D.E. Haggerty's Blog, page 73
July 11, 2016
The Butcher’s Daughter ~ A Journey Between Worlds ~ by Mark M. McMillin #historicalfiction
Mark McMillin
The Butcher’s Daughter
Historical Fiction / Adventure
Date Published: August 2015
Profanity – Moderate
Sex – Moderate
Violence – Heavy
In an age ruled by iron men, in a world of new discovery and Spanish gold, a young Irishwoman named Mary rises from the ashes of her broken childhood with ships and men-at-arms under her command. She and her loyal crew prowl the Caribbean and prosper in the New World for a time until the ugly past Mary has fled from in the old one finds her.
Across the great ocean to the east, war is coming. The King of Spain is assembling the most powerful armada the world has ever seen – an enormous beast – to invade England and depose the Protestant “heretic queen.” To have any chance against the wealth and might of Spain, England will need every warship, she will need every able captain. To this purpose, Queen Elizabeth spares Mary from the headman’s axe for past sins in exchange for her loyalty, her ships and men.
Based on true historical events, this is a tale about war, adventure, love and betrayal. This is a story about vengeance, this is a tale of heartbreak…
Recent Praise for The Butcher’s Daughter:
“… a pleasurable and action-packed read … a delicious spin to the otherwise tired clichés of male captains … the joy of the open seas – as well as the danger churning below – pulses throughout this rip-roaring, hearty tale of the high seas.” – Kirkus Reviews
“… an entertaining read … full of authentic historical events … a defiant story, a narrative of strong will and perseverance which ultimately plummets to a tragic end.” – Readers’ Favorite
“… a historic adventure … a beautiful romance …” – Bargain Book Reviews (5×5 Stars)
“A wonderful novel in the best tradition of maritime literature … authentic and rich with details, the characters are alive and passionate, and the plot is full of thrilling action, intense drama, and stunning surprises … [an] exhilarating adventure … an unforgettable journey …” – The Columbia Review
Purchase Link
EXCERPT
Blood. I saw a lot of blood as I stepped into my father’s shop that night.
I suppose the matter had to do with a debt unpaid, money owed to one clan or another. When I heard the voices of strange men inside our home arguing with my father, I had rushed downstairs out of curiosity with a candle in my hand, dressed only in my nightgown and barefoot.
And when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw two brutes holding my father down against his wooden cutting table while a third man, a tall, sinewy fellow standing in front of him, stabbed him over and over again in the arms, the chest and stomach with a long knife. Then the tall man tossed his knife in the air with one hand and caught it by the handle with the other, as if he was performing some parlor trick, and slashed my father’s throat wide open with one, elegant swing. Sprays of blood spurted across the room. I watched my father’s eyes flutter for a bit before they closed on him forever.
But I am well accustomed with blood and gore. I am the butcher’s daughter.
No doubt I stared at my father’s three murders wide-eyed, confused, even in horror. But I did not scream. I did not cry out. I did not look or call for any help. I buried any urge to panic.
The tall, sinewy man with the knife fled when he saw me. His two companions did not. They had unfinished business. They released their grip on my father. They let his limp body slip to the floor with a dull thud and then slowly moved towards me – all smiles.
I was but twelve or so. I had never known a man before that day.
About the author
Mark McMillin is a general counsel for a company in the aviation industry. His home is in the Atlanta, GA area.
Contact Links
July 10, 2016
Interview with @adamson_dj, author of Suppose #mystery
What inspired you to write mysteries and thrillers?
My answer is probably the same as many authors in this genre. I started when young with Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Bobbsey Twins. Mom wouldn’t buy me candy, but she would buy me a book. When I started devouring too many, she took me to the library. The librarian then aimed me to other work, like Edgar Allen Poe. I was reading Poe by the age of about 9 or 10.
Who would you pick to play the characters of Lillian Dove in a Hollywood adaptation of Suppose?
This is a hard question for me because my characters take a define image in my mind and matching them is almost impossible. I would make a bad Casting Agent. But let’s talk character and personality. I could see Katie Holmes playing Lillian. Mark Wallberg as Leveque. David Duchouny or Dennis Quaid as Chief Kaefring. And Kathy Bates as Dahlia.
Suppose features local police departments as well as federal government and international drug shipments. How much time did you spend researching Suppose?
I am lucky in that I have some family connected to Iowa police. My Iowa editor catches me on mistakes I made in that area. I spent some time researching the FBI angle.
Describe Suppose in 140 Characters.
Suppose, a runaway train veering blackmail, murder, only to take a sharp turn into a criminal mastermind’s trap.
Describe Lillian in 3 words.
Vulnerable. Adamant. Survivor
Would your characters in Suppose want to hang with you? Or perhaps the better question is, would you want to hang with them?
I think I will answer the first question first. I do live with my characters. Lillian wakes me up in the morning and encourages me to get on with it. I hear Dahlia all the time. I never lack dialog for these two. My family roots grow deep in the Midwest as do these personalities. Charles Kaefring is a steadfast man, admirable, honest, trustworthy. I’ve had the pleasure of having many men in my life like him. And I have always been attracted to the playful types like Jacque Leveque. I think Jacque would enjoy my sarcastic humor and would want to hang with me because he is drawn to Lillian’s tongue-in-cheek banter.
