Saturday, May 28, 2016

Book Blast: Restoring Patterns by Gabrielle F. Culmer - Win a $25 Gift Card


 

Inside the Book:


Title: Restoring Patterns 
Author: Gabrielle F. Culmer 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Romance 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Kascey Kann is a focused, cutting-edge fashion designer ready to take New York City by storm. She is in the process of breaking away from her current employer and starting her own clothing line. Meanwhile, her financier boyfriend, Grady Chisholm, is setting up a new IPO. In the midst of their busy working lives in the city and global business commitments, Kascey and Grady find time for relaxing summers in Cape Cod and Monaco. What's more, they are about to formalize their relationship through marriage. Life seems good. But when unexpected setbacks force them to reevaluate their working lives, they must start the process of rebuilding while turning to each other for support. As Kascey and Grady struggle to cling to their principles and triumph in their business endeavors, they rely on their relationship as the foundation for their lives. But are they on the road to success? In this modern professional romance, a hardworking and enterprising couple provide encouragement to one another as they forge a path toward entrepreneurial achievement.

Meet the Author

Gabrielle F. Culmer is a lawyer who holds degrees from universities in New York, Chicago, and the United Kingdom. She is also the author of three other novels-Arrive by DuskDamp Whisper, and A Matter of Keeping-and two collections of poetry: Glenely Bay and Nostalgia from Paris and Blue Streams to Paradise. She enjoys traveling to New York and Europe.

Giveaway

Gabrielle is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Friday, May 27, 2016

Book Feature: The Early Years by Rachel G. Carrington

     
Inside the Book:
The Early Years

Title: The Early Years
Author: Rachel G. Carrington
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Biography
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Author Rachel G. Carrington lays no claim to lofty jobs, higher education, nor grand accomplishments except for a love-filled, multifaceted, family-oriented, poverty-to-plenty life. In The Early Years, the first in a series, she shares her story. As a young teenager, just entering high school in the small town of Denton, Kentucky, Carrington planned to attend college and become a teacher. With coursework geared toward college attendance, she was offered a lucrative scholarship that would help her to attain her goal. However, it took only a single event to send her down a different path. She met a returned World War II veteran who was attempting to pick up the pieces after finding his marriage in irreparable shambles and his children gone. As he struggled, Carrington was there, and they pulled together to clear the many hurdles before them. In this memoir, she tells the story of their journey and how their love and dedication for each other kept moving them forward. Filled with the joys, disappointments, and struggles of a couple, The Early Years narrates how the love of the heavenly Father was the continuous thread that bound Carrington's life together.  

Meet the Author:
Rachel G. Carrington, a transplanted Kentuckian, is a widow, mother of seven and grandmother to three generations. Included with her many other interests, she spends much of her time writing and lives in Hamilton, Ohio and in Honolulu, Hawaii.    

Giveaway

Rachel is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read More »

Book Blast: Memoir of a Journey with Mental Illness by M.S. Burke - Win a $25 Gift Card

     
Inside the Book:
Memoir of a Journey with Mental Illness
Title: Memoir of a Journey with Mental Illness
Author: M.S. Burke
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Biography
Format: Ebook

M.S. Burke was only nineteen years old when she inexplicably tried to kill herself. It made no sense: She lived a privileged life of yacht clubs, tennis lessons, private schools, and summers in Canada. If you named it, she had it, including an incredible family-with three sisters she adored and two loving, supportive parents. Many years later, she still starts each day with the same question: "Will today be the day that I have another breakdown?" At least she was able to make sense of her feelings after being diagnosed with manic depression, and she shares how she's coped with the condition in this inspirational memoir. With one out of every four people suffering from some form of mental illness, one of the most critical lessons she learned is that if you want to achieve anything in life, you must overcome its stigma. From her diagnosis to her hospitalizations, she reveals how she's refused to let her affliction define what she can and cannot do with the support of family, friends, and psychiatric professionals in Memoir of A Journey with Mental Illness: Treading Water.

Meet the Author:
  M.S. Burke teaches reading and has a master's degree in special education. She lives in Florida with her two children and her love, Tina.

Giveaway

M.S. is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read More »

Book Blast: A Massacre of Innocents by Loren Abbey and Pamela Zibura - Win a $25 Gift Card

Massacre of Innocents
   
Inside the Book:
A-Massacre-of-Innocents

Title: A Massacre of Innocents 
Author: Loren Abbey & Pamela Zibura 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: True Crime/Murder 
Format: Ebook

In 1952 on a highway in the small Northern California mountain village of Chester, a local businessman and four small children are carjacked, robbed and savagely bludgeoned. Three of the children are killed. A year earlier, a Folsom gold mine operator had been murdered in a home break-in robbery attempt and five months after the Chester murders, the quiet Southern California city of Burbank is rocked when, during another home break-in, an elderly widow is found bound, gagged and brutally murdered in her own home. Thus begins the terrifying chronicle of the Mountain Murder Mob’s deadly rampage up, down and through the Golden State—from the gritty back alleyways of the Los Angeles suburbs to the forested foothills of the Northern Sierras—a gang of ruthless killers ply their murderous trade by preying on society’s most vulnerable citizens. And behind the scenes, the victims’ young wife and mother copes with the grief of a life turned upside down after her heartbreaking loss. Struggling to build a new life for herself and for what now remains of her devastated family, she leans on her unwavering faith and a deep reservoir of inner strength. A Massacre of Innocents is the previously untold true story of the Mountain Murder Mob’s horrific crimes and how they ultimately paid for those crimes.  

