Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 5
October 9, 2024
Book Spotlight: The Mirror by PK Eden
What if you found out the artifacts from the fairy tales you loved as a child were real and one of them just predicted your death?
What if you found out the artifacts from the fairy tales you loved as a child were real and one of them just predicted your death? That’s the dilemma Scientist Ben Michaels faces when Siene Dower, descendant of the Brothers Grimm, tells him that Snow White’s Magic Mirror sent her to stop him from getting into the cab that crashed and burst into flame right before his eyes at the intersection at Penn Station, New York City. Does practical Dr. Michaels dismiss everything he knows about reality and science and follow the curious and beautiful woman who just saved his life?
The Mirror is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt
“Sit.” Siene motioned to the black sofa next to the door. She walked to the back bookshelf and pulled forward an old book with her forefinger. She skimmed the pages as she walked back to him. About halfway through the book she retrieved a fragile-looking, folded paper with timeworn brown edges.
She sat next to him. “Show me your palm.”
Ben held out his hand. “Why? Are you going to read it?”
“Do I look like a fortune teller?”
“You did predict the cab accident,” Ben replied.
She rolled her eyes and gently unfolded the paper. Carefully, she dropped three brown, shriveled ovals into his palm.
Ben’s brow furrowed. “What are these?”
“Beans.”
“I can see that.” He looked up. “Is this when I ask you why they were hidden in the book?”
“No, you’re supposed to guess.”
Ben lifted an eyebrow. “Do you really want to play games, Siene?”
She crossed her arms in front of her. “Actually, yes. You’re the hot-shot genius. I’m curious to see if that big brain of yours can think outside the . . .” She felt a wicked smile form on her lips “. . . outside the spit glands.”
He shot her an annoyed look and used his forefinger to move the beans around on his palm. They were shrunken but all the same size and shape. Kidney beans, he guessed. Very old kidney beans. He glanced at Siene. “Beans hidden in a book. Did you get them from a prom date instead of flowers and this is your way of telling me that you’re still thinking of the prom king?”
She saw amusement replace the annoyance on his face. Okay, maybe inside all the gray matter the man had a sense of humor. She’d try sparring with him later. Right now, she had to make a seemingly very obtuse point. “Did your mother ever read you fairy tales when you were a child?”
“Yes,” Ben replied, still holding the beans in his outstretched hand.
“Which ones?”
“The usual. Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, the Shoemaker and the Elves.”
“What about Jack and the Beanstalk?”
Ben glanced down at the beans in his hand and then back at Siene. “Of course, and I suppose you’re going to tell me these are magic beans.”
Skepticism lit his eyes and Siene knew he wasn’t quite there yet. “I know I’m asking a lot, but for a minute, just send all the Einstein stuff to the back of your gray matter and go with it.” His expression told her he thought she was nuts and she suspected ninety-nine percent of the world’s population would probably agree with him. “I guess laymen might say they are magic.”
“Laymen.” Ben paused before shooting her a probing stare. “People off their meds like you, you mean.”
She held up her finger. “You agreed to go with it.”
“No, I did not.”
“Let’s pretend you did. These beans are the last ones left. It drives my brother, Reed, crazy that I keep them in a book. He thinks it’s the first place a Taltoian would look.” She held the book up so he could see the title.
“Taltioan?”
“I’ll get there in a minute.” She lifted her chin. “Look at the book.”
White paper showed through the frayed corners of the cover and the embossed lettering worn low by the passing years made the words hard to read. He leaned closer and squinted. Tales by the Brothers Grimm. His head snapped up. “Is this an original edition?” He turned the book over and then back. “It looks very old.”
Siene nodded. “They are my great-great--maybe another great, maybe not, it really doesn’t matter at this point--Uncles Jacob and Wilhelm. The book has been passed down through the generations.”
Ben’s wide-eyed gaze flared. “You are crazy. You expect me to believe these are the magic beans they wrote about? That if you plant them, a stalk will grow as high as the clouds and if we climb it, we will meet a giant who has a goose that lays golden eggs?”
“Yes, and other things. A golden harp…”
Ben stood. “This has been an adventure to say the least, and I will admit you might have a very valuable book that could command millions, but you being related to the Brothers Grimm, “ he looked down at his hand, “And these are magic beans, I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
He handed her back the book and held up fingers in a vee. “Two reasons. One, I suspect if there actually was a goose that laid golden eggs, some billionaire would own it and two, a giant, by sheer atomic weight and mass, cannot stand or live on a cloud.”
Siene shrugged. “Whether you believe me or not, it’s still true.”
“Which part?”
“All of it.” She slipped her hand under his. “I better take those back now.” She carefully placed the beans inside the paper and back into the book.
Ben remained still for several minutes as though processing the information he just heard. “It appears your uncles, if they truly are, are not the only ones who can tell tall tales.”
She put the book back on the shelf. “They wrote the stories to protect the artifacts.”
“Artifacts. Like those in a museum?”
She looked at him and smiled. “No, the ones in my uncles’ stories.”
“Which stories?”
“All of them.”
– Excerpted from The Mirror by P.K. Eden, The Wild Rose Press, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About the Authors
P.K. Eden is the alter ego of multi-published and award winning authors Patt Milhailff and Kathye Quick whose debut novel FIREBRAND was lauded as comparable to the Harry Potter series, garnered 5-Star reviews, and won numerous Reviewer’s Choice Awards.
