D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 28
December 4, 2017
Just in the Nick of Time $250 Christmas Cash #Giveaway
Just in the Nick of Time
$250 Christmas Cash Giveaway
December 5th to 22nd
Could you use an extra $250 this Christmas season?
Here is your chance to win!!
The winner of this giveaway will receive $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com Gift Card.
Sponsor List
Thank you to this great group of authors and bloggers for making this giveaway happen!
Giveaway Details
$250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card
Ends 12/22/17
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Preorders are nothing to be afraid of #MondayBlogs #AmWriting #BookMarketing
Although my current manuscript is still at the editor, I’ve already uploaded the book information to Amazon and Smashwords as a preorder. According to Smashwords, only slightly more than 12% of books were born as preorders (you can read the entire Smashwords survey here). Wow! I expected the number to be reversed – only 12% of books were NOT born as preorders. Why isn’t everyone using this opportunity?
I read in a chat that many indie writers don’t use the pre-release option because they’re scared. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, some writers have had issues with uploading the final manuscript. This issue is easily solved. Both Amazon and Smashwords tell you when you need to upload your final manuscript. In fact, if you go to your bookshelf in Amazon and hit ‘edit book details’, you will discover a clock at the top of the page indicating exactly when you need to upload your final manuscript.
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Smashwords isn’t as accurate, but you will receive an email with the necessary information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline.
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As I’m in Europe and on a different time zone than Amazon or Smashwords, I always make sure to upload my final manuscript at least a day before the deadline they’ve given me. I haven’t missed the deadline yet!
The only issue I’ve had is changing the price close to the release date. Amazon doesn’t allow any changes three days prior to release. If you’re going to do a sale for the pre-order, you need to make sure the sale ends three days prior to the release so that you have enough time to increase the price before Amazon locks you out.
A word of caution: Now that I’ve convinced you preorders are nothing to fear, I want to warn you about two things that can ruin a preorder’s effectiveness in bringing in sales.
The blurb. Your blurb needs to be well-written, properly edited, and enticing. Don’t just throw something together in a rush to have a preorder. If your blurb has errors, readers will worry about the professionalism of your manuscript.
[image error]The cover. I’m of the opinion that, unless you are a household name, a preorder should include a cover. As a reader, a preorder without a cover is a turn off.
Is your blurb and the cover ready? Get that book up on Amazon and any other retailers you use now!
Begin a journey that will only stop with the annihilation of the humanity. Read Jason Cage #mystery #thriller
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Book title: Jason Cage
Series: Jason Cage, 1st in the series
Author: Akay Brothers
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Published: Aug 2017
~ Blurb ~
“GUNSLIGER MEETS DREAMCATCHER” in this thriller with a spine tingling twist, for adults who enjoyed Dean Koontz and Vince Flynn.
“Intoxicatingly Fastpaced” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Action and mystery and the Paranormal!! Wow!” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
A 3500 year old demon. A damaged hero. A nightmare threatening to kill his love. To save the girl he loved, Jason had to go beyond the realms of his fears.
Jason Cage is a man you don’t want to meet ever. You will not look at him twice, if you see him on the streets. But you do not want to be in his dreams. Because if you are then you are either dead or about to suffer a horrible end that nobody will ever know. Blacked out from TV, radio, and Newspapers. Only be uttered in hushed voices.
Jason is hiding away from the rest of the world, in a monastery where his dreams can hurt no one. Because his nightmares are not just his imagination, but actual events. But when his worst nightmare knocked on his door, he could no longer stay in the shadows. Lisa – the girl he once loved and still loves, is about to be murdered on the 6th day. With no money, no contacts and no idea where the murder is about to happen, he turns back to his dreams to seek help.
Little did he know that to save Lisa, he has to battle against a 3500-Year-old prophecy that will pit him against the devil itself.
Unknown to Jason, he is not the only one chasing his nightmares. Dr. Drishti Bhargava, from Indian secret service (RAW), has tasked his best agent Axel to find Jason and bring him in at any cost. Reason – Jason holds the key to stop the storm that is frantically coming together to destroy various countries and possibly the whole mankind. A journey that traverses through three continents.
A journey that connects Jason’s past with mankind’s present and threatens its future. A journey that will only stop with the annihilation of the humanity.
~ Grab a copy now! ~
~ Excerpt ~
Prologue
Renato Casals wasn’t feeling good. Something sinister and hungry nestled in his gut. His body trembled as if drained out of every ounce of fluid. For twenty years he ran Santa Coloma town’s post office without a glitch, until today.
“Mr. Renato, are you fine?” Lucy, his assistant, asked.
“Just need some air.” Renato fumbled on his way out.
He shouldn’t have opened that unnamed parcel, but then he couldn’t help himself too.
“Oh God, how these ants got all over my body.” He ranted aloud on the streets.
The strange thing was that Renato didn’t remember anything about what was in that parcel. The only thing that mattered now was his hunger. Food. Only food could have satiated the burning heat inside him.
“Hey Eloi, give me six big ones of those.” He shouted at the Hamburger stand. People looked at him alarmed though only for a brief moment before returning to what they were doing, having their lunch.
