Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 17

Q&A with Geoffrey R. Jonas, author of BEING BROKEN

A young woman dies alone in a hotel room, her fentanyl-poisoned cocaine still on the desk. She had been missing for nearly 2 weeks. Social Services had been trying to find a place for her to live with her 3-year-old son, whom she had left with her parents. Six months later her father fights for his life in intensive care, but succumbs to his illness because of a lifelong use of alcohol and tobacco. A month after his death her mother is assessed by doctors to be unable to care for herself because of her Alzheimer's and mental health issues brought on by benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction.

The son, brother, stepson is the only one left to pick up the pieces. He begins a journey of the self and finds out the truth of his family. After going over letters, notes, emails, videos, and text messages, he uncovers a disturbing picture of the abuse his sister suffered at the hands of their parents. He also begins to better understand his own struggles with mental health and substance addiction because of the trauma and abuse he also suffered from their parents.

Follow the son as he looks through his family history to discover the generational abuse that trickled down through the years. Learn about how parents who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder emotionally abuse and manipulate their children. See how the abuse and trauma becomes mental illness in the abused, and how they fall into vicious traps of addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Witness the transformational change of the son as he works on the recovery of his inner child and tries to become the man he was meant to be.

WHATWAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?

Simply put, thedeath of my sister. After her death, I began to research how such a thing couldhappen. I had already been studying Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and trauma formany years; however, this was the first time I started looking directly into myfamily. The writing began as essays, discussing the abuse and trauma and how itrelates to SUD. Once I started connecting the dots between trauma and SUD, Iwanted to incorporate real-life examples of our experiences to bettercommunicate that relation.

 

HOWDID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE FOR THIS BOOK?

The title has adouble meaning. First, to represent the process of how one becomes brokenthrough abuse and trauma. Second, to describe living with Complex PostTraumatic Stress Disoder (CPTSD), as it feels to me. There’s a process to beingbroken by our parents, and there’s living with the consequences of the feelingof being broken.

 

DIDYOU DO ANY RESEARCH FOR THIS BOOK? IF SO, WHAT?

I did a lot ofresearch for this book. Authors, studies and research, videos, courses: I didmore than I could name here. I have studied trauma and SUD for almost 10 yearsnow, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) for more than 3 years. While Ido not have an alphabet of diplomas and degrees behind my name, I feel that Idid my best to educate myself to the facts and evidence so that they would bewell represented in the book.

 

PLEASEDESCRIBE YOUR WRITING JOURNEY FOR THIS BOOK. TELL US WHAT A DAY FOR YOU WASLIKE.

As mentioned above,it really started with the essays. As a man of science and evidence, I neededto understand what happened. I had been writing essays about my own journeywith SUD and it evolved into understanding trauma and child abuse.

The writing processfor me is about both writing and editing at the same time. While many authorschoose to write everything that comes to mind for extended periods and thengoing back and editing, my process is typically to write and edit at the sametime. I will write a sentence or paragraph and then go back and edit it untilit is perfect before moving on.

Writing this wasdifficult though. Writing about your own trauma, and that of my sister, couldbe very overwhelming. I would tackle a difficult topic, which may only be acouple of paragraphs, and I would have to stop for the rest of the day, or acouple, before I could get back to the keyboard.

HOWIS YOUR BOOK DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER BOOK IN THIS GENRE?

I believe that theinclusion of the science alongside the relative experiences sets my book apart.Similar to Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry’s book What Happened To You?,where they take Bruce’s research and apply it to real-life experiences ofOprah, I wanted to show the correlation of my, and my sister’s, experienceswith the evidence of the relation of trauma and SUD.

 

WHAT CRITERIA DID YOU USE WHEN SELECTING THE COVER FORYOUR BOOK?

I wanted to honour my sister’s love for creating collages with the angstshe felt towards what was happening to her. I also wanted to have it reflectthe chaos of her life.

 

WAS THERE A MESSAGE IN YOUR BOOK THAT YOU WERE TRYING TOCONVEY?

