Ryshia Kennie's Blog, page 22

November 27, 2013

Intent to Kill - On Tour




I've been hunkering down these last few weeks, soaking up warmer weather before heading
back to the frozen North.  But that's another story and one I'll share soon.

I'm on another type of tour right now - a virtual one.  My latest romantic suspense, Intent to Kill is visiting some pretty sweet blogs and enjoying a review or two.  Today check out the review and comments at two great blogs:

"One of my favorite things in Literature is when you get taken outside of the typical setting of North America. I love "seeing" other countries and settings that I have never seen before, and I got to go on the ride of a lifetime with Claire as she traveled to Cambodia and attempts to solve vicious and grisly murders and disappearances that are taking place..."   Unabridged Andra

"Intent to Kill is an exciting look at smuggling in Cambodia and the extent that people will go to make money–no matter who gets in their way. Add to the mix an Interpol agent and a journalist who have a nearly explosive chemistry between them and you have an adventure just waiting to happen.
Ms. Kennie knows how to write action–and there’s plenty of it in this book..."Long and Short Reviews

Follow the links to read the rest and comment for a chance to win a Amazon gift certificate at the end of the tour.

Now it's off to enjoy some sunshine.

Ryshia
www.ryshiakennie.com

November 27: Unabridged Andra
November 27: Long and Short Reviews
December 4: Bunny's Review
December 4: It's Raining Books
December 11: A to Z Reviews
December 11: Promo Room With Books
December 18: Book Reviews by Xunaira J.
December 18: As the Pages Turn
December 18: Straight From the Library






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Published on November 27, 2013 07:44

November 22, 2013

Santa Fe and Onward

Everything seems to be in slow time.  I suppose when you're on the road life is like that.  On the way further south, we spent a few days in a surprisingly laid back place, Santa Fe.  Low slung adobe buildings catch your attention immediately.  The more modern downtown is hidden from the interstate.  And a year after my first view of Santa Fe, we ventured in and discovered that the heart of Santa Fe is how it was a hundred or so years ago.  Coming from a place where the old has been too often razed, this was refreshing.  Narrow lanes bracketed by laid back adobe houses whose elegant rich comfort are hidden behind wide thick wood doors and arched doorways.



Santa Fe - for artists, it's a mecca.  A mecca for art of all kinds; from sculpture to oil to artists of
another kind - cooking.  Not only that but yes, there are writers and
writers' conferences. There were also cooking schools and writing schools but most of all there was

art.  Eighty-four galleries in a stretch of about four blocks.



It was there where I had the most expensive lunch of my life but the most entertaining.  Who knew that water could cost eight dollars a bottle.  But what topped everything was a woman who was really the caricature of a place or time or theme.  Scarlett O'Hara, obviously not her or even someone that remotely resembled her, not her looks but her airs.  The resemblance was in her southern drawl that included the mention of numerous "high end encounters" and was peppered with darlings.  The conversation was a window to another world, of business, entitlement and airs.  



But enough of peeks into other people's lives.  It was off to see the galleries.  Bronzes and oils were everywhere, galleries cozied against more galleries.  The amount of talent in that one little area was overwhelming.





And after an exhausting day both to feet and pocketbook it was off for something a little more realistic, wood stove cooked pizza and beer.



And with the road and Santa Fe now behind me, I've been settled in a place that's not quite home for a week or two.  More on that later.



And in the meantime, I'm giving away two copies of my paranomal romance, Ring of Desire and my historic set on the depression era prairie, From the Dust.  Both are contests on Goodreads.



And last but "not least": <!--
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My latest book - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intent-Kill-Rys... to Kill</i></b> </a>is out!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First there was Fatal Intent, a tale
that took romance and suspense to the dark reaches of the Borneo jungle.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">

</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, Intent to Kill takes love to the
heart of Cambodia where in the shadow of Angkor Wat, passion ignites amidst
evil that is generations in the making.  

















</span></div>
<br />
Ryshia<br />
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Published on November 22, 2013 21:59

Everything seems to be in slow time.  I suppose when...

