Effrosyni Moschoudi's Blog, page 59

The love of two places combined in a book

Ever since I was little, I’ve always cherished time spent in Corfu;  my mother’s birthplace. Corfu is one of seven islands in the Ionian Sea. It is situated on the northwest edge of Greece, an hour’s journey by ferry from the prefecture of Epirus in the Greek mainland. The first thing you notice when you see pictures of my favorite Greek island is how green it is and that is no surprise, given the fact that it is remarkably more humid and rainy there than is common for the rest of the country.

Lush hills, quaint fishing villages and stunning sandy beaches are to be found all around this highly touristy island. I regard myself as very lucky to have spent most of my childhood summers there in the company of my beloved grandparents and multitudes of cousins; sometimes for 3 months at a time! My encounters with hoards of mainly British, German and Italian tourists over the years have been a source of joy and fascination to me. I have a wealth of fond memories involving dozens and dozens of strangers who I have encountered there over the years. Some of them were fellow swimmers at the local beach and others were customers in our family businesses of a souvenir shop and a guesthouse where I used to help out in my youth.

“Mataouna” is the pyramid-shaped mountain (on the right) that is described fondly in my upcoming book. It is fully visible from the beaches of both Moraitika & Messonghi.

The summers of my childhood in Corfu are to me, a unique blessing. It was inevitable that as a writer, I would wind up writing about my beloved island one day. In my debut novel, “The Necklace of Goddess Athena”, I modeled Mrs. Sofia (the elderly Corfiot lady who runs the guesthouse) after my grandmother Antigone. Back in the 80s, she used to clean the rooms in our guesthouse on the island with help from my sister and me. In my upcoming novel, “The Lady of The Pier – The Ebb”, I have gone further by setting the scene (in one of the two worlds in the story) in my grandparents’ village, Moraitika, which I baptized in the book with the fictitious name, Vassilaki.

Fishing boats at the river mouth in Messonghi

I did the same with the neighboring village of Messonghi which I renamed Messi for the book. I will take this opportunity also to proudly announce that other than the wealth of fond memories that Messonghi has granted me, it recently yielded one more unexpected treasure! After a chat with fellow author Nicholas Rossis (SciFi author of the Pearseus series), it turned out that we are actually related in a way. We have the same set of cousins in Messonghi plus his great grandfather had baptized my granddad! How’s that for reality that resembles fiction? Anyway, I digress!

One of the picturesque lanes in Moraitika (“Vassilaki” in the book). It is on the facade of my great-grandfather’s house so it used to serve as a playground for my cousins and me during many childhood summers.

In the book, I describe Corfu through the heart and I hope that all the love that is in there, is conveyed with vibrancy of truth as I speak of the kind-hearted locals, the serenity of the settings, the alluring sparkle of the water and the softness of the sunlight as it caresses the hills just before sunset.

But the book is set in two worlds and the other one had to be Brighton (my second favorite place in the world) but not in the present day. My heart broke forever the day that the legendary West Pier in Brighton ceased to exist. Therefore, there was no way that I was going to set a book in a world where it wasn’t included. After all, I still haven’t found the courage to visit Brighton since the Pier’s destruction.

The West Pier graced the Brighton seafront from 1866 to bring an unsurpassed grandeur and influx of tourism to the town, until WWII where a gradual decline finally resulted to its total demise. In time, it became derelict until a storm and then a cruel and selfish act of arson destroyed it completely in 2003 before the promised funds from the British National Lottery could help restore it.

Here, I am photographed with the derelict West Pier in the background on my first visit in Brighton (during Easter, April 1997)

Luckily, I managed to visit Brighton more than once back in the late 90s. The first day I saw the West Pier something strange stirred inside me. I can’t explain it but just like that I was fascinated – awestruck – completely and utterly enthralled. I am not surprised that when it came to writing a novel later in life about tragedy and a haunting, the West Pier is what became the predominant image in my head.

It is believed that the fire was an act of arson and the allegations connect this act with complaints from the inhabitants of Regency Square (across from the West Pier). They had been insisting for the Pier’s demolishment claiming that it obstructed their sea view’.

