Diane Bator's Blog, page 19
December 10, 2022
WOLF PACK, The newest release by critically acclaimed author Edo van Belkom
WOLF PACK
Winner of the Aurora and Silver Birch Awards
The newest release by critically acclaimed author, Edo van Belkom
Wolf Pack is the inspiration behind a new TV Series being released by Paramount Plus on January 26th, 2023
Nothing gets between a wolf and its pack…Most of the time, Noble, Argus, Harlan and Tora are like any other teenagers. Prowling the halls of their high school in search of new crushes and true friendships, all while trying to keep up their grades. Except these teens are anything but ordinary…
Discovered as wolf cubs in the wilderness of Redstone Forest, the pack knows their adoptive parents are the only humans they can trust with their shape-shifting secret. So whenever the siblings want to wolf around, they race to the forest to run—and relish their special bond. Until the terrible day a TV crew films their shocking transformation—and
Now the brothers will do anything to get their sister back. Even if it means taking their powers to a whole new level by becoming werewolves for the very first time--something their parents warned them never to attempt. But once the teens go to the dark side, will they ever make it back to the only life they’ve ever known? Wolf Pack eBook : van Belkom, Edo: Amazon.ca: Kindle StoreWolf Pack - Kindle edition by van Belkom, Edo. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
“A well-plotted story. The plot moves quickly enough to hold interest and may appeal to reluctant readers.” — School Library Journal
“WOLF PACK is a thrilling ride from start to finish.” — Canadian Children’s Book News
“[A] great book to recommend to reluctant readers. ... WOLF PACK is a winner of the Aurora Award, Canada’s highest award for achievements in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. Recommended for YA and school library collections.” — Monster Librarian
Other Books in The Series:
About Edo:
Edo van Belkom is a Canadian author from Brampton, Ontario and has written 35 books and over 300 short stories in the genres of horror, science fiction, fantasy and mystery. His short fiction has been published in countless anthologies such as Year's Best Horror Stories, Year's Best Erotica, Robert Bloch's Psychos, the Hot Blood and Shock Rock series, as well as several anthologies based on RPGs. His stories "Rat Food" (with David Nickle) won the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, and "Hockey's Night in Canada" won the Aurora, Canada's top prize for speculative fiction. More recently, his young adult series Wolf Pack, has served as the inspiration for the new Jeff Davis supernatural TV series Wolf Pack starring Sarah Michelle Geller, which premieres on Paramount-Plus January 26th in Canada and the US, and the next day across the rest of the world.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Edo Van Belkom, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
December 8, 2022
The Jade and Sage Thriller series by Joanna Vandervlugt has a great new look!
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This Just In!!!!
The Jade and Sage Thriller series being relaunched with new covers!!!!
The critically acclaimed thriller author and podcaster Joanna Vandervlugt has a brand-new look!!!!
Jade Thyme must delve into her mother’s free-spirited past if she wants to prove her father was murdered and hadn’t died from a cocaine overdose.
Legislative Clerk Adam Younghusband gives Jade damning evidence linking her to the island’s once feared drug dealer, Oscar Cooper. Immediately Jade and her sister Sage are targets as they uncover generations of drug dealers, while hiding from an arsonist determined to destroy them. Is it all connected? From her mother's ghost appearing on the picnic table to a possessed typewriter tapping a warning, 1968 clashes with the present as Jade uncovers a deadly secret while trying to stay one step ahead of a murderer hellbent on revenge.
The Unravelling:
Jade Thyme celebrates successfully defending her ex-husband Jules Cranbury on a murder charge. Her celebration is short-lived when she finds Jules murdered. Jade investigates and uncovers a secret justice society whose members hide behind white tabs and black robes while delivering their own vigilante justice. Jade locates a once prominent and respected lawyer, now known as Noxzema Man, homeless and panhandling in Fan Tan Alley. He warns Jade. Judges, lawyers and police make up the Society. Trust no one. The MotoCityDolls, her sister's all-female motorcycle gang, save Jade from a Society assassin. Forced to take a leave of absence, Jade packs up her office, but not before coming face-to-face with Jules's murderer.
