C.A. Milson's Blog, page 125
December 8, 2020
VBT – PLEASE DON’T DIVORCE ME
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.
Whether your decision was made by you, or made for you, it is within your control to make the right decisions for your children.
Vickie’s parents divorced when she was only nine, wedging her in the middle of a dispute many kids face every day. It still remains one of the toughest times of her life. As she shares parts of herself and other people’s experiences with you, she hopes you will be better prepared to make good choices for your children.
“Please Don’t Divorce Me” is candidly written as a parent’s guide from a child’s perspective aiming at fostering a healthy transition and minimizing hurt for what is already a difficult time in a child’s life.
Divorce is not pretty, but it doesn’t have to be ugly either.
Choose children, love, and happiness above all else!
Read an Excerpt
My parents were the first true loves of my life. I felt safe with them and in our family home. Our home was warm and welcoming, and my parents always made us a priority in their lives. I knew I could depend on them, and they were predictable, which was the best feeling in the world. I never had to worry about my parents not being there for me or not being supportive. It didn’t matter what kind of day I had either. When I got home I knew they would be there and everything would be okay. I do not remember a time at this age of when I felt disappointment or anger towards my parents. When the bus would drop me off after school I couldn’t wait to get inside. It was my safety net, and I could breathe. If Dad was off that day he would be home waiting. If he was working the day shift, I knew there would probably be a love note from Mom. Every day on her lunch hour she would come home and begin prepping the meal we were eating that evening. They were always there for me, always a constant, and now what?
About the Author:
Vickie grew up in a small town in Louisiana. She graduated with a degree in Business Administration and played in the college marching and symphony bands to foster her love for music since fifth grade. Vickie has been married for over twenty two years to the love of her life and best friend. She and her husband have two sons. They have shared in the joys and tears of raising boys and refer to themselves as the “A-Team”. One is going to college in the fall and “half” of the empty nest will begin! Her youngest son is in high school.
By day, Vickie has enjoyed a 24-year career in contracts management and operations and by night has written many poems and cards and scrapbooks to capture fun memories. She loves spending time with family and friends!
She is known for and recognized by many traits, but freckles, red hair, loud sneezes, compassion, love and laughter tops the list. She is also the Co-founder and President of Krewe de Halcyon, a social organization dedicated to positively impacting the community and embracing the Louisiana tradition of Mardi Gras (one of her favorite holidays!)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickie.s.hall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freckles__74/
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Please-Dont-Divorce-Vickie-Hall-ebook/dp/B08LP4VHHM/
Vickie Hall will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
VBT – HUNGRY BUSINESS
[image error]
Hungry Business: A Short Story
by Maria DeBlassie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Gothic, Horror (Cozy)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
From the multi-award-winning author of Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings comes a cozy Gothic short story about searching for connection in a world that’s forgotten the power of everyday magic.
Looking for love can be deadly…
You know how it goes. You go out, hoping to meet someone. You wade through your fair share of brainless automatons, lifeless bodies, and ravenous undead good at passing as human.
The more you go out, the less hope you feel and the colder your body gets. But you keep at it. All you need is one beating heart to match your own before yours stops pumping altogether. How hard can it be to find one living, breathing human in a city full of bodies?
Dating.
It’s hungry business.
[image error]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
The things you do for love.
Like talking yourself into thinking that the lifeless body across the table from you has his own kind of charm. Surely his gray pallor is only a trick of the light. His skeletal frame might even be considered athletic. You try not to look at his chipped and bloodied fingernails as you force down your mediocre steak tartar. Sadly, that room temperature appetizer will be the hottest thing on the menu tonight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Maria DeBlassie, Ph.D. is a native New Mexican mestiza blogger, award-winning writer, and award-winning educator living in the Land of Enchantment. Her first book, Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings (Moon Books 2018), and her ongoing blog, Enchantment Learning & Living are about everyday magic, ordinary gothic, and the life of a kitchen witch. When she is not practicing her own brand of brujeria, she’s reading, teaching, and writing about bodice rippers and things that go bump in the night. She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there. Find out more about Maria and conjuring everyday magic at http://www.mariadeblassie.com.
Social Media Links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7rY-gLkSH-w8uuVyrhVALA
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17535853.Maria_DeBlassie
https://www.facebook.com/EnchantmentLL
https://twitter.com/EnchantmentLL
https://www.pinterest.com/mdeblassieell
The book is $0.99 during the tour
Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Business-Short-Maria-DeBlassie-ebook/dp/B08L48MVHD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Maria DeBlassie will be awarding a free ecopy of Hungry Business to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a copy of the short story – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q & A With….