Everything seems to be in slow time.  I suppose when you're on the road life is like that.  On the way further south, we spent a few days in a surprisingly laid back place, Santa Fe.  Low slung adobe buildings catch your attention immediately.  The more modern downtown is hidden from the interstate.  And a year after my first view of Santa Fe, we ventured in and discovered that the heart of Santa Fe is how it was a hundred or so years ago.  Coming from a place where the old has been too often razed, this was refreshing.  Narrow lanes bracketed by laid back adobe houses whose elegant rich comfort are hidden behind wide thick wood doors and arched doorways.

Santa Fe - for artists, it's a mecca.  A mecca for art of all kinds; from sculpture to oil to artists of another kind - cooking.  Not only that but yes, there are writers and writers' conferences. There were also cooking schools and writing schools but most of all there was
art.  Eighty-four galleries in a stretch of about four blocks. 

It was there where I had the most expensive lunch of my life but the most entertaining.  Who knew that water could cost eight dollars a bottle.  But what topped everything was a woman who was really the caricature of a place or time or theme.  Scarlett O'Hara, obviously not her or even someone that remotely resembled her, not her looks but her airs.  The resemblance was in her southern drawl that included the mention of numerous "high end encounters" and was peppered with darlings.  The conversation was a window to another world, of business, entitlement and airs.  

But enough of peeks into other people's lives.  It was off to see the galleries.  Bronzes and oils were everywhere, galleries cozied against more galleries.  The amount of talent in that one little area was overwhelming.

And after an exhausting day both to feet and pocketbook it was off for something a little more realistic, wood stove cooked pizza and beer.

And with the road and Santa Fe now behind me, I've been settled in a place that's not quite home for a week or two.  More on that later.

And in the meantime, I'm giving away two copies of my paranomral romance, Ring of Desire and my historic set on the depression era prairie, From the Dust.  Both are contests on Goodreads. 

And last but "not least":
My latest book - Intent to Kill is out!First there was Fatal Intent, a tale that took romance and suspense to the dark reaches of the Borneo jungle. Now, Intent to Kill takes love to the heart of Cambodia where in the shadow of Angkor Wat, passion ignites amidst evil that is generations in the making.  
Ryshia
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Published on November 22, 2013 21:59

November 5, 2013

Chugwater Chili

I love being at home but there's something about being on the road that provides these unique little surprises and like I said in my last post, is just inspirational because every place has a story and every story only makes me ask - what if?



Less than an hour down the road from Douglas, Wyoming, is the quiet little village of Chugwater.  We would have flown, or driven, if you prefer, right by except for the intriguing billboard announcing Chugwater Chili.  What was intriguing about it?  Well, it wasn't the typical hotel, motel or fast food advertisement, plus it was all alone with only rugged wilderness surrounding it.  That got our attention, plus it was lunch time and we were hungry and truly sick of another variation of "fast food".   And, well, a confession, we'd tried out the same chili last year.  So we hit the exit ramp and you know, you just can't pass up those opportunities.





Chugwater Chili has an interesting story - check out their website if you're interested.  But it appeared to me like a small place collaborating with each other to succeed.  Because besides the chili there were Chugwater t-shirts, spices and other parapanalia and an inventory of books propped in holders on tables. 



Last year there was a gas station, this year the sign outside of Douglas warned of a 65 mile drought as far as gas.  The waitress in



Chugwater was quick to tell us the story of a man who drove into the building.  The aftermath?  Well, the gas station is no more, the culprit has been detained and people are out of work as a result.  Not a pretty story and I suspect one that went deeper than the short version we got while paying for our meal.



Despite what was probably a major financial hit for the residents of Chugwater, it carries on.  So if you're in the vicinity I'd definitely recommend it as a much more colourful dining experience than one offered by any of the available chains. 



Not only that but the chili was tasty!



Now I'm sitting in front of a wood fire in the heart of Santa Fe - and well that's another story.



Ryshia

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Published on November 05, 2013 18:07

Excerpt - Intent to Kill

He wanted to kill him as brutally as others had been killed.
He wanted to watch him bleed, hear him scream.

Simon Trent stilled his thoughts by sheer willpower. Revenge wouldn’t change any of it. No one lived because someone else died. He had to focus on what was real and on the danger they might face tonight.

