Tuesday, December 27, 2016

New Release: SEALs of Honor: Chase by Dale Mayer

Today we celebrate the release of SEALs of Honor: Chase!



This is the next installment in the SEALs of the Honor series. Everyone has something in their history they’d like to keep buried in the past…

Chase has more than most. And his secrets are about to blow wide open as one really bad part of his past has come looking for him. Vanessa is all about moving forward in her life and not looking back. There are enough painful memories in her history for a lifetime. But when she gets embroiled in Chase’s problems, they become her problems too. Both need to deal with their pasts, because if they don’t, they might no longer have a future.

PURCHASE HERE: AMAZON|B&N|KOBO


ABOUT DALE:


Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She’s best known for her Psychic Vision Series. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in different genres.

To go with her fiction, she writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system.

She has recently published her Career Essentials Series . All her books are available in print and digital format.

CONNECT WITH DALE: WEBSITE| FACEBOOK | TWITTER   lords-of-the-kingdomlords-of-the-kingdomlords-of-the-kingdomSave Save Save Save Save Save Save Save Save
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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Tips for Encouraging Your Child to Read Books


 It is hard to get children to read in the world of many entertainment options that exists today. This is a shame because reading can open up a child to an entire world of imagination and excitement that they would never be able to experience in any other form of entertainment. However, it is difficult to get them to realize this. Children these days are addicted to video games, television and the Internet. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a parent to make your child see the benefits of reading and encourage them to do it whenever they have some free time. How can you go about accomplishing this task? Here are a few useful tips that will help you to get your child to read on a regular basis.

1. Discuss the various things that your child has read recently with him or her.

You should use your children's reading as an opportunity to bond with them. This means you should take a great interest in whatever they happen to be reading. Ask them questions about it and find out what appeals to them about it. You can begin to learn the reading preferences of your children and suggest some material that will interest them in the future. This will allow you to become closer to your children because you will be finding things out about them that you may have never known before. Always make time in your day to have a discussion about reading with your kids. Knowing that you are interested in what they read might encourage your kids to read more in the future.

2. What are the things that your kids are passionate about?

It is not surprising that your kids are probably going to read things that are about subjects that they have an interest in. You need to find out what these things are if you do not know already. This will make it easier for you to become intimately involved in the reading habits of your kids. You will not be able to make good suggestions to your kids regarding things to read unless you have a clear understanding about the people and things they like. For example, your child might find the books written by Daniel Handler entertaining if your kids like fantasy stories. Handler is known for his ability to write stories that are compelling to kids.

3. Make sure that you only suggest reading material that is in the proper age range for your child.

This is a critical element that must not be overlooked. Your children will quickly become bored and disinterested with reading if you are constantly telling them to read things that are far too complicated for them to understand. This is why it is very important for you to know the suggested age range for any books that you suggest to your kids as something they might want to try reading. On the other hand, try to avoid recommending reading material that is designed for kids who are younger than your children. They will find this material equally boring if they are too old for it. You would be wise to ask the people who work at a library or a book store if you are not sure about the appropriate age range of a particular book.

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Monday, December 19, 2016

Book Feature: The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich





Inside the Book:


Title: The Total Package
Author: Stephanie Evanovich
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Format: Ecopy/Hardcover/Paperback

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about love, redemption, and second chances.

Heartthrob star quarterback Tyson Palmer has it all: a million-dollar arm, a winning season and the promise of a Superbowl ring. But more importantly, football’s biggest star is the ultimate comeback kid. After an addiction to painkillers nearly derailed his career, Tyson got sober and went from zero to hero in the eyes of the public.

But one person remains unconvinced: Dani Carr, a sports commentator with high ratings and following of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget a single passionate night with him back in college. To make things worse, Tyson doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute co-ed whose heart he once broke.

But can a sports journalist trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he use his million-dollar moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park and the New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot.

PURCHASE HERE: AMAZON|B&N

Meet the Author

Stephanie Evanovich has been crafting stories since she could form sentences. Born and raised in New Jersey, the Garden State, her fertile imagination kept working overtime as she raised her family and rooted for their teams. Sons, sports and storytelling finally combined to create her New York Times bestselling debut novel, Big Girl Panties. Since then she's written two more books: The Sweet Spot and The Total Package. A firm believer in the power of high-octane coffee and happy endings, you'll find her at her desk working on the next story with her hyperactive pup, Griffin, doing her best to distract her. 


CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE: WEBSITE|FACEBOOK|TWITTER



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Book Feature: Dowsing and Ley Lines by Gerald Chatfield



 

Inside the Book:


Title: Dowing and Ley Lines 
Author: Gerald Chatfield 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Reference
  Format: Ebook

This book contains information on dowsing for beginners and advanced alike. It provides information on how to find and follow more than five hundred ley marks across the south of the British Isles. It also contains unique insight on how shadow ley lines are connected to time as we measure it in minutes and hours. Also answers as to why the legendary figure of the Long Man of Wilmington is positioned where he is on the South Downs. There is also information on both Woodhenge and Stonehenge.

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Friday, December 16, 2016

Interview with Sarah Remy, author of The Bone Cave

the-bone-cave-banner

Inside the Book:

 the-bone-cave
Title: The Bone Cave
Author: Sarah Remy
Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Format: Ecopy /Paperback

Past Stonehill Downs, beyond unforgiving scrubland and perilous mountain peaks, militant tribes gather on white sand . . .

With the Red Worm plague vanquished, and Malachi and Liam safely returned from Roue, Avani expects life in Wilhaiim to return to normal. But Mal has been changed by his journey across the long sea, and now walks dangerously close to the edge of madness, while the horrors of war in a foreign land have transformed Liam from a naïve lad to a young man seeking his place as sidhe among mortals.

And the plague has left chaos in its wake: Wilhaiim’s priests are rising against King Renault, a serial killer is taking vengeance on His Majesty's unwary subjects, and someone is using forbidden bone magic to kindle the Automata—mechanized monsters born of ancient necromancy.

As Avani works to contain unrest and expose a murderer, she is unaware that a far greater threat is rolling in from the east: a bloodthirsty desert army intent on destruction. Magic will be tested and friendship tried as Avani and Mal battle new peril and old temptation in this stunning follow up to Across the Long Sea.

  amazon

THE INTERVIEW

What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
Being true to myself. I've had a lot of adventures in lie, but I've always been true to the core of who I am. I think that's an accomplishment, and I'm proud of it.
How has your upbringing influenced your writing?
I'm obsessed with spirituality, and I think that shows in everything I right. My mother was terminally ill through most of my childhood, so I think life and death and the Bigger Questions were often on my mind.
When and why did you begin writing?
I read The Hobbit when I was in third grade and began writing my own Middle Earth stories soon after that.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I want to live in other worlds. If I couldn't live in them, I wanted to write them.
When did you first know you could be a writer? 
I've answered this question in a couple of different places and it always baffles me. It's not hard to be a writer. Put words on paper - voila, you're a writer. I'm not the sort who believe publication or financial success, or even putting your words out in public makes you a writer. Write. You're a writer. It's not something one 'becomes'.
What inspires you to write and why?
The people in my head. I have a lot of people in my head. If I write about them, they stay out of my every day life and things runs smoothly. Also, I just really like words.
What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Fantasy. Romance. Mystery. Soft science fiction.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I don't honestly remember, but I'm sure it was one of those things where I wanted to see if I could stretch a story to book length and wrap it up coherently.
Who or what influenced your writing once you began?
Everything I read influences my writing. And to some extend, the media I watch. I'm not as immersed in television or movies as I am when reading, so it's easier to look at the mechanics of a script and think: "I would have written that differently" or "Man, I wish I could write like that."
What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?
Deadlines. Deadlines and I are enemies.
Do you intend to make writing a career?
I'll write because I love writing. The rest of it will come or not.
Have you developed a specific writing style?
Fantasy-wise, it's gritty. Romance-wise, it's about the angst. I need to practice more fluff and sunshine writing. Maybe in my YA magic-realism. Puppies and kittens and smiles.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? 
I can usually see how words best fit together. I do a lot of beta-reading, and query polishing.
What is your favorite quality about yourself?
I'm always kind.
What is your least favorite quality about yourself?
I can be lazy.
What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?
That changes. But today:
“We are big and vast and diverse; a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like, how you started off, or how and who you love, America is a place where you can write your own destiny.” - President Barack Obama

MEET THE AUTHOR

In 1994 Sarah Remy earned a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Pomona College in California. Since then she’s been employed as a receptionist at a high-powered brokerage firm, managed a boutique bookstore, read television scripts for a small production company, and, more recently, worked playground duty at the local elementary school.

