C.A. Milson's Blog, page 5

SHOOTING STARS ABOVE

SHOOTING STARS ABOVE
Patricia Leavy

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GENRE: Romance

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BLURB:

For fans of Colleen Hoover comes an emotionally charged contemporary romance about a internationally best-selling novelist and a federal agent fighting to heal past wounds.

Tess Lee is a world-famous novelist. Her inspirational books explore people’s innermost struggles and the human need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel—but despite her extraordinary success, she’s been unable to find personal happiness. Jack Miller is a federal agent working in counterterrorism. After spending decades immersed in a violent world, a residue remains. He’s dedicated everything to his job, leaving nothing for himself.

The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.” The two embark on an epic love story, but old traumas soon rise to the surface as Jack struggles with the death of a loved one and Tess is forced to confront her childhood abuse. Can unconditional love help heal their invisible wounds? Together, will they be able to move from darkness to light?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

“So, what do you do?” she asked.

“I’m a federal agent with the Bureau—counterterrorism. I joined the military right out of high school, Special Forces. I was in the field, often deep undercover, until about a year ago, when I took a desk job as the head of my division.”

“Wow, you’re like the real-life Jack Bauer. You even look a little like him, with that whole rugged, handsome hero thing you have going on,” she said.

He blushed and ran his hand through his light brown hair. “I promise you I’m no Jack Bauer, even on my best day. People thought that character was so tragic, but the real tragedy is that Jack Bauer doesn’t exist, and you’re stuck with guys like me.”

She smiled. “What made you choose that line of work?”

“My parents raised me and my siblings to value community, to be patriotic. My father was in the military and then became a firefighter. The idea of service always seemed important. I wanted to serve my country, to protect people. It’s hard to explain, but when I see someone innocent being threatened, I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to protect them. I know it sounds cliché, but I feel like it’s my purpose in life.”

“That’s noble,” she remarked.

He shook his head. “The lived reality often isn’t. When you spend most of your life in the abyss, it gets pretty dark.”

“A residue remains, right?” she asked.

He looked at her intently, a little surprised. “Yes, exactly.”

“I understand. You convince yourself it’s all been for something that matters more than you do, that whatever part of yourself you sacrificed was worth it, because it simply has to be.”

He looked at her as if she had read his innermost thoughts. “Yes,” he said softly. “Tell me, what do you do?”

“I’m a novelist.”

“What are your books about?”

“That’s a difficult question to answer. I guess I wanted to write about everything: what it means to live a life, why it’s so hard, and how it could be easier. To walk people through the darkness, in a way. Perhaps my goals were too lofty, and in that respect, each book fails more spectacularly than the one before.”

The bartender smirked.

Tess wistfully said, “Maybe reality can never live up to our dreams.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than fifty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Recently, her novel The Location Shoot was featured in Ms. Career Girl’s “10 Perfect Books to Get Your Fall Reading List Started” and She Reads in “Novels to Read if You Love Classic Movies” and was the 2024 Best Book Awards First Place Winner in Women’s Fiction. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine and serves on the board of the London Arts-Based Research Centre. In addition to writing, she enjoys movies, art, reading, and travel.

Website: https://patricialeavy.com/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Stars-Above-Celestial-Romances-ebook/dp/B0CYJ76ZXK/ref=sr_1_1

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Patricia Leavy will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

Enter to win a $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Q & A With …

Tell us about you as a person.

I’m shy and happiest at home alone in my office with my imaginary friends. I love writing more than anything else and have since I was little. There’s nothing better than getting lost in a story world you’re creating. It’s magical.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

Tori Amos. She’s my favorite musician. I’ve been lucky to meet her a few times and have some lovely chats, but I’d love the chance for a deep dive conversation about the creative process. I think that would be so inspiring.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

