K.C. Sprayberry's Blog, page 177

January 21, 2014

Stone Gates Trilogy

Got Dragon?Get the entire P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy in a boxed set on sale from Jan. 22 through Jan. 29thYou may just find you like to get burned.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19448945-the-p-j-stone-gates-trilogy

The P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy (#1-3)
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Tik Tok Press
Cover Artist: Lindsay Tiry
Interior Book Design: The Eyes For Editing
Trilogy Logo Designer: Eye Of The River Media Design
Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fda5Eb

The P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy anthology contains the following books:

~Hidden Gates (Book 1)~

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

~Broken Gates (Book 2)~

P.J. Stone is a Seer who saw too little, too late.

In the past, her biggest worries were boys and school—but war has a way of changing things. Now, the alien Riders are trying to overrun the world. As the last of their kind, P.J. and her friends must find a way to save humanity before there’s nothing left to save.

After choosing a mate, P.J. hoped she'd have time to enjoy her love life. But with everything changing so quickly and major secrets revealed, who knows what the future will bring?

~Open Gates (Book 3)~

Bryn is gone. Jenna isn’t herself. And the world has been taken over by the alien Riders. The only constant in P.J.’s life is Khol. But even he might not be able to help her pick up the shattered pieces of her existence.

P.J. finally gets the answers to all her questions, but will she be able to handle the truth? And will she be strong enough to face her own destiny when the time comes?

About the Author

D.T. Dyllin is a Bestselling Romance Author who writes in both New Adult and Adult genres. She is a member of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) and also her local chapter, the MCRW (Music City Romance Writers).

D.T. was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Black & Gold for life, baby!) She now lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two spoiled GSDs.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

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Published on January 21, 2014 00:00

Doing What's Right, Despite All Odds!

The Ghost Catcher is a tongue-in-cheek story about Hailey Hatmaker, a teenager who sees auras and can tell what is going to happen to a person with that information. She's also the best ghost-catcher in the world, but not a lot of people are really into her doing this job. Not since she and her buds – the Landry Ghosties made a whole lot of trouble back in seventh grade.

The Ghost Catcher on Amazon
So, what's Hailey to do when she sees that two friends are in grave danger? Why grab the only other Ghostie still in Landry and take off to deal with the problem. Isn't that friends are for?
Too many teens these days aren't sure what to do in a bad situation. They look to adults to show them what to do, but those adults often are confused themselves. It's so easy to read about heroes who jump into action, who come through to save the day, but do it yourself?
Unthinkable … or is it?

What does it take to become one of those teens we read about? Those teens who ignore danger and jump in to take care of things?
A sense of adventure isn't necessary …

Nor is a Superman complex …

All it takes is a deep down desire to do the right thing.

Yes, it's that simple. Hailey and her friend, Sly, prove that all it takes is a deep down desire to do the right thing, to stop a problem in its tracks. They don't care about any punishment that may be coming. These intrepid ghost catchers know their duty, and they prove that so well in The Ghost Catcher.

KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing.Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school. Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has three books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, Secret From The Flames, Where U @, The Wrong One, and Grace.
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Published on January 21, 2014 00:00

January 19, 2014

Spotlight/Reviews - Borderland Legacy

Title – Borderland Bride & Borderland Beauty
Series – The Borderland Legacy
Author – Samantha Holt
Genre – Historical Romance
Length (Pages/# Words) – Approximately 150 pages
Publisher – Jupiter Gardens Press
Cover Artist – Valerie Tibbs

BOOK SYNOPSIS –
Borderland Bride
In the wilderness of 14th century Northumbria, Lady Isabel discovers just how dangerous the Borderlands can be. With the loss of her voice and her hearing, there is little hope left for her. But when a brooding knight rescues her, she vows never to become a victim again and buries the secrets of her past in the hope that those hunting her will never find her in the Borderlands.

Jake is astonished to come across the beautiful Isabel, near to death, on his brother’s lands. Bringing her back to his brother’s home, he finds himself longing for something more from the courageous woman, something that he thought he would never want again. Isabel works her way into his scarred heart and opens Jake up to loving once more. But will Isabel’s secrets destroy their bond? And with his charismatic brother, Dominic, charming her, does he even stand a chance?

Borderland Beauty
Lord Dominic is in need of a wife. With the reivers, the wild and dangerous criminals that haunt the borderlands, breathing down his neck and his brother now married, he needs a strong woman by his side. So when he finds out about an old marriage contract between him and his neighbour’s daughter, he vows to give the mysterious woman a chance. Upon meeting the beautiful, feisty maiden, he vows to make her his wife.

Lucy Montgomery wants nothing to do with the arrogant lord. She doesn’t understand his interest in her. Surely a man like Dominic could never fall for a woman like her? Hurt by the past, she refuses to believe that she is anything more than a game to him. If only she didn’t find him quite so charming.

