C.A. Milson's Blog, page 191
February 16, 2016
Book Tour – Black Crow White Lie
Black Crow White Lie
by Candi Sary
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GENRE: Adult-YA Crossover
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BLURB:
Young Carson Calley has a rare and magical gift of healing, a gift which both defines him and threatens to betray him. He lives in Hollywood motels with his alcoholic, fortune-telling mother, Juliette. She nurtures his gift, but her ways are deceptive. She feeds the boy fantastical stories to convince him of his greatness. At fourteen, Carson finally wises up to her lies and his identity is completely shattered. Juliette is too deep in her addiction to help him separate the facts from the fictions, so he looks for answers on the streets of Hollywood. There he finds Faris, a tattoo shop owner, and Casper, a cashier at a head shop. These two unlikely mentors help this troubled yet extraordinary boy find his way to the truth.
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Book Excerpt:
“Putting my hands over her head I felt the tiny stars that always came. It felt like thousands of them came pouring out of my hands. I couldn’t see them with my eyes; I could only see them with my eyes closed. But I could feel them. They filled my hands with heat, and when I shared them with my mom, they made her feel better.
I don’t remember the first time I used the stars, just like I don’t remember the first time I used my voice. When I asked my mom how I got them, she said I just knew I had them in me—the same way I knew I had words in me.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Candi Sary graduated from the University of California, Irvine. Her awards for Black Crow White Lie include 1st Place in the Dante Rossetti Awards, winner of the Reader Views Literary Award for the West-Pacific, and first runner-up in the Eric Hoffer Award for fiction. Her novel was also adapted into a short film by Chase Michael Wilson. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two children. She can often be found surfing out in the waters of Newport Beach.
www.bluemarybooks.com
www.candisary.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016IPJ5DI
https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Mary-Books-1650366188536453
Instagram: @hers_for_the_reading
Short film trailer:
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Candi Sary will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/11/nbtm-black-crow-white-lie-by-candi-sary.html
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Interview With….
Candi. Thanks for being my guest today. Tell us about you
I have two adult kids who just happen to be a couple of the coolest, most interesting people I know, I am happily married to a man as playful and curious about life as I am, and I have a passion for reading and writing. I spend a lot of time at the beach—surfing, paddle boarding, bike riding or just enjoying the sunset. I like to think and analyze, sometimes too much, but I’ve learned to focus my overactive mind on my writing. I have three little dogs who remind me every day, with their wildly wagging tails, that life is good.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
There is so much to discover and enjoy and love in this world. I’m inspired by possibilities. That’s what gets me out of bed each morning—the possibilities for adventure and the opportunities to be touched by someone or something magical. I feel this in my own life, and for my characters in my writing. Sometimes, as a writer, I feel like I have more than just one life. I get to intimately explore the lives of these characters who show up in my head, and feel the joys, pains and lessons of their journeys as if they were mine.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
The first famous person that comes to mind is Brandon Flowers, lead singer for The Killers. I listen to his music all the time. Every day, when I take a break from writing, I go on a long walk to gather my thoughts. For some reason, I’m always compelled to play his music on my walks. His voice, his lyrics, his storytelling—I don’t know the guy and yet I feel such a connection to his art. I’d love to hear the inspiration behind his music, and dig a bit into his amazingly creative mind.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
I chose to explore the life of a healer in Black Crow White Lie—someone who has the amazing ability to cure people of disease. Carson appears to be just an impoverished boy living in hotels with his alcoholic, fortune-telling mother, yet underneath he is extraordinary. The novel takes readers on Carson’s unconventional journey toward his greatness on the provocative and colorful streets of Hollywood.
Tell us your writing process
Most of my writing is exploring the characters as I go. It takes time to get to know them well. I have a general idea for the plot, but I let the characters lead the story as they come to life on the page. I also spend a lot of time away from the computer learning about them and working out storylines. When I go on long walks, while I chop vegetables, while I drive, and even when I clean the house, my mind stays with my characters. There’s something about the simplicity of those activities that free up my mind so that it can use all its energy to feed my stories.
What advice can you share with other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
It seems for me, personal connections lead to successful promotion. When I was able to get bookstore owners to read my book, they told their customers about it and far more books sold than in the stores where it sat unknown. When I attended local book clubs, the women really enjoyed connecting the author to the book, and referred me to several other book clubs, who then referred me to more! That was my favorite part of promoting—meeting readers and discussing the book with them. Some authors are much more creative than I am with social media and they are successful with it, but I have found that personal appearances and connections work best for me.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I first learned to read and write at 5, I knew I wanted to be a writer. Then at twenty-five, while home raising my kids, I officially began my journey as a writer. It hasn’t been easy and it hasn’t even been enjoyable all of the time, but it certainly has been fulfilling in the most unexpected ways.
Tell us about your main character:
For a boy living on the gritty streets of Hollywood, Carson remains fairly innocent and optimistic. He has a mysterious gift of healing that gives him purpose despite his otherwise difficult life. He has a dark side, as would be expected from someone in his situation, but he really tries his best to rise above the darkness. There is also an energy about him that just makes him likable. After the book was published, I read it several more times, just to spend a little more time with the character I so enjoyed writing.
What are you working on next?
I’m working on a ghost story that is somewhat connected to Black Crow White Lie. Magdalena, one of the main characters, is Carson’s sister. She was taken away from her unstable mother and given to her grandmother in Northern California for a better life. Like Carson, Magdalena has a mysterious gift that makes her life as challenging as it is extraordinary.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I have a mug that says, “I write. What’s your superpower?” I like to think my special talent is writing. Otherwise, I’m kind of happily average at the variety of things I try.
Who are your favorite authors?
Some of my favorite authors are Toni Morrison, Jose Saramago, Jonathan Safran Foer and David Foster Wallace. I also love to discover lesser-known authors who write wonderfully out-of-the-ordinary novels. Haruki Murakami says: “If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
What do you like to do with your free time?
I like to spend time with my family and friends. I love being active—taking long walks out in nature, surfing, paddle boarding and bike riding. Reading is one of my favorite things to do, and I also really enjoy cooking.
Tell us about your plans for upcoming books.
The ghost story I mentioned before is still in the works. It’s moving slowly, but I have a good feeling about it. Hopefully I can have a first draft done this year, and next year I’ll work on edits and re-writes. So maybe it can be released in 2018. Sounds like a long time but it should be worth the wait!
Where can people find you on the web?
Website: www.bluemarybooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Mary-Books-1650366188536453/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CandiSary
YouTube trailer of the short film based on my novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoD7KICbNYY
Instagram: hers_for_the_reading
Any final thoughts?
I really appreciate you having me on your blog. Thanks for hosting. During the blog tour Black Crow White Lie is on sale in the Kindle store for only 1.99. I hope you and your readers will take a look!
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #CandiSary, Adult-YA Crossover, Black Crow White Lie, Candi Sary, Goddess Fish Promotions, Rafflecopter giveaway
February 15, 2016
Blog Tour ~ The Daffodils Still Grow
About the Book:
Title: The Daffodils Still Grow: A Book for Grieving Daughter
Author: Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell
Publisher: Mascot Books
Pages: 38
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
The Daffodils Still Grow is a full-color illustrated book that portrays life after a loved one dies as seen from the observations of a motherless child. “Beautiful and inspiring.”
