J.C. Martin's Blog, page 11

Book Shout-Out: A WITCH WITHOUT MAGIC by Larisa Walk & Giveaway

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A Witch Without Magic

When her neighbors accuse Belladonna of Satanism and making them age years to days, she must find who is behind it or face a modern day witch hunt. Her mysterious enemy knows where to strike to cause the most damage: Belladonna’s only friend is losing his life-force; the garden that feeds her is dying; and her house ghost goes poltergeist. To save her neighbors and friends and prove her innocence, she must travel to the Otherworld where butterflies have razor wings and where her worst fears will come to life.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Excerpt

The mob on the other side of the wrought iron fence wore no tri-cornered hats or starched bonnets. They didn’t brandish pitchforks or flaming torches. Hell, they didn’t even bring a preacher to drive the Devil out. Still, they had come to flush out a witch and the witch was me.

They were thirty all together, gathered outside my gate under the two California live oaks that shade the sidewalk in midday. I had to squint into the still hot mid-October sun to study their unfamiliar faces. The mob included several dwarves. The youngest dwarf must have been in her forties, a tiny woman that for some reason wore a yellow, red and blue Snow White dress with an appliquéd picture of Snow White on the chest. She didn’t look like a typical dwarf: no classically high forehead and her arms and legs were proportionate. She was holding a fluffy purple teddy bear by a front paw and sucking her thumb.

In the sun my forehead sweated under the straw hat. A mocking bird’s harsh chirrup burst from the oak on the right, piercing as a car horn.  I flinched.

I don’t much like or trust people in large groups – doing time in Greenville State Prison for Women had taught me that. In prison the exercise yard is the most dangerous place to be: too many inmates in one area, too many chances to be stabbed with a shiv made from a sharpened toothbrush handle or from melted and hardened Styrofoam cups.

About the Author

Larisa Walk

Larisa Walk, a native Russian, lives in California with her husband and two formerly homeless cats. She writes paranormal fiction that is more often than not populated by characters from the Russian fairy world. Her short fiction appeared in several anthologies and magazines. She has published a historic fantasy novel, A Handful of Earth, and a modern paranormal novel, A Witch Without Magic.

Contact: Website/Blog

Giveaway!

Larisa is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card to five lucky commenter during the tour. To enter, all you have to do is to leave a comment below.

Why not visit the other tour stops? The more you comment, the higher your chances of winning.

Good luck!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

RESONANCE Blog Tour: Character Interview

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First off, I have to apologise to Julie for posting this late. A teething and irritable baby has been keeping me away from the computer!

J.A. Belfield’s latest installment in her Holloway Pack paranormal series, Resonance, released April 2nd:

Resonance

Guilt is a heavy burden for the one carrying it.

Jem Stonehouse is no exception to this rule.

What if she’d acted sooner? What if she’d fully recognised the threat? What if she hadn’t allowed the male pack members to head into the witches’ ambush?

For one, youngest pack member Josh Larsen wouldn’t be trapped in the sleep of the dead.

Now, Jem is convinced it’s her job to bring him back to life no matter what it takes — learning more about her heritage, risking pack exposure, or travelling to places she couldn’t have imagined possible.

Even if the journey endangers her soul.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Interested? Want to find out more? Here’s Julie with an interview with one of the book’s characters, Jess Stonehouse:

—

You’d think in setting up an interview with a witch that I would choose to go somewhere a little surreal. Maybe a store that sells Wicca items, or something Celtic or even just a magic shop. But no, not with Jess. This no-nonsense girl knows her stuff and doesn’t need to meet me out somewhere. On no, we’re … at her house. Why, might you ask? Because a single mom might need to get out, but when the babysitter is nowhere to be found, we gotta improvise.

Sitting here in her kitchen, with its pale walls and beech-wood units, the wan winter sun streaming in through the window over the sink, I have a cup of tea in my hand as I stare across at her. “So, Jess. You’re a witch. What’s that like?”

She smiles. “I’d imagine it’s pretty much like being a regular old human. Just with a few quirks and tricks up one’s sleeve.”

“Quirks and tricks?” I ask. “Like … can you move objects? Ooh, do you make love potions?”

“Ah, the ever sought after love potion.” She smiles again but it’s a brief gesture. “Yes, I’ve tried it. But it’s a dangerous game to play. And it’s not something I have a desire to try again.”

“But … what if someone paid you so much money, you couldn’t resist. Would you then?”

“No. Because the hand of love isn’t something that can be forced. Trying to do so will only result in a falsity. And with that comes consequences.”

Consequences? Now this I gotta know. I lean in closer and clasp my hands together. “Like … what kind of consequences?”

“You really need me to spell this out for you?” She rolls her eyes.

I do, but I’m not going to say that out loud.

“Okay, maybe you do.”

Dude, she can read my mind.

