Toi Thomas's Blog, page 102

Book Synopsis

These are previous posts that have been dusted off, updated, and freshly presented to an audience that’s never seen them. These limited posts originate from the companion blogs I’ve written for the first two installments of the Eternal Curse Series (40 Days and Nights of Eternal Curse & EC: Battleground a Survival Guide).*******************************************************************************************Ok, for those of you who are wondering, yes…!!!Spoiler Alert!!!  I’m going to tell you what the book is about, but you’ll still have to read it to get to the kitty gritty of story.
It starts out by introducing Mira, the heroine of the story. She’s a 30ish wealthy black doctor living and working  in the cold dark and gloomy city of Chicago. (In case you are wondering, I use fictionalized versions of real places throughout my story.) Mira is bored and uninspired. She becomes an online social networker in an attempt to add some excitement to her life. It is there that she meets Giovanni, our reluctant hero.
Giovanni intrigues Mira’s sense of wonder when he tells her that he hasn’t physically been in the presence of other people, in more than ten years. He says that he suffers from a skin condition that makes him near fatally sensitive to sunlight and has left him with noticeably gray skin. Being the caring person that she is, Mira decides to take on the challenge of helping this poor secluded soul.
Over the course of some time, Mira learns through much back and forth chatting, that there is so much more wrong with and concerning Giovanni, than just his skin disorder. Then for reasons that take half the book for her to figure out, she decides to go meet Giovanni face to face at his mysterious secluded country home.
As soon as Mira arrives to meet Giovanni, she learns that he is not totally alone. He lives with an elderly, wheelchair bound, father type, who’s been taking care of Giovanni for most of his life.  It doesn’t take Mira long to figure out that there’s something truly strange about Giovanni and his friend Abraham. During Mira’s initial stay with Giovanni, she and he both experience some wildly intense dreams that foreshadow events to come later on. The main thing that keeps Mira’s mind racing is that fact that late one night, she goes outside and sees what appears to be a snow-white eagle the size of a man, flying high in the sky above Giovanni’s house.
When urgent business back home forces Mira to end her visit with Giovanni early, he is unable to cope with her absence. In such a short time, Giovanni has developed feelings for Mira that even he doesn’t quite understand. In her absence, Giovanni loses control of his emotions and his true secret is finally revealed to the reader. He undergoes a dramatic transformation and spends his time soaring through the night sky like a fiendish stalker.
While Mira is away, she and Giovanni continue to communicate online until she is able to return to spend more time with him and Abraham. Upon returning to Giovanni’s home, hidden secrets begin surface causing drastic changes in their relationship to occur. Mira and Abraham begin to bond like father and daughter and Giovanni becomes jealous of their closeness.  Mira soon begins to realize that she too has feelings for Giovanni and begins to find herself unusually and irresistibly attracted to him.
After a long harsh winter filled with intense arguments and life changing activities, Mira finally sees Giovanni’s horrifying transformation, but isn’t afraid of him. It actually brings them closer together. For some time, Mira and Giovanni are both left wondering if he is some kind of a monster or a strange looking angel sent from heaven, unable to remember his purpose. With everything laid out on the table, Giovanni and Mira take on the task of mastering Giovanni’s uniqueness, including several special abilities or powers that he begins to display.
Just when things start to get really cool and comfortable between the two of them, Abraham succumbs to cancer and dies, once again testing the limits of their relationship. For the first time Giovanni is on his own with only Mira to comfort him…but can she comfort him the way he needs to be or will she comfort him the way he wants to be?
I could answer this question for you, but it really would give away the ending of the story. I bet you’re wondering where all the angels and demons fit into this dramatic little love story…You’ll just have to keep following this blog or just read the book to find out.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactionsand more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

The Marisol Trilogy Trailers by Eileen Clemens Granfors

Book 1, The Piñata -Maker’s DaughterScholarly Carmen Principia finds that she’s ready for everything at the university except Life 101.Buy link: Amazon.com