“Such an exciting, mysterious, spooky book. Besides wondering which fellow the main character would end up with, I was also wondering which character in the book was the murderer - who by the way was truly gruesome, but I loved it! The story kept me coming back for more and the action scenes had me running faster then expected on my treadmill! When can we read more about these characters? Is there another book coming? I love them!” – Linda of Lanyos Handmade
“Twisted like the winding roads of Victoria, B.C., this legal thriller has you itching to check out the cobbled streets of Victoria, in hopes of finding the connections that ensure you end up on the right side of the street - or in this case, the law. A special nod goes to the author who also illustrated the book's cover. This is a book worth getting a print copy of so you can really hold on tight.” – The Self Publishing Agency
Dealer's Child (Jade & Sage Thriller Series) eBook : Vandervlugt, Joanna: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
About Joanna :
Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. Her motorcycle illustrations have been purchased world-wide and her Woman Empowered motorcycle art series has been featured in on-line art and motorcycle magazines. In 2006 her short mysteries Egyptian Queen and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were published in the Crime Writers of Canada mystery anthologies. Her personal essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle anthology.
The Unravelling, her debut novel, featuring the sister duo, Jade and Sage, was a Canadian Book Club Awards finalist as well as its sequel, Dealer’s Child. She is currently working on book three in the series. Joanna is proud of her podcast JCV Art Studio and the many artists and authors she’s interviewed. Joanna’s novels, art and podcast can be found at jcvartstudio.net.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Joanna, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: | 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
December 6, 2022
TEDDY LOVES SPAGETTI, The story of Teddy, the Cat Without Ears continues with author Christine Milkovic Krauss
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TEDDY LO VES SPAGETTI
The story of Teddy, the Cat Without Ears Continues !!!
Published by Animal House Press and available in paperback!
The Adventure of Teddy series, are all non-fiction stories for children and families about my real-life rescue cat named Teddy. Teddy lost his ears to frostbite while being homeless in freezing weather conditions in central Canada. All of the books in the series will highlight educational points about pet care, support inclusivity and celebrate being different, together. Teddy Loses His Ears is the introduction book into the series, and touches on self esteem and disability awareness as we fielded many questions about Teddy's abnormality while emphasizing his beauty and purpose, despite injury. Teddy Loves Spaghetti uses humour to educate children about nutrition, alternatives to food-based rewards and introduction to diabetes. We've had many unique experiences since fostering Teddy, and my children's reactions to these incidents were inspirational. We hope that children connect with Teddy as a loveable character who shares his stories to help save other animals from preventable injuries, just like his. Everybody has a story. We need to listen to one another to create opportunities to learn from their journey and perspective to grow to become kinder, more compassionate humans, to animals and each other.
Teddy Loves Spaghetti : Milkovic Krauss, Christine, Van Nes, Cierra: Amazon.ca: Books
“Adorable Teddy will gain your heart with his poignant tale of adventure and loss. Vivid illustrations bring this cute cat’s tale to life. Eleven stars out of ten for this story of acceptance, kindness, and resilience. Thanks, Teddy, for reminding us all we are “purr-fect”. Jenna Greene, Author of Reborn the 2018 Moonbeam Award Winner in the Gold Category
More In the Series:
ABOUT CHRISTINE :
I am a full-time essential services worker and mom of two primary school-aged children. My kids enjoy choosing books from the school library and I'm always genuinely impressed with the messages of acceptance and kindness in the stories they select for us to read together. During the pandemic, we had to get creative to keep our home an exciting and positive space that we all wanted to spend a lot of time at! Our entire family loves animals, so we decided to foster a litter of kittens over the Christmas Holidays. They brought so much joy into our lives, that we planned to continue to foster animals as much as possible! Then we saw Teddy. Teddy just belonged with our family and we knew it the moment we met him. Since that day, he has made our family feel complete. His uniqueness and character have inspired a series of stories that we hope to share with other avid child readers that love animals!
