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Cold Coffee Press Endorses After The Evil (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 1) by Cary Allen Stone

 
Jake Roberts Psychological Crime Fiction Thriller Series
 
Cold Coffee Press Endorses After The Evil
(A Jake Roberts Novel Book 1) by Cary Allen Stone
Airline captain Nick Parker has an insatiable sexual appetite and wants sexy flight attendant Megan. On a sexual sabbatical, Fr. Anthony Moralli wants to taste the forbidden fruit. Dr. Thaddeus Abrams married into money, but wants her dead. And Chief of Detectives Ed Fairchild?

He meets a man with information. What do they all have in common? Death by serial killer.
FBI profiler Mika Scott and homicide detective Jake Roberts are obsessed on a cold trail that turns flaming hot. Will they get there in time?

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For After The Evil
(A Jake Roberts Novel Book 1) by Cary Allen Stone
‘After The Evil’ is an extremely well written psychological crime fiction thriller that will not only keep you turning the page, but will lock you into this Jake Roberts series.

Author Cary Allen Stone taps into the criminal mind of his characters with a fresh perspective and clarity of the psychological nuances. His characters are realistic with engaging dialog and the plot is unpredictable with detailed graphic violence that is for mature audiences.

Father Anthony Moralli battles his sexual desires while serving in his parish. “Father Anthony loved the whole religion thing—the ceremonies, hearing confessions, and especially saving lost souls. He planned to start saving his soul right after saving all of the others. After years of religious studies and training, he concluded it was beyond his comprehension to truly understand God, so he simply preached the commandments, and left the rest to God.”

Homicide detective Jake Roberts reports to Dr. Thaddeus Abrams after an on the job shooting incident. Professionals can have issues too as we learn that Dr. Abrams who married into money, secretly wants his wife dead while attempting to help clients in his busy psychiatric practice. Jake wrestles with post-traumatic stress and Dr. Abrams tells him “I can’t erase what happened to you Jake. It will always be in your memory. All I can do is to try and help you find some closure and that’s going to take time.”

Lori Powers is a beautiful, seductive flight attendant who cause men’s heads to turn when she walks into the room. She is a widow and a mother with secret inner demons that drive her to the cemetery where her beloved daughter is buried.

Airline Captain Nick Parker believes his position of authority gives him license over one or more of his flight attendants. In the right circumstances the hunter can become the hunted.

FBI Profiler Mika Scott teams up with Homicide Detective Jake Roberts to solve a crime spree. They look at the statically data surrounding serial killers like Theodore Bundy while Chief of Detectives Ed Fairchild meets with a man that might have some pertinent information.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is “The mind is truly a remarkable creation, the way it operates. What goes on routinely inside of it is nothing less than miraculous. It can add and subtract, multiply and divide, all of what life throws at us. It is responsible for basic functions of the human body and can contemplate abstract concepts. It’s a fascinating thing, the human mind.”

I invite you to read ‘After The Evil’ and don’t take for granted the intensions of those you work, play and live with.

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘After The Evil’ (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 1) by Cary Allen Stone. This is book one in the Jake Roberts series. Also enjoy Mind Over Murder, After The Goode, After The Kill, and three standalone books titled Mother's Day Magic: With Love – Anthology, Stealing Atlanta: A Cybercrime Thriller and Through A Mother's Eyes: A True Crime Story. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on May 4, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Cafe http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

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Mind Over Murder (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 2)
by Cary Allen Stone
Jake Roberts returns in the thriller Mind Over Murder.

In After the Evil, Lori Powers fled the U.S. after leaving a trail of dead men behind. She is returned to the U.S. to stand trial.

A new serial killer wants to murder Jake. His life is in jeopardy. To stop him, Jake helps Lori to escape from her cell. Will she help Jake, or take his life?

Not your average serial killer story, Mind Over Murder is the perfect serial killer read!

Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller
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After The Goode (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 3)
by Cary Allen Stone
Jake Roberts used excessive tactics, beyond the rules, to capture serial killer Jared Hamilton.

His superiors in Atlanta Homicide gave Jake a choice--retire, or face criminal prosecution. He decided to retire and move in with his high-powered, Hollywood agent girlfriend Caitland in LA, where he writes best-selling crime novels.

Caitland and Jake take a mini-vacation to visit his childhood friend in Phoenix. Fred and Andrea take them to the opening night show of superstar comedian Bobby Goode. During the show, Bobby humiliates a heckler.

Phoenix homicide detectives Wynter Williams and Vince Farina are investigating a murder. Jake happens onto the crime scene. The detectives invite him to consult on the case. Jake and Wynter have growing suspicions about who the killer might be. They arrive to see Bobby's last show before he leaves for New York City. "Shots fired!"

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After The Kill (A Jake Roberts Novel Book 4)
by Cary Allen Stone
Jake never looks for trouble, but you can bet it's looking for him in the high-stakes thriller AFTER THE KILL.

A beautiful morning quickly becomes a life and death day. What will the night bring?

Mackenzy earned a doctorate in forensic psychology, specializing in serial killers. She wants to understand them beyond the textbooks. Will a DNA sample give her a clue?

It looks like Oscar night at the house in Malibu as she hosts her A-list clients.

Caitland returns to LA for the party while Jake stays in Phoenix. She is caught totally by surprise when the party's over. But will Jake get there in time?

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Stand Alone Books
Stealing Atlanta: A Cybercrime Thriller
by Cary Allen Stone
Brandyn Wood and his team are professional con men. Their mark is Fed Chairman, Portend Ulysses Buford. “Smooth” is a legend in the business.

“Summer” is the sexy, brilliant PhD. “Mysty” is an ex-Navy Seal. And “Crackhead” is the master machine wizard that hacks the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

After the con is over they escape to Freeland, the island they own and rule with no extradition and they are very, very rich. High-rollers fill the casinos. The fetish club is packed––worshipping room only.

Brandyn is resurrected from the dead and reunites with Mai. It isn’t just an ordinary bank job––it’s the bank job of a lifetime!

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Through A Mother's Eyes: A True Crime Story
by Cary Allen Stone
A chilling look at human nature in a context where the lines between right and wrong become sadly blurred.

It’s a compelling account of one woman's life, and what drove her to take the life of her six-year-old son. How everyday choices shape our perceptions, justifications, and actions.

One must consider how close to the edge we all are. It’s a true story told in layman’s terms, with the hope of preventing another tragic loss.

“This has to be one of the most poignant heart wrenching books I have ever read. A woman so driven to protect her child, she takes his life.” ––Pam Thomas Reviews

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Anthology Mother's Day Magic: With Love - Anthology
Craving a poignant, nostalgic read? Or perhaps you desire a scintillating tale of romance and heartbreak? This top-ten bestselling anthology, by multi-awarding winning and #1 bestselling authors, celebrates the strength and determination of women who are mothers. You'll enjoy 12 previously unpublished stories and help fund research!

10% of proceeds from this anthology will go to the National MS Society for research.

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Felt by the Heart by Angela Ford (#1 Bestselling, Amazon Top 50 & Award-Winning Author)
Rachel Winters's fiftieth birthday approached the forever she'd found with Ryan ended with heartache. And for her daughter, the second chance of having a dad. Will Rachel find the strength to rebuild her life and her daughter's?

I Love You More by Cornelia Amiri (Best-selling author, Celtic Romance Queen)
On turning sixty, Garland recalls memories of her life's journey from an abusive childhood to a bad marriage to the ups and downs of a single mom. She is rewarded with a magical mother's day with her loving family.

Two Hearts Unspoken by Tamara Ferguson (#1 Bestselling Author &TRR Readers' Choice Award Winner)
Retired air force captain and wounded warrior, Zach Logan, discovers that his scars are more than skin deep, when he falls in love with Beth Bowen; the lovely single mother of an autistic son.

December Roses by Daisy Banks (Bestselling Author)
A present day gift of flowers sets off delightful memories for Jean. The recollections of the day love first bloomed, and trust overcoming a frightening challenge, are carved deep into her heart.

Maddie's Project by Anna Celeste Burke (Award-Winning, Bestselling Author)
Laura's mother, Maddie, led a life bursting at the seams, filled with family and a million projects. May changed everything. More than a decade later, Laura reflects on Maddie's biggest project, and how it changed all their lives.

Vision of the Heart by Mary Crawford (#1 Bestselling Author)
Facing the vision loss caused by macular degeneration is hard enough, but it's causing Julia Concord to question everything she knows about herself as a wife, mother, and nurse. Can she handle a reunion when she's a shadow of the person she once was?

An English Rose by Allyson R. Abbott (#1 Bestselling Author)
A compelling and humorous insight of past years and present dilemma's as Rose reflects on her usefulness in later life. Just as she acknowledges and accepts her sell-by-date is approaching, life suddenly becomes interesting again, in more ways than one.

The Art of Forgiveness by Tamara Philip (Angie Ovations Outstanding Interracial Romance)
The story of one woman's journey to find out the truth surrounding her adoption decades earlier. Amidst the tragedy of the past, she finds connections to her complicated history and a gentle reminder about the transcendent power of forgiveness and time.

The Illusion of Happiness by Neva Squires Rodriquez
Divorced and having lived under the illusion of happiness for over thirty years, Graciela struggles to find her strength. With her fiftieth birthday and Mother's Day weekend approaching, a surprise visit helps put things into prospective for her.

The Day before Eclosion by Adrienne Ruvalcaba
Sharon's only daughter, Gracie, is ready to move out on her own. What should be an exciting transition is complicated by Gracie's disability. Can Sharon learn to accept Gracie's need for autonomy before irreparable damage is done to their relationship?

The Light We Found by Q.D. Purdu (Texas Writers' Winner)
Calla has survived divorce and developed her first newly-single crush on Ben, the special guy in her triple-two-step class. Life is rocking until her ex confesses a long-hidden betrayal, and Ben reveals the most hurtful secret of all.

Forever Sunshine by Cary Allen Stone & Tyler Hosea (Multi-Bestselling Author)
A letter containing the last request of their mother was handed to the son and daughter at the funeral service. They were told to read the letter at her gravesite on the year anniversary of her passing.

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Cary Allen Stone
Amazon #1 Best Seller
Reader’s Favorites Five–Star Awards
“Cary Allen Stone is a brilliant writer of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. He writes with a keen eye for detail–the graphic violence is chillingly realistic. He delivers a taut, darkly introspective, cunning and well-executed plot by leaning towards the fallible side of his characters. He understands the criminal mind avoiding the stereotypes that dominate crime thrillers. There is a good balance of chemistry and conflict, good and evil that fans will find enthralling. His characters become embedded in our psyches and the pace of his unraveling of his thriller is a ride not easily forgotten. Cary Allen Stone is an important name to watch. This is one superb crime writer!”––Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 100 Reviewer Vine Voice

My backstory is, I spent almost forty years inside the cockpits of corporate jets and airlines and because of my flying career I acquired a unique perspective of life. I was fortunate in 1992 to fly Sir Ridley Scott on a location scout in the islands. We talked about writing and building an image inside the words. He was quite a mentor.

Before that, I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Arts. I was involved in feature films in LA and Indie films in Phoenix. I have done voice-over, radio commercials, and standup comedy magic. I represented the USA alongside nine other countries in the Night of Magic in Bogota, Colombia performing before dignitaries, ambassadors and their families.

For my “Stealing Atlanta,” I received the endorsements of Clive Cussler and Tim Dorsey.
I’m a proud member of the oldest women’s writers club in the country, the Phoenix Writer’s Club.
My Jake Roberts Novels have been well received by Amazon Hall of Fame Top 10 Reviewers in crime fiction and psychological thrillers. The series has received the READER'S FAVORITE FIVE STARS award. Action adventure author Clive Cussler and South Florida author Tim Dorsey endorsed Stealing Atlanta, my cyber-crime thriller.

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What location in the world do you write from? I currently reside in Phoenix, Arizona.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I always read a lot and have several great authors that I always wanted to tell stories like. I love to do research, learn, and read about science, anything. When my children were teenagers, I had more time to write, they had friends.
I grew up with criminal friends, mobbed-up guys. I learned a lot about them and how they operated, how they thought, which was uniquely beneficial to writing crime fiction. My career path was as a professional aviator. I spent nearly forty years flying, ten of the years for corporate flight departments, and the other thirty as an airline captain. Much of my time on layovers was spent in my other love––writing. A short time after I began writing, I was hired to fly Ridley Scott for two weeks in the islands on a location scout. He mentored me about my writing during the time we spent together. His guidance was priceless. I saw wondrous things in my travels, met many people both celebrities and regular folks. The actors I know loved my stories. There were contracts written, but things change fast in Hollywood. But it was another great learning experience watching them, learning how they thought and being part of their lives.
So I look at whom I knew, what I know, and how lucky my life has been and that is where my writing comes from.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? As I mentioned, growing up with those on the other side of the law is a rich environment for stories and characters. The same can be said for the actors and Mr. Scott. My parents allowed me since I was very young to go out and learn about all sides of life, which added richness to what I see and tell.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? I had written a four hundred fifty-page manuscript, my first foray into writing, and sent it off to agents. While they considered my work, I wrote screenplays and short stories––all to fine-tune my writing. Writing the manuscript was a great learning experience in every way. An agent wrote me back and pointed out how much she liked my manuscript but she said while it was a good start, I had more to go. She told me something about writing antagonists that stays stuck in my head and has done me well all these years. I put off publishing until I gained more knowledge.

My actual first publication wasn’t crime fiction at all, but a true crime case study. I did four years of research and interviews for it. Through a Mother’s Eyes is a layman’s research on parental murder of children. In 1996, a friend of mine took the life of her six-year-old son and then attempted suicide. She survived the suicide attempt and was incarcerated. She pled guilty and wanted to die in the electric chair. She received twenty-five years to life. I fought with the warden of the facility to give me access to her to write her story. He eventually allowed me unlimited access to her. I sat with her in her cell eight hours a day until I completed all of my interview questions. The warden said she would never talk about it like all the others in his penitentiary. But she agreed to answer everything no matter how hard. The two of us wanted desperately wanted to prevent another tragic mistake. When we got to the day of the murder, I sat two feet away from her watching Julie relive every second. I saw the fierce tension in her body, the slashing movements and the tears. It was an experience like no other.

Through a Mother’s Eyes has traveled around the globe to this day. In one particular two-day period 14, 900 books were sold. It continues to be my best seller. It made Amazon’s True Crime Best Seller for a short time. It was a very challenging hard write and is a very hard read. The expert in the field wrote me that it was the best layman’s case study he ever read.

From Through a Mother’s Eyes, I began writing crime fiction/psychological thrillers––my Jake Roberts Novels, four and soon to be five books. All of my Jake Roberts Novels have done very well and have a fan base.

I also veered off and wrote a cybercrime story, Stealing Atlanta. Both Clive Cussler and Tim Dorsey endorsed it.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? I spent a great deal of time in a highly technical occupation. My writing allows me to be an artist. I paint pages. I can reach into my emotions, which were locked away for most of my career. I allow myself to feel. My journey through writing has taught me many things that I cherish now probably more than flying. Publicly, hearing from an agent that my first work was solid, listening to Ridley Scott’s encouragement of my work (I still send him a copy of everything I write), having A-list actors praising my work, reading five-star reviews of my work, having reviewers saying that I’ve become one of their favorite authors, and becoming an Amazon Top-Ten Best Seller is a very rewarding experience.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? There is no feeling in the world, after you’ve work so hard, after being dedicated to the craft, after all the editing, and hearing all of the support, whether it’s your first book or sixth, there’s no feeling like the day the box arrives from Amazon, and you open it and place your hands on the finished product.

How many published books do you have? Six.

Please list the titles of all your books.
After The Evil
Mind Over Murder
After The Goode
After The Kill
Stealing Atlanta
Through A Mother’s Eyes

Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? Always before. I don’t outline and I don’t write every day in the sense of putting words to page. I work it in my head. I know the title, the first sentence, the general parts in between, and the last line of the story then I sit down at the computer. I enjoy the plot twists, the diversions, but it all leads to my last sentence.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I write crime fiction with heavy doses of psychological thrill injected. I know crime from the inside. I know law enforcement from the inside. I know crime scenes and forensic science from the inside. I once met with an FBI profiler and we talked shop. She was taken aback by my range of knowledge and asked if I wanted to train to be an FBI agent. I had to say no just because of my old friends. I know the justice system from the inside. I had plenty of face time with the DEA and FBI, ATF, FDLE and others when my friends were still out of prison. I can add the feel to each story than others without those insights. When I was flying international, a foreign government took my crew and I hostage, held at gunpoint. You just don’t come across insights like that. The incident brought me into contact directly with the State Department.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? I always begin with After the Evil – A Jake Roberts Novel (Book 1).

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? It was the first book that I took the biggest step as a writer––when I learned to expose the writer.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? You must dedicate your entire being to writing. No shortcuts. Learn your craft.

Who is your favorite author and why? Well, I have always been a major fan of Clive Cussler and his adventure stories. If I could be transformed into another writer, I would want to be Mr. Cussler. I do have many other favorites, but he was someone who I not only read every book he published, but I’d write to him during my writing journey for advice and he would always answer back. He endorsed one of my books. But it took twenty years for me to meet him. We moved to Phoenix from Atlanta. He only signs books at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale. The day I arrived, I received an email he was signing books the next night. I was in heaven meeting and talking with my hero.