Meet the Author:
Loren Abbey has been a prolific blogger and contributor to a number of periodicals and trade journals. A former Silicon Valley executive, he is now retired, residing in Roseville, California.

Pamela Zibura is a successful realtor and mother of four grown children, She resides with her husband Tony, in South Carolina near the historic antebellum city of Charleston. A Massacre of Innocents is her first book.  

Read More »

Book Blast: The "No Title" Book by Lim Siew Lan


 

Inside the Book:

The+“No+Title”+Book

Title: The "No Title" Book 
Author: Lim Siew Lan 
Publisher: Partridge Publishing 
Genre: Self Help 
Format: Ebook/Paperback/Hardcover

Do you feel out of control, as though you’re not in charge of your own life? Does it seem like others are living your life for you? You have the power to change that feeling. You can take charge of your destiny. Author Lim Siew Lan believes we all have the capacity to meet a higher purpose by simply tapping into the depths of our own minds. In this inspirational manual, she presents a guide to discovering the depth and dimensionality of the mind through a series of an ancient time tested inspired steps designed to resemble those found in a common recipe book. She offers a true recipe for success in all aspects of life. Lim Siew Lan believes you are the captain of your own ship, and you must be well-trained and well-equipped in order to weather the storms that life brings to each of us. After a lifetime of dedicated spiritual study, she has created this collection of essential wisdom to help you delve deep into your own being and become aware of your own mind. Learning about yourself and what makes you tick is the key to a lifetime of success.  

Giveaway

Lim is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Book Feature: Restoring Patterns by Gabrielle F. Culmer - Win a $25 Gift Card


 

Inside the Book:


Title: Restoring Patterns 
Author: Gabrielle F. Culmer 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Romance 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Kascey Kann is a focused, cutting-edge fashion designer ready to take New York City by storm. She is in the process of breaking away from her current employer and starting her own clothing line. Meanwhile, her financier boyfriend, Grady Chisholm, is setting up a new IPO. In the midst of their busy working lives in the city and global business commitments, Kascey and Grady find time for relaxing summers in Cape Cod and Monaco. What's more, they are about to formalize their relationship through marriage. Life seems good. But when unexpected setbacks force them to reevaluate their working lives, they must start the process of rebuilding while turning to each other for support. As Kascey and Grady struggle to cling to their principles and triumph in their business endeavors, they rely on their relationship as the foundation for their lives. But are they on the road to success? In this modern professional romance, a hardworking and enterprising couple provide encouragement to one another as they forge a path toward entrepreneurial achievement.

Meet the Author

Gabrielle F. Culmer is a lawyer who holds degrees from universities in New York, Chicago, and the United Kingdom. She is also the author of three other novels-Arrive by DuskDamp Whisper, and A Matter of Keeping-and two collections of poetry: Glenely Bay and Nostalgia from Paris and Blue Streams to Paradise. She enjoys traveling to New York and Europe.

Giveaway

Gabrielle is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Book Blast: My Left Side by Darlene Linda Jones-Brooks - Win a $25 Gift Card

 

Inside the Book:

My Left Side

Title: My Left Side 
Author: Darlene Linda Jones-Brooks 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Biography 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

  Author Darlene Linda Jones-Brooks has been through a lot in her life—and, strangely enough, many of the worst physical experiences have happened on the left side of her body. When she was thirteen, a cousin accidentally stabbed her in the wrist. As an adult, she got caught in the crossfire of random shooting and lost half her left kidney due to the resulting injury. Later, a severe pain in her left leg led to a diagnosis of lupus, and she developed breast cancer, with the tumor appearing in her left breast. In addition, over the course of her life, she has been a victim of rape and has dealt with her pain using drugs and alcohol—often with damaging consequences. In spite of it all, though, she went back to her first love, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Now she lives her life for the Lord and is steadily growing in his Word. This memoir tells the personal narrative of a woman who has endured much pain and struggle in her life but now turns to God for support through troubles.

Meet the Author:
Darlene Linda Jones-Brooks trained in medicine and holds certificates in medical assistance and phlebotomy. She currently lives in Detroit.

