C.A. Milson's Blog, page 104
April 17, 2023
PRINCE OF BLUE FLOWERS
Prince of Blue Flowers
by Ryu Zhong
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GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
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BLURB:
Young boy Hatsukoi leaves his village to become a monk, only to find monastic life incredibly boring. With a new-found name and a new-found friend, Hatsukoi travels the countryside and plays tricks at the expense of corrupt, irate, greedy, and ignorant people. Nobles of all ranks—from petty governors to crown princes—fall victim to the boy’s wit and cunning.
As his tricks evolve from childhood frolics to elaborate cons, Hatsukoi grows as well. He learns not only the craft of his trade, but also its higher purpose.
Join Hatsukoi’s journey, laugh at his exploits, and learn with him.
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EXCERPT
Fragments
In ancient times, on the shores of the Eternal Ocean lay the country of Auyasku. The waves of the three seas cherished her sleep. The
Silent Western Sea lulled her with whispers, and the Glacial Sea squeezed her tightly in its arms. Even the Sea of Great Storms was quiet off the coast of this cold land.
A white fur coat of snow hid Auyasku from the heat of the sun. On the hottest summer day, the bright beams of Celestial Luminary could not penetrate beneath the blankets and awaken Auyasku from her age-old slumber.
In the middle of the country rose a snowy mountain, and on its top was a wonderful rock. This rock was open to the beaming sun and moonlight, because tall trees did not grow on it; moss alone covered the stones, still barely warm from the sun.
And then, one day, the rock produced a stone egg. Later, a marten hatched from this egg, also made of stone, but endowed with limbs and all five senses.
The stone marten quickly learned to run about and hunt small game that hid in the snow. She also made friends with other animals that inhabited the endless fields of Auyasku: foxes, bears, wolves – even moles. And, of course, with other martens, her relatives. The mountain from which she came was called Marten Mountain because it served as a home to many martens.
One morning, when the sun appeared in the east and slowly rolled across the sky, the martens began to frolic around the rock, chasing one another. Having gambolled enough, they calmed down and, staring at the sun, began to talk – for, as the proverb goes, even animals can talk to each other.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
‘Ryū’ means ‘dragon’ in Japanese, and ‘Zhong’ can be translated from Chinese as ‘flute’. This amalgam of languages represents the fusion of cultures that characterises the writings of Ryū Zhong.
In their books, Ryū Zhong explore challenges that humanity might face as our technology gets more and more complicated to the level where it becomes magic. Such a shift would force people to look towards religion and reinterpret realities that today, we call fairy tales.
Ryū Zhong were lucky to be born and grow in Asia. Now they live in Amsterdam, study Dutch, and adapt their writings to English.
Links
https://anno-ruini.com — website for the book series
https://ryu.anno-ruini.com — Ryu’s personal blog
https://www.instagram.com/anno.ruini/ — Instagram
https://twitter.com/anno_ruini — Twitter
Book in the Stores
https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Blue-Flowers-Adventures-Takuan/dp/B0BRC7BGB4/
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=L4unEAAAQBAJ&pli=1
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prince-of-blue-flowers-ryu-zhong/1143052777
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW With …
What is something you’ve lied about?
I never lie. There, that’s my last lie; you’ve just read it.
Once, I came up with a fake news story about a certain city that got in the Guinness Book of Records for its soy sauce consumption. The story caught on, and after five years, I was immensely pleased by watching a television show where it was declared a known fact.
Who was the last person you hugged?
At the moment of writing this—one of my readers, who came by me at a book signing. I’m very happy to share hugs as part of our connecting: when a reader and a writer meet not only through the pages of a book but also in real life.
But most of all, I long to hug my son, who I’m now separated from due to unfortunate and terrible events happening in the world around us.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a wonderful novel, ‘Ra,’ by Sam Hughes. The novel is about our world, or rather an alternate version of it, where magic was discovered in a scientific way—and there are laws of magic very much akin to laws of physics. Can you imagine how that could impact the world? If there was indeed something very different than the three laws of thermodynamics yet was as reliable? And, more importantly, how would that be possible?
How do you come up with the titles for your books?
As one of my teachers says, we should call things by their own names. When a book is coming to an end, it becomes clear what the central theme of it is. There’s some sort of a McGuffin in every book—an item, a character, or merely an idea that captivates the attention of the readers and makes them think it’s a key device to the plot. But is it?
If I find such a controversial topic— from the plot perspective—it becomes clear what the book’s title should be. So, ‘Prince of Blue Flowers.’ Is he the stem of the plot, its root, or its flower? It’s for the reader to find out.
Share your dream cast for your book.
Twenty years back, I’d say Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Jojen Reed from Game of Thrones); five-ten years ago—Oakes Fegley (Pete from Pete’s Dragon). Today, I’d probably wait a couple of years until Seo Woo-jin (from Young Lady and Gentleman) grows to Hatsukoi’s age.