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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Her Man In Havana by Fran Connor

Her Man In Havana by Fran Connor
If you love action, adventure and thrillers that also make you smile, this is the one for you.

When Harry arrives in Havana on business he's soon way out of his depth as he's drawn into a scam with stolen rum, gangsters, secret police and the beautiful Maria.

This ordinary guy must trawl his hidden depths to find the courage that will keep him alive and out of prison.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Her Man In Havana by Fran Connor
From the time Harry walked into the Saratoga Hotel in Havana, Cuba his routine business trip would be anything but routine. After all, this is Havana which has a mystique unlike any place on earth.

It doesn’t take Harry long to scope out the most beautiful woman on the island and his heart among other things beats with excitement as she notices him and strolls over to him. There isn’t a man on earth that doesn’t dream of classy women like Maria. Harry is mesmerized by her deep brown eyes that look into his soul.

Harry soon discovers that his British accent and inability to communicate well in this multicultural community leaves him at the mercy (smiling) of his new found friend Maria who speaks English, Spanish, German, French, Italian and Russian. With serious business to conduct as an importer, Harry is the luckiest man on earth to have Maria by his side as guide and interpreter. However, business is not as he imagined it to be in Cuba and soon Harry is in too deep.

I would like to share you a quote to show you the author’s writing style and the character’s mind-set.

“There was Neanderthal and one of the grey-suited guys. He held a gun against me, inside a newspaper.
I looked at the line of people in the queue ahead waiting to check in for my flight. Could I do anything? Could I make a scene? These guys wouldn’t shoot me here in broad daylight with so many witnesses. Or would they? Did I have the bottle to find out?
I answered my own question when I walked submissively in the direction the gun was pushing me: away from my ride home. Away from safety and into God only knows what end. In my mind I went through my last will and testament. Most of what I had—which included a three-bedroom, terraced house in Fulham that only had a twenty per cent mortgage on it due to the rise in house prices, a Ford Mondeo and some cash—would all go to my mother.
I thought about what she would say when she heard I’d been shot dead in Cuba: ‘Silly bugger. Always was a prat.’ Then she’d blow most of it at bingo.”

Author Fran Connor writes this fast paced romantic thriller with an intellect of the setting and people of Cuba, with humour and interesting dialog. I personally love it when a man writes romance and I believe any adult reader will enjoy and stay engaged with the plot. According to Fran Connor’s bio and screenplay portfolio, he has seven feature length scripts in several genres with one in pre-production in the UK. Six of his eleven plays have been produced on stage. Fran is a romantic at heart and this is reflected in his writing.

Cold Coffee Press endorses Her Man In Havana by Fran Connor. Other books by Fran Connor found on Amazon include Sophia and the Fisherman, Someone to Watch Over Me, The Devil’s Bridge and Elbourne House-Novella Series Volume One-Eight. We received this book in a Kindle/PDF format. This review was completed on April 13, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Fran Connor
Fran Connor is British and lives in SW France with his wonderful partner Viv, their dog and chickens.

He claims he's living in that area for the lifestyle and weather which he says helps an author's creative juices. It may just be an excuse to drink wine and lounge in the sun.

He writes novels, three published so far with two more coming out soon, two more towards the end of 2015 and one more in 2016.

Six of his eleven plays have been produced on stage. In his portfolio of screenplays are seven feature length scripts in several genres with one in pre-production in the UK. Fran is a romantic at heart and this is reflected in his writing.

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What makes you proud to be a writer from SW France? I live in SW France among the vineyards, orchards, and historic villages having grown up and worked in England for most of my life. We are a sum of all our experiences so I can’t really say I’m proud to be a writer from any particular location. Everywhere I’ve been has contributed to my growing development.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? Writing was something I always wanted to do but never had the time until I moved to France. My inspiration to write didn’t come from any one person. Over the years, I’ve admired many authors.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? There are incidents in my life, and places that I have been, that subconsciously feature in my work.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? Having moved to France, I helped set up an English/French Am Dram group putting on dual language traditional British Pantos. I wrote the scripts. Then I wrote Murder Mystery plays and one Musical. I found stage plays too restrictive to allow my imagination free reign so I moved on to writing novels. Now I can travel anywhere in time and space with as many characters as the work requires without worrying how it will be achieved on stage.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Reading the genuine reviews of my work.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Seeing my books for sale.

How many published books do you have? Four full-length novels and a series of novellas that is currently up to Volume Nine and ongoing. I have two more coming out later this year.

Author Fran Connor's Published Books:
Elbourne House-Novella Series Volume One-Eight Available
Her Man In Havana
Someone to Watch Over Me
Sophia and the Fisherman
The Devil’s Bridge
Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? I start off with a working title and sometimes change it when I get to the end.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I don’t write in any particular genre though I always have a romance in there somewhere.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? Her Man in Havana

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? Last year I went to Cuba and fell in love with the island and its people. We didn’t just do the tourist locations. It has inspired such greats as Graham Greene and Hemingway. Though I have enough sense not to put myself in their league, I could see why they found it so fascinating.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Write because you want to write. If it is a chore just to make money go find another way of making it.

Who is your favorite author and why? I don’t have a favorite. There are so many good ones.

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Sophia and the Fisherman by Fran Connor
When Sophia takes a vacation in SW France and falls in the harbour she's rescued by a fisherman.
He's no ordinary fisherman and he has a secret that makes her think again about her values and future.

Genre: Romantic Thriller

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Someone To Watch Over Me by Fran Connor
If you love romantic thrillers with a strong female lead who refuses to be a victim, you'll find this novel hits the mark. In 1930s Spain, Alicia has it all; youth, beauty, brains and wealthy parents in the sherry business.

It all comes crashing down when she kills the son of the corrupt local police chief for trying to rape her. Knowing she would not get a fair hearing, she dumps the body in a lake. Then the Civil War breaks out, her parents are murdered and the police chief discovers who killed his son. Alicia goes on the run and finds refuge with a gentle piano player in the Sierra Nevada where they try to stay out of the war. But the war comes to them.

This is an epic story of love, survival against the odds and the endurance of the human spirit.

Genre: Romantic Thriller

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The Devil's Bridge by Fran Connor
An uplifting, sad and funny story that follows the love of a soldier and a nurse through WW1 and afterwards as they struggle to keep their love safe from forces bent on its destruction. One critic described a chapter as 'The most delightful sex scene in the history of historical fiction'.
Genre: Historical Fiction

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Elbourne House: Volume One Through Eight by Fran Connor
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Elbourne House: Volume One by Fran Connor
Ex-pirate, Daniel Carver returns home to the East Hampshire area of England intent on living a peaceable life with his stolen fortune. Daniel quickly finds himself in the middle of a fierce battle for Elbourne House with Charles Withington, the money hungry scoundrel attempting to steal Elbourne House from the current owners - the Abercrombie family.

The Elbourne House series follows the stories of the families in and around Elbourne House from the mid - 17th century to current day.

Packed with drama, romance, and passion, Elbourne House will keep readers enthralled with the many twists and turns the characters experience through their lives.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Two by Fran Connor
Retired pirate Daniel Carver successfully negotiates the purchase of Elbourne House.
After surviving an attempt on his life by the hired guns of his nemesis Charles Withington, Daniel sets out to return Elbourne House and it's grounds to past splendor.

Daniel's life is soon complicated by another dilemma. He must sort out his feelings between two women determined to win his affections.

Caroline Baverstoke, a beautiful but cunning socialite betrothed to Withington, or Charlotte Abercrombie, the daughter of the previous owner of Elbourne House.

Volume 2 details the tug of war these two women play with his heart, culminating in the unexpected result to a deadly showdown at dawn.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Three by Fran Connor
Volume 3 of Elbourne House finds Daniel and Charlotte Carver juggling a growing family, managing their stature as leaders in the community, and staying neutral in war torn England in the late 17th century.

The story follows Daniel's attempts to provide for the members of his community and estate, as well as protecting himself and others from the corrupt and power hungry Withington.

The plot takes readers through their encounters with highwaymen, soldiers, and even General Cornwell himself.

Volume 3 finishes the tale of Daniel and Charlotte Carver, but begins a new tale with the journey of Edward Carver, Daniel and Charlotte's great great grandson who is getting ready to sail to America to join the fight in the War of Independence.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Four by Fran Connor
A swashbuckling adventure and love story as young Edward Carver leaves Elbourne to fight for King George in the American War of Independence. He grows up fast in the thick of battle. When he saves an escaped young slave woman from trackers, it sets him on a collision course with the enemy and some on his own side.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Five by Fran Connor
Edward Carver has returned home from the Revolutionary War in America. He and his new bride Ruth are the heirs to Elbourne House, and plan to run the estate by carrying on the traditions of the Carver family: fairness, honesty, dignity, and respect.

Volume 5 details the hardships Edward and Ruth face; racial tensions, tensions between different classes in society, and the appearance of Ruth's former captor/slave owner from America. A riveting tale with romance, adventure, and heart pounding confrontations laced throughout. Elbourne House is the best book yet in an already great series.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Six by Fran Connor
At the turn of the 19th century, the Carver Family is thriving. Edward Carver is a member of the House of Commons, teaming with other forward thinkers to end the slave trade. Their leadership comes at a price. The Carver's find themselves the targets of a sinister kidnapping/murder plot. Sex, murder, and revenge are all prominent themes in this adventure filled tale of the Carvers and their children.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volume Seven by Fran Connor
When the British evacuate Northern Spain after the Battle of La Corunna. Lt Alexander Carver RN and Lady Emelia are left behind enemy lines and must cross hostile French occupied territory to safety in Portugal. They meet Spanish guerrillas and a fiery Spanish beauty. Alexander finds himself the prize in a battle of wits between the two women.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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 Elbourne House: Volume Eight by Fran Connor
Alexander's moral strength to resist the temptations offered by Carmela is put to the test as he escorts her and Lady Emelia through enemy territory to Portugal. His hope of marrying Emelia seems doomed when he's subjected to blackmail.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Elbourne House: Volumes One, Two and Three by Fran Connor
Elbourne House Volume: One

Ex-pirate, Daniel Carver returns home to the East Hampshire area of England intent on living a peaceable life with his stolen fortune. Daniel quickly finds himself in the middle of a fierce battle for Elbourne House with Charles Withington, the money hungry scoundrel attempting to steal Elbourne House from the current owners - the Abercrombie family. The Elbourne House series follows the stories of the families in and around Elbourne House from the mid - 17th century to current day. Packed with drama, romance, and passion, Elbourne House will keep readers enthralled with the many twists and turns the characters experience through their lives. Book 1 in the Elbourne House series.

Elbourne House Volume: Two

Retired pirate Daniel Carver successfully negotiates the purchase of Elbourne House. After surviving an attempt on his life by the hired guns of his nemesis Charles Withington, Daniel sets out to return Elbourne House and it's grounds to past splendor. Daniel's life is soon complicated by another dilemma. He must sort out his feelings between two women determined to win his affections. Caroline Baverstoke, a beautiful but cunning socialite betrothed to Withington, or Charlotte Abercrombie, the daughter of the previous owner of Elbourne House. Volume 2 details the tug of war these two women play with his heart, culminating in the unexpected result to a deadly showdown at dawn.

Elbourne House Volume: Three

Volume 3 of Elbourne House finds Daniel and Charlotte Carver juggling a growing family, managing their stature as leaders in the community, and staying neutral in war torn England in the late 17th century. The story follows Daniel's attempts to provide for the members of his community and estate, as well as protecting himself and others from the corrupt and power hungry Withington. The plot takes readers through their encounters with highwaymen, soldiers, and even General Cornwell himself. Volume 3 finishes the tale of Daniel and Charlotte Carver, but begins a new tale with the journey of Edward Carver, Daniel and Charlotte's great great grandson who is getting ready to sail to America to join the fight in the War of Independence.

Genre: Fiction Drama, Romance

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Twitter: francis@liotliterary Cold Coffee Café
Cold Coffee Press

Cold Coffee Press Endorses 'milijun' by Clayton Graham

 
Cold Coffee Press Endorses 'milijun' by Clayton Graham
It is Australia in 2179.

On a moonlit Nullarbor night, Laura Sinclair and son, Jason, witness aliens descend to Earth. The extraterrestrials endeavour to form a symbiotic relationship with humankind, and Jason is chosen as a genetic link in a bizarre trial involving the impregnation of human females with hybrid embryos and exploration of spiritual compatibility.

Laura crosses swords with Major General Sebastian Ord from the Australian Defence Force, Eucla and Uriel, the enigmatic head of Milijun, a reclusive research facility in the outback. Following a disastrous armed attempt to capture aliens at Cocklebiddy Cave and a fierce confrontation at Eucla, Jason is abducted by an alien swarm.

What follows tests the resolve of Laura to the core. Caught in a relentless web of frightening new technologies and alien mystery, spurred by the undying love of her son, she gains a strength of character she never thought possible.

All she has to do is save herself, Jason and several women and unborn children from the scheming plans of man and alien alike …

Some would call Laura a reluctant heroine, but she is a heroine, nonetheless.
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How It Came to Be:
Milijun actually started as a short story. The birth of the alien RNasia occurred in the short story, and when they decided to wing their way to Earth I knew it could not end there. They seemed to want their universal journey to be worth something; they wanted their mission fulfilled. So I decided to oblige them.
The book is about more than an alien incursion into the Australian outback. It asks questions about our place in the universe, or multiverses (as we are now led to believe may be a possibility).
The novel explores the relationship between a mother and son. How far can it be stretched before the links break? How far would a mother go to save her son? Would she be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, or undertake actions she would never have deemed possible prior to the alien incursion?
Above all, Milijun explores the question what would mankind do when faced with an intelligence it cannot understand? It's a good question, for it may happen someday. We are not currently prepared, of course, we are light years away from understanding how we should behave in such a circumstance. 
Milijun challenges our mindsets through the eyes of a mother and son, and as such is perhaps more powerful and meaningful than if that challenge was through the eyes of the United Nations or the President of theUnited States.
In the end, Milijun probably asks more questions than it answers. But it does raise the questions. We cannot relax on Earth forever, ignorant of our cosmic surroundings, idling our time away, creating a mirage of prosperity, which appears to create an equally ferocious misery.
Writing Milijun was a labour of love. It was not easy, but neither was it hard. Science Fiction is a love of mine, has been since I was a teenager, escaping to new worlds in the back streets of Stockport, England, where I grew up as a child. Halcyon days, when education and school milk were free, and summers were real summers. We didn't have much, but we had enough.
Milijun my debut novel, and for me the realisation of a dream.
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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For milijun by Clayton Graham
Mankind has always had a fascination with extraterrestrials which dates from ice-age cave walls, ancient Egyptian carvings all the way to milijun by Clayton Graham.

This well written novel explores our deepest darkest fears that as a planet we are not ready for an alien incursion, in fact we pretend our intellect can save us. However, in Australia 2179 AD main character Laura Sinclair is faced with the unimaginable when she and her son Jason witness aliens descending to earth.

It is earth’s exploration and mining on the lunar surface that begins the conflict that ultimately results in the alien incursion into the Australian outback. Laura and her son Jason are faced with alien-driven technology that severely tests a mother’s love and resolve to protect her offspring at whatever cost.

It is my intent to share a quote to show you the author’s writing style without spoiling the story. “It was almost 6:30 pm when Laura came across what would later be called the Rawlinna nest. The sun was dropping in the western sky as she staggered wearily to the top of a modest incline and surveyed the collection of old aluminium shacks spread out before her.

She dropped to the ground, partly to avoid detection but also from sheer fatigue. Her face was covered with sweat and there were several dirt marks down both cheeks where she had attempted to clear bothersome flies from her face. Closing her eyes briefly, she sat in silence, not wanting to act in haste but acutely aware that time was crucial. Earlier, she had made a brief stop to drink water from the choppa’s emergency rations but now felt the need for more. She quenched her thirst then nibbled at a foul tasting energy bar as she thought through her next move.”

I invite you to the Australia outback where things are not as you might imagine.

Milijun is a striking name for this novel. I dare you to find its meaning. It is an Australian aboriginal word which also has a Serb-Croatian context.

Cold Coffee Press Endorses 'milijun' a science fiction debut novel by Clayton Graham. We were given this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on April 9, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com


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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Clayton Graham
Clayton Graham was born and raised in Stockport, near Manchester UK. He graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Salford University in 1966 having attained a Student Apprenticeship with English Electric Aviation.
He settled in Victoria, Australia in 1982. He is a retired aerospace engineer who enjoyed working in the field of efficient lightweight structures and watching them fly around the world. 
He has always had an interest in Science Fiction and where it places humankind within the universe we know and love. He loves the ‘old school’ science fiction written by authors such as HG Wells, Jules Verne and John Wyndham.
Milijun is his debut novel, but there are further adventures to come.
Clayton loves animals, including well behaved pets, and all the natural world and is a member of Australian Geographic.
When he is not writing, walking, travelling, or gardening, Clayton enjoys fine food with family, friends and five energetic grandchildren.