Can Dominic persuade Lucy that she is more than just another woman to him? And with the reivers growing bolder, are there worse dangers than Lucy saying ‘Nay’?

BUY & TBR LINKS
Amazon Kindle Links –
• Borderland Bride
• Borderland Beauty
Barnes & Nobles Nook Links –
• Borderland Bride
• Borderland Beauty
Goodreads TBR Links –
• Borderland Bride
• Borderland Beauty
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BORDERLAND BRIDE EXCERPT

“Isabel, what in God’s name are you doing?”
“I am returning to my father,” she told him breathlessly.
“You would see yourself in that monster’s hands? Why?”
“I cannot see Thornewall suffer for my sakes. And I cannot see you or Dominic harmed. Not for me.”
“We are grown men; will you not let us make these decisions ourselves? Thornewall is strong, we have endured worse.”
Isabel shook her head. “Nay, I will not see war brought to your door. If my father fails here, then he will turn his attention to your lands. They have not the strength of Thornewall, you have said as much yourself.”
Jake squeezed her arm until he saw her wince. Damn his brutish manners. He could not let her throw herself into the arms of a murderer for their sakes. “I can defend my lands, lass. I’ve done it before and I’ll gladly do it again.”
But she was right, Greycroft was ill prepared for a full-scale war and his own castle would not hold out long against a siege. It was likely he would die defending it.
“That is what I fear,” she said softly and Jake wondered if he had spoken aloud.
Her voice took on a desperate quality and she pulled against his grip. “Let me go, Jake, for I cannot allow you to place yourself in danger for me. Not for a woman that hurt you so.”
He considered her and saw the fear in her eyes - a fear that was not for herself, but for him, his brother, and all their people. How he could ever have thought her as wicked as his wife, he knew not. There was nothing in this lass but kindness. He gulped, fighting the words he would have to say. There was no other way.
“Isabel, you do not have to return.”
“I do, Jake!” She struggled again.
“Listen…” He grabbed at her other arm and pinned her still. “Listen, there is another way. Marry…”
She ceased her struggles and stared at him.
“Marry Dominic.”
Isabel blinked at him. “What?” she whispered.
“Marry Dominic. Your father would be a fool to say nay to such an allegiance. He is one of the richest men in England. There will be no war and you will be safe.”
Safe. He clung to the word, trying to ignore the ache in his heart. It didn’t matter, as long as she was safe. In spite of himself, he urged her to say nay, to confess her love for him, but he knew it could come to nothing. He had nothing to offer Lord Henry in return for her hand.
Isabel gaped at him. “Marry Dominic? But…did he decide this?”
“Nay.” He sighed. “‘Twas my idea.”
She gulped and her eyes misted with tears as she took a deep breath. Her composure regained, she shook her head in disbelief. “Why would you suggest such an idea?”

