Diane Bator's Blog, page 27
June 7, 2022
Introducing SUSPENSION, Book One of the Time Binder Series by Andrea Faye Christians
SUSPENSION
BOOK ONE OF THE TIME BINDER SERIES
A Time Travel Tale of Epic Proportions by Andrea Faye Christians
Released and published by Lucid House Publishing!
The book is available worldwide in paperback and e-book.
An unexpected time travel tale.
When Carla Thompson falls asleep and doesn't wake up, she is shocked to discover what destiny has in store for her. Suspended between two worlds, she meets Isambard Brunel, the legendary eighteenth-century civil engineer, who built the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, and who now serves as guardian of its secrets. Historical events intertwine with Carla's current reality and along the way she discovers a murder, encounters a host of characters including Jamaican psychic, Matilda, and engages in verbal banter with literary legend, Ernest Hemingway. Her adventures lead her to a startling revelation about why she was chosen for her strange new role. In death Carla realises she has never felt more alive.
"A beautiful and beguiling supernatural romance from an author to watch." — Richard E. Rock, author of Deep Level and Frenzy Island
Available at independent bookstores worldwide through Ingram Wholesale
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/suspension-9781950495306/9781950495306
Amazon.com: Suspension (Time Binder): Christians, Andrea Faye: 9781950495306: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.ca: Suspension: Christians, Andrea Faye: 9781950495306: Books - Amazon.ca
BookDepository,com: https://www.bookdepository.com/Suspension-Andrea-Faye-Christians/9781950495306
Barnes and Noble: Suspension: A Novel by Andrea Faye Christians, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)
ABOUT ANDREA:
Andrea Faye Christians was born and raised in Swansea, South Wales. Following a successful career in radio, she moved to the southern Mediterranean island of Malta to pursue her dream of becoming a freelance writer. A decade later she bought a farm in the Madonie mountains of Sicily where a menagerie of rescue animals found their way to her. With a son in Malta and a daughter in Sicily, Andrea has a home and her heart in both places, and she now divides her time between the neighboring islands. Suspension is her debut novel. She is working on the second book in the Time Binder Series as well as a novel entitled Chemo Club.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Andrea Faye Christians, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
June 4, 2022
Alison Lohans releases her newest romance Strong as a Pharoah
Welcome to fellow BWL Publishing and Writer's Guild of Canada author, Alison Lohans!
Stories have always been a central part of my life, from earliest childhood onward. When I was four years old, my mother (who had dreams of becoming a writer) asked me to illustrate a picture book manuscript that she then submitted to publishers (all of whom rejected it…) The first I recall of making up my own stories happened when I was five: I woke up in the middle of the night from a perplexing, unfinished dream. Wanting to know “what happened next”, I realized I could make up anything I wanted to happen! From then on, I routinely told myself stories in my head as an entertaining activity while falling asleep, first expanding on that fateful unfinished dream, and then venturing further. It was thrilling and empowering to discover what could be done with one’s imagination! My first case of writer’s block occurred when I was six – during a class writing activity, I couldn’t figure out how to spell “squirrel”. When I was seven, my parents decided I was old enough to use my dad’s typewriter to write my stories. At age eight, I started my first “book with chapters” (in addition to the several much-shorter ones I’d written, while younger); when I was nine, I decided I’d better type up that same book with chapters (which I’d first printed out by hand, with my own illustrations) – so it would be a “real book”. That was the year I decided I was going to be a writer. My deeply insightful mother took me to the library one day when I was 10, and checked out a copy of Writer’s Market. She encouraged me to submit my short stories to magazines! And so I did, and quickly became acquainted with rejection slips… My first never-finished novel was written when I was 11-then-12; my first publications came at the ages of 12 and 14… Also, when I was 14, my mother enrolled in a creative writing class at the local community college – and got permission for me to attend, too! More than anyone else, my (late) mother Mildred Lohans deserves full credit for the writer I eventually became.
I was extremely fortunate in that both of my parents had creative minds, and stories were always a central part of the bedtime routine. It was also really fortunate that during my 1950s and ‘60s upbringing on the outskirts of Reedley, a small agricultural town in central California, our family was one of the few who did not have a TV. Instead, I fell in love with books and the many adventures that could be experienced through reading. Taking that one logical step further, I was thrilled to be able to make up my own stories – and thus, pursue interesting ideas and questions that posed themselves, awaiting answers.
Real life, of course, is never idyllic. I realized by the age of 12 that I’d better train for a career that guaranteed some income – as familiar as I already was, with rejection slips! As a result, my university education focussed on teaching music – specifically, instrumental music, which I’ve continued to enjoy from childhood on. Real life brought me and my late husband to Canada in 1971, where he obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Victoria, and then to Regina, Saskatchewan, which has been home to me since 1976. It’s here in Saskatchewan that my writing really took root, and publication began to occur less randomly, beginning in the 1980s.
