Mary Anne Yarde's Blog: The Coffee Pot Book Club , page 133

Join Historian and author, Trisha Hughes, as she takes a look at the final days of the Romanov Family #History #Russia @TrishaHughes

The final days of the Romanov FamilyBy Trisha Hughes




As the light faded, a train halted in the remote railway station of Lyubinskaya on the Trans-Siberian railway line. It was the evening of April 29, 1918, and there was nothing outwardly remarkable about the first-class railway carriage except the presence of a heavily armed guard outside the door. Sitting quietly inside was a family whose faces have been immortalised through pictures in history book. Four pale girls in white lace, their hair tied back with satin ribbons, and a sickly little boy in a sailor suit. Unbeknownst to them, they were making their final journey.
The young and beautiful Grand Duchesses, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, all sat beside their mother, Tsarina Alexandra, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, while young Alexei lent on his father, the former Tsar, Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov. The engine started, and the train took a decisive direction and at that moment, all lingering hope inside Special Train Number 8 would have evaporated. The train was lumbering not towards a trial in Moscow or foreign exile, as they had been led to believe, but to the bleak Urals, specifically Ekaterinburg, the historic hub of Russia's old penal system. In just 78 days, they would be facing a firing squad.
Nicholas was never regarded as a likely king. He was shy, gentle in nature, indecisive and fearful of controversy. But it was his devotion to his family that made him make many fateful mistakes during his reign. By far, the worst mistake was ignoring his unpopular wife’s obsession with Grigori Rasputin, the charismatic 'holy man' she believed could save her haemophiliac son Alexei from bleeding to death.



It was this fatal mistake, made for the love of his family, that caused him to turn a blind eye to the social unrest in his country during a time of escalating political turmoil. Nicholas believed he had no option but to abdicate 'for the good of Russia' and he did so because he naively believed it would guarantee the safety of his beloved family.
After the abdication, the family were initially placed under house arrest and then transferred to a small rural town, Tobolsk, where they retained a substantial entourage of 39 courtiers and servants. Eventually, this was regarded as too much of a privilege for the royal family and a house in Ekaterinburg was prepared for their arrival.
Stepping off the train in Ekaterinburg after a bone-rattling five-day journey, an exhausted Nicholas and Alexandra, together with their daughters and son, were received into the hands of local soviets, along with their doctor, maid, valet and footman. Their new home would ominously be referred to by a Bolshevik euphemism, dom osobogo znachenie - The House of Special Purpose - and as they passed through the gate, they looked backwards over their shoulders to the outside world for the last time. It was Passion Week and the Easter bells of the Orthodox Church rang out merrily across the city. As the gates to his new prison slammed shut, the Tsar was curtly told: 'Citizen Nicholas Romanov, you may enter.'
Hidden behind a high wooden fence, its windows blacked out, the Romanov’s new home would be a gloomy prison consisting of five rooms. It would be a far cry from the sumptuous winter and summer palaces, banqueting halls and glorious gardens the Imperial Family had previously enjoyed, but gradually, they settled into their new lodgings.
The private house, though hardly a palace, was nonetheless regarded as one of the most modern in the city because it possessed a flushing toilet. The family were allowed to keep their bed linen bearing personalised monograms and the Imperial crest, as well as fine porcelain dinner plates bearing the name Nicholas II. Alexandra had also brought supplies of her favourite English eau de cologne by Brocard, as well as cold cream, lavender salts and the many potions on which she was reliant. Plagued by migraines, heart palpitations, insomnia and sciatica, she was hopelessly addicted to a whole range of drugs including morphine and cocaine for menstrual pain. It has been speculated that Nicholas, too, was cushioned from the reality of losing his throne by smoking a mixture of hashish and the psychoactive herb henbane administered to him by Rasputin to counter stress and insomnia.
Life in The House of Special Purpose was severely restrictive. Gone were the white dresses and pretty hats that they used to wear every summer at their palace in the Crimea, a seaside paradise where the air was thick with the scent of roses and honeysuckle. Now they were not allowed visitors, they were to talk no language other than Russian (Alexandra liked to speak to her children in English) and they were not allowed to go outside the building except during a predetermined hour. Spirited and bored, the Romanov girls, aged between 17 and 22, ignored warnings not to peek out of an unsecured top-floor window until a sentry fired a warning shot at Anastasia's head.
The family had one consuming obsession: Alexei's fragile health. Since April, the 13-year-old had been suffering from a recurring haemorrhage in his knee, causing him agonising pain, so a splint was lackadaisically applied. Doctors had already cautioned Nicholas that Alexei would not reach sixteen because of his debilitating illness, but the child half-heartedly rallied nonetheless. Of late, he seemed to be at death's door and the family was exhausted by a relentless round of all-night sessions at his bedside. Eventually, the splint was taken off his leg and he could be carried out to the garden. But he would never walk again.
By early July 1918, the daily ritual of life at the House had taken on a numbing predictability. The family rose at eight in the morning and breakfasted on tea and black bread. The days were filled with endless games of cards, patience and the French game bezique, which was a family favourite, while Alexei played with his model ship and tin soldiers. During their hour in the small garden, the girls and their father, the man who had ruled 8.5 million square miles of empire now master of a single room, would walk the 40 paces back and forth in the small, scrappy garden, eager to make the most of their exercise time. Nicholas would watch his children play, his soft blue eyes full of tears while Alexandra took on the look of a broken woman. Each evening after a meagre supper, there were prayers and Bible readings, more games, diary writing, embroidery and sewing. Unbeknownst to their guards, the Romanov women spent long, furtive hours concealing gemstones and pearls into the linings of their dresses to fund the life in exile of which they dreamed. The family had learnt to be stoical, but their awful fate loomed.
Beyond the walls, civil war raged and the mood was growing increasingly ugly. The ranks of the White Army, which opposed the Bolsheviks, were rapidly gaining ground on Ekaterinburg. Food in the city was rationed and typhus and cholera had taken a grip. Forty-five members of the local Orthodox diocese were murdered, their eyes gouged out, tongues and ears hacked off and their mangled bodies thrown in the river. Inside the House of Special Purpose, as the weather grew hot, the Romanovs settled into a state of restless boredom and an air of unreality reigned.
In America, the Washington Post published rumours that they had already been executed. In Britain, George V had withdrawn his earlier offer of asylum for the family, not knowing that the Romanovs' fate at this point hung in the balance.
Tuesday, July 16th began uneventfully for the Romanovs in their five rooms. At 3pm, the family walked around the strip of unkempt garden for the last time and after evening prayers, they went to bed. At 1am, the Romanovs, their four remaining servants and the family doctor were awakened and told that the White Army was approaching and might launch an artillery attack on the house. They were told to go downstairs for their own safety.
The Tsar got up immediately and his wife and daughters put on their camisoles sewn full of jewels and pearls, just like they had rehearsed many times for a rescue attempt or sudden flight. At 2.15am on July 17, they were led down to the basement with Anastasia carrying her sister Tatiana's little Pekinese, Jemmy, with her. The Tsar was heard to say to his daughters reassuringly: 'Well, we're going to get out of this place’.
They were ushered into a storeroom, lit by a single naked bulb, to find the windows had been nailed shut. The family and their servants were lined up as if for an official photograph and then left alone for half an hour. Outside, their assassins were downing shots of vodka.
Re-entering the room, a guard read out a statement sentencing the family to death.
It wasn’t until the order came to shoot that Nicky reacted. He called out an incredulous “What? What?” before he was shot point blank in the chest. As his body crumbled to the ground, the rest of the men started firing. An ashen-faced Alexei, too crippled to move, survived the first volley of bullets, protected by both his father’s body and jewels sewn into his underwear and cap as did his sisters, protected by 1.3 kilograms of diamonds sewn into the bodices of their dresses. But it was only a temporary reprieve. When the gun smoke and plaster cleared, sobs and whimpers were heard as Alexandra and the children huddled together against a wall covering their heads in terror. It was then the guards realised they’d botched the slaughter.
None of the remaining Romanovs died a quick or painless death. One by one, the guards moved from person to person bayoneting them first then shooting them in the head to prevent identification. What should have been a quick, clean execution had turned into a 20-minute orgy of killing, with only the thick clouds of gunpowder smoke obscuring the full horror of it. Their bodies were then taken fourteen miles away and burnt, dowsed in sulphuric acid and buried in unmarked graves.
King George V was watching the balloon-training wing of the RAF on the day his cousin Tsar Nicholas and his family were assassinated. He was to hear of his cousin’s murder three days later when the Bolsheviks announced it.
Kaiser Wilhelm’s downfall would come three months later in October when he took his family from the Berlin army headquarters to Spa. To everyone in Berlin, it looked like Wilhelm was running away. Up to that point, he had accepted the fact that he would most likely have to give up the imperial crown, but he still hoped to retain the Prussian kingship. On 9th November that hope became a distant dream. He and his family were driven quietly to the Dutch border and unceremoniously told to leave. He would spend the rest of his life in exile in Holland.





