Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 27
March 27, 2025
Spotlight: RECLUSE by Gabriel Zavala
Genre: Psychological Dystopian Thriller
Summary:
HE'S WEAVING HIS WEB OF MURDER.Lukas Retter is a recluse in the correctional city of East Haddam, Connecticut, washing cars and dreaming about taking back control of his life. He has been ever since The Safety First Act redefined criminal justice in America.
Meanwhile, the children of criminals are placed in psychiatric hospitals to be evaluated.
But when Lukas murders Rebecca Waylow, his girlfriend, he leaves her dismembered and strung-up on a web of bloody ropes and wires. And she won't be the last.
As Lukas recalls his sinister past and becomes the new nightmare of his correctional city, he transforms into the serial killer he was destined to become. He'll do whatever it takes to feel control, even if it means stringing a few people up in the process.
Author Bio: Gabriel Zavala is an aspiring writer with a passion for the thrilling and macabre. At just 19, Gabriel has already been honing his craft for several years. As Gabriel embarks on his next journey, he currently attends Salt Lake Community College to pursue a Bachelors in English. When not writing, he can be found at the theatre, the gym, or spending time with his close friends. With a love for horror and thriller, Gabriel Zavala is dedicated to continuing his journey as a writer and sharing his stories with the world.
Purchase links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Recluse-Gripping-Psychological-Dystopian-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0CVXGFHQP/
Social Media links:
Website: https://www.authorgabrielzavala.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/authorgabrielz
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabrielszavala
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriel_zavalaa/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19723338.Gabriel_Zavala
Blog Tour: VENGEFUL CONSPIRACIES by Nicole Leiren
Sadie encounters a nemesis from her past.
Is it coincidenceor is it something more sinister?
Book 2 reveals the truth!
Vengeful CONspiracies
A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 2
by Nicole Leiren
Genre: Cozy Mystery
She can’t turn herback on her team, though. They’ve been through too much together. The moreSadie tries to help, the more she suspects she might be the target of the conthis time. With forces conspiring against her, the outcome of herdecisions, both past and present, weigh heavily and make her question thechoices she made leading to this point.
When their mutualenemy is found dead, alliances are tested, and wits are matched as the race tothe truth reveals who can be trusted and who is running their final con.
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MurderousCONsequences
A Sadie Sabatini Mystery Book 1
Sadie Sabatini thinks of herselfas a modern-day Robin Hood who uses her gift as a skilled con artist to helpthose who have nowhere else to turn. Leading this life is rewarding, but thenumber of enemies are piling up. Sadie decides to lay low and start over with anew (and legitimate business) in the small town of Wilson, Texas, situated on asmall peninsula in beautiful Lake Amore.
Trouble is never far behindthough and her past catches up to her in a big way when a friend of a formermark threatens blackmail for his silence. When he turns up dead and Sadie isthe prime suspect, she realizes this time she must protect herself. Her skillsprove helpful as she digs deeper into the web of revenge, blackmail, andsecrets to discover she’s not the only one with a past to hide.
As the threats mount, Sadieknows she’s closing in on the truth. She now worries that the few new friendsshe’s made in town are in danger because of her. With time running out, can sheprotect those around her and find the real killer before this new chapter inher life is conned out of a happy ending?
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Described by those who know herbest as perky, quirky and effervescent, USA Today Best-Selling author NicoleLeiren likes to have fun -- in life, with her characters and, of course, herreaders. She admits to being sassy (just ask her mother!) and inspiration forher characters are drawn from the real-world heroes and heroines she meetswhile traversing the country.
Nicole enjoys sharing the love,laughter, mystery, and occasionally a touch of the mayhem she forces hercharacters to endure—all for the reader’s pleasure! Her real-world heroes andheroines will keep you turning the pages until you reach the whodunit orhappily ever after (usually both!)
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Follow the tour HERE forspecial content and a $10 Amazon giveaway!
March 26, 2025
Blog Tour: Boys of Bragg series by Randa Knight
The Boys of Bragg series follows military friends who arestationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and the sassy independent women theyfall for.
A Change of Heart
Boys of Bragg Book 1
by Randa Knight
Genre: Military Romance
One summer changed everything.
Dee
One night.
One decision.