As I walked along Brighton beach on the crunchy shingle with the cry of the seagulls overhead accompanying me all the way, I found that I couldn’t take my eyes off the once majestic landmark of British seaside history. I spent hours sitting on the beach or at benches, just watching the familiar cloud of starlings swirl in mesmerizing patterns over the Pier, coming and going as if beckoning the tourists to come closer and watch the show.

It broke my heart as I rested my gaze upon the wounded windows and paint-flaked pillars in its two prominent buildings: The Pavilion at the head that used to be a theatre and the Concert Hall in the middle of the Pier. But of course, all that now remains is the memories as well as a plethora of Pier photos that range from the resplendent times of its former glory, up to the very bitter end with the half-sunken edifices threatening to be swallowed by the angry sea at any moment.

Even more devastation was caused to the Pier in February 2014 during a series of fierce storms. Parts of the remains pictured here have now been claimed by the sea.

Born from the mixture of nostalgia, love and frustration in my heart at the thought of the West Pier, is the novel that I have created. Inevitably, tragedy strikes in the story just as it did for the Pier itself in real life.

“The Lady of the Pier” is a series of two books. The first is subtitled “The Ebb” and the second, “The Flow”. In the following months, I shall hope to share with you photographs from Brighton, both from the past and the present, insights into the characters of my story (both in Corfu and Brighton) and even a sample of the poetry that I have included in the two books. If all goes well, “The Ebb” will be published this summer and “The Flow” will follow by the end of this year.

 

Enjoy the journey into Brighton’s glorious past and I hope to meet you there!

 

BLURB

BRIGHTON, 1937

Laura Mayfield leaves London with her mother Ruth in order to pursue a new life in Brighton. She finds employment at the West Pier Pavilion and soon falls in love with Christian Searle, one of the stagehands at the theatre. Laura aspires to a life of riches but this annoys and frightens the proud and insecure Christian, causing rows between them. When she is offered the chance to perform at the theatre, her love for Christian is put to the ultimate test. Charles Willard, a wealthy and arrogant aristocrat becomes fascinated by her and pursues her relentlessly, causing Christian to become enraged. Will Laura’s desire for wealth throw her in the arms of Charles or will her feelings for Christian prevail?

CORFU, 1987

Sofia Aspioti, a Greek student from Athens, arrives in Corfu for her annual summer holidays at her grandparents’ house, relieved to escape her overprotective parents’ care for a while. She takes on a job at the local water sports pier and when Danny Markson, a larger-than-life British tourist flirts with her, she is initially worried that his advances will cause her trouble with her strict family. Yet, by the time she realizes that she’s desperately in love, she finds she no longer cares. When Danny returns home to a village near Brighton, Sofia becomes haunted by a series of dreams about the West Pier and a woman dressed in black. As if cast by a spell, she takes to writing poems about a love that won’t let go. Who is the grieving woman in her dreams and how is her sorrow related to her own feelings for Danny?

Book Review: All in the Mind by Jenny Twist

A Delightful peek into an enchanting world where we could all grow younger!

 

Tilly and Johnny are a young couple who meet and fall in love during WWII.

The sweetness of their romance and the exquisitely vibrant setting of the era reel the reader in from the very first page. We are also briefly introduced to a handful of equally delightful characters when Tilly meets Johnny’s parents and the locals in the village where they live.

And then, confusion hits. Tilly wakes up in a room that she doesn’t recognize. It is decorated in the style of the 40s but it looks so shabby that it makes her feel uncomfortable. And that’s not all. Strangers walk in and then she is informed that she is an Alzheimer patient in a hospital ward that is part of an experiment: The doctors have attempted to create an environment that is reminiscent of the patients’ youth thinking that this would help them recover from this horrible disease. Tilly’s caring and comforting doctors take her to another ward where she reunites with her husband, Johnny. He is recovering from a stroke and has partial mobility problems. The experiment is then expanded to include her husband too with an extraordinary new venture that involves them returning to their abandoned cottage in the village where they had stayed as newlyweds. The cottage is reinstated by the doctors fully in the 40s style. They even made sure to provide them with suitable labeling on their food supplies and for their entertainment, they set them up with an antique TV set and a radio. They both broadcast programs of the said era on a loop thanks to state-of-the-art computer technology.