The power of exploring ideas (and “unfinished business”) through fiction first manifested itself in several young adult novels, then early chapter books for readers aged 7-9, in the 1980s and 90s. The picture book genre proved a lot harder to “crack”, but my first success there was with Nathaniel’s Violin, published in 1996, followed by several others, as well as several middle-grade novels. But not everything can be expressed within the scope of a book for young people, whatever their age. Short stories got written, then some poetry, and eventually some creative nonfiction. Always sitting enticingly on the back burner were ideas for romance novels, as well… My first published romance novels are Canine Cupid (BWL Publishing, 2021); and Strong as a Pharaoh (BWL, 2022). Ironically, the slow-down of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed terrific opportunities for writing! 2021 brought the publication of a number of short pieces (some new, some old) in literary magazines – and, in addition to Canine Cupid, another picture book The 1-Dogpower Garden Team illustrated by my artist cousin Gretchen Ehrsam (Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing) – which is now shortlisted for several awards. 2022 will bring, in addition to Strong as a Pharaoh, another early chapter book, Tyler Evans the Great (also illustrated by Gretchen Ehrsam, to be released by Your Nickel’s Worth). By the end of 2022 I’ll have published 30 books for readers of various ages. Finally, all books from traditional, commercial publishers have a “shelf life” and inevitably go out of print. With the increased ease of self-publishing through Amazon and other venues, also comes the ability to “resurrect” old books with a whole new look – and thus in my case, I’ve been working toward re-releasing my “Germy Johnson” series for young readers aged 7-9.
In other realms, Regina, Saskatchewan has continued to be a terrific home over the decades. Unlike in larger centres, there are more opportunities for community involvement than I could possibly keep track of. In addition to all my writing groups and activities, instrumental music is still a very important part of my life: I resumed my piano study (long neglected) during the pandemic and, in a number of established (as well as informal) community groups, I also play recorder, cornet and cello. International travel is something that I love, and look forward to again, once conditions open up. Travel often feeds into my creative process, and has morphed into several published books – now including Strong as a Pharaoh! When my son and daughter-in-law did their postdoctoral studies in England (2014-2019) I loved being able to visit a couple of times a year – and to take some independent trips from there, including visits to Scotland for further research on one of my works-in-progress, “Murder at Glencoe”. Otherwise, I live contentedly with my elderly Shih-tzu cross Sebastian, my zebra finch, my house plants and my “casual” outdoor gardening – where my (late) Australian shepherd cross Bailey used to love playing an interactive digging/weeding “game” that triggered the writing of The 1-Dogpower Garden Team. All of this, with many terrific writer friends nearby!
https://alisonlohans.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alisonlohanswriter
http://bookswelove.net/lohans-alison/
How many hours a day do you write?
I really can’t calculate the amount of time spent on writing, and writing activities, every day, but writing is definitely a focal part of each and every day. Very often it’s the necessary “writing activities” that predominate – whether it’s revising, editing, marketing, critiquing and/or reviewing others’ work, helping newer writers along the way, engaging in dialogue with colleagues, or learning new things through online presentations, and the like. It’s a treat to have genuine “time to create”, and these days I delight in programmed “writing slots” with friends and colleagues who are using that same chunk of time for their own creative work.
How do you choose which stories you will write?
Usually a story idea will “grab” me, and beg to be told. The ones that tug the hardest will get the most attention. This said, I always have several works-in-progress, and usually work on two different books simultaneously. (At the moment, two very different novels are in Chapter 8.) Some books take considerably more time to write than others…
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
What a terrific question! From a realistic perspective, having worked seriously at writing over the past 40+ years, it’s finding ways of dealing with the many, often-drastic changes in the marketplace. Publishers often seem to want “new, young voices” and I’ve found that with many of my previous publishers of work for young people, I’ve “hit a wall”. Suddenly, my work gets rejected for reasons they never are quite able to articulate. Numerous other, once-reliable publishers have shut down. This said, I also know that at my age, I can no longer write authentically from a current-day young adult perspective, for example.
Over the decades, I’ve always worked in a number of different genres, which may or may not be an advantage. One forward-leaning example is that since the 1980s, I’ve been intrigued with writing romance in addition to my work for kids and young adults. However, when my kids’ books started “taking off” in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, I thought I’d be spreading myself too thin by working on romance as well. Now, with the kids’ market mysteriously seeming closed to us older writers, and a number of presses now defunct, I have the luxury of having fun writing about middle-aged couples who find themselves having a second chance at love. It’s been exciting and fulfilling to connect with BWL, a genre publisher that likes my work, and has published my two completed romance novels within the past year!
In terms of multiple genres, I’ve also worked at short fiction for adults, some creative nonfiction, and occasional poetry. Interestingly, some of these short pieces from 20 years ago are suddenly finding homes in today’s literary market! It seems that sometimes my timing is wayoff in terms of the marketability of any given piece - but it also shows that work I truly believed in, all those years ago, can still find a home.
Another step I’ve been taking over the past 10 years is doing more “indie” and “hybrid” publishing (at my own expense) because if I deeply believe in a piece, I refuse to leave it to stagnate in a file on my laptop. These kinds of “creative gifts from the Muse” are too precious to squander!
Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?
For the most part now, I’m interested in writing fiction that explores the psyches of middle-aged and aging women, whose voices unfortunately seem to be regarded as irrelevant these days. This will ideally appear in a couple of novels-to-be, in-progress, as well as in short fiction. Five years from now, I hope to have completed my time-slip novel, “Murder at Glencoe”, whose primary protagonist is…a woman in her fifties (and another narrative voice in that novel is that of an elderly Scotsman, who feels useless in his 1692 world.) I also hope to have completed and published my work of YA historical fiction (a mixed-race romance), “Free to Come Home”, which addresses challenges faced by Japanese-American citizens when they were finally allowed to return home from the World War II internment camps. I definitely owe it to my characters, and to myself, to bring those books to fruition after the many years already invested! There are more ideas still in the “bud stage” for a couple of romance novels. Likewise, it would be great fun to write a couple more picture books, and possibly more early chapter books for kids aged 7-9. Five years from now, my ultimate hope is to have more control over my own work, and more ways of launching it into publication.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Unpublished:
1 middle-grade science fiction novel - not worth pursuing
2 or 3 picture book manuscripts – worth more marketing attempts, when time opens up…
1 early chapter book that a couple of editors said should be turned into a YA novel instead (started more than a decade ago in a couple of different paradigms, but got stuck in its earliest chapters. An unexpected offshoot of this material is an adult short story that was published in an anthology, summer 2021!)
Half-finished:
1 young adult historical fiction/mixed race romance
1 adult time-slip novel
1 adult fantasy novel
1 current romance novel, early in the process
At least 2 very old romance novels, which may or may not be worth spending more time on
1 “young middle grade” novel for ages 8-10, definitely worth pursuing; deals with the sensitive topics of adoption and racial prejudice
1 possible young adult novel, based on the completed early chapter book mentioned in the “unpublished” section above
Several early chapter books, which may or may not merit more time invested
Who inspires you to write?
In this regard, I’m very much self-directed, with stories that ache to be written (or “repaired”).
At the same time, I treasure my active friendships with fellow writers, and a number of writing groups, for the camaraderie of “all being in this together”. Most of these friendships are within Saskatchewan, but some are entirely virtual, including a writer in Yorkshire, UK, and another in Toronto.
The groups I belong to and value include the Children’s Writers’ Round Robin, which I co-founded in 1984 and is still very much up and running (now with members in BC as well as Saskatchewan). In this case, the pandemic actually increased our activity, now with weekly meetings on Zoom and monthly critiquing sessions, rather than only meeting in person twice a year, in addition to our frequent email exchanges! I really enjoy The Monday Muses, which occurs weekly on Zoom and has a membership spread literally from coast-to-coast across Canada – here, we all write “together” in the same time slot. The Saskatchewan Romance Writers stopped meeting in person and holding retreats during the pandemic, but still has a somewhat active presence on Facebook, as well as a few helpful email exchanges. Mostly-online is CANSCAIP Sask, an offshoot of the Children’s Writers’ Round Robin and CANSCAIP, but with a much wider membership, which has a fairly active Facebook group, and a conference (either virtual or in person) every two years. There’s the Facebook group Sask Writers, where I mostly reply to other people’s questions if I happen to have expertise in that area, and also the Facebook group for the Manitoba/Saskatchewan members of The Writers’ Union of Canada – where it’s interesting to keep abreast of what other members are doing. There’s also the private Facebook group for BWL Authors, which I’m learning can be extremely helpful. And then there are my professional organizations – The Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild; The Writers’ Union of Canada; and CANSCAIP…
So – while writing is essentially a solitary activity, that doesn’t mean we’re necessarily “alone”!
Newly-released by BWL Publishing on June 1!
Egypt! What better place to break free of painful ruts and crippling memories of two disastrous first marriages?
Megan, a blocked mystery writer, signs on for a tour of this ancient world of temples, pyramids and pharaohs, desperately needing to re-create herself in the aftermath of the suicide of her emotionally abusive husband. She no longer needs a man in her life…she thinks….
Daniel, a professor and church music director, signs on for a tour of Egypt at the end of his sabbatical in Oxford. He loved his mentally-ill ex-wife, and still can’t understand why she left him all those years ago, taking their daughter with her.
Two kindred spirits meet overseas and keep finding new common ground, a growing attraction…and hidden secrets…as they visit Cairo and Luxor, then board a cruise ship on the Nile. But it’s not all glamor. Mummies look grisly; vendors are aggressive; and women are regarded as second-class citizens. Screams punctuate the night as memories surface in nightmares, and a nearby hot air balloon crash triggers more trauma. And who’d ever guess that the mentally-ill ex might show up -- on the same cruise ship! -- clearly no longer taking the medications that kept her stable? And that she even seems to want Daniel back…right when Megan and Daniel are discovering a new love that’s helping them learn to trust again.
