Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 3
December 1, 2024
Book Spotlight: A Hush at Midnight by Marlene M. Bell
Celebritychef Laura Harris dwells on the horror of finding her mentor’s body in thegroundskeeper’s disheveled bed—pillow and bedding half covering her openeyes—purple bruising around her mouth. A grisly snapshot in time revealing theTexas woman’s last moments during her attack. The elderly matriarch from thesmall town of Stenburg has left the physical world, and Laura is shattered. Sheis catapulted headlong into the pursuit of a casual executioner, one boldenough to come and go from the crime scene with ease, dropping bizarre crumbtrails designed to mock the deceased. But Laura herself doesn’t go unnoticed.As she digs deeper, she is followed and bombarded by warnings to leave thestate. When the victim’s attorney informs Laura that she’s to inherit theentire Stenburg fortune, the last act of kindness has made Laura the mainperson of interest in the investigation. Message by message, Laura ismethodically taunted by someone so deranged and driven they’ll do whatever ittakes to dislodge Laura from Texas – permanently.
Purchase a copy of A Hushat Midnight on
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hush-Midnight-Secrets-Scandals-Recipe/dp/B0DG8K4CQD
You can also add this toyour GoodReads reading list: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217568383-a-hush-at-midnight
About theAuthor
Marlene M. Bell has nevermet a sheep she didn’t like. As a personal touch for her readers, they oftenfind these wooly creatures visiting her international romantic mysteries andchildren’s books as characters or subject matter. Marlene is an accomplishedartist and photographer who takes pride in entertaining fans on multiple levelswith her creativity. Marlene’s award-winning Annalisse series boasts BestMystery honors for all installments including these: IP Best Regional Australia/NewZealand, Global Award Best Mystery, and Chanticleer’s International Mystery andMayhem shortlist for Copper Waters, the fourth mystery in the series. Herchildren's picture book, Mia and Nattie: One Great Team! written primarily foryounger kids, is based on true events from the Bell’s East Texas sheep ranch.The simple text and illustrations are a touching tribute of belonging andunconditional love between a little girl and her lamb.
You can follow the authorat:
Website: https://www.marlenembell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marlenembell
X/Twitter: @ewephoric
November 14, 2024
Book Spotlight: On This Christmas, I Thee Wed by Virginia Barlow
Easy to read happy ever after holiday romance....
Title: On This Christmas, I Thee WedAuthor: Virginia Barlow
Publication Date: December 18, 2024
Pages: 280Genre: Historical Holiday RomanceBartered to Viscount Hudson Becker by her father, Lady LaviniaHolbrook escapes her arranged marriage and travels to her Godmother, the Duchess of Chauncy to seek asylum. Determined to put men and marriagebehind her, she is unprepared for the duke’s interest or his heatedkisses.
The Duke of Chauncy believes love is a weakness and refusesto take a bride despite his mother's scheming. When the duchess makes awager he will marry by Christmas, he considers the matter a lark. UntilLavinia gets under his skin, and he rethinks his position on love andhappy ever afters.
On This Christmas I Thee Wed is available through these fine retailers…
Amazon | Walmart | Target | BooksAMillion | Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Books | ITunes
Book Excerpt
His mother planned his downfall into marriage with meticulous care or she wouldn’t have goaded him with her bet. And he didn’t believe her innocent of sending Lavinia to the wrong chamber last night, despite her feigned innocence.Nay. His mother had nothing to do but plot his matrimonial demise and design a nursery for his progeny.
God. Though he loved her with all his heart, why wouldn’t she accept his decision to remain a bachelor?
Lavinia’s voice played in his head.
There, neither Papa nor the viscount can order me
to do anything I don’t want to do.
He understood her frustration, but even Scotland wouldn’t save him from his mother. The woman had a tenacious streak to rival Satan’s.
And who the hell was the viscount? He knew of no scandal involving Lavinia. Her voice continued.
I refuse to be some man’s broodmare, impregnated and discarded…
Snorting, he wanted to add his discontent to being a…What would a man forced to sire a child be called, anyway? A brood sire?
He chuckled. Discarded like a settee in the parlor.
Forgotten until the lord required someplace to sit. The girl used amusing analogies, he thought. But if she were his, he wouldn’t be sitting on her. Nay, she would be atop
him. The memory of her soft body in his arms made him rigid.
Shifting in his seat to ease his ardor, he remembered her mentioning being abducted by a Scot and taken to the highlands to ravish. Then her voice went all dreamy and soft as if ravishment by a highlander were every girl’s fantasy.
His lips tightened as he swung his chair around to stare out the window, steepling his fingers in thought.
English lords were much better lovers and far superior in every other avenue. What the devil did she have against them?
Perhaps her parents were the answer. The Earl of Holbrook and his wife were the epitome of a marriage of convenience, and with their history, he could understand her reluctance to join the marital throng. He avoided the marriage noose for much the same reason. Thoughts of being tied to some of the ladies his mother paraded through the castle made him shudder with revulsion.
Good god, what a dreadful thought.