That we need tochange the collective mind of how we approach SUD. We need to look at SUD asnot a cause, not a disease, but as a symptom, a behavioural disorder that canbe unlearned. A vast majority of people with SUD have suffered some kind oftrauma in their lives and they are using street drugs as a form of medicationto manage their untreated mental illness. Addiction is not about ‘partying’ or‘having fun’, it is about trying not to feel bad, to feel normal. However, leftuntreated, or mistreated like my sister, the addiction spirals out of controland the result of my sister’s case was her death.

We have to change thepublic view of people with addiction to not see them as criminals anddegenerates, but individuals that are suffering from horrific traumas and needour help, not condemnation.

 

WHATARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A WRITER?

Perfectionism andImpostor Syndrome. My perfectionism is a result of the abuse where I wasregularly criticized and judged if everything wasn’t perfect, or made to feelshame about mistakes. My Impostor Syndrome, also a result of the abuse, is whenI am complimented or positively judged for my work and I can not accept itbecause I feel that I do not deserve it.

The consequence ofthese two factors is procrastination. I will avoid the work so that I do notfeel the shame and low self-esteem that occurs when things are not as good as Iwant them to be, or the anxiety of a review that isn’t perfect.

 

DOYOU FEEL THAT YOUR BOOK IS CONTROVERSIAL? IF SO, IN WHAT WAY?

I am challengingthe status quo when it comes to my view of SUD and recovery, which can be quitecontroversial. For so long, the belief was that addiction is a disease of thebrain as a result of the drugs changing the brain; however, while drugs can causechanges to the brain, those changes can be reverted, through neuroplasticity,by a cessation of the drugs. We can unlearn the adaptive behaviour of usingdrugs to treat our mental illness caused by trauma. The root must be pulledout, so to speak, and the desire or need to use drugs will lessen.

Challenging 12-stepprograms is another controversial topic. Some people believe in the 12-steps soblindly, due to its societal prevalence for so long, that it causes greatcognitive dissonance. I have had people lash out or even threaten me because Italk negatively about the 12-steps. The steps, and the Big Book, are a100-year-old theory that doesn’t hold up to today’s addiction science. Wouldyou ask your doctor for a 100-year-old treatment for an illness when there arenewer and better alternatives?

 

ISTHERE A SPECIFIC AUDIENCE FOR THIS BOOK? IF SO, WHAT?

I wrote this book for people suffering from similartypes of abuse, as well as SUD. Many people in abusive relationships,especially caregiver relationships, are not even aware that they areexperiencing abuse. I wanted to portray that they are not alone with what theyare going through and that there is hope for recovery.

As for SUD, Imentioned previously that challenging the status quo views on addiction mayallow people to see that there are alternative treatment options out there andthat it is not something that you have to live with forever. SUD can beovercome and we can live a life free of the cycle of substance use.

 

WHYSHOULD READERS GET THIS BOOK?

I think people whoare interested in learning more about NPD, narcissistic parental abuse, andtrauma and SUD would be interested in this book. People who feel that there areimprovements that can be made in recovery treatment programs for SUD and CPTSDwill find key, and alternative, options in this book.

I also believe thatthe information in my book is helpful in recognizing NPD abuse, the symptoms ofCPTSD, and the science of addiction to allow people to protect themselves fromthe harms of these types of abuse and the resulting disorders that may result.

 

IFYOU COULD DESCRIBE YOUR BOOK IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

We can heal.

 

AREYOU WORKING ON ANOTHER BOOK? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT IT.

I am not currently working on another book. This book was very difficultfor me to write. I do have some ideas rattling around in my head, perhaps afollow up called “Getting Fixed”, but most likely I will be trying my hand atfiction. I am an avid reader of fantasy and science fiction and have manycharacter backgrounds, stories, and ideas written throughout the years that maycome together into a science fantasy series.

Thank you.