Giveaway

Darlene is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins April 11 and ends on April 22.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on April 23.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read More »

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Book Review: The Bridge Ladies by Betsy Lerner





Title: The Bridge Ladies
Date Published: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Harper Wave
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: TLC Book Tours

Purchasing:



A fifty-year-old Bridge game provides an unexpected way to cross the generational divide between a daughter and her mother. Betsy Lerner takes us on a powerfully personal literary journey, where we learn a little about Bridge and a lot about life.

After a lifetime defining herself in contrast to her mother’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” generation, Lerner finds herself back in her childhood home, not five miles from the mother she spent decades avoiding. When Roz needs help after surgery, it falls to Betsy to take care of her. She expected a week of tense civility; what she got instead were the Bridge Ladies. Impressed by their loyalty, she saw something her generation lacked. Facebook was great, but it wouldn’t deliver a pot roast.

Tentatively at first, Betsy becomes a regular at her mother’s Monday Bridge club. Through her friendships with the ladies, she is finally able to face years of misunderstandings and family tragedy, the Bridge table becoming the common ground she and Roz never had.

By turns darkly funny and deeply moving, The Bridge Ladies is the unforgettable story of a hard-won—but never-too-late—bond between mother and daughter.

I am a mom of two young daughters so when I read the premise of this book I knew that I had to read it. While reading it I couldn't help but make comparisons to one of my favorite movies, How to Make an American Quilt. There is just something special and amazing about a group of ladies that gets together on a regular basis to hash out their lives and help each other, through laughter, anger and sometimes tears.

I really enjoyed reading about Roz and Betsy, and while there were aspects of Betsy's behavior I wasn't overly thrilled with, I thought it was well written and made me realize that maybe I should reach out to my own mother more often, and with a more open mind.

Overall a very enjoyable story.




Betsy Lerner is the author of The Forest for the Trees and Food and Loathing. She is a recipient of the Thomas Wolfe Poetry Prize, an Academy of American Poets Poetry Prize, and the Tony Godwin Prize for Editors, and was selected as one of PEN’s Emerging Writers. Lerner is a partner with the literary agency Dunow, Carlson & Lerner and resides in New Haven, Connecticut.
Read More »

Book Feature: The Last County Fair by Stan Matthews - Win a $25 Gift Card

 
 
Inside the Book:

Title: The Last County Fair 
Author: Stan Matthews 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Mystery/Detective 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

It is 1967 when a feud begins that could lead to the death of the one-hundred-year-old Chesterton county fair. When veteran reporter Art James is sent to investigate, he immediately delves into a case that will take him six days and hopefully provide him with a much-coveted feature story byline. Bob soon learns that the county is interested in selling the fairgrounds and that there are as many proponents as opponents to the sale. As Art interviews fairgoers, volunteers, and leaders, he unearths a conspiracy to hide the truth from the public until an agreement can be arranged between the county and a trucking firm. While Art's feature articles win him welcome bylines, he becomes even more determined to stop the sham, before it is too late. To complicate matters even further, Art becomes smitten with fair volunteer, Jenny Glen. As the last night of the fair arrives, the future is decided-not just for the fair, but for Art and Jenny as well. In this compelling story, an investigative reporter on a quest to uncover the truth about the demise of a county fair finds love while uncovering a conspiracy led by greed and deception.
Meet the Author:
Stan Matthews is a veteran investigative reporter who has visited scores of county, state, national, and provincial fairs in England, Canada, and America. He has written and produced films about fairs and is the author of several other books. Stan lives in Florida with his wife, Mary Jane.    

Giveaway

Stan is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Book Blast: Musings of a Mad Scientist by David Gretch - Win a $25 Gift Card!

   

 
Inside the Book:

Title: Musings of a Mad Scientist 
Author: David Gretch 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Philosophy/Mind and Body 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

What if human nature, in its most primal and innocent stage, is kind and gentle? What if despite the hostility, deception, and corruption of the moment, we earthlings are in fact spirit beings capable of reversion to our innate condition of being a kind and gentle species? If such a synchronous evolutionary leap in consciousness is possible, then past rules can be overlooked as newer and more positive perspectives emerge. Musings of a Mad Scientist attempts to revive an old conversation about what it is to be human, and it peers into our inner world, our inner sanctuary, and the inner quiet-something that scientists don't speak too much about. It explores these questions and answers with passion and a belief in God-something else scientists are not encouraged to do-and it prompts us to fight the exploitation and adverse social conditioning that results in the pestilence of weakness, disease, and economic turmoil. In the mad doctor's own words, "the arresting of adverse social conditioning is required for the solution of a nurturing, non-competitive global culture to optimally materialize." As the gentleness and kindness innate to our being reaches out with a mind of its own and yearns for a connection with like-minded humans, we can have the realization that we are all related in harmony with Mother Earth. This revival of the good spirit of humanity is about our inner selves, our outer connections, and how we should both understand ourselves and act as living, breathing spirits.  
Meet the Author:
David Gretch has doctoral degrees in both medicine and microbiology, and after a successful career in medical research he has turned his critical attention toward society and what it means to be human. A native of Montana, he now resides within the damp yet spectacular forests of the Pacific Northwest.    

