Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New To You Reading Challenge 2015

New to You Reading Challenge

Another great challenge and one I am looking forward to participating in. How to pick what books - that is my only issue. Time to take my notebook down to my 'library' and start making a list. I can't wait to see who else is participating, and follow along.

I am going to try Level 7 - 100+ for this one, it will go along with some other challenges I am doing. And I hope to list the books soon.

Happy New Year!
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2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

2015TBR

So, here is another reading challenge that I am going to sign up for. The great thing about this one is it will be similar to some of the other challenges that I am going to participate in. So, for that reason I am going for the 50+ Married with Children level.

I can't wait to meet some of the other participants. Maybe you'll join too!
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Thursday, December 18, 2014

When Santa Goes to Church by Sonja Grimsley Fambro Book Feature


Title: When Santa Goes to Church
Author: Sonja Grimsley Fambro
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 82
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Storytellers have long filled our imaginations with stories about Santa, Santa’s elves, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s Christmas Eve trip. In fairy-tale land, it is no mystery that he, along with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer, must have the busiest Christmas Eve night ever. After all, they are famous for going from town to town leaving gifts for good little girls and good little boys. Santa is a right jolly old fellow! Sometimes we’re told that he gets a plate of cookies for sliding down chimneys, or going through the back door, or whatever his entrance may be. Yes, fairy tales do what fairy tales are supposed to do; they take us on imaginary journeys. However, in this fairy tale about Santa, he remembers that Christmas IS NOT really about him. Do you know the real Christmas story? Well, in case you don’t, and even if you do, come and follow Santa as he hears the real Christmas story, which is NOT a fairy tale. It is the story about the greatest gift in the whole wide world! Do you know who He is?

  amazon 

 Sonja earned her B.A. degree with honors from Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. Later, after attending the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, she received her teaching certificate from the State of Florida. As an educator, she taught English in the Continuing Education Program for Norfolk Public Schools in Norfolk, Virginia. After returning to Florida, Sonja taught Business English at CareerCom School of Business in Jacksonville. Sonja is a multitalented writer whose literary works have intrigued audiences for the past several years. She writes plays, songs, essays, speeches, short stories, and poetry. Her poems entitled “Foolish, Bold, Prejudice” and “Operator, Get Me Jesus” have been published in anthologies. For two consecutive years, 1994 and 1995, Sonja received the Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry which was presented by the National Library of Poetry. Her poem, “The Church in the ‘Hood,” is a favorite among her friends. She has often been applauded for her inspirational speaking and her gospel plays, including Nobody, but Jesus. Sonja is also the author of another children’s book entitled Santa Spent the Night with Me! Additionally, she has plans for another project which will be on the market in the near future. In addition to writing, Sonja enjoys teaching, reading, spending time with her family, and traveling with her husband, Lewis. They have traveled extensively throughout the United States and to Canada, Mexico, Israel, and Europe. Sonja and her husband currently live in Dallas, Georgia.

Sonja is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Make a Stand by Agnew Smith Book Feature

Make a Stand Title: Make a Stand
Author: Agnew Smith
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 260
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Terry Freeman is a disgruntled computer salesman and talented musician and songwriter who, along with his best friend, Damon King, is attempting to fulfill his musical dreams through their popular band, Infinite Noise.  It appears the sky is the limit for Infinite Noise until tragedy strikes, derailing Terry’s and his band members’ dreams of fame and success. Nearly two years later, Terry tries to put the tragedy behind him and rekindle the magic that propelled the band into one of the most well-known and hottest bands in Atlanta and the surrounding area. When Infinite Noise receives an offer to sign with a major record label, Terry thinks things are finally going his way until he discovers that success in the music industry sometimes comes with a very high price.  He is confronted with an agonizing decision that will affect not only his music career, but also his life.

  amazon  

Agnew is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

645
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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Sagacious Teens by J. Thompson Book Feature

Sagacious Teens Title: Sagacious Teens
Author: J. Thompson
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 208
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 Adolescents are wiser than we believe. Today’s youth face multiple challenges—many of which are portrayed in the adolescent drama, Sagacious Teens, that shares a multicultural glimpse into the lives of more than a dozen teenagers from diverse backgrounds. From Carlos who shares a far-fetched story of a weekend gone awry with his friend Ernesto to Richard who is having trouble balancing his girlfriend’s demands with his own needs. Seasoned teacher J. Thompson provides eye-opening insight into how teenagers face problems and learn to deal with them, either on their own or with the help of friends. Carmelita loves two boys – one who is a compulsive liar and another who connects with her soul. Aretha is frustrated with the police and her community’s lack of involvement. Artie and Rich are concerned about a school administrator who claims the students are his responsibility. Rob is upset when a well-liked teacher picks on him for wearing a hoody. Sagacious Teens offers a look into the compelling experiences of a group of teenagers that helps bring awareness to parents, other adolescents, and teachers about the lives, interests, and challenges of today’s youth.

