Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer!, page 3
September 8, 2018
Cover Reveal for Diane's New Mystery!
FRONT COVER We're in the final stretch! The book is ready for my proof readers to give me input, so I will start offering the book for pre-sale soon. Watch this blog for more details.
BACK COVER FOR PRINT EDITION
The back cover gives readers a quick snippet of the storyline.
This is definitely a clean novel with no blush-worthy scenes, limited violence, and no cursing. Bentley is the sidekick star of the novel, helping his humans unravel a mystery that has NO MURDERS involved. It is the first novel in a planned five-book series. The characters change in each book and the sidekicks are all clever dogs (and a few cats). Be sure to follow me on Amazon (or read this blog) to learn about new novels when they are released. Follow Diane at Amazon
Bentley is practicing his agility moves for this adventure! 
August 31, 2018
Marc Secchia, "Dragon" Author
I admit that I am a rabid fan of dragon novels. My first exposure to draconic literature was reading Anne McCaffrey's classic Dragon Riders of Pern series. (I've since included dragons and fledgling riders in my own novels.) After reading Aranya, a book by Marc Secchia, I became hooked on his creative storytelling, and I have enjoyed all the books in his series. I believe my readers will benefit by learning more about him.
Diane Rapp
Author Bio: Marc Secchia
Marc is the bestselling author of over twenty fantasy books and is published in five languages. Born in South Africa, he lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, a rabbit, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night you can also hear hyenas prowling along the back fence.
When he’s not writing about Africa or dragons, Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon. Series description:
Dragonfriend is a complete series of four books featuring a strong heroine in a world dominated by dragons. It was originally inspired by a dream I had of a girl being thrown off a cliff, turning into a dragon and flying away. Alright, I have strange dreams, yes! But that is the way many of my story ideas come. That dream has since gone on to inspire 11 bestselling dragon tales all set in the same world.
Featuring unforgettable adventure, majestic landscapes of islands above the clouds and deep dragon lore, these dragon books are for lovers of Anne McCaffrey or Christopher Paolini. I invite you to fly higher with Hualiama Dragonfriend! All 4 books are available in Kindle, paperback and Audio versions. “It’s all about the dragons”
Dragons have always fascinated me. They are unarguably fantasy’s most magnificent and magical creatures, and have intrigued many generations of many cultures around the world. I grew up on a diet of fine fantasy and science fiction writers, including Asimov, Tolkein, Niven, Sagan, C.S. Lewis and the like, but it was Anne McCaffrey’s telepathic dragons in her Dragon Riders of Pern works which captured my imagination from the outset.
In the Hobbit, Smaug is an unmitigated, almost unstoppable force of evil. While he prowls across page and screen alike spreading terror and menace, I feel in some ways his portrayal does dragons an injustice. I prefer the McCaffrey-esque approach of bringing relationship, relatable traits and a range of characteristics to dragons. They interact closely with people but are also used as the author’s foil to bring out all the frailties and glories of the human condition.
The Dragonfriend series hinges around a trio of relationships – the teenager Hualiama, adopted into the royal family of Fra’anior but never fully accepted, Flicker, the dragonet who saves her life, and Grandion, the rebellious and conflicted son of the leader of the Island-World’s dragons, Sapphurion.
Politics around the volcano called Fra’anior, where dragons and humans coexist, are complicated. When a coup takes place, Hualiama is catapulted into a course of action that leads to her making forbidden oaths to the dragon Grandion, and they start a platonic, mutually beneficial relationship of Dragon and Dragon Rider. Their trampling over this thousands of years-old taboo ignites both of their respective races.
Dragon Friend concerns the fate of her family. Dragon Friend
As Hualiama follows her heart to save her adoptive family from exile and restore the King to the Onyx Throne, a beautiful, tragic and ultimately triumphant fate emerges that changes the face of her world.
Dragon Love describes the fate of Hualiama’s heart. Dragon Love
Throughout the series, themes of love, honour and betrayal resound, coupled with a complex portrayal of draconic and human societies and cultures.
Dragon Soul examines what Hualiama will do to fight the forces of evil rampaging through her world. Dragon Soul
This is a series that has caused readers to cry, laugh and gasp in disbelief, and while the age range is from teenage readers and up (it is a clean read), the complexity, use of language and themes examined will satisfy the most demanding reader.
In Dragon Star, Hualiama’s destiny is revealed. Dragon Star This is just a small sample of the eleven books already published by this talented author. If you love to read about dragons, I also recommend reading Aranya ( http://smarturl.it/draconic ) and The Pygmy Dragon ( http://smarturl.it/pdragon ).
Diane Rapp Connect with the author at the following links: Website Twitter Facebook
Diane Rapp
Author Bio: Marc Secchia
Marc is the bestselling author of over twenty fantasy books and is published in five languages. Born in South Africa, he lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, a rabbit, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night you can also hear hyenas prowling along the back fence.
When he’s not writing about Africa or dragons, Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon. Series description:
Dragonfriend is a complete series of four books featuring a strong heroine in a world dominated by dragons. It was originally inspired by a dream I had of a girl being thrown off a cliff, turning into a dragon and flying away. Alright, I have strange dreams, yes! But that is the way many of my story ideas come. That dream has since gone on to inspire 11 bestselling dragon tales all set in the same world.
Featuring unforgettable adventure, majestic landscapes of islands above the clouds and deep dragon lore, these dragon books are for lovers of Anne McCaffrey or Christopher Paolini. I invite you to fly higher with Hualiama Dragonfriend! All 4 books are available in Kindle, paperback and Audio versions. “It’s all about the dragons”
Dragons have always fascinated me. They are unarguably fantasy’s most magnificent and magical creatures, and have intrigued many generations of many cultures around the world. I grew up on a diet of fine fantasy and science fiction writers, including Asimov, Tolkein, Niven, Sagan, C.S. Lewis and the like, but it was Anne McCaffrey’s telepathic dragons in her Dragon Riders of Pern works which captured my imagination from the outset.
In the Hobbit, Smaug is an unmitigated, almost unstoppable force of evil. While he prowls across page and screen alike spreading terror and menace, I feel in some ways his portrayal does dragons an injustice. I prefer the McCaffrey-esque approach of bringing relationship, relatable traits and a range of characteristics to dragons. They interact closely with people but are also used as the author’s foil to bring out all the frailties and glories of the human condition.
The Dragonfriend series hinges around a trio of relationships – the teenager Hualiama, adopted into the royal family of Fra’anior but never fully accepted, Flicker, the dragonet who saves her life, and Grandion, the rebellious and conflicted son of the leader of the Island-World’s dragons, Sapphurion. Politics around the volcano called Fra’anior, where dragons and humans coexist, are complicated. When a coup takes place, Hualiama is catapulted into a course of action that leads to her making forbidden oaths to the dragon Grandion, and they start a platonic, mutually beneficial relationship of Dragon and Dragon Rider. Their trampling over this thousands of years-old taboo ignites both of their respective races.
Dragon Friend concerns the fate of her family. Dragon Friend
As Hualiama follows her heart to save her adoptive family from exile and restore the King to the Onyx Throne, a beautiful, tragic and ultimately triumphant fate emerges that changes the face of her world.
Dragon Love describes the fate of Hualiama’s heart. Dragon Love
Throughout the series, themes of love, honour and betrayal resound, coupled with a complex portrayal of draconic and human societies and cultures.
Dragon Soul examines what Hualiama will do to fight the forces of evil rampaging through her world. Dragon Soul
This is a series that has caused readers to cry, laugh and gasp in disbelief, and while the age range is from teenage readers and up (it is a clean read), the complexity, use of language and themes examined will satisfy the most demanding reader.
In Dragon Star, Hualiama’s destiny is revealed. Dragon Star This is just a small sample of the eleven books already published by this talented author. If you love to read about dragons, I also recommend reading Aranya ( http://smarturl.it/draconic ) and The Pygmy Dragon ( http://smarturl.it/pdragon ).
Diane Rapp Connect with the author at the following links: Website Twitter Facebook
August 24, 2018
Barbara Roman, Fantasy Author
When I first met Barbara Roman in a Science Fiction and Fantasy retweet group, I was immediately drawn to the beautiful covers created for her fantasy series. At the time I had no idea about her background. A rich lifetime of experience is revealed in her creativity.
Diane Rapp
Author Bio: Barbara Roman
My background, like many writers, is somewhat eclectic. I’ve been a professional singer since my teen years (decades!) and my “jobs” have been in journalism, marketing, promotion and feature writing for newspapers and magazines. All of this eventually morphed into writing a non-fiction book about the power of music, and then surprisingly into writing children’s stories. Soon, I was writing novels, the first of which was Book One of the Moon Singer series. But I always knew it should be a trilogy.
How I came to write the series:
Years ago, my spiritual (we are speaking metaphysical teachings, not religious) exploration led me to a crystal party, where beautiful crystals of all types are laid out before you. As you run your hand over the display, without physically touching any gem, a crystal “chooses you.” The one that chose me was shaped like a miniature boat, complete with mast, hull and rudder.
I was told that this kind of crystal was a “singer” crystal with special powers. At first it inspired a children’s fairy tale about a little boy who sailed his little boat across the pond and imagined he arrived at a magical kingdom. But soon it blossomed into a longer story, and ultimately a novel, “The Crystal Clipper,” with the Clipper being a supernaturally-powered clipper ship of crystal and gold that transcends the boundaries of time and space. And over time the trilogy took form. I still have that crystal which I made into a pendant.
The Moon Singer Series:
David Nickerson is a young boy trying to cope with a series of family crises: his father’s unemployment, his deafness after a serious illness, and the death of his mother in a car crash that crippled his younger sister. David's mundane life takes on mystical qualities when he acquires three sacred artifacts that have extraordinary powers, and all are tied to the appearance of the enchanting sailing ship, Moon Singer, which transports him to astonishing dimensions of time and space.
Ultimately, David is transformed into a young man who can “hear” what others cannot, and who can “see” what others deny. In his determination to work through his own personal problems, he learns that his destiny also is to save a life that means more to him than his own. The dangers that David faces through the ownership of powerful crystals and sacred artifacts, as well as his gift as a talented musician are recurring themes in the series.
After I finished the Moon Singer trilogy, I realized there was one important story that had not been told: that of David’s mother, Billie Nickerson. In order to answer all the questions about her son David and his spiritual destiny, we had to know her origins and everything that brought us to the beginning of The Moon Singer series.
The Prequel: BEFORE THE BOY
In this chilling prequel to The Moon Singer Trilogy (The Crystal Clipper, The War Chamber, The Wind Rose) we learn the uncanny circumstances that informed Billie Nickerson’s decision to raise her son, David, to become a seeker of spiritual truth.
As his teacher and mentor she gave him the courage to overcome his unexpected deafness, to excel at music - and to hear the voice within that speaks from his soul. To do so, Billie must accept her own mortality as the only way she can assure her son will receive the intuitive gifts he was born to inherit, to save her family - and perhaps the world - from a disastrous fate. But learning that she has died too soon creates a Karmic crisis as Billie tries to escape the afterlife and return to her loved ones.
Though Billie’s life is fraught with danger and dark spirits, and the power that David acquires places him in grave jeopardy, the story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of the here and the hereafter. Before the Boy
Book One: The Crystal Clipper,
is the fairy tale – for this is how we all begin to deal with life. We daydream fantastic ways to resolve our problems or make our dreams come true.
David’s idealistic experiment with crystal power results in the mysterious disappearance of his sister Sally. Desperate to find her, he conjures the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which takes him on a fantastic journey to an uncharted mystical island filled with danger.
The people David encounters all have a soul connection to him and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over. When he must rescue a young princess with the gift of healing in her song, held prisoner in a palace tower, David believes he will also rescue his sister Sally. Strangely, too, in this "other world," David finds he can hear for the first time in years. When he brings these miracles home with him, he finds that circumstances there have changed dramatically, but he realizes that his adventures have just begun. The Crystal Clipper
Book Two: The War Chamber
,
is David’s trial by fire.
While David's home town fights passionately over how to revive a stagnant economy, he is despondent that all the miracles he brought back with him have dissipated. He is now just as deaf as he was before and his anguish over the loss of his mother is stronger than ever.
David goes to her grave site, determined to try and communicate with her through his crystals. This time he finds himself transported to a strange city of fascinating people who are caught in a time warp between a high-tech, materialistic and militant past and their penchant for a simpler and more peaceful way of life.
It is here that David encounters a revered woman who becomes like a mother to him and helps him understand how his deafness and his own mother's karmic mission are intertwined. When a cataclysmic event destroys the city, David learns that the past, present and future know no boundaries, that they are all one in the circle of life, never ending. Now David must face up to his obligations as captain of the Moon Singer and follow his destiny, wherever it may lead.