Wilhelm was not the only one who had been forced to abdicate. Elsewhere in Europe, the kings of Greece, Bulgaria and Austria, had been deposed and the ruling dukes of Coburg and Hesse had been forced to abdicate as well. The Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz committed suicide by shooting himself.
When the crowds came to Buckingham Palace on Armistice Day, November 11th 1919 to mark the end of hostilities on the Western Front, their cheers were deafening. George was the only monarch still standing on his balcony. But it had come at a huge price.


Victoria to VikingsThe Circle of Blood

At the heart of our present are the stories of our past. In ages gone by, many monarchs died while they were still young. There were battles and diseases and many were simply overthrown. But the days of regal engagement in hand-to-hand combat are over and the line of succession has a good ageing prospect these days.
One of the most famous monarchs in history is Queen Victoria and her passing brought an end to an amazing era. She could be demanding, rude and she frequently fled public duties for the solitude of Scotland. But she loved fiercely and her people loved her fiercely in return. Under her reign, England achieved a greatness it had never known before.

Victoria to Vikings: The Circle of Blood spans from this great queen to another one: Queen Elizabeth II. Ours is the era of the longest living monarch in history and her ancestry is incredible. But walking two steps behind her, stalwart and loyal, stands Prince Philip, the strawberry to her champagne, and with him comes his own amazing Viking heritage.

Pick up your copy ofVictoria to VikingsThe Circle of Blood
Amazon UK • Amazon US



Vikings to Virgin:The Hazards of Being King
In Vikings to Virgin - The Hazards of Being King Trisha Hughes provides the reader with a pacey introduction to the many pitfalls faced by the ambitious as they climbed the dangerous ladders of royalty. It is easy to think that monarchs are all powerful, but throughout the Dark and Middle Ages it was surprisingly easy to unseat one and assume the crown yourself. But if it was easy to gain ... it was just as easy to lose.From the dawn of the Vikings through to Elizabeth I, Trisha Hughes follows the violent struggles for power and the many brutal methods employed to wrest it and keep hold of it. Murder, deceit, treachery, lust and betrayal were just a few of the methods used to try and win the crown. Vikings to Virgin - The Hazards of Being King spans fifteen hundred years and is a highly accessible and enjoyable ride through the dark side of early British monarchy.
                     Amazon UK • Amazon US                    
Virgin to Victoria 


Virgin to Victoria is a powerful retelling of the history of the British monarchy, beginning with Henry VIII's daughter, Elizabeth I, as she comes to the throne. Charting Elizabeth's incredible journey, Virgin to Victoria travels in time through the confusion of the Stuart dynasty, the devastation of a Civil War led by Oliver Cromwell, horrific battles for the throne and the turbulent Hanover dynasty with its intricate family squabbles. Despite her amazing legacy, Elizabeth failed England in one vital area. She never married, nor did she leave an heir to the Tudor family. In making this one fateful decision, the Virgin Queen left the path open for a take-over and life would never be the same. Victoria did not ask to be Queen. It was thrust upon her by a series of events that removed all others who stood in line for the throne. She assumed it reluctantly and, at first, incompetently. Parliament was sure that the 18-year-old could be relied upon to leave the job of running the country to the professionals. Couldn't she?
Amazon UK • Amazon US


Trisha Hughes

I was born in a little outback town called Blackall in Central Queensland, Australia. From there my parents moved to the Brisbane suburb of Fortitude Valley where I grew up to be a tiny, self-reliant little girl.

