Harmony Kent's Blog, page 33

#Free SBN Bar Code Generator

Hi everyone. Dave Chesson has developed a free and awesome bar code generator. Click on the original post to find out more! I’ve book marked this for future use!

A huge thanks to Dave for doing this for us indie authors

 

Barcode Pricing Instructions Below we have added instructions for different pricing scenarios, including each option’s advantages and disadvantages, as well as some guidance on when to use which. Table of contentsBarcode Without PriceBarcode With Price PlaceholderBarcode With an Actual Price Barcode Without Price If you’re not looking to include your books’s retail price with your barcode, simply enter your ISBN above and leave the price box empty. Choose this option if: You expect to make most of your sales online (via online vendors or your own website)If you sell your books yourself directly to a buyer (trade shows, book fairs,

Source: ISBN Bar Code Generator

#NewBook: Things Old and Forgotten by Mae Clair @MaeClair1 and #BookReview

Hi everyone. Today, it gives me great pleasure to host fellow author, Story Empire contributor, and friend, Mae Clair, with her latest book: Things Old and Forgotten. I enjoyed this book immensely. Below Mae’s awesome post, you’ll find my 5 star review

Take it away, Mae!

Hi, Harmony. Thanks for hosting me today and allowing me to share my newest release with your readers. Things Old and Forgotten is a collection of short fiction that includes stories in several genres—magical realism, fantasy, speculative, even two that touch on mild horror.
I don’t write a lot of horror. You may find a few threads of it scattered here and there among my suspense fiction, usually in the form of a creature or murder, but even then, I prefer to ratchet up a reader’s nerves rather than go for gore. Guardian, one of the stories in my collection, is darker than the others, so I tend to think of it as mild horror. I’m sure hardcore readers of the genre will consider it tame.
Ingredients?
An old house, a mysterious storm, a crone, two brothers, and a cat. There are definitely elements of horror in the story, but what I enjoyed most was crafting the atmosphere. Below is a short excerpt which touches on the use of a commonplace object—yarn. In Guardian, it turns out to be much more.

EXCERPT:

A gust of frigid air blew past Dayr as he stood in the open doorway. The cold snaked around his ankles before slithering down the hall into the parlor. It was hard to imagine anyone out on a night like this, but he’d distinctly heard a knock, Pauline as well. Maybe a tree branch had been dislodged by the wind–except there was nothing on the porch. Uneasily, he closed the door.
“Who was there?” Pauline looked up from her knitting when he returned. The yarn between her needles flowed black as carrion. Earlier it was red. Or did I imagine that?
“Just the wind.” He claimed a chair near the hearth, then bent to stroke the sleeping cat. “You’ll idle your life away, Carousel.”
The feline stretched, contented. Like Pauline. Like Jared.
“What are you knitting?” Dayr asked.
Pauline’s smile was faint. “Something to warm me.”
“A shawl?”
“Perhaps.” The yarn in her lap was white, virgin as new fallen snow.

 

A man keeping King Arthur’s dream of Camelot alive.

A Robin Hood battling in a drastically different Sherwood.

A young man facing eternity in the desert.

A genteel southern lady besting a powerful order of genies.

A woman meeting her father decades after his death.

These are but a few of the intriguing tales waiting to be discovered in Things Old and Forgotten.

Prepare to be transported to realms of folklore and legend, where magic and wonder linger around every corner, and fantastic possibilities are limited only by imagination.

 

 

Thanks again for hosting me today, Harmony. In honor of my love for autumn—a fantastic time to curl up with a book—Things Old and Forgotten will be on sale for .99c through October 31 st .

It’s wonderful to have you visit today, Mae! Wishing you all the best with your latest book!  

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS:

 

US
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HP4Q6QC/r 

UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09HP4Q6QC/ 

 

Connect with Mae Clair at BOOKBUB and the following haunts:

Amazon| BookBub| Newsletter Sign-Up
Website | Blog| Twitter| Goodreads| All Social Media

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

 

 

 

 

This book of short stories by Mae Clair captivates and entrances. Though the stories differ in nature, each and every one resonated with me, and I find it impossible to pick a favourite. Although, I will say that Miss Lilly and what she did with the genies had me chuckling away! With myth and magic wonderfully interwoven with the everyday world and common issues we all face, this book has something for everyone.

The author has a way with words, and I found myself highlighting so many lines, which made it difficult to choose just a few, but here are my efforts …

“Moonlight stained the waves by the time Hunter returned to the beach. Surf churned against the shore then fled into darkness …”

And …

“He often chose to overlook the glimmers of that other time, pushing them into the cluttered nook of memory.”