The moment that Tilly and Johnny return to the cottage, the magic begins and the reader is hooked to keep on reading. The elderly husband and wife gradually regain lost feelings of youth and happiness but also start to physically change back to their younger selves!

The story inevitably brought to mind “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; another enchanting tale that involves the reversal of the aging process. Jenny Twist has created an equally magical novel where all the things we often wish for as we grow older, actually happen. How great would it be to go back in time and be young again? And what if this time we could even manage to do things that we never did before?

Jenny Twist goes the extra mile to give the reader a secondary story as well that initially comes across as slightly out of place. It is quite exotic as it involves a setting in India and a couple of Indian UK residents who are plagued by strict family values. It is an odd mix with the main story but somehow it all works and I found both the main and secondary plots equally delightful and interesting to follow. In parts, the process of rejuvenation felt so strange that it brought to mind bizarre episodes from The Twilight Zone. Still, they did the trick in luring the reader in a fantastical world where common wishful thinking relevant to recapturing one’s lost youth becomes reality for a while and that is what makes the journey in this book, totally unique and satisfying.

I have thoroughly enjoyed All In The Mind and really look forward to discovering more books from this amazing author!

 

My rating: 

Visit Amazon to take a peek at this enchanting novel!

March Book Frenzy – An exciting hop organized by Fabulosity Reads.

 

When the lovely Wendy Ewurum (the heart and brains behind Fabulosity Reads) asked me to participate in her March Book Frenzy hop, I didn’t know what to expect.  What is a hop anyway? It turns out that it is a unique way to present the work of a handful of authors (8 in this instance) by getting bloggers to choose one of the books and write 200-300 words and explain why they found the blurb appealing. I thought it was a very refreshing idea and went for it with gladness. After all, the hop promotes indie authors and being one myself, it makes sense to pay it forward by helping out my peers as much as I can.

So here it is: In the next couple of paragraphs, you will find the details and my thoughts about the book that I picked among the 8. It was a difficult choice mind you, because I found a few of them quite appealing as well! I hope you will take the time to check out the BOOK CATALOGUE so that you can browze through the 8 book covers and blurbs  as to pick your own favourite.  Can’t wait to hear your comments below! Make sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post too for a chance to win eBook copies, Amazon gift cards or paypal cash!

BLURB
A passionate romantic-suspense

She Belongs To Me is a tightly woven tale of love, possession, and concealed histories, ‘She Belongs to Me’ follows a man who finds his wife unconscious, clinging to life. Was it a suicide attempt, or a sinister force from her former life? To learn the answer, he must go back to the beginning, five years ago when he met his wife and learned of her tragic past.

She Belongs to Me is book one of The Southern Suspense Series. From there, all the stories have a slight connection to each other, so you can continue the journey and meet different protagonists with different issues and tragedies to overcome. Every story has a mystery, there’s always a gentle message, and above all, there’s always romance and suspense.

WHY I PICKED THIS BOOK OUT OF THE 8 IN THE CATALOGUE?

For me, picking “She Belongs to Me” by Carmen Desousa was a no brainer as soon as I read the blurb starting from the very first line.

“Passionate”  (me!)  “Romantic”   (me again!)   “Suspense” (Oh yes please!)

I love stories that start from the ending and then a flashback of the entire story begins. What’s more, I found the thought of the husband finding his wife in this state, absolutely devastating. Being happily married and my husband being also my best friend, I couldn’t imagine a happy life without him. It was inevitable to be drawn by the tragic image that the storyline conjured up in my head. How can you survive losing your loving partner in such a shocking way? And then, other than the feeling of sympathy stirred in me, there was the mystery of the whole thing that really reeled me in as well. What had happened to her? Who had done this to her and why? Will she survive? And regardless of all that, will her husband find the perpetrator? Will he, a simple man and not a clever & experienced detective, manage to solve the puzzle? Will justice prevail? And if he loses his wife, how will his life be without her? Can he come to terms with her loss if he does indeed lose her and will he forgive the person who took her away? Is his own life in danger as he sets off on this journey of discovery into her upsetting past? It goes without saying that this torrent of questions in my head made me really keen to read the book. I was also quite pleased to find out that it is available for a free download at the moment! It took seconds to own it and I really can’t wait to read it! If you liked what you read and if you can relate to this story as much as I did, head over to the book catalogue to get your own FREE copy of this excellent mystery novel. Otherwise, have fun choosing your own favourite blurb among the 8!