What is the most amusing thing that happened to you while writing Suppose?
I went into a cowboy bar to get the “feel” for the place and got carded. At my age, that’s down right hilarious.
What is my favorite part about my writing process?
Texturally: I love my fingertips on my keyboard. It’s the same sensation I get when I play the piano. I am making music with words. Emotionally: the bond I make with my characters is dreamlike yet tangible. My mind’s eye produces a very vivid depiction, almost like watching a movie. Practically: discipline. I have written most every day my entire life. My computer is the first thing I go to in the morning and generally the last I leave at night.
Tell us about your next release. And when can we expect it?
Two books are scheduled for release in 2017. Aberration, the second book of my science fiction-suspense series, Deviation, and at the end of that year, the third book in the Lillian Dove Mystery series.
About the Book
Title: SUPPOSE
Author: D.J. Adamson
Publisher: Horatio Press
Pages: 334
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
“What did he want to know about me?”
“If you were still alive.”
Connivers, murder, and the international shipment of drugs unites the local PDs and the Federal Government, and drags Lillian into a hailstorm of manipulation and danger, whereby she is given two choices: Join? Or die trying?
For More Information
SUPPOSE is available at Amazon.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Book Excerpt
Real things started happening. No more ducking my head. No more playing the blame-game. That’s the problem being sober and taking life on without a drink in my hand. Don’t get me wrong. My drinking is not an excuse for who I’m not. But my NOT drinking is the only way I’ll find out who I was before taking that first drink.
It was time for me to start doing sober what I always said I’d do drunk.
All eyes were on me; mine are wide open.
About the Author
Award Winner at the Midwest Book Festival and Nominated for a Clue Award in Suspense, DJ Adamson is the author of the Lillian Dove Mystery series and the mystery/science fiction trilogy Deviation. Author, instructor, she is also Vice President for the Central Coast Sisters in Crime and Membership Director for Sisters in Crime, Los Angeles. She is an active member of Mystery Writers of America.
Her latest book is the mystery/suspense, SUPPOSE.
For More Information
Visit D.J. Adamson’s website.
Connect with D.J. on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about D.J. at Goodreads.
July 7, 2016
The Miracles & Millions Saga by @ella_author #romanticsuspense
Romantic Suspense
Date Published: June 2016
Who is Dorothy Lyle?
She’s a woman who appears super-normal at first glance. She resides in a modest house in a small Irish town, and commutes to a typical office. She’s a lone parent who misses her children now that they are at college. Yet Dorothy is so much more than the obvious. She is a powerful psychic who has been masquerading as normal for twenty years. She is also a woman who has been avoiding men since a nasty breakup and divorce left her reeling in shock while still in her twenties.
The winds of change begin to blow around Dorothy as she approaches her fortieth birthday. An unfortunate affair of the heart means that her daughter, Diane, has distanced herself from her former home and doting mother. Dorothy wonders if some extra cash might alleviate the immediate problem.
Enter the lottery and one hundred and eight-five million tax free dollars.
How easy do you think it is to hide your true self when you unexpectedly become the fortieth richest woman in your own small country? How feasible do you think it is to avoid all dating and romantic involvements when you are single, and literally rolling in cash? How practical do you think it is to stay safe when so many of those around you seem to resent your good fortune?
This box set contains the following three books:
DOROTHY LYLE IN AVARICE – BOOK 1. Join Dorothy on the first leg of her rollercoaster journey as she discovers what an emotionally charged and complicated experience dealing with unexpected wealth can be. Clairvoyance may in handy on occasion, but it doesn’t help you decide who gets what!
DOROTHY LYLE IN COLOUR – BOOK 2. Relax with Dorothy as she begins to truly enjoy her wealth and changes in fortune. Only for her new-found pleasure to be jeopardised by a tarot card reading of all things! Once again, change is afoot, although this time it’s of a sinister nature.
DOROTHY LYLE IN HELP – BOOK 3. Watch what happens when Dorothy concedes that she cannot protect herself alone, and sets out to hire professional help. Ever wondered what it would be like to come face to face with your other half? The half you weren’t fully aware was even missing. And if he happened to be in a bad mood at that momentous moment, do you think it might colour your judgement? Read on, folks, and find out the answers to these questions and about a hundred more.
MIRACLES AND MILLIONS: TWO MINDS, TWO BODIES, TWO HEARTS, ONE SOUL
EXCERPT
Even though Glenda’s bedroom was on the lower level of the Falcon apartment, the bloodcurdling scream from the twelfth floor was so loud, it instantly woke her. Fearful that the Sick Puppy had invaded the apartment, she sat bolt upright and switched on her bedside lamp.