“Imagine forcing someone to love you. Then imagine that same person never loved you to begin with. That means it’s not real. You’re living an illusion. And any love that isn’t true holds no strength. No security to its foundations. Sooner or later, those foundations? They’re going to show a few cracks. See?”

“Erm … but what if I — I mean, the one person … loves the other one enough for the both of us — them? What then?”

She shakes her head, even looks a little exasperated. “There is no then. Because single-sided, unreturned love is love of the loneliest possible kind.”

Booooo. I don’t say that out loud though.

“Besides, take other spells with love as the boost or catalyst. Do you really think Jem and Sean would be here now, if either one of them didn’t love the other? Why don’t you ask them what they think on that?”

“Nah. I already know what they think. I read their book.” With that, I add a gigantic smile. “Okay, instead of sappy love stuff, can you, or will you tell me about your favourite spell, good or bad, that you did and the results. Just for an eency weency bit of fun?”

“Fun?” Her one eyebrow wings up. “Magic is a serious business. Though, I did have a lot of fun, one time in senior school, when I stuck an illusion-adjustment spell on some stuck-up bimbo who tried to steal my guy.” She chuckles, almost as if to herself. “Yeah, imagine considering yourself the most beautiful girl in town. Then imagine it looking like your face is melting every time you check yourself out in the mirror. Payback really can be a witch.”

“That’s awesome!” I can’t help myself. I’d love to be able to do stuff like that. “So, okay, you keep telling me magic is serious, business … when did you figure out you were talented with said ‘business skills’?”

“When did you figure out you liked guys?” She shrugs. “A bit like anybody whose mind and body goes through subtle adjustments with puberty, it just creeps up on you, and before you know it, those differences you notice quit being freaky and become a natural part of who you are.”

When did I figure out I like guys? When … when … when … Hmmm… oh yeah! “Okay, so I get it. Can you tell me the first magic you remember doing? Then I promise to stop bugging you about magic and will ask you one more deeper and more thoughtful question.” I smile hoping she’ll indulge me.

“Oh, crikey. You expect me to remember that?” She taps a finger against her chin for a second before a slow smile appears. “I accidentally frazzled the ends of Carly May’s hair when she pissed me off in art class by making fun of my picture compared to hers from across the room every time the teacher wasn’t looking.” She gives small shrug that’s only halfway apologetic. “Amazing what you can achieve with a little intent.”

My laughter is genuine as I can picture this event … just so. “Okay, Jess … last question. Ethan or no Ethan?”