Born long, long ago in a place not so far away, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Kathryn Quick has been writing since the Sisters in St. Casmir’s Grammar School gave her the ruled yellow paper and a number two pencil. She writes contemporary and career romances, romantic comedies, historical romances as well as urban fantasy.
Kathye has twenty fiction books in print with various publishing houses and one non-fiction compilation of her town’s history at the behest of the Manville Library Bord. She was honored to have been named an Amazon top 100 Romance Author for Ineligible Bachelor published by Montlake Romance. Other works include a three book Grandmother’s Rings Series – Amethyst, Sapphire and Citrine, a rom-com series that follows three siblings as they use their Grandmother’s Rings given to them by their mother to find their soulmates.
Because she has been fascinated by King Arthur and his knights for almost forever, her series Beyond Camelot, Brother Knights, is her vision of how the majestic kingdom may have survived after Arthur. Two books are written in this series with the third and final still in concept.
She is a founding member of Liberty State Fiction Writers and has been a part of Romance Writers of America and New Jersey Romance Writers.
She is married to her real-life hero, Donald, and has three grown sons, each having romantic adventures of their own. Her two grandkids, Savannah and Dax, happily cut into her writing time but she still manages to get a few pages done each day.
Website & Social Media:
Website ➜ www.Kathrynquick.com
Twitter ➜ https://x.com/KQuickAuthor
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/KathrynQuickBooks/
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/kathrynquickauthor/
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217228581-the-mirror
***
Thanks to novelist and editor, Dr. Nathasha Brooks-Harris who invited Patt Milhailff to write for several TRUE CONFESSION lines of magazines where she learned tight and entertaining writing and resulted in the publication of more than two hundred short stories and articles.
One of Patt’s most gratifying experiences was when she moderated a standing room only workshop at the African American Romance Slam Jam in 2004 and has since enjoyed speaking engagements at libraries, book clubs and other forums.
She was awarded 2009 Author of the year and 2010 Mentor of the year by Romance writers of America, New York City Chapter, a terrific organization that helped her to obtain valuable lessons and insight while on her writing journey.
Patt is also featured in A Dream Deferred, A Joy Achieved, a non-fiction novella by Charise Nesbit a co-producer at Tyler Perry Studios, about foster care, as well as being included in two of Times Bestselling Author Zane’s anthologies.
Patt is one half of the writing duo P.K. Eden along with Kathye Quick, authors of Firebrand, that received a five star Affaire de Couer Reviewer’s Choice Award.
She is also a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers the home of a magnitude of talented writers and fellow authors and is the author of nine novels.
Patt was raised, and educated in New York City, residing in New Jersey, and has since relocated to Delaware.
Social Networks for P.K. Eden:
Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/PKEdenAuthor
Follow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/P.K.EdenAuthor
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.k.edenauthor/
Sponsored By:
October 8, 2024
Celebrating Unemployment: How to Avoid Becoming a Crunchy Couch Burrito by Dr. Deborah Levin
CelebratingUnemployment: How to Avoid Becoming a Crunchy Couch Burrito is a bookhelping people stay positive after losing their job. It shares steps to moveforward and find their dream job. It acknowledges being unemployed isdepressing and shows ways to feel better and keep going.
What’s included in thisbook:
● Survival budgeting tactics
● Short-term income strategies
● Resume and cover letter techniques
● Job search opportunities
● Interview approaches
● Changing careers
● Finding work that makes you happy
Since the author alsoexperienced unemployment, she understands reading about job-related topics cancause worry and anxiety. She writes with empathy, giving useful advice ondealing with unemployment and offering practical ways to overcome personal challenges.By dealing with these issues directly, you gain the knowledge and build thepositive attitude needed to change problems into opportunities for a betterfuture.
This book also sharesinsights about taking care of yourself and staying strong mentally. Overall,it's a guide to help people turn job loss into a chance for something better.
Celebrating Unemployment: How to Avoid Becoming a CrunchyCouch Burrito is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt:
Welcome to the Wonderful World ofUnemploymentThree days after mybirthday, my boss asked me if I could join him in a quick meeting. I asked himif I needed to prepare anything. He said, “No.” I felt dread, and my head wasswimming with potential issues he might discuss. Sure enough, I hopped on thecall, and my boss expressed despair. A woman from Human Resources joined us onthe call. It was happening. Through no fault of my own, I was losing my job.
After ten years ofdedication to the company, I fell victim to “Job Redundancy .”My position wasno longer needed. Ironically, much of my work as a project manager helpedautomate many of the tasks I managed. In the spirit of continuous improvement,I had continuously improved myself out of a job. Sometimes, being really goodat what you do can hurt you.
So here I am, in myearly 50s, entering the job market again. I was numb. However, I was not overlyupset about the job loss (why was I not more upset?). The company was wonderfulbecause they gave me a nice severance package, paid out my vacation time, andreassured me this had nothing to do with my performance. I know many people arenot as fortunate as me, and job loss means an immediate loss of income. Sothank you, Company, for helping me land gently.
So here I am, roughlysix months into being unemployed (has it been that long?) and learning newdaily lessons. I realize I am very lucky to have survived on severance, but Isee that pool of money getting smaller every month. Because I have a slight monetarybuffer, I chose to take this time to reinvent myself to avoid feeling numbabout my next career.