To request additional review copies or an interview with Christine Milkovic Krauss, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com| 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
December 3, 2022
Author Mikki Sadil releases Murders and Macchiatos
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Welcome to fellow BWL Publishing author, Mikki Sadil! I'm so thrilled to have her on my blog to share her work with you all!
I started writing when I was a child, having my first poem at the age of 10 published in our largest newspaper, the Houston Chronicle. (Of course, it may have helped that my mother was the Children's Editor at the time...) Since that time, I have published more than 60 short stories, articles, and poetry for Young Adults. I have also published five books for YA and one new book, a Cozy Mystery, for adults. In my life other than an author, I have been a professor of law and a professional horse breeder, trainer, and rancher. I currently live on the Central Coast of California and am a widow.
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mikki.sadil
Blog: https://authormikkisadil.blogspot.com/
Mikki’s books are published by Books We Love Publishing Inc:
https://www.bookswelove.com/sadil-mikki/
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I think my main strength as a writer is that I am very thorough and careful researcher. I research everything before I write. For my two historical novels about the Civil War, I not only read many historical accounts of that war, but my husband and I took a two week barge trip ( a real barge) down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, visiting small towns engaged in the war in one way or another, but never mentioned in the history books. We visited the 'safe houses" still standing, that were for runaway slaves; read the histories of these towns; visited the cemeteries in each one; even rode in a couple of the wagons and hearses still available that concealed the runaways as they were being transported to safety. When we came home, then I wrote my two books. I do that with every book I write, either about the subject itself...my paranormal novel, for example...or the towns or cities my stories take place in. I don't want mistakes in my books, or fiction that just is not realistic. My latest book, the Cozy Mystery, takes place in a small historical town that was once a whaling center in Connecticut. I have done a great deal of research for that book, on the town my story is based on, and on the whaling industry itself during the years when it was at its peak. And, because the fictional town is based on a real town, I've also done research on what that particular town is like now. In my book, the town is named for a well-known whaling ship back in its day, The Dauphin. My town is Dauphin's Cove.
How often do you write, and do you write using a strict routine?
I am a pantser writer. I write almost every day, but only when the mood hits me. I do not have a strict routine.
If you could offer once piece of advice to a novice writer, what would it be?
My advice to a novice writer: most writers will tell you to "write what you know." And to begin with, that is excellentadvice. BUT...do not let it hinder you, and keep you tied to "only what you know." When you feel you are ready as a writer to branch out, do so. Pick a subject, a place, a theme, whatever, that you are interested in but know little or nothing about. Then, RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!. What you will probably find out might very well be amazing, and just exactly something you want to build a story around. DO NOT limit yourself to the same old thing, the same subject matter, the same type of plot, the same kind of characters. Many writers do that, and eventually, their stories become dull and repetitious, no matter how many they publish. Spread your wings and fly! Explore and research. Don't rely on what you see and hear on social media, but use respected people on the Internet...historians, doctors, police personnel, professionals in every category you may want to investigate. Read and research not only on the Internet, but in your public library. If need be, tell your librarian what you are interested in and let her or him show you the kinds of books that will enlighten you. Then build the fictional novel you want, knowing that it is true to life. Again, spread those writer wings, explore, research, and then fly with your story!
What would you consider to be the best compliment a reader could give your book?
The best compliment anyone could give me on any book is that it was interesting, realistic, well-written, and a joy to read.
What are you working on now?
I am doing something I've never done before, because I never thought I could do it, and do it well, and that is, I am writing on two different books at one time. One is the second in my Cozy Mystery series, and the other is a political murder mystery. They are very different, totally different plots, characters, places. And both took...yes, research! Especially the political one, as politics is not one of my better subject matters!