“Now that?” She wags a finger though there is mischief sparkling in her eyes. “That I won’t tell.”

~~~

Massive thanks to Aimee Laine for collaborating with me on this interview and helping to make it way more interesting than I could have on my own.

And a huge thanks to J.C. for allowing Jess & me to take over her blog for the Resonance Tour.

—

About the Author

J.A. Belfield

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if…? How would they react if…? Who would they meet if…? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

Contact: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

And to finish off on a teaser, here’s a random one-liner from the book:

Check out the rest of Julie’s tour here!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

A BULLET FOR CARLOS Blog Tour: Writing the Opposite Sex by Giacomo Giammatteo

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Crime writer Giacomo Giammatteo talks about writing from the perspective of a female detective in his latest book, A Bullet for Carlos.

Writing the Opposite Sex: The Challenges & Some Tips
by Giacomo Giammatteo

Challenges: I certainly faced my fair share of challenges while writing this one.

First I wrote the book in 3rd person. I finished the whole thing and sent it out to beta readers, and … I got mixed results. The guys loved Connie Gianelli, the main protagonist, but many of the women didn’t. And I don’t mean a little bit; they hated her.

I tried making minor changes and that did nothing, so I started all over and rewrote the whole thing using a combination first person POV for Connie and third person POV for everyone else. I had done this with my first novel but they were both males, so I thought I’d try it here.

When I finished this time, the results were worse. The men weren’t as fond of her and the women still hated her. I was damn near ready to give up, when I thought of combining her personalities and basing her on two people I knew. Sooooo I got her ‘personality’ fixed in my head, and started all over again. I completely rewrote the book. I couldn’t just rewrite her character because her actions, responses, dialogue were different because she was different. That meant the people she interacted with would have different reactions and responses to her.

This time when I sent it out to beta readers, it worked. The guys liked her and I think the women liked her even more.

I don’t know if I can give many tips about writing the opposite gender except to say if you use real people as role models for your characters, like I do, make sure you select the right one before you start. I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone. I basically wrote that book three times.

I’m glad I went through this process though, because I am very happy with how Connie turned out.

About the Author

Giacomo Giammatteo

Giacomo Giammatteo lives in Texas, where he and his wife run an animal sanctuary and take care of 41 loving rescues. By day, he works as a headhunter in the medical device industry, and at night, he writes.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A Bullet for Carlos

A Bullet for Carlos

Detective Connie Giannelli’s life has been torn apart several times. First when her mother died and then years later when she found out her Uncle Dominic was in the mob. Her life is about to be shredded again, and this time it could destroy her.

Connie’s love of family and her badge are both threatened when an undercover drug bust leaves two cops dead and the drugs missing. Internal Affairs is looking for any excuse to take her badge, but she’s not worried about them finding the missing drugs — her secrets could prove to be far worse.

Now Connie’s racing against the clock to figure out who killed her partners and took the drugs — dirty cops or Uncle Dominic’s friends. And she has to do it before IA pins the whole damn thing on her.

Purchase Link: Amazon

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Book Shout-Out: A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR by Brenda Ashford

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I don’t know about you, but the title of this memoir alone is enough to switch me to full Mary Poppins song mode!

Like the title suggests, A Spoonful of Sugar is a real-life account of Brenda Ashford’s experiences as a nanny in Britain. Cool, isn’t it?

Here’s the official blurb:

A Spoonful of Sugar

Brenda Ashford is the quintessential British nanny. Prim and proper, gentle and kind, she seems to have stepped straight out of Mary Poppins. For more than six decades Nanny Brenda swaddled, diapered, dressed, played with, sang to, cooked for, and looked after more than one hundred children. From the pampered sons and daughters of lords ensconced in their grand estates to the children of tough war evacuees in London’s East End, Brenda has taught countless little ones to be happy, healthy, and thoroughly well bred. In this delightful memoir, Brenda shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.

From the moment Brenda first held her baby brother David she was hooked. She became a second mother to him, changing his nappies, reading him stories, and giving him all the love her warm heart contained. Knowing a career caring for children was her calling in life, Brenda attended London’s prestigious Norland College, famous for producing top-notch nannies. It was a sign of privilege and good taste for the children of the well-to-do to be seen being pushed in their Silver Cross prams by Norland nannies, who were recognizable by their crisp, starched black uniforms with white bib collars, and their flowing black capes lined with red silk. And what skills were these trainees tested on daily? Lullaby singing, storytelling, pram shining, bed making, all forms of sewing, cooking simple meals, and dispensing first aid — including knowing the best way to help the medicine go down.

In A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda recalls her years at Norland and her experiences during the war (after all, even if bombs are dropping, there’s no reason to let standards slip), and recounts in lovely detail a life devoted to the care of other people’s children.

Sprinkled throughout with pearls of wisdom (you can never give children too much love, and you should learn how to sew a button, for goodness’ sake), this delightful memoir from Britain’s oldest living nanny is practically perfect in every way.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

For a taster, here are some pearls of wisdom from Nanny Brenda herself:

“I had puzzled many times over the ingredients for a perfect recipe for a happy home. Throw in some stability, a dash of routine and respect. Sprinkle some fun and imaginative games and stir well. But the most vital ingredient is the mother. The mother is truly the heart and soul of a family.”

“As for fussy eaters? I don’t stand for it. I have taken a hard line on this topic. This is a home, not a restaurant and you will jolly well try it before you turn your nose up at it.”

“If a child has sufficient breakfast, lunch and dinner they shouldn’t need a snack. I don’t really like it today when I see children being wheeled along in a pram stuffing things in their mouth.”

“Children cannot get up to your level, so you have to get down to theirs; try and understand how the world looks through their eyes.”

“If we respect little people then they in turn will grow up to respect others.”

“Put a book in a child’s hands or plant them in an empty field or park, and suddenly the world opens up and becomes a fantastical place of make believe and adventure.”

“Never let a house define you. You can make a home anywhere from an air raid shelter to a shed, if you have to. Riches and wealth don’t matter a jot.”

“I was always honest with my charges. In fact in every area of my life I have been most careful to never tell a lie. Why can’t everyone be more careful to tell the truth? At least we would all know where we stand in life.”

“Little folk deserve a childhood that’s full of fun. It’s the single most valuable lesson in my eyes. I have always encouraged children to have a giggle wherever and whenever they can.”

About the Author

Brenda Ashford

Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies. For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain’s longest-serving nanny. She lives outside London.

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

SILENT ECHOES Blog Tour: Zeus & Scrabble by Aimee Laine

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To celebrate the release of her latest book, Silent Echoes, author Aimee Laine will be taking over my blog today to talk about how the meddling old Greek head god might fool around with one of the best loved word games in the world.

Zeus & Scrabble


by Aimee Laine

Silent Echoes is a Games of Zeus novel but it’s not a traditional mythological conundrum. No, as the author, I’ve taken quite the liberties in creating a situation Zeus could have use to mess with we puny humans.

So, to have a little fun as Silent Echoes releases this month, my host here at J.C. Martin’s blog has challenged me to create a Game of Zeus out of Scrabble!

How could Zeus use Scrabble upon two unsuspecting humans? How could he manipulate a seemingly innocuous game into a maniacal, devious relationship conflict? Oh, let me count the ways … or rather, let me show you.

According to Wikipedia:

Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15 x 15 grid. The words are formed across and down in a crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Specified reference works (e.g., the Official Club and Tournament Word List, the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary) provide a list of permissible words.

Before we get to the ultimate Scrabble Romance … let me tell you a little about Silent Echoes.

Silent Echoes

Silent Echoes

For years, Ian Sands has enjoyed his life as a bachelor, taking advantage of singlehood and exploring his own definition of passion — whoever she may be. Blonde. Brunette. Tall. Short. Hot. Not. Five months ago, all that changed.

Ian’s been celibate, frustrated and desperately seeking answers to why one woman, who doesn’t play by girls’ rules, haunts his every waking moment.

As a renovations specialist, Taylor Marsh lives, works and breathes construction — a profession her southern belle of a mother would rather Taylor not touch. The same goes for Ian; Mama Marsh would never approve of him.

Like Ian, though, each time he and Taylor drew near, something compels her to get closer.

Something tells her to run away.

Fast.

As much as their histories suggest they shouldn’t be together, neither Taylor nor Ian can deny the pull, and the two succumb, indulging in a relationship that brings pleasure to the body, mind and soul.

Doing so, though, also ushers in a series of events both should have foreseen as well as one final outcome neither expected.

Purchase Links:

And now…

Scrabble

What can we do with words? We can create plays, send emails, write books, pen love letters. Anything. Words are the foundation to all our communication. Words are the reason Scrabble exists and the way in which it’s won.

(Image source: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

What if, though, every time a set of words were placed on the board, they were scrambled? I mean, you have the letters for something huge, the win even, say … QUIZZIFY for 419 points. (Yeah, right, but go with it for a moment).

You have the letters needed. You’re going for the win. And all of a sudden the letters morph.

E become A. E becomes Z. X becomes G. B becomes R. Something unexplainable.

First off, you’d probably think you’re going crazy. But then, if you look across the table, you find your opponent is the one guy (or gal) you’ve always wanted to win again.

Always (I mean that when I say it).

You see, Zeus (in my Games of Zeus series) likes to mess with people’s fates, their destinies, their futures and we puny humans don’t like that.

So what are you going to do when your letters get scrambled in a wild game of scrabble?

Find a way to fix it of course. And in any good fix-it romance, he and she will have to work together. The question becomes … just what would solve the problem? Now that’s for another story.

And there you have it. What do you think? Is Scrabble a possible Game of Zeus?

About the Author

Aimee Laine

Aimee is a romantic at heart and a southern transplant with a bit of the accent (but not a whole bunch). She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and with him, she’s produced three native North Carolinians, two of whom share the same DNA.

With an MBA and a degree in Applied Mathematics, there’s absolutely no reason she should be writing romance novels. Then again, she shouldn’t need a calculator to add two numbers, either … but she does.

Contact: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

DIVINE FURY Blog Tour: Interview with Author Robert B. Lowe & Giveaway

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Robert B. Lowe is here today to talk about his work, especially his latest book, thriller Divine Fury.

***Read on to find out how you could win a $25 Amazon gift card***

First off, a quick introduction:

About the Author

Robert B. Lowe