It’s a love story. Really, it’s about the power of love to help us heal our visible and invisible wounds, and the struggle to balance darkness and light in our lives. The story follows world-famous inspirational novelist Tess Lee and counterterrorism agent Jack Miller. Both have given so much to others, but haunted by past violence, neither has been able to find personal happiness. The night Tess and Jack meet, their connection is palpable. She examines the scars on his body and says, “I’ve never seen anyone whose outsides match my insides.”
When I was ten years old, I tried to write a novel. I don’t remember all the details, but it was a love story about two people who help each other heal. I wasn’t able to finish it at the time, being that I was only ten. One night in late 2019, I stepped out onto the balcony of my home office and looked up at the stars. Like a bolt, Shooting Stars Above came to, as a complete book, which was different than my previous novels. I wrote the first draft in only ten days, completely immersed in the story world. It was magical. I believe Shooting Stars Above is the novel I tried to write at the age of ten. I think the seed lived inside of me my entire life. It took years of writing other books to develop the tools to actualize that bolt of inspiration. There’s a saying that “hurt people hurt people,” but sometimes that isn’t true. Sometimes people in pain are able to love others in extraordinary ways. That’s the core inspiration for the book. Really, it’s about the healing power of love and learning to balance darkness and light in our lives.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their latest book?

Start doing publicity at least six months before the book launch. Plan everything out. Hire a good team if you’re able to. Be creative. Be willing to ask people for help.

List 5 things on your bucket list.

Going to SwitzerlandGoing back to Japan (my last trip was cancelled during the pandemic). Seeing the Northern lights in Iceland (I’ve been many times but not gotten lucky yet). Eating a really great gluten-free donut. Writing a book that surprises me.

Any final thoughts?

Shooting Stars Above wrapped me in the warmest embrace. I hope it does the same for readers.

FATHER OF ONE

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Maka, a young Bosnian soldier, has survived three years under siege. When the enemy forces launch their final attack on his hometown, he must escape to the hills. But traversing the vast woods is a task against all odds: to stay alive, and to find his infant son and his wife, he is soon forced to make a desperate move.

Set against the harrowing background of raging guerrilla warfare and the genocide in Srebrenica, Father of One is, at heart, a story of deep humanity, compassion and love. It is the account of one man’s desire to reunite his family, separated by war, and of bonds unbroken by trauma, sustained by loyalty and tenacity. Writing in a voice that rings with clarity and authenticity, Jani Anttola lays open a dark moment in Europe’s recent history.

Enjoy an excerpt:

The old man they called Dedo died in September after a two-day storm. The wind blew from the south, bringing sea clouds, grey and ragged like used steel wool, that poured down on the valley and the gusts drove rain against the window planks, making them wet and dripping, with pooling water on the floor of the cell. Outside the camp the trees bent in the heavy wind and the hayfields were flat in the rain. It was a summer storm but it wasn’t warm: the police stayed holed up in their house and grey smoke puffed from the stovepipe and was ripped away flatly in the wind. The cops had reduced their perimeter to a few that huddled in the far corners. In their olive-green ponchos the guards looked like some strange, dark-glistening mushrooms behind the rain. Then, after the storm broke, the drizzle continued for a day and the hills were deep green and misty, and the rusty old silos of the batching factory stood out brightly in their crumbling yellow paint. There were pools of water on the paths between the barracks and tree branches blown across the yard and everything was washed out, fresh and silent.

That afternoon they were corralled into the third barrack. The hundreds of inmates stood waiting, packed in the hall now, happily surprised by the announcement of an additional tea portion. The previous police crew had repurposed the building as a prison canteen. On the low counter the inmates had built, a gas stove was alight. On its grate sat a fifty-litre, boiling aluminium kettle. Maka stood behind the cauldron with another inmate, a ladle in hand, feeling the heat from the little blue flames that flickered underneath.

Jani Anttola is a Finnish novelist and a medical doctor. In the 1990s he served in Rwanda with the French military and fought in Bosnia as a soldier of the Bosnian army. His works have been published in the UK and Finland. He has spent most of his adult life abroad, working in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

Author website: https://www.jani-anttola.com/

Buy links

https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/historical/father-of-one/

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DIVING INTO THE BELOVED

DIVING INTO THE BELOVED
Lark Compton
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GENRE: Poetry

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BLURB:

Diving Into the Beloved is a mesmerizing collection of poetry that plunges into the realms of love, spirituality, and the soul’s longing. Each poem is a profound reflection of the sacred dance between the lover and the Beloved, capturing the essence of divine connection and human vulnerability. Compton’s words invite readers to explore the depths of their own hearts, making this book not just a literary work but a spiritual experience—an invitation to embrace the love that resides within and around us. With a youthful, modern interpretation of the path to enlightenment, this collection reminds us of the ecstatic poets like Rumi and Hafiz, yet Compton’s voice remains distinctly his own, weaving together concrete details and bold imagery that will leave a lasting impression.

