Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 156
December 10, 2022
Review: SANTA GOES ONLINE by Agnes Green
Santa’s job was done for the year. But now what to do? Last year, he read every page of the encyclopedia. How about going on social media for a change? With the gift he got from his reindeer, Santa was able to go on a tech adventure. Pictures, videos, messaging. This phone was an amazing gadget.
Filled with colorful and festive illustrations that show what can be done online!
Rating: 4 stars
Review: ON HIS NAUGHTY LIST by Kat Baxter
A hot one-night stand on Halloween. Months later, they still think of one another. The narrative in this one was a bit long and confusing. An okay read, but not the best.
Rating: 3 stars
December 9, 2022
Blog Tour: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, VOL 4 by Liese A Sherwood-Fabre
The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 4
by Liese A Sherwood-Fabre
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GENRE: Non-Fiction
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BLURB:
Be as smart as Sherlock Holmes!
Arthur Conan Doyle's original tales include many references to everyday Victorian life that are no longer part of current readers’ world. What Holmes would have eaten from a can while searching for the hound of the Baskervilles, Watson's enjoyment of a yellow-back novel, or the proper use of a gasogene would have been common knowledge to the Victorian contemporary but compels modern readers to run to the nearest reference book. These twenty-five short essays pull such items from the past and expand on their significance in the story. As an additional bonus, this book contains an essay on the role of scandal in Holmes; cases, originally appearing in a collected volume of essays on feminism and agency. After enjoying these concise treatises on Holmes’ world, readers will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of both the times and the life of the world’s greatest consulting detective.
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Excerpt One:
The Intercontinental Reach of the Law
In two of Holmes’ cases, he meets Pinkerton agents: Edwards in The Valley of Fear and Leverton, who trailed Giuseppe Gorgiano from America in “The Adventure of the Red Circle.” By 1888, during the first encounter, the reputation of the Pinkerton Agency had been firmly established for almost 50 years and had already lost its founder, Allan Pinkerton. The Edwards character is said to have been based on James McFarland, who had garnered fame in the 1870s for infiltrating and testifying against the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish mining society. Leverton’s fame also preceded him as “the hero of the Long Island cave mystery.”
Allan Pinkerton was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1819 and worked as a barrel maker there until immigrating to the US in 1842. He settled outside of Chicago and continued his trade. In 1847, he fell into his new profession when he was out collecting materials for his barrels. A particular island not far from where he lived had a plentiful supply of poles, and while gathering them one summer day, he came across evidence of someone else using the island. He informed the sheriff, and the officer investigated, capturing a large gang of counterfeiters. Later, local shopkeepers asked Pinkerton to help capture yet another counterfeiter. Based on these efforts, he was appointed as Chicago’s first—and, in the beginning, only—police detective. Shortly, he had five detectives working under him, and his reputation continued to grow.
Beyond his detective work, he was also an abolitionist. He had been involved in radical politics in Scotland, which was why he was forced to emigrate. His shop served as a station along the under‐ ground railroad, and he raised funds to help transport eleven slaves freed by John Brown. In 1850 he left public services to form his agency. Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency advertised “We Never Sleep” with an unblinking eye as its logo. This image lies behind the term “private eye.” The company included Allan’s brother Robert, who was a railroad contractor. The organization specialized in the capture of counterfeiters and train robbers, but also provided private military contractors and security guards. By 1853, Pinkerton Agencies existed in all the major Union cities. The company hired the first female detective (Kate Warne) in 1856, and during an investigation of a railway case, uncovered a plot to assassinate President-elect Abraham Lincoln in 1861. Warned of the threat, Lincoln changed his itinerary and, under a disguise, passed through the area at night unharmed.
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What Makes a Good Mystery?
I’m a mystery junkie. I have been since I picked up my first Nancy Drew book back in elementary school.
In analyzing my attraction to this genre, I’ve identified three main elements that keep me coming back for more. The first is the puzzle aspect intrinsic in the story. A good mystery sprinkles clues throughout the book. Part of my enjoyment of reading a mystery involves discovering these hints and putting them together before the main character does. It’s an ego-boost to be able to say “Ha! I figured all this out on page 123!” when the perpetrator is revealed on page 289.
Solving a mystery is also a great way for women to show off their brains, skills, and courage. Not all have well-to-do-lawyer fathers who never seem to be too concerned about the number of murders and other criminal activities in their small town like Nancy, but they all reveal the same strong characteristics I first discovered in this amateur sleuth. They run toward danger when everyone else is going in the opposite direction—even though this will be the fifteenth time they’ll wind up in a basement with a ticking bomb. I know they’ll make it through somehow. After all, I have volumes sixteen through forty to go.
And let’s not forget the villain! Jennifer Hilt notes in her book The Trope Thesaurusthat an essential element in a good mystery is a good villain. It’s the conflict with the mastermind behind the crime that makes the hero(ine) shine. Holmes is all the smarter when he chases Moriarty across England and the continent to his final demise. Katniss is all the more clever when she outwits a whole system to win the hunger games.