Click on the BOOK CATALOGUE to see all 8 books participating in the hop!

This Hop is brought to you by

Fabulosity Reads Book Tours

8 AUTHORS OVER 4 DAYS

GENRES: Romance, Historical Fiction

Tour Link: March Book Frenzy

FIND FREE AND DEEPLY DISCOUNTED KINDLE

COUNT DOWN DEALS ON THE HOP CATALOGUE.

GIVEAWAYS

Check out the prizes the authors are sponsoring:

FOR READERS

$35, $25 and $20

PLUS

2 featured e Books from each author.

Giveaway Link: March Book Frenzy (Readers)

PARTICIPATING BLOGGERS ONLY

2 X $20

in cash via paypal or gift card via Amazon (your choice)

Giveaway Link (Bloggers ONLY): Bloggers Giveaway

Follow the hop by visiting as many of the blogs on the linky as possible.

We encourage you to follow the blogs, leave a comment mentioning that you are from the Book March Frenzy Hop so that they may follow you back.

Remember to enter the Giveaway at each one as to increase your chances of winning.

Readers of this post: Enter HERE for a chance to win copies of the eBooks, Amazon gift cards or paypal cash!

 

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

 

Reflections upon a recent accomplishment

Those who know me well, know that I don’t feel comfortable blowing my own trumpet. Looking back, I have treated all the important accomplishments in my life with a deep sense of humility. This new business of self-marketing doesn’t sit too well with my nature as a result. What’s more, fervent praise from others tends to make me cringe with discomfort. However, a recent accomplishment has made me feel so proud that I wound up telling everyone I know. I even went to the local patisserie to get some sweets and offer them to friends and family – the way it is customary in Greece to share with others every cause for celebration.

So here it is – and I am comfortable to blow my own trumpet for a change, only because I know the amount of hard work it has taken to make it here:

During the first free promo that I ran 10 days ago, my debut novel – The Necklace of Goddess Athena – has reached Amazon’s #1 in Mythology and #2 in Fairy Tales. A total of 1600 people downloaded the eBook during the 3-day promotion even in countries I didn’t expect, like India and Japan!

To say the least, I feel redeemed and quite relieved that the approximately 60  hours spent weekly at my desk for the last 6 months have paid off.  The readers’ comments give me encouragement to not give up – no matter how overwhelmed I often feel about the ground yet to be covered and about the knowledge I am yet to acquire both as an author and a marketer.

As I ponder upon this amazing accomplishment, I feel an immense gratitude towards my readers for their lovely comments and friendship across the social media.  Furthermore, I am particularly thankful to the ones who went the extra mile and added a review for my book on Amazon. Thanks to them, I have 11 reviews at the moment – all 5 stars – and I still pinch myself from time to time to check that it’s true!

An author writes because it’s a compulsion but it comes only from within. Unlike a career in Medicine or Law, no parent can ever push you or guilt-trip you into becoming one: It is something that you have in you or you don’t because it comes straight from the heart. Authors write because they feel they have to. In that sense, one could reason that they write for themselves and they don’t mind what the world thinks about it but of course that’s not true. All authors aspire to give their books to the world but not all of them have the dedication to finish the book or the courage to actually go ahead and publish it. But the ones who do, then have to face the greatest challenge of all and that one, feels like standing naked in the middle of a crowd – something that is not by coincidence one of the most dreaded nightmares one can ever have. This is because all authors know that at the end of the day, it is the readers that have the last word. Without them, no book holds any merit and no author can survive. It is the readers’ acceptance that makes the whole painful process of writing a novel worthwhile in the end – including the nerve-racking procedures of beta reading and editing.