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Interview:
What makes you proud to be a writer from Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia? As an aerospace engineer I have worked in the UK, USA and Australia and been lucky enough to visit France, Germany, and Indonesia through the auspices of work. We finally settled in Melbourne, Australia [I was thirty-nine years old] and eventually retired on the Mornington Peninsula. The Peninsula is where my family is, and where we relax among the beaches and wineries. It is pleasant, not too crowded outside the holiday seasons, and well looked after by its residents. 
What or who inspired you to become a writer? I have written since my early twenties, on and off, and always loved science fiction. The works of HG Wells, Isaac Asimov and John Wyndham enthralled me. They were an escape from the backstreets of Stockport, UK, where I grew up.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? I’m from a 'working class' family in the UK. Cobbled streets, fish and chips, bread and dripping, after World War 2. Reading was no doubt an escape into different worlds. Not sure if it was an advantage but I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? Hard to say exactly, but probably around ten years ago when retirement was approaching.
What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? That's an easy one. Just finishing and recently self-publishing my first novel 'Milijun'.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Considering how difficult it is for a self-publishing author to get reviews - just received my first pending review on Goodreads. Four stars – so I'm quite pleased with that. Hopefully more to come.
How many published books do you have? Just one, published early 2016.
Please list the titles of all your books: Milijun
Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? Around half way through. It had a different title before that. It's an aboriginal word.
Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My genre is Science Fiction, though not the really hard Star Wars type. I love writing about different worlds and how people would live and interact within them. It's an escape, but it's also an infinite universe, so anything is possible.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? Coming out of a short story into a novel. It seemed the obvious thing to do. The only thing to do. Almost an overnight moment. I find that the characters in the book control the story, where it goes, what happens.
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Write what you want, when you want. It doesn't matter if you never use it.
Who is your favorite author and why? Dean Koontz. A master at making the paranormal believable.
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses The Keepers of Time: Book Five In The Time Magnet Series by Russell F. Moran

 
Cold Coffee Press Endorses The Keepers of Time:
Book Five In The Time Magnet Series by Russell F. Moran
Admiral Ashley Patterson and her husband Jack have done it again. They’ve traveled through time, 200 years into the future—aboard a nuclear aircraft carrier, Ashley’s flagship.

They discover a new world, a strange new world—a post-nuclear war world—one that is both a beacon of hope, and a cry of despair.

They meet a group of people who call themselves The Keepers of Time, an organization dedicated to preserving history and culture.

But the world around them has harkened back to a primitive and savage past, one that includes human sacrifice.

Ashley knows they have to have to get back to the present to warn the government of the unspeakable horrors that await.

But finding the way back to the present is their greatest challenge, an almost insurmountable one.

“A wild time travel yarn that starts fast and doesn’t slow down until the end.”

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review for Keepers of Time
by Russell F. Moran
Book five in the Time Magnet series is finally here with another great saga. The adventure begins on June 1, 2017, the day after Memorial Day. Carrier Strike Group 2311 departs the New York Harbor at 8:45 a.m. to begin a long deployment. Things are as they should be until “everything turned dark”.

Whether you have read book one through four in this series first or you are considering this book as your introduction to the series, let me say that each book has its own plot with a conclusion. I suggest you read The Gray Ship, The Thanksgiving Gang, A Time of Fear, and The Skies of Time at some point very soon. However, please feel free to jump in and read The Keepers of Time because you won’t be disappointed.

The author’s superb writing skills will quickly draw you into the story. Forty two fast paced chapters will keep turning the pages of this novel until the end. Well-developed cast of realistic characters that you will relate to one will keep you engaged. One of my favorite things about Moran’s books is his entire cast of characters detailed in the back of the book. I admit to reading about the cast first in order to firmly get everyone in my mind. As a follower of his, I know each character is important to the plot and I don’t want to miss anything or overlook anyone.

Throughout history authors have taken us back in time and forward into the future. Those that take us into the future like Author Russell F. Moran are rare individuals who meticulously look at world history and real time world events to weave a story of unimaginable happenings. History shows that many of these fictional authors are correct in their assessments of the future. So we must pay due vigilance to these authors so that their fiction does not become the world’s reality in the future.

I invite you to read The Keepers of Time: Book Five In The Time Magnet Series by Russell F. Moran and spend 15 days in an alternate universe. Meet the Keepers of Time and don’t forget to mark your calendar on April 12, 2018 as the day the world ended. One of my favorite quotes from the book is “Time flies when you’re scared out of your mind.”

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses The Keepers of Time: Book Five In The Time Magnet Series by Russell F. Moran as a science fiction, time travel story that will cause the thoughtful reader to look at the importance of current world events in a different perspective. We were given a Kindle/PDF version of this book for review which was completed on March 30, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press at http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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************************ Cold Coffee Press Endorses Futuristic Thriller Novelist Russell F. Moran *************************
Time Magnet Series  ************************



The Gray Ship: Book One In The Time Magnet Series
by Russell F. Moran
Description – From Kirkus Reviews

In this stellar time-travel novel, a modern-American nuclear-powered cruiser sails through a time portal and goes back 152 years to the days just before the beginning of the Civil War.

The USS California, under the command of Capt. Ashley Patterson, an African-American woman, is headed toward Charleston, S.C., to participate in a ceremony commemorating the first battle of the Civil War: the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861. But before her ship reaches its destination, the massive cruiser—and its 630 crew members—travel through some sort of temporal wormhole and end up near the Charleston Harbor in 1861, just hours before the Confederate assault is about to begin.

After eventually wrapping her head around the fact that her entire crew has traveled back in time, Patterson realizes that she has some difficult decisions to make: Does she let history repeat itself and focus on trying to find a way back home, or does she use the military superiority of the California—“outfitted with enough fire power to unleash Biblical hell on an enemy”—to help end the war quickly and thus save the approximately 620,000 soldiers who would otherwise die in the next four years?

Powered by a cast of well-developed characters—Lincoln and Lee are among the prominently featured historical figures—consistently brisk pacing and a pulse-pounding (albeit slightly predictable) conclusion, the humanist themes of this novel are momentous and just as timely today as they were back in the 1860s.

This provocative, intensely powerful novel is a must-read for sci-fi fans and Civil War aficionados, though mainstream fiction readers will find it heart-rending and inspiring as well. A rare read that’s not only wildly entertaining, but also profoundly moving.

From Kirkus Reviews

A Kirkus Best Indie Book of 2013

Genre – Science fiction/time travel/alternative history

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For The Gray Ship
by Russell F. Moran
On the morning of April 10, 2013 the nuclear guided missile cruiser USS California left Norfork, Virginia heading toward Charleston, South Carolina. Once there the ship would anchor at Fort Sumter for a ceremony commemorating where the first battle of the Civil War took place on April 12, 1861.

After the ceremony Captain Ashley Patterson would deploy her ship to the Persian Gulf, but as it turns out, time can be unpredictable.

Author Russell F. Moran like so many authors before him wrestles with science fiction and time travel to the extent of what would happen if we could go back into history and change just one event. He thanks his friends Bill Holland, Nick Wartella and his wife for their fresh perspective, input and editorial analyses. He also gives appreciation for invaluable technical input from his friend Lloyd (Hoss) Miller, Rear Admiral, Retired, United States Navy. Admiral Miller was the first commanding officer of the USS California, the ship that plays the pivotal role in the story. Admiral Miller makes a cameo appearance in the book as the strong leader, likeable person and gentleman that he is in real life.

The author is quick to point out that this is a work of fiction and with all fiction imagination plays a pivoting role. At the very start the reader is introduced by name to 55 major characters who bring the story of ‘The Gray Ship’ from the blue-green swells of the Atlantic Ocean through a port-hole (worm hole) that will not only change history, but tens of thousands of lives. His characters are realistic as with Captain Ashley Patterson while in her astute position wrestles with her own inner demons.

Who right now or in our future might want to go back in time to abolish war or the worse acts of humankind? When faced with the dilemma of being forced back through time into a dark period of American history, Captain Ashley Patterson and her crew had to risk mutiny or at the very least commit treason. If and when they could make it back to their own time, how would they be judged by friends, family, the military and the world? Who would believe their story?

One of my favorite quotes from the book reads, “Dr. Weinberg,” said Admiral Miller, “Do you believe these stories?” “It isn’t my job to believe stories or not to believe them, Admiral,” said Weinberg. “It’s my job to assess whether the witness believes his own story. But I will say this. I don’t know much about this time travel stuff, but ever since I worked on that book with Jack Thurber, I’ve noticed that I’ve developed an obsessive compulsive disorder. I never step on a crack…it may be a wormhole.”

Reading ‘The Gray Ship’ has left me wanting to read this authors other three books; A Time Of Fear, The Skies Of Time, and The Thanksgiving Gang.

Cold Coffee Press endorses The Gray Ship by Russell F. Moran as a science fiction, time travel story that will cause the thoughtful reader to ask what he or she might change if the opportunity presented itself? We were given a PDF version of this book for review which was completed on February 21, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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 The Thanksgiving Gang:
Book Two In The Time Magnet Series
by Russell F. Moran
Jack Thurber has traveled through time – again. This was his fourth journey through time, earning him a nickname The Time Magnet. But this time he's traveled into the future.

He discovers that he and his wife Ashley were killed in a terrorist nuclear attack on Ashley's ship on Thanksgiving Day, 2015, in what became known as the Thanksgiving Attacks.

Jack's got to find a way back to the past, the past when he and Ashley were still alive. To do that he forms a group of people to help him. They call themselves The Thanksgiving Gang.

Dare he change history?

Dare he not?

Rip-roaring, gut-wrenching suspense wrapped in a story of friendship and courage.

Book Genre – Science fiction/time travel

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 A Time of Fear: Book Three In The Time Magnet Series
by Russell F. Moran
In a month, five American cities will be devastated by suitcase nuclear bombs. The time travelers take on their old name, The Thanksgiving Gang.
They know what will happen, because they travelled to the future.They know what the result will be. They’ve seen the devastation.They know the details. Five American Cities targeted by nuclear suitcase bombs.BUT they don't know where the bombs are – and they don't know how to find them.The clock is ticking and millions will soon lose their lives – unless they find the bombs. “A riveting, pulse-pounding nail-biter in the spirit of The Gray Ship and The Thanksgiving Gang. A Time of Fear will grip you and not let go, even after you finish the book.” Book Genre – Science fiction/time travel

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 The Skies of Time:
Book Four In The Time Magnet Series
by Russell F. Moran
The Skies of Time is a book about time travel, love, and commitment.

Newly promoted Admiral Ashley Patterson is on a public relations flight with her husband, author and Naval Reserve Lieutenant. The idea was dreamed up by the Pentagon to celebrate Ashley’s promotion as the youngest Navy admiral in American History. As happened before, they encounter a wormhole or time portal. Ashley calls Jack her “time magnet,” because he seems to have a talent for finding wormholes.

They’ve time travelled before, but this time it’s different – they encountered a time portal, or wormhole – in the sky.

They have a duty – to warn the authorities of the coming war.

They also have a duty to themselves. They want to return to their home, their home in 2016. But Franklin Roosevelt has different plans for them.

Their plane, an F-18, had a cockpit data recorder, a Black Box, which would give them the coordinates to find the wormhole and return home.

But, to their horror, they realize that 1940 technology cannot read the data on the Black Box. They’re stranded – 76 years in the past.

Will they have to restart their lives from 1940 and never return home?

Or will they find a way to read the secrets of the box?

All they know is that they have an unfailing love for each other.

A nail biter of a tale in the spirit of the other books in The Time Magnet Series, The Gray Ship, The

Thanksgiving Gang, and A Time of Fear.

Book Genre – Science fiction/time travel/ alternative history

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 The Time Magnet Series (4 Book Box Set) Kindle Edition by Russell F. Moran
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Patterns Series

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 The Shadows of Terror:
Patterns Series Book One
by Russell F. Moran
The Shadows of Terror – A novel that explodes off the front page of your newspaper. Terrorism now has a new face, a face that’s obscured in the shadows. The radical forces of destruction have learned to make themselves invisible to the West, and preventing a terrorist attack has become almost impossible.

A new war has begun, World War III. Rick Bellamy, an FBI agent who specializes in counter-terrorism, is engaged in his own war, a war with no end. Bellamy’s wife, Ellen, a prominent architect, discovers that she’s in the middle of the greatest terror plot to date. To defeat the enemy, Bellamy first has to uncover the clues, to shine a light on the shadows. He has to find patterns – before it’s too late.

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The Scent of Revenge:
Patterns Series Book Two
by Russell F. Moran
The world is at war – World War III. FBI Agent Rick Bellamy and his wife, Ellen, find themselves in the middle of a sinister terror plot. Someone is attacking young prominent women, inflicting a horrible disease. Nobody knows its origin, nobody knows how to stop it, nobody knows how to cure it.

Rick Bellamy and a team of scientists want to go on offense. But how?

Will the lives of the women be changed forever?

When will the attacks stop?

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review for The Scent of Revenge:
Patterns Series Book Two by Russell F. Moran
Although Science Fiction, The Scent of Revenge might be at America’s doorstep!

The main character Rick Bellamy is a FBI agent, head of counter-terrorism unit. The love of his life is 38 year old Ellen Bellamy, Architect by day, lover and writer by night. Ellen’s beauty is more than skin deep as she radiates warmth and cares deeply about everyone who crosses her path.

With an impressive cast of characters that include William Reynolds who is President of the United States with his First Lady Amanda Reynolds standing by his side, he has just addresses the American People announcing that that World War III has begun.

A serious disease with symptoms of severe dementia, mimicking Alzheimer’s disease is attacking America’s Women. With research still seeking a cure for Alzheimer’s, the race is on and the questions commence. Why these particular women, why and how, and is the male population at risk?

Will President Reynolds be forced to suspend the right of habeas corpus? Do you know what this even means?

Heart pounding, can’t put down thriller that will force you to look at terrorism in different light. Life in America will never be the same.

Author Russell F. Moran is an exceptional story teller. As with all science fiction we hope it is not possible at least not within our lifetime. Moran’s futuristic thrillers (each book part of a series, but stands alone) must be examined by each reader intelligently as they will lurk in the shadows of your mind well after the book is closed.

The Scent of Revenge “is dedicated to those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and especially to their families who suffer along with them.”

Cold Coffee Press endorses The Scent of Revenge (book two in The Patterns Series) by Russell F. Moran The Shadows of Terror is book one. Also available The Gray Ship, The Thanksgiving Gang, A Time of Fear, and The Skies of Time (all four books in the Time Magnet Series). Another great read is Sideswiped which book one in Matt Blake Legal Thrillers with The Reformers coming soon. We reviewed this book from a Kindle/PDF format. The reviewed was completed on October 3, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Matt Blake Legal Thrillers

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 Sideswiped:
A Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book One
by Russell F. Moran
Matt Blake is a Chicago trial lawyer and highly decorated Marine combat veteran. After losing his beloved fiancée in a tragic car accident, he finds that he has more battles to fight: alcohol and drugs.

He gradually realizes that his life is spiraling downward, and that he needs help with the battle. He seeks the help of Dr. Benjamin Weinberg. a psychiatrist who’s also a family friend and consultant to his law firm.

Matt, with Dr. Weinberg’s help, tames the monsters that sought to devour him. After rehab, he turns his attention to one of the most serious personal injury cases his firm has handled. It involved a sideswipe car accident in which his client’s husband, a famous political journalist, was killed. The case looked almost routine from a liability point of view. Numerous eyewitnesses gave sworn statements that they saw the defendant motorist talking on his cellphone just before his car slammed into the plaintiff’s husband. The eyewitness evidence pointed toward negligence. At first it looked like an open-and-shut personal injury case.

But evidence began to mount quickly that the ‘accident” may have been intentional—that it may have been murder. But Matt and his team struggle with a big question: Why would James Spellman have been murdered?

Matt finally meets the firm’s client, Diana Spellman, James Spellman’s widow. She’s a strikingly beautiful university professor and well-known writer. Matt, having licked his alcohol and drug problem, as well as the loss of his fiancée, finds himself swept off his feet by the lovely Diana Spellman. He shares his past difficulties with her, and she shares hers with him. Besides having lost lovers in similar type car accidents, Diana and Matt discover that their lives have a lot in common.

But Diana has a problem—she’s a murder target. As James Spellman’s informal editor, she knew every story that her husband was working on before his death, stories that contained secrets—secrets that threaten the highest levels of government, secrets that someone or some group does not want out in the open, secrets for which they’re willing to murder in order to keep quiet.

Matt’s attraction to Diana is mirrored by her attraction to him. They fall in love. But their love is soon complicated by attempted assassination attempts on both Diana and Matt.

What began as a routine personal injury case suddenly evolved into a vast terrorist conspiracy—and Diana was at the center of it all.

Sideswiped is a crime drama, a legal thriller, a tale of terrorism, and finally a compelling love story of two people who dedicated their lives to each other. It’s a story of enduring love, kept alive in the face of crippling fear. The book will grab you by the gut, as well as by the heart.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review for Sideswiped:
Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book One
by Russell F. Moran
Sideswiped will send a chill up your spine the next time you drive on the freeway!

Russell F. Moran’s well developed characters and distinct voice brings reality to the situation from sentence one and draws the reader into the story line with immediate empathy.

Main Character Matt Blake (x-Marine) is an Attorney, Blake & Randolph. Matt’s life changed (quote) “I’d never thought of the Chicago River as a romantic spot, especially during the day. It’s a beautiful waterway that meanders through some of the greatest architectural treasures in the country. It’s just not romantic. Until my lunch with Maggie Pierce.”