Robert B. Lowe is a Pulitzer-prize winning author whose fiction is based in San Francisco, his adopted home.

His past experiences – a 12-year career in investigative journalism and a Harvard Law School degree – enable him to write gripping mystery thrillers in both the legal and journalistic fields. Lowe draws his inspiration from John Grisham, Dick Francis and Lee Child and adds his own San Francisco twist. Readers will enjoy his references to the city’s landmarks such as Chinatown, North Beach and Pacific Heights, and the Bay area’s foodie culture.

Divine Fury is Lowe’s second novel. His first was the best-selling Project Moses which reached the Amazon Top 20 Mysteries list and was a finalist in the Best Indie Books of 2012 competition hosted by the Kindle Book Review.

Divine Fury continues the adventures of Enzo Lee, a jaded journalist rehabilitating his career as a feature writer in San Francisco who stumbles into scandals and criminal conspiracies that require his investigative expertise to unravel.

When Lowe isn’t writing he enjoys a day at the golf course and spending time with his wife and daughters.

Contact: Website | Twitter | Facebook

—

How did you come up with the main plot of Divine Fury – reaction to a gay political candidate – and what has been the response?

The Enzo Lee books are primarily set in San Francisco. I wanted to choose a subject that was somewhat special and unique to the area. The gay and lesbian culture and activism here seemed like an interesting area to explore. It also felt like the country is in the middle of a sea change in how it views same-sex marriage and similar issues. So, it felt like a topic that might resonate with readers. The possibility of a gay politician coming out of San Francisco and having statewide or nationwide aspirations is, I think, fairly realistic as well.

There have been some interesting reactions. One reader felt I was being unfair to rednecks. Another thought I was saying anyone who opposes homosexuality is a murderous lunatic. I think most readers feel the idea that a gay candidate could touch off an over-the-top response is plausible and go from there.

What led you to start writing books?

I was an investigative reporter for 12 years and a lifelong fan of mysteries and thrillers. Having written journalistically for a living and loving the genre, I always wanted to try my own hand at it myself and finally had a chance. Divine Fury is my second mystery thriller and I’m working on the third.

What is your next book about?

The next one is also an Enzo Lee book and stars the San Francisco reporter once again. Some of the other characters return as well. Part of this one, however, is set in Alabama and other places. It focuses on the pharmaceutical industry.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Out of college, my first jobs were writing for newspapers. Certainly, a big part of what you do in that role is to sit down every day and pound the keys producing words to appear in a newspaper or on a website. On some days, the job might be pure writing. On others, pure research. But, I clearly considered myself a writer at that stage.

It is a lot different to write a book and to devote 4-6 hours daily for 3 months or longer to produce it. The challenges are greater from a pure writing standpoint. And, when you’re creating characters, the challenge of making them believable and thinking through human motivation and ways of talking are daunting. Doing that and developing a story that is compelling and tight is what moves you into the “novelist” category, I think.

What is your writing day like?

I do have the luxury at present of writing full time. My basic mode is to be at the keyboard in an environment free from distractions at 9 am and work until lunch time. Most days, I keep working after lunch for at least a couple of hours. For me, a reasonable goal is 1,000 words a day. Sometimes I’m struggling and don’t make that. On other days, I know where everything is going and can do much more. I’m also revising and editing constantly so that pace keeps me moving forward.

What do you do when you get stuck?

I’m finding that what often works when I begin a chapter or section is to write an opening and then take the second or third paragraph and make that the first. It’s just a different, less linear way in and can be a nice twist. It also speeds things up a bit and in the mystery-thriller genre, I think you need to keep a fast pace.

What made you decide to write a continuing series?

When I wrote the first book, Project Moses, I had in mind more of a fast-paced thriller with a global-sized plot. But, many of my readers have really enjoyed the characters and I have to admit that I enjoyed fleshing them out more than I expected. So, somewhat by popular demand, I’m continuing to develop them and it’s interesting to let them run and see what happens.

 —

Thank you for your time, Rob!

Now here’s a bit more information about his latest book:

Divine Fury

Divine Fury

Candidate Andrew Harper was a college basketball star, a crusading prosecutor and a beloved Congressman. He is also openly gay. When the San Francisco politician gets the inside track to become California’s next governor, it sends shock-waves through the political and religious establishment.

Reporter Enzo Lee is cajoled into leaving his comfortable niche covering fluffy features for the San Francisco News to cover the historic campaign. A series of campaign events are mysteriously and dangerously disrupted. A key endorsement is scuttled at the last minute. An earlier murder takes on new significance when it is linked to a Watergate-style break-in involving computer spying.

But, finding the culprits behind political sabotage and high-tech hacking take a back seat when it’s discovered that a troubled war veteran armed with guns and explosives has begun a violent journey from small-town Montana to the City by the Bay.

When Lee becomes a target himself he must dodge attempts on his own life while trying to expose the conspiracy and, with the help of police allies, foil an assassination plot.

Divine Fury is the newly released second book in the Enzo Lee series from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert B. Lowe. The series was kicked off by the best-selling Project Moses, the bioterroism thriller that made the Amazon Top 20 Mysteries list and was a finalist in the Best Indie Books of 2012 competition.

Divine Fury is a page-turning thriller with suspense, action, romance and enough twists to keep the reader guessing. It also focuses on a timely theme as the issues of same-sex marriage and gay rights become a major cultural battleground in America.

Purchase Links: Amazon