Thinking only of Dorothy and with scant regard for her own safety, she leaped out of bed and rammed her feet into a pair of furry pink slippers. She glanced around for something to use as a weapon, but the only thing she spotted was a curling tongs. She grabbed it and bolted for the door.
There was a security light glowing in the hallway when she emerged from her room. All appeared well on this floor and was deathly quiet. Glenda sprinted up the stairs in a way she had not done since she was fifty and paused at the top, listening for intruders. Silence reigned. Terrified of what she was walking into, she made her way to Dorothy’s bedroom, her feet padding softly on the hardwood floors as she went. She made sure the hall light was fully on, then tapped on the door. Receiving no reply, she pushed it open, her pulse beating so rapidly she was sure she was going to have a heart attack.
In the half-light from the hallway, Glenda saw Dorothy sitting upright in bed. Her face was flushed, and sweat was trickling down her forehead. She was silent and her eyes stared sightlessly at the housekeeper. Willing herself to remain calm, Glenda put down the curling tongs and slowly approached her boss, not knowing if she was awake or asleep.
She turned on the bedside light and dimmed it to a soft glow. She doublet checked to ensure there was nobody else in the room then scampered into the en-suite. She ran a washcloth under the cold tap, picked up a second one from the clean supply and trotted back to the bedroom. Dorothy had not moved a muscle in her absence. Using the damp cloth, Glenda gently wiped away the rivulets of perspiration, then dried her employer’s face with the spare cloth.
‘Everything’s okay now, Boss,’ she said softly, as she wiped. ‘It was only a bad dream.’
‘He’s in trouble, Glen,’ Dorothy sounded calm as she replied. ‘They’re trying to kill him.’
‘No, no, Boss,’ the housekeeper did her best not to burst into tears. ‘You’re the one who’s in danger. Don’t worry, we’re not going to let anything happen to you. Why don’t you lie down now?’
Dorothy obediently lay back on her pillows. Her eyes were wide open and her pupils fully dilated. Glenda was not sure if the other woman even knew she was in the room with her.
‘I’m going to sit here until you fall asleep,’ the housekeeper said reassuringly. ‘Close your eyes, Boss. You need your rest. We have a big weekend ahead of us.’
The words sounded totally inane to her ears, although they seemed to do the trick. Dorothy moved her hand until it rested on her heart then slowly closed her eyes.
‘So much blood,’ she murmured. ‘I think he got away this time, but it was a narrow escape.’
‘I’m sure he’s fine,’ Glenda replied helplessly. ‘Try not to think about blood. Think about the lovely new house. Is it true you’re getting a waterbed?’
‘A waterbed,’ Dorothy sighed dreamily. ‘Big enough for a basketball team. Wait until you see it, Glen.’
‘I can’t wait,’ the housekeeper replied truthfully. ‘Bel mentioned a rotisserie, although I expect she was teasing me. She’s naughty like that.’
‘You’re going to love that too,’ Dorothy whispered sleepily. ‘Goodnight, Glen. Sleep well.’
‘Goodnight, Boss,’ the housekeeper replied, as she dashed away a tear.
Dorothy’s breathing changed and Glenda knew she was asleep. There was a wing-backed chair in the corner of the room. She dragged it closer to the bed and made herself comfortable.
‘I’ll sit here for twenty minutes in case you have another dream,’ she told the sleeping form. Dorothy was blissfully unaware of the worry she was causing the other woman and slept on. This time she dreamed of flying.
About the Author
Ella Carmichael was born in Ireland in the 1960’s, but only toyed with writing when she was young. Toyed might be too kind. She goofed about with a pen and paper when she was a child and teenager, but never wrote anything longer than a silly poem. She says, “You really have to fight for your dreams in this life, and I didn’t fight for mine. The thought of doing so never even crossed my mind back then.”
From the age of 20 she worked in offices, and often used to ask herself if there might be more to life than the daily grind. This is one of the few things that she has in common with Dorothy Lyle, the main character of her series, The Miracles and Millions Saga. Dorothy is cheesed off with the 9-5 life and hopes for more. Little does she realize what’s around the corner. Be careful what you wish for!
Ella got the idea for M&M back in 2010. There was lottery fever all over Europe that autumn, yet at the same time there were photographs appearing in the papers that showed hundreds of individuals standing in line for free lunches at the Bow Street mission house in Dublin. It was hard for her to make sense of it all, yet somehow she knew it was important.
She was in a very bad place in her life in 2010, after ending a relationship with a most unsuitable man. Figuring that she had little to lose, she began to write as a form of therapy. Carmicheal tends to be a dabbler by nature, yet when it came to writing she found she was as focused as one of those drones we hear so much about. It took more than thirty years to do it, but she became a writer in the end. Ella hopes any budding authors who are reading this will draw inspiration from that. It’s never to late to give it your best shot.
Once the die was cast, characters literally began to materialize in front of her. The strongest back then was Dorothy, although it certainly didn’t stop with her. The Maddox character appeared over her bed one morning in a cloud of dry white ice. In the earlier drafts, Jack was very much the iceman, but Ella decided to soften him up and make him fall madly in love. Just because. It progressed from there. More and more characters began to show up and soon she had a series on her hands instead of just one book.