MURDERS AND MACCHIATOS
Peyton Ashford is a law professor, her husband Cooper is the city District Attorney, and they have just turned an ancient barn, inherited from Peyton's grandmother, into Dauphin's Cove only coffeehouse, the Books and Brews Bistro. It is a very inviting place to have a delicious coffee drink and browse the many books at the back of the Bistro. While converting the huge upstairs of the barn into a beautiful living space for Peyton and Cooper, workers uncover a body behind the barn.
The body belongs to Peyton's great-uncle, whom she has not seen since childhood. The Sheriff declines to investigate so Peyton enlists the help of her two best friends, Willow and Kylie, to help her solve the murder. Strangely, this murder happened in the exact same way as the murder of her great-great grandfather, over 100 years ago. Along the way, a teenage girl mysteriously disappears and her parents refuse police help in finding her, but Peyton is determined to do so. A mysterious explosion destroys the teen's home, and searchers find the body of her brother...not killed in the explosion but murdered.
A competitive law professor and a Federal Drug agent become involved, determined to prevent Peyton from solving these crimes, especially that of her great-uncle. Fake art reproductions, hundreds of thousands of dollars fraudulently acquired, a stolen antique scrimshaw, a deadly lab, and the interference of a strange woman all add to Peyton's problems in trying to solve the worst and most unusual crimes the small town of Dauphin's Cove had ever seen.
It is 1861, and the aspect of a Civil War between the North and South is quickly becoming a reality. When Ben McKenna returns home to his grandmother’s Kentucky plantation, after being gone for almost a year helping his best friend, a crippled slave, and his parents escape from slavery, he is met with anger, resentment, and even hatred from his parents and two older brothers. Only his grandmother, a not-so-secret Abolitionist, is happy to see him.
When the Civil War is declared, his brothers join the Confederate Army, and Ben decides to become a spy for the Union Army. His grandmother sends him to a lady friend in Lexington who runs an espionage ring, and his troubles begin. When his first mission is hampered by a young girl, Puck, who attaches herself to him, he is afraid his future spying activities will be compromised, but she becomes a loyal ally.
At first, Ben works as a newsboy, since they are welcomed into both Confederate and Union camps, and Puck follows along with him, pretending to be his sister. But when he becomes an agent with the espionage ring, his missions become so dangerous that he must leave Puck behind. He embarks upon a journey already deeply mired in danger, deceit, and deception.
Every mission, every move he makes, is a distinct threat to his life, and he often wonders if he will ever return home. Follow Ben as he secretly engages in the War between the North and the South, and as he realizes, perhaps too late, that his own survival is not guaranteed.
THE FREEDOM THIEF
Shortly before the Civil War exploded in the South, thirteen year-old Ben McKenna is fighting his own war against slavery, on the hemp plantation in Kentucky where he lives. His best friend, a crippled slave boy, Josiah, is about to be sold by Ben’s father, and Ben must stop that sale by planning an escape for Josiah and his slave parents. When the buyer for Josiah arrives early, the escape has to take place that very night. Without any kind of plan, or even a map, Ben and Josiah and his parents, Bess and Jesse, embark upon a journey to find the Ohio River and the freedom that lies beyond for the slaves. Instead, they find hostility, danger, and deception, in a quest that costs them more than Ben ever dreamed of. Fear. Hunger. Exhaustion. They are on the run from slave hunters and their dogs, dogs who can follow their scent no matter what they do to disguise it. Hidden barns, tiny attic rooms, cellars full of rotting fruit and vegetables are their only means of safety, and then only for a short time, as they must run again. Treachery seems to be the name of the game, and Ben is never sure if they are going to win, when winning means finding the safety and freedom of the Ohio River.
December 1, 2022
Kay Dee launches her new novel The Entrapment
I was fortunate to meet Kay at a local author event and am currently reading her book.
Definitely an eye-opener!