Through my personaljourney and networking connections, I learned many lessons during my longestvacation from Corporate America in thirty years. I chose to dedicate some of mytime to writing a book about these realizations. My primary objective is to provideencouragement and a path forward for you as quickly as possible. The faster youare inspired, the sooner you can create a plan to reset your career journeyinto something wonderful.
Congratulations, bythe way, on being temporarily promoted to being your Boss.
About the Author
Dr. Deborah Levin is a woman of many talents. She holds degrees in Design, Business Administration, and Leadership. She has multiple technical certifications, ranging from project management to artificial intelligence natural language processing. She has a strong background in project management and continuous improvement. She used her unique combination of creative and analytical skills throughout her decades of experience in corporate manufacturing and transactional environments, in addition to facilitating courses for adult learners and community service leadership. Dr. Levin is passionate about lifelong learning and is a strong supporter of formal education. She believes sharing her learning and experiences with others helps them gain perspective to become better versions of themselves. She expresses this passion through a down-to-earth, personable writing style often seen in her written work.
Her book, Celebrating Unemployment: How to Avoid Becoming a Crunchy Couch Burrito is available at Amazon.
Visit her website at www.allenjopublishing.com.
October 3, 2024
An Invitation to Adventure by author D.F. Jones
Soul Love is a spellbinding tale of time travel, past lives, and an unbreakable romance that transcends the ages, proving that true love is never lost.
From USA Today bestselling author D.F. Jones comes Soul Love, a mesmerizing tale of past lives, time travel, and an unbreakable bond that transcends time itself. What if a simple dinner invitation could change your life forever?
When Summer Jewel accepts a dinner invitation from her enigmatic new neighbor, her world is turned upside down. Suddenly transported to 1926 Heartsville, she uncovers shocking truths about a past life she never knew existed. This revelation ignites a journey brimming with turbulent emotions and undeniable desires, leaving her questioning everything she thought she knew.
Meanwhile, Rogan Randolph, a dedicated agent of The Order of the Invisible Effect, is tasked with subtly guiding the course of human history. His orderly world is thrown into chaos when a portal to his own past unexpectedly opens, offering him a chance to right a wrong. His mission becomes inextricably linked with Summer’s, as she is the very woman he encounters in the future.
Together, Summer and Rogan must navigate the intricate complexities of love and destiny, confronting the mysteries of their intertwined past lives. Their actions ripple through time, challenging the very fabric of reality and altering the course of their journey. True love is never lost, and some connections last forever.
Escape into Soul Love, where destiny and passion weave a captivating narrative that explores the enduring power of love and the intriguing possibilities of fate. Prepare to be swept off your feet with this spellbinding story of love, loss, and the magic of second chances. Soul Love is available at Amazon.
The Enchantment of Historical Fantasy& Time Travel Fiction: An Invitation to Adventure
Greetings,seekers of adventure and wonder! Have you ever yearned to step beyond theconfines of your everyday life and journey to a world where history and fantasyentwine? If so, I invite you into the enchanting realms of historical fantasytime travel, a genre where the past comes alive with magic and mystery.
Imaginethe thrill of standing on the battlements of a medieval castle, the air thickwith the promise of adventure, as you draw your sword to defend the realm. Orperhaps you find yourself in ancient Egypt, deciphering hieroglyphs that revealsecrets long buried in the sands of time. In these moments, history is not justa series of dates and events; it’s a living, breathing narrative filled withheroes, villains, and fantastical elements that defy the ordinary. Istrive to create worlds where time is not a linear path but a vast, intricateweb of possibilities. Where the present constraints do not bind love anddestiny, characters may leap across centuries, their journeys intertwined withhistorical events and mythical landscapes. They encounter challenges that testtheir courage, wisdom, and hearts.
Thebeauty of historical fantasy time travel lies in its limitless potential. Youcan walk the bustling streets of Renaissance Florence, study alchemy with amedieval sorcerer, or even join a secret society of time travelers determinedto protect history from those who would alter its course. Each story is adoorway to another era, a chance to explore the rich tapestry of our collectivepast, imbued with the wonder of the fantastical. So,dear reader, I encourage you to pick up a book that promises to whisk you awayto another time and place. Embrace the magic, the history, and the adventurethat awaits. In the realms of historical fantasy time travel, the only limitsare the bounds of your imagination.
Happy reading trails!
About the Author
USA Today Best-Selling Author, #1 International Bestseller, #1 Amazon Bestseller, D. F. Jones began her career as a broadcast consultant at the ABC Affiliate in Nashville, which led her to open an advertising agency. She downsized her agency to care for her parents. Writing is a source of creative expression for D.F. Jones, but it also releases stress. Writing takes her to a place where anything is possible, and fiction takes her to a place made of dreams. Whether it’s angels and demons, time travel adventures, witches, wizards, or ghosts, her books are action-packed with supernatural and romantic elements. She’s happily married to the love of her life and best friend. They have two beautiful sons whom she loves and adores more than life itself. She loves to laugh, and her husband keeps her in stitches! She’s a fan of the Tennessee Titans and enjoys working in her flower gardens.