Tell us about you as a person.
I always joke that sometimes I feel like a fiction character trapped in a writer’s body. I like to think of myself as the heroine of my own story—corny, I know! But it helps me be intentional about the kind of life I want to live. And it helps me to feel bold. Introverted writer Maria might not take a certain risk. But a book heroine? Damn straight, she would! So take the risk and dare to allow to dream a little bigger.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
How about with one very un-famous person for one day? I wouldn’t mind learning from the kind of old witchy crone that lives at the edge of the woods and has learned the secrets of the universe.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Hungry Business is about how dating is the zombie apocalypse of the soul. Seriously! Who hasn’t been on a string of terrible dates that make you feel like it’s the end of the world? But it’s as much about healing your relationship to yourself as it is about dating. Sometimes we can go numb, start feeling soulless, when we’re simply going through the motions of what mainstream society tells us we should be doing in order to Live Our Best Life. But when we pull back, pull in, and reconnect to self, that’s when the magic happens.
What is your writing process?
I’ve learned that I need time to sink into the realm of the imagination. I need time in the kitchen or garden—or both—before I’m ready to delve into my stories. Other times I need yoga or twenty minutes of reading to help me unplug from the outside world. This is my transition time, like that moment right before you fall asleep to dream your dreams. Then I write.
Tell us about your main character:
The protagonist in Hungry Business is a total gem, one of sincere people looking for love in all the wrong places. She’s got a lot of heart and a lot of hope. But she’s also afraid that if she stops looking for love in the conventional ways, she’ll never find it. That if she stops and stays home and tends her internal life, she’ll only be left with loneliness. In reality, when she stops doing the things that make her feel soulless, the magic finds her. That’s part of what she has to learn in the story.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
That’s a tough one! I’d go for an indie unknown to help make the story feel more real and a little less Hollywood.
What are you working on next?
Readers can enjoy more cozy Gothic short stories like Hungry Business, in the coming year, plus my second book, Practically Pagan ~ An Alternative Guide to Everyday Magic, which will be release September 24, 2021. The title says it all: it’s a practical guide to conjuring a more magical life!
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Sit down. Write. Then write some more until you have a story that’s ready for the world. Then develop a social media and get to know fellow artists and writers—once you build those relationships, you develop a supportive a lively network of readers and appreciators. Digital covens are real! We help each other get the word out about our art.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Another tough question! I’m usually reading a handful at a time. I’m reading Iron & Velvet by Alexis Hall, a queer occult detective novel; The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand, a romance about a Parisian kitchen witch; and Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading by Theresa Reed, to deepen my own tarot practice…I could go on, but that’s a pretty decent look at the range of books I’m reading at any given time.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
Well, I’ am a bruja. I believe in everyday magic, the power of the universe, the seen and the unseen, and the daily spells we cast without thinking—the wishes, thoughts, and actions we cast out into the world to bear fruit. When we’re more intentional about this energy, we can direct it towards hope and healing. I also hoard way too many mason jars, have my own witchy herb garden, deal the tarot, and know that storytelling is one of the deepest forms of magic.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Hmmmm…maybe to be like those super cool abilities like being able to be at peace when the world storms around you. Is that a power? Feel like it’s something I’m still learning how to do, so if I ever achieved that kind of equilibrium it would feel pretty magical!
List 5 things on your bucket list:
Be able to Latin dance without feeling self-conscious at first
Learn how to say “no” without apologizing
Live in a hobbit hole as cool as Bag End
Become proficient enough in the tarot that I don’t have to consult my books to do a reading
Fulfill one of those cheesy snowed-in romance novel plots
Where can readers find you on the web?
If readers are interested in delving into the realm of everyday magic and ordinary gothic, they can find me at www.mariadeblassie.com.
Any final thoughts?
Thank you so much for this lovely interview! It was delightful to chat!
VBT – THE SECRET LIFE OF MISS ANNA MARSH
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.
Now available in print for the first time, USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s second installment in The Marriage Game series is a witty, romantic historical tale about a young lady who must choose between her head and her heart…
Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife…
Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh…
Read an Excerpt
October 25, 1814, Marsh House, London
Miss Anna Marsh was in her parlor reading, when her maid, Lizzy, entered and held out a grubby piece of paper.
“Came from my brother, Kev, this morning,” Lizzy said.
Anna nodded, took the note, and opened it. She perused the contents then closed her eyes.
“I’m going to have to find a way to convince Mamma to allow me to remove to Marsh Hill before the Little Season has ended. Though I cannot do anything until after Lady Phoebe’s wedding.”