– Excerpted from On This Christmas, I Thee Wed by Virginia Barlow, The Wild Rose Press, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Virginia Barlow has been a dreamer her whole life. She loves reading, traveling, and roses. She will dive headfirst into any romance she can get her hands on in any genre. Although her first love is Regency Romance and always will be. Something about the era calls to her soul like a siren’s song rising from the depths.
She loves to write steamy romances whether fantasy, historical, or contemporary, all are liberally spiced with adventure and sensual, seductive heroes. Her heroines are just as compelling with equal parts intelligence, sass, and backbone. They give as good as they get whether saving their man’s life or responding to his heated kisses, they’re all in.
The most important thing in Virginia’s life is her family, and spending time with them. When she is not bouncing a grandbaby in her arms or handing out popsicles, she is writing and dreaming up her next love story. Virginia has published fifteen romance novels with another two on the way and has half a dozen more circling around inside her head eager to make their debut.
Website & Social Media:
Website ➜ https://www.virginia-barlow.com/
X ➜ https://x.com/Virgini35142126
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19838312.Virginia_Barlow
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November 13, 2024
Movie review: Rampage
Rampageis a creature feature starring Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey DeanMorgan, and a plethora of (not real) animals. Primatologist Davis Okoye teamsup with a disgraced scientist/genetic engineer Doctor Kate Caldwell whenanimals are exposed to a pathogen that causes mutations. The pathogen that was secretlybeing worked on in a space lab was released after an accident caused the lab toexplode, sending the experimental material down to Earth in three sealed containers,which of course broke on contact. An albino western lowland gorilla, named George,at the San Diego Safari Park, a wolf (Ralph) in a Wyoming forest, and acrocodile (Lizzie) in the Everglades are affected, growing bigger and mutating rapidly.It turns out the pathogen was created by a dastardly sibling business duoClaire and Brett Wyden, who are hoping to weaponize it and sell it to the military(of course) but with catastrophic results. George is no ordinary gorilla, however,having been taught sign language by Davis. George and his relationship with Davisare key to stopping the total destruction of the city of Chicago.
Iam quite picky about choosing creature features, but the combination of DwayneJohnson and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, two seasoned actors heading up the cast, soldme on the movie. Johnson always gives an intense performance, no matter therole, so one can trust that he will deliver. Morgan has a laidback, lazy charmthat works well in his portrayal of Harvey Russell, the government agent thatworks for ‘the other government agency.’ The plot has quite a grand scope with dangeroussecret experiments by unethical business corporations, various people’s backstories,what went wrong and why. Johnson and Morgan get the lion’s share of screentime, but let’s not forget George, very ably enacted by Jason Liles in motion captureperformance.
Thestoryline is familiar; creatures on the rampage, destroying the city, somehowthere’s an antidote but how to get into the creatures, drama, more drama, and lotsand lots of destruction. At some stage the fights between the three creatures,now enormous and very aggressive, do go on a tad too long. That’s when I start feelingsorry for whatever monster is getting the rough end of the beating. I cannotimagine what it feels like for an actor to act opposite a green screen supposedto represent a gigantic gorilla, but Johnson rises to the occasion and delivers.He and Morgan had a good onscreen camaraderie with underlying humour. I can’tsay Harris wowed me with her performance, but she was needed to get into thefacility to steal the antidote, so she fitted the part. The action is nonstop,and the special effects are spectacular. Fans of creature features and big screenblock busters will love this movie, based on a video game. The movie mademoney, everyone was happy, and there’s even talk of a sequel. Pass the popcorn,please!
November 11, 2024
The Inspiration Behind The Death of the Kremlin Czar by Jorg H. Trauboth
Russian President and new Czar IvanPavlenko suddenly shows his true colors during the war in Ukraine. He wants theold Soviet Union back. The world is on the brink. The influential oligarchAlexei Sokolov wants to prevent Ivan's megalomaniacal plans and is planning afundamental new beginning for Russia. To achieve this, the Russian presidentmust die. How will the US President react to the CIA's proposal to support theoligarch, who has a romantic relationship with the Russian President's partner,Yulia? The poison attack is perfectly prepared, but the Boeing with theoligarch Alexei Sokolow, his lover and over 100 passengers on board is hijackedby a Ukrainian terrorist and is supposed to crash over Berlin after knockingout the crew by shooting. Former elite soldier Marc Anderson is on board withhis family and takes over with Alexei. The two flight amateurs try to getcontrol. Will the landing and the assassination succeed or will the KremlinCzar strike back brutally after realizing the role of Yulia? The Death of theKremlin Czar is available at Amazon(U.S. edition) and Amazon(German edition).
The Inspiration Behind TheDeath of the Kremlin Czar by Jorg H. Trauboth
I had adream. Russian troops were standing in front of Berlin and declaring thatGermany was now Russian. We were to surrender and look forward to a life incommunism and with the Ruble. I woke up and realized that I wasn’t living in1945, but 80 years later. Exactly this has happened to Ukraine. For nearlythree years, the country has been desperately fighting for its survival. Itwants to reclaim its lost territories and peace. Like all of us. As someone whoknows Putin's biography and as a former general staff officer in NATO, I amconvinced that there can be no negotiations with the Russian president. And ifUkraine gives up the territories because it runs out of weapons and ammunition,we in Central Europe will be next. Then my bad dream could come true. “If a solution cannot be found on the battlefield, there must be another way tofind one,” I thought.
