazing and is currently setting up a clinic based on nutrition as well as an app for liver disease. She has asked to use some of the recipes for this. The other people consulted on this were the nutrition researchers and nutritionists at the Canadian Liver Foundation. They gave a thumbs up to the book also and inserted a page discussing liver disease and the importance of limiting daily sodium intake. I was asked to participate in a teaching video for liver disease and the Neurologist I worked with on the video was very enthusiastic about the cookbook and one of the first in line to purchase one upon publication.

My wish is that everyone who purchases the cookbook “Low Sodium Cooking from the Heart” enjoys cooking and eating the recipes included in it as much as I do.

Low sodium cooking including family favourites. I have tried to include interesting little bits of the history of recipes or whose favourite it is. The book contains recipes from basic daily meals to a few gourmet ones.

Enjoy an Excerpt

It is quite shocking to be given the news that you have hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver. Yes, you know you have not been feeling up to snuff lately: tired, lethargic, not sleeping well and your stomach has been a little off but nothing you feel you should really go and bother your doctor about. Doesn’t everyone go through these stages once in a while?

Then all of a sudden your belly swells and there is a war going on in there and off to Emergency you go. Next comes the diagnosis of hepatitis C and cirrhosis.

After that, all chaos breaks out in your body. For those that also suffer with this and are wondering what symptoms other people have, the following are some of mine:

Inability to think

Pain in muscles, joints and bones

Dizziness and poor balance

Reduced vision

Hair loss

Terrible skin and nails

Itchy skin and stinging red spots

Muscle cramps and twitching

Restless legs

Shaky

Weight loss

Not sleeping

Extreme tiredness

No energy

Cold

Inflammation especially in pelvic area at night

Upset and very noisy stomach (Oh the agony sometimes, sharp pains, dull ache, etc.)

Nausea and vomiting

Fluid retention and swelling

Memory loss – forget people, places and thing.

The whole world revolving when you lay flat in bed – holding on so you don’t fall off.

About the Author Although I have spent my life working in business management and finance the things I love to do are cook, bake and quilt.

Health conscious cookbook author. Read her new book “Low Sodium Cooking From the Heart” Now available on Amazon & Indigo.

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Promising Love by Sara Ohlin – Spotlight and Giveaway

December 1, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sara Ohlin will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN 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 a glamorous spa owner seduces the grumpy neighborhood bartender, passion smolders…
Ruby Naylor, confident, successful proprietor of Spa La La, has been crushing on Lachlan MacGregory for ages and finally throws herself at the grumpy bartender as he’s helping her tipsy butt home to her apartment above his pub.

Ruby is the only woman Lachlan has ever loved—from afar. When she makes a pass, he finally admits he’s wanted her for a long time. He leaves her that night with three promises—a kiss, a special connection between them and an epic tomorrow.

Unfortunately, when tomorrow arrives and Lachlan is smacked with the knowledge that she’s already in a relationship with two men, he feels he has nothing to offer her.

His day gets worse when his addict father is on his doorstep again, demanding money. The thought that he could end up sick and miserable like his father eats at Lachlan, making him focus on what has never let him down, his successful pub in the burgeoning Corvallis neighborhood.

Learning that Ruby is not taken, Lachlan finally goes all out to win her back. With his heartfelt apology, it’s easy for Ruby to forgive him—she believes in joy, in romance, in happy ever after. What she never expected was how vulnerable Lachlan could make her feel.

Can their love withstand life-shattering events to lead them into a beautiful future?

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Beautiful, I want that.” His voice was rough with need and it gave her a shiver to know she did that to him. “But not on Detective Naylor’s couch.”

Stunned for only a second at the last words she expected to come out of his mouth, Ruby burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. Lachlan rocked them together.

“Love that sound.”

“Oh my goodness, are we sixteen just waiting to get caught?”

“You think this is funny?”

“Uhm, hilarious. I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you to kiss me and do all the other amazing things. And we’re adults, but we’re getting blocked by my dad who isn’t even here.” The laughter poured out of her. Her energy needed an outlet and apparently it wasn’t going to happen how she imagined it right this minute.

“A lifetime, huh?” Lachlan’s deep, soft voice was a stroke against her skin.

“Yeah,” she whispered.