Giveaway!

Rob is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter during the tour. To enter, all you have to do is to leave a comment below.

Why not visit the other tour stops? The more you comment, the higher your chances of winning.

Good luck!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

Alien Nation by Frank Nappi

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***Read on to find out how you could win a $50 Amazon gift card***

Alien Nation


by Frank Nappi

Confession…

I own a Mac, iPhone and Kindle. I use Facebook and tweet regularly. I download music. But I do all this with angst and trepidation, for I’ve always fancied myself a traditionalist, one steeped in the old fashioned way of doing things. But alas, I suppose I have no choice but to evolve with the emerging culture — we all know what happened to the dinosaurs — but despite my reluctant capitulation and my understanding of all the advantages these aforementioned technological advances afford, I remain deeply troubled.

Who could have imagined the technology created to enhance the quality of our daily lives would assume such an insidious life of its own? As modern technology continues to burgeon beyond anyone’s comprehension (remember when the cartoon The Jetsons was just a cartoon?) we all become a little less human, transformed from sensitive, amiable beings into faceless automatons incapable of intimate communication.

Who have we become?

Faceless technology (Image source: FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Many of us traditionalists lament the fact that in today’s world, there seems to be a glaring absence of this intimacy – a desensitization that has altered the face of humanity. What remains an enigma is why we do not recognize the source of our collective despair and consternation – why we don’t rail against the reason we have mutated into creatures bearing little or no resemblance to our parents and grandparents.

What have we become?

We have fallen victim to our alienation — or perhaps what is better expressed as our “alien nation.”

It is impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when the fruits of our technology turned against us. When did this disassociation with others of our species become the norm? Somewhere between the advent of the answering machine and the inception of the internet, we lost our way. We have become slaves to our technology. This became painfully evident during Hurricane Sandy, when we were forced to revert to older, more traditional ways.

Many struggled because they have forgotten how to just be. And what it means to exist without technology.

We send e-mails instead of letters, chat on-line or via text message instead of in person or on the telephone, and perform monetary transactions via direct deposit or ATM. We engage in inane encounters with automated menus, do our Christmas shopping from a computer, and converse on cell phones while standing in line at the grocery store. True, all of these innovations make life faster and easier; but they are also impersonal and unnatural. In trying to create perfection, we have produced disaster.

Does the name Victor Frankenstein ring any bells?

In order to arrest the tide of this technological metamorphosis, if indeed it is not too late, we must all make a concerted effort to embrace our humanity and reclaim our quality of life.

Henry David Thoreau had the right idea – “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!”

Resurrect the paper and pen and write a note to someone you love. I cannot remember the last time I received a handwritten letter from a friend. Correspondence of this nature is priceless, imbued with sentiment; words are much more poignant when crafted by hand. Handwriting is like a fingerprint; it is unique and emblematic of the writer’s essence. I still have dozens of letters from the WWII veterans on which my first novel Echoes from the Infantry was based. They are stored away with all of my most valued possessions.

Next time you need to withdraw money from your checking account, visit your financial institution and treat yourself to an impromptu exchange with the bank teller. Some of the best conversations are those which are unexpected.

And if you really want to immerse yourself in the human condition, and exorcise those technological demons, rebuke the X-Box and abandon virtual reality for the moment; meet a real person for coffee or dinner. Nothing combats our alien nation like the eye contact that occurs during a personal exchange between two people. You might want to leave any hand held electronic devices at home.

Of course I blush as I write, recognizing the inherent paradox here; you would not be reading this without the advent of the blog.

Sigh.

I guess I’m mired in the chasm between two worlds.

I am indeed happy to share my thoughts, but I cannot help but think that they would be better expressed in person.

About the Author

Frank Nappi

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry, received national attention, including MWSA’s silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story “A Mile in His Shoes” starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the just released thriller, Nobody Has To Know, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.

Contact: Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Nobody Has to Know

Nobody Has to Know

Nobody Has To Know, Frank Nappi’s dark and daring new thriller, tells the story of Cameron Baldridge, a popular high school teacher whose relationship with one of his students leads him down an unfortunate and self-destructive path. Stalked through text-messages, Baldridge fights for his life against a terrifying extortion plot and the forces that threaten to expose him. NHTK is a sobering look into a world of secrets, lies, and shocking revelations, and will leave the reader wondering many things, including whether or not you can ever really know the person you love.

Purchase Link: Amazon

Giveaway!

Frank is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter.

For your chance to win, all you have to do is to leave a comment below.

And why not drop by the other tour stops? The more you comment, the greater your chances of winning!

Good luck!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

SAVING CASEY Blog Tour: Character Interview

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Today I’m interviewing the main character from Liza O’Connor’s Young Adult Suspense Thriller, Saving Casey. But first, a quick blurb about the story:

Saving Casey