             

Review: CHEFS, CEREMONIES, AND CRIMES by Cindy Bell

 

The chef at the restaurant hasbeen killed. Now, Wendy had to find a new venue for an upcoming client weddingand find a killer to hopefully get an innocent man off the suspect list. Thecase definitely gets you interested. A good read!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: TIDES, TRAILS, AND TROUBLE by Cindy Bell

 

Dune House was housing abirdwatcher’s club. On a quest to spot a rare bird, the club has aconfrontation with a surfer. Soon after, that surfer turns up dead in thewoods. Apparently, he fell from a tree, but was it an accident? Police soonconfirmed it was murder and the girls of Dune House were on the case. Could oneof the birdwatchers have done it? Like always, you easily get caught up in themystery. A good read!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: GOOSEBUMPS: THE GHOST NEXT DOOR by R.L. Stine

 

Hannah’s boring summer alone mayturn interesting when she starts to get suspicious of the new kid thatsupposedly moved in next door. How come she never noticed him before? How couldhe always keep disappearing? Could it be possible that he was a ghost? Hannahhad to find out.

 

Somehow this turns into a wildghost story for Hannah. At first, this seemed like a regular, non-magicalstory, and it seemed that the only person Hannah was being scared by washerself with her speculations, imagination, and nightmares. It’s a question onwhether or not Daniel was a ghost. You kind of figure what the real deal wasand it was predictably so. Towards the end, it becomes much more of a mystery.

 

A read that’ll make you feelcreepy about ghost for sure! A fairly nice read.

 

Rating:3 stars

Review: HALL OF HORRORS: CLAWS by R.L. Stine

 

A pet-sitting job for a seeminglysweet cat. Sounds like an easy gig, right? It was easy until the cat’saccident. With the cat gone, the kids decided to get a replacement cat at a catstore, where they steal a look-alike. The new kitty seemed fine, but she hadclaws. Was the cat evil? The freakiest part was hearing the shrill cat crieseverywhere Mickey went. What was going on? Was he being haunted by cats?

 

This was a pretty interestingread, except I didn’t really get the whole dead cat thing and how they resolvedthe problem. An okay read.

 

Rating:3 stars

Blog Tour: RUFUS AND THE DARK SIDE OF MAGIC by Marilyn Levinson

 

RUFUS AND THE DARK SIDE OF MAGIC

Marilyn Levinson

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GENRE:  Middle Grade

 

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BLURB:

 

Fifthgrader Rufus is unhappy when he has to attend a Samhain celebration with hismother, Grandma, and Aunt Ruth instead of going Trick or Treat with hisfriends. He's thrilled when, later that night, his Uncle Hector shows upoutside his window and offers to take him for a ride in the sky. Rufus's familyhave told him that his uncle is evil and he should have nothing to do withHector, but Rufus is enthralled by his uncle's fabulous realm that includes asmall zoo and a stable of horses. He's less interested in learning about hisuncle's businesses that he, as his uncle's heir apparent, will inherit one day.Then Uncle Hector tells Rufus he has to do something for him, something Rufusfinds impossible to do. Uncle Hector wields his magical powers to force Rufus'shand, but Rufus's little sister finds out and encourages him to ask for help.It's Grandma who decides what they must do, and it's not something Uncle Hectorever thought would happen

 

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ExcerptTwo:

 

Uncle Hector moved the chair he'd been sitting in anddropped onto the couch beside me. "Now Rufus, I think you have to admitthat I've been very generous to you—teaching you spells; taking you to visityour little girlfriend."

 

"I guess."

 

"And I have every intention of leaving every penny I'mworth to you when I eventually depart this life."

 

He waited until I nodded.

 

"You will appreciate my generosity more when you areolder and realize it takes strength and cunning to make your way in theworld."

 

"So you've told me."

 

Uncle Hector pursed his lips. He was clearly not pleasedwith my lack of enthusiasm. "Anyway, the time has come for you to dosomething for me."

 

"Like what?" The butterflies in my stomach zippedaround at top speed, making me dizzy and nauseous at the same time.

 

Uncle Hector smiled. It made him look scary. "It'sreally a small matter, Rufus, or I wouldn't ask you to do it. Especially sinceit's something you can manage very easily."

 

I gulped. "What exactly are we talking about?"

 

"Ah." Sparks flew as Uncle Hector rubbed his handstogether. "There's a book of spells missing from my library. I've searchedhigh and low for another copy—in bookstores all over the world—but I haven'tbeen able to find one.