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EXCERPT

Beloved, take me back

to that feeling space

in dream time

where I can easily navigate

my yellow submarine

with its pink propeller of love

while laughing at the absurdity

of being a character

in your psychedelic cartoon

Laughing and crying tears of tangerines

floating endlessly

in my submarine of love,

silly, as it swims endlessly in you

I give up, I have no clue

why I continue to exist on your playground

For the moment I will keep crying and laughing

tears of tangerines

until there are enough

for a giant glass of your morning juice

Then, I hope that when you drink it

you will laugh at this cartoon,

put it down

and I can go back to composing poetry

to the tune of

“We all live in Beloved’s submarine

Laughing and crying tangerines of pure love

floating through galaxies and universes

sharing our love fruit with all

in Beloved’s wild cartoon of Love”

~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lark enjoys being a hermit and staying out of the limelight.

He has been known to accidentally bodysurf with turtles at play.

He leaves them alone and they leave him alone.

Everyone’s happy.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53108042.Lark_Compton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Lark Compton will be awarding print copies of the book to ten randomly drawn winners.

Enter to win one of ten copies of the book – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bypass Surgery

In recent weeks, some may have noticed that I have not been as active as I normally would be. This is due to in late April I had a heart attack, and was in hospital for almost a month.

On Saturday May 17th, I underwent a triple bypass surgery at Wythenshawe Hospital. Needless to say I was scared.

I survived the open heart surgery. Triple bypass operation. Six days ago, I was ok to go home and the real healing began. Among the obvious, there still my eyesight that still little blurred, and inner pain around my neck and back. I still feel little weak.

Thank you all those who came and saw me these past few weeks. I know it was not easy to see me in the state I was in.

But now the long healing process begins. Not just physically but mentally as well, and I know the realisation of this operation has not hit me mentally as yet.

It will take time to recover, and I know that it is a long road ahead.

Opaline’s Discovery

Love. Magic.
Danger.

Could these three
words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?

Opaline’s Discovery

The Witch DNA
Trilogy Book 1

by Sonja Gunter

Genre: Fantasy
Romance, Romantasy, Urban Fantasy

 

Love. Magic.
Danger.

Could these three
words articulate distinct spiritual essences to fuse together?

Bookstore owner,
Opaline Lunn, facilitates a Speed Dating Event, in hopes of finding her
soulmate. She meets attendee Detective Eamon Dayan, who wasn’t looking for
love, but sparks fly at their first kiss.

Together they
unearth Opaline’s powers which lead to the discovery that she has two sisters,
and someone called The Ancient One who wants to kill them.

Unraveling a myriad
of mysteries, with Opaline’s newfound ability to do spells, the soulmates must
find her sisters by her twenty-fifth birthday to be able to confront the evil
force and save all of them.

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* Bookbub * Goodreads

 

I was born and
raised in the cold and beautiful Minnesota, but I escaped to Illinois for
seventeen years to raise my two boys, and now I call Florida home. My husband
Andy, who’s always been my hero, has put up with my late night computer typing
and endless stacks of papers with my stories on them. We have one furry friend
as family: Chip, a sixteen year old ragdoll cat.

Life has been
full of ups and downs, but I’ve made it through the hard times. I love to
travel and go to Disney World to trade pins.
I’ve been a bowler for many years, and you can catch me writing my next
novel at the lanes.

I encourage you
to check out my web site, www.sonjagunter.com for more info and don’t be surprised if I
let my Norwegian heritage come through in my stories.

Go Vikings! You betcha!

 

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Amazon * Goodreads

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Idle

Some women run from trouble…others out-think it

Idle

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 2

by Patricia C. Lee

Genre: Amateur Sleuth Mystery

Sadie Hawkins thought her toughest challenge was keeping her
small freight business afloat—until her best friend, Tanya Woods, is arrested
for murder. With the police convinced Tanya is guilty, Sadie attempts to prove
her friend’s innocence before it’s too late.