He crouched near the fragile ruins where the land first began a long and leisurely sprawl toward the lake. He took a breath and then another. The hot Cambodian night closed around him. Ahead the vast expanse of Lake Tonle glistened as the moon slipped from behind a cloud and temporarily cleared the darkness. To his right, in the distance, he knew that the shadowed spires of Angkor Wat loomed and beckoned in the darkness as they had so many nights before. A cricket grated. Its rough-edged call was loud in the deceptive silence, where only the distant lapping of the lake reminded him of why they were here. And as much as he didn’t want to be here, as much as he was ready to hang it all up, he’d toughed out over a year in isolation for this moment. It was the most difficult assignment of his life, but he’d see it through and then it was over.

He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. It came away damp. The air was slightly dank and reminded him of how close they were to the shoreline. There was nothing but sunbronzed soil and patches of ground-hugging brush between here and there. He could see the area clearly in his mind as he remembered the last time he’d been here, in daylight, over a year ago. It didn’t seem like much time had passed since he’d last stood on this flat, slightly sloped patch of land that fronted the lake. He could visualize the dock about seventy-five feet away. And he could see what he didn’t want to, the tragedy that had begun here.
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Published on November 05, 2013 15:58

October 30, 2013

Writing Through Life's Tsanamis

Well it's Wednesday, the first of the month and as designated by Alex Cavanaugh, it's Insecure Writer's Wednesday. 





It's one of those years that it feels like the hamster wheel just never stopped spinning.  Somebody plunked me on the thing and it just kept spinning and spinning with no little red button that said...




Stop!




One family obligation after another, one crisis after another and all intertwined with that mundane day to day that has a person doing what they normally do - running to the grocery store, dry cleaners or remembering, that yes, we are almost out of gas in the car.  It's just been one of those years.  We all have them.  Whether it's a crazy week, a month that got out of control or once in a long time - a year that just spun into oblivion.  But everyone's turn comes along when life's craziness combine with what look like unexpected disasters, fortunately none that could be called nature's wrath - not a real Tsanamis, keep us hopping.



How does one keep writing through all of that?  I did but I don't think well.  I forgot that I needed to refresh the well where ideas come from.  And to do that I needed something fresh that didn't spell crisis.




So after a year of craziness I'm finally dusting off the travel journal, and while it's not the most foreign of shores, I'm heading south, looking for some relief from the edges of cold weather that's just beginning to sift in.  I want to shave a few days off that never-ending Canadian cold weather. 



While there's not much different as we first cross the border, the changes become more evident as we head further south.  Snow for instance.  There was no snow 500 miles north.  But here, there's snow.  Go figure.  And of course, there's no Tim Horton's.  The Canadian Icon is a no-show.  Not that I mind, I'm just saying. 





But what we did find was the funkiest little taco stand in a little town that provided - well, if nothing else, ambiance.  A chain  made unique by the tiny space it took up and the three over-sized men who ran it in an undersized kitchen.  From sticky doors and tables to well-worn floors - yes...  it was one of a kind.  Why did we eat there?  Well, it wasn't as bad as it sounded.  And if nothing else - well it was a story.  




But the good thing of all of this - getting away gets the creative process going again.  While I haven't forgotten the story that I have been too long revising, new ideas are popping up and I'm excited to put pen to paper.  I'm remembering why I travel - it inspires me every time.  It takes me into places that are not my norm exactly as I love to do with the characters in my stories.  Travel is rejuvenating and it is always fodder for a story or two.











Take a trip, anywhere.  Somewhere you haven't been before even if that somewhere is somewhere in your own city or town.   Like just the other day a trip on the city bus gave me an unexpected view into life as I don't normally see it.  The unexpected, a place where story ideas lie waiting to ambush us.



 And the journey continues....  Tomorrow onward - hopefully we'll hit Denver before rush hour.  




Ryshia

www.ryshiakennie.com




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Published on October 30, 2013 05:29

October 19, 2013

Intent to Kill

A ruthless band of smugglers will stop at nothing to strip Cambodia of its priceless ancient artifacts, even if it means using and killing female tourists.  Journalist Claire Linton knows she's on the story of a lifetime.  But for Claire, it's personal too: long before her "Uncle Jack" came to the U.S., he was held captive in the nightmarish killing fields of Cambodia, and Claire senses there might be a connection between that long-ago bloody history and the dark crimes plaguing the country today.