 

"I don't know what book you're talking about."

 

"Of course you don't. Very few witches have seenIncantations Extraordinaires, much less own a copy. It contains spells, bothextraordinary and horrific. Every spell is complicated and difficult to master.

 

"Many years ago I found a copy of IncantationsExtraordinaires." Uncle Hector glowered at me. "The very same day Iacquired the book, someone stole it from me."

 

"Who?" The word shot out before I could think. Ihadn't meant to ask. I knew the answer even before that horrible smile returnedto his face.

 

"Your grandmother, Lavinia Haven. This was many yearsago, before my magical powers had fully developed and I could protect itproperly. Interfering witch!"

 

She took it to stop you from casting horrific spells.

 

"I suppose so," Uncle Hector said as if I'd spokenaloud. I'd forgotten to shield my thoughts. "And now, when I'm at the topof my form, I require a wondrous spell, a spell that can only be found inIncantations Extraordinaires."

 

I shrugged. "Okay, but you just said the book of spellsisn't in Grandma and Aunt Ruth's shop."

 

Uncle Hector tapped my head. "Think, Rufus. If the bookisn't in their shop, where would it be?"

 

"I don't know. In their . . .?"

 

His piercing gaze forced me to finish my sentence."House."

 

"Of course! In your grandmother's house, which is nextdoor to your house. A house you go in and out of with great frequency."

 

"You want me to steal the book?"

 

Uncle Hector shrugged. "To retrieve what is mine."

 

"But—" The butterflies that flew around my stomachwhen I was nervous or afraid zoomed straight up to my brain. "I can't!Grandma would never forgive me. Besides, I haven't the slightest idea where itis."

 

I suddenly felt a blinding pain in my head. "I thinkyou'll do exactly as you're told—if you don't want bad things to starthappening to people you love."

 

I slumped in the corner of the limo as Nero drove me to thecorner two blocks from my house. What an idiot I'd been! Uncle Hector waseverything Grandma had said and worse! He'd used me—showed me a few spells,took me to see Danielle—so I'd be impressed by it all and get him what he wasreally after—the book of powerful spells that Grandma had taken from him.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Aformer Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense,and books for kids. Marilyn's middle grade novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, wasan International Reading Association-Children's Book Council "Children'sChoice." A new edition, the first book in a series of four, came out in2023. Rufus and the Witch's Drudge, the second book in the Rufus series, wasreleased in 2024. Her YA horror, The Devil's Pawn, came out in a new edition inJanuary, 2024. Soon to be published are new editions of And Don't Bring Jeremy,which received six state nominees, and Getting Back to Normal.

 

Website:http://www.marilynlevinson.com

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson

Twitter:https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson ; https://twitter.com/AllisonBrookML

BookBub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook

Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/marilynlevinsonauthor/

BuyLink: https://www.amazon.com/Rufus-Dark-Side-Magic-ebook/dp/B0F7NW6DN4/

 

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GIVEAWAY 

MarilynLevinson will be awarding a paperback copy of the book to a randomly drawnwinner.

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Blog Tour: The Cassidy Newbold Clairvoyant series by Karen J. Mossman

Cassie uses her clairvoyant powers to help her detectivebrother solve crime…

but will she find the answers in time?

The Killer on theHeath

The Cassidy Newbold, Clairvoyant Collection Book 1

by Karen J. Mossman

Genre: Paranormal Thriller 

A woman is dead, and another is missing. The only person whocan save her is Cassie.

With no clues and time running out, her brother, DetectiveNewbold, desperately needs her help. He is counting on Cassie’s clairvoyant andempathic abilities to locate Chantelle.

When Chantelle’s brother, Pedro, seeks out a psychic forhelp, he meets and falls for Cassie. Though he wants answers, neither Cassienor Detective Newbold can give any, which complicates their relationship. Tomake matters worse, his overbearing mother adds further damage with hermeddling.

Meanwhile, the killer has been caught, but he refuses totalk. Now, it’s up to Cassie to read the signs and rescue her lover’s sister.

Will she find the answers in time?