I am alsoconvinced that reality writes the best stories. You just have to recognizethem. So, I began to develop a plot for my fourth Marc Anderson thriller: A group ofoligarchs led by Alexei Sokolov wants to overthrow Russian President Ivan inMoscow. Just as Brutus and the senators did with Julius Caesar in Rome on theIdes of March. Modern history shows that it is difficult to overthrow adictator by force. So, I gave Alexei a tough task, as he only had this onechance. And he is even preparing it with the support of the CIA, and with theknowledge of the US President, who of course knows nothing about it. The plan isclever, but Alexei has a problem. He is having an affair with Yulia, thepartner of the Russian President. Both are under pressure, as Ivan knowssomething. The ending is spectacular. By page 180 at the latest, you’ll want toknow. Otherwise, you won’t be able to relax. At least, that’s what the readersof the German novel say.
About the Author
JörgH. Trauboth, born in 1943 near Berlin, logged over two thousand flight hours asa Weapon Systems Officer Instructor in the Luftwaffe, flying PHANTOM F-4F /RF-4E and TORNADO fighter jets, and over 3000 hours in light aircraft. At theage of fifty, he left the service with the rank of Colonel in the GeneralStaff. He received training as a Special Risk Consultant from the EnglishControl Risk Group and served as Managing Director Germany, dealing withextortion and kidnapping cases in South America and Eastern Europe. Shortlythereafter, he founded his own consulting firm, quickly establishing anoutstanding international reputation. Trauboth protected his clients with a24-hour task force during product extortions, product recalls, kidnappings, andimage crises. He was the first President of the European Crisis ManagementAcademy in Vienna and President of the American Yankee Association. He is knownas a respected expert in the media on security-related topics. He volunteers asan emergency counselor and is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team (KITBonn) of the German Foreign Office. He is a private pilot, married, with twosons and three grandchildren.
Website & Social Media:
Website➜ https://trauboth-autor.de/english/
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/JorgTrauboth
Facebook➜ https://www.facebook.com/marc.anderson.735017?locale=de_DE
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/jorgtrauboth
Wikipedia: ➜ https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jörg_H._Trauboth
Linkedin: ➜ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joerg-h-trauboth-autor
Youtube: ➜ http://youtube.com/@trauboth
November 8, 2024
The Business of Writing by Kathie Giorgio, author of Don't Let Me Keep You
Motherhoodis a symphony, from the first movement, through crescendo after crescendo, tothe finale. Hildy Halverson, a genius in math and science, is pushed by herparents to step into a male-dominated field and change the world for women. ButHildy, enamored of the scientific force of the human body, and her own body’sability to create and sustain life, decides to go against contemporaryexpectations. She marries young and raises a houseful of kids. Hildy wants herchildren to choose their own life paths. As each child is born, she tells them,“You can be whatever you want to be, and whatever you want to be will begreat.” Despite her efforts to not influence her children, Hildy does so, oftenin unexpected ways. Each child is introduced in that first private momentbetween Hildy and her new baby. This is followed by a chapter revealing thatchild’s life, years later. Woven throughout is an underlying grief over thedeath of the sixth baby soon after birth. That grief is more pervasive than anyof them expect. In this ambitious novel, the struggles and joys, fatigue andexhilaration of motherhood, are captured in the full panorama of family life.Hildy lovingly raises her children, then lets them go, finding herself alongthe way.
THEBUSINESS OF WRITING
Just last night, I attended a special event in the Milwaukee area calledChina Lights. Held outdoors in a park devotedto beautiful flower gardens, there were amazing and intricate lit fabric-basedfigures, all from Chinese artists. One display showed the Chinese zodiaccharacters. I saw that I was born in the year of the rat. I wasn’t too happywith that, until I saw the list of possible vocations. Writer, it listed first.And then, Sales. Well, that’s it in a nutshell,isn’t it. The business of writing means you also have to be able to sellyourself and your work. And, if I have to be a rat to do what I love so much,then so be it! In the last 14 years, I’ve written and sold 15 books – 8 novels,2 short story collections, 4 poetry collections, and 1 collection of essays.All of the books are with traditional presses. I’ve also had hundreds of shortstories, essays, and poems appear in magazine and anthologies. So clearly, I’vefound the time to write…and to get what I write out into the world. It can bedone. You can sink your teeth into the business of writing – but still haveplenty of time for the artful, creative side of things.
As creatives, we are used to ourwork being with words, and with time spent on making those words just right. Wewant to say things, say them well, and say them in a new and lovely way. Butthen, after our creative work is done and polished to a high shine, we have toremove our writer hats and put on our business hats. This is not an easy thingto do, and many writers find it very uncomfortable. While in the process of sendingyour work out into the world, you have to take the time to research the marketsand find appropriate places that are looking for what you do. This is tediousand much less fun than the writing itself. So for many writers, this is whereit stops – the finished product goes into a file cabinet, and the writer is offon another adventure.