Get to know the professional and personal side of Matt Blake (quote) “It was Jimmy Escobedo, an old friend from college. Jimmy was nuts, in a good way. He was the funniest person I ever knew, and just seeing him made me laugh. He walked over to me, more like ran, and gave me a bear hug as I downed my next Scotch, almost spilling it. Jimmy was a character, the kind of guy who was a typical class clown. He was also bright as hell, and had his choice of job offers after Northwestern. He looked good, except he was a lot skinnier than I remembered.”

With flawless writing skills the author creates the stage that brings the reader into the life of Matt Blake and into the ins and outs of personal injury litigation. Do you think that all personal injury lawyers are ambulance chasers?

I invite you to come see for yourself how personal injury law plays out in the courtroom. Follow multiple cases and the drama that will take your mind to places where it has never gone. Sideswiped is a face paced, realistic, suspenseful thriller and romantically touching. Your mind will envision every aspect like you are watching it unfold in a dark movie theater and your impressions of somethings will change forever.

Cold Coffee Press endorses Sideswiped: A Matt Blake Novel by Russell F. Moran. The author dedicates this book to the State and Government law enforcement community who dedicate their lives to keep us safe.

Sideswiped is book one in Matt Blake Legal Thrillers (The Reformers-book two is coming soon). Also available The Gray Ship, The Thanksgiving Gang, A Time of Fear, and The Skies of Time (all four books in the Time Magnet series). The Shadows of Terror, The Scent of Revenge (books one and two in the Patterns Series).

We reviewed this book from a Kindle/PDF format. The reviewed was completed on October 2, 2015. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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 The Reformers:
Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book Two
by Russell F. Moran
The Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book 2

The forces of radical Islam are on the run.

Their leadership has been decimated, their ranks thinned, their power disappearing by the week.

Their recruiting efforts have been cut off, the radical websites shut down, and the attraction of jihad is losing its appeal among the young.

With targeted assassinations, military strikes, as well as the loss of oil fields and gold mines, radical Islam is fast losing power.

But who is responsible?

It isn’t the United States Government. It’s a new force the world has never seen before.

Lawyer Matt Blake and his wife Diana find themselves in the middle of the most gigantic plot the world has ever seen, a conspiracy that’s only begun to grow.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review for The Reformers:
Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book Two
by Russell F. Moran
The Reformers might make you stand up and applaud or on second thought it might cause you to rethink history and even take our political climate serious.

The Reformers follows Sideswiped in The Matt Blake Legal Thriller series, but stands on its own with story-line and conclusions.

Matt Blake (ex-Marine) and Attorney at Blake & Randolph who is no stranger to pro bono clients first impression of his new client is “just met a lying scumbag. Not only is he a lying scumbag, but he’s a mass murderer, a lowlife piece of garbage.”

After an interview “He didn’t deny that the evidence exists. He didn’t try to shuck and jive away from it. He simply insists that he did not detonate the bomb, nor did he know anything about it. But here’s the weird part. Weird? Hell, it’s almost spooky. When I asked him why someone or some group would try to frame him, he clammed up. He actually told me that he wouldn’t talk about it. He simply told me not to go there. It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to address the question of why somebody would want to frame him.”

“But what about the 12-foot gorilla in the room in the room?” Diana (Matt's wife) said, “The gorilla that wears a big bandanna that says ‘evidence’? So the guy is a straight-shooting truth teller. Great. What about his prints, his DNA, and not to mention the video showing him next to the bomb?”

From here things go uphill, downhill and sideways and it seems the whole world goes to “H” in a hand basket. Never a dull moment in this thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat and questioning who is in charge, how does radical Islam, the moderates and the United States Government play into the pro bono case.

Another quote from the book. “What I’m about to tell you hasn’t been made public yet. I got this information from my inside people. Bartholomew and his NFL group have set up political organizations in all 50 states, including large paid operations in the big electoral states like California and Florida. For some reason, the press hasn’t caught on to this yet, or maybe they don’t think it’s important. These political organizations are not Democrat or Republican. It’s a third-party operation, called The Freedom from Terror Party.”

I dare you to read this thriller and not question what might be on the horizon. Author Russell F. Moran writes with a style and concepts a few steps ahead of our time.

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses The Reformers (The Matt Blake Legal Thriller Series Book 2) by Russell F. Moran because the fictional drama might not be fiction at all. Purchase and read all Russell’s books from Amazon. We received this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on January 16, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Café http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview
With Author Russell F. Moran
Russell F. Moran is the author of The Gray Ship, The Thanksgiving Gang, A Time of Fear, and The Skies of Time and The Keepers of Time (five books in the Time Magnet series). The Shadows of Terror and The Scent of Revenge are books one and two in the Patterns Series. Sideswiped is book one and The Reformers book two in Matt Blake Legal Thrillers.

Russ Moran has also published five nonfiction books: Justice in America: How it Works—How it Fails (Coddington Press, 2011); The APT Principle: The Business Plan That You Carry in Your Head (Coddington Press, 2012); Boating Basics: The Boattalk Book of Boating Tips (Coddington Press, 2013); If You’re Injured: A Consumer Guide to Personal Injury Law (Coddington Press, 2013); How to Create More Time (Coddington Press, 2014).

He’s a lawyer and a veteran of the United States Navy. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Lynda.

Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Long Island, New York? A lot of published authors live on Long Island, and I’ve gotten the chance to meet a few of them.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? A teacher in High School and my wife.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? 2010

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? Yes. I have a background in law and the military. I’ve used these backgrounds in my writing.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? After the manuscript or sometimes part of the way through.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? Science fiction/time travel and detective thrillers

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? I first get an idea and then jot down story “beats,” or a rough outline of what the story is about. Then start writing. After that, the full story starts to show up.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Praise from friends.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? The Gray Ship a Kirkus Indie Best books of 2013

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Read On Writing by Stephen King, and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. Then, dispel the notion that there is any such thing as writers block. It doesn’t exist unless you convince yourself that it does.

Who is your favorite author and why? Nelson De Mille. Great story teller with a conversational voice.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? Don’t give up!

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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Midnight Owl (Joe Leverette Mystery Book One) by Viv Drewa

  Midnight Owl (Joe Leverette Mystery Book One) by Viv Drewa
When the dismembered body of a young woman is found Detectives Joe Leverette and Philip Marsden are assigned the case. After investigating the Port Huron, Michigan area where the six body parts were found there’s a twist in the case: The murderer goes after each individual who found the parts, one by one.
Leverette becomes interested in one of the women, Carole Sage, a sensitive, but because of the case he’s not able to take it any further. Everyone on the police force sees his infatuation, but Carole does not.
Each of the six witnesses has a dream about the murderer removing the particular body part they found the night. They are startled awake and hear an owl hoot three times. None of them want to reveal their dream to the detectives.
Carole sees the actual murder and each murder as it happens to the witnesses. The police chief, Billingsley, understands her ‘gift’ and sets up a sting to catch him. It fails and they have to regroup to think of something else. Two witnesses are dead and they don’t want a third to die.
This book is for 18+ due to the violence.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Midnight Owl
(A Joe Leverette Mystery Book One) by Viv Drewa
If you enjoy reading murder mysteries and have the stomach for graphic scenes and detailed forensic evidence, Midnight Owl will be a great read. If you like continuing sagas where the first book keeps you waiting for the author to write and release the next book in the series so you can find out if your suspicions are right or wrong, this Joe Leverette (Mystery Book One) should be in your hands as Call Of The Owl (Joe Leverette Mystery Book Two) is promised for release in 2016.
Well written adult material, realistic characters, easy to follow dialog and a plot that reinforces monsters do exist.
I always quote a passage to show the authors style, but I am very careful not to spoil the story. Quote from Book:
“Heather North had felt as if someone were following her for a while now, weeks to be exact. The sensation was driving her crazy.
She lived in a relatively safe area with a short walk from her parking spot to her apartment, but the feeling was much stronger tonight and it made the walk look a lot farther.
Behind the large SUV to the left of her car, a figure waited. He watched Heather get her purse and sweater out of her car and lock the door. He watched her look around nervously, checking her surroundings before heading to her apartment.
The one thing that Heather really didn't like was that there was no fence between the parking lot and the small wooded area next to it. Her insecurity tonight made it feel even more ominous. A great horned owl gave off three quick hoots making Heather jump and almost drop what she was carrying.
Before she had a chance to step away from her car, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and a damp cloth was clamped tightly over her mouth. She dropped her purse, keys and sweater and everything went dark.”
What happens next will cause your blood to run cold, but you will not stop turning the pages, because the sleuth in you will want answers.
I suspect Author Viv Drewa’s studies in medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan played a silent role in her active criminal investigation mind set. No doubt her ability to hold her reader’s attention through suspense is attributive to her writing experience since 1963.
Dreams and Owls have played roles in folklore throughout history. How do dreams and Owl hoots play into this mystery?
Will the author who is known as ‘Owl Lady’ give us any hoots in book two of this series?
Cold Coffee Press/Café endorses Midnight Owl (Joe Leverette Mystery Book One) by Viv Drewa as a mystery suspense thriller. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on March 22, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Cafe http://coldcoffeecafe.com/.

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The Angler and The Owl by Viv Drewa
Before retiring France Hunter decides to go to the place where she found her first new species of owl: The Amazon. Her group follows a well know angler, John Sinclair, and his team, along with a reporter who wants to do a story on Hunter.
Once arriving at the site, Sinclair leaves to go further up the river. He has a show to record and is hoping to catch an even larger fish this time. He hates having to leave France; he's fallen in love with her but he has a show to tape and hopes to finish quickly to get back to her.
Hunter, and the group with her, run into a gruesome nightmare with the satellite phone destroyed and one man fighting for life. Sinclair is not due to pick them up for another week.
Will they survive?
Genre: Romance, Suspense, Adventure

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The Owl Of The Sipan Lord by Viv Drewa
Martin and Clare Montgomery worked together as an archaeological team until Martin mysteriously died.
Fearing the rumors of a curse Clare vowed to never return that was until a blue eyed spirit and a small owl began to haunt her dreams.
Was this a sign from her beloved Martin or something more sinister?
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Intrigue, Spine-Chilling Paranormal.

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From The Pages Of Grandfather's Life by Viv Drewa
The true story of a young man forced to leave his family to escape the Russian czar in 1913 Poland, or be drafted into the Russian army and fight against his own people.
Genre: Biography, Memoir

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Viv Drewa
Viv is a Michigan native who has enjoyed reading and writing since 1963. Though she studied medicinal chemistry at the University of Michigan her passion has always been writing.
She was awarded third place for her nonfiction short story about her grandfather's escape from Poland. Later, she rewrote this story and was published in the ‘Polish American Journal’ as ‘From the Pages of Grandfather's Life’ and recently had it published again on Amazon.
Viv took creative and journalism courses to help in her transition to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer. She worked as an intern for Port Huron's ‘The Times Herald’, and also wrote, edited and did the layout or the Blue Water Multiple Sclerosis newsletter ‘Thumb Prints’.
She teaches sewing to physically and mentally disabled adults, a cause close to her heart.
Viv also writes two blogs to help promote her fellow authors.

************************Interview:
What makes you proud to be a writer from Michigan? I’m proud that I can share my stories with everyone. Putting all the effort into each of my books and seeing that they’re appreciated really makes me feel good.
What or who inspired you to become a writer? No one person in particular. I just always loved reading stories.
Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? I think my parents had a lot to do with it by reading to me from a very early age. Then I was taken to the library for a type of story time where a woman would read to us.
When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? In 2013. I had two mini strokes in 2012 and my doctor told me to start playing seek-and-find games. Since I’ve always wanted to be a writer I asked him if that would be ok; he said yes. My first book was published 12/2013
What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Two things: meeting a lot of wonderful authors and learning a lot from the research I had to do for each book.
What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? I think being able to put ‘author’ as a job description. This is something I’ve wanted for a very long time.
How many published books do you have? Three books and one short story.
Please list the titles of all your books:
From The Pages Of Grandfather’s Life
Midnight Owl (Joe Leverette Mystery Book One)
The Angler and The Owl
The Owl Of The Sipan Lord
Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? Mostly when I’m developing my characters and story line. I haven’t changed any of them as of yet.
What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? I’ll talk about Midnight Owl. I saw a saying on Facebook that said: When you can’t sleep at night it means you’re awake in someone else’s dream. Of course my muse decided to take it in another direction but she did good!
What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Read a lot! Your genre, or many genres. See what you’re really interested in and it will be a fantastic journey!
Who is your favorite author and why? If you asked me 40 years ago I’d say Stephen King, and he still is one of my favorite. To be honest I have so many traditional and indie authors that I love to read.

****************************** Amazon Author’s Page
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Kaylin McFarren’s Threads Series

Cold Coffee Press Endorses Kaylin McFarren’s Threads Series
"Stories That Touch The Soul"
Newest Release
 
Banished Threads (Threads Series Book Three)
by Kaylin McFarren
A valuable art collection disappears turning a treasure-hunting duo into crime-stopping sleuths committed to vindicating family members in Kaylin McFarren's action-packed suspense novel, Banished Threads.

While vacationing at the stately Cumberforge Manor in Bellwood, England, Rachel Lyons and Chase Cohen attend an elegant dinner party hosted by her uncle, Paul Lyons, and his aristocratic wife, Sara. Before the evening ends, a priceless collection of Morris Graves's paintings are stolen from her uncle's popular gallery, throwing all suspicion onto his wife's missing granddaughter. Determined to clear Sloan Rafferty's name and, in the process, win Paul's favor, Chase scours the countryside looking for answers. In his absence, the police accuse Rachel's uncle of an unsolved murder and secrets surrounding her grandmother's death and the deaths of Sara's former husbands turn his wife into the most likely suspect.

With the true villains hell-bent on destroying Paul Lyons and his family, solving both crimes while ensuring her uncle's freedom not only endangers Rachel's life but that of her unborn child. Will Chase save them before the kidnappers enact their revenge or will the ultimate price be paid, as predicted by a vagabond fortuneteller?

First place - 2016 Hudson Valley RWA Hook, Line & Sinker Contest

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Banished Threads
(Threads Series Book Three) by Kaylin McFarren
Banished Threads begins on a dreary night in late October. Stargazer sliced through the surface of the North Atlantic at fifteen knots, heading straight for the coast of England. After facing many perils at sea Chase Cohen is relieved to finally be in London.

Quote from Book: “With Rachel by his side “they disembarked from the train at Whitchurch and stepped through the station’s main door, Rachel’s excitement rose at the prospect of seeing her uncle. He was a younger version of her father, with the same chiseled good looks. He would have been easy to spot, even in this busy place. But from her vantage point, he was nowhere to be seen. Believing he had forgotten about her arrival, Rachel’s heart sank. She turned to Chase and was about to voice her concern when she caught sight of a handsome man in the passenger-loading zone: white cable-knit sweater, tight jeans, in his mid-thirties, shaggy brown hair, rugged jaw, easy smile, dimples, and unforgettable emerald-green eyes. He was leaning against a silver Mercedes, flashing his perfect white teeth and holding up a sign reading, “Welcome to England, Rachel Lyons.”
For a moment, she could hardly breathe, and she wondered if it was possible to fall over and die from shock. Or maybe from the idea of coming face-to-face with the last person on earth she ever expected to see. Although she had spoken to his Irish mother at a fund-raising event years earlier and was told that Killian was living with relatives in Northampton, she had convinced herself that the chance of meeting him was as unlikely as the sky turning green.
Killian Reed. His shimmering eyes were loving and warm and full of laughter. Rachel gasped and dropped her purse and over- night bag. She pulled off her high heels and ran to him. He swept her up and spun her around. When he set her back down, she buried her face in his chest and hugged him with all her might. She took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of bay-rum aftershave. He kissed the top of her head, and she gazed up at him. She didn’t realize she was crying until he reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek.
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” she whispered, gratified to see unshed tears in his beautiful eyes.
“It’s me, seaweed brain,” he said. “I’m really here.”
Rachel stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. He put his arms around her waist and held her close. His hand smoothed her hair as he whispered, “I missed you, girl.”
She looked up at him and smiled, and it suddenly dawned on her that you meet all kinds of people in your life. Some you never think about again. Some you wonder what happened to and if they ever think about you. And then there are some you wish you never had to think about again, yet somehow you do. Killian Reed just happened to be one of those disconcerting, unforgettable beings. He was part of her past: a distant, bitter- sweet memory that had lingered for years.
With their last parting, they had grasped each other’s hands with a rush of melancholy, tender, and inexpressible feelings, and had gone their separate ways.
But time had moved on, and there was someone else in her life now—a silent observer patiently standing by, watching their every move with an annoyed pinch between his brows.
She took Killian by the hand and led him to Chase. More than anything, she hoped they would become fast friends, but as they shook hands, Rachel found it difficult to ignore the frowns tugging at the corners of their mouths. They both took a step back and just stood there, regarding each other silently, the air now seeming as cold as a razor blade.””

Twenty two chapters entwine a cast of strong characters in this well written mystery drama that expose family secrets, lies, stolen gallery art, kidnapping engaging readers with suspense and romance. Sit back and enjoy book three of this series where each book can be read in or out of sequence. Author Kaylin McFarren teases us with new tales taking shape in the recesses of her mind that are “only a night’s dream away”.