April 16, 2023
Raven Romda and Ravai: Malketh and the Undead Vol.2
Raven Romda and Ravai: Malketh and the Undead Vol.2
by Dave Maruszewski
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GENRE: Middle Grade, Fantasy
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BLURB
Raven, Romda and Ravai are settling into their new knightly duties well. With the Dark Beast defeated, their normal tasks almost seem mundane.
Amidst the boredom, Ravai asks, “Why does no one talk about villains from the past?”
Romda reasons, “What would be the point?”
There is a point. Even though villains may have been defeated in the past, they may still be around, waiting in the background ready to resurface once again.
Malketh has returned to the kingdom, but something is different about him this time. He is back with an entire army … an entire army of undead soldiers!
“Whether you want to read this aloud to your little one or let them explore this magical world on their own, parents can rest assured that this second installment in the Raven, Romda, and Ravai series will be a playful, whimsical addition to their bookshelves.” –The Book Review Directory
“… the squires are appealing characters, as is their comical banter.” – Blue Ink Review
A great story for the fantasy loving youth, this adventure will appeal to those who like action and humor in an easy reading environment.
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EXCERPT
They keep going until they hear a large rumble. A small mass of rocks fall to the ground. The three look up and see a gigantic figurine of a man holding a giant emerald. Romda puts her lantern up to the emerald, and the light refracts and bounces off the many faces such that the whole room is lit. This brings relief to the three.
Unfortunately, they notice something else. When the room comes up from the dark, Raven, Romda and Ravai notice all these eyes staring at them. The undead are here. The three are surrounded.
Perplexed, Raven, Romda and Ravai freeze. They are scared. However, the entire horde of undead does not approach them. What is wrong with them? What do they want?
At last, the undead begin to slowly stir. They begin to walk slowly. At first they seem to move in random directions. Then, a pattern to their motion becomes apparent. They move about, revealing an opening in their numbers in the shape of a small circle. That opening reveals a hooded figure. The hooded figure says…
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family. He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son.
He strives to develop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well as entertaining to youths and adults. The Raven, Romda and Ravai books are targeted especially for children who shy away from reading. His stories are created from an accumulation of experience from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer.
In between writing stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com), Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.
Book: www.ravenromdaandravai.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dave-Maruszewski-Books-100693982454237/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21946064.Dave_Maruszewski
NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/publisher/84200
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dave-Maruszewski/e/B09KQLN57W
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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INTERVIEW With …
What would we find under your bed?
This sounds so forced, but books! My favorite bed is still a (waveless) waterbed. We have one that has drawers underneath the mattress. I insert books and periodicals such that I can read at night.
Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?
If I need a little extra boost, I’ll listen to some loud rock at in the very beginning so that I can get a little adrenaline boost. Then, the volume goes down and it can stay there or 70/80’s R&B, pop or even metal … anything with good guitar and bass.
What is something you’d like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
Well, there is my third book in the series (Raven, Romda and Ravai). This will help me to move into the overall story. I’m hoping to have a lot of seeds planted. Then, next year, I will try to get people paying attention to the continuity as well as the single book story.
How long did it take you to write this book?
The books that I am writing now are all roughly from 2015-16. They were oral stories that I shelved or started writing. Yep, it was/is a long time. However, I can write a book front to back in a month if I need. My problem is that I prefer to work multiple stories at once. At that case, plus my other job, a month is more of an ideal.
What are you reading now?
I write like I read: in parallel. I have around ten books on my night stand. I am having more time to get into game making again, so I have book on Monogame that I am really enjoying. I also have a book that strings all of the Thanos comic books together in order. I find it interesting how Marvel developed the character. Outside of that, I always have something religious on the stand including the Bible. I like autobiographies, too. So, I’m about to put one of those back in the mix.
April 9, 2023
THE EFFICIENCY JOURNAL
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
This journal, created by renowned coach and psychotherapist Misha Saidov, will help you become the hero of your own life. It was created to assist you in setting important goals, reaching them, and winning. It will support you along the way, especially when you find yourself lost or confused. The Efficiency Journal will help you stay on track.
You don’t need to schedule your day by the minute. If you want to succeed, you only need to complete three key daily tasks, set goals that fit into 12-week sprints, and honestly reflect on your results once a week.
You will learn to manage your energy and analyze your actions, achievements, and experiences.
The result will be a formed character, created by daily volitional actions.
What’s inside?
– Weekly and daily planning sheets
– Space for summarizing weekly results and for reflection
– Wise thoughts and tips along the way
Any goal reduced to daily tasks will be achieved, no matter what.
FOR WHOM IS THIS JOURNAL?
For those who want to succeed in business, improve themselves, move forward, maintain their motivation and eliminate distractions.
Many of us have meaningful ideas that could change the world. Without embodiment, they will remain just a dream. A dream about the future.