As Sadie launches her own investigation with her crew, they use their special
skills and step outside the law to uncover dark secrets tied to StreetSmart;
Tanya’s workplace that provides a support system for rehabilitated young adult
offenders. While her search for the truth intensifies, Sadie and her associates
find themselves in a dangerous web of betrayal, lies, hidden motives, and
vengeance.

With her business at risk, her trust tested and best friend on the line, Sadie
must rely on both her instincts and the loyalty of those around her as she
strives to find the killer. However, in a world full of secrets, even friends
can become enemies and the truth might be more than she can handle.

**On Sale – Get it 50% off!**

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First Gear

Sadie Hawkins Mysteries Book 1

In the heart of Texas, Sadie Hawkins’ entrepreneurial dreams
take flight when a golden opportunity lands in her lap: hauling antiquities.
But when calamity strikes she finds herself not just fighting for her business,
but for her freedom.

Determined to clear her name, Sadie dives into her own
investigation, leaning on a motley crew of rehabilitated young adult offenders
known as StreetSmart for support. Racing against the clock, confronting both
her past and a deadly adversary, Sadie discovers that this mystery holds more
than just her future – it holds her life in the balance.

Embark on a gripping journey with Sadie as she untangles the
web of danger and deceit threatening to consumer her in this suspenseful
mystery that will keep you turning pages.

**On Sale – Get it 50% off!**

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Pat is an
Amazon bestselling author and playwright who has had a love affair with the
written word since childhood, many times immersing herself in the stories of
Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene. An active imagination gave inspiration to short
stories and her first play as a teen.

Her
full-length play, The Truth About Lies, was staged at a regional
theatrical competition in 2006.  She was selected as “One of 50
Authors You Should be Reading” in 2012. One of her novels achieved a
finalist slot in the 2013 International Book Award Contest – fantasy category.
And her Daughters of the Crescent Moon Trilogy
garnered second place in the 2016 Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers Choice for
Best Series.  She is also the winner of
the 15th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Story contest for A Holy Night.

Although
still in pursuit of a place truly called home, Pat shares her life with a
husband and cats, all of which claim rule over the house at one point or
another. Besides dreaming up the next novel, she enjoys traveling, baking,
camping, wine, and of course reading – not necessarily in that order. And she
believes chocolate should be its own food group.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon
* Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $10 giveaway!

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The Dog Roses

Sisters squabble. Queens go to war.

Resolution

The Dog Roses Book 2

by David H. Millar

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Sisters squabble.
Queens go to war.

Ten summers ago, victory brought peace and prosperity to Southern Ériu. Danu and Brighid were celebrated as heroes and saviours. The queens
scaled the heights, and there was only one way to go.

One twin became overbearing, the other resentful. Pride dug a pit filled with
blackthorns between them. They became tyrants, and the kingdom was sundered.
The people were left bitter, divided and afraid, and the lush farmlands fell
barren. Stripped of their powers, the Dog
Roses were no more. Each blamed the other, and neither took
responsibility.

Angry parents gave the twins’ brothers an army and tasked them to bring law to
the kingdom. An embittered veteran and a beautiful assassin accompany them.
Whose gold is in the assassin’s pouch, and what are her orders?

In the Halls of the Aes Sídhe, Draighean is chastised and
commanded to return to her wards. “Guide them, support them, or kill them.
Just finish what you started.”

An evil philosophy grows, and another army gathers. Can the sisters be
reconciled? The people need the Dog Roses, but can they forgive them? Yet, do
Danu and Brighid want the responsibility? Do they want their powers returned?
Being normal is very tempting.

The Dog Roses: Resolution contains
scenes of sex, violence, and language appropriate to the historical period (400
B.C.) and locations in which the story is set. It is not recommended for those
under 14 without parental consent.

5-Star Editorial Review (Literary Titan)

The Dog Roses: Resolution is a bold,
blood-soaked dive into a myth-soaked world of ancient Ériu, dripping with power
struggles, family betrayals, and queens who rule with both sword and seduction.
It’s the second book in Millar’s Dog Roses series, and it doesn’t pull any
punches. At the heart of it are two sisters, Brighid and Danu, daughters of
legendary rulers who were meant to lead with wisdom but fell into tyranny and
chaos. When their father sends their brothers to clean up the mess, all hell
breaks loose. You’ve got ancient gods, cunning assassins, ruthless politics,
and enough battle scenes to make a Roman general blush.