Having been diagnosed with cancer, Cass Goldman decides to opt out of any futile medical care and end her life. While she has some thoughts on afterlife, she never expects to reincarnate into the body of a seventeen-year-old girl named Casey Davidson.

When she awakens in a hospital, Cass discovers two disturbing facts: One, she is now inside the body of a troubled teenager, and two, the former owner of this body committed suicide, but only Cass knows that. Everyone else believes Casey has survived, but suffered a complete memory loss. Cass has two choices: to take on Casey’s life and turn it around, or to confess the truth about her reincarnation and end up in a mental asylum. Given this second chance to life, Cass decides to take on the future life of Casey—the frightening ghoul-faced teen with short, black, spiky hair.

Every person around Cass has an ulterior motive and discovering the truth of Old Casey’s life is more complicated than the “new math” she is forced to learn in school. In addition, Cass has to contend with raging teenage hormones and the prior crimes of Old Casey, which she might not remember, but everyone else certainly does. However, her biggest frustration concerns her feelings for her father’s rugged security specialist who sees her only as a teenager and doesn’t want to explore the mutual attraction between them.

Will her second chance at life prove to be worth the struggles she has to overcome?

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bono Books

Saving Casey is on sale at a reduced price of $2.99 for the duration of the tour, so grab yourself a bargain!

Interesting, no? This is the most intriguing YA story I’ve read about in a long while!

So without further ado, meet the very interesting Cass/Casey!

—

Please tell us about the older version of you we meet in Chapter 1. What type of things did she like to do?

Well, as Cass Goldman, I didn’t do much of anything, given I was 80 years old, but my dog Jess and I would shuffle about the town every day. However, ten years prior, we hiked real woods. In fact, I can share a link on the day my little 30 pound dog went after a 600 pound bear. That was a scare I still remember.  I have a video of that.

Now to a hard question: why did you commit suicide?

About three months ago, I lost vision in one eye, went to the doctor and it turns out I had brain cancer … terminal. Still he wanted to put me through a regiment of chemo. For what purpose? He just told me it was non-operable. So I went home, made a video telling my family and friends goodbye, then committed suicide.

I rather expected to die and for my soul to return in a new born baby.  Instead, I wake up in a seventeen year old’s body. Talk about shocked!

And horrified once I looked in a mirror. Staring back at me was a ghoul from a low-grade horror movie.

Did you tell anyone what had really happened? Who you really were?

Are you kidding? What happened to me shouldn’t be possible. They would have locked me up in a mental institution. So I claimed partial amnesia to explain why I didn’t know anything about Casey’s life, but knew how to do things.

Tell us about the first time you met Troy.

Ah, Troy. I got in an altercation on my first day back in school, which got me 59 days of detention hall. When I finished my first two hours of detention, I discovered my dad and this gorgeous hunk waiting for me in the hall. My body lit up like lit firecrackers at the sight of Troy. However, when I saw a black wire running up his neck to his ear, I thought he was a cop, there to arrest me. That dampened my lovelust fast enough. Even though I’d kicked the boy in self-defense I was pretty sure the legal system would see me, with my ghoul face, as the instigator and charge me with assault.

Fortunately, Troy turned out to be my dad’s head of security, who was there to protect me. Evidently, the boy I’d preemptively struck had gathered his fellow football players to assist his counter-attack. They intended to gang rape me once I left school. Troy sent them packing and from that point forward, he became my security guy.

What drew you to each other?

Well, I can’t speak for him. But from the very first, we understood each other, and he not only got, but loved my sense of humor. My dad was always saying he got my humor, but then he’d scold me every time I expressed it. Troy would just laugh.

What’s your favorite thing about Troy?

He has the best laugh. It comes from deep in his chest … from his heart. Physically, he’s gorgeous, but honestly, that just depressed me, given I looked like a character from a low grade monster movie.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

I can speak only of my prior life there, because I don’t have Casey’s memories. However, in my prior life, my favorite childhood memory is being gnawed on by twelve black and tan puppies. Puppies are adorable, and twelve of them crawling on you at once is pure delight.

Ah, black and tan are my favourite kind of puppies!

What’s your favorite vacation spot?

Again I have to speak to my former life. New Zealand. It’s amazing how many gorgeous locations are crammed into those two small islands.

Favorite eye colour?

I don’t really have one. However, I do prefer eyes NOT surrounded by black tattoos.

Care to share your future plans?

I’ve got people who evidently wish to kill me, so my future isn’t certain. But if I can survive, I intend to make straight A’s next year. Then, with lots of recommendations and a great ‘turnaround’ story, I plan to go to college and get a doctorate degree in Education. After school, I’ll create a foundation with the billions lurking in my trust fund and give children a means to stop bullies even when the adults at their school won’t help. If such lifelines existed for Casey, she might still be alive.  And I really hope to do that with Troy at my side. Honestly, he’s the only man I’ve met in two lifetimes who I’ve fallen for. I never believed in soulmates before, but he’s definitely mine.

Anything you’d like to share?

Well, Liza has a wonderful trailer about the book if you’d like to see it.

You seem to like videos. Any reason why?

In my old life, when I was younger, my dog Jess and I would make videos as we hiked. Then I’d put them on the web so my family could enjoy them as well. So when I ended up in Casey’s body and needed someone to share stuff with, I started vlogging about my crappy new life. However, things got crazy real fast and I didn’t have time for vlogging. I was just trying my hardest to stay alive and out of a mental institution. I won’t give the links for those …to o many, but they are on Liza’s site with the other links I shared.

Well thanks for letting us know a bit more about the person you were before you became Casey Davidson.

