Barbara Silkstone's Blog, page 7

Guys and Their Momsfrom the Second Act CafeCheck out...

Guys and Their Momsfrom the Second Act Cafe


Check out the Guy Whisperer. Famous Actor shares how he dealt with his mother's mental illness.
The Second Act Cafe is a place for those lingering on either side of fifty. It's about getting even by having fun. Life truly should be one long laugh.                                      ~ Barb...Comedian, Author, Guy Whisperer

Special Invite to Second Act Café &nb...

Special Invite to Second Act Café


                                  Click here to magically transport to the Second Act Cafe
I have just launched my new website that has nothing to do with books. The Second Act Café is a place for those lingering on either side of fifty. It’s about getting even by having fun.

Latest posts are a retro visit to:
I Love Lucy and the candy factory
Carol Burnett and Went with the Wind – the curtain rod dress
plus:
An interview from the Guy Whisperer
Insite into sibling ranking and how it affects marriage
Men and leg-bouncing
Beauty & the Beast - beauty tips
Adventure - Travel tips



Please pop over for a peek. Sign up for the private newsletter and receive a once-a-week feed on the latest laugh inducing, thought provoking, posts.  Whatever your life’s Second Act is… a new career, divorce, globe-trotting, or even a love affair, we’d love to have you join the Café.

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters

                                                                     Amazon Link:



What can you tell us about The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters?
The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters is a comedy thriller in the style of Carl Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich, and with touches of Monty Python. The adventure is inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland but with a totally different adult plot. The story takes place in Miami and London. A murder by beheading sends Alice Harte, reluctant real estate broker for thugs, running into the arms of Nigel Channing, a charming British con man.

What, besides Lewis Carroll, was the inspiration for this story?
That’s easy. My Cousin Vinny and a Fish Called Wanda. Also my great love for John Cleese.

How do you develop and differentiate your characters?
The characters in The Secret Diary just took over the story. From Maris Archer who lives on white wine and laxative biscuits to Algy Green who super-glues his bat wing ears to his head, they took control. I just came along for the ride.

Who do you imagine is your ideal reader?

Anyone who’s ever gotten in over their head and is bailing as fast as they can. Fans of Carol Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich, or Monty Python. 

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypa...

  Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" GiveawayThe winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)
  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
 Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
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Cairo CaperPart-time tomb raider and full-time real estat...

Cairo Caper




Part-time tomb raider and full-time real estate broker, Wendy Darlin joins her lover, archaeologist Roger Jolley, in a quest for Cleopatra’s tomb. All they have to do is get from Cairo to the Temple of Taporisi Magna alive. Armed only with a couple of hijacked ashtrays and faced with a trek across the blazing Sahara desert can Wendy out-maneuver Russian oligarchs, a dozen Dark Force mercenaries, and Roger’s chubby ex-girlfriend in time to find the tomb and seal it before chaos erupts in Egypt?
This is the newest release in the Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider series. This book stands alone. You do not have to have read books one and two. Rating 4.6 stars
The way Ms. Silkstone plays with words is unrivaled and the way she incorporated segments from favorite movie clips is genius. She uses sharp wit throughout her stories, her plots are strong, and the action nonstop.               ~ Big Al’s Books and Pals
To buy your copy of Cairo Caper

Circle in the Sand by Lia Fairchild

Title: Circle in the Sand

Author: Lia FairchildRelease Date:  January 7, 2014  Four life-long friends bound by two decades of laughter, love, promises, and secrets. Once inseparable, the four grow into independent adults pursuing very different paths.

Sage, raised by career-driven parents, follows a carefully laid out future of success that leaves her wondering what she’s missed out on.

Emily, the college drop-out, now has three children that have become her whole life. She's slowly lost herself, subconsciously seeking dangerous ways to cope. Can she find herself in time?

Jax always lived on the edge, skating through life with no apparent ambition, yet remained the energy and emotional cement of the group. She longs for her friends to accept her without trying to fix her.

Ned, Emily’s twin brother, yearns to stand up and be counted. But his old loyalties and new feelings for one of the girls has him pulled in different directions.

Will the ties that held them together as kids be strong enough for them as adults? These four friends will discover the true meaning of friendship and unveil truths about themselves they never knew existed.