Editorial reviews:
“Strong as a Pharaoh takes us to exotic locations. Ms. Lohans’ descriptions of Egypt are so vivid I can practically smell the Nile! What really makes the story sing are the characters. We love them, we root for them, and want them to have a happy ending together.”
Jana Richards, author of Strong Enough; Unexpected; and many other romance novels
“Another beautiful book with Alison Lohans’ characteristic deep, sympathetic portrayal of the human spirit in all its mystery and confusion. I was enthralled from start to finish.”
Sharon Plumb, author of Draco’s Child; Dragon Planet: Kraamlok; and other novels
“An intriguing travel romance that takes us on a tour of Egypt, with beauty and history unfolding before us. Both our hero and heroine don’t intend to fall in love, and many obstacles seem to defy hope of a happy ending – but love does, indeed, triumph.”
Liz Martinson, author of Belonging; Ullandale;and other romance novels
“Strong as a Pharaoh takes Megan on a journey of discovery, unearthing treasures and traumas along the Nile and in her heart. Along the way, she discovers the true treasures long buried inside herself, eagerly awaiting release.”
Morgan Traquair, psychologist and poet
Released by BWL Publishing, July 2021
Kara’s vengeful con-man ex-husband has left her with a mountain of fraudulent debt – and now he’s begun stalking her, too! What is a hardworking elementary school teacher to do, simply to stay afloat, let alone trust someone new? Is Kara even safe?
Peter is still grieving the deaths of his beloved wife and daughter. Even so, his self-pitying widowed mother keeps escalating her unreasonable demands. Meanwhile, Peter’s stand partner in the symphony comes on to him, although he’s tried hard to make it clear that he’s not interested – in anyone.
When Kara slams on the brakes to avoid hitting a stray dog and Peter rear-ends her, an unexpected and unwelcome attraction begins to flare…
Editorial Reviews:
"This love story is beautiful. These two people are real. Past experiences have made them skittish. They are attracted to each other, but they are afraid of being hurt or of imposing their own burdens on each other. Yet they work through it all, gradually and realistically, separately, and--most important of all--as a couple. When they come together at the end, the reader can be pretty sure that they belong together and that they will stay together and be happy--they and their dogs!"
Mary Balogh, New York Times Bestselling author of Regency romances
"The skillfully drawn characters come to life in this well-written contemporary romance novel. Our hearts ache for them as they work through the psychological scars from the tragedies in each of their pasts and struggle to overcome the real obstacles to a fulfilling future together."
Sharie Argue, musician and educator
“I felt like I was immersed in the lives of two people I’ve actually met—people who juggle a relationship with the demands of their careers, the ghosts of past relationships, and the pressures of caring for a parent. Canine Cupid is a delightful read for lovers of romance—and of course—dogs.
Maureen Ulrich, author of the Jessie Mac Hockey Series – Power Plays; Face Off, and more
“Author Alison Lohans wasted no time getting into the plot of her novel, but I found I was swept away by the characters. When you add this to a well-written plot that slips down as easily as lemonade on a hot summer afternoon, and – of course – two VICs (Very Important Canines), you have everything you need for a charming romantic read.”
Riana Everly, author of The Mystery of the Missing Heiress: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery; Through a Different Lens: A Pride and Prejudice Variation, and more
June 2, 2022
Mystery Writers Unite! A peek into the Maple Leaf Mystery Conference.
The week of May 24 to May 28, I had the honor and priviledge to be a part of the Maple Leaf Mystery Conference! I'm happy to say it was all online because we had mystery writers not only from all over Canada, but from around the world! Panels that discussed True Crime, Cozy Mystery, Comedy in Mystery, Romance in Mystery, Thrillers, Short Mystery Stories... Sixteen sessions in all! WHEW!
We got to hear one on one interviews with accomplished mystery writers Maureen Jennings, Ian Rankin, Rick Mofina, Iona Whishaw, and Vicki Delaney. We were also introduced to new novels by Mike Martin (one of the organizers) as well as Mary Jane Maffini.
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) also announced the winners for the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Started in 1984, the annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, then known as the Arthur Ellis Awards, recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors. The presentation of the winners can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSQew_DnnA
Here is the link from this past conference should you want to take a peek! https://writers-first.com/maple-leaf-mystery-conference/
Backstage during Mike and Mary Jane's book launches!I was a part of the Cozy Corner Panel and found it interesting when our moderator, Lynn McPherson, read a definition of mysteries condensed from the Bookends Literary Agency blog https://bookendsliterary.com/cozy-mysteries-v-traditional-mysteries/ :
Cozy mysteries can be defined by the word used to describe them. They are cozy and everything that word conjures in your mind. Think of warm tea, comfy chairs, cuddly pets, a soft newly knitted blanket and warm, freshly baked pasteries. That's a cozy. When you read one, you feel like you're being embraced by a world you want to be in. A cozy is almost always and amateur sleuth, but an amateur sleuth isn't always cozy.
In an Amateur sleuth, a regular citizen (non-professional detective) decides to find the real killer (the hallmark of any good amateur sleuth.)