  amazon  

J is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Monday, December 15, 2014

Interview with Lee Papa, author of The Temple of All Knowing



Lee Papa’s start in the corporate world was in sales for the Hyatt Regency Hotel chain, which led to being head hunted by a NY based real estate developer. Lee spent the next 11 years as a key employee working in commercial real estate leasing and management in Baltimore, Maryland. Although, commercial real estate was now in her blood and she loved the art of the deal, a different road in the industry was presenting itself and that brought her to heading up the benchmarking division for a Los Angeles based real estate consulting firm. Her job had her traveling nationally and setting up programs to benchmark customer satisfaction. Understanding there was not a one shoe fits all approach to customer surveying, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey and started with consulting to serve the customized needs of her clients.
Lee’s first book, The Temple of All Knowing, is a memoir of her several years journey prior to her near death experience, through the completion of the 6,000 square foot Ganesha Center in Las Vegas. The book details the roadmap from personal darkness through spiritual, emotional and physical transformation. 
Since the completion of the manuscript the Las Vegas Sanctuary for the Spirit evolved by moving to a downtown Las Vegas location and now offers targeted classes and workshops while focusing on a Virtual Ganesha Center supporting individuals and corporations with programs and a Referral Network with expansive reach for optimal awareness.

For More Information
About the Book:

The Temple of All Knowing is a memoir of one woman’s passage from personal and professional turmoil to spiritual awakening. A compelling straight forward and sometimes humorous account of the most personal of journeys as this 40-something woman finds herself in Sin City with promise of a new life, new husband and elderly mother living with her. She instead is uncovered as a central character in the deepest of possible challenges only to break through to discover her authentic spiritual self through a near death experience and a personal mission in Soul CityLas Vegas.

For More Information

  • The Temple of All Knowing is available at Amazon.
  • Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
  • Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Q: Thanks for stopping off at I'm Shelf-ish, Lee.  Can you tell us how you came up with the idea to write THE TEMPLE OF ALL KNOWING?

Thank you.

In Sept 2008 I went to the Light.  I had a near death experience.  Not by the hand of an accident or horrible disease, no my earth departing culprit was my words.

Q: Did you hit on any challenges writing this book?

The only difficulty was finding the block of time to write.  I am not one of those disciplined writers, I have many projects going at a time and with my teaching and private practice and being a mom, finding the time was the hardest bit. I write from my heart.  I quiet myself with a brief meditation and allow the flow of inspiration to come.

Q: How did you get it published?

I chose to self-publish.  It made the most sense for a new author and the type of book.  I already had a platform and a following.  It is a memoir but it is so much more than that.  It is hope and inspiration.  It is healing.  I was not aspiring to make a ton of money on this book but rather my goal is to get it in the hands of who needs it.


Q: Do you have other books you've written?

I have started my second book, actually, two second books.  I am not sure which one will make it first.  A children’s book with my son, about seeing spirits.  And another based on my extraordinary journey to Peru in 2013. It was a terrifying and transformative experience.


Q: What kind of message does your book have that you want to tell our readers?

·        Everything we need is within us.
·        There is no death.  Only life and life.
·        Our thoughts, words and actions are powerful and create our realities.
·        There is nothing that you are not enough of.

Is that too many?  I have more…LOL. 
  
Q: Do you have any final words?

Thank you for this opportunity to share the message of my book, The Temple of All Knowing with your audience. Motivational/inspirational speaking engagement inquiries or book signings should be forwarded to lee@leepapa.com.

I’ll leave you with this, “With change comes transformation…be open to the possibilities.” Lee Papa


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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Sunday Post #1 - Christmas is coming!

So, I have had quite a few blogs in my Newsblur account and keep seeing this post come up over at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.  After all, I have been blogging about books for over 7 years now, so why not participate in things like this - right?

It might take me a little bit to find my groove, so for this week let me just update what is new in the book department.

I received the following books this week:


AMERICAN HORROR STORY 

Its violent, sordid past is what draws bestselling author David Masters to the infamous Victorian mansion called Baudey House. Its shrouded history of madness and murder is just the inspiration he needs to write his ultimate masterpiece of horror. But what waits for David and his sixteen-year-old daughter, Amber, at Baudey House, is more terrifying than any legend. 

