Barbara Russell's Blog, page 53

The Gap Year

The Gap YearAngela's Epistles Book 1by Rita KrugerGenre: SciFi Action, LGBT Romance
Angela Wright might have everything her father's money can buy, but that meant nothing to her on the night of her twenty-eight birthday. She is angry and a little bit drunk as she flees the scene of a fight with her mother.
All her life she has done the right thing. But she is tired of living under her mother’s shadow. How can she ever compete with Margaret Wright, the first Human judge on the Intergalactic High Court?Within the space of a few days, Angela drops out in the last semester at Intergalactic Bureau of Investigation Academy, signs a bounty hunting contract to find the top ten criminals in the galaxy, and kisses Brenda, her best friend since childhood.She might be late, but at last she is blooming.


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My Chaotic Ramblings: The Heart Collector Tour and #Giveaway

My Chaotic Ramblings: The Heart Collector Tour and #Giveaway: This post may contain affiliate links: If you purchase through my link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I on...

The Martian Zombie Book Trailer… and other things.

Say what you want about this paranormal, humorous novel, but Heidi and I did everything to turn it into a success.We did a lot of research, spending time with NASA guys, working with them.


Some of us decided to get closer to the vampires (since vampires are part of the world building)
Some of us decided to learn the way of the Force
We zombified ourselves to see what being a zombie meant

And for the advertisement? We spared no expense
We even asked the help of some quite clever people
But we considered other, more traditional methods as well
And of course we made a book trailer :)https://youtu.be/9w0oEQxlU_c
Thanks for reading!Hope you enjoy The Martian Zombiehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PWHSG8T

The Child Of Happiness

The Child of Happinessby S.V. Cobets Genre: Poetry
Edited versionThis collection of poetry is a summary of my selected poems that I wrote for many years. I hope that you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. In this collection of poetry are collected all of my feelings that I want to share with you through verse.
"The Child of Happiness, by S.V. Cobets, is a beautiful poetry collection that reaches deep into the soul. Though the author’s native language is Croatian and not English, the emotional depth of each poem comes across clearly and will be relatable across cultures. Sensual and light with themes of nature & love, yet also tinged with feelings of sadness and darker themes of heartache, pain, loss, & the casualties of war - there were many poems that spoke to my heart."-Amazon Reviewer


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Stjepan Varesevac-Cobets was born on 12 September 1965 in Split, Croatia. He lives and works in Kastel Sucurac, where he finished his elementary and secondary schooling.
At a very young age, he started reading and loved it because, through books, he traveled to places he could never visit in person. As a child, he loved fairy tales and adventure but later discovered other genres. When he found a Jules Verne book in the library, he became fascinated by science fiction. He has been writing poetry for fifteen years and has started writing science fiction. Lately, he has also written children's fairy tales and fables.
He has published, in Croatia, "An Opened Heart" in 2002, "The Sleepy Way" in 2005, and "Love" in 2006. On Amazon he has published the poetry collections "The Child of Happiness" in 2015, science fiction novel "Godeena" in 2015, the science fiction short story "Butterfly" in 2016, the poetry collection "When the moon takes over the dream: Love Poetry" in 2016, and in 2017 the poetry collection "The Flaming Horses: Collection of poetry". He also translated his new Sci-Fi novel "The Dream of the Forest".


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Storm And Fury

Storm & FuryA Storm and Fury Adventures Collectionby Gail Z. Martin & Larry N. Martin Genre: Paranormal Historical Adventure, Steampunk
New Pittsburgh, 1898 – a crucible of invention and intrigue. Born from the ashes of devastating fire, flood and earthquake, the city is ruled by the shadow government of The Oligarchy. In the swarming streets, people of a hundred nations drudge to feed the engines of progress. The Department of Supernatural Investigation was set up to take care of those things that live below, that go bump in the night… those odd cases that go beyond ‘standard’ investigation. Nicknamed ‘Storm and Fury’, Mitch Storm and Jacob Drangosavich are two of the more creative agents, working in New Pittsburgh and obeying the rules – when they have to.
A collection of short stories and novellas set in the world of the Iron & Blood novels and the related Storm and Fury Adventures.
Includes: Airship Down, Ruin Creek, Resurrection Day, The Hunt, Grave Voices, and Rogue. Plus two bonus stories: Ghost Wolf and a Steampunk fairy tale: The Patented Troll