Traditional mysteries probably have the broadest definition. They can be amateur sleuths or official investigators, they can be a little darker or light and funny. What they aren't is suspense or cozy. They tend to fall somewhere in between. Typically and amateur sleuth who is not cozy will fall into the area of traditional mystery. In traditional mystery, you'll also see a faster pace and maybe a little more blood and guts, but nothing that would compare to what a suspense might offer.
By definition, my Wild Blue Mysteries walk the line between cozies and more traditional mystery. While there are detectives involved, it's usually the amateur detectives (Katie and Lucy) who dig in to help solve the mysteries.
If you haven't read any of the Wild Blue Mysteries, why not get started? They're great summertime reads!!
The Low Down on my WildBlue Mystery Series
The ladies of Packham are going to drive the sleuths of Wild Blue Detective Agency to drink -- if they don't get them killed first.
Book 1: The Bookstore Lady
Danny Walker is tracking Paulina Chourney who is lucky to get out a bad situation before her boyfriend kills her. She arrives in a small town, changes her name, buys a bookstore and joins a local writing group to fade into anonymity. Until Danny Walker shows up and figures out who she is. When Danny disappears, she has to choose between spending her life on the run or standing up to face her past. Hopefully before the quirky townsfolk turn her death into a spectacle.
Book 2: The Mystery Lady
Wanna-be writer Lucy Stephen never wrote about murder until her husband moves out and she thinks some man in a blue car is stalking her, namely Danny Walker. When her husband and his girlfriend take her kids on vacation, Lucy discovers a hidden package of jewelry he desperately wants. The more she learns about the assorted pieces, the more Lucy realizes she may never see her kids again and needs to fight back with the help of the man who stalks her.
Book 3: The Bakery Lady
From the moment Leo Blue meets the tattoo artist 's sister Christina, he's drawn into a web of bread dough and lies. Christina Davidson has returned to Packham with a duffle bag full of secrets. Leo soon discovers her biggest secret is Christina's alter ego and her husband who stands accused of murdering an up-and-coming artist. He promises to help set things straight and plans to bring husband and wife together for Christmas—even if it costs him his sanity and the love of his life.
Book 4: The Painted Lady
Leo Blue can't escape Packham nor the life of a private detective no matter how hard he tries. Six months after the murder of artist DJ Gage, the prices of Gage's paintings soar. When a woman winds up dead and a forgery is discovered in the local art gallery, Leo has to find a murderer and a forger. When people from Christina Davidson’s past turn up, her carefully constructed walls begin to crumble and the only one who can help her now is Leo.
Book 5: The Conned Lady
Eccentric romance novelist Mimsy Lexington has a secret. When she approaches Katie Mullins to help find details around her late husband’s death, Katie and her boyfriend Danny Walker are drawn into a web of lies and deceit. The deeper they dig, the more they realize the biggest dangers may lurk close to home and need to suspect everyone—including Mimsy.
Thanks for joining me!
Diane
May 31, 2022
Running With Roselle, as told by New York Times Bestseller, Michael Hingson
Running With Roselle:
How a Blind Boy and a Puppy Grew Up, Became Best Friends, and Together Survived One of America's Darkest Days
A dedication like no other between a Man and his Dog as told by New York Times Bestseller, Michael Hingson
Released by Roselle’s Dream Publishing
The book is available worldwide in digital and print format
A puppy who became a true American hero. The blind boy who let nothing stop him. When they finally grew up and met, it was magic. On September 11, 2001, a blind man escaped the World Trade Center by walking down 78 flights of stairs with his guide dog. Days later, America fell in love with Mike and Roselle, and the special bond that helped them survive. Mike shared his story in the New York Times bestselling book, Thunder Dog. Now, in Running With Roselle, kids can follow Roselle as she grows from an energetic yellow Lab prone to stealing her puppy raiser’s slippers to a confident guide dog who passes the ultimate test when her partner needs her most. Meet Mike, a boy blind from birth who excels in public school, shocks the neighbors by riding his bicycle through the streets of Palmdale, CA, drives a car around his college campus, and uses his relationship of trust and teamwork with Roselle to help others on a day that changed America forever.
MORE FROM MICHAEL HINGSON:
An instant New York Times bestseller, Thunder Dog tells the true story of a blind man, his guide dog, and the life-changing power of faith and trust in the face of terror.
When one of four hijacked planes flew into the World Trade Center's North Tower on September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson, a district sales manager for a data protection and network security systems company, was sitting down for a meeting. His guide dog, Roselle, was at his feet.
Blind from birth, Michael could hear the sounds of shattering glass, falling debris, and terrified people flooding all around him. But Roselle sat calmly beside him. In that moment, Michael chose to trust Roselle's judgment and not to panic. They were a team.