Excuse me, I’m halfway through my current read A Three-Book Problem by Vicky Delany and need to find out if the killer I suspect is the one who dunnit….
What about you? Do you have a favorite genre? What appeals to you about these stories? Read one lately you’d like to share?
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Liese Sherwood-Fabre knew she was destined to write when she got an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally’s ruined picnic. After obtaining her PhD, she joined the federal government and worked and lived abroad for more than fifteen years. Returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career, garnering such awards as a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart contest and a Pushcart Prize nomination. A recognized Sherlockian scholar, her essays have appeared in scion newsletters, the Baker Street Journal, and Canadian Holmes. These have been gathered into The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes essay collection series. She has recently turned this passion into an origin story series on Sherlock Holmes. The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife, the first book in The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes series, was the CIBA Mystery and Mayhem 2020 winner.
Writer links:
Website: www.liesesherwoodfabre.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liese.sherwoodfabre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsfabre
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Liese-Sherwood-Fabre/e/B00810INE6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5758587.Liese_Sherwood_Fabre
Book Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Times-Sherlock-Holmes-Enlightening-ebook/dp/B0BJ7P1BH8
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-life-and-times-of-sherlock-holmes-6
iBook: http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6443588533
Other: books2read.com/u/bOnezW
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GIVEAWAY :
Liese A Sherwood-Fabre will be awarding a $20 Amazon, Apple or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Book Blast: ALL SIGNS POINT TO MURDER by Connie Di Marco
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Connie di Marco will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Rob Ramer was the perfect husband until he committed the ultimate family faux pas—he shot his sister-in-law to death. Believing himself under attack by an intruder in his home, he fired back. But when evidence is discovered that Rob’s wife, Brooke, was plotting his murder, Brooke is charged with conspiracy in her sister’s death. Geneva, a third sister, is desperate for answers and seeks the help of her friend, San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti. Geneva’s lost one sister and now it seems she’ll lose the other. Was this a murder plot or just a terrible accident? Julia vows to find the answer in the stars.
Read an Excerpt
A young woman in her early twenties peeked through the curtain and hesitated.
“Hi, Shandra,” I smiled. “Please, have a seat.”
The girl looked terrified and sat with her hands clutched around her purse. She was dressed in overalls and a T-shirt with a scarf wrapped around her curly brown hair. She gave me her birth information and even the time. I quickly sketched out her chart.
“It looks like your progressed Moon is approaching your natal Ascendant.” I looked up. “Are you planning to get married? Or perhaps making a big emotional commitment, moving in with your boyfriend?
“Yes,” she breathed. “That’s amazing you could tell that. We’re supposed to be getting married in a month. The wedding invitations have been sent out already.” Her voice quavered.
“I see. Well, that’s exactly what the progressed Moon hitting the Ascendant signifies in a chart, particularly a woman’s chart. But you’re having second thoughts aren’t you?”
She nodded but offered no further information.
I took a deep breath and dove in. “In your natal chart there’s a difficult aspect, one that has colored your early years, your childhood. So, undoubtedly, your fears are connected with this placement.” Shandra stared but did not acknowledge my statement. I knew I was on the right track.
I turned the pad of paper towards her. “You see, your Sun is near the fourth house cusp, the nadir of your chart and it’s next to Saturn. Opposing that conjunction is Neptune, up here near the tenth house cusp, the Midheaven. It’s just half a degree away from that axis – the nadir and the Midheaven of your chart. This axis relates to parental influences in your life, and since Saturn conjuncts your Sun, I’d say this pertains more to your father than your mother. You’ve suffered a great deal in your life because of the lack of a father figure, but you’ve been very strong. The Saturn conjunction has given you strength and you’ve been able to compensate.”
“Yes. That’s true.”
“Did he abandon you or your mother? Did he disappear in some fashion? Maybe even close to the time you were born?”
Shandra nodded. “He . . . he drowned in an accident when my mother was pregnant with me. Just before I was born. It took them a long time to find his body. It was terrible for my mother.” Her face crumpled and she started to quietly cry. I passed her the box of tissues. Neptune, I thought, the ruler of watery places. How terrible and how apt.
“I’m sorry. I haven’t thought about this for a long time.”
“And your mother raised you alone?”
“My Mom and I are very close.” Shandra blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to come here and blubber.”
“It’s okay. We all blubber sometimes. Even me . . . especially me,” I smiled.
Shandra laughed nervously.
“Let’s get back to the wedding invitations. Do you love him?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“And he of course loves you.”
“Yes,” she smiled shyly.
“Well, let’s look at his birth information. Even if you don’t have all the information now, you can always call me later with it. We can set up a very quick chart for your boyfriend and see if there are any real problems.” She gave me his birth date and I quickly sketched out his approximate chart.
“My Mom really wants to see us get married. I think she’s afraid I’ll be alone and won’t have anyone to look after me.”
I thought of my grandmother. This all sounded very familiar. “I can understand that. So what are you afraid of?”