For More Information
The Daffodils Still Grow is available at Amazon .
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble .
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads .
Giveaway:
Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell is giving away a The Daffodils Still Grow T-shirt!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one The Daffodils Still Grow t-shirt
This giveaway begins February 1 and ends April 29.
Winners will be contacted via email on April 30.
Winners have 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
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ENTER TO WIN!
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About the Author
The Daffodils Still Grow was inspired by diary entries of the author/illustrator, Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell, after the death of her mother when she was 14. “My mother committed suicide when I was 14, and after nearly a year of crying and hurting, I was surprised — almost shocked — to see the daffodils she planted right before her death still bloom again. It was a big wake-up call to me that, even though she was gone, I could still carry on without her FOR her. Somehow, our loved ones still find a way of communicating with us when we need it the most.” Sherri Elizabeth now attends Seton Hill University’s MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction. She has a BA in both communications and studio arts from Austin Peay State University. She hopes that every parent will know how irreplaceable and loved they are to their children and that every child who has lost a parent will know they are not alone. Remember, the daffodils still grow!
For More Information
Visit Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell’s website .
Connect with Sherri on Facebook and Twitter .
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Interview With….
Sherri, thanks for being here today. Tell us about you.
I guess I could say I’m a deeply flawed person in a lot of ways, but who a person is, I think, should always be entangled into who they are as a writer – or as an artist, or a creator of any kind. Writing (creating) runs deeper than jobs that are done for dollars, and it has the power to bridge gaps, to touch people’s hearts and to heal. Being vulnerable and brave enough to put your heart out there as an artist and as a person is the one decision that will usually make what you are creating worthwhile and make it matter. It will be the one reason why it connects to those who see it or read it. So, be vulnerable. Be open. Be brave and be you.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Brenda Euland (1891-1985) because she was so encouraging of writers and because she was such an inspiration
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The Daffodils Still Grow: A Book for Grieving Daughters was inspired by diary entries I wrote as a child while grieving for my mother. It gives a voice to children who experience that loss and also shares some hopeful insight about how a mother’s love and legacy continues on.
What is your writing process?
I usually start by asking myself what I want people to get out of the book, how I want it to make them feel and why (I hope) it will be worth their time reading it. Then, I ask myself how I can do that.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
The model who posed for the illustrations in the book is also an actress, so of course she would play the lead role — Hayden Gael Barnes.
What are you working on next?
I’m trying to branch out into fiction, specifically YA mysteries.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
I would approach it with a giving spirit. If you can find people who are in need of the story you’re telling, give them your story. They will pay you back in feedback and in doing their own marketing for your book, because they’ll be that excited and that pleased.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
If You Want to Write by Brenda Euland
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
Tenacity? Does that count?
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Magic – so that I could magically fix everyone’s problems and make everything okay
List 5 things on your bucket list:
To have children and be an excellent mother
To do something that helps animals in a powerful way
To write and publish at least 3 novels that make a positive difference in the world
To provide more for the people I love
To make a living as a writer
Where can readers find you on the web?
www.facebook.com/thedaffodilsstillgrow
www.facebook.com/sherrielizabethtidwell
www.sherrielizabethtidwell.com
Any final thoughts?
A quote from Natalie Goldberg: “Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open.”
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #booksbysherri, #bucketlist, #daffodilsgrow, author interview, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, Rafflecopter giveaway, Sherri Elizabeth Tidwell, The Daffodils Still Grow
February 13, 2016
Creatives On The Couch – Season Two – Update
What an awesome night we had last night!
With a fantastic crew and great guests, Season Two kicked into high gear with talented guests, Steve Dillon and Jacinta Maree. A they talked about their work with our host, shared some insider tips and have alot of fun behind the scenes.
For a moment there everyone broke into our own version of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. As good as we were, I don’t think we did the song justice :)
This season promises to be some great shows with the line-up of guests including:
Steve Dillon
Jacinta Maree
Alvy Merino
Michelle Somers
Brett Crandell
Max Davine
Produced by ASJ Publishing & Positive Dynamite, Creatives On The Couch, Season Two will be available VOD from July 2016.
In the meantime, check out some of the shots BTS, and follow on Facebook.
Filed under: Media Tagged: #indiefilm, #JacintaMaree6, #talkshow, ASJ Publishing, Brett Crandell, Creatives On The Couch, Indie Film, Michelle Somers, Steve Dillon, Talk Show
February 11, 2016
VBT – A is for Apprentice by Steve DeWinter
Title: A is For Apprentice
Author: Steve DeWinter
Release Date: November 2, 2015
Publisher: Ramblin’ Rose Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Ebook
It is said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear.
In Midguard, Spinners are practitioners of innate magic who must learn to control the power that lives inside them before it destroys them.
With the mysterious death of his father, only days before his training is to begin, the knowledge of Van’s lineage as a powerful Spinner is hidden from him. Five years later a near-death experience awakens the dangerous powers within.
Halen, a banished Spinner, is the only one willing to teach Van to manage the magic before it consumes him. He must train Van to hone it into the powerful force needed to stop a vindictive Spinner whose personal mission to conquer Midguard would start a war resulting in the deaths of millions.
But how do they save the world, and Van’s very life, when both apprentice and master are forbidden from ever crossing paths by the same organization created to bring them together?
A IS FOR APPRENTICE is a fantasy novel from the #1 Bestselling Amazon Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Author, Steve DeWinter. This is his next foray into the genre after releasing A Tale of Two Cities with Dragons, a fantasy mashup of the #1 Bestselling Novel of All Time, co-authored with Charles Dickens.
Yes! That Charles Dickens.
ORDER INFORMATION
A is for Apprentice is available for order at
Steve DeWinter is one of the best adventure authors in the world and, after authoring over 40 books, he still works tirelessly to keep up with the growing demand of readers wanting more across multiple genres.
His books have hit #1 on the Amazon Children’s Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Bestseller list and his adult thrillers reached as high as lucky #13 on the Amazon Action & Adventure Bestseller list. He also has the distinction of having nine books in the top twenty of the Amazon Children’s Action & Adventure Sci-Fi Bestseller list all at the same time.
For More Information
Visit Steve’s website.
Connect with Steve on Twitter and Facebook
Interview With ….
Steve. Thanks for being here. Could you please tell us a little about your book?
A is for Apprentice is the story about a boy whose magic lineage is withheld from him. The story follows him as he enters, rather unexpectedly, an unknown world and has to come to grips with who he really is. I was so intent on making it as hard as possible on my main character that, at the end of the first chapter, not only is his intended teacher forbidden from ever training him but also the main character is forbidden from ever being trained by anyone. This was the world he lived in and it was fun to see how both he and his teacher managed to overcome these restrictions. Or do they?
Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?
After finishing Shade Infinity, a book that started out as a romantic suspense but quickly became a science-fiction cloning thriller, I was looking for a new story concept that fully embraced the fantasy genre as my next project.
Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?
The inspiration for this book came from using the alphabet as titles for a long running fantasy series. The other inspiration comes from fantasy elements always trying to creep into my non-fantasy stories.
Who is your biggest supporter?
My biggest supporter has to be my 10-year-old son. The reads, and tells me he enjoys, everything I write.
Your biggest critic?
My biggest critic is myself. And I think that’s a good thing because it forces me to keep improving with each new story.
What cause are you most passionate about and why?
I’m passionate about getting kids to read. With video games and tablets taking time away from other endeavors it’s quite a challenge to make a story strong enough that kids are willing to read it instead of doing anything else. I was a successful with a previous series to get kids excited about reading and so for that I am happy and constantly striving to repeat that success.
In the last year have you learned or improved on any skills?
One of the skills I am happy to have enhanced recently was my outlining process for novels. I think I have finally hit on a good method based on how James Patterson outlines his novels. And he’s a very successful writer.
Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?
Don’t know that I would call it a ritual, per say, but every time I finish a piece of work I have this mental crash of intense sadness. I guess because it’s over? But then I start working on the next project and I’m fine again. I guess that makes me a storytelling junkie.
Who has influenced you throughout your career as a writer?
Robert Ludlum, Larry Niven, and James Rollins are just a few of the authors I really admire and aspire to weave engaging stories as they do.
What is the most important thing in your life right now?
The most important thing in my life is my family. To that end, I’m working very hard to make sure that I make time to spend with them.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my second fantasy mashup of a Charles Dickens novel. The first fantasy mashup for A Tale of Two Cities was a lot of fun and I have an idea for another one of his popular stories that will be equally as enjoyable.
Do you have any advice for writers or readers?
My advice for writers is to write what you would enjoy reading. My advice to readers is to find the writers you enjoy reading and encourage them to write more.
Is there an author that inspired you to write?
As I mentioned before, Ludlum, Niven, and Rollins were all instrumental in me wanting to use the written word to entertain others.
What are some of your long term goals?
Well, one of my long-term goals is to write all 26 novels in the series that starts with A is for Apprentice. Another long-term goal is to get A is for Apprentice onto television as an ongoing series. I’m a fan of Once on television and see A is for Apprentice appealing to the same audience.
What do you feel has been your greatest achievement as an author?
My greatest achievement as an author was in finding a name for the magic users in my series that fulfilled two functions. One, I needed a term that has not seen heavy use in fantasy literature to date yet still had roots in early storytelling about magic users. And two, when you found out what it meant it you would say to yourself, “Of course. Why hasn’t anyone else done that?”
What do you feel is your biggest strength?
My biggest strength in writing is the ability to plot out an intricate yet satisfying story.
Biggest weakness?
My biggest weakness is emotional depth. I am a plot machine but when it comes to diving deep into the characters… Well let’s just say, that’s why I have built up an excellent team of editors to help me.
What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?
This story feels familiar, i.e. fish out of water, boy who doesn’t know he’s this great hero, villain trying to prevent the hero from recognizing as potential, etc. But I incorporate my experience of writing white-knuckle heart-pumping thrillers to ratchet up the excitement and adrenaline in telling a fantasy tale that is both familiar but also fresh and new. I have also ensured that there are no throwaway characters in my stories. If they show up, they have significance whether it is in this story directly or in one of the 25 follow-up novels that will roll out over the years.
You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?
Vertical Run by Joseph Garber. Reading that book is like watching the Die Hard movies in text form. It is one of the few books I’ve read dozens of times and repeatedly repurchase as I give my copy away.
If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?
There are no days I would change. Every day in my life brought me to today and I am more than happy to actually be here.
Are you a different person now than you were 5 years ago? In what way/s?
I am very different than I was five years ago. The most notable difference is that I’ve learned how to make my own luck rather than hope lucky things happen to me.
What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?
The most important lesson I have learned from life is that things take time.
Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?
While there will always be things I can look back at and say, “I should’ve done that or I shouldn’t have done this,” I live by a strict code of “No Regrets”. If I did it, I did it. If I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it. At the time, I must have had a good reason either way.
What is your favorite past-time?
I love experiencing story in all its varied formats whether it is a book, a movie, or a video game.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I have a lot of fun when I’m writing my stories and I sincerely hope that translates to the page. When you pick up and read one of my stories I want you to have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #stevedw, A is for Apprentice, author interview, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, Steve DeWinter
Launch Day Tour ~ Commander Henry Gallant by H. Peter Alesso
Commander Henry Gallant
by H. Peter Alesso
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GENRE: Sci-fi
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BLURB:
He thought Alaina loved him, but now she’s found someone else. A tidal wave of loss and grief swept over Henry Gallant, leaving him undecided about what to do next, or how to move forward.
Despite his sorrow, he goes on a dangerous mission to an invading aliens’ home world in the Gliese-581 star system. There he uses a neural interface to penetrate their communication network and steal a high ranking alien’s identity. Through this artifice he learns about their history and society, and discovers a way to hinder and possibly defeat them.
A side-effect of linking into the alien network—which was created for autistic savants—is that Gallant’s mind was stimulated and enhanced to the point where he begins to experience superintelligence abilities.
Upon returning from his mission, there is concern that Gallant might pose an even more serious threat than the aliens. While he struggles to fend off those who doubt his loyalty, he fights to win back Alaina.
This is the fourth book of The Henry Gallant Saga, but it can be read as a standalone story.
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BOOK EXCERPT
Alaina told him to leave.
Gallant thought they were in love, but now she’s found someone else.
He’s racked his brain—sifting through the wreckage of their relationship—trying to piece together what went wrong.
A tidal wave of loss and grief has swept over him, leaving him undecided about what to do next, or how to move forward—which is ironic because he’s always prided himself on his ability to reach difficult decisions during a crisis. Is this a crisis? Maybe it’s worse because his brain is numb and won’t process facts or ideas—it just kept replaying the breakup over and over again.
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TWO MONTHS EARLIER . . .
The Warrior was Henry Gallant’s first command. It was the culmination of everything he’d worked for since entering the academy. Her rocket-shaped hull was over a hundred meters long, equipped with stealth technology, an antimatter sub-light engine, and a dark matter FTL drive.
The ship was on course for Elysium, a warm-water planet with oceans coving ninety per cent of its surface and dotted with numerous islands supporting abundant life including birds, mammals, reptiles, and a multitude of plant life. Home to a displaced United Planets’ colony, it was the second of five planets orbiting Tau Ceti, a mustard-yellow dwarf star about 11.5 light-years from Earth.
Sitting in the command chair, Gallant noticed that the bridge was unusually quiet despite the background hum of machinery and the chatter of the bridge crew. There were no alarms, or sirens, or exclamations of concern, all of which was a good thing, but in his heighten state of anticipation he was left with an eerie sense of emptiness.
He could barely contain his excitement at the prospect of seeing Alaina for the first time in nearly a year. His mind was alive with memories—many of which included Alaina’s alluring figure—quickening his pulse. There was nothing auspicious or dramatic about the images—it was just their sheer untimeliness and incongruity that was troubling.
