C.A. Milson's Blog, page 196
January 12, 2016
Cover Reveal ~ 26 Hours in Paris
Inside the Book:
Title: 26 Hours in Paris
Author: Demi Alex
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Erotic Romance
Format: Ecopy
One day to see the sights.
One night to change your life. . .
Magazine writer Kathryn Taylor is traveling from New York to Paris for work. But the flirtatious Frenchman she left long ago is waiting at the airport–and he wants to play. . .
No one can guide Kat through the sensual city’s delights like Marko Renard. He let her get away once, and now he’s determined to make her stay–even if he has to tie her down. He will wrap her in cashmere, tease her tongue with chocolate, and take her to the peak of the Eiffel Tower. . .But can he convince the bohemian beauty she belongs with him, in his luxuriously decadent world? In business, he’s the master–but it’s Kat’s body and soul he truly longs to rule. He has just enough time to show her the pleasures of the boulevards, the boulangeries–and the bedroom. To finally get her to just say oui, he’ll have to seize the day–and the night. . .
Meet the Author
Demi Alex writes steamy romances, blending emotional fulfillments of the heart and carnal desires in her work. Born in Athens, Greece, and raised in her own version of a big fat Greek life in New York, Demi was infected with book and travel bugs early, and currently admits the only therapy for this condition is to combine the two in fictional stories that allow her characters to let loose and experience all they crave. She attended SUNY at Stony Brook, and after changing her major numerous times, graduated with a degree in Public Policy and International Studies. Her characters are loosely based on people she encounters while she travels or during the time she spends matching homes to owners as a Realtor. She simply has a passion for matchmaking that can’t be put to rest.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #DemiAlex4U, 26 Hours in Paris, Demi Alex, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB
Cover Reveal ~ The Running Game
About the Book
Title: The Running Game
Author: L.E. Fitzpatrick
Genre: Dystopian
Rachel’s father called it the running game. Count the exits, calculate the routes. Always be ready to run because they’ll always be coming for you. Whatever happens, they’ll always be coming for you.
On the surface, Rachel is just an ordinary doctor, trying to stay alive in war-torn London, but she has a secret. Rachel is a Reacher – wanted by the government and by the criminal underworld – for her telekinetic powers.
Charlie and his brother John had a reputation for doing the impossible. But after losing his family, Charlie is a broken mess and John is barely keeping him afloat. In desperation, they take a job from a ruthless ganglord only to discover the girl they are hunting is a Reacher – one of their own kind.
James Roxton, a conman and thief, is searching for the man who tried to kill his mother. Suddenly embroiled into the plan to kidnap Rachel, he decides he can turn things to his own advantage.
Even with the help of dangerous and dubious allies, can Rachel turn the game around and save herself?
Author Bio
L E Fitzpatrick is a writer of dark adventure stories and thrillers. Under the watchful eye of her beloved rescue Staffordshire Bull Terrier, she leaps from trains and climbs down buildings, all from the front room of a tiny cottage in the middle of the Welsh countryside.
Inspired by cult film and TV, L E Fitzpatrick’s fiction is a collection of twisted worlds and realities, broken characters, and high action. She enjoys pushing the boundaries of her imagination and creating hugely entertaining stories.
The Running Game, her latest book and the first instalment of her dystopian Reacher series, is due for re-release in October 2015 under the Booktrope label.
Blog: http://l-e-fitzpatrick.blogspot.be/
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: Enchanted Book Promotion, L.E. Fitzpatrick, The Running Game
January 11, 2016
Cover Reveal ~ Heartland
Inside the Book:
Title: Heartland
Author: Sara Walter Ellwood
Publisher: Lyrical Shine
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Ecopy
Sex, drugs, and country music. That was the lifestyle for Emily Kendall, a Texas girl who hit it big on the country music charts–until she found herself pregnant and battling addiction. Now out of rehab and seeking a new life for herself and her unborn child, Emily returns to her hometown of McAllister. The last thing she’s looking for is trouble, no matter how good it looks in uniform. . .
A widower, single father, and former Army Ranger struggling with PTSD, Sheriff EJ Cowley has his own demons to battle while keeping folks safe. The last thing he needs is a troubled celebrity speeding through town in her bright red Mazerati. But when someone from Emily’s past threatens her safety and the peace of McAllister, EJ has no choice but to protect her. And soon both will learn there’s more to the other than meets the eye. And that wounded hearts can love again. . .
Meet the Author
Although Sara Walter Ellwood has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her contemporary westerns. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for over 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia. Sara Walter Ellwood is a multi-published and international Amazon bestselling author of the anthology set Cowboy Up.
She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.
Susan has an undergraduate degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree (MSW) from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has used her professional background as a psychotherapist and corporate trainer to add authenticity to her characters.