“I’ve been waiting too.” He brushed his fingers through her hair, following their path with his eyes. Pensive eyes. Tired eyes. Ruby noticed the little details. “I can keep waiting.”

“Me too,” she said, resigned but still in a happy place, lost in him.

“Waiting sucks,” he said. And his pout was so darn cute.

“Yeah.” Ruby chuckled again. “But this sure is nice.”

“Mmm. Maybe you could do that thing to my head again with your hands. Felt damn good.”

Her smile was automatic. It felt amazing taking care of this man. Ruby ran her hands through his hair and kneaded his scalp with her fingers, stroking once in a while with her nails. Soothing, deepening, then soothing again. It was only a few minutes before his breathing changed and his weight settled. Her hottie was asleep. Oh, you precious man.

“Best kiss ever,” she whispered as he slept beside her.

About the Author: Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love, Seducing the Dragonfly, Igniting Love, Flirting with Forever and Promising Love.

She has over sixteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, Under the Gum Tree, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.

If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story. She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart.

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Shattered by C. Lee McKenzie – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 30, 2021 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C. Lee McKenzie 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.

Courage put Libby Brown into the final selection for the Olympics, but betrayal crushed her spine and her chance at the Gold. Now she has two choices, use her courage to put her life back together, or remain shattered forever.

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I knew hearts didn’t stop beating until you died, yet I was certain mine had just stuttered to a halt. I couldn’t breathe. My lungs refused to expand. My throat went dry. I’d planned most of my life for this one year. I’d worked out, built my strength, gone to ski camps, kept at it until I’d made it through the selection process—until I’d almost made the US Olympic slalom team. I had my passport. I’d packed my bags weeks ago. Now, my mother was telling me I couldn’t do what I’d lived for all these years?

My heart kicked in and air filled my chest. “Shut up! Shut up!” In my mind, I screamed, but that’s not the way I heard my voice. Shut up sounded like a whimper.

“Libby, stop.” Dad was back, his hand on my shoulder, his face filled with pain. “Please, stop.”

His calm presence and the terrible sound of his plea brought me up short.

I gulped back the ragged clutch that filled my throat. “Why? Why can’t I ski with my team?” Then I glanced down. Mom was lying across the foot of the bed. She was lying across my legs, and I didn’t feel the weight of my mother’s body.

About the Author:

I’m someone in love with the English language…well, any language for that matter. How did we decided to use words, intonation, structures to communicate? Does our language come from our culture or does our culture come from our language? I love to drive people nuts with questions like this.

I have a background in Linguistics and Inter-Cultural Communication, but these days my greatest passion is writing for young readers. My young adult novels are Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative, Sudden Secrets, and now Shattered, A Story of Betrayal and Courage. Sometimes I write Middle Grade Fantasy and have four of those stories published.

When I’m not writing I’m hiking or traveling or practicing yoga or asking a lot questions about things I still don’t understand–like what is language anyway?

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A DAY WITH DANNI – Behind the scenes by Danni Maynard – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 29, 2021 By 6 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Danni Maynard will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A DAY WITH DANNI – Behind the scenes

These past few months weren’t typical for me, but have since become my norm. I’m involved in a film production promoting women in aviation. This also means I’m in another state in Australia and am away for my kids. It’s really hard being so far from them.

Each morning I get ready and head out to the air field for a day of flying. I arrive at the airfield, log into work via my laptop, complete 1-2 meetings and then go for an hours flight. I come back, complete more work, have lunch, fly again, come back in and have a brief break. Up next I do some filming (I get filmed discussing my flight and thoughts about it), then log into work and have another meeting or so. I try and get 2-3 flights done each day. Then rinse and repeat the next day. In between this routine I mark student assignments and complete a bit of research for my own studies.

My work ethic has been instilled in me from an early age from my mum. She worked, studied and brought up two kids on her own. I am now trying to share the same lessons with my kids.
My kids don’t seem to understand what all the fuss is about. My brother, their uncle is a pilot, and so are a lot of my friends. Flying seems common, the norm for my kids. Whereas back when I was their age and even into my early 20’s it was an amazing past time/occupation. Not everyone did it. It was viewed as some form of elitism. I suppose it’s a generational thing and seeing my mum bring up two kids on her own, work and study wasn’t the norm yet it seemed that way for me and my brother.