The War Chamber
Book Three: The Wind Rose, is the prophecy realized.
As David tries to explain his otherworldly adventures to his family, his relationship with his father suffers a serious breach, with his father urging David to seek professional help for his "complete disconnect with reality."
David accuses his father of never truly accepting his deafness, and charges that he resented David's mother for helping him live successfully in a "silent" world.
When unexplained natural disasters cause worldwide tragedies, and David suspects his brilliant but mad music mentor is responsible, he must find a way to reunite his three sacred artifacts, which have been separated - the magical Singer crystal that conjured up the Moon Singer ship, the Rose Crystal pendant with the healing codes of music that helped Sally walk again, and the coveted Wind Rose which has the power to create or destroy life - if he and everyone he loves are to survive impending doom.
He also comes to realize that his "disability" is his greatest gift. The choices he must make to use his gift provide a courageous and selfless ending to the series. The Wind Rose Connect with the author at the following links: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Diane Rapp
Author Bio: Barbara RomanMy background, like many writers, is somewhat eclectic. I’ve been a professional singer since my teen years (decades!) and my “jobs” have been in journalism, marketing, promotion and feature writing for newspapers and magazines. All of this eventually morphed into writing a non-fiction book about the power of music, and then surprisingly into writing children’s stories. Soon, I was writing novels, the first of which was Book One of the Moon Singer series. But I always knew it should be a trilogy.
How I came to write the series:
Years ago, my spiritual (we are speaking metaphysical teachings, not religious) exploration led me to a crystal party, where beautiful crystals of all types are laid out before you. As you run your hand over the display, without physically touching any gem, a crystal “chooses you.” The one that chose me was shaped like a miniature boat, complete with mast, hull and rudder.
I was told that this kind of crystal was a “singer” crystal with special powers. At first it inspired a children’s fairy tale about a little boy who sailed his little boat across the pond and imagined he arrived at a magical kingdom. But soon it blossomed into a longer story, and ultimately a novel, “The Crystal Clipper,” with the Clipper being a supernaturally-powered clipper ship of crystal and gold that transcends the boundaries of time and space. And over time the trilogy took form. I still have that crystal which I made into a pendant.
The Moon Singer Series:
David Nickerson is a young boy trying to cope with a series of family crises: his father’s unemployment, his deafness after a serious illness, and the death of his mother in a car crash that crippled his younger sister. David's mundane life takes on mystical qualities when he acquires three sacred artifacts that have extraordinary powers, and all are tied to the appearance of the enchanting sailing ship, Moon Singer, which transports him to astonishing dimensions of time and space.
Ultimately, David is transformed into a young man who can “hear” what others cannot, and who can “see” what others deny. In his determination to work through his own personal problems, he learns that his destiny also is to save a life that means more to him than his own. The dangers that David faces through the ownership of powerful crystals and sacred artifacts, as well as his gift as a talented musician are recurring themes in the series.
After I finished the Moon Singer trilogy, I realized there was one important story that had not been told: that of David’s mother, Billie Nickerson. In order to answer all the questions about her son David and his spiritual destiny, we had to know her origins and everything that brought us to the beginning of The Moon Singer series.
The Prequel: BEFORE THE BOYIn this chilling prequel to The Moon Singer Trilogy (The Crystal Clipper, The War Chamber, The Wind Rose) we learn the uncanny circumstances that informed Billie Nickerson’s decision to raise her son, David, to become a seeker of spiritual truth.
As his teacher and mentor she gave him the courage to overcome his unexpected deafness, to excel at music - and to hear the voice within that speaks from his soul. To do so, Billie must accept her own mortality as the only way she can assure her son will receive the intuitive gifts he was born to inherit, to save her family - and perhaps the world - from a disastrous fate. But learning that she has died too soon creates a Karmic crisis as Billie tries to escape the afterlife and return to her loved ones.
Though Billie’s life is fraught with danger and dark spirits, and the power that David acquires places him in grave jeopardy, the story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of the here and the hereafter. Before the Boy
Book One: The Crystal Clipper,is the fairy tale – for this is how we all begin to deal with life. We daydream fantastic ways to resolve our problems or make our dreams come true.
David’s idealistic experiment with crystal power results in the mysterious disappearance of his sister Sally. Desperate to find her, he conjures the supernaturally-powered clipper ship Moon Singer, which takes him on a fantastic journey to an uncharted mystical island filled with danger.
The people David encounters all have a soul connection to him and their lives are destined to intertwine many times over. When he must rescue a young princess with the gift of healing in her song, held prisoner in a palace tower, David believes he will also rescue his sister Sally. Strangely, too, in this "other world," David finds he can hear for the first time in years. When he brings these miracles home with him, he finds that circumstances there have changed dramatically, but he realizes that his adventures have just begun. The Crystal Clipper
Book Two: The War Chamber
,
is David’s trial by fire. While David's home town fights passionately over how to revive a stagnant economy, he is despondent that all the miracles he brought back with him have dissipated. He is now just as deaf as he was before and his anguish over the loss of his mother is stronger than ever.
David goes to her grave site, determined to try and communicate with her through his crystals. This time he finds himself transported to a strange city of fascinating people who are caught in a time warp between a high-tech, materialistic and militant past and their penchant for a simpler and more peaceful way of life.
It is here that David encounters a revered woman who becomes like a mother to him and helps him understand how his deafness and his own mother's karmic mission are intertwined. When a cataclysmic event destroys the city, David learns that the past, present and future know no boundaries, that they are all one in the circle of life, never ending. Now David must face up to his obligations as captain of the Moon Singer and follow his destiny, wherever it may lead.
The War Chamber
Book Three: The Wind Rose, is the prophecy realized. As David tries to explain his otherworldly adventures to his family, his relationship with his father suffers a serious breach, with his father urging David to seek professional help for his "complete disconnect with reality."
David accuses his father of never truly accepting his deafness, and charges that he resented David's mother for helping him live successfully in a "silent" world.
When unexplained natural disasters cause worldwide tragedies, and David suspects his brilliant but mad music mentor is responsible, he must find a way to reunite his three sacred artifacts, which have been separated - the magical Singer crystal that conjured up the Moon Singer ship, the Rose Crystal pendant with the healing codes of music that helped Sally walk again, and the coveted Wind Rose which has the power to create or destroy life - if he and everyone he loves are to survive impending doom.
He also comes to realize that his "disability" is his greatest gift. The choices he must make to use his gift provide a courageous and selfless ending to the series. The Wind Rose Connect with the author at the following links: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
August 17, 2018
Chariss K. Walker, Author
Since I write Science-Fantasy novels (in addition to Cozy Mysteries), I have met talented authors in a Science-Fiction and Fantasy retweet group. Chariss has recently been participating in the group. We are featuring her series of paranormal novels in this blog. Please note that this series is for adults over the age of 17.
Diane
Chariss K. Walker Author Bio:
Award-winning author, Chariss K. Walker, M.Msc., writes both fiction and nonfiction books with a metaphysical and spiritual component. Her fiction expresses a visionary/metaphysical message that illustrates growth in a character's consciousness while utilizing a paranormal aspect. Her nonfiction books share insight, hope, and inspiration. Even though Chariss writes dark-fiction about insanely dark topics, such as sexual abuse, incest, pedophilia, sexual assault, and other inappropriate dinner conversation, there is always an essential question of the abstract nature that gives a reader increasing awareness and perception. All of her books are sold worldwide in eBook, paperback, and many are in large print.
Why I wrote An Alec Winters Series (Books 1 – 4):
Without going into any details about the disturbing stories in the news at the time, I found myself very frustrated about the injustices and cruelties of our society, I actually wrote Crescent City (An Alec Winter Series, Book 2) first. Alec became the embodiment of vengeance and retribution against those who harm innocent victims, especially children, but he was more than that. Alec’s angelic persona lovingly reassured each victim that the abuse they had suffered was not their fault. Unlike many other bureaucracies today which are established to protect its citizens, Alec’s hands were not tied by regulations. He was not limited by rules and laws. As the most horrifying demon imaginable, in Alec’s mind, the perpetrator’s punishment and death sentence fit the crime. This series is not for the faint of heart and is not recommended for anyone under the age of seventeen. There are many emotional triggers in this series.
After I wrote that dark, New Orleans urban fantasy book and it was published, there were many questions about how and why Alec transformed into angel/demon and what he was like before that change. I wrote Prelude (An Alec Winters Series, Book 1) to give Alec’s backstory and to introduce the main characters for the rest of the series. I wasn’t sure where the story was going until Prelude was published because Crescent City could have been a single novel all by itself. However, the story unfolded in Port City (An Alec Winters Series, Book 3) with a very traumatic ending for Alec. And, in Harbor City (An Alec Winters Series, Book 4) there was finally resolution and Alec found love and acceptance. Once completed, the series books are intended to be read in order.
The titles of the books represent actual cities. Crescent City is another name for New Orleans. Port City is Mobile, Alabama. Harbor City is Melbourne, Florida. This series is dark fiction, but it is also filled with metaphysical insight as Alec learns to accept his supernatural ability and his duty to protect the suffering masses. It was his destiny. I admit that it felt odd to writes such a dark story because I normally write inspirational nonfiction about spiritual gifts, chakras, meditation, universal laws, healing, and other topics. Still, the story begged to be written and, after the series completion, I was satisfied with my efforts.
PRELUDE (Book 1)
Meet a popular New Orleans teen-jock before his supernatural transformation to angel/demon in this dark, modern fantasy thriller. Once transformed, Alec Winters hunts down the predators of his city punishing them for their wicked, vile crimes while saving their innocent victims.
An angel to love. A demon who terrifies even the most vicious criminals. Ghosts, spirits, and voodoo as only seen in the Crescent City of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Fans of the popular TV show, Supernatural, will enjoy Prelude by Chariss K. Walker.
PRELUDE This series is NOT for the faint of heart.
NOT recommended for those under the age of 17.
CRESCENT CITY (Book 2)
Some see Alec Winters as a breathtaking, amazing angel, a savior. Others see him as a mind-blowing nightmare, the most terrifying demon their minds could ever conjure. Alec Winters roams the gritty streets of New Orleans as hero and protector of the innocent while he annihilates wicked evil-doers in this very dark-fiction, vengeance-driven 4-book thriller series.
PORT CITY (Book 3)
Alec's job takes him to Mobile, Alabama in Port City. There, Alec hunts down and mercilessly destroys a ring of sex traffickers, freeing their enslaved and terrified victims.
PORT CITY
HARBOR CITY (Book 4)
Alec travels to Melbourne, Florida in the final installment, Harbor City. Finish Alec's controversial story in this emotionally-charged series -- you won't want to miss the ending.
HARBOR CITY Connect with the author at the following links: website twitter goodreads facebook book bub
Diane
Chariss K. Walker Author Bio:Award-winning author, Chariss K. Walker, M.Msc., writes both fiction and nonfiction books with a metaphysical and spiritual component. Her fiction expresses a visionary/metaphysical message that illustrates growth in a character's consciousness while utilizing a paranormal aspect. Her nonfiction books share insight, hope, and inspiration. Even though Chariss writes dark-fiction about insanely dark topics, such as sexual abuse, incest, pedophilia, sexual assault, and other inappropriate dinner conversation, there is always an essential question of the abstract nature that gives a reader increasing awareness and perception. All of her books are sold worldwide in eBook, paperback, and many are in large print.
Why I wrote An Alec Winters Series (Books 1 – 4):
Without going into any details about the disturbing stories in the news at the time, I found myself very frustrated about the injustices and cruelties of our society, I actually wrote Crescent City (An Alec Winter Series, Book 2) first. Alec became the embodiment of vengeance and retribution against those who harm innocent victims, especially children, but he was more than that. Alec’s angelic persona lovingly reassured each victim that the abuse they had suffered was not their fault. Unlike many other bureaucracies today which are established to protect its citizens, Alec’s hands were not tied by regulations. He was not limited by rules and laws. As the most horrifying demon imaginable, in Alec’s mind, the perpetrator’s punishment and death sentence fit the crime. This series is not for the faint of heart and is not recommended for anyone under the age of seventeen. There are many emotional triggers in this series.
After I wrote that dark, New Orleans urban fantasy book and it was published, there were many questions about how and why Alec transformed into angel/demon and what he was like before that change. I wrote Prelude (An Alec Winters Series, Book 1) to give Alec’s backstory and to introduce the main characters for the rest of the series. I wasn’t sure where the story was going until Prelude was published because Crescent City could have been a single novel all by itself. However, the story unfolded in Port City (An Alec Winters Series, Book 3) with a very traumatic ending for Alec. And, in Harbor City (An Alec Winters Series, Book 4) there was finally resolution and Alec found love and acceptance. Once completed, the series books are intended to be read in order.