Publishers and agents aren’t interested in a series unless the writer follows a number of very strict criteria. Carmichael has broken those rules. Her books are best read in order. The story progresses in each one, and spans the two year period between January 2011 and December 2012.
Once she understood that no publisher would touch her, she decided to go it alone. She felt she was too old to sit around and wait for a letter that will never drop onto the doormat. She signed up with KDP and uploaded every completed manuscript. At the time of writing this bio she has not yet uploaded Book 10. She is struggling to let it go…
Contact Links
Website
Purchase Links
Amazon
July 6, 2016
Adventures in International moving #expatlife #fail
I promised myself I’d spend more time in July blogging. And how has that worked out for me? In a word: NOT. There are tons of things to arrange for our move from Istanbul to The Hague. One of which is somehow managing to get my piano into my living room in The Hague. Where is the piano now? It’s in an 8 cubic meter container in Germany. That’s not completely crazy. Before we moved to Istanbul, we were living in Germany. In fact, we still own a house and business there. But that’s all beside the point.
So what’s the problem? If you’ve ever visited or lived in an old city in the Netherlands, then you are aware of the small, steep, and narrow staircases. How in the world do you move furniture into a house when the staircase is too small and narrow for a normal sofa let alone an over-sized corner lounge sofa which is currently all the rage? The Dutch solved this problem (centuries ago) by beams with hooks or special pulley systems on the gable. If you look closely at this picture of typical Dutch houses, you’ll see the hooks.
Unfortunately, this is usual practice for older houses in Amsterdam (and other Dutch cities) but not in The Hague. Of course, we’re moving into a house from 1929 in The Hague. There is no beam or pulley and the window – a lovely stained glass – is most definitely too small to fit the piano through. But the ever-resourceful Dutch have come up with another solution for their way-too-narrow staircases (also known as torture devices to the inebriated who aren’t the most steady on their feet). You simply hire a moving company which has a lift and you place the heavy item – in this instance my piano – onto the lift and the piano is through the window and in your living room before you can realize you’re holding your breathe and praying it doesn’t fall over. True story.
So what to do when the window is too small? Good question. I haven’t figured it out yet. My first idea was to hire a bunch of really strong men to carry the piano up the stairs. Yes, this is another solution I’ve used. In Germany, where they have no idea what you’re talking about when you mention beams and pulley systems, it’s normal to send two burly, fit, hot men to lift the piano from the basement onto the second floor. (My apologies, I took pictures but I have no idea where they are.) Thus far, the Dutch have responded with overwhelming confusion to this suggestion.
My other idea was to hire a monster lift and have the piano lifted into the rear of the apartment where there are French balcony doors. There is a backyard, which belongs to our downstairs neighbors, but beyond that is the parking garage of – can you say ironic? – the Dutch Bar Association. My second brilliant solution was therefore to rent a monster lift and have the piano heaved over the yard into our rear second floor balcony doors. Unfortunately, the company that rents the monster lift got cold feet when I mentioned the parking lot belonged to the Dutch Bar Association.
It’s now nearly 9 p.m. and I’m fresh out of ideas. Well, fresh out of ideas that do not involve me finishing the lovely bottle of rosé wine chilling in my refrigerator. To be continued …
Author Spotlight ~ Former.ly by @danecobain #literaryfiction
Book title: Former.ly
Author: Dane Cobain
Genre: Literary Fiction
Published: 11th June 2016
Synopsis:
When Dan Roberts starts his new job at Former.ly, he has no idea what he’s getting into. The site deals in death – its users share their innermost thoughts, which are stored privately until they die. Then, their posts are shared with the world, often with unexpected consequences. But something strange is going on, and the site’s two erratic founders share a dark secret. A secret that people are willing to kill for.
Get a copy
Author bio:
Dane Cobain (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, UK) is an independent poet, musician and storyteller with a passion for language and learning. When he’s not in front of a screen writing stories and poetry, he can be found working on his book review blog or developing his website, http://www.danecobain.com. His debut novella, No Rest for the Wicked, was released in the summer of 2015.
Author links:
July 5, 2016
Release blitz! Legacy of Truth by @greendragon9 #historicalfiction #fantasy
Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy
Druid’s Brooch Series, #2
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Release Date: July 6, 2016
Set in late 18th century Ireland, Esme must grow up quickly in small, isolated northwestern town. Her parents are leaving for America, abandoning her and her sister to fend for themselves. As she struggles to find her place, she finds it difficult to keep hold of what’s left that’s precious to her.
Once married and in a new town, Esme’s only friend, Aisling, helps her through difficult times, as her Traveler husband stays away longer and longer plying his trade.
While Esme has had some comfort in her small family, she must now find comfort on her own, as her treacherous sister tries stealing the family heirloom to sell, a brooch reputed to have mystical powers, which had been left to her by her grandfather. Esme must learn to cope with her dwindling family and growing despair in order to keep the brooch safe.