Read an Excerpt
Peter was born with achondroplasia or dwarfism. He dreamed of becoming an actor his entire life. Yet, in the world of theater and film, there are very few roles for people with dwarfism. They are usually offered jobs as clowns or leprechauns. After finishing school, Peter could not get even a single proper role as an actor. Since he needed to make a living, he found a low-paying position processing applications. Peter spent six years at this job and was constantly depressed and drunk on the weekends. At the age of 29, on one of his sober days, he promised himself that he would find work as an actor, and it did not matter where. He got a role in a play in a small theater. This role led to another under the direction of the same playwright. That one, in turn, led to another, and so on. Peter never again processed applications.
You may recognized Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones, one of the most popular television series of all time. The day Dinklage decided to quit the job he hated, his heart pounded in his chest out of fear about the future. In his early years, he endured a lot of criticism and failure, but gradually, Dinklage built his brilliant acting career.
So what are you waiting for?
If you work 8–10 hours per day and commute to and from work for about 90 minutes, you will spend more than 75% of your adult life either sleeping or working.
Life is short. If you have a dream, the best moment to start making it a reality was yesterday. The next best moment is today.
About the Author:
Misha Saidov, a life performance coach and author, is the founder of IMCP (Institute of Metacognitive Programming) and Think Meta, a coaching company that conducts 4000+ client sessions per month.
LinkedIn
Twitter
Instagram
Website
The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
April 5, 2023
MURDER AT THE ZOO
Murder at the Zoo
by Marcia Rosen
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GENRE: Mystery
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BLURB:
A body is tossed into the lion’s habitat at the zoo where Miranda Scott is the senior vet. She and Detective Bryan Anderson join forces to unravel that mystery and several more murders. A fan since childhood of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Sherlock Holmes they seem to live in her head frequently telling her what to do…and not do. Murders, family, deceit, revenge and a gangster father and godfather often get in the way of a fine romance between Miranda and the Detective.
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EXCERPT
Excerpt One:
“Miranda, get to the zoo! Visitors are pointing at a human arm in the lions’ enclosure.”
“Hmmm. This is intriguing. A body in the lions’ den. What are the facts?”
“Agatha, Raymond, facts if you please,” Sherlock demanded.
“All of you shut up!”
It was not the first time Miranda shouted to the voices in her head. Sometimes they seemed so real to her. She had read nearly every book of every famous mystery writer and had seen movies made from them many times. She was often absorbed and obsessed by the stories and the characters.
Miranda loved their ways of thinking, analyzing problems, finding solutions, and delving into the dark spaces hidden in humanity: Raymond Chandler’s tough Detective, Philip Marlowe, who always found a dame he could lust after and distrust and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, and her Tommy and Tuppence. Their gossip and ways of finding clues and uncovering secrets swirled in her head, while the famous Sherlock Homes demanded facts and attention to the tiniest of details.
There were other geniuses of mysteries who stopped by to give Miranda their “two cents” at times, especially when Agatha, Raymond, and Sherlock were disagreeing with each other. Miranda was sure they would have plenty to say about the murder at the zoo.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen), award winning author of eleven books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award winning My Memoir Workbook. For 25 years she was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency, Marcia has frequently been a speaker and/or program moderator at organization meetings and conferences, bookstores, libraries and Zoom Programs. Topics she has taught and presented over the past twenty years include: Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors, Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery, Writing Your Memoir and recently “Anatomy of Writing A Murder.” Many articles on these topics have been published on mystery reader blogs and in newsletters and magazines including “Mystery Scene Magazine” and “Mystery Reader International Journal.”
She is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger), Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public Safety Writer’s Association, and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors—for which she is also a board member. www.MarciaRosen.com
“Marcia Rosen’s new book is hard to put down! The characters are engaging and you enjoy getting to know them as you read this mystery. I enjoyed discovering the world and people in Murder at the Zoo and can’t wait to read more from this author!”
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Marcia Rosen will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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April 6th
Q & A With …
Tell us about you as a person.
Motivated, adventurous, intense, clever at times, fun, funny, determined!
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Albert Einstein or his wife, the Other Einstein. I love brilliant people.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Murder, mystery, intrigue, surprise, romance…wanting a mystery based in the Southwest.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
Be willing to spend time, money and energy marketing your book…and get good marketing advice.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Four of them: Having a book become a best seller
Fifth: Going back to Paris
Any final thoughts?
Thank you. Let other authors know they have the right to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.
Marci Rosen
April 4, 2023
Slaves of an Alien Game
Slaves of an Alien Game
by Nina Schluntz
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GENRE: Science Fiction Romance
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Series BLURB:
Game Wardens rule most of the galaxy by a fierce empire built on enslavement and brokered deals. The only means to earn one’s freedom is by playing in the Alien Games. Two slaves go in the arena, the survivor, if there is one, is given their freedom and crowned a king, earning them a small country to rule and slaves of their own.