Book 2, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead
Marisol flees Tijuana, Mexico, with her mother after her journalist father is killed, probably by the drug lords. Living in a migrant camp under an oak tree in a posh suburb is not what Marisol had in mind for life in America.Buy link: Amazon.com


Book 3: So You, SolimarSolimar’s sister has the perky attitude and good looks. Solimar has the athletic genes. A tragedy after Homecoming brings the sisters into a more conflicted relationship. (due out Spring 2014)
Author Bio provided by authorEileen Granfors lives in Santa Clarita, California. Though born in New Orleans, Eileen grew up in her mother's hometown, Imperial Beach, California, the most southwesterly city in the U.S. Her mother’s love of Mexico and beaches influenced Eileen's strong ties with her Hispanic neighbors. When Eileen was a child, she and her brother could walk to Mexico down the beach, after crossing the Tijuana River mouth. Today, an iron fence extends out into the breakers at the border. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She began writing after retiring from teaching high school literature and composition for thirty-four years. She enrolled in UCLA’s Extension Writers’ Program on the first day of her retirement.

Author links:Blog: Word Joy New book reviews of others’ books and tabs, trailers for my booksTwitter: @EileenGranforsEmail: eggranfors@gmail.com

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Sample Sunday 09

Sample Sunday is a weekly posting from my pre-published work in progress Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. Each week I will post approximately 100 – 150 words from this installment of the series. Please visit the ToiBox to read samples of my other works.Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel chapter 3
Mira looked at the elderly gentleman who’d answered the door and flinched. She looked back once again to check the address, stepping through the door, then out, and then back in again. She thought she must be in the wrong place. The man in front of her looked like the grandfather of the century. His body was wrinkled and he seemed to be a little confused. Mira noticed that though he was feeble and legless, he was also cheerful and had a bit of sparkle in his eyes. Mira also noticed that he was very much not gray. The old man smiled and looked at her wide-eyed. His head was bald on top and the hair on the sides of his head was thick straight and white. He had round cheeks and a dimple in his chin. Word Count: 137

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ToiBox Update Week: 8/24/13

In case you’re interested, here are some highlights from my other blog, the ToiBox. This is where I talk more in depth about my whole writing experience and other works.



Eternal Curse: Battleground, chapter 1.4         





Eternal Curse: Battleground, Jack's Bio



02, Why this story?
        



I am moving!
Not today, but it’s coming. I’ve decided that as much as I adore this blog, it’s just too much to maintain along with my other blog.
I figured while I’m in the process of growing my following and tapping into my current surge of energy, this would be the best possible time to make the big move. Over the next month or two, I will be phasing out new content on my Eternal Curse Blog and merging it with my ToiBox blog. In the end, I will have all my content in one place so I won’t have to worry about going back and forth between the two, and neither will my followers. I really feel that this move will be better for everyone in the long run.
I will never completely do away with my Eternal Curse Series Blog because it will serve as an archive for my older content. I will continue to post to the ECS blog through May of 2014; most of this content will simply be shadow content of what’s posted at the ToiBox blog. I sincerely apologize to those of you have so diligently been following this blog and hope that you will consider following me at me new permanent web address: eToiThomas.com.

As always, following options are posted so you can follow in the best way that suits you. I hope to see you along for the ride of this literary and blogging journey. 
                                                               
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Interview 24: Kathryn E Jones