Other Books in the Druid’s Brooch Series:
Legacy of Hunger
EXCERPT
Ardara, County Donegal, Ireland
March, 1787
Éamonn Doherty eased onto the old rocking chair beside the crackling fire. As soon as he settled, he was bombarded with children, clamoring eagerly for a story from Grandfa.
Well, it was his fault. Whenever he returned from his wanderings around the country, he would give them a story, a tale of Ireland’s past or his own.
The bairns settled onto the ground at his feet. There were Esme and Eithne, the twins, looking stark and thin with shocks of wild red hair and too many freckles to count.
“That’s my spot! I always sit there, Eithne, and you know it!”
Eithne looked at her sister and sniffed, saying nothing. She turned to Éamonn and blinked as if innocent.
Esme pushed at her sister, but Eithne was braced for it. She resisted the shove and looked back over her shoulder with disdain.
Fuming, Esme crossed her arms.
In the far corner, with her arms wrapped firmly around her knees, sat the youngest sister, wee Brighid. Everyone called her Bridey. Her solemn green eyes peered at him, owl-like. She must be about ten years old by now. And little Níaṁ wasn’t a sister, but a cousin, her parents having died of a fever. A brown wren, she was plump and sweet, still a toddler.
Éamonn would have preferred some grandsons to pass his stories to, but his son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Shona, had given him only granddaughters thus far. Still, he loved them dearly. His two other children were both dedicated to the church, so Brian was his last hope for grandsons. Éamonn looked at the girls and decided perhaps a story of a manly hero might do them for the night.
He fixed his eyes on wee Níaṁ until she giggled nervously. He tousled up his thick white hair until it looked like a lion and she laughed. Smiling, he began.
“Tonight our tale will begin with a hero of great fame, for who has never heard of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna, Warriors of Ireland?”
Timidly, Bridey raised her hand.
Interrupted, Éamonn cocked his head. “Yes, child? What is it, my dear?”
“I haven’t heard of him, Grandfa.”
Éamonn closed his eyes, reaching for patience. The children weren’t to know what a rhetorical question was.
“That’s all right, mo chuisle. I will be telling you now, so?”
The girl nodded and wrapped her hands more tightly around her knees until she was just a pair of feet, arms and a curly mass of red hair sparkling in the firelight. For a moment, Éamonn went back in time, to the memory of his dear, long-dead wife, Katie. She had hair such as that, wild and bright. The windows rattled as the wind outside picked up. The children all shifted uncomfortably.
“The Fianna were a band of warriors, pledged to protect the shores of Ireland from foreigners. Fionn’s father was the leader of the Fianna, so he had his son raised by a warrior woman. Have you ever seen a warrior woman, Eithne?”
“I have!” The girl was the boldest of the lot. “There is a woman who hunts up in Bunbeg. I heard Alan say she came into his dad’s bakery one day!”
“I heard that first! He told me first.” Esme said.
“Girls, that’s enough. Would you like to know about this warrior woman?”
It did the trick. All four children looked up at him, expectant.
He grinned and got back into the rhythm of his tale.
“This great woman was called Liath Luachra, and she was tall, with long muscles and longer hair. Her brown hair she kept in thin braids, which went all the way down to her knees. She was a fierce warrior, always clad in skins and furs, and she taught Fionn all her arts. When he had learned all he could from her, he left to join the Fianna.
“But the Fianna knew him for his father’s son and worried for his youth and safety. They told him he must leave, and they could not protect him from harm. This angered Fionn, so he left in a temper. After his temper had cooled, he sought out a Druid to learn wisdom. The Druid he found was named Finnegas. Finnegas spent seven years trying to catch the Salmon of Knowledge, and he had just caught the fish before Fionn found him. It roasted on the fire, and Finnegas told Fionn to watch it while he got more firewood.
“Fionn watched the fish, watched it bubble and pop, sizzle and squeak.”
Níaṁ let out a squeak of her own to help with the sound effects.
“He saw a great blister form on the skin of the salmon, growing larger and larger, about to pop. He pressed his thumb to it to push it back down so the skin wouldn’t be blemished. As he did so, his skin burned, so he stuck his thumb in his mouth.” Éamonn demonstrated with his finger and looked around until each child did the same.
“But he had done a terrible thing, now.”
“What was so horrible, Grandfa?” Bridey asked with wide eyes. “All he did was touch the fish!” She replaced the thumb in her mouth absent-mindedly.
“Ah, that is true. But, you see, Fionn was the first to taste of the flesh of the Salmon of Knowledge, and it meant he now had all the Salmon’s great wisdom. Finnegas was furious and chased him out with a club, but Fionn now had the knowledge and wisdom he needed to lead the Fianna fairly.”
All the girls watched him for the end of the tale.
“In the end, he controlled his own fate, and therefore could make himself happy. That’s all that any one of us can do, aye?”
When Níaṁ realized the tale was over, she belatedly removed her thumbs from her mouth. As she did, he picked her up into his lap and rocked in front of the fire with her. She was a solid, warm little child. Brian might not be able to make his farm work well, but he at least kept his children fed.