“What happened, Mr. Casals, skipped lunch today?” Eloi was happy to see his regular customer though surprised at the yelling.
Renato gulped six hamburgers with all the bacon and cheese, no chewing actualized at all, still, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. The burgers were just not adequate to fill the gaping beak of the giant fledgling in his stomach.
He lumbered through the late afternoon street leaving the wrappers behind like carcasses. People looked at him with disgust, except everything was second-rate before his primal urge for food.
Conesa Entrepans – One of the best restaurants in the Santa Coloma for calming those late afternoon hunger streaks. That day too it wasn’t different – choked up to the brim. The waiters were overwhelmed with orders, and it was unlikely that anyone would have noticed the pale face of Renato Casal.
Oblivious to whatever small amount of attention he was getting Renato worked his way down to the menu. But it was way too cumbersome to pick and choose when all he wanted was anything and everything that could be gulped.
“Get me everything that is in the Kitchen. FAST.” His bark at the end of his order raised some eyebrows, but evidently, it didn’t matter to him. Once he started eating eyes begun to turn, and murmurings turned toward him.
“Look at that man. That is so gross.”
“People should have more respect towards their bodies.”
“How can someone eat like that? That’s insane.”
“Look at that table honey, no way a man could eat that much.”
But he could, and he did.
“Is everything satisfactory, sir?”
“I want more. Get me whatever you have. NOW.”
The more he ate, the more his body demanded. The fledgling tore his inner boundaries. He ate with every body part that could put food in his mouth but still, all wasn’t enough.
“Sir, your next order will take 15 to 20 minutes.” The announcement from the waiter proved to be the last straw that held his self-control. A terrible fear gripped Renato. He looked at the waiter and then to the other tables. All eyes were on him.
“Get away from my table.” The lady shrieked, but Renato wasn’t listening. He gulped the steak in one shot.
“Somebody call the cops.”
But Renato had to eat. He must eat. He had to kill it, his hunger somehow. Tablecloth. Yes, that could work. He put a piece of the chequered table cloth in his mouth but he wanted more and more. His face changed to a gaunt exterior, like a person who was starving for days or maybe months. But he had to keep eating to alleviate the pain, the pain of death.
Eat. Eat. Eat.
He had to eat.
Human flesh – if his body wants it then fine. He wanted to live.
“Oh God, Joel, save me.” The lady on the next table shrieked with pain.
“GRAB THE ANIMAL.” Joel pounced on him as Renato tried to put his teeth on his wife’s hand.
“Jeez, look at his face.” the waiter shouted.
Renato was on the floor, motionless, his face turned a gaunt skull. His hands weak. An old starving soul. DEAD.
“Weird, if I didn’t know that this guy ate half the food of this restaurant, I would have said that he died starving.” The waiter was baffled like everyone else.
“Christ, I hope this isn’t infectious.” The restaurant manager said in hushed tones.
But the restaurant manager didn’t have to wait much longer for the answer.
One thousand two hundred sixty-seven more people in Santa Coloma got similar parcels that day, and for some strange reasons, they were all going to open it. And that included the Conesa Entrepans’ manager also.
The total population of Santa Coloma before that day almost touched a figure of two thousand five hundred souls.
And the one person who saw it coming was not in the town of Santa Coloma. He was sleeping 8000 kilometers away in a monastery in Ladakh, watching it all as it happened.
~ About the Authors ~
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Akay Brothers are the authors of The Jason Cage Series. They enjoy writing mysteries and thrillers genre. Their approach to writing is to hit deep, keep you entertained, and leave you wanting MORE with every turn of the page. Their simple philosophy is to create universes and worlds and put characters in those worlds and allow them to over-achieve and over-deliver in trying conditions. The bottom line it to get your heart pumping and veins throbbing with excitement and suspense.
Books: Jason Cage (Jason Cage Series Chapter 1)
The Undead (Stand Alone Story)
FREE STUFF
For a FREE copy of the Classified Level 7 Background Assessment of Jason Cage by the RAW (Indian Secret Services) and the first five chapters of their first book, visit their website: http://www.akaybrothers.com.
December 1, 2017
My life didn’t take the path I expected and that’s okay. I think. #ExpatLife #AmWriting
I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to go to law school. In fact, I remember checking out legal tomes from the library when I was in elementary school. I didn’t understand a word written, I just loved holding those books (and maybe also smelling them). I was going to be a lawyer to save the world. I had no idea how a lawyer would save the world, but I was going to fight for right and justice.
[image error]I figured out how I was going to fight for justice in the 1990s. I had visited Yugoslavia in 1990 while dating a German Croat, a man I was convinced was the one, and thus was emotionally invested in the break-up of the country. Then, while I was in the U.S. Army from 1991 – 1996, I had several close encounters with the Yugoslav wars. When the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was formed and established in The Hague, I knew that’s where I was going to work. After all, I’d already planned to move to The Netherlands with my Dutch husband.