My first book,  ‘Daughters of Nazareth’  is my story, written eighteen years ago, fuelled on by the discovery of a family I never knew I had.  It’s full of family secrets, tremendous heartache but proves the human spirit’s amazing ability to triumph over adversity. Nineteen years ago, after just one phone call, my life changed abruptly. With that change came a passion for writing and I have been writing ever since.
I love writing crime novels but my passion is with the history of the British Monarchy. The first in my ‘V2V’  trilogy is  ‘Vikings to Virgin – The Hazards of being King ’ published in 2017. The second in the series is due for release on 28th April this year and is called  ‘Virgin to Victoria – The Queen is Dead. Long live the Queen.’  The final book,  ‘Victoria to Vikings – The Circle of Blood’  will be released early 2019.
Trisha loves to hear from readers, you can find her: Website •  Twitter • Facebook

#BookReview — The Briton and the Dane: Legacy by Mary Ann Bernal #HistoricalFiction @BritonandDane

The Briton and the Dane: Legacy
(The Briton and the Dane #3)By Mary Ann Bernal

Whispered by the wise and the learned. Talked of in hushed tones round luminous firesides. Engraved by awestruck scribes in the scriptoria of the Chronicles. Against all the odds, great King Alfred defeated a vastly superior Danish army outside Chippenham. 

This victory, the sages prophesied, would guarantee peace throughout the land. Or so they thought.

Two years later, Rigr the Bastard, vengeful and seeking to claim his birthright, was defeated in the wilds of East Anglia. His blood smeared berserker warriors vanquished; no quarter asked for - no quarter given.

Now, a further two years later, the Vikings return. Noble Prince Sven instigates a seaborne invasion, fuelled partly by blind rage when he discovers that his brother, Prince Erik, has sworn fealty to the Anglo-Saxon king. 

His own brother: A traitor and a fool.

Erik’s love, Lady Gwyneth, attempts to stop the invasion before it starts by uniting the two estranged brothers, but her scheming only succeeds in making matters worse. Indeed, her interference guarantees the death of thousands of warriors in the freezing, tumultuous North Sea. 

So when the horns of Sven’s monumental fleet of warships are heard off the fogbound coast of Britannia, King Alfred – outnumbered, outshipped and weary of the fray - must rouse his jaded Saxon warriors and lead them to sea, to repel his most formidable enemy yet.

For a host motivated by the spilled blood of the fallen, the spirit of black vengeance, and the delights of a warrior’s reward in Valhalla, is the most fearsome opponent of all. 

Alfred. Sven. Erik. Gwyneth. Amidst the ferrous reverberation of a battle royale - one or all must die, and the fate of a nation hangs in the balance, one final time.

#BookReview — A Torch In His Heart (The Wanderer #1) by Anna Belfrage #timeslip #paranormal #romance @abelfrageauthor

A Torch In His Heart (The Wanderer #1)By Anna Belfrage

In the long lost ancient past, two men fought over the girl with eyes like the Bosporus under a summer sky. It ended badly. She died. They died. 

Since then, they have all tumbled through time, reborn over and over again. Now they are all here, in the same place, the same time and what began so long ago must finally come to an end. 

Ask Helle Madsen what she thinks about reincarnation and she’ll laugh in your face. Besides, Helle has other stuff to handle, what with her new, exciting job in London and her drop-dead but seriously sinister boss, Sam Woolf. And then one day Jason Morris walks into her life and despite never having clapped eyes on him before, she recognises him immediately. Very weird. Even more weird is the fact that Sam and Jason clearly hate each other’s guts. Helle’s life is about to become extremely complicated and far too exciting.




“You know why I’m here,” Jason said. “I’m here for her...”
Three thousand years ago, Jason Morris lost the only woman he had ever loved. It was an agony like none he had ever experienced, it had torn at his soul and irrevocably broken his heart. He longed for death so the pain would stop. But for Jason, death was no escape. By the cruel hand of fate, he is on an endless loop of birth and death as he searches for his lost love through the ages.
However, Jason is not the only one who is on this endless cycle. The man who raped, tortured and murdered his beloved all those years ago is also on the same seemingly infinite journey. Sam Woolf has never forgotten, nor has he forgiven Jason. Time has not diminished his hatred. It has instead fanned the fire into a raging inferno. Helle was supposed to be his. She had deserved everything he had done to her and more for daring to choose a Wanderer over him.
Helle is determined to make a good impression on her first day working at Woolf & Partners. However, when she meets Sam Woolf her every instinct screams to run and never look back. Woolf looks at her as if she is something to eat and paralyses her with fear every time she looks into his eyes. However, she needs this job and the opportunities it could bring.
Jason has spent too many years and too many lives looking for Helle. Now that he has found her, he will do everything in his power to vanquish Woolf once and for all. This time he and Helle will have the life that was so cruelly snatched from them three thousand years ago.
Helle Madsen did not know why she knew Jason’s name or why he seemed so very familiar. But with him, she feels safe. With him, she feels loved. Moreover, as she comes to the shocking realisation that the dreams that haunt her nights are, in fact, memories, Helle cannot rebuke the truth that is standing right in front of her. If she wants to live, then Sam Woolf must die. It is time to stop running from the past. It is time to embrace it…
When the book slipped from my hand as I read the last sentence, only one word came to mind. “Wow!” A Torch In His Heart (The Wanderer #1) by Anna Belfrage is not only an intensely gripping story that spans over three thousand years, but it is also profoundly moving, wonderfully evocative and totally absorbing. The hours flew by as I lost myself in one of the greatest time-slip romantic journeys that I think I have been on this year. From the opening sentence, I was utterly enchanted, and by the end of the book, I was reaching for the Kleenex and crying out in anguish.
Belfrage presents her reader with two highly appealing protagonists. Jason’s story is utterly heartbreaking. In each life, by the age of 12 years old, he remembers who he was and all of the experiences that he has lived. He dedicates each life to finding Helle in the hope that he can protect her from Samion, Prince of Kolchis (Sam Woolf). However, each life brings a different set of challenges and yet, many times, Jason wanders the world without ever finding her. However, this time, it is different. Jason can sense her presence, and he is determined to do everything in his power to keep her safe. I absolutely adored Jason. He is genuine, loving and very human in the telling. In fact, that is a trait throughout this book. Belfrage creates incredibly believable characters, and they react to situations in a very human way. Jason’s nervousness at introducing himself to Helle, was incredibly sweet, his determination to keep her safe melted my heart. His character is beautifully drawn and so very compelling that I found it very difficult to put down this book. Never has a novel begged so much to be read in one sitting as A Torch In His Heart.
Like Jason, Helle is a fabulous protagonist. Her confusion as to what on earth was going on, kept me turning those pages well into the night. Unlike Jason and Woolf, Helle thinks that the dreams she has are just that, dreams. It is only later that she realises that these dreams are memories, and because of this, she does not listen to her gut-instinct with regards to Woolf. Woolf is highly unappealing and scares the life out of her. However, she is blind to the real danger of the man, and it isn’t until she meets Jason that things start to fall into place, although she has a terrible time accepting the truth of her situation, and even when she does she has moments of doubts, as would anyone in her situation.
The antagonist of this tale is, of course, Sam Woolf. He is vile, both in thought and mind. This book is very much a darkness and light story with him portrayed in the darkest of terms. Woolf is incredibly powerful, manipulative, and cruel. He is determined to get his own way, and he does not care what he has to do to achieve his aims. Woolf is exceedingly dangerous but also very intelligent and devious. To defeat such a foe will not be without considerable challenges, and Belfrage certainly does not make it easy for her protagonists. They live in constant fear of him. I loathed him from the beginning, but his obsessive determination certainly drove this story forward.
A Torch In His Heart is very much a time-slip novel. Although the majority of the story is set in the modern world, all of the back story is set in the ancient one. Both are rich and vibrant in the telling. The historical detailing of the ancient world has to be commended. It is wonderfully portrayed and rich in historical accuracy. It was interesting to witness the change the different eras had on all of the characters, but especially with regards to Woolf. Woolf’s ability to adapt and to embrace the dark underworld of modern life drove home how deplorable his character truly is. He is just awful, which I should imagine is precisely what Belfrage intended her readers to feel about him.
Despite the danger and the immediate threat to life, A Torch in His Heart is romantic and oh so sensual. The level of sensuality really suited this story. It is filled with passion, whether that be love or hate and the fact that both protagonists know that each hour could be their last together made their desperation for each other understandable. I think Belfrage got the balance between this compelling story and the love scenes just right.
A lot happens in this book, and there are many twists and turns — enough to keep a reader up all night! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I cannot wait to get my hands on book #2 of what promises to be an unforgettable series.
If you are looking for a passionate, enthralling and unforgettable love story filled with danger and heat, then A Torch In His Heart by Anna Belfrage is the book for you.
I Highly Recommend.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde.The Coffee Pot Book Club