Giveaway

David is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Book Feature: You Are Here by Chris Delyani - Win a $25 Gift Card


 


Title: You Are Here 
Author: Chris Delyani 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Genre: Romance 
Format: Ebook/Paperback

All Peter Bankston ever wanted to do was paint. An aspiring painter, Peter scratches out a pauper’s living in San Francisco, wanting nothing more than to be left alone. Instead, he finds himself getting involved with not one but two very different men. Like Peter, getting involved with another man is the last thing on Nick Katsaris’s mind. Smart, handsome, and good-humored, Nick’s done more than just survive—he’s positively thriving in San Francisco. But when he meets Peter, what begins as fun and games quickly turns into a game he can’t control. Miles Bettencourt’s days are filled with longing. For him, San Francisco is haunted by Stuart, his missing ex-lover. Desperate to win him back, Miles wanders the streets in the hope of running into Stuart again. Instead, he runs into Peter—the one man who might hold the key to what Miles is looking for. These three gay men soon form one very unlikely love triangle. Sometimes, when people break apart and then come together, they learn that discovering that where you are is the key to knowing who you are.  

Meet the Author:

In 1993, Chris Delyani moved to San Francisco from his native Boston to devote his life to writing fiction—and he’s been at it ever since. His first novel, The Love Thing, was published in 2009. He lives in Oakland, California.    

Giveaway

Chris is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 
Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
  • This giveaway begins May 23 and ends on June 3.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on June 4.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More »

Book Spotlight: A Leafy Green World by Sean Dow





Title: A Leafy Green World
Author: Sean Dow
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
Pages: 449
Genre: Thriller

A Leafy Green World is a fast paced, action packed thriller set in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Brent Holcomb has moved to Portland in hopes of resurrecting his life and his career. There, he meets Robyn-the girl from his dreams. All is going smoothly until he realizes Robyn and her friends are not what they seem. Now, wrapped up in the murder of an innocent man, and with nowhere to turn, Brent forms a bold plan-a plan that will put him on a dangerous course, aligning himself with domestic terrorists and ultimately, a deeply hidden cell of Islamic terrorists. 

For More Information

Book Excerpt:
Upper Dir valley, Pakistan

“How well do you trust him?” asked the voice over the encrypted satellite phone.
Farouk was always amazed at the technology that allowed him to have a clear conversation with someone halfway across the world. It was an honor to have been put through—he was speaking to Saadullah Abul Ka-beir himself, the imam who was guiding the war against the great Satan. He was a merciless warrior, a genius, and a master of planning—the best hope Islam had ever had of ridding the world of the Jews and of bringing in the glorious caliphate, and Farouk was actually being allowed to speak directly to him!
Even with the encryption, he had been instructed not to mention names or give any salutations that could be used to identify the man on the other end. The Americans were always finding ways to listen in on their conversations. The only truly secure communication was by courier, and the time delay involved in that was often unacceptable. Going in person to see the imam was out of the question. It would take almost two days to fly to Peshawar, and from there it was another grueling six hours to reach the blessed valley in Upper Dir where the council was sheltered.
"Six hours, that is, in the daylight," thought Farouk. Travel now had to be at night. The daytime skies were filled with silent death. So many heroes had died before their appointed time and with nothing to show for their deaths. The Americans struck wherever they pleased; there was no sovereignty, no shelter. Even in his own country, his leaders were forced to live like animals, cowering in damp caves and afraid to show their faces, lest the devils strike from the sky. It was an abomination, but it was also reality—Farouk prayed on a daily basis that he would live long enough to dance upon the graves of the infidels who forced the great leaders to live in such a demeaning manner.
In the meantime, satellite phones had become a necessary risk. They were effective, but information still had to be kept to a minimum, conversations as short as possible, and specifics avoided. No one knew if the enemy could listen in, but even if not, it would probably be only a short time until they could.
“I trust him completely, Sheikh,” Farouk said. “Enough to insist on a chance to bring this information to you. We have the opportunity to achieve the dreams of our people, and in our lifetime. This man is high in the ranks of a group that has lived for years amongst the devils, fighting them constantly, and they have never been penetrated.
“I also worked with his father, a man of great integrity whose efforts are largely responsible for my financial independence. I can say with certainty that this man can be trusted.”
“You realize what will happen to you and your family if you have been deceived?”
“Yes, Sheikh. As always, I put my life in your hands. We are searching his past and will watch everything he does, but I sense the beneficence of Allah in this man.”
“Very well. We will discuss this. In the meantime, continue your vigilance but do not go any further. You have already taken a great chance talking to him. You will find the fires of hell to be a welcome relief if your actions bring any damage to our cause.”
The call ended. No Salam alaikum, no Allah ysalmak, just silence. Silence and a feeling of dread. What if I have let pride interfere with my judgment? Farouk worried. Have I let the lion in the door?