Standing up abruptly, he shook my head to cast off my distracting torpor.
All eyes on the bridge turned toward him.
Chagrinned, he drew a breath and sat back down.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
As a scientist and author specializing in technology innovation, H. Peter Alesso has over twenty years research experience at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). As Engineering Group Leader at LLNL he led a team of scientists and engineers in innovative applications across a wide range of supercomputers, workstations, and networks. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. and served in the U.S. Navy on nuclear submarines before completing an M.S. and an advanced Engineering Degree at M.I.T. He has published several software titles and numerous scientific journal and conference articles, and he is the author/co-author of seven books.
You can visit his Web site at: http://www.hpeteralesso.com/Default.aspx
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Author Social Media:
Author Web site at: http://www.hpeteralesso.com/Default.aspx
Goodreads Address: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/413852.H_Peter_Alesso
YouTube trailer for Henry Gallant Saga: http://youtu.be/2eciKOBFBSM
Facebook for Henry Gallant Saga: https://www.facebook.com/TheHenryGallantSaga/
Amazon link for the Henry Gallant Saga: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011M9O9RC/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/12/sbb-launch-day-commander-henry-gallant.html
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, Commander Henry Gallant, Goddess Fish Promotions, H. Peter Alesso
February 10, 2016
Book Tour ~ Hazard of Shadows
Inside the Book:
Title: Hazard of Shadows
Author:Mike Phillips
Publisher: Caliburn Press
Pages: 280
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Ecopy/Paperback
The enchanted creatures of legend still exist, taking refuge from an age of camera phones and government labs in a secret place called the World Below. After leading a revolution against Baron Finkbeiner, the despotic ruler of the World Below, Mitch Hardy has taken the throne. Unknown to him, ancient powers are at work. The Lords of Faerie seek to revenge the death of Baron Finkbeiner and recover the mysterious Blade of Caro. Soon Mitch is fighting for his life against hellish monsters, the likes of which he never imagined.
Meet the Author
Mike Phillips grew up on a small farm in West Michigan, living much the way people did at the turn of the century. Whether it was growing fruits and vegetables or raising livestock, Mike learned the value of hard work and responsibility at a young age.
While his friends spent their summers watching reruns of bad sitcoms, Mike’s father gave him a very special gift. He turned off the television. With what was affectionately referred to as “the idiot box” no longer a distraction, Mike was left to discover the fantastic worlds that only exist in books. When not tending sheep, gardening, building furniture, chopping wood, or just goofing off, Mike spent his time reading.
With all that hard work at home, Mike was always eager to go to school. He excelled as a student and went on to pursue a career in the sciences. Working as a Safety Engineer in the Insurance Industry, Mike soon became bored with the corporate grind. Writing engaged him like nothing else. After a few novels and numerous short stories, he thought getting published would be a pretty neat idea. And so, here it goes…
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #pumpupyourbook, Hazard of Shadows, Mike Phillips, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB
February 9, 2016
Book Tour ~ Crystal the Christmas Angel
About the Book:
Title: Crystal the Christmas Angel
Author: Theresa Oliver
Publisher: Write More Publications
Pages: 66
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
All of the angels in Heaven are preparing for a big event, and Crystal, a little angel, wants to be a part of it. But the more she tries, the more the angels tell her that she is just too little. That is, until God himself gives her the biggest, most important task of all … going with the Archangel Gabriel to Mary, and bringing God’s greatest gift to the world. But can Crystal do what God asks? Journey with Crystal as she discovers that God sometimes chooses the most unlikely for the greatest tasks. Crystal also discovers that you are never too little to do great things. You just need to believe and never give up.
For More Information
Crystal the Christmas Angel is available at Amazon .
Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble .
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads .
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https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/s8InEsamknk?rel=0
About the Author
Theresa Oliver grew up in southern Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky, in Clarksville, Indiana. In her childhood, she fell in love with the power of the written word, a love affair that has continued her whole life. She moved to Florida, where she has lived much of her adult life. She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tenn., and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree, News Editorial sequence. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, Early Childhood Education sequence, from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Ga. She is currently a writer, a full-time teacher, and the owner of Write More Publications and TNT Author Services. However, her greatest adventure is as a mother of three beautiful boys. Oliver currently resides in Kissimmee, Florida, with her husband and children.
Her latest book is the children’s picture book, Crystal the Christmas Angel.
For More Information
Visit Theresa Oliver’s website .
Visit Theresa’s blog .
Connect with Theresa on Facebook and Twitter .
Find out more about Theresa at Goodreads .
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Interview With….
Theresa, thanks for being my guest here today. Tell us about you.
Ever since I could remember, I wanted to be a writer. I fell in love with the power of the written word at a young age and that love continued throughout my life. However, I used to think that I would live my life and when I was through living it, I would write about it. (Strange, I know! ) So, I didn’t write anything for years. But after the Twilight Saga came out, I was introduced to writing for young adults. Once the writing bug bit me, I was hooked once again. Soon, I came to realize that one should live your life and write as you live. Now, I enjoy writing and journeying into my worlds. I soon discovered that inspiration is everywhere, if one only opens their eyes and his or her minds.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I would love to hang out with Stephanie Meyer. She’s a mom also, so we have a lot in common. It would be cool to sit down over a cup of hot tea or coffee and just shoot the breeze while I picked her brain and chatted as friends about writing, characters, our children, etc.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
One Christmas years ago, I was thinking about the Star of Bethlehem, how it was an anomaly, and how experts said that several planets had aligned perfectly to create the magnificent star and that it was a coincidence that it just so happened to appear during the time of Jesus’ birth. As most writers do, I began to play the “What If” game, wondering if the star had actually been an angel, lighting the way to Jesus for all who seek him. At the time, I didn’t have children of my own, so I sat down to write the story for my nephews and niece. Since the story was for children, I decided to make Crystal a little angel, a child like the readers. Soon, the ideas began to flow and the story was born. I wrote the original first draft in one night. Years later, I rewrote it into the version that that it has become today. One thing led to another and years later, Crystal the Christmas Angel was born.
What is your writing process?
Personally, I watch television or my children play video games on it while I write. I grew up in a house with a semi-large family and there was always a lot of noise in the house. As an adult, I find that I concentrate better with some noise. If it’s too quiet, I turn on the TV for background noise. That said, I usually try and write at least one chapter per week. However in the summer, I write one chapter a day, especially during Camp NaNoWriMo in July. But if there is a day when I can’t write, I don’t beat myself up about it and move on. Tomorrow is another day. I write full-length novels much quicker this way.
Tell us about your main character:
Crystal is a little angel in Heaven. She notices the buzz around her and learns that a huge celebration is about to take place. Crystal becomes determined to help, but botches every attempt. Soon, everyone tells her to go play, and that she’s just too little to help. But God has other plans and trusts her with the biggest job of all—bringing God’s own son to the world.
Oftentimes, children are told that they are just too little and to “go out and play”. However, children have the power within themselves to change the world, but they must first believe in themselves. For it is my belief that people can do great things, no matter their age.