First comes the sultry hint of jasmine... followed by the foul stench of decay. It is the dead seducing the living in an age-old ritual of perverted desire and unholy blood lust. For David and Amber, an unspeakable possession has begun. 

"...a tapestry of chills and scares that will be remembered long after the lights have gone out." --Douglas Clegg 

"Combines eerie eroticism with page-turning terror." --Pasadena Weekly 

"Don't read it if you have something else to do... it just might have to wait." --After Hours

They met in cooking school—and became fast friends with a common dream. Now, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather hope to take Dublin by storm with their newly formed catering company, aptly dubbed “Scarlet Feather.” Not everyone, however, shares their optimism. Cathy’s mother-in-law disapproves of both Cathy and her new “hobby,” while Cathy’s husband Neil pays no mind to anything—except his work as a civil rights lawyer. And then there’s Tom’s family, who expect him to follow in his father’s footsteps, and an ambitious girlfriend who’s struggling with career dreams of her own. Between friends and families, ups and downs, heartaches and joys, Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather are about to embark on the most maddening—and exhilarating—year of their lives…. 









True love can last an eternity . . . but immortality comes at a price. . . . 

On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae - Lanny - walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her... despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort. And as she begins to tell her story, a story of enduring love and consummate betrayal that transcends time and mortality, Luke finds himself utterly captivated. 

Her impassioned account begins at the turn of the nineteenth century in the same small town of St. Andrew, Maine, back when it was a Puritan settlement. Consumed as a child by her love for the son of the town's founder, Lanny will do anything to be with him forever. But the price she pays is steep: an immortal bond that chains her to a terrible fate for all eternity. And now, two centuries later, the key to her healing and her salvation lies with Dr. Luke Findley.

Part historical novel, part supernatural page-turner, The Taker is an unforgettable tale about the power of unrequited love not only to elevate and sustain, but also to blind and ultimately destroy, and how each of us is responsible for finding our own path to redemption.

When a boy tries to save his parents’ marriage, he uncovers a legacy of family secrets in a coming-of-age ghost story by the author of the internationally bestselling phenomenon, The Art of Racing in the Rain.

In the summer of 1990, fourteen-year-old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant, whole trees, and is set on a huge estate overlooking Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have begun a trial separation, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with his sister, Serena, dispatch Grandpa Samuel—who is flickering in and out of dementia—to a graduated living facility, sell off the house and property for development into “tract housing for millionaires,” divide up the profits, and live happily ever after.

But Trevor soon discovers there’s someone else living in Riddell House: a ghost with an agenda of his own. For while the land holds tremendous value, it is also burdened by the final wishes of the family patriarch, Elijah, who mandated it be allowed to return to untamed forestland as a penance for the millions of trees harvested over the decades by the Riddell Timber company. The ghost will not rest until Elijah’s wish is fulfilled, and Trevor’s willingness to face the past holds the key to his family’s future.

A Sudden Light is a rich, atmospheric work that is at once a multigenerational family saga, a historical novel, a ghost story, and the story of a contemporary family’s struggle to connect with each other. A tribute to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, it reflects Garth Stein’s outsized capacity for empathy and keen understanding of human motivation, and his rare ability to see the unseen: the universal threads that connect us all.


Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love. 
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A Dangerous Marriage by William W. Blunt Book Feature


Title: A Dangerous Marriage
Author: William Blunt
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 332
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 In A Dangerous Marriage, Julia Davenport’s social life has drifted into a backwater. Then she meets Peter Medea at a business reception in New York City. She is drawn by his aura of power and erotic magnetism and is lured into a hasty marriage. By indulging her compelling emotional and physical needs she finds immediate gratification, but at a devastating cost. Her romantic adventure turns out to be fraught with conflict and betrayal. And she becomes unwittingly involved in her husband’s shady business transactions, forcing her into unwanted intimacy with the sinister man who masterminds these schemes. She finds support in friendships with a victim of his fraudulent machinations, and others. She is nurtured and encouraged by a man who emerges from her past. But Julia alone must overcome the threats to her self-esteem, happiness, and well-being, which are the destructive consequences of her earlier surrender to passion.