Greetings humans, half-breeds, and everything in between. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Kathryn Jones. A good time was truly had by all and here’s how it went down. ariverofstones.com
Hi there Kathryn! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ECS Blog. Don’t worry about the darkness, your eyes will adjust.
So tell me, who is Kathryn Jones?
I am not only a writer; I'm a reader, gardener, and decorator. I tell people that if I couldn't be a writer I'd be a decorator or a photographer. I also own a business, Idea Creations Press, which helps writers to improve their writing and get their books published. You can expect round two of my, Marketing Your Book on a Budget, to be released around January 2014 for wonderful and inexpensive marketing ideas.  Sounds like you do it all: writer of fiction and reference materials, a business owner, and a decorating hobbyist. This is bound to be a riveting interview.
So whacha got for me today?
provided by author David gathered 5 smooth stones to meet and defeat Goliath. What did these stones represent and how can you use them to conquer Goliaths in your own personal quests? Ms. Virginia Bean will show you how.
Travel with her on her own personal journey. See what she does. Learn how she grows. Discover what she becomes.
“Conquering your Goliaths—A Parable of the Five Stones” is for anyone desiring to travel beyond mediocrity, pain and fear. Learn of the great power within you, a power given to you from God, a power that must ultimately be unleashed to conquer the Goliaths in your own life. Come to an even deeper understanding of God and what he wants for you. (See a review of this book by JoanA. Adamak)
 I’ve always had a liking to parables and fables. I like to be taught a lesson without someone just telling what to do. I guess you write modern day parables…That’s pretty cool.
So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones?
Ms. Virginia Bean is a single woman who has never married. She loses her job and finds herself struggling to find a new one. At a job interview, as she sits across the desk waiting to hear the questions of the business owner, she discovers she is sitting face to face with God. But not only that (as if sitting across from God isn't enough), she is given knowledge of the five stones once gathered by David of old.  Virginia is a regular girl, with regular thoughts and fears, and she struggles to understand the stones of listening, trust, optimism, tenacity and constancy that the stones represent. She struggles to hear and she struggles to follow through. But most of all, she struggles to allow God to help her change her life.
As if job interviews weren’t intimidating enough…I like the premise of this story, but I wonder how it all works out. How does she know she’s sitting in front of God? How does she know about the five stones? Does she actually have physical stones in her procession that manifests these virtues…No, don’t tell me! Let me read the book.
Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?
In the past I sat alone with a pen and paper; today I use music, silence, whatever prompts me to get going, as I sit at a desk in my office. I have recently moved into a new home so the office is not (yet) quite what I want, but I envision the potential. New floors and paint, and something besides a collapsible table for my desk. I have great windows already that let in tons of light, fish swimming in a large fish tank to look at, and ceiling fans to keep me cool during the summer months. I am currently working on a Christian fiction novel entitled The Feast: A Parable of the Ring. The story takes off where Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, left off. I am also gathering in ideas for the January 2014 edition of Marketing Your Book on a Budget.
It sounds like you have your hands full with renovations, I’m pressed you are able to focus enough to get any writing done. Really, I understand your new approach of letting whatever prompt you and get you going. Sometimes I have to break my routine to refresh my creativity.
What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?
I do a lot of reading when it comes to inspirational works. C.S. Lewis is my favorite, but there are others like Max Lucado, which I also enjoy.
These are two dynamic writers with as many similarities as differences. If these are your influences, as a Christian writer, you are sure to be well rounded. I’m surely not speaking just for myself when I say that the works of C.S. Lewis captured and overtook my imagination and helped set in me the desire to write.
Whose brain are you just itching to scratch?
Amazon That would have to be C.S. Lewis. He was such a deep thinker, and his ideas made you stop and think about your own life and what you were doing with it. C.S. didn't start out as a Christian. I would like to ask him about his change of heart. I've read some about this, but I would like to know more. I would also like to ask him about his characters in the Narniabooks. It is interesting that each of his characters take on a double identity. For example, the Lion is Jesus Christ, and the White Witch is Satan. I would also like to ask him how his ideas came to him, and when he struggled, what would he do to overcome that thing called 'writer's block.'
I see that you wouldn’t hold anything back if given the chance. You’d jump right in and cover every subject from technique, to inspiration, to personal matter, and spirituality. It seems like it would be a conversation worth eavesdropping on.
Who is so you and why?
This is a tough one. I had to get up from the computer and think about it for a few minutes. A few years ago I was taking an art class. My teacher started calling me Catherine Zeta Jones. Granted, I look nothing like the actress, but he thought it was funny that my name was so close to hers: Kathryn Elizabeth Jones.
:)Haha, I love it. That’s typical. It seems that lots of people somehow end up with these silly nick names or pet names that are really no reflection of them as a people, but somehow they stick.