About the Author

Sean Dow is a pulmonary and critical care physician in Great Falls, Montana. He started writing thriller novels in 2011, and has three titles, one of which, Debridement, is in its second printing and is being made into a feature film.

Sean was born in Iowa City, but was raised on a small farm in Kansas before leaving for medical school, and the adventures beyond. His career was largely in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a town that still feels like home. He did a brief stent in Las Vegas before moving to the paradise of Montana. When not working or writing, Sean can be found in the kitchen perfecting his New York cheesecake, or on the mountain streams with Bailey, his beloved (and perfectly behaved) Mastiff and his favorite 2 weight fly rod-a parting gift from a dear friend and patient.

His latest books are A Leafy Green World and Al-thar.
For More Information
 
Read More »

Monday, May 23, 2016

Beneath the African Sun: Interview with Historical Fiction Author Maria Lynch






Maria was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. After graduating from Dr. Ribeiro Goan School and with secretarial skills and her experience as a School Secretary she arrived in London, England in 1967 in the midst of “hippie world.” She studied at Pitman’s College for a Commercial Teacher’s Diploma which she successfully achieved in 1969. Due to the tenuous political situation in Kenya she had to find a new home. In the autumn of 1970 she emigrated to Canada in search of a home to put down her new roots. This she did with her husband, Tim who immigrated to Canada from South Wales, UK.

To Maria and Tim, Canada became a land of opportunity and new beginnings. In pursuit of these opportunities, they lived in Hamilton, Montreal, and Toronto. Tim pursued post graduate studies at the University of Toronto while Maria achieved a B.A. in Economics from York University followed by a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto. During this time, she and Tim nurtured their two sons. When they reached school age, Maria taught Business Studies’ courses  at high schools in the City of Toronto for fourteen years. In 1999 she achieved an M.A. (Leadership and Training) from Royal Roads University, British Columbia.

Maria is an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction books. The latter enables her to delve into her favorite topics of social justice issues, community development and philosophy. In 2009 she began blogging, visit www.dovemuse.ca. This deepened her interest in writing novels and is author of Beneath the African Sun; for details visit www.authormarialynch.com. She also enjoys nature trail walking and traveling.
For More Information


When Sabby Mendes leaves Portuguese Goa aboard the dhow Monsoon Wind bound for British East Africa in 1916, he has one dream—to find work as a tailor in the relatively new capital of Nairobi. Sabby is a young man, still a teenager, but he is determined to build a life for himself, and he knows
that the opportunities in the British Protectorate are better than those facing him at home.

A bright, affable young man with a genuine passion and talent for tailoring, he is not prepared for what he is about to find beyond the Arabian Sea. The Protectorate, which will become British Colony of Kenya, is a highly segregated society with the British firmly ensconced at its top; below them are the “Asians” like Sabby; and at the very bottom are the native African population who are regarded as little more than savages in need of civilization.

Beneath the African Sun offers, through the eyes of its protagonist, a street-level view of the changing social and political climate of Kenya between 1916 and 1970, including the ‘Mau Mau’ Uprising of the native Kikuyu, the eventual independence of Kenya in 1963, and the political fallout that followed.

More than a history, it is a story about family, home, social justice, and what it means to truly belong somewhere.

For More Information


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 spend the winter months in a warm country where I explore different sights, sounds and cultures. I love walking along the sandy beaches for my morning exercise. During the spring, summer and autumn I walk along nature trails, in city parks, attend lecture series on my favorite topics—philosophy, social justice issues and community development as it relates to leadership. I enjoy theatre plays, orchestral music concerts and meeting friends for a beverage, lunch or dinner. I am most relaxed when I escape into the world of reading fiction and non-fiction.

When did you start writing?

I started creative writing in 2009. Before that I wrote reports, minutes of meetings, academic papers and a post graduate thesis. To venture into creative writing I created a blog www.dovemuse.ca that I use as a personal repository of my writings. I post my personal reviews of the books I read. Sometimes I add reviews from other reviewers with my added comments. Also there are my descriptions with photographs of our travel adventures. I sometimes post commentaries on my favorite topics mentioned above. From blogging I took the leap to writing my first novel, Beneath the African Sun.

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

The most pivotal point was working with a writing buddy and editors who gave me important critical feedback and umpteen suggestions for me to work through and determine their suitability for my novel  and my style of writing.

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

I would go to two places; live in a condo in a bustling city to be inspired by the sights, sounds and activities of an urban environment, and the second place would be in a quiet country cottage overlooking a body of water with a long stretch of beach to walk along and absorb the healing powers of the blue water that would relax my mind to become curious in my writing.

