Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 19

#Excerpt: FOR THE LOVE OF BRIGID by Nanette Littleton

For the Love of Brigid
Nanette Littlestone
Publication date: December 15th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Discover an ancient legend, powerful magic, and heartwarming romance in the gentle hills of western Ireland.

Tongue-tied around men, the only place shy librarian Brigid Cleary finds love is in the books she reads. Certainly not in the novel she’s writing—as appealing as a dusty desert. Then a famous mystery writer enters her life to research an Irish legend related to her family. As their easy conversation grows, Brigid develops feelings. There’s just one large problem—he’s engaged.

With two failed books behind him, Andrew Connally is desperate for success. The Irish legend has to pull him through. When Brigid invites him to Ireland for a family celebration, in exchange for his help with writing, he jumps at the chance. But surprises emerge in this enchanted land. The flames of attraction climb, and the legend pulls them both on a powerful journey.

As the secrets of the legend come to light, Brigid and Andrew discover an unexpected path to love and the dreams they both desire.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Chelton, New York

Walking up the path to my house, I think about Annemarie’s love and encouragement. The best of friends, she’s always buoyed my spirit and helped me through crisis after crisis. Setting up the library after Gran’s death was a major undertaking, one I’d felt incapable of handling. There were thousands of books. Whole rooms to remodel. Furniture and lighting and wallpaper to choose. So many times I thought I’d go insane. But with Annemarie’s help, we met every obstacle with determined positivity. And now here I am with a gorgeous mansion that feels more like a home with enormous playrooms.

Smiling, I climb the stone steps to my door and reach into my pocket for the key.

“Excuse me, are you Brigid Cleary?”

My heart stutters and I whirl with a gasp. A pleasant looking man stands by the steps, slightly hunched in his winter coat. “By all the gods!” I yell. “Ye startled the crap out of me.” I wince at the hint of Irish in my voice.

“Beautiful and Irish.”

“Of course I’m Irish.”

He steps closer. “They said you were, but—”

“They? They who?”

“My publisher. Well, his assistant. So you are Brigid Cleary.”

I lean against the door to my house, my heartbeat beginning to slow. He doesn’t look like he’s going to attack. “Who wants to know?”

“Andrew. Andrew Connally.”

Not the Andrew Connally. No, it can’t be. I shiver as a gust of wind bites through my clothes. “Well, Mr. Connally, why are you here?”

“Do you suppose we can continue the Inquisition inside? It’s freezing.”

So he’s not immune to the cold. “I’m not in the habit of inviting strangers into my home.”

“That’s understandable, and certainly fair, but . . .”

“But it’s freezing.” And five more seconds might turn us both into icebergs. “Go around to the library entrance.” I point to the right. “I’ll meet you there.”

When he leaves, I unlock the door and walk inside, my toes stiff and painful. What I really want is a hot drink and a warm fire, but somehow I’ve picked up a stray man. Wouldn’t it be interesting if he were the famous mystery writer? What a story I’d have for Annemarie.

With that, I hang up my coat and scarf and make my way through the library, turning on lights as I go.

Cold gusts of air follow when I let him in. He stamps his feet loudly, the heels of his shoes thudding against the thick carpet. “This is the last time I’m coming here in the winter.”

“I’ve been imagining the tropics all day. Care to go with me?” I can’t believe I’ve issued an invitation. To a complete stranger.

“I just might do that,” he says with a smile that looks so honest, so pure, and so familiar.

I stare and he matches my stare. Open. Inquisitive. And a little mischievous. I have to ask. “Are you the Andrew Connally?”

“The Andrew Connally? Well, now, I’m not sure.”

He’s playing with me. “You know, the mystery writer.”

“Ah, that Andrew Connally.”

“Yes, that one. Because you look like him. I mean, I’ve never seen him up close, just on the back of book jackets. And his smile is so . . . well, professional yet engaging. As if he’s inviting you to come closer, to get to know him better, to have a conversation. And your smile just then, it was . . .” I’m rambling. To a stranger. I never ramble. I never talk to strangers either. But now, with Andrew, my mouth is literally a fountain of words.

I shake my head to clear whatever unfortunate clutter has collected and realize we’re still standing by the entrance. Where are my manners? “I’m so sorry. Would you like to sit down?” I move through the lobby and into Hush Hush, the cozy area for adults with long couches and a wide fireplace just perfect on this frosty night. Crouching before the fake logs, I turn on the gas and watch the flames come to life.

For long moments my guest gazes into the fire. He seems softer in person than on his back cover photos, if he even is the Andrew Connally. He still hasn’t answered that question. And his wavy hair, chestnut brown with flecks of gold, hangs longer, brushing his shirt collar. Much more youthful than that stern, suit jacket look he projects. And more dashing. But does his personality match his profile? Is he staid and somber or casual and easy-going? And, more importantly, what is he doing here?

Author Bio:

Get ready for a journey of the heart! Award-winning novelist Nanette Littlestone believes in happily ever after. But most people don’t live fairy tale lives, so her stories explore the struggles and heart-wrenching decisions we make, as well as the joy, delight, and happiness when we embrace our dreams. It’s all about the love.