The titles of the books represent actual cities. Crescent City is another name for New Orleans. Port City is Mobile, Alabama. Harbor City is Melbourne, Florida. This series is dark fiction, but it is also filled with metaphysical insight as Alec learns to accept his supernatural ability and his duty to protect the suffering masses. It was his destiny. I admit that it felt odd to writes such a dark story because I normally write inspirational nonfiction about spiritual gifts, chakras, meditation, universal laws, healing, and other topics. Still, the story begged to be written and, after the series completion, I was satisfied with my efforts.
PRELUDE (Book 1)Meet a popular New Orleans teen-jock before his supernatural transformation to angel/demon in this dark, modern fantasy thriller. Once transformed, Alec Winters hunts down the predators of his city punishing them for their wicked, vile crimes while saving their innocent victims.
An angel to love. A demon who terrifies even the most vicious criminals. Ghosts, spirits, and voodoo as only seen in the Crescent City of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Fans of the popular TV show, Supernatural, will enjoy Prelude by Chariss K. Walker.
PRELUDE This series is NOT for the faint of heart.
NOT recommended for those under the age of 17.
CRESCENT CITY (Book 2)
Some see Alec Winters as a breathtaking, amazing angel, a savior. Others see him as a mind-blowing nightmare, the most terrifying demon their minds could ever conjure. Alec Winters roams the gritty streets of New Orleans as hero and protector of the innocent while he annihilates wicked evil-doers in this very dark-fiction, vengeance-driven 4-book thriller series.
PORT CITY (Book 3)
Alec's job takes him to Mobile, Alabama in Port City. There, Alec hunts down and mercilessly destroys a ring of sex traffickers, freeing their enslaved and terrified victims.
PORT CITY
HARBOR CITY (Book 4)
Alec travels to Melbourne, Florida in the final installment, Harbor City. Finish Alec's controversial story in this emotionally-charged series -- you won't want to miss the ending.
HARBOR CITY Connect with the author at the following links: website twitter goodreads facebook book bub
August 10, 2018
CeeCee James, Cozy Mystery Author
There are many talented authors who write Cozy Mysteries. I met CeeCee James in a Cozy Mystery retweet group and feel astounded at how many interesting books she publishes. In this blog, we are giving readers a glimpse into her three different series. I'm sure you will enjoy reading these books.
Diane
Meet Author CeeCee James:
Hi, Everyone! I'm CeeCee James. I'm most well-known for my cozy mysteries, but I also have a few other things up my sleeve. I'm a public speaker as an advocate for adult survivors of child abuse and sexual assault. Here is my personal story, Ghost No More. It's my story of beauty from ashes.
I’m a USA Today best selling writer who got my story-telling feet wet with the many bedtime stories I told my children through the years. Some of my mystery series include- the Baker Street Mysteries, Angel Lake Cozy Mysteries, and the Oceanside Hotel mysteries. I love writing flawed sleuths with a good sense of humor and an added dash of romance. The Tempting Taste of Danger was a finalist for the kindle book awards for best mystery.
My favorite place to write is curled up in an oversized squashy chair with a cup of coffee and a sleeping dog by my feet. Usually I’m joined by my two mini-dachshunds who like to snore and chase things in their sleep, and squish me into a corner of the chair. In honor of them, there are usually dogs in my books, with the exception of the Angel Lake series, which has a cat in honor of the one in my author picture.
Writing has been a life long passion. I love writing about love and the celebration of life.
ANGEL LAKE MYSTERIES
Fresh off a new divorce, Elise Pepper returns to her home town for support from her best friend, Lavina. What she doesn’t expect is how the small town has become a hub for money scandals, affairs and gossiping women. "Delightful." "A good adventure to take on a lazy afternoon.” “Clean and funny."
Angel Lake Series
OCEANSIDE MYSTERIES:
As manager of a five star hotel, Maisie Swenson has seen her share of weird events and requests. Snow in July? Check. Helicopter wedding? Check. Celebrity premiere? Check. But murder? Reviewers call it, “Hilarious.” "This book is a book club read." "Characters seem like friends and family.” “Love Maisie and her mom."
Oceanside Mysteries Series
BAKER STREET COZY MYSTERIES:
Georgie Tanner is the tour guide for the Baker Street American Revolutionary sites in small town Gainesville. She’s used to seeing old relics, buildings, and cemeteries. But her new habit of stumbling on to bodies makes her second guess her profession. Readers have this to say, "Cleverly plotted." "A delight to read!” “Can’t wait for the next one" Baker Street Cozy Series Connect with CeeCee James at the following sites: Facebook Page Book Bub Page
Diane
Meet Author CeeCee James:Hi, Everyone! I'm CeeCee James. I'm most well-known for my cozy mysteries, but I also have a few other things up my sleeve. I'm a public speaker as an advocate for adult survivors of child abuse and sexual assault. Here is my personal story, Ghost No More. It's my story of beauty from ashes.
I’m a USA Today best selling writer who got my story-telling feet wet with the many bedtime stories I told my children through the years. Some of my mystery series include- the Baker Street Mysteries, Angel Lake Cozy Mysteries, and the Oceanside Hotel mysteries. I love writing flawed sleuths with a good sense of humor and an added dash of romance. The Tempting Taste of Danger was a finalist for the kindle book awards for best mystery.
My favorite place to write is curled up in an oversized squashy chair with a cup of coffee and a sleeping dog by my feet. Usually I’m joined by my two mini-dachshunds who like to snore and chase things in their sleep, and squish me into a corner of the chair. In honor of them, there are usually dogs in my books, with the exception of the Angel Lake series, which has a cat in honor of the one in my author picture.
Writing has been a life long passion. I love writing about love and the celebration of life.
ANGEL LAKE MYSTERIESFresh off a new divorce, Elise Pepper returns to her home town for support from her best friend, Lavina. What she doesn’t expect is how the small town has become a hub for money scandals, affairs and gossiping women. "Delightful." "A good adventure to take on a lazy afternoon.” “Clean and funny."
Angel Lake Series
OCEANSIDE MYSTERIES:As manager of a five star hotel, Maisie Swenson has seen her share of weird events and requests. Snow in July? Check. Helicopter wedding? Check. Celebrity premiere? Check. But murder? Reviewers call it, “Hilarious.” "This book is a book club read." "Characters seem like friends and family.” “Love Maisie and her mom."
Oceanside Mysteries Series
BAKER STREET COZY MYSTERIES:Georgie Tanner is the tour guide for the Baker Street American Revolutionary sites in small town Gainesville. She’s used to seeing old relics, buildings, and cemeteries. But her new habit of stumbling on to bodies makes her second guess her profession. Readers have this to say, "Cleverly plotted." "A delight to read!” “Can’t wait for the next one" Baker Street Cozy Series Connect with CeeCee James at the following sites: Facebook Page Book Bub Page
August 3, 2018
Christina Larmer, Mystery Author
The world gets smaller all the time, especially when we can meet on social media. I met C.A. Larmer (who lives in Australia) in a Cozy Mystery retweet group. Since then, I've enjoyed reading books in her series. On this blog we are featuring books in her Agatha Christie Book Club series, but I'm sure that readers will enjoy the other books she has pennned.
Diane
BIO: C.A. Larmer
The author of 12 novels, including the Amazon best-selling Agatha Christie Book Club series, Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in Papua New Guinea, schooled in Australia and has worked around the world, from Santorini to London and Los Angeles to New York. She began her career in women’s lifestyle magazines and has ended up writing crime novels from the Byron Bay hinterland of Northern NSW, Australia, where she lives with her musician husband, two sons, an Australian cattle dog, passing kangaroos, the odd koala and countless snakes, many as deadly as the characters in her books. C.A. Larmer’s other work includes the Ghostwriter Mystery series, the stand-alone novel An Island Lost and the posthumous mystery Do Not Go Gentle (book two out in August). WHAT GOT ME STARTED WRITING THE SERIES:
It goes without saying I’m a massive Agatha Christie fan, but it’s more than that. Ms Christie was my saviour on many a “dull” trips to remote islands in Papua New Guinea where I grew up. The beaches kept me entertained by day, but with no TV or radio at night, I turned to a dusty bookshelf jammed with Christie classics, and I lapped every single one up.
When I decided to start a new series a few years ago, I wanted to pay homage to my favourite crime writer but I’ve never tried to copy or replace Dame Agatha—I wouldn’t dare! Instead, I wanted to gather a group of equally doting book lovers together, throw a few murders their way, and see if they could apply the wisdom of Miss Marple and Poirot to solve the mysteries. I love writing this series, it’s so much fun, and am currently working on the fourth, a salute to one of my all-time favourites And Then There Were None. Look out for it later in the year. Diane's 5* Review of the Agatha Christie Book Club
A story worthy of Agatha herself
I'd fit right in with the Agatha Christie Book Club! I love the twists and turns and the score of clues the book club uncovers when a member goes missing. It reminded me of reading a book by Agatha herself. The fact that the story line mirrored tales written by Christie was a delight and made me want to go re-read the books discussed in the book club.
THE AGATHA CHRISTIE BOOK CLUB (book 1):
When Alicia Finlay walks out on her boring old book club and starts a new one devoted to her favourite mystery writer Agatha Christie she has no idea she's about to stumble upon a deadly mystery of her own. It's a mystery so baffling, it would leave even the Queen of Crime scratching her head... Amazon nook iBooks kobo Diane’s 5* Review of Murder on the Orient (SS)
Another “Book Club Investigate” mystery!
Having read the first book in this series, I was delighted to purchase this book. It met my expectations with references to Agatha's books as well as continuing the "book club investigates a murder" theme. The Orient (SS) is not a train but the intrigue still exists. Since I write cruise ship mysteries myself, it was fun to see how another author tackles the subject. Very good read, recommended.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT (SS):
The Agatha Christie Book Club 2
When the Agatha Christie Book Club signs up for a cruise on replica steamship the SS Orient they expect little more than a nostalgic journey back in time. What they get would leave Hercule Poirot scratching his egg-shaped head—one missing passenger, two dead bodies, and enough red herrings to fill the Pacific Ocean. Jump aboard for the second adventure for the beloved book club friends!
With a dash of romance, a splash of adventure and a whole lot of laughs, this is one journey you really don't want to miss by the acclaimed international mystery author C.A. Larmer.
amazon nook ibooks kobo Diane’s 5* Review of Evil Under the Stars
Loads of witnesses who saw nothing!
I admit that I LOVE Agatha Christie, so this series is such a treat. Readers get to remember favorite Christie stories and enjoy a book club investigating new crimes as well. This one was complicated with loads of witnesses who saw absolutely nothing of the murder. It's better than a locked room mystery as there are loads of suspects in an open-air movie night. Won't say more other than you should grab this novel and enjoy!
EVIL UNDER THE STARS:
The Agatha Christie Book Club 3
In their latest and most complex puzzle yet, the Agatha Christie Book Club unite at a moonlit cinema and end up with a dead body just blankets away. It's the unlikeliest of crimes—a woman strangled in a public park, with scores of witnesses and not a single suspect in sight. How did no one hear her scream? And how could the club have been lounging just metres away and missed the whole event?!
This one’s for true Christie aficionados looking for a contemporary take on the classic whodunit. amazon nook ibooks kobo Connect with the author at the following:
e-mail: christina.larmer@gmail.com
website: calarmer.com/
blogspot: calarmerspits.blogspot.com.au/
facebook: facebook.com/CALarmer
twitter: twitter.com/CALarmer
book bub: bookbub.com/profile/c-a-larmer
Diane
BIO: C.A. LarmerThe author of 12 novels, including the Amazon best-selling Agatha Christie Book Club series, Christina (C.A.) Larmer was born in Papua New Guinea, schooled in Australia and has worked around the world, from Santorini to London and Los Angeles to New York. She began her career in women’s lifestyle magazines and has ended up writing crime novels from the Byron Bay hinterland of Northern NSW, Australia, where she lives with her musician husband, two sons, an Australian cattle dog, passing kangaroos, the odd koala and countless snakes, many as deadly as the characters in her books. C.A. Larmer’s other work includes the Ghostwriter Mystery series, the stand-alone novel An Island Lost and the posthumous mystery Do Not Go Gentle (book two out in August). WHAT GOT ME STARTED WRITING THE SERIES:
It goes without saying I’m a massive Agatha Christie fan, but it’s more than that. Ms Christie was my saviour on many a “dull” trips to remote islands in Papua New Guinea where I grew up. The beaches kept me entertained by day, but with no TV or radio at night, I turned to a dusty bookshelf jammed with Christie classics, and I lapped every single one up.