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

Read more fiction to grasp different writing styles of a variety of authors. It would help me create my own style of writing to a form that is unique to my way of telling a story.

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

I would like to take the protagonist on a journey across Canada including the cold northern part of Canada. She would discover what it means to truly belong to a country.

Back to your present book, Beneath the African Sun, how did you publish it?

I used FriesenPress, a self-publishing company, to produce my book. I chose a package that closely resembled a traditional publisher. I was assigned a team led by an account manager who coordinated all the activities of the team; editor, book designer, book promoter and book distributor. I worked very closely with each member of the team during the whole process of the production of my novel.

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

I travelled to Kenya, specifically to Nairobi, Nakuru and Mombasa to reinforce my memories of these places that are clearly evident in my novel.

Why was writing Beneath the African Sun so important to you?

I wrote Beneath the African Sun to honor the memory of my father. The story resembles many facets of his life. Also I wanted to highlight the social justice issues of the early 20th century in British Colonial Kenya, a country in Africa—a continent which was commonly referred as the dark continent.

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

My best ideas come from reading fiction and non-fiction, personal experiences, witnessing experiences of others, listening to personal stories and formal lectures on philosophy, social justice issues, and the impact of community on individuals.

During these settings I become curious and want to know more and reflect on how I could turn what I hear and read into a story that would portray the issues from a street- level viewpoint of an ordinary person.

Any final words?

I framed Beneath the African Sun around social justice issues and the impact of a close-knit community in a faraway land all of whom wanted to belong to a beloved yet troubled country but couldn’t due the political turmoil that surfaced during that time.

Thank you for this opportunity to be interviewed by you.
Read More »

In the Spotlight: The Bipolar Millionaire by John E. Wade II



Title: The Bipolar Millionaire
Author: John E. Wade II
Publisher: Sunbury Press
Pages: 164
Genre: Memoir

John E. Wade II, retired CPA, author, investor, television producer, and philanthropist, reveals in his memoir, The Bipolar Millionaire, his personal struggle with bipolar disorder and how he has succeeded in living a balanced and blessed life, despite his mental illness.

Wade takes the reader through his family experiences, political aspirations and beliefs, spiritual journey, relationship trials and errors, all while battling mental illness.
Through his religious beliefs, personal perseverance, and the help of friends, family, and his mental health professionals, Wade lives an active, creative, and successful life.

His memoir doesn’t end with contentment at achieving a balance in his life, however. Instead, Wade expresses a determined vision for the future, aiming to assist humanity in what he describes as achieving heaven on earth through his writing, political and spiritual endeavors.

For More Information

Book Excerpt:
I was struggling and dropped into a walk from the jog required of fourth classmen. It was an autumn day in 1963, just a month after I’d had a near-fatal attack of meningitis, and I was still fighting to regain my strength. Panting for breath, I was confronted by a first classman. He asked very directly why I wasn’t jogging. I quickly replied that I had a medical excuse, knowing full well that the excuse had expired. He ordered me to produce the excuse, which I did. Noting its date, he nonetheless allowed me to proceed.

Soon, I was in the academy hospital, lying flat on my back in an almost catatonic state, unable to cope with my mental torment. Although this severe depression, the first in my life, was not diagnosed at the time, it must have been my first bipolar episode, possibly having been triggered by the recent attack of meningitis.

My mother and Carol, my then-girlfriend, came to try to revive me, but I don’t remember responding. Years later, Carol told me that I asked her to help me kill myself, but I have absolutely no memory of making such a request.

Until this illness I had been a model cadet. I had prepared physically according to academy guidelines, so the transition to basic cadet summer was rigorous but easier than it would have been without vigorous training.

One other thing that helped me during basic cadet summer was the stream of daily letters from Carol. My fellow cadets were jealous, partly because of the letters, but also because of the picture of her I had in my room. Even though it was black and white, it was clear that she had blond hair, a sweet smile, and a pleasing, pretty face. That face helped me get through the rest of what we all had to endure to complete our training.

Each week we were given certain “knowledge” to learn, such as types of aircraft or chains of command. I always spent part of Sunday afternoon memorizing the information so that I could recite it during Monday’s meals. The upperclassmen pointedly asked several questions of each basic cadet, which kept us from finishing our entire meal. The first classmen took turns performing the interrogation, but as the questions were considerably shorter than the answers, they always had plenty of time to eat. I always felt I was short-changed because I was the only one who knew the trivia from the first day it was due, and yet I didn’t get a chance to eat more than the other basic cadets.

At the end of basic cadet summer, all the cadets were subjected to a physical fitness test, and I scored the highest in my squadron. At about the same time, we also went on a survival exercise in the mountains for which we were organized into small groups with twenty-four hours’ worth of food and about a week’s time to find our way back to the academy. The experience was particularly taxing for me. I became so obsessed with saving my food that I still had some left when we got back to the academy.