Pick up your copy ofA Torch in His Heart (The Wanderer #1)Amazon UK • Amazon US

Anna Belfrage
Had Anna been allowed to choose, she’d have become a time-traveller. As this was impossible, she became a financial professional with two absorbing interests: history and writing. Anna has authored the acclaimed time travelling series The Graham Saga, set in 17th century Scotland and Maryland, as well as the equally acclaimed medieval series The King’s Greatest Enemy which is set in 14th century England.  She has recently released the first in a new series, The Wanderer. This time, she steps out of her normal historical context and A Torch in His Heart is with a fast-paced contemporary romantic suspense with paranormal and time-slip ingredients.
Find out more about Anna by visiting her website, or herAmazon page.

Author, Virginia Crow, is talking about what inspired her to start writing #HistoricalFiction. Virginia is giving away one paperback copy of her fabulous book — Beneath Black Clouds and White @DaysDyingGlory

Holding Hands Across HistoryAn Author’s InspirationBy Virginia Crow

It’s great to have this chance to share my sources of inspiration with you all, so I’d like to start by saying a quick but heartfelt thank you to Mary Anne for this opportunity.
No one was more surprised than me when, two years ago, I published my first historical fiction novel.  Throughout my teen years any book in my hand would have featured a fantasy realm with dragons, magic, bows and arrows, swords, and maps of imagined landscape.  And I loved writing that genre, too.


Historical fiction came out of nowhere.
I’ve always loved history.  Not particularly school history, where you study a topic so wide and varied you never get to focus on one thing for more than two lessons, but the history of individuals.  One of the places you had individuals of all backgrounds and classes was on the battlefield.  And, with this interest in battlefields as multi-faceted landscapes, my journey into Historical Fiction writing began.





A military bugle - no further details known.


So, I had my canvas, now I needed my inspiration.  It’s a slippery thing is inspiration.  At a recent event I described it as "like the wind - you can feel it when it hits you, but you can never hold onto it".  I was quite pleased with that as a soundbite, but it wasn’t wholly honest.  You see, I’ve found a way of holding onto it.
The greatest mystery of all - Found shoved up a chimney, a mirror featuring the words of my beloved poet, Byron.
It all began with an auction.  I didn’t go, I was only about seven at the time.  Mum had always wanted an Ogee Chest so, when one came up at the local auction, she bought it.  I don’t know what happened to the chest, it got left behind in a house move and we have a different one now.  Most Ogee Chests have hidden drawers, right at the top, and this one was no exception.  While cleaning out this one, Mum happened across a piece of paper, an old piece of paper with fine writing written across it.  It was a recipe for a drink, but a very specific drink: Drambuie.  So here we are, holding an age-old recipe for the drink created for Charles Edward Stuart.  And my mind began to dance, and my heart beat just a little bit quicker.  I was holding something which had a direct link back to one of the most iconic figures of Scotland’s past.
I’ve never tried to date the recipe.  It doesn’t really matter now if it’s from Clan MacKinnon – who first compiled the secret recipe – or not.  The point is, I had uncovered a well of inspiration.  I could hold an object from history and be a part of that ongoing story.  And that is truly inspirational.  In recent years, I’ve collected several artefacts.  Through them I’ve been able to hold hands with the men who sacked Sevastopol and the widows of the men who died trying; with a lady who was appalled with the behaviour of a gentleman; with a military bugler; and with a scholar from seventeenth century Holland.
An icon taken from Father Soblosky's house in Savastopol.
 As a countdown to my latest book Beneath Black Clouds and White, I shared pictures of a few things I’d collected or been gifted which had allowed me to reach back into history and share the stories of these men and women.  Being able to continue their stories in the inspiration they’ve given me, has driven the finer details into my plots.  Many of the objects I’ve gathered have been because I’m writing about a certain event or time, while others have just been too tempting to pass up on.
Last Christmas I was given a parcel of three antique items a notebook and a pen. The note attached invited me to use the three items to write a story. 