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BORDERLAND BEAUTY EXCERPT

Holding out his hand, his dipped his head and eyed her from under his brow. “Will you dance with me, Lucy?”
She hesitated, glancing around as the couples took their positions. “I know not this dance.” In truth, she knew few dances, having avoided them for most of her life.
“I will teach you.”
Dominic snatched her hand and led her to the centre of the floor. Her heart slammed into her chest at the touch of his fingers. Why did his touch always incite such a reaction? Glancing around, she realised she could hardly tear herself away from him. Many were watching them. Especially the women.
“Stand there,” he ordered as he stepped back.
Her eyes darted from Dominic to the other dancers who moved confidently around them. He motioned for her to step forward and she did so, bringing herself closer to him. The dancers circled one another and Lucy mimicked them. His sapphire eyes remained on her, bright and alert and her skin tingled under his scrutiny. Why watch her so closely?
“Now step back,” he murmured.
She did as he bid, stepping back a little later than the other dancers. Her cheeks filled with heat but she could not tell it if was because of his examination of her or her lack of dancing ability. His eyes continued to follow her avidly and she dropped her gaze. Nay, it was Dominic who was the cause of her blush.
The dancers lined up and Lucy stumbled back, her eyes narrowing as Dominic’s crinkled in amusement. A lord and lady wove between them, working their way up the line. The lady’s hand brushed across Dominic’s chest as she passed, a flirtatious smile on her lips, and Lucy clenched her teeth together. He flicked a disinterested look at the woman before securing his gaze back onto hers.
Lucy and Dominic did the same, weaving through the other dancers until they reached the end of the line. Keeping her spine stiff, she resisted the urge to peek at him as she did so, but as they faced each other one more, his blue eyes caught hers and she could do little else but stare back.
Lord, she was getting lost in those penetrating eyes.
Stepping forward hastily, her eyes widened as his hands came about her waist. He lifted her easily and her heart came into her throat. The ladies around her squealed in delight as they too were lifted and then placed down, but surprise had struck her dumb.
“Move back,” he commanded quietly, his eyes darkening.
She faltered as she retreated, her pulse beating erratically. His look of desire confused her and she pulled her chin up. She would not be toyed with like this. It was time to wrest back some control.
They repeated the first movements and Lucy stepped confidently now. “I hear tell that you are searching for a wife,” she stated archly.
Dominic barely blinked. “Aye, ‘tis true. Why? Are you interested?”
“Hardly.” She released an unsteady laugh. “I thought you were to be married to Lady Isabel of…of Greycroft.”
“I was.” He circled her, appraising her openly as he did so.
She followed him with her gaze, hoping he could not see through her bold look. “But it seems she married your brother.”
“That she did.”
“Are you not angry? Did she not wound your ego?”
He shook his head with a shrug. “Nay. Jake loves his wife very much, why would I begrudge him that?”
“You did not love her?”
“I love Isabel as a sister. She is a fine woman but she is better suited to my brother. I do not regret that she is not my wife.”
“She probably does not regret it either,” she said with the raise of an eyebrow.
They wove their way in and out of the line and they waited as the other dancers took their place.
“Isabel did not suit me, but a woman like you…you would suit me very much.”
“Ha, you think me foolish enough to fall for such talk? I have heard much of your reputation, Dominic of Thornewall. You would promise marriage just for the chance of a tumble. I would not give up my virtue to such a man.”
His hands came upon her waist. “That sounds like a challenge,” he said before lifting her effortlessly.
He placed her down and Lucy gaped at him, speechless. The people around them clapped as the music ceased but Lucy paid little attention. Raw desire glinted in his expression and her stomach twisted. Surely that look was not for her? He was teasing her, playing with her, luring her in so he could strike her down.
She curled her fists and clamped her mouth shut as she swivelled on her heel. She would not let him make a fool of her again.

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AUTHOR BIO
Samantha lives in a small village in England with her gorgeous twin girls and husband who is a trained bodyguard and ex-soldier (Yes, seriously!). She traditionally writes historical romances involving chivalrous knights and hot highlanders, but occasionally dabbles in contemporary romance. When she reluctantly leaves her computer, she enjoys exploring old ruins and indulging an early midlife crisis. Adrenaline filled suggestions for the bucket list are always welcome!

STALKER LINKS
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GIVEAWAY
1 x $10 Amazon GC
2 x $5 Amazon GC
2 x ecopy To Steal a Highlander’s Heart

CLICK HERE TO ENTER SAMANTHA'S AMAZING GIVEAWAY

Borderland Bride Review:

Meet Lord Jacob, Jake, a man who towers over most others in a time when brave knights rescued damsels in distress. He's always felt off kilter, more so after his wife destroyed what little self-confidence he had. But he hasn't lost his sense of chivalry, and proves as much when he rescues Lady Isabel from ruffians.Lady Isabel suffers horrendous injuries in the attack, leaving her mute with a horrible ringing in her ears that makes it difficult to hear. She feels for the giant of a man who waded into the fray and saved her from certain death. That feeling grows to love, but her past will soon catch up with them, and they're left dangling on a thin thread of distrust and emotional pain.The first book in Samantha Holt's Borderland Legacy, Borderland Bride yanks the reader right into the story. Set in the years after the Black Plague, in Scotland, the dialogue and settings are amazingly authentic, giving one the sense of being there with Jake and Isabel as they tremulously work their way through love's first glimmering.I found this book delightful, a read hard to put down, and highly recommend it for all lovers of historical romance.Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

Borderland Beauty Review:

Lucy Montgomery at twenty-one is considered an old maid, unworthy of no man. She doesn't believe she's as comely as a fresh faced young woman of say fifteen or sixteen. Lord Dominic is a womanizer, a man ready to tumble with the nearest woman to smile at him. She plans to never wed, no matter how she feels about her family's closest neighbor. He has reivers on his mind, outlaws ripping apart his lands and that of his neighbor, Lucy's father.Dominic yearns for a wife, but no woman has ever touched his heart. Lucy secretly yearns for the safety of marriage, but is ready to settle for other pursuits, as she believes herself ugly and fat.Against a backdrop of Scotland in the years after the Black Plague, Samantha Holt spins out a tale of marriages of convenience, love blossoming despite all desires to avoid it, and a couple destined to be together no matter how the odds are stacked against them. The romance of Lucy and Dominic is evident to both immediately, but they look for ways to avoid each other, as Holt teases us along.The strong plot is even better with the accurate of the dangerous time after millions died a horrible death during the fourteenth century. Many families were affected by this plague, and Holt keeps that in the reader's mind, as a reason the reivers torment landowners, as those landowners struggle to care for not only their immediate families, but also the peasants they're responsible for. This backdrop creates the perfect storm for kindly yet strong natured Lucy to discover the cavalier Dominic she met when he was seventeen and she twelve is a changed man, with a soft heart few ever notice. Even more amazing is how Holt plots Dominic's character – a lord of the manor who not only cares about those he protects, but also this wildcat he finds his heart breaking over the least tear from her eye.As strong are the background characters, a group of individuals who know their place, but aren't afraid to speak their minds when the situation warrants it. I found it difficult to put this novel down, and I highly recommend Borderland Beauty for any lovers of a great historical romance. Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Published on January 19, 2014 00:00