So to my readers I simply say this today:
“You guys rock! Many, many thanks for your support!”

Book review: Year 18: The Schism by Nicholas Rossis (Pearseus Sci-Fi series)

The spaceship Pearseus carries a motley crew of distinguished humans as a new millennium dawns but what starts as a celebration of human accomplishment, ends in tragedy. Thanks to a madman, First Mate Gerard Croix, precious lives are lost and Pearseus suffers irreparable damage.

The humans find refuge on another planet where thankfully, the inhabitants are tolerant and peaceful folk. We are then taken eighteen years into the future. The humans seem blissful in their current setup. They have created a new world that is seemingly peaceful. Their political system has divided authority among lawmakers, judges and commander Kibwe who held the executive power but has recently passed away.

Enter the madman again, Croix, who has been plotting for a while, having just introduced to the people the Armbands – a law enforcement group of youngsters that reminded me of Nazi Germany. Croix’s devious plans included also the confiscation of the people’s digital files from earth – the only source of their knowledge and their cultural legacy to their children. Again, this brought to mind the burning of books in Nazi Germany and other practices that became an insult at the time to the freedom of speech and logical thinking.

As the madman hears voices in his head that urge him to seek ultimate power, tragedy ensues once again and the story ends with a big shocking bang that leaves plenty of food for thought. By the last page, Nicholas Rossis has set the perfect foundation for his dark Sci-Fi series that will undoubtedly gain a lot of fans, mainly because of its unique qualities. For one, it is not the run of the mill Sci-Fi story. It feels more like a familiar tale of political unrest here on mother earth, simply because the people never changed on this new planet, despite the radical alterations in terms of environment and circumstances.

The author here reminds us, above all else, this simple truth about humanity: No matter how much we may evolve in terms of education, technology and the like, on any given society, you will surely meet the selfless hero but sadly also the plotting, power-thirsty madman who will stop at nothing to gain control.

This dark and raw, yet refreshing in its originality novella, has whetted my appetite beyond description for what follows next. The author has cleverly given us a couple of hints and mysteries to ponder upon. I am hooked and can’t wait to read The Rise of The Prince to find out more!

My rating:
A short yet tantalizing glimpse at the Pearseus Sci-Fi Series!

 

Click on the cover of book 2 in the series to learn more about this promising Sci-Fi author.

An interview with Kasper Beaumont, author of the Hunters of Reloria Series

Today, I am pleased to welcome a promising fantasy author from Australia who ‘sneakily’ had me thinking she was a guy at first as we emailed back and forth. When she called herself with an undeniably female name one day (instead of Kasper), the penny finally dropped and the girly giggles that ensued meant that we got even closer ever since (don’t get me wrong; guys can be great pals too but there’s nothing better than a good chinwag with a fellow female on a bad day).

Kasper’s first book in the series – “Elven Jewel” – has been well-received and has many 5-star reviews. She is launching the second book in the series on March 29th. Join me as I ask her a few questions to find out more about her and her intriguing tales!

Elven Jewel (Published 2013)

The peaceful continent of Reloria is threatened by cruel invaders from the wastelands of Vergash. Halflings Randir and Fendi leave their peaceful farm village with their bond-fairies and race against time to stop the invaders. They join forces with dwarves, elves, men and a mysterious dragon, on a quest to rescue the stolen Elven Jewel.

Hunters’ Quest (out in paperback and ebook on March the 29th)

Scaly Vergai invaders have captured the Elven Jewel from Reloria. Halfling friends, Randir and Fendi,their bond-fairies, men, dwarves, an elf and a dragon are a group of brave hunters on a quest to recover the stolen Elven Jewel. They must search for a mage who can make a portal to Vergash to rescue the princess and restore the protective forcefield.

Welcome to the hot seat Kaz!

Thanks Fros – It’s great to be here!

I must say, I can’t wait to read the Hunters of Reloria series! And the artwork on the covers is fantastic, really adds to the anticipation! What has inspired you to write these books?

Firstly my son had two short stories published and I was so proud of him.  Then I helped a friend edit his fantasy book the following year and I was hooked!  I had a dream about halflings and their bond-fairies playing in a field of wheat and ‘Elven Jewel’ was born.  I just can’t stop the flow of ideas – it’s so much fun.