Readers say this about A Dangerous Marriage –
Wow, what a page turner! Compelling and sexy, with the added intrigue of the nasty part of the financial world. Great story. —Constance Fulenwider A Dangerous Marriage is extremely well written. The characterization is great – the reader comes to know the characters really well. I didn’t want it to end. —Natalie Lee I loved A Dangerous Marriage. I really was glued to the plot and felt totally involved with the characters. It is written with great sensitivity and the story line moves along compellingly. This is a terrific novel! —Judy Bross In A Dangerous Marriage, twenty-six-year-old Julia Davenport’s social life has drifted into a backwater. Then she meets Peter Medea at a business reception in New York City that she’s attending as a favor for a friend. She is drawn by Peter Medea’s aura of power, apparent financial success, and erotic magnetism and is lured into a hasty marriage. By indulging her compelling emotional and physical needs she finds immediate gratification, but at a devastating cost. Her romantic adventure turns out to be fraught with conflict and betrayal. And she becomes unwittingly involved in her husband’s shady business transactions, forcing her into unwanted intimacy with Marco “Denny” DiNiro, the sinister man who masterminds these schemes. She finds support in friendships with a victim of DiNiro’s fraudulent machinations, and others. She is nurtured and encouraged by Danny Johnson, who has emerged from her past. But it is Julia alone who must overcome the threats to her self-esteem, happiness, and well-being, which are the destructive consequences of her earlier surrender to passion.

  amazon  

  William W. Blunt graduated from Yale University and Harvard Law School. He interrupted his corporate legal practice in New York City to serve in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Today he lives with his wife, Balirm in Irving, Texas. This is his first novel.

William is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Islam in the Heartland of America by Imam Omar Hazim Book Feature


Islam in the Heartland of America Title: Islam in the Heartland of America
Genre: Religion/Spirituality
Author: Imam Omar Hazim
Publisher: Xlibris
EBook: 279 pages
Release Date: January 28, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-45685-798-1

"The purpose of this book is to inform and educate the general public of how Islam is taught in a mosque in the heartland of America. It includes the Friday khutbah (sermons) by Imam Omar Hazim and several other Imams (Spiritual Leaders). The hope is to help to clarify some of the misconceptions and distortions about the religion of Islam. In addition to the sermons, there will be articles from other publications, excerpts of sermons and photos. Included also is information about the diversity among the Muslim population in the Heartland of America. This book is very timely, as Islam has been reported as being the fasting growing religion in the World. For anyone who ever thought about or wondered what is taught in the Friday services at a Mosque, this book is a must read for them."  

7777

Xlibris

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Saturday, December 13, 2014

New tour looking for hosts! The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr, February 2 - February 20

Hi everyone!

I hope you have a great weekend planned. I am beyond thrilled to be helping Harper Collins/Viola Carr coordinate a virtual book tour for her latest release, The Diabolical Miss Hyde. She will be touring from February 2 through February 20.

I am looking for book reviews (there are a few print copies available but ecopies will be preferred), promo posts, and I will also have Q&A and guest posts to provide. There will be a giveaway to be determined at a later time.

If you would like to host her tour, please click here

Thanks so much for everything, and if you have any questions just let me know.

DiabolicalMissHyde.PB-1
In an electric-powered Victorian London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with inventive new technological gadgets. Now, a new killer is splattering London in blood, drugging beautiful women and slicing off their limbs. Catching The Slicer will make Eliza’s career - or get her burned. Because Eliza has a dark secret. A seductive second self, set free by her father’s forbidden magical elixir: wild, impulsive Lizzie Hyde.

When the Royal Society send their Enforcer, the mercurial Captain Lafayette, to prove she’s a sorcerer, Eliza must resist the elixir with all her power. But as the Slicer case draws her into London’s luminous magical underworld, Eliza will need all the help she can get. Even if it means getting close to Lafayette, who harbors an evil curse of his own. Even if it means risking everything and setting vengeful Lizzie free …
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Friday, December 12, 2014

Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad by Charles and Boyd Hooks Book Feature

Title: Love is Poetry: My Dreams and A Tribute to My Dad Author: Charles and Boyd Hooks
Publisher: Xlibris
Pages: 188
Genre: Poetry
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR…..That was my oath to my god and country in August 1963. I was an infantryman and a paratrooper for the U.S. Army. I fought for my country in Vietnam. After my discharge I was a self contractor and had a son and daughter. To this day that has been my life. Literally no legacy to be remembered by maybe my great or great great grandchildren. Now I need something so if someone asked them who I was, they could prove I was a real person and maybe I’d be noted for something special. I dream constantly and write poetry and would like to publish a memoir. It has to start now at the age of sixty nine as my life has consisted of nothing special to this point. I would like to continue writing and publishing more poetry and a novel. My heart has stopped five times and now I am obsessed in having a legacy to put me in a category where I may be extra special for something. Maybe in thirty or forty years someone may say “OH Yes, I Do Remember Him” He…..??  