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  Gail Z. Martindiscovered her passion for science fiction, fantasy and ghost stories in elementary school. The first story she wrote at age five was about a vampire. Her favorite TV show as a preschooler was Dark Shadows. At age 14, she decided to become a writer. She enjoys attending science fiction/fantasy conventions, Renaissance fairs and living history sites.
Larry N. Martinis the author of the new sci-fi adventure novel Salvage Rat. He is the co-author (with Gail Z. Martin) of the Spells, Salt, and Steel/New Templars series; the Steampunk series Iron & Blood; and a collection of short stories and novellas: The Storm & Fury Adventures set in the Iron & Blood universe. He is also the co-author of the upcoming Wasteland Marshals series and the Joe Mack Cauldron/Secret Council series.
The Martins have three children, a Maltese, and a Golden Retriever.

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Lost Lunason Series

While My Soulmate SlumbersThe Lost Lunason Series Book 1by Stacie Sultrie Genre: RH Paranormal Romance
When the love of her life sacrifices himself to protect her from the ultimate evil, Cassia Lunason plunges herself into an enchanted slumber. After two hundred years of blissful dreaming, Cas wakes up to discover that the world has become a very different place. Cars zoom down the streets, lights come on with the flip of a switch, and enchantresses take more than one mate. 
Not only does the powerful enchantress need to learn how to navigate the new world, Cassia soon realizes one very important thing - her soulmate is still alive. With the help of her familiar, a majestic white wolf with the ability to speak telepathically, Cassia struggles to reach her lost love. Along the way, Cas is distracted by a handsome man who will stop at nothing to help her get her beloved back.
Will Cassia reach her lost love in time?Is the evil her soulmate sacrificed himself for truly destroyed?Can her newly kindled friendship stand up to the scrutiny of her familiar?
Turn the page to see how Cas deals with the multiple men in her life while struggling to get the one man she has always loved back.
**This is a slow-burn reverse harem romance. The action slowly builds throughout the series, and the main character has more than one love interest. Though book one is relatively mild, the following books in this series include explicit language, graphic scenes, and some BDSM action. This series is not recommended for readers under 18 and may be a trigger for some.


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Chasing CasThe Lost Lunason Series Book 2
Follow Cas and her three powerful protectors in this exciting paranormal tale of magic, shifters, and soulmates.
Cassia, the most powerful enchantress born in centuries, is so busy living her happy new life that she doesn't realize people are searching for her. While Cas spends her time bonding with the boy next door, the soulmate she doesn't remember exhausts every option on his hunt to find her. Unfortunately, he isn't the only one hunting...
An evil from her past is back with a vengeance and will do everything imaginable to destroy Cassia and her mates - including feasting on unsuspecting humans and tormenting the other enchanted.
Can Cassia's true love find her before evil destroys them all?Will Braxton finally risk everything and reveal his secret?Book 2 of The Lost Lunason Series really heats up and will leave you begging for more!
This is not a standalone and should be read after "While My Soulmate Slumbers."


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Claiming CassiaThe Lost Lunason Series Book 3
Just when she thinks it’s safe to concentrate on her relationships, Cassia’s world is turned upside down once again.The most dangerous enemy of the enchanted is on the loose and nobody is safe.Celestia has made the ultimate sacrifice for her sister, unfortunately, this is the worst time for her to be so vulnerable.Secrets are revealed that leave Cas wanting more than just answers, and her three muscular mates hope to giver her everything she desires.If you thought Chasing Cas was hot, you won’t believe the action in book three!


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Stacie Sultrie was born and raised in the United States and currently lives in a tiny Midwestern town. She has a loving and supportive husband who always encourages her to follow her dreams. Stacie has an amazingly athletic son that habitually hauls the family around the Midwest for sporting events. She also has two darling dogs that stay up late with her while she works on her books. Stacie is a stay-at-home mom, has earned her bachelor's degree in psychology, and plans to continue writing while pursuing a master's degree. She enjoys watching her son play sports, is an avid reader, and has a myriad of artistic hobbies. Stacie has always appreciated horror, paranormal, and romance books, but after reading her first reverse harem, was hooked on the genre. She hopes to publish a book every two or three months, and is grateful to everyone that supportsher!