January 17, 2014

The Author Swap

Today is the day! Here are the books you can find for less than a dollar. Pick up your copy. Let the author know how much you love their story with a review!
Here are the books!
Amazon - U.S. Amazon U.K. Lost Through Time (sequel) by Jessica Tornese: Follow Kate Christenson as she battles a past that was never meant to be hers…

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K. Pride of Lions : by Mark Iles: When Selena Dillion is caught in an assassination attempt on her planets ruler, she finds herself sentenced to 25 years servitude in mankind’s most feared military force, the Penal regiments.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K. SEPTEMBER WIND by Kathleen Janz-Anderson: 1950’s Coming of age, family saga. At nine, Emily Rezell works like a slave, and all she asks is to be loved. She endures a heart-wrenching crush at thirteen and will never forget Daniel and their riveting experience. As she turns eighteen, you’ll be amazed by her strength when she is forced to protect herself and then flees her grandfather’s farm and escapes on a train to San Francisco. She’s in a strange town now and vulnerable to those who don’t mind taking advantage of a girl in search of herself and a stranger she believes will save her.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.WAKING UP DEAD by Margo Bond Collins: When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, when she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up dead in Alabama?

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.DUE DATE by Nancy Wood:

Surrogate mother Shelby McDougall just fell for the biggest con of all—a scam that risks her life and the lives of her unborn twins.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.THE FOUR KINGS by Scott Spotson:Today's world - skyscrapers, Internet cafes, and all - is in great turmoil. Economic doldrums have seized the entire world in the last several years, and powerful nations such as Pakistan and India are just about to unleash nuclear might upon each other. These troubled times have been labeled The Great Blight.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
KOOLURA AND THE MYSTERY AT CAMP SADDLEBACK by Michael L. Thal:Koolura has the ability to teleport, levitate, heal, and even fly. But at Camp Saddleback Koolura wakes up drained and powerless. Who or what has stolen her psychic powers.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
YOURS, MINE, AND OURS’by Jackqueline Diamond :

She’s the new nanny to her own triplets.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
INVISIBLE by Jeanne Bannon:

Lola’s not pretty. Lola’s not popular. Lola wishes she could disappear … and then one day she does just that...

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
TAKE CHANCES’ by K.C. Sprayberry: Having lived a nomadic life as a military brat, Julie Bond can’t help but look forward to her high school graduation. She’s excited because this is the first school she’s ever attended from beginning to end, and then she begins to flashback to kindergarten, when a group of terrorists invaded her classroom. She’s certain school violence can’t happen to someone a second time. Right?

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
NADIA’S HOUSE by Mary H. Collins:

Growing up in a household where her father abused her mother, Sharlyn expected it from Anthony. She accepted it as love. When he’d stay out all night, she welcomed him back with open arms. When he beat her, she thought she deserved it.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
HUSTLE HENRY AND THE CUE BALL KID by Jack B. Strandburg:Clarence Flannery was luckier than most men his age to discover his life’s ambition, particularly in the unpredictable years just following the Civil War. Born with an unmatched skill to play pool, he left his home in Kansas when he turned twenty-six and traveled throughout the Southwestern United States to make his mark as a legendary pool hustler, with every intention of amassing a fortune in the process.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
SINKING SHIPS by Michelle Knowlden :Twenty-year-old Leslie Greene finds a way to solve her money woes. Having had four contract marriages, her friend Jen assures Leslie that nothing will go wrong.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
HER CRACKED HEART by P.A. Estelle:Stephanie Warren is a wife, mother, and famous author with a life that others only dream about. An accident turns her world upside down, leaving her cold and emotionless, wanting only privacy and solitude.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
Tidal Surge: by Francene Stanley:Tidal Surge is the second in the Moonstone series of paranormal novels set in the little village of St. Ives, Cornwall, England.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
OBSTACLES by Chris Reardon:A child will die. You're afraid to live. Would you go to all lengths to save him? Darkness knows no bounds, as Alcott, an African American doctor sees all too well.

