Nancy LaRonda Johnson's Blog, page 7

Journal Past Blast: An Astrologer's Insight

This week’s journal entry for Journal Past Blast is an astrology post from the SF Weekly's June 2, 1993 issue, and my reaction to it. Reading it over today, I see why I tried to immortalize it by taping it into my journal. Going over all my past insecurities so graphically expressed in my journals, I see how this day’s astrology really touched me. Here’s a picture of it from my journal (In case it’s too hard to read, look under the photo to see what it says):


Here’s what the it says:

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) On behalf of all us boring non-Geminis, I’d like to express our appreciation for the experiments you’ve been performing on yourself. Please don’t be discouraged just because the results thus far have been inconclusive and you feel a trifle overexposed. We feel confident that sooner or later you’ll come up with discoveries that’ll have bottom-line value to us all. We’d also like to apologize for those shortsighted scaredy-cats among us who’re accusing you of being foolhardy and irresponsible.
And here’s my reaction written in my journal that day in 1993:
Perfect description of how I am feeling. It is great to read this and know that I was right not to feel or be hampered or bombarded with lots of societal BS [yes, I did write "BS"] which tries to push its influence on me. And to know that people are scared.
I wish I had written more of how I felt about this astrology post, as I know it really affected me. But I can only guess from my other confused, lonely, and expressive journal entries from that time how much this resonated with me. 
Thanks for reading!

Celebrating a Peaceful Mind

So glad to be posting here again for Tara Tyler, aka, VikLit’s Writing blog fest, Celebrate the Small Things. There’s been too many big things going on that prevented me from posting or visiting many sites last week.
Anyway, this week I’m so happy to celebrate:My “roommate” is gone! I’ve got my place and good spirits back.I won my first giveaway, a $5 amazon gift card from Cathrina Constantine! Thank you!Despite one day of pouring down rain this week, the weather’s back to beautiful!A friend from my writer’s group invited me to introduce my book, Anticipation of the Penitent, to her book club, and they voted to read my book! It might be a while before they have the discussion because of the upcoming holidays, but I sold 4 copies at the book club. :)Melissa Maygrove’s Follow Fest is a great experience. I’m still visiting many of the blogs on the list, have met some great bloggers and writers, including some other non-traditional Christian writers.I'll be seeing you; got a lot of blog visiting to do this weekend! 

Great Golly! A Follow Fest :)

Name:Nancy LaRonda Johnson
Fiction or nonfiction?Fiction!!! :) and some poetry
What genres do you write?Christian speculative, which is horror, sci-fi or fantasy, but written with a Christian angle or theology. I prefer a touch of horror.
Are you published? Yes. I have two books published, Anticipation of the Penitent ($2.99 eBook), about a serial killer and his mother, and Salted With Fire ($0.99 eBook), a book of short stories and poetry with Biblical discussions.



Do you do anything in addition to writing?I’ve taken a life art class before and loved it. Once I retire, I’d love to take more art classes, along with photography, and learn to play the harmonica. Now, I love church, my family and traveling.
Where can people connect with you?FacebookMy WebpageTwitter @NLaRondaJohnsonGoodreadsPinterestGoogle+
And if you want more:
YouTubeAmazonSmashwordsLinkedIn
Bloglovin'

BlogPlease follow me on the right border of this blog!
Is there anything else you’d like us to know?I'm a woman of few and many words, a pseudo-insomniac who loves to sleep in, whose favorite word in the English vocabulary is "vacation," and whose favorite thing to consider is what God is telling me right now.
I like reviewing books by indie writers, though I’m a slow reader (love audiobooks), and assisting spreading the word for blogger friends with their cover reveals, blog tours, etc. 
Thanks to: Melissa Maygrove for putting together this great fest. I'm looking forward to checking out everyone's posts tomorrow and over the weekend!
To learn more about Follow Fest or to visit the rest of the Follow Fest participants, click here.

Come one, come all, to the S.K. Anthony "Kinetic" Blog Tour!