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The Good Inside Me Book Trailer

To Love An Earl

To Love an EarlMayfair Book 3by J R SalisburyGenre: Historical Romance
One of the worst snow storms in over a decade hits England. What's the worst that could happen?
Lady Jane Blackmont finds herself stranded at the Earl of Norwood's estate. Not looking for love of any fashion, she finds herself falling for a neighbor and one of her brother's friends.The Earl of Norwood rescues the young woman after her carriage careens off the road. Right in front of his estate. Norwood's been unlucky in love, but finds himself intrigued with the smart and talented Lady Jane. Does he dare open himself up to love?Life is about to hand the pair more than most young couples have to deal with in a life time. Lady Jane shows Norwood she's up to the challenge.


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I've always been a creative individual. Writing is just a facet of that creativity...

My careers in public relations in and around the entertainment industry, photography, editing,  artist management, modeling and special event planning all elevated my passion for writing, not to mention gave me a treasure trove for story lines.
I write women's fiction; contemporary romance (as Jamie Salisbury) and historical romance (as JR Salisbury) which is ever evolving. I am fortunate enough that writing (and marketing of said product(s)) is my full-time job, although I always have one or two other projects going at the same time.
I now live in a suburb of Atlanta. Some of my other interests include photography, equestrianism, reading, and of course, travel.
I sincerely hope my writing will entertain, enlighten, and inspire others to pick up the pen and pursue their own dreams. I love to be contacted by readers, writers, and history buffs.


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Ragnarok

RagnarokWorlds Collide Book 1by Michael SmorenburgGenre: Fantasy, Romantic Suspense
A secret NASA experiment gone wrong, the chaos that erupts, and one reporter seeking the truth who chases leads where she shouldn't.

On a flight from Paris to Los Angeles Tegan Mulholland is intrigued & charmed by Pete, the mysterious stranger sitting beside her. But when their plane almost falls from the sky and other jets in her vicinity wink from the radar, the official explanations that follow reek to Tegan's retired investigative journalist mind of cover up.
What is not declared:A secret NASA experiment has warped a column of time instead of space, plucking with it the planes out of our era, and a band of Norse warriors from the Vinland colony millennia ago into our epoch.Rowing eastward and back to Iceland, the contrail of Tegan's plane appearing after the strange aurora and moving westward high above, the Norsemen conclude are Odin's order to return to Vinland and unknowingly toward the modern day Canadian coast, where, just days--yet a thousand years before--the skraeling Indians had driven them out.
As news reports flood Tegan's living room of bloodshed and massacre, speculating about which gang of roughly dressed bearded marauders are responsible for mass-murder around the quiet Canadian coast, Tegan develops a hunch that there is more to the story than it seems. She quits her Hollywood Exec job and embarks on an odyssey that leads inexorably ever closer toward the Norsemen's hidden lair.
Only Pete, the Lockheed consultant she had steadily fallen in love with during the harrowing flight and since, has any hope of saving her.
If you enjoy intrigue, conspiracy and romantic suspense, Ragnarok will grip your imagination and not let go.



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Michael Smorenburg (b. 1964) grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. An entrepreneur with a passion for marketing, in 1995 Michael moved to California where he founded a business consultancy and online media and marketing engine in the burgeoning internet. In 2003 he returned to South Africa where he launched a security company. In 2015 he divested of the business to write full time. Michael's greatest love is the ocean, keeping up with the latest breakthroughs in science, understanding the cosmos and sharing all he learns.

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The Rose Queen

The Rose Queen by Alison McBain
I'm happy to host an awesome author and a great friend, Alison McBain. Her lovely book, The Rose Queen, is a retelling of Beauty and The Beast with some amazing twists.

      

 BlurbThe Beast doesn't always wait for Beauty. Sometimes, Beauty is the Beast.Princess Mirabella is betrothed to a repulsive old man a year after her mother's death. She refuses the marriage, only to find out her betrothed is a sorcerer as well. He takes his revenge by transforming her into a savage and frightening beast, giving her an ultimatum: she has three years to solve the mystery of her curse—or die.Exiled to her mother's estate to hide the scandal, Mirabella learns that the sorcerer was not alone in keeping secrets. Her grandfather was murdered before Mirabella was born, and her mother's death is looking less and less as if it came from natural causes. The only point in common to all their ruined lives: her father, the king.