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses multi-award winning author Kaylin McFarren’s Threads Series which include Banished Threads, Buried Threads, Severed Threads and Flaherty’s Crossing (her stand-alone fiction drama). We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on March 21, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Cafe http://coldcoffeecafe.com/ and Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Severed Threads (Threads Series Book One)
by Kaylin McFarren
Award-winning author Kaylin McFarren delivers an action/adventure romance guaranteed to capture your imagination…

Romantic Suspense Novel by Kaylin McFarren: Believing herself responsible for her father s fatal diving accident, Rachel Lyons has withdrawn from the world and assumed a safe position at a foundation office. When called upon by a museum director to assist her former love interest with the recovery of a cursed relic from a sunken Chinese merchant ship, she has no intention of cooperating until her brother is kidnapped by a drug-dealing gangster. In order to save him and gain control over her life, Rachel must not only overcome her greatest fears, but also relive the circumstances that lead to her father s death.

Inspiration Behind The Story: Kaylin has been involved in the business of collecting and selling Asian antiques for more than a decade. Due to her interest in this field and her fascination with the undersea world, she was inspired to write a story about the recovery of a Chinese concubine’s cursed treasure from a sunken ship, which aids in healing a woman’s damaged soul. Kaylin spent four months researching scuba diving, trade routes, famous battles, and the natural disasters that befell Spanish galleons during the 15th-17th centuries. It is her hope that this action-adventure romance entertains readers and honors dedicated salvaging and exploration companies that have contributed remarkable discoveries and cross-sections of history to museums and institutions around the world.

Genre: Romance, Suspense

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Buried Threads (Threads Series Book Two)
by Kaylin McFarren
A disturbing prophecy sends a treasure hunting duo on an urgent race to rescue a country in Kaylin McFarren's heart pounding new novel, Buried Threads. Full of erotic suspense and wild adventures, this is one trip that readers will never forget!

Rachel Lyons and Chase Cohen work together as the successful owners of a treasure hunting company. But a seemingly simple assignment--to track down a priceless gem that is believed to be buried in a shipwreck deep within the Sea of Japan--takes a startling, and dangerous, turn.
Faced with a monk's dark prophecy that a natural disaster will soon strike Japan, killing millions, Rachel and Chase must embark on the mission of a lifetime in order to uncover the three cursed samurai swords that can avert the catastrophe.

Chaos ensues as their adventure takes them from shark infested waters and creepy caves to haunted hidden tombs and a confrontation with Yakuza gang members. Time is running out as the prophecy's day of reckoning draws near. Will Rachel and Chase succeed before disaster strikes?

Buried Threads has received the following awards: 2014 Reader Views Readers Choice Awards - 1st Place for Romance; 2014 Pacific Book Awards - 1st Place Adventure Category; 2014 Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media's Great Beginnings Contest - 1st Place Paranormal Mystery; 2013 Chanticleer Clue Awards - 1st Place Steamy/Action/Thriller; 2014 National Indie Excellence Awards - Finalist, Best Cover Design; 2014 eLit Awards - 1st Place Mystery/Suspense/Thriller; 2014 eLit Awards - 2nd Place for Best Book Trailer; 2014 Global Ebook Awards - Gold Medal (1st Place) in the New Adult Fiction Category & Bronze Medal (3rd Place) in the Best Book Trailer Category; 2014 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal in the Fiction - Adventure Category.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Buried Threads by Kaylin McFarren
When the mysterious, beautiful Japanese woman with a sword peering from the black sheen of the front cover of ‘Buried Threads’ - by Kaylin McFarren arrived, the silent beckoning began.

I always know when I am reading a well-researched, well written action-adventure, mystery, romance novel when the plot enters my night dreams. Although I didn’t read book one in the series ‘Buried Threads’ stands well on its own. The author knows how to take a great plot, create believable characters, hold the reader in suspense and spin the tale with mastery.

Unfamiliar with Japanese culture (beautiful customs, geishas, ancient rituals), especially the underbelly of the Japanese society, warlords, and unseen paranormal conflicts the reader will learn a great deal while experiencing writing in its truest art form.

A treasure hunt for lost artifacts that are embedded with precious stones that are not only priceless, but hold a curse that once stood for a “Prince’s valor, wisdom, and benevolence”.

What would a fast moving, suspense filled, heart beating adventure be without the dangerous, unpredictable interpersonal relationships that leads to attraction, trust, mutually mind blowing sex and true romance? ‘Buried Threads’ is all that and more.

Compassion and greed, life and death, fear and resolution, mission and accomplishment, struggle and survival, gratitude and faith are all aspects of this story that can only be summed up as spectacular.

Cold Coffee Press endorses multi-award winning ‘Buried Threads’ - by Kaylin McFarren as the action-adventure, mystery-suspense romance-thriller that it is. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Flaherty’s Crossing by Kaylin McFarren
An estranged father’s dying confession opens a vault of dark family secrets, shocking revelations that threaten all his daughter holds dear.

Successful yet emotionally stifled artist Kate Flaherty stands at the deathbed of her estranged father, conflicted by his morphine-induced confession exposing his part in her mother’s death. While racing home, Kate’s car mishap leads her to a soul-searching discussion with a lone diner employee, prompting Kate to confront the true reasons her marriage hangs in the balance. When her night takes an unexpected turn, however, she flees for her life, a life desperate for faith that can only be found through her ability to forgive.

Genre: Fiction, Drama

Every dime earned from the sale of Flaherty's Crossing benefits cancer research at Providence Hospital, which I like to call Kaylin's Cause. More information is available at: http://www.flahertyscrossing.com/cause.php

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview
With Kaylin McFarren
McFarren is a rare bird indeed. Not a migratory sort, she prefers to hug the West Coast and keep family within visiting range. Although she has virtually been around the world, she was born in California, relocated with her family to Washington, and nested with her husband in Oregon. In addition to playing an active role in his business endeavors, she has been involved in all aspects of their three daughters' lives - taxi duties, cheer-leading coaching, script rehearsals, and relationship counseling, to name but a few. Now she enjoys spending undisciplined time with her two young grandsons and hopes to have many more.

Although Kaylin wasn't born with a pen in hand like so many of her talented fellow authors, she has been actively involved in both business and personal writing projects for many years. As the director of a fine art gallery, she assisted in furthering the careers of numerous visual artists who under her guidance gained recognition through promotional opportunities and in national publications. Eager to spread her own creative wings, she has since steered her energy toward writing novels. As a result, she has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest.

Kaylin is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Willamette Writers. She received her AA in Literature at Highline Community College, which originally sparked her passion for writing. In her free time, she also enjoys giving back to the community through participation and support of various charitable and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest.

FUN TIDBITS: She is proud of the fact that her great aunt Bessie B. Cordell, an evangelistic missionary during WWII, was instrumental in opening an orphanage in Tientsin, China and also wrote two published novels, Precious Pearl and Blossoms of the Flowery Kingdom, documenting her dangerous, harrowing experiences.

She keeps a glass of wine close by while writing love scenes, Kleenex on her desk while writing heart breakers, and has been known to empty a box of chocolates when she's completely stumped.
A consummate "pantser" and perfectionist, she writes and edits as she goes, and uses photographs of models and actors from tabloid magazines to visualize her characters.

She loves her husband of 40 years dearly. However, if Brad Pitt or Orlando Bloom came knockin', well... their marriage just might be put to the test.

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Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Oregon? A lot of talented writers come from the Northwest and it's great to be included among them at workshops, conferences and on bookshelves.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I kept journals for a number of years and when my father died after a lengthy battle against cancer, I realized that telling my story about my journey to find faith and forgiveness could bring closure not only for me but also for readers face with the same difficult choices in their lives.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? After completing Flaherty's Crossing in 2009, I elected to submit it to a number of literary contests and when it kept winning first place awards, I came to the conclusion that it deserved to be published.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? My environment, cultural immersion, passions, and relationships continue to play a role in my storytelling and the types of books I like to write.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? I actually come up with the title to each of my books as soon as I determine what the storyline involves and how it will impact my characters. I love the idea of having a double meaning that readers can interpret for themselves, appreciate and later understand.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? The books I write include romantic suspense stories in third point of view. This genre keeps the pages turning and makes for an entertaining read. I enjoy dropping my characters into difficult situations, making them struggle against all odds then demonstrating their growth while fighting their way back.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? Buried Threads is the culmination of years of travel and exposure to the Asian culture. The "light bulb" or inspirational moment came after speaking to a Buddhist monk and finding myself enlightened by his ability to view a person's past lives and predict the future with amazing accuracy.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? I would have to say the awards, great reviews and kudos that come with it, which motivates and encourages me to write more.

Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? Everyone receives a negative comment on Amazon and that becomes disheartening for any author, but my most negative experience came from signing with the wrong agent. She was extremely well-known and so enthusiastic about my writing that I was on a high for months. Then she came to me one day and wanted to completely change my plot, eliminate characters and emphasis a romantic angle in order to expedite the sale of my book. The only way to avoid the destruction of a great story was to walk away and end our relationship, which is exactly what I did. This book ended up as being selected as a Golden Heart finalist and went on to win numerous awards. It is currently under consideration for a movie by a production company in Los Angeles, so it seems I did the right thing.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? There's nothing like seeing your book on store book shelves. It gives your writing credence and makes your feel like a viable writer. But more than that, in regard to a rewarding experience, I would have to say that the letters I receive from readers telling me that Flaherty's Crossing encouraged them to contact people in their lives, forgive and more on with no regrets is truly beyond amazing. Time is simply too short to fill it with hate and knowing that I've changed a life by sharing my personal experiences and beliefs is the ultimate reward.

Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? As with most writers, there's always the rejection letter to contend with and move past. I've had my share and came to the conclusion that it's part of the game and becomes a learning experience. Everyone is not going to fall in love with your voice or the complexity of your story but that should never keep a writer from moving forward and allowing themselves to be heard. The way I avoided focusing and spending all my energy on finding a publishing house and staying in their good graces was to create my own rules and set my own timelines as an independent, self-published author. As a result, I actually finding more opportunities to promote and market myself...and I love it!!

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Never lose sight of your aspirations or be discouraged by what critics, authors or the general public might say. If you have a story inside your heart that needs to be told, cut open a vein and let it flow.

Who is your favorite author and why? I love Jodi Picoult books are my favorite because they delve into current issues, include memorable lines and characters, tend to be controversial, and make me think and analysis my own beliefs.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? I would just like to remind readers that every dime earned from the sale of Flaherty's Crossing benefits cancer research at Providence Hospital, which I like to call Kaylin's Cause. More information is available at: http://www.flahertyscrossing.com/cause.php

*************************Author Kaylin McFarren’s Published Books
Buried Threads (Threads Series Book One)
Severed Threads (Threads Series Book Two)
Banished Threads (Threads Series Book Three)
Flaherty's Crossing (Stand Alone Fiction Drama)
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Hibernaculum by Kim McDougall

Hibernaculum by Kim McDougall
A post-apocalyptic thriller with bite.
Safari business is booming. Inside the Dome, people feast, create, laze. Most are content in the self-contained ecosystem.
The builders of the Dome are long dead. Their great-great-grandchildren keep telling of the Wild alive, but stories have rotted to mystery, then to legend.
A few discontents walk the perimeter of the Dome gazing into the horizon. They know the wheat fields, forests and mountains are fake. They all know. The false vista is a comfort except to those who burn to know what truly lies beyond. Those find tiny holes, gaps in waste control and ventilation. Their defection endangers everyone and the Grand Duke vows to plug the holes with the bodies of deserters. Still the Wild calls. Includes 2 bonus tales: Luminari and Barbegazi.


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Cold Coffee Press Book Review for Hibernaculum by Kim McDougall
Post-apocalyptic thrillers like ‘Hibernaculum’ are science fiction or horror that has evolved from a global catastrophe.
Author Kim McDougall uses her descriptive writing skills along with a vivid imagination to draw her readers into a new world order within a self-contained ecosystem under a Dome. The problem is, humans have never been content to stay in one place or be told they can’t explore outside their own known existence. In one respect life under the Dome is no different from villages, town and cities throughout history where stories are passed down from generation to generation. However, the stories from under the Dome have morphed into legends that bring out thrill seekers.
As with any boundaries; cracks, leaks, holes, tunnels and even lines can be stretched when there is great financial reward. Cross is an exceptional coyote within the Safari business because he promises the ultimate “Wild” adventure to enthusiasts like Alex and Mindy.
I am so careful not to spoil the story, when I include a quote to show the authors style. Here is the quote that I selected.
“Soon the trees thinned. They stood in a vast desert of crumbled stone. Humidity blew in from the South, bringing scents of growing things.
“What’s that stench?” asked Mindy. “Smells like rot.”
Alex unbuttoned his shirt collar and wiped his face with a clean hankie.
“That must be the Santa Ana.” He thumbed through several screens on a Touch, looking for the entry. “Here it is. Santa Ana: a hot wind that emerges from the sun- baked Great Basin between the Sierras and the Rocky Mountains and pours into California.” He stumbled over an old tire, buried in the dirt. “Are we near California?”
“We’re in the Wild,” said Cross. “It’s all the same.”
“I bet it’s the Santa Ana. Look there are the mountains.” He pointed to a mound in the distance with the sun setting behind. A herd of sure-footed grazers clambered over the craggy mound, their awkward bodies silhouetted against the fading sky.
“Look!” Mindy gasped. “Beasts! Are they dangerous?”
“Only if you’re made of grass,” said Cross.
They stopped to watch the sun set. Arms linked, Mindy put her head on Alex’s shoulder.”
This seems tame enough, right? Allow Cross to take you along with Alex and Mindy into the Wild. Somethings you encounter along the way might seem predictable given your intelligence, but I assure you that somethings are unforeseen and unimaginable.
As a bonus the author includes two more short stories titled Luminari: For the Vampire that has everything and Barbegazi: When the White Death calls, who will answer?
Cold Coffee Press/Café endorses Hibernaculum by Kim McDougall as a sci-fi thriller. Kim is a diverse author with seven available published books found on Amazon. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on March 17, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
 
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Between The Cracks by Kim McDougall
Once upon a time...
Four words that evoke memories of princesses and goblins, of fables and fairy-tales. They have become an archetype, harking back to a time when the word novel was synonymous with fantasy. In fact, English literature was forged in the fires of sorcery and unreality. Think Faerie Queen, Dr. Faustus, Gulliver's Travels. Sound familiar? Where would you look for these stories in your local book store? Certainly not in the fantasy section. Back when Moby Dick was published there were no fantasy and sci-fi, no mystery or romance, only novels. Alexander Pope did not worry about cross-genres when he composed The Rape of the Lock. And Robert Louis Stevenson was not catering to horror fans when he wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
When did literature become a slave to labels? Who else but marketing managers profit from categorizing literature? Certainly not the consumer. Fantasy buffs head straight for these shelves, but how many great fantasy stories are missed because they are classified as "literary" instead?
In this anthology of short and flash fiction, sprinkled with unnatural poetry, Kim McDougall reveals the grit, lust and beauty that goes on Between the Cracks. Enjoy 30 tales including, "Black Bet's Home for Toothless Vampires," "Set Another Place at the Table, I'm Bringing my Pimple," "Worst Love Poem Ever" and the award winning "Jack Frost" among other irreverent, dark and quirky stories.
What comes from Between the Cracks? Fiction that ignores boundaries, mixes genres and confounds classification.
Genre: Anthology, Flash Fiction

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The Golden Hour by Kim McDougall
This is not a romance. This is not the story of boy meets girl, boy wins girl. The Golden Hour goes beyond erotica and romance. Instead, it is an exploration of how sex defines us, particularly in those first years of sexual burgeoning when it is intoxicating and empowering. Sarah’s life has been defined by the men in it. Now she must learn to define herself or forever live in the past. The Golden Hour is a story of the greatest love of all.
Malek and Sarah have a passionate and destructive relationship. When fate and stubborn pride separates them for good, they promise to meet twenty years later in that exact hour at their favorite restaurant in Nice. At age 42, Sarah waits at the little cafe for her first love to appear in the falling afternoon light. Will Malek be the same mysterious man he was? Will he still want her? Will he even come? Her imagination is overwhelming as she remembers their dark and fiery past, and dreads the secret she must finally reveal.
Genre: Contemporary Romance


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 Kim McDougall’s Children’s Books Written Under The Name Kim Chatel
 
A Talent For Quiet by Kim Chatel
Reanie is a shy girl. She has a new step dad whose shoulders seem to fill their small house.
Afraid to disappoint him, she retreats to her room whenever Bill asks her to play. But when he invites her on a photo safari in the creek, Reanie can't resist. As the father and daughter splash through the water, they encounter many creatures. Bill teaches Reanie how to handle a camera, and her new step-dad doesn't seem so strange anymore.
Illustrated with Kim Chatel's stunning photography, this is more than a story. It is a journey with Reanie as she finds her voice and her artistic talent. The back of the book includes 5 nonfiction pages about photography: a glossary of terms, tips on taking better pictures and historical tidbits about photography.
Kim Chatel is both Author and Photographer
Genre: Children’s Books, Fiction


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Burgher and The Woebegone by Kim Chatel
Choose your own ending and help Burgher make the right decisions to bring sunshine back to Oxtail Orchard. Burgher is a gnome, which is just another name for an ugly elf. He lives in a grey orchard, among slugs and mushrooms and he likes it that way. A black cloud follows him around like a curse.
Samantha Bell (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s Books, Fiction


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Clip-Clop, Tippity:
Tap French Vocabulary On The Farm by Kim Chatel
Mini-moi is only six hands tall. He wants to work on the farm like the big horses, but he's too small. When Mini-moi runs away he finds a whole menagerie of animals in need. Children will delight in the animal antics as Mini-moi discovers that even little ones can be big helpers. Along the way learn French vocabulary and phrases. Includes a glossary of terms. Suggested age range for readers: 4-9.
Kathleen Bullock (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s Books, Fiction


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Horse Camp by Kim Chatel
Follow a group of young horse enthusiasts through a week at horse camp. Learn about tacking and grooming. Enjoy a visit from the farrier and test your knowledge of breeds and markings. Illustrated with beautiful photography that is sure to delight all horse fans. Fifty percent of author royalties will be donated to animal rescue foundations. Suggested age range for readers: 7-12
Kim Chatel is both Author and Photographer
Genre: Children’s Books, Non-Fiction


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Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel
Genevieve is a little shepherdess with a big imagination. When she finds a sad, pale rainbow, she tells him funny stories until he cries happy tears and his colors return. Genevieve's sheep are caught in the colorful rain of tears and become the "Rainbow Sheep". Suggested age range for readers: 4 years (read to by a parent) to 10 years (reading alone). 12 Fiber art illustrations. Included four full pages of Felting for Fun for kids, glossary & fiber art activities.
 Award: EPPIE Winner Best Children’s eBook
 Kim Chatel is both Author and Illustrator
Genre: Children’s Books, Fiction


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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With
Author Kim McDougall A. K. A Kim Chatel
Kim McDougall is an author, fiber artist and photographer with a BA in English Literature from Concordia University.