As you relive that fateful day in September 2001 alongside Michael and Roselle, you'll learn:
· The ways that grief and loss can lead the way for change
· How the rare trust between a man and his guide dog
· can inspire your own unshakeable faith
· The healing power of telling your own story
"Chapter by chapter of this intriguing work will keep you spellbound. Thunder Dog celebrates the power of the human and animal bond. We all can learn life lessons from this incredible story."--Larry King, Emmy award-winning broadcaster and longtime host of Larry King Live
Introductory Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd1Pdrn3CO4About Michael Hingson:
Michael Hingson wrote the runaway bestseller, Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero. He lives on the water in Novato, California with his wife, Karen, his guide dog, Africa, and Africa's mother Fantasia. When he isn't traveling the world with Africa speaking and teaching, he enjoys playing with his dogs, cooking, and helping Karen with her quilting business. Mike's favorite things include Harry Potter books, nachos with cheese only, talking with people on his ham radio set, and listening to vintage radio shows. Visit Mike's website: michaelhingson.com.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Michael Hingson, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. We look forward to the coverage!
Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog June 1
Every now and then I join in the Insecure Writer's Group for the fun of it!
June's question is: When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end? If have not started the writing yet, why do you think that is and what do you think could help you find your groove and start?
I've never had a problem with starting books, just finding time to finish them at times! I probably have 6 or 7 partials sitting on my shelves.It's funny that I've started books and set them aside only to come back later. In once case, years later because I wasn't ready to publish that particular part of my series. One of them, I edited and recently published as The Conned Lady.
Currently, I'm about 3/4 of the way through my newest work in progress called Dead Man's Doll. It always seems to happen when I hit this point that I run out of steam. That is until I printed it off and went through to do a re-read and a round of edits. Once I got through those edits and made notes in the manuscript of where I need to add in a scene or some description. From there, I go back and do another read through, adding those scenes in to make the story flow.
After I fill in all those missing scenes and flesh things out, I give it one more good read before it's off to my editor. By then I'm tired of reading it and need another set of eyes!
If I'm having a particular stuggle with a story or scene, I'll go take a walk or a shower and let my thoughts simmer in the back of my mind. One of the two never fails to get my thoughts flowing.
As for finishing a book to the end, by the time I get "this close" I can't stop and am actually excited to get it done. Hopefully, by the end of June, my newest book will be done and off to readers, then I'll be able to work on one of those other books on the shelf!
Happy writing!!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!Pop over to the Insecure Writer's Support group to see more! https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
May 28, 2022
Savoring the Camino de Santiago, an award-winning debut memoir by Julie Gianelloni Connor
.png)
Savoring the Camino de Santiago:It’s the Pilgrimage, Not the Hike
An award-winning debut memoir by travel expert Julie Gianelloni Connor
Published by Bayou City Press
The book is available worldwide in digital and print format
Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It's the Pilgrimage, Not the Hike focuses on the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail that began around 820 AD and that traverses Spain, ending in Santiago de Compostela, the burial place of St. James the apostle. A resurrection of interest in the Camino since the 1980s has meant that more than 300,000 individuals are nowadays undertaking the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela each year. The author made the pilgrimage in 2016 via the French route from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, a journey of some 500 miles. Her book incorporates a blog and travel journal she kept during that pilgrimage, with an illustration accompanying each of the 49 days of the journey.
The book is also a memoir, with Ms. Connor explaining how and why she decided to make the pilgrimage.
Savoring the Camino de Santiago offers practical advice for those interested in traveling the Camino. While the prevailing culture of the Camino is to walk the route, Ms. Connor believes that walking is not the only way to undertake the Camino. Taking buses, taxis, or even driving are also valid ways to experience the Camino, in her opinion. She advocates for pilgrims to slow down and savor the pilgrimage by stopping in churches, cathedrals, museums, and interesting towns and cities along the route. Not everyone experiences spiritual or personal growth through the act of walking; Ms. Connor urges pilgrims to take the trip in the manner that will most connect them with their spiritual, religious, and transcendent wellsprings.After completing the pilgrimage, the author journeyed on to Madrid and Toledo, and there are chapters in the book covering those visits. Ms. Connor also recounts activities following the journey related to the Camino, such as writing an open letter to relevant governmental authorities in Spain and hosting a thank-you dinner in Houston for those who helped her plan and organize her pilgrimage.
The book includes a useful chapter on resources and an index. A blog about the trip, Camino for Boomers (https: //caminoforboomers.com/author/caminofor...), complements the book by offering many additional color photos as well as updates about events relating to the trip.