GIVEAWAY

Charles and Boyd are giving away one $25 Amazon 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.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends December 12.
  • Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Actor by Douglas Gardham Book Feature




Title: The Actor
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 It is 1991 when Ethan Jones finally wins the role of his dreams in an upcoming, big screen movie. With the envelope holding the script clutched in his hand, he arrives at his California apartment where he can hardly wait to tell his girlfriend the exciting news. But when he finds the door unexpectedly ajar, he has no idea that in just a few seconds, the life he has fought so hard to obtain will be shattered. Eight years earlier, Ethan is attending university in Ottawa, Canada. One evening after seriously contemplating suicide, he finds his way into a club where he meets Mila Monahan, a beautiful acting student who saves him from himself. After he watches Mila rehearse a university play, Ethan catches the acting bug and decides to pursue his own creative passions, causing a collision with his more secure ideals. But when Mila suddenly disappears, Ethan vows he will never stop chasing the dream she inspired in him, believing in a world entirely different from the one he is living in. The Actor is a gripping tale of a young man’s unforgettable journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a personal tragedy. It is a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy where The Actor learns he can portray anything he can imagine.

Douglas Gardham is a writer who loves music, movies, and books. He lives near Toronto, Canada, with his wife and dog. This is his first published novel.
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Sahara by Angella Ricot Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Title: Sahara
Author: Angella Ricot
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction/Suspense
Format: Ebook/Paperback
 Purchase at AMAZON

 When three sisters overhear their father’s overwhelming deal to sell them into prostitution, they immediately take fate into their own hands in search of their own destiny. They embark on a powerful and compelling journey that takes root in the exotic realm of the Caribbean island of Labadee, later to spring fully fledged in the glamorous cosmopolitan city of New York. Out of the struggle emerges the valiant and beautiful heroine, Sahara, a sensational gold thief who gets herself entangled in sensuous political games and dangerous liaisons. Sahara is a story of love, lust, money, and betrayal that is ingrained with power, politics, and prejudice. The plot spins to a volatile climax that sets the stage for the ultimate scandal in the White House.

  amazon    

Angella is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 1 and ends on December 12.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Interview with Corey Perlman, author of Social Media Overload


Social Media Overload Title: Social Media Overload
Author: Corey Perlman
Publisher: Garnet Group
Pages: 169
Genre: Business
Format: Paperback/Kindle

 You shouldn’t be on any social media site without a clear direction or purpose. This book will help you: • Determine which sites are right for your business and ignore the rest • Avoid website mistakes that are costing you business • Attract more prospects by outperforming your competition on Google • Stay “Top of Mind” with prospects using content marketing • Strengthen customer relationships and earn referrals using Facebook and LinkedIn

For More Information


How did you come up with the title of your book?


I speak on the topic of Social Media for business. Attendees are generally frustrated and overwhelmed by the amount they feel they need to do to be successful with social media. I titled the book, Social Media Overload, to help them solve those challenges.

What is your writing environment like?

I write in coffee shops. I need the energy of other people around me - I can’t write in solitude.

What is your favorite quote?  Why?

“Don’t die with the music still inside you.” Dr Wayne Dyer.

We can all find other things to do other than write, so we must make it a priority or it will never get done.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

My parents were both in the field of communication and helped me write in a style that was easy to understand. There are literally thousands of other social media / internet marketing books, but I say it in a way that everyone seems to be able to understand. I thank my parents for that gift.

What inspires you to write?

My clients and their challenges.

What do you consider the most challenging part about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

Like the gym, just doing it consistently.

Did you learn anything while writing this book?  If so, what was it?

I always learn when I write. I tend to do a lot of fact checking and a lot of research. My topic is always changing so we must change with it!

What have you done to promote this book?

I did a Birthday book launch and partnered with other authors to launch.  I also speak for a living, so I sold my book to audiences and meeting planners.

What are some of the best tools available today for writers?

Both can help you get things done in a quick and cost-effective way. I got the cover of my book done on fiverr.com for…you guessed it…five bucks.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

If you’re frustrated by a lack of results from your social media marketing, you’ll gain a lot from this book. www.socialmediaoverload.com


Corey Perlman Corey Perlman is an entrepreneur, author and nationally-recognized social media expert. His most recent book, eBoot Camp, (Wiley) became an Amazon.com bestseller and received global attention with distribution in both China and India. Corey’s company, eBoot Camp, Inc., provides digital marketing services to small and mid-size businesses. A proud member of the National Speaker’s Association (NSA), Corey conducts his critically acclaimed Social Media for Business Keynote to audiences around the world. He’s the proud father of a 3-year-old daughter who has already tweeted, has a youtube channel, and asked for a Mark Zuckerberg doll for her brithday. The apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.
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Interview with T.W. Fendley, author of The Labyrinth of Time - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The Labyrinth of Time Title: The Labyrinth of Time
Author: T.W. Fendley
Publisher: Silent Partner Publishing
Pages: 226
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Can Jade restore the Firestone’s powers before the First Men return to judge humanity? 