Things didn’t turn out that way. Although I was one of the lucky few who actually received a reply to their application to work at the tribunal, I was told I’d have to work for free if I wanted to get my foot in the door. Eek! At the time, I wasn’t prepared to do that. We still moved to The Netherlands, and I continued to investigate ways to ‘save the world’, but, slowly, I let that dream die. I was already thirty, and I was making good money. I would have to start over if I wanted to work at one of the various tribunals or non-governmental organizations in The Netherlands. I wasn’t prepared to do that.
[image error]But then I found myself closer to forty than thirty and wishing I hadn’t given up on my dreams with such ease. I was miserable as a corporate IT lawyer. I started a search to reinvent myself. I took various classes outside the law and diligently scoured want ads. I even wrote a novel during a six-month self-imposed sabbatical. In the end, I emerged a Bed & Breakfast owner. That didn’t last long before I started writing full-time. But this story isn’t about my journey to become a writer. No, this is my journey to accept the fact that I’m not going to change the world through my legal skills.
[image error]I’ve recently been confronted with my decision to give up on a career in the international criminal field on several occasions. I’ve toured the International Criminal Court, as well as the ICTY. On top of that, one of my friends who used to work as a lawyer at the ICTY regaled us with stories of her time there after a few too many wines on Thanksgiving.
I admit that I was a more than a bit depressed (and jealous!) that my life hadn’t taken the path I had initially planned. I envisioned myself cross-examining witnesses with finesse while bringing murders to justice. The depression hit me hard then. I forced myself to scrutinize the situation and asked myself this question: Would I have been happy?
The brutally honest answer is no. Because law, no matter which type of law you practice, involves a lot of the same elements: hours and hours of painstaking legal research, sifting through documents with a fine-tooth comb, unreasonable deadlines that have you losing sleep night after night, and the stress of getting it all done within those deadlines. I had to admit to myself that, despite my love of the law (I’m the only person I know who LOVED law school), being a lawyer is not for me – even if it is as an international criminal lawyer who puts away monsters.
Even after accepting this truth, there’s one thing that bothers me: I want to leave the world a better place when I die. Although there’s value in entertaining readers (at least I hope they’re entertained!) with my books, that doesn’t make the world a better place. Thus, I’ve decided to accept that my life didn’t take the path I thought it would with one caveat: I will find a way to make things better. Whether that’s by working for a local charity or being more involved in philanthropic work, I’ll just have to figure out.
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November 30, 2017
Who could ever love a jailbird? Read Jailbird from @taylordeanbooks & find out #romance #giveaway
BOOK TWO IN THE SOUND OF SILENCE SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
JAILBIRD
by
TAYLOR DEAN
My hometown decided to rename me Jailbird.
Every day I silently scream out, “My name is Mia Faraday!” My time in jail does not define me. I am so much more than one heated mistake.
And yet, my slip-up weighs on me. There’s so much more to the story than anyone realizes. I must face Stony, my ex, and confess everything.
I don’t want to. I’d rather have five teeth pulled. While I’m awake. Without anesthesia.
But this is something I have to do, something I need to do. Not just for Stony. I need to do it for me. Especially for me. I can’t move forward with my life until I gain closure from the past.
When I meet Grayson Elliott, I am easily pulled into his orbit and it’s exactly where I’d love to stay. He makes me laugh and not take life so seriously. He makes me want to live again.
But I don’t love me right now, and that healing needs to come first. I’m not relationship-ready or marriage material. My mind is focused on redemption. I want it. I need it.
Besides, when Grayson hears about my colorful past, I’m sure he’ll be gone before I have time to utter the word goodbye.
After all, who could ever love a jailbird?
The Sound of Silence Series is a three book series.
Book One: Stone Silence, Spencer’s Story
Book Two: Jailbird, Mia’s Story
Book Three: Hothouse Flower, Shay’s Story
Each book has a happy ending and there are no cliffhangers.
They are not standalones and should be read in order.
Did you miss Book One, STONE SILENCE?
Grab it on AMAZON
Great big beautiful love.
Does it really exist?
Everyone tells me it does. They say, “Spencer Elliott, don’t worry, you’ll find it one day. You just have to find the right man and when you do, it will surprise the heck out of you.”
I’m still waiting for that heck of a surprise to hit. It has proven to be elusive thus far. I’m pretty sure the entire world is lying about love and the joke is on me.
I know I want a man in my heart and in my life. Unfortunately, most men immediately push my OFF button and I lose interest quickly.
Feeling pressure to prove I’m trying to find my soulmate, I finally give in and agree to a date. Huge mistake. Afterward I find myself abandoned in the middle of nowhere, in desperate need of help.
That’s when I meet Stony by chance.
He’s a silent and unsmiling man who intrigues me with his ability to keep going after life has knocked him down. Suddenly the abstract notion of love becomes tangible and within my reach. Once I experience it, I wonder how I ever lived without it.
That’s when I stay with Stony by choice.
But when Stony’s hidden past and present-day reality collide, his silence is broken. And the truth about his life nearly brings me to my knees. I can’t compete with ghosts from the past.
I refuse to fight for a man’s love. He either loves me or he doesn’t. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
My only hope is . . . he does.