She stared at me silently. I let the silence lag, and then asked her softly, “You’re afraid if you marry him, he’ll die. If you invest in this, you’ll be left like your mother?”
“Yeeees.” At this, Shandra burst into tears again. I passed her the tissues once more and handed her a glass of water.
“Don’t feel bad about crying. Crying’s great, it gets all the demons out into the light of day.”
“It sounds so stupid when you say it like that, but I guess that’s why I’m afraid.”
“Okay, now look at this.” I pointed to the monitor. “Here’s the solar chart of your boyfriend. What’s his name?”
“Rick”
“Okay. Rick seems like a pretty well-balanced guy. There are many many good connections between your charts. He balances you out very well. You’re complementary to each other in lots of ways. With the information I have, I don’t see anything negative here. It’s very positive. What does your mother have to say about this wedding?”
“Oh, she’s got her heart set on it, that’s why I’ve been so upset. I’ve been thinking of calling it off. I’ve been so scared and I didn’t want to hurt her or hurt Rick. I’ve backed out twice before, and this time, he says he can’t do it anymore. He loves me, but he says if I don’t want to marry him, he just has to go away.”
“Well, the decision is yours of course. No one should force you to do anything you don’t want to do.” I waited to see her reaction.
“What do you think I should do?”
I have such a hard time biting my tongue. “I really can’t tell you what to do. But I can give you some good advice. I think this is a very positive relationship. You’re good for each other and frankly, with his Saturn return coming up this year and your Moon progressing to your Ascendant, this is the right time. The Saturn return is considered ‘the astrological coming of age.’ Usually happens sometime between the ages of twenty-eight to thirty. That’s the time we are most free to make decisions that will affect our path for the next twenty-eight or so years. It’s a terribly significant time. And your progressed Moon on your Ascendant . . . well, you may not be fully aware as yet . . . but you’ve already made the commitment.”
Shandra was quiet.
“I also think it would help you to see a therapist for a little while, to sort out your father’s death and separate that event from your current life. I can give you a few names of good psychologists, if you like.” I thought about my therapist, Paula. Maybe I should give her a call soon myself, but it wouldn’t do to recommend her to an astrology client. I’d hate to bump into one of my clients in a waiting room. They’d wonder why astrology didn’t answer all my questions and doubts. Astrology can offer a lot of support, but it’s still no substitute for dredging through your own, very illogical emotions.
“Now that it’s on the front burner this would be an excellent time. There’s no need for you to carry these old wounds and fears into a very promising future.”
“Maybe I should give that a try. I’ve been so stuck and so scared to make a move, but I’m really terrified I could lose Rick.”
“That’s it, my dear. I’m afraid our time is up.”
“Oh, thank you. I can’t thank you enough.” She mumbled. “Can I come back and see you again?”
“I’m not always here, but let me give you one of my cards if you need to see me, okay?”
Shandra took my card and stared at it. She looked up at me. “You’re . . .”
I didn’t respond. I knew what was coming next and I dreaded it.
“You’re the astrologer who rescued that woman from the crazy religious cult, aren’t you?
I sighed. I had hoped all the notoriety from months ago had been forgotten. I took a deep breath and smiled, “That’s me, all right.”
“You’re famous!” Shandra’s eyes grew wider.
I shook my head. “No, really, I’m not. It’s just that they printed my name in the paper.”
“Ohmigod, I had no idea!”
“Well, please don’t hold it against me,” I laughed.
“Wait till I tell my friends that I had a reading with Julia Bonatti.”
I groaned inwardly. The events of last winter still haunted me. I don’t like the idea of being in the glare of any kind of publicity, but when my client’s sister was lured into a religious cult that had no good intentions, I really had no choice.
Shandra tucked my card into a pocket of her overalls. “Thank you so much!” She stepped through the curtain. Through the gap, I could see her two girlfriends waiting anxiously for her. One reached over and gave her a hug as they exited to the street.
I heaved a sigh. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s a universal law. We are constantly confronted with the very issues we have trouble dealing with in our own lives. If Shandra could overcome her fears, then maybe there was hope for me too.
I managed to get through five more readings in my cramped little space, one elderly woman worried about her grandson, a businessman concerned about a move, a housewife considering full-time work, a single woman worried about marriage, and a professional gambler asking about amulets to help his luck. Thankfully, no one else recognized me or my name. Finally, I heard the bell on the closing door ring for the last time.
I peeked out. “Is that it?”
“Yes. Thank heavens. I’m beat!” Cheryl turned the lock on the front door, and flipped over the sign to read CLOSED. “If I have to smell any more patchouli, I’m gonna throw up all over my shoes. Want to get some Chinese? I need to inhale something totally different before I scream.”
“Sure. I’m starving. Where do you want to go?”
“Let’s leave the cars. Did you park in the back?”
“No. My car’s at Gloria’s. I walked over.”
“Let’s go to that dim sum place up the block.”
“The Twin Dragons? Okay.” I slipped on my jacket and grabbed my purse and the new books.
“Would you check in the back and make sure everyone’s gone and the door is locked?”