It is my hope that this book inspires confidence in children, will help them to believe that they can do anything if they set their mind to it, and to trust that God has a plan for them.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
Probably a blonde Makenzie Foy. She is a lovely young girl and a great actor. She has a bright future ahead of her.
What are you working on next?
I have several projects in the works. One is Half Dozen Roses, a middle grades children’s book about a twelve-year-old, turn of the century girl who is suddenly thrust into the role of caregiver for her five younger siblings. This will educate children about child labor laws as well as the famous Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Half Dozen Roses is loosely based on the experiences of my maternal grandmother, who was born in 1900. She quit school at a young age and went to work in a factory to help her father support and raise her younger siblings after her mother’s death. This book will show what life was like for children at the turn of the century before it was mandatory for children to attend school. I’m also working on sequels to my series books, including Star Unchained (C.I.A Vampire Series, Book 2), Thou Shalt Not Kill Love (Thou Shalt Not Kill Series, Book 2), and The Journey Home (Cambria Series, Book 3). I am also working on a story about a faerie named Raine, based in my Cambria world, titled Raine and the Locks of Samson. Also, I have another children’s picture book in the works titled Five Loaves, Two Fish, One Boy, and Jesus, the back story of the boy in the biblical story.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Never give up. For every rejection notice you receive, remember that everyone who is anyone was told they couldn’t do it. Keep in mind that it only takes one publisher or agent to say yes. Also, learn as much as you can about your craft and how to market your book, as well. But every time that someone tells you that you can’t do something, remember that you are in good company, for John Grisham was rejected by 14 literary agents before number 15 said yes. His manuscript? A Time to Kill. Also, Stephanie Meyer once received a nasty rejection letter from a publisher regarding her first book Twilight. Look where she is today. You’re in good company.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Um … I have many but A Knight I Shining Armor, by: Jude Deveraux. It is the book that launched the romance time-travel genre and the book to which all time-travel romance books should be compared.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
LOL! I have the gift of gab—or so my husband says. But seriously, I also have a knack for seeing people for who they are, for seeing the good in people, and for connecting with them. I don’t know how and I can’t explain it, but I usually can read a person when I first meet them and can tell what kind of person they are and their motives right away. It has helped me considerably as a teacher as well as a writer.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
The superpower that makes people happy and the world a better place—to create a world free from abuse, hunger, and war.
List 5 things on your bucket list:
To see the Grand Canyon
To live long enough to see my children raised and grown
To become a world famous, bestselling author (hopefully, overnight! He, he, he)
To make the world a better place.
To instill confidence in and encourage children to succeed
Where can readers find you on the web?
I can currently be found on the following venues:
Facebook Page: Theresa Oliver-Author: https://www.facebook.com/Theresa-Oliver-Author-222240647830818/?fref=ts
Twitter: @TheresaOliverA https://twitter.com/TheresaOliverA
Blog: The Writing Life: http://theresaoliverauthor.blogspot.com/
Web site: I will soon be found at theresaoliver.org, but my current Web site is http://theresaoliverauthor.wix.com/theresaoliver
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Theresa-Oliver/e/B0061JPWT8/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1454132362&sr=8-1
Any final thoughts?
Thank you so much for having me here today! I Hope you enjoy my book Crystal the Christmas Angel and look forward to your thoughts in regard to it. Special thanks to Deanna McRae, the illustrator who created the wonderful pics for this book! I look forward to chatting again!
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bucketlist, #pumpupyourbook, #TheresaOliverA, author interview, Children’s Picture Book, Crystal the Christmas Angel, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, PUYB Virtual Book Club, Theresa Oliver
Book Tour ~ Sins of the Father
Sins of the Father
by Lisa Beth Darling
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GENRE: Family centered drama
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BLURB:
As Hannah recovers from emergency brain and heart surgery, memories of the past overtake her dreams with such clarity they cannot be denied. As the last of the painful family secrets come to light it’s up to her brother, Doctor Richard Mason, and his unconventional methods to help her confront the ugliness.
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BOOK EXCERPT
Running a hand over the side of his close-cropped gray head Frank tried to keep his cool as he pled his case, “Look, I just want to see Hannah, are you going to let me in there or not?”
Mason seemed to think about it for a second even though he really wasn’t. “Ummm…not.” He said finally. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
“She told you that? I don’t believe it.”
“Well, you could go and ask herself…oh, wait, that’s right…you can’t go in there. Guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.”
“Yeah, like that’s worth anything.”
“Some people think it is.” Mason retorted as he held out his cupped hands, “Some people put their lives right here. Crazy, right?” From the look on the man’s face Mason thought he’d stand there and bitch all day long. “While you’re waiting for noon to come around, why don’t you do Hannah a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Tell me about the two years between her accident and the birth of my pre-maturely deceased nephew.” He watched Frank’s mouth drop open. “Take a load off.” Mason said and gestured toward the chair opposite his desk. “In fact, why don’t you just tell me everything you know?”
“She told you about Little Ricky?” Frank asked as he leaned forward but the question was more directed to the air than anyone in the room. “She’s never spoken about him…ever.”
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AUTHOR BIO
It was in the 4th grade when Lisa Beth Darling discovered she was a naturally gifted writer. For her very first creative writing assignment, the teacher asked the class to pen a story about a baby bird’s first flight and read them to the class. Putting pencil to paper, Lisa was instantly whisked away by a force she couldn’t explain. When they were finished, all of the children read their happy stories to the class. Not Lisa. She got up and told of how the baby bird flew too high, hit a plane, crashed to the ground and died. She told of how the mama bird and daddy bird cried of how even God was upset sending the rains pouring from the sky. The class was speechless when she finished all they could do was stare at her. The teacher kept her after class told her the story was very good but it was different from the others. She asked Lisa if she’d ever heard of Icarus and had she based her story on him. Lisa had yet to encounter Greek Mythology or hear a whisper of Icarus. As Lisa left the classroom the teacher again told her how good the story was but suggested she might want to write something happier next time. Perplexed, Lisa turned and asked her teacher: “Why?” The teacher had no answer. Luckily for us, Lisa never took that teacher’s advice.
Today she brings us complex multi-layered stories rich with the trials and tribulations that make up the world in which we live. Not one to be pigeonholed into any single genre, Lisa’s stories revolve around the intricacies of couples from range the intimacy of lovers, to mothers and sons, and brothers and sisters.
Lisa Beth Darling is 49 years-old, lives in her hometown of New London, CT with her husband of nearly 30 years, Roy. She is the author of more than fifteen novels along with several short stories and non-fiction books.
Author web links:
Website: http://www.lisabethdarling.com
Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lb_darling
Facebook: http://facebook.com/lbdarling
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1577311.Lisa_Beth_Darling
Purchase Links:
Kindle/Amazon (paperbacks available on Amazon)
http://amazon.com/author/lisadarling
Nook
http://barnesandnoble.com/c/lisa-beth-darling
iBooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/lisa-beth-darling/id411650358?mt=11
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lisadarling
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Lisa Beth Darling 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 giveway
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Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2016/01/nbtm-sins-of-father-by-lisa-beth-darling.html
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AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Lisa. Thanks for being here today. Tell us about you.