Website ➜ http://www.dfjonesauthor.com
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/Author_DFJones
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/DFJones.author
Instagram ➜ https://instagram.com/D.F.Jones_Author
Goodreads
➜
https://www.goodreads.com/GoodreadscomdfjonesAuthor
Sponsored By:
September 16, 2024
5 Key Ingredients to Creating a Cozy Mystery by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo
Life is sweet for high school senior and ice cream slingerGenevieve Winterland. Her father owns Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour, thecutest confectionery shop in their little town of Pinewood, Arizona. Genevieveloves her job, but when her father hires a broody newcomer with a dark past toprovide extra security on her closing shifts, Genevieve bristles. Is this partof her father’s plan to send her away to college, when all she wants is to stayin Pinewood and run the family business? Meanwhile,everyone’s favorite new teacher at Pinewood High, Miss Love, is receiving deaththreats, and then she goes missing. Genevieve suspects the crabby substitute,Ms. Pierce, who seems murderous about being passed over for the position. Or isthe culprit Mr. Garcia, the longtime instructor who Miss Love replaced after hewas fired for assaulting a student? Just when Genevieve thinks she knows theanswer, she stumbles across the dead body of another missing faculty member. Can Genevieve find the killer terrorizing theteachers in her beloved hometown—before someone else gets iced?
Murder by Milkshake is available in print and as an ebook at Amazon. You can add it to your GoodReads reading list as well.
5 Key Ingredients to Creating a Cozy Mystery
So you want to write acozy mystery? Good for you! Since jumping into the genre with my dessert-themedYA cozy series, Sweet Dreams Mysteries, I have written with total joy(and often hunger!). The recipe for whipping up a good cozy relies on some keyingredients; if you get these wrong, you’ll risk the wrath of the fiercelydevoted readership and trust me—you don’t want to mess with cozy mysteryreaders.
Theme: A cozy mystery series has to have a theme. The theme isusually centered on the main character’s occupation or hobby, and you must showyour MC engaged in this work or hobby. For example, there are cafe cozies,bookstore cozies, and knitting cozies. I chose ice cream for my theme, becausemy daughter had recently started working at Baskin-Robbins. I named myfictional ice cream shop Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour.
Amateur Sleuth andPet: A cozy mystery is not a policeprocedural; the sleuth is always an amateur. Mysteries are puzzles that aresolved by piecing together clues through interviews with several suspects.Additionally, every amateur sleuth has a pet, and pet care must be shown.Bookstore cats are common, but I happen to be a dog person, so the SweetDreams pet is a golden retriever. She’s amazing; you’ll love her.
PG rating: In a cozy mystery, there cannot be gratuitous violence,profanity, or sex. Deaths tend to be discovered, often by the main character insometimes amusing circumstances, and murder scenes are not described in detail.During confrontations or showdowns with the killer(s), the MC is rarely in anyreal danger for long. Most importantly, there must always be a happy ending.
Motive: The murders in cozies are based on motives like greed andjealousy, and typically the killer commits these murders in a fit of passion.These aren’t serial killers or sociopaths who enjoy the act of killing, buteveryday people with relatable motives who are often part of the community.Likewise, when apprehended they tend to explain their crimes in petulantmonologues: think Scooby-Doo.
Puns: In cozy mysteries, puns are definitely intended. Titles areclever and cute. Some recent examples are Mocha,She Wrote, Partners in Lime, Thread on Arrival, and Game of Cones. I tossed around severalideas before settling on Murder byMilkshake.
Happy writing!
About the Author
ElizabethMaria Naranjo is the author of The Fourth Wall, The House on LindenWay, and What Was Never There. Her stories and essays have beenwidely published and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best AmericanEssays, and Best of the Net, and her short story, “Windows,” wasselected for Best Microfiction 2023. She lives in Tempe, Arizona, withher husband and two children.
Elizabeth and Murder by Milkshake can be found online:
https://www.elizabethmarianaranjo.com
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8124819.Elizabeth_Maria_Naranjo
September 12, 2024
Randy C. Dockens' Stele Prophecy Pentalogy
Stele Prophecy Pentalogy Series Description
A series of five stories run the gamut ofemotional themes: struggling with anger, the desire to belong, one seekingdestiny, complicated love, and being blinded by pride. Each cleverly craftedstory demonstrates unbelievable technology where the earthly and divine mergeinto an amazing and unforgettable future.
Kalem lives through the death of hisbrother by the hand of the King which occurred when he was very young. Now thathe is older and can act, he is emotionally torn between his anger over hisbrother’s death and the love he is finding in someone who supports the King.Two prophecies stand before him. The one he wholeheartedly believes in placeshis life in danger just as it had for his brother. The other is safer butrequires him to live a lie. How can he choose which direction to take? Yet hemust choose before his fate is sealed.
Edvin experiences heartbreak duringtroubled times as his sister-in-law loses her unborn baby and his girlfrienddies from plane crash injuries. Yet he is not the only one. Thousands aroundthe globe experience the same events happening in their lives and to theirloved ones. How can he make sense of the apocalyptic world in which he nowlives? Yet an unexpected destiny awaits him.
Ya’akov gets approved for aonce-in-a-lifetime adventure, but he gets caught in a nightmare of manipulationand deceit, which ultimately leaves him abandoned at sea not remembering who heis or how he got there. Despite such a start, he finds a destiny greater thananything he had ever dreamed possible.