Taking chances isn't a new concept to me, but I've neverbeen one to take a chance on love. Michael changes all of that. No more partygirl, no more one-night stands. I fall hard for the cerulean-eyed sex god whoshows me what it's like to truly be cherished and loved.
Only, I'm not sure how long it can last.
Michael
I knew the moment I met Dee that she was trouble. But whenshe unexpectedly opens up to me the night we meet, I realize she's the onlyperson who could change how I think about relationships, how I feel, and how Ilook at life. She's a fiery, spontaneous woman who challenges me at every turn.I should let her go. But I don't think I want to.
But right now my career won’t allow me to be the kind of manshe deserves.
And Dee doesn’t trust herself or my love for her.
If I’m going to keep her, I have to let her walk away, asmuch as it pains me to my core.
Yes, it sounds crazy and it might just backfire, but if myplan pays off, we’ll both stop running and finally realize how much we needeach other, how our hearts were made for each other.
**Get it FREE March 24th – 28th!**
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The Art of Love
Boys of Bragg Book 2
Onelook is all it takes to change everything.
Cat
I've been the black sheep of the family my entire life, soI'm looking forward to this fresh start. My job and new friends are great andI’m finding happiness. Then I met Brax--the gorgeous soldier with huge muscles,but he’s also sweet, caring, and loves art. Oh, and he’s completely off-limits,thanks to my overprotective brother who’s Brax’s first sergeant. Will he chaseBrax away like he’s done my entire life?
Brax
To protect and serve: it's all I've ever wanted to do. Beinga model soldier has been my life's dream. But then I met Cat, the little pixieartist who stole my heart. Now, all I want to do is be with her, but there'sjust one problem--her brother is my first sergeant. Now I'll have to choosebetween being the perfect soldier for my unit… or being her perfect partner.
**Get it for Only .99cents March 10th – 17th !!**
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The Last Game
Boys of Bragg Book 3
Onemoment changed their lives.
Ivy
I've harbored a secret crush on Grant ever since thatfreckle-faced kid first set foot in our yard when I was just six years old. Iknew he was special. Grant has always had this uncanny ability to understand meon a soul-deep level, yet I've kept my feelings hidden, knowing he's not justmy brother's best friend but also my rock. He's the one who keeps me steady,soothing me when the chaos of life threatens to overwhelm me. Grant is my truenorth. Until we cross that line.
As the line blurs between friendship and something more, I'mleft grappling with a daunting question: Is he worth the gamble of disruptingthe delicate balance of our friendship and the stability we've carefully builttogether?
Grant
I'd do anything for Ivy Rose, but even I have my limits.I've tried everything to show her how I feel. Helping her raise her son? Done.Starting a friends-with-benefits arrangement? Maybe not my best idea. AdmittingI want to spend my life with her? Definitely, the scariest thing I've everdone. Then the unthinkable happens, turning our world upside down. I'm hurt,and angry, and that's when I need her the most.
Can I put my anger aside and forgive her, or will we bestuck in silence forever? Our friendship might be on the line, but my hearttells me Ivy is worth the risk.
**Get it for Only $1.99 Mar 17-24!!**
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The Unveiled Fling
Boys of Bragg Book 4
One costume is all it takes to change everything.
Joel
My dream girl unexpectedly falls into my life, but with onlyone weekend together, she’s left me craving more. When she reappears, warningsfrom my friends urge me to stay away, but I can’t. I keep finding reasons tosee her. Talk to her. Be near her.
Can I convince her to give our connection a chance?
Sami
I never imagined encountering my Comic Con fling among mysister’s social circle, only to have him play the role of a stranger. Despitehis charming demeanor, Joel doesn’t fit my usual type of nerdy guys. But as Idiscover more about him, I question whether there’s more beneath his confidentexterior.
Can he show me that opposites attract in the most unexpectedways?
Will they give in to their feelings and give their romance achance, or will they let their differences and their friends keep them apart?
**RELEASING MARCH 25th - PreOrder Now!!**
Randa Knight was born and raised in a small little town onthe Ohio/Indiana border. Her love of reading began in middle school and neverended. For the past few years, she has been an avid reader and blogger. Shestudied Literature with a Creative Writing minor at Indiana University (GoHoosiers!) where she fell in love with writing. The idea for Boys of Braggseries began during a creative writing course.
When she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out withher four boys, husband, and new puppy. Or spending copious amounts of time onTik Tok instead of writing or cleaning.
Website * FB Group * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon* Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$30 Amazon
Blog Tour: THE SEARCH FOR SASHA LOCKWOOD by Thomas Grant Bruso
THE SEARCH FOR SASHA LOCKWOOD
Thomas Grant Bruso
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: horror, LGBT, mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Somethingis stalking the campgrounds at Pine Hill Creek.
Rumorhas it that local folklore about the notorious Bigfoot is responsible for themystery of a missing young woman.
Wheneighteen-year-old high school senior Sasha Lockwood vanishes without a tracewhile camping with her friends, fear and horror sequester a small community.Local and federal law enforcement officers begin an exhausting twenty-four-hourinvestigation of seventy acres of vast forest, looking for the victim.
Thetight-knit community is in an uproar, horrified by these unexpected events. Anunrelenting sheriff’s department and a media-savage system doggedly interrogateSasha’s parents and close friends.
Whathappened the night Sasha Lockwood disappeared? Is it real or part of a crueljoke? Is Bigfoot responsible, or is something sinister at play in the deep,dark woods?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
Silver Lake Woman Still Missing
Search efforts by Bedwell County Sheriff’s Department tolocate local girl Sasha Lockwood, 18, continue after a 24-hour search andrescue mission.
Sheriff Joshua Bronson, with the help of his deputy sheriff,Wade Rosen, and state police, has combed the entire five-acre campsite of PineHill Creek in search of the young college girl who went missing during acamping excursion over the weekend.
Due to weather conditions, the search has slowed. It willresume when the snowstorm abates in the upstate New York region of BedwellCounty.
Lockwood is described as 5-foot-6, 145 pounds, with greeneyes and curly amber hair. Athletic, muscular build.
She was last seen on Saturday, October 15. A white Subaruwas spotted in Silver Lake Woods, a half mile from where Ms. Lockwood and herfriends were camping.
Bedwell County Sheriff’s Department and state police areasking for anyone with information to come forward or contact the BedwellCounty Sheriff’s Department or state police.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Thomas Grant Bruso knew he wanted to be a writer at an early age.He has been a voracious reader of genre fiction since childhood.
His literary inspirations are Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, StephenKing, Jim Grimsley, Karin Fossum, and Joyce Carol Oates.
Bruso loves animals, reading books, and writing fiction, andprefers Sudoku to crossword puzzles.
In another life, he was a freelance writer and wrote for magazinesand newspapers. In college, he won the Hermon H. Doh Sonnet Competition. Now,he writes and publishes fiction and reviews books for his hometown newspaper,The Press-Republican.
He lives in upstate New York.
Author Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomgrantbruso
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8591689.Thomas_Grant_Bruso
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thomasgrantbruso/
Blue Sky:https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/thomasgrantbruso.bsky.social
Buy links:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Search-Sasha-Lockwood-Thomas-Grant-ebook/dp/B0DW41WKQN
Barnes & Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-search-for-sasha-lockwood-thomas-grant-bruso/1146938706?ean=2940180454010
NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/the-search-for-sasha-lockwood/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
ThomasGrant Bruso will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 25, 2025
Blog Tour: BOO'S BLUE POO AND GOO by Toni Nelson
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Toni Nelson 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.
'Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today and you will be richly rewarded!'
Diamonte De Dazzle (owner of the world's most famous department store) read her daily horoscope and was puzzled. Who was in trouble?
Who, what, why, when and where? How on earth could she help?
She then encountered Boo, a homeless blue cat, trying to escape from TCC, the horribly horrible Cat Catcher. Boo was the only truly blue cat on the planet, so TCC intended on cat-napping and exhibiting her to become rich and famous.
(Evil laugh from TCC . . .)
The combination of an eccentric department store owner, as well as TCC, two snobby socialites, plus a fashion event which is unexpectedly and thoroughly thrown into chaos, is life- changing.
Read an Excerpt
The only happy time in Boo’s day was when she was peering into shop windows. Behind the windows always looked warm in winter and cool in summer. They were cheery, clean, bright, and safe, and a lone pussy cat could live there very happily. The sign on her favourite shop read: DIAMONTE’S DAZZLING DELIGHTS. It was an enormous store with squillions of floors. It seemed to reach up into the sky! It was so big that, once, when she’d looked up to see how high it was, she’d fallen over backwards … and still couldn’t see the top of the building.
The staff of Diamonte’s created beautiful window displays. Once, there was an enormous basket with a big toy cat sitting in front of a fireplace—Boo loved big cushiony couches with soft rugs and soft toys! How she dreamt of curling up and sleeping in that beautiful window. She sat for ages gazing in, imagining herself playing with the soft toys, rolling around, and sleeping peacefully in front of the fire.
Sometimes, she thought back to the day she’d bravely crept inside and had a quick peek. It was wonderful! Boo had never felt happier than the short time she’d spent inside Diamonte’s. It somehow felt just right.
~~~
Review: Meet Boo, a blue and homeless cat.And meet the Cat Catcher, who was after Little Boo. See how the worst day ofthe cat’s life becomes the best day ever. The struggle between the cat and thecatcher was funny.
Cute and sweet! Who wouldn’t likethe little, blue cat? Of course, the cat wasn’t so cute when spewing a slush ofPOO and GOO. Yikes!
A quick and easy read!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author:
Toni is Australian-born, considering herself extremely fortunate to have had parents who encouraged her love of books. Seventy years on, she is still an ardent reader. (Thanks Mum and Dad.)
She enjoys writing, previously assisting in the production of a monthly community newspaper: The Bayswater Buzz.
This story is derived from a brief news report she watched some years ago, which has somehow morphed into this book.
She truly hopes you enjoy the story of Boo, the blue cat.
Website: https://toninelsonwriter.com/
Amazon: https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228825008
Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep?keywords=9780228825005
Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/9780228825005
Abebooks: https://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780228825005
Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/search?q=9780228825005
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Book Blast: LIFE IN ROTATIONS by Farid Yaghini
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Farid Yaghini 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.
Farid Yaghini's unforgettable memoir takes you on a journey from escaping persecution in Iran to rebuilding a life in Canada and serving on the frontlines with the Canadian military. Filled with humour, heart, and unflinching honesty, his story of resilience, redemption, and the founding of Camp Aftermath will inspire you to believe in the power of hope and human connection.
Read an Excerpt
On the fourth night, I woke to my mother shoving bread into my jacket sleeves. Everyone around us was scrambling, panicked. The smugglers were making their move. My mother, my two-year-old sister, and I were crammed into the back of an SUV, sitting on jerry cans. One popped open, drenching us in gasoline. The driver, cigarette in hand, barely seemed to notice.
Hours later, we stopped in the middle of the desert. Just as we climbed out, headlights appeared in the distance. Without hesitation, our smugglers jumped back into their vehicles and tore off, leaving us stranded in the open. We ran for cover, crouching behind a hill as the approaching vehicles roared past. Not border patrol—just more smugglers.
Separated from my parents, I was sent off with my cousins and a group of young boys. This should have been terrifying, but to seven-year-old me, it was an adventure. No rules, no bedtime. We hid behind restaurants, rode in the backs of pickup trucks, and dodged guards at the border. One smuggler, Shahpur, fascinated me—his hand always on the gun in his jacket pocket. The day he set it down on a car hood, I touched it, awed.
Weeks later, I was reunited with my parents. I hadn’t seen them in so long that I forgot to be scared. But when I overheard them whispering about never returning home, I finally understood. We weren’t going back to Iran. Ever.
About the Author
Farid Yaghini was born in Iran and fled to Pakistan with his family to escape religious persecution following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. At the age of nine, he immigrated to Canada as a refugee, navigating the confusion and frustration of adapting to a new way of life. Through it all, he carried a deep sense of resilience, hope, and an irrepressible knack for finding humour, even in the most challenging moments.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/F.Yaghini
Website: http://campaftermath.org
Amazon Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/0228884977
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Blog Tour: EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON by Nicole DiCicco
Two lovestories for Natalie that burn with passion and heart-stopping twists—a spicywhirlwind with billionaire NYC architect Steve and a steamy slow burn withItalian artist Max.
EverythingHappens For a Reason
by NicoleDiCicco
Genre: SteamyContemporary Romance
Two lovestories for Natalie that burn with passion and heart-stopping twists—a spicywhirlwind with billionaire NYC architect Steve and a steamy slow burn withItalian artist Max.
Which love story will you like best—Team Max or Team Steve? You decidein this steamy, soul-stirring romance that will leave you breathless.
Natalie Morelli is no stranger to heartbreak, but her impulsive love life isabout to change forever. Enter Steve Falconeri, a New York billionairearchitect whose intensity sweeps her off her feet. But can he ever love hermore than his all-consuming career?
When Natalie crosses paths with the charismatic Italian artist Maximus Ricci inthe seductive streets of Italy, she's forced to question whether true love lieswith her husband or with a sensual stranger who promises a life of beauty,adventure, and love.
This story is about sacrifice, surrender, and the raw, unexpected lessons lifethrows our way. Spanning 15 years and crossing between the glitteringskyscrapers of New York and the sun-soaked charm of Italy, this saga willignite your heart and reveal why, sometimes, everything really does happen fora reason.
Amazon* Apple* Bookbub* Goodreads
Weavingirresistible tales of love, lust, life’s unpredictable twists—and theoccasional mind-bending psychological turn—Nicole DiCicco crafts stories wherecomplex hearts meet sizzling passion.
Nicole’sbooks span the worlds of romance, romantic suspense, and psychological dramas,with settings as captivating as her characters. Whether it’s New York City'svibrant streets or Italy's enchanting landscapes, her stories transport readersto places where love, secrets, and drama unfold in unforgettable ways.
Known for herquirky blend of heartfelt dialogue, emotional depth, and gripping twists,Nicole dives deep into the tangled web of human relationships—whether it’slove, desire, or the secrets we hide even from ourselves.
Hercharacters? Complex. Her scenes? Spicy. Her style? Boldly unpredictable! Fromsizzling erotic moments to the exploration of love's more delicate nuances,Nicole isn’t afraid to mix it all up, making her a true standout in romance.
Hailing fromBrooklyn, Nicole is a die-hard Mets fan (yes, her cat Shea is named after thestadium). When she’s not spinning tales of love and suspense or watchingGeneral Hospital (since she’s five), you’ll find her chasing the next greatplot twist—or the nearest slice of pizza.
Want to keepup with Nicole's latest? Head over to her website for updates on new books,behind-the-scenes peeks, and maybe even some spoilers (you’ve been warned)!
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HERE
for special content and agiveaway!$20 Amazon
March 24, 2025
Blog Tour: WHY, MOM, WHY by Parimalasri Docktor
WHY MOM WHY
Parimalasri Docktor
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GENRE: Children's Picture Book
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BLURB:
Thisbook, Why Mom, Why?, is the story of Chili, a Russian (Horsefield) tortoise.Chili is a very patient tortoise that always waits for her friend Tank to befed first. She realizes that her mom has a routine to feed Tank first. Mompicks up on Chili's sadness when Chili would sit closer to her while feedingTank. Chili needed the attention and was passively acting out. This book isabout the silent communication between the pet and owner. Why Mom, Why? can beclosely related to sibling rivalry in human beings. This is Book Two in the"Where is he? Tank, the Tortoise" series.
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EXCERPT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review:
A cute, little story about aturtle that becomes jealous about another turtle. He constantly asks: Why, Mom,why?The images were fun. Story shows agreat love for turtles.
Rating:4 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Havinghad success with her first three children's books, Parimalasri Docktorcontinues her journey with writing about her pet tortoises. She has learned theart of communication between her tortoises by pure observance. The tortoisescontinue to motivate her to create meaningful stories for the public. Theauthor has again used Procreate to illustrate her book.
Website:https://parimalasridocktor.com/
AmazonBuy Link:https://www.amazon.com/Why-Mom-Parimalasri-Docktor/dp/1779628501/ref=sr_1_1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
ParimalasriDocktor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blog Tour: THE MEASURE OF LIFE by Judith Works
THE MEASURE OF LIFE
Judith Works
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Women's Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Astory of love and loss, lies and truth, begins in Rome when Nicole shares acappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor. The meeting sets off a chain ofevents that upends the course of her life. While Rome also brings deepfriendships and immersion into a sumptuous food scene there is no escape fromacknowledging the consequences of her actions. In search of forgiveness andhealing, she moves to an island near her childhood home in Seattle only to findthe way to reunite the remnants of her family and discover her true path is toreturn to Rome and face the past.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
Deirdre knocked on the front door right on time. No one inRome ever showed up on the appointed minute for a social occasion. I opened thedoor in my violet silk dress and bare feet. “Hang on, I can’t find my shoes andI need to finish my makeup.”
“Oh my gosh—I should have said it’s casual. Are you sureabout the dress? Remember it’s Vashon.”
“I’m dressed now. I haven’t had a chance to go out formonths.” I ran upstairs to finish.
Deirdre said, “Uh, a bit much for here,” when I returnedwearing open-toed platform heels complementing the purple dress. After a pause,she added, “Oh, don’t worry, it’s fine and we’re late anyway.” I could tell shewas flustered about something. When we parked in front of the gallery, I couldsee people holding glasses of wine while they looked at the photos. All lookedcomfortable in jeans and sweaters like Deirdre. I could feel my face wasbeginning to match my dress. People paused conversations to welcome Deirdre andher unknown and strangely dressed guest: me. Some stared briefly. Not unkindlooks, but more of astonishment their friend had found such an alien.
A woman rescued me by saying, “Hi. I’m Meg.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Favorite and Least Favorite Part About Writing TheMeasure of Life
Interesting Question! Depending on my mood and levelof frustration, the favorite and least favorite—to me meaning most and leastdifficult—changed day to day as I wrote. I wanted to tell the story of awoman’s struggle to find meaning amid her dysfunctional family in an unfamiliarand difficult setting, but to make it work I needed to make the characterscomplex and get into their lives– who were they, what did they do and why? Whatshould they have done? As I wrote and rewrote, they gradually took onindependent lives, their actions and words became ever more in keeping withtheir personalities–some kind and gentle, one vicious, another frustrated andstruggling to find a goal and reach it. All of them intertwined with eachother. Who wins in the game of life? Who loses?
To find an answer to these questions I explored themesof doomed romance, lost love, unexpected baby, expat life, marriage, mother anddaughter relationships, and recovery from setbacks. To weave all these threadsled to many edits and major rewrites as I settled on a meaningful plot toexploit my themes and let the characters breathe, live, and die. And that wasthe least favorite, or I should say, most challenging, aspect of writing thenovel.
But my favorite and fun part was imagining the settingfor each scene: Rome, beautiful and annoying at the same time, is a city whereI lived for ten years. I am personally familiar with all the locations in thestory. In fact, I wrote a memoir about that life, Coins in the Fountain.But The Measure of Life, although mostly set in Rome, is also set on an idyllicisland near Seattle, another place I am familiar with, so I enjoyed contrastingthe locations. With so many possible settings, especially in Rome, I had tolimit myself to those that reflected emotional journey of my protagonist,Nicole, as she attempts and then succeeds in managing her life.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
AfterI earned a law degree in midlife, I had the chance to leave the Forest Servicein Oregon and run away to the Circus (Maximus). In reality my husband and Imoved to Rome where I worked for the United Nations Food & AgricultureOrganization for four years as a legal advisor to the director of humanresources. I could see the Circus that had hosted chariot races during theRoman Empire from my office window.
Myhusband and I reluctantly returned to the US after four years. But we pined forthe land of pasta, vino, art, and sunny piazzas. Then the gods smiled andoffered a chance to return to Rome with the UN World Food Program. Six moreyears or food and frolic in the Eternal City passed much too quickly. Theindelible experiences living in Italy and working for the UN were the genesisof my memoir Coins in the Fountain.
SocialMedia Links
Website:https://judithworks.net
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/judith.works.5
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/worksjudith
Threads:http://www.threads.com/WorksJudith
BlueSky:http://www.bluesky.com/WorksJudith
Barnes& Noble:https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-measure-of-life-judith-works/1146224295?ean=9781509257799
Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-measure-of-life-1
Google:https://play.google.com/store/search?c=books%q=9781509257805
Itunes:https://apple.com/us/book/the-measure-of-life/id6673911691
Booksa Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509257799
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GIVEAWAY
JudithLight will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 22, 2025
Review: KANSAS KEEPER by Ann Omasta and Callie Love
A widowed grieving father and thebirth mother that has come back to take his child away. That first chapterreally draws you in with this interesting premise. It’s not long before thisturns into a sweet reunion and a love igniting.
A sweet and loving short story!
Rating:4 stars