"Delightful hand-drawn illustrations...Connor's message is simple. Walk your own Camino, take time to enjoy it and work so that others might do the same." --La Concha, American Pilgrims on the Camino
"a story that is powerfully written, capturing adversity and revelation alike.” --Donovan's Literary Services
"Those who want a satisfying blend of spiritual and travel revelations which use the Camino as a road to understanding and enlightenment on many levels will find Savoring the Camino de Santiago the perfect item of choice. It covers the emotions, reactions, and insights of a pilgrim who cultivates a slower approach to viewing the world than most travel accounts offer." --Midwest Book Review
"Fans of armchair travel or those exploring their own interesting walking the Camino de Santiago will get a lot from this down-to-earth guide and memoir."-- BookLife Review, a subsidiary of Publishers Weekly
About Julie:
Julie Gianelloni Connor is an award-winning author and retired senior Foreign Service Officer. Her first book, Savoring the Camino de Santiago: It’s the Pilgrimage, not the Hike, garnered no. 1 status on Amazon in both the category for new books on hiking and walking and the category for Spain and Portugal. It subsequently went on to win a silver medal in the eLit national competition as well as being selected as a finalist by Self-Publishing Review (SPR). She released her second title, a children’s book, in 2021. It has won first place in the children’s book category at the North Texas Book Festival and the Grand Prize for children’s book from AMI (Authors Marketing International). The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promisetells an international adoption story. Julie’s short stories have appeared in four anthologies. She is the owner and publisher of Bayou City Press (BCP) in Houston, Texas, which focuses on travel writing, Houston, history, and international affairs. Julie writes a weekly newsletter for BCP updating subscribers about activities. She founded BCP after spending 33 years as a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, first with the U.S. Information Agency and later with the U.S. Department of State. She had nine overseas assignments in seven different countries: Israel (twice), Paraguay, Guatemala, Indonesia, Colombia (twice), Malaysia, and Chile. In Washington, DC, Julie worked on a variety of matters, ranging from nuclear non-proliferation to narcotics control to women’s issues. She has one son, James, and two cats, Halloween and Charles Augustus V. Her books can be ordered from her publishing website (BayouCityPress.com), from her author website (JulieConnorAuthor.com), or from Amazon.com.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Julie Gianelloni Connor, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925. We look forward to the coverage!
May 27, 2022
Round Robin Blog Fest May 2022
This month's topic is:
Stalled writing has definitely been a thing for me lately. Between work and life, I haven’t had the same kind of flow I’ve enjoyed in the past. Most of the time I find there are a few great ways to kick my creativity back into gear:
Going for a walk is a great way to get things moving again! Fresh air, sunshine, and who knows what kinds of inspiration you might find along the way?Focus on something else for a while. Doing dishes, painting, baking, house repairs, anything that keeps my hands busy and lets my mind wander. Next thing I know, I’m ruminating about what’s next for my characters and have to drop everything to make notes. Getting out of the house and away from my laptop. A change of venue or even a change of routine—especially when you have no paper handy—can trigger the arrival of fresh ideas.
Take a shower or a bath. No idea what it is with water, but it always relaxes the body and allows the mind to simmer. It’s the one place I have no distractions. Unless my cat decides he’d like to hang out and play with bubbles in the tub. If I’m really struggling, I’ll print a copy of my book and sit somewhere quiet to read/edit. That’s when I’ll find a monkey wrench to throw at my main character or a new character will come along who shakes things up.
Sometimes, I’ll work on something else for a while just to get a new idea out of my head, then return to the stalled book and be able to move ahead. In the worst case scenario, a project gets shelved for a month or so then I can come back at it with fresh eyes. Let's find out how the other writers in the group make it through their works in progress! Hop on over to meet the Round Robin crew!
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-2CG
Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Rhobin Courtright http://rhobincourtright.com
Click Here To Buy My Books!
May 26, 2022
Hell Spawn, an Amazon Number One Bestseller in Christian Fantasy by Declan Finn
.png)
Hell Spawn
Now an Amazon Number One Bestseller in Christian Fantasy by Dragon Award Nominee, Declan Finn
Released and published by Tuscany Bay Books
The book is available worldwide in e-format
My name is Officer Thomas Nolan, and I am a saint.
I can smell evil. I show mercy to the lesser criminals - the desperate. Even those I've put behind bars seem to like me. But now there's a serial killer bringing darkness beyond imagination to my city. I can smell his stench a mile away. But how can I prove it?
How do you do forensics on a killer possessed by a demon?
From Declan Finn, author of the Dragon Award nominated horror series Love at First Bite.
Amazon.com Link: Hell Spawn (1): Finn, Declan, Beaulieu, Steve: 9781949891089: Amazon.com: Books
More Books in the series:
About Declan:
Finn is known for being annoyingly Catholic, his action sequences, and writing faster than most readers can keep up with. In less than a decade, he has written 30 novels, and is waiting for all of them to be published. He's been part of multiple anthologies, and will write for anyone.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Declan, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
May 24, 2022
Announcing DRAGON SECT, Highcliff Guardians Series Book Two, by Richard H. Stephens
DRAGON SECT
Highcliff Guardians Series Book Two
A series within the Soul Forge Universe
The series continues by critically acclaimed fantasy author and podcaster, Richard H. Stephens
A novel in the Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series
The Dragon Witch Wraith has returned.
With the Grim Duke in his place, and a tentative pact with the wizard’s guild, the Queen of the Elves’ only real concern is for her rebellious daughter. Or so she is led to believe.
Buoyed by the news of unrest in the land’s largest city of Urdanya, Duke Orlythe’s new wizard attempts to convince him that a path to the coveted Willow Throne lies within reach of someone bold enough to seize the opportunity.