Princess Me’ira breaks protocol and fallsin love with someone not vetted by prescribed law. Her decision will yieldunpreventable heartache to either herself or to those closest to her. Whileunknown to her, the decision she makes sets a future in motion she could neverhave anticipated.
Janet discovers how to increaseteleporter efficiency to an all-time high, but her work is rejected by theKing. Her selfish pride sets in motion a plan of revenge that has devastatingconsequences far greater than she ever imagined.
Each story is stand-alone, yet they allintertwine into a unique whole that paints a picture of a future time in whichwe may all find ourselves one day.
TheStele Prophecy Pentalogy Seriesis available at Amazon.
Dr. Randy C. Dockens has a fascination with science and with theBible, holds Ph.D. degrees in both areas, and is a man not only of faith andscience, but also of creativity. He believes that faith and science go hand inhand without being enemies of each other. After completing his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from AuburnUniversity he went on to graduate school at Auburn and completed his firstdoctorate degree in Pharmaceutics. He began his scientific career as apharmacokinetic reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration and later joineda leading pharmaceutical company as a pharmacokineticist, which is a scientistwho analyzes how the human body affects drugs after they have been administered(i.e, absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted).
Through the years, he has worked on potential medicines withinseveral disease areas, including cardiovascular, fibrosis, and immunoscience toseek and develop new and novel medicines in these therapy areas. He has also had his attention on the academic study of theBible. He earned a second doctorate in Biblical Prophecy from Louisiana BaptistUniversity after receiving a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from theInternet Bible Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Congdon.
Randy has recently retired from his pharmaceutical career and isspending even more time on his writing efforts. He has written several booksthat span dystopian (The Coded MessageTrilogy), end-time prophecy (SteleProphecy Pentalogy), science fiction (ErabonProphecy Trilogy), and uniquely told Bible stories (The Adversary Chronicles). All his books, while fun to read, arefuturistic, filled with science to give them an authentic feel, have a sciencefiction feel to them, and allows one to learn some aspect of Biblical truth onemay not have thought about before. This is all done in a fast-paced actionformat that is both entertaining and provides a fun read for his readers.
He has also written some nonfiction books as well. One is toshow how all humans are connected from God’s viewpoint by looking at biblicalprophecy (Why is a Gentile World Tied toa Jewish Timeline?: The Question Everyone Should Ask). This book shows howall scripture is connected and inclusive of everyone. In addition, he and hiseditor have written two books about writing. The first is on writing techniquesthemselves and is entitled Mastering theABCs of Excellent Writing: Creating Vivid and Colorful Stories that ReadersWant to Read. This book not only addresses the techniques of writing, butwhat makes writing unique to each author. It conveys not only how to betterhone one’s craft of writing but also the brand an author wants to portray. Thishelps an author make their writing unique as well as captivating for his/heraudience. The second is a companion book to this one entitled Mastering the ABCs of ExcellentSelf-Editing: Framing Your Colorful Masterpiece to Keep Readers Engaged in YourStory. This is best used in conjunction with the first one. Yet,self-editing, though intricately connected to writing, is a distinct event. Thebetter the quality of a writer’s draft manuscript when it is delivered to one’seditor, the higher the final quality of the manuscript will be for readers, andthat is extremely important.
Dr Dockens is still not done. He has other creative ideas he isbringing forward as he is currently working on two new futuristic series. So,stay turned!
Website ➜ https://www.randydockens.com/
X ➜ https://x.com/RandyCDockens
Facebook ➜ www.facebook.com/Randy.C.Dockens
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/randydockens
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16453941
September 4, 2024
Author Tracey Lampley Talks About Life With Neo
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Jinx Curry is a single momwho spends her days spying on cheating wives and husbands, but she aches formore importance. When her boss, Capricorn Hayes, finally assigns Jinx a missingperson’s case involving a congressman's missing granddaughter, Jinx jumps atthe chance. Not only to solve it, but to earn the fifty-thousand-dollar bonusthat would pay her bills and get a menacing creditor off her back. But theinvestigation proves more dangerous and costly than Jinx believes. After anunknown individual in a black Corvette nearly runs Jinx down and beginsstalking her, Jinx has to sacrifice her relationship with her daughter bysending Arielle to live with her father. Can Jinx find the congressman'sgranddaughter while surviving her stalker? Or will this job be her last?
Purchase a copy of AllMoney Ain’t Good Money on
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/All-Money-Aint-Good-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CW1DW3SX
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-money-aint-good-money-tracey-lampley/1145537634?ean=2940179752004
You can also add this toyour GoodReads reading list
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212406184-all-money-ain-t-good-money
AuthorTracey Lampley Talks about ‘Life With Neo’
He’s a tan, ShihTzu/Yorkie mix. Despite being nearly fifteen years old, he still bounds acrossmy living room floor whenever I toss his toy dog bone. He still stands up onhis hind legs to take a treat from my extended hand. He still joins me on thesofa when I take an afternoon nap. He’s spoiled. No matter how many times Isay, “Get down,” he snuggles close to me and closes his eyes and snores. Mylife with Neo is a joy. My daughter introduced me to him in September 2010 whenI took her back to college. She picked him up from a friend’s home, and Neo’skept me company ever since. He’s saved my life. While I was embroiled in aharrowing ordeal with two former employers conspiring against me, I consideredthrowing myself into traffic because I was in a very dark place. I couldn’tescape the hell they were putting me through.
