Linda Nightingale's Blog, page 75
June 16, 2014
Dark Cotillion By Hadena James
Hadena will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
I love the title and cover for this novel and would like to introduce the author, Hadena James:
What is your greatest temptation:
In men: Green eyes, a man could be the worst person in the world and if he had green eyes, I’d still fawn over him a little.
In food: Mexican, I have never had a time when I wasn’t in the mood for Mexican food. When that day comes, I will know there is something terrible wrong with me.
In clothes: T-Shirts… I hate having to dress up for any reason. And I am dorky enough that if I do have to dress up, but let’s say, I’m going to have a coat on the entire time, I’ll wear a T-Shirt under the coat with a skirt or dress pants.
What is your greatest weakness (example: buying shoes)? My Kindle. I resisted moving into the digital book age for a long time because I knew that it would become a problem. Then my husband bought me a Kindle Fire for Valentine’s Day. It allows me to read and download instant videos from Amazon. It never leaves my side…
If you could have any kind of car, what would it be? A Hummer, the original. I know it isn’t environmentally friendly or even “cool” now days, but I am an accident magnet. I was once parked at a stop light and had a guy merge into me. My SUV was fine, his had to be towed away. At the time, I was driving an Isuzu Rodeo, and that isn’t the first or the last time odd things like that have happened to me while driving. So something large and well-built is a good idea for me.
Your dream home – mountains or ocean? A forest with a pond. I love to sit by the water and read, but I also love wandering around in the woods.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it? When I suffer from writer’s block it’s usually because I know what I’m about to write is going to be gruesome (I also write a thriller series) and I need to wrap my mind around all the details. Normally, I talk through these problems with a specific group of people. On more than one occasion, this has gotten me funny looks because the conversation has happened in public.
What are you currently working on?
I just published the 4th book in my thriller series and am diving into the first book of a new fantasy series, which I’m hoping to release in August. However, the fantasy series is still very hush-hush.
Are you nervous about friends reading your book?
Nope, I have copies of each completed novel printed and bound to give to my friends and family before it even goes to the editor. This ensures that I know where most of the confusing parts are and can fix them immediately.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri. What I’ve discovered over the years is that I love to travel, but regardless of where I go, Columbia is my home, so I continue to live there.
If you could hop on a plane now, where would you go?
Berlin, Germany. I went several years ago with my best friend and loved it. We spent nine days wandering around the city. The map seems to be permanently etched into my brain and I would go back in a heartbeat.
Have you ever been abducted by aliens? :-)
No, if I was, I would feel sorry for the abductors. I’m a very curious person, constantly trying to learn new things. I would have at least a bazillion questions to ask. And there’s a good chance I’d write a story about it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you, Hadena. Nice to know something about the author. Now, let’s talk about Dark Cotillion and see it’s intriguing cover.
BLURB:
Brenna Strachan is half-Demon, half-Witch and it’s the eve of her 30th birthday. This means that she will stop aging and come into all her Demon powers. But there are forces at work hoping to keep her from Maturing. They must kill her in the short time that she is mortal. If they fail, she will take her place among the most powerful beings on Earth. What will it cost her to survive?
Excerpt:
While most Demons were red, green or blue, I was purple. Not a deep, rich purple or even a dark, shimmery purple, but a soft, pastel purple, lilac to be exact.
This was where half-breeds had problems. Demons were denser than humans were. Everything was slightly larger in a Demon and more compact. The bone density of a Demon was nearly three times that of a Human. When Demons said they were big boned, they meant it. On top of that, most Demons had an impressive rack of horns. Not like deer horns, but like elephant tusks that could weigh nearly a thousand pounds all by themselves. My father kept his ground down using to make them manageable.
My pitiful horns might weigh 9 ounces. That means, I have a height complex and horn envy.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I’ve been writing for over two decades and before that, I was creating my own bedtime stories to tell myself. I penned my first short story at the ripe old age of 8. It was a fable about how the raccoon got its eye-mask and was roughly three pages of handwritten, 8 year old scrawl. My mother still has it and occasionally, I still dig it out and admire it.
When I got my first computer, I took all my handwritten stories and typed them in. Afterwards, I tossed the originals. In my early twenties, I had a bit of a writer’s meltdown and deleted everything. So, with the exception of the story about the raccoon, I actually have none of my writings from before I was 23. Which is sad, because I had a half dozen other novels and well over two hundred short stories. It has all been offered up to the computer and writing gods as a sacrifice and show of humility or some such nonsense that makes me feel less like an idiot about it.
I have been offered contracts with publishing houses in the past and always turned them down. Now that I have experimented with being an Indie Author, I really like it and I’m really glad I turned them down. However, if you had asked me this in the early years of 2000, I would have told you that I was an idiot (and it was a huge contributing factor to my deleting all my work).
When I’m not writing, I play in a steel-tip dart league and enjoy going to dart tournaments. I enjoy renaissance festivals and sanitized pirates who sing sea shanties. My appetite for reading is ferocious and I consume two to three books a week as well as writing my own. Aside from introducing me to darts, my SO has introduced me to camping, which I, surprisingly, enjoy. We can often be found in the summer at Mark Twain Lake in Missouri, where his parents own a campground.
I am a native of Columbia, Missouri, which I will probably call home for the rest of my life, but I love to travel. Day trips, week trips, vacations on other continents, wherever the path takes me is where I want to be and I’m hoping to be able to travel more in the future.
http://www.facebook.com/hadenajames
hadenajames.wordpress.com
@hadenajames
Newsletter: http://forms.aweber.com/form/77/48212477.htm
Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-cotillion-hadena-james/1113959473?ean=2940045115919
Barnes & Noble Print: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-cotillion-hadena-james/1112797339?ean=9781479212279
FOR MORE CHANCES TO WIN THE $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD, FOLLOW HADENA ON HER FUN TOUR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HER AT EACH STOP:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-nbtm-book-tour-dark-cotillion.html
June 3, 2014
This stop is part of a virtual book tour organized by ...
This stop is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jackie will be awarding a paperback edition of “Wind River Refuge” penned as J.M. Anton (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. If the winner is international, the author will send a digital copy of Fateful Waters. Click the banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Weather is our constant companion, and when it behaves like a benevolent parent we pay little attention to it. Angry or out of control it becomes terrifying and can change the landscape as well as lives. So I asked my characters to take a ride on the wild side of weather. “Uncharted Storms” takes readers on a journey from a gentle summer rain to raging storms in the cosmos.
What if you were caught up in Uncharted Storms?
What if? Erica’s world didn’t come to an end in 2012 while she was in middle school? She manages to make it through college before an apocalyptic event changes her life forever. The science fiction story Terra Beyond 2012 shares Erica’s voyage.
What if? You and your best friend were traveling down the highway on the way home from an extended trip when you are caught in a blinding thunderstorm, and then are hit by lightning? To make matters worse you are injured, and wake in a strange world. Find out what happens to Chris in the tale Riding Lightning.
What if? You were on your way to meet a friend for dinner and caught in a flash flood? That is exactly what happens to Alexandra in the story Flashflood Texas Style.
What if? A boy you haven’t seen in two decades winds up sitting on your front porch? Find out what Casey comes up with on A Rainy Night.
What if? You were caught out in a winter storm on icy, drifted, walks and streets when a skidding car comes directly at you? Find out what happened to eighteen-year-old Annie when she is hit from behind in the short story A Tumble in the Snow.
About the Author:
Jackie Anton is the mother of two grown children, and grandmother of two. She and her husband, of forty-three years, continue to ride daily. They live on a mini-farm in rural Ohio, and share their little slice of horse heaven with two Quarter Horses, a Haflinger, a rescued dog, and a calico barn cat.
Jackie is an accomplished equestrian, with a life time of experience: as trainer, exhibitor, 4-H and youth club coach, as well as a horse show judge; the author brings many years of experience working with horses and young riders to her award winning Backyard Horse Tales Series.
Uncharted Storms: Short stories are aimed at the Young Adult and older reader. Look for more short tales in the future.
Backyard Horse Tales: Sox 2nd Edition Brings to light the mutual love between a handicapped colt and a lonely child with a learning disability. Find out how this pair team up to triumph over life’s roadblocks, and why their story won the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award of Excellence for Family Friendly Media. (Reading level age 8 thru Adult)
BYHT 2 “Frosty and the Nightstalker” was one of four finalists in the E-Book Fiction category for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, then the paperback went on to earn the Mom’s Choice Award for Juvenile Historical Fiction.
Jackie is hard at work on BYHT 3 Don’t Call Me Love. You can catch a peek at her beautiful cover on the Backyard Horse Tales Face Book Fan Page: : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Backyard-Horse-Tales/190283981002767
Author Website: http://talesbyjackie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jackie.anton2
FB Adult Novel Fan Page: page: http://www.facebook.com/authorjmanton?ref=hl
Email: talesbyjackie@gmail.com
Online Autographed Book Covers: http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/backyardhorse
Blog: Writing for readers in a .com world http://jackieanton.com/
Buy Uncharted Storms: Short Stories of Hearts at Risk at Smashwords, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. Autographed Paperback Copies are available at Jackie’s Author’s Den. U.S. Readers click on the cover of your choice and follow the Signed Book link to order.
J. M. Anton (adult novels) can be purchased at Amazon.
May 28, 2014
Demon of Envy
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jennifer will be awarding a $25 Amazon Gift Card, plus a signed print copy of GODS OF LOVE (1-3) and a set of the GODS OF LOVE cover postcards to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post, during the tour (International Giveaway).
Phthonos, god of envy and jealousy, has been given a second chance at life and love in the mortal realm. He is desperate to make up for the mistakes of his past. But is Thon more demon than god? And if the demon Envy wins out, how will this lonely god ever find room in his heart for love?
Olivia is an ordinary woman living an ordered life, but at thirty-two true romance appears to have eluded her. Everywhere she looks people are in relationships or falling in love, but her career as an administrator and her charity work are enough to keep the demon of envy at bay.
Or so she thinks…until the moment he turns up on her doorstep with a demand that rips her life and her heart wide open and leaves her at risk of eternal torment.
DEMON OF ENVY is the fifth novella in the GODS OF LOVE series, but each story is designed as a stand-alone with the Greek gods of desire as a common theme. The series can be read in any order.
Now enjoy an excerpt:
“You want me to walk through the fires of Hell to save you? Phthonos, you ask too much.”
“Not to save me, Olivia. To save yourself.” The dark tone of his correction shivered down her spine in a sensation that was equal parts fear and desire. She knew this was a dream; had relived the sleep-induced fiction every night this week. She needed to wake up before the bit where he started to burn, where she reached toward him and…oh God, the flames were consuming him already. It was too fast, too powerful…his beautiful face twisted in pain, the clear green eyes flashing desperation as he stretched out a clutching hand…she leaned in, connected with his fingers, and the greedy flames engulfed her too…
For the sixth time that week Liv sat bolt upright in bed, the scream still lodged in her throat and the bedcovers in a twisted mess around her legs. Sweat coated her body. Not the heady exotic scent of post-coital perspiration, either. No. This was the sharp acrid scent of sheer terror, of illness. Of something wrong at her core.
She reached for the brown hair tie on her wrist and snapped it. Once. Twice. A third time. Count to three, then snap again, over and over, the rhythm so familiar by now she didn’t need to think. Gradually her heart stopped its uncomfortable thumping and her breathing began to even out. The anxiety attack was receding.
One last snap of the wrist band, the one for luck that she always had to finish with, and she was back in control once again. A swift kick with her left foot removed the sheet and she climbed wearily out of bed before turning back to straighten the tangled covers. Phthonos. Whoever the heck you are, whichever little piece of my imagination that you sprang from, you need to let me get some sleep, hon.
Copyright 2014 Jennifer Lynne
Jennifer Lynne lives in Melbourne, Australia, and writes short contemporary erotic romance, mostly with paranormal/fantasy elements. When she’s not writing what her family and friends call “porn for chicks” and what she prefers to call “super-hot romance for intelligent readers”, she is working in the admin day job, running around after two teenage daughters and trying to find time for her lovely new husband.
Jennifer is published with Red Sage and Breathless Press. Over the past two years she has also embarked on an indie journey with the publication of her GODS OF LOVE romance series featuring erotic Greek gods and modern-day mortals in need of sexual healing.
Find her on the web at:
Website and blog: http://www.jenniferlynne.com.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Lynne-Romance-Author/297504180262670
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JenniLynnAuthor
May 26, 2014
Unseasonal War …. Author David Englund
BLURB:
Clark Jackson’s travels, for the first time, put him in touch with an intriguing species remarkably human-like. He becomes instantly fascinated with the Fronents and envious of their advanced technology. Striving to befriend them and learn more, his uncontrolled enthusiasm forsakes the use of appropriate caution and suspicion. Could their cold reception be a byproduct of their war with a vile species in this corner of the universe, or something else?
The magnificent splendor of an unexplored galaxy, new species to encounter and the adrenalin rush of space battle feed Clark’s awestruck hunger for exploration and adventure. Unfortunately, the more he learns the more he questions; including the wisdom of his entangled involvement in their war.
Meanwhile, back home in Des Moines, Iowa, Clark attempts to maintain an inconspicuous lifestyle to avoid attracting the attention of a certain relentless federal agency. His girlfriend’s own secret, however, could unravel it all.
**Even though the book is the second book in the series, it IS standalone
~~~~~~~~~~~~
David will be awarding a digital copy of Unseasonal War to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop during the tour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
Clark studied the face before him. The old creature carried a soft, wise and caring tone during the discussion. This alien was easy to admire, however, it was difficult to get beyond the ruthless features. The enormous bulk, massive display of teeth, scaly skin and intense eyes gave Clark shivers. It would ease the conversation to talk with eyes closed but probably create the opposite affect desired for diplomacy.
Clark forced himself back to the discussion. “Is this why you live in the caves?”
The pair of alligator eyes saddened. “We did not always live in the caves. Many vrems ago we lived out on the plains. We farmed many fields and grew many crops. We had villages to congregate in but most of our people lived in the vast openness of the farms. There were many more of our people back then too. Then came the aliens. They destroyed our farms and stole a great many of our people. We have since discovered that they use our people to work as slaves on their world.”
“Did you already know these aliens when they attacked?”
“At that time we had never had any contact with anyone from the stars. We know them well now, however.”
“Have you met other aliens since then?”
“Let us stay on the topic of our three races, shall we? Do your people fight any wars with other races? How do these conflicts begin for you?”
“Our world has not gotten to the point yet in which we can travel to other worlds, so we have not met any alien races that I am aware of.”
“And yet you are here.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
David Englund is a storyteller (science fiction author) and teaches economics at North Dakota State University. His first two titles, Upsetting the Tides and UNSEASONAL WAR are available on Amazon. Camouflaged Encounters is due out in late 2014 and the fourth and fifth books are in progress.
http://amazon.com/dp/B00F4MHDWM
http://davidjenglund.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/david.englund.104
Follow David’s tour for more chances to win this exciting read!
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-unseasonal-war.html
May 18, 2014
A Darker Rain by Claudine Kapel
I’d like to introduce the author in the following interview. It was nice getting to know Claudine a bit better. Say with us for an intriguing excerpt of A Darker Rain and follow her on her tour for more chances to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
Claudine, I prefer to drive a manual transmission as well. Odd coincidence…
What is your greatest temptation:
In men: Clever, funny, fit – with an appreciation for the simple things in life
In food: Chocolate in any form – milk chocolate, dark or white, they’re all good
In clothes: Casual, comfortable – you won’t find any stiletto heels in my closet
What is your greatest weakness (example: buying shoes)?
Buying e-books and music. I have an enormous collection of each and am always on the lookout for something new that appeals. I should consider buying stock in Amazon and Apple.
If you could have any kind of car, what would it be?
That’s tricky because I don’t know how to drive a standard. So while I find a variety of high-performance sports cars appealing, the reality is I need an automatic. My preference is for two-door coupes that handle well. My characters, on the other hand, have no issues with driving a standard. Ryan Cole drives an Audi TT (although the model isn’t specified in the book).
Your dream home – mountains or ocean?
Definitely ocean. There’s something elemental about the ocean – the sounds, the scents, the rhythmic power of the waves. I love to snorkel and I indulge whenever vacation travel brings me to a tropical beach. My bucket list includes swimming with wild dolphins.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?
I suspect most writers get stuck now and again. Whenever I feel blocked, I take a break from what I’m working on to create some space for fresh ideas to percolate. I generally have more than one creative work in process at the same time so I tend to go with the flow, working with whatever ideas arise. I also sometimes write chapters out of sequence within the same book, if that’s what comes up. So I may stop working on a scene that I’m stuck on and move on to another scene or chapter that’s easier to express.
What are you currently working on?
I recently published my first novel, A Darker Rain, which is the first book in the Ryan Cole action-adventure series. The series follows a team of investigators who tackle unconventional security threats, including those posed by beings and technology from other worlds.
I’ve finished a first draft of the second book in the series and I’m working with my editor to get that book finalized and ready for publication. In the second book, Cole and his team are on the hunt for a spaceship that has crashed in the Mojave Desert, while someone from Cole’s past engages him in a dangerous investigation that puts him in the crosshairs of his greatest adversary.
At the same time, I’m also writing the third book in the series, in which Cole and his team go head-to-head with a new and dangerous threat – an alien that feeds on human blood – while Cole has to deal with the implications of newly discovered alien technology.
Are you nervous about friends reading your book?
Not really. I’m happy with the book and how all the pieces came together. I’m also pleased with the feedback I’ve received so far. I’m excited to see how the book’s path will unfold and who else will connect with it.
Where are you from?
I live in Toronto, Ontario. It’s an awesome city – Canada’s largest – offering a wealth of things to see and do, interesting neighborhoods and plenty of greenery. There are also many coffee shops here that serve as good locations to people watch and contemplate book plots.
If you could hop on a plane now, where would you go?
That’s a tough question because there are many places I’d like to visit. I’d like to continue exploring the U.S. Pacific Northwest, since that’s where the Ryan Cole series is set. I think I’d like to explore Oregon and the Oregon coast, as it represents the central setting of the third book. Given my love of oceans, I’d also like to visit the islands of Hawaii, especially Kauai.
Have you ever been abducted by aliens? :-)
Nope. And I don’t know anyone who has. I would, however, be delighted to meet some friendly aliens. I’m sure they would have a lot of fascinating stories to share.
The Ryan Cole series is set in a modern day Earth where beings from other worlds have started playing a more active role in the day-to-day affairs of the planet. Some of these beings have darker intentions, offering advanced weapons and technology to their nefarious human allies. As Cole discovers, it isn’t always easy to discern friend from foe, especially since many of the new arrivals to the planet have taken on a human form.
~~~~~~~~ Thanks Claudine. Now, here is that exciting blurb and excerpt promised:
BLURB:
“It’s definitely not a good time to be going into the woods of Hawkley Ridge.”
When a red-eyed wildcat starts threatening ranchers in the Pacific Northwest, Ryan Cole 
recognizes the danger is far more menacing than the ranchers realize. Cole specializes in tackling unconventional security threats, particularly those with alien origins.
His investigation puts him in the crosshairs of Antoine Drake, an international arms dealer with a penchant for weapons from other worlds. Both men are hot on the trail of powerful alien artifacts known as guardian stones.
Cole and his team of investigators embark on a dangerous quest to recover the guardian stones before they can be assembled into the ultimate alien weapon. To succeed, Cole must also decipher the wildcat’s deadly secrets.
But in the woods of Hawkley Ridge, it’s easy for the hunter to become the prey.
A Darker Rain is the first book in the Ryan Cole series.
EXCERPT:
“An alien capable of assuming human form might also be capable of assuming a human form with specific details, like the retinal pattern of a dead man.”
“How do we fight that?”
“We figure out what makes them tick, and then we find a way to counter them. Just like we do when we confront any other type of military threat.”
“I’m glad we have you on board,” said Beecham. “I trust you’ll make this your top priority.”
“You know we will,” Cole replied. “So, do you have any plans for this morning?”
“Why do you ask?” queried Beecham.
“I have a briefing with members of my team at ten. I thought it might be valuable for us to compare notes. We’ll even provide the coffee.”
Beecham looked thoughtfully at Cole, feeling a sense of relief. “Will that rogue Dalton be there?”
“Of course.”
“Hmm … And what do I get out of it? I can’t see any point paying you guys your exorbitant fees if I have to do all the work.”
“We’ll see about that,” said Cole. “Do you like cats?”
“Cats? No, I’m a dog person myself. Why?”
“Because I think you’re going to find this cat especially interesting.”
“Well, that seems fair,” said Beecham.
“Why’s that?” asked Cole.
“Because I think you’ll find what I have in the back of this SUV especially interesting.”
Claudine will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. a Rafflecopter giveaway
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Darker Rain is Claudine Kapel’s first novel. She lives in Toronto and enjoys books, music, and travel. When not working as a consultant, she can be found writing, reading, or contemplating what else may be out there.
The second book in the Ryan Cole series is planned for release in 2014.
Claudine loves to hear from readers. You can reach her by e-mail at claudine@claudinekapel.com.
Available for purchase on:
Amazon-US http://www.amazon.com/Darker-Rain-Ryan-Cole-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HHF4E8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1388776108&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Darker+Rain
Amazon-CA http://www.amazon.ca/Darker-Rain-Ryan-Cole-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00HHF4E8U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1397007047&sr=1-1&keywords=a+darker+rain
Apple iBookstore/iTunes-US https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-darker-rain/id784213486?mt=11
Apple iBookstore/iTunes-CA https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/a-darker-rain/id784213486?mt=11
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-darker-rain-claudine-kapel/1117923653?ean=9781483513324
Kobo Books http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/a-darker-rain
Follow Claudine’s tour at:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-nbtm-book-tour-darker-rain-by.html
May 15, 2014
An Absent Mind by Eric Rill
A riveting new novel from Eric Rill, author of Pinnacle of Deceit and The Innocent Traitor, is about a race against time. The ticking time bomb is Saul Reimer’s sanity. His Alzheimer’s is going to be the catalyst that will either bring his family together or tear it apart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
EXCERPT:
Saul: My Last Place on Earth
It’s all unraveling.
Last night, I found myself somewhere on Monkland Avenue. I had no idea how I got there. I looked in a store window and saw my reflection. It took me a bit to figure it all out—like that the person in the window was a man, and that the man was me.
I didn’t know what to do. I glanced down at the bracelet on my wrist and everything— well, not everything, but the gist of it all came back to me. I am Saul Reimer, formerly a healthy, intelligent man, married to the same woman for many years, and the father of two children he loves more than anything in the world.
The key word is formerly, as I am sure you’ve already figured out. Because today—and I have no idea what day it is, other than it is really cold and I wish I had a jacket on—I am nothing, not a real man, that’s for sure. I mean, how can you be a real man when you don’t even know where you are half the time, and when you do know, more often than not, you can’t grasp the concept of your surroundings?
I felt in my pocket for my wallet, but it wasn’t there. All I had was my bank card. I spotted an ATM machine
at the corner. But when I got there, I couldn’t figure out how to work it. A woman walked up from behind. I gestured for her to go in front of me. She smiled and said she was in no rush. I looked at the machine, with all the words flashing across the screen. My hands were getting slimy, and beads of that wet stuff covered my forehead. Why couldn’t she just go first?
Then suddenly, it all made sense. I followed the directions, but it took me a few tries to get the card into the machine with the strip the right way. I looked behind me again. The woman was fidgeting with her purse strap. Then the machine asked me for a personal identification number. The good news is, I knew I had one. The bad news is, I had no idea what it was. My brain is like a shortwave radio, mostly static that occasionally finds the station, but even then the sound isn’t always clear.
In a way, it will be a blessing when my mind is totally gone, when I am a vegetable, slouched in a wheelchair. Like many Alzheimer’s patients on Montreal’s West Side, I’ll probably make a pit stop at Manoir Laurier. Then, when Manoir Laurier can’t cope with me, or we can’t afford it anymore, they’ll ship me off to Belfrage Hospital, my final stop on this beloved earth. I’ll be there, incontinent, drooling, and incoherent—that is, if I can even manage to get a word through my blistered lips. And when it’s all over—when my heart finally gives out, or I contract pneumonia, and my family says, “Let Saul go; he deserves some peace”—when that happens, they’ll take me down to the autopsy room, cut my skull open, and find the tangles and plaques on my brain. Then they will be able to say with 100 percent certainty that Saul Reimer had Alzheimer’s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Eric Rill was born in Montreal and graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts, and from UCLA with an MBA. He held several executive positions in the hospitality industry, including president of a global hotel group. His hobbies include trekking, scuba diving, and collecting antique carpets. Eric has two sons and divides his time between his residence in Panama and international travel. You can reach him at his website at: http://www.ericrill.com
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-absent-mind-eric-rill/1118627870?ean=9780991014408
For more chances to win the $50 gift card, follow Eric on his tour:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/virtual-book-tour-absent-mind-by-eric.html
May 13, 2014
Magnolia Bay Series by Erika Marks and Kim Boykin
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Erika and Kim will be awarding a $15 Starbucks card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.
Willamena Dunn is having a lousy week. Not only is her baby sister about to marry into the family of Dunn-Right Preservation’s biggest professional rival, but the historic bungalow of her dreams has just been bought by the most infuriating (not to mention exceedingly handsome and notoriously wicked) man to ever hammer a nail in Magnolia Bay, Knox Loveless.
But when Knox offers her a wager she can’t refuse, a bet with the coveted bungalow as its prize, Willa is sure her bad luck might finally be turning around—until Knox surprises her with a passionate kiss, and suddenly all bets are off.
Could this be just another one of Knox Loveless’ games, or will two rivals finally surrender to a long-simmering attraction and declare a truce once and for all?
Darcy Vance has sunk every cent she has into making Mimosa House the best bed and breakfast in Magnolia Bay. But the key to her success lies in the hands of the Historic Preservation Society run by the Bloom bitches who are embarrassed about their father’s connection to the storied house and they have no intention of validating it with a spot on the society’s registry.
After losing his PGA card, Trent Mauldin has come home to Magnolia Bay to lick his wounds and has no plans to stay. Until he falls for Darcy. Things heat up between the two until Trent’s good intentions to help Darcy go sideways. While Darcy works to save her house, Trent fights to win her back and keep her in Magnolia Bay for good.
Enjoy an excerpt from Sweet Home Carolina
Kim Boykin
©Copyright 2014
The ancient clock that came with the house chimed the hour. As I shinnied down the ladder, I ran through the to-do list in my head—shower at ten, hair appointment at eleven, then back to the grind of turning Mimosa House into a stellar bed-and-breakfast. My brain counted the bongs as they reverberated off of the walls of my new lease on life that came with a seven-figure mortgage. Nine. Ten. Eleven. “Eleven? Shit.”
I stepped into my good flip-flops by the front door, the ones with hardly any paint on them, grabbed my purse and keys, and sprinted toward the Jeep.
“Yankee.” The hiss came from my lovely neighbor, Mr. Hunsucker, who was somewhere between five and a hundred and five years old and wasn’t at all happy I was opening a B&B. He was watering the prize roses he’d accused me of pilfering on more than one occasion. Okay, so when I thought no one was looking, I’d pulled a spent blossom off, just to smell it, which made me a flower thief and a Yankee.
“Good morning, Mr. Hunsucker,” I called and then ducked into the Jeep before the spray drenched my windshield. Missed me.
Looking up at him in my rearview mirror, he only held up his middle finger a few seconds this time. A new record. Yep, I was definitely growing on him.
Kim Boykin is a women’s fiction author with a sassy Southern streak. She is the author of The Wisdom of Hair, Steal Me, Cowboy, and Palmetto Moon (Summer 2014.) While her heart is always in South Carolina, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, 3 dogs, and 126 rose bushes.
https://www.facebook.com/authorkimboykin
https://twitter.com/AuthorKimBoykin
http://tulepublishing.com/product-category/kim-boykin/
Erika Marks is a women’s fiction writer and the author of LITTLE GALE GUMBO, THE MERMAID COLLECTOR, THE GUEST HOUSE and IT COMES IN WAVES (July, 2014). On the long and winding road to becoming published, she worked many different jobs, including carpenter, cake decorator, art director, and illustrator. But if pressed, she might say it was her brief tenure with a match-making service in Los Angeles after college that set her on the path to writing love stories (not that there isn’t romance in frosting or power tools!) A native New Englander, she now makes her home in Charlotte, NC, with her husband, a native New Orleanian who has taught her to make a wicked gumbo, and their two little mermaids.
http://www.erikamarksauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ErikaMarksAuthor
https://twitter.com/erikamarksauthr
http://tulepublishing.com/product-category/erika-marks/
May 8, 2014
Soul Taker…RONE NOMINEE!
Welcome one of my favorite authors, Karen Michelle Nutt, with a title that will pull anybody in! Also, may I recommend her Warriors for the Light series? She does a fantastic job of creating a new universe from a passage in the Bible. I’m thrilled to have her here and in honor of her RONE nominee, I will give one commenter an Amazon download of Eli: Warriors for the Light.
I pass the microphone to Karen:
RONE stand for: Reward Of Novel Excellence
Pronunciation is: Row-knee
Every year, InD’Tale Magazine gives an award to the best Indie or small press books in all categories. They have created the most credible and prestigious award in the industry. There are three rounds to this award: highly reviewed, loved by the readers, and critiqued by qualified judges. There isn’t another award system like it, making receiving a RONE award one of the highest honors.
This year, SOUL TAKER received a high review from one of InD’Tale’s professional reviewers and was nominated for the 2014 RONE Awards for best paranormal! Yippee! This was the first round. The second round was up to the readers to vote. And guess what? SOUL TAKER made it to the second round of judging thanks to those lovely fans! I can’t thank you all enough, guys and gals!!
Now the story finalists in the third round will be read and judged by professionals in the industry to determine the best book in each category. The winners will be awarded the prestigious RONE Award at the ceremony hosted at the GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I am so proud and thrilled that SOUL TAKER has made it to round three! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the final announcement at the RONE ceremony. Thank you, Rebecca J. Vickery for publishing my book and thanks to Cathy Nickol for your fine editing. Love ya for that! And thank you readers for all your support and good words!
You can find SOUL TAKER in both Kindle and Print at Amazon US: http://ww.amazon.com/Soul-Taker-Karen-Michelle-Nutt-ebook/dp/B00BSWORN0/
And at Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Taker-Karen-Michelle-Nutt-ebook/dp/B00BSWORN0/
It will soon be available for an Audible book, too! It’s being recorded now and the narrator does a great Scottish accent! I’ll keep the readers posted on the progress.
Thank you, Linda for having me on your lovely blog and letting me share.
ABOUT KAREN:
Karen Michelle Nutt resides in California with her husband, three fascinating children, and houseful of demanding pets. Jack, her Chorkie, is her writing buddy and sits long hours with her at the computer.
When she’s not time traveling, fighting outlaws, or otherworldly creatures, she creates pre-made book covers to order at Gillian’s Book Covers, “Judge Your Book By Its Cover”. You can also check out her published cover art designs at Western Trail Blazer and Rebecca J. Vickery Publishing.
Whether your reading fancy is paranormal, historical or time travel, all her stories capture the rich array of emotions that accompany the most fabulous human phenomena—falling in love.
Visit Karen at: http://www.kmnbooks.com
Stop by her blog for Monday interviews, chats and contests at:
Gillian’s Book Covers
Judge Your Book By Its Cover
http://judgeyourbookbyitscover.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarenmichellenutt
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KMNbooks
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/karenmnutt/
Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Michelle-Nutt/e/B002BLLBPE
May 4, 2014
Fantastic Book Video for Sinners’ Opera
Created by best selling author Noelle Adams, this teaser is awesome. I’ve gotten comments from professionals that say it rocks. The trailer is well worth the 1.29 minutes it takes to view. The music alone is enchanting.
April 30, 2014
Randy Anderson’s novel, Careful…
Doesn’t the title intrigue? Careful? Why? How? Careful of What?
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Randy will be awarding an eCopy of Careful and a $25 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
For two decades Tyler Gibbons has been keeping a secret from his family. At the tender age of sixteen, Tyler embarks on a student exchange program. Sent to the Andean city of Ambato, Ecuador, he finds daily adventure as he tries to fit in at school, connect with his host family, and navigate through a world of beaches, volcanoes, and jungles. But tucked deep inside this year are events so profound, so unexpected, they forever shape the man he will become.
Now, 25 years later, his mother pulls these soaring tales from her son, exposing, for the first time, the source of a deep unhappiness. While these memories contain the wounds of an unresolved past, they also possess the power to heal his painful present.
Thoughtfully crafted and boldly told, Tyler’s journey takes the reader on a wild South American adventure, while illuminating a mother’s unyielding power to heal her child.
Enjoy an excerpt:
The boat came to a stop at a shallow riverbank. We were greeted by an olive-skinned man in his forties with shoulder-length hair and an unruly beard. He resembled a castaway, but with more muscle.
“Welcome to the Amazon,” he said, helping the ladies off the boat. “My name is Xavier. I will be your guide for the next two days. Please take only what you need for one night and leave the rest with the boatsman. He will take your things to camp by boat.”
“From here we will hike two hours to camp. There you can relax in the hammock, go swimming, and enjoy a nice dinner in the evening.” Xavier was very welcoming with his choppy English. We’d learn later that he was born in Bolivia and educated in Germany. His love for the study of biology would take him to exotic places all around the world. He was a charismatic free spirit.
“First thing first,” Xavier said. “Everyone needs to put on these boots.” He pointed to a line of knee-high rubber boots. “They are not the most ideal for hiking, but it’s been very wet, so the ground is soft. Do not be surprised if you sink one half . . . maybe one meter into the earth.” We were looking around in disbelief. “If this happens, do not panic. Just relax. Don’t wiggle. Signal for my attention. I will come and help you free.”
“Help us free?” I whispered to Peter.
“Yes, help you free.” Xavier’s ears were keen. “It is sometimes very difficult to free yourself from this earth, so use caution. Now we go.” He began walking up the bank and suddenly stopped.
“Also, you will see me eat things. Do not eat things unless I give them. If you do, you may die. I’m very sorry for this but it is your own fault. Don’t eat anything unless I give you,” he repeated. “I won’t give you everything I eat. Why? Because not all are good. Eating plant is not about good plant and bad plant. It is about good plant at good time. Not good plant at bad time. And there is never good time to eat bad plant. So no eating unless I give it. Okay? Now we go.” We all nodded and started following him up the hill. Once again he suddenly stopped.
“Also, do not touch things. Sometimes, plants have defenses that will make you very sick, or will make you die. Sometimes plants have insects on them that will sting or bite you. This can also make you very sick or die. Sometimes plant isn’t plant but insect. These are very cool and most won’t sting or bite you. If you see this, do not touch but alert me so that I can show you. Okay?” I was relieved that at least one thing wasn’t going to kill me.
“It’s like we’re marching into certain death,” Peter said as we laughed.
“Also,” Xavier said, “one last thing, and then we go. Sometimes, plants or bug touch you. This happens. Plants grow over trail, bugs fly through air and hit you. This will happen. Mostly you’ll be okay. Maybe, once in a while, this makes you sick or kills you. It’s very sad and I’m sorry. This is not your fault.” He paused for a second. “Oh, the animals. I almost forgot the animals! The jungle is full of many animals. Do not touch the animals. Some are very dangerous. Not as dangerous as the plants and bugs, but there is still danger. Watch where you step. The snakes and rodents will sometimes use our trail. The snakes are dangerous. The rodents are unpleasant. Either way, try not to step on them. Sometimes a snake will drop from the tree. This is bad. But not very often. If you feel pee, don’t look up. Monkey pee stings the eyes. Very bad. Okay, now we go.”
Finally Xavier’s disclaimer was over and we were off on our certain-death march. Whatever fear of the forest he’d put into our hearts vanished under the beauty of the canopy. The sounds of life we’d been hearing beneath the rumble of the bus amplified tenfold. The jungle was electrifying. Sunlight filtered down to the ground in ever-changing locations, spotlighting endless shades of green.
About the Author:
Randy Anderson is a novelist and playwright. His first book was published in 2011. On Making Off recounted his adventures running The Beggars Group, a downtown theater company that produced over two dozen productions at the turn of the millennium. He is also the author of several plays including; Kill the President, The Dwelling, and Yippie! Randy currently lives in Brooklyn where he writes, reasons, and reacts. You can contact him at www.onmakingoff.com, or on twitter @onmakingoff.