Her books include “The Sacred Flame” (a historical novel in ancient Rome), “Bella Toscana” (the contemporary sequel), “The Heart of Everything” (an underwater fantasy), and “For the Love of Brigid” (the Irish romance coming out Dec 2022).

She lives in Atlanta, GA but still calls California home, loves making origami butterflies, and watching romantic movies that make her cry. Her favorite quote: “Flattery will get you nowhere. Chocolate, everywhere.”

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub

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#Excerpt: GODS ON TRIAL by Opeshum Patroz

BLURB:

 

“Beyond the Father” sets the scene for the 8-book Sci-Fi Epic “gods on Trial: The Series,” delving into life’s determination to transcend all limitations.  Set on the planet Xżyber, citizens of the Sub-Median Region, imperfectly reborn into metal, oppress those who are organic.  Elsewhere, in the Central Kingdom, religion supports royalty’s brutal domination of the lowest class.  War over scarce resources is coming, revolution within each region is brewing, and none know of the eccentric god who created them. This being watches, has fascinating conversations with his often-wiser companion, occasionally learns, and rarely intervenes.  The many levels and threads of struggle distract nearly all from a far greater threat.  Meanwhile, the young Prince Anglid’s vision quest into the unexplored Area X may ultimately change everything.  However, just when you think you know the direction of the story, the author has yet another surprise.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL3YPKWN  ONLY $1.00

 

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Excerpt:

 

Purvi’s face turned red as her anger mounted inside of her. The unfriendly exchange reminded her of the last time she spoke with Timmons, her grandfather. It was the day he had declined his chance to be uploaded to the Vangora Rima and achieve eternal presence.

 

 

It was a sullen afternoon, with the family and Timmons’ doctor. As they huddled around the bed where Timmons lay weak, his doctor implored him to reconsider his decision, given he was in the last few days of his life. However, Timmons refused to agree to the upload.

 

This was an opportunity his family could not fathom he would turn down, and an option only typically available to those who were at least 80% Mollard, or to those who had the means to invest in the technology.

 

However, Timmons, a brilliant Xżyberian—whose only misfortune was the constraints of poverty—had managed to write numerous social advisories intended to promote harmony between Mollards and Non-Mollards. He’d had hopes that his musings would provide him a source of regular income, but his published works were only well received by some. Highly criticized by most, he quickly won the label of an iconoclast and found himself forced into obscurity.

 

Yet still, his message captivated the Luminaries—the presiders over news and commentary—who deemed that Timmons’ writings could be useful in the management and wellbeing of the Non-Mollard community, and should be archived as a collection of noble artifacts.

 

With this came the rarest honor—the right to upload his consciousness to the Vangora Rima until a fully prosthetic body was constructed for him.

 

Purvi’s mother, who was the only surviving daughter of Timmons, sat by his bedside pleading with him to accept the offer. And Purvi, almost nineteen-years-old at the time, sat on the floor weeping.

 

“Dearest father, the Vangora Rima has never been within our family’s grasp before,” cried Purvi’s mother, Ariel. “We may never get there—any of us. So, why would you walk away from this now?”

 

Timmons struggled to speak. “Take my hand, Ariel,” he said through strained breathing. “Please remember what I taught you . . . what I taught all of you about desperation.” Timmons opened his eyes slightly. “It can and will cloud your view and disrupt your clearest thoughts.”

 

“But, Grandfather!” interjected Purvi. “We love you, and we want you to live forever!” Purvi placed her head down onto the bed, wiping her tears against Timmons’ frail arm.

 

“Ah, Purvi. My little Purvi,” he said, stroking her hair. “The Vangora Rima would not give you back the grandfather you know. The system would scrub me clean of what it deemed were my imperfections: my concern, and my empathy…my ability to love you.”

 

“I don’t care about how much it would change you, Grandfather,” Purvi cried. “I have enough love for the both of us.” Purvi looked up, her eyes filled with so much water she could barely see. “I am stronger than you think I am! I will love you even if you can’t love me back!”

 

“Shh . . . my darling, Purvi.” Timmons whispered. “Please gather yourself and listen to what I have to say.” Timmons removed a ring from his smallest finger and placed it in the palm of one of her hands. “One day, Purvi . . .” he whispered. “One day, when you are fully grown, you will look into the face of pure evil, and I am eternally grateful that that face will not be mine.”

 

That was the last time Purvi heard her grandfather speak.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Opëshum has been writing since she was a child, and believes that authors are selected by their characters to bring their stories to the world. Incredibly shy and introverted, Opëshum does not make public appearances. She prefers to remain behind the scenes as the characters in her books take center stage. Her current work, the 8-Book SciFi Epic  gods on Trial: The Series™  kicks off with Book 1, BEYOND THE FATHER.  

Opëshum calls Sheridan, Wyoming her home, where she is currently writing Book 2 of this series. She lives in a modest Cape Cod dwelling on 3 acres of land where she lets a robust variety of sunflowers grow wild and untamed, while Aloe Vera and other succulents decorate almost every ledge within her house. An avid writer in the early morning and late at night, Opëshum often works on her manuscripts in rooms lit only by homemade candles.