If you’re into Celtic fantasy that
doesn’t tiptoe around darkness, The Dog Roses: Resolution will grip you and not
let go. I’d recommend it to fans of Bernard Cornwell, lovers of Irish
mythology, or anyone craving epic family drama with bite.
— Literary Titan

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Na Feirdhriseacha

The Dog Roses Book 1

You have no weapons, striapach.”
“I am the weapon, tuilí.”

It is 400 B.C. The mist clears,
and three triremes glide into the calm waters of the bay in Southern Ériu. On a
grass-topped dune, a young girl dances gleefully at the Goddess’s gift.
The warrior princesses, Brighid and Danu, leap over the vessels’
sides into the cold waters and look north towards their ancestral home—the fort
of Ráth Na Conall. The clash of
weapons is not a good omen.

From his throne in Caher Conri,
the depraved Uallachán rages
at the sight of the red shield embellished with a swooping black raven and the
memories it provokes. He swears vengeance on the daughters of his old
adversary.

Draighean, a demi-goddess of the
mystical Aes Sídhe, stands
alone on the mountain peak. She bites full maroon lips, unhappy at her mission.
Yet, does she have a choice? Evil must be confronted and defeated.

Uallachán’s idea of peace is to crush all dissent, but is he no more than a
puppet of the powerful kings of the Connachta?

The twins know they must defeat the invasion and stop the enslavement of their
people. Still, even with the help of Draighean, the odds are daunting.

The Dog Roses  contains
scenes of sex and violence and uses language appropriate to the period it is
set in, i.e., 400 B.C. It is not recommended for those under 14 without
parental consent.

5- Star Editorial Review & Gold Book
Award (Literary Titan)

David H. Millar’s The Dog Roses: Na
Feirdhriseacha is an
exhilarating historical fantasy that plunges the reader into a world of ancient
Gaelic warfare, mysticism, and political intrigue. The novel follows
the twin sisters, Brighid and Danu, as they navigate their birthright, destiny,
and the brutal conflicts that define their world. From the stormy shores of
Ériu to the blood-soaked battlegrounds of their homeland, the sisters must
harness their strength, wit, and the mystical bond of the feirdhriseacha—the
dog roses—imprinted on their chests. Their journey is one of leadership,
betrayal, and resilience, all set against the backdrop of Celtic mythology and
the harsh realities of Iron Age survival.

The Dog Roses: Na Feirdhriseacha is a
gripping read that will appeal to fans of historical fantasy, especially those
with an interest in Celtic mythology and ancient warrior cultures. The
depth of world-building, the complexity of the characters, and the sheer
intensity of the storytelling make this a novel worth savoring. If you enjoy books like The Mists of Avalon
or The Last Kingdom, this one should be on your list.
— Literary Titan

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Born
in Belfast, Northern Ireland, internationally published and award-winning
author David H. Millar is the founder, owner, and author-in-residence of A Wee
Publishing Company—a business formed to promote Celtic authors and literature.

David
is the author of the five-volume, ancient Celtic-based Conall series and
the spin-offs The Dog Roses, The Dog Roses: Resolution, The
Blood Queen and Brianag: A Blood Queen Novel.

David
resides in Houston, Texas, with his family and two recent family members,
tuxedos Beau and Stiletto.

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Nontraditional Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers

A FREE ebook that introduces neurodiverse writers (and
neurotypical) to plot structures beyond the commonly used hero’s Journey. These
plots are emotionally accessible, highly creative, and more
“traditional” than you’d expect.

Nontraditional Plot
Structures for Neurodiverse Writers

by Margie Pignataro

Genre: Nonfiction Literary Theory, Writer’s Guide

Born from a rejected dissertation proposal and reworked over
the course of 15 years into a compelling exploration of narrative, Nontraditional
Plot Structures for Neurodiverse Writers challenges conventional
storytelling norms. This free ebook delves into how nontraditional plot
structures resonate with neurodiverse writers, offering creative frameworks
that align with their artistic and intellectual strengths—traits often mislabeled
as obstacles.