Hello my name is Kay Dee. My most important role is being a mom to my young daughter. I enjoy sports however my all time favourite is soccer. I was a police officer for ten years and went through a very tumultuous time which included varies levels of the criminal justice system. I am a first time author and truly I don’t consider myself an “author” like most. I wrote my book “The Entrapment” as a means of closure. It was intended to put my negative experience behind me, get things off my chest, and ultimately sooth my soul, which is exactly what it did. I consider my book to be raw and personal, opposed to polished and refined like some of the other more experienced professional authors. My book helped me in my healing process, and if I can interest others through sharing my experiences then I am happy to do so.
THE ENTRAPMENT
An integrity play designed to bring down a decorated, enthusiastic police officer, a "partner" put in place to turn her professional and personal life on its head. The Entrapment pulls back the veil on the known and unknown parts of policing culture, women on the force and the criminal justice system. Putting a spotlight on the bias within the force and the emotional and financial toll one must endure to prove their innocence in a crooked system. Join Kay Dee on her journey from childhood calling, to dream fulfilled, culminating in a legal battle through the criminal justice system as she sought vindication of her innocence.
My book can be found on Amazon or through me directly. Here is the amazon link to purchase my book if you should be interested in joining me on journey and seeking vindication.
https://www.amazon.ca/Entrapment-Kay-Dee/dp/B0BLFR2JR4/
Are you working on a future book?
No I am not working on any future books at the moment. This book was written bc of a very lengthy and personal hardship. And while I have overcame it now I truly hope I never have to live through something like this again.
Was there a person who encouraged you to write?
I had people along the way during my struggles who I would vent to regarding my frustrations in the criminal justice system who “jokingly” said I should write a book bc it would make one hell of a story. In the end I did end up writing a book however I did it for myself. Other then 1-2 very selective people I kept my book a secret during my two years of writing as I wasn’t sure where it would lead. However those people did say that I should continue and follow through as my story needs to be told and should be shared.
What would you say are your strengths as an author?
I would say my strengths as an author are writing from the soul. I write from a place of hardship and passion. I lived all these experiences and re lived them while writing. I felt the pain again, the frustrations, and shed the tears again like it were happening all over again.
Five years from now, where do you see yourself?
In five years from now I see myself doing the same. Which for some may not be exciting but for me it’s where I like to be.
During my ten year struggle in the criminal justice system I fought hard to be where I am now. I am proud of how far I have come and where I am today. I happy with my current job, I love being there for my daughter , volunteering at her school events and being a coach to her soccer team. I wrote this book which has allowed me to put this awful experience behind me and move on. So in 5 years even if nothing changes I’m perfectly happy where I am today. :)
November 29, 2022
Wrapping up NaNoWroMo!!
I didn't share at the beginning of this year's NaNo journey, but I'd like to follow up now!
Yes, for yet another year I took the challenge to write 50,000 words in 30 days. Crazy? Maybe. The great part is, I always seem to get a pretty good book out of the deal. A few have been published such as Drop Dead Cowboy and Dead Man's Doll - yup, both were contest books!
To buy: http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/After just over three weeks of writing, I've mostly finished a new Glitter Bay Mystery, All That Shimmers. For those of you following the series, Laken has moved into the apartment above her sister's shop, Vintage Sage, but has what she thinks are critters in her attic.
Wait. She has an attic? Yup!
Just one of many things she finds out starting the day she discovers her ex-husband, B-List actor Emery Samson, lying face down in the courtyard behind Vintage Sage. Following Emery's sudden death, Laken meets the new Chief of Police, Gavin McKelvey, and the new dog groomer who seems to fascinate her boyfriend Cameron Dale. With the help of Gavin, Sage, their good friend Quinn, and Enid--the local gossip columnist--Laken sets out to figure out who murdered her ex-husband to take the heat off her.
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To buy: http://bookswelove.net/bator-diane/So when does the All That Shimmers, book 3 in the Glitter Bay Mystery series, come out? Watch for it in June 2023!
Thanks for joining me for the Escape With a Writer blog! I hope you'll follow me on Social Media to keep in the loop about upcoming books and find out what other surprises are in store for 2023!
Have a Happy Holiday Season!
Diane
BY THE WAY!!