Amazon U.S. Amazon U.K.
EDEN’S MARK by D.M. Sears:Eden Arik was a typical teenager who lived the typical teenage life...until the pale eyes showed up in her dreams. The birthmark, Eden had always ignored, burned at the new nightmares, raising questions about her past. Eden finds out she is part witch and fairy that is destined to save a world she never knew existed that inhabits people far more than human.

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Published on January 17, 2014 04:14

January 15, 2014

Mark Your Calenders - Friday, January 17, 2014

A totally amazing 17 authors are banding together to offer their books for only $.99! That's right, you get the chance to pick up these books for that low, low price.

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Published on January 15, 2014 16:37

January 14, 2014

Take Chances – Enduring Friendships

Take Chances is a story about school violence, about the impossible happening a second time. It's also a story about those very special friends every teen has in their life.

Julie Bond only had one close friend, a person she met a few short years prior to moving to Landry, Georgia. Prior to that, her life had been one where she spent a lot of time with her dad, came to the understanding that her mom put career and connections above family, and strove to overcome the specter of surviving an incident of school violence. Then she had the chance to settle into school from beginning to end. Then she had the chance to make friends. Then she had a chance to be normal – the dream of every military brat.

Once in Landry, once settled with her mom in a house not owned by the military, Julie always thinks about the dad who went out of his way to make her feel better about herself, but she also makes a group of friends who become the most important people in her life.

Who are those friends?

Hugh Townsend was the first of these friends. He offered to help Julie move boxes and furniture in her new house. He also became someone she identified with as a person suffering almost problems she was with a parent. In Hugh's case, it was a verbally and physically abusive stepfather, a man who would become notorious for his last act – one that would leave the town reeling, and Hugh and his younger sister, Kitty, orphans.

Heather Billings blasted into Julie's life and brought along another friend. It turns out the trio shared not only a birthday, but they were born at the exact same time. Thanks to Heather's announcement, the three of them became known as the cosmic triplets, a special bond Julie held very dear.

Lukas Miller, the other third of the cosmic triplets, harbored a secret that would, as Julie puts it, cause everyone in their small Southern town to have a cow. And they did, once they discovered what he was. So, what was this star football quarterback's secret? It's one Julie swore never to tell, as she was dating him, letting everyone know they were girlfriend/boyfriend to protect his reputation. Even though the secret is revealed, she continues to protect a guy she loved as a brother.

Tom Maxton, class clown. Every town has a guy like Tom. You can count on him to set up pranks everyone talks about for years. Some are quite harmless, such as the wearing of silly hats at school for no reason or setting up a stink bomb to go off right before a test. Others are so memorable they redefine pranks, and Tom was a master at those. Once the violence began, with Julie, Hugh, Heather, and Lukas trapped in the classroom, Tom proved he was more than the class clown with his masterful plan to rescue his friends. Although he still considered pranks, the violence changed the class clown to the most serious guy in town.

Michael Taylor had loved Julie from afar, but he was two years older than her. He left town, ostensibly to pursue a career as a sports photographer, but he returned the day before the violence exploded. His reason for coming home wasn't what he told everyone, but rather he wanted to reconnect with a girl he had loved for so long, and find out if she returned his feelings.

The relationships this group held went far beyond casual. They would risk their lives for each other, and proved that quite well. This is what enduring friendships are all about, and the true theme of Take Chances.

Blurb:
Julie Bond grew up in Europe as a military brat. She found her very first permanent home in Landry, GA as a teen going into high school. Almost four years later, she's having pre-graduation jitters and flashing back to an incident of school violence she experienced in Europe. She attempts to convince herself that it can never happen again, but continually finds herself flashing back to that day no matter how hard she tries.The people around her present any number of problems for Julie, and she's hard put to keep from drowning under all the issues. Then Michael--a cool guy she's had a crush on for the last three years—returns from traveling the US as a photographer, and Julie now has one more thing to distract her as she prepares to leave high school. One thing she firmly believes in: no one will ever invade her classroom with violence again.Once again, the impossible happens. Once again, she's in a classroom with a madman holding a gun. Once again, she must survive.

Bio: KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing. Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school. Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has three books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, Secret From The Flames, Where U @, The Wrong One, and Grace.
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Published on January 14, 2014 00:00

January 13, 2014

Author Book Swap

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Published on January 13, 2014 07:18

January 7, 2014

Texting and Driving – School Bus Drivers

Twice a day, sometimes after school, or for field trips, more than 230,000 men and women have control of our most precious possession – our children. These people have gone through a battery of tests, background checks, and must maintain a clean driving record in order to do this job.