He sang a sad, low song of lost love and broken promises until each child fell asleep on the soft, white wings of fantasy.
About the Author
Christy Nicholas lives in western New York State with her husband, dog, cats and sugar gliders. She works as an accountant, an artist, and an author, and is likely looking for another career that begins with A.
Contact Links
Website
Publisher
Purchase Links
Publisher
Amazon
Smashwords
iTunes
Kobo
Barnes and Noble
Amazon UK
Legacy of Truth is available for $.99 during pre-order and the first week of release only. After that the list price is $5.99
July 4, 2016
Bodyguards of L.A. County by @CateBeauman #romanticsuspense #giveaway
Welcome to the blog tour for Falling for Sarah and Saving Sophie by Cate Beauman! The tour runs July 1-29 with reviews, excerpts, interviews and guest posts. Check out the tour page for the full schedule.
Falling for Sarah is only 0.99 cents for a limited time!
About FALLING FOR SARAH:
Widow Sarah Johnson struggled to pick up the pieces after her life was ripped apart. After two years of grieving, she’s found contentment in her thriving business as photographer to Hollywood’s A-list and in raising her angel-faced daughter, Kylee… until bodyguard and long-time friend Ethan Cooke changes everything with a searing moonlight kiss.
Sarah’s world turns upside down as she struggles with her unexpected attraction to Ethan and the guilt of betraying her husband’s memory. But when blue roses and disturbing notes start appearing on her doorstep, she has no choice but to lean on Ethan as he fights to save her from a stalker that won’t stop until he has what he prizes most.
Only 0.99 for a limited time!
Amazon | Barnes&Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Paperback
About SAVING SOPHIE:
Jewelry designer Sophie Burke has fled Maine for the anonymity of the big city. She’s starting over with a job she tolerates and a grungy motel room she calls home on the wrong side of town, but anything is better than the nightmare she left behind.
Stone McCabe is Ethan Cooke Security’s brooding bad boy more interested in keeping to himself than anything else—until the gorgeous blond with haunted violet eyes catches his attention late one rainy night.
Stone reluctantly gives Sophie a hand only to quickly realize that the shy beauty with the soft voice and pretty smile has something to hide. Tangled up in her secrets, Stone offers Sophie a solution that has the potential to free her from her problems once and for all—or jeopardize both of their lives.
Amazon | Barnes&Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Paperback
About the Author:
International bestselling author Cate Beauman is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County. Her novels have been nominated for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, National Indie Excellence Award, Golden Quill Award, Writers Touch Award, and have been named Readers Favorite Five Star books. In 2015, JUSTICE FOR ABBY was selected as the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Gold Medalist, while SAVING SOPHIE took the Silver Medal. SAVING SOPHIE was also selected as the 2015 Readers Crown Award winner for Romantic Suspense and FALLING FOR SARAH received the silver medal for the 2014 Readers’ Favorite Awards.Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack.
Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband, two boys, and their St. Bernards, Bear and Jack. Currently Cate is working on Deceiving Bella, the eleventh novel in her popular Bodyguards series.
For information on Cate’s new releases, monthly giveaways, and upcoming events, sign up for her newsletter at: http://www.catebeauman.com/author/home.html#!newsletter-sign-up/c9td
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
GIVEAWAY:
$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
Ends August 3rd
Prizing is provided by the authors, hosts are not responsible. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 18. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win.
This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
July 3, 2016
Dracula Lives by Robert Ryan #horror #giveaway
Title: Dracula Lives
Author: Robert Ryan
Published: May 30th, 2016
Genre: Horror
Recommended Age: 12+
Synopsis
Where is the line between movies and real life? Perhaps there isn’t one.
In Dracula Lives, Amazon bestselling author Robert Ryan once again takes us where no one should ever go.
Deep in the wilds of New England, a man who worked on the 1931 Dracula still lives. Haunted by the experience ever since, he has built an exact replica of Castle Dracula and become obsessed with bringing the movie vampire to life. But when one sets out to make monsters, there are risks—as Adam Quinn is about to find out. A lifelong fan of Dracula and the classic horror films from Universal Studios, he is invited to the castle. It’s a horror lover’s dream: the chance to find out what it was like to work with Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, director Tod Browning, and all the others. But dreams can turn into nightmares…
The castle awaits. Enter freely and of your own free will.
Read FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Excerpt
The severed hand hitched its way up the stairs in its relentless drive to kill the person it was directed to kill.
The hand was not human. It was a webbed humanoid thing. Long, scaly fingers with inch-long, needle-sharp claws deftly hooked into the carpet covering the stairs, again and again, until the hand flopped onto the landing. It scuttled across the Persian rug to the closed wooden door of the bedchamber. Catlike, the hand used its claws to dig into the wood and skitter up the door. The instant it reached the top, it released its grip and began falling. With a precision that spoke of long practice, it broke its fall by grabbing the handle. The maneuver turned the handle and jostled the door open a crack.