At my day job, I’m the secretary/web mistress for a local trades union and I absolutely love it. It’s a very upfront atmosphere where BS is not appreciated or much tolerated. That fits right in line with who I am; no fuss, no muss, no pretense.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I’d love to bum around with Stephen King for a day just wandering aimlessly and chatting. As far as writers go, he is my hero and the one who inspired me to follow this rocky path.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Sins of the Father is the second installment in the Sister Christian Series, in it Doctor Richard Mason and his newly discovered sister, Hannah Rice are still getting to know each other. Except now, as we open, Hannah is debilitated having suffered a massive stroke at the end of Genesis, the first book in the series. She’s on her way to recovery but the process is slow and as her body heals her mind begins to remember the details of her horrific car accident thirty years before. Dark family secrets are uncovered and in Mason’s own reckless way he forces Hannah to face them.
What is your writing process?
Like most writers I have my rituals, my desk is covered with items of inspiration from scented candles to incense to a crystal ball, stones, and dancing Baby Groot. There’s generally a glass of my favorite potent drink and a cup of coffee next to me you’ll probably also find a lovely piece of hand blown glass nearby. I light my candles and my incense, open my file and try to get to business. I play a lot of games in between, I find that these ‘Saga’ games aren’t a mere distraction but they actually help my mind get around things in the story by figuring out the puzzle on the screen I can also figure out the one in my head. For decades I wrote to music, anything you can consider Classic Rock; Boston, Bad Company, The Who, The Stones, Van Morrison, The Doors and so on. My fingers would be flying across the keyboard as I’m singing away. Recently I had a hard drive crash and it took all my music away. From my hubby’s music files I downloaded something titled ‘karaoke’ thinking all of the songs within were by the listed artists but they’re not. It’s just the music. No words. It’s actually working out rather well and no one is more surprised by that than I am.
Tell us about your main character.
There are always two main characters in my books—at least. Here, in Sins of the Father, we have Doctor Richard Mason who is an absolutely brilliant physician but he’s a troublemaker with a reputation for being reckless in his personal life and with the lives of his patients. He’s downright rude and has no qualms about uttering cutting remarks when people disagree with him. When we come across him he’s in his early 50s and is a third owner in the Mountainside Wellness and Research Center, a private hospital, in the mountains of Vermont. He’s thrice divorced with his first wife having died tragically during a bank robbery. He’s grumpy. He’s a loner, he likes being alone so he can drink to his heart’s content, take his OxyContin at will, and he can play his piano at night in his small home. However, he’s just found out that he’s adopted and he’s been put in charge of his sister, Hannah Rice and her 3.5 million dollar trust fund.
Hannah has known for decades that Rick is her brother, her mother told her just before she committed suicide leaving Hannah in the care of her father, James Rice. Hannah had a very unpleasant childhood. When we meet her, she is a troubled woman both physically and mentally who has spent 30 years of her life in one group home or another after a terrible car accident mangles her body. However, Hannah has a very deep belief in God, she hears His voice in her head and follows the instructions He gives her. Therefore, when she comes to lives with Mason and discovers he is an atheist, a very staunch one at that, they have several disagreements on the subject.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
I think Kevin Spacey would make a good Richard Mason or maybe Gary Oldman both are very fine actors who would be able to dig deep into what makes Richard Mason tick.
What are you working on next?
The last novel in the Sister Christian Series, Prodigal Son, I’m hoping it will be out sometime in the late summer.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
I wish I had some magical advice on that one, I’ve tried all types of marketing but in the end I guess I’d say; just don’t give up. Find all of the free places you can, get your toes wet on small ads in emags that won’t break the bank and just keep grinding that promo wheel.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Always and forever it will be my signed edition of Four Past Midnight by Stephen King.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I raised two daughters and kept my sanity, does that count?
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Time travel. That way I could get up whenever I wanted to instead of to the sound of the alarm clock.
List 5 things on your bucket list:
There’s only one thing on my bucket list; a world-wide vacation. I want to go to Greece and dance on a beach drinking uzo until dawn. I want to stand in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. I want to see New Zealand and take a Hobbit Tour. I want to go to Ireland, stay in a quite inn, and play darts over pints of beer. I want to go through all of the castles in Scotland and see where my ancestor, George Darling, was held prisoner before he was deported to the Bay Colony in 1650.
Any final thoughts?
Thank you for having me here today, I hope readers have enjoyed it.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #lb_darling, author interview, Goddess Fish Promotions, Lisa Beth Darling, Sins of the Father
February 8, 2016
Book Tour – Mirror World
About the Book:
Title: Mirror World
Author: John Calicchia
Publisher: Psychangel Books
Pages: 404
Genre: YA Fantasy
What would you do if you saw the future apocalypse of the world in a mirror? Would you try to save the world and those you love, or die trying?
Welcome to my life, this is the vision of the future I’ve been cursed to see. – Cailyssa Larkin
When Cailyssa Larkin looks in a mirror she has an ominous feeling that someone is watching her. Stranger still, she has visions that foretell the future. While visiting her Uncle Spencer, Cailyssa gazes into a mirror and sees a dark future that only she can change. With the future of her own world hanging in the balance, Cailyssa bravely enters the portal to the Mirror World. Here, the Dark Lord controls all the mirrors and bends reflections so all creatures see evil within themselves. With her sister Terry, her mysterious best friend Daemon, and a host of weird and wonderful creatures, Cailyssa embarks on an epic quest to overcome the evil forces trying to destroy her world. She can only defeat the Dark Lord by finding her true self and discovering the family secret that has led her to Mirror World.
This book, written by a psychology professor, integrates famous psychological studies in the story. Readers will enjoy learning important life lessons through the psychological concepts illustrated in the book.
For More Information
Mirror World is available at Amazon.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Book Excerpt:
“You’re not getting away so easily.” I ran after him, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around. “You’re the most confusing man I’ve ever met. One moment you’re cold as stone—pretending that I don’t exist—and the next moment you’re on one knee, and it looks like you’re ready to propose to me. Listen, I don’t need a boyfriend, but I do need some answers!”
“I will only do so if you require it of me,” Daemon said as he turned back into the cold soldier boy. “But please don’t require me to explain, I beg of you. It is still too painful for me.”
“No deal, big boy. If you’re tough enough to pull an arrow out of your chest and heal yourself from a sword fight, I think you are strong enough to talk to your best friend and explain things. So talk. I require it…and no more kissing my hand!” I said with great determination.
To my surprise, Daemon slowly unbuttoned his shirt and took it off. My jaw dropped to the ground, not because I was looking at his perfectly chiseled chest of course, but because I just never knew what to expect from this man. He slowly turned around and showed me two long scars on his back that looked like a letter V. He slowly turned back to face me. “Cailyssa, didn’t you ever think that it’s a bit odd that we have the same birthday?” Daemon said this as if he expected an answer.
“No, I just figured it was a coincidence, and it was always kind of cool to celebrate my birthday with my best friend. What’s the big deal, anyway?” I said as I awaited more information.