As co-founder of Castelane Inc, Kim has produced 400+ book trailer videos.

Kim writes for children under her married name, Kim Chatel. She has 6 children’s books in print, including the EPPIE Award-Winning, Rainbow Sheep.

Writing as Kim McDougall, her fiction crosses boundaries, from fantasy and romance into the literary. She draws from mythology, history and current events to build unique worlds and people them with characters she would love to know better. Sometimes, the bad guy steals the show.

Visit http://www.kimmcdougall.com to meet Kim’s unique characters. Beware. Some of them bite.
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Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Ontario, Canada? The writers’ community of Ontario is very active and I am proud to be a member of the Writers’ Community of York Region. From engaging workshops to book fairs and conventions, this community showcases some truly great Canadian talent and I am honored to be part of it.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? As a child, while my friends played Barbie, I was organizing my books with front plates and making a card catalogue. Books have always been my favorite escape. When my daughter was born, I discovered the wonder of picture books and fell in love all over again. Writing grew organically from this love of literature.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? I have always written. I still have a book of poetry I wrote when I was eight. “Cats have fur. They often purr…” It gets worse from there. In high school, I was chosen to attend a week long creative writing workshop. The best part of this was getting out of school for a week. In college, my fiction started getting noticed by professors and this planted the seed of desire to be published. But it wasn’t until I moved to the US in 2002 that I decided to take publishing seriously. I didn’t have a work visa and for the next five years, I would be a stay-at-home mom. I thought I’d have loads of time to write. Of course, anyone who has raised kids, knows it didn’t work out that way. Nonetheless, I managed to publish several picture books, novels and short stories during that time.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Though I’m really an introvert and enjoy the solitude of writing, I thoroughly enjoyed bringing my picture books to schools and presenting them to gymnasiums full of kids. Once you’ve faced down three-hundred kindergartners, nothing will faze you. Part of the joy of sharing my books with kids came from having my daughter along for the ride too.

How many published books do you have? I have six children’s books in print under my married name, Kim Chatel. Writing as Kim McDougall, I have published adult fantasy and romances, including four novels and novellas and dozens of short stories.

Please list the titles of all your books:
Writing for adults as Kim McDougall
Hibernaculum
The Golden Hour
Between The Cracks
Writing for children as Kim Chatel
A Talent For Quiet
Burgher and The Woebegone
Clip-Cop, Tippity-Tap: French Vocabulary On The Farm
Horse Camp
Rainbow Sheep

Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? Usually, I choose titles after the manuscript is done, but occasionally, a title will inspire a story. This was the case when I wrote “Burgher and the Woebegone.” The name came to me when I was making up stories for my daughter. The name invoked an angry little gnome and I had to know more about him.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I’ve never believed the old adage of write what you know. If every author went by that rule, we’d have very little fiction to choose from. Instead, I write what I like. And that’s urban fantasy. Though I read many genres, including mystery, suspense and literary, urban fantasy is my go-to genre when I want to be truly entertained. I feel it is important to write in a genre that I understand well. I know the trends, what’s hot and what has been done to death. This allows me to work within the readers’ expected parameters while offering up fresh twists on old mythologies.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? I came across the concept of a hibernaculum while researching creatures for another story. The idea of a mass of snakes intrigued me and evoked a perfect backdrop for a dystopian adventure. I remember enjoying the creative process of that story immensely because it was the first time I set out to consciously plot a story. Up until that point, I had been a seat-of-the-pants writer. But with Hibernaculum I had the ending clear as day in my head. Plotting allowed me to work backwards to the beginning point. Now I am a devoted outliner and my stories have taken on a new depth.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Write, write, write. Write every day, if you can. It’s the only way to get better at what you do. Reading books on craft can help, but not if you don’t put them into practice. When I first began publishing, I wrote dozens of short stories. Finding publishers for them was an eye-opening experience. I learned much about the publishing industry along the way. In the end, I had a good resume of published works for when it came time to contact editors for my full-length works.

Who is your favorite author and why? My favorite author is Ilona Andrews, a husband and wife writing team of urban fantasy. Andrews has a flair for world-building and character creation that I haven’t found equaled in any other writer.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? Hibernaculum

************************ Kim McDougall’s Amazon Author Page
Kim Chatel’s Amazon Author Page
Professional Websites
http://www.kimmcdougall.com
http://www.kimchatel.com
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Thorn, Son Of A Duke (The Duke Series Book Three) by Sandra Masters

Cold Coffee Press Endorses The Duke Series by Sandra Masters
Regency Romance That Will Leave You Wanting More
 
Thorn, Son Of A Duke (Duke Series Book Three) by Sandra Masters
Mini Novella Prequel To Book Four
At the age of seventeen, Thorn Wick made a promise to his dying mother that sends him sailing from Barbados to England to meet the man who sired him, the aristocratic Duke of Althorn, who never knew of his son’s existence.
Alicia Montgomery, ward of the Duke, develops a deep affection for the Anglo Indian who protects her from advances by other men. She wants him to acknowledge his feelings for her, but he insists on ignoring the chemistry between them.
Despite the intrigue, revelations, and revenge, will their passion and love for each other conquer all?
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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Thorn Son Of A Duke
(Duke Series Book Three) by Sandra Masters
The third book (mini novella prequel to book four) in the Duke Series is here and Author Sandra Masters delivers another true regency romance with Thorn, Son Of A Duke.
The book opens with Thorn Wick aboard his Majesty’s Ship en route to England, 1817. “Thorn Wick leaned over the railing of the ship. A queasy sensation roiled in his stomach as he watched the swelling of the seas. He closed his eyes and hoped he’d wake up and find himself in his sunlit room in Barbados on firm ground listening to island chants.”
Enjoy regal characters and superb story telling that will keep you invested in the plot. Let me share with you a passage from the book as tension builds at ‘London Wharf-side’.
Quote: “Thorn stood by the railing and scanned an old road that gave access to wharves and docks on the north bank of the River Thames. The panorama before him amazed. Busy docks men and porters hustled large cases and bales from the ships to the waiting ware-housemen. Men shouted while clerks with inventory lists directed longshoremen to the appropriate buildings.
“Sir Tomas, what is that large building to the right of us? Never have I seen such a large structure.”
“That’s the East India House owned and operated by the company. I would venture to say the wealth that passes within its portals is unsurpassed in the world. They are a powerful force with which to reckon. Fortunately, your forefathers had the good sense not to invest in India and chose Barbados.”
Thorn’s eyes widened at the activity; excitement overtook him. He didn’t know where to look first.“Do you see that black coach with the Lion crest waiting?”
“Yes. Is that my father’s?” he asked with a bit of trepidation.
As they spoke, a tall aristocratic gentleman departed the coach, his beaver top hat and greatcoat an admission of his wealth. The coach driver was armed and one footman was on the back board. The other footman walked behind the man. A gold dome-topped cane glistened in the sunlight.
“Is that my father, Sir Tomas?”
“Yes, it is. He’s come to greet you personally.” Tomas grasped Thorn’s shoulder in convivial support. “Just be yourself, Thorn. Everything will be fine.”
The gangplank was lowered, and the passengers prepared to depart. Thorn and Tomas waited for the others to precede them.
“Courage, little lion,” Tomas joked.
“I will need more than that,” Thorn replied, unable to keep his eyes off the aristocratic gentleman who waited patiently on the dock.
I now understand what my mother saw in him.
Thorn took a deep breath. “I’m ready, Sir Tomas. Let us greet the great lion.” He smiled with an inquisitive stare at the man who gave him life and wondered what future awaited him.
I invite you to follow this father and son reunion and see what lays in store for this son of a duke. 
Read the entire Duke Series by Sandra Masters at Amazon. Each book stands alone for your regency romance enjoyment.
Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses Thorn, Son Of A Duke (The Duke Series Book 3) by Sandra Masters. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on March 10, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
Kindle Purchase Link
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My Divinely Decadent Duke
(Duke Series Book Two) by Sandra Masters
Orphaned and abandoned by family, Lady Cassandra Montgomery yearns for love. Beautiful and innocent, she attracts the attention of a renowned rake, the Duke of Althorn. When her security is threatened, she offers him a proposal for an arranged marriage in exchange for his guarantee of safety for her and her ward. After her first taste of desire in his arms, she finds the sexual attraction irresistible. Finding herself in a family way, she leaves his home, unsure of his love.

The Duke is at first enraged by the brazen behavior, yet he sees Cassandra as a captivating caregiver for his mother and impossible to resist. He agrees. The arrangement becomes inconvenient because love and sex enter the equation.

Will she believe her husband truly loves her and return to his waiting arms?

Will the Duke admit his love and use his rakish skills to woo Cassandra back to his bed?

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For My Divinely Decadent Duke
(Duke Series Book Two) by Sandra Masters
Follow-up regency romance Once Upon A Duke with My Divinely Decadent Duke (Duke Series Book Two).

Back in London in 1822 arranged marriages of even royalty doesn’t mean the woman (seen as a possession) is secure in life or love, in fact the beautiful Lady Cassandra Montgomery yearns for love.

At the ballroom “Cassandra turned to her brother. “Brent Montgomery, Earl of Stratton. May I introduce you to his Grace, Duke of Althorn.”

Later “The Duke stared at the sun-dappled ocean from his balcony residence as the evening hour approached. The ever-present restlessness was his companion. He took deep breaths, prepared to harness his energy and put it to work for him. His beloved dog Clayo lay at his side. He knelt to pet her head. She was one of his prized possessions; there could never be a doubt of the indisputable fact. The animal gave him a lick on his hand. His gentle creature with the name of a temptress Egyptian Queen was dedicated in her affection for him.”

“The Duke decided to walk the beach again. This time he took Clayo, and his attire was indeed informal. He’d left his jacket at the villa, but was still dressed in his waistcoat appropriate to his rank. Crop in his right hand, he strode quickly. Although he would be loathed to admit it, he wanted to see if his Enchantress of the Sea would be out and about. He invited her the night before to walk along the beach, but she didn’t present herself. In his heart, he didn’t think she would tonight, but nonetheless, it didn’t hurt to ask. Clayo plodded alongside him and wagged her tail. He kept at their “stick into the ocean” game, and she promptly retrieved. They played most of the time until either he became bored or Clayo tired.

His heart leaped when he saw Cassandra. This time the outfit was a dark azure skirt with the same white balloon sleeve blouse, a light blue jacket, and a fetching azure hat with her blonde hair tucked under it. The children were with her. Alicia, wearing a white ruffled dress with many petticoats, ran barefoot and giggled. A huge white bow accented her blonde braid so the wind wouldn’t whip hair in her face. Blue eyes that matched the sky, soft creamy white skin, and a delicate frame gave the girl an impish look. It then occurred to him how much Alicia resembled Cassandra. Could it be a coincidence? Or was there more to it? Was there a secret somewhere?

More than a romance story, it is an adventure told with remarkable storytelling, easy going to face paced reading, true to time period dialog and settings along with extensive research by Author Sandra Masters engages the reader in the search for true love between Lady Cassandra Montgomery and Duke Gordon Althorn.

Relax into a deep, hot bubble bath with a glass of red wine (or drink of your choice) and relax with romance as it should be. Author Sandra Masters states it best: “Every woman should have a divinely decadent Duke in her life.”

Cold Coffee Press/Cafe endorses My Divinely Decadent Duke by Sandra Masters as book two in this Regency Romance. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on February 6, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Once Upon A Duke:
Duke Series Book One by Sandra Masters
Serena, an artist and widow, has no desire for another husband. When she meets Geoffrey Austen, attraction sizzles to a scorch. Stolen days and nights ignite forbidden passion. Geoffrey asks Serena to be his mistress, but she wants commitment, love, and marriage, not an affair with a notorious rake.

Geoffrey realizes Serena might be the one woman who can care for his tortured soul, and maybe release his demons. The magic they shared is shattered when he learns she has been forced into an engagement with another. He vows to save her even at the cost of his own life.

Will Geoffrey’s gallantry prove he truly loves Serena?

If he survives, will Serena surrender all to him?

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Once Upon A Duke:
Duke Series Book One by Sandra Masters
Bring regency romance into your life with Once Upon A Duke. Each book in the Duke Series stands alone for your reading pleasure.

Warm, realistic characters in book one bring the reader back to London 1817. Lady Serena Worthington Durand is a strong independent woman ahead of her time, but she faces demons from the past. I quote:  “If Lady Serena could be granted one wish, she would ride off into the morning mist and vanish. That, of course wasn’t possible, but here in her favorite lakeside retreat, she could relax in safety.”

Legendary Duke of Sutton, Geoffrey Austen has a chance encounter with Lady Serena and I quote: “Allow me to introduce myself, Lord Geoffrey Austen, at your service.”  He swept off his hat and bowed. “I am Henry Worthington’s hunting guest for the week.”

More than a romance story, it is an adventure that will make your heart pound, your emotions run wild and your spirit soar.

The combination of remarkable storytelling, easy going to face paced reading, true to time period dialog and settings along with extensive research by Author Sandra Masters engages the reader in the life and times of Lady Serena Worthington Durand.

I invite you to light a fire, pour a glass of red wine (Sandra Masters would join you in the wine, but hers would be a white fruity glass) and relax with romance as it should be. Author Sandra Masters states it best: “Every woman should have a divinely decadent Duke in her life.”

Cold Coffee Press endorses Once Upon a Duke by Sandra Masters as a true Regency Romance that will leave you wanting more. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on October 7, 2015. For more information please contact Cold Coffee Press.
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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Sandra Masters
From a humble beginning in Newark, New Jersey, a short stay at a convent in Morristown, NJ at the age of fourteen, retiring from a fantastic career for a play broadcasting company in Carlsbad, California, to the rural foothills of the Sierras of Yosemite National Park, Sandra traded in the Board Rooms for the Ballrooms of the Regency period and never looked back.

She wrote her first book at the age of fifteen and since then she has always traveled with pen and notebook and writing experiences. It has been the journey of ten thousand miles with a few steps left to go. It was a pleasure to leave the corporate world behind decades later.

Sandra also has contemporaries in the pipeline. That said, she loves to write. Romance is at best a gift and her passion is the Regency period. Admittedly, she would prefer to be the sister of a duke or an earl...perhaps even a princess? Or the other endless possibilities of a widow. Hmmm.

Not being able to time travel, she now writes about what she loves and it has been worth every headache and heartache. She has been blessed with a great content editor, Cindy Davis, and a lot of helpful The Wild Rose Press staff. For a new author, it was nothing she expected, but everything she dreamed.

Sandra is prolific writer and continues to hone her craft. She devotes some of her time to writing novels of contemporary romance geared to the older heroines and believes that romance is not necessarily the province of the young. Not The Last Dance and Someone I Used To Love are two such novels.

However, her first love will always be for Regency Romance. There are five books in process in her DUKE series. ONCE UPON A DUKE, New Release from The Wild Rose Press available now.
When Sandra is not in front of her computer writing her passionate novels, she studies to hone her craft. When she does take a break, she finds herself in the kitchen cooking way too much food that she is happy to share with friends and family. One of her specialties is Rusticana Italiano Meatballs and Red Gravy from scratch. Yes, made the way her mother taught her--they are baked first.

P.S. Sandra love bears of all sizes and shapes. However, she prefers to view the real life ones from afar.