Tell me about the cover artwork. I am sure my readers would like to know.

I discovered on Facebook that a friend of mine does spray painting art for a hobby.  I asked him to do my covers and here’s the fantastic result.  I’m really getting keen to see my characters come to life and have run 2 art competitions so far with the prize being their picture on the book’s back cover.  Your readers are welcome to check out all the amazing entries on the Hunters website.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

Reading, writing, hanging out with my friends and the occasional game of Candy Crush Saga (I admit it!). I also enjoy travelling and would love to visit Canada one day.

Do you see yourself in any of your characters or do any of them have traits you wish you had?

Honestly I think that I can relate a couple of Shari-Rose’s irritating qualities when I was a teenager.  I don’t think I was ever that terrible, but do understand some of her frustrations.  These days I’m a lot more mellow, like Baja, the fun-loving dwarf.

I really admire the huntress, Sienna, and sometimes in my busy life of juggling work, motherhood and writing, I wish I could take off for a long hunting trek all by myself.  I think that I’d eventually come back, but imagine how much writing I could do without the hustle and bustle of modern-day life.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

On the 29th of March I’m having a party in Brisbane, Australia to celebrate the book launch of Hunters’ Quest.

I heard that Penguin Group Publishing has expressed an interest in your series! Is this true?

Yes, it is – but nothing definite as yet.

Oh well done, Kaz! Best of luck with that!

Thanks Fros, appreciate it. Lots of exciting stuff are happening at the moment actually. I have just taken book 3 to the editor.  It’s called Dragon’s Revenge and it is the conclusion to my Hunters of Reloria trilogy.  I hope that it’ll be ready by Christmas, but there’s still lots of work to do on it. I am also planning a collaboration with my son about the adventures of Fandri The Halfling and his bond-fairy.  I think it would be nice to tell his story as a prequel to the trilogy.  We’ll see how it goes.  My son is 12 and it would be great writing practice for him. Oh! And while we’re on the subject of my trilogy, can I just express one tiny request?

Sure! Mi casa su casa, as they say!

Well, I’m looking for reviewers for Hunter’s Quest (book 2 in the series) so if any of your readers are interested, they’re more than welcome to contact me for a copy in return for an honest review.

It’s a good idea asking my readers but I can help you with an extra resource as well! Head over to the blog of fellow authors Maria Savva and Darcia Helle where you will find a really helpful list of people gagging to do reviews for indie books! I am adding here the link for the benefit of any other authors: http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerboundrecommends/get-reviewed/

Awesome, thanks Fros!

We aim to please! So, on to the next question: Which are your favourite authors and what do you love about them?

David Eddings’ Belgariad is my all-time favourite.  It’s the style of writing I aspire to and I love the fun and adventure of his books.  I also enjoy Clive Cussler adventures for the sheer enjoyment and the historical tie-ins.

Tolkien (naturally).  I love Wilbur Smith’s River God trilogy.  I’m partial to vampire novels such as the Vampire Academy series (Yes, fully grown and still loving it!)  The Anita Blake Vampire Hunter books were also great.

Do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Listen and learn as much as you can and most importantly, don’t publish until your book is edited.  I’ve had to update my first book because I published it before it was professionally edited – all good now.

Social networking is a great way to connect with other authors and learn about the industry.

Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I like to share lots of art on my webpage, so keep an eye on there for the next art competition. I’m bound to have one sooner or later.

Other things on my webpage include my book reviews, movies I watch and author interviews.  I only recently started doing the interviews and really enjoy them.

If you could have one superpower what would it be?

I would like to fly. Imagine soaring through the air like a dragon or a tiny fairy.  That would be most awesome.

Thank you for your time Kaz! It’s been fantastic chatting with you!

It’s been a pleasure for me too – many thanks Fros!