When I decided to start a new series a few years ago, I wanted to pay homage to my favourite crime writer but I’ve never tried to copy or replace Dame Agatha—I wouldn’t dare! Instead, I wanted to gather a group of equally doting book lovers together, throw a few murders their way, and see if they could apply the wisdom of Miss Marple and Poirot to solve the mysteries. I love writing this series, it’s so much fun, and am currently working on the fourth, a salute to one of my all-time favourites And Then There Were None. Look out for it later in the year. Diane's 5* Review of the Agatha Christie Book Club
A story worthy of Agatha herself
I'd fit right in with the Agatha Christie Book Club! I love the twists and turns and the score of clues the book club uncovers when a member goes missing. It reminded me of reading a book by Agatha herself. The fact that the story line mirrored tales written by Christie was a delight and made me want to go re-read the books discussed in the book club.
THE AGATHA CHRISTIE BOOK CLUB (book 1): When Alicia Finlay walks out on her boring old book club and starts a new one devoted to her favourite mystery writer Agatha Christie she has no idea she's about to stumble upon a deadly mystery of her own. It's a mystery so baffling, it would leave even the Queen of Crime scratching her head... Amazon nook iBooks kobo Diane’s 5* Review of Murder on the Orient (SS)
Another “Book Club Investigate” mystery!
Having read the first book in this series, I was delighted to purchase this book. It met my expectations with references to Agatha's books as well as continuing the "book club investigates a murder" theme. The Orient (SS) is not a train but the intrigue still exists. Since I write cruise ship mysteries myself, it was fun to see how another author tackles the subject. Very good read, recommended.
MURDER ON THE ORIENT (SS): The Agatha Christie Book Club 2
When the Agatha Christie Book Club signs up for a cruise on replica steamship the SS Orient they expect little more than a nostalgic journey back in time. What they get would leave Hercule Poirot scratching his egg-shaped head—one missing passenger, two dead bodies, and enough red herrings to fill the Pacific Ocean. Jump aboard for the second adventure for the beloved book club friends!
With a dash of romance, a splash of adventure and a whole lot of laughs, this is one journey you really don't want to miss by the acclaimed international mystery author C.A. Larmer.
amazon nook ibooks kobo Diane’s 5* Review of Evil Under the Stars
Loads of witnesses who saw nothing!
I admit that I LOVE Agatha Christie, so this series is such a treat. Readers get to remember favorite Christie stories and enjoy a book club investigating new crimes as well. This one was complicated with loads of witnesses who saw absolutely nothing of the murder. It's better than a locked room mystery as there are loads of suspects in an open-air movie night. Won't say more other than you should grab this novel and enjoy!
EVIL UNDER THE STARS:The Agatha Christie Book Club 3
In their latest and most complex puzzle yet, the Agatha Christie Book Club unite at a moonlit cinema and end up with a dead body just blankets away. It's the unlikeliest of crimes—a woman strangled in a public park, with scores of witnesses and not a single suspect in sight. How did no one hear her scream? And how could the club have been lounging just metres away and missed the whole event?!
This one’s for true Christie aficionados looking for a contemporary take on the classic whodunit. amazon nook ibooks kobo Connect with the author at the following:
e-mail: christina.larmer@gmail.com
website: calarmer.com/
blogspot: calarmerspits.blogspot.com.au/
facebook: facebook.com/CALarmer
twitter: twitter.com/CALarmer
book bub: bookbub.com/profile/c-a-larmer
July 27, 2018
Sherri Bryan, Cozy Mystery Author
I met Sherri in a Cozy Mystery retweet group, and have enjoyed reading her Charlotte Denver stories. The characters seem like real people and readers soon want to know what is happening in the community. Sherri makes it really easy to get started on the series as the first book is permanently FREE. What a deal! Get started reading today and I'm sure you will want to read them all.
Diane Rapp
Author Bio
I've loved reading from the moment I learned how to.
I cut my teeth on Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl but these days, I read everything from women's fiction and romance, to biographies and cookbooks, to children's fiction and thrillers.
In 2015, I read my first cozy mystery and knew I'd found a genre I loved to read, and wanted to write in. At the time, that particular genre wasn't familiar to me although I soon found out that I'd loved 'Cozy Mysteries' for years, I just hadn't known that's what they were called!
When I’m not scribbling down ideas for new stories, or tapping away on my laptop, you’ll most likely find me with my nose in a book, rustling up something experimental in the kitchen, or out with my rescue dog, George, who has me well and truly wrapped around his little paw.
I currently have two series; The Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series and The Bliss Bay Village Mystery Series. If you've read and enjoyed my books, and would like to receive an early notification of new releases, discounts and other book-related news, please sign up to my readers' list at http://sherribryan.com.
Please Note; All my books are written in British English and do not contain any strong profanity, sex or graphic violence.
Thank you, and happy reading!
Sherri Brian What inspired me to write the series?
I’ve always loved a good story.
When I was a little girl, my Dad used to make up bedtime stories, and I still remember how I used to hang on his every word, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. I think that’s why I’ve always loved to read, and what first inspired me to want to write stories of my own.
Fast-forwarding a few decades, in 2001, I moved from the UK to Spain, to open my very own marina-front café. Over the years, I had so many adventures there, and met so many unforgettable characters, the entire experience became the inspiration for my first series, The Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series, featuring my reluctant amateur sleuth of the same name.
The inspiration for my second series, The Bliss Bay Village Mysteries, came from a train journey. The passengers were mainly women, many of whom I could hear talking about their divorces, their search for new jobs, how bereft they felt after their kids had gone off to college, and all the other things that were going on in their lives.
It was those conversations that inspired me to create Megan Fallon, the protagonist in my second series. The setting of Bliss Bay village, and the characters therein, are loosely based on places I’ve visited, and people I’ve met. THE CHARLOTTE DENVER COZY MYSTERY SERIES
(First Book in Series is FREE)
St. Eves is a town with real community spirit. It's the kind of town where people leave their doors open from sunrise to sunset, and friends and neighbours pop in for a chat and a nice cup of tea without waiting to be invited. No one's ever too busy for a chat and a nice cup of tea in St. Eves.
Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse - Book 1
FIRST BOOK IN SERIES FREE!
Small-town murder was never so calculated. On a peaceful morning in the English coastal town of St. Eves, a handsome stranger meets a gruesome end. Is the killer the wealthy boat owner with the big bank balance and the bad attitude? Or is it his attractive younger wife, who's keeping secrets and telling lies? Or is someone else responsible?
As café-bar owner, Charlotte Denver takes up the challenge to help find the killer before they strike again, she uncovers a shocking plot that rocks the close-knit community to its core, and a twist in the tale that no one saw coming.
There's a mystery to solve, along with engaging characters, a little romance, and recipes to try for yourself in Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse, the first book in the Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series. Tapas, Carrot Cake (FREE) iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Fudge Cake, Felony and a Funeral - Book 2
Grief, greed and grudges - the perfect recipe for murder.
The death of a much loved member of the community is the catalyst for another murder in the bustling English coastal town of St. Eves.
When relatives of the deceased arrive in town it's not long before tempers flare as they become consumed by greed, so intent are they to get their hands on the family fortune.
As hostilities go from bad to worse, Charlotte Denver inherits a new addition to her family and becomes involved in a feud which threatens to rid her beloved town of a long-standing landmark. FUDGE CAKE, FELONY iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Spare Ribs, Secrets and a Scandal - Book 3
Sometimes it's the people you think you know best who are keeping the biggest secrets.
Charlotte Denver is preparing to move into her new home. All is well with the world in the English coastal town of St. Eves and life couldn't be sunnier.
However, when old friends return to the town, tragedy follows close behind and it's not long before Charlotte finds herself trying to clear her best friend's name as long-hidden secrets and a scandal from years gone by are revealed. SPARE RIBS, SECRETS iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Hamburgers, Homicide and a Honeymoon - Book 5
When a belated honeymoon to London intertwines with an international tattoo awards ceremony, things takes a horrific turn with the untimely death of one of the guests.
Twists, turns and red herrings abound as the investigation into the death becomes more complex . HAMBURGERS, HOMICIDE iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Pumpkins, Peril and a Paella -
Book 4
When a ghost from the past resurfaces at Halloween, Charlotte Denver soon realises they will stop at nothing to get what they want.When a dead body is discovered during the annual St. Eves Halloween fair, it isn't long before
Charlotte finds herself up to her neck in helping to solve yet another murder mystery.
PUMPKINS, PERIL iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Crab Cakes, Killers and a Kaftan - Book 6
Sadie Grey, prolific crime writer, fifty-something spinster, and former wild child, is threatening to write her memoirs. Unfortunately, not everyone is as keen to see the result of her reminiscences.
Who was it who would stop at nothing to prevent Sadie's story from being published. And why? CRAB CAKES, KILLERS iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Mince Pies, Mistletoe and Murder - Book 7
When an unpopular St. Eves' resident is found dead, the shadow of suspicion falls upon a familiar face returning to the town, a group of visiting newcomers, and a trusted friend to many.
MINCE PIES, MISTLETOE iBooks, Nook and Kobo
D
iamonds, Doughnuts and Dead Men - Book 8
A much-loved member of the St. Eves community is left fearing for her life when the discovery of a bundle of old love letters rekindles long-concealed tensions caused by a fortune teller's ancient prophecy.
DOUGHNUTS, DIAMONDS iBooks, Nook and Kobo THE BLISS BAY VILLAGE MYSTERY SERIES:
Bodies, Baddies and a Crabby Tabby - Book 1
Thirty-nine-year-old Megan Fallon is in a pickle.
Not only is she suffering from empty-nest syndrome, but she’s lost the job she loved, and her fiancé’s run off with her hairdresser.
A complete life change is what’s called for, so when the opportunity to make a new start presents itself following news of a family celebration, Megan is lured back to her childhood home.
With a party to organise, old friends to catch up with, an ex-husband and his jealous wife to avoid, a mischievous uncle on the lookout for adventure, a clumsy childhood acquaintance who has undergone a startling transformation, and a cantankerous tabby cat to contend with, Megan has her hands full.
However, what started off as a leisurely break soon takes a chilling turn when members of the community start getting bumped off at an alarming rate, and Megan finds herself at the heart of an investigation that has her suspecting everyone.
Could the murderer be the local finance advisor, whose misjudged investment recommendation cost his clients their life savings? Or maybe the village celebrity; a footballer who appears to have at least one skeleton in a cupboard he’d prefer was kept firmly locked? Or what about a member of a classical music trio who seem to have plenty of secrets they’d rather keep to themselves? Or is the killer someone else entirely?
As Megan becomes involved in the hunt for a murderer, it’s not long before she finds out that some of the villagers are harbouring other secrets too.
Bodies, Baddies and a Crabby Tabby iBooks, Nook and Kobo Connect with Sherri at the following websites:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sherribryanauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherri-bryan
Twitter: @sbryanwrites
Website: http://sherribryan.com
Amazon Author Page: Author.to/SherriBryan
Diane Rapp
Author Bio
I've loved reading from the moment I learned how to.
I cut my teeth on Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl but these days, I read everything from women's fiction and romance, to biographies and cookbooks, to children's fiction and thrillers.
In 2015, I read my first cozy mystery and knew I'd found a genre I loved to read, and wanted to write in. At the time, that particular genre wasn't familiar to me although I soon found out that I'd loved 'Cozy Mysteries' for years, I just hadn't known that's what they were called!
When I’m not scribbling down ideas for new stories, or tapping away on my laptop, you’ll most likely find me with my nose in a book, rustling up something experimental in the kitchen, or out with my rescue dog, George, who has me well and truly wrapped around his little paw.
I currently have two series; The Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series and The Bliss Bay Village Mystery Series. If you've read and enjoyed my books, and would like to receive an early notification of new releases, discounts and other book-related news, please sign up to my readers' list at http://sherribryan.com.
Please Note; All my books are written in British English and do not contain any strong profanity, sex or graphic violence.
Thank you, and happy reading!
Sherri Brian What inspired me to write the series?
I’ve always loved a good story.
When I was a little girl, my Dad used to make up bedtime stories, and I still remember how I used to hang on his every word, desperate to find out what was going to happen next. I think that’s why I’ve always loved to read, and what first inspired me to want to write stories of my own.
Fast-forwarding a few decades, in 2001, I moved from the UK to Spain, to open my very own marina-front café. Over the years, I had so many adventures there, and met so many unforgettable characters, the entire experience became the inspiration for my first series, The Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series, featuring my reluctant amateur sleuth of the same name.
The inspiration for my second series, The Bliss Bay Village Mysteries, came from a train journey. The passengers were mainly women, many of whom I could hear talking about their divorces, their search for new jobs, how bereft they felt after their kids had gone off to college, and all the other things that were going on in their lives.