I haven’t started it yet – my Masters dissertation is about the only thing I’ve written in the past four months! – but I keep taking them out of the green paper bag with white dots on, and just holding them, imagining all the people who have held them before, listening to their words and, through the objects, feeling their touch.  The characters take my hand and lead me to places they’ve been where I’ll never go, and things they saw which I’ll share in words.  It’ll be an adventure story of everyday people, as all my stories are.  Believable characters doing believable things, a real human story.  Inspired by humanity.

Beneath Black Clouds and White

Despite adoring his family and enjoying frequenting gaming tables, Captain Josiah Tenterchilt’s true love is the British Army and he is committed to his duty. As such, he does not hesitate to answer the army’s call when King Louis XVI of France is executed.

Accompanied by his wife to Flanders, Josiah finds his path crosses with a man who could not be more different from him: an apprentice surgeon named Henry Fotherby. As these two men pursue their own actions, fate and the careful connivance of a mysterious individual will push them together for the rest of their lives.

But it is a tumultuous time, and the French revolutionaries are not the only ones who pose a threat. The two gentlemen must find their place in a world where the constraints of social class are inescapable, and ‘slavery or abolition’ are the words on everyone’s lips.

Giveaway
Virginia is giving away one paperback copy of
Beneath Black Clouds White.


All you need to do is answer this question:
Which era in history would you like to write about and why? 
Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Giveaway Rules
• Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Giveaway is open Internationally.
• Only one entry per household.
• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
• The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

Winner will be announced in the comments.


Pick up your copy ofBeneath Black Clouds and WhiteCrowvus • Amazon • Kobo• Waterstones


Virginia Crow
Virginia grew up in Orkney, using the breath-taking scenery to fuel her imagination and the writing fire within her. Her favourite genres to write are fantasy and historical fiction, sometimes mixing the two together such as her soon-to-be-serialised books "Caledon". She enjoys swashbuckling stories such as the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas and is still waiting for a screen adaption that lives up to the book!

When she's not writing, Virginia is a music teacher in Caithness. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of music, especially as a tool of inspiration. She also helps out with the John o' Groats Book Festival which has just celebrated its 2nd year. Hopefully they'll be plenty more to come!

She now lives in the far-flung corner of Scotland, soaking in inspiration from the rugged cliffs and miles of sandy beaches.

She loves cheese, music and films, but hates mushrooms.

#HistoricalFiction author, Chris Bishop, is talking about inspiration and how to get the creative juices flowing! #amwriting @CBishop_author

Inspiration – A Myth or a Gift from the Gods?? By Chris Bishop





Apparently, when asked about how to become a writer, P G Wodehouse replied that you sit in front of the typewriter and curse a bit!  Whilst probably not entirely productive, that does sound familiar and marginally more satisfying that staring at a blank sheet of paper hoping for some sort of inspiration.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
I’ve heard other writers speak about how they’ve experienced inspiration in the form of a ‘Gift from the Gods’, providing them with the idea for the perfect story.  I’m sure that can happen, but I have to say that I’ve never experienced it.  For me, whatever I get in the form of inspiration comes in one of two ways:-1.   The kernel of an idea which sets my mind on a certain track.  It’s hard to say where that idea originates but it seldom comes complete and needs to be nurtured and developed.
2.   The solution to a problem in a plot I’m working on which suddenly presents itself.  For me, this often happens with the ending – I seldom know the ending when I start writing (and prefer not to) but one seems to present itself at just the right moment.  I suppose that is a form of inspiration.In either case these ‘thoughts’ tend to arrive at the most inopportune times – and quite often at night.  I then struggle to remember them in the morning or, even if I do, they don’t seem half as good in the cold light of day!  In order not to miss something, I keep a notebook beside the bed but even that isn’t fool proof as I sometimes struggle to read what I’ve scribbled in the dark – so perhaps I need a torch as well…? Why do these ideas come at night?  I don’t know, but other writers I’ve met say they’ve experienced the same.  Perhaps it’s because something you’ve been working on is still in your mind and, when you relax, the subconscious takes over.  I find that the important thing is not to force these ideas – I need to let them settle and work them through in my mind. 
I think of it as being like a bird which has spotted a worm.  It has to pull its prey out of the ground using as much force as is needed whilst being careful not to break it and thereby lose part of its supper!
But where does inspiration come from and how do you get it?  I think it is true that it’s actually all around you, you just have to open up all your senses to find it – a chance remark, a picture, someone you meet – they can all provide that essential ‘spark’ for a story.  With this in mind I keep an ideas book in which I jot down things which I think might be worth working on.  It can be surprisingly productive but quite often I find that as the story develops the original idea gets lost along the way.  This never  troubles me unduly as after all, you can never see the spark which started the fire.  By way of an example, my first book, Blood and Destiny, started out as a ghost story based on a team of archaeologists who find the grave of a young boy in a remote and lonely place.  As I tried to write it the ghost of the boy seemed to take over the story – almost as if he was guiding my pen.  There’s more about that on my website (www.chrisbishopauthor.com) under the heading of The Hand Which Guides The Pen but it was a rare and truly extraordinary experience and probably as close to ‘inspiration’ as I’ve ever come.  It took two years for me to write that story - and there’s now no mention of those original archaeologists!So, what if, like many writers, you’re struggling for inspiration; what can you do to get the creative juices flowing?  Well, given all I’ve said so far, I’m not sure that I’m best qualified to offer advice but it might help to mention some of the tips I’ve been given over the years and found useful.  Firstly, for me, the hardest thing is to get myself started.  It’s amazing how many things I can find to do to put off actually writing.  The only way I’ve ever found of dealing with this is self-discipline – but it’s never easy.  However, there are things which can help:-·      Know your creative time.  For me this is always the morning before my mind becomes cluttered by all the daily ‘stuff’.  Other writers I know can only start once the curtains are drawn and the candles lit.  Of course, that’s all very well but work and family commitments may dictate any available ‘slot’ so it’s often a matter of adapting as best you can.
·      Find a creative space - your ‘go to’ spot where you can focus on writing - or thinking about writing (surely an equally valid part of the process?)  I treat this as like going to work and, being used to discipline in my former profession, find that setting myself deadlines and targets actually helps me to focus.  I also allocate myself set hours albeit the routine will change depending on whether I’m drafting, researching or editing.  Unfortunately, all this tends to fly in the face of seeing writers as ‘free spirited creatives’, but it works for me.Having done all this, you still have to get something down on paper and many writers have their own special routines for that very purpose.  I know some who start by carefully laying out everything on the desk, each item having its own special place.  I suppose this follows the saying that a tidy desk means a tidy mind, but my workspace is usually a pile of books and notes – though I always know where everything is – (well, maybe not always!).  I can’t begin without having a cup of coffee beside me and I always have to start by drafting what I’m proposing to write in long hand as I find this helps me to get my thoughts into some sort of order.  There are many other examples of the ‘routines’ which writers follow and, however bizarre they may seem, I think they are important as they tell the brain that it’s time to be creative.But what if the juices still don’t flow?  Well, to overcome the dreaded writer’s block, I find that it sometimes helps to prime the pump – i.e. to just start writing.  It doesn’t seem to matter what - (a lot of it will be discarded anyway).  The important thing then is that once you do get started you must eliminate unwanted distractions.  So, close the door, switch off the phone and ignore social media and anything else that will take your mind off the job in hand.  It takes time to get into a story so, once there, it’s best to stay put!  And the best advice I’ve ever given myself?  Ignore the fridge!  That can be like a magnet for me but I assure you, there are no good stories in there, only calories.Finally, remember that inspiration is only a very small part of writing.  It’s like a spark - you need to fan it and feed it before the flames will rise.  I once heard that writing is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration – and that certainly sounds about right for me!