A dear friend is celebrating the publication of her debut book, Kinetic, and I’m so excited to be a part of that celebration. Come and look into the world of deception, powers and the mind of S.K. Anthony!
Title: KineticAuthor: S.K. AnthonySeries: The Luminaries #1Publication: September 20th, 2013Category: New Adult (NA)Genre: Urban Fantasy (UF)
Synopsis:Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.
Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake. Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.
A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything …
** Kinetic is a stand-alone novel. All books in series are part of the same world with the characters intertwined. **

Purchase at: 


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-The-Luminaries-Volume-1/dp/1492128759/ Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kinetic-sk-anthony/1116875167Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/kinetic-3Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354677iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kinetic/id703563804


Questions for S.K. Anthony by Nancy LaRonda Johnson (that's me!)  
1- What do you consider to be the trashiest novel you’ve ever read?Man, I would rather not bash another author’s work…there is a very popular one that has boggled my mind. I’m still not sure what possessed me to read it, but I did. It’s in the erotica genre, and that is all I shall say.
2- What is the most difficult thing for you with regard to writing?Revisions. That is where I have to decide what stays, what goes, and be completely honest with myself about what isn’t working. Then I have to find solutions. This alone makes my stress levels go way up lol.
3- What is the easiest?The beginning of a novel. I love putting down new words and let the possibilities take me away!
4- What would your dream life as a writer look like?I guess being able to stay home as a full-time writer, even after my little ones start going to school.
5- Do you feel you’re on track as to where you want to be as a writer?I do, yes. I’m only starting out now, and that is better than “dreaming” and not doing anything about it.
6- Is there something you’d like to write that you think most people would be surprised to know about? What is it?I have a Middle Grade story/series in mind. I know I’m not ready to write it as yet, but eventually, I hope to be “good enough” to give it a shot.
7- Who is the one author you would love to meet?J.K. Rowling. I might make a complete fool of myself and drool or something, but I would love to meet her nonetheless.
8- What is the one thing someone could say about you as a writer or your book that would just have you beaming with pride and jumping with happiness?Just that they enjoyed it would make my day ;)
9- Is there a message you hope to get across with your writing?Hmm… I guess just to believe in love.
10- Please provide a favorite excerpt of your book. Coming to my feet, I ran into the vault and found myself at the bottom of what seemed like three floors. It was filled with storage units, all next to each other. It reminded me of prison cells, each of them with their own armored doors. I smelled more smoke coming from above, so I ran up the first set of stairs and let my nose guide me. I saw the figure trying to melt one of the armored doors, and I launched myself at him. He was ready for me, though, so I found myself thrown across the room like a ragdoll. I pretended to be injured as he approached me, and when he was close enough, I kicked his feet from under him and he fell, hitting his head on the concrete floor. I jumped on him and pinned his hands down just as he looked up at me.
And there he was, Nick Logan. My ex-husband.I stared at the face I'd once loved, now with a patch covering his left eye and scars running all the way down his jaw. They were almost hidden under his days-old beard and wild, dark hair. His deep hazel eye looked at me, empty, daring me to speak first. I punched him. 
Author bio: S.K. Anthony is a writer, a reader and a make-stuff-up-er who lives in New York with her husband and toddler twins. She is a wine connoisseur, which just really means she knows she loves it, and a caffeine addict. When she isn’t busy with her family she finds herself being transported into the world of imagination. Well, either that or running away from spiders…she is convinced they are out to get her!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Journal Past Blast: Left Alone & Indie-Fever Book Review: Ripple

Again, last week I’d missed posting an old journal entry for my Tuesdays Journal Past Blast. Sorry. I was on vacation on Monday, and had forgotten to get the post ready. I need to do these early, so I’ll have no excuses.
This post deals with one of those ideas that thrills my imagination: Being isolated in the world. I wrote this sketch of an idea of a story before I’d seen movies like 28 Days Later, I Am Legend and Castaway. It’s quite rough. Here it goes:
If there were no animal or human existence left, but my own, the continual pursuit to create someone and hopefully of myself, would definitely drive me insane.
Would I set off alarms for human made sounds?VideoMusicBooksTravelCarsGamesComputersRecording various personalities for conversations.
The environment would be sound. From one frenzied craze to another, forgetting about days and time. How would I get oversees? Would I get fat or get in shape? I would most definitely survive, unless insanity vanquished my will.


Indie book review: Ripple A Tale of Hope and Redemption by E.L. Farris
When high-powered attorney Helen Thompson discovers that her fifteen-year old daughter has been sexually assaulted, she takes drastic measures.
Finding herself in trouble, Helen must relinquish control and put her faith in a process she knows to be flawed. As a team of lawyers, therapists and women from a safe house help Helen and Phoebe find hope and healing, a sociopath lurks, waiting for his moment to strike.A lyrical, dark fairytale that will resonate with fans of women's literature and psychological thrillers, RIPPLE delves into the nature of evil, without seeking to provide final answers to the issue of what makes a human commit evil acts. And while the author takes readers to scary places, she ultimately shines a light on the human condition and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great tribulation.