On Amazon



 All you need is love
“Live each day being the reason someone smiled, the inspiration for someone to fight, the strength for someone to heal.” By the time I read that line spoken by one of the characters in Circle in the Sand, I was completely captured by the story of four friends so different and yet so perfectly linked. Three women and one man, each takes their separate journey, yet they are never more than an emotional heart-beat apart.
I enjoyed the eccentricities that bound these friends together. Small things like passing page-worn classic books back and forth over the years, each friend making notes in the margins in different colored ink. Short notes reflecting their emotional responses to the book at that particular time in their lives. A very engaging quirk.
It took me a few chapters to get comfortable with the changes in the characters’ POV but once I got with the rhythm I enjoyed it immensely.
Author Lia Fairchild takes the reader on a journey from longing to terror and back. This is an honest story about love and friendship and how it continues to change and grow throughout our lives. 
I received a copy of this novel as an Advance Reader Copy in return for an honest review.



I’ve been creating stories my whole life, but only for me, in my own head. Then one day I sat down and started to write a book. I completed my first novel, In Search of Lucy, in February of 2011. Seven months later, AmazonEncore contacted me about representing my book. It’s currently in the top 10 for Kindle Drama.

My second full-length novel, Vigil Annie, was released on Amazon in December of 2012! One reviewer called this thriller “suspenseful, well-crafted, and fast paced.”

I recently completed my first romantic comedy, The Tech Guy, now available on Amazon.

My other works include a mystery series (A Hint of Murder) and a short, sweet romance (Special Delivery).

I was born and raised in Southern California and hold a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a multiple subject teaching credential. I’m a wife and mother of two teenagers.

Look for updates on me and my books at the links below.



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Sneak peek Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland on In...

Sneak peek Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland on Indies Unlimited

 Alice's notorious courtroom scene... excerpt. Just for fun!

                              
 Click here to read...excerpt to buy Alice visit the carousel on the upper right corner

Criminally Funny Fables ON SALE

Criminally Funny Fables Original list price $6.99 – Now 86% off!
Kindle CountDown  - starts today at 99 cents!
Two Days ONLY!Romantic Suspense in a box: Be aware, these are not the stories you want your little kids reading, they are clearly intended for adult readers, PG 13 acceptable. The tales appeal to the childlike part of us that loved the classic original stories. Combine that childlike love with modern politics and technology, and you get these smart, snarky, hilarious, romantic suspense tales. These stories are richly developed and leave you guessing until the very end.

Get these 3 titles for the price of one sale book!


You can get the BOX Set or choose an individual story...

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters is HERE

Wendy and the Lost Boys is HERE
Zo White and the Seven Morphs is HERE




Barbara Silkstone is the best-selling author of the Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider Boxed Set series that includes: Wendy and the Lost Boys, London Broil, and Cairo Caper. Her Criminally Funny Fables Boxed Set series includes: The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters; Wendy and the Lost Boys; Zo White and the Seven Morphs. For a squirt of paranormal comedy try: Cold Case Morphs. True fiction fan? Try: The Adventures of a Love Investigator.

Silkstone’s writing has been described as “perfectly paced and pitched – shades of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen – without seeming remotely derivative. Fast moving action that shoots from the hip with bullet-proof characterization.”

Amazon Prime - Streaming

An Honest-to-Pete Testimonial for StreamingAnd a gift suggestion just for you




A few years ago I gave my television to a charity. I was moving and planned on getting a new set but never got around to it. I realized there was very little in what was offered on television that appealed to me except for Downton Abbey, Burn Notice, and Weeds. I did miss my HBO/Showtime movies.

Last year I subscribed to Amazon Prime and began streaming movies and television shows. It has been one of the greatest gifts I have given myself. I love that I can watch gobs of shows without commercials, most are free, and all I need is basic cable forgoing those monthly extra charges.

 I curl up with my laptop, as I don’t need a humongous screen, and watch all the goodies… including Downtown Abbey and lots of the old shows like Moonlighting… Yum!


Be good to yourself! Try it!


With Love and Laughter

Giveaway! Ten Copies of CAIRO CAPER - Audio version ...

Giveaway! Ten Copies of CAIRO CAPER - Audio version 



Free! One each to the first ten readers who post a comment below… given from Wendy Darlin to you with love.






Join Wendy Darlin, archaeologist Roger Jolley and the rest of the crew as they search for Cleopatra's grave.
A Romantic Comedy Adventure
Click here for more info Cairo Caper - Audio book