Chris BishopChris Bishop is the author of The Shadow of The Raven Series which is set in Anglo Saxon England at the time of Alfred the Great.Book 1 Blood and Destiny and Book 2 The Warrior with the Pierced Heart are out now in paperback and ebook.Book 3 The Final Reckoning will be published 27 June 2019


Chris is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association and The Historical Novel Society.
Find out more atwww.chrisbishopauthor.comyou can also follow Chris on Twitter @CBishop_author

Have you heard? #HistoricalFantasy author, Jack Massa, is giving away 3 eBook copies of his fabulous book — The Mazes of Magic #Giveaway #mustread @JackMassa2

The Mazes of MagicBy Jack Massa
The Lord of the Abyss is rising in Egypt. Can a reckless young Greek find the power to stop him?Imprisoned in a slave yard, tormented by spells of madness, Korax the Greek struggles to regain his memory.Purchased by the High Priest Harnouphis, he is given an Egyptian name, transported to a temple on the Nile, put into service as a translator.But Harnouphis also has another plan: to tap the Greek's extraordinary talent as a seer to advance his own dark ambitions.As his wits return, Korax forges a plan of his own: to learn enough of the mystic arts to escape Egypt and return to his home island of Rhodes.But before he can act, he must perform a service for the Goddess Isis. Korax may be gifted, but can he summon the power to overcome both his master and his master's god?A novel of myth, magic, and adventure, set in the Age of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Excerpt
He had died once. He knew that much for certain.He had wandered the shore of the River Styx, but for some reason not crossed over. Instead, he had returned to the mortal world—he knew not how or why. Whole segments of his memory from that time were lost, or else scattered in fragments that made no sense, sharp fragments that cut at him like broken glass. His mind must have been damaged on that journey back from the Underworld.The heat was stifling. How long had he been trapped in this cell with its dusty brick and searing black iron? He drank the water they gave him, but seldom touched the food. Better to starve, he had decided, than live a moment longer than he must in this place, this slave yard.  How had he become a slave?Each effort to force himself to remember brought dizziness and headache, his mind swirling down into whirlpools of bewilderment and fear. Madness. He flailed like a drowning man, desperate to remember who he was.Now he stood at the tiny window, staring through the black grate at the sun hovering on the horizon. Helios, Lord of the Sun. Patron deity of Rhodes.Yes, he was a Greek, from the island of Rhodes. Korax was his name, Korax son of Leontes. Those memories were clear enough. He had grown up in a prosperous merchant family, studied at the finest school in Rhodos, the island’s capital city. Like all male citizens of Rhodes, he had spent his seventeenth summer at the oars of a galley, training to serve in the navy. He had been brave, reckless, full of life, passionate about theater and music. He sang and played the lyre. Indeed, in one of his last memories he was practicing to play at a festival. But something about that night was different. As the dizziness welled in his brain, he fought to remember. He saw his fingers attacking the strings, evoking music that was wild, exquisite, but not his own. Divine music. Yes … Outlandish, fearful, yet he knew it to be true. That night, he was possessed by a god.
Giveaway


Jack Massa is giving away three ebook copy of the The Mazes of Magic. 

Answer this question to be in with a chance to win:Who is your favorite Greek or Egyptian god or goddess, and why?
Jack is really interested to see your answers!
Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
Giveaway Rules
• Leave your answer in the comments at the bottom of this post.
• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm BST on June 27th.You must be 18 or older to enter.

• Giveaway is only open to Internationally.
• Only one entry per household.

• All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
• Winners will be announced in the comments.
• Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.




Pick up your copy ofThe Mazes of MagicAmazon UK • Amazon US
Jack Massa Jack Massa has studied writing and other forms of magic for many years. He has published fantasy, science fiction, poetry, and lots of technical nonfiction. In addition to the Conjurer of Rhodes books, Jack’s current projects include The Abby Renshaw Adventures (YA paranormal fantasy) and The Glimnodd Cycle (epic fantasy featuring ice boats, witches, and pirates). Jack lives in Florida, USA, with his wonderful wife and a pet orange tree named Grover.Connect with Jack • Website • Facebook • Twitter.