Do you know what stoppedme from committing suicide? My darling Neo. I thought: Who’s going to feed mypuppy? Who’s going to take care of him? My daughter is away at college. Withall that I was going through, Neo is always glad to see me. He dotes on me. He expectsme to play with him. So, he is a comfort to me. He is my service animal. Ican’t be too far away from him. I can’t be away on vacation too long withoutmissing him. So, I take him everywhere. Neo is much older now. I show morepatience with him. He’s slower when I take him for walks, which he insists onfrequently throughout the day. But he still stops and smells the flowers andbushes. He bosses younger dogs. His spirits are always up. He never seems sad.After his last vet visit, he checked out fine. It’s my job to make his life ascomfortable and enjoyable as possible because he once saved mine.
About theAuthor
When she is not writing,Tracey Lampley loves attending and watching sporting events such as WNBA, NBA,college football and NFL football. Currently Tracey is completing her MA inCreative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. She already holds an MSin Publishing from Pace University and a BA in English/Technical &Scientific Communication from Miami University of Ohio. She resides in themetro Atlanta, Georgia area with her pooch Neo and near her daughter Asia.
You can follow the authorat:
Website: https://traceylampley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracey.lampley.12
X/Twitter: @bookmistress1
Instagram: tralam4156
August 24, 2024
Movie review: Twisters 2
Twisters 2 is billed as a stand-alone sequel to the 1996 Twister.The main lead, Kate Carter, loses 3 of her friends tragically in a tornadochasing experiment that went spectacularly wrong. She gives up her ambitionsand goes to work at a NOAA office in New York. Five years later, she is calledback into the field by her friend Javi, who was with her on that fateful day. Heoffers her a week-long assignment to test a new tornado scanning system.Tornadoes are on the rise and specifically in Oklahoma.
SinceI really enjoyed the first movie with Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, I thought Iwould enjoy Twisters 2 which promised to have ‘more teeth’ (to quote JurassicPark). Honestly, if all you want is special effects and more tornadoes thanany regular storm chaser can stomach, this is the movie for you. If you wantreal acting and a plot, skip it. The leading lady is, alas, the ubiquitousskinny blonde with no real expression beyond staring into the distance. Note:staring is not acting. As a result, the rest of the enormous and wildly diversecast act their hearts out and come across as frenzied in comparison. DaisyEdgar-Jones as Kate is eminently forgettable while her opposite, the male heartthroblead Glenn Powell (currently creating a Hollywood storm) vacillates between megawattsmiles for his followers on social media and clumsy attempts to be sensitive. Theactors who are gems do manage to stand out despite the lack of screen time andsignificant lines. Worthy of mention are Daryl McCormack as Kate’s longtime friend Javi,who really deserved more on screen, and Sasha Lily Lane as team member anddrone pilot, wearing the tattiest dreadlocks imaginable. The other various teammembers and groupies merge into a mass of manufactured hysteria every time atornado peeks over the horizon. Adults in the room include Harry Hadden-Patonas the Brit reporter tagging along and Maura Tierney who is so good she canconvey volumes with just a glance.
Thevery thin underlying plot is how an unscrupulous developer is cruising along inthe wake of the tornadoes’ havoc, buying up properties from families devastatedby the event. This could have been fleshed out into something spectacular andworthy of watching. Instead, we are forced to swallow total high school scienceproject guff about putting sodium polyacrylate beads into the tornado that willdecrease it almost instantly; well, as instantly as screen time and science fictionallow. ‘Terrible dialogue and the acting was a joke,’ said one movie reviewerand I have to agree. So much potential was wasted on casting that put ‘diversity’(whatever that means these days) before talent, so you get a giant cast thatlooks like a United Nations convention with very little memorable coming outof it, bar McCormack and Tierney.
Thespecial effects are spectacular and, as I said, if that’s all you want, you’llget it. The tornadoes have improved since Helen and Bill went chasing afterthem in a beat-up old pick-up. Watching on the big screen will definitely showaudiences how savage these aerial ‘beasts’ can be, but even watching on asmaller TV screen does not diminish the effects. The various tornado events includea tornado happening at a rodeo which was spectacularly filmed. I love disaster movies,but this one was 2 hours too long. I have watched many disaster movies over andover, 2012 and San Andreas being two examples. But these movieshad stories with heart. Sadly, the director Lee Isaac Chung (who says hewatched many Spielberg movies) missed the point of why and how a Spielbergmovie works and the reason it succeeds.
August 16, 2024
10 Things You Might Not Know About Author Karen Charles
A teacher and her family struggle to survive tumultuous riots, escalating violence, and civil unrest in this thrilling release from Karen Charles, and as their loyalties are put to the ultimate test, horrifying revelations and the cataclysmic Northridge earthquake irrevocably change their lives forever…
Title: Blazing UpheavalAuthor: Karen CharlesPublication Date: July 25, 2024
Pages: 172Genre: ThrillerIn the heart of the tumultuous Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, a dedicated teacher finds herself thrust into a hazardous situation. Struggling to navigate the chaos and reach safety on the freeway, she faces dangerous obstacles that jeopardize her life. An unexpected rescue during a brutal attack plunges her, her family, and two other families into a chilling series of enigmatic events and escalating violence.