Through engaging diagrams and dozens of links to free resources, this book
examines storytelling across diverse mediums, from Oedipus the King to Squid
Game, spanning novels, poetry, visual arts, television, film, theater, and
even commercials. The Mona Lisa and Little Red Riding Hood provide illustrated
and textual examples of each plot structure. Whether you’re a writer seeking
fresh approaches or an artist questioning traditional narratives, this guide
provides valuable insights into storytelling beyond the expected.

This ebook lays the groundwork for a forthcoming second edition, arriving next
year, which will expand upon these ideas with deeper textual analyses,
practical exercises, and hands-on guidance to help you craft your own unique
narratives.

**Get it completely FREE!!**

at SeizeTheCow.com
or HERE

I have been writing with serious intent for thirty years.
I’ve been published and produced multiple times. My education has focused on
literary theory, theater history and criticism, as well as creative writing. I
also sell my collage art in a Redbubble store.

I have been published as a playwright. I had articles about
Shakespeare published, as well as blog pieces. I’ve self-published several
novels and one book of poetry under the name Lady Ristretto. I have also
worked as a freelance erotica writer with individual clients.

Website * Threads * Instagram * Bluesky * Amazon

Follow the tour HERE for special
content and Enter to win a

$10 Amazon giftcard

OR

 ebook duo of Building Your
Play & Ladders to Fire

 – 1 winner each!

Building Your
Play: Theory and Practice for the Beginning Playwright, David Rush.

https://a.co/d/hKSYXJb

Written by my late, great playwriting professor,
this is essential reading for anyone who wants to write traditional fiction.
Everything in this book I covered in two of my graduate seminars with
David. Learn the rules of traditional writing so you can learn how to break
them.

Ladders to
Fire, Anaïs Nin

https://a.co/d/8aFN4vK

Anaïs Nin wrote novels which are pure nontraditional
texts, to the point that they are difficult to consume for readers
expecting conventional actions. Lacking goals, climaxes, and any kind of a
Journey plot, her novels are psychological analyses of women characters
and their relationships. In my ebook, I explore an excerpt of Ladders to Fire
as having a Portrait plot structure.

David would loathe Nin’s work and Nin would chide David
for his rigid devotion to structures. Reading them together gives a fantastic
view of the differences of traditional and nontraditional writing.

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PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers

When PJ and his team of Paranormal Pursuers unearth the
sinister secrets of the Scottish village of Pittenweem’s witch-hunting past,
they must confront the malevolent spirit of a young boy to save the villagers
from chaos and terror.

The Phantoms of
Pittenweem

PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers Book 2

by Jacqui Dempster

Genre: YA, Teen Paranormal Adventure

After moving from New York to Edinburgh to live with his
aunt, PJ very quickly discovered the parallel worlds of the living and the dead
when he was forced to battle the evil Mackenzie Poltergeist at Greyfriars
Kirkyard.

Now, PJ and his fellow ghost-hunting friends are invited to
stay in the picturesque fishing village of Pittenweem in Fife, a place which,
unbeknown to them, has haunting echoes of its witch-hunting past.

However, their holiday promises to be anything but peaceful,
as witchcraft and superstition threatens to bring terror and chaos to the
villagers and the Paranormal Pursuers must face off with the malevolent spirit
of a young boy, Patrick Morton. Can they find a way to prevent him from
reviving the dark and sinister past of Pittenweem before it’s too late?

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The Mackenzie
Poltergeist

PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers Book 1

After his mom dies, PJ reluctantly leaves his New York home
and everyone he loves, to live with his Aunt Katie in Edinburgh. A series of
strange events begin when his aunt’s elderly neighbour and her cat Azrael
convince him that his mom, weirdly, is still very much with him.

At a bereavement counselling group, PJ makes a new group of
friends, all of whom have lost loved ones. Drawn together by their shared
experiences, they soon discover they have something else in common; an interest
in the supernatural. Freya is the daughter of a white witch, Sunny has a
scientific and enquiring mind and Shuggie, a superfan of ghost hunting
programmes. Led by PJ, they try to prove that there is life after death and
that their loved ones are still with them. The team receives strange messages leading
them to investigate Greyfriars Kirkyard where they experience terrifying
paranormal activity and PJ is drawn into the clutches of the evil Mackenzie
Poltergeist after reciting a famous rhyme that invites the restless spirit to
draw back the bolt of his scary mausoleum to allow him entry. There, he finds
himself in a fight of good against evil with the ghost of Sir George Mackenzie.