When she’s not taking the service industry by storm, she’s writing fantasy and science fiction. Sarah likes her fantasy worlds gritty, her characters diverse and fallible, and she doesn’t believe every protagonist deserves a happy ending.

Before joining the Harper Voyager family, she published with EDGE, Reuts, and Madison Place Press.

Sarah lives in Washington State with plenty of animals and people, both. In her limited spare time she rides horses, rehabs her old home, and supervises a chaotic household. She can talk to you endlessly about Sherlock Holmes, World of Warcraft, and backyard chicken husbandry, and she’s been a member of one of Robin Hobb’s longest-running online fan clubs since 2002.

Find Sarah on Twitter @sarahremywrites, and on Tumblr at huntpeck.

For More Information

Visit Sarah’s website.
Connect with Sarah
Social-Network-Twitter    

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Interview with Suzanne Eglington, author of 'Beckham 101'


Suzanne Eglington is the author of the Kate and Robert Chronicles series. The three-book series follows the unfolding romance of top cop Robert Beckham and the ravishing Kate Quinn. The titles in the series are Inceptions, You and I, and the recently released Beckham 101. A fourth book in the Kate and Robert Chronicles series is forthcoming.

Suzanne currently resides in Central Massachusetts with her family.

WEBSITE | TWITTER


About the Book:

BECKHAM 101 is the third installment in the Kate and Robert Chronicles by author Suzanne Eglington. Eglington invites readers into the intimate inner world of the newly wedded duo as they learn to navigate life as
a committed couple. Settling down brings new perspectives and people into Kate’s and Robert’s lives, along with the exposure of more of Robert’s mysterious past. For Kate, being married to a top cop means managing both desire and reality.
Following a one-week courtship, Kate submits to her love for Robert, an intense super cop who has been patiently waiting for his opportunity to seize the one women he truly desires. Their quick marriage means frequent amorous entanglements, but it also means that Kate’s knowledge of her new husband’s personal history is limited. Kate must steady herself to cope with the slow unveiling of her husband’s past.
Being the wife of an influential and respected police officer means a change in lifestyle for Kate. Robert is fiercely protective of his wife and enjoys spending as much of his free time with her as possible. Marriage to Robert means Kate has inherited a family of high-performing cops who not only open their hearts for her but also provide protection when ghosts from Robert’s past threaten to harm her.         
In BECKHAM 101, the author introduces new characters into the series, including Robert’s best friend, Jimmy and Kate’s wise and skilled Uncle Jack. As with the two previous books in the Kate and Robert Chronicles, Eglington’s mission is to offer readers a respite from their daily lives. “First and foremost,” Eglington says she wants her readers to feel “I have entertained you with my characters and possibly left a lasting enjoyable impression that fed the passion and intensity of the love between Kate and Robert. Second, that I was able to take you away from your everyday routine to enjoy some downtime with a story you are falling in love with.” Beyond the steamy intimacy and the thread of danger embedded in her stories, Eglington’s books also highlight the lives of cops. “My stories are about the lives cops lead away from the police department. I want readers to think of the men behind the badge and the people who could be in their lives.”
By gradually revealing some elements of Robert’s past in BECKHAM 101, Eglington is priming readers for the fourth book in this sexy and suspense-filled series.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble



Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I am not writing I work full time as The Director of Operations for a roofing company. I am a single mother, I love cooking, outdoor sport, riding horses, riding ATV’s, outdoor shooting, archery, spending time with the family and going out with my girls. I love muscle cars old and new and I love going to my daughter field hockey games and shouting out encouraging our team… and yelling at the ref’s with all the missed calls.. LOL

When did you start writing?

I started writing about 15 years ago but I never finished that book. It took 11 years later when Inceptions: The Kate and Robert Chronicles hit me square on that I completed a book.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?
The most pivotal point at this time in my career was when I finished my book Inceptions: The Kate and Robert Chronicles…  no one came knocking on my door with one of those big checks you see that happens on TV with all these sweepstakes or talk shows.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

Hmmm… anywhere in the world…. I think Vermont USA because in between writing I could just hop in my side by side (UTV) and drive it right down to the local store.

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Half of that would be writing and the other half sleep.


Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

Italy.. I would love to set a story in Italy

Back to your present book, Beckham 101: The Kate and Robert Chronicles), how did you publish it?

I published the first 3 instaments of the Kate and Robert Chronicles through Xlibris, they gave me many options for my publishing but I have since learned a lot and will be moving from them.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

No my mind did a pretty good job with coming up and making up the locations that really do not exist as I have described. In my series The Kate and Robert Chronicles I have Kate and Robert traveling to many locations in the united states along with Ireland and England.. Although I name location a lot I have made up in my head.

Why was writing Beckham 101: The Kate and Robert Chronicles so important to you?

It was an intense love story that hit me as I was going through my own personal divorce at the time and let me focus on my pretend world rather than what was going on in my real world.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

My best idea’s often come after the fact of a conversation or situation that I have been engaged in. I think about it and think “oh I should have said this instead of that”

Any final words?

The Kate and Robert Chronicles are a 6 book series and I set out to accomplish giving my readers an intense, fast paced, impressionable, humorous, mysterious story that I hope I have entertained you and made an enjoyable lasting impression.
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Thursday, December 15, 2016

Paradise Series Book Blast


We're happy to host Deborah Brown's PARADISE SERIES Book Blast today! Please leave a comment to let her know you stopped by!



Title: Paradise Series
Author: Deborah Brown
Publisher: Paradise Books
Pages: 626 (total in series)
Genre: Mystery/Humor

Crazy in Paradise: Dying in the middle of the summer in the Florida Keys is sweaty business. Welcome to Tarpon Cove. Madison Westin has inherited her aunt's beachfront motel in the Florida Keys. Trouble is she’s also inherited a slew of colorful tenant's - drunks, ex-cons, and fugitives. Only one problem: First, she has to wrestle control from a conniving lawyer and shady motel manager. With the help of her new best friend, whose motto is never leave home without your Glock, they dive into a world of blackmail, murder, and drugs.

Deception in Paradise: Madison Westin is back!! The Florida Keys are hotter than ever.
With Madison's never-say-no style she's smarter and packing an attitude not to mention her Glock. This time, trouble rolls into Tarpon Cove in the form of Madison's ex-husband, Jackson Devereaux, whom she hoped to never see again. His arrival brings unparalleled chaos and an uninvited corpse. Teaming up with her hot friend, Fabiana, the two women go from chasing the usual cast of misfits and weirdos to hunting down a murderer. The action turns deadly serious when they stir up a nasty enemy as they try to stay one-step ahead in a game of cat and mouse that threatens their lives.

Trouble in Paradise: What is big news in small town Tarpon Cove? An accidental drowning or perhaps a ruthless murder? When a dead fisherman rolls up on shore, Madison cannot resist jumping into her new role as Private Investigator. But she soon discovers the people in The Cove who normally gossip about everybody's business are unusually tight-lipped. The bad tenant radar still not working, the cottages continue to be full of riffraff. Madison gets arrested, shot at, and outsmarted. She teams up with her best friend – the Glock carrying Fabiana. Together they take on cases no other investigators would ever touch!

Purchase:

Amazon


Book Excerpt:
There should be a law in South Florida that a person can’t die during the summer. The death of a loved one was hard enough without the added humiliation of sweat. I felt it rolling down my back, like a stream trapped by the belt of my dress with nowhere to go.
My name is Madison Elizabeth Westin, and I’m seated at the funeral of my favorite aunt, people watching, of all things. Most of the mourners looked ready for a pool party, some of them in shorts and bathing suit cover-ups. I was the only one dressed in black; even my brother wore khaki shorts.
The minister began, “We are gathered here today to give thanks for the life of Elizabeth Ruth Hart, who shared herself with us. It is in her memory we come together and, for all she meant to us, we are thankful.”
My mother had named me after her older sister. Elizabeth was like a second mother to my brother Brad and me. We spent summers with her in Florida, running and playing on the beach, building sandcastles, and she was a regular visitor to our home in South Carolina.
After five years of not seeing her, I had packed for a several-month stay and planned to spend the summer with her. That’s when I got a phone call from her lawyer telling me she had died. I still found it difficult to believe it had happened so suddenly.When I walked into the funeral home earlier, the heat had smothered me; this main room was suffocating. The air conditioning wasn’t working and it felt as though it was more than one hundred degrees. The director, Dickie Vanderbilt, had apologized for that, telling me that the central unit had gone out earlier in the day. He informed me he had all of the ceiling fans on high, which, in my opinion, were only circulating hot air.
Dickie Vanderbilt gave me the creeps. He had a slight build, pasty white skin, and long skinny fingers. When he reached out to touch my arm, I tried hard not to squirm.
I’m not a big fan of shaking hands. I find people only want to shake your hand when they can see you’re not interested. A friend suggested I perfect the dog paw shake for those who insist. I extend my hand like a paw and let it hang loose. Often times, they jerk their hand away and give me an odd stare, which makes me want to laugh every time.
The minister rambled on. I found him to be uninteresting, his speech dry. He talked about Elizabeth as though she were a stranger to him and everyone here. Apparently, Elizabeth’s jerk attorney, Tucker Davis, hadn’t given the minister any information about her. I didn’t understand why my aunt left all of the details of her funeral to Tucker. Why would she exclude the people who loved her and knew her best from having input? I wished I had one more day to walk along the beach to laugh, talk, and collect shells with her.
On Sunday, Tucker called to inform me that Elizabeth had died in her sleep from a heart attack. “The funeral is Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. at Tropical Slumber Funeral Home on Highway 1 in Tarpon Cove,” he told me.
“I want to help plan the funeral.”
“All of the arrangements have been made.” He sounded impatient, emphasizing his words. “If you want to, you can call anyone else you think should be informed.”
“My aunt would’ve wanted her family to be involved in the decision-making for her funeral. After all, my mother, brother, and I are the only family she had.”
“Elizabeth appointed me executor. She left me written instructions for everything she wanted done after her death, including her funeral.”
I didn’t believe him. Elizabeth loved us. She never would’ve excluded her family in this way, knowing how important it would be to us.
“I oversaw all of the arrangements myself. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied. If you have any other questions you can call my assistant, Ann.” He hung up the phone.
My aunt never once mentioned Tucker Davis to me or anyone else in the family. Here he was, a stranger, handling her estate.
The next day, I called the lawyer back to tell him that Elizabeth’s sister Madeline, her nephew Brad, and I, would attend. He refused to take my phone call, and I was frustrated.
“This is Madison Westin. May I speak with Tucker Davis?”
“I’m Ann, Mr. Davis’s assistant. He’s not accepting calls at this time. Can I help you with something?”
“I wanted to ask again if there was anything I could do in preparation for Elizabeth Hart’s funeral? Surely, you can understand how her family would want to be involved in any final decisions.”
“Mrs. Hart wanted Mr. Davis to make those arrangements, and he has. She didn’t indicate that she wanted anyone else involved in the planning. I can assure you he’s seen to all of the details. He worked directly with Mr. Vanderbilt at the funeral home.”
“I’ll be arriving later today. Would you tell Mr. Davis I’m available to help with anything that needs to be done? He can reach me at Elizabeth’s house.”
“Does Mr. Davis know you plan to stay in Mrs. Hart’s house?”
“I don’t need Mr. Davis’ permission. I’ve never stayed anywhere but the Cove Road house, and this trip won’t be any different. If Mr. Davis has a problem with my staying there, he can call me,” I said.
“Any more messages?” Ann sniffed and, without waiting for a response, hung up on me.




About the Author


Redhead. Long legs. There's nothing like a strawberry-lemonade in summer. Favorite activity: Filling my pockets with seashells. An avid rule follower when eating Animal Cookies: Broken ones get eaten first, match up the rest, duplicates next, line them up favorite to not, least favorite go first. South Florida is my home, with my ungrateful rescue cats, and where Mother Nature takes out her bad attitude in the form of hurricanes.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK




http://www.pumpupyourbook.com

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Book Blast: A Honeyed Light by Freddie Milano


Inside the Book:


Title: A Honeyed Light
Author: Freddie Milano
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal

Kunal, relative newcomer to the strange town of Harmony, has his hands full preparing for Diwali. That should be enough to keep anyone's mind pre-occupied, but Kunal can't really ignore that he's nearly thirty, single, and still buried in the closet.

Out of town at a gay club one night, he bumps into Oscar, proprietor of Harmony's only sex shop, and figures his secret is now officially out. What he doesn't expect is a slow seduction, or to have to decide what it is he really wants in life.