Marketing advice for authors by N.N. Light Author Promotions #Marketing #Authors #Tips @NNP_W_Light

Marketing advice for authorsBy N.N. Light Author Promotions


One of the most important tools any author has is a solid marketing plan. It’s your blueprint to staying afloat in the ever-changing world of publishing. So let’s break it down.
What is a marketing plan?
A marketing plan lists daily, weekly and monthly goals along with all the social media platforms you market your books on. It also has your publishing schedule for the year as well as your marketing plans for your new releases.
An example of daily tasks from a recent marketing plan I did for a client:
Schedule 2 book tweets, 3 personal tweetsIf someone retweets one of your tweets, thank them. Engage in conversations. Post 1 pic and message to Facebook that’s related to your booksPost 1 pic and message to Facebook that’s related to your personal lifePin at least 2 pins to your boards (personal or book related)Tweet at least 2 pins from PinterestSign into Instagram and like at least five posts from your followers (things that interest you)Approve blog comments and replyEvery time you blog, share it across all your social media platforms. I do it a couple of times a day so everyone can have the chance to see it. Be sure to use one to three hashtags, too.
See how each task is very specific and doesn’t take a lot of time. If this is too much for you in a single day, then pare it down to your allocated time for social media marketing.

You’ll also notice that I incorporate both book-related and personal tasks. The key to effective marketing is connecting and socializing with readers. Injecting some personal stuff is a great way to do that. For example, I love sharing things I bake or drink. If I found a new variety of wine, I’ll share it. If I discovered a new tip for baking bread, I’ll share that. It’s about bonding, superficially at first, with others. Here’s an example of monthly tasks for June:
June 2019 – NNLBH VIP: 2 Tier 2 + 4 days/16 tweets + Bookstagram on IGBlog Post 1: Writing tip on creating charactersBlog Post 2: What inspired you to write the xxxxxxxxxx seriesBlog Post 3: Ten things no one knows about youBlog Post 4: My top five teen filmsCreate 5 tweets for Twitter/per dayCreate 1 Facebook Post/per weekCreate 2 Instagram posts/per week
This is one of my VIP clients and she is a young adult author. She only has time to blog once a week and needed help coming up with ideas. I scheduled her for only what she could afford timewise.
How to create a marketing plan yourself?
The first thing you need to do is take an honest assessment of the time you have to dedicate to social media daily, weekly and monthly. No one will see this but you so be brutally honest with yourself.

Next, write down how many times a day/week/month you blog and market on your primary social media accounts. Then list how many times a day/week/month you want to blog and/or market on your primary social media accounts. You’ll need to break it down taking into consideration how much time you have in a single day/week/month. I recommend starting small and adding when you get proficient.
When you get this far, write up your daily/weekly/monthly goals for marketing. Use the above as an example and personalize it for your time devoted to marketing. Remember to write down guest posts, blog tours, etc. Don’t look to others and compare yourself. This is all about you and organizing your marketing to suit you and your books.
Tip: Don’t forget to incorporate themes and holidays into your marketing plan. They’re a quick and easy way to get new eyes on your books and writing.
When you have written down your marketing plan. Take a long, hard look at it. Make sure you haven’t missed anything and make sure you can do it. It’s pointless to have a marketing plan if there is no way you can accomplish it.
Tip: Keep your marketing plan easily accessible and look it over daily. If you need to switch things around to make your day run smoother, then do it. Remember, this is your marketing plan and no one is going to see it other than you.
You’re organized in your writing so it’s not a big leap to be organized in your marketing. A marketing plan is nothing more than a foundation to your success as an author.
Need a marketing plan but need an expert to create a customized plan? N. N. Light Author Promotions would love to create one for you. Marketing plans are charged by the hour and it normally takes only 90 minutes. We charge $30 USD an hour and if you mention the following code, you’ll save 20% off:
MAY19
Please mention the code when contacting us.
Thank you, Mary Anne, for being such a gracious host. Tea and biscuits all around.

Welcome to N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, the home of N. N. Light Author Promotions, a family-run PR firm who caters to busy authors. We’ve been in business since 2015 and pride ourselves on our literary matchmaking abilities.  Our followers trust our opinion and if we tell them a book is great, they will often check it out. Many readers discover new authors via word of mouth, especially quality honest book reviews and author interviews. We have the social media reach of over thirty million. We love promoting authors and this is a great way to get exposure for you and your book. Getting people talking about your book is an important step to success as an author. We will create enormous buzz about your book, offer advice and our expertise for your benefit. 

Find out what inspired #HistoricalFantasy author, Fiona Tarr to write her fabulous series — The Eternal Realm @fionatarr

My InspirationBy Fiona Tarr
When I decided that I wanted to write fantasy novels, I had no idea where to start. I was inspired to write, but had little or no direction. I honestly can’t say where my first inspiration came from, but I chose the story of King David from the Old Testament Bible and re-told the story with a generous helping of dark magic, religious turmoil and social commentary on the culture of the times. Many people have since told me that I brought a contemporary voice to the stories, which was my hope.
Little did I know that I would become fixated on turning these sometimes difficult to understand stories into religious fantasy novels.


I finished my first series with four novels and a novella in 2017 and moved on to a new series almost immediately. I was excited and inspired after having found my voice during this first series. I’d fought the religious fantasy tag for so long, trying to write mainstream fantasy, but I had begun to realise, it was my ‘thing’. It possessed me throughout my writing and often took over without any conscious thought. It was just meant to be.


So, The Eternal Realm series was born. This series blends mythology and religious fantasy in a way to emulate the epic fantasy genre that first got me writing; the likes of David Gemmell and Raymond Feist.
The Eternal Realm series explores the Divine beings of heaven with a setting still set in Ancient Israel during the times of the Old Testament stories. These tomes are full of intriguing, yet disturbing stories of genocide, spiritual warfare, oppression of culture and religion; so, what could possibly make a better fantasy read?


My first book in the series The Jericho Prophecy introduced Asherah, a goddess mentioned on several occasions in the bible. While this latest story is focussed on Delilah and brings with her story a whole host of angels. These old bible stories often hold accounts of the gods of other cultures. Dagon, Asherah, Moloch and others are mentioned amongst the Philistines, the Canaanites and the Hittites. I’ve used a little poet license to take these gods and turn them into angels, some good, some not so good, all with a story of their own to tell.
It was really important to me that these stories be stand-alone novels, so each tackles a new bible story with the battle amongst the angels going on around them.
It’s a risky business, re-telling bible stories to suit a contemporary audience. There is always the chance of upsetting the indoctrinated, but for the most part, I think my readers get what I’m trying to do in highlighting issues that we face every day in this modern world. Issues like equality, cultural and religious tolerance and war.
My books have been described as anything from feminist to irreligious, but the consensus is that they bring a contemporary feel to these old bible stories and make them come alive for the reader. My latest, Delilah and the Dark God seems to be no different, with some great early reviews coming in.