She enjoys nature walks, full moons, and open spaces where she can stare up at the stars. 

"I live my life in the shadows, and I am shy. For I know that my appearance is not pleasing to the eye. " - Opëshum Patroz

Review:  https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/book-1-beyond-the-father-gods-on-trial-the-series-opeshum-patroz

https://twitter.com/1iR3Publishers 

Website: http://www.1ir3publishers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084210977128 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22660923.Op_shum 

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Interview with Isobel Reed, LOVE TOOLS

What group did you hang out with in high school?

I’m not sure I had a particular group. My school in London didn’t have lots of cliques. You were either popular or you weren’t. I had a couple of friends who were considered popular, but I definitely wasn’t part of that crowd. I had a group of friends who were all quite different, some of us were deeply into our emo phase (no judgment please!) and others were all about the boy bands.  

What are you passionate about these days?

Travel, photography and writing are my passions. Writing especially is my happy place. Now that I’ve started writing books, I can’t ever see myself not doing it. As long as the ideas keep coming, I’ll keep writing. 

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

I’m not sure I would change anything. Everything I did I learned from. My first book was self-published, and that was a whole learning experience in itself. One that taught me the ins and outs of not only publishing but the importance of marketing. It wasn’t until I wrote a second book that I thought to send it to publishers. I was lucky in a way that I didn’t have to wait long to hear back from Inkspell Publishing, a contract for Love Tools was signed within a few weeks of my submission. From the beginning, they have been a joy to work with. From the cover design to edits, they’ve made the whole journey easy, and I’ve got to know other amazing Inkspell authors along the way too. 

Ebook or print? And why?

Can I say both? I mostly buy eBooks because of the sheer volume I read. My bookshelves at home would not fit all the books I read. London isn’t cheap guys; you get very little space for your money! Talking of cheap, eBooks are also so much cheaper than printed books, throw in my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I save a ton of money. But that doesn’t mean I don’t indulge and buy myself a paperback every now and again as a treat, and there’s nothing quite like seeing your own book in print. 

What is your favorite scene in this book?

I loved writing the first kissing scene between Jake and Lily. The first kiss is always such a huge deal in any romance book and because of that, I spend a little more time writing it compared to other scenes. All the flirtation and sexual tension finally comes to a head and one kiss changes everything. As most readers know, a kiss is never just a kiss. And the first kiss in Love Tools is no exception. 

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BLURB:

 

When city girl Lily shows up in Bluestone County, cocky cowboy Jake reckons it won’t be long until she hightails it back to London. It didn’t matter that his heartrate spiked whenever she was nearby. Or that he couldn’t get her out of his head. Because Jake was the king of casual and Lily was apparently the queen of picking the wrong men.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Isobel was born and raised in London. She still lives along the River Thames with her husband and her substantial book collection. Ever the hopeless romantic, she fell in love with the genre from a young age and was inspired to write her own stories. When she's not feasting on romantic comedies or binge-reading her hoard of contemporary romance novels, Isobel is writing. 

 

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/isobelreedbooks

https://www.instagram.com/isobelreedbooks/

https://www.isobelreed.net/

https://www.amazon.com/author/isobelreed

https://www.goodreads.com/Isobel_Reed

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-reed

 

 

Buy Links:

 

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJZ1QW41

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-tools

BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-tools-isobel-reed/1142547867

APPLE: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443957300

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63105785-love-tools

BOOKBUB: Love Tools: Bluestone Series: Book One by Isobel Reed – BookBub

 

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#Excerpt: ALL SIGNS POINT TO MURDER by Connie DiMarco

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Connie di Marco will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rob Ramer was the perfect husband until he committed the ultimate family faux pas—he shot his sister-in-law to death. Believing himself under attack by an intruder in his home, he fired back. But when evidence is discovered that Rob’s wife, Brooke, was plotting his murder, Brooke is charged with conspiracy in her sister’s death. Geneva, a third sister, is desperate for answers and seeks the help of her friend, San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti. Geneva’s lost one sister and now it seems she’ll lose the other. Was this a murder plot or just a terrible accident? Julia vows to find the answer in the stars.

Excerpt:

The building on Guerrero was a once proud Victorian with bow front windows. It had since been broken up into six small units and fallen into disrepair. There was something about this chore that made my stomach go into knots. Rummaging through a dead woman’s possessions was bad enough, but what if I found something that implicated Moira in a crime? Should I remove it and risk the police finding out?

I approached the long stairway leading to the front door. The wind had died down and now fog danced around the streetlights. It was eerily quiet. No lights shone from any of the windows. I climbed the cracked granite stairs to the entrance where the weathered door stood ajar, listing slightly on its hinges. Inside, a bare overhead light bulb cast a meager glow down the long corridor, cannibalized from a once grand entryway. The hallway smelled of dirty cat litter, moldy vegetables and cigarette smoke. I followed the corridor to the end, and stopped at the last door on the right.

I slipped the key into the lock and reached around the door jamb where I felt the light switch. A rusting chandelier with two bulbs missing illuminated the one large room that was both Moira’s living room and bedroom. The main room housed a collection of hand-me-downs and broken furniture, ripped curtains and piles of clothing in various spots around the floor.

I heaved up the mattress, first on one side and then the other, making sure nothing was hidden between it and the box spring. I pulled open each of the bureau drawers, checked their contents and pulled them all the way out to make sure nothing was behind them. I opened a small drawer in the bedside stand. Amid a loose pile of clutter was a dark blue velvet box embossed with the letter “R” in cursive gold script. Could this be from Rochecault? I was fairly certain it was. Rochecault is an infamously expensive jeweler on Maiden Lane downtown. How could Moira have shopped there?

I opened the box and gasped. An amazing bracelet heavy with blue stones in varying colors rested inside. The setting had the slightly matte industrial sheen of platinum. Moira couldn’t possibly have afforded this. Shoving the box into a side pocket of my purse, I decided I was definitely not leaving this for the police to find, and slid the drawer shut.

I scanned the room. Moira hadn’t been much of a housekeeper and it didn’t appear as if there were many hiding spots. My eye caught a small black notebook under a jumble of papers and unopened bills on a rickety desk. I dropped my purse on the floor and reached for the book. A searing pain shot through my skull. Blinded, I fell to the floor.

About the Author: Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring Julia Bonatti, a San Francisco astrologer who never thought murder would be part of her practice: The Madness of Mercury, All Signs Point to Murder, Tail of the Dragon, Serpent’s Doom and Enter a Wizard, Stage Left (a prequel e-book novella). Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Penguin Random House. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association (UK) and Sisters in Crime.

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#Review: THE INGENUE by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

 

3 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. After reading the first book, BALLERINAS, I was excited to see what the author would write next. Saskia is a very complicated character, and the dual timelines in the story let the reader in on what her childhood was like, but it also took away from the action of the present. She was a child prodigy who lost the magic of the music as she got older, and it all can be attributed to Patrick who took advantage of her innocence. I did love the snippets from the fairytales at the beginning of each chapter. Those were well done. As far as the ending, I must say I was surprised and taken aback by it. No spoilers here, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

Interview with Iris Marsh, ILLUMINATED

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?
Illuminated is the first of two books. It’s a YA coming-of-age contemporary fantasy with a lot of suspense. We follow Nikki, a sixteen-year-old teenager, as she deals with changing friendships and general teenage drama. On top of that, she thinks she’s at the beginning of a psychotic episode because she’s heard her grandmother suffered from a similar condition. Little does she know, it’s actually a supernatural power that allows her to feel people’s emotions, hear their thoughts, and understand their beliefs. But it goes further than that: she can also use them to alter all these things, control and manipulate people. Nikki didn’t think she’d use them in such a way, but when a dangerous siphoner threatens to drain her powers and essence—leaving nothing but an empty shell—she starts to get more desperate for answers. But how much control is too much? When will it start to change who you are?

 

Do you have a favorite character?

I love Nikki, the main character, especially the growth she goes through. Adolescence is a turbulent time where we’re looking for our identity, finding our place in the world. That’s hard enough as it is, especially when we’re faced with difficult situations and changing relationships. It can make us feel insecure and impressionable. Nikki, to me, embodies all those things. She makes mistakes—some rather big ones—but she learns from them and starts to see that her actions have consequences for everyone around her.

 

I also have a soft spot for Lorene; she was just a great character to write.

 

Briefly describe your journey in writing your first book. Have you joined any FB author groups to inspire and help you along the way?

It was a long journey, that’s for sure. I’d initially written a manuscript for an entirely different story with the help of a writing community online. However, after tinkering with that one for a long time, I felt I wasn’t where I needed to be as a writer to tell that story properly.

 

So, I started writing some short stories, and one of them evolved into Illuminated. It started out very different, but with the help of a writing coach I’d contacted, we slowly evolved it into the story it is now. She’s been incredibly helpful and invaluable as she didn’t just help me improve my story but become a better writer as well.

 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book?

Well, I think what most authors hear these days is that a traditional publisher hardly doesn’t do any marketing for you; you have to do that yourself anyway. 

 

In that sense, I figured it would be a lot more time-consuming to go through the whole query process when, generally, the advance for a new author isn’t that high. Aside from that, you have a lot more control over your book when you self-publish and a lot more freedom to try out different things when it comes to marketing as well.

 

Self-publishing has certainly been a great learning experience, and I’ll continue to go down that route. I might try traditional publishing one day, but it’s not a part of my plans just yet.

 

Do you regularly send out a newsletter? How are you recruiting new subscribers? Do you have a reader magnet?

I have a newsletter that I send out once a week. There, I like to give fun, slightly exaggerated stories of my life (with a bit of magic in them) to entertain my readers, give them updates on my process, and recommend new fantasy or sci-fi books. 

 

I recruit them through my website, where I currently have a short story as a reader magnet. I’ve used other types of magnets in the past, such as a bookish bingo and reading challenge. 

 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

I like to do a combination of both. I do outline my story—I find it helps if I consciously think about my story and the kind of journey I want my characters to go through. It sort of kickstarts my imagination.

 

Then, I’ll often have moments during the day where certain scenes or parts of the stories play out inside my mind, and I write down those ideas until I have a functioning outline.

 

As I write, the outline often changes. I think it’s never a good idea to hold rigidly to an outline. Sometimes you just come up with better ideas as you write. That’s all part of the process and part of the fun!

 

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?
Go for it! Don’t let fear and doubt hold you back. I know it can be scary to put a piece of yourself out there for others to judge, but we’ll never accomplish anything if we listen to our fears.

 

Aside from that, I found that learning is very important. Keep reading books, both for your craft and for becoming more familiar with your genre. Read articles online and follow courses to get yourself as prepared as can be for everything you need to do for publishing, promoting, and marketing your book. 

If you don’t know something, don’t be afraid to ask to help. I’ve found that many writers are extremely willing to help. There are many writing groups on Facebook, and all of them have kind-hearted writers who’ve been where you are. 

 

Besides writing, do you have any other passions?
I suppose saying reading would be a bit lame. It’s funny, I also still always say my passion is music, as I was very active with singing and playing the guitar. However, it’s been quite a while since I’ve touched my guitar or sung a song. But when it comes down to it, I’m still very passionate about music.

I think art is simply my passion, whether it’s creating or observing something someone else created. I’m also an avid gamer, especially games with amazing stories and world building like the Witcher, Zelda, or Skyrim. To me, games can be art as well.

 

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

Cats. I have a cat, so I have to pick it or risk his wrath. He’s a sweet, slightly obese fluff-ball we picked up from the shelter. I love dogs, but I just prefer cats a little bit more.

 

Chocolate. It’s not even a debate—chocolate, always.

 

Coffee. I think there’s no better match than writers and coffee. Although, it actually took me a long time to get used to the taste.

 

Text. I mean, it depends on the person, but I do have slight anxiety when it comes to talking to people over the phone. I honestly couldn’t tell you why, but it’s always been that way.

 

Day. There’s something soothing about the night as well, but I do prefer the day. Especially when the weather is nice, and the sun’s out. I’m also one of those people who dislike winter because the days are so short.

 

Some other fun facts: I collect funkos (when I have the money), hope to one day have a big collection of awesome swords (I now have one blade; they’re just really expensive), love to go horseback riding, and am currently trying to design the interior of our new home (somewhat successfully. I hope.).

 

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on the second and final book for the Illuminated duology. I’m already very excited about it. Hopefully, I’ll have it out in the spring or summer of 2023. 

 

I’ve also been working on an outline for a new fantasy trilogy—this one will have dragons! I personally love dragons in stories, so I obviously had to write at least one book that features them. Can’t say for sure when it will be finished, but hopefully somewhere by the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024.

Blurb:

In this coming-of-age YA contemporary fantasy, a teenage girl has her life turned upside down when her family is breaking apart, and she discovers her supernatural powers. There’s no time to deal with it, however, as she’s targeted by a dangerous power-siphoner.

Nikki Chase, a 16-year-old striver, feels like her life is falling apart around her. Her parents’ marriage seems in trouble, her best friend prefers to spend time with the popular girl, and she’s quite certain she’s on the verge of a psychosis. After all, normal people don’t see colors around people or hear voices, right?

When a volunteering assignment leads her to a mental hospital, Nikki is determined to figure out what’s going on with her—and if perhaps she belongs in that facility. What she discovers is nothing she expected: Lorene, a volunteer, tells Nikki she’s not crazy but, in fact, has the power to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs. However, someone has been sucking the power out of people just like her, leaving them behind as an empty shell. Desperate for help and someone to trust, Nikki teams up with Lorene to discover who is behind the siphoning. But can she stop them before she becomes a victim? And can she do so without becoming addicted to the power herself?

Fans of suspenseful contemporary fantasy will love this YA coming-of-age fantasy thriller book about coping with difficult emotions, navigating relationships with family and friends, and the addictive quality of power.

 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62849849-illuminated

 

Purchase:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XmrdPh

 

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Iris Marsh is a behavioral researcher turned writer. As such, she focuses on her character’s journeys as well as the plot. Her YA fantasy debut novel Illuminated is no exception: it’s both suspenseful and heavy on character development. Currently, she lives in the Netherlands with her partner and cat.

She would be overjoyed if you visited her website IrisMarsh.com and would love it if you followed her journey on Instagram.

 

Author links:

https://www.irismarsh.com/

https://nl.pinterest.com/Iris_Marsh_author/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22915629.Iris_Marsh

https://www.instagram.com/irismarsh.author/

 

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Interview with Robin Maderich, WHEN THE HEART BRINGS YOU HOME

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?