Links: 
Cover design: http://www.aisha-o.com
 

MEET THE AUTHOR

freddie-author-photo
Freddie Milano lives with her partner-in-crime, two adorable and devilish cats, and far more ideas than she really has time to set down on (electronic) paper. She's been writing since she could hold a pen, though most of the embarrassing stories thankfully never made in onto the internet, and can stay safely buried.

She loves wine, Korean pop music, tea, chocolate, coffee, mythology, and both video and tabletop gaming. An ESFJ surrounded by introverts, Freddie has learned the art of socialization in moderation. Besides, staying in just leaves her more time to write. Find more at freddiemilano.com.
 
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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Talking Books with 'Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving' Cheryl C. Malandrinos



Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd and A Christmas Kindness. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.

WEBSITE | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS




Ten-year-old Macy is waiting for her grandparents to arrive on
Thanksgiving. When the front door swings open, Grandma and Grandpa are covered with hugs and kisses. Crash! Everyone rushes in to find the dog gnawing a meaty turkey leg. Can Macy’s quick thinking save dinner?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble











Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing?

I’m a wife, mother of three, and a licensed real estate agent in Massachusetts. Our son is married, but we still have two teenage daughters at home. Gardening is a hobby of mine—though I’m not that good at it. I’ve loved cross-stitching for decades but rarely have the patience for it anymore.

When did you start writing?

I’ve liked to write as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t a career choice until 2004 when I became a stay-at-home mom. Even though I have returned to outside work, I still enjoy writing too much to leave it behind.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

Tough question. I think the first time I met with an agent. That first time was really scary because I had no idea what to expect. But now it’s over and I rarely get nervous pitching to agents these days. They are usually very pleasant and helpful…unlike that mean gatekeeper image we often picture in our minds.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why?

The Outer Banks of North Carolina. It’s beautiful there. The thought of looking out the window of my second floor office to see the Atlantic is one of my dreams. My goal is to retire down there.

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

You mean other than sleep. LOL! I work a lot.

It would be breakfast in bed followed by a spa day with my girls.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?

Somewhere in the future because it would make me leap outside of my comfort zone. I’m usually going the other way when it comes to story settings. My favorite time period is the mid-1800s, usually post-Civil War.

Back to your present book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving, how did you publish it?

Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving was released by Guardian Angel Publishing, an independent children’s publisher who also released my first book, Little Shepherd. They are wonderful to work with.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research?

Not necessary for this book, but I would love to do that one day.

Why was writing Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving so important to you?

I really wanted a book about Thanksgiving that didn’t focus on being thankful. This one is a little nutty; it has a set of twins who fight a lot, a naughty dog who steals dinner, a frazzled mom, and one smart girl whose quick thinking might just save dinner.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?

Some of my best ideas have come from Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo). I’ve participated twice now in this challenge where you strive to come up with 30 picture book concepts in 30 days. I’ve already written out several of these ideas. Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving was a PiBoIdMo idea from 2010.

Any final words?

Thanks for the interview. These are great questions. I hope you’ll invite me to visit again when my next book is released.
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Monday, December 12, 2016

A Bookish Conversation with 'I, Angus' Mike Hartner




Mike Hartner was born in Miami in 1965. He’s traveled much of the continental United States. He has several years post secondary education, and experience teaching and tutoring young adults. Hartner has owned and run a computer firm for more than twenty-five years. He now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and child. They share the neighborhood and their son with his maternal grandparents.

Mike’s latest book is I, Angus (The Eternity Series Book 4).
For More Information


During a time of civil strife and purging the North has lost more men to Wars then it ever did to Nature.

Angus has grown up learning that his life is better off with only him and a family. But is that really in the Grand Plan.

The North needs someone to build community.

But first, Angus needs to be forged... beaten, shaped, bolded and trained.

Watch as Angus hits both lows and highs across the lands of England, Scotland and France, before meeting a challenge of new land.

BUYING LINKS:



Thank you for this interview!  I’d like to know more about you as a person first.  What do you do when you’re not writing? 

When I’m not writing, I do several things. One is photography. www.bcbaldeagles.com shows many of my photos of bald eagles.  One is reading.  I have a list of several authors and different genres that I read.  Most of my day, though, is spent supporting my family in all forms.

When did you start writing? 

I started writing in my childhood.  But, at that time it was only when the Muse inspired me through life events.

As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life? 