To make the battle more fun for spectators, genetically enhanced monsters, sahalias, are given to the combatants, but they must found in a scavenger hunt. Five orbs, each hatching into a lizard that will bond with their keeper, are hidden on a random planet. If the competitor finds all five, they have a great imbalance of power over the other, who will have none. The sahalias are created with one purpose, to battle to the death and destroy the other competitor.
Blurb: Slaves of an Alien Game – Book 1
Caden works at an all night diner in a small town near the interstate. When a man comes in late at night, asking for access to the roof, Caden knows the man is a bit off. But his ruffian nature and a small bribe makes Caden decide to let him go up.
“It’s a scavenger hunt,” the man says. Caden thinks he’s being helpful when he finds the item, a black orb, but when he touches it, he unknowingly becomes a competitor in an intergalactic competition that ends in a battle to the death. Manipulated and lied to, drugged by the alien Incubus, Raghib, whom he is now allied with, he must train his lizard battle creatures to fight for him on an unknown planet with rules he barely understands.
He has little chance to survive and although he wants to trust, Raghib, who will earn his freedom if Caden wins the battle, he worries he is simply being used. A bit of truth is revealed when one of the Game Wardens takes a liking to Caden, but his alien species is known to eat humans, so Caden isn’t sure if the desire is that of hunger or true romance.
Either way, Caden is nothing but a slave to their alien games.
Blurb: Slaves of an Alien Game – Book 2
Caden is free. He won his battle and got what he wanted. Sent back to Earth with his won kingdom given to the slave, Raghib. However, life on Earth, back at the diner isn’t the same after living on an alien planet. He still suffers from withdrawals from the Incubus influence and drugs Raghib forced on him, and nightmares from the horrible battle to the death.
When a woman arrives, the latest competitor in the alien games, she offers him a chance to visit Raghib. All he has to do is be her slave during the games and help her find the orbs. He agrees and finds she is a higher level competitor than Raghib was, the hunt is on a deadlier planet, one covered in darkness and monsters.
Caden is eventually reunited with Raghib and gets to see the kingdom he won. Raghib is more broken from the battle and haunted by the brutality of it than Caden. He has a new lover and is driving his country to poverty so he can buy drugs to forget the pain. Caden turns to the Game Wardens for help, offering to go back in the arena again, with the woman he helped in the scavenger hunt. He is a fan favorite and knows their ratings will improve if he goes in again.
He arranged to go in as her pretend slave, in a role that will have safety features turned on so he will be in no real danger. He thinks its his idea to go back in. Confident he’s messing with the structures in place and trying to leverage the Game Wardens to change the deadly games into a nonlethal form.
However, it was their plan for him to go back in from the start. Caden is still nothing but a slave to their alien games.
Blurb: Slaves of an Alien Game – Book 3
Caden’s long-term girlfriend on Earth is pregnant, and Caden is missing. Jenny worries he has been kidnapped and drugged again. A strange woman arrives, saying she knows Caden and where he is. She offers to take Jenny to him, if she helps her… they just need to find some orbs in a scavenger hunt. Jenny agrees, but is careful to not touch the objects. She doesn’t trust this woman.
They find four orbs and encounter the other competitor. The fifth orb is there, and Jenny is forced to pick it up. The other competitor forfeits and Jenny finds herself now in the games, the woman she’d been helping now announced as her deadly competitor.
She is taken to an alien planet and united with a distraught Caden. He confesses that he has a relationship with a man, an alien man, an Incubus named Raghib, and the woman Jenny must fight is Raghib’s daughter.
Caden is in an impossible situation, either his lover’s daughter dies or his childhood sweetheart dies, but there is a rule in the games, a protection for slaves and their offspring, who are viewed as profitable future slaves. A pregnant woman may not enter the arena, instead the sire must.
Caden is again forced to play in the games, but this time he has no sahalias to battle on his behalf, and safety features are not allowed. If Caden is to survive, he must find a way to not be a slave in their alien games.
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EXCERPT
Excerpt One – Book 1:
I reached what looked like the bar and surveyed the drinks. I needed alcohol.
“You do not disappoint.” The voice was male and silky. I pried my eyes from the beverages I couldn’t identify and aimed my angry glare at the speaker.
He was tall and lanky, sporting a sharp graying goatee and a braided ponytail that trailed down past his waist. Both matched his gray suit and sparkling blue eyes. He was handsome but in an unnatural way, as though it was a quality designed to lure in prey. Instinctively, I knew who this man was.
“You’re one of the Game Wardens,” I said. He smiled like a tiger soothing a mouse.
“And you are the man making me rich. The fans love you. And that rant back there…” His eyes fluttered, and he groaned softly as if what I’d just done turned him on, or maybe the thought of how his TV ratings would spike was the reason. “You can’t buy that kind of drama.”
“You’re welcome,” I said because what the hell else was I supposed to say?
“I can’t decide if I want you to die or win in the battle.” He stepped closer, and I felt fear for no reason other than an instinctive fear you get when you know you are around something more powerful than you. He had this hungry look in his eyes, and I couldn’t help the words that came out.