After the final tests, those of us who successfully completed basic cadet summer became fourth classmen. My personal excitement was not long lasting, however. Although I had scored high marks on the physical tests, I was disappointed with my first academic grades, which included some Bs, as I was used to all As in high school. When I asked a first classman for his opinion, he said I did just fine considering that I came from a weak high school.

Basic cadet summer had ended—then the meningitis hit. I’ve since read that physical illness can trigger the onset of bipolar disorder, and although the diagnosis was not made at that time, I believe that is what had happened. My father eventually was diagnosed as having bipolar disorder also, so it appears that I was genetically predisposed to the condition, as is often the case.

I had entered the academy in June 1963, and I received an honorable medical discharge that December; whether I was right or wrong, I considered the situation a great disgrace. It was definitely a life-defining event for me, and I was overcome with depression.

But, there was another aspect to my failure at the Air Force Academy that I didn’t disclose to anyone else until years later: part of the reason I attended the academy was that I had presidential ambitions, which I knew would be shattered by the stigma of mental illness. I internalized and brooded over that stigma for the next forty years.

To make matters even worse, when I finally got home I also lost my girlfriend.
It was quite a shock to me and had a negative effect on my confidence with the women I would date for most of the rest of my life.

I have often wondered what would have happened had I not had the meningitis and bipolar episode. What aspects of my life would have been altered? It’s a haunting possibility to consider.

Still, even though the realization of some of my dreams has eluded me, I have had and am having an interesting, fulfilling life in spite of bipolar disorder, and I invite you to understand its role as I work toward what I believe is my destiny.
Read More »

Friday, May 20, 2016

Book Feature: Storm Surge, Vengeance of the Demons and Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb

 

Inside the Book:

Storm Surge 
Title: Storm Surge 
Author: Celia Ashley 
Release Date: May 10, 2016 
Publisher: Lyrical Press 
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Format: Ebook

Named after a goddess who turns her lovers to stone, an insular New England coastal town holds more secrets than it can keep...

Torn from her hometown and her father as a child, Paige Waters' last memory of both is fraught with mystery and confusion. Now, sixteen years later, with both her parents gone, Paige returns to Alcina Cove, certain there is more to the painful story than she's been led to believe. The answers must lie within the community, buffered from the larger world by the sea; but when she finds the townspeople more reticent than ever, her only hope is the intriguing man who lives in her childhood home--if she can break down his reserve…

A fisherman turned writer, Liam Gray is haunted by secrets of his own, some of which are deeply entangled with the closure Paige seeks. But as he and Paige grow intimate, their attraction building, Liam finds himself torn between truth and betrayal. Whichever he chooses will risk his future with Paige and cause someone pain--until an even greater danger leaves him no choice…

Praise for Celia Ashley's Dark Tides

"A darkly seductive tale filled with unpredictable twists and turns. . .A smoothly written and creatively detailed thrill ride." –Affaire de Coeur, 4 Stars and Reviewer's Pick

"A top-notch tale filled with danger and mystery, all wrapped around a spicy romance." –Romance Reviews Today

     photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpgB&N

Meet the Author:

As an author of contemporary paranormal romance, I am a sucker for a tortured soul. If all of my characters were as happy as clams, we’d find them pretty boring, wouldn’t we? The big payoff for all that angst, however, is finding true love. Whether writing about ghosts, heroines with psychic powers, stalkers or a community of others, every tale is filled with suspense and danger, all wrapped up in a spicy romance.Many readers ask me how I started writing and I can only say it began with a love of reading. I wrote my first book at age seven–a thirty page story about a girl and her horse, complete with illustrations, entitled Windy Day.  I can’t remember now if Windy Day was the name of the horse or the prevalent weather condition but, suffice it to say, my yearning to be a writer began at that time. I spent the rest of my childhood (and continue to this day) reading a book the first time for pleasure and each time thereafter with an eye to nuance of phrasing, description, pacing, flow: everything that originally drew me in and enamored me. I am, in that sense, self-taught at my craft, although I love the inspiration that new learning brings me and welcome knowledge from every source. Most of all, I welcome feedback from my readers. You are, after all, the truest inspiration! So, keep those comments coming.

Inside the Book:

Vengeance of the Demons

Title: Vengeance of the Demons 
Author: Rebekah R. Ganiere 
Release Date: May 10, 2016 
Publisher: Lyrical Press 
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Format: Ebook

When the demons arrive, not even The Society can escape extinction.

 Soft-spoken and sharply dressed, William, a bitten vampyr, has sworn his loyalty to The Society--and when an imminent demon invasion threatens everything his family has worked so hard to build, he quickly comes up with a plan to save them all. But he'll need Evan, a stunning and defiant woman, to help rally what's left of humanity…

Evan is the last human who wants to see the Vampires saved. But with the demons set to destroy all life on earth--human and Vampire alike--she'll have to partner with William to survive. Yet the dangerous twists and turns ahead only bring the two closer, uncovering forbidden desires neither dreamed were possible. Will their newfound romance be enough to conquer a centuries-long feud? Or will it put the entire world at risk?