I think that there were several.  And both of them happened at a writing conference that I was at:  the SiWC (Surrey International Writer’s Conference).   The first was listening to Jack Whyte read the first chapter of I, Walter with his thick Scottish brogue and make everything sound good.  And get good feedback from that conference.   The Second event was when Lisa Rector was talking about good editors.   And through every comment my head was nodding yes, and I was seeing my own editor in all her comments.  My editor, Robert L. Bacon, of www.theperfectwrite.com has been a fantastic editor, and a good friend. His suggestions and edits have helped to make each of my books a great read for everyone.

If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing your next book, where would that be and why? 

Well, Book 5s early setting is in the North of Scotland.  And I’d love to be able to go and wander the North of Scotland.  Tho’ I think I’d wait for summer

If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do? 

Write. Write. Write.

Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done yet?  

 I don’t have a good answer for that.  The Eternity Series is historical and it will set different characters across much of the world by the time it’s done.  But, it’s historical, so setting is important, in a historical context.   5 starts in Scotland, and while I’m not sure about six, I would not be surprised if it started in the Colonies.

Back to your present book, I, Angus, how did you publish it? 

I, Angus, like the rest of The Eternity Series, has been published through Eternity4Popsicle Press.

In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for research? 

No.  I’ve done my research exclusively online.

Why was writing I, Angus so important to you? 

I, Angus is very important to me.  The whole premise of The Eternity Series, is to detail the lives of ‘ordinary’ people. The Eternity Series is, very intentionally, an update of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, on a global basis.   I, Angus  is important in this series for several reasons.  The first is that Angus is the first character not Blood Related to the Crofter family.  And he won’t be the last.  A second reason is that while the first three books of the series (I, Walter; I, James; and I, Mary) were started on the water, Angus is the first to be solely a land based story. Another reason is that the Crofter series ( Books 1-3) were written with a romance in them, that of their chosen life partner,  Angus is a lay-priest.  His life partner is the work of the Bible. And so, the romance aspect is largely missing.

Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is? 

 My muse.  My muse has ben whispering in my ear for some time now, and through her actions, I’ve come to trust her judgment in the writings.

Any final words?  

 Please accept a very hearty thank you to all of my readers, and especially those who’ve taken the time to write reviews for the books.   And to Shelf-ish for hosting The Eternity Series and me on your site again this year.  Thank you very much.

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Saturday, December 10, 2016

Cover Reveal: Rig 'Em by Delphine Dryden


Inside the Book:




Title: Rig 'Em
Author: Delphine Dryden
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Women's Fiction
Format: Ecopy 

SADDLED
Thanks to a boots knockin’ schedule of both vanilla and kinky events, the Hilltop Guest Ranch is more successful than ever. And with their hemp rope skyrocketing into a sought-after bondage staple, Chet is fielding a lot of questions about his cousins’ business . . . and indulging his own kinky side with the help of Diego, the ranch’s hot, accommodating gamekeeper . . .

SPURRED
The fun is kicking into high gear until Chet ropes in a roving reporter trying to crash a private event. But Nicole’s not just any reporter—she’s Diego’s former Mistress. And she’s not crashing, she’s trying to win Diego back and enjoy a weekend of open-air pleasure . . .

FULL GALLOP
Chet’s not willing to give up his favorite sub so easily, and he doesn’t trust Nicole. He fully intends to keep an eye on her. But Diego wants them both and he has a plan to turn observation into participation. It seems the best kind of trouble comes in threes . . .


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MEET THE AUTHOR



Delphine Dryden majored in English at the University of Texas at Austin, and probably should have gone ahead and gone for that MFA and PhD to become an English professor like she planned. Instead, she took a detour through law school, practiced law for a woefully brief time, and wound up working in special education for the next fifteen or so years (first as a teacher, then as an educational diagnostician). Somewhere in there, she also obtained a Master’s in Educational Psychology/Special Education.

Delphine has written contemporary and erotic romance for Carina Press and Harlequin, and mainstream steampunk romance for Berkley Publishing. She has also self-published. Her writing has earned an Award of Excellence and Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times Book Reviews, an EPIC Award, and a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. She was the also the inaugural winner of the Science in My Fiction contest. When not writing, she can be found editing for various freelance clients and for Riptide Publishing.

CONNECT WITH DELPHINE: WEBSITE|FACEBOOK|TWITTER|GOODREADS| PINTEREST
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