The film production I’m involved in shares the message that there are some fantastic women in aviation. We aim to normalise the industry and bring awareness to some fantastic back stories of hard times and self struggles yet still achieve our aviation dreams. The little girl in my story “You Can Do Anything” dreams of also one day becoming a pilot, among many other things! “It is great to be a girl in the world of today, I can be anything and I still get to play.”

The most inspiring people in the world started with a dream that a lot of other people thought wasn’t possible. By setting their minds to something and working hard, they proved that their dream was achievable. Dream big and be what you want to be.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Last night I had a dream of all the things I could be:
a pilot, a lawyer, and a captain at sea.
In my dream was my brother, he was there too.
He was a dancer, a nurse and a vet at the zoo.
My mum told me, when Great-Grandma was small,
boys only did boys things and girls couldn’t at all.

About the Author: Danni Maynard grew up dreaming big and wanting to break the stereotype of what women were ‘meant’ to be. She is a lecturer in aviation, a pilot and is working towards her doctorate in, you guessed it, aviation. Danni is still dreaming and has turned her attention to encouraging young minds of today to dream along with her. She is a strong believer in supporting kids to pursue their passions no matter what the world tells them they can or cannot do.

She brings this passion to her daily life as a mother of three amazing children who are constantly reminded that they are allowed to imagine a life that encompasses fantasies, aspirations and ambitions. This attitude to life was shaped by her mum, who is a powerful and supportive role model in Danni’s life and sculpted her to be an independent and strong-minded thinker. Danni also dedicates time to Women in Aviation – Australian Chapter to educate and inspire young girls about the fascinating industry that is aviation and the opportunities it presents to women.

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Bite Me for Christmas by Megan Slayer – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 29, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan Slayer will be awarding a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

He came to her in a dream, but he’s more like a nightmare in tight jeans, and she wants a taste.

Rachael isn’t good at magic, and she’s not versed in life, but this witch wants to lay her hands on the sexy vampire who’s come to her in her dreams. Can she have her Christmas wish — the vampire?

Gavin wants the witch, but he doesn’t believe he’s worthy of her. Part of him wants to devour her magic and save himself, but what if being saved doesn’t involve dying?

Anything is possible with a little Christmas magic.

Enjoy an Excerpt

All he wanted was to be sexy enough to draw her to him and gain her attention. As he adjusted his jacket, a scroll appeared on his dresser.
He unrolled the page and read the distinctive scrawl.

Gavin,

You are in a unique position to fulfill Rachael’s desires. You are also in the position to destroy her. She has the magic to restore your humanity. The choice and her life are in your hands.

Go to her, but choose wisely.

Give her the Christmas she deserves and have a Merry Christmas yourself. You deserve it.

Santa

Well, drat. The old coot had shown up and found a way to push him toward Rachael. He didn’t need much encouragement, but still. Santa had given him a nudge.

He already liked what he saw in her from her dreams, and she had a sweet demeanor. In person, she might be dull, but he had a plan. He’d make her fall for him through his vampire allure, then devour her.

He smoothed his shirt, then ignored the scroll. He might be attracted to her, but he was still a messed-up son of a gun. He wasn’t nice.

He killed for sport.

He ate when the mood struck.

He’d lost his humanity.

Besides, he didn’t believe in Christmas. Santa be damned. Christmas was just another day.

Nothing special and certainly not the time to find redemption.

Not at all.

He hated Christmas, but Santa and Krampus wanted him to give the witch a night to remember.

Fine.

He’d go.

©Megan Slayer, 2021, All Rights Reserved

About The Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

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How to Reclaim Who You Really Are? by Brenda Billings Ridgley – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 26, 2021 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Read our review of this book here.

Brenda Billings Ridgley will be awarding a Cape Diablo wrap bracelet and a $25 Amazon Gift Card (US ONLY) 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 Reclaim Who You Really Are?

Have you ever felt like you have given yourself away? You have given so much to your families, and careers and after years of doing so you no longer know you own identity outside of mother, wife, and profession? Hou have given up your own hobbies, interests, and activities. Your friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. How does one reclaim who they really are and fill the empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere?