 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpgB&N

Meet the Author:

rebekah-garniere-200x300

 Rebekah is an Award Winning Bestselling Author. Her debut novel Dead Awakenings, hit the bestseller list the first day, in January 2014. Her Fairelle Series, released in May 2014 and has won several awards including the Golden Palm and a finalist for Rone Award. Her trilogy The Society was released by Kensington in 2014 and her new series Shifter Rising is releasing in 2016 from Samhain Press. Rebekah is currently working on six series in the Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Sci-fi genres. She has three more books slated to release this year and another five for next year. Rebekah is the VP of Communications of the Romance Writers of America Los Angeles Chapter as well as the Newsletter Editor of the Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal Chapter. In her spare time when she isn’t writing you can find her moderating and teaching on SavvyAuthors.com or at RWA. Rebekah also cosplays with her kids and is a guest speaker and panelist at San Diego Comic Con and Salt Lake Comic Con and several other Comic Cons on the west coast as well as LTUE, Romantic Times Convention, and Authors After Dark.  

  For More Information Visit Rebekah’s website.

Social-Network-Twitter Social-Network-Facebook      

Inside the Book:

demonhuntingwithadixiedeb 

Title: Demon Hunting with a Dixie Deb 
Author: Lexi George 
Release Date: May 24, 2016 
Publisher: Lyrical Press 
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Format: Ebook

Deep South legends. Deep fried curses. Deep dish revenge . .

This Debutante Is Having A Ball! Way down south in the land of cotton, one belle’s plans are soon forgotten—when Sassy Peterson drives her Maserati off the road to avoid a deer and lands smack-dab in the proverbial creek without a paddle. The Alabama heiress should have known something weird was going on when she saw the deer’s ginormous fangs. Hello, Predator Bambi! But nothing can prepare her for the leather-clad, muscle-bound, golden-eyed sex god who rescues her. Who wears leather in May? That’s just the first of many questions Sassy has when her savior reveals he’s a demon hunter named Grim. Also: Why would a troop of fairies want to give her magical powers and rainbow hair? Why would a style-challenged beast called the Howling Hag want to hunt her down? Most importantly, what’s a nice debutante like Sassy doing in a place like this anyway? Besides feeling Grim . . .  

Praise for Demon Hunting in Dixie

“A demonically wicked good time.”—Angie Fox

“A not-to-be-missed Southern-fried, bawdy, hilarious romp.” —Beverly Barton, New York Times bestselling author

“A genuinely funny new voice in paranormal romance.”—Publishers Weekly

 photo addtogoodreadssmall_zpsa2a6cf28.png photo B6096376-6C81-4465-8935-CE890C777EB9-1855-000001A1E900B890_zps5affbed6.jpgB&N

Meet the Author:

LexiGeorge-200x244

 Lexi grew up in South Alabama in a rural community with one flashing light and a small country store that sold everything from gas to pickled eggs. Her father, a circuit judge, collected clocks — chiming clocks that binged and banged all night long in rhythm with the trains that chugged and wailed down the railroad track not a hundred yards from Lexi’s girlhood home. Needless to say, Lexi is a very sound sleeper. And to this day, the lonely sound of a train whistle does something to her. She grew up surrounded by cotton fields and wide open spaces. She was a major tomboy. Dressed in a boy cousin’s hand-me-downs, she ran barefoot, climbed trees, played in ditches, and picked sun-warmed dew berries off their prickly vines. Sometimes, her parents drove her into town to play with her city cousins. They played dress-up, made forts, charged up and down dirt mounds in noisy games of King of the Hill and chased the mosquito truck on their bikes. Lexi’s mother was a high school English teacher who instilled in her daughter a love of reading and books. The muse first struck Lexi in the third grade, when she began to write poetry. Bad poetry. She continued to flay the English language throughout high school and college. And then she went to law school and the muse left her. The muse HATED law school. Lexi wasn’t too crazy about it either, especially the rule against perpetuities, but with a public relations major and English minor, it seemed the sensible thing to do. After passing the Alabama state bar exam on her first attempt, Lexi got a job as an appellate attorney with a big state agency where she’s happily worked ever since. Her day job involves writing briefs and reading criminal transcripts – transcripts where people do rude things to one another. In Lexi’s experience, the human capacity for rudeness is unlimited. No doubt, a daily diet of man’s inhumanity to man . . . and woman . . . and children . . . and dogs and cats is somewhat responsible for Lexi’s desire to escape reality in the pages of a good book. Preferably a romance, her favorite genre.

  For More Information Visit Lexi’s website.
Social-Network-Twitter Social-Network-Facebook        
Read More »