In Her Varied Career:
Functioned as Contributing Editor to Apparel World Magazine dedicated to the International Association of Clothing DesignersContracted advertising with the Women’s Wear Daily for articles on the fashion tradeLectured and  produced seminars yearly at the Textile Industry’s highly rated Bobbin Show in South CarolinaEmployed as Vice President of Administration, Risk Management and Human Personnel for a NASDAQ listed broadcasting company.Established a consultant business as a life coach to career minded business professionals.************************
Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Coarsegold, California? Living in Coarsegold, California in the foothills of the beautiful Sierra Mountains, we are in the gateway to Yosemite National Park. Coarsegold is considered a village with a population of about 7,000 people, where people know each other. I live in a home owners association managed by a General Manager and a Board of Directors. I was a former President of the Board and a few other associations so I have a network of many friends and acquaintances. It’s exciting to have people proud of me. When I was President of Ladies of the Lakes, a non-profit organization, the gals got used to my reading a chapter or two from one of my novels, year after year, after year. So in many ways, they took this journey with me. My Book Signing at the YLOA Clubhouse this past July 2015 was a magical moment. Our five star Chef Dave Pol of The Blue Heron Restaurant prepared an amazing appetizer tray for my guests. Local newspapers and online news people carried my story. In addition a local TV station, Channel 26, featured my new release when the moderator, Bonnie Hearn Hill told the story of my feature couple, Lady Serena Worthington and His Grace, Geoffrey, Duke of Sutton.  Oh, what a thrill it was. Best of all, I became an example of what perseverance can do not only for my family, but my associates and my friends. I NEVER GAVE UP.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? My English teacher in East Side High School, Newark, New Jersey. His name was Dr. Julius Bernstein. My current husband, Ronald, as I mentioned has supported me all the way. He used to read mystery thrillers, but when I asked him to proof my chapters, I hinted he could help me more, if he read the genre. So he started with Nora Roberts, and now reads mostly Regency novels at the rate of one every four days. We agreed that OUR goal was to see me published and we made it happen, along with a lot of other wonderful people.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? In 2011, I decided it was time to hone my craft and do whatever it took to get published. My parents were first generation immigrants and they thought college was a waste of time for a woman. Marriage and babies was what they envisioned for me, so I did not attend college. But I worked hard at a career, raised my children, and went to school nights and got various degrees. Each was a step along this fabulous journey.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? Yes and No. There is a future story that ruminates in my mind about immigrants from Italy, my grandparent’s home town, and things I’ve gleaned along the way. As I mentioned above, the short stay at the convent was a memorable experience in my young life. I thought I was dedicated and eventually decided, I was meant for another career.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? The manuscript was written and it had many titles along the way, but one night I woke up, and I had a vision of a title on the ceiling of the bedroom.    Once Upon a Duke was born.  All my subsequent books have had a similar metamorphous. I’m sure I drive my editor crazy, but when something hits you in the gut, you know you have to react.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My introduction to romance was no accident. As a little girl, we liked to stage imaginary plays and scenes, and I loved swashbuckling heroes and heroines. That naturally led to reading such books. I tried other genres, but I always returned to Romance. Regency Romance intrigued me because it was such a large landscape to write about. While I also write Contemporary Romance, and have a number of books ready to polish, my first love is and always will be Regency England, France, Italy, Spain, in the 1800’s. That era is so rich in intrigue, betrayal, conflict, redemption, and of course, ultimate love.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? I’m a visual person and I tend to look at a portrait or a picture, and I’m drawn into it as if I were that person. I write about strong, independent, high spirited woman who buck the trend. During the Regency period, women were no better than chattel—a horse, a cow, a sheep. These women do not want to walk behind their men, they want to be alongside as helpmates. Sometimes my alpha heroes don’t realize it, but reformation does take time, and the romance helps it along the way.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? I believe I’ve demonstrated to my children and grandchildren, if you never give up your dream, you can achieve it. My younger son, Sam, said to me at one time, before I got published, “Mom, I can’t remember when you ever stopped writing.” And here I am, decades later, having this fantastic experience. I laugh sometimes about my rules, which I may have borrowed along the way.
Rule Number 1: Never Give up.
Rule Number Two: Remember Rule Number One.

Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? A bad marriage at the time and a difficult divorce. The emotion tears you apart and you have to pick yourself up and start anew. I tend to be an optimist, and have been brought to my knees. And then I think: This is a good place to pray from.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? The turnaround my current husband Ron took when it recognized it was no longer a hobby for me, but a PASSION to keep on going, not to let anything deter me. I have many writer friends who say that their husbands couldn’t care less. It took a good many years and now he is as ardent as I am.  In many ways it has enriched our marriage of over twenty years and is a journey we both share and love. I know he’s proud of me, as I am of him. The acknowledgment from friends who knew how long it took me to get to this place warms my heart. Not to mention, the positive book reviews. Your first book is like “your first baby.” So precious.

Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? I had written a trilogy contemporary three books and it involved the casinos of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Many, many years ago. I sent the manuscript to a possible agent and she was so negative about a lot of things. Decades ago but I remembered when she criticized the fact that I didn’t even know what I spoke of. She said my writing about the hero bringing the heroine a blueberry bagel was ridiculous. There weren’t such things. Turns out, bagels are available in many flavors and variations and I’d purchased them. Plus I was married to a Jewish husband. To reject an entire novel on the basis of that premise hurt. I stopped writing for a while, but then climbed back on board. A few years later. I still have those books and one day they will see the light of day.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors?  Work hard to hone your craft. It is a career. If you wanted to be an engineer, you’d go to engineering school. Likewise with writing, never stop learning and become an example to others. Never give up.

Who is your favorite author and why? There are so many, but if I had to choose it would be between Judith McNaught and Mary Balogh.  From Judith, her style and her phrases draw you into the story with the first paragraph. You become the heroine. From Mary, the sense of history, the brilliant characterization and the wonderful plots. I admire Julia Quinn, Sarah MacLean, Tessa Dare, Jane Porter, Sarah Richmond, Debra Salonen and so many others.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? I am always amazed at the generosity of spirit of most romance writers.  I expected that there might be some who would not offer any help for fear of competition, but I was SO pleasantly surprised.  I was blown away with the encouragement of my own editor and my publishing company. They want me to succeed and do what they can, but it is up to me to write good novels and to also promote them.

Please add questions and the answers to any questions that you believe your readers would like to know.

Q: Who am I? I am and always have been an incurable romantic and I have paid heavily for it.
Life’s lesson I’ve learned. “I don’t need anybody’s permission to be ME.”
Another life lesson: “I can’t control what people do or say about me. I CAN control how I react to what they say or do.”

************************Soon To Be Released:The Duke’s Magnificent Bastard: Duke London Regency Series Book 4One Night With A Duke: Duke London Regency Series Book 5Masquerade For A Duke: Duke London Regency Series Book 6Almost A Duke: Duke London Regency Series Book 7Josephine, My Fair Lady: Duke London Regency Series Book 8************************
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Cold Coffee Press Endorses South City Mosaic: Life On Alaska (South City Mosaic Series Book One) by Glenn Sartori

 South City Mosaic: Life On Alaska
(South City Mosaic Series Book One) by Glenn Sartori
Sit back in your favorite chair and revisit my early years with me. I have been a lifelong resident of St. Louis and grew up in the South City on a street called Alaska. My grade school adventures will make you smile…and possibly help you recall your own cherished childhood memories.

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Cold Coffee Press Book Review South City Mosaic:
Life On Alaska by Glenn Sartori
Whether you are young or old, South City Mosaic: Life On Alaska will capture your heart and mind as endearing, heartfelt boyhood memories from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade are experienced in and around Glenn’s house and loving family home on 5226 Alaska Ave.

Twenty-two life packed chapters that truly begin on April 10, 1940 when Glenn was born. Read the well placed words of Glenn’s vivid childhood memories that will take you back in time to the sights, sounds, smells and yes, tastes of a simpler, kinder and gentler life.

There are so many examples that I want to share with you, so choosing this one is difficult, but reflective of the mood and character of the stories. I quote: “In the 1940s and 50s, before electronic games and computers, collecting and trading baseball cards was a boyhood passion everywhere, and my grade school was no exception. The chance of getting a Mays, Mantle or Musial was thrilling, and to get the final card that completed your set of any baseball team, especially the St. Louis Cardinals, was a victory. Cards with pictures and stats of baseball players were the only type available, no hockey or football players. I bought mine at my neighborhood grocery store—a nickel for five cards packaged with a sheet of bubblegum. If I think about it, I can still smell the bubblegum aroma that wafted from the open package. Chomping down on the malleable pink sheet of gum filled my mouth with sugary juices. As vivid as the memory of chewing the gum is, I have no recall of blowing bubbles. Maybe I never acquired that skill set.
On many days after school, my friends and I would trade baseball cards, usually on someone’s front porch. It was always fun and a good way to complete a team. Shouts like “I’ll trade you a Duke Snider for an Alvin Dark. Or I’ll trade you a Yogi Berra for a Gil Hodges” were flying around the group. Sometimes we’d trade two for one, and occasionally three for one if someone really needed a particular player.  We’d even coordinate trades between three or four kids. I loved those times. (I had a fine collection but not now. After I’d been gone from home for few years, I discovered that my dad had donated, among other things, the baseball cards to the St. Joseph’s Orphan Home for boys. Maybe they enjoyed them, traded them as I had.)”

Look at the 21 photos from those days and let your taste buds recall one or more of the included recipes that will draw you back in time. If you are young, you will learn valuable information about life for one young boy in the 40’s and 50s. If you are older, the memories written in this book will no doubt trigger some pleasant memories of your childhood.

Compare your childhood with Glenn’s, his first cigarette, first kiss and so many more firsts, which you will not want to miss. Like me you will be forced to wait for Glenn’s promised book two and three in his South City Mosaic Series.

Cold Coffee Press/Café endorses South City Mosaic: Life On Alaska by Glenn Sartori as a childhood memoir worth reading. Read all Author Glenn Sartori’s books found at Amazon. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on March 3, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com
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New Books In Series Coming Soon:Book Two: South City Mosaic: Life On South Grand (planned release December 2016).Book Three: South City Mosaic: Life On West Pine (planned release December 2017).
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Main Street Books – St. Charles, Missouri
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Epiphany by Glenn Sartori
In medieval Russia, a battlefield historian is commissioned to transport treasures from invasion-torn south to a haven in the north. Centuries later, four events occur simultaneously.

Grace Sawyer, on her summer sabbatical at the Rosanov Art Institute in Yaroslavl, stumbles upon a black stone from a medieval Russian treasure. Richard Simon, an art historian in New York, is solicited by a friend in the CIA to journey to Yaroslavl on a cryptic quest.

In Kiev, the brother of the president of the Ukraine is assassinated, and a group of men plan to violently end the Epiphany—the historic meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Russia.

Within a week, these events will mesh in a violent climax that echoes in the halls of the Rosanov Art Institute.

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Main Street Books – St. Charles, Missouri
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Union Of Friends
(Riverfield Series Book One) by Glenn Sartori
The announcement of Union Miller’s death arrived with the Saturday mail. That notice pushed Travis Gibbs to return to Riverfield only to discover that his best friend, Union Miller, had been dead for two years. It was an open and shut murder case—Union had stalked a woman, had killed her, and then had been killed by her husband. However, women had always pursued Union. Why stalk one? Why kill one? The search for answers propels Travis on a deceit-filled journey that ends in a conclusion he can’t believe, until violence steps into his life.

Coming Soon:Book Two: Consequences of Falling (planned release December 2016).Tag line: A schoolyard abduction shocks Riverfield, only later to be jolted by murder
and a battle for a high-tech product.
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Main Street Books – St. Charles, Missouri
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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Glenn Sartori
Glenn Sartori is a lifelong resident of St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from St. Louis University with BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. In 1997 he married Rosanne and enjoy condo living in St. Louis County. They have two sons Michael and Jeffrey, both grown, live in different cities and have a family of their own.

Glenn worked in electronic design and engineering management at McDonnell-Douglas/Boeing, and traveled to many countries, his favorite was Japan. He retired in 2002, which is the same year Rosanne retired from teaching in the St. Charles School District.

In late 2002, Glenn started his second career as an author of text books. Along with his college friend, they have co-authored four engineering text books for Pearson Education Publishing Company.

Glenn successfully transitioned to writing mystery novels and most recently published the first book of his memoir trilogy.

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Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from St. Louis, Missouri? We have an outstanding and supportive writer’s guild here, and living in a Midwestern town keeps you grounded.   I love my hometown and am proud of its rich history.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I’ve always enjoyed writing, but my first engineering text book got me stimulated and really hooked on exploring the possibility of being a published author.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? For my series of mystery novels, I created a fictional town—Riverfield—patterned it after St. Charles, Missouri, the sleepy river town where I worked and socialized for many years.
My stable family life and my humorous adventures in grade school played a major role in writing book 1 of my memoir trilogy.  My parents encouraged me to do my best, and my education spurred me on.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? In 2002 when asked to co-author an engineering textbook.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Seeing my ideas and characters grow as I read over the initial draft and the rewrites.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Receiving emails and thank you notes from readers who have loved my books and caused them to have ideas of their own.  Oh, and seeing my name in print.

How many published books do you have? I have four engineering technology textbooks, two mystery/thriller novels, and book 1 of my memoir trilogy.

Please list the titles of all your books. Besides my textbooks, they are Epiphany, Union of Friends, and South City Mosaic: Life on Alaska.

Do you come up with your title(s) before or after you write the manuscript? I come up with a draft title after I’ve outlined the plot and characters in the novel.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I am writing in two genres: mystery/thriller novels because I love to read that type of book, and now that I’ve published my first book in my memoir trilogy I realize that I have interesting and humorous life stories to tell.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book (one book) that you are seeking promotion for? Conversations with my school friends—grade school, high school, and college—made me realize I have stories to tell.  I realized that I didn’t need to be famous or come from a dysfunctional family or endure a tragic event to write interesting and humorous narratives.

Positive feedback told me that I have a talent to tell stories with humor and connect with the audience.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Nothing is achieved without perseverance … so keep on writing and rewriting.

Who is your favorite author and why? Stephen King’s book - On Writing.  Besides shining as a unique perspective on the writer’s craft, it’s an interesting and humorous story of his life.

Which book title would you like featured in this interview? South City Mosaic: Life On Alaska is book one in my South City Mosaic Series.

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Cold Coffee Press Endorses Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz

New 2016 Release
Cold Coffee Press Endorses Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz
Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz
The United States of America has been crippled. Violently contained by a global military force and left without its leaders, the country has become shattered and chaotic. A decade has passed since the first strike and a new landscape has emerged where survival is more important than anything else. Who will uncover the truth behind the attack and revive this once great nation?

It certainly won’t be Cassidy and Lloyd since they couldn’t care less about that stuff. She is a young woman on a mission to honor her mother’s dying wish, which is to toss her ashes off the Golden Gate Bridge. He is an infamous serial killer she broke out of Rikers Island since hiring a bodyguard wasn’t working out. Not the perfect plan, but having an insane, oddly charming murder-junkie on your side is a plus in the Shattered States.

Bullets and swear words are going to fly as Cassidy and Lloyd travel coast to coast, facing one challenge after another . . . including Nebraska.

Genre: Rate R, Action & Adventure, Apocalyptic Action, Comedy Adventure

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For Crossing Bedlam
by Charles E. Yallowitz
Author Charles E. Yallowitz moves away from his usual epic fantasy novels to write this Apocalyptic Action Comedy Adventure. The Cover Design & Illustration is the creation of Jon Hunsinger.

Sixteen chapters of adventure where the characters are raw, rough and tough in a world where the United States is now under the control of a global military force where the borders are defined by a new meaning and the States are on their own.

Main character Cassidy is a young woman on a personal mission “tempted to draw her gun and make a stand, but she knows the prison guards are only doing their job.” She is among the escapees from Rikers’ Island. Even though they are all “Sadistic murderers and traitorous thieves though they may be, she broke them out for a reason.” “There is an air of tension and aggression that is growing stronger by the hour even though nobody has spoken since escaping Rikers Island.”

I quote Cassidy here, “Then you’re not going to like being out in the real world,” the young woman replies, her fingers tracing random designs on her mug’s condensation. Seeing the question on the tip of the man’s tongue, she runs her hands through her hair and taps at her forehead scar. “Money is useless in most of the Shattered States. That’s what the country is called now because every place has its own laws and systems. One of the few things that carries over the borders is bartering. For example, this meal is being paid for by a full set of silverware and two packages of pre-sliced pepperoni. It’s why we’re eating a full pie and can get another for the road. You’ll either figure things out or become a violent scavenger to survive. Everyone picks one way or the other at some point.”

Follow Cassidy and the others in this new world where law, order and survival take on a new meaning. “Standing at the street corner, Cassidy stares at the lakeshore building that is on the other side of a concrete clearing. A garden is in the center of the circular area, half of it an attempt at nurturing vegetables and the other an array of flowers. The distant structure is like nothing she has ever seen before with the more visible part a glass pyramid and a square tower on its backside. Blocky additions are on the right hand side of the building, which has been covered in vivid pictures that make Cassidy think the residents keep changing their minds about the decorations. Coming off the left and sitting on Lake Erie is a circular structure that is adorned with a patchwork of old concert posters. With the warm and calm weather, there are people fishing along the shore and in small boats, which are meticulously tethered to pylons to avoid floating away. Far in the distance, the outlines of military vessels can be seen waiting to stop anyone from trying to escape into Canada. Not wanting to dwell on darker times and how the rest of the world is going on without her, Cassidy turns her gaze back to their destination.”

If you like reading action adventure and epic fantasy tales, please read Crossing Bedlim and all the novels in Charles E. Yallowitz’s Legends Of Windemere series.

Cold Coffee Press/Café endorses Crossing Bedlam by Charles E. Yallowitz as a new Apocalyptic Action Comedy Adventure where violence and language create an adult reading experience. We reviewed this book from Kindle/PDF format. The review was completed on February 16, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and Cold Coffee Café http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

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The Mercenary Prince
(Legends of Windemere Book 9) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Delvin Cunningham has left the champions.