As the city grapples with unrest, they are entangled in a web of mysteries swiftly building in intensity. In the turmoil, their bonds of family, loyalty, and love are put to the ultimate test. The tension mounts relentlessly until an unforeseen revelation, coinciding with the cataclysmic Northridge earthquake, irrevocably changes their lives forever.
This gripping true-story thriller delivers suspenseful twists and heart-pounding moments, weaving a narrative of family resilience, solidarity, and enduring love in the face of daunting circumstances. It is a tale that illuminates the strength found within the human spirit when confronted with extraordinary challenges.
Blazing Upheaval is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMM6BXLG.
Book Excerpt:
With renewed focus, her heart pounding against her ribcage, Tiffany emerged from the fray. She realized she was only a few blocks from the I-5 freeway, her haven of safety. She pressed the gas pedal, her car surging ahead with newfound urgency.Tiffany came to an abrupt stop at the red light at the intersection where she would make a left turn onto the freeway entrance. Loud yelling frightened her. Three men surrounded her car. They bounced it up and down. Alarm gripped her racing heart as she understood the hatred in their eyes. They pulled on the locked doors. They pounded on the windows. She felt shock and disbelief as she realized the rioters wanted to harm her! She was helpless! She was trapped!
10 ThingsYou Might Not Know About Karen Charles
1. Blazing Upheaval is based on my six years of teachingin the inner city of Los Angeles while living in Northridge in the San FernandoValley.
2. I spent the first six years of my life in a clearing in thejungles of Liberia, West Africa. My dad was in charge of a leper colony and mymom was in charge of a boys’ boarding school. We moved to Nigeria where I liveduntil I was sixteen years old.
3. I have traveled in nineteen foreign countries.
4. I flew a Cessna twin-engine plane at the age of fifteen.
5. My first published writing was a poem about the African crownbird. Their beauty and elegance enthralled me. My mom sent my poem to Jack andJill Children’s magazine and they published it.
6. I own a condo in Puerto Vallarta where one of my characters in thethriller Fateful Connections lived.
7. I own and manage an Airbnb on a beautiful bay in Washington State.
8. I have a children’s book published and three thrillers.
9. I have six kids, fourteen grandkids, two great-grandkids, andanother grandkid on the way.
10. In the winter months when the Airbnb business is a little slower,I find time to concentrate on writing.
About the Author
Karen Charles transforms real-life narratives into gripping fiction thrillers. Her novels intricately weave the threads of truth into a tapestry of suspense, intrigue, and riveting storytelling. An educator by profession, she is renowned for her thriller “Fateful Connections,” which unfolds against the backdrop of 9/11. “Blazing Upheaval” promises to deliver another chilling, heart-pounding experience. Karen and her husband reside on the serene shores of a beautiful bay in Washington, where she draws inspiration for her compelling narratives. Explore her insights and musings on the writer’s life through her blogs on “My Life As A Writer” at www.weaveofsuspense.com.
Website & Social Media:
Website ➜ http://weaveofsuspense.com
Twitter ➜ http://www.twitter.com/karenra24229683
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/karen.rabe.7/
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July 25, 2024
Book Trailer Blast: The Painted Lady by Avery Sterling
Title: THE PAINTED LADY
Author: Avery Sterling
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Pages: 368
Genre: Historical Romance
BOOKBLURB:
Aspiring artist Delaney Harper sails to New Orleans after her mother’s death. On the night of her arrival, she’s welcomed by a masked stranger who steals one breathless kiss. Alderic Beaumont is a fallen aristocrat. Once a corsair and now a smuggler, he’s a force to be reckoned with. On the night of his friend’s celebration, he’s captured by an irresistible beauty. He kisses her, promising to find her come morning. By then, Delaney’s world has crumbled—the truth about her mother reveals Delaney now owns a brothel. With Alderic, Delaney embarks on a path of intrigue and passion. Her wit and artistic skills help conceal her identity and restore the once-prestigious bordello...but her deceptions could cost her Alderic’s heart.
The Painted Lady is available at Amazon.
EXCERPT:
“This door was locked.”Alderic was perched on her pillow, one arm resting behind his head. “No lock can keep me out of something I wish to explore, Madame,” he replied. He swung his legs off her bed and stood up in one swift motion.
She lifted her chin at him. “You are out of character this evening, monsieur.”
“Why the shroud, Madame? Are you covering a terrible wart of some sort? Scars from the pox, perhaps?”
She grinned. “Maybe.”
He used both his hands to flank her, trapping her between his body and the vanity. “Or maybe you know what an arousing enigma it makes you?”
“You are prying, monsieur,” she said. “I wish you to leave now.”
“I can do that,” he said, the corner of his mouth upturning just a bit, “as soon as I collect my winnings.”
It was difficult to appear unmoved as his hand lightly grazed the line of her jaw. “Why did you not collect earlier? That would have been far more appropriate,” she said.
He chuckled. “You speak of propriety in a bordello?” Then his humor faded as his thumb fiddled with the diamond dangling from her ear. “You were shaking. You are frightened of me, Madame.”
“Monsieur Beaumont.” Delaney scoffed. “I am a madam, and I’ve known many men. I do not fear you.”
“You are only playing Madame,” he said as his eyes captured her, searching hers for a long moment. “What is underneath all that color, I wonder.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Avery Sterling's love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create.
Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.
Author Links
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tiktok | Goodreads | Bookbub
10 Things You Might Not Know About Lindy S. Hudis
Nick Savage was supposed to be the next sexy Hollywood heartthrob, until he turned up dead…
Title: Hollywood UnderworldAuthor: Lindy S. HudisPublication Date: August 4, 2021
Pages: 203Genre: Crime ThrillerNick Savage was supposed to be the next sexy Hollywood heartthrob, until he turned up dead…
His personal manager, Dani Foxx, is a seductive former actress with spunk, guts and a take-no-prisoners attitude. She lives in the Woodland Hills section of the San Fernando Valley with her teenage daughter. They must survive and protect each other in the world’s most glamorous and sin-filled city. Then an unidentified body discovered under the Santa Monica pier is found to belong to the up-and-coming young actor.
Dani’s partner, the dashing and charismatic A.J. Tarentella, is the son of a mob boss, raised in a ruthless crime family. He now is the proud owner of the Tarantella Agency, a Private Investigation Company located in the heart of Beverly Hills. He used his father’s work ethic, connections and family ties to build his powerful business empire, and now he is always there to help those in need.
When another gorgeous nubile actress on the brink of getting her breakout role mysteriously vanishes as the body of a beautiful young girl is discovered in Runyon Canyon Park in the Hollywood Hills, Dani realizes this is no coincidence. Who is targeting young Hollywood stars? And more importantly, how can Dani stop them before the next body surfaces?
Together, A. J. and Dani find themselves tangled in a web of organized crime, Hollywood secrets, and a vengeful faded movie star with a lethal vendetta.
5.0 out of 5 stars Tinseltown’s Seedy Underbelly Exposed
PRAISE:
“They say Hollywood is a dream factory, and having worked in the film business myself, I can say that can be true. But the reality behind the facade can sometimes be the stuff of nightmares. For every big break, there’s a thousand broken dreams. And for every actor hustling to land a role, there’s another who decides the compromises required just aren’t worth the damage it does to a person’s soul. This novel is about reality, the pain, the moral compromises, the crime, and the shattered lives that litter the streets behind the scenes. This book, though fiction has a lot of truth in it, and the novelist pulls no punches. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!” – Amazon
Hollywood Underworld is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt:
Los Angeles, CaliforniaSpring
“Kill her.” The irate and imposing male voice bellowed into the phone.
“Who?” The nervous - and not too bright - hitman swallowed hard and butted out his cigarette.
“Who do you think, moron?”
“Uhm…. I don’t….”
“Dani Foxx.”
“Oh, of course…Whatever you need, boss, I’m all over…”
“And I want it taken care of today, do you understand me?”
“I understand.”
“Don’t screw it up again, I want this problem solved.”
“Don’t worry, boss. The bitch is as good as dead.”
“She better be!”
“I’m on it, boss.” He reached for his shoulder holster and checked his gun.
“Then get on it. Now!” The angry boss slammed down the phone.
“Yes, boss.” The hitman pulled on his coat and dashed out of his North Hollywood apartment.
– Excerpted from Hollywood Underworld by Lindy S. Hudis, Project X Publishing, 2021. Reprinted with permission.10 Things You Might Not Know About Lindy S. Hudis
1) Istudied drama and creative writing at NYU/Tisch School of the Arts – Classof’91!
2) I amfeatured in a documentary called “Girls of Married With Children” because Iappeared in the “Frat Chance” episode that aired in April of 1992.
3) I Live in Santa Monica by the beach and pier.
4) Myhusband, Stephen Hudis, is a former child star and appeared in the movie “TheCowboys” with John Wayne.
5) I’ma Chihuahua lover!
6) Myhusband and I have written several screenplays and one of our scripts, CRASHERS(also one of my books) is in development with Face-to-Face productions.
7) Wrote,produced, and directed an award-winning short film called THE LESSON, it’scurrently playing on YouTube.
8) Wasborn in Miami, grew up in Memphis, went to college in NYC and now live in LA. Ihave moved around quite a bit!
9) Lovemy cup of coffee in the morning and a glass of Merlot in the evening.
10) Ihave two kids, one an aspiring filmmaker and the other an aspiring musician(drummer). We are an artistic family all-round.
About the Author
Lindy S. Hudis is an award winning filmmaker, author and actress. Lindy is a graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She also performed in a number of Off-Off Broadway theater productions while living in New York City. She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her “Hollywood” story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. Her latest release, “Hollywood Underworld – A Hollywood Series” is the first installment of a crime, mystery series. In addition, she has written several erotic short stories, including “The S&M Club”, “The Backstage Pass”, “Guitar God”, “The Guitarist”, and “The Mile High Club”. Her short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, has won numerous awards, including ‘Best Short Film’ at the Paris International Film Festival, The Beverly Hills Arthouse Film Festival and the San Fransisco International Film Festival.
She is also an actress, having appeared in the indie film Expressionism, the television daytime drama “Sunset Beach”, also “Married with Children” , “Beverly Hills 90210” and the feature film “Indecent Proposal” . She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures, and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
Website & Social Media:
Website/Blog ➜ https://lindyinparadise.wordpress.com/
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/Lindyscribe
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/LindyScribe/
Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/lindys.hudis
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470478.Lindy_S_Hudis
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