I dropped my purse and books on the counter and stepped into the back room. I couldn’t find the light switch but felt my way past stacked boxes to the door. A small amount of light from the alley filtered through the dusty window. I heard breathing and the skin on my arms tingled. I wasn’t alone in the back room. A shadow moved across the light source from the front of the shop. Powerful hands grabbed my shoulders. My breath caught in my throat.
“You!” I heard Zora’s raspy voice.
My heart was thudding wildly. I took a deep breath. “I thought everyone was gone.”
Zora’s powerful grip on my shoulders tightened. “Babe,” she rasped at me in the half dark, “You don’t know this yet, but you’re in danger.”
I froze. “What?”
Pressing her finger into my chest, she barked, “Don’t be a do-gooder. Keep your nose out of other people’s business, okay?”
She flung the back door open and stepped out into the alleyway. I watched her bulky form cross the tiny parking lot, her shawls flying in the breeze.
Cheryl appeared in the doorway behind me. “Was that Zora? What did she say?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” I took a deep breath. “She scares the hell out of me.”
About the Author:
Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring Julia Bonatti, a San Francisco astrologer who never thought murder would be part of her practice: The Madness of Mercury, All Signs Point to Murder, Tail of the Dragon, Serpent’s Doom and Enter a Wizard, Stage Left (a prequel e-book novella). Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Penguin Random House. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association (UK) and Sisters in Crime.Website
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Blog Tour: LIGHT, DARK, AND THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM by Scott Benjamin Gracie
Light, Dark, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
by Scott Benjamin Gracie
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GENRE: Non-Fiction (SCIENCE / Physics)
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BLURB:
Since the dawn of time, electromagnetic energy has permeated through the universe, surrounding and interacting with everything it touches, illuminating, destroying and giving life.
The colourful section of the electromagnetic spectrum we see in the form of visible light, rainbows and other phenomena is tiny when compared to its vast entirety. Using many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum have become common everyday occurrence for the majority of people on Earth, as it's been integrated into our lives in ways that we don't even think twice about it.
This book illuminates many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and its effects, the endless ways we have harnessed its energy, and how we interact and live with its influence.
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EXCERPT
Sensitivity to Light (Photosensitivity)
Also referred to as Sun allergy, this immune system reaction is triggered by sunlight. Reactions include polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria and chemical photosensitisation, and can be characterised by itchy eruptions on the skin. There are also some diseases that can cause serious reactions to sunlight.
Polymorphous Light Eruption
This condition is one of the most common skin problems related to the Sun and can appear very quickly after exposure, with the symptoms sometimes lasting for weeks before they ease.
It appears as red, raised itchy areas and bumps. Sometimes blisters can also appear. The condition is common with people that are not regularly exposed to the Sun.
Solar Urticaria
Solar urticaria can develop on the skin when exposed to sunlight for just a few minutes. They appear as itchy red bumps known as hives and can last for hours at a time. Headaches, wheezing, and feeling nauseated, dizzy or weak can also be associated with solar urticaria.
Chemical Photosensitivity
Another type of sensitivity can be caused by substances that are applied to the skin or ingested. These Sun-induced reactions can be classified into two types – photoallergy and phototoxicity.
Phototoxicity
The symptoms of phototoxicity can resemble those of sunburn, but the sensitivity to sunlight is caused by ingesting certain types of medicines or compounds. People that have phototoxicity can develop blueish- grey or brown discolorations, redness, inflammation and also pain.
Higher sensitivity to UV light, called Phyto photodermatitis, can occur from some compounds that contain furocoumarins when applied to the skin.
Photoallergy
This reaction occurs when some substances are applied to the skin and exposed to sunlight. Symptoms can include blisters, itching, redness and scaling. Some sunscreens can also unfortunately cause this reaction when exposed to the Sun.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Scott's passion for light and the electromagnetic spectrum began in his early teens while tinkering with electronics as a hobby. He was formally introduced to the lighting industry while studying Electrical and Electronics in Sydney, Australia, and in 1998 he started his career making custom light fittings and lamps in his dad's garage. Formal lighting design qualifications expanded his opportunity to help project-manage and design on many industry levels.
Twenty-two years on, and Scott has worked on many major infrastructure, commercial and architectural lighting projects. He is a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia & New Zealand, the Colour Society of Australia, the International Dark Sky Association and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Connect with Scott Benjamin Gracie
WEBSITE https://www.lightdarkeverything.com.au/
GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22364418.Scott_Benjamin_Gracie
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/lightingprofessional/
Get a copy of Light, Dark and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228849969
AMAZON.COM.AU https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228849969
KINDLE https://amazon.com/dp/B09XQ13DN3
INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/light-dark-and-the-electromagnetic/9780228849964-item.html
BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/light-dark-and-the-electromagnetic-spectrum-scott-benjamin-gracie/1141351186
BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Light-Dark-and-the-Electromagnetic-Spectrum-Scott-Benjamin-Gracie/9780228849964
BOOKTOPIA https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228849964
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GIVEAWAY
Scott Benjamin Gracie will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayDecember 8, 2022
Blog Tour: THE ADVENTURES OF SOUTHERN BAPTIST BUDDHIST by Pamela McConnell
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pamela McConnell will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
This true story is about a girl who is born up north; into a conservative, fundamentalist/evangelical family—but then becomes a Liberal Buddhist.