 

When the Heart Brings You Home is a collection of three novellas all set in the fictional small town of Connor Falls, Pennsylvania. The commonality between all three stories is the setting and the time of year, which is Christmas. The theme running through the three novellas and, in fact, through all the Connor Falls Christmas Series books is family, friendship, love, all taking place within the same small town. In the first novella, Winter Light, a troubled young girl who keeps running away from home brings the Christmas Spirit back to her harried, busy father and the local bookstore owner, a woman he kissed on a whim years ago. The second, Light the Heart Home, introduces to the reader two sisters who are getting together for Christmas after quite some time part and involves a resolution of their own differences as well as coming to terms with the loss of one’s old love and the welcoming of a possible new one for the other. In the third, Home for the Holidays, a professional woman returns to Connor Falls for the holidays and finds not only a yearning for her roots but an exceptional man. The Connor Falls stories all contain a dose of sweet romance and holiday inspiration.

 

Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?

 

I have been published traditionally in the past through Kensington under two pseudonyms, with one standalone novel and a three-novel series. The standalone novel saw translation and publication in the European market. I received copies of the books and was astounded by the disparity in the covers. The cover for the version sold in this country was elegant and lovely, but I think the most artistically beautiful cover was that which was released in Germany. Five novels also written using the same pen name as the three-novel series were published by a small indie press, and my very first book was released many years ago by Warner Books under my own name. However, due to various changes in the publishing world, I decided to publish the Connor Falls Christmas series on my own starting at about the same time the contemporary paranormal suspense series was released by Kensington. I have only released one full-length novel for the Connor Falls Christmas series so far. However, the next is due out during the 2023 holiday season, along with another novella. I publish the Connor Falls Christmas books as Robin Maderich and also self-publish my young adult series using the pen name Jo Allen Ash. 

 

How long before you got your offer of representation/your first contract? Was it for your first novel?

 

The first novel published (by Warner) was not the first novel I had written with an eye to publication. I had an agent at the time, a very lovely lady, and if I am recalling correctly, I think it was only a matter of a few months before she received an offer for that first work, from Pocket Books. Because the offer was for a mid-list release, she suggested I turn it down and continued to shop it around with the intent it be released as a lead title. Instead of that first book getting published (The Forgotten Keep resides in its entirety in a drawer of the guest room dresser and I’m thinking about reworking the book) it led the way to an offer from Warner Books. I was requested by the editor, who loved the style and voice of the work she had seen, to write a romance. I’d never read one, didn’t know what they were all about, and my agent sent me a small carton of romance novels to read. Thus began the romance writing career. My first love was YA and I am happy to have returned to that now, as well. 

 

Are you currently under a traditional publishing contract for future books or do you have manuscripts that you will self-publish? Are you doing both?

 

I am not under an active contract, although Kensington has an option for the next book written under my pen name. I am certainly not opposed to working with a traditional publishing house and definitely with Kensington, with whom I have had success and a great relationship, so I will likely write another book for them. If they ultimately turn it down, then I might try to shop it around or publish it on my own. I am currently working on the third book in my YA series and finishing up the Connor Falls Christmas books for next year, both of which are self-publishing ventures. I do enjoy the control and challenge of self-publishing. It is, however, a great deal of work. One is responsible for far more than just writing the novel, which is a huge undertaking in itself. 

 

What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?

 

Well, the changes in the publishing world, for one. The gamechanger for me was finding that many publishers now publish digitally first. They can’t be blamed for that. The risks are much less than releasing a book in mass market paperback or hardcover, because contractually those books can be returned by the booksellers, resulting in a loss of profit for the publishing house. The shelf life for a book is notoriously short. A digital copy can be on its “shelf” forever. 

 

However, for those of us who like meeting the public, discussing their work, signing books for the reader, etc., this presents a problem, even if the books are being released POD (print-on-demand). POD books are non-returnable, so bookstores are unlikely to order them for their shelves. The cost for an author to order their own books through the publisher for the purposes of book signings is also prohibitive, because quite often they are paying more for the book than they will make from sale at the bookstore, because the bookstore, quite rightly, must take their percent from the sale. When self-publishing, you still run into the same issues, but the cost to you for the book (if you have priced it with an eye to the market) still permits you to make a profit because the middle man has been eradicated. There were other factors, as well, but the above was probably the eye-opener that prompted my first research into the benefits of self-publishing. Mind, there are drawbacks, too. Many of them. However, if a writer is willing to work very hard at succeeding, the upside can be worth it. 

 

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?

 

I prefer silence for the actual writing, but I listen to music I associate with the mood of the tale until they become somewhat inseparable so I can get myself right back into the story by turning on that same piece of music at the start of the day’s writing session. I like to write in the morning these days, because that is when my energy level is most conducive to the process. Before a nasty accident I had about four years ago, I could write any time of the day or night. I am hoping that will come back to me some day. I also confess to having to play a game or two of spider solitaire sometimes before I begin. I could say it’s because it limbers up my fingers and gets my mind functioning, but I think I would be lying. 

 

Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?