What’s your ideal reading spot for your next highly anticipated read?
provided by author I am sitting at my computer desk. I've just finished a cupcake; sugar always gets my mind going when I'm stumped. The fans are blowing in the office and my grand-daughter is singing in the kitchen some sort of 'woo-ooh' song. She's 4. I am excited because my new book, MarketingYour Book on a Budget 2013, is getting out there both in paperback and eBook. I wasn't sure about the eBook at first (enjoying the smell of the pages in its natural variety) but find myself feeling grateful that the book is available with options. Every time I read the pages I am reminded of something new I can do to promote my books. And the ideas don't end, because the next year I know the updated version will be up, ready for me to read and act upon. I am currently reading and reviewing MemoryLake, by Nancy S. Kyme. It won the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. It's a great memoir that takes the reader back to the days of girls’ camp.
Sounds like you’re able to read in the midst of multiple stimulants. I can pull this off at times, but if I had to choose, I’d choose silence (maybe some soft music in the background). Memory Lane sounds interesting.
What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years? Barnes&Noble
Nancy Drew Mysteries were my favorite. When I couldn't make friends or get anyone to like me, I could always pick up a mystery and have an instant friend named Nancy.
I think I read one Nancy Drew story in school. I knew lots of girls who loved her, but I never got into her. Before that, I did spend a lot of time with Beverly Cleary’s Ramona...Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?
Yep.
Alright then, here we go.
IMDBIf you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Field ofDreams.

That’s a very, to the point answer. I guess if you know what you like- you know what you like.
What makes you geek out?
Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. Anything chocolate. Bars. Ice-Cream. Doughnuts. Candy. You name it.
Spectacular! I mean who doesn’t like chocolate. I know there’s few strange people out there like my sister, but you’ve taken it to a whole other level…Get your chocolate on!
So what’s testing your patience right now?
Marketing Your Book on a Budget 2014 is a big endeavor. Sure, I have the book already in place, but and this is a big BUT, there is so much organizing to do. I will be expanding some chapters, letting go of some of the links and adding others, and creating at least one entirely new chapter. And all this in an office that's still in the re-decorating phase!
Editing is hard enough and you’re doing it while decorating…My prayers are with you ;).
When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?
JoshGroban calms me and makes me travel in my mind outside myself. He eases the stress that comes when the music (if you can call it music) is doing its cattle call outside. No, not country music, that stuff that pounds and screams and makes you think of the movie, Psycho. There are some things a writer can control, other things she can't.
Well, you are my first professed Groban fan. I guess his stuff is pretty soothing. I still think it’s funny that his voice comes out of a person who looks like “just some dude”. My husband and I, and I believe others, have an inside joke that we went to high school with “that guy.”
What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?
I enjoy the little things, so I will pick a day that comes to mind. The 4th of July brings on family and fireworks and not necessarily in that order. My grand-children were in a parade, their bikes decked out in streamers and American flags. We ate good food (nothing cooked, everything cold) and spent the evening making s'mores and watching the fireworks the neighbors had bought. I discovered that we'd moved into an incredible neighborhood (our first 4th in the new place) and that we'd saved tons of money on fireworks.
Simple and sweet, you really can’t beat that. Time with family is always a good time (even when it’s not).
Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?
I hope our freedoms stay intact. To me, freedom isn't doing what you want whenever you want, it's doing those things that bring you closer to God. I hope I am closer to God in 5 years than I am today, and that no matter what is going on outside the walls of my home, that I will be spiritually stronger.
That sounds like a goof future to me. For believers or not, if everyone strived to be better in five years than they are now, I think the future would be a better place.
Is there a question you would like to ask me?
Q: What convinced you to start a blog?
A: I didn’t really start a blog. I found one that that had been abandoned and took it over…Just kidding. I’ve written several blogs all as a means to help me be a better writer. The first blog I ever wrote (now a free ebook) was a challenge blog. I wanted to see if I could write for 40 days straight about my first book. That experience was so overwhelming, and thrilling, and complex, and educational, and scary…I just had to keep going.
Kathryn “aka Zeta-Jones” Jones, it has been one big pleasure getting to know more about you. Thank you for stopping by and sharing with me and my readers today.
Ok humans, half-breeds, and everything in between, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Kathryn Jones, check out these great links:
Website & Blog: KathrynElizabeth Jones GoodReads:Kathryn Elizabeth Jones Facebook: Kathryn ElizabethJones Twitter:@Kakido LinkedIn:Kathryn JonesPurchase links for Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones: Amazon, Barnes& Noble