Faced with a conflict between saving her family and saving her own life, the choices Mirabella makes will change the future of the kingdom—and magic—forever.
My review

Five stars for this lovely, fresh, and clever re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Princess Mirabella is cursed and turned into a hideous beast. Cast away from her home, she lives with her loyal nursemaid and confidante Brina. Together, the two women work to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and find a way to block the curse while Mira discovers the meaning of love. The main character’s development and her relationship with Brina are the main story lines of the novel. It’s not a romance book, which makes the story even more fresh compared to other Beauty and the Beast re-tellings.Highly recommend it.        
                                                                            Excerpt 
When she was sixteen, Mirabella attended the last ball her mother, the queen, would organize. Although Mira’s beauty was maturing, she was not yet done with the plumpness of youth. Between now and her eighteenth year, she would grow five more inches. At eighteen, she would be the tallest of all the women and taller than a number of the men of court. She would come eye-to-eye with the king, although his stature was greater simply due to the height of his crown.But at sixteen, something about her was not yet complete.It was attractive, that unfinished quality in her. At her mother’s ball, one could tell where the princess stood merely by the number of suitors hovering around one spot. Overwhelmed by the crowd, she had learned by that time to smile coyly and say little. She donned indifference like armor, and without intending it, her distant and cool demeanor became her trademark. What would they all say if they knew she felt shriveled up inside under the constant attention?Because she didn’t say much, Mira listened. Since childhood, she’d had the knack of paying attention to multiple conversations at the same time. She could be at a crowded gathering like this ballroom, and still distinguish each voice around her. Even as she smiled at her companions, she was mostly paying attention to the conversation now taking place behind her.“Him? What would the king want with him?”“Called him from there, you know. The queen said—”“Country buffoon. Did you know that when he made his bow, he neglected to—”“Not surprising. What do you expect, letting in riffraff? And look at those clothes—”She couldn’t help but turn to look for the subject of the conversation.The person they spoke of seemed alone despite the hordes of people who swirled around him, like a pebble untouched in a stream. His clothes were a touch less elegant, less polished, as if he had spent money frugally and been cheated of the finest materials. It aped the latest style, but was not quite the thing. There was something about him, though, that spoke to her.His features were forgettable, but his eyes—they were dark and miserable in the crowd.
She managed an introduction and, a touch belatedly it seemed, he asked to escort her around the ballroom. She glanced to each side, at the bodies of suitors piled up around her, and raised one perfect eyebrow at him in conspiracy. “Thank you, sir,” she replied and was granted his smile.She heard a ripple of whispers after them, but it was unlikely she would ever see this country lord again, and so she didn’t worry about what impression she might be making. For a moment, she breathed more easily in the man’s ostracized presence. He said almost nothing, and it was a definite improvement over the ceaseless prattle of the admirers left behind.And for a moment, she felt… not alone. Or if alone, it was a shared aloneness. She could be a solitary creature and take comfort with another’s pain in the midst of the crowd.When the man made his final bow, she felt she had done a good service to rescue him and keep him company. Maybe someone might do the same for her someday.
Bio 
Alison McBain grew up in California and received her B.A. in African history and classical literature at U.C. Santa Cruz. After her nomadic twenties, she settled in Connecticut, where she is raising three girls. She is an award-winning author with nearly a hundred short works published, including poetry and fiction in Litro, Abyss & Apex and On-Spec. She has one novel under her belt as an author (The Rose Queen), a forthcoming short story collection (Enchantress of Books and other stories), one anthology under her belt as lead editor (When to Now: A Time Travel Anthology), and was recently nominated for the Pushcart Prize for poetry. When not writing, she puts on her Book Reviews Editor hat for the magazine Bewildering Storiesor draws the weekly web comic Toddler Times.

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Queen-Boo...
                                                  You can contact Alison here: 



Website (author/cartoonist): http://www.alisonmcbain.com/Website (editor): http://www.fairfieldscribes.com/Website (book reviewer): http://bewilderingstories.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.mcbai... (author): https://twitter.com/alisonmcbainTwitter (editor): https://twitter.com/ffldscribesTwitter (cartoonist): https://twitter.com/toddler_times
Interview
1.                  What is something unique/quirky about you?My great-aunt Masako taught me origami when I was 6 years old, and I’ve been doing it ever since. Aside from writing, it’s the thing I’ve been doing the longest in my life. I can make almost any type of figure/animal, after a little bit of practice.