Praise for STONE SILENCE:
Oh. My. Gosh! I absolutely LOVE Stone Silence! Talk about swoony! This book is AMAZING! I was sucked in from the very beginning and found myself lost in the journey of Spencer and Stony. I laughed out loud, got teary eyed, let out little dreamy sighs and refused to put this book down until I finished it! I devoured it! -KJ’s Book Nook
Oh man. I will always read everything Taylor Dean writes with no hesitation. I LOVE Taylor Dean books. If you have never read anything by her, you really must. -Aimee, Getting Your Read On
Hothouse Flower, Book Three will be released on January 1st, 2018
Read an excerpt from Jailbird:
THE DOOR OPENS and there he is, looking just as handsome as I remembered. He’s wearing shorts and I can see his prosthetic leg. He’s wearing a short-sleeved shirt and I can see his mottled skin plain as day.
I did that to him. And I hate myself for it.
Hate. Hate. Hate.
I ignore my negative thoughts and concentrate on Stony. He looks confident and fit. His hair is longer, combed back on his head in a stylish sort of way. He’s sporting the unshaven look with a slight beard that only adds to his masculinity. His tanned skin proves he spends a lot of time outdoors. There’s still a deep line between his eyebrows that speaks to the intensity of his personality. In spite of everything, he’s the vision of health and vitality. I know how hard he’s worked to achieve it and I’m impressed with his tenacity. He’s the poster child of someone who refuses to give up no matter how many times life knocks him down. I wish I had his strength.
Standing this close, I want to fall into his arms and let him hold me. It seems the natural thing to do, but things have changed.
Drastically.
His eyebrows furrow even deeper—and the action is not lost on me—then he says, “Mia?”
I swallow. He doesn’t seem happy to see me, but then the constant lack of a smile makes him hard to read. “Hi, Stony.”
I’ve surprised him, that’s obvious. And not in a good way.
He doesn’t say anything, he just stares at me. So I say, “Can I talk to you?”
He hesitates and says, “Uh . . .”
I hate his hesitation, the way he looks so unsure.
“Please,” I say. I’m not above begging. I need to do this. “I’m not here to cause problems for you, I swear. I know you’re a married man now. I would never do anything to jeopardize your relationship. I’m not trying to come between you and your wife.”
“Stop it, I know that,” he says and he means it. At least he knows me well enough to know I would never do something like that. Now that he’s married, Stony is off-limits to me.
But we do have some unfinished business.
He seems to think things over for a moment, then he comes to a decision. He nods and says, “Sure. Come on in.”
Author Taylor Dean
Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Newsletter
~ Giveaway ~
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
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Ends 12/22/17
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Unravel the tangled web of murder, deceit and an accidental kidnapping #cozymystery A Tangled Web from @mike54martin
A Tangled Web
by Mike Martin
A Tangled Web
Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Booklocker.com, Inc. (October 1, 2017)
Paperback: 338 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1634926508
E-Book ASIN: B0768R7VTR
Life is good for Sgt. Wind¬flower in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. But something’s missing from the Mountie’s life. Actually, a lot of things go missing, including a little girl and supplies from the new factory. It’s Windflower’s job to unravel the tangled web of murder, deceit and an accidental kidnapping that threatens to engulf this sleepy little town and destroy those closest to him. But there’s always good food, good friends and the love of a great woman to make everything better in the end.
~ Excerpt ~
“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” said Winston Windflower. The Mountie looked over at his collie, Lady, who wagged her tail at the sound of his voice. If dogs could smile, she smiled back. His world was almost perfect. He had the love of a great woman and a good job as a Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police patrolling one of the lowest crime regions in the country. Plus, the weather had been mild so far, at least for Newfoundland in early December, and that meant no snowstorms with forced overnighters at the detachment. Life was very good indeed.
He had good friends, including Lady, who was amongst the best of them. And he had a child on the way. His wife, Sheila Hillier, was pregnant and at the clinic for her three-month checkup. He was waiting to hear how both Sheila and the baby were doing. His Auntie Marie had told him the baby was a girl, and if anyone knew about these things, it was his Auntie. She was a dream weaver, an interpreter of not just dreams but of messages from the spirit world. Windflower had recently spent a week with her and his Uncle Frank, another dream weaver, to learn more about the dream world.
Interpreting dreams was part of his family’s tradition. But it was an imperfect tool that gave information, not always answers. Perhaps the most important thing he learned was that dreams do not predict the future. Instead, as his Auntie told him, “Dreams tell us about our past, what has already happened. They also point to actions we should take if we want to get the right result in the future and to the signs all around us that we need to follow.”
Windflower was contemplating that piece of wisdom when he noticed a very distraught woman get out of her car outside the RCMP detachment in Grand Bank. She ran towards the front door. He walked out to meet her, but the administrative assistant, Betsy Molloy, beat him to it.
“There, there now, Molly. What’s goin’ on?” asked Betsy as she put her arms around the other woman and guided her to a seat in the reception area.
“It’s Sarah, she’s gone,” said the other woman between sobs. “I told her to stay close by the house where I could see her. I went out back to put the wash on the line. When I came in, she was gone.”