About five years ago I went through this identity crisis as my oldest child was approaching his senior year in high school. With his imminent departure for college, and soon to follow suit, my youngest daughter, I realized life as I knew it was about to change forever. At the time, the thought was almost terrifying. For the next year, I resisted this inevitable outcome as I desperately created and clung to every mom-ment I could. Who was I going to be without my dominant role and label – MOM? In addition to that, I had been experiencing a kind of “funk” for a few years. Although my life looked great from the outside, I had this gnawing feeling in my gut that something was missing.

I am grateful to have had a few friendships in my life at that time, but I realized those relationships had been neglected. I needed relationships with people who didn’t NEED anything from me! I needed these women now more than ever and committed to intentionally connecting on a regular basis. As these connections were fortified over the next few years, this companionship and sense of belonging eased the sting of my chicks launching their adult lives and helped me launch the next chapter of mine.

Lady and the Tribe was inspired by these events and in honor of my “besties” who I call Tribe. I wanted to share my journey and help women connect on a deeper more meaningful level with other women. Connection is the key to joy and becoming whole.

As I wrote the book, I dug in deep, read every friendship book I could get my hands on, and did lots of research on loneliness. That empty feeling in my gut that was filled by deepening relationships was called loneliness. I was living to be of service to others and their interests but not at all connected to my own. I was surrounded by people and responsibilities yet felt detached, not understood, and emotionally isolated.

Lady and the Tribe is about the woman and her inner circle of friendships. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, counselors, and always in our corner. They are the branches of our individual “Tree of Life” lifting and supporting us so we can flourish. Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life… with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. The book shares how to find, nurture and deepen friendships creating a Tribe culture. We can become whole again through connection. Whether you already have strong friendships or are starting from scratch, I invite you to join us! If you would like to learn more about the book visit LadyandtheTribe.com. There you can sign up to start your own Tribe Inner Circle and receive Tribe-building tips. When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

All my love,
Brenda Billings Ridgley

Wives, mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants, weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere? The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

We can become whole again through the power of connection.

When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Today, a dichotomy exists between our concurrent hyper connectedness—the immediate and ongoing ability to check up on faraway friends via social media—and our elevated sense of emotional alienation. Add to that, we as a culture are so focused on career success, financial accomplishments, and family milestones that we often lack the time and energy to connect with others beyond those arenas. Despite being surrounded by people, places and things, somehow we are left feeling alone. We are not alone because we lack relationships. We are alone because these relationships lack depth, knowledge, and certainty. In his column, “Loneliness is Killing Us,” George Monbiot suggests that, much as we labeled the Stone Age, Iron Age, Space Age, and Information Age, this era will be called “The Age of Loneliness.”

Almost without noticing, we have distanced ourselves from the people who choose to love us without obligation. These closest personal friendships are ever present—yet do not demand our time. They are an advocate in our corner, mirroring back to us who we really are. This neglect is not without a price. We must actively seek, grow, and maintain these relationships. If we fail, we won’t just lose a friend—we’ll lose a piece of ourselves.

The wonderful thing is that no matter where you are right now with your relationships, you can exponentially improve your connections by deciding to give them a little more attention and intention.

About the Author: BRENDA RIDGLEY is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect, find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart, Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids, Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry. She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other 14’ers.

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Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 26, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lee Edward Födi will be awarding a Spell Sweeper prize pack: Hand-made miniature broom, hand-made magical creature egg, spell bottle, and bookmarks to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

There’s nothing magical about wizard school
. . . at least, not for Cara Moone.

Most wizard kids spend their days practicing spells and wielding wands, but Cara? She’s on the fast track to becoming a MOP (a.k.a. Magical Occurrence Purger). You see, when a real wizard casts a spell, it leaves behind a residue called spell dust—which, if not disposed of properly, can cause absolute chaos in the nonmagical world. It’s a MOP’s job to clean up the mess.

And no one makes more of a mess than Harlee Wu. Believed to be the Chosen One, destined to save the magical world, Harlee makes magic look easy. Which makes her Cara’s sworn nemesis. Or she would be, if she even knew Cara existed.

Then one of Harlee’s spells leaves something downright dangerous behind it: a rift in the fabric of magic itself. And when more rifts start to appear around the school, all in places Harlee has recently used magic, Cara is pretty sure the so-called “Chosen One” isn’t going to save the world. She’s going to destroy it.