The hand dropped noiselessly onto the rug. Righting itself, it squeezed through the crack and scrabbled across the floor as though possessed. Clamping onto the wooden bedpost of the canopied four-poster, it wriggled up and flopped onto the bed.
The sleeper lay face up, under a satin sheet pulled up to just below the neck.
A few feet away, a tall man dressed in black stood beside the bed, watching the scene unfold through a pair of oversized goggles. A large glove on his right hand mimicked the movements of the beast with five fingers.
The hand clawed its way across the sheet with deadly purpose. Seconds later, it reached the exposed neck and clamped down.
The sleeper’s eyes shot open.
The tall man dropped his gloved hand to his side. “Cut!” he said.
The hand from some alien world squeezed harder.
The sleeper’s eyes widened in alarm.
“Cut, I said!” The tall man yanked off the glove.
The sleeper struggled to pull the hand off, moaning in pain as the tugging only made the maniacal thing tighten its grip.
After an intense battle the tall man managed to pry the hand loose and toss it to the floor. Its fingers twitched erratically for a few seconds, then made a wobbly effort to crawl back to the bedpost. As the man bent to grab it, the hand fell over on its back and lay still.
Looking back at the sleeper, the man saw spots of red where some of the claws had pierced the flesh.
Annoyed, the tall man stared at his glove. “We shall have to test it again. All must be in readiness for our guest. There will be no time for retakes.”
About the Author
Mr. Ryan was born and raised in the D.C. where tourists don’t go—a land of soul food and Scrapple.
He lived directly behind the neighborhood movie theater, and his mother took him to everything from the time he was barely out of diapers. When he reached the ripe old age of about six, he couldn’t wait for the Saturday creature features. Atomic mutants running amok, the monsters of Ray Harryhausen, Roger Corman’s Poe films, and the unabashed frightfests of William Castle were among the early influences that warped his writer’s muse into a breeding ground for—to borrow a line from Morbius in Forbidden Planet—his “Monsters from the Id.” In Castle’s The Tingler, when Vincent Price told us all to scream because the Tingler was loose in the theater, you better believe he screamed. On the literary front he soon discovered Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and Robert Bloch, among others, and followed the trail they blazed into the “ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir.”
It seems he has always been drawn to scary stories.
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | GoodReads
Giveaway Details
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
If US, winner will receive a Kindle Fire. If International, winner gets a $50 Amazon Gift Card
Giveaway is International.
Ends July 11th at 11:59PM EDT
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Get to Know Me Uncomfortably Well #Blogger
Okay peeps, I’m going to be painfully honest here. I won’t be working on the third book in the Death by Cupcake series for a while. In fact, I won’t be writing at all for at least a month. Except for blogs. (Please note: I reserve the right as a woman to change my mind as just writing this has caused me to have a minor panic attack.) Let me explain. I am – finally – leaving Istanbul and heading to my new home in The Hague on August 1st. Did I mention finally?
But surely I can write in the meantime? Um, no, not I. When I write a novel, I like to dig in. I try to write every day and bang out at least a chapter a day. I don’t know how writers who have a million other obligations manage to get any writing done. If I skip just one day, I usually spend the following writing day re-reading everything I’ve already written and trying to find my groove again. To save myself from sorrow and extreme frustration, I’ve decided to spend the month of July working on marketing, networking, book reviewing, and blogging. That’s when I’m not trying to get all the administrative junk that comes with an international move out of the way. Let’s not even talk about the fact that I have to buy all new furniture, a car, etc. and figure out how to have my books shipped to be in The Hague.
While concentrating on the ‘networking’ portion of my duties this morning, I ran across this fun post prompt – Get To Know Me Uncomfortably Well. This sounds like all kinds of fun and not too taxing for my over-stressed mind (although I’ll be skipping any questions about age). So here we go:
What is your middle name?
Elaine. It’s my mother’s middle name as well. My first name – Dena – is the female version of my dad’s middle name – Dean.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a dog named Hunter who is a bit of a wimp, which is totally embarrassing when walking him. We love him anyway.
Where are you from?
Technically, I was born and raised in Southern Wisconsin, but if anyone asks the question in person, I normally lie and say Holland. Not that I’m embarrassed about where I was born or anything, I did spend five years in the U.S. Army defending the country after all, it’s just that I feel more ‘European’ than American at this stage of my life.
How tall are you?
5’6” which is totally normal in the U.S. but short in Holland. I spend half my time in Holland rubbing my sore neck from having to look up at everyone.
Have you ever gotten into trouble with the law?
Of course. Have you really lived if you haven’t spent the night in jail?
What color socks are you wearing?
It’s summer in Istanbul, Turkey and that means it’s way too hot for socks – or shoes for that matter. I’ve got one of my three pairs of Birkenstocks on. Yes, three.
Have you ever been skinny dipping?
Nope. But this one’s on my bucket list.
Have you ever fired a gun?
You betcha. It’s kind of hard to be in the army and be a military police officer without firing a weapon. I’ve fired pretty much everything the military hit me with from machine guns to shotguns to every type of pistol the army would let me try.