 

** Get it for Only $1.00! **

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The Sound of Evil

The Cassidy Newbold, Clairvoyant Collection Book 2

When two best friends vanish without a trace, Cassie Newboldjoins forces with her brother Detective Inspector Seb Newbold, to track themdown. A risky move almost ends in disaster, leaving Cassie shaken and acutelyaware of her near-fatal mistake. Luckily, it also leads to the arrest of RonnieGunner.

With the suspected kidnapper in custody, his chilling laughter still echoes inCassie's mind. As she takes Ronnie Gunner's hand, a vision reveals everydepraved thing he had done. Will she ever be able to escape the haunting imagesnow seared into her memory? Ultimately, will it bring her any closer to wherethe teenagers are being held?

With a terrifying paranormal encounter to deal with first, can Cassie lead herbrother to the right location and solve the case?

 

** Get it for Only $1.00! **

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The Ghost on theStairs

The Cassidy Newbold, Clairvoyant Collection Book 3

When a man-mountain of a guy walks into a café and asks foryou by name, you sit up and take notice. Cassie instantly feels attracted tothe charming Damien Mathers.

He wants her help to banish a ghost from the home of his brother Daniel. Evenas Cassie explains, she is a clairvoyant, not an exorcist. Damien is verypersuasive!

Their relationship blossoms despite the scepticism of the brothers. WhenDaniel’s wife Rachel refuses to move in, her fear is palpable as she points atthe shadowy figure lingering on the stairs.

Cassie must intervene and find out why the apparition is reliving the day ofher death. She soon finds another ghost lurking in the attic, one that and doesnot appreciate Cassie’s interference.

As things turn bizarre, with spectral figures making their presence felt.Cassie fights for control as the two worlds collide in a horrifying and chaoticway.

Will Damien believe a sight so shocking, so surreal, it threatens to shatterhis perceptions? Or has Cassie gone a step too far in her expectation of him?

Read this thrilling instalment and judge for yourself.

 

** Get it for Only $1.00! **

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No Ghosts Here

A Cassidy Newbold, Clairvoyant Collection Short Story

When a young woman kills herself, it is the method that ismost horrifying. Why did she choose to set fire to herself?

Clairvoyant Cassidy Newbold helps bereaved families find closure. It doesn’tsurprise Cassie when Sandra, the mother of a headline suicide case, approachesher for answers. But what are the questions?
As Cassidy nears the site of the suicide, will she be able to connect with thevictim? Or are no ghosts here to tell their tale?

 

** Get it for Only $1.00! **

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The Séance

A Cassidy Newbold, Clairvoyant Collection Short Story

Cassidy Newbold is a clairvoyant and empath who refuses towork on All Hallow Eve, but why?

In this short story, we discover the events that still haunt Cassie. As sherecalls a séance that went wrong, we learn why she refuses to tamper withghosts at Halloween.

The truth behind why she refuses work on this day of paranormal activity.
Was it Cassie’s fault? Was it the thinning of the veil between worlds?

 

** Get it for Only $1.00! **

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Review of Killer on the Heath: A test for Cassidy’s clairvoyantand empathic skills began with a case of a murdered woman. It was interestingtaking the step-by-step journey in this power. I’ve always been keen on peoplewith these skills.

It gets pretty eerie when she getsreally close to the killer and almost becomes a victim herself. It would seemthe case was closed, but then she gets another to find a missing sister for astrange man.

This was an overall well-read andenticing read. Sometimes the diary narrative was lagging and the story didn’talways focus on the hunt for a killer or kidnapper. In fact, most of the timeCassidy and her police brother were trying to make the charges stick for akiller.

The read was not quite what I wasexpecting, but it was a fairly nice read.

Rating:3 stars

Karen J. Mossman is an avid reader, reviewer, book blogger,and award-winning, multi-genre writer. She became a professional author in2014, and since then, she has more than 27 published titles to her credit.These include anthologies, short stories, novellas, novels, and series.

She lives on the small island of Anglesey with her husbandand two dogs.

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special contentand a $20 Amazon giveaway!