Susan is a wife, a stepmother, and a dog lover. She and her family live near Raleigh, North Carolina where she is busy finishing up the third novel in the Willow Hill Series
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #dani_jace, Heartland, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, Sara Walter Elwood
Book Blast ~ Naked Choke by Vanessa Dare
Naked Choke
by Vanessa Dare
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
Trapped at the bar during her best friend’s engagement party, Emory finds herself with Mr. Dud and his obnoxious pick-up lines. That is, until sexy Grayson Green steps in to rescue her. She’s been out of the game so long that she’s practically a dating virgin. With her son off to college and her husband now an ex, Emory is learning how to be not a wife, not a mom, but a single woman. What she doesn’t anticipate is falling—hard and fast—for a dominate, alpha male.
Grayson Green’s an MMA champion, used to working hard and playing harder. He spent years in the limelight where fast times and fast women were easy to come by. Women just want to screw him and men want to be friends with the infamous Green Machine. The appeal is gone and he steps out of the ring to make some changes and get control of his life. He runs his own gym and is a trainer for the next champ. All the training in the world can’t save him from the one-two punch of meeting Emory. She’s different. She has no idea who he is…and she wants him anyway. She’s everything he never knew he ever wanted and he’s going to do whatever it takes to keep her.
Gray convinces Emory that there are no games with him, that he wants to take care of her, protect her, and pleasure her until she can’t see straight. But not everything from his past are championship belts and sponsorship deals. He’ll have to protect her from the one thing he can’t control. Gray will do anything to keep Emory because he knows that winning in the cage is nothing compared to winning her heart.
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BOOK EXCERPT
“Sorry I’m late, baby. This place is so crowded, Paul pointed me in your direction.” I felt a hand on my shoulder before I realized the voice was talking to me. The surprise contact made me jump, but it didn’t feel creepy and gross like Bob/Bill’s hand had. It felt like…electricity crackling in the air before a thunderstorm. Glancing back, it was Mr. Bond’s brother—that would make him Mr. Bond as well, then?—smiling at me. At me! His brown eyes weren’t just dark, they were almost black and they were focused directly, completely, utterly on me.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Vanessa Dare does it all: Urban contemporary to time traveling to Scotland and everything in between. Her bestselling alter ego, Vanessa Vale, sticks with steamy Wild West romps.
Vanessa loves to hear from fans. She is on:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008430166353
https://www.facebook.com/vanessavaleauthor/
Join my mailing list: http://vanessavaleauthor.com/v/y
Buy Link:
https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/naked-choke/id1065552198?mt=11&at=1001l8P9
http://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Dare/e/B016YKNBYG
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Vanessa will be awarding a ebook copy of Naked Choke to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a ebook copy of any Vanessa Vale/Vanessa Dare book to a randomly drawn host.
Enter to win a copy of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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/book-blast-naked-choke-by-vanessa-dare.html
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #iamvanessavale, Goddess Fish Promotions, Naked Choke, Vanessa Dare
Book Tour – Uneven Exchange
About the Book:
Title: Uneven Exchange
Author: S.K. Derban
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Pages: 344
Genre: Mystery/Romance
Like fire and ice, Alexandra Callet’s life runs hot and cold.
At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a woman. She should be on top of the world, but instead she feels dragged down by the void in her heart. Hoping for answers, she decides a trip to Mexico might soothe her soul.
Jake Taylor only pretends to be a confirmed bachelor.
Jake has been entranced by Alexandra’s determination and exotic beauty since the moment they met, but she has no idea how he feels. He considers confessing his love, but fears jeopardizing their friendship and business. He’s caught in a web of pretending he doesn’t care, and doesn’t see a way out of it.
Alexandra is recruited for a dangerous mission.
Following her trip to Mexico, her resemblance to a member of an assassin’s family leads Alexandra to be recruited by the DEA. Her training leaves her distracted, and her business begins to suffer. Jake notices her sudden change, and feels her slipping both personally and professionally beyond his reach. Should he finally take the chance…before it’s too late? After all, he has nothing to lose.
However, when Alexandra returns to Mexico for her mission, things go terribly wrong.
Will she be able find the strength to fight and escape the
peaceful haven that has now become her prison? Or will Jake lose Alexandra forever…
For More Information
• Uneven Exchange is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Book Excerpt:
Two DEA agents, both in casual attire, glanced at the woman riding by. Conner’s brief glimpse immediately became an intense stare as he wondered if Armando experienced the same observation. He dared not look away, afraid even a quick turn of his head would make her disappear. Neither spoke until she peddled past. “It couldn’t be, could it?” Armando asked first.
While tugging at the rim of his baseball cap Conner scrutinized his partner. “Then you saw what I saw!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know how it’s possible. We just left her in Cancun.” Conner’s energetic eyes studied the back of their subject with interest. Shaking his head, he continued, “No, and the hair is definitely a different color. Wow! But it sure looks like her.”
“You’re telling me. This is unbelievable! Vamos amigo,” Armando said. “Come on! Let’s follow her and get a closer look.”
With a soft jog, the twosome began following the female rider. Conner knew they should be more worried about losing her than being noticed, and within seconds, they finished jogging on the uneven wooden pier planks and stepped onto the dirt road. The agents then turned left as their target slowed.
About the Author
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, S.K. Derban moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her mother, born and raised in the United Kingdom, was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. Even after returning to the United States, S.K. Derban’s life was filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries. Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe. S.K. Derban has smuggled Bibles into China on five separate occasions, and has been to Israel on seven missionary trips. When writing, she relies on all aspects of her life, from a strong faith in the Lord, to her unique combination of professional experience. The many personal adventures of S.K. Derban are readily apparent as they shine through into her characters.
Her latest book is the mystery romance, Uneven Exchange.
For More Information
• Visit S.K. Derban’s website.
• Connect with S.K. on Facebook and Twitter.
• Find out more about S.K. at Goodreads.
• Visit S.K.’s blog.
Ten Things You Might Not Know About S.K. Derban
Robert Ludlum is my favorite author. I mourned his passing as if I lost a dear friend. Although I read action thrillers, I write mystery romance.
Writing mystery romance is my way creating a “Dinner plus Dessert book!” When I do read romance, I miss the mystery. When I read romantic suspense, the outcome seems inevitable. My goal is to provide readers with a satisfying meal of solving a mystery, along with the dessert of a romantic conclusion.
My creativity soars when I am either hiking or biking. I feel blessed to live in San Diego, with an amazing climate. Even in the winter, my husband and I are able to bicycle ride along the beach.
I am an organization nut! My organization skills were handed down by my mum, a wonderful English woman who could out organize the best!
Whenever possible, I try to make all of my own natural cleaning products.
In order to share my love of using natural cleaning products and also my talent for organizing, I created a blog. The blog name of HINTS is an acronym for Helpful household advice, Innovative ideas, Natural alternatives, Time saving tips, and Simple solutions.
Yellowstone is one of my favorite places on earth. Many of my story ideas are the result of hiking in what I refer to as God’s country.
When I write dialogue, I pace and act out the scenes.
If I feel writer’s block coming, I get up and sort laundry!
I use both hands while writing in order to keep both sides of my brain active. Although I am right handed, I purposefully use a left computer mouse. When I first made the switch, I instantly felt my creativity soar! Who knew?
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #pumpupyourbook, #skderban, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, S.K. Derban, Ten Things You Might Not Know About, Uneven Exchange
January 8, 2016
10 Things You Need to Know About Virtual Book Tours
10 Things You Need to Know About Virtual Book Tours
By Dorothy Thompson, CEO & Founder of Pump Up Your Book
By now, most authors know what virtual book tours are or at least have heard of them. They’re that wonderful marketing tool that should be a must have in every new book’s campaign. With each new book I write, I’m making a game plan before the book is even published and a virtual book tour is the first promotional venue on that list. While most of us know what they are, there are still a few new authors who might have heard of them but have no idea what they involve. I give you my top 10 things you need to know about virtual book tours so that you will know what to expect.
Virtual book tours are the BEST way to get the MOST online exposure for your book.
Not only are you presenting your book and yourself to thousands of people, all of your interviews, guest posts and reviews are archived which means months down the road, you’re still selling your book because of that one tour.
Virtual book tours ARE a lot of work.
Not only are you searching for the perfect blogs to host you, you are acting as the middle man between you and the blogger unless you are using a paid service such as Pump Up Your Book who will do all the work for you. Even if you do sign up with Pump Up Your Book, there is still lots of work to do completing assignments – filling out interviews and writing guest posts unless you choose an all review tour. Even though it requires a little bit of your time to fill out interviews and write guest posts, it’s well worth it.
You will learn more about your book than you ever did.
I had an author tell me that through the interviews and guest posts she had to complete, she never learned so much about her book which caught her off guard. Now when she is interviewed on radio shows and makes television appearances, she is better prepared.
Virtual book tours will build up your author platform.
No matter if you’re a fiction author or a nonfiction author, virtual book tours will build up your author platform using your key search words.
Your reviews are guaranteed.
Offline publicists while they mean well do it all wrong. They query a book blogger, make arrangements to send the book, then that’s where it stops. The review is not a guaranteed thing. The reviewer can post the review anytime they see fit. With virtual book tours, your review is guaranteed on a certain date unless the reviewer jumps ship which rarely happens. I had an author tell me she signed up with an offline publicist who sent out many books and only one or two reviewers actually came through for them. That was money loss for the author. Books don’t come cheap these days so coming up with a date you and the reviewer can agree upon
guarantees that review will be a given thing.
Many reviewers now take ebooks which save you money.
Thank goodness someone was smart enough to invent a device that automatically loads a book in a few seconds (no waiting to go to the book store anymore my friend) and makes it fun to read. When Amazon lowered their price of the Kindle, sales soared and book lovers started talking about getting one. What that means is that
it opened up a wonderful way to get these books to the book reviewers quickly and less expensively. Have you noticed how much books are and how much it takes to ship them? Not saying all reviewers will take ebooks, but as time goes on, most will have an e-reader and, as a matter of fact, will prefer an ebook.
More website hits, more blog hits, more Twitter hits and more Facebook Fan Page hits.
All authors should have a website or blog and accounts at Twitter and Facebook. No matter if you think they’re all a waste of time. A virtual book tour will definitely give you more hits at all places as long as your links are in your bio.
Going on a virtual book tour raises your Alexa rankings.
What is Alexa? Alexa measures how well you are doing in the search engines. By going on a virtual book tour, and including interviews and guest posts during that tour, your website and blog links are included in every bio (or should be!). Those are incoming links which Alexa uses to measure your ranking. The more your website or blog link shows up on other sites, the more valuable your site is to them and thus, your rankings soar.
You will learn how to sell your book through media exposure.
Not all authors take advantage of their interviews and guest posts by gearing them toward their audience, thus luring them to their book and/or website/blog. I’ve had many authors on tour and the ones who really take the time to make their interviews and guest posts effective selling tools are the ones who profit the most. The key thing here is to make your audience curious. One liners in the case of interviews may not cut it. Of course there are only so many ways you can answer “What’s your book about?” but take your time and get your audience’s curiosity peaked so that they do make your way over to your website or your book’s buying link.
Virtual book tours teach you how to connect well with others.
There is no better way to learn how to network. All these wonderful book bloggers who agree to host you are your new friends in your extended network and they will be there for you the next time you have a book to promote (unless they completely hated it of course). You’ll also learn how to use the social networks effectively as you study how to get people over to your stops by persuasive wording. Remember to talk to your audience, not at them.
There you have it. 10 reasons I feel you need to know about virtual book tours in a nutshell. If you have a tour coordinator as opposed to setting one up yourself, she will walk you through it so that it will be a fun experience for all. Your book will thank you for it.
Dorothy Thompson is CEO/Founder of Pump Up Your Book, an award-winning public relations company specializing in online book
publicity. You can visit her website at www.PumpUpYourBook.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pumpupyourbook and Facebook at www.facebook.com/pumpupyourbook.
Filed under: Media Tagged: #pumpupyourbook, 10 things, Book Tour, PUYB, VBT, VBT's
January 7, 2016
Book Blast Tour ~ Hedon by Jason Werbeloff
Hedon
by Jason Werbeloff
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GENRE: Dystopian Science Fiction
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BLURB:
What if happiness were compulsory?
What if your thoughts were not your own?
Plunge into HEDON for soul-twisting sci-fi.
In 2051, the Bhutanese Empire rules post-apocalyptic Shangri with iron-fisted Buddhist compassion. Happiness is compulsory, but making everyone happy isn’t easy in an overpopulated world. Breeders are ghettoed, homosexuality is mandatory, and Shangrians’ happiness levels are strictly monitored by hedometers implanted in their heads. Become depressed, or feel too happy without helping others feel the same, and The Tax Man will get angry. Very angry.
Gemini and Cyan, winners of the pregnancy lottery, are on the run. Cyan can’t fall pregnant, and Gemini is addicted to the Experience Machine. Will they evade The Tax Man, and find a way to end the brutal pleasures of Shangri?
The lovechild of Brave New World and The Handmaid’s Tale, HEDON is gritty satire on a dystopia drunk with bigotry and positive thinking.
“A one of a kind dystopian novel.”
“As politically depraved as anyone could desire.”
“This is storytelling at its best”. – ReadersFavorite.com 5 star review of HEDON
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Book Excerpt:
The day before his father died, Gemini had carried the old, old man to the summit of the district heap. Cardboard boxes, plastic packets, clothes hangers, rags, and a thousand other remnants of the past had sagged, crunched and scratched beneath Gemini’s bare feet. By the time he’d reached the top, he was out of breath. But it wasn’t the weight of his father in his arms, clinging to his neck. His father weighed less than a memory. No, it was the thought that this would be the last time they would share the view together.
The heap was higher than the ghetto Wall, higher than the Devas. From the top, they could see it all. Rows and rows, and rows, of tin shacks stretched behind them. And before them, a mile away, was the great Wall, brown as the earth. Beyond was the city, its brown-white spires shrouded in fog. Brown fog.
His father had looked at Gemini then. Really looked. Looked at him, his son, not as a war veteran. Not as someone from the past. “Boy,” his father’s voice was hollow, soaked up by the heap, “are you happy?”
The breath in Gemini had caught. Of course he was happy. Everyone was happy. It was Shangri. But his lips formed a different reply. “No,” he said, and stared out beyond the Wall. His cheeks burned.
“That’s okay, boy. They say they’re happy. But they’re not. Nobody is.”
Gemini swung his head to study his father’s eyes. The blasphemy. Sure, there was unrest here, in the ghetto. Sure, there was discontent. But few spoke such … such blatant heresy. Such negativity.
“Find a girl,” his father said, placing a veined hand on his son’s. “Be happy with her, but not too much. Never forget …” His head twitched. “Never forget that there is more.”
His father fell silent. Gemini scooped together a pillow of detritus so the dying man could lie comfortably as he stared out at the city. The city the old man had fought for, and lost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Human. Male. From an obscure planet in the Milky Way Galaxy. Sci-fi novelist with a PhD in philosophy. Likes chocolates, Labradors, and zombies (not necessarily in that order). Werbeloff spends his days constructing thought experiments, while trying to muster enough guilt to go to the gym.
He’s written two novels, Hedon and The Solace Pill, and the short story anthology, Obsidian Worlds. His books will make your brain hurt. And you’ll come back for more.
Subscribe to his newsletter to receive a free novel, and a lifetime of free and discounted stories: http://smarturl.it/werbeloff
Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/AuthWerbeloff – download all of Werbeloff’s fiction from Amazon.
Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/werbeloff – subscribe to get ‘The Solace Pill’ free, as well as VIP access to Werbeloff’s latest fiction.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7340789 – read and submit reviews of Werbeloff’s fiction.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/solaceseries
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonWerbeloff – follow Werbeloff for release date information on upcoming shorts and novels.
Website: http://www.jasonwerbeloff.com/ – read about the author, and the philosophy behind his fiction.
Purchase link for Hedon:
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Jason will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #JasonWerbeloff, GoddessFishPromotions, Hedon, Jason Werbeloff
January 6, 2016
Book Tour – The Last Dinner Party
About the Book:
Title: The Last Dinner Party
Author: Carly M. Duncan
Publisher: Createspace
Pages: 390
Genre: Mystery
When Jeanie D’Alisa is found murdered in her bedroom after hosting a dinner party in her home, detectives Anna Cole and Kristy Hicks are called to investigate the crime. Known within her community for her generous, yet unpredictable nature, Jeanie’s secrets unfold as family, friends and neighbors become suspects. Anna and Kristy discover stamped passport pages revealing travels unknown and a curious relationship between Jeanie and the charming salesman who frequents the apartment building. Meryl, Jeanie’s devoted and needy friend, further complicates the investigation when she phones Jeanie’s sister who is studying abroad and lies to her about the cause of death. Through a muddied pool of misdirection and betrayal, will Anna and Kristy be able to assemble the clues in order to bring Jeanie’s killer to justice? The path to solving the mystery becomes tangled with faces of loved ones who are revealed to be foes in this story about the lengths people will go to in order to save themselves.
For More Information
• The Last Dinner Party is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Book Excerpt:
She opened her eyes only once she heard the apartment’s front door close. She couldn’t even bring herself to turn over in the bed despite her discomfort, for she didn’t want a single mattress coil’s shift to alert him to the fact that she was awake. She waited a moment, lying in her bed, pausing in case he had forgotten anything, but the sound of footsteps faded into the distance.
Meryl Brunetti had been awake for twenty minutes, but she wasn’t prepared to begin the day. Not until he was gone. She didn’t want to see him, she didn’t want to talk, and she certainly wasn’t prepared to deal with anything they’d discussed the night before. She needed more time, and she needed to figure out how she felt.
Instead of waking up at seven o’clock to make him breakfast as usual, to start his day on a pleasant note, and see him out the door, she slept. Or, rather, she pretended to sleep. She’d been unable to sleep the night before. Her mind twirled with anger, despair, and uncertainty.
When she heard the sound of the shower signally the beginning of his day this morning, she felt drowsiness weigh on her eyelids, as though his impending exit might cause her relief. She felt her mind quiet, and forced herself to keep her eyes shut. She wouldn’t rise and she wouldn’t make a sound. She couldn’t bear to see his face. Not after last night. She’d have to pretend later that she’d accidentally slept in.
Maybe she could blame oversleeping on the alcohol. She’d need some excuse, given the average schedule she kept, which rivaled military rising hours. She might be able to blame a hangover for her tardiness depending how closely anyone was counting her cocktails last night. As a rule, she vowed always to have a drink in hand at any social gathering both as an accessory (she could never figure out a comfortable, natural place for her hands), and an ordinary pause in conversation (she often took a sip when she couldn’t think of the next thing she wanted to say.) As a result, she appeared to always have a glass in hand, but she rarely drank with the same fury as some of her louder, and more entertaining friends.
After he left their home, when she heard the click of the lock in place behind him, she emerged from the bed and walked with purpose to the coffee maker. She brewed the first pot of coffee for the day. There would be at least one and perhaps two that followed, depending on her afternoon.
The morning light that flooded into the apartment seemed excessive this particular morning. On any other morning, Meryl would relish in the beautiful daylight that overtook her home, but today she had the beginning of a headache, perhaps from lack of sleep, and she pulled the living room curtains closed.
She wanted to spend a rare day in her pajamas without responsibility, but she couldn’t afford such a day. She never could. Every day, there were endless duties to address. There was the grocery shopping, preparing for her next book club meeting, picking up or dropping off the dry cleaning, meeting with other mothers on various committees, baking for fundraisers, and sometimes making multiple trips to the high school to drop off a meal or some piece of sports equipment that her son had forgotten.
Meryl loved to be busy. The constant buzz of her life made her feel like more than the housewife she was, but she sometimes secretly dreamed of a day off from cooking dinner, and wished she didn’t have to have the answers to every question her family members posed. They trusted her to know all, and she usually did, but the exhausting task of running more lives than her own was far too much for her to think about today. She wished she could sleep away her thoughts and responsibilities.
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About the Author
Carly M. Duncan is a television producer and writer. Working in television, she has prolifically created visual narratives for more than a decade for networks including TLC, Discovery Health, MTV, NatGeo, Travel Channel, FYI and more.
Her writing career officially began when one of her short stories, First Place, was published when she was a high school student in California. Her first two novels, Marcie and Behind You, are mysteries that touch on family bonds and the events that can strengthen or destroy them.
Her third novel, The Last Dinner Party, introduces a pair of female detectives who will return in future stories. In addition, she is a mentor and editor to other writers as well as an avid reader. Her favorite authors include Agatha Christie and Stephen King.
Carly lives in New York with her husband and two daughters.
For More Information
Visit Carly M. Duncan’s website.
Connect with Carly on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Carly at Goodreads.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Interview
Carly, Tell us about you
I’m a television producer and writer. I’ve always loved to read, to escape into stories. About five years ago I came to grips with my obsession with mysteries and began to write my own.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
My schedule inspires me to get out of bed each day! Ha! As a mother with a full time job and my writing hobby on the side, my day is carefully planned and highly strategic. I make the most of each moment and I’ve learned to fill each day with purpose.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I would choose a woman who juggles multiple jobs and passions. Perhaps someone like Madonna or Gwen Stefani. I think Elizabeth Gilbert is very inspirational and realistic. If I could choose to hang out with someone who wasn’t alive, it’d be Agatha Christie. I would love to know how she came up with so many wonderful stories, characters and mystery scenarios.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The idea for The Last Dinner Party came from a round of story telling between family members. I learned of a past murder in the family many, many years ago and so many individuals had varied perceptions of what had happened, which I found very interesting. It made me start thinking about how different perspectives alter the perception of events, and I wanted to play with that.
Tell us your writing process
I really take my time to do an insane number of drafts. I start with the broad strokes and start to get more detailed in each revision. I find that once I’m clear on where I want to reach at each point of the story, I can fill in the detail with greater ease.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I never had an epiphany moment. I hardly believe I’m a full-fledged writer now. I just always loved to read, and I was always writing stories from my daily life. Finally, I realized I could channel what were essentially my writing workouts into telling a story that would mean something to me. That’s how my first novel, Marcie, came to be. Marcie is based on the story of my grandmother’s drowning and it allowed me to tune into family. Once I had one book under my belt, I felt more confident to continue telling the kind of stories I loved most – mysteries.
Tell us about your main character:
The main character in The Last Dinner Party is Jeanie D’Alisa. She’s found dead in her apartment by her neighbor and friend, and the reader learns about the woman she was through her friends’ accounts of her life leading up to her untimely death. Jeanie is controlling and selfish, but ultimately beloved in an odd way. People are naturally drawn to her because she exudes a sort of sophisticated greatness. She is flawed and complex.
What are you working on next?
The Last Dinner Party introduces a pair of detectives, Anna & Kristy, who I would like to continue onto other stories. I have a few ideas for their next cases that I’m currently outlining to explore in more detail.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I think at this point in my life my most extraordinary talent is maintaining my sanity through normal marriage, parenthood, work and side hustle challenges. Ha! Does that count?
Who are your favorite authors?
I love Agatha Christie. She hardly ever fails, and there’s so much content to absorb. Patricia Highsmith is a master of suspense. No one does it like she can. Gillian Flynn is my favorite author for all of her twistiness. Wally Lamb is an incredible storyteller on an epic level. And Paulo Coelho is my favorite author for more spiritual and inspirational tales.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I try to dedicate my free time to dance parties with my children and trying to get strong enough to practice inversion yoga.
Tell us about your plans for upcoming books.
I have a chit lit novel in progress, but it’s been in progress for years and years, so I make no promises there. I also have two ideas for future Anna & Kristy mysteries. Lastly, I’m working on an outline for another mystery based on an incident that happens at a wedding when two couples reunite after having met at another event six months earlier.
Any final thoughts?
I hope you enjoy The Last Dinner Party as much as I loved the journey in making it. I collect photos of the book in your hands and homes, so please sent my way! I’d love to see them.
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #carlymduncan, #pumpupyourbook, author interview, Carly M. Duncan, Mystery novel, Pump Up Your Book, PUYB, PUYB Virtual Book Club, The Last Dinner Party
Book Blast Tour ~ IMPERIA by Jason Hatcher
IMPERIA
by Jason Hatcher
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GENRE: Fantasy, Asian Gothic
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BLURB:
IMPERIA is a tale of revenge. It is a resurrection of Asian myth. It is fantasy’s untold story.
Thirty years is a long time to hold a grudge. The Red Empress has endured every single day of the past three decades living among enemies. A captive empress, she bides her time, her mind’s machinations plotting a future bathed in blood. And then the future becomes the present. Across the Empire of Heaven, the winds blow calmly no more.
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Book Excerpt:
Among the People of the Empire of Heaven, the Great Capital was not simply the heart of an empire; to them, it was the center of civilization itself. The city sprawled across a great valley, a landscape much different than the parched wastelands of the West. As winter made its final retreat and spring took hold, this contrast became even more apparent.
The Great Capital’s skyline was a tessellation of tiled eaves that framed the edges of homes, shop buildings, temples, and courtyards. Except for a few brief hours preceding dawn, the streets overflowed with life: artisans and beggars, soldiers and thieves; merchants, priests, and prostitutes.
Everywhere was the echo of cartwheels on cobblestones. From the few streets left unpaved rose clouds of red dust, churned up by the pitter patter of too many feet.
A hundred generations had lived and died in this city. With such spans of time came the accumulation of ghosts, visible in every worn footpath and every magic amulet hung before the shrine of this or that dead ancestor. History radiated from the beams and the mortar of edifices that filled the valley to its brim, from the base of one mountain to the other. Temples crept up the sides of the surrounding hills, as the intrepid faithful sought out new places to burn their incense, give their offerings, and pray.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Jason Hatcher attended the International Baccalaureate senior high school program, then went on to study Japanese and English literature at the University of Florida. He attended law school in Boston, and worked as an attorney in New York City for eight years. A lifelong lover of Asia, he spent much of his childhood in Japan. He speaks, reads, and writes Japanese, and has traveled extensively throughout that part of the world. Today, he lives in Westchester County, New York, with his husband, mother, and twin sons.
Author website: www.jasonhatcher.space
Author Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/MeetJasonCarterHatcher/?fref=ts
IMPERIA Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/imperianovel/?fref=ts
Amazon Kindle book purchase site: http://www.amazon.com/IMPERIA-Jason-Hatcher-ebook/dp/B0188AQZ2A
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14715959.Jason_Hatcher
Goodreads book page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28001974-imperia?from_search=true&search_version=service
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Jason will be awarding a $40 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $40 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/book-blast-imperia-by-jason-hatcher.html
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, GoddessFishPromotions, IMPERIA, Jason Hatcher, Rafflecopter giveaway
January 5, 2016
Book Tour – LET’S STALK REX JUPITER
Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter!
by Allison A. Spector
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GENRE: Humor, literary fiction, with elements of magical realism
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BLURB:
Trouble’s brewing in the Evergreen Jungle. When controversial author Rex Jupiter plans a visit to a Bellingham bookstore, news of his arrival attracts the attention of the mysterious Paladin, who plans on leading a mob of rioting housewives against him. But the Paladin has competition. Sleuth-extraordinaire Marian Krause has her own bone to pick with Jupiter as she scrambles to solve the death of a woman who has stolen her identity. Rex may think he has the situation under control, but when the wrath of the local Druids is incurred, pitchforks and torches may be the least of his concerns.
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Book Excerpt:
The Paladin knew just where to go. The Shipment had arrived an hour beforehand if his Intelligence was to be trusted. It could be. His Sources never failed him. He was sure the payload would be kept in the stockroom before it was added into the inventory. And he was correct.
The Paladin grabbed a box cutter from the pocket of his cape. It was hard to see in the dark and the eyeholes of his Guy Fawkes mask were too small, but these were mere trifles. Soon, dozens of the Heretic’s novels of Shameful Smarm would be loaded into his bag and artfully recycled in a socially responsible manner. No longer would readers be burned by the white-hot radioactivity of the inflammatory passages he knew lurked within those covers.
Passages housed within chapter titles like “How to Fan a Flame War,” “White Privilege Rocks!,” and “I Objectified Your Mama (and She Loved it).”
Whether the appropriations of the tools of troll-dom were ironic or non-ironic, it mattered little to the Paladin. The only thing that mattered was that he would soon be the agent through which a great Cultural Transformation would take place. And a glorious new age would dawn…
Or something like that.
But for now, he would start small. Yes, for now, he would have to be satisfied that the five hideous cardboard cut-outs of the arrogant, smirking Rex Jupiter would be hacked to—no, wait! Only four would be shredded. On the fifth, he would draw devil horns and a twirly moustache with, dare he imagine it, Permanent Marker.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Allison Spector was born and raised in the hedonistic playground of the Jersey Shore, but finds herself oddly allergic to spray tan. She is a proud graduate of Goucher College, and started her environmentally-focused career in Washington DC in 2005. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2008, and fell in love with its beauty and people. Allison is currently on a Midwestern Adventure and is determined to live as much life as possible—to accomplish her dreams one at a time—and to nurture her loving family, and blaze a trail of wit, whimsy, and eccentricity wherever she goes.
https://twitter.com/inspectorallie
http://www.allisonspector.com
Books available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Stalk-Rex-Jupiter-1888-ebook/dp/B0188MUKWE/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27402777-let-s-stalk-rex-jupiter
Book Trailer
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Allison Spector will be awarding a signed copy of book with original plot outline notes (loose sheets of paper) inside and additional notes at end or in margins of story (US/Canada only) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
Enter to win a special print copy of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Author Interview
Allison. Thanks for being my guest here today. Tell our followers about you
I’m a New Jersey native who moved to the Pacific Northwest back in 2008 and fell in love with the whimsical spirit of the people and abundant natural beauty. Much of my writing has been heavily influenced by my East Coast roots and West Coast wings.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
I’m driven by an overwhelming drive to build, create, influence, and achieve. I want to make my mark on the world, to do good—to spark imagination and make life more beautiful.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I would want to meet the Dalai Lama and spend time with such a gentle human being who has dedicated their lives to compassion and enlightenment.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Let’s Stalk Rex Jupiter was written over the course of three months as part of the JukePop and 1888/Black Hill Press Summer Writing Project. My story was posted one chapter at a time on that forum and was selected alongside two other amazing novellas- Beneath Blair Mountain by Shannon Barnsely and A Stalled Ox by Dean Moses.
Tell us your writing process
I try to write something every day, even if it’s just a few hundred words. On average I write between 500 and 1000 words every evening. I find a quiet, cozy spot where I can stretch my legs. I sip tea, browse the internet, write. Sing a song, act out a scene, play with my kids, write. But no matter what else I might do during my evenings, I am definitely writing!
Do you have any promo tips you can share with aspiring & upcoming authors?
To be honest, I’m pretty new to the promo world. But so far, social media seems to be the way to go. I’ve promo’ed on Good Reads, Twitter, and through Goddess Fish. I’m very pleased with the results to date.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Always and always. Writing is just an inherent part of who I am. I write my first poem at around 11, and I’ve hit the ground running ever since.
Tell us about your main character:
Marian Krause is an aspiring film noir detective who immerses herself in a delightful, pro-active delusion of gumshoe grandeur. She is in a supportive relationship with her hipster husband, Dave who is head over heels in love with this strange, trench coat wearing savant. They live in a cute little purple house with a majestic sequoia in the front yard that may or may not be a supernatural portal for the Old Gods.
What are you working on next?
I have an ongoing serial novel on JukePop.com called The Fringers. It’s a dystopian tale that pits big brother and big business against each other as they fight for the souls of New Jersey’s most obnoxious reality stars. I also have several short stories in the hopper, including one that will publish with 1888 and Black Hill Press in 2016 as part of their Cost of Paper anthology.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I’m an excellent facilitator with training in mediation and conflict resolution. I’m very adept at helping different parties work across the table to achieve amazing results they would have never been able to accomplish individually.
Who are your favorite authors?
Some of my favorite authors include George Orwell, Lois Lowry, Neil Gaiman, Francesca Lia Block, and George McDonald Fraser. I’m also a fan of my fellow Summer Writing Project authors, Dean Moses- author of A Stalled Ox, and Shannon Barnsley, author of Beneath Blair Mountain.
What do you like to do with your free time?
In my free time, I write—because writing is as natural as eating or drinking or breathing. But when I have the chance, I also escape into nature and play in the dirt, climb trees, and scramble over rocks!
Tell us about your plans for upcoming books.
I have a few ideas. There’s a story I had worked on but never went anywhere that involved a subterranean land and a clockwork bird. I might salvage parts of it for a tale or two. I’m also thinking about a Rex Jupiter sequel (maybe), and a genderqueer middle grade with a working title of Sonny Moondog Kisses Boys, but I haven’t decided yet. So many options!
Any final thoughts?
I just want to thank you for taking the time to interview me today and for all the thoughtful questions. I really appreciate being included on your lovely website!
Filed under: Guest Authors Tagged: #bookexcerpt, #inspectorallie, Allison A. Spector, author interview, GoddessFishPromotions, LET'S STALK REX JUPITER, Rafflecopter giveaway