2.                  How much research have you done for this book?I did a lot! Although set in a fantasy world, it’s loosely based on 14th to 16th century France. A lot of the customs, practices, buildings, healing herbs, food, and even the names highlighted in the book were taken from history.3.                  What are some of your pet peeves?Ha, I have a lot when it comes to writing/reading. Historical inaccuracy is one. An inconsistent magic system is another. I like to read (and hopefully write) stories that feel real. I want characters to come to life for the reader, and anything that pulls the reader out of the story – any authorial intrusion – is a no-no for me.4.                  What do you do to unwind and relax?I’m on a pool (billiards) league that plays competitively against other teams once a week. My friends like to joke that I’m a pool shark, but I’m actually the lowest-ranked player on the team. It’s a lot of fun, though!5.                  Describe yourself in 5 words or less!Mom, creative, patient & impatient.6.                  When did you first consider yourself a writer?I’ve always written, but I don’t think I considered myself a Writer with a capital “W” until I got paid for something I wrote. Sometimes, I’m still not sure about it.7.                  What inspired you to write your novel? My grandmothers. My Japanese grandmother was a large part of my life growing up, and she always encouraged me. My father’s mom was a writer herself and published her first book at age 90. I always used to joke with her that I had 60 years left to publish my first book, but her advice was always the same: “Don’t wait!” And since she’s passed away, I haven’t waited. I only regret that neither one of these very strong and influential women in my life ever got to read any of my books or celebrate any of my writing successes with me. But I’m still doing it for them.8.                  Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie? All of them! Ha ha. I have a contemporary romance right now being shopped to publishers that takes place in a town suspiciously similar to the one I currently live in. I also have an epic sci-fi story based on apartheid South Africa that’s now in the editing stage. And, of course, my published novel The Rose Queen.9.                  What did you enjoy most about writing your novel?My favorite fairy tale has always been Beauty and the Beast. I’ve read every adaptation I could get my hands on since I was a kid, and I’ve watched every movie. But I felt there was always something more to add to the story. The ability to find that “more” and express it was amazing. To fill in the plot holes that I saw in the original story and really develop a character who acted as I felt a real person might act when faced with such an unbelievable situation.10.              As a reader, what genre do you love?Although I have a special fondness for fantasy, it really depends on my mood – I’ll enjoy anything, from romance to science fiction, from mystery to literary, from poetry to horror. I read it all and I write it all.11.             Who’s your favourite author?I have a LOT of writers I constantly return to, but a few of the top ones are: Ray Bradbury, Tanith Lee, Terry Pratchett, Langston Hughes, Guy Gavriel Kay, Margaret Atwood, Olivia Butler, and Kristin Higgins.
12.             If you were an X-woman, what power would you like to have?Since I was 9 years old, I always had one large, natural white streak in my hair, so Rogue would be the obvious choice. But her power seems fairly lonely. I definitely wouldn’t want to read other peoples’ thoughts, like Professor X. So I might have to go with Storm. During the snowiest winters, I’d walk around with my own personal warm sunshine beaming down on me. (I’m honestly a California girl at heart, and winters can be looooonnnnnggg in Connecticut.)13.             Do you believe in writer’s block?I don’t think I believe in writer’s block the way I think most writers do. Is there ever a point where I can’t sit down and write SOMETHING? No. It might not be what I intended, but the words will always come out. But sometimes I might get stumped if trying to focus on a specific prompt and have to think about it for a while. The key, I find, is to just write. Don’t limit what you want to write – just write. 
14.             Are you a pantser or a plotter?Pantser all the way! Ha ha. I’ve tried outlining, and you know what? The story and characters just run away from me. So I let them do what they want. They know best, anyway.
15.             What’s the most effective way to promote a book in your opinion? Word of mouth and putting yourself out there. I like to give back to the writing community as much as I’ve gotten out of it, and I feel both good writing and goodwill helps readers find your work. Writers these days are as much public figures as most professions that rely on “customers” to buy their products. So I am Kleenex; hear me roar! Ha.
          16.       Anything else you’d like to add?I want to thank you very much for the interview, Barbara! You are an awesome author, and it’s been fantastic working with you on a number of writerly projects. I hope to continue to do so in the future. Thanks so much!
Thank you, Alison!