November 24, 2022
Sudbury Author, Scott Overton, Sounds a Warning About Coming Technology
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sudbury Author Sounds a Warning About Coming Technology
Enhancing our brainpower with computers—is it a Pandora’s Box we don’t dare open?
Sudbury author Scott Overton is offering a cautionary story with his new science fiction novel Augment Nation. The augments referred to in the title are brain-computer interfaces (BCI)—small computerized devices directly linking our brains to powerful processors and even the internet. That’s the direction Overton sees consumer technology going within the next two decades, and we’ll need to be prepared.
Human brains with direct access to the internet. What could go wrong?
Since the age of fourteen Damon Leiter has had a brain-computer interface implanted beneath his skull to correct a neurological disorder. As a teenager, it branded him as an outcast—as an adult it endows him with extraordinary abilities. He may represent the next step in human evolution. When computerized brain augments replace smartphones as the must-have status item, mega-corporations and governments conspire together and marketing becomes mind control. Damon is uniquely equipped to lead a worldwide resistance, but the fight may cost him everything.
“The promise of instant access to lots of computing power and all the resources of the internet with just a thought is incredible,” says Overton. “But the potential risks are staggering too. Computers can be hacked, phones can be hacked…websites, Facebook pages, email accounts; all of them are vulnerable to being taken over or tampered with for malicious purposes.”
But Overton points out that the hazards don’t just involve criminals or vandals. There are hundreds of legitimate players who’d love to have more access to our thinking.
“We already give marketers and companies way too much access to our personal information and our private lives, usually in return for a little extra convenience, reward points we may never cash in, or shiny baubles we don’t need. Who will be able to resist tantalizing offers when an internet connection is right in our head?”
And while Overton thinks conspiracy theories about micro-devices that track us and affect our thoughts are pure fantasy for now, that might not always be the case. Brain-computer interfaces might be just too tempting for unscrupulous political parties or multi-nationals with a lust for power. “I’m sure most of us can think of politicians who would sell their souls for that kind of direct influence over citizens,” he says. “We will have to decide—and decide very soon—whether or not we’re willing to open that door.”
The novel is set only twenty years from now. Is brain-computer interface technology really that advanced?
“Elon Musk’s Neuralinkcompany will soon start human trials to help people who are paralysed or have other neuro-muscular disabilities control electronic devices and robotics with their thoughts. But a company called Synchron is already in human trials,” Overton says.
A well-known radio morning host for more than 30 years in Ontario, Canada, Overton has built a second career as an author. His radio-themed debut novel Dead Air was shortlisted for a Northern Lit Award in 2012, and his science fiction/thriller novels The Primus Labyrinth, Naïda, and The Dispossession of Dylan Knox have been well-received too, with readers most often comparing them to the work of Michael Crichton. The writer considered the “dean of Canadian science fiction”, Robert J. Sawyer, (winner of every major science fiction award and a member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario) says of Augment Nation:
“Scott Overton is a terrific writer and his vision of tomorrow is both realistic and frightening. Read this book!”
-- Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author
Augment Nation and all of Overton’s books are available online in eBook and print (find them at your favorite outlet using these universal book links: https://books2read.com/Augment-Nation or https://books2read.com/ScottOverton ). If they are not in stock at your favorite local store, they can be ordered. You can also request most via your local library.
MORE INFORMATION
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ScottOverton.author
Twitter @SFtruenorth
Goodreads www.goodreads.com/ScottOverton
To request additional review copies or an interview with Scott, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
November 22, 2022
Long Lost Elvis! The Boomer's Tales Fun Continues. By critically acclaimed author, Christine Isley-Farmer
Long Lost Elvis!
