Chicki Brown's Blog, page 33
August 26, 2013
Author Spotlight - Carl Stevens
A am working on getting
A Woman's Worth
formatted and ready for upload to the various retailers.
Today I want to introduce you to an author I met in one of my online groups. Carl Stevens' bio reveals the life experiences that prepared him to be an author.
***
Jack London lamented that he had spent his life as a working class intellectual rubbing shoulders with the underprivileged on tramp steamers, in gold mining camps, on wharfs and in warehouses while reading extensively and writing books of serious social and philosophical merit only to be renowned for writing about dogs. It irked him yet inspired me decades later. Eighteen-wheelers, psych wards, factory floors and the halls of academia and corporate America may not be perfect matches to London’s, but they have all been part of my own working class adventures. I have lived in numerous careers the fiction that each was intrinsically important while in fact each was merely research for the role of Carl Stevens, Writer. Professor-in-training (in three fields so far, philosophy, history and psychology), nurse in a psychiatric facility, long-haul truck driver, security guard, waiter, bartender, clerical worker, manual laborer, engineer - they were all facades I presented while my true life’s work went on behind the scenes, reading and writing and incorporating life experience with the scholarly to create the self-identity that is now creating novels.
Three novels speak for the success of this creative self-identity. If a hundred years from now people neglect the layers of substance and only praise my exciting tales of adventure and if I am still alive, then I will be proud to have failed like Jack.
Here's a little bit about his book:
Michael Chabon, Lev Grossman and others argue that genre and literary fiction are not exclusive categories. Chabon won a Pulitzer writing about comic books. Grossman won acclaim writing an adult story about wizardry school. THE CANTERBURY TALES IN NEVERLAND is a post-apocalyptic mystery wherein the detective’s need for hard facts clashes with a culture’s need to reinvent itself on the ever shifting sands of storytelling. There are two main stories. In one, Jackson Thomas, a former mayor of a small town known as The Ville, is trying to avoid being stoned to death on false charges of conspiracy to incite riot and murder. He is hampered by being under arrest and dependent on a friend to wear out shoe leather poking into what really happened. Meanwhile Jackson’s son and several of the son’s friends have all talked themselves into believing that the wisest solution to Jackson’s dilemma is to trek across a hostile landscape in search of angels and a miracle. Both stories work on multiple levels. They are each an adventure on their own, a detective thriller in town, a road trip through chaos in the wilds. They are also each a metaphor for the epistemological quandaries of storytelling. Jackson is trying to find his way through a dark woods of conflicting witness accounts. His son and fellow travelers are finding their way through a physical wilderness while sharing with each other the stories which make up their culture . . .and enough puns to choke The Bard.
Excerpt:
The Canterbury Tales in NeverlandA Post-apocalyptic Mystery of Literary Survival
Chapter, the first, having no other title
It is a simple story and if it will not do, you and I will invent another hundred or two. In the beginning, long after the end, when the world will be without form, the word will shape the world as it always has in ways not known; man will not know what he knows not, nor woman, neither. A tale will be born of idylls past and present, lost and found in time. Knowledge will be a thing of the past and knowledge of the past a wispy dream shaken off in a dusky dawn like the obscure opening lines of a book not yet written when you have skipped to the end, but once upon a time.
After The Time of Tribulations when some choose to till the land and some to steal the fruit and others tell their stories, Casavero Thomas guards against those who would breach the peace of The Ville. His feet walk the parapets between rooftops black in moonlight while his mind sprints through grassy fields bright in the sun and brighter still because Julie Garcia runs before him, smiling over her shoulder with golden tresses just out of reach. Today is Midsummerfest and the people of Brodman’s Bluff will come to enjoy the lull between planting and harvesting. The people of The Ville will play host in return for the favor of last year. There will be games and food and, with any luck, Casavero and Julie will be one of many couples to slip off for a stolen moment or two. Beyond the pasture canopies sway in a gust, a harbinger of a pre-dawn storm perhaps, wind and trees an alarum, or just the day awakening with a yawn and stretch of leafy branches before rolling over for a bit more sleep. It is a holiday. Trees and wind and young men all can sleep in if they choose once their watches end, but Casavero knows that neither he nor any of the other guards will sleep tonight. There is an excitement in the air beyond any chance of a storm or bandit raid. There is the certainty of the festival and the chances it will bring. “Casavero, ho?” “Ho, Temo, que sera de mi? It’s me again and point that thing away again, will you? I’m tired of looking at the tip of your thirty-eight every time we meet.” “You could have been a bandit. That’s what we’re here to look for, you know.” “Yes, but out there, Temo, not up here. If some bandit had climbed the wall and took my place you’d have heard me object, strongly, trust me.” “Well, . . .” “And don’t you shoot our relief, either. They’re due any minute and we can get off the wall and greet the dawn at the fairground as long as you don’t involve us in a battle with our own people.” “A bandit could slip in and approach from behind. We’re supposed to challenge everybody even if we’re sure it’s a friend, our own father, or the mayor himself. Sorry, Casso, I . . .” “Forget it. I’d say you’re right and we should challenge the mayor, but that hasn’t worked very well for my father, has it?” “No, but you know what I mean. Any shadow could be a threat so challenge and shoot if you don’t get an answer.” “Fine. Just don’t shoot any Bluffers today. They’re supposed to be our guests.” “Them we’ll beat on the field. Xian will at least. He can run and wrestle any Bluffer into the ground. Oh, sheep’s tail, I’m sorry, Casso.” “Forget it. He beat me fair enough. At least I got up the pole first. And your arrow hit the circle dead center like it was placed there by hand. If I had not seen it myself I would have sworn you stabbed it then only told the tale of shooting it. You’re bound to win for The Ville today.” “No azar. That was just with the boys competing. There’ll be girls watching the festival matches. I’ll be lucky not to shoot my own foot.”“Julie watching will make me climb faster.”“Even your girl watching is enough to fluster me. Other girls, that I might, that may, that could . . . . I can’t talk straight just thinking about it. I’ll probably string my bow to my ear and shoot my cap into the sky. Will your sister be there?”“Susanna? Sure. You know everyone will.”“You know I meant Tiffany, you grinning weasel.”“I’m sure she’ll be there, too. And if you don’t shoot yourself in the foot maybe you’ll get around to talking to her.”“Not much chance of that. I’d almost rather shoot a toe off. You don’t think she might take pity on me if I did, do you? Maybe nurse me back to health?”“I don’t know. If she won’t notice Temo with toes I’m not sure how she’d feel about Temo the Toeless.”“You could at least call me Timothy when your talking to her. I’m not scared of everything like I am girls, you know. Do you ever talk to her about me?” “Can’t really say I do, Temo, amigo, but if you ever do come up in conversation I’ll do my best to get the name right. What was it again?” “Pig Snout. I hope you slide off that pole now.”