“Is that because you can’t decide if you want to eat me or fuck me?”
His eyes widened. Perhaps no one had ever spoken to him like that before.
“You think I eat the people who die in the arena?”
“Why not? You’re already a sicko for making money off watching people battle to the death.”
“And you also think I have sex with the victors? Or are you implying it’s what you want, should you survive?” His eyes went down my body, appraising me.
“What? Don’t be weird,” I said. I pointed to the bottles on the counter. “Are any of these similar to alcohol on Earth? I want to get drunk.”
“You are the one who suggested it. And now you want me to get you drunk?”
“It’s the least you could do since I’m getting you such great ratings.”
“Oh, I do like you.”
“How flattering,” I said. “Buy me a drink then?”
Raghib finally appeared next to me. Where the fuck had he gone? Had he been apologizing to the pervert? I glanced at him to say as much, but mister slick put a finger on my cheek and turned my head back to him.
“If I am buying you a drink, you should keep your attention on me,” he said.
“Really? You think the viewers want to watch you schmooze me?”
His jaw fell open, and he gaped speechlessly at me. I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of fire I was playing with, but I didn’t want this guy to request me to personally entertain him or some shit either. And that look on his face was really starting to come across as sexual predatory-ish.
“Never mind,” I said. “I’ll just take some glamour. Nice talking.” I pushed on Raghib’s arm and moved away from creeper number three of the night.
“I leave you for two minutes, and I find you with a Game Warden?” Raghib hissed in my ear.
“He was thanking me for all the great ratings we are getting for his show,” I said. “What happened to you anyway? We’re tethered. How did you lose me?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.
Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming kitten.”
https://mizner13.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nina.schluntz.novels
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1980193.Nina_R_Schluntz
https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/nina-schluntz/
Series link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMXTJLSV
Book 1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BM4HLGJL
Book 2
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMY6H3P7
Book 3
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMZC24SF
Kindle Vella (serialized version of the series, available in USA only)
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BKTF9LMF
Book Video Links
Book 1: https://youtu.be/uN3P7D3oY4c
Book 2: https://youtu.be/4AXEX23pA3A
Book 3: https://youtu.be/_d_7Ki4S_MI
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
April 3, 2023
WIZARD WAR
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Wizard War is the story of Maxwell, who discovers he has magical powers. He is trained by the council of wizards who provide Maxwell with his introduction to magic and the wizarding world while teaching him about the perils of dark magic.
Read an Excerpt
Maxwell’s room was quaint. All the essentials he needed were there, but the room lacked any personality. Maxwell was tired from the day’s adventures. He saw that his shopping from earlier—a selection of robes—had arrived. Tomorrow he would dress like a real wizard. He flipped through his fundamentals book. It was lonely being a wizard. While everything was new and exciting to him, everyone else around him had experienced magic to the point that it was commonplace. He had learned more about war in one day then he would ever have imagined.
In the corner of the room sat a curious contraption with a letter on it from Calvin Copperpot “to help you sleep.” The device was a phonograph. Not any normal phonograph, of course—this one only played the music needed to make someone sleepy. Indeed, it worked wonderfully as Maxwell climbed into bed and fell into a deep sleep thanks to the lullaby.
In the morning he got himself dressed in his wizarding robes. He at least looked the part. He found a section in his fundamentals textbook that taught him how to conjure breakfast. It was a basic meal: eggs, some ham and a bit of cheese. But it was food and made by magic.
About the Author:
Paul Smith is an author who was born and raised in British Columbia and now lives in Newfoundland and Labrador. He is an avid dog lover and former nurse who now lives with PTSD.
http://www.twitter.com/paulsmith82book
http://www.instagram.com/paulsmithbooks
https://amazon.com/dp/0228889596
The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
March 22, 2023
Creatives On The Couch – A Lifestyle chat show
“Creatives On The Couch” is an informative lifestyle talk-show series that airs on Ayozat TV UK. Each episode our hosts chat with creative people such as authors, filmmakers, actors, and musicians and discuss with them their process, their background and bring to the screen some talented Creatives from all walks of life.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/creatives-on-the-couch—a-lifestyle-chat-show
March 21, 2023
ALL WE LEAVE BEHIND: TRANSITS OF THREE
All We Leave Behind: Transits of Three
by Benjamin X. Wretlind
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GENRE: Science Fiction
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BLURB:
Following the exodus from rising floodwaters, the surviving descendants of those who came to create a society on a planet far from Earth have struggled to rebuild within the remains of an ancient temple. Now, as disease and an unfamiliar environment threaten to destroy them yet again, everyone seems to have an opinion about what to do next.
Miriam and Tobias Page, newly married, believe there may be a possible home beyond a distant canyon. Their journey with a quarter of the population doesn’t start well and soon nature and their own humanity will conspire to end it all. Meanwhile, Miriam’s two cousins, Joel and Micah, have different ideas. Joel is convinced the best course of action is to return to the mountains they left to mine for the ore that would make a great return to Earth possible. Micah hopes to stay, learn all he can about the temple’s previous occupants, and prove both of them wrong. But soon, he and his new partner Patience realize that no option is truly safe.
As the transits of three different groups get underway, new dangers and surprises emerge from within the rainforests, mountains, and deserts of the planet…and one of those may have followed them from Earth. While a final home is a dream away, present nightmares must be dealt with first if any of them are going to survive.
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EXCERPT
“How many?” Moran asked.
“Four. Just up ahead.” Tobias tightened his grip on his weapon.
“Bethany is waiting for us.”
Moran stopped and watched as the caravan slowly edged toward the right, away from immediate danger. “Wish we had more to spare.”
“So do I.” Tobias took in a calming breath and let it out slowly. The nervousness in his stomach eased up. Miriam had taught him several techniques for dealing with fear, for calming his anxiety and sharpening his mind. He would forever be grateful to be married to a counselor, a therapist, a wise wizard of the brain’s complications.
“Ready?” Moran asked.
They both walked slowly toward Bethany’s position, their eyes locked on the trees where Tobias saw the four animals.
“Eight,” Bethany whispered as they approached. “Four more in a cluster of trees to the right of the others.”
“Typical pack. Haven’t heard the growl, yet,” Moran said. “Maybe they didn’t see us.”
“Oh, they did.” Tobias pointed to the tree with the first rychat he spotted. “I swear I saw that one lick its lips.”
“Well, we’ll have to take care of that.”
Moran raised his crossbow and took aim at the one Tobias pointed out. In tandem, both Tobias and Bethany raised their own weapons.
“One on the trunk,” Tobias whispered.
Bethany responded. “The big one to the right.”
The three were silent as they steadied themselves.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Benjamin, a speculative fiction author, ran with scissors when he was five. He now writes, paints, uses sharp woodworking tools and plays with glue. Sometimes he does these things at the same time.
Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.
https://www.bxwretlind.com/
Twitter: @bxwretlind
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bxwretlind
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bxwretlind/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2900267.Benjamin_X_Wretlind
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/benjamin-x-wretlind-73b7dde4-3fc4-4b7c-a57f-97db25374b10
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Benjamin X. Wretlind will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Q & A With Benjamin X. Wretlind
Tell us about you as a person.
Aside from being creative with whatever I can find (paper, paint, wood), I’m also a relentless learner. I can probably blame my father for that, as his goal in life was to get more letters before and after his name than in it. He managed to do so, and while I don’t have the same goal, I will keep learning whatever I can. I don’t ever want to break my Trivial Pursuit winning streak.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
If I could hang out with one famous person for one day, it would have to be Matthew McConaughey. I have a man-crush on his voice, and I can’t tell you the number of characters I’ve written who are fashioned after this man. I’d of course try to sell him on any number of screenplays I have written or ideas I have about other screenplays, with the sole purpose to get him to play a leading role. I would hope he would be receptive of the ideas, of course.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
All We Leave Behind: Transits of Three is the third book in my nine-part Transit series. It’s set only a few months after the events of the second book and is intended to “break up” the colony into three or more different factions. Since the series is anthropological science fiction, my goal is to show the growth of society from very humble beginnings and see if we would, as humans, make the same mistakes. The impetus for writing the series stemmed from a question that has nagged me for years: what if I could start over? While I am content with the way my life has turned out, there are still things I wish could have been different. This led me to ponder what would happen if we, as a society, could start over. Our behavior is shaped by our experiences and beliefs, but if we want to change society’s behavior, we must change those beliefs by providing new experiences through different actions.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
I don’t know where I heard it, but someone once said that you should never miss an opportunity to share about your book or your website. You’ve done an incredible thing–written a book. Why not let the world know in as many ways as possible? Put your website on business cards, make bookmarks with a QR code or coupon and stick them wherever you can, put it on your email signature. Being afraid to market, to spread the word, will not do you any favors. So my advice to get the word out about their latest book is to never go a day without mentioning it to someone, somewhere. In a sense, it’s guerilla marketing, but if you don’t do it, who will?
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Visit an abandoned psychiatric hospital (like the kind seen in horror movies)Spend a week on the island of Anafi, GreeceGet a television show produced and see my name prominently displayed at the beginning of every episodeBuy a house with at least ten acres and raise a llama (or two)Visit the LouvreAny final thoughts?
For the writers out there, remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Take a breath. I started my first book when I was in high school. Twenty some years later, I finally finished it…after having written another book that took seven years and starting a third. Life will get in the way, and unless you compartmentalize your writing, you may have problems finding the time to do what you dream. It’s okay to write a book a month, a book a year, or a book a decade. You’re not competing against those who can write a book a week. But like any marathon, you must practice every day.
March 9, 2023
THE LEGEND OF THE MICK
THE LEGEND OF THE MICK
by Jonathan Weeks
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GENRE: Sports Biography
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BLURB:
In the 1950s, America entered the television age. And Mickey Mantle, a country boy from Commerce, Oklahoma, was made for the moment. Signed by the New York Yankees as a teenager, he made his major league debut in 1951 as a right fielder alongside Joe DiMaggio. When DiMaggio retired at the end of the season, Mantle inherited not only Joltin’ Joe’s position in centerfield but also his stature as the face of the franchise. His boyish good looks, breathtaking power from both sides of the plate, and blazing speed on the basepaths made him an instant superstar. He won league MVP three times, came in second three times, was a 16-time All-Star, a Triple Crown winner in 1956, and a seven-time World Series champion.
Mickey Mantle’s career was the stuff of legend and in this book, Jonathan Weeks tells us why. Mantle’s extraordinary (and at times incredible) tales carry readers on an enthralling journey through the life of one of the most celebrated sports figures of the twentieth century.
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EXCERPT
THE SPOOK LIGHT
For more than a century, residents of the Tri-State Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas area have talked about a paranormal phenomenon known as the “Spook Light.” The light has been described by witnesses as an orb of fire about the size of a baseball or basketball. It flickers, dances, and spins—typically in an east to west pattern—while hovering above the treetops. When observers attempt to walk or drive toward it, it disappears.
According to popular legend, the “Spook Light” was first observed by Native Americans along the infamous “Trail of Tears” in 1836. Since then, a number of ghostly stories have circulated regarding its origin. One of the oldest tales centers around a Quapaw Indian maiden and her lover, who leaped to their deaths after the girl’s father forbade them from marrying. Another oft-told yarn involves the spirit of an Osage tribal chief who lost his head in battle and continues to search for it by lantern-light.
The “Spook Light” is commonly seen along a desolate stretch of road near the town of Quapaw, which is located just six miles from Mantle’s hometown of Commerce. The Yankee slugger grew up with these campfire tales and, like many teenagers of the era, enjoyed the associated benefits. By the time he was in high school, the deserted route known as Spooklight Road (or “The Devil’s Promenade” to some) had become a popular make-out spot. In his 1985 autobiography, Mantle remarked, “If you happened to be waiting at the Spook Light and you happened to have a girl with you, it was a pretty good place for necking.” Mantle’s first social outing with his future wife, Merlyn, was a triple date to Spooklight Road. The youngsters piled into Mantle’s 1947 Fleetline Chevy, which he had purchased with his Yankee signing bonus. Though Mantle was paired with another girl that night, he ended up asking Merlyn out on a date after he “struck out” with her friend.
The “Spook Light” continues to be an enduring legend despite scientific research conducted during Mantle’s teen years. In 1945, it was proposed that the phenomenon was caused by the refraction of vehicle headlights over a range of western hills. The following year, an Army Major named Thomas Sheard stationed a vehicle in the region he believed the so-called “Spook Light” was emanating from. He instructed the driver to flash the vehicle’s headlights at a designated time after dark. Observers in the vicinity of Spook Light Road were able to see the flashes. In 1965, Popular Mechanics magazine recruited professors from the University of Arkansas to investigate even further. They confirmed that distant headlights on Route 66 were being distorted by waves of heat, producing the phenomenon.
Those who still cling to paranormal explanations maintain that the “Spook Light” was seen long before the invention of automobiles and is, therefore, an unrelated phenomenon. The first verified written account of the eerie spectacle didn’t appear until 1935. Multiple sources have claimed that a booklet on the topic was released in the 1880s, but concrete evidence of it has not been uncovered. Detailed information about the ethereal orb—complete with driving directions to Spook Light Road—appear on the Joplin, Missouri official website.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jonathan Weeks spent most of his life in the Capital District region of New York State. He earned a degree in psychology from SUNY Albany and currently works in the mental health field. He has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his father.
BLOG: www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com
GOODREADS AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jonathan-Weeks/author/B00DXL3JM4
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Mick-Mickey-Mantle-Stories/dp/1493070177/ref=sr_1_1
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
The author will be giving away a $25 Amazon/BN Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Q &A With Jonathan Weeks
Tell us about you as a person.
I guess one of the first things to know about me is that I’ve never really been comfortable talking about myself. I’ve made a habit of dodging the spotlight for most of my life. Growing up in the Capital District Region of New York State, my father was a popular radio personality. I always admired the way he was so fluid around people. Whenever his listeners greeted him in public (which was pretty often), he was always gracious and accommodating. I’ve never felt completely comfortable around people I don’t know. I’m kind of shy at first. I avoided public speaking in high school and college. Maybe that’s why I turned to writing to find my voice.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Last year, I published a Babe Ruth biography. It was the first installment of a New York Yankee trilogy that I’m still working on. Having researched the lives of Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Joe DiMaggio, I think it would be most enjoyable to hang out with the Babe if I had a choice among the three. He really was a down to earth, fun-loving sort of guy. He was more or less abandoned as a child and always felt he owed something to his fans. He could be crude and boisterous, but he was very generous with his time and money. I completely understand why people loved him so much and still do.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The Legend of the Mick is the second installment in my Yankee trilogy. If I had to pick a favorite player from the 1950s and ‘60s, it would definitely be Mantle. He lived such a fascinating life. And there was a dichotomy to him. He could be approachable and genial at times, but downright rude when he wasn’t in the mood to socialize with fans or reporters. He came to the majors with very high expectations. There was tremendous pressure on him to perform. When he fell into slumps, fans sometimes booed him. He even got occasional death threats. On the surface, Mantle exuded confidence, but deep down he was insecure. He was a complex guy.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?