The inattention of a school bus driver as they read or send a text imperils not only him/herself, but also the lives of every child on that bus, and the lives of drivers on the road. This has begun to happen with ever increasing regularity, as is evidenced by the three cases I culled from the pages of internet hits I received asking about school bus drivers who text and drive.

(In these instances, I only used cases where video/photo images were available to provide proof of the texting and driving)

Seminole County, Florida: "This isn’t the first time (Robert) Stancheski was caught with a phone in his hands, he was suspended last April when after he appeared to be texting and driving in another video. That time, he got into a minor accident moments later." (KTLA5, Los Angeles, CA)

Full Story

Raleigh, North Carolina: A Highway Patrol spokesman said that the bus driver, 52 year old Sheila Wimbush Hall, crossed the center line and side-swiped an oncoming station wagon on Ligon Mill Road near the intersection of Louisburg Road. The bus brushed off of the station wagon and continued into the oncoming lane and struck a pickup truck driven by off-duty Raleigh fireman Harry "Flip" Kissinger. After the collision, the bus landed on top of the pickup truck, pinning the driver inside. The Highway Patrol says that charges are pending.I discussed the dangers of distracted driving and texting while driving in one of my earlier posts. Checking emails and texting while driving have been the cause of a number of recent high profile bus crashes. Several bus drivers have been caught on videotape texting at the time of a collision. (North Carolina Attorney Injury Blog)
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A Hamilton County school bus driver is on unpaid suspension after a parent complained of erratic driving to Channel 3.The East Hamilton Middle School parent first said last week her child's bus driver was driving dangerously; everything from texting and driving, to speeding, and screeching halts. (WRCBTV3, Chattanooga, TN)
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This quote is from a bus driver I know, Ales Campbell: "It's a simple rule and it's posted on the front wall of my school bus. "CELL PHONES ARE NOT TO BE USED BY THE DRIVER WHEN THE BUS IS IN MOTION." Why would this rule be any more important than the others that it alone comes posted in new buses now? It's simple. The cargo is more important than the risk. Distracted-driving is worse than drunk-driving. I've informed my family, friends, and the parents of students on my bus: if you need me during bus hours, call my supervisors and they will radio the information to me. If you text or call me, I will only check my phone once I'm stopped at a school, in between routes, or safely along the route. It best be an emergency and don't expect me to make an unscheduled stop to respond. My policy works because I enforce it. I occasionally get texts from parents who are running behind in the morning preparing their student for school or whose child won't be riding that day. Those usually come before my bus route even begins. I'm a bus driver when I'm behind that steering wheel. It's my job to transport students safely and in a timely manner to and from school and school-related functions. Period. My students' safety comes first. Period. There's no phone call or text worth risking the safety of a child or myself."

Blurb:Trea Jones has always known the bitterness of bigotry and abject poverty. Her half-Cherokee daddy disappeared thirteen years ago on the pretense of getting milk. Mama has done nothing but mourn his loss, and she blames Trea for that. Now that she's starting her senior year of high school, Trea hopes for something better, but she doesn't hold out much hope.Until …She loosens up on some of her rules. Her guy, Dave, proves to her that she is worthy of everything the others have. The last day of classes prior to the winter break, she's ready to share some stupendous news with Dave, but tragedy intervenes when her daddy texts while driving a bus. Trea is left wondering if she can ever be free of a curse that heaps a lot of bad luck on her whenever good things happen to her.

KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing. Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school.
Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has three books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, Secret From The Flames, Where U @, The Wrong One, and Grace.Her young adult historical fiction novel, Pony Dreams, releases later this month.You can find K.C. Sprayberry on these social media sites:Facebook Twitter Blog Website Goodreads JacketFlap Amazon Author Page Google + Pinterest Authorgraph AUTHORSdB Manic Readers

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Published on January 07, 2014 00:00

December 31, 2013

When Is The Right Time To Give Up?

Welcome to our featured book of the week blog for The Wrong One.

Is there ever a right time to give up searching for a missing child? A child everyone swears must be dead, because it's been six months, five years, a decade or more since they were seen?

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is the best non-police resource for those who have had their kids disappear, but even they can't give the reassurance the child will return home.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
How long is too long?

The Wrong One focuses on that little detail. Kyle won't give up on finding his best friend. A teen named Kim begins to wonder just who she is, and why her "family" continues to call her Wrong One.
Fourteen years after Lyssa Winders disappears in a van with three men, Kyle Tinker still searches for her. The active search has long since been abandoned, but he can't stop until he brings his best friend home.
Kyle suffers from the same problem many people do when a person disappears. He can't accept that his friend is gone forever. He won't give up, but the police have, and in his estimation that's wrong.

Is it wrong? Police resources are very limited. There are other crimes to investigate. They can only do so much with the information they have available.