Today, Kathryn has been so gracious as to offer a FREE paperback copy of Conquering You Goliaths  to a random commenter. So be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win the book.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Blogdom August 2013

Oh boy, do I have loads to share from my Blogdom! You may want to bookmark this and come back to it a few times. Good stuff here.(August, 2013) Book Reviews -From Authors to Watch, Eye Dancers: http://www.authorstowatch.com/2013/08/book-review-eye-dancers.html?showComment=1376243189407#c7177859839320350075-From Typing Tiara, Review: Dark Star: http://typingtiara.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-dark-star.html-From JeanzBookReadNReview, UNDONE - UNRAVELING BY ELIZABETH NORRIS: http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2013/07/undone-unraveling-by-elizabeth-norris.html-From Tyngas Reviews, The Trouble with Fate by Leigh Evans: http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2013/07/the-trouble-with-fate-by-leigh-evans.html-From Silk Screen Views, Going Postal ~ Terry Pratchett: http://silkscreenviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/going-postal-terry-pratchett/-From Paranormal Reads, Today Only by D. Love (not paranormal): http://paranormalreadsreviews.blogspot.com/2013/07/today-only-review.html-From Blogging for a Good Book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- graphic novel: http://bfgb.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-by-l-frank-baum-eric-shanower-and-skottie-young/-From The Artificial Selection, Flash Review of Dave McKean’s Cages: http://theartificialselectionproject.com/2013/08/14/bring-forth-the-underappreciated-artists-flash-review-of-dave-mckeans-cages/comment-page-1/#comment-363-From Bookaholics, Tiger Lily: http://bookaholicsbkcl.blogspot.com/2013/08/tiger-lily-review.html#.UhIxepK1Fsk-From Starships & Dragonwings, 5 Stars: Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness: http://www.onstarshipsanddragonwings.com/2013/08/19/shadow-of-night-by-deborah-harkness/-From Shelf Awareness, Review: The Childhood of Jesus (not what you think): http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2053#m20928 Movie Reviews -From ZanyZach’s Blog, Up In The Air Review: http://zanyzacreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/up-in-the-air-review/-From Alex J. Cavanaugh, Blogging Rules and The Wolverine Review! Plus Ninja News, New Covers, Video Game Trivia, and an Interview With Byron’s Son : http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/2013/07/blogging-rules-and-wolverine-review.html-From Romance That Rocks Your World!, Smurfs2: http://nickywellsklippert.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/smurfs-2/-From  Adopting James, My Top 10 Movies, No.2 [Moneyball] : http://adoptingjames.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/my-top-10-movies-no-2/ Interviews -From The Wizard’s Cauldron, Orange County Musings with Brenda Perlin: http://greenwizard62.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-year-ago-i-met-brenda-perlin-writer.html-From Authors to Watch, Interview with Christine Elaine Black: http://www.authorstowatch.com/2013/07/interview-with-christine-elaine-black.html- From JeanzBookReadNReview, PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT & AUTHOR INTERVIEW - BURN IT BY JENNIFER CIE: http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2013/07/promotional-spotlight-author-interview.html- From The Beautiful Room, Exceptional Horsemanship from Lauren Woodard: Guest Blog