About the Author

Kasper J. Beaumont was born and raised in Australia and lives a quiet life with the family in a seaside town. Kasper has combined a love of fantasy and a penchant for travel in this trilogy. Kasper started to write on the urging of friends and family and enjoys watching readers become immersed in the magical world of Reloria.  Kasper’s books are unique in the fantasy genre, with their halflings bonded to magical fairies.  Kasper is a member of the Fantasy and Sci-Fi Network and enjoys doing book reviews and author interviews.

Connect with Kasper

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Facebook page for the book launch

Amazon

Smashwords

Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Loving Nate by Janice G. Ross

I am pleased to host today another awesome book tour by Fabulosity Reads. Today, I bring you the novella “Loving Nate” by Janice G. Ross – a contemporary story about painful young love.  As always, at the bottom of the post you may enter for a chance to win the usual goodies – i.e. an Amazon Gift Card & ebook copies.

BLURB

Loving Nate is Leah’s story of falling in love with Mr. Perfect. Leah falls fast and hard, losing all sense of reasoning. Love can do that to a gal, especially when the guy is as smooth as Nathan Moore. Loving Nate is about Leah’s journey of falling in love, when she should have been standing in love.

AUTHOR NOTES

 I’ve decided to provide two very different endings to this novella. Have you ever made a decision and wondered whether or not it was the right choice? Or perhaps you made the right choice because you knew that the alternative would’ve been disastrous? This is my gift to readers. Regardless of Leah’s final choice, I wanted readers to be able to reflect on the possibilities.

EXCERPT

Nate pulls up in front of the building in a light-gray Infiniti QX56. Noticing that he’s too eager to play escort, I extend my palm to stop him and attempt to rush into the vehicle. I’m moving forward, while my head is turned backward, making sure to keep tabs on everyone coming out of the lobby.

As I step up and go to rest down, my leg misses. Had I been paying attention, I would’ve recognized the difference between inside and outside. Since I wasn’t, I end up hanging onto the door, practically straddling the ground. I don’t want to get up; my only desire is to shrivel up and disappear into thin air. Obviously, that will never happen. No sooner do I end up in this embarrassing disposition, I’m recovered by a saint and delivered onto the passenger seat. I sit completely still, clutching my purse against my gut. I think he feels bad for me because he takes hold of the seatbelt and guides the path under my arms, securing me for the trip.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head. How do I recover from being a complete imbecile?

“Why are you so jumpy, Leah?” Nate asks once he’s behind the wheel.

“Because I’m heading out with my boss’s boss. How do you think that looks? And on my very first day too . . .”

The Storyline of Loving Nate

 Loving Nate is a story about a young woman who falls in love when she should’ve been standing in love. I open up this tale with an acknowledgement/dedication to someone named “Superman”. A bit of advice that I received from this man was to never fall in love – stand in love. Over the years, I’ve considered this lesson of sorts, even thinking back to when I was in a similar situation like Leah.

Leah meets the perfect man, when she literally runs into Nate. She is swept away and is beyond help. Sadly, Nate knows that Leah is weak for him. He takes advantage of his effect on her, as she allows him to drift in and out of her life. Nate is the time of man that knows how to carry himself with a confidence level of perfection. He is totally irresistible! Leah is easily led.

My personal experience was not as shameful as Leah; however, I’ve known a version of Nate. Like Leah, I marveled at how impressive his charms were and lusted for his excellence. Where my experiences part ways with Leah is that I eventually pulled away when I realized that this man might have a hidden life. I paid attention to the red flags, putting an end to a situation that was sure to rip out my soul.

I always wondered what would’ve happened if I had remained in Leah’s situation. Therefore, Leah’s journey is a hypothetical journey. I also considered something that many women might contemplate – what ifs. After taking Leah on a roller coaster romance, I offer an alternative ending for reflection sakes – walk away or fight for love. After you’ve given your all to a relationship, do you ever consider the pros and cons of leaving, especially if total heartbreak seems inevitable? That is at the heart of Loving Nate.

Loving Nate Trailer

http://youtu.be/p9RGBNGZhhs

Playlist

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7izl3hl62IDHD1Wf1A9iQZzBJjW9L-HM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janice was born in Guyana, South America and migrated to the USA in 1980. Although her citizenship certificate now reads the United States of America, she considers herself a citizen of the world. Sure she has not physically been around the world and back, but she’s travelled in her mind and dreams.