“That bad, miss?” her maid asked, screwing up her face. “You might have a time of it. I heard Lady Marsh was planning to go to some country house next week.”
Anna sighed. Ever since her brother Harry’s death, Mamma had become difficult. “She probably expects me to go with her.” Anna shrugged. “Well I cannot. Someone has been sniffing around Thanport. I don’t like the sound of it.” Anna rose and walked over to her mahogany writing desk. She opened a drawer. Eschewing the neat stack of elegant pressed paper, she pulled out a piece of the distinctly rougher type. “I’ll write Kev and tell him to lay low until I can get there.”
K
No information exchanged or meetings scheduled until I arrive.
A
She sealed the message and handed it to Lizzy. “Make sure this goes out to-day, even if you have to take it yourself.”
“Yes, miss.”
Anna pinched her upper nose. “I do hope this is not going to make our lives even more complicated.”
“What do you think that other man wants?” Lizzy asked.
“I don’t know.” Anna shook her head. “But I have a feeling whatever it is will do us no good. I’m going to Mamma and try to talk her around. I do wish she and Papa could settle their differences.”
Lizzy nodded. “It does make things a bit more difficult.”
“That it does,” Anna said, smiling grimly.
About the Author: USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, was her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.
She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She’s currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.
Ella loves when readers connect with her.
Author Contact and Social Media:
Website: https://www.ellaquinnauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7044274.Ella_Quinn
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ella-quinn
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ella-Quinn/e/B00CAE0FSQ
Buy Links for the Mass Market Paperback:
Kensington: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781420147292/the-secret-life-of-miss-anna-marsh/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1420147293/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-life-of-miss-anna-marsh-ella-quinn/1115458071?ean=9781420147292
BAM: https://www.booksamillion.com/search?query=9781420147292&where=All
Indiebound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420147292
Target: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=9781420147292
Ella Quinn will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner.
[image error]
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
December 3, 2020
VBT – HOW TO ROPE A RICH COWBOY
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.
Colt Anderson is burned out. Every part of his daily life has become a tedious chore. He cannot remember the last time he took a day off or, better yet, felt a woman’s willing surrender. And it’s just his luck that on his first day off in ages, he runs into a sexy squatter on his property, never expecting that single interaction would alter the very fabric of his world.
Still, he cannot seem to stay away from the sultry scientist, Avery. Colt feels bad for her, worries that she is running from something, and decides to cover her stay at the ranch. After all, he owns the place and has plenty of cash. Although that tiny little detail is a secret he plans on keeping to himself. It is addictive having a woman look in his direction and not see dollar signs for a change.
Because when Avery casts those goddess eyes his way, he’s just a man, a man she craves and submits to body and soul, like he’s her man, and his longing for her has him tied up in knots. With trouble and danger drawn to her like magnets, Avery pulls out his protective, dominant nature. The woman needs a keeper, and he’s the perfect man for the job.
Now he has less than two weeks to convince her to stay, to make her fall for him before she discovers he’s rich. But will she hate him when she discovers his deception?
Read an Excerpt
The telescopes and corresponding equipment filled the small space, dripping everywhere. Colt could only wonder about the water damage these things would do to the hardwood floors.
In the interior light, he studied the woman while she flitted around the equipment, apparently unconcerned that she was just as wet, or that she was alone with a strange man who had a firearm. She used the big plush towels that they stocked in the bathrooms to dry off the gear.
This was one of their honeymoon cabins with an open plan floor. The walls were a golden, honey-toned wood, and the hardwood floors matched them in color, giving it a feeling of warmth. On the left was a pinewood king bed with matching nightstands, and a chest of drawers against the wall. On the left beyond the bed was the bathroom that held a full-size tub and shower, and was the only room that was walled off. There was a full-sized fridge, and electric stove in the kitchen on the far right. There was even a stacked washer and dryer unit on the wall between the bathroom and kitchen. But directly to Colt’s right was the living room with big, plush dark brown sofas, and his uninvited guest and all her equipment taking up every ounce of free space.
The woman was maybe pushing five two, making her a good foot shorter than he was. She was slight and trim; her jeans had holes in them and were plastered to her slim legs. Her yellow tank top was slicked against her chest and damn near translucent from the dousing it had sustained. As it was, the thin material outlined the high swell of her breasts. The nipples were drawn into taut points beneath it and pushed enticingly against the see-through material.
But it was her face that drew him the most. She had smooth, unblemished skin that was sun kissed golden, delicate, high cheekbones, and a wide, generous mouth currently set with grim determination as she moved around the gear. The tip of her slim nose was slightly upturned, and her eyes were like dark, liquid pools of mahogany framed by thick, inky lashes. Her dark hair ran over her shoulders to drape against her chest and back, but he thought it might be lighter in color when dry, more of a tawny caramel than a burnt walnut.
Colt rubbed a hand over his face to dispel the sudden influx of lust her wet form engendered in him. He had to remember this woman was in the cabin, on his property, as a freeloader. He hated people who took advantage of the immense acreage of Silver Springs Ranch. It was stealing, plain and simple. Once the storm had abated, he would deal with her—harshly, if it came to it. With anger lacing his clipped words, he said, “I’m going to ask you again, who the hell are you, and what the hell do you think you’re doing in this cabin?”
“Isn’t it obvious, cowboy? I’m staying here.” Sarcasm dripped from her words, her voice like silken honey. “I should be asking you the same thing.” She all but ignored him as she took care of the equipment with absolutely no apparent fear that he could be a rapist or murderer.
“This cabin was not rented out.” He knew this as, when he’d received the updated guest manifest from registration yesterday evening, this cabin, B42, was listed as being a vacancy. That meant she was here illegally. “I don’t know how you even got in without a key.”
She shoved wet hair out of her face and shrugged. “Well, I’m renting it, technically. Although there might be some issues with the rental in the sense that I still have to pay for it, but it’s the stream’s fault. Why? You work at the ranch?”
He cocked a brow. She hadn’t asked if he owned the ranch but if he worked on it. A photo of his face was on the website. It was hard to miss that he owned it. And Colt didn’t know why, but he didn’t want her to know he was the ranch proprietor, so he omitted the fact. “Yep. I work for Silver Springs Ranch. I know for a fact that there’s no guests listed as renting this cabin. It’s supposed to be empty. That makes you a squatter and a freeloader.”
She cast a haughty frown in his direction, like he was the one taking advantage of the ranch instead of the other way around. He curled his hands into fists to keep himself from grabbing her and shaking the truth out of her.
All Colt had wanted was a day to himself without any problems. And this sexy as hell scrounger had tossed a wrench into the works on the first day he’d had off in weeks.
It had happened before: people squatting in their cabins without paying. With as much acreage and as many remote cabins as they had, at times it was hard to monitor each one. And if the last renter or housekeeping forgot to lock the front door, it was easy for somebody to enter.
“Look, I’m not a damn squatter. Besides, what are you doing here? It looks like you were planning to move right in.” She tossed the damp towel on the sofa and made him wince. She set her hands on her hips, emphasizing her slight curves, and scowled with defiance.
Colt prowled toward her as the cabin shuddered in the crashing thunder, peeved that anyone would take advantage of his place. “I call it like I see it, lady.” He moved until they were standing no more than a foot apart, glaring at each other.
“Oh yeah, and what are you doing out here but using this place illegally?”
“Besides needing to take shelter from the storm? About to kick a squatter off ranch property,” he growled.
“Look, cowboy, I can’t take my equipment back out in that storm without it getting damaged. And for the last time,” she drilled a finger into his chest, “I’m not squatting. I fully intend to pay for my stay.”
He snorted. “And you just forgot to stop by registration? How did you even get inside? Did you pick the lock? You’ve got some nerve, breaking and entering. I’m sure the sheriff would be mighty interested in your activities.”
“The door was open, wise guy. And you think my staying here’s ballsy?” She gripped his wet shirt in her hands, and yanked his face down until their eyes were level with one another. The woman was far stronger than she appeared, and Colt wondered what she planned to do. But then she planted her hot mouth against his lips.
Shock filled him for all of two seconds as her exotic, red-hot honeyed flavor swamped his senses.
About the Author Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
Visit her website here: http://www.anyasummers.com
Visit her on social media here:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyabsummers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Anya-Summers/e/B01EGTVRKC/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anya-summers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyasummersauthor
Newsletter: https://anyasummers.com/newsletter/
Silver Springs Ranch Series:
How To Rope A Wild Cowboy, Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GKXV5HC/
How To Rope A Rich Cowboy, Book 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LQQ3GXY/
The author will award a randomly drawn commenter a $25 Amazon/BN GC.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
November 30, 2020
VBT – VIKING VOYAGER
[image error]
Viking Voyager: An Icelandic Memoir
by Sverrir Sigurdsson with Veronica Li
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Memoir/Autobiography
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
This vivacious personal story captures the heart and soul of modern Iceland. Born in Reykjavik on the eve of the Second World War, Sverrir Sigurdsson watched Allied troops invade his country and turn it into a bulwark against Hitler’s advance toward North America. The country’s post-war transformation from an obscure, dirt-poor nation to a prosperous one became every Icelander’s success. Spurred by this favorable wind, Sverrir answered the call of his Viking forefathers, setting off on a voyage that took him around the world.
[image error]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
My maternal grandfather, Þorkell Magnússon, was the captain of a fishing vessel called Gyða. In early April 1910, he and his seven-man crew, including his eldest son, set sail from Bíldudalur, a small town in northwest Iceland. Their destination was the rich fishing grounds beyond the fjord. April was the beginning of the fishing season, which lasted until September. These were the “mild” months. In reality, the weather was often stormy and below freezing, pushing both the boat and men to the limit of their endurance. Three weeks later, on April 23, Gyða headed for home, her hull laden with cod, the valuable cash fish many fishermen had died for. Nearing their home fjord, the men’s hearts must have lifted. A hot meal, a warm bed, and the family’s embrace were within a day’s reach.
That night, a furious northerly gale pounded the region with snow and sleet, whipping the sea into a deadly cauldron of crashing waves. All hands would have scrambled on deck to wrestle with the wind, jibing and tacking to keep the gusts from capsizing the boat. The battle went on all night. The next morning, Gyða was still upright and staggering closer to home. Einar, my grandfather’s neighbor and a former crew member, attested to seeing her from shore during a visit to his family’s farm on the outer reaches of Arnarfjörður (Eagle Fjord). The wind was still howling, pummeling the boat from left and right. But Einar was confident the boat could hold herself together. After all, Gyða was a sturdy oceangoing vessel, one of the first to be built in Iceland with state-of-the art technology. In just a few more hours, she would reach the safety of the harbor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Sverrir Sigurdsson grew up in Iceland and graduated as an architect from Finland in 1966. He pursued an international career that took him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the U.S. His assignments focused on school construction and improving education in developing countries. He has worked for private companies, as well as UNESCO and the World Bank. He is now retired and lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and coauthor, Veronica.
Veronica Li emigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong as a teenager. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University. She has worked as a journalist and for the World Bank, and is currently a writer. Her three previously published titles are: Nightfall in Mogadishu, Journey across the Four Seas: A Chinese Woman’s Search for Home, and Confucius Says: A Novel. Her website is www.veronicali.com.
Amazon author page:
https://www.amazon.com/Sverrir-Sigurdsson/e/B08LFYCCPD
https://www.amazon.com/Veronica-Li/e/B001JOSCAQ
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/tssigurdsson
https://www.facebook.com/veronica.li.39
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Sverrir_Sigurds
https://twitter.com/VeronicaLi5
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/142534.Veronica_Li
The Book will be $1.99 during the tour.
Amazon.com buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MDMRM66/
Amazon.ca buy link: https://www.amazon.ca/Viking-Voyager-Icelandic-Sverrir-Sigurdsson-ebook/dp/B08MDMRM66/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
November 29, 2020
Book Blast – DIRTY AND SWEET
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.
There’s a debt and she’s willing to pay — with her heart!
Alex Malachi wants a sub, but not just any girl. He needs the right one. The moment he sees Jessie, he knows he’s found the perfect sub. He won’t stop until she’s his.
Jessie Brown’s been in lust with Alex Malachi since she started working at his BDSM club, Indigo. When he requests her services, she can’t refuse. Jessie’s always had a thing for older men, and Alex fits her bill. But when Alex realizes Jessie’s father owes him over a hundred grand, will the offer involve paying the bill with her heart?
Read an Excerpt
“I’m told you’re not able to attend college. That’s what you informed me of, too, correct?” he asked.
She stiffened. She’d given him the truth earlier, so there was no need to lie now. “I thought the college had increased my tuition, but it turned out that the money just hadn’t been paid. I don’t know what happened, but I didn’t find out I was late until the past due notices came. By then, the semester had started, and I was out on my ass. I asked my father, but he seems clueless.”
“I see,” he said. “Your father borrowed a lot of money.”
“He did.” She winced. She wasn’t sure where the cash had gone.
“You can’t go back until you’re paid up?”
“Correct. I can afford the books on my wages here, but not the tuition or my apartment. I had to move back in with my father.” She rubbed her bare arms to hide the chill and the embarrassment. “I’m in the hole with the school for almost nine grand.”
“I see.”
She stroked the front of his suit coat, loving the feel of the soft fabric under her fingers. “What do you want from me? You said there was a deal.”
©Megan Slayer 2020, All Rights Reserved
About the Author
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at:
Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj
Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/
Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer
Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Sweet-Malachi-Brothers-1-ebook/dp/B08LG4BZCW/ref=sr_1_2
The author will award a randomly drawn winner a $15 Amazon/BN GC.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
November 23, 2020
VBT – WIRED BY THE FBI
[image error]
Wired by the F.B.I.
by Glenn Painter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Mystery/Suspense, Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
BLURB:
Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies’ man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is “rogue” enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff “get even” with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail’s drug lords or a lunatic former cop?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.
Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”
There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.
When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.
During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.
It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.
“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.”ng around to see what was going on. These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.
I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.
Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.
I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.
“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.
I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.
Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.
Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”
“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”
I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.
How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.
I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida. He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.
Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it. However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.
Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’ He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated. He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council. Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals. This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.
Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it. He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. The journey is just as important as the destination.
Website: http://www.gapainter.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glenn-Painter/e/B00NETNKU6%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9875593.Glenn_Painter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/author2663
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 or $100 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $100 or a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 18, 2020
VBT – JUNGLELAND
[image error]
Jungleland
by M.T. Bass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Adventure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
“There are only two types of aircraft: fighters and targets.”
~Doyle ‘Wahoo’ Nicholson, USMC
Sweating it out in the former Belgian Congo as a civil war mercenary, with Sparks turning wrenches on his T-6 Texan, Hawk splits his time flying combat missions and, back on the ground, sparring with Ella, an attractive young missionary doctor, in the sequel to My Brother’s Keeper.
[image error]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
“Break left,” I radioed Angel, jammed the throttle forward, and yanked the stick back and to the left in a climbing turn to circle around on the enemy position. I searched back over my shoulder for a road or trail leading out of the area to anticipate their possible direction of movement. There was a small scar coming down off the hill to the southeast.
As we came around three hundred and sixty degrees, lining up on the small section of the jungle where red and green tracer rounds floated up our way, the intensity of the fire began to wane as the rebels understood what was about to come their way.
“Take the trail. Southeast,” I radioed Angel.
He clicked his mike twice to acknowledge the one-two punch plan and throttled back to drift away in trail to follow up my initial attack on the enemy positions with rocket fire as they inevitably fled to melt back into the jungle.
I banked hard and began to dive down on the hilltop. The tracers began to concentrate on my nose. I lit up my guns, spreading the field of fire left and right with a little dance on the rudder pedals. I felt the Texan buck up a bit as rockets left the rails. I followed the plumes of their engines halfway to the target before I had to pull up, but noticed the intensity of the enemy fire had waned considerably.
“Way to go, Batman,” Angel radioed. “Let me just clean up this little mess you made.”
Behind me, Angel strafed the road and fired his rockets in so close that he seemed to clip the top of the fireball from the warhead explosions.
I circled back and took a path coming back up the road, stitching it with .303 caliber fire…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
M.T. Bass is a scribbler of fiction who holds fast to the notion that while victors may get to write history, novelists get to write/right reality. He lives, writes, flies and makes music in Mudcat Falls, USA.
Born in Athens, Ohio, M.T. Bass grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, majoring in English and Philosophy, then worked in the private sector (where they expect “results”) mainly in the Aerospace & Defense manufacturing market. During those years, Bass continued to write fiction. He is the author of eight novels: My Brother’s Keeper, Crossroads, In the Black, Somethin’ for Nothin’, Murder by Munchausen, The Darknet (Murder by Munchausen Mystery #2), The Invisible Mind (Murder by Munchausen Mystery #3) and Article 15. His writing spans various genres, including Mystery, Adventure, Romance, Black Comedy and TechnoThrillers. A Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor, airplanes and pilots are featured in many of his stories. Bass currently lives on the shores of Lake Erie near Lorain, Ohio.
Author Links
Website: https://www.mtbass.net/
Blog: https://www.owl-works.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/owlworks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Owlworks
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/mtbass
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5270962.M_T_Bass
Purchasing Links
Website: https://mtbassauthor.wordpress.com/scribblings/jungleland/
Apple iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/jungleland-white-hawk-aviation-stories-2/id1526689285
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jungleland-mt-bass/1137448962
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
M.T. Bass will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Interview
Tell us about you as a person.
Yeah, author bios are all such yada, yada, yada. The thing about me, though, is that I’ve always been someone who gets things done. Playing guitar professionally, becoming a flight instructor, actually starting and finishing a novel or two or three or eleven…Sometimes it’s not so easy. I think that’s why most people prefer to dream the life than live the dream.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Wilber and Orville Wright on December 17, 1903, to be there when they conquered the air for the very first time. Yeah, I know that’s two people, but I’m a rule breaker.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Jungleland is the sequel to my very first book, My Brother’s Keeper. In it, Hawk finds himself back in combat, flying propeller-driven T-6 Texans against rebels in Congo during the Sixties. It takes him back to his World War II days when he flew P-51 Mustangs over Germany. Along the way, he meets a young, red-headed doctor helping out at the local mission, so maybe there’s a little romance involved, too.
What is your writing process?
Really, I just get up and write first thing in the morning—before I check my email or scroll through my social media accounts or check the latest news. I like working when I’m rested and at the top of my game. It’s pretty funny how if I just keep at it day-after-day, I end up with a book on my hands. Of course, that’s when the real work starts. I write a book only once but re-write it over and over and over again.
Tell us about your main character.
When Hawk was twenty years old, he was flying P-51 Mustangs against Nazi Messerschmidt’s and Folk-Wulfs over Germany. After the war, he went to Los Angeles and becames a Hollywood movie stunt pilot. His older brother, Stitch, lived there, too, and practiced as a plastic surgeon to the stars. When Stitch was found shot dead on his boat, Hawk goes rogue and sets out to prove to the police that his death was no suicide. Once the case is over, he moves to Alaska before it became a state to start a bush pilot operation. He gets screwed over by the State Department, then goes to Congo as a mercenary fighter pilot, where we meet him again in Jungleland.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
What always comes to my mind is the relationship between Crash Davis and Annie Savoy in Bull Durham. I think Kevin Costner at that age is a good pick for Hawk. Since Ella is a red-head, Susan Sarandon fits for her, but she needs to be younger—like in The Great Waldo Pepper.
What are you working on next?
I’m coming up on the halfway point of Motherless Children, which is book number four in my Murder by Munchausen series. I’m also researching the third book for Hawk where he flies Formula One racing planes in the Cleveland Air Show.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Boy, this is not really a great area of expertise for me. It seems like you have to try everything that’s out there: Amazon and BookBub ads, blog tours, author events, social media, Amazon Central author pages, and, of course, a website. The main thing that really pushes reader buys for me is finding the right newsletter email promotions to use. I’ve had pretty good luck with Book Gorilla and the Fussy Librarian.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Of the latest books I’ve read, Being Written by William Conescu is at the top of my list. The idea of a minor character subverting an author’s plotline for his own gain was not only intriguing but made the writer in me curious how Conescu would pull it off. Well, he did and it was great fun.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I play guitar and keyboards. I’m a Certified Flight Instructor. And I grill a pretty mean steak.
You are given the choice of one superpower. What superpower would you have and why?
Invisibility…because sometimes you just want to sneak off and get away from it all.
List 5 things on your bucket list:
Flying a P-51 Mustang
Visiting Australia
Jamming with Eric Clapton
Trying to keep up with NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart racing at Watkins Glenn
At least giving David Baldacci a run for #1
Any final thoughts?
Yeah…Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. And that’s my final answer.
November 15, 2020
THE BUDDHA AND THE BEE
[image error]
The Buddha and the Bee: Biking through America’s Forgotten Roadways on a Journey of Discovery
by Cory Mortensen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Memoir
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Life-Changing Journey…
…But this is NOT a typical blah-blah-blah memoir
Planning is for sissies. A solo bike ride across the country will be filled with sunshine, lollipops, rainbows, and 80 degree temps every day, right? Not so much. The Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, an alkaline desert, and the Sierra Nevadas lay miles and days ahead. Disappointment with unrealized potential, and the thirst for what’s next drew farther away in the rotating wide-angle shockproof convex rear-view mirror.
“I will ride my bike down a never-ending ribbon of asphalt wearing a backpack.”
Cory Mortensen began his bike ride across the United States from Chaska, Minnesota, to Truckee, California, without a route, a timeline, or proper equipment. Along the way, he gained more than technical skills required for a ride that would test every fiber of his physical being and mental toughness. Ride along as he meets “unusual” characters, dangerous animals, and sweet little old ladies with a serious vendetta for strangers in their town.
Humor ■ Insight ■ Adventure ■ Gratitude ■ Peace
From long stretches of road ending in a vanishing point at the distant horizon, to stunning vistas, terrifying close calls, grueling conditions, failed equipment, and joyous milestones he stayed the course and gained an appreciation for the beauty of the land, the genius of engineering and marvel of nature.
[image error]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
CHAPTER 7
DAY SEVEN
AUGUST 28, 2001
Today’s Ride: Ogallala, Nebraska – Sterling, Colorado Today’s Distance: 90 Miles
Though the Oregon Trail Motel didn’t offer breakfast, it did have coffee and a stack of foam cups in the front office.
I wasn’t that hungry, still pretty bloated from the beer, noodles, and MSG I had for dinner.
Hanging around the motel sipping cups of watered-down coffee, watching as the sun rose over the dusty town, bustling with early morning activity, I waited for the coffee to do its trick before checking out.
When nature called, I preferred a bathroom with an abundant amount of toilet paper over squatting behind a tree. I waited on the curb outside my door.
Perhaps a conversation regarding bowel movements wasn’t classy this early in the morning, but real nonetheless. When you found yourself reading a book about someone biking cross-country, you might otherwise ask yourself: Where did they go to the bathroom whilst out on the open road?
If the sudden need to shit arose on the road, you could only hope there was a bush, tree, or berm to hide behind. The other option was to keep walking as far away from the road as you could until you were out of sight, or at least blurry. Of course, without the proper equipment (toilet paper), things could get messy. You might find yourself sacrificing a sock. Personally, I had a dresser drawer of mismatched cycling socks at home.
Public options, if you were lucky enough to be in a town or city when things started moving, were:
Restaurants: Now, I would stay clear of anything fancier than a Cracker Barrel. The best were fast food joints, as the bathrooms were typically really clean and out of sight of the counter (so you could get in and out without running into an employee).
Truck Stops: If you came across one of those truck stop fortresses like a BP or Bosselman, take it. Nobody would give you two looks, even if you were dressed in Lycra. The bathrooms were surprisingly clean, and there was typically an abundance of stalls.
Gas Stations: You knew you were in trouble when you asked the attendant for a key and he said the bathroom was outside around back. Check to see if there was any toilet paper in the room before starting. You might find rust stains on the sink and toilets surrounded by a lake of urine. The whole process would become an exercise in squatting. By no means did you want to make any sort of physical contact with anything in that room. Lift the seat with your shoe, flush the toilet with a hand wrapped liberally with a paper towel. It was probably best to find a tree.
So, you could see why I opted to wait before I left Ogallala.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[image error]
https://www.tonytaafe.com/ Headshot Photographer Headshot Photography
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Cory Mortensen has ridden his collection of bicycles over a million miles of asphalt, dirt, mud, and backroads. In addition to the cross-country journey detailed in this book, he has traveled to over fifty-five countries, cycled from Minneapolis to Colorado solo to raise money for children born with congenital heart defects. He’s completed sixteen marathons on five continents, and survived three days of running with the bulls in Spain.
Cory is a certified Advanced PADI diver, and has enjoyed taking in life under the waves in locations all over the world. In 2003, he took time off from roaming, and accidentally started and built a company which he sold in 2013. That same year he married his best friend and explored the state of Texas for two years. The couple sold everything they owned, jumped on a plane to Ecuador and volunteered, trekked, and explored South America for sixteen months before returning to Phoenix, Arizona, where he works as a consultant and is soon to be a bestselling author.
The Buddha and the Bee is his first memoir in which he shares how a two month leave of absence redefined his life’s trajectory of sitting behind a desk and his decision to break society’s chains so he could live life on his terms.
Website: www.TheBuddhaAndTheBee.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BuddhaAndTheBee
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoryMortensenAuthor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/CoryMortensenAuthor/
Buy the book links
Amazon Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Buddha-Bee-Cory-Mortensen/dp/1735498114
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735498122
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FLLBBP9
Indiebound Hardcover: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781735498119
Paperback: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781735498126
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interview
What are four things you can’t live without?
If I was going to completely unencumber myself like I have before, given today’s technology advantages.
Debit/credit card
Macbook
20 liter rucksack
Ropa – t-shirt, swim trunks and chaco’s
With these items, I can do almost all things.
What is your favorite television show?
The original Twilight Zone series. It’s timeless.
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?
Sherlock Holmes. He is truly a lover and a fighter. Clever, devious, 5 moves ahead in life’s chess match. Well-traveled, well-read, well-respected, unempathetic, rational, and narcissistic without apology.
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
Continuation of The Buddha and the Bee. Working title is Polishing the Shine.
After leaving Carmel, I work my way down through Central and South America, meeting people from all walks of life, doing things that I’d never think possible and realizing how small the world is… when I run into someone on a ship to Antarctica that actually knew my Grandma. The journey continues to Europe, furniture factories in China, exploring Southeast Asia, and finally ends with me starting my own company.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
On the Road – Jack Kerouac
The Rum Diary – Hunter S. Thompson
Blue Highways – William Least Heat-Moon
Tristan Tzar poems – Assessment, Marcel Janco, and Chronicle
November 4, 2020
VBT – CHRISTMAS COMES TO DICKENS
[image error]
Christmas Comes to Dickens
Individual Author Feature/Box Set
Individual Book Title: Holly’s Wish
Author: Kathleen Lawless
[image error]