But here’s the trick. Do yourmarketing just one day a week. Just one day! If you finish something new, or ifsomething you’ve already submitted gets rejected, don’t run immediately to themarketing sites and get it back out. Pick one day per week to do it all. Do youhave one day a week where your creative energy runs a little low? That’s theday to choose. Also pad that one day with rewards. Do you love going to coffeeshops? Then pack up your laptop, go to your favorite coffee place, order yourfavorite drink, sit in your favorite spot, and sip while you figure out whereto send your stuff. Maybe buy a cookie or a muffin! But only if you open yourlaptop and start submitting. Doing marketing on one day a week means that youstill have all the other days for your creative work. And…on a week when thereare no rejections, you get a bonus day of writing! But still give yourself thatlatte and muffin!
Now as your career grows, keepfollowing this one day a week. Once you have books out, you will be wanting toget out to bookstores, book festivals, writers conferences, and the like tosell your book. These days, publishers expect writers to be very involved ingetting the word out about their books. We no longer just sit back and wait forthe publisher to tell us where to go and what to do. So it’s absolutelyessential that you become proactive.
Again, this can be part of yourone-day-a-week marketing. Send out new material and then look for places toappear with your book. Most festivals and such have applications to fill out.You can also search each week for new places to apply for. If you don’t have apublicist, then work up your own media kit, talking about your current book andany previous books you may have. Include a list of possible topics that you’dlike to talk about. And then send them out. Don’t forget libraries – these arewonderful resources for book events, and they also likely have a list of localbook clubs you can pitch to as well.
Now of course, I’m sure you knowthat if you’re going to be a professional writer, you have to dip your toesinto social media. Actually, you have to wade in up to your knees. Mostpublishers want you to have a website with a blog, and they want you to beinvolved in several social media platforms. These change, according to thetimes, and according to your genres, so pay attention when you read that newbook by your favorite author. Often, in the author’s bio, the author will listwhere you can find them in social media. That will give you a hint that maybe,you should be there too. With the blog, you’re going to want to post at leasttwice a month, if not once a week. Make sure you choose a topic for your blogthat you’re passionate about. It doesn’t have to be about writing. One of mystudents has a very popular blog about how he retired as an ER doctor andimmediately adopted a border collie puppy. His blog is about all the walks hetakes with his dog, and about the way they are at the opposite ends of life’sspectrum. It’s a fun, and often inspirational, read.
But when you think about thebusiness aspect of writing, take a deep breath. You got into writing becauseyou love the creative life, you have imagination, and you want to be writing.The good news is that the business part of writing does not have to overtakeyou. You can control how much each week you work on selling your poems,stories, essays, memoir, and books. And you can control how much each week youwork on getting your book out into the public world. If you choose one day –and stick with it – it will keep the business of writing from feeling like it’staking over your world and your creative life. When you put it down to one day, your focus isfully on it, and you will be amazed how much you can accomplish...and thenreturn to the fun stuff.
About theAuthor
Kathie Giorgio is theauthor of a total of fifteen books: eight novels, two story collections, anessay collection, and four poetry collections. She’s been nominated for thePushcart Prize in fiction and poetry and awarded the Outstanding AchievementAward from the Wisconsin Library Association, the Silver Pen Award for LiteraryExcellence, the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, and the Eric HofferAward In Fiction. Her poem “Light” won runner-up in the 2021 Rosebud MagazinePoetry Prize, and her work has also been incorporated into many visual art andmusical events. Kathie is the directorand founder of AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop LLC, an internationalcreative writing studio. She lives with her husband, mystery writer MichaelGiorgio, and their daughter Olivia, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Three of her adultchildren, Christopher, Andy, and Olivia, live close by, along with her sologranddaughter, Maya Mae. One adult child has wandered off to Louisiana andlives among the mathematicians and alligators.
You can follow the authorat:
Website: http://www.kathiegiorgio.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathiegiorgi...
X/Twitter: @KathieGiorgio
Instagram: @kathiegio1
October 30, 2024
Movie Review: Faster
DwayneJohnson as Jimmy is what we all expect of The Rock – he’s big and brawny, canknock down anyone, and is definitely the go-to guy when you need help in a barfight. Although typecast, Johnson always manages to imbue his roles with asense of integrity and realism so that you believe he is the character, in thiscase Jimmy avenging his brother’s death. Even when he plays the ‘bad guy,’ Johnsonis always somehow a ‘good guy.’ Playing off Johnson is Billy Bob Thornton,always a superb actor. Anyone who likes little guy versus big corporationscenarios should watch him in Goliath. Here he plays Det. Slade Humphries whois a not-so-squeaky clean cop with a fervent desire to bring Jimmy Cullen inand put him back behind bars, where he surely belongs. He is partnered withDet. Cicero played by Carla Gugino. I haven’t seen much of this actress, buther performances are always solid and, as a supporting character, she iswatchable and steady.