Delilah and the Dark God The Eternal Realm Book 2


Delilah is young, poor and inexperienced. Discovering Samson’s secret might not be as easy as she thinks!
When Delilah is compelled to discover the source of Samson’s secret strength, she becomes torn between her desire for wealth and growing feelings she cannot yet understand. She has no idea that the Eternal Realm is at war, but she quickly realises there is more at play than religion and politics.
The Goddess Asherah knows Delilah is the key to future peace in the heavens, yet she is forbidden from meddling with humanity….. But when the Dark God Dagon grows obsessed with Delilah, she must choose a side. 
Will Asherah risk revealing herself to protect the ancient prophecy and secure peace for her brethren?
Delilah and the Dark God is the second book in The Eternal Realm series; a religious fantasy series that mixes mythology and intrigue in epic fantasy style. If you like strong characters, intricate plots and action, then you will love Fiona Tarr’s contemporary take on this old biblical classic.
“Another amazing book from Fiona Tarr, what an imagination. More Please!”   Claire Simpson
“The angels were my favorite to read about and their interaction with the characters was mesmerizing.”   Amazon Customer

Buy Delilah and the Dark God today and discover what really goes on within the eternal realm!
Amazon • Books2Read





Fiona Tarr
I live in Noosa, Australia with my husband and two young adult sons, where we run our family small business involving tourism and watersports.

When I am not writing, you will likely find me kitesurfing, stand up paddle surfing, travelling or volunteering in some capacity.

I am the great niece of Australian literary author George Johnston who is best known for his book My Brother Jackwhich was made into a mini-series with the ABC. Although I don't write with the literary style of Uncle George, I have been told I write a compelling fantasy novel.

I find culture, faith, philosophy and sociology intriguing and these topics are at the heart of my fantasy.
Connect with Fiona: Website • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Amazon • BookBub.

Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for JUNE over on The Coffee Pot Book Club! #BookCovers #CoffeePotBookClub

The Coffee Pot Book ClubBook Cover of the Month

Readers' Choice!June 2019
Now is your chance to vote for your favourite book cover for June. All you need to do is pop the number of the book cover you like along with the book title in the comment section at the bottom of the page.
The winner will be announced on the 29th June.
★ 1 ★Secrets of Dalgaard CastleBy Grace Augustine

★ 2 ★No Woman's LandBy Ellie Midwood

★ 3 ★
The Final ReckoningBy Chris Bishop

★ 4 ★The Fire of WinterBy D.K.Marley

★ 5 ★Sign of the White FoalChris Thorndycroft

★ 6 ★Sign Plantagenet Princess, Tudor QueenSamantha Wilcoxson

★ 7 ★Tales of FreyaBy Sarah Dahl

★ 8 ★The Traitor of Treasure IslandBy John Drake

★ 9 ★A Torch In His HeartBy Anna Belfrage

★ 10 ★An Officer's VowBy Penny Hampson



★ 11 ★The Briton and the Dane: Birthright
By Mary Ann Bernal



★ 12 ★
The Girl from Oto
By Amy Maroney




★ 13 ★
Dagger's Destiny
By Linnea Tanner



★ 14 ★
Commodus
By Simon Turney



★ 15 ★
Severed Knot
By Cryssa Bazos



★ 16 ★
The Dragon Lady
Louisa Treger



★ 17 ★
We Shall See The Sky Sparkling
By Susana Aikin



★ 18 ★
The Apothecary's Daughter
By June Davies



★ 19 ★
The Prodigal Laird
By Vanda Vadas



★ 20 ★
Delilah and the Dark God
By Fiona Tarr



★ 21 ★
The Mazes of Magic
By Jack Massa



★ 22 ★
Beneath Black Clouds and White
By Virginia Crow



★ 23 ★
Victoria to Vikings
By Trisha Hughes



★ 24 ★
The Chef's Secret
By Crystal King



★ 25 ★
Gorgito's Ice Rink
By Elizabeth Ducie



★ 26 ★
No Stone Unturned
By Pam Lecky



★ 27 ★

By Love Divided
By Elizabeth St.John






★ 28 ★
The Medallion
By Cathy Gohlke



★ 29 ★
Sophie
A Regency Romance
By Jenny Hambly



★ 30 ★
A Song of Sixpence
By Judith Arnopp







Good Luck!!

Check out #HistoricalFiction author, June Davies', fabulous book — The Apothecary’s Daughter #mustread @JuneDaviesBooks

The Apothecary’s DaughterBy June Davies

A wintry Yorkshire hill town in the 1800s; the arrival of a mysterious stranger from South Carolina, the disappearance of a precious family keepsake, an old tale about a hidden hoard of medieval silver and jewels . . . The apothecary's daughter, Keziah Sephton, is swiftly enmeshed in a shocking spiral of deception, betrayal, ruthless ambition – and cold-blooded murder.
Excerpt
Dusk was falling as Keziah Sephton moved about her father’s apothecary, turning up the whale oil lamps just a touch more before fetching the wooden steps and clambering up to dust the shelf of bottles, flasks, phials, pots and jars. She’d no sooner started than the polished brass bell above the shop door jingled and twisting around atop the shelf-ladder, Keziah glanced down over her shoulder.
“Oh,” she sighed, her forehead creasing into a frown as she caught hold of her black skirts with one hand and descended the ladder’s worn-smooth steps. “It’s you, George.”
Pick up your copy ofThe Apothecary’s DaughterAmazon UK • Amazon US

June Davies
June Davies was born in an old house overlooking the Lancashire coastline, and the seashore finds its way into many of her stories.Sometimes, as in The Dog Star, the sea is a powerful force driving the inhabitants of 19th Century Monks Quay, while in other tales like In Destiny's Wake, it has a gentler presence, yet still influences the characters and their lives.
History has intrigued her since schooldays, and when as a mature student she read History at University of Liverpool, she says it was like being given a passport to travel through time!
Connect with June: Website• Twitter • Amazon.