***
The Canterbury Tales in Neverland is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.Autographed paperbacks are available through www.carlstevenswriter.com/buy-stuff
Catl can be contacted here:
carlstevenswriter@juno.comwww.carlstevenswriter.com
Today I want to introduce you to an author I met in one of my online groups. Carl Stevens' bio reveals the life experiences that prepared him to be an author.
***
Jack London lamented that he had spent his life as a working class intellectual rubbing shoulders with the underprivileged on tramp steamers, in gold mining camps, on wharfs and in warehouses while reading extensively and writing books of serious social and philosophical merit only to be renowned for writing about dogs. It irked him yet inspired me decades later. Eighteen-wheelers, psych wards, factory floors and the halls of academia and corporate America may not be perfect matches to London’s, but they have all been part of my own working class adventures. I have lived in numerous careers the fiction that each was intrinsically important while in fact each was merely research for the role of Carl Stevens, Writer. Professor-in-training (in three fields so far, philosophy, history and psychology), nurse in a psychiatric facility, long-haul truck driver, security guard, waiter, bartender, clerical worker, manual laborer, engineer - they were all facades I presented while my true life’s work went on behind the scenes, reading and writing and incorporating life experience with the scholarly to create the self-identity that is now creating novels.
Three novels speak for the success of this creative self-identity. If a hundred years from now people neglect the layers of substance and only praise my exciting tales of adventure and if I am still alive, then I will be proud to have failed like Jack.
Here's a little bit about his book:
Michael Chabon, Lev Grossman and others argue that genre and literary fiction are not exclusive categories. Chabon won a Pulitzer writing about comic books. Grossman won acclaim writing an adult story about wizardry school. THE CANTERBURY TALES IN NEVERLAND is a post-apocalyptic mystery wherein the detective’s need for hard facts clashes with a culture’s need to reinvent itself on the ever shifting sands of storytelling. There are two main stories. In one, Jackson Thomas, a former mayor of a small town known as The Ville, is trying to avoid being stoned to death on false charges of conspiracy to incite riot and murder. He is hampered by being under arrest and dependent on a friend to wear out shoe leather poking into what really happened. Meanwhile Jackson’s son and several of the son’s friends have all talked themselves into believing that the wisest solution to Jackson’s dilemma is to trek across a hostile landscape in search of angels and a miracle. Both stories work on multiple levels. They are each an adventure on their own, a detective thriller in town, a road trip through chaos in the wilds. They are also each a metaphor for the epistemological quandaries of storytelling. Jackson is trying to find his way through a dark woods of conflicting witness accounts. His son and fellow travelers are finding their way through a physical wilderness while sharing with each other the stories which make up their culture . . .and enough puns to choke The Bard.
Excerpt:
The Canterbury Tales in NeverlandA Post-apocalyptic Mystery of Literary Survival
Chapter, the first, having no other title
It is a simple story and if it will not do, you and I will invent another hundred or two. In the beginning, long after the end, when the world will be without form, the word will shape the world as it always has in ways not known; man will not know what he knows not, nor woman, neither. A tale will be born of idylls past and present, lost and found in time. Knowledge will be a thing of the past and knowledge of the past a wispy dream shaken off in a dusky dawn like the obscure opening lines of a book not yet written when you have skipped to the end, but once upon a time.
After The Time of Tribulations when some choose to till the land and some to steal the fruit and others tell their stories, Casavero Thomas guards against those who would breach the peace of The Ville. His feet walk the parapets between rooftops black in moonlight while his mind sprints through grassy fields bright in the sun and brighter still because Julie Garcia runs before him, smiling over her shoulder with golden tresses just out of reach. Today is Midsummerfest and the people of Brodman’s Bluff will come to enjoy the lull between planting and harvesting. The people of The Ville will play host in return for the favor of last year. There will be games and food and, with any luck, Casavero and Julie will be one of many couples to slip off for a stolen moment or two. Beyond the pasture canopies sway in a gust, a harbinger of a pre-dawn storm perhaps, wind and trees an alarum, or just the day awakening with a yawn and stretch of leafy branches before rolling over for a bit more sleep. It is a holiday. Trees and wind and young men all can sleep in if they choose once their watches end, but Casavero knows that neither he nor any of the other guards will sleep tonight. There is an excitement in the air beyond any chance of a storm or bandit raid. There is the certainty of the festival and the chances it will bring. “Casavero, ho?” “Ho, Temo, que sera de mi? It’s me again and point that thing away again, will you? I’m tired of looking at the tip of your thirty-eight every time we meet.” “You could have been a bandit. That’s what we’re here to look for, you know.” “Yes, but out there, Temo, not up here. If some bandit had climbed the wall and took my place you’d have heard me object, strongly, trust me.” “Well, . . .” “And don’t you shoot our relief, either. They’re due any minute and we can get off the wall and greet the dawn at the fairground as long as you don’t involve us in a battle with our own people.” “A bandit could slip in and approach from behind. We’re supposed to challenge everybody even if we’re sure it’s a friend, our own father, or the mayor himself. Sorry, Casso, I . . .” “Forget it. I’d say you’re right and we should challenge the mayor, but that hasn’t worked very well for my father, has it?” “No, but you know what I mean. Any shadow could be a threat so challenge and shoot if you don’t get an answer.” “Fine. Just don’t shoot any Bluffers today. They’re supposed to be our guests.” “Them we’ll beat on the field. Xian will at least. He can run and wrestle any Bluffer into the ground. Oh, sheep’s tail, I’m sorry, Casso.” “Forget it. He beat me fair enough. At least I got up the pole first. And your arrow hit the circle dead center like it was placed there by hand. If I had not seen it myself I would have sworn you stabbed it then only told the tale of shooting it. You’re bound to win for The Ville today.” “No azar. That was just with the boys competing. There’ll be girls watching the festival matches. I’ll be lucky not to shoot my own foot.”“Julie watching will make me climb faster.”“Even your girl watching is enough to fluster me. Other girls, that I might, that may, that could . . . . I can’t talk straight just thinking about it. I’ll probably string my bow to my ear and shoot my cap into the sky. Will your sister be there?”“Susanna? Sure. You know everyone will.”“You know I meant Tiffany, you grinning weasel.”“I’m sure she’ll be there, too. And if you don’t shoot yourself in the foot maybe you’ll get around to talking to her.”“Not much chance of that. I’d almost rather shoot a toe off. You don’t think she might take pity on me if I did, do you? Maybe nurse me back to health?”“I don’t know. If she won’t notice Temo with toes I’m not sure how she’d feel about Temo the Toeless.”“You could at least call me Timothy when your talking to her. I’m not scared of everything like I am girls, you know. Do you ever talk to her about me?” “Can’t really say I do, Temo, amigo, but if you ever do come up in conversation I’ll do my best to get the name right. What was it again?” “Pig Snout. I hope you slide off that pole now.”
***
The Canterbury Tales in Neverland is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.Autographed paperbacks are available through www.carlstevenswriter.com/buy-stuff
Catl can be contacted here:
carlstevenswriter@juno.comwww.carlstevenswriter.com
August 23, 2013
Announcement
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am postponing the launch of A WOMAN'S WORTH. Everything that could possibly go wrong has gone wrong.
I have finally calmed down enough to talk about what happened today. Everything was on schedule until last night. So many different things happened today, it was unbelievable. First thing this morning, Comcast, my ISP, wasn't working, so I didn't get the message from my editor that the file I sent her for the final read-through was the wrong one. Then I got a virus on my laptop AND my PC. The same document/program must have infected both of them. I couldn't convert the manuscript using Mobipocket, so I downloaded Calibre. That's where I think the virus came from. When I ran my anti-virus software, it took three hours and said there were 538 infected files! I didn't get that straightened out until two hours ago.
I thought I was going to lose it completely this afternoon. I actually cried. need a break, so I'm taking next week off to read and go see a couple of movies, then I'll get back on the ball.
I have finally calmed down enough to talk about what happened today. Everything was on schedule until last night. So many different things happened today, it was unbelievable. First thing this morning, Comcast, my ISP, wasn't working, so I didn't get the message from my editor that the file I sent her for the final read-through was the wrong one. Then I got a virus on my laptop AND my PC. The same document/program must have infected both of them. I couldn't convert the manuscript using Mobipocket, so I downloaded Calibre. That's where I think the virus came from. When I ran my anti-virus software, it took three hours and said there were 538 infected files! I didn't get that straightened out until two hours ago.
I thought I was going to lose it completely this afternoon. I actually cried. need a break, so I'm taking next week off to read and go see a couple of movies, then I'll get back on the ball.
August 19, 2013
Coming August 26th!
Marc is helping Gianne heal her body. Why won’t she let him heal her soul?
A WOMAN’S WORTH - http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com/2013/02/writer-wednesday.html
A WOMAN’S WORTH - http://sisterscribbler.blogspot.com/2013/02/writer-wednesday.html
August 5, 2013
Power Authors Event!
From August 5th, 2013, until sometime in September 2013, eight authors will be banding together to spread the word about some really awesome books. Join in the fun, celebrate with us, share our books and WIN SOME FABULOUS PRIZES! https://www.facebook.com/PowerAuthors
Dorothy Shaw and I are the first two authors to be featured and our books are on sale for 99 cents this week!
Please visit the page and help us hit the bestseller lists!
August 4, 2013
Hear ye! Hear ye!
Get to know the Power Authors and their books, which will be on sale during their specific week. To help us accomplish our goals, please buy our books only during our promotion week. Stop by our page to find out how to win some great prizes. Thank you for your support!
Chicki Brown - YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7M3B3S (August 5-11)
Dorothy F. Shaw - SPARE HEARTS - http://www.amazon.com/Spare-Hearts-ebook/dp/B00CRMATE6/ (August 5-11)
Cheryl Kaye Tardif - CHILDREN OF THE FOG - http://www.amazon.com/Children-of-the-Fog-ebook/dp/B004PVSTLW (August 12-18)
Jeff Rivera - CHAINS - http://www.amazon.com/CHAINS-Complete-Series-Struggle-ebook/dp/B00DZSP4HI/ (August 12-18)
Alisha Yvonne - THE CLEANUP WOMAN http://www.amazon.com/The-CleanUp-Woman-ebook/dp/B003CT38NM/ (August 19-25)
Kat Flannery - LAKOTA HONOR - http://www.amazon.com/Lakota-Honor-ebook/dp/B00D0S530G/ (August 19-25)
Nakia Laushaul - RUNNING FROM SOLACE - http://www.amazon.com/Running-from-Solace-ebook/dp/B004WSXVSY (August 26-September 1)
Pat Tucker – title unknown – (September 2-9)
August 2, 2013
Fun Friday
During my travels around the Internet this week, I ran across a few things that gave me a good chuckle. I saw this one on TV and had to find it on YouTube.
Joey and the Thesaurus (from Friends)
I love Robin Thicke. He's talented, handsome and super-sexy...
but when I saw this picture of him from years back, I almost choked...
...
...
....
ROTFL!!!!
For the past couple of weeks I've had technical issues with Triberr, MailChimp and Facebook. Since I recently switched to Windows 7 and Google Chrome, I've been on a constant learning curve and this video really spoke to me.
Joey and the Thesaurus (from Friends)
I love Robin Thicke. He's talented, handsome and super-sexy...
but when I saw this picture of him from years back, I almost choked...
...
...
....
ROTFL!!!!
For the past couple of weeks I've had technical issues with Triberr, MailChimp and Facebook. Since I recently switched to Windows 7 and Google Chrome, I've been on a constant learning curve and this video really spoke to me.
July 31, 2013
Writer Wednesday - Donna Fasano
I'm honored to host author Donna Fasano. Donna is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17
Today, she is here to talk about a topic that is near and dear to my heart - writing romance. Why I Write Romance Novels
By Donna Fasano
I can’t tell you how many times over the course of my 20-plus year career as a published romance author I have been asked, “When are you going to write a real book? You know, a [insert genre of choice: mystery, historical, thriller, etc].” So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell readers why I write romance novels.
I suffered a lot of tragedy while I was growing up, the worst of which was the death of my mother just as I was entering my teens. I felt as though I went from 13 to 35 overnight, and when my friends were off having fun, I was cooking and cleaning and helping my little brother with his homework. Romance novels were an escape for me. The Wolf and the Dove, The Far Pavilions, Whitney My Love, Rebecca, The Thorne Birds… if the book featured one man and one woman falling in love, I read it! Romance novels offered me hope for a happy future filled with love (hokey, maybe, but I was a naïve teen). As a young wife and mother, I discovered Silhouette Romance Novels. These books were short and sweet and uplifting. Each and every story put a smile on my face, and the happily-ever-after endings always boosted my spirits. Are romance novels real? No. Does every real-life relationship end in HEA? Of course not. But if I wanted doom and gloom, I’d watch the evening news.
As an author, I can’t think of a better way to use my talent than to bring pure enjoyment to my readers. I tell people that I write cotton candy for the mind. Think about that. When you were a kid and you put a small cloud of that wispy confection on your tongue, what did you do? You smiled. And maybe you even laughed. That’s the reaction I’m going for with my short, upbeat stories. That’s why I write romance novels. So if you’re looking to get lost for a few hours in a fun, cheery story, I hope you’ll try one of my books.
Donna's latest release, Reclaim My Heart , is available in paperback and e-book here:
Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reclaim-My-Heart-ebook/dp/B00CQ5YROW/
Link to B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1046638236?ean=2940016699684 Link to Apple: Coming Soon!
Link to Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Reclaim-My-Heart/book-YMUjpTKW90W7AncolaFDoQ/page1.html?s=Q7MdkFTDHkCKTQersJmkNw&r=1
Link to Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939000203/
She is all over the Internet:
Author Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor
Author Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz
Author Website/blog: http://DonnaFasano.blogspot.com
Goodreads author/book page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1111480.Donna_Fasano
Link to Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/DonnaFaz
Today, she is here to talk about a topic that is near and dear to my heart - writing romance. Why I Write Romance Novels
By Donna Fasano
I can’t tell you how many times over the course of my 20-plus year career as a published romance author I have been asked, “When are you going to write a real book? You know, a [insert genre of choice: mystery, historical, thriller, etc].” So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell readers why I write romance novels.
I suffered a lot of tragedy while I was growing up, the worst of which was the death of my mother just as I was entering my teens. I felt as though I went from 13 to 35 overnight, and when my friends were off having fun, I was cooking and cleaning and helping my little brother with his homework. Romance novels were an escape for me. The Wolf and the Dove, The Far Pavilions, Whitney My Love, Rebecca, The Thorne Birds… if the book featured one man and one woman falling in love, I read it! Romance novels offered me hope for a happy future filled with love (hokey, maybe, but I was a naïve teen). As a young wife and mother, I discovered Silhouette Romance Novels. These books were short and sweet and uplifting. Each and every story put a smile on my face, and the happily-ever-after endings always boosted my spirits. Are romance novels real? No. Does every real-life relationship end in HEA? Of course not. But if I wanted doom and gloom, I’d watch the evening news.
As an author, I can’t think of a better way to use my talent than to bring pure enjoyment to my readers. I tell people that I write cotton candy for the mind. Think about that. When you were a kid and you put a small cloud of that wispy confection on your tongue, what did you do? You smiled. And maybe you even laughed. That’s the reaction I’m going for with my short, upbeat stories. That’s why I write romance novels. So if you’re looking to get lost for a few hours in a fun, cheery story, I hope you’ll try one of my books.
Donna's latest release, Reclaim My Heart , is available in paperback and e-book here:
Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reclaim-My-Heart-ebook/dp/B00CQ5YROW/
Link to B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1046638236?ean=2940016699684 Link to Apple: Coming Soon!
Link to Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Reclaim-My-Heart/book-YMUjpTKW90W7AncolaFDoQ/page1.html?s=Q7MdkFTDHkCKTQersJmkNw&r=1
Link to Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939000203/
She is all over the Internet:
Author Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor
Author Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/DonnaFaz
Author Website/blog: http://DonnaFasano.blogspot.com
Goodreads author/book page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1111480.Donna_Fasano
Link to Pinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/DonnaFaz
July 29, 2013
Author Spotlight - New release!!!!!
I am so pleased to feature the newest release by my dear friend and former critique partner, Zee Monodee.
The Other Side
, the first in her
Island Girls trilogy
, is a multicultural story set on the beautiful island of Mauritius that she calls home.
Here's a little bit about Zee:
Zee is an author who grew up on a fence – on one side there was modernity and the global world, on the other there was culture and traditions. Putting up with the culture for half of her life, one day she decided she'd stand tall on her wall and dip toes every now and then into both sides of her non-conventional upbringing.
From this resolution spanned a world of adaptation and learning to live on said wall. The realization also came that many other young women of the world were on their own fence. This particular position became her favorite when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing – her heroines all sit 'on a fence', whether cultural or societal, in today's world or in times past, and face dilemmas about life and love.
Hailing from the multicultural island of Mauritius, Zee is a degree holder in Communications Science. She is a head-over-heels wife, in-over-her-head mum to a tween son, best-buddy-stepmum to a teenage lad, an incompetent domestic goddess, eternal dreamer, and an absolute, shameless bookholic. When she isn’t penning more stories and/or managing the Ubuntu line at Decadent Publishing, you can bet you’ll find her with her nose in her tablet, ‘drinking in’ a good book.
About the series:
- The Island Girls trilogy follows the 3 Hemant sisters – Lara, Neha, Diya – over the span of the 2000-2010 decade, chronicling the changing face of the Mauritian society over that crucial period.
Blurb:
Divorce paints a scarlet letter on her back when she returns to the culture-driven society of Mauritius. This same spotlight shines as a beacon of hope for the man who never stopped loving her. Can the second time around be the right one for these former teenage sweethearts?
Indian-origin Lara Reddy left London after her husband dumps her for a more accommodating uterus—at least, that’s what his desertion feels like. Bumping into him and his pregnant new missus doesn’t help matters any, and she thus jumps on a prestigious job offer. The kicker? The job is in Mauritius, the homeland of her parents, and a society she ran away from over a decade earlier. But once there, Lara has no escape. Not from the gossip, the contempt, the harassing matchmaking...and certainly not from the man she hoped never to meet again. The boy she’d loved and lost—white Mauritian native, Eric Marivaux.
Back when they were teens, Eric left her, and Lara vowed she’d never let herself be hurt again. Today, they are both adults, and facing the same crossroads they’d stood at so many years earlier.Lara now stands on the other side of Mauritian society. Will this be the impetus she needs to take a chance on Eric and love again?
Excerpt:
Lost in her thoughts, she rounded a dead corner of the hall, slamming into someone’s side. Disoriented and dizzy with confusion at the jolting oomph of impact against a solid form, she stumbled, losing control over her legs. She saw the walls moving up rapidly, but a strong pair of hands grabbed her under the arms before the back of her head hit the floor.
“Bon sang, mademoiselle! Où courez-vous comme ça?” a rich, deep masculine voice asked on the sharp yet lilting accent of white Mauritian natives.Where are you running to, miss? he’d asked, from what her rusty French could figure out.
Away from you. Something inside her acknowledged the danger before she could process his words. She knew that voice. Her head spun again, yet her mind was very alert.
Could it be…? No, it couldn’t. Her brain had to be playing tricks on her. The sound with its particular accent belonged to the very distant past. How was she hearing it at this moment? Had she fainted? That’s it. She wasn’t conscious, and since she’d probably worked herself to exhaustion, the condition had triggered all sorts of switches in her muddled consciousness. The image of the man from the airport burned itself into her mind, and she gasped. No!
“Is everything okay?” The chuckle had gone from the tone, replaced by worry. Solid strength still held her ribcage, the back of the hands warm and smooth where they touched her arms. The heat from them went to her head, churning all coherent thought into a jumble.
Her mind had to be playing a trick on her. He couldn’t be who she was imagining. When, after a few seconds, it didn’t appear like she’d come around, doubt invaded her heart. Your eyes won’t betray you, they’ll see the truth.
She risked a glance up beneath her lashes. She had to be certain if this was real or not. To know this was all a trick of her imagination….Lara encountered a tall form with broad shoulders outlined in a short-sleeved shirt. The lapels of the opened collar framed a strong jaw and a wide, full, and sensual mouth was set in a worried line above a square chin. A fine, straight nose sent faint shadows over his lips.
She had to gulp back the ominous lump wedged in her throat. Her heart beat a hammering throb in her chest, and her mouth went dry. Her suspicions looked dangerously close to being confirmed, and the nagging notion played havoc with her thoughts. She closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she found herself staring into a pair of blue irises. A blinding flash went through her head, plunging her heart to her knees. She’d recognize those irises anywhere. Deep-set, bright, and laughing eyes the colour of the deepest ocean. The heavy, golden locks brushing his forehead accentuated the frown knitting his eyebrows. Locks that had somehow broken free from the thick, smoothed-back hair. She itched to sweep them back, to run the tips of her fingers along his smooth skin, like she used to in the past, onto the soft buzz of hair he used to keep so short….
Her mind went into a crazy spin, and all her senses reeled as everything became a vivid kaleidoscope of colours. Her stomach heaved, and her knees went weak as her body became limp. But the man’s strong grip was still on her, and he kept her steady on her feet. “Are you okay? I think you better sit down here,” he said.
The voice made its way into her perception, and she couldn’t suppress the relief that flooded her. His voice had always had such power over her. He still hasn’t recognised me.
She’d changed a lot in the past decade, and with her head still bent forward, her hair shielded her face. She wanted to escape. She wanted to close her eyes, and then open them to find it had all been a dream. Or a nightmare. But this was real, and how long could she remain incognito? Lara swallowed painfully. Of all the people from her past, fate had had to choose that precise person to shove along her path.
All of this battled inside her mind as she allowed him to lead her to a sofa. After having lowered her into her seat with extreme care and gentleness, her saviour sat down next to her, turning to face her profile. The movement triggered the air to move around him, and the smell of his aftershave—fresh, spicy, and very elusive—filled her nostrils and made its way into her foggy mind. He still smells the same. Like a cool sea breeze wafting through the unique musk of a man’s warm skin.
Lara took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She would have to face him sooner or later. A part of her had always known she ran the risk of coming across him on the island. She’d preferred to hide from the probability, but she couldn’t run anymore. So she lifted her head. A frown marred the wide forehead on the face she encountered. As devastatingly handsome as ever. Or maybe, even more than ever. His features were arresting, masculine, adult. No longer those of a teenager.
Her mouth went dry again, and her heart beat faster when the straight line of his lips broke into a large smile a few seconds later. His eyes lit up as well, and widened. “I’ll be damned! Lara? Is it really you?” he asked, switching effortlessly to English.
She forced a smile and took a deep breath. “Hello, Eric. How are you?”
Buy Links:
Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=817&osCsid=uk690a1muqacdt8v6csmtuo7d2
Amazon (available at the discounted price of $2.99) http://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00E77XHG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375035073&sr=8-1&keywords=the+other+side+zee+monodee
Here's a little bit about Zee:
Zee is an author who grew up on a fence – on one side there was modernity and the global world, on the other there was culture and traditions. Putting up with the culture for half of her life, one day she decided she'd stand tall on her wall and dip toes every now and then into both sides of her non-conventional upbringing.
From this resolution spanned a world of adaptation and learning to live on said wall. The realization also came that many other young women of the world were on their own fence. This particular position became her favorite when she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing – her heroines all sit 'on a fence', whether cultural or societal, in today's world or in times past, and face dilemmas about life and love.
Hailing from the multicultural island of Mauritius, Zee is a degree holder in Communications Science. She is a head-over-heels wife, in-over-her-head mum to a tween son, best-buddy-stepmum to a teenage lad, an incompetent domestic goddess, eternal dreamer, and an absolute, shameless bookholic. When she isn’t penning more stories and/or managing the Ubuntu line at Decadent Publishing, you can bet you’ll find her with her nose in her tablet, ‘drinking in’ a good book.
About the series:
- The Island Girls trilogy follows the 3 Hemant sisters – Lara, Neha, Diya – over the span of the 2000-2010 decade, chronicling the changing face of the Mauritian society over that crucial period.
Blurb:Divorce paints a scarlet letter on her back when she returns to the culture-driven society of Mauritius. This same spotlight shines as a beacon of hope for the man who never stopped loving her. Can the second time around be the right one for these former teenage sweethearts?
Indian-origin Lara Reddy left London after her husband dumps her for a more accommodating uterus—at least, that’s what his desertion feels like. Bumping into him and his pregnant new missus doesn’t help matters any, and she thus jumps on a prestigious job offer. The kicker? The job is in Mauritius, the homeland of her parents, and a society she ran away from over a decade earlier. But once there, Lara has no escape. Not from the gossip, the contempt, the harassing matchmaking...and certainly not from the man she hoped never to meet again. The boy she’d loved and lost—white Mauritian native, Eric Marivaux.
Back when they were teens, Eric left her, and Lara vowed she’d never let herself be hurt again. Today, they are both adults, and facing the same crossroads they’d stood at so many years earlier.Lara now stands on the other side of Mauritian society. Will this be the impetus she needs to take a chance on Eric and love again?
Excerpt:
Lost in her thoughts, she rounded a dead corner of the hall, slamming into someone’s side. Disoriented and dizzy with confusion at the jolting oomph of impact against a solid form, she stumbled, losing control over her legs. She saw the walls moving up rapidly, but a strong pair of hands grabbed her under the arms before the back of her head hit the floor.
“Bon sang, mademoiselle! Où courez-vous comme ça?” a rich, deep masculine voice asked on the sharp yet lilting accent of white Mauritian natives.Where are you running to, miss? he’d asked, from what her rusty French could figure out.
Away from you. Something inside her acknowledged the danger before she could process his words. She knew that voice. Her head spun again, yet her mind was very alert.
Could it be…? No, it couldn’t. Her brain had to be playing tricks on her. The sound with its particular accent belonged to the very distant past. How was she hearing it at this moment? Had she fainted? That’s it. She wasn’t conscious, and since she’d probably worked herself to exhaustion, the condition had triggered all sorts of switches in her muddled consciousness. The image of the man from the airport burned itself into her mind, and she gasped. No!
“Is everything okay?” The chuckle had gone from the tone, replaced by worry. Solid strength still held her ribcage, the back of the hands warm and smooth where they touched her arms. The heat from them went to her head, churning all coherent thought into a jumble.
Her mind had to be playing a trick on her. He couldn’t be who she was imagining. When, after a few seconds, it didn’t appear like she’d come around, doubt invaded her heart. Your eyes won’t betray you, they’ll see the truth.
She risked a glance up beneath her lashes. She had to be certain if this was real or not. To know this was all a trick of her imagination….Lara encountered a tall form with broad shoulders outlined in a short-sleeved shirt. The lapels of the opened collar framed a strong jaw and a wide, full, and sensual mouth was set in a worried line above a square chin. A fine, straight nose sent faint shadows over his lips.
She had to gulp back the ominous lump wedged in her throat. Her heart beat a hammering throb in her chest, and her mouth went dry. Her suspicions looked dangerously close to being confirmed, and the nagging notion played havoc with her thoughts. She closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she found herself staring into a pair of blue irises. A blinding flash went through her head, plunging her heart to her knees. She’d recognize those irises anywhere. Deep-set, bright, and laughing eyes the colour of the deepest ocean. The heavy, golden locks brushing his forehead accentuated the frown knitting his eyebrows. Locks that had somehow broken free from the thick, smoothed-back hair. She itched to sweep them back, to run the tips of her fingers along his smooth skin, like she used to in the past, onto the soft buzz of hair he used to keep so short….
Her mind went into a crazy spin, and all her senses reeled as everything became a vivid kaleidoscope of colours. Her stomach heaved, and her knees went weak as her body became limp. But the man’s strong grip was still on her, and he kept her steady on her feet. “Are you okay? I think you better sit down here,” he said.
The voice made its way into her perception, and she couldn’t suppress the relief that flooded her. His voice had always had such power over her. He still hasn’t recognised me.
She’d changed a lot in the past decade, and with her head still bent forward, her hair shielded her face. She wanted to escape. She wanted to close her eyes, and then open them to find it had all been a dream. Or a nightmare. But this was real, and how long could she remain incognito? Lara swallowed painfully. Of all the people from her past, fate had had to choose that precise person to shove along her path.
All of this battled inside her mind as she allowed him to lead her to a sofa. After having lowered her into her seat with extreme care and gentleness, her saviour sat down next to her, turning to face her profile. The movement triggered the air to move around him, and the smell of his aftershave—fresh, spicy, and very elusive—filled her nostrils and made its way into her foggy mind. He still smells the same. Like a cool sea breeze wafting through the unique musk of a man’s warm skin.
Lara took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She would have to face him sooner or later. A part of her had always known she ran the risk of coming across him on the island. She’d preferred to hide from the probability, but she couldn’t run anymore. So she lifted her head. A frown marred the wide forehead on the face she encountered. As devastatingly handsome as ever. Or maybe, even more than ever. His features were arresting, masculine, adult. No longer those of a teenager.
Her mouth went dry again, and her heart beat faster when the straight line of his lips broke into a large smile a few seconds later. His eyes lit up as well, and widened. “I’ll be damned! Lara? Is it really you?” he asked, switching effortlessly to English.
She forced a smile and took a deep breath. “Hello, Eric. How are you?”
Buy Links:
Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=817&osCsid=uk690a1muqacdt8v6csmtuo7d2
Amazon (available at the discounted price of $2.99) http://www.amazon.com/Other-Side-Island-Girls-ebook/dp/B00E77XHG6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375035073&sr=8-1&keywords=the+other+side+zee+monodee
July 26, 2013
Fun Friday!
Now that
A Woman's Worth
has gone to my editor, and I can breathe against for a few days, it's a good time for me to share a few things to make you smile.
Recently I saw this on author Vonda Howard's blog and thought how perfectly it portrays how I felt last week. LOL!
And remember the pictures of the Stafford Brothers I posted a while back? Well, I found another picture of Charles, whose book is next. I have a title now - Till You Come Back to Me . Here's another shot of Marc's twin. This really made me smile...
And here's the title song by the Queen... And, finally, I got a real kick out of this one...
Recently I saw this on author Vonda Howard's blog and thought how perfectly it portrays how I felt last week. LOL!
And remember the pictures of the Stafford Brothers I posted a while back? Well, I found another picture of Charles, whose book is next. I have a title now - Till You Come Back to Me . Here's another shot of Marc's twin. This really made me smile...
And here's the title song by the Queen... And, finally, I got a real kick out of this one...
July 24, 2013
Author Spotlight - Nonnie Jules
Today the spotlight is shining on author Nonnie Jules. I met her on Twitter, and we've been chatting back for forth ever since.
Nonnie was born in TX but was relocated to Louisiana when she was a toddler. She still lives there today with her husband and their two daughters and many, many animals. She loves to write from many genres, including poetry, fiction and non, as well as How-To guides.
She has written a wonderful book that every parent should read called " THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS", 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can't Help But Love!
Blurb:
This guide is filled with 100 tips on how you can raise girls "everyone can't help but love!" The author, Nonnie Jules takes you on a journey of how she used these tools that kept her adult daughter with her virginity still intact through high school, college and grad school. And she proudly exclaims that it is still intact today! In her very humorous manner, she tells how she started teaching her daughters when they were still in her womb and she swears by this method. Real-life situations along with methods on how to effectively deal with each and every one filled with a little humor thrown into the mix, makes this a really good, fun read. The author is quick to share that she is far from being a PERFECT MOMMY ("just ask my daughters"...she says), but she is a really GOOD one and that's all you need to be to raise children who are perfectly suited to become productive, caring members of society. Available on at Kindle: http://amzn.to/12iqroL and in paperback http://amzn.to/14GPQJ9; and Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/12Ld3Vj
Upcoming Projects:
My highly-anticipated novel entitled "Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend" has a release date of August 22, 2013. You can read an excerpt of it here http://wp.me/P3sUCq-gj.
Parent Tip #97
REMAIN CALM, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HER TELLING YOU SOMETHING YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR. Remember opening the door wide for her to be able to come to you with anything? Well, here is the perfect opportunity. Sometimes our daughters will have things to share with us that will shock us. Sometimes to our very core. But, we must remain calm in our words, our expressions and manner lest we make her feel as if she made a mistake by sharing with us. Listen first and when it is your time to speak, choose your words very carefully so as not to shut the door on her sharing with you the next time. You can do this!
You can find out more about Nonnie and her books here:Blog: http://nonniewrites.wordpress.com Website: nonniejules.com Twitter: @nonniejules
Nonnie was born in TX but was relocated to Louisiana when she was a toddler. She still lives there today with her husband and their two daughters and many, many animals. She loves to write from many genres, including poetry, fiction and non, as well as How-To guides.
She has written a wonderful book that every parent should read called " THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS", 100 Tips On Raising Daughters Everyone Can't Help But Love!
Blurb:This guide is filled with 100 tips on how you can raise girls "everyone can't help but love!" The author, Nonnie Jules takes you on a journey of how she used these tools that kept her adult daughter with her virginity still intact through high school, college and grad school. And she proudly exclaims that it is still intact today! In her very humorous manner, she tells how she started teaching her daughters when they were still in her womb and she swears by this method. Real-life situations along with methods on how to effectively deal with each and every one filled with a little humor thrown into the mix, makes this a really good, fun read. The author is quick to share that she is far from being a PERFECT MOMMY ("just ask my daughters"...she says), but she is a really GOOD one and that's all you need to be to raise children who are perfectly suited to become productive, caring members of society. Available on at Kindle: http://amzn.to/12iqroL and in paperback http://amzn.to/14GPQJ9; and Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/12Ld3Vj
Upcoming Projects:
My highly-anticipated novel entitled "Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend" has a release date of August 22, 2013. You can read an excerpt of it here http://wp.me/P3sUCq-gj.
Parent Tip #97
REMAIN CALM, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HER TELLING YOU SOMETHING YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR. Remember opening the door wide for her to be able to come to you with anything? Well, here is the perfect opportunity. Sometimes our daughters will have things to share with us that will shock us. Sometimes to our very core. But, we must remain calm in our words, our expressions and manner lest we make her feel as if she made a mistake by sharing with us. Listen first and when it is your time to speak, choose your words very carefully so as not to shut the door on her sharing with you the next time. You can do this!
You can find out more about Nonnie and her books here:Blog: http://nonniewrites.wordpress.com Website: nonniejules.com Twitter: @nonniejules