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Blog Tour: ONLY IN SEPTEMBER by Cynthia Flowers

ONLY IN SEPTEMBER

Cynthia Flowers

 

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GENRE:  Women's Fiction

 

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BLURB:

 

WhenJacqueline follows her trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach,she's unaware that her vacation plans on a small island off the New Englandcoast has already taken her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuminglocal beach comber stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination shenever knew she possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and makethe most of what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, shehas only dared to dream of.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

Hours later, the sound of clanking wine bottles inJacqueline’s beach bag announced her arrival. Michael turned to her withfeigned surprise. 

 

“Fancy meeting you here,” he teased. 

 

She raised her beach bag. “Where should I put theseladies?” 

 

“Under the deck next to the cooler should be fine,” hedirected. 

 

Everything seemed set up. A blanket laid with plates,flatware, wine glasses, and nearby a cooking fire pit. 

 

“It looks like you’ve been here for a bit. Is our sumptuousgourmet meal in there?” She pointed to the soft-pack cooler tucked under thedeck. 

 

“Oh yes, our Michelin three-star gastronomic feast awaits!”he announced with a wink. 

 

Little was spoken while they ate. Instead, they each emittedsounds of contentment with every other bite. 

 

“Well, I can’t say that you outdid yourself because this isthe first meal of yours that I’ve eaten. However, I can say that it outdoesanything I ever made for a picnic dinner.” She raised her empty glass ofSancerre. 

 

He acknowledged the praise with a humble nod and reached torefill her glass. 

 

She pulled her glass away before he could pour. “I thinkI’ve reached my limit. Even though it’s a small island and I know my way home,I’d rather be safe than sorry. Besides, where are the pooches?” 

 

“Oh, they’re at the beach just below us.” He motioned as hehelped Jacqueline up, so she could see. 

 

“Wow, a full moon. Look, it’s lighting up the ocean all theway out to that small fishing boat.” She pointed. “I could sleep out here allnight.” 

 

“Funny you should mention it. I did bring two sleeping bagsjust in case. They’re stowed under the deck,” he said with a bashful grin. 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

CynthiaFlowers, a recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resideswith her husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their “sanctuary”in Upstate New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia's firstbook of fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creativewriting class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates.

 

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Only-September-Cynthia-Flowers-ebook/dp/B0DWT79L6N/ref=sr_1_1

 

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Review: This was a pretty interestingread. You can always tell the character of a man by how he treats a dog. Goodriddance to that husband! Fortunately, Jacqueline was able to spend qualitytime with a fellow dog lover named Michael. The two get together with theirdogs only in September.

Some of the prose was a littlelong. It was great seeing Jacqueline come into her own life and senses.

Ultimately, this was a sweet andsentimental story. A well-read and engaging story!

Rating:4 stars

 

GIVEAWAY 

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

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Book Blast: THE ATROCITIES OF HOPE by Michael Olukayode

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michael Olukayode will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Nigeria is dealing with a level of disorderliness that is neither compatible with functionality nor with long life. Our problems did not start today; they have been with us for as long as we have existed as a country. But just like a disorder left untreated, our problem has incapacitated us, and the rate of deterioration is currently becoming alarming.

The long-term survival of our country is no longer as assured as it used to be. We are on a slippery slope with nothing to hold on to.

This book attempts to answer the 'what', 'why', 'who', and 'what is next' of our problems. As is always the case when truths are discussed, be ready to be offended.

But if you are open-minded enough to be offended and not switch off and open-minded enough to be offended and keep reading – you might learn one or two things at the end of this book.