Lost to his tribe in the Yagervan Plains, fear and shame have kept the former Mercenary Prince away from his homeland. With his confidence crumbling, he has decided to return and bring closure to his past. Reuniting with his old friends, Delvin’s timing could not be worse as a deadly campaign is brewing within Yagervan’s borders. Dawn Fangs are on the march and these powerful vampires are determined to turn the entire region into a graveyard.

To protect his family, friends, and two homelands, Delvin will have to push his doubt away and become the cunning Mercenary Prince once again.

Cold Coffee Press Book Review For The Mercenary Prince
(Legends of Windemere Book 9) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Follow-up The Merchant of Nevra Coil with The Mercenary Prince as it rings in 2016 for Author Charles E. Yallowitz’s loyal fans yearning for another episode in the Legends of Windemere. True to form the reader will be drawn even deeper into this mystical world of Windemere where each character casts you under a unique spell.

Delvin, given the title Mercenary Prince struggles within his mind as he sets out on a rigorous journey that will bring him back home, reunite him with old friends and bring reconciliation from his past. The warrior within comes to life as he runs through Visindor Forest. He instinctively focuses on the sound of his boots hitting the ground and the rhythm puts his mind into a trance allowing him to ignore his aching body.

I quote the section below to whet your appetite without spoiling the story.

“The banyan tree sits among the maples and oaks, its horizontal branches with aerial prop roots giving it a unique appearance among the other plants. Delvin groans as he touches the smooth trunk with his forehead and he gladly lets the metal orbs fall to the ground. Songbirds flit through the treetops and fill his ears with a soothing song, which nearly causes the warrior to fall asleep. Tearing strips off his shirt, he binds his bleeding hands and massages his arms to prevent them from getting stiff. He spends the next hour lifting the orbs like weights, stretching his legs, and using a low branch to do pull-ups. A skunk wanders over while Delvin is hanging from the tree, forcing him to remain in the air until the animal waddles out of spraying range. Dropping to the ground, his knees buckle and the forest seems to spin haphazardly around him. Expecting to find a waterskin, he reaches for his side, but the warrior realizes he left it behind in his rush to clear his mind.

‘Guess it’s to the pond with me,’ he mutters as he gathers the orbs.

Delvin grabs a fig off the banyan tree as he jogs to the west where he knows a decent-sized pond can be found. As he moves through the forest, his mind wanders to thoughts of his friends who he hopes are still recovering in Nevra Coil. He is struck by a pang of guilt for not letting them know that he arrived at Hamilton Military Academy. The warrior can only imagine how angry at least one of them might be considering it has been over a week since he left the other champions. His thoughts continue down a path of worry, so he is caught by surprise when he comes to the pond and finds a slender figure with short, black hair at the shore. Delvin sees pointy ears and what he thinks is a red shirt, which causes him to skid to a stop and nearly crash into the woman. His battle-honed reflexes are the only thing that allows him to spin to the side and avoid a humiliating collision.”

Whether this is your first or the ninth book in this epic 5 Star Legends of Windemere fantasy series; you will become one with this mystical world and you will follow the path where The Hobbit and Dungeons and Dragons once took you. Join with me and the band of followers that hunger for Legends of Windemere.

Cold Coffee Press/Café endorses The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9) by Charles E. Yallowitz as the author’s imagination brings legends to life. Purchase and read all nine books in this series from Amazon. I received this book in a Kindle/PDF format for review. The review was completed on January 11, 2016. For more information please visit Cold Coffee Press and Cold Coffee Cafe. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com and http://coldcoffeecafe.com/

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The Merchant of Nevra Coil
(Legends of Windemere Book 8) by Charles E. Yallowitz
When the mischievous and random Goddess of Chaos gets angry, all of Windemere becomes her plaything.

It all starts with a collection of toys that have taken the populace by storm. People of all races flood the marketplaces to gather figurines of the champions whose adventures are starting to spread across the land. Stemming from the flying city of Nevra Coil, these toys bring with them a terrible curse: Fame. Every town becomes a mob of fans that hound their new idols and the delay is bringing the world closer to the hands of Baron Kernaghan. Perhaps worst of all, the creator of these toys forgot to include a certain exiled deity who is now out to earn herself a figurine.

Who would have thought a bunch of toys could cause so much trouble and lead to the breaking of a champion’s confidence?

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************************ Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue
(Legends Of Windemere Book 7) by Charles E. Yallowitz
The final champion stirs and reaches out to any who can hear her voice. Yet all who heed her call will disappear into the misty fugue.

Awakening their new ally is only the beginning as Luke, Nyx, and their friends head south to the desert city of Bor’daruk. Hunting for another temple once used to seal Baron Kernaghan, they are unaware that the game of destiny has changed. Out for blood and pain, Stephen is determined to make Luke wish he’d never set out to become a hero.

By the time the sun sets on Bor’daruk, minds will be shattered and the champions’ lives will be changed forever.

Cold Coffee Press Book Review for 'Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue’
(Legends Of Windemere Book 7) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Experience for the first time or continue reading as the ‘Legends Of Windemere’ captures your imagination as ‘Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue’ continues this epic fantasy with book 7 by Charles E. Yallowitz.

If you were mesmerized by the game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ or enjoyed reading ‘The Hobbit’ series you will not want to miss the mystical inhabitants of Windemere!

Author Charles E. Yallowitz weaves an intriguing tale in a world where good and evil collide and is quite often underestimated.

Well defined characters who add depth, personality and the ability to draw the reader into the fantasy world of Windemere will hold your attention as the drama unfolds in this mystical place. The creative thought process of the author brings Windemere to life with fast paced descriptive intrigue. I quote two sections below to show the author’s writing style without spoiling the story.

“Several silent minutes after Gabriel disappears, Zaria lets out a musical sigh and merges with the mist. She weaves among the trees and cursed mortals, none of them noticing her presence. The goddess is near the edge of a clearing when a purple barrier appears and deflects her rapid approach. She returns to her solid form and gets as close to the powerful shield as she can. Sparks of magic burst from the glistening dome, leaving burn marks on her dress that she ignores. All of Zaria’s attention is on the canopy bed in the middle of the clearing where a cloaked form is sleeping.”

“Only a matter of days now, Dariana,” the goddess whispers, wiping a pristine tear from her cheek.

“Only a matter of days.”

I invite you to start reading the Legends Of Windemere' series today!

Cold Coffee Press endorses ‘Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue’ (Legends Of Windemere Book 7) by Charles E. Yallowitz as an epic fantasy where the author’s imagination brings legends to life. We received this book in a PDF format for review. Review was completed on April 12, 2015. For more details please visit Cold Coffee Press. http://www.coldcoffeepress.com

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Curse Of The Dark Wind
(Legends Of Windemere Book 6) by Charles E. Yallowitz
With every putrid belch, Gale Hollow spews more of the toxic Dark Wind into the winter-chilled breeze.

To control Nyx, Stephen has unleashed a sentient curse on Luke, her ‘little brother’. As the infected warrior battles against the Dark Wind coursing through his veins, his friends will do whatever it takes to keep him alive. Time is steadily running out and sacrifices will have to be made to prevent Stephen from removing two heroes of Windemere.

Luke’s courage and defiance have always seen him through his adventures, but where will he find strength when his own body fails him?

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************************* The Compass Key
(Legends Of Windemere Book 5) by Charles E. Yallowitz
The city of Gaia will be rocked by battles now that the Compass Key has awoken beneath her cobblestone streets.

From the Caster Swamp to the Island of Pallice, the race for the long lost relic has begun and only one side can claim victory. The Compass Key will open the path of destiny for Luke and his friends, but it may also awaken an ancient monster. With Queen Trinity and the chaos elves invading Gaia, every misstep will be costly and each battle will bring the weakened champions closer to exhaustion.
Each hero will need to draw from the depths of their soul to survive, but will it be enough when they face an enemy more sadistic than anything they have ever fought?

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*************************  Legends Of Windemere: Family Of The Tri-Rune
(Book 4) by Charles E. Yallowitz
In Windemere, not every mistake disappears into the past. Some return with sharp teeth and ravenous appetites.

With Luke Callindor and Sari by her side, Nyx returns to the city of Hero’s Gate to face her nightmares. Cursed by her accidental unleashing of the Genocide spell, the land has been invaded by threats that have plunged the people into misery. The deadliest of all are the Krypters, a new breed of undead born from Nyx’s corrupted magic. These terrifying creatures want to devour the flesh and spirit of their ‘mother’ and the only thing they fear is a solitary warrior named Timoran Wrath.

On a quest for redemption, how much will Nyx have to sacrifice to earn the peace she desperately desires?

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Allure Of The Gypsies
(Legends Of Windemere Book 3) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Reeling from broken trust and a battered spirit, Luke leads his surviving friends to the town of Haven where his past will catch up with him.

While Luke faces his family and the woman he abandoned at the altar, his enemies have recruited a deadly ally. Kalam the vampire marches on Haven with an army of undead that will leave a hero at death’s door. To revive the fallen warrior, Luke and Nyx must plunge into the mountain lair of Kalam and steal his spellbook. Exhausted and lost within enemy territory, the pair are going to need the help of a gypsy girl named Sari who may be more trouble than her new friends expected.

Against a strong and experienced adversary, what will Luke and Nyx need to claim victory on the charred battlefield?

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************************* Legends Of Windemere: Prodigy Of Rainbow Tower
(Book 2) by Charles E. Yallowitz
Luke Callindor and his friends are about to learn that the life of an adventurer can be brutally unforgiving.

Hungering for another adventure, Luke agrees to escort the heir of Serab along the L’dandrin River and into the safety of Gods’ Voice. A deadly gauntlet of cunning traps and savage creatures lay before the young warrior and his companions. Lacking the powerful magic needed to combat his enemies, Luke’s survival and victory may be in the hands of his newest ally. That’s if the temperamental Nyx doesn’t set him on fire first.

Luke will bravely face everything that is thrown at him, but how can he defend himself when he’s ignorant of the truth behind his mission?

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************************* Legends Of Windemere:
Beginning Of A Hero by Charles E. Yallowitz
Every hero must take the first courageous step into adventure. For Luke Callindor, it’s more of a blind stumble.

Depending more on bravery than common sense, Luke sets out to protect a royal heir who is attending the prestigious Hamilton Military Academy. With a demonic assassin in the shadows, the determined warrior will have to think on his feet to defend his charge. If only he waited long enough to find out which student is the hidden noble.

With Luke’s dream on the horizon and a deadly enemy on his path, how will he transform from a reckless adventurer to a true hero of Windemere?

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Stand Alone Books Bestiary Of Blatherhorn Vale
by Charles E. Yallowitz
Found in a battered notebook, these poems are the remnants of an expedition to the legendary Blatherhorn Vale. Cut off from human contact, the creatures of this mysterious land are nothing more than rumors. At this time, we cannot determine if these are true reports of unknown creatures or if they are the ramblings of a madman. You be the judge.

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Catalysts by Charles E. Yallowitz
When trapped in an elevator together, Jeffrey and Darla learn that misery doesn’t always love company. With the screams of death and chaos echoing from outside, they find themselves slowly slipping into a world of fear and darkness they may never recover from. All the while, something is terrorizing the convention outside and turning the guests and celebrities into psychotic monsters.

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************************* The Hopeteller by Charles E. Yallowitz
Humanity has been driven into the wilderness by the ‘Invaders’. They have been forced to live as colonies in the wilderness where survival is a daily struggle. Hope becomes harder and harder to hold onto as the years pass.

Then one day, a young man tells a story to an injured friend and the Hopeteller is born. Unsure of the power of his words, he finds himself moving the colony with his fairy tales. He will see his people through death and fear as they continue to fight for survival.

Enjoy this novella that is part post-apocalyptic journal and part fairy tales.

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Cold Coffee Press Spotlight Interview With Author Charles E. Yallowitz
Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State.

When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day.

'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.

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Interview:

What makes you proud to be a writer from Long Island, NY? I never really factored in my location before, so I think I’m just proud to be a writer in general. Long Island is where I grew up, which does have a level of familiarity and comfort that helps me keep some semblance of sanity when writing. My time in Upstate New York and Florida helped me grow as an author too, but there is definitely something about being back here that soothes me when I’m stressed.

What or who inspired you to become a writer? I’ve loved writing since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I read books by Fred Saberhagen that I decided to become a fantasy author. That was the spark and I’ve absorbed inspiration from so many other sources. Not just authors in my genre, but anything that tells a good story and entertaining characters. Timeless figures such as Conan the Barbarian or Indiana Jones really make me want to create something that will last long after the books are done.

When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published? My second year of high school is when I outlined my first story and began writing with no clue what I was doing. It was about teenagers with super powers that protected the universe from evil immortals. I read a lot of comics back then. I didn’t go beyond self-publishing the first book through a Vanity Press and learning some hard lessons on how the industry works. By the time, I had designed Windemere and was improving through my college courses.

Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and did you use it to your advantage? There is definitely an environmental factor with my writing. I was never dissuaded from using my imagination, so I’ve retained a lot of the childhood wonder and craziness that I had in my youth. This helps me with world creation and coming up with monsters for my action scenes. I think it also helps me think on my feet, so I can handle plot diversions without running into a wall. There’s always an answer somewhere in my head as long as I remain calm.

Do you come up with your title before or after you write the manuscript? I come up with a title before I make an outline. Then I make a new title once I finish the outline. After that, I have a 50/50 shot of needing another title once I finish the first draft.

Please introduce your genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? My genre is Epic Fantasy. I really enjoy building a world from the ground up and I’ve always loved tales of magic. Fantasy is my comfort zone and I feel my strongest when writing in the genre.

What was your inspiration, spark or light bulb moment that inspired you to write the book that you are seeking promotion for? This is actually the 7th book of a series, so I’ll mention the spark for the entire LEGENDS OF WINDEMERE adventure. I was in a college Dungeons & Dragons game and I thought it would make a fun story. The other players agreed to let me be the group scribe and I started taking notes. Early on, I realized that a game doesn’t translate well to a book and I had the series go in a different direction. At this point in the story, we’re only seeing scraps of the final adventure in the game and everything else was created from various inspirations. In terms of the characters, I did a lot of alterations with permission from the players behind them. Especially with story romances because that didn’t really happen in the game.

What has been your most rewarding experience with your writing process? Interacting with readers through my blog and getting feedback. Discovering that readers are continuing with the series makes me happy since it’s nice to know people are getting invested in the adventure. My favorite thing to hear is if a person really connected to a character or an event caused an emotional reaction.

Have you had a negative experience in your writing career? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? The only real negative is that I feel like I waited too long before going the independent author route. It was something I kept wondering about, but didn’t look into it until 2012, which was 27 years after I decided to work toward being an author. I took many years off from my desired path and thought it would happen eventually, which was foolish and I do regret wasting all that time. This is by my own hand, so the only advice I would have to avoid it is for a new author to follow his or her gut. If you feel that a path is right or wrong then go with that instinct.

What has been your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey? Seeing my book appear on Amazon after hitting publish and waiting for it to go live. I always get a thrill from that every time I do it. There’s this sensation of taking a big step that many people never get to.

Have you had a negative experience in your publishing journey? If so please explain how it could have been avoided? Being an independent author, everything is within my control, so I haven’t had too many negative experiences. Most of them were hiccups caused by my own lack of knowledge or taking a risk that simply didn’t work out. These are closer to disappointments that I’ve shrugged off and kept going. So I don’t think an author can avoid all negative experiences especially at the beginning. It’s smarter to accept that it will happen and keep pushing forward. Also to do your own research on promotional venues.

What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors? Never give up and stick to the story that is in your head. You know how it is supposed to work out, so trust in your own abilities. I’m not saying an author doesn’t evolve, but you need to remember that you’re the one in charge of your books.

Who is your favorite author and why? This changes so often for me. I could probably fill several pages with a list of authors that I love because I try to take something from each one. I love the world-building and mythology of Tolkien and Lewis. The solid character of Conan makes me enjoy books by Robert E. Howard. Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Louis Stevenson, and the list keeps going for me. As long as the author writes a great story that makes me want to read it again, I’m hooked.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with us? One of my biggest focuses in my stories is the evolution of my characters and how their adventures shape them. It has made it that the actual story isn’t so much ‘good vs. evil’, but how the heroes handle their roles. For example, Nyx is an extremely powerful caster and has worries that she is nothing more than a living weapon. This affects her actions and mentality, especially when somebody treats her like a tool. So each character has a fight for identity as well as against the outside forces that threaten Windemere.

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Author Charles E. Yallowitz’s Legends Of Windemere Series: Legends Of Windemere: Beginning Of A Hero
Legends Of Windemere: Prodigy Of Rainbow Tower (Book 2)
Allure Of The Gypsies (Legends Of Windemere Book 3)
Legends Of Windemere: Family Of The Tri-Rune (Book 4)
The Compass Key (Legends Of Windemere Book 5)
Curse Of The Dark Wind (Legends Of Windemere Book 6)
Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue (Legends Of Windemere Book 7)
The Merchant of Nevra Coil (Legends of Windemere Book 8)
The Mercenary Prince (Legends of Windemere Book 9)
Single Stand Alone Novels
Bedlam
Bestiary Of Blatherhorn Vale
Catalysts
The Hopeteller
************************* Amazon Author’s Page
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