“Okay, Mrs. Quinlan,” said Windflower as he knelt down beside the two women. “How old is Sarah?” He didn’t really need to know how old the girl was. He wanted to help the mother calm down so she could give them as much information as possible.
“She’s going to be six next month,” said Molly Quinlan. “She’s growing up so fast. But she’s still such a little girl. And now I’ve lost her. Brent is going to kill me.” She started sobbing again.
“What was she wearing so that we can help find her?” asked Windflower, trying to get information but also trying to help Molly Quinlan feel useful.
The woman stopped crying and said her daughter was wearing jeans and a favourite t-shirt. “It was pink and had sparkles. She said it made her feel like she was a princess. And she had her light blue jacket on with a hood.”
Windflower smiled. “I’m sure she’ll show up soon. But let’s go over to where you last saw her, and we’ll start looking. She can’t have gone far. Leave your car here, and come with me. I’ll drive you over.” The woman smiled weakly at Windflower through her tears and allowed him to take her arm and guide her to his Jeep outside the door.
He returned inside to give directions to Betsy. “Get Constable Smithson in here. I’ll call Frost and get him to come in from his rounds.”
Betsy nodded her agreement, and Windflower went outside to drive Molly Quinlan home.
Meanwhile, it turns out, Sarah Quinlan was fine, perfectly fine. She had wandered a little way from home in the centre of town. She was going to go down to the nearby brook to feed the ducks. She knew better than to go into the water, but she couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t just look. She’d done it before, and nobody seemed to mind. As long as she didn’t stay away too long, everything was okay.
Sarah had that great fearless attitude of a child who grew up in a small and very safe community. She knew most of her neighbours, and they all watched out for her. She also had the natural curiosity of little children, especially when she saw something new. The truck parked on the roadway above the brook was new, so Sarah went to take a closer look. Even better, the back door of the truck was open, and there was a ramp leading inside. This was certainly worth a closer inspection.
Sarah Quinlan was having fun exploring the back of the large truck when she heard a loud, rumbling noise. She didn’t know it, but the driver had started the engine. It was so loud, and Sarah was so frightened by it, she froze. The next thing she remembered was everything going almost completely black and the back door of the truck slamming shut. She cried out, but by then it was too late. Seconds later she, the truck and the unsuspecting driver were barrelling out of town and onto the highway.
Windflower drove Molly Quinlan to her house and got her to show him where Sarah had been playing. Together they walked through the house to see if the little girl had come home and hidden there. But no such luck. While they were searching the house, they were joined by two of Quinlan’s neighbours who took over Molly’s care and made her a cup of tea. Soon afterwards Constable Harry Frost arrived from his highway patrol.
Windflower gave him a quick update and directed him to go to one end of town to start the search. He would begin the house-to-house search through the neighbourhood when Smithson showed up.
He first checked out back and looked in the storage shed, a favourite hiding place of every little kid and probably where Windflower himself would have taken refuge. But Sarah was not there. As he went to the front of the house, Constable Rick Smithson showed up.
“Afternoon, Boss,” said Smithson. “Any sign of her yet?”
Windflower shook his head. “Frost is doing the big circle search. You and I will start the door-to-door. Ask them if they saw the girl this afternoon. I’ll start from here. You go down to the brook, and work your way up.”
Smithson returned to his cruiser and sped off. Windflower wasn’t worried. Yet. But he knew that the first few hours were crucial in finding a missing child. If they didn’t, then it was almost always something more serious. Not time to panic, but no time to waste. He walked up to the first door and knocked.
~ About the Author ~
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Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a longtime freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand. He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People
and has written a number of short stories that have published in various publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome magazine.
The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series
. Other books in the series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune and A Long Ways from Home.
A Long Ways from Home was shortlisted for the 2017 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web
is the newest book in the series.
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
Twitter @mike54martin
Website www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com
Purchase Link – Amazon
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November 28, 2017
Why I don’t use Beta Readers #WriterWednesday #AmWriting
As many of you know, I’ve just finished the draft of my latest novel (insert shameless plug for new novel here). Now that the manuscript is off to the editor, it should be time to send the ARC to beta readers. Notice me rushing off to do that? No? That’s because I no longer use beta readers. Oh, the shame! Who the hell do I think I am not using beta readers?!?
I could go into a long background story of all the mistakes I’ve made with beta readers and even the heartbreaking story of losing a good friend over it all, but I’m just going to get to the heart of the matter.
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Reasons I don’t use Beta Readers:
Timing. In order to plan my book marketing properly, there is a two-month gap between the time I finish the novel and it goes to the editor and the release date. If I use beta readers, I have to either increase that gap time or pressure my beta readers into reading the novel in a week or something ridiculously similar. I hear you saying: “But you can send the manuscript to the beta readers while it’s at the editor!” No, I really can’t. I KNOW there a ton of typos and grammatical mistakes in the current manuscript. And, yeah, if I’m being entirely honest, there are probably some plot inconsistencies as well. There’s no sense sending that document to beta readers. They’ll just make comments on issues that won’t exist after the editing phase anyway.
[image error]Lack of valuable feedback. When I first started using beta readers, the feedback would be something like It was fun. I liked it! That’s super sweet but not very helpful. So, I decided to make a standard questionnaire for my beta readers. Less than half of them filled it out. The others, who did fill it out and were quite useful, said they’d never beta read for me again as it was too much work, and they didn’t have the time for it. There were also some who – realizing that I was taking this writing and beta reading thing seriously – didn’t want to beta read as they were afraid any negative commentary they made would damage our relationship.
Conflicting feedback. The first chick lit novel I wrote was not very popular with my initial beta readers. I completely flipped out and sent the manuscript to a bunch of new beta readers. Then, when I had all the feedback, I realized it wasn’t helpful as it was all conflicting. Some readers hated the heroine, while others absolutely loved her. Some thought it was funny, while others thought it was trite. You get my meaning. So, after an extended beta review timeline, I ended up with zilch advice I could use. This was in fact the straw that broke the camel’s back. I was done with beta readers at this point.
[image error]I’m not a complete know-it-all. I do realize I need feedback on my novels. How do I do this? First, I encourage my editor to give me commentary (above and beyond the grammatical stuff), and I listen to it! Next, I do have my husband read the novel prior to publishing. English is not his first language, so he’s not concerned with grammar or typos. He concentrates on the story and inconsistencies. Also, I read my book reviews, and I pay attention to their criticisms – after I get angry and scream and shout at my computer. For future novels, I’m considering adding a second editor to my editing process.
What about everyone else? Do you use beta readers? How has the experience worked out for you?
November 27, 2017
The world will never look the same! The Fire War Trilogy from @ttmichael9 #dystopial #politicalthriller
Fiction/Political/Science Fiction/Dystopian
Book 1: Fire War, published 10/3/2015
Book 2: Fire War II: Treason, published 3/31/2016
Book 3: Fire War III: Uprising, published 9/17/2016
Trilogy Box Set
Fire War Book 1
“Man up,” he told himself. “Man up.” It was what his father always told him, and there was nothing more that he wanted than to be a man. So he took a deep breath, filling his nose with the scents of baseball and looked up to the sky, squinting a little.
It was a plane, not far from the blimp he noticed earlier; that was all. Nothing to be afraid of. A tiny sigh of relief escaped his lips as he saw the familiar shape outlined over his head, wings spread out against the sky.
It was the last thing he saw before the explosion ripped his small body apart with the force of a hundred suns. The quiet of thousands of lives extinguished in the blink of a second took over, disturbed only by falling rubble. The sun beat down again, hot and sticky, on what remained of Tom, his father, and all the others who had been unfortunate enough to be at Wrigley Field for the biggest game of the season.”
—
Late in the 21st century, the United Continental States of America is running smoothly.
Unemployment has been eradicated, terrorism is no more, and any internal dissent diminishes by the day. Most give credit to President Meyers, and many can no longer remember the last election, but it is a small price to pay to keep the country safe from the terrorist group Hariq Jihad.
Things aren’t as they seem, however, as Gunnery Sergeant Anthony Jackson is conscripted into the personal security detail of President Meyers. While the only thing he places above his country is his family, he begins to feel that not everyone is content with how things are. Even more, he begins to fear for his oldest daughter’s life as she begins to question the eroding personal freedoms and democratic rights. Considering that entire families have disappeared over the slightest infraction, one cannot be too careful.
Torn between liberty and safety, family and country, can Jackson balance his loyalties, or will he be lead to an explosive collision with the system he has dedicated his life to serving? In this explosive and highly acclaimed dystopian political thriller novel, the world you live in will never look the same again!
Amazon
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Fire War II: Treason
Anthony Jackson, military veteran, member of the Presidential security team, father, husband, patriot and spy. His daughter safely recovered from a government detention centre, Jackson’s role as a spy for the anti government Apocolyte group is firmly cemented. All he needs to do is keep his head down, do his job, and get intel back to his rebel handler. But as Jackson’s suspicions about President Meyers are proven true, and the tasks he’s asked to handle become more and more immoral, his loyalties are becoming strained.
Where is the line between truth and lie? Between loyal citizen and blind follower? Between right and wrong? And who gets to draw that line? The Apocolytes are growing stronger, but Meyers is too, and only one of them can be the bad guy. But which? Jackson needs to choose sides, and he needs to do it fast. But in the end only the biggest tragedy of them all can force his hand.
His life will never be the same, his family will never survive, and his ideals can be shattered or overturned. Assassinations are all part of the job, he’s always dealt in lies and secrets. But now there’s something much more personal on the line: vengeance. Saving the world from terrorists is no big deal, knowing who the terrorists are is the real trick.
Amazon
Fire War III: Uprising
Anthony Jackson. Patriot. Spy. Widower. Still reeling after the death of his wife, Jackson is numbly training antigovernment troops. Confident that his role in political affairs has dwindled to being a glorified shooting teacher, Jackson is slowly trying to piece his heart back together. Until the call comes. The rebels are far from done with Jackson, and this time the promised reward is big and juicy: the Presidency.
As the world slowly falls apart, men fight and men die, and Anthony Jackson cannot simply watch. Something has to change, and someone has to change things, and deep down, Jackson knows that he’s the only man that can do the job. But as cities fall, the eternal question continues to burn in his mind: just who can he really trust?
In a world of lies and secrets, where even the ones you love can betray you, Jackson must find right and justice. Only then can he lead the country that he loves. If he survives that long.
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About the Author
Perhaps you wouldn’t characterize the Finance Manager of your local automobile dealership as an Amazon best-selling author—until you get to know T.T. Michael. He has worked for the past decade at a Toyota Dealership in Illinois, but he is in the driver’s seat as the writer of, Fire War, a political thriller set in the year 2076. See what happens when the United States, Canada, and Mexico all join forces to make one super country. See more about him and his book Fire War at www.ttmichael.com
Contact Links
Website
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November 26, 2017
Which holiday hottie will you unwrap first? Holiday Ever After #contemporaryromance box set #giveaway @JeanBookNerd
~ Synopsis ~
Which holiday hottie will you unwrap first?
No matter the time of the year, it’s always the season for seduction!
From Spicy to Sweet and everything in between, this sizzling boxed set of TWENTY contemporary romances from today’s New York Times, USA Today, and International bestselling authors will give you tons of holiday hunks to fall in love with. Inside these pages you’ll find everything from sexy strangers and brooding billionaires to marines, firefighters, and the guy next door.
Whether you’re in the mood for a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, or a New Year’s celebration, this limited edition Holiday Ever After anthology is packed with exclusive, full-length titles to lift your spirits. From Halloween to Kwanzaa, Valentines Day, Norooz, and the Fourth of July, these stories will give your holiday season extra spark and will be the best romantic holiday bundle to hit your ereader this year!
Get ready to heat up your holidays when you treat yourself to Holidays Ever After!
~ Grab a copy! ~
~ AUTHORS ~
INCLUDING STORIES FROM:
Click the link to know more about the AUTHORS.
Colleen Charles – Solstice Song
New York Times Bestselling author, Monica Corwin
USA Today Bestselling author, Amy L. Gale – Blissful Valentine
USA Today bestselling author, Becca Fanning – Klaus and Paws
USA Today bestselling author, Victoria Pinder – Tempting Navid
USA Today bestselling author, Allyson Lindt – The Virgin and the Kingpin
USA Today bestselling author, Courtney Hunt – Kiss Me at Midnight
USA Today bestselling author, Kristen Luciani – Light Me Up
Alexa Padgett – A Moonlit Serenade
Tuesday Embers – Violet’s Bucket List
Khardine Gray – Blossoms of the Heart
Liz Gavin – Wiccan Fire
Vivi Holt – Home is where the Heart is
Astrid Arditi – A Harper Christmas
Rebekah R. Ganiere – Rekindling Christmas
Jessica Gray – Fireworks of Love
Ja’Nese Dixon – Candles and You
Teresa Roman – Someone Special
Angela Corbett – Holiday Kisses
Monica Corwin – Yule Be Mine
Jillian Quinn – Tempt or Treat
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~ EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDER GIFTS ~
FANTASTIC NEWS BOOK NERDS!! Everyone who pre-orders Holidays Ever After: Contemporary Romance Holiday Boxed Set gets a free Cookbook with Recipes from the authors, and a FREE Coloring Book (images from the books). You will get 20 books in the box set for .99, a free Cookbook and Coloring Book running from now until 11:59pm (PST) on December 5, 2017. All you have to do is email your final order confirmation number to www.holidayseverafter.com.
~ Giveaway ~
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Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter
3 Winners will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card.
1 Winner will receive a Signed Paperback by Allyson Lindt.
1 Winner will receive a Signed Paperback by Alexa Padgett.
1 Winner will receive a Signed Paperback by Amy Gale.
1 Winner will receive a Signed Paperback by Astrid Arditi.
November 23, 2017
Will Sid’s destiny fulfill his potential? Sid Sanford Lives #LiteraryFiction @danielfford
Literary Fiction
Date Published: 9/18/2017
Publisher: 50/50 Press
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Sid Sanford always follows a path, just not his own. From backyard Wiffle ball games to New York City skyscrapers, Sid finds triumph and pain in equal measure during his uncertain, and at times violent, thrust into manhood. A colorful, loyal family, a plethora of eccentric friends, and a few star-crossed soulmates highlight his journey, but it’s ultimately up to Sid whether his destiny fulfills his potential or drowns in the bottom of a bottle.
~ Purchase Links ~
~ Excerpt ~
As always, Sid Sanford was following some plan, just not his own.
He debated whether or not to jump the ticket line in Grand Central like a prick. He finally picked up his duffel bag and darted in front of two male tourists who were already sipping out of tall boys disguised in paper bags.
“What the hell, dude?” One of them asked.
“Take me two seconds,” Sid said, already striking the touch screen.
“There’s a line back there,” the other said.