Many types of searches begin the moment a child disappears. The most well-known is an Amber Alert, but information needed for this might not be complete, or even available. In The Wrong One, Kyle was four when Lyssa was kidnapped. He was the only living witness. His best description of the men involved was their names, or rather the names he attached to them, since he didn't know them – Growly, Mean, and Shifty Eyes. They drove a van, but the make, year, color, and license plate were beyond his ability to grasp.
Crime scene searches usually provide clues, but the crime scene in The Wrong One would give an adult nightmares, let alone a small child, and the clues were few and far between. Door-to-door searches might have helped to identify the van or men, or even the direction they went, but beyond that, no other information was available.

These factors made a grid search, a land, sea, or air search, or a roadblock search mostly a waste of time. All that could be done is continue to look as new leads poured in, and hope for the best.

This is a parent's worst nightmare – their child gone and no clues as to where they are. Lyssa's parents were killed that night, so it was up to Kyle to keep looking, to never give up, to remember the laughing, happy friend who challenged him to step outside his safe zone.

Does he find Lyssa? Read the book and find out for yourself. The Wrong One is a young adult novel with a strong psychological thriller element.
There are many ups and just as many downs, but there is one central theme running throughout – enduring friendships never fade away.
The Wrong One has been nominated for the P&E Readers Poll. Vote for this novel here today: P&E Readers Poll

KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing. Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school.
Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has four books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, Secret From The Flames, Where U @, The Wrong One, and Grace.
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Published on December 31, 2013 00:00

December 30, 2013

Hop … Hop … Hop–Right into the New Year!

It's that time again, when we authors and writers prepare for what we'll do in the new year. Oh, do I have some plans this year. Thanks to a stupendously great year in 2013, I have nothing to just edit and submit. I must begin all these stories that I've set up plot lines for, but haven't had time to write them out.

Before we go there, and answer these lovely questions I got, I'd like to introduce the person who invited me to do this year's Blog Hop.

Francene Stanley found initial inspiration in poetry and songwriting but later turned to writing novels. Like her main characters, she expresses optimism, determination to succeed, and illustrates the principle of positive thinking combined with the trust that things will work out.
Born in South Australia, Francene married young. Retreating to the small fishing village of Robe, she ran a craft shop and tea room, welcoming tourists to the area. In the nineteen seventies, she and her husband travelled in a caravan with three children around Australia looking at various ways of alternative living.

After her divorce, Francene left Australia and moved to England, where she worked as a nanny, travelling around the world with the family she worked for. She met her present husband in London, worked in the catering business for 12 years, and travelled extensively.
This is where you can find Francene: Blog
And now (drum roll, please!) here are this year's questions. Boy, are they making me think about the answers. You'll have a look into what I'm currently working on, and perhaps where I plan to go next.

What am I working on?Never any one project – that's what anyone who knows me well will tell you. I won't disappoint anyone now. First up in the pike is a story for teenage boys. Well, it's probably for all teens, but I'm targeting the boys here. Initsis about 15 year old Alex Starkey. He lives in my town of Peach City, Georgia. His life consists of avoiding his older, much dumber, a whole lot cooler brother Roger's attempts to turn Alex into his favorite tackling dummy. Oh, there's the little of Alex's inits (initials for those not in the know – teens in Peach City have this thing about calling each other names made up of their initials!). See, his mom fell in love with a first and middle name combination. His dad kind of complicated things by laughing at her choice, which made Mom kind of mad, so Alex ends up with inits that basically get an extreme reaction from all around him. I mean, if you live in a town where everyone who is anyone goes by their inits, would you want to be named Alexander Steven … Starkey? This tongue in cheek book should be completed by mid-January.

The Ghosties Take on Trouble, the precursor to the well-loved, tongue in cheek bunch of ghost hunters from The Ghost Catcher. The Ghosties are enjoying being well-loved in Landry, completely the opposite from how things are in The Ghost Catcher. They're in eighth grade, getting ready to graduate. Things are hopping, as they always are in Landry, until a very unusual ghost appears – one that's a demon actually – and it brings along a few thousand of its friends. To make matters worse, once the Ghosties do their thing and rid Landry of the fire demons, another demon pokes its ugly head out of the nearby lake. How does this end? You'll have to wait until I finish the editing on this to find out, but you can probably get a clue from things Hailey tells you about in The Ghost Catcher.

A Ghastly Hallowe'en – This story comes after The Ghost Catcher, and is a new start for the Ghosties. They're reunited. They've finished high school. There is no other job in the world for them, but taking care of the many spirits now roaming Landry, thanks to a ban by Ghosties Worldwide, and the threat of trouble to the max from their hometown. Then Hailey and her crew get a mysterious visit one All Hallows Eve, and things just plain bust loose. They only have six hours to solve three very old ghost related mysteries. None of them have a clue what the prize is, and only Hailey suspects the identity of their visitor, but she can't believe that it really was him.