 

For the three-novel series I did for Kensington’s Lyrical Press, an outline of the stories was required. I’ve never been an outliner so that was tough for me. Still, it did streamline the process, which was especially helpful due to the rapid-fire deadlines. However, I do not usually outline when I write. I don’t just float along where the muse takes me, either, though. I have a distinct storyline in my head with a specific beginning and ending, but I don’t prepare a detailed paragraph or chapter outline before putting words on paper/monitor.

 

What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?

 

Don’t plow right into it thinking it’s an easy win. Hone your craft and write your best before you consider putting it out there. Your book deserves its best shot so also expect to take time and money to deliver a quality product. Book covers are important, so you may have to pay someone to prepare a decent one for you. A fabulous cover is better, of course. Editing is of the utmost importance, and this will also have to be paid for, unless you know a professional editor who is willing to do it for free. Formatting is important, too, especially if you are going to print. There are rules to putting out a professional-looking print book. You will have costs for copyrighting, for securing an ISBN, for advertising. As easy as it is to throw a book up on Amazon, there are a lot out there that probably weren’t quite ready to see the light of day. Self-publishing should not be viewed as separate from traditional publishing, not in terms of the work needed to be successful. It is far more than writing. You need to wear a business hat, as well, which is something I struggled with for a while. Employ the split-personality technique. One of you is the author, the creator, the imaginative one, while the other is the business-minded one, the publisher looking to release nothing less than the best into the world who must take the reins to ensure this is done. It doesn’t stop there, either. You must continue writing (of course, you must! You’re a writer, after all!) to ensure your readership stays engaged and also grows. But while you are writing your next book, you must also continue to market and promote your prior work(s). So, plan to be busy! And don’t get discouraged. 

 

Some fun facts about you, which do you prefer – dogs or cats? Chocolate or vanilla? Coffee or Tea? Talk or Text? Day or Night?

 

Dogs AND cats. I have both. I also like birds (I had a wonderfully talkative parrot once, named Merlin), and adore mice (but don’t keep them as pets).  I’m a sucker for both chocolate and vanilla. It depends on the medium, I guess. I partake in about three partial cups of coffee a year and even less tea. Talking is good, texting is better, because there’s a certain expediency to texting that can also be performed on the move. If I get into a conversation with someone on the phone, they are usually doing most of the yakking and I’m saying a lot of yes, no, right, and oh really, for a couple of hours. I like talking face-to-face, though, very much. Day or night? Depends on what’s going on. Life is a gift and I’ll take whatever comes no matter the time of day. 

 

What’s next for you?

 

Besides the above-mentioned works, I want to again write and illustrate a children’s picture book. I have two in mind, but I’m searching hard for the time to even start them. My first, H is for Home, was written and illustrated after the accident, at a time when I couldn’t manage any more time on the computer than that which I was struggling to give to my former day job. I love the beauty of children’s illustrated books, which presents another problem to me: making sure I don’t fail miserably at that particular goal. I’ll give it my best!

 

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

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#Excerpt: UNDER THE CLOUD by B.R. Erlank

 BLURB:

They call themselves The Settlement Bureau. A faceless, soulless organization coercing individuals with threats to expose their improprieties and vulnerabilities. Inhumanely persistent, they’ve secretly driven hundreds of victims into bankruptcy, despair – and several even to suicide.

But when this organization tries to blackmail IT expert Terry Reynolds, they make a serious mistake. Terry is down on his luck. He is penniless, divorced and in a dead-end job. Yet, the abuse of his personal information stirs Terry out of his lethargy and he fights back. He embarks on a digital game of cat-and-mouse with the cold, calculating minds behind The Settlement Bureau – and in doing so, uncovers a sprawling criminal conspiracy.

Under The Cloud is a chillingly plausible new thriller by B.R. Erlank. With a plot ripped straight from the headlines, advance readers warn, “this book delivers a roller coaster ride right up to the final pages.”

 

The book will be $0.99 from November 15 - November 22.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Rajiv looked Terry directly in the eyes, “Tell me, how would you use our tools and data to improve the risk management at a bank?”

 

Terry walked to the window from where he could see the Bank of America pyramid in the fading light. Down below, cars and people were bustling along the street. Lights in various glass towers twinkled in random geometric patterns. Not random, Terry thought, in fact, quite the opposite.

 

He said, “What if I told you that it is entirely predictable when each light in that apartment complex will be turned on?”

 

Rajiv made an encouraging gesture. 

 

“It’s really quite simple. All you need is to cross-reference the identities of the occupants with their smartphone or Fitbit geo data. If you then pulled in data from their car or even air travel, you could get longer-range predictions. Imagine what that could do for security and law enforcement. If anyone doesn’t show up where they’re supposed to be, instantaneous action can be taken. 

 

“Now imagine the same principles applied to managing banking risk. By analyzing the individual's personal and professional issues, you can update the risk profile in real-time. A car accident, job loss, an expensive health issue in the family, a child having to repeat a year at college. These are all predictors of financial risk. But to date, it simply hasn’t been possible to integrate that data fast enough to be meaningful. Well, now it is – we make it possible.”

 

Rajiv slowly clapped his hands and said, “Do it exactly like that tonight.”

 

Terry gaped, “What? Me?”