“I see it, I was just there. And now I’m here. The less we talk, the more I can focus on getting out of your way.”
Sid ignored the other comments from the rest of the pissed-off rush hour commuters and eagerly slid his debit card into the black prongs.
Unable to read card, the screen flashed. Please swipe again.
He impatiently obliged and started tapping his foot as if he were trapped in a meeting while in dire need of ridding himself of his morning coffee.
The transaction timed out.
The machine finally read his card. He grabbed his ticket and bolted toward track twenty-six. He sprinted across the station’s opulent waiting area, his worn brown shoes desperately gripping the slick, polished marble floor. He hustled through the gate and could see the train’s conductor signaling the final boarding call to the people on the platform. He slowed and power walked the final few feet. The doors snapped shut as soon as he stepped into the train bound for Waterbury.
Sid took a moment to savor the mundane victory and then found an open aisle seat. He tossed his bag onto the narrow rack above his head after pulling out his laptop and headphones. He put his ticket in the slot on the headrest in front of him and settled into the bruised maroon and dull blue plastic seats. He opened up his computer, found a decent playlist to zone out to, and closed his eyes.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He looked down to find Constance’s name scrawling across the screen.
“Son of a—” He stopped himself when he caught a glance of the elderly woman sitting next to the window. “Sorry.”
The woman shrugged.
He dug his phone out and took a breath before answering it.
“Make it?” Constance asked.
“Yeah, on the train now.”
“Good. Have a safe trip.”
“Thanks. And thanks for checking up on me.”
“It’s what I’m here for,” she said. “Listen, I know we’ve had our differences lately…and well…since we’ve known each other. But I’m always here if you need anything. I know how you get with things like this. You shut down and won’t let people in. That’s not what you deserve right now.”
“Yeah. Appreciate it. We’re pulling out of the station. I’m going to sleep a bit.”
“Don’t miss your transfer.”
“I won’t.”
“Let me know when you get there. I love you.”
“Okay, bye.”
Sid leaned his head back and tried his best to suppress a memory of Jocelyn. She had moved into an apartment not long ago and had asked for his help. He had gotten assigned a high school track event and couldn’t make it. She assumed he was lying so he could spend time chasing after Constance. She wasn’t completely wrong—he could have easily caught a train out of the city after the meet—but he had fought with her all the same.
He ended up coming home after Constance broke up with him weeks later, armed with champagne and his mother’s whoopie pies. He had another surprise for her—he couldn’t remember what it is now—but instead of just handing it to her and winning back her friendship, he made her negotiate for it.
“Always the asshole,” Sid muttered.
“Give me a hint,” Jocelyn said.
“No,” Sid said.
“Why not?”
“Because any hint I come up with will ruin the surprise.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“You’re probably right, men suck at giving hints.”
“True.”
“What if I told you that you couldn’t have anymore?”
She covered the last few bits of his whoopie pie. Any other Sanford might have bitten her hand off, but he remained calm and defiant.
“I’d have to give it up.”
“Are you serious, Sid?”
“Yep.”
“You were just having an intimate moment with that thing a minute ago, and now you’d just let it go because you don’t want to give me a little hint about my surprise?”
“Correct.”
“Is there anything I can do to change your mind? More food perhaps?”
Yes, actually, he thought. Fall in love with me. Marry me. Tell me not to leave ever again. Just say you love me and I’ll give you anything you want for the rest of my life.
“Nope,” he said instead.
Sid wished he could tell her how much he loved her, how achingly beautiful she was.
But he didn’t.
“I thought I was doing you a favor by procuring you some whoopie pies, and come to find out, you’re lobbying my mother for them the whole time,” Sid said.
“And she said I could come over anytime I wanted, so there,” Jocelyn said. “I really just need her to teach me how to make them.”
“At that point she’d disown me. I would be useless to her. Then she’d adopt you.”
“See! Everybody wins!”
Later, he went to peck her on the cheek, but instead kissed her full on the lips. It lasted a heartbeat, but he poured more passion into it than any other kiss he could remember.
“What was that for?” She asked.
I love you, he didn’t say.
“I’m proud of you,” Sid actually said.
“For what?”
“Just everything. If you ever want company again, just let me know.”
“I will.”
“I’d walk through fire to get back here to you.”
Sid coughed, urging the tears to wait until he landed in the passenger seat of his father’s car. The train pulled out of the underground tunnel and the brick and grime of Harlem appeared in the window.
He put his headphones on and turned on Neil Young’s “Cowgirl in the Sand.” He tapped the keyboard for a moment, unwilling to allow his urge to start Jocelyn’s eulogy to overpower him. However, it did in short order so he created a blank document and wrote,
“I met Jocelyn during a backyard Wiffle ball game.”
~ About the Author ~
Daniel Ford is an author, journalist, and the co-founder/co-host of Writer’s Bone, a literary website and podcast that champions aspiring authors and screenwriters. Sid Sanford Lives! is his debut novel. Ford lives with his fiancée Stephanie in Boston, Mass. He can often be found coaxing words out of a half-empty bourbon glass.
Contact Links
Website
Goodreads
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