Her family moves back to their roots in the Appalachian south, where Pam is molested by her grandfather. She later owns her sexuality by becoming promiscuous; beginning a pattern of serial dating, marrying, and divorcing.
She is first married at 18 to another 18-year-old, who gives her a beautiful son—but he is a redneck and they have nothing else in common. Her second husband is a talented musician but turns out to like sex with men. Her third husband speaks five languages and is a Pakistani, but he beats her up. Her fourth husband is a chef who makes delicious meals but turns out to be a felon and a crackhead. Finally, the love of her life neglects to tell Pam for seven years that he is married.
In the meantime, Pam completes two degrees and works as a counselor, and then 20 years as a hospice social worker. She begins her hospice career in Southern California, where she has moved to get away from the DEEP South. That is where she converts to Buddhism. From that point, she begins to look inward for the answers to her questions about life’s meaning.
Pam leaves the country after two failed relationships, some years apart. She spends a year teaching English in South Korea and goes from there to Pakistan with her third husband. In between, her dad dies and Pam reconnects and bonds with her mom, backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. When she leaves the love of her life, she goes on Pilgrimage to India and Nepal. The meaning of her life is coming into focus.
At the end of the book, Pam goes on a trek in the Himalayas, on the Annapurna Circuit. Just over the three-mile high pass is a magical Pure Land in Muktinath, with a Buddhist temple that is dedicated to the female Buddha Vajrayogini. With a new perspective, Pam has the realization that her Enlightenment is ensured; she WILL become a Buddha someday.
Read an Excerpt
I was born on a Sunday and attended my first (of many) church services that Wednesday. My first memory was gazing up at a bright globe of light, mesmerized. It was a church light and I was a babe in mom’s arms.
At the end of many sermons, our beloved pastor would give an altar call. Many would go down to the altar (a bench that one knelt before and prayed). I remember it sounded like a loud beehive: the sounds of many praying out loud; crying, shouting and whispering all over the church.
I would look around, noting the distress and fervor on the parishioner’s faces. At that point, no one was paying any attention to us kids. It seemed endless. Toward the end, someone might ‘feel the spirit’ and start jumping around or even running up and down the aisles, shouting joyfully:
“Hallelujah!”
“Thank you, Jesus!”
After that, folks would be called to stand up and testify about what God had done for them. The standard testimony for us kids was:
“I love Jesus with all my heart and I want to go all the way with him.”
We were ‘saved’ after confessing our sins and letting Jesus into our hearts as our Savior.
There was another, higher level, called being ‘sanctified.’ That was when the Holy Spirit entered you. I was saved at about five years old; sanctified at about nine. I felt full of the love of Jesus and began reading The Bible and praying.
About the Author:
Pamela McConnell, MSW, LCSW was raised in a fundamentalist/ evangelical Christian church and family. At age 34 she converted formally to Buddhism. She has recently completed a Pilgrimage in India and Nepal. Earlier, she spent two years in Asia: a year teaching English in S. Korea and a year in Pakistan with her 3rd husband. She worked as a counselor after earning a B.S. in Psychology. She worked as a hospice social worker for the last 20 years of her career after earning an MSW degree and becoming licensed as an LCSW. She is an avid backpacker and trekker, having done 500 miles on the Appalachian Trail and more than half of the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas. Amazon Author Page
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December 7, 2022
Book Blast: BLOOD OF THE HUNTED by Marc R. Micciola
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marc Micciola will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
The Resistance Is Rising
Weylyn, Olwen, and other members of the marginalized and subjugated group known as the Tóráin are trying every day to gain equality and freedom. Their enemies, which consist of vile human monarchs, their soldiers, and a masked witch assassin known only as The Dove, continue to tighten their grip around the necks of the Tóráin.
Leading The Resistance, Weylyn and Olwen endure many trials that test them physically and mentally, relying on their loved ones to keep them from losing hope. They both wish to see a time of equality and peace, but to achieve that requires more than what they have. Desperation leads The Resistance to find new allies all across the continent of Kosavros with the goal of finally defeating their oppressive overseers.
Their fight for freedom and respect leads Weylyn and Olwen down paths that open their eyes to new dangers, both involving themselves and the rest of the world. However, they do not waiver. For the Tóráin are known for their resilience, and they have already endured much. What comes next will be hard, but they’re ready to fight for their lives. Together.