The return of the Dragon Witch Wraith prompts the ailing high wizard to find a way to thwart his arch nemesis before everything South March has fought for is lost.
Oblivious to the dangers of the world, Princess Ouderling sets out on a quest to locate an ancient dragon, in a desperate attempt to save her mother from an inevitable fate.
Should she fail, the Grim Duke will ascend the throne.
More Books in The Series:
Something evil lurks beneath the palace.
A phantasm from a darker past makes its presence known to Khae Wys, Queen of the Elves.
Braving the perils of a haunted tower, the queen seeks the counsel of the mysterious Fae, for only they can predict what is to come. A future that doesn’t bode well for her only living child.
In a desperate attempt to save the heir to the Willow Throne, Princess Ouderling is exiled to the only place capable of protecting her. Highcliff, the home of the coveted Crystal Cavern and the dragons that watch over it.
The Duke of Grim, however, has other plans for the princess.
ABOUT Richard H. Stephens :
Born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, I was raised and still reside in Cambridge, Ontario. I began writing circa 1974, a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. My penchant for reading, 'The Hardy Boys,' led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon, when my best friend and I thought, ‘We could write one of those.’ And so, I did.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. 'Star Wars' inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep on writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honors at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream. More information about Richard can be found at: Award-winning Fantasy Author | Richard H. Stephens (richardhstephens.com)
To request additional review copies or an interview with Richard H. Stephens, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com| 403.464.6925.
We look forward to the coverage!
May 21, 2022
Congratulations to author Laureen Guilian on the launch of Moon of Change!
Welcome to author, Laureen Guilian!
L a u re e n G i u l i a n lives in a small community on the shores of Lake Huron in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, fur and feather kids. Occasionally some grandchildren are enticed to come play in the sand for a while. Words are her life – whether spoken with love and intention, written with wit and a laugh or chanted to the wind and the willows. Laureen Giulian will lead you into a world of wonder and power, allowing you to discover aspects of yourself that you didn’t know existed!
Email: Author@LaureenGiulian.ca
Website: https://LaureenGiulian.ca
@LaureenGiulian.ca on f/LinkedIn/Rumble
Link to prwebnews: Media Release
What would you write if you knew you couldn’t fail?
I would finish writing a Spiritual Healing Course, begun years ago, that supports each individual from where they are at spiritually. It would guide individuals to access the discovery and development of a variety of skills & tools, which can then be used to achieve full and complete personal healing and enable them to help others learn and grow.
How do you know when your book is finished?
Hmmm, my experience was quite simple really. The original desired outcome for the plot had been reached, though the readers are left wanting to spend more time with the characters to find out what new adventures they will experience next. In Moon of Change, the words “The End” actually appeared on the page before I knew I was finished!
Do you write part-time or full-time?
At the moment, I am writing part-time. The majority of my time is being spent on learning the ins and outs of marketing and social media for my book. That hasn’t come easily to me. Much of social media is based on spontaneity and I’m a prolific planner. The two don’t seem to be in harmony just yet, but it will come with practice. I have made some significant progress though, thanks to some wonderful humans who have shared their experience with me. I am eager to see the day when I can just write the books and have someone else manage the business part of it.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Moon of Change was a four year labour of love. The process took me through such a learning curve at a time when I was going through a deep inner healing process. I had to learn discipline and how to balance what I thought I ‘needed’ to do what I knew I ‘wanted’ to do. I’ve determined that the next book will be finished with a year of publication of Moon of Change. I don’t want my readers to have to wait so long that they forget about the first book.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Choosing what to do first! I have so many ideas and projects that have been started but not completed. I’ve been using a journal to write about my own spiritual experiences for about forty years. There is so much information and inspiration available to me from those writings that I often don’t know what to do first. It will all come together when the time is right for each bit of it to be explored in more detail.
What is your next project?
I have begun to write the second book of The Change Series trilogy. It is Grandmother Mavis’ story. I’ve also got three other books that I began over the past few years. The time spent on them comes in fits and spurts. They are not fictional. These are a book of poetry, a spiritual development book and a bit of a memoir. I want to express my deepest appreciation for the connection between creative people. We can succeed without it, although the journey may be much more difficult. Thank you!
MOON OF CHANGE
“Life is about fully experiencing all the emotions of our journeys. When we choose the inward way, the opportunity for exponential growth is immeasurable – transcended only by the abundance of gifts we get to open and share with HUmanity. The gifts you were presented by our Creator are limitless!
Kiera Clark expresses her experiences of the outer world through art – visually recreating the fullness of her senses with paint and texture – in ways that allow the observer to emote a spiritual inner standing of their own creation. Joshua Marshall and his spirit horse, Nightsong, travel into the past to create a very different future for themselves and others.
Through a series of metaphysical experiences, these two young people (Kiera and Joshua) awaken to an urgent need to learn to walk the good way. Can they learn fast enough to save a small Autumn Harvest Camp from an archaeological excavation, with very limited access to their Indigenous heritage?”