Simon Trent is a burnt-out Interpol agent who disappeared after his last case turned fatal.  But with the resurgence in smuggling and all signs pointing to the man who once escaped his grasp, he comes out of hiding to finish the job that's haunted him for years.  What he doesn't see coming is Claire, the beautiful and headstrong reporter who may be a threat to his case - and to his heart.





As Claire and Simon reluctantly join forces to unravel a mystery that reaches deep into her family history and may be his only chance at redemption, they must fight to stay one step ahead of a brutal killer - and one step away from the dangerous feelings building between them.





My latest romantic suspense, Intent to Kill, was released this week and is now available at online bookstores including: 



Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo





Ryshia

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Published on October 19, 2013 08:55

October 7, 2013

Choices and Illusions - A Book That May Change Your Life

 I had the opportunity to review Eldon Taylor's latest book, Choices and Illusions , and I jumped at the chance.  Choices and Illusions didn't disappoint.  If you're interested in the power of the mind or have made noises about changing your life - you'll enjoy the information in this book.





Eldon
Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author and is considered to be
an expert in the field of subconscious learning.  He has made a lifelong
study of the human mind and has earned doctoral degrees in psychology
and metaphysics.  He is a Fellow with the American Psychotherapy
Association (APA) and a nondenominational minister.  Eldon has served as
an expert witness in court cases involving hypnosis and subliminal
communication.



Eldon was a practicing criminologist for
over ten years specializing in lie detection and forensic hypnosis. 
Today he is president and director of Progressive Awareness Research,
Inc.  Since 1984 his books, audio programs, lectures, radio and
television appearances have approached personal empowerment from the
cornerstone perspective of forgiveness, gratitude, self-responsibility
and service.



Be sure to visit the promotional page for Choices and Illusions by clicking here.  







My review of Choices and Illusions:

The human mind is extremely complex as Eldon Taylor again demonstrates in his latest book,

Choices and Illusions.  Richly written, Eldon takes us on a journey into the power of the mind.  While



no book on the mind can be anything but complex, Eldon softens the depth of the information with strategically placed tales and stories that entertain as well as teach.



Do minds communicate with each other - is the basis of creativity more a group activity than an individual one?  R. D. Laing

Quotes like this along with Eldon's thought provoking research and easy prose make Choices and Illusions a provocative read.



Choices and Illusions provides an excellent base to begin the exploration of self, and of the unseen but compelling forces of society that have the ability to shape the basis of our beliefs and ultimately our personalities.  It provides the tools necessary to begin harnessing the powers of your mind instead of letting it run unfettered and potentially controlled by the power of hidden beliefs foisted on us by others.  And more importantly, it provides telling evidence that the mind is the one thing that can change your life.



I found Choices and Illusions an intriguing read.  With plenty of references to other books on the subject, Choices and Illusions is an excellent jumping off point for anyone interested in enriching their lives by becoming aware of their most powerful tool, their mind.













You can find Choices and Illusions along with my review on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.



Ryshia


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Published on October 07, 2013 14:27

October 6, 2013

Last week was the Banned Book Week Hop and I was offering...

Gone With The Wind


Last week was the Banned Book Week Hop and I was offering a copy of Gone With The Wind .  Which I must say I have been slowly making my way through these last months - yes, I did say slowly.  A few pages in the morning, another page here or there, interspersed with other reading of course.  But slow or not, I'm enjoying and obviously, savouring every page.



But to get to it - the winner of a paperback copy of Gone With The Wind is:

Daniel
Congrats - hope you enjoy the story as much as I am the second time round.
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Published on October 06, 2013 16:42




Last week was the Banned Book Week Hop and I was of...

Gone With The Wind





Last week was the Banned Book Week Hop and I was offering a copy of Gone With The Wind .  Which I must say I have been slowly making my way through these last months - yes, I did say slowly.  A few pages in the morning, another page here or there, interspersed with other reading of course.  But slow or not, I'm enjoying and obviously, savouring every page.







But to get to it - the winner of a paperback copy of Gone With The Wind is:





Daniel






Congrats - hope you enjoy the story as much as I am the second time round.




Ryshia

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Published on October 06, 2013 16:42