Book 4 of the Boomer’s Tales Series
The Fun Continues by critically acclaimed author
Christine Isley-Farmer
The book is published by Wandering Woods Press and is available in digital format
A donkey runs out in front of Nana Weathers's car when she, Chloe, and Boomer are returning from Camp Resound. Mr. Brown, a farmer, drives upon the scene. To thank them for keeping his donkey, Elvis, safe, Mr. Brown invites everyone to his farm. There, they discover that his wife's favorite painting is missing, and so begins a new mystery for Chloe and friends to solve. Will their efforts be successful, and what surprises will they learn about Elvis, the runaway donkey?
https://books2read.com/u/4AvGdp
Other Books in The Series:
This was a fun book that made me want to read more about the puppy named Boomer, a little girl named Chloe, and the adventures that await them and their friends. It will be a clear winner for children to read on their own, but also for those who are being read to by their parents or other caregivers. _ Magglemae
I love this series, any book that has a dog for the main character is a winner for me. Boomer is such a fun dog! The author did a fantastic job of incorporating pet care into the book which I think is so important. _ Jamielannuzzelli
A heartwarming read that invites deeper inquiry into the broad variety of topics addressed by including the now familiar “Sniffing Out Funtastic Facts” section, complete with links for further research opportunities! Five Stars. _ Amazon Customer
About Christine:
Christine Isley-Farmer’s fourth book in the “Boomer’s Tales” series continues the adventures of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as the story’s narrator. Christine loves this dog breed and has owned three Cavaliers. She encountered her first Cavalier, Fleur, while performing with the Harrisburg opera. She was captivated by the big brown eyes and gentle, lively nature of the breed. Her present Cavalier, Dylan, enjoys walks and snuggling next to her in her recliner. Christine, a classically trained singer who has sung in the United States and Europe, has been a university music professor. The stories in opera and song have fascinated and inspired her. The power of stories and music’s healing qualities have woven their way through her life and have found voice in her writing. Her debut book in the series, Finding My Yip, was named Finalist in the 2021 American Writing Awards in the children’s fiction category. A Hard Nut to Crack, the second book in her series, was name Finalist in the 2022 National Indie Excellence Awards in the children’s chapter book category.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Christine Isley-Farmer, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
November 19, 2022
A new spin on the holiday season! Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas, by Freddy Cruz
A new spin on the holiday season!!!
Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas
by critically acclaimed media host Freddy Cruz
Released and published by Tuscany Bay Books
The book is available worldwide in e-format
He just discovered why his dad died. Now ‘tis the season for a rampage of revenge…
Beckett needs his eyes bleached. Catching his mom and his favorite podcaster doing things that will get them on Santa’s naked and naughty list is enough to turn his stomach. And after he agrees to officially meet the new boyfriend, his slightly nauseous Yuletide cheer devolves into rage when he learns the guy was involved in his father’s death.
Driven by the need for vengeance, the incensed son sets out to stuff the home-wrecking grinch’s stocking with burning coal—by going after the loser’s wife and daughter. But as Beckett's gore-trimmed plan descends into chaos, another ghastly secret could send him into murderous overdrive.
Is he about to unwrap a no-holds-barred retribution spree?
Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas is a perfectly gruesome revenge thriller. If you like characters pushed over the edge, dark acts, and family drama, then you’ll love Freddy Cruz’s bloodstained holiday treat.
Buy Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas to put the “x” in X-mas today!
Allow Me To Ruin Your Christmas eBook : Cruz, Freddy: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store
“If you like your festive stories dark and twisted, Freddy Cruz has a gem for you. Allow Me to Ruin Your Christmas is packed full of secrets, lies and diabolical characters you’ll love to hate.” _ Adam Hamdy, bestselling author of The Other Side of Night.
About Freddy:
The Greater Houston area has heard Freddy Cruz’s voice for more than seventeen thousand hours across three decades.
In 2022, he launched his own media company, Freddy Cruz Creative Works, and is the host of Freddy’s Huge ASK Podcast.
When he's not in the lab writing or creating auditory satisfaction, you can find him nose deep in a book or snuggling with his dog Sparrow. Keep up with him on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at freddycruz.link.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Freddy Cruz, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
November 17, 2022
GHOST MARK, the newest supernatural thriller by Award-Winning novelist, JP McLean
GHOST MARK
Book 2 of the Dark Dreams Series
The newest supernatural thriller by Award-Winning novelist,
JP McLean
Released by Windstorm Press
The book is available worldwide in digital and print format
Jane’s nightmares are back—and this time, they’ve unleashed a brutal killer.
Jane Walker’s nightmares aren’t imaginary—they’re glimpses into the traumatic past; and the past can be dangerous, especially now that Jane’s protective birthmarks are gone.
Worse, she’s no longer invisible within her dreams—and learns this the hard way while using her power to incriminate a ruthless killer. Inadvertently revealing her ghost form, she launches him on a relentless hunt to track her down.
Even more disturbing, Jane knows this man. She once tried to use her power to save him from injury, but instead set him on a path of violent crime. Now, he’s targeted the man she loves, and Jane must keep one step ahead of this cold-blooded assassin before he gets rid of Ethan permanently.
Jane has one last chance to fix the mistake that altered this man’s history, but that means taking her most dangerous dream journey yet—one from which she might never awaken.
Ghost Mark is the second installment of the Dark Dreams Series by JP McLean, an author whose writing the Ottawa Review of Books calls “relentless and original.”
Amazon.com: Ghost Mark (Dark Dreams Book 2)
Amazon.ca: Ghost Mark (Dark Dreams Book 2)
McLean's writing is as ingenious as her protagonist, ranging from grunge to repartee to sophistication to laugh-out-loud snarks. Ghost Mark is Gripping. You won't put it down till it's done_—Ottawa Review of Books
A captivating nail-biter that will leave readers thirsting for more! _—InD'tale Magazine
Will keep you on the edge of your seat . . . an intense, riveting, and fast-paced novel. _—Literary Titan
An exciting blend of action, mystery, suspense, and thrills with a supernatural kick that will leave you wanting more! _—Ann Charles, USA Today bestselling author of The Deadwood Mystery series
Other Books in the series:
What if your lifelong curse is the only thing keeping you alive?
Abandoned at birth, life has always been a battle for Jane Walker. She and her best friend, Sadie, spent years fighting to survive Vancouver’s cutthroat underbelly. That would have been tough enough without Jane’s mysterious afflictions: an intricate pattern of blood-red birthmarks that snake around her body and vivid, heart-wrenching nightmares that feel so real she wakes up screaming.
After she meets the first man who isn’t repulsed by her birthmarks, Jane thinks she might finally have a chance at happiness. Her belief seems confirmed as the birthmarks she’s spent her life so ashamed of magically begin to disappear. Yet, the quicker her scarlet marks vanish, the more lucid and disturbing Jane’s nightmares become—until it’s impossible to discern her dreams from reality, and Jane comes to a horrifying realization:
The nightmares that have plagued her since childhood are actually visions of real people being stalked by a deadly killer. And all this time, her birthmarks have been the only things protecting her from becoming his next victim.Blood Mark is the first in a brand-new paranormal thriller series by JP McLean, author of The Gift Legacy series and whose writing has been described as “. . . deftly crafted, impressively original, and inherently compelling from first page to last.”
Amazon.com: Blood Mark (Dark Dreams Book 1) Amazon.ca: Blood Mark (Dark Dreams Book 1)
JP (Jo-Anne) McLean is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. She is a Global Book Award winner, a Chanticleer Paranormal Award for Supernatural Fiction and Page Turner Award finalist, and has received honours from the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, the NIEA Awards, and the Whistler Independent Book Awards. Her work has won a Readers’ Favorite Award, two Gold Literary Titan medals, and honourable mentions from the Whistler Independent Book Awards and the Victoria Writers’ Society. Reviewers call her work addictive, smart, and fun.
Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP has lived in various parts of North America, from Mexico and Arizona to Alberta and Ontario. JP now lives with her husband on Denman Island, which is nestled between the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. You can reach her through her website at jpmcleanauthor.com.
To request additional review copies or an interview with JP McLean, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