Ithought this would be a nice mindless action movie to while away a few hours, withnot too much thought required and a simple open and shut plot. Faster isanything but that and really surprised me. Yes, there is a lot of driving veryfast, much bloodshed, bad guys getting their come-uppance, and Jimmy Cullen isn’tin a forgiving mood. But there are several unexpected moments, and this drivesthe often-surprising plot twists. The final revelation, when Jimmy realizes whoset them up, who betrayed them, and who shot him in the head all those years agoand left him for dead, is jaw-dropping. The resolution with the hired killer isalso quite intriguing as the killer’s subplot unfolds. Overall, not your averagewham-bam-kill-’em-all movie. Very well worth watching. Make popcorn. Lots ofit.
Book Spotlight: Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham
This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.
Mistletoe SeasonAuthors: Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller & Pepper Basham
This Christmas, three couples find themselves under the mistletoe . . . whether they want to be there or not.
Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts—Mistletoe is Hailey Fairchild’s kryptonite. Every time she’s kissed someone under the mistletoe it’s led to love disaster. Not a good thing for a romance writer! When she was a gawky high school girl, her hunky neighbor, Carwyn Davies, star of the basketball team (and her dreams) kissed her under the mistletoe on a dare. But the kiss wasn’t a dream come true. It was a mortifying moment she’s never forgotten, and now she’s about to go home for the holidays, unengaged and . . . determined to say no to mistletoe. Especially if Carwyn is anywhere around.
Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller—Emmy Banks has always loved Christmas. How could she not when she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri? Kieran O’Neill has spent years abroad, renovating an old Irish castle, but returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. He reconnects with Emmy, his sister’s close friend, and spends time with her in her charming antique shop. When the weather turns colder, things start to warm up between Emmy and Kieran. But can Emmy risk her heart when she knows he’ll never stay in Mistletoe, and she will never leave?
The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham—Prince Arran St. Clare has lost his freedom and fairytale life in exchange for a three-month “punishment” in the small town of Ransom, North Carolina. To prove he is ready for the royal life for which he was born, Arran must engage in the Christmas charity fundraiser, The Mistletoe Wish. But when kindness, authenticity, and hard work prove more appreciated in Appalachia than a royal pedigree, Arran must face the mirror and find out who he is beyond the crown. Add a beautiful and intelligent woman who doesn’t recognize her own worth, some mistletoe, and a little Christmas magic and it all might be enough to help the rebel-prince understand what truly matters most.
Mistletoe Season is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Book Excerpt
Mistletoe is my kryptonite.One kiss under it, and I go weak in the head. My last three mistletoe kisses resulted in relation- ship disaster. Which is why I, Hailey Fairchild, am swearing off it.You’d think after three love fails I’d hate cupid. I don’t. I’m one of his loyal acolytes. I write romance novels. I’m a believer.
If you ask me, everyone should be. We need more love in the world. I need more love, but so far I’m only finding it on the pages of my computer screen.
On the screen is better than nothing. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Consider this a public service announcement, a warning. Don’t go under the mistletoe. It’s hazardous to your heart. Here’s what it did to me.
About the Authors
Sheila Roberts has written over fiftybooks under different names and in different genres. She’s seen three of her novels made into movies for the Lifetime, Hallmark and GreatAmerican Family channels and has over 3 million copies of her books inprint. The story in this anthology makes her eighteenth Christmas story.Website ➜ https://sheilasplace.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/funwithsheila/
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/sheilarobertswriter/
With over two million books sold, USA Today best-selling author Kathleen Fuller writes amusing stories with quirky characters and happy endings. Her novel, Written in Love, won the 2018 Romantic Times Inspirational Romance of the Year. Many ofher books have also hit the CBA and ECPA best-seller lists. A retiredSpecial Education teacher, she and her husband James live in Arkansasand are the parents of four adult children. When she’s not writing youcan find her reading and crocheting—usually at the same time. She alsoenjoys traveling, football, and collecting recipes she’ll never use. Website ➜ https://kathleenfuller.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/WriterKathleenFuller/
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/kf_booksandhooks/
Pepper Basham is an award-winningauthor who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing bothhistorical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her nativeAppalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into herstories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NCwhere she is a wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-languagepathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her dualtimeline novel, Hope Between the Pages, was a 2022 finalist for the prestigious Christy awards. Pepper’s newest book, Loyally, Luke, made it on the ECPA bestseller list for May. She loves connecting withreaders and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook& Instagram.Website ➜ https://pepperdbasham.com
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/pepperdbasham/
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/
Sponsored By:
October 29, 2024
Book Spotlight: Ring of Rosin by Nancy Golden
Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?
Title: Ring of RosinAuthor: Nancy Golden
Publication Date: September 2, 2024
Pages: 222Genre: FantasyMany, many years ago, a wondrous bird flew into the mountains of Tolan. In its claws, it bore a giant stone, a stone of fire. The bird dropped the stone somewhere in the mountains, where it shattered. The one who finds its fragments shall have power beyond belief.
The Ring of Rosin has unexpectedly disappeared. Join King Rugal on his quest to recover the ring symbolizing his right to rule, forged from the stone of fire. A mysterious companion joins the young monarch on a perilous journey. Rugal’s shadowy ally leads him to the nomadic Kargoliths, who are locked in an ongoing dispute with the neighboring kingdom of Tolan. As destinies intertwine amidst the clashing cultures, the fates of Elayas, Tolan, and the Kargoliths hang in the balance.
Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?
Follow King Rugal as he faces the greatest threat to his reign since his coronation. An exciting adventure of valor and unlikely friendships the whole family can enjoy!
Ring of Rosin is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt
Thirty minutes later, they were all seated in the library, looking attentively at the messenger, a slim, proud youth about Rugal’s age possessing the distinctly dark, handsome features of a citizen of Tolan.Dressed in riding leathers, the youth had thick black hair and the beginnings of a beard. He bowed formally from the waist, and with Rugal’s nod of acknowledgment, he began to recite his message:
“I, Johan of Sharvindar, in the name of King Handerbin of the kingdom of Tolan, bear greetings from my sovereign and wishes of health and happiness to the esteemed royal family of Elayas. News of Oldag’s overthrow and the restoration of King Rugal, rightful sovereign of Elayas, in accordance to her laws and traditions, has brought us great joy. Our sorrow has been long in knowing that the evil king Oldag’s birthplace was Tolan, and it gladdens us that he has finally met with justice.” Johan paused for breath, and his listeners leaned forward in anticipation of his words.
“We wish to reassure you of our good intentions. Long have our countries viewed each other with mistrust, kindled by Oldag’s rebellion. We are also aware of the theft of the Ring of Rosin, and we believe that those responsible are members of the Kargoliths, who have come to inhabit what has been the unsettled territory of Tolan, earmarked for future expansion.”
“How did you know?” Rugal interrupted. “About the Ring of Rosin?”
Johan met Rugal’s gaze squarely. “King Rosin had the ring made by one of the most skilled craftsmen in all of Tolan. It is a fragment from the stone of fire.”
Mura nodded. “That makes sense. I know my cousin had made a special commission for its creation. I was never told the exact details, but that it arrived from a mysterious location. I remember the day it was shown at court for the first time.”
Rugal’s voice sharpened. “That still doesn’t explain…”
“We intercepted a message from the Kargoliths, which is what prompted King Handerbin to send me here.” Johan hesitated, leaning forward. “The leader of their tribe has the Ring of Rosin. King Handerbin has sent me to help you retrieve it. You will need a guide, someone familiar with Tolan.”
“Just what are you proposing?” Jackal stood up, shoulders tense.
The Swordsman put up a hand. “It’s okay, Jackal. It makes sense.” He glanced at Soldar, who nodded. “The Kargoliths have been searching for the shards of the stone of fire for many years. It is woven into their history. Fables of old, when the wondrous bird captured it and flew to the mountains, are told around their campfires from one generation to the next. If they have the Ring of Rosin…”
“They will not give it up. This is the Year of Wisdom and the Day of Questioning approaches. They will demand King Rugal’s presence.” Johan looked significantly at Rugal. “For only he will be able to activate its power on that day.”
Rugal cocked his head. “Day of Questioning? I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Soldar cleared his throat. “An oversight on my part, Sire. We did not cover the fables of the Kargoliths, as I saw no need.” He glanced at Johan and raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps I was mistaken.”
“It certainly seems relevant now, Soldar,” Rugal let out a noisy breath. “Please explain.”
His eyes contemplative, Soldar exhaled. He turned his attention to the dark youth, and Johan nodded almost imperceptibly. Soldar turned back to Rugal.
“The Ring of Rosin has a property that no one knows about. It has been entwined in the lore of Tolan and the Kargoliths for many years and is thought to be conjecture. Apparently, that is not the case, or it would not have been stolen. Not only does it identify the true king of Elayas, but it also imparts wisdom to the king.” Soldar paused and rubbed his eyes. “The Kargoliths must know the Ring of Rosin has this power.”
Johan spread out his hands. “You are correct, Soldar.” He bowed his head briefly. “But there is more to the fable.” He continued with a storytelling inflection to his words, “The rightful king of Elayas will be able to ask the Ring of Rosin anything he desires, and the ring will impart that knowledge to him, but only once in every ten years. This day is designated as the Day of Questioning.”
Rugal’s eyes narrowed. “Anything? Even another person’s most deeply held secrets?”
“Yes, indeed,” Johan agreed. “Which is why it is so powerful. But it will only respond to the queries of the King of Elayas, and only for the Time of Sun Shadow on the Day of Questioning. This is when the sun is completely engulfed in shadow, but only for a few minutes. It is as if it is nighttime, yet it is still day.”
The room remained quiet as everyone contemplated the ramifications of what had just been revealed. Finally, Rugal rubbed his cheek. “So, they stole the ring in anticipation of the Day of Questioning. But what good will it do them without me?”
“Exactly,” Johan replied. “That is why I am here.”
– Excerpted from Ring of Rosin by Nancy Golden, Golden Cross Ranch LLC, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Nancy Golden wears a lot of different hats – She is a wife and mom, author, engineer, professor, horsewoman, and small business owner. She is also the founder of a writing group – the Carrollton League of Writers. Nancy lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas and she loves to ride bicycles and horses. She is a member of the National Space Society, and she has been a Trekkie for as long as she can remember. Nancy Golden Books provides a great reader experience with well-crafted writing that will brighten your day.