 Spending spring break in Peru with her grandmother isn’t sixteen-year-old Jade’s idea of fun. She’d much rather be with her friends at Lake of the Ozarks. Then she meets Felix, a museum director’s son. Jade discovers only she and Felix can telepathically access messages left on engraved stones in the age of dinosaurs. Following the ancient stones’ guidance, they enter the Labyrinth of Time and–with a shapeshifting dog’s help–seek a red crystal called the Firestone. But time is running out before the First Men return on the night of the second blue moon.   

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What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? 

I have two grown daughters who are wonderful people, as well great mothers and wives. One is an  architect and the other is a CPA.  I’m proud for whatever I did to help them become the women they are today.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? 

My mother encouraged reading and introduced me to some of the “New Age” influences that sent me on the spiritual path I’ve taken as an adult. These included the sleeping prophet Edgar Cayce, Oxford’s author and philosopher C.S. Lewis, and actress and reincarnation guru Shirley MacLaine.

When and why did you begin writing?

I got mad.

Back in the mid-90s, I was working as a corporate communications manager for a three-state area. When it came time for my annual review, my boss said, “You’re just not creative enough.”

I’ve always prided myself on having a great imagination, so I set out to prove how wrong he was. When I got accepted by one of the top writers’ workshops for speculative fiction--the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop—my boss not only had to change his tune, but he had to find someone to do my job when I took the six weeks vacation I’d saved up. He appreciated me a lot more when I came back, and I got a good start on my education about how to write fiction.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? 

Surprisingly, my older sister told me she always knew I would be a writer. Recently she gave me a folder of some of my early stories and poems. How sweet was that! Like many young girls, I collected Breyer model horses. Some of the first stories I wrote were about them, inspired by Walter Farley’s THE BLACK STALLION series. In Middle School (we called it Junior High), I won a national youth essay contest about tuberculosis that featured my first imagined character, Timothy B. (T.B.) Mouse.

When did you first know you could be a writer? 

College taught me the mechanics of writing professionally. I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Before I started writing fiction full-time, I earned my living for twenty-five years in journalism and corporate communications.

What inspires you to write and why? 

Some of my ideas come from dreams, but many evolve from trying to puzzle out “what if” problems. “What if” only two teens could access messages embedded in stones in the age of dinosaurs? “What if” the stories engraved on the stones were truly warnings? Like many things, I think this tendency to play with possibilities has to do with my personality type – I’m an INFP (Introverted/Intuitive/Feeling/Perceiving) on the Myers-Briggs test.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? 

I enjoy the freedom of writing speculative fiction, plus that’s just how my mind works. I have a talent for making strange connections between unrelated things, and that usually gets the creative wheels turning.

What inspired you to write your first book? 

During the last week of the Clarion workshop, I was in the library hunting for inspiration when I came across some magazine articles about recent archeological finds in the Yucatan.  They had recently uncoded the Mayan language, and everything experts thought they knew about the culture was being revised. I’ve always been a history buff, and this was a newly opened door to the past. I soon learned the cultures of ancient America—Inca, Maya, Aztec, etc.—at least equaled the Greek, Roman and Egyptian cultures I’d studied in school.



Who or what influenced your writing once you began? 

I had the good fortune to be able to travel. I finished writing ZERO TIME before I went to Machu Picchu in 2008, but I definitely viewed the ancient citadel from my characters' perspective. When I got home, revisions began in earnest. I’ve also been to several archeological sites in the Yucatan and American Southwest. I’ve taken courses and read many books on history, archaeoastronomy, and writing. I belong to several writing organizations, too.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? 

I’m a pantser, so I tend to write myself into bottlenecks. That slows things down a lot. I’ve tried outlining, but so far that just doesn’t work for me. I must like being surprised.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? 

The characters in THE LABYRINTH OF TIME taught me a lot allowing things to happen and then paying attention to why they happened. Since I’m a pantser, they surprised me from time to time, particularly the dog Jade called Boss Lady. I had no idea why Peruvian Hairless Dogs kept showing up until halfway into the book.

Do you intend to make writing a career? 

I’ve been writing full-time since 2007, when I took early retirement from my corporate job.

Have you developed a specific writing style? 

My writing generally weaves science with fantasy, and mythology with history. I often write about cycles and the ancient Americas.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? 