Read an Excerpt
I considered myself a fair-sized lycan. It wasn’t common for others to be taller or stronger than me, so fighting someone who was both of those by a wide margin was a difficult task. We wrestled on the floor for only a moment before he threw me off him, sending me down the hallway we had come from earlier. Quickly recovering, I kept my eyes on Greagoir as he got to his feet and growled. Both of us charged at each other this time, the hallway wide enough for Greagoir’s large frame. Right before we collided, I pounced on the wall and leapt off it, bringing my arm under Greagoir’s chin and dragging him down to the ground. He roared as he fell onto his back, clearly unhappy that he was bested. Foolishly, I had admired my good work too long, and Greagoir spun around, swiping at my legs with his massive arm. I fell, landing on my ass. Now on all fours, the large lycan clawed at me. He just missed my thigh as I pushed myself back and away from the small knives he called claws. I tried to get to my feet, but before I could, Greagoir leaped from his crouched position and caught me. He pinned my arms down with his massive hands and reared his head, showing off his teeth during a thunderous growl.
“A good try, but you can’t kill me. Around here, I do the killing.”
About the Author:
Marc R. Micciola lives in Ontario, Canada with his two dogs Rielly and Ace. He has a great passion for hockey, movies, and books. He possesses a book collection consisting of a multitude of fantasy stories. Many of these novels are from his favorite authors: Mark Lawrence, George R. R. Martin, Tom Lloyd, and J. R. R. Tolkien. His prize possessions are his two replica swords from the Lord of the Rings films and his growing number of fountain pens. When Marc isn’t writing, he’s spending time with his dogs, his family, and his friends. Photography and wood art are other things that Marc enjoys doing. Marc’s goal when writing any book is to put together a story that is enjoyable, emotional, and intriguing. If the words on the page make you feel something, then this author feels he’s done his job. Website
Buy the book at Amazon.
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Blog Tour: THE GIRL by Victory Witherkeigh
The Girl
by Victory Witherkeigh
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GENRE: YA Horror
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BLURB:
The parents knew it had been a mistake to have a girl. At birth, the girl’s long, elegant fingers wriggled and grasped forward, motioning to strangle the very air from her mother’s lungs. As she grew older, she grew more like her father, whose ancestors would dream of those soon to die. She walked and talked in her sleep, and her parents warded themselves, telling the girl that she was evil, unlovable, their burden to bear only until her eighteenth birthday released them.
The average person on the streets of Los Angeles would look at the girl and see a young woman with dark chocolate eyes, curly long hair, and tanned skin of her Filipina heritage. Her teachers praised her for her scholarly achievements and extracurricular activities, from academic decathlon to cheer.
The girl knew she was different, especially as she grew to accept that the other children’s parents didn’t despise them. Her parents whispered about their pact as odd and disturbing occurrences continued to happen around her. The girl thought being an evil demon should require the skies to bleed, the ground to tremble, an animal sacrifice to seal the bargain, or at least cause some general mayhem. Did other demons work so hard to find friends, do well on their homework, and protect their spoiled younger brother?
The demon was patient. It could afford to wait, to remind the girl when she was hurt that power was hers to take. She needed only embrace it. It could wait. The girl’s parents were doing much of its work already.
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Excerpt One:
She smoothed the wrinkles down on her black Hermès slacks and shirt before turning the crystal hotel doorknob.
“You bring nothing good into this world,” her mother said, baring her teeth. “You just corrupt and destroy everything. You’re a catalyst, a demonic catalyst. You’re only fit to annihilate. One day you’ll understand the destructive nature of your power. You’ll see the damage you’ll bring to those around you when it’s too late. All those people who tell us you’re amazing, they’ll figure it out. You’ve fooled them for now, but they’ll learn.”
The mother slammed the door as she walked out with that last statement. The tears flowed from the girl’s face as she looked at the door. Her breathing sped up as her stomach roiled, sending her sprinting to the toilet. Her hands were shaking, clammy, as she collapsed to the floor, chills running through her body as she looked up at the ceiling. The orange and bergamot scents of the soaps mixed with the stark, white porcelain tile floor were the only anchors she could focus on to stop herself from throwing up again. Deep in her gut, at the core of her being, there was only one thought she could grasp: she’s right.
“I don’t want to be evil,” she said, whimpering to herself. “I don’t want to be alone.”
“But you aren’t alone, pretty girl,” a voice said with a throaty laugh.
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How does your book differ from other horror books?
The Girl is my debut YA Dark Fantasy/Horror novel, available through Cinnabar Moth Publishing on December 6, 2022. I took inspiration from pre-colonial Filipino and Pacific Island mythology and gods to create my urban dark fantasy world in which my main character lives. I longed for a brown skin heroine like myself in YA dark fantasies I read from the early Aesop’s Fables and original Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales. As I got to middle school, Roald Dahl, R. L. Stine, and Christopher Pike were authors I gravitated toward but still didn’t see myself in the characters, per se. I just watched The School for Good and Evil on Netflix, a book series written by Soman Chainani, who I’ve heard speak in person. His series did a great job of highlighting some joys in the darker, horrific sides of storytelling and reminded me how enamored I was with the woman who cursed everyone at the start of Beauty and the Beast by Disney. I developed a character that flits between human and demon, an anti-heroine, and a female character who isn’t your typical Mary Sue archetype. I didn’t want yet another “golden” hero character in a fantasy or even a horror story. The Girl examines the gray areas of growing up as a young brown female navigating through rejection, lost friendships, hurt relationships, and choosing imperfection. The Girl delves into the horrors that often get overlooked in the “coming of age” stories - the terrifying truth that may be coming to terms with your darkest self is more important than what you’ve been told.