Post:http://janeayres.blogspot.com/2013/07/exceptional-horsemanship-from-lauren.html- From JeanzBookReadNReview, AUTHOR INTERVIEW - MEGAN CURD: http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2013/08/author-interview-megan-curd.html-From JeanzBookReadNReview, AUTHOR INTERVIEW - ANTIOCH - THE CIRCLE BY WILLIAM HARLAN: http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/2013/08/promotional-spotlight-author-interview_4.html Writing -From Creative Writing with the Crimson League, Authors: a warning about classifying and categorizing your characters: http://crimsonleague.com/2013/07/25/authors-a-warning-about-classifying-and-categorizing-your-characters/- From Myriad Spheres, 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 010: Write Everything Down: http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2013/07/101-thoughts-on-self-publishing-010.html-From Writerland, 7 Things I take to writer’s conferences: http://meghanward.com/blog/2013/07/25/7-things-i-take-to-writers-conferences/-From Live Write Thrive, Are you a who or that? : http://www.livewritethrive.com/2013/07/26/are-you-a-who-or-a-what/-From Masquerade Crew, Multiple POVs: Why I Love 'Em: http://masqueradecrew.blogspot.com/2013/08/multiple-povs-why-i-love-em.html-From Patti Roberts and Guests, Writing Tips From Authors - And how they became published authors: http://paradox-theangelsarehere.blogspot.com/2013/08/writing-tips-from-authors-and-how-they.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Paradox-SeriesOfBooks+%28PARADOX+-+Series+of+books%29 Blogging - From Daily (w)rite, What Do You Do When You Step into a Dead #Blog? http://damyantiwrites.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/what-do-you-do-when-you-step-into-a-dead-blog/#comment-13566- From the examiner.com, Author blogs and the art of fishing:  http://www.examiner.com/article/author-blogs-and-the-art-of-fishing?CID=examiner_alerts_article - From LogAllot,The Danger of Using Photo Images and What it Will Cost You:  http://www.logallot.com/the-danger-of-using-photo-images-and-what-it-will-cost-you/?goback=%2Egde_66325_member_258845345-From Larry Neilson Blog, How to Use Short URLs: http://larryneilson.com/how-to-use-short-urls Entertainment -From inspirationenergy, Its Friday, Take 2: Stephen Colbert’s Answer to Racial Harmony: http://inspirationenergy.wordpress.com/-From LoadingDocProcution, A Tap on the Window Promotional Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXk0ADZ70cc-From IndieWire.com/The Playlist, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty trailer: http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-ben-stiller-takes-the-red-one-in-surprising-trailer-for-the-secret-life-of-walter-mitty-20130730-From Chronicle Books, CARNIVORES By Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Dan Santat : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgt8k8Dle-Q&feature=youtu.be-From AudioSexx, Geek Week: http://audiosexxx.com/2013/08/04/geek-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1716-From TRISTA DIGIUSEPPI, Look At Me-chapter one: http://tristadigiuseppi.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/look-at-me-chapter-one/-From Chronicle Book, Dead Mountain -- Book Trailer : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCOTZTdUEAw&feature=em-uploademail-From TheNoseBleed.com , Ashton Kutcher reveals real name, gives incredible speech at Teen Choice Awards: If you happen to stop by any of these post and want to leave a nice comment, please tell them I sent you. (Copy this =>I came upon this post via Toi Thomas.)
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