1How does my work differ from others in my genre?That's a pretty hard question. Mostly I write young adult and new adult coming of age stories. They might be historical, paranormal, or contemporary, but they are anything but the same as other stories out there. Firstly, my stories are always character driven. What happens is a result of what my characters do or don't do, and their actions often get them in hotter water than they're already in.

Why do I write what I do?Again, a difficult question. I don't really think about this. I love writing for teens. Why? Because they are a discriminating group. They demand a compelling story , with lots of action, some current ways of speaking, and if there's a lesson in the story, make us like it. In other words, writing for teens challenges me. These are children on the cusp of becoming an adult. They are going through all those hormonal driven changes, and they're also questioning the status quo. They are given so many obstacles now to what most adults took for granted growing up, too. Most don't get outside much, as they're in an electronic world. While my characters are connected on social media, they game, they tweet, they even Facebook, but that's not what defines them. They also like getting out and being in groups. Their idea of a fun time can range from hiking to fishing to hanging out at a lake – no matter what the weather. My teens have no qualms about volunteering to assist an elderly neighbor they have known all their lives, or jumping in if there is an emergency, or visiting elderly in a care home. I write them this way to show the teens interested in my books there is more to life than a computer screen, the latest smart phone, or uploading pictures of you and your guy sharing a hot fudge sundae.

1How does my writing process work?Well, first is always an idea. It might be a word, or the title, or an opening paragraph. Rarely, a plot synopsis comes to mind, and I have to figure out just where I want to go with it. Next comes the research. Yes, research for fiction. My work always grounds itself in reality, to give teens a reason to keep coming back to it. Once I have enough research, I start on chapter 1, or the prologue. These first rumblings might be deleted or completely rewritten, but they are a beginning to what comes later, so they have to happen, even though I swear they're a waste of time.
Once the book is moving along, it's not unusual for me to do fast research on clothes, jewelry, background, anything that seems thin. I'll write until the muse says "break time!" Then I'll leave off until the next day. Those sessions might be one chapter, half a chapter, of a couple dozen chapters. No telling, until the muse decides that I've done enough. The next session starts off with a quick review of what I've already done, and then it's off to the races again.

Bio: KC Sprayberry started writing young, first as a diarist, and later through an interest in English and creative writing. Her first experience with publication came when she placed third in The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge contest while in the Air Force, but her dedication to writing came after she had her youngest child, now in his senior year of high school. Her family lives in Northwest Georgia where she spends her days creating stories about life in the south, and far beyond. More than a dozen of her short stories have appeared in several magazines. Five anthologies feature other short stories. She has four books that are Amazon best sellers: Softly Say Goodbye, Who Am I?, and Mama's Advice. Her other novels available are: Take Chances, The Ghost Catcher, Family Curse … Times Two, Secret From The Flames, Where U @, The Wrong One, and Grace.

Links: Facebook Twitter Blog Website Goodreads JacketFlap Amazon Author Page Google + Pinterest Authorgraph AUTHORSdB Manic Readers
Hop on over to these blogs next week:

April Erwin: An old friend, a woman I've known for many years – and no, we're not telling how long! April recently released Dysfunction Junction. If you haven't read that, you really needto get a copy.

Projecting A
The next two are new friends, and I'm just getting to know them!

Bryan Fields: By day, I’m a mild-mannered IT tech; by night, a writer who spends too much time in online games. I grew up reading classical authors such as Verne, Burroughs, Wells, Haggard, and Lovecraft, often in conjunction with large doses of Monty Python, Wild Wild West, and Hee-Haw. My current influences include Doctor Who, Girl Genius, and An Idiot Abroad.
I began writing professionally as a member of the content design team for the MMORPG Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted. My first published short stories appeared in the anthologies The Mystical Cat and Gears and Levers III in 2012.
I live in Denver with my wife Noelle and daughter Alissa. The three of us can often be found prowling around Istaria, Wizard City, and the wilds of Azeroth. I also make occasional side jaunts to scavenge bits of ancient technology in the radioactive ruins of the Grand Canyon Province.
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Christopher Mannino’s life is best described as an unending creative outlet. He teaches high school theatre in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition to his daily drama classes, he runs several after-school performance/production drama groups. He spends his summers writing and singing. Mannino holds a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Catholic University, and has studied mythology and literature both in America and at Oxford University. His work with young people helped inspire him to write young adult fantasy, although it was his love of reading that truly brought his writing to life. His first novel "School of Deaths" is scheduled for release this coming spring.
"School of Deaths" is a YA Fantasy novel, about a teenage girl who becomes the first female grim reaper.
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Published on December 30, 2013 01:00

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