What makes it unique?
The one thing about the Philippine Islands and even the rest of Polynesia that people forget in today’s census groupings is that the “nations” we know today were never actually united before the European colonizers came along. You’ll still find some dialects still carry words or art forms across the path of the Austronesian migration, connecting the Philippine Islands closer to some of the indigenous Polynesian chain of oral traditions. When I hear the terms “dark fantasy” or “horror,” my mind immediately jumps to the aesthetics and imagery of the stories I’d hear from my relatives during a typhoon or power outage. For “stories centered with fantastical and horror elements,” the Pacific islands, while beautiful, are also filled with so many things that cause death and pain: the volcanic ring of fire, typhoons, mosquitoes carrying yellow or dengue fever. The Girl will hopefully be the first glimpse into some tales of our pre-colonial gods and nightmares that became our own myriad of wives’ tales and stories that genuinely acted as a guide to keeping people, especially children, alive. Stories about creatures who haunt the jungles, waiting for the unsuspecting child to eat. Or the shape-shifting, blood-drinking aswang, a female predator able to hide amongst the living. Hopefully, The Girl will be another gateway for readers to discover the diaspora for the first time or add another dimension to the growing mythos.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Victory Witherkeigh is a female Filipino author originally from Los Angeles, CA, currently living in the Las Vegas area. Victory was a finalist for Wingless Dreamer’s 2020 Overcoming Fear Short Story award and a 2021 winner of the Two Sisters Writing and Publishing Short Story Contest.
She has print publications in the horror anthologies Supernatural Drabbles of Dread through Macabre Ladies Publishing, Bodies Full of Burning through Sliced Up Press, and In Filth It Shall Be Found through OutCast Press.
Her first novel, set to debut in Spring 2024 with Cinnabar Moth Publishing, has been a finalist for Killer Nashville’s 2020 Claymore Award, a 2020 Cinnamon Press Literature Award Honoree, and long-listed in the 2021 Voyage YA Book Pitch Contest.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victory_witherkeigh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorywitherkeigh
Website: https://victorywitherkeigh.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/witherkeigh
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Victory-Witherkeigh/dp/1953971601/
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GIVEAWAY
Victory Witherkeigh will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveawayDecember 6, 2022
Blog Tour: REBIRTH OF A SAGE by Lani Gonzales
Rebirth of a Sage
by Lani Gonzales
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GENRE: Spirituality/Self Help/Memoir
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BLURB:
A TRANSFORMATIONAL MEMOIR OF LOVE AND LIGHT.
In Lani Gonzales' intimate self-help debut, Rebirth of a Sage, readers meet the woman she was when she discovered ayahuasca and commenced her journey toward spiritual rejuvenation. Panicked, fearful, and drained, she hoped for an escape for both her and the lonely little girl she'd buried inside. Guided by the Shamans and supported by friends she made along the way, her cleanse progressed one ceremony at a time, culminating in a state of pure spiritual refinement.
Through eleven soul-stirring chapters enriched with enlightenment and healing, readers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions as they journey with Lani. A heartwarming chronicle ensues, traversing the blissful highs and devastating lows she faced along her way to rebirth. Unburying her darkest demons, she inspires us to do the same, gradually weaving threads of transformation and encouraging us to reconnect and reignite the divine flame within our souls.
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Excerpt One:
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is yours to carry, and not my own.
When my innocent eyes looked to you,
You took your life, and I slowly lost my own.
But that is your sin to carry, and your sin alone.
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is yours to carry, and not my own.
You taught me that life was worthless,
Something that easily comes and goes.
But that is your sin to carry, and your sin alone.
You trespassed on my innocence, the pureness of my soul.
But that is your sin to carry, and your sin alone.
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is yours to carry, and not my own.
You told me to be silent. You told me to be still.
But something inside me rotted; something inside me grew cold.
But that is your sin to carry, and your sin alone.
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is yours to carry, and not my own.
You violated my body, using it for the needs of your own.
But that is your sin to carry, and your sin alone.
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is yours to carry, and not my own.
The weight I’ve tried to shed.
The weight I’ve tried to purge.
Deceived into believing it should be shed from my body, the vessel for my soul.
But the weight that should be lost is that of your original sin, your sin, and yours alone.
I will not carry the weight of your sin.
It is not mine to carry.
It is yours and yours alone.
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topic: What do you hope readers will gain from your book?