My imagination is my greatest asset. I tend to look at the world differently than other people, which still surprises me—I used to think everyone thought the way I do.

What is your favorite quality about yourself? 

It feels weird to say it, but I’m nice. In other words, I care about other people.

What is your least favorite quality about yourself? 

Being nice often complicates my life. A lot. Still, I wouldn’t want to be any other way. People first!

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? 

I don’t have a favorite quote, but I love a lot of the quotes attributed to Albert Einstein, such as: “Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” I like it because Einstein is the epitome of a “real” scientist, yet he often spoke about the value of looking beyond what is known.

TW Fendley T.W. Fendley is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and science fiction for adults and young adults. She began writing fiction full-time in 2007 after working twenty-five years in journalism and corporate communications. In October 2011, L&L Dreamspell LLC published her debut historical fantasy novel for adults, Zero Time. She fell in love with ancient American cultures while researching story ideas at the 1997 Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop. Since then, she’s trekked to archeological sites in the Yucatan, Peru and American Southwest.

When she’s not writing, T.W. explores the boundaries of consciousness through remote viewing and shamanism. She currently lives near St. Louis with her artist husband and his pet fish. Her latest book is the young adult fantasy, The Labyrinth of Time.

For More Information

     

T.W. is giving away two $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins November 17 and ends on December 12.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 15.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The Last Casualty of the Great War by Gregory M. Galvin Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

The Last Casualty of the Great WarTitle: The Last Casualty of the Great War 
Author: Gregory M. Galvin 
Publisher: iUniverse 
Pages: 250 
Genre: Historical Fiction 
Format: Paperback/Kindle

John Alston quietly wonders what it is about his face that makes other people think he is someone else. Even though he looks nothing like his three siblings or anyone else in his family, in his eyes, he is just a normal middle-aged man trying to make his way in the world. But one day during a chance encounter with a German visitor at the World War I museum, everything changes. John is taken aback as he is introduced to a German man who shares the same features as him. It is as if he is peering into a mirror. Even more odd is that he shares the same first name with the man. After he eventually parts ways with the stranger and his family, John cannot shake his feelings of uneasiness—especially when he learns that his father has just received a letter in the mail, all penned in German. Inspired by the strange chain of events, John embarks on a quest to find answers that lead him to research his own family history, question everything he has ever known, and uncover a shocking truth. The Last Casualty of the Great War is the poignant tale of one man’s journey through history as he attempts to discover his identity and the reality of his roots.

  amazon

Gregory Galvin earned a degree in French language from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a degree in accounting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He and his wife are parents of five adult children and live in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.
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Angels in Disguise by Dolores McNany Book Feature


Title: Angels in Disguise: Stories from America's School Nurses Author: Dolores McNany
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 166
Genre: Medical/Nursing
Format: Paperback/Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 School nurses serve on the front lines of the everyday struggle for our children’s health, yet they are often perceived as little more than glorified dispensers of bandages. This false perception, held by many parents, officials, and administrators, does a serious disservice to this dedicated group of health professionals. Angels in Disguise tells the oral history of school nursing through the eyes, ears, and hearts of school nurses serving throughout the United States. By sharing their personal experiences, these nurses illustrate their love and compassion and throw the doors wide open on this often-undervalued profession, enabling readers to see into their world and understand how much they truly care for the children they treat. This collection of heartwarming stories offers unique insight into the daily responsibilities and duties of school nurses and serves to raise public awareness of the dedication, leadership, and exemplary pediatric health care provided by the devoted women and men who care for America’s schoolchildren. The sophisticated medical health care required in schools today can only be delivered by qualified professional school personnel, and that challenge is met by having a school nurse in every school facility.

    amazon  

Dolores H. McNany, EdD, RN, NJSCSN holds a doctorate in education from California Coast University and worked as a school nurse and health teacher in public and private urban school systems for more than twenty years. She resides in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband Gene, and enjoys spending time at their summer home with their five children and seven grandchildren.

Dolores is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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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 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
  • This giveaway begins December 8 and ends on December 19.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, December 22.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Monday, December 8, 2014

Love Romance? Looking for Tour Hosts for Finding Hope by Stacy Finz (Kensington Publishing)

FINDINGHOPE-333x500 I hope you had a good weekend and are having a good Monday! I am thrilled to say that I will be helping Stacy Finz coordinate a virtual book tour for her latest romance, Finding Hope. She will be touring from January 5 through January 16. 

For this tour I am looking for book review and book promo/spotlights only. 

If you would like to host her tour, please click here

Thanks so much for everything, and if you have any questions just let me know. 

About the Book

The small mountain town of Nugget, California, is way off the beaten path. But somehow it helps the lost and lonely find a new beginning in life—and in love

One solitary day at a time is the only way cookbook writer Emily Mathews can restart her life—and cope with consuming loss. Still, the former city girl is finding all kinds of odd inspiration and advice from Nugget’s proudly eccentric residents on everything from new recipes to opening her heart again. Especially when it comes to her rugged rancher landlord …

 His no-drama new tenant is the first break Clay McCreedy has had in a long time. He’s got his hands full enough dealing with his wife’s scandalous death and his sons’ unresolved grief. Clay can’t help but be drawn to Emily’s quiet understanding and strength. When their fragile trust turns into passionate healing, he longs for much more. And when both their pasts come calling, he’s determined not to walk away…
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Saturday, December 6, 2014

2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge and 2015 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge

Well, here is one more challenge, lol! I am getting caught up on Novel Challenge so you might see some more in the near future:) I love the whole premise for these two challenges, reading an author for each letter of the alphabet.

I have decided to host this challenge again this year.

The Alphabet Soup Challenge means that by December 31, 2015
your bowls must be full of one book for each letter of the Alphabet.

Each Letter Counts As 1 Spoonful

Details

This challenge will run from January 1st, 2014 until December 31st, 2014.

You can join anytime. You do not have to review the book. Books can come from any genre.

You do not need to link up each spoonful.

Make a page or a post or a GoodReads shelf where you will keep track of your spoonfuls. I keep track of mine on my Challenge Page.

Crossovers to other challenges are allowed and encouraged!

It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.

You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below. For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.

So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.

A – How I plan to do it: Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

OR

B – Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – All the President’s Menus by Julie Hyzy  B- Bushel Full of Murder by Paige Shelton  C – Criminal Confections by Collette London  D – Dark Chocolate Demise by Jenn McKinlay etc.

Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!

Ready to join??

Non-bloggers you can join too! Just keep track any way you wish and enter a link below if available or sign up in the comment section. You can even set up a special shelf on Goodreads.com to help you keep track!

Need some help finding titles to match the alphabet – Jandy’s Reading Room has a wonderful list to get you started. X and Z were the toughest for me so this year I am going to try to take care of those two early.

Follow Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book as there may be special announcements made about the challenge.

SIGN UP HERE TO ENTER THIS CHALLENGE!

Here are the details/rules for the 2015 Authors A to Z Reading Challenge
– The challenge runs from 1 January to 31 December 2015
– Read a book written by authors with last names from A to Z, and try to collect every letter of the alphabet
– Only last names count, so William Shakespeare would fall under S, not W
– Speaking of Shakespeare, the books you read may fall under any form/genre: prose, poetry, drama; fiction, non-fiction, academic monographs…
– Your books don’t have to be “physical” either–ebooks and audiobooks are more than welcome!
– Crossovers with other challenges are also more than welcome!
– You do not need to have a blog or review the books in order to participate–having a list somewhere (such as GoodReads) is fine
– Come December 2015, I’ll be making a post for you to submit your completed challenges. If you manage to finish by 31 Dec 2015, then you’ll be in the running for a booktastic prize draw!

How to join:

– If you’re a blogger, grab the challenge banner and link back to this post to help spread the word and encourage others to join! Fill out the form below, and include a link to your challenge sign-up post (not to your overall blog).
– If you’re a non-blogger, keep track of your authors list any way you wish (I know quite a few people start up a challenge bookshelf on Goodreads), and use the form below to fill out your details (and perhaps a link to your challenge bookshelf, if you’re setting one up).

If you want to follow my blog, I may post special challenge-related announcements throughout the year; alternatively, just check back during December 2015. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a comment.

And that’s it, really! Happy reading, and all the best with the challenge!

- See more at: http://www.samantha-lin.com/2014/11/2015-authors-a-to-z-reading-challenge-sign-up/#sthash.RwYOtQqq.dpuf

My List:
A- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
B- The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
C- The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
D- The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
E- Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
F-  Gone Girl by Jillian Flynn
G- Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
H- Horns by Joe Hill
I- True Evil by Greg Iles
J- The Perfect Witness by Iris Johansen
K- 11/22/63 by Stephen Kin
L-The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
M- Beloved by Toni Morrison
N- The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark
O- Delirium by Lauren Oliver
P- Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Q- The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
R- Merrick by Anne Rice
S- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
T- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
U- In the Blood by Lisa Unger
V- Welcome to the Monkey House - Kurt Vonnegut
W- The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
X-
Y- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Z- The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron

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