Have you ever tried archery?
Yep. Total. Disaster. I’d love to try again but, considering how bad a shot I am when firing a weapon, I’m unsure if this is a good idea.
What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?
I’m not really sure, but I can tell you this. I’m deathly afraid of snakes. I can’t even see them on television without freaking out. When I was on exercise in the army, I was so freaking tired that I laid my cheek on the butt of my weapon and totally zoned out. At some point, a snake slithered over me and I didn’t even bat an eyelash. Yeah, I was that tired.
What is your personality type?
Is loud mouth at personality type?
How long does it take for you to get ready?
I’m a throw-my-hair-in-a-bun and brush my teeth kind of person. So no, it doesn’t take me long to get ready. That’s army training for you, baby.
Do you talk to yourself?
Doesn’t everyone?
Do you sing to yourself?
Again, doesn’t everyone?
Do you like long or short hair?
Short hair doesn’t work with a bun or ponytail. I’d probably have to actually brush my hair and style it if I had short hair.
Have you ever been scuba diving?
Nope. I’d love to, but I have claustrophobia. In fact, in the army we have to a protective mask (that’s gas mask for you civilians) and train with it at least twice a year. I totally and completely freaked out the first time I put that thing on. After that, I deliberately got a mask a size too big for me so that it wouldn’t seal. Scuba diving is not a possibility for me. I stick to snorkeling, which I can just handle. I may have a bit of panic attack the first time I put the nose guard on.
Do you correct people when they make mistakes?
Yes, but I’m trying really, really hard to fix this as people apparently think you’re a bitch if you correct their grammar and other factual mistakes. Who knew?
Have you ever drank underage?
*Rolls eyes* Of course. But I also spent my senior year of high school in Germany where being a 17-year-old was not underage. Yes!
How many piercings do you have?
None. I have allergies and my ear piercings – which were done decades ago – still won’t close and sometimes still get infected even though I don’t wear earrings.
July 1, 2016
Chasing Fireflies by @taylordeanbooks #excerpt & #giveaway
Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean
My sisters think I’m crazy.
But, I’ve never forgotten the mysterious woman from my childhood who told me Paul is the name of my one true love.
She told me to search far and wide for him.
I haven’t stopped looking ever since.
When I stumble across an article about a successful American entrepreneur named Paul who lives and works in China, I’m intrigued. When the opportunity to teach English in China presents itself on the same day, I know it’s not a coincidence.
It’s destiny.
My sisters say I’m chasing a dream.
Just like the fireflies we tried to catch on the warm summer evenings of our youth, the dream seems beyond my grasp. Will my quest for the elusive Paul always be just short of fulfillment?
My sisters tell me it’s a fool’s errand.
Until I remind them of the day we saw the Red Bird.
The memory silences them.
The Red Bird Incident remains inarguable—and proves my search for Paul is not a silly fantasy.
I will find Paul . . . I will.
Praise for Chasing Fireflies
It was like Taylor Dean left a trail of chocolate chips leading to a plate of delicious cookies at the end. Yummy! I had to eat every single one and now I’m full and feasting on the satisfaction of a well written story.
-Author Charissa Stastny
Taylor Dean is such a creative and skilled author that she has the ability to make the unusual and the unthinkable seem real.
-Lisa, Goodreads Reviewer
As always I lose myself in Taylor’s books, experiencing rather than reading the story, from that first glance and butterflies in my belly, to the inevitable heartache, to the amazingly captivating events that lead us to the blissful happily ever after.
-Mylissa’s Reviews and Book Thoughts
Excerpt
“Savannah, you’ll always be my baby, even now when you’re twenty-six years old.” Her voice wavers unsteadily as she tries to express herself in her weakened state. “You were a surprise to us all. I thought my child bearing years were over, and then along you came, ten years junior to my youngest child. You were a joy to raise. Quiet and unassuming, content to spend your time watching your sisters and their crazy antics. But it’s your time now, my dear sweet girl. No more watching.”
“Mom . . .” I whisper, angst evident in my tone.
“Life will happen for you, Savannah. I know it will.”
The defeated feeling that sometimes besieges me must be etched in my features because Darling Emma lifts her head off the pillow with strength she doesn’t possess, ready to object.
“Don’t give up, Savannah. I know life has thrown you some hard knocks. But you are strong, stronger than you think. I know you’ll find your special someone, I know you will. Keep searching. I want you to have love in your life, a love like I have known. It’s my greatest wish for you, the utmost desire of my heart. You are a special girl, Savannah. Never doubt your worth. Promise me you’ll never give up on life. Promise me you’ll demand a life that requires all the love inside of you, a life that reaches inside of you and squeezes out every ounce of love from your heart. Only then will you find happiness.”
I have no idea how to find that kind of life for myself.
Mom doesn’t mention my obsessive search for Paul, even though I know she’s never approved of my determination to find him. Instead she’s doing as she’s always done, kindly leading me by the hand toward another path.
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.
Blast Giveaway Details
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 7/21/16
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.