It was those conversations that inspired me to create Megan Fallon, the protagonist in my second series. The setting of Bliss Bay village, and the characters therein, are loosely based on places I’ve visited, and people I’ve met. THE CHARLOTTE DENVER COZY MYSTERY SERIES
(First Book in Series is FREE)
St. Eves is a town with real community spirit. It's the kind of town where people leave their doors open from sunrise to sunset, and friends and neighbours pop in for a chat and a nice cup of tea without waiting to be invited. No one's ever too busy for a chat and a nice cup of tea in St. Eves.
Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse - Book 1
FIRST BOOK IN SERIES FREE!
Small-town murder was never so calculated. On a peaceful morning in the English coastal town of St. Eves, a handsome stranger meets a gruesome end. Is the killer the wealthy boat owner with the big bank balance and the bad attitude? Or is it his attractive younger wife, who's keeping secrets and telling lies? Or is someone else responsible?
As café-bar owner, Charlotte Denver takes up the challenge to help find the killer before they strike again, she uncovers a shocking plot that rocks the close-knit community to its core, and a twist in the tale that no one saw coming.
There's a mystery to solve, along with engaging characters, a little romance, and recipes to try for yourself in Tapas, Carrot Cake and a Corpse, the first book in the Charlotte Denver Cozy Mystery Series. Tapas, Carrot Cake (FREE) iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Fudge Cake, Felony and a Funeral - Book 2
Grief, greed and grudges - the perfect recipe for murder.
The death of a much loved member of the community is the catalyst for another murder in the bustling English coastal town of St. Eves.
When relatives of the deceased arrive in town it's not long before tempers flare as they become consumed by greed, so intent are they to get their hands on the family fortune.
As hostilities go from bad to worse, Charlotte Denver inherits a new addition to her family and becomes involved in a feud which threatens to rid her beloved town of a long-standing landmark. FUDGE CAKE, FELONY iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Spare Ribs, Secrets and a Scandal - Book 3
Sometimes it's the people you think you know best who are keeping the biggest secrets.
Charlotte Denver is preparing to move into her new home. All is well with the world in the English coastal town of St. Eves and life couldn't be sunnier.
However, when old friends return to the town, tragedy follows close behind and it's not long before Charlotte finds herself trying to clear her best friend's name as long-hidden secrets and a scandal from years gone by are revealed. SPARE RIBS, SECRETS iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Hamburgers, Homicide and a Honeymoon - Book 5
When a belated honeymoon to London intertwines with an international tattoo awards ceremony, things takes a horrific turn with the untimely death of one of the guests.
Twists, turns and red herrings abound as the investigation into the death becomes more complex . HAMBURGERS, HOMICIDE iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Pumpkins, Peril and a Paella - Book 4
When a ghost from the past resurfaces at Halloween, Charlotte Denver soon realises they will stop at nothing to get what they want.When a dead body is discovered during the annual St. Eves Halloween fair, it isn't long before
Charlotte finds herself up to her neck in helping to solve yet another murder mystery.
PUMPKINS, PERIL iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Crab Cakes, Killers and a Kaftan - Book 6
Sadie Grey, prolific crime writer, fifty-something spinster, and former wild child, is threatening to write her memoirs. Unfortunately, not everyone is as keen to see the result of her reminiscences.
Who was it who would stop at nothing to prevent Sadie's story from being published. And why? CRAB CAKES, KILLERS iBooks, Nook and Kobo
Mince Pies, Mistletoe and Murder - Book 7
When an unpopular St. Eves' resident is found dead, the shadow of suspicion falls upon a familiar face returning to the town, a group of visiting newcomers, and a trusted friend to many.
MINCE PIES, MISTLETOE iBooks, Nook and Kobo
D
iamonds, Doughnuts and Dead Men - Book 8
A much-loved member of the St. Eves community is left fearing for her life when the discovery of a bundle of old love letters rekindles long-concealed tensions caused by a fortune teller's ancient prophecy.
DOUGHNUTS, DIAMONDS iBooks, Nook and Kobo THE BLISS BAY VILLAGE MYSTERY SERIES:
Bodies, Baddies and a Crabby Tabby - Book 1
Thirty-nine-year-old Megan Fallon is in a pickle.
Not only is she suffering from empty-nest syndrome, but she’s lost the job she loved, and her fiancé’s run off with her hairdresser.
A complete life change is what’s called for, so when the opportunity to make a new start presents itself following news of a family celebration, Megan is lured back to her childhood home.
With a party to organise, old friends to catch up with, an ex-husband and his jealous wife to avoid, a mischievous uncle on the lookout for adventure, a clumsy childhood acquaintance who has undergone a startling transformation, and a cantankerous tabby cat to contend with, Megan has her hands full.
However, what started off as a leisurely break soon takes a chilling turn when members of the community start getting bumped off at an alarming rate, and Megan finds herself at the heart of an investigation that has her suspecting everyone.
Could the murderer be the local finance advisor, whose misjudged investment recommendation cost his clients their life savings? Or maybe the village celebrity; a footballer who appears to have at least one skeleton in a cupboard he’d prefer was kept firmly locked? Or what about a member of a classical music trio who seem to have plenty of secrets they’d rather keep to themselves? Or is the killer someone else entirely?
As Megan becomes involved in the hunt for a murderer, it’s not long before she finds out that some of the villagers are harbouring other secrets too.
Bodies, Baddies and a Crabby Tabby iBooks, Nook and Kobo Connect with Sherri at the following websites:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sherribryanauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherri-bryan
Twitter: @sbryanwrites
Website: http://sherribryan.com
Amazon Author Page: Author.to/SherriBryan
July 20, 2018
Sandra Baublitz, Author
Sandra and I met in a Cozy Mystery Authors retweet group. I admit that I'm a sucker for books with dogs as main characters, so I have enjoyed reading her stories. She includes comedy and fun in each book, and the mysteries kept me reading.
If you like cozy mysteries with engaging characters, this series is for you! She has short stories for a quick read and has branched out into full-length books.
Diane Rapp
Author Bio:
Sandra Baublitz lives in Maryland with her two cats, Socky and Miss Kitty. She has been a bookkeeper, worked at a plant nursery, and sold produce and baked goods at a farmer’s market. When she’s not writing, she enjoys yoga, walks in nature, reading mysteries and romance novels, and gardening.
Series Description:
A Dog Detective Series started when I entered a mystery short story contest held by Family Circle magazine. I saw the contest advertised and thought why not? I’ve loved reading cozy mysteries since I was a teenager. The contest required certain clues, but the characters were the writer’s choice. At the time, the Beethoven movie was popular, and I fell in love with the Saint Bernard star. He was big, furry, and full of mischief. Then my co-worker brought her new Saint Bernard puppy into work. I held that sweet little dog and wanted one, however, my family didn’t want a large dog. So I wrote him into the story as a way to express my love.
I didn’t win the contest but wrote two more short stories. Life happened, and I put it aside. A few years ago, I picked it up again and wrote three more shorts. The novels followed when I challenged myself to write longer. My Saint Bernard character may have given me a mental nudge too. Bassets and Blackmail is the second novel in the series and has recently published.
Short Story Collection
Amateur sleuth Clarissa Montgomery Hayes loves her loyal canine partner, Paw. Together they sniff out crime and dig up clues to solve mysteries. Can a dog be a detective? He sure can.
This cozy mysteries box set includes The Dog Detective Series Shorts Books 1-5. Box Set of 5 SEPARATE SHORT STORIES
Blue Dolphins –
When struggling freelance writer, Clarissa Hayes, and her trouble-making Saint Bernard, Paw, visit their relatives in Upstate New York, they are saddened to find the family in mourning. Clarissa's amateur sleuth uncle has died, evidently from a heart attack.
But was the death truly an accident? An anonymous note hints that her uncle was murdered, and now Clarissa and Paw are determined to sniff out the truth.
Soon the duo find themselves nose deep in their uncle's final baffling case: the theft of the fabulous Blue Dolphin diamonds. Clarissa's determination to find her uncle's killer leads her deep into a world of glittering gems and deadly secrets, where each new discovery threatens to bring her to the notice of a ruthless murderer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. Can Clarissa and her detective dog Paw crack the case, or will they become the killer's next victims?
Blue Dolphins
Aunt Carol's Disappearance
When Amateur sleuth, Clarissa Hayes and her mischievous Saint Bernard, Paw, go on a relaxing vacation to the beach with their friends, they are surprised to find their hostess missing. Their friend's aunt has disappeared and the beach bungalow is locked.
Where could she be? What could have happened to her? And what are those strange lights at sea?
With Paw digging up clues, Clarissa and her friends search frantically for the missing woman. As they follow the trail of clues, their search leads them into a world of dangerous criminals and dark secrets. Can Clarissa and Paw collar the criminals and save the missing woman, or will they disappear too? Aunt Carol
The Body In The Shed –
Clarissa and Paw are curled up by a cozy fire as Christmas nears. In this season of love and giving, their ideal holiday is shattered when Clarissa discovers a dead man in her elderly neighbor's shed.
Who is he? Why was he killed? And who would dump a body at a senior citizen's house?
When Clarissa's uncle, the local police chief, arrests the woman's grandson, she begs Clarissa to clear his name. With an eye for trouble and Paw's doggy nose for clues, they investigate.
But Clarissa is shadowed by a handsome detective her uncle hired to protect her. Can she and Paw elude their protector and unleash their detecting skills before another death?
Will they cage the killer or will they end up dead in the shed too? Body in the Shed
The Missing Bear –
Canine sleuth, Paw, is once again making mischief. His owner, Clarissa, has a bone to pick with her innocent-looking dog. A missing teddy bear. Has her Saint Bernard turned to a life of crime?
When Paw fetches the bear from his buried cache in their neighbor’s yard, the mystery is solved. Right? Wrong.
The bear has secrets of its own.
As Clarissa and Paw delve into the case, they discover that their quiet neighbors aren’t as innocent as they seem.
Will the duo dig up the truth or end up in the doghouse themselves? Missing Bear
The Missing Actor –
What has happened to Robert Roberts, the new actor in town? Clarissa, Paw, and their friend, Shelbee, discover the back door of his house wide open. It is evident that a struggle has occurred in his kitchen. Where is he? Where is his cat, Kathleen? And why does his parrot keep yelling, “No! John! No!”
As they canvass the neighborhood for Kathleen, Paw sniffs out a clue to the missing actor. Sleuthing noses to the ground, the mystery leads them in a dangerous direction.
Will they find Robert and Kathleen in time or are they barking up the wrong tree?
FULL-LENGTH NOVELS:
Mastiffs, Mystery, and Murder –
It’s murder at the dog show!
When amateur sleuth Clarissa Hayes and her trusty Saint Bernard, Paw, enter a dog show, they expect to find dogs, blue ribbons, and trophies. Not dead bodies.
Clarissa’s boyfriend is tracking a suspect in the death of a dog fancier. It’s up to Clarissa and Paw to provide him cover as they compete in the show.
But the competition turns deadly when another dog owner is murdered. Are the deaths connected? Clarissa and Paw must sniff out the clues to solve the crime before the killer collars them.
Will Best in Show become Best in Death? Mastiffs & Murder
Bassets and Blackmail (New!) –
Will this mystery game be murder?
Peaceful Dreams B&B is hosting a murder mystery game to celebrate its grand opening. Local sleuth Clarissa Hayes and her loyal Saint Bernard, Paw, have joined in the entertainment.
All is fun and games until one of the guests is found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. Was it an accident? Or murder? Did the victim share a secret past with one of the guests or the B&B owners?
It's up to Clarissa and Paw to trail the clues to find out the truth. Along the way they're joined by a bevy of friends, both human and animal, including a black cat who is embroiled in a mystery of his own.
Will peaceful dreams reign or will the killer unleash nightmares for all? Bassets & Blackmail Connect with Sandra Baublitz at the following links: WEBSITE TWITTER AMAZON AUTHOR FACEBOOK BOOK BUB
If you like cozy mysteries with engaging characters, this series is for you! She has short stories for a quick read and has branched out into full-length books.
Diane Rapp
Author Bio:Sandra Baublitz lives in Maryland with her two cats, Socky and Miss Kitty. She has been a bookkeeper, worked at a plant nursery, and sold produce and baked goods at a farmer’s market. When she’s not writing, she enjoys yoga, walks in nature, reading mysteries and romance novels, and gardening.
Series Description:A Dog Detective Series started when I entered a mystery short story contest held by Family Circle magazine. I saw the contest advertised and thought why not? I’ve loved reading cozy mysteries since I was a teenager. The contest required certain clues, but the characters were the writer’s choice. At the time, the Beethoven movie was popular, and I fell in love with the Saint Bernard star. He was big, furry, and full of mischief. Then my co-worker brought her new Saint Bernard puppy into work. I held that sweet little dog and wanted one, however, my family didn’t want a large dog. So I wrote him into the story as a way to express my love.