Listography of Toi 02 : Friends

These are the lists that tell my life story. They are in no particular order and some of them are very personal. Please be nice, and if you want to share, I’d be glad to take a look at what you have.
Closest FriendsEric Thomas- my husbandI have several people in why life whom I consider family, but we’re not related by blood.The Jones FamilyThe Conor FamilyThat’s it. I don’t have a lot of close friends, just lots of wonderful people I spend time with every now and then.
Listograhy are books and a website dedicated to helping you write or consider your autobiography through the process of making lists.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken

The Piñata-Maker’s Daughter Excerpt by Eileen Clemens Granfors

provided by authorTitle: The Piñata-Maker’s DaughterSeries: The Marisol TrilogyAuthor: Eileen Clemens GranforsPublisher:  Self-published (CreateSpace)Reading Level: YA/New AdultGenre: Women’s LitContemporary FictionHispanic trilogyContent rating: PG-13Formats: paperback and ebookPages: 270 pagesBuy link: Amazon.com
Blurb provided by authorScholarly Carmen Principia jumps into college unprepared socially. First, there's her weird roommate. And then the men! Radical protester, Franco, who shares her Hispanic heritage, or frat rat Joe, who makes her laugh? Follow her adventures, some hilarious, some heartbreaking.
Excerpt“Thank you, Joe,” I say. “See you around campus.”            “Maybe. Twelve thousand people, sometimes it’s hard to find who you’re looking for. What dorm are you in?”
            “Ortega.”            “Good one, closer to campus.”            “Yeah, that’s what I thought. Are you in the dorms?”            “Not this year, I pledged Kappa. The house is right across the street. Come on over and ask for me when you get settled. I’ll buy you a sundae at Al’s.”            “Al’s?” It sounds like a dive bar.            “Al’s Place at the student union. Everybody hangs there. Gotta go if you ladies are okay. We have some frat business this afternoon.” As he leaves, he sees the bumper sticker. “Hey, the La Raza people hang out on Crusader Commons. Viva La Raza?” he says as if it’s a question, pronouncingRaza with a long A. He waves, guns the Miata, and disappears into traffic.            I look at Mama, Mama looks at me, we both shrug, and then we laugh. We wrap her arm in strips of tee-shirt. I hug Mama. I’m so relieved it’s going to be okay. Twelve thousand students at WPC, and now I know one.            “Don’t be ashamed of your hometown, Carmenita,” says Mama.            “Why would you say that?”  I ask, as if I am shocked. “Wow, Laguna Beach, this Joe guy must be rich.”            “You’re going to meet a lot of rich people in college. Rich doesn’t make them better.”            “Sure.” I can picture the looks of people the first time I answer, “So what does your mom do?” and I tell them, “Oh, she makes piñatas.” As if piñata-making is perfectly normal in their world. I remind myself to say she’s an artisan. Yeah, artisan sounds totally righteous.
Come back Monday, August 26, to see the trailer for this book and its sequel.
Author Bioprovided by authorEileen Granfors lives in Santa Clarita, California. Though born in New Orleans, Eileen grew up in her mother's hometown, Imperial Beach, California, the most southwesterly city in the U.S. Her mother’s love of Mexico and beaches influenced Eileen's strong ties with her Hispanic neighbors. When Eileen was a child, she and her brother could walk to Mexico down the beach, after crossing the Tijuana River mouth. Today, an iron fence extends out into the breakers at the border. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She began writing after retiring from teaching high school literature and composition for thirty-four years. She enrolled in UCLA’s Extension Writers’ Program on the first day of her retirement.
Author links:Blog: Word Joy New book reviews of others’ books and tabs, trailers for my booksTwitter: @EileenGranforsEmail: eggranfors@gmail.com
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Sample Sunday 08

Sample Sunday is a weekly posting from my pre-published work in progress Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel. Each week I will post approximately 100 – 150 words from this installment of the series. Please visit the ToiBox to read samples of my other works.Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel chapter 3
Abraham reached up, grabbed Giovanni’s hand, and looked up at his face trying to make eye contact with him. Giovanni always seemed to have trouble looking people in the eyes; he was afraid he’d see into their souls. Abraham spoke to him softly, “I had my chance at happiness, and it was taken from me. I could never have been satisfied to live as long as I have, if I hadn’t been there for you; someone who’s never really had anyone.”The two old friends finally sat down to eat their breakfast and continued to talk about all the expectations they had concerning the mysterious doctor they were hoping would become a good friend. They sat together like father and son as Abraham blessed the food.Word Count: 126

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ToiBox Update Week: 8/17/13

In case you’re interested, here are some highlights from my other blog, the ToiBox. This is where I talk more in depth about my whole writing experience and other works.



It's Like the Full Moon, chapter 1.4         





Eternal Curse: Battleground, Sheldon's Bio



8/15/13-more on Solomon's Sword




Thank you for taking the time to read this post. Click below to share your Reactions and more. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #cursescanbebroken