Rebirth of a Sage is not your typical self-help book. Rebirth of a Sage is a story of hope, an offering of love and light to those still searching in the darkness. The book does not provide a step-by-step guide on how to heal or find self love. The answers and antidotes that we seek are not from a book, counselor or life coach. Every answer and every cure is within each of us and can be accessed once we unbury our afflictions.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Born in the Philippines, Lani Gonzales immigrated to Virginia, USA, with her family when she was only two years old. Determined to emulate her parents' discipline and ambition, Lani worked through college and law school and is now a practicing partner in a successful law firm in Tampa, Florida. A world-traveling, volunteering, energy-healing, aspiring hypnotherapist, Lani is committed to using her light as a beacon to help others find theirs.
Lanigonzales.com
Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Rebirth-Sage-Lani-Gonzales/dp/B0BGNF1M3B/
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GIVEAWAY :
Lani Gonzales will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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December 5, 2022
Blog Tour: ATTICUS EVERHEART, FIFTH GRADE TUTOR AND MONSTER HUNTER? by C.L. Colver
Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor, and Monster Hunter?
by C.L. Colyer
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GENRE: Middle Grade Action Adventure
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BLURB:
Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.
Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.
Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.
Until he’s forced to.
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Excerpt One:
“These came for you,” said Abigail, the oldest of his younger sisters. At eight, she was already smarter than him in many ways. She turned the envelope upside down over his bed. A pair of prescription, steampunk- inspired goggles tumbled out. Still ignoring Atticus’s prior demand, she settled on the window seat.
“I thought they’d never get here!” His previous statement forgotten, Atticus sat up and took off his glasses. He then slipped the leather strap of the goggles over his head and pulled to tighten them to a perfect fit. He raised his chin, wise and prepared, able to spot danger in a single glance.
“How do I look?”
“Like a weirdo.” Abigail pulled her honey-brown hair into a high ponytail. “Or a praying mantis.”
He should have known she wouldn’t recognize functional accessories if they stared her in the face.
“Did you have to get green frames?” she asked.
“I like green.”
“I think you look smart,” said Evie, the youngest of the Everheart children. She was a miniature version of Atticus, from her curly brown hair, round cheeks, and scrawny arms, right down to her bulbous big toes and curious nature. “Why are there round thingies sticking out from the side?”
“Those are monocles.” Abigail opened the newspaper to the comic section. “They magnify things.”
“These aren’t ordinary monocles,” said Atticus. “I can’t believe you think I’d want goggles if they didn’t do something spectacular. I’ll have you know these are the most advanced pair of monster-seeing goggles available, able to cut through the mundane to reveal beasts and demons, ghosts, and goblins.” At least, that’s what the ad had said. Atticus flipped down the crimson lens. “This one’s for flesh-eating monsters.”
“Oh, they’re way cool!” Evie inched closer and asked, “Do you see any?”
“Yes!” Atticus lunged forward and grabbed her, tickling her waist.
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Review: For Atticus, according to his older brothers, “[he] ruins everything [he] comes into contact with.” If Atticus didn’t stop touching their things, he would be fed to the monsters outside. But his compulsive reading habits drew him back for his brother’s book copy of Sherlock Holmes. He just had to know how it ended for the magnificent hero. But then a page is accidentally torn from the autographed copy of Sherlock Holmes, putting Atticus in major trouble. Oh no! Solution: buy another rare copy from a bookstore. But with what money? The money he’ll make tutoring. Sounded like a good idea.
Mystery, adventure, and no monsters were the things he liked. How much trouble could he get into with tutoring? Who could’ve known that he was going to work in a monster house?
Story had an easy narrative with drawn-out detail that can slow down the pace. The detail is very descriptive in an amusing way, but it is long and does take some time to get through. For instance, Atticus doesn’t meet Drago, the boy he was to tutor, until the end of Chapter 5. Until then, we get all the details on the monster house.
Afterwards, most of the narrative revolved around lesson plans, which made sense since Atticus was the tutor, but it wasn’t too compelling to read. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Yes, there was some mystery and adventure, but they just seemed watered down in this book.
Overall, this was a fairly nice read.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
C.L. Colyer found her love for writing in first grade when her class was sent to the library and asked to find a book for their first book report. While she doesn’t still have this book report, she’s very proud to say she got an A on it. Her favorite thing about the book was that it had no words. That’s right, not one! That gave her the freedom to interpret the pictures in any way she wanted and write her own story.
This sparked her love for writing essays. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she sat down and penned her first novel. This story has a special place in her heart because it’s the story that helped her discover her passion for writing. She has since written several books, many of which may never see the light of day, but all of which helped her learn to combine her passion for writing with her fascination with all things mythical. You’ll find examples of this in her novels.
Buy links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Atticus-Everheart-Fifth-Monster-Hunter/dp/1509246118/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter-c-l-colyer/1142093808
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter/id6443330146
Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/bzVLPE
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62309386-atticus-everheart-fifth-grade-tutor-and-monster-hunter
Embedded:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple ~ Other Retailers
Keep in Touch:
Website: https://cheriecolyer.com/children/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherie-Colyer-author-250631921629169
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherieColyer
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherie_colyer/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21748654.C_L_Colyer
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/C-L-Colyer/e/B09C6JPT3X/
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherie-colyer
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GIVEAWAY:
C.L. Colyer will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