“If you are, or know someone who is a teenager with a newfound interest in the
supernatural and paranormal, this is the book for you.”  The Courier and Advertiser (Fife Edition)

“PJ and his friends make a great group of characters, and there’s lots of
laughter to be had as well as scares, while ‘auld reekie’ provides the perfect
backdrop for these ghostly goings-on.” LoveReading4Kids & LoveReading4Schools

“This is a terrific story for teen readers to devour on a spooky autumn
evening.”  The School Librarian
(TSL)

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Jacqui Dempster
qualified as a solicitor in 1999 but now works as a malpractice investigator
for an education and qualifications organisation. She lives in Dunfermline,
Fife, with partner, Andrew, and various ‘borrowed’ doggies who visit regularly.
Jacqui loves dogs, especially Jack Russell Terriers and thinks if they ruled
the world, it would be a better place! The doggy motifs on the cover of her
books represent Dug and Buddy who belong to the characters, Shuggie and PJ. Dug
is based on Jacqui’s own beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Smudge, and her
grandpup, Gus, both of whom have sadly passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Jacqui loves
theatre and ran performing arts schools for young people in Fife. She produced
and directed various shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. When not either working or
writing, she loves to paint and crochet, and of course, read books.

Her first
children’s book in this series, PJ and the Paranormal Pursuers– The Mackenzie
Poltergeist, was published by The Book Guild in 2021.

Jacqui explains:
“The supernatural has featured in my life since I was young, with a grandfather
who saw ghosts regularly and other members of the family, on my Welsh side,
having strange experiences and even dabbling in magic! I studied on the
Edinburgh University Koestler Parapsychology course to learn about the science
of the Paranormal. I have also been on a few ghost investigations with mixed
results.

I live in Fife
nowadays and often visit the beautiful towns and villages within the county.
Fife was one of the famous areas where ‘witches’ were persecuted, and the story
of the Pitteweem Witches is particularly well known. In my book, the story is
told for a younger reader involving a contemporary allegory about one of the
young characters, Freya, who is a Wiccan. The subject of Scotland’s witches
came up in 2022, when an apology was issued by the then First Minister of
Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon to those persecuted, tortured and executed, and MSPs
were invited to consider legislation to pardon them.

I enjoy writing
about various places we’ve visited, and especially about any with spooky
stories attached on my Medium Daily Digest blog.”

Jacqui loves
history and enjoys embracing fact with fiction in her books which she hopes
encourages not only a love of reading in young people but also the desire to
learn about events of the past which often influence the present and the
future.

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When Sparks Fly

Romance is in the air with this amazing new series by
best-selling author Libby Kay.
Pinegrove has it all, sexy firemen, town busybodies, and tons of charm!

When
these sparks fly, a happily ever after is in the cards!

When Sparks Fly

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 1

by Libby Kay

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance

Two broken hearts,
one charming small town, and a few sparks may be the recipe for love…

 

Whitney Kerr is at a crossroads—literally. After jumping
behind the wheel to flee Savannah, and a bad breakup, this Southern Belle is in
search of a fresh start. Stopping in a charming smalltown seems like the
perfect place to catch her breath and find herself. It’s too bad a certain
fireman with a crooked grin and kind eyes could have her plans of
self-discovery going up in a puff of smoke.

Trevor Mays is at a crossroads—figuratively. Still grieving
the loss of his father, he was unceremoniously dumped by his fiancée, who
quickly rebounded with his work rival. Just as he thinks things can’t get
worse, he loses the captain’s promotion—to the man who stole his ex. He’s about
to give up on ever smiling again when a curly-haired beauty with curves for
days stumbles into his hometown.

With some help from the residents of Pinegrove, this pair
will discover that much like the perfect fireworks show, love only needs a
spark.

Fans of Sherryl Woods’ Sweet Magnolias series
and Sarah Adams’s When in Rome series will fall in love with
Libby Kay’s sweet fireman romance. Ms. Kay’s engaging stories fill your heart
and head with possibilities and will quickly become your new favorite!

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

 

Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with
her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any
kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or
Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in
her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband,
traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli
where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and
publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

Website * Facebook
* Instagram * Bookbub
* Amazon * Goodreads

    

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway