Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 45
November 6, 2024
Blog Tour: THE POWER OF THREE by Teri Polen
Yesterday, a curse. Today, an inheritance. Tomorrow…maynever come.
The Power of Three
by Teri Polen
Genre: YA Horror
“Polen weaves animaginative paranormal tale brimming with engaging characters, thrillingaction, and well-crafted suspense. Perfect for fans of Supernatural and Grimm, ThePower of Three will keep you on the edge of your seat until you turn thefinal page.” –Jane McGarry, fantasy author
Yesterday, a curse. Today, an inheritance. Tomorrow…maynever come.
Beck Teller's family bounced from one rental to another hisentire life. When his father inherits an ancestral home, he and his siblingsare thrilled to finally settle down, especially somewhere his family has roots.And those roots run deep—right to the on-site family cemetery where tombstonedates prove too many members met untimely fates.
When Beck and his two brothers begin experiencinginexplicable things, they grasp for practical explanations. Then their littlesister gets a warning from beyond the grave, and the time for rationalizing isover. They pledge to protect their family and set out to identify the source ofthe danger and a means to defeat it.
They never expected to discover their house is haunted by avengeful spirit who has vowed to destroy every descendant in the Teller line.
Centuries earlier, three Teller brothers battled the evilentity. Since then, her wrath has caused generations of suffering and untimelydeaths. Now, three more Teller brothers will stand against this wicked being.But this time, the curse must be broken. If they win the final fight, they'llbanish the malevolent force forever. But if they lose, their family lineends…and they unleash hell on Earth.
**Onsale for Only .99cents Nov 5th & 6th!!**
Amazon * Black Rose Writing * Bookbub * Goodreads
Teri Polen is the author of young adult horror, sciencefiction, and fantasy novels. Sarah, her debut novel, was a horror finalist inthe 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. ReadFREE.ly named Subject A36 oneof the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020. An avid reader, movie watcher, andchocolate lover, Teri lives in Bowling Green, KY with her husband and FelineOverlord, Bond. Visit her at TeriPolen.com or on Instagram @Tpolen6
Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Signed Print copy of The Power of Three -US only,
$10 Amazon
-1 winner each!
November 5, 2024
Blog Tour: TEACUPS AND TEMPTATIONS by Kate Ellington
TEACUPS AND TEMPTATIONS
Kate Ellington
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GENRE: Historical Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
MollyMerriwether readily accepts an invitation to Waverly Hall, eager for adventureand amusement with her best friend. She never expected to be left unchaperonedwith three intriguing young gentlemen for weeks.
RogerBailey, recuperating in more ways than one, avoids Molly until her kindness andhumor tempt him to deepen their acquaintance.
Mollylands in one unlikely escapade after the next with Roger and soon considers hima friend—perhaps more—but the barriers he puts up make it impossible to trulyknow him. Has she only imagined those tender looks in his eyes?
Fora chance at love, Molly will need to bare her innermost self and trust someonemore deeply than she’s ever dreamed possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
Molly finished her tea and turned to Caroline. “Perhaps weshould take some time to discuss our options. Alone.”
“Yes, I think we’d better,” Caroline said, setting her cupdown.
Benedict rose. “We’ll step out so you can talk.”
Fred settled deeper into his chair as if hoping not to benoticed, but after a sharp look from Benedict stood and followed him out of theroom. Mr. Bailey took Penny by the collar and left, closing the door behindhim.
As soon as it clicked shut, Molly replenished their teacups.“Would you ever have dreamed we’d find ourselves in such a pickle?”
“Absolutely not. I imagine this means we need to leave.”Caroline sighed a sigh that sounded like it had been waiting years to get out.
Molly lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know…we’re already hereand, as Fred said, it isn’t as though we’re alone in the house.”
“I’ve the feeling Fred would say anything to get us to stay.He seems the type of man to enjoy bending the rules.”
“I have the same feeling.” After glancing at the door, Mollywhispered, “What do you think of Benedict?”
Caroline shifted on the sofa so she was facing Molly. “It’stoo soon to say.”
“Do you think we should move to the inn?” Molly held herbreath as she awaited Caroline’s answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kategrew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed tolast forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when ateacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’dnever heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.
Aftergraduating from college she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where shecurrently resides with her family.
Katewrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for yearsuntil another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jottedit down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.
Website:http://www.kateellington.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kateellingtonwrites
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/kateellingtonauthor/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29720924.Kate_Ellington
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQMN6GX/ref=sr_1_1
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
November 4, 2024
Blog Tour: FORWARD TO CAMELOT by Susan Sloate & Kevin Finn
FORWARD TO CAMELOT
Susan Sloate & KevinFinn
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GENRE: Time Travel Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
RETURNTO A VANISHED WORLD, in this new edition of the beloved time-travel thriller:
Extensivelyresearched, filled with real but still unknown tales of history, FORWARD TOCAMELOT takes readers on a grand adventure, filled with danger, deceit andreal-life heroes.
October2000
Soap-operaactress Cady Cuyler knows she is not brave, adventurous or accomplished; that'sSheila, the glamorous EMT she plays on TV. But too many other people thinkshe's Sheila, which Cady doesn't understand: Recently divorced from her agent,Cady's life consists of playing Sheila and providing a safety net to her motherSandra, who has hardly noticed her since her birth; she's still lost in griefover the disappearance of her husband years before in Dallas. Cady's deepestwish is to somehow earn her mother's love and attention.
Whena profound tragedy alters her own life and her job abruptly ends, Cady isoffered the chance of a great adventure: She agrees to recover the Bible ownedby JFK, which was used to swear in LBJ as president, on November 22, 1963, thesame day her father, whom she idolized, disappeared forever. To do this, shemust travel back in time to the Dallas of 1963, a dangerous world filled withdangerous secrets, and meet the man with the most dangerous secret of all--heplans to assassinate President Kennedy during his upcoming visit to Dallas.
Forthe first time in her life, Cady, the armchair adventurer, can live anadventure more exciting than anything Sheila ever did. She might even changeher own destiny... if she dares.
Timecan be altered. Lives can be altered.
Historycan be altered...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptTwo:
John gazed around the room. “I don’t believe history iswritten in stone. I think if you add or take away certain elements—well—you’dhave to be looking at a whole different outcome. Not the big events,” he saidhastily. “I don’t mean you could stop a war or anything, but if your fatherhadn’t disappeared, your mother would have been a lot happier, wouldn’t she? Imean, that’s why she—why things happened the way they did.” He seemed to behaving trouble presenting the idea, and it made me like him. “If you couldprevent your father’s disappearance, then your own life could be—” He gave me aquick glance, and I felt as though he knew every heartache I’d felt in the last20 years. It was exhilarating, it was extraordinary… it was frightening.
I thought of Mel telling me I could fly on my own.
I thought of the lack of opportunities that awaited meelsewhere.
I thought of this man who had dropped into my life, thefirst one in years who had aroused any feelings in me that could be calledpassionate.
I looked at him, and I could feel a warm, inviting smilestretching across my face. I had a direction. I had a plan. I had achance—which is all we can ever ask. “All right,” I said. “Where do I sign?”
John’s face lit with relief, and Mel, seeing that smile,began to sing “Fly Me to the Moon”.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: Cady was an actress on a daytimedrama series. Unbeknownst to her, she had shot her last scene for the show,killing off her character for good. Now what?
The next project she’s offered wasthe role of a lifetime: a treasure hunter in search of John F. Kennedy’s biblefrom 1963. For real! What?! Like actual time-travel? Cool! But the real reasonshe whole-heartedly agreed to this was for the chance to stop her father frommysteriously disappearing in 1963—the day the president gets assassinated.Intrigue!
Right away, this had aninteresting premise. Some of the scientific stuff got a little too technicalfor me and some of the narrative can be way too long. But I do like a goodtime-travel story. Imagine travelling to 1963 and meeting your parents before youwere born. Cady really gets into the mystery that leads to her father’sdisappearance and the reader eagerly follows along. Surprisingly, the man Cadymeets in 1963 was not the father her mother boasted about. The man she was acold, domineering, promiscuous brute that hated the president. What was goingon? Could the missing woman from the company be connected to the dead woman?What was her father’s company hiding that caused their downfall?
A surprising twist was Cadymeeting and confiding with Lee Harvey Oswald, the man that would be responsiblefor the president’s assassination.
This story was generallycompelling, but it was a long and somewhat complex read. About halfway through,you become a little daunted by the lengthy narratives and trivialities, whichbrought this down to a 3.5 for me. When does she start looking for the bible?
I would’ve liked this to have beenshorter and quicker as this was much too long. Also, the cover was so simplethat it could’ve been spiffed up to be more eye-catching and alluring. But,overall, this story kept me reading from page-to-page for a good portion. Goodconcept and pretty good read!
Rating: 3.5 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
SUSANSLOATE is the author or co-author of 24 published books, including 2 previouseditions of Forward to Camelot, the #2 Amazon bestseller and Hot New ReleaseStealing Fire and Realizing You (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a newgenre: the self-help novel. The original 2003 edition of Forward to Camelotwent to #6 on Amazon, was honored in 3 literary competitions and was optionedby a Hollywood company for film production.
Susanhas also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including the children’sbiography Ray Charles: Find Another Way, which won the silver medal in the 2007Children’s Moonbeam Awards. Mysteries Unwrapped: The Secrets of Alcatraz led toher 2009 appearance on the TV series MysteryQuest for The History Channel. Shehas also been a sportswriter and a screenwriter, edited the popular Kyle &Corey young-adult book series, managed two political campaigns and founded anauthor’s festival in her hometown outside Charleston, SC. Visit her athttps://susansloate.com.
ABronx native, KEVIN FINN began his professional writing career as a televisionnews- and sportswriter just six months out of high school, moving on to produce& report for daily news shows, features, documentaries and live sportsevents. Over the past thirty years, he's established himself as a screenwriterand has mentored young writers for the American Film Institute's Writer'sWorkshop Program, as well as being a noted freelance script consultant and anovelist.
Equallyadept as a cameraman and editor, he currently produces and films local mediacontent in the Princeton, NJ, area, while continuing to mentor new and youngerwriters, including the heralded web series The News Kids. His first Young Adultnovel, 200 METERS, will be published later in 2016, and the long-awaited novelBANNERS OVER BROOKLYN is scheduled for release early in 2017.
FollowKevin on Twitter @finnkv.
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GIVEAWAY
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift cardto a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveawayNovember 2, 2024
Review: LAST DANCE IN LITTLE LEAF CREEK by Cindy Bell
Just before Cassie’s wedding, adead body is discovered on the dance floor. Who killed the danceinstructor? Once again, the dynamicduo—Cassie and Tessa—are on the case.
I just enjoy the witty comraderyand the funny animal antics. Naturally, the mystery draws you in and you putyour thinking cap on to figure out who did it. A quick, quirky mystery!
Rating:4 stars
Review: INDIANA BELLE by John Heldt
For Cameron, a university studentworking on his dissertation, it all started with his curiosity of a 1920’sphoto of Candice Bell, who was brutally murdered in 1925. Cameron’s curiositywas further piqued when he not only meets a relative of hers, but that he alsomeets a time-traveler. A time-traveler? Suddenly, an amazing opportunity ispresented and Cameron wants to go back to 1925…to save the girl he’s been inlove with and that’s been dead for over 90 years. However, the time-travelingprofessor insists that Cameron not change the past and leave his family historyintact.
This was a fascinating journeythrough the roaring twenties. The scenes were so rich and descriptive. In thisGolden Age journey, Cameron gets a ring-side seat to a KKK ritual and a “sermonof division, fear, and hate.” The young reporter Candice Bell apprises Cameronof the deceit and corruption of their small community.
At the newspaper worked “a blackacquitted killer in a town of conservative, judgmental, law-abiding whites”—theman that would also be responsible for Candice’s murder. Cameron’s journeybecomes more complicated when he gets romantically involved with Candice. Wouldhe be able to let her die the way history has written it? Or will he try tosave her and possibly jeopardize the future?
A captivating and well-writtentime-traveling tale! A fantastic read! A wonderful journey to the Golden Age! Iwant more books like this one!
Rating:5 stars
Review: HIDDEN HIDEAWAYS by Cindy Bell
Two men went out in a boat. Onewashed ashore, beaten to death, and the other was missing in action. Policethink Suzie’s boyfriend, Paul, might be a suspect in the death. To prove hisinnocence, Suzie must first find Paul. It’s a search for the hidden hideawaysin this one. A mystery you quickly get into!
Rating:4 stars
November 1, 2024
Blog Tour: The Cinderella Romance series by Petie McCarty
THE CINDERELLA ROMANCES SERIES
Petie McCarty
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GENRE: Contemporary Romance
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BLURB:
TheCinderella Romances...Fall in love with the fairy tale all over again.
Modern-dayCinderella stories that provide unlimited opportunities to retell the classicfairy tale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
Cinderella Busted
Onceupon a time, in Jupiter Island, Florida . . .
Billionairedeveloper, Rhett Buchanan, is forced to inspect a shipment of priceless treesand meets the girl of his dreams instead. A bit jaded where women areconcerned—since most are gold diggers—Rhett falls head over heels for theJupiter Island socialite who only wants him, not his money. Except she isn'tthe glamorous socialite she appears to be.
She'sthe gardener . . .
Betting on Cinderella
Onceupon a time in Biloxi, Mississippi . . .
GarrettTucker inherits his grandfather's casino empire and steps into the reclusivebillionaire's shoes as the new "Prince of Vegas." Discoveringembezzlement in his newly purchased casino in Biloxi, Garrett goes inundercover. His prime suspect? The new finance supervisor . . . a feistybrunette who stole his heart at first sight.
AndiRyan moves to Biloxi to care for her godmother. Taking a job as financesupervisor for the renovated Bayou Princess casino, she discovers someone isskimming from the till. Andi starts her own investigation, worried she will beblamed for the theft when the handsome new owner discovers her godmother likesto gamble.
Industrialespionage is afoot at the Bayou Princess, and Garrett and Andi are soon forcedto work as a team to prove her innocence and save the casino before it’s toolate.
Thisswoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other stories in the CinderellaRomances series. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairytale, happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
Par for Cinderella
Onceupon a time in Cedar Key, Florida . . .
Golfresort developer Aidan Cross is at loose ends. Something feels missing from hislife, but that something isn't women. He has too many women chasing him now. Toconfuse things even more, his yacht breaks down off-shore of his next projectsite in Florida, and Aidan falls for his only competition in the small town—awoman who wants nothing to do with him or his rakish charm.
CaseyStuart is stuck living in Cypress Key, unwilling to abandon her uncle or thegolf course they manage together. She doesn't quite trust the stranger Aidanwho shows up in town looking for work, and she vows to steer clear of him andthe danger their intense chemistry provokes. Aidan’s stay is temporary, andfalling for him promises only heartbreak.
ButCasey needs Aidan’s help when she discovers Cypress Key’s mayor is makingunderhanded business deals, and she ends up on the wrong side of the powerfulcrook. Aidan steps in to rescue her, but secrets from his past threaten tobogey their new-found affair.
Thisswoonworthy modern-day fairy tale joins the other Cinderella stories in theseries. Each provides a new opportunity to retell the classic fairy tale,happily with returning characters to share in these adventures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
from Book One:Cinderella Busted
“Do you buy alot of plants here?” Buchanan suddenly asked.
Her headsnapped up from examining a bent gray frond. She swallowed. “Buy?”
“You must beone of the nursery’s best customers as well as you know the stock and know yourway around here.” He gave her that slow, sexy smile again. “Are you buyinglandscaping for business or pleasure?”
Oh good grief!He thinks I’m a customer.
But whywouldn’t he? Today, she was dressed like one. Surely, he could tell from theirconversation she worked here at the nursery.
Or not.
He waited for aresponse. So that was why he had asked her to help him! She grinned. Shecouldn’t help it. She felt like Cinderella masquerading as a princess at theball. Maybe she could just avoid answering his question altogether.
She guided himto the end of the aisle, made the turn to the fifth row of trees, and aimedtheir steps toward a cluster of Monterrey pines.
Buchanan put ahand out to stop her. “I hope you’ll let me take you to dinner to thank you forhelping me, Lily.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Petiespent a large part of her career working at Walt Disney World—"The Most Magical Place on Earth"—where sheenjoyed working in the land of fairy tales by day and creating her own romanticfairy tales by night, including her new series, The Cinderella Romances. Sheeventually said good-bye to her "day" job to write her storiesfull-time. These days Petie spends her time writing sequels to her regencytime-travel series, Lords in Time, and her cozy-mystery-with-romantic-suspenseseries, the Mystery Angel Romances.
Petieshares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturisthusband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy who made a cameoappearance in No Angels for Christmas.
VisitPetie's web site online at http://www.petiemccarty.com or her Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty.
BIOSocial Media:
https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/petie-mccarty
http://www.amazon.com/author/petiemccarty
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 31, 2024
Blog Tour: THE CAT WHO CHASED GHOSTS by Nic Minnella
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
In a sleepy little town, an ordinary-looking cat hides an extraordinary secret that will transform his owners' lives forever.
When the Thompson family inherits a dilapidated old house, their overprotected son Timmy forms a strong bond with Whiskers—a chronically lazy tabby who's not what he seems.
As Timmy explores the house's mysteries, a chilling discovery puts his courage to the test. With the help of Whiskers and some newfound friends, he must face supernatural forces beyond his imagination and rescue a soul in peril.
The Cat Who Chased Ghosts is a spine-tingling tale about bravery, loyalty, and the magical power of friendship (human and feline) that will thrill readers of all ages, reminding us that sometimes the most extraordinary heroes come in the most unlikely packages.
Read an Excerpt
“Yes, Whiskers was called out on important business,” she carried on casually, as if commenting on the weather.
Timmy frowned, confused. He checked Mrs. Krantz for signs that she might be joking.
“Called out? By whom? On what business?”
“He wouldn’t tell me, now, would he?”
Timmy was at a loss for words. Jasper had been right: the woman was cuckoo.
“You seem perplexed, my dear,” she said with a hint of condescension (or so he thought). “Do you think only humans have business to attend to? Have you never heard of Puss in Boots, or the Three Little Pigs, or the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland?”
“Those are just stories. They aren’t real,” Timmy snapped, now convinced that the old lady was mocking him. The Three Little Pigs, for Pete’s sake! Did she take him for a toddler?
“Narrow-minded, are we?” Her lips smiled, but her eyes didn’t. “Let’s see . . . yes, here it is.”
She handed him a book.
Its cover featured a whimsical drawing of a cat in a wizard’s hat, and it was both big and heavy. Quite a few pages were on the verge of falling out like it had been opened and closed too many times. Timmy could barely make out the title in the dim light.
“From Bastet the Goddess to Puss in Boots: A History of Magical Felines,” he recited.
~~~
Review: There’s no such thing as ghosts.That’s what Timmy told himself after moving into a creepy old house thatevidently came with a cat. With all the eerie stuff happening in the house, itwas a good thing that the cat could chase ghosts. But even with a ghost-chasingcat, the weird stuff can still be pretty scary, especially when a boy goesmissing in the house and Timmy was now tasked to save him. Now the ghost huntwas on!
A nice ghost story with a cat!
Rating:4 stars
About the Author: Nic Minnella has worked in journalism for twenty-plus years. She's also a part-time translator and a full-time cat enthusiast. When she's not occupied with any of the above activities, she's often traveling to faraway places or daydreaming about them.
"The Cat Who Chased Ghosts" is her first published work of fiction, a middle grade supernatural mystery tale where a boy and his cat must confront ghosts and spirits to save their loved ones from the clutches of darkness.
Twitter: https://x.com/nicminnella
FREE TO READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7PS7Y4W
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 30, 2024
Blog Tour: THE APPLE OF ERIN'S EYE by Cynthia Hilston
Contemporary Romance (Clean)
Date Published: 10-12-2024
Erin has planned her life down to alphabetizing her spice cabinet, so when she is stood up on the wedding day she's dreamed of since she was a little girl, her ordered life spirals out of control. When her best friend, and maybe something more, Aaron, challenges her to step outside of her small-town life and explore the world, Erin makes a monumental decision that will take her from teaching middle schoolers in rural Ohio to her dream job as a governess in New York City. Determined to start fresh, to eat meat again, and to ditch her planner, Erin embraces her novel life, but teaching loveable Jessica isn't the only new facet. Her employer, millionaire Daniel Goldstein, is as closed off as the books lining the shelves in his penthouse library where Erin and he spend their evenings sharing their love of books, wine, and perhaps each other. But as Erin opens her heart to new possibilities and loving again, she can't ignore the growing mystery that Daniel is hiding something…or someone.
In this small-town, big-city contemporary romance, Erin learns that no matter where she goes, she takes herself with her. Does that mean finally finding love in the Big Apple, or was it waiting for her in her hometown all along?
About the Author
Bestselling author of the Lorna & Tristan series, Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.
In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell.
Contact Links
a Rafflecopter giveaway
October 29, 2024
Blog Tour: BORDERLAND by Ross Victory
BORDERLAND
Ross Victory
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GENRE: LGBTQ Poetry
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BLURB:
Borderlandis not just a poetry collection—it’s an invitation to explore the mostvulnerable corners of the human experience. Award-winning author Ross Victorytakes readers on an emotional journey across the intersections of masculinity,race, bisexuality, and grief. In a fearless blend of narrative and free verse,Victory dismantles societal expectations, offering a space where identity canexist fluidly and unapologetically.
Throughits evocative imagery and bold storytelling, Borderland tackles life’s mostcomplex themes—love, loss, strength, and defiance. Each poem immerses readersin raw emotion, from tender vulnerability to fierce defiance. This collectionis perfect for readers seeking honest, unfiltered reflections on what it meansto exist at the crossroads of identity and experience.
Witha voice that’s as unique as it is powerful, Ross Victory has created acollection that speaks to anyone searching for connection and understanding.Borderland isn’t just a book—it’s a movement, a conversation, and a space tofind yourself reflected in its pages.
Stepinto the borderland, where identity knows no boundaries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ExcerptThree:
TheWatchtower
I am a lone sniper standing watch
over my heart,
On a fortress wrought with steel and barbed wire.
I scan the horizon, forever askance,
Enemy or ally? Escape or endure?
Isolation strips away my doubt.
Perched still and silent,
High and ready above the world.
Mirages in the distance,
Stirrings in the sand,
Hallucinations in my mind,
A phantom wasteland.
In this tower,
Each approaching step
Sparks memories of betrayal,
Too vivid to forget.
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Moving with stealth and care,
To find a crumpled note,
“Do you need help? We see you alone up there.”
How do I distinguish,
Between enemy and peer?
Steady aim, my rifle cracks—
I descend.
Another crumpled letter,
“I’m in love with you.”
Atop the watchtower,
Guarded by suspicion,
Threats of war outweigh my desire for love,
On guard, I am stifled by my own protection.
Ready, aim…
Once, I came down to aid a woman calling for help,
Blade to the neck, a sword in my side
She robbed me of everything,
Scars remain
Oh, the irony that echoes,
In this needle's eye,
Among glorious clouds, silken air,
I repel the saving light.
One day, I may know the truth,
Sometimes love knocks.
Until that day,
In the Borderland's cruel lore,
My instinct, my watchtower a monument,
To a boy lost in war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ross Victory, (he/him), is an award-winning author, musicartist, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles. Featured in LA Weekly, LA Blade,American Reporter, and Bi.org, Ross rediscovered the healing power of writingafter losing his father and brother. A former English teacher, Ross createsimmersive narrative experiences. He published “Views from the Cockpit,” afather-son memoir, in 2019, resulting in a portfolio of six original titles anda music catalog of 20 songs. His works explore self-discovery, adventure,bisexuality, and family. In 2023, he released the Pride anthem “Bisexual Daze”and Book 1 of the L.A.-based horror series “Grandpa's Cabin.” Ross alsopublishes articles and reflections about grief, biphobia, and elder abuse onMedium.com and recently spoke at their Annual Writer’s Conference. This fall hewill release his first poetry collection titled, “Borderland,” exploring theintersection of race, masculinity, and sexuality.
Website: https://www.rossvictory.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossvictoryofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rossvvictorius
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Borderland-Poetry-Intersection-Masculinity-Bisexuality-ebook/dp/B0DJ1PHR13
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GIVEAWAY
Theauthor will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