And …

“A few stars lingered, gray wraiths fading on the waxing dawn.”

And, finally … most difficult to leave it here! …

“The cold snaked around his ankles before slithering down the hall into the parlor.”

This book holds so much it’s a definite re-read for me. Things Old and Forgotten gets a resounding 5 stars, and I’d give it 10 if I could! Go and buy this book. This is one I may get in paperback to keep on my shelf, it’s that good. Not only for the great read but also for the lovely cover. Okay, I’ll stop gushing now.

***

 

NOTE ON RATINGS:  I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

 

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!  — Highly Recommended.

4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.

3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read.  Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. 

2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.

1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

#BookReview: The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by Diana Wallace Peach @Dwallacepeach

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author whose books I love. Diana Wallace Peach is one of my go-to writers and well worth a read >>>

About the Book:

 The merrow rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air. Her fingers dangle above the swells.
The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.

Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.

Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.

And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.

Callum is caught in the breach, with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.

 

My Review:

‘The hemp net hung from the boom above the waves. Within its lattice of pinched knots, the slender merrow baked in the heated air. She had ceased her struggle while the sun tilted up and shadows pooled on the deck.’

This opening line leads right into the action and sets up the whole premise of the story. We meet Callum, our hero who pays for showing kindness and holds a fragile truce within his hands. This fantasy world is excellently written and comes alive along with the characters. Greed and political maneuverings abound, and Callum has to tread carefully between the two main powers, separated by The Deep, which only he and his vessel may cross. Each crossing requires a human sacrifice to pay back the debt of the death of one of the Sea Witche’s daughters, and each loss of life weighs heavily upon Callum’s shoulders.

Here are some lines I loved …

‘Callum froze with the crew and officers, silent, waiting, the seconds unspooling like a weaver’s thread.’

And …

‘Ignorance doesn’t change the truth.’

And …

‘From her vantage point, the crescent shoreline resembled a broken bowl spilling its contents into the sea.’

 

I have enjoyed every book of this writer that I’ve read, and The Ferryman and the Sea Witch is no exception. I give this book a solid 5 stars and would highly recommend this read.

 

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by

 

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

 

#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 247, #SynonymsOnly #Haiku @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro

Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge and have written a Haiku in the 3-5-3 syllabic format. You can find Colleen’s post HERE.

 

 Willow Willers from last month’s challenge chose the two words for this month:

Twilight & Hue

Image by Adina Voicu from Pixabay

soft owl light
changes the nuance
of death’s shade

Harmony is Vocal Again! The Island & Fog Bound @Vocal_Creators #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity

Hi everyone. I wanted to share that I have 2 new short stories on VOCAL.

The Island: Evil came with the creeping fingers of fog and fear … is approximately 2800 words.

 

Fog Bound: Home Invasion with a Twist … is approximately 1400 words. Both stories are in the horror / mystery genre and entered into VOCAL’s Foggy Waters competition.

I’d love to know what you think! And I would be delighted if you could read one or both of my competition entries and leave a () like. To like, you’ll need to sign in to Vocal, which is free to do. In the event of a tiebreaker, all reads and likes will be taken into account.
I’m so grateful for all your support!

Thanks, everyone! Hugs

 

 

#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRY CHALLENGE Poet’s Choice @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro

Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, and I’ve written a Haiku I believe most creatives will relate to. You can find her post HERE.

 

Below is my long Haiku in 7-5-7 syllabic format.

night zaps energy

though quiet you use too much

imagination

 

Image by chenspec from Pixabay

I don’t know about you, but my most creative time is that space between sleeping and waking or waking and sleeping. So often, my creativity flares and steals any chance of sleep, lols

#BookReview: Wahala by Nikki May @NikkiOMay @NetGalley @randomhouse

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I came across via NetGalley. Nikki May is well worth a read >>>

About the Book:

See me, see trouble.

Ronke, Simi, Boo are three mixed-race friends living in London. They have the gift of two cultures, Nigerian and English, though they don’t all choose to see it that way.

Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their thirties, they question their future. Ronke wants a husband (he must be Nigerian); Boo enjoys (correction: endures) stay-at-home motherhood; while Simi, full of fashion career dreams, rolls her eyes as her boss refers to her ‘urban vibe’ yet again.

When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them.

Cracks in their friendship begin to appear, and it is soon obvious Isobel is not sorting but wrecking. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may just have repeated itself.

A darkly comic and bitingly subversive take on love, race and family, Wahala will have you laughing, crying and gasping in horror. Boldly political about class, colorism and cooking, here is a truly inclusive tale that will speak to anyone who has ever cherished friendship, in all its forms.