Read an Excerpt

I was standing on a walkway on my university campus on one sunny day in 2003 with a group of classmates, and the issue of Nigeria and patriotism came up. I can remember one of my classmates telling the other about patriotism and how we are not as patriotic as the Americans are about their country. The other one felt offended and told the first to ‘Speak for yourself; I am a patriot. I love Nigeria!’ I have always been a realist with a touch of cynicism, and I already had an excellent grasp of patriotism as seen abroad—a clear contrast to what I saw in my compatriots—so I chuckled as these two classmates of mine went at each other. They paused and focused on me; they asked what amused me. I responded that our friend’s claim on patriotism was amusing. I told him that he was not patriotic to Nigeria and that he was only patriotic to what he was personally gaining from the system. He was from a state where medical students were getting a level fourteen officer’s salary as monthly allowances and were also on the petroleum companies’ scholarships—some of them on two scholarships at the same time—while the other classmate was from another state where citizens rarely get a yearly bursary of 5,000 naira from their government, and they do not have access to scholarships either. I told my ‘patriotic’ classmate that Nigeria is an orphan state and that nobody bothers about an orphan if there is nothing to gain from him. He said I sounded like an ass, then walked away from us. The other classmate laughed and asked, ‘Where are you getting all this from?’ ‘It was just a thought,’ I told him. I added that I was just about to get to the good part.

About the Author:

Michael, a self-described realist with a touch of cynicism, is a UK-based, Nigerian-trained psychiatrist and the author of The Atrocities of Hope: An Analysis of the 'Nigeria Problem.'

Michael's lived experience in Nigeria, his inquisitive mind, and his ability to pull back and observe despite being involved combine well with his skills as a mental health expert to create this work.

Michael is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians, the Faculty of Psychiatry, and is an affiliate member of the Royal College of Psychiatry. He plies his trade as a psychiatrist in the Northwest of England. He describes himself as a member of a speciality that helps you in the fight against your worst enemy: yourself.

Michael is a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a neighbour, a member of the public, a lover of music, and a lover of movies and books.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drkay18
Twitter: http://www.instagram.com/drkay18
Theads: https://www.threads.com/@drkay18

Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/1779626762
Better World Books: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/9781779626769
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9781779626769

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Blog Tour: DAY OF RECKONING SEISAN NO HI by Don S. Hunter

DAY OF RECKONING SEISAN NO HI

Don S. Hunter

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GENRE:  Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

Dayof Reckoning Seisan no hi 清算の日​ follows a grouppsychotherapists guiding six individuals through the aftermath of unsolvedmurders that took their loved ones. As they grapple with grief, justice, and aflawed legal system, hidden tensions emerge, leading to unexpected revelations.Inspired by real-life experiences, this gripping novel delves into loss,resilience, and the pursuit of closure, keeping readers on edge with its twistsand psychological depth.

 

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ExcerptThree:

Most group members arrived at the bereavement groups alittle early to get coffee and chat a little with each other. Michael was a bitsurprised that everyone came early this second session, and he had been alittle uneasy about Micheline and Celia having to share their experiencestowards the end of the first session, in a limited time. He had already decidedthat, though he usually began the second group by briefly sharing his story, hewould ask them to take the floor first.

 

Michael was considering his initial impressions of themembers in this group. As he took a deep, slow breath, he became aware of theodor of the church basement – a mix of furniture polish and a musty basement.This brought back memories of attending church with his parents and Josie whenthey were younger. He smiled as he recalled starting in a Presbyterian churchwhen he was about five, and then an Anglican church at about seven, to thenmove to a Peoples church when he was twelve when his mom was pregnant withJosie.

 

A memory of first attending the Peoples church inScarborough crept into his awareness. The preacher was ranting about howimportant it was to share our sins and ask forgiveness – we are all sinners, weall must repent – and gradually, people of all ages started crying, makingtheir way to the front, yelling about their sin so the preacher could blessthem, tell them that God forgives them, and then he would smack their foreheadswith the heal of his hand, while two guys made sure no one fell … Michael had thoughtit was such a strange practice and had a vivid memory of a cute young girlabout thirteen, crying and yelling as she made her way to the front, saying, “Ilet my boyfriend touch my breasts”. Michael had started to giggle, and his dadslapped him on the knee, “Stop that, you’re in church.” Michael had trieddesperately to hold in his laugh, but he couldn’t and had to leave so hewouldn’t embarrass his parents.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Donis retired from his psychotherapy practice and lives in Toronto with his wifeand partner of over fifty years and a nine-month-old Great Dane. His two grownsons, their partners, and four grandchildren all live close to each other andvisit often.

 

AMAZON

https://a.co/d/8z7aEoV

 

Website:https://www.donaldshunter.org/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1419400298292728/user/100053189944425

 

 

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