“Although it is a vague memory in my mind, my life before I was born into your world was filled with great sadness. I did something horrible, something that is unforgivable,” Daemon said.
“What do you mean your life before you were born—like when you were in your mother’s belly or something?” I was perplexed.
“I don’t have a mother, Cailyssa, only humans do,” Daemon said earnestly.
My specular skills started to tingle, and I started to see some images in my mind. They were beautiful but very frightening to me. I blurted, “What do you mean? You’re not human? Are you some kind of alien or something?” I tried to say this as I laughed confidently, but I was scared of what I would find out.
I focused on the inside of my mind and tried to organize the various images that floated by. I captured one of Daemon as he was before he was born into my world. My jaw hung open, and I tried to form the words but I had great difficulty doing so.
“You’re an, an, an…angel?” I asked in disbelief.
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About the Author
I’m John Calicchia and I write stories of fantasy, action and adventure. In the fall of 2015 my book Mirror World was released! It’s a story of two powerful young sisters and their epic battle against evil. But, this book has something in it most do not: hidden secrets. It’s a teen and young adult fiction book with a self-help book hidden inside. You see… after publishing in psychology books and journals for decades I felt my writing was not helping the young people I love to work with. So, I took famous psychology studies and put it in the characters and plot in Mirror World. As you become part of the story you can learn about psychology or you can just enjoy the story! You can also get a free copy of the users guide to help you understand the psychology behind the book by joining my website www.johncalicchia.com
John Calicchia Ph.D. is a professor of psychology who also works with children and young adults as a licensed psychologist. He lives near Boston with his lovely wife and two amazing daughters. You can usually find him in the pool swimming with his two big dogs.
For More Information
Visit John Calicchia’s website.
Connect with John on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about John at Goodreads.
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GIVEAWAY!
John Calicchia is giving away 2 $25 Amazon Gift Cards!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
This giveaway begins January 4 and ends March 31.
Winners will be contacted via email on April 1.
Winners have 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
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Author Interview
John, thanks for being my guest today. Tell us about you
I’m John Calicchia and I write stories of fantasy, action and adventure. In the fall of 2015 my book Mirror World was released! I am also a professor of psychology who works with children and young adults as a licensed psychologist. I live near Boston with my lovely wife and two amazing daughters. You can usually find me in the pool swimming with my two big dogs. I also love food, sports and have been reading young adult, fantasy, and science fiction books for 40 years!
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My family first and my work.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
As a writer it would be J.R.R. Tolkien. He is a fascinating and very spiritual person.
He was born in South Africa in the late 1800s and moved to England after his father died. He had a hard life and experienced poverty and the horrors of World War I before becoming a famous professor at Oxford University. Today, we take for granted that science fiction and fantasy books always existed. But before Tolkien wrote The Hobbit an the Lord of the Rings they did not. I would love to ask him how he came up with his ideas! Young adult, science fiction, fantasy books and movies are amongst the most popular genre today, much of it we owe to Prof. Tolkien’s imagination and vision!
What’s the story behind your latest book?
It’s a story of two powerful young sisters and their epic battle against evil. But, this book has something in it most do not: hidden secrets. It’s a teen and young adult fiction book with a self-help book hidden inside. You see… after publishing in psychology books and journals for decades I felt my writing was not helping the young people I love to work with. So, I took famous psychology studies and put it in the characters and plot in Mirror World. As you become part of the story you can learn about psychology or you can just enjoy the story!
Tell us your writing process.
I’m writing a story in my head endlessly then when I am in the flow I dictate 1-3 chapters in a morning.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote my first story in sixth grade, and the class loved it and laughed so hard, I was asked to be the first one to read my stories for the rest of the year – motivation for an aspiring writer?
Tell us about your main character:
Cailyssa Larkin is a 17-year-old strong female heroine, but she has always had problems fitting in. She possesses extraordinary martial arts fighting abilities and the ability to influence people. Despite her amazing abilities to understand others and see the future, she cannot understand herself. Her family secret is obvious to everyone but herself. She is also cursed to fall in love with a young man, sworn to always protect her, that she will never be with.
When she looks in a mirror she has an ominous feeling that someone is watching her – someone is. Stranger still, she has visions that foretell the future. One day she gazes into a mirror and sees the end of the world that only she can change. Cailyssa bravely enters the portal to the Mirror World. Here, the Dark Lord controls all the mirrors and bends reflections so all creatures see evil within themselves. With her sister Terry, her mysterious best friend Daemon, and a host of weird and wonderful creatures, Cailyssa embarks on an epic quest to overcome the evil forces trying to destroy her world. She can only defeat the Dark Lord by finding her true self and discovering the family secret that has led her to Mirror World.
What are you working on next?
ANGELUS, That is book II in the Mirror World Series! The war that Cailyssa became involved in, in Mirror World, follows her back home.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I am too modest to answer this question. I guess I’m an okay cook and musician, but what I most hope is that I’ve done a good job as father, husband, Professor and psychologist. I also really hope that you’ll give my book a read, and see if I have any unique talents as an author.
Who are your favorite authors?
I would need many pages to list them all. Classic writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Ursula K. Le Guin are great reads. My favorite modern day writer is Brandon Sanderson, I think he’ll be historically remembered as one of the greats! I also love many YA writers such as Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Kristen Cashore and Stephanie Meyer!
What do you like to do with your free time?
My absolutely favorite thing to do is spend time with my family, friends and dogs. You also might catch me at the gym, polishing my car or at a football game.
Tell us about your plans for upcoming books.
The Users Guide for Mirror World is almost finished. It has the secrets to where the psychology studies are hidden in the book, you can get more information at my website below or my blog.
There will be two more books in the Mirror world series. The next book Angelus starts literally in Hell with a dark angel being tortured for failing to destroy Cailyssa Larkin. Cailyssa has returned from Mirror World and is trying to finish her senior year in high school, when she discovers the war of the Angels she became involved in has followed her home. The Angels in this book are not what you think of in pictures or the Bible. Angels have been living among us and walking the earth for thousands of years – you probably even know a couple – hopefully they’re not the evil ones.
Here’s a biblical quote that starts off the book:
His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And Lucifer stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.
After the mirror World Series I have plans for a psychological thriller PSYOPS which is a dystopian world in which the government and the military control dreams through neuroscience and psychology.
I better get writing!!!!!
Where can people find you on the web?
Follow me and you can also get a free copy of the users guide to help you understand the psychology behind the book by joining my website http://www.johncalicchia.com, twitter @jacalicchia, and you tube: https://youtu.be/8ezO9nWm9UY
Any final thoughts?
I hope my book is a somewhat unique stamp. First of all I hope it’s a fun and exciting story that entertains you. But I know as a professor that the psychology studies hidden in the plot are very helpful for people’s lives. So I really hope it’s a wonderful tale, that has a free self-help book hidden in the narrative. Please get a copy of the users guide at my website after you read it and you’ll know what I’m talking about. In the meantime, read the book and keep guessing about the psychology behind it!
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #jacalicchia, John Calicchia, MIRROR WORLD, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, PUYB Virtual Book Club, Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Tour ~ BRAINS AND BEAUTY
Brains and Beauty
by Jeanette Watts
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GENRE: Historic Fiction
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BLURB:
Regina Waring seems to have it all. A loving husband, a successful business, and the most expensive wardrobe in town. But nothing is what it appears to be. Her husband is critical and demanding, the business teeters on ruin, even the opulent wardrobe is a clever illusion.
Regina’s life is one long tiptoe through a minefield; one wrong step and her entire life is going to blow up and destroy her. Attempting to hold it all together, she appeases the husband, dresses the part, and never, never says what she is really thinking. That would get in the way of getting things done. And, if there’s one thing Regina did really well, it was getting things done.
Enter Thomas Baldwin. Young and handsome and completely off limits, Regina is smitten at first sight. Then, to her great astonishment, he slowly becomes her best friend. He’s the one person in her life who never lets her down. Torn between her fascination with him and her desire not to ruin a marvelous friendship, she tries to enjoy each moment with him as it comes.
If only that were enough.
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BOOK EXCERPT
There was grunting, and the sound of wood groaning, and then a wet thump as they lifted and threw something. Regina could tell that there was a little more room behind her shoulder blades. There was more grunting and dragging and thumping. Then she heard them both groan.
“What’s going on back there? Have I been cut off at the waist?” she asked. Not being able to see what was wrong, or the progress they were having, was making her anxious.
“The next layer is completely wedged in. We can’t do this without tools,” Isaac told her.
Both men hurried away from her, making her worry for their safety. She had also found their company reassuring. What if neither one of them was able to find her again?
That’s when she saw the flickering orange glow in the distance. “No.”
Yes. It didn’t seem possible – but in the midst of water floating below, and pouring from above, something had caught on fire.
Regina started listing in her head all the accelerants that might be contained in a single drygoods store: tar, pitch, turpentine, kerosene. How many homes used all of them? How many gas lines were ruptured all over the city? How many wood stoves were knocked into them? There was no way this heap would NOT be set on fire.
And here she was, stuck, in the middle of it. No doubt about it, she was about to die in the same town in which she was born. It was a shame, really. She had such high aspirations.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jeanette Watts only lived in Pittsburgh for four years, but in her heart, she will always be a Pittsburgher. She missed the city so much after her move to Ohio, she had to write a love story about it.
She has written television commercials, marketing newspapers, stage melodramas, four screenplays, three novels, and a textbook on waltzing. When she isn’t writing, she teaches social ballroom dances, refinishes various parts of her house, and sews historical costumes and dance costumes for her Cancan troupe.
Links:
Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/jeanette.watts.94
https://www.facebook.com/WealthAndPrivilege?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/jeanetteawatts
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Jeanette Watts will be awarding a Victorian cameo necklace to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
Enter to win a Victorian cameo necklace – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/12/vbt-brains-and-beauty-by-jeanette-watts.html
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INTERVIEW
Jeanette, thanks for being my guest today. Tell us about you.
I have way, way too much energy. I can wear out people half my age. When people ask where I get so much energy from, I blame it on eating too many sugar-coated cereals as a child.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Amelia Bloomer. Fascinating lady! I think she must have had as much energy I as do.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
When I finished writing my first book, Wealth and Privilege, I though I was done. It ends on an ambiguous note, but that was on purpose. Gone With the Wind ends without readers having any idea what’s going to happen next. Casablana doesn’t tie everything up with a “happily ever after.” Empire Strikes Back is my favorite Star Wars movie, although that’s not completely fair, it’s already a sequel, and obviously setting up for the next movie.
But then my readers let me know in no uncertain terms that I was going to write another book! I really thought I had nothing more to say. But then Stephanie Meyer’s half-finished Twilight book, told from Edward’s point of view, got leaked online. I totally understand why she was furious, and rightly so. But I did read what was out there, because she said she wasn’t going to finish it. And now I knew how to proceed. I followed her example, and covered exactly the same time period as the first book, but from the heroine’s point of view, instead of the hero’s.
What is your writing process?
I like to write in pretty places. While I get a huge portion of my writing done at my cluttered desk at home, I love setting up retreats for myself. If I’m traveling for a dance event, I’ll stop partway home and get a cabin in the Allegheny National Forest, and write on the front porch with the woods and hills in front of me and a brook next to me. Friends of mine have a cabin in Canada on Lake Erie, and I can write with a view of the lake and the sound of the waves hitting the shore. When my husband travels for conferences, I will find myself a nook in the hotel lobby, next to a fireplace, or at a table in the coffee shop. I get my best work done in those sorts of places.
Tell us about your main character:
Her name is Regina Waring, and I adore her. In the first book, she seems, as one reviewer said, “perfect.” She’s Thomas’ muse. She always seems so put together, and she has all the answers. But nothing could be farther from the truth. I admire because she knows who is she and what she wants. But she’s just struggling through life, making it up as she goes along, making mistakes, struggling to stay afloat, wishing she knew someone who has all the answers. Sadly, my favorite scene demonstrating how earnest and yet flawed she is got left on the cutting room floor. The first draft was much too long, and those scenes had to get cut.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
Wow, I have no idea. I want James Cameron to direct, because the man who directed Titanic is a man who would totally get the railroad riots and Johnstown flood right. But actors…? Marina Sirtis from Star Trek would have been great for Regina, but she’s much too old now. It’s a shame – Alan Rickman would have been perfect for the role of Thomas’ father, but that’s not happening now!
What are you working on next?
My brain is driving me completely crazy with new potential projects right now, so I’m scribbling a little bit here, and a little bit there. But the next thing to be in print now that Brains and Beauty is released is a big departure for me. Instead of historical fiction, I’ve written a modern satire called Jane Austen Lied to Me. It’s first person point of view, I’ve written it to be deliberately vague, so that it could be taking place on any college campus in America.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Prepare to work twice as hard on selling your book as you did on writing it.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Shelby Foote’s Civil War books and David McCullough’s new book on the Wright Brothers. I live in Dayton, Ohio, so I know by aviation history. But nobody tells the story as well as David McCullough!
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
My special superpower is teaching people to dance. Some people would say it’s my skills as a costumer, but that’s just a matter of putting one stitch after another. When people learn to dance, it’s transforming. When you make that transition and realize that you are a dancer, you are never the same person again. Your relationship to other people, to music, to the world around you, will never be the same, ever again.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
LMAO! One comic book – style super power? Teleportation, like Nightcrawler from the X-men. I like to travel, but there are times it would be handy to go poof! And be in California. Or New York. Or Alaska. Or Italy!
List 5 things on your bucket list:
Great Wall of China
Norway
The pyramids of Egypt
Palenque
Clew Bay in Ireland (home of Grace O’Malley, the pirate queen I got to play in 2002)
Where can readers find you on the web?
My webpage is www.JeanetteWatts.com
My facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/WealthAndPrivilege/
My Twitter handle is @JeanetteAWatts
Any final thoughts?
Always remember, the stitch ripper is your friend.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #jeanetteawatts, BRAINS AND BEAUTY, Goddess Fish Promotions, Jeanette Watts