I didn’t win the contest but wrote two more short stories. Life happened, and I put it aside. A few years ago, I picked it up again and wrote three more shorts. The novels followed when I challenged myself to write longer. My Saint Bernard character may have given me a mental nudge too. Bassets and Blackmail is the second novel in the series and has recently published.
Short Story Collection
Amateur sleuth Clarissa Montgomery Hayes loves her loyal canine partner, Paw. Together they sniff out crime and dig up clues to solve mysteries. Can a dog be a detective? He sure can.
This cozy mysteries box set includes The Dog Detective Series Shorts Books 1-5. Box Set of 5 SEPARATE SHORT STORIES
Blue Dolphins –
When struggling freelance writer, Clarissa Hayes, and her trouble-making Saint Bernard, Paw, visit their relatives in Upstate New York, they are saddened to find the family in mourning. Clarissa's amateur sleuth uncle has died, evidently from a heart attack.
But was the death truly an accident? An anonymous note hints that her uncle was murdered, and now Clarissa and Paw are determined to sniff out the truth.
Soon the duo find themselves nose deep in their uncle's final baffling case: the theft of the fabulous Blue Dolphin diamonds. Clarissa's determination to find her uncle's killer leads her deep into a world of glittering gems and deadly secrets, where each new discovery threatens to bring her to the notice of a ruthless murderer who will stop at nothing to cover his tracks. Can Clarissa and her detective dog Paw crack the case, or will they become the killer's next victims?
Blue Dolphins
Aunt Carol's Disappearance
When Amateur sleuth, Clarissa Hayes and her mischievous Saint Bernard, Paw, go on a relaxing vacation to the beach with their friends, they are surprised to find their hostess missing. Their friend's aunt has disappeared and the beach bungalow is locked.
Where could she be? What could have happened to her? And what are those strange lights at sea?
With Paw digging up clues, Clarissa and her friends search frantically for the missing woman. As they follow the trail of clues, their search leads them into a world of dangerous criminals and dark secrets. Can Clarissa and Paw collar the criminals and save the missing woman, or will they disappear too? Aunt Carol
The Body In The Shed –Clarissa and Paw are curled up by a cozy fire as Christmas nears. In this season of love and giving, their ideal holiday is shattered when Clarissa discovers a dead man in her elderly neighbor's shed.
Who is he? Why was he killed? And who would dump a body at a senior citizen's house?
When Clarissa's uncle, the local police chief, arrests the woman's grandson, she begs Clarissa to clear his name. With an eye for trouble and Paw's doggy nose for clues, they investigate.
But Clarissa is shadowed by a handsome detective her uncle hired to protect her. Can she and Paw elude their protector and unleash their detecting skills before another death?
Will they cage the killer or will they end up dead in the shed too? Body in the Shed
The Missing Bear –Canine sleuth, Paw, is once again making mischief. His owner, Clarissa, has a bone to pick with her innocent-looking dog. A missing teddy bear. Has her Saint Bernard turned to a life of crime?
When Paw fetches the bear from his buried cache in their neighbor’s yard, the mystery is solved. Right? Wrong.
The bear has secrets of its own.
As Clarissa and Paw delve into the case, they discover that their quiet neighbors aren’t as innocent as they seem.
Will the duo dig up the truth or end up in the doghouse themselves? Missing Bear
The Missing Actor –
What has happened to Robert Roberts, the new actor in town? Clarissa, Paw, and their friend, Shelbee, discover the back door of his house wide open. It is evident that a struggle has occurred in his kitchen. Where is he? Where is his cat, Kathleen? And why does his parrot keep yelling, “No! John! No!”
As they canvass the neighborhood for Kathleen, Paw sniffs out a clue to the missing actor. Sleuthing noses to the ground, the mystery leads them in a dangerous direction.
Will they find Robert and Kathleen in time or are they barking up the wrong tree?
FULL-LENGTH NOVELS:
Mastiffs, Mystery, and Murder –
It’s murder at the dog show!
When amateur sleuth Clarissa Hayes and her trusty Saint Bernard, Paw, enter a dog show, they expect to find dogs, blue ribbons, and trophies. Not dead bodies.
Clarissa’s boyfriend is tracking a suspect in the death of a dog fancier. It’s up to Clarissa and Paw to provide him cover as they compete in the show.
But the competition turns deadly when another dog owner is murdered. Are the deaths connected? Clarissa and Paw must sniff out the clues to solve the crime before the killer collars them.
Will Best in Show become Best in Death? Mastiffs & Murder
Bassets and Blackmail (New!) –Will this mystery game be murder?
Peaceful Dreams B&B is hosting a murder mystery game to celebrate its grand opening. Local sleuth Clarissa Hayes and her loyal Saint Bernard, Paw, have joined in the entertainment.
All is fun and games until one of the guests is found dead at the bottom of the basement stairs. Was it an accident? Or murder? Did the victim share a secret past with one of the guests or the B&B owners?
It's up to Clarissa and Paw to trail the clues to find out the truth. Along the way they're joined by a bevy of friends, both human and animal, including a black cat who is embroiled in a mystery of his own.
Will peaceful dreams reign or will the killer unleash nightmares for all? Bassets & Blackmail Connect with Sandra Baublitz at the following links: WEBSITE TWITTER AMAZON AUTHOR FACEBOOK BOOK BUB
July 13, 2018
Heartsong--New Sci-Fi Novel by Annie Douglass Lima
DIANE'S 5* REVIEW:
Hope is a link to future peace.
A young girl finds herself injured and alone on a distant world. She is the first human to make contact with a strange but gentle group of aliens who teach her how to communicate, verbally and with heartsong. Liz Smith (whose middle name is Hope) is an orphan. She learned through experience that she should never make friends or love others because she will surely lose them. Can she heal her own soul by learning to love and open herself to share a heartsong?
This is a novel encompassing a first contact experience with self examination and healing. Liz learns the meaning of Hope within her own heartsong. Can she share it and save lives? The future peace between species might depend on a teenager's ability to communicate.
Two alien worlds.One teen emissary.No reality she can trust.
Thirteen-year-old Liz Smith has been ripped away from one foster family after another for years, so the idea of a permanent home is tantalizing. Who cares if that home is a colony sixty-five thousand light-years from Earth? The friends in her trusty e-reader will keep her company just fine on her interstellar relocation.
But when the adventure of a lifetime turns into the disaster of the cosmos, Liz can only retreat so far into the books that have always sheltered her from loneliness and loss. Trapped in half-truths and secrets that leave her questioning reality, can one orphaned bookworm find a way to stop two races from destroying each other ⦠and somehow write a happy ending to her own story?
If you like books about space travel, aliens, or cross-cultural transitions, youâll love this poignant science fiction adventure. Click here to get your copy of Heartsong now and start the journey today! (Shh! For July 1st and 2nd only, the ebook is available for free!)
Read on for a sample of the story ...
HeartsongChapter One
My love of reading started the whole thing.The best place to read on the Laika was in the lifeboats. Iâd discovered that on the first leg of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point off of Phoebe. I mean, what else was there to do when we couldnât see much through the viewports? The view was exciting when there was one, but when youâre far away from anything, space all looks the same.The hyperspace jump that shot us across the galaxy had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point off of Somav, the blue giant that would light my skies for the rest of my life, the flight toward the little moon Soma was pretty exciting, too. I couldnât stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and white planet I knew none of us would ever see close up again. I wondered about the aliens whose home it was. What were they like? The pictures and video Forerunner had sent back, from the few passes it had taken in high orbit, left everyone with more questions than they answered.Of course, we knew the planet had a breathable atmosphere. If it hadnât been for the alien race who already lived there â and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma, of course â New Horizons Industries might have decided to set up its colony on the planet Somavia instead of on its moon.We passed Somavia three days ago, and weâd been orbiting Soma ever since. Which was also exciting, at first. I couldnât wait to actually get down there and start life on my new home. A home I would get to help create, along with the adult scientists and miners and the rest of the Young Explorers. A home I would never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. My forever home. Normally I hated new beginnings, but this one was different. This would be the last new beginning of my life.Even the colonyâs name, chosen by the Samoan astronomer who discovered this solar system, was perfect. Avanoa, which apparently meant opportunity in the Samoan language, sounded to me like a kingdom from some fantasy novel.Not that life in Avanoa was going to be a fantasy. I knew that starting a colony would be hard work, but that didnât matter. A real home, with friends I would never have to say goodbye to, would be worth any amount of work.Soma was interesting to look at, though not as pretty as the planet it orbited. The moon was mostly brown, with splotches of gray-green surrounding the dark blue dots that marked the location of its scattered lakes. With no actual oceans, the moon had just enough water to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from Forerunnerâs pictures. Insects. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not be edible. Small reptilian or maybe amphibian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. A handful of different mammals, all tiny, that made their homes in the hills. Nothing that seemed likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.Of course, the aliens could be another story. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma, too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasnât tirtellium, and they only had a few tunnel mines in a few locations. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of kilometers away, where if all went according to plan, they wouldnât even know we were around. Forerunnerâs sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma, and as far as we could tell, the locals had no instruments capable of detecting Forerunner, no way to suspect we were coming. Its orbit was carefully programmed to keep it out of sight of any of their mines after dark, when it might be visible from the ground as a moving point of light.The adults all said that hopefully we would never have to encounter any Somavians, but all of us kids hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone in their right mind not want to meet the first real live aliens actually confirmed to exist?Jessie, who loved science fiction movies almost as much as I loved reading, had often kept Maria and Shaliqua and me awake late into the night back in our dorm room discussing all the possible alien-related adventures that awaited us if we ever made contact. Most of those possibilities were a lot more fun â though some were scarier â than the idea of living in isolation and never letting the locals know we were on their moon.Anyway, judging by Forerunnerâs footage, Somavian culture seemed peaceful, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about the humans in their solar system, hopefully they wouldnât mind us being there. We wouldnât bother them, and with any luck, they wouldnât bother us. And if they did get mad, well, the Laika had some weapons. Not enough to wage war with, but hopefully enough to convince them to leave us alone.So much to wonder about. So much to look forward to. I could hardly wait to get down to the surface and start my new life. But here we all were, stuck in orbit for three whole days so far. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is. It had been nearly five Soman days, though we wouldnât officially switch to using Soman time until we landed.Atmospheric storms. Who would have thought that storms would be this big of an issue on a world with virtually no precipitation? Our science team had come up with a theory about minerals in the soil reflecting particles and wavelengths from the solar flares that Somav had been throwing out since our arrival. Whatever the case, the result was some pretty impressive windstorms in parts of the atmosphere. Since the spot picked out for Avanoa was directly underneath one of the worst storms, Captain Tyler insisted it wouldnât be safe to try to land yet.But no one had anticipated that the flares and storms would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit my new home and see what it looked like from space. But after a while the excitement faded, and everyone turned grouchy as we all grew more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our Horizon-brand tablets werenât good enough to keep everyone happy, not while we had to put the adventure weâd all waited over a year to start on hold indefinitely. And Iâd never been a big fan of video games or movies anyway.So I did what I always do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my old-school Novareader and turned to my true friends, the ones who never got annoying, who would always be there for me no matter what, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I escaped to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure on their RizeTab.The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create Avanoaâs buildings until we could construct permanent residences from local rock, and that was one of the reasons the ship was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moonâs dry soil, and educational resources for us youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I wasnât sure if I was really supposed to hang out in them, but they were unlocked, because after all, what would be the point in locking something that people would need to get into in a hurry in an emergency?I sat curled up on a seat in Lifeboat 1, alternating between reading and looking out to see if anything interesting had come into sight down below. But from this angle, the one window â a wide viewport at the very front â was mostly full of stars, only a tiny sliver of Soma visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen at the lifeboatâs navigational console and adjusted it to show me any view I liked, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didnât want anyone showing up to tell me I wasnât supposed to be in here.So I joined Caz and her friends on their travels across the Granbo system, caught up in their space adventure on my Novareader screen, since my own space adventure had turned pretty dull. Lunch was another two hours away, so I might as well enjoy myself in the meantime.And I did â until the ship vibrated more vigorously than usual and the fasten seatbelts sign flicked on.I often felt as though several of me were debating inside my head. For a moment, Cautious Liz wondered if I should return to my seat. But what was the point? Practical Liz reminded me that I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, walking around with the Laika lurching under me would not be the smartest idea.I already had my seatbelt on, since that was the best way to keep from floating around. Not that floating around wasnât fun, but there was too little room in the lifeboat to do mid-air flips and spins without banging into things, and drifting around while I read made it hard to focus on the book. Of course my magnetic-soled shoes could have kept me anchored to the deck, but not when I wanted to sit cross-legged.So I just tightened my seatbelt a little and turned back to The Gypsy Pearl. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.But the vibrations grew stronger, and then the ship started lurching under me. I lowered my Novareader and looked around, but there was nothing to see here in the little lifeboat. The stars jumped and jerked outside the window, and if it hadnât been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown about and probably injured already.I waited for the crackle of the intercom and Captain Tylerâs voice to explain what was happening or issue instructions. But I heard nothing, and I wondered if the flares had damaged the lifeboatâs intercom system. They had interfered with the Laikaâs electrical systems before, after all. Now I wished Iâd returned to my seat while I could. If something dangerous was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where at least I would know what was going on.Without warning, the lights flickered and then went out. Now that was a first. An instant later, an alarm screeched, making me jump. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we left Earth. The screeching continued as the stars swirled and zigzagged, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didnât know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system ⦠or worse.Then the emergency lights embedded in the deck glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me powered on automatically, its screen lighting up green.My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm kept blaring its intermittent warning. Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, as though the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. And that rider gripped the edge of her seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.Suddenly the whirling stars vanished and Soma swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of brown-blue-gray-green-brown. I barely had time to notice before it was gone and the streaking stars reappeared. Then the moon appeared again.My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast would probably have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be in zero gravity with the ship thrashing around like this.A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I recognized it right away, and my heart lurched in terror. âNo!âWords flashed across the computer screen, large enough to read from where I sat. LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING.âNo! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was jerking around me. But I panicked. Can you blame me? None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.I knew what to do if a lifeboat didnât detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat I was supposed to board in an emergency. Not this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be â a fairly even cross-section of the shipâs crew in terms of age and abilities, so we would have the best possible chance of survival in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasnât the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those skills, just in case.But I didnât know how to survive in deep space or on Somaâs surface on my own. The cupboards contained emergency rations and survival gear, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the shipâs sensors would pick up â I knew they were picking it up already, as of the moment my craft started to detach â but what if no one could come and get me right away? What if I landed on Soma, but the Laika couldnât land for days or even weeks? They would have no way to rescue a stranded teenager who shouldnât have been reading in a lifeboat in the first place.And what if the aliens found me before my people did?All that went swirling through my brain within a couple of seconds as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didnât open to let me out into the shipâs corridor. But the incessant alarm finally went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl.For a second, Optimistic Liz dared to hope that the trouble was over. But I knew that wasnât it.The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift past the window, Somavâs light tinting her silver-white hull a metallic frostbite-blue against the blackness of space. She was still spinning and dancing like some huge bird as the solar flares played havoc with her electrical systems. And then I saw only stars, and then the mottled brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there went the Laika once more, further away this time.Grabbing the back of a seat for leverage, I shoved off from the deck, thankful for the zero-gravity training. Floating was faster than clomping along in magnetic shoes, and I had to get to the controls now. I had to steer myself back to the ship.But as I seized the arm of the helmspersonâs chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach a lifeboat to its socket on the shipâs side. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?Well, somebody must know the proper procedure for this kind of emergency. Captain Tyler or one of the other adults could talk me through the process. Right?I fumbled for the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldnât float off in the meantime. Jabbing the intercom button, I called, âHelp! Iâm in a lifeboat that just detached! What do I do?âRealizing how panicked and little-girly I sounded, I took a deep breath and tried again. âI mean, this is Liz Smith on Lifeboat 1, calling anybody on the Laika who can hear me. Come in, please.âThere was no response, and I realized that the communication light wasnât even on. The intercom was offline.Great. Dang solar flares.I took another deep breath. I had never felt so alone.But the controls in front of me looked exactly like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.Except this was no game, where the only real struggle was to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely.This was a real emergency.This was my life at stake.