My Review:
Ripple deals with the serious topics of incest, rape and child pornography, handled from the perspective of a teenage girl and her absentee mother who is a high powered attorney. It's a good thing when writers aren't afraid to take on the more serious and heart-wrenching topics such as these, and the author did a decent job.
It's a long book, with too much superfluous information and lots of characters. The main characters and dialog are strong, however. The final scene of a main antagonist is incredulous to me, given who he is, which contrasts with the other more realistic aspects of the book. Overall, the story flows well and the author's knowledge of the legal system and psychological dynamics come through. The characters' inner dialog do lend to developing and understanding the issues this book tackles.

Author Bio:
x-lawyer E.L. Farris is a born-again, marathon-running married mother of three who resides in Northern Virginia. <---That's what it says on the back of Ripple.What else do you need to know about me? I talk a lot. I write a lot. I adore my husband. I adore my children. What else? Well, I run. I've been running since I turned 14. I started to run then and I've been running ever since. Whenever I stop running, I land in a lot of trouble.I ran through a childhood that could well be described as hell. I ran through major depressive episodes and often teetered one step from the edge of a breakdown. Through running, I held onto my sanity, my sobriety, my life and my belief in God. Each step I take, no matter how physically painful, draws me a shade closer into my better angels.And the steps have become painful over the years, which is how I earned the nickname Phoenix. Some mornings I feel like I've been run over by a bus and the truth is, I was. I survived a collision with a metro bus, and it's fair to say that the accident messed me up. And yet I keep rising from the pyre of a burning fire and as I run I realize that as long as I hold the Holy Spirit inside me, my spirit will never die.Please see me on http://elfarris.comAlso visit http://www.facebook.com/RunningfromHellwithEl
Ripple is on sell for $0.99 on Kindle. Click here.

It's TIME! for CassaStorm to take the world by storm!

For those who don’t yet know Alex J. Cavanaugh, they soon will, as he has many friends who want nothing but to be able to say “I’ve helped him with his success!” He is a great blogger friend to many, who creates the most effective and fun blog hops, and who puts out weekly news promoting the efforts of his friends. Now, it’s time for us to help promote his book CassaStorm, which I was glad to be among the many to help. And I got to ask him a question. :)
My question for Alex:

Q: If you could write a book with a creature as a MC, what kind of creature would you want it to be?
A: Space elf! All the magic of a fantasy elf wrapped in the technology of outer space. His crossbow shots lasers and his vial of magic potion is alien acid blood.
CassaStormBy Alex J Cavanaugh
From the Amazon Best Selling Series!
A storm gathers across the galaxy…


Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.
After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.
Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…
“CassaStorM is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse

 “Cavanaugh has created wonderfully moving moments of great poignancy… CassaStorm could have been a dark story full of hardship and angst, but instead it's a cleverly balanced story about hope and triumph.” 
 - Lynda R. Young, author of Make Believe
$16.95 USA, 6x9 Trade paperback, 268 pages, Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C.Science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space operaPrint ISBN 9781939844002 eBook ISBN 9781939844019$4.99 EBook available in all formats
Find CassaStorm:Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116848619?ean=9781939844002Amazon -http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/1939844002/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378484337&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastormAmazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaStorm-ebook/dp/B00F2O9QMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378811366&sr=1-1&keywords=cassastormGoodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17670532-cassastormBook trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Umm2l0XdHc&feature=youtu.be



Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
Website – http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/Twitter – http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh  Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4287922.Alex_J_Cavanaugh

The weekend's here and I'm Celebrating!

For my More Than Just A Kiss blogfest post, click here.



Thanks to VikLit for hosting this weekly blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things, in which we acknowledge the blessings we have in our lives.This week I’m thankful for how my WIP, Anticipating Dawn, is developing.I’m glad my roommate found a job and is now looking for a place of her own, with the help of another friend who will cover the deposit.I’m very glad God is patient. This time with the roommate has been difficult for me, and I feel like somehow I should be more succumbing to the change in my life this has caused. Instead, it's as if my heart has been hardened.I’m extremely glad that I’m taking off for the weekend, starting this afternoon! I’m escaping to a far-off land, where I will be able to spend time alone with God. So what if where I'm going is less than 15 miles away. What matters is that I’m leaving all concerns behind! I plan to read, catch up on visiting blogs, write, and do whatever I want until Tuesday, when I go back to work. :))
May we all have a splendid and peaceful weekend!

It may be time to Sacrifice HER! Sheena-kay Graham's Cover Reveal

For the More Than Just A Kiss blogfest post, click here.
When a good blogger friend and wonderful person has a cover reveal, I’m nearly as excited as she is! Yes, the faithful commentor and encourager, Sheena-kay, is ready to reveal to us her pride and joy – the cover of her new book, Sacrifice HER, available December 2013!
The day has finally come. Time to reveal the cover of Sacrifice HER. Be amazed.