 

“You come across fresh, unrehearsed, authentic – that’s exactly what I want for the presentation to the bank.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Boris Erlank grew up in Southern Africa. He has lived and worked in places as diverse as Luanda, Cape Town, Singapore and San Francisco. Boris recently gave up his job as Global Privacy Manager with a Fortune 100 company to focus on writing full-time.

He has an extensive background in IT, data privacy and cybersecurity, and has drawn on that experience to craft his latest novel, Under the Cloud. His previous novel, Catch You Later, is a murder mystery set in Cape Town.

Boris lives with his family and two dogs in the foothills of Mount Diablo, east of San Francisco. He likes to cycle and hike. “Those solitary pursuits give me time to dream up the characters and plots for my novels,” he says. Boris also enjoys choir singing, travel, and listening to audiobooks.

 

 

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3nH9JNa

Website: www.brerlank.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082184847881

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boris-erlank/

#FREE CYBER MONDAY November 28-29, MISTLETOE KISSES

 

Blurb: 
 Petite Ellie Davison had the worst luck when it came to dating. Not wanting to endure any more bad first dates, she swore off dating, that is, until she met the impossibly handsome Jared at her friend's wedding.
Corporate lawyer Jared Castian was not pleased when his Washington firm transferred him to Boston to oversee a complicated merger. He was on the fast track to making partner and had no time to date. When a chance meeting at his friend's wedding paired him with bridesmaid Ellie Davison, he found himself captivated by the pretty brunette. Was Ellie the one that would open his heart to love?
Mistletoe Kisses is a sweet romance novella. 
Reviewers Comments:
4 stars - This was a sweet Christmas story of insta-love with likable characters. Amazon customer
Buy links:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mistletoe-Kisses-England-Romance-Book-ebook/dp/B01M0NKDMX

Interview with C.B. Oresky, THE WARLOCK'S CURSE

Any weird things you do when you’re alone?

I like to practice meditation when I am alone. I guess meditation…or stopping one’s thoughts, is not considered as weird today, as when I started thirty years ago. Back then, if you studied with awake Masters, one was in a cult. 

I find that quieting the mind and stopping one’s thoughts is one of the most difficult things a person can do. But if one can do this, one can be swept up in such heart opening feelings of love and experience such beauty. Most people are not even aware of the possibility of these beautiful inner worlds. 

 

What is your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote is from J.R.R Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, where Strider, secretly Aragorn the true king of Gondor, appears to be a mere Ranger.

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”

This quote is for all those that run against the wind and holds a message about ceasing judgement on outer looks alone. From the moment one is born, the busy bees of society are whispering in your ear…how to act, how to be. Many are followers, attracted to the flash…a rolex or bmw gives one a certain status. But what about someone with purpose and inner goodness…all that is beautiful and true, existing without glitter. Someone who wanders their own path, following their own internal calling, may be seen as a fool, but may truly be a queen or king. To be true to one’s own calling involves strength and perseverance in the face of darkness and strife.

 

Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite author, hands down, is J.R.R. Tolkien. Afterall, he developed the genre of fantasy and inspired generations of writers, myself included. 

The thing I love the most about Tolkien is his artistry with words, how he masterfully paints and vividly illustrates scene after scene of magical worlds where creatures talk and everything from the trees to the mountains seem alive.

Not only that, but as I read his works I feel Tolkien there with me, narrating the wonders and magic of Middle Earth, as he often did, telling these fairytale-like stories to his children before bedtime.

Finally, in both The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, I feel myself part of an epic journey that became a great battle between good and evil. I love his characters, which I became so attached to…to the point that I walked their entire journey alongside them.

 

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

I believe an author should be as clear and concise as possible. The first lesson I learned was to omit needless words. Readers want to be entertained or to learn something…they want the author to get to the point. 

Finally, using proper grammar and choice of words is important. I love when something is written elegantly – where the choice of words makes a story flow almost like poetry. My teacher pounded the importance of the ssst factor…describing sights, sounds, sensations, and taste to create vivid imagery that keeps the reader engaged. 

 

Where did you get the idea for this book?

My debut novel all began as a dream… I sailed a white ship on a pristine sea of whispering turquoise waves. The inhabitants of this alien watery world, mystical whales, surrounded my vessel, their eerie voices lifted in song. I made a story out of this…and other magical dreams. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BLURB:

 

Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.

Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.

The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior, and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Fascinated by the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, C.B. Oresky began writing her own fantasy novel, The Warlock’s Curse, after dreaming of being whisked off to an alien realm. Besides her debut novel, she has seen four of her short stories published in a small, national literary press: Conceit Magazine. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through the  woods, dancing flamenco, or planting flowers in her garden. She currently lives in a small town in Connecticut with her bodybuilder husband, their exceptionally naughty Scottish terrier and Siamese cat, ten chickens, Mr. Tiggy the hedgehog, and a yard filled with majestic flowers.

 

Website: www.cbOresky.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarlockscurse/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewarlockscurse/

Twitter: @cbOresky

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cboresky

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-b-oresky

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22747540.C_B_Oresky

  

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