—

About the Author

Liza O’Connor

Liza O’Connor lives in Denville, NJ with her dog, Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, Liza learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She is an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, Liza’s first love has and always will be writing novels. Her love to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.

Purchase Links: Website/Blog | Twitter

To follow Liza’s tour, click here for the other tour stops.

Giveaway!

If you’d like a picture of yourself to be marred with Casey’s tattoos, leave a comment “Please tattoo my photo” and leave your email so Liza can contact you once she picks one lucky commenter to have their photo tattooed.

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

AgentHunter.co.uk, the Match.com for Writers

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AgentHunter.co.uk is brought to you by the cool people at the Writers’ Workshop. It’s a complete, searchable database of all the literary agents, agencies and publishers in the UK. For writers seeking representation, this is a one-stop resource for all your querying needs!

For just £12 a year, the details of all agents, agencies and publishers are made available, including an agent’s preferences, likes and dislikes. Best of all, the database is completely searchable. You can filter the results by genre, by how many clients an agent represents, by whether the agent is seeking new authors to add to their list, and so on! Want to stalk follow an agent? You can find out an agent’s handle if he/she is on Twitter!

If you’re a UK based writer seeking representation for your work, AgentHunter.co.uk is an invaluable resource that takes much of the legwork out of searching for your perfect agent!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer

How Martial Arts Could Change a Life by Alan Oakes & Giveaway

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***Read on to find out how you could win one of three Sonic/Amazon/B&N gift cards***

How Martial Arts Could Change a Life


by Alan Oakes

Thanks J.C. for letting me be a guest blogger on your site! I feel totally honored! — And hello J.C. fans and readers!!

It’s awesome that J.C. is passionate about martial arts and I couldn’t be more impressed!

When I’m not writing, I work at a high school in central Texas as a graduation coach and counselor. We are fortunate to have a really excellent martial arts school in the town. The family who runs the martial arts program has always been amazing at helping at risk students.

A few years ago, I worked with a teenage boy who just struggled in school. He really had a hard time with his step mother and his father wasn’t in the picture. He felt alone and isolated – it really impacted what he thought of himself. He would mentally beat himself up, saying how he would never amount to anything. He would say for sure not going to finish high school — and he was failing a lot of his classes.

One day at the start of his senior year, he told me that he thought MMA was awesome and that he had this secret dream to be a MMA fighter. Well, I called up the local martial arts school and they agreed to give this boy a scholarship for the school year. I was so happy for him! I was also worried. This was a boy who sometimes talked about dreams, but he never followed them through – always negative about himself or making excuses for not doing things.

But when I told him about the opportunity, he got really excited. He went that night to his first lesson. He had to walk a couple of miles to do it, but he said he didn’t mind. The instructors at the school became a second set of parents for him. And for whatever reason, he listened to them and respected them.

This boy was dedicated! I couldn’t believe it! He was heading over to that school every night. I watched him slowly build up his self-confidence. He started doing his homework. That negative self-talk started to disappear. It became a total turn around – he was no longer a victim, but talked about real goals and dreams.

The last Friday night of May, when his name was called out during the high school graduation ceremony, there he was, in his cap and gown, no longer a lost boy but a confident young man. Martial arts did that for him!  He wound up enlisting in the military. I was so proud of him!

My book Between Micah and Amos is all about a 17 year old high school girl trying to overcome her life circumstances and struggling to make it in this very difficult world. It’s filled with lots of drama and suspense and told in a noir style. I hope you check it out!

Thanks again for letting me post!!

Alan

About the Author

Alan Oakes

Alan Oakes is a Graduation Coach and Counselor at a Texas High School. He is a featured writer for Green Building and Design magazine and a contributor to other magazines including Texas Architect and New American Luxury. In the past, he served as Associate Pastor of Saint Austin Catholic Church and Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at UCLA.

Alan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts degree from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C.

Contact: Website

Between Micah and Amos

Between Micah and Amos

Like a flash, the discharge from the gun lit up the inside of the dimly lit, filthy trailer Ashleigh called home. Ashleigh sat curled up on the stained pink carpet next to the pull-out bed in the living area where she slept. The victim lay dead, slumped against the wall of the trailer. Ashleigh looked at the motionless body. She was petrified.

Meet Ashleigh Mae, a seventeen year old high school senior living in the small town of Micah, Texas. Her boyfriend Billy calls her a wild child. Her momma is always telling her she makes bad choices. No matter what, no one really understands her.  

Ashleigh dreams of a life with Billy. Their love is true, she thinks. When her mother forces them to leave Micah in the middle of the night and move in with her momma’s old boyfriend Casey, on the outskirts of a town called Amos, Ashleigh’s life is torn apart.  

This is her fight to get it back….

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway!

Alan is giving away gift cards to three lucky commenters during the tour. The characters are always going to Sonic, so he is giving away three Sonic gift cards (or if the winners prefer, they can be Amazon or B&N gift cards), valued at $25, $15 and $10 respectively.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below.

Why not visit the other tour stops? The more comments you leave, the better your chances of winning. Good luck!

Source: J.C. Martin, Fighter Writer