It will take more than magic to clean up a mess this big. Fortunately, messes are kind of Cara’s thing.

Enjoy an Excerpt

There’s nothing magical about a broom

* * *

It’s one of my earliest memories, vivid as a full moon. I’m only four or five, and Su is walking me to school like any good big sister. We stop at the crosswalk and I see an old woman sweeping the pavement, just a few feet away. She wears a frayed sweater, grimy jeans, and maybe a secondhand pair of sneakers. Her broom is wisps of straw, the handle fashioned from a twisted stick of wood. Everything about her is ordinary. Mundane. But as I watch her, the morning sun catches her just right, and for an instant she ignites with a golden luster, frozen in a perfect moment of magic—a fairy sweeping away the shadows of the night.

Then she vanishes. Maybe it’s a trick of the light, maybe my childish frame of mind, but I’m convinced she’s a witch, that she has leapt upon her broomstick and taken to the clouds. When I tell Su this, she doesn’t laugh or chide me for having an overactive imagination. Instead, her eyes dance with wonder.

“Well, there is magic in the world, Cara. That’s what Dad always says. Right?”

I nod dramatically in agreement.

Of course, that was a long time ago. A lot of things have changed since then—with me, with my sister, with everything.

I know now that you can’t fly away on a broomstick. It’s not that I grew up and stopped believing in magic—actually, I believe in it more, which is what happens when you’re chosen to attend one of the most prestigious wizard schools in the world. But here’s the thing: when I was given my own broom, it wasn’t so that I could soar across the skies, read prophecies in the stars, or fight dragons in wand-to-fang combat.

It was because I’m a failure.

Trust me. It doesn’t matter if you’re some old lady on a street corner or a kid with a whisper of magic in her blood—a broom is for one thing and one thing only: sweeping.

Yay, me. I’m going to wizard school.

And it’s terrible.

About the Author:

Lee Edward Födi is an author, illustrator, and specialized arts educator—or, as he likes to think of himself, a daydreaming expert. He is the author of several books for children, including The Secret of Zoone and the Kendra Kandlestar series. He is a co-founder of the Creative Writing for Children Society (CWC), a not-for-profit program that helps kids write their own books. He has the joy of leading workshops for kids in Canada, the US, Korea, China, Thailand, and other places here and there. Lee lives in Vancouver, where he shares a creative life with his wife Marcie and son Hiro.

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The Polish Dragon PI by Steve Zimcosky – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 24, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Steve Zimcosky 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.

A bible mysteriously disappears from a Russian businessman’s home and it is said to have a secret hidden inside that would cause embarrassment to the Russian Orthodox Church. The Polish Dragon P. I. is called in, along with his new partner, to help find the bible. The problem is the bible is not supposed to exist and there is a secret organization, sworn to protect the church, also looking for the bible. They will stop at nothing to locate it and destroy it.









Enjoy an Excerpt

“So,” Andy began, with his voice trembling a bit. “The item that was stolen was an old family bible. It had been in the family for well over 600 years.”

“Wait a minute Andy. You said that the police could not be involved. I don’t understand, aren’t they capable of finding an old bible

“I’m sure they are,” he responded. “The problem is that the book is not supposed to exist. It was supposed to have been destroyed 200 years ago.”

“Why?” she exclaimed.

“Apparently the leaders of the Orthodox Churches in Eastern Europe demanded it. There was supposed to be some sort of hidden message that would be devastating to the Church, even though my family never knew that the message existed. Plus it also had my family genealogy going all the way back to the 15th century.”

“So, why was it never destroyed?”

“It had been in the family for many years and rather than destroy it, one of my ancestors decided to smuggle it out of Russia. They burned a fake one in its place and apparently, that appeased the Church. If they only knew it wasn’t the real one. They would probably come after my family again.”

About the Author: Steve Zimcosky is a multi-award winning and international selling author. He is the creator of the Polish Dragon P. I. series and was born in the Slavic Village area of Cleveland, Ohio where many of his stories take place. He has wanted to be an author since elementary school while reading books like White Fang and Call of the Wild by Jack London. He spends his retirement time writing short stories on a variety of subjects he hopes his readers will enjoy. Some of his favorite authors include Stephen King, James Clavell, Thomas B. Dewey and Vivien Chien.

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