Website ➜ nancygoldenbooks.com
Twitter ➜ https://www.twitter.com/ncgolden1
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564426002283
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/ncgolden1
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216235312-ring-of-rosin
Nancy Golden is giving away one autographed copy of Sword of Fate and one autographed copy of Ring of Rosen (also included is a mini poster of each book)!Terms & Conditions:By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive either an autographed copy of Sword of Fate or an autographed copy of Ring of RosenThis giveaway starts September 26 and ends March 26.Winner will be contacted via email on March 27.Winner has 48 hours to reply.Good luck everyone!ENTER TO WIN!a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sponsored By:
Book Spotlight: Ring of Roisin by Nancy Golden
Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?
Title: Ring of RosinAuthor: Nancy Golden
Publication Date: September 2, 2024
Pages: 222Genre: FantasyMany, many years ago, a wondrous bird flew into the mountains of Tolan. In its claws, it bore a giant stone, a stone of fire. The bird dropped the stone somewhere in the mountains, where it shattered. The one who finds its fragments shall have power beyond belief.
The Ring of Rosin has unexpectedly disappeared. Join King Rugal on his quest to recover the ring symbolizing his right to rule, forged from the stone of fire. A mysterious companion joins the young monarch on a perilous journey. Rugal’s shadowy ally leads him to the nomadic Kargoliths, who are locked in an ongoing dispute with the neighboring kingdom of Tolan. As destinies intertwine amidst the clashing cultures, the fates of Elayas, Tolan, and the Kargoliths hang in the balance.
Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?
Follow King Rugal as he faces the greatest threat to his reign since his coronation. An exciting adventure of valor and unlikely friendships the whole family can enjoy!
Ring of Rosin is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt
Thirty minutes later, they were all seated in the library, looking attentively at the messenger, a slim, proud youth about Rugal’s age possessing the distinctly dark, handsome features of a citizen of Tolan.Dressed in riding leathers, the youth had thick black hair and the beginnings of a beard. He bowed formally from the waist, and with Rugal’s nod of acknowledgment, he began to recite his message:
“I, Johan of Sharvindar, in the name of King Handerbin of the kingdom of Tolan, bear greetings from my sovereign and wishes of health and happiness to the esteemed royal family of Elayas. News of Oldag’s overthrow and the restoration of King Rugal, rightful sovereign of Elayas, in accordance to her laws and traditions, has brought us great joy. Our sorrow has been long in knowing that the evil king Oldag’s birthplace was Tolan, and it gladdens us that he has finally met with justice.” Johan paused for breath, and his listeners leaned forward in anticipation of his words.
“We wish to reassure you of our good intentions. Long have our countries viewed each other with mistrust, kindled by Oldag’s rebellion. We are also aware of the theft of the Ring of Rosin, and we believe that those responsible are members of the Kargoliths, who have come to inhabit what has been the unsettled territory of Tolan, earmarked for future expansion.”
“How did you know?” Rugal interrupted. “About the Ring of Rosin?”
Johan met Rugal’s gaze squarely. “King Rosin had the ring made by one of the most skilled craftsmen in all of Tolan. It is a fragment from the stone of fire.”
Mura nodded. “That makes sense. I know my cousin had made a special commission for its creation. I was never told the exact details, but that it arrived from a mysterious location. I remember the day it was shown at court for the first time.”
Rugal’s voice sharpened. “That still doesn’t explain…”
“We intercepted a message from the Kargoliths, which is what prompted King Handerbin to send me here.” Johan hesitated, leaning forward. “The leader of their tribe has the Ring of Rosin. King Handerbin has sent me to help you retrieve it. You will need a guide, someone familiar with Tolan.”
“Just what are you proposing?” Jackal stood up, shoulders tense.
The Swordsman put up a hand. “It’s okay, Jackal. It makes sense.” He glanced at Soldar, who nodded. “The Kargoliths have been searching for the shards of the stone of fire for many years. It is woven into their history. Fables of old, when the wondrous bird captured it and flew to the mountains, are told around their campfires from one generation to the next. If they have the Ring of Rosin…”
“They will not give it up. This is the Year of Wisdom and the Day of Questioning approaches. They will demand King Rugal’s presence.” Johan looked significantly at Rugal. “For only he will be able to activate its power on that day.”
Rugal cocked his head. “Day of Questioning? I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Soldar cleared his throat. “An oversight on my part, Sire. We did not cover the fables of the Kargoliths, as I saw no need.” He glanced at Johan and raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps I was mistaken.”
“It certainly seems relevant now, Soldar,” Rugal let out a noisy breath. “Please explain.”
His eyes contemplative, Soldar exhaled. He turned his attention to the dark youth, and Johan nodded almost imperceptibly. Soldar turned back to Rugal.
“The Ring of Rosin has a property that no one knows about. It has been entwined in the lore of Tolan and the Kargoliths for many years and is thought to be conjecture. Apparently, that is not the case, or it would not have been stolen. Not only does it identify the true king of Elayas, but it also imparts wisdom to the king.” Soldar paused and rubbed his eyes. “The Kargoliths must know the Ring of Rosin has this power.”