Buy Heartsong from Amazon in Kindle or paperback format here:
http://smarturl.it/HeartsongSciFi
About the Author:
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published eighteen books in a wide variety of genres (science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her studentsâ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
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Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
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Hope is a link to future peace.
A young girl finds herself injured and alone on a distant world. She is the first human to make contact with a strange but gentle group of aliens who teach her how to communicate, verbally and with heartsong. Liz Smith (whose middle name is Hope) is an orphan. She learned through experience that she should never make friends or love others because she will surely lose them. Can she heal her own soul by learning to love and open herself to share a heartsong?
This is a novel encompassing a first contact experience with self examination and healing. Liz learns the meaning of Hope within her own heartsong. Can she share it and save lives? The future peace between species might depend on a teenager's ability to communicate.
Two alien worlds.One teen emissary.No reality she can trust.
Thirteen-year-old Liz Smith has been ripped away from one foster family after another for years, so the idea of a permanent home is tantalizing. Who cares if that home is a colony sixty-five thousand light-years from Earth? The friends in her trusty e-reader will keep her company just fine on her interstellar relocation.
But when the adventure of a lifetime turns into the disaster of the cosmos, Liz can only retreat so far into the books that have always sheltered her from loneliness and loss. Trapped in half-truths and secrets that leave her questioning reality, can one orphaned bookworm find a way to stop two races from destroying each other ⦠and somehow write a happy ending to her own story?
If you like books about space travel, aliens, or cross-cultural transitions, youâll love this poignant science fiction adventure. Click here to get your copy of Heartsong now and start the journey today! (Shh! For July 1st and 2nd only, the ebook is available for free!)
Read on for a sample of the story ...
HeartsongChapter One
My love of reading started the whole thing.The best place to read on the Laika was in the lifeboats. Iâd discovered that on the first leg of the trip, during the flight from Earth to the jump point off of Phoebe. I mean, what else was there to do when we couldnât see much through the viewports? The view was exciting when there was one, but when youâre far away from anything, space all looks the same.The hyperspace jump that shot us across the galaxy had been quick, of course, so no time to get bored there. And after we came out of it at the jump point off of Somav, the blue giant that would light my skies for the rest of my life, the flight toward the little moon Soma was pretty exciting, too. I couldnât stop staring as we passed Somavia, the blue and white planet I knew none of us would ever see close up again. I wondered about the aliens whose home it was. What were they like? The pictures and video Forerunner had sent back, from the few passes it had taken in high orbit, left everyone with more questions than they answered.Of course, we knew the planet had a breathable atmosphere. If it hadnât been for the alien race who already lived there â and the tirtellium that we were going to mine on Soma, of course â New Horizons Industries might have decided to set up its colony on the planet Somavia instead of on its moon.We passed Somavia three days ago, and weâd been orbiting Soma ever since. Which was also exciting, at first. I couldnât wait to actually get down there and start life on my new home. A home I would get to help create, along with the adult scientists and miners and the rest of the Young Explorers. A home I would never be taken away from just when I was starting to settle in. My forever home. Normally I hated new beginnings, but this one was different. This would be the last new beginning of my life.Even the colonyâs name, chosen by the Samoan astronomer who discovered this solar system, was perfect. Avanoa, which apparently meant opportunity in the Samoan language, sounded to me like a kingdom from some fantasy novel.Not that life in Avanoa was going to be a fantasy. I knew that starting a colony would be hard work, but that didnât matter. A real home, with friends I would never have to say goodbye to, would be worth any amount of work.Soma was interesting to look at, though not as pretty as the planet it orbited. The moon was mostly brown, with splotches of gray-green surrounding the dark blue dots that marked the location of its scattered lakes. With no actual oceans, the moon had just enough water to support a little plant and animal life. Nothing too dangerous, at least as far as we could tell from Forerunnerâs pictures. Insects. Some fish and crustaceans that might or might not be edible. Small reptilian or maybe amphibian creatures that lived in and around the lakes. A handful of different mammals, all tiny, that made their homes in the hills. Nothing that seemed likely to bother two hundred human colonists setting up a new home on their world.Of course, the aliens could be another story. We knew the Somavians had developed a limited form of space travel; we knew they had mines on Soma, too. But whatever they were mining for, it wasnât tirtellium, and they only had a few tunnel mines in a few locations. We planned to set up our colony hundreds of kilometers away, where if all went according to plan, they wouldnât even know we were around. Forerunnerâs sensors had not detected any other artificial satellites in orbit around either Somavia or Soma, and as far as we could tell, the locals had no instruments capable of detecting Forerunner, no way to suspect we were coming. Its orbit was carefully programmed to keep it out of sight of any of their mines after dark, when it might be visible from the ground as a moving point of light.The adults all said that hopefully we would never have to encounter any Somavians, but all of us kids hoped we would. I mean, why would anyone in their right mind not want to meet the first real live aliens actually confirmed to exist?Jessie, who loved science fiction movies almost as much as I loved reading, had often kept Maria and Shaliqua and me awake late into the night back in our dorm room discussing all the possible alien-related adventures that awaited us if we ever made contact. Most of those possibilities were a lot more fun â though some were scarier â than the idea of living in isolation and never letting the locals know we were on their moon.Anyway, judging by Forerunnerâs footage, Somavian culture seemed peaceful, with no evidence of any wars going on down on their home world. If they did find out about the humans in their solar system, hopefully they wouldnât mind us being there. We wouldnât bother them, and with any luck, they wouldnât bother us. And if they did get mad, well, the Laika had some weapons. Not enough to wage war with, but hopefully enough to convince them to leave us alone.So much to wonder about. So much to look forward to. I could hardly wait to get down to the surface and start my new life. But here we all were, stuck in orbit for three whole days so far. Three painfully long and boring days. Earth days, that is. It had been nearly five Soman days, though we wouldnât officially switch to using Soman time until we landed.Atmospheric storms. Who would have thought that storms would be this big of an issue on a world with virtually no precipitation? Our science team had come up with a theory about minerals in the soil reflecting particles and wavelengths from the solar flares that Somav had been throwing out since our arrival. Whatever the case, the result was some pretty impressive windstorms in parts of the atmosphere. Since the spot picked out for Avanoa was directly underneath one of the worst storms, Captain Tyler insisted it wouldnât be safe to try to land yet.But no one had anticipated that the flares and storms would go on this long. At first, I was glad of the opportunity to orbit my new home and see what it looked like from space. But after a while the excitement faded, and everyone turned grouchy as we all grew more and more bored and impatient. The movies and games preloaded on our Horizon-brand tablets werenât good enough to keep everyone happy, not while we had to put the adventure weâd all waited over a year to start on hold indefinitely. And Iâd never been a big fan of video games or movies anyway.So I did what I always do when real people get too annoying. I pulled out my old-school Novareader and turned to my true friends, the ones who never got annoying, who would always be there for me no matter what, who I never had to say goodbye to. And I escaped to the one place I had found on board where nobody would bother me or interrupt my adventures to ask what I was reading or exclaim over their new high score in who-cares-what-virtual-adventure on their RizeTab.The Laika was designed to be taken apart when we arrived. Its decking and bulkheads would be used to help create Avanoaâs buildings until we could construct permanent residences from local rock, and that was one of the reasons the ship was so large. But big though it was, it had no extra empty space. Every compartment was full of freeze-dried food items, mining equipment, packages of seeds for genetically modified crops designed to grow well in the moonâs dry soil, and educational resources for us youth, because even on an interstellar adventure, there was no escaping school in some form.So I had discovered in between Earth and Phoebe that the lifeboats were the best place to read. I wasnât sure if I was really supposed to hang out in them, but they were unlocked, because after all, what would be the point in locking something that people would need to get into in a hurry in an emergency?I sat curled up on a seat in Lifeboat 1, alternating between reading and looking out to see if anything interesting had come into sight down below. But from this angle, the one window â a wide viewport at the very front â was mostly full of stars, only a tiny sliver of Soma visible from one edge. I could have turned on the screen at the lifeboatâs navigational console and adjusted it to show me any view I liked, but that might trigger some sort of alert, and I didnât want anyone showing up to tell me I wasnât supposed to be in here.So I joined Caz and her friends on their travels across the Granbo system, caught up in their space adventure on my Novareader screen, since my own space adventure had turned pretty dull. Lunch was another two hours away, so I might as well enjoy myself in the meantime.And I did â until the ship vibrated more vigorously than usual and the fasten seatbelts sign flicked on.I often felt as though several of me were debating inside my head. For a moment, Cautious Liz wondered if I should return to my seat. But what was the point? Practical Liz reminded me that I would be just as safe here in the lifeboat, and if the turbulence got bad, walking around with the Laika lurching under me would not be the smartest idea.I already had my seatbelt on, since that was the best way to keep from floating around. Not that floating around wasnât fun, but there was too little room in the lifeboat to do mid-air flips and spins without banging into things, and drifting around while I read made it hard to focus on the book. Of course my magnetic-soled shoes could have kept me anchored to the deck, but not when I wanted to sit cross-legged.So I just tightened my seatbelt a little and turned back to The Gypsy Pearl. We had encountered turbulence lots of times in the last few days, thanks to the solar flares. It was no big deal.But the vibrations grew stronger, and then the ship started lurching under me. I lowered my Novareader and looked around, but there was nothing to see here in the little lifeboat. The stars jumped and jerked outside the window, and if it hadnât been for my seatbelt, I knew I would have been thrown about and probably injured already.I waited for the crackle of the intercom and Captain Tylerâs voice to explain what was happening or issue instructions. But I heard nothing, and I wondered if the flares had damaged the lifeboatâs intercom system. They had interfered with the Laikaâs electrical systems before, after all. Now I wished Iâd returned to my seat while I could. If something dangerous was happening, I would rather face it with the others in the main cabin, where at least I would know what was going on.Without warning, the lights flickered and then went out. Now that was a first. An instant later, an alarm screeched, making me jump. I gasped, really worried for the first time since we left Earth. The screeching continued as the stars swirled and zigzagged, sending faint but frightening shadows thrashing around me like alien spirits trying to take over the ship. For a second I wondered if that could actually be happening. Maybe the Somavians had powers we didnât know about. Maybe they were trying to drive us out of their system ⦠or worse.Then the emergency lights embedded in the deck glowed to life, and I let out my breath in relief. The navigational computer two rows ahead of me powered on automatically, its screen lighting up green.My relief was short-lived, though. The alarm kept blaring its intermittent warning. Screech! Silence. Screech! Silence. Screech! The turbulence was worse than ever, as though the Laika was a wild horse, bucking and leaping and trying to throw its rider off. And that rider gripped the edge of her seat all alone there in the lifeboat, wondering what in the universe was happening.Suddenly the whirling stars vanished and Soma swung into view, filling the viewport ahead of me, a blur of brown-blue-gray-green-brown. I barely had time to notice before it was gone and the streaking stars reappeared. Then the moon appeared again.My stomach was spinning as fast as the ship. Thank goodness I had inherited the Smith Stomach of Steel, or my breakfast would probably have ended up all around me. I could only imagine what a nasty experience that would be in zero gravity with the ship thrashing around like this.A new noise caught my attention. A mechanical noise, a series of clicks and clinks and the sliding of metal against metal. I had only ever heard it before in simulations, but I recognized it right away, and my heart lurched in terror. âNo!