My Review:

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for a free Advanced Review Copy of this book.

Wahala is certainly a great title for this story, as is the book cover with eyes covered. Wahala … Trouble … is here.

‘The woman is huddled in the corner of her bedroom. Her dress is ruined–the button missing, the belt ripped. One seam has come apart, exposing her bare shoulder.’ From this intriguing opening line, we then visit three friends in a Nigerian themed cafe, and all seems calm and normal. We know something is coming, but not when or what.

The plot and tension built slowly, but the characterisation and world building had me hooked right from the off. I knew a certain person was trouble, and waiting for it all to unfold and fall apart made the read enjoyable (not sure what that says about this reader, lols). Also, the explanation in the denouement was well worth the wait. 

Here a some lines that stood out for me …

‘… you can’t legislate your thoughts, they have a mind of their own.’

And …

‘ ‘Should a dentist be pushing rock-hard, deep-fried pastry?’ | ‘It’s good for business,’ said Ronke. ‘My mortgage relies on broken teeth.’ ‘

And …

‘Dad disapproved of alcohol except when he was drinking it.’

 

Excellently written, the characters come alive, and in a few scenes, we get to see realistic racism against the British from Nigerians who’ve lived in England for years but retained their own culture. The author shows us the many tensions and misunderstandings that real life brings, especially in a multi-cultural society that doesn’t always make room for ‘different’, however that may manifest. 

Wahala gets a resounding 5 stars from me, and I would highly recommend both this read and this author.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by

 

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … the book is due for release in early 2022

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

 

#BookReview: Dark Trio by Lisa Wood @LisaWoodAuthor @bookroar_tweets

Hi everyone! Today, I have a book review for an author I came across via a book review site. Lisa Wood is well worth a read >>>

About the Book:

When Raven agrees to go to a club with her best friend, she had no idea it was that kind of club. Strait-laced and as vanilla as they come, she decides to bail, only to run into Chase and Sebastian.

Literally.

Chase and Sebastian are looking for a woman who satisfies their rather particular tastes. They believe that Raven is exactly the kind of woman they need.

Will she open herself to their world? Will they find their happily ever after in each other?
Because, as far as they’re concerned, Nothing Else Matters. 

This book contains a BDSM element.

This is a HEA story with no cliffhangers.

Due to explicit language and content, this book is intended for readers 18+.

My Review:

I found this book and author via a book review site, and I’m so glad I did.

Dark Trio is a wonderful steamy read, and the chemistry between the characters is palpable. I hated what the BFF did, but along the way, she redeemed herself. The writing is well done and I connected with the people and situations.

Here are a couple of lines I loved …

‘That grin lasted exactly as long as it took me to walk through the door and see where she’d brought me.’

And …

‘We moved together as one, and I could tell by her expression the moment she realized two very large, very hard c***s were pressed up against her.’ (The censoring stars are mine, for review purposes, and not in the book.)

At 97 pages, this is a short but incredibly enjoyable read. I’ll be looking for more from this author, and Dark Trio gets a solid 5 stars from me. If you like romantic erotica, you’ll love this book.

***

NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.

5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.

I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by

 

For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …

UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/

 

#TANKATUESDAY Weekly #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 245, #THEMEPROMPT #Etheree @SyllabicPoetry @ColleenChesebro

Hi everyone! Today, I’ve joined Colleen’s weekly TankaTuesday challenge, and  for the first time, have written an Etheree poem mirrored. You can find her post HERE.

 

Eugi (Franci Hoffman) from last month’s challenge picked the theme:

THE HARVEST MOON

Below is my Mirrored Etheree response in a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 syllabic format.

MOON TOUCHED

Image courtesy of PrettySleepy via Pixabay

 

Harmony is Vocal again! Behind the Mask: A True Life Story @Vocal_Creators #WritingCommunity #ReadingCommunity

Hi everyone. Many of you, over the years, have encouraged me to write my life story. Until now, I haven’t felt ready or able. On VOCAL, a “coming of age” competition gave me the final nudge I needed. Behind the Mask: Surviving Life’s ups and downs, is roughly 2600 words and, for the first time, chronicles my many life-changing experiences.
I’d love to know what you think! And I would be delighted if you could read my competition entry HERE and leave a () like. To like, you’ll need to sign in to Vocal, which is free to do. In the event of a tiebreaker, all reads and likes will be taken into account. Your support would be gratefully received.

Now I’ve managed to pen this much, I feel at a point where I can begin to write a memoir if folks are interested.

While this is a grim read at times, I’ve also tried to show my incurable humour and positivity.

Thanks, everyone! Hugs