Johan spread out his hands. “You are correct, Soldar.” He bowed his head briefly. “But there is more to the fable.” He continued with a storytelling inflection to his words, “The rightful king of Elayas will be able to ask the Ring of Rosin anything he desires, and the ring will impart that knowledge to him, but only once in every ten years. This day is designated as the Day of Questioning.”
Rugal’s eyes narrowed. “Anything? Even another person’s most deeply held secrets?”
“Yes, indeed,” Johan agreed. “Which is why it is so powerful. But it will only respond to the queries of the King of Elayas, and only for the Time of Sun Shadow on the Day of Questioning. This is when the sun is completely engulfed in shadow, but only for a few minutes. It is as if it is nighttime, yet it is still day.”
The room remained quiet as everyone contemplated the ramifications of what had just been revealed. Finally, Rugal rubbed his cheek. “So, they stole the ring in anticipation of the Day of Questioning. But what good will it do them without me?”
“Exactly,” Johan replied. “That is why I am here.”
– Excerpted from Ring of Rosin by Nancy Golden, Golden Cross Ranch LLC, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About the Author
Nancy Golden wears a lot of different hats – She is a wife and mom, author, engineer, professor, horsewoman, and small business owner. She is also the founder of a writing group – the Carrollton League of Writers. Nancy lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas and she loves to ride bicycles and horses. She is a member of the National Space Society, and she has been a Trekkie for as long as she can remember. Nancy Golden Books provides a great reader experience with well-crafted writing that will brighten your day.
Website ➜ nancygoldenbooks.com
Twitter ➜ https://www.twitter.com/ncgolden1
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564426002283
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/ncgolden1
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216235312-ring-of-rosin
Nancy Golden is giving away one autographed copy of Sword of Fate and one autographed copy of Ring of Rosen (also included is a mini poster of each book)!Terms & Conditions:By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive either an autographed copy of Sword of Fate or an autographed copy of Ring of RosenThis giveaway starts September 26 and ends March 26.Winner will be contacted via email on March 27.Winner has 48 hours to reply.Good luck everyone!ENTER TO WIN!a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sponsored By:
October 20, 2024
Movie review: San Andreas
SanAndreas is a 2015 American disaster/thriller movie starring Dwayne Johnson,Carla Gugino, Ioan Gruffudd, Alexandra Daddario, Archie Panjabi, and PaulGiamatti. A massive earthquake caused by the San Andreas fault devastates theWest Coast of the US. The movie tracks the efforts of Ray Gaines, a recuehelicopter pilot, as he tries to save his wife and daughter from the terrible destructionunfolding before his eyes.I lovedisaster movies. However, with only SFX and no heart or bad acting, these canend up being just a parade of clever, hi-tech, dramatic, and expensive stuntsthat soon get boring. One example of this is Twisters 2 which had fantasticscenarios of storms and the aftermath but a wooden leading actress and thus no heartor warmth. San Andreas has 100% and more of drama, tension, suspense, gasps,and nail-biting moments as the characters struggle to survive. There are tonsof incredible special effects and action sequences. The opening stunning helicopterrescue scene alone sets the tone and establishes the main character. Filmingwas no walk in the park for the actors with collapsing skyscrapers, aspectacular tsunami, submerged high rises, sinking buildings, flying debris, capsizedboats, and more.
DwayneJohnson isn’t going to play Shakespeare any time soon, but he does the manly actionstuff very well and infuses the right amount of energy and credibility into hisroles. I have seen most of his movies and I like him. Carla Gugino plays hisestranged wife Emma and is a very competent, complementary foil. The utterly gorgeousAlexandra Daddario plays their daughter Blake with loads of energy and enthusiasmand if I am ever in an earthquake scenario, I want her on my team. IoanGruffudd plays Emma’s self-serving boyfriend who leaves Blake trapped in a carin the underground parking while he saves his own slimy skin. He is not a badactor but seems best suited for the ‘creepy guy’ roles. Paul Giamatti as Dr. LawrenceHayes, a Caltech seismologist, is a solid, dependable actor. I have seen him ina variety of roles, from historical to modern day. My favourite is The Illusionist,set in turn-of-the-century Vienna, where he plays the Inspector. He is a fineactor and the best of the bunch. There is also plenty of room for nice cameoroles. Two stand out for energy and loads of charm. Hugo Johnstone (Ben Taylor)and his ‘annoying little brother’ Ollie (Art Parkinson) meet Blake and save herfrom being crushed to death in the parking garage. Ollie is just adorable as Hugo’scheeky wingman at the age when a smitten youngster can tell a young woman sheis ‘just beautiful’ and not get his face slapped.
SanAndreas is a good go-to movie for disaster fans like me. I have watched it fivetimes now and always spot something new. The soundtrack includes the fantastic CaliforniaDreamin’ (The Mommas and the Poppas) and the movie version is quite haunting.So, if you’re looking for a nailbiter of a movie for a Saturday night, withloads of popcorn (you’ll need it), this is your movie of choice.