Title: Sacrifice HER
Author: Sheena-kay Graham
GoodReads: Sacrifice HER
Release Date: December 2013
Summary: When a city is at stake, is the life of one sixteen-year old girl worth risking thousands? Deidra Moore goes on the run after escaping from a group of human sacrifices for Bane: God of War. She doesn't believe he exists and sees uncertainty in the scorching desert as a better alternative. But Faux City isn't finished with her and their leader Lord Brinn is ordered by Bane - through one of his maiden worshipers - to bring her back or face dire consequences. In the desert, Deidra meets a wanderer named Kane, and as feelings spark, can they find a safe place to lead a new life before Lord Brinn and his soldiers catch up with them? Yet the question remains. Does Bane really exist and if he does what will happen if either side succeeds or fails? Told in alternating perspectives of both the runaway servant girl and the blonde strong willed leader.
Author Bio: Sheena-kay Graham was never meant for a traditional job behind a desk. Her childhood career plans included becoming a ballerina, actress or someone who helped people. So naturally she decided to be a writer who writes from her bed. Yes, no desk for this Jamaican book lover. No matter if it’s reading, writing or using the computer....you get the gist. The love of the written word has always been with her leading to stories, novels, poetry and way too much fan fiction. This Christian woman can be found trolling Amazon online, in local book bookstores, watching movies on the big screen or in her bed, or reading/writing/on the laptop...again in her bed.  Mainly writes YA fiction and is ready to unleash her creativity and wow potential readers.
Links
Website: http://queendsheena.blogspot.com/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5448863.Sheena_kay_GrahamFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheenakayGrahamAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/queendsheena
Cover Design: Image of woman with flowing hair (purchased): © Transfuchsian | Dreamstime.com
Cover Designer:  Langao @ http://fiverr.com/langao

Journal Past Blast: The Sleeping Man

For the More Than Just A Kiss blogfest post, click here.

Today’s Journal Past Blast entry is a free write from sometime in my college years. I think maybe my first year (1988), but I'm not sure. I don’t know what I had in mind when writing this, and it’s quite funny, and curious, to read it now. The title, I just added.
The Sleeping Man
I thought he was snoring at first. I realized he was laughing. I knew he was laughing at me. I hoped there was no one else on his mind, so he had to be laughing at me. 
I heard him again, a low hissing laughter. I didn’t know what to think about it. I wasn’t sure if I should try to convey my bewilderment of his laughter or if I should take it all in stride, if I should kiss him – how did I want to touch him. But I stayed without moving, absorbing his beauty as a man – smell and strength; internalizing his laughter, thinking that maybe I could have expressed myself better. I felt it was all helpless as well as hopeless.  **I was too chicken to post the entry I’d planned. Don’t yet have the guts. Maybe sometime in the future, when I’m so old, it doesn’t matter… :)**

More Than Just a Kiss Blogfest :)

Christine Rains decided to do a blog hop and contest of kissing scenes in no more than 250 words. Now, I’m not a romance writer, but what’s a story without some kind of love aspect? A subplot of my work in progress has to deal with a gay Christian. Here’s the 249-word scene from Anticipating Dawn:

Not letting go, Gent held onto Harrison’s hand, longing to remember the rough ridges of his palm and the smooth and pronounced veins and tendons on the back of his hand. “I had a great time tonight…. Your roommates are cool.” From the outer hallway, he stared passed Harrison into the apartment.“Yes, they are. But I was glad when they left.” Harrison let go of Gent’s hand. Gent immediately felt chilly. He looked up to Harrison and said, “Me too.”The door opened wider and Harrison stepped out into the hallway. He slipped his arms through Gent’s, wrapped them around his waist and held him close. Slowly, he slid his cheek against Gent’s and gave him a slight kiss.“I think that kiss was fine,” Harrison whispered. He pulled his head back, brushing his cheek against Gent’s and found Gent’s lips. He pressed softly at first, and harder when lips parted and tongues met.They released and backed away, hands holding.“Harrison…” Gent felt flushed and could say no more.“I’m sorry. Kind of.” Looking into his eyes, Harrison added, “I’m falling so in love with you, but I won’t do that again. I did not get an okay from God for that.” He smiled and refrained himself from holding Gent close again. He was glad that Gent was also smiling.“Neither did I,” Gent said, and turned to leave, his heart drumming in his ears and his tongue lingering on the taste and feel of Harrison’s mouth.
To find out more about this blog hop and contest, click here.