Well, I’m no marketing expert, but I’m a big proponent of virtual book tours. They help you reach a lot more potential readers than any book signing at a brick-and-mortar store. Not that book signings aren’t a good way to connect with readers… I’ve done them myself. You just get a lot more exposure by creating an online presence. Social media is the way to go.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Ooh, I love this question!
–Attend a World Series game at Yankee Stadium
–Attend a Stanley Cup Finals game in Boston
–Visit Europe (particularly London and Rome)
–Write another novel
–Live long enough to see both of my daughters graduate from college and have children of their own
Any final thoughts?
I guess I should probably plug my books again. I’d love it if people would pick up a copy of The Legend of the Mick. If you enjoy reading about the all-time Yankee greats, you should grab a copy of The Lore of the Bambino while you’re at it. All the popular legends and myths are covered along with tons of lesser-known anecdotes. Be on the lookout for the third book in my trilogy: Tales of the Yankee Clipper, which explores the life and times of Joe DiMaggio.
March 7, 2023
ICARUS OVER COLLINS
Icarus Over Collins
by Hector Duarte, Jr.
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GENRE: Contemporary Fiction (Bilingual Spanish/English)
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BLURB:
After her friend Sandy Mangual tragically falls to his death, Bailey Cohen discovers images of his grisly corpse have been uploaded and shared through social media, by someone very close to her.
Fed up, in a stagnant relationship with an emotionally-abusive boyfriend, Bailey enlists the help of quiet, unnoticed, underappreciated Bernardo Castillo, who works the luxury Miami Beach high rise in which she stays.
Bernardo will have to dredge up the shady past he’s long worked to tamp down in order to set off on a journey of vengeance that will reshape and morph each person engulfed along its way.
Icarus Over Collins is a short, punchy revenge story as cracked and slivered as hot Miami pavement.
Tras la trágica caída accidental de su amigo, Bailey Cohen descubre que imágenes del cadáver han sido clandestinamente descargadas a redes sociales. Por alguien muy cercana.
Bailey contara con la ayuda de Bernardo Castillo, empleado del condominio lujoso en Miami Beach cuya Bailey habita.
En nombre de su amigo fallecido, Bernardo y Bailey tendrán que excavar sus pasados umbríos en camino hacia la venganza. Un viaje que reformara a todos envueltos.
Icarus Over Collins es un cuento de venganza tan caluroso y rajado como las aceras bordeando todo Miami.
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Exclusive Excerpt:
Y aqui estaba la muy puta. . .
Que me había arruinado la vida. Wearing the same tight clothing at the hips, same long hair to just above her ass. But the difference was all over her face. Las rayas esas las conozco muy bien. Marks of guilt, sleepless nights, the haunting of events that can never be taken back. Igualita pero no la misma. Espero que haya sufrido, espero que haya trasnochado, espero que la culpa le haya. . .
“Bernardo, quiero decirte que,” empezo Janaina.
“Ahora no. Ahora si que no. Vinimos a hablar business. Ustedes pueden resolver sus problemas domesticos despues. En este preciso momento, tenemos que encontrar a este hijo de puta y hacerlo arrepentir el dia que se cruzo con nosotros,” dijo Ximena.
“The fuck does she have anything to do with this?” I asked the entire room.
“Whether you want to believe it or not, Mister Castillo, I have not slept since the last time I saw you.”
“No lo creo. Señores Mangual, les agradezco mucho el bail, but I made myself a promise that if I ever saw this woman again, I’d kill her. And because I do not want to spend one more night in an American jail, I need to leave. Now.”
Mitad de camino hacia la puerta, Ximena called out, “You
owe us, Mister Castillo.”
Tomas Manguel lifted another filled glass in the air. The guy was on a mission.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Hector Duarte, Jr. is a writer/educator out of Miami, Fl, where he lives with his wife, son, and cat. His fiction has been published widely online and in print, like the recent anthologies Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas: Stories to Benefit the People of Puerto Rico, and Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil. In September of 2018, Shotgun Honey Books published his full-length short story collection Desperate Times Call. He welcomes you to follow him on Twitter.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63308671-icarus-over-collins
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/icarus-over-collins-hector-duarte/1142641430
https://www.overdrive.com/media/9403116/icarus-over-collins
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Hector Duarte, Jr. will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