âWords flashed across the computer screen, large enough to read from where I sat. LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING.âNo! I yelled again. I fumbled for the seatbelt clasp and flung myself across the tiny cabin, lunging for the manual override button beside the door. Not a smart move, I have to admit, considering how wildly everything was jerking around me. But I panicked. Can you blame me? None of our training, none of the simulations, had dealt with what to do if the lifeboat you were sitting in alone accidentally detached from the ship.I knew what to do if a lifeboat didnât detach when it was supposed to. I knew which lifeboat I was supposed to board in an emergency. Not this one, though they were all the same. I knew who my lifeboat buddies would be â a fairly even cross-section of the shipâs crew in terms of age and abilities, so we would have the best possible chance of survival in case not every lifeboat made it. I knew how to steer the lifeboat and bring it down for a controlled landing, even though I wasnât the assigned helmsperson in my group. We had all learned all those skills, just in case.But I didnât know how to survive in deep space or on Somaâs surface on my own. The cupboards contained emergency rations and survival gear, of course, but not enough to live off of indefinitely. Of course the lifeboat would emit a signal that the shipâs sensors would pick up â I knew they were picking it up already, as of the moment my craft started to detach â but what if no one could come and get me right away? What if I landed on Soma, but the Laika couldnât land for days or even weeks? They would have no way to rescue a stranded teenager who shouldnât have been reading in a lifeboat in the first place.And what if the aliens found me before my people did?All that went swirling through my brain within a couple of seconds as I slammed my fist into the manual override button again and again. But nothing happened. That is, the hatch didnât open to let me out into the shipâs corridor. But the incessant alarm finally went silent, and the frantic jerking and thrashing stopped, replaced by a slow, gentle twirl.For a second, Optimistic Liz dared to hope that the trouble was over. But I knew that wasnât it.The lifeboat was no longer connected to the ship.Too horrified even to yell again, I watched the Laika drift past the window, Somavâs light tinting her silver-white hull a metallic frostbite-blue against the blackness of space. She was still spinning and dancing like some huge bird as the solar flares played havoc with her electrical systems. And then I saw only stars, and then the mottled brown of the moon, then more stars. And then there went the Laika once more, further away this time.Grabbing the back of a seat for leverage, I shoved off from the deck, thankful for the zero-gravity training. Floating was faster than clomping along in magnetic shoes, and I had to get to the controls now. I had to steer myself back to the ship.But as I seized the arm of the helmspersonâs chair and maneuvered my body into it, I realized I had no idea how to reattach a lifeboat to its socket on the shipâs side. They had never taught us that. Were lifeboats even designed to reattach once they were separated?Well, somebody must know the proper procedure for this kind of emergency. Captain Tyler or one of the other adults could talk me through the process. Right?I fumbled for the seatbelt, twisting my ankles around the legs of the chair so I wouldnât float off in the meantime. Jabbing the intercom button, I called, âHelp! Iâm in a lifeboat that just detached! What do I do?âRealizing how panicked and little-girly I sounded, I took a deep breath and tried again. âI mean, this is Liz Smith on Lifeboat 1, calling anybody on the Laika who can hear me. Come in, please.âThere was no response, and I realized that the communication light wasnât even on. The intercom was offline.Great. Dang solar flares.I took another deep breath. I had never felt so alone.But the controls in front of me looked exactly like the ones in the simulator. I could do this. It would be just the same as I had practiced.Except this was no game, where the only real struggle was to beat my classmates, to be the first to land my virtual lifeboat safely.This was a real emergency.This was my life at stake.Buy Heartsong from Amazon in Kindle or paperback format here:
http://smarturl.it/HeartsongSciFi
About the Author:Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published eighteen books in a wide variety of genres (science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her studentsâ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Google+: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus
Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
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July 6, 2018
Shereen Vedam, Fantasy Author
I recently met Shereen in a Science-Fantasy retweet group for authors. I became fascinated by the tweets about her books and read HUSHED (see my review below), probably because there was a dragon on the cover. I am always a fan of books that include dragons and Shereen did not let me down. If you enjoy fantasy novels, check out this author's series.
Diane Rapp
Author bio:
Shereen Vedam
Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.
Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.
Why did you begin writing this series?
"I’ve read fantasy since I was a child of ten. So, it was a joy to be able to work on a fantasy novel of my own."
Hidden, Tales of Ryca, Book 1
is an epic fantasy tale about a woman who has been hiding since the day her father was brutally murdered. A few months later, she loses her mother, brother and sister to the King's Horsemen.
All she has left of her family is her baby sister, whom her mother placed in her arms before she urged Gilly to run and hide. Gilly has been following those instructions all of her life. She even hid from her sister, albeit for a good reason. She thought if her sister Anna didn't know who she was, Anna would be safer. That decision led to a very lonely life, for both of them. Until the day the King's Horsemen arrive in her village. Then it was time to run again.
Hidden is a book about love; love of family, love of self and having the courage to allow others to love you.
Hidden Blurb:
In a moment of crisis, Gillly's fantasy of safety is shattered. With a twisted leg that's both a hindrance and a reminder of her tragic past, and her family lost, she had hidden among shadows. For twenty-three years, she disguised herself as an eccentric goat herder and lived alone at the edge of an idyllic village, thinking, Who would notice me here?
Then her use of magic lifts the veil and she and her sister Anna must flee again, for an evil sorcerer, and the malevolent king he serves, are on their trail.
A perilous journey across unknown terrain with family, friends and strangers will lead Gilly and Anna back to the beginning. They'll discover hidden secrets, earn forgiveness for past discretions and perhaps even find enduring love.
But can either of them stay alive long enough to claim it? HIDDEN Diane's 5* Review of HUSHED:
Appropriate for young and old!
Tamara learns to control her fears, re-connect with family, and discover her true talent. This is an inspiring novel appropriate for young and old. I had not read the first in the series but it didn't matter. This one told me enough to be satisfied and this part of the story was complete in one book. Highly recommended to fantasy readers, especially those who love DRAGONS!
Hushed,Tales of Ryca, Book 2.
This, too, is an epic fantasy novel about a young woman facing a trauma from her childhood. Tamara is Gilly’s older sister, but because she was caught in a time spell, she ends up being much younger. Whether or not Tamara possesses the same strength of will and courage needed to face her greatest fears remains to be seen, and will be severely tested in her own story.
Hushed is a book about trust; trusting others, and trusting in your own judgement, and learning how to deal with life when your trust is broken.
Hushed blurb:
In one day, young Tamara’s beloved father is brutally murdered and her royal family is on the run. Then she's trapped by a time spell where no one hears her screams. Once she'd finally been freed, she's determined to stay that way. So, when she turns eighteen and her mother attempts to marry her off for "her own good," Tamara is having none of it.
However, is going on a quest to find her lost nephew the best plan? She'll meet marauding giants and wily talking lizards. Be forced to ride a dragon and face spirits who should know better than to leave their graves. Most important of all, she'll have to come to terms with her greatest weakness, or strength. All the while, in the stillness lurks a danger that could destroy the rest of her family, perhaps even her entire world.
For once, can Tamara save the day? HUSHED Connect with Shereen Vedam through the following links: WEBSITE BOOK BUB TWITTER NEWSLETTER FACEBOOK PINTEREST BOARDS
Diane Rapp
Author bio:Shereen Vedam
Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.
Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.
Why did you begin writing this series?
"I’ve read fantasy since I was a child of ten. So, it was a joy to be able to work on a fantasy novel of my own."
Hidden, Tales of Ryca, Book 1 is an epic fantasy tale about a woman who has been hiding since the day her father was brutally murdered. A few months later, she loses her mother, brother and sister to the King's Horsemen.
All she has left of her family is her baby sister, whom her mother placed in her arms before she urged Gilly to run and hide. Gilly has been following those instructions all of her life. She even hid from her sister, albeit for a good reason. She thought if her sister Anna didn't know who she was, Anna would be safer. That decision led to a very lonely life, for both of them. Until the day the King's Horsemen arrive in her village. Then it was time to run again.
Hidden is a book about love; love of family, love of self and having the courage to allow others to love you.
Hidden Blurb:
In a moment of crisis, Gillly's fantasy of safety is shattered. With a twisted leg that's both a hindrance and a reminder of her tragic past, and her family lost, she had hidden among shadows. For twenty-three years, she disguised herself as an eccentric goat herder and lived alone at the edge of an idyllic village, thinking, Who would notice me here?
Then her use of magic lifts the veil and she and her sister Anna must flee again, for an evil sorcerer, and the malevolent king he serves, are on their trail.
A perilous journey across unknown terrain with family, friends and strangers will lead Gilly and Anna back to the beginning. They'll discover hidden secrets, earn forgiveness for past discretions and perhaps even find enduring love.
But can either of them stay alive long enough to claim it? HIDDEN Diane's 5* Review of HUSHED:
Appropriate for young and old!
Tamara learns to control her fears, re-connect with family, and discover her true talent. This is an inspiring novel appropriate for young and old. I had not read the first in the series but it didn't matter. This one told me enough to be satisfied and this part of the story was complete in one book. Highly recommended to fantasy readers, especially those who love DRAGONS!
Hushed,Tales of Ryca, Book 2.This, too, is an epic fantasy novel about a young woman facing a trauma from her childhood. Tamara is Gilly’s older sister, but because she was caught in a time spell, she ends up being much younger. Whether or not Tamara possesses the same strength of will and courage needed to face her greatest fears remains to be seen, and will be severely tested in her own story.
Hushed is a book about trust; trusting others, and trusting in your own judgement, and learning how to deal with life when your trust is broken.
Hushed blurb:
In one day, young Tamara’s beloved father is brutally murdered and her royal family is on the run. Then she's trapped by a time spell where no one hears her screams. Once she'd finally been freed, she's determined to stay that way. So, when she turns eighteen and her mother attempts to marry her off for "her own good," Tamara is having none of it.
However, is going on a quest to find her lost nephew the best plan? She'll meet marauding giants and wily talking lizards. Be forced to ride a dragon and face spirits who should know better than to leave their graves. Most important of all, she'll have to come to terms with her greatest weakness, or strength. All the while, in the stillness lurks a danger that could destroy the rest of her family, perhaps even her entire world.
For once, can Tamara save the day? HUSHED Connect with Shereen Vedam through the following links: WEBSITE BOOK BUB TWITTER NEWSLETTER FACEBOOK PINTEREST BOARDS
She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer!
You've heard of split personalities, well, Diane Rapp spends part of her time sailing the high seas to solve mysteries. When she feels seasick, she travels to the planet Drako to check in with her fri
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