Janice is an author. She enjoys writing about social issues and personal experiences. Janice’s debut release was entitled Damaged Girls. She uses the three books in that series to detail the effects of different forms of abuse, discussing issues that are known to be taboo. Her next release, Jumping Ship, is a dedication to her country of birth and an introductory novella to the Island Hopping Series – due out in 2014. It’s poised to be a colorful and emotional experience of life, love and family. As of present, she is also a contributor to a short story collection – Just Between Us, Inspiring Stories by Women. And lastly, Loving Nate is a novella about the realities of losing one’s self to love.

Janice enjoys reading. And is drawn to stories with distinct characters that she can love or hate, characters she can form alliances with or characters that she can swear off and despise. She is also weak for a good cultural tale, preferably in the form of historical fiction. Janice loves to be taken off guard by clever language and settings.

Janice is also a devout supporter and promoter of other authors through social media. She hosts a weekly show, Cultural Cocktails, on the largest social radio network, Blog Talk Radio.

Connect with Janice

Website: www.culturalcocktails.com

Talk show: www.blogtalkradio.com/culturalcocktails

Blog http://jgrwriter.wordpress.com &

http://myculturalcocktails.wordpress.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/JGRWriter

FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/Cultural.Cocktails

&

https://www.facebook.com/jgrwriter?ref=hl

 Google+https://plus.google.com/104579627944902429382/posts/p/pub?partnerid=gplp0

LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/pub/janice-ross/58/691/894/

Buy Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

GoogleBooks

 Smashwords

LOVING NATE TOUR SCHEDULE

http://fabulosityreadsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/03/tours-stop-schedule-loving-nate-by.html

 GIVEAWAY
Enter here for a chance to win a $25  Amazon gift card                      and one of 3 copies of the eBook!

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.  They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the

reach of your book go that much further.

Cover Reveal: Eden’s Darkness by D.M. Sears

Today I am proud to present to you another spotlight author from Fabulosity Reads. Read on about this exciting paranormal story that will have you salivating for a copy. Enter the raffle at the end of this post for a chance to win some awesome goodies!

BLURB

What would you do if the person you loved the most became the very thing you were fighting to destroy?

Eden will have to answer that very question before her quest is through. The land she has come to love is at dire risk of being lost to the shadows seeking to consume it. Circenn, now the consort of Darkness, waits to claim her granddaughter and her powers, unaware that Darkness has his own agenda.

He has but little time to obtain his vessel and find his true form. Will he succeed? And will Eden be able to face the disturbing visions that continue to pursue her?

Nightmares will become reality in Eden’s Darkness, Book Two in the Ellethny Series.

EXCERPT

“It’s an ambush!” Lex yelled, out of breath yet trying to be loud enough for all to hear. Shadows were coming in waves out of the forest blocking any escape route we may have had.

“Lexington, get behind me!” Val set up a barrier between them and the shades, doing what she could to keep Lex safe this time. “I can only hold this for a few moments. Eden now would be a good time to do something.”

“You got it.”

I took off in a dead run calling up my dragon. Bronze scales covered my body from toes to head; my feathery wings transformed into those of the dragon. As I ascended up into the sky, my body finished changing and I was Ryu, in all her splendor and ferocity. The penumbral outline of my birthmark glowed brightly on my dragon’s forearm. Ryu burst through the sky like liquid bronze bellowing white fire from her mouth.

“Be careful my heart.”

” You be careful. I am safer than you are right now.”

“You have to keep our daughter safe.”

” She is fine. Always the worried papa. Let us finish this– I am getting bored.”

” You would think this kind of excitement would make your evening.”

“Nah, they need some new tricks, been there done that.”

I blew off the situation with my carefree attitude, but deep inside I knew this couldn’t continue. My family and friends were wearing down, and I would be giving birth soon.

Ryu’s vision allowed me to see everything going on at once. The shades I burned were writhing on the ground, screaming a shrill of agony that was deafening. I searched the ground, monitoring my companions. I zeroed in on Maiya pinned by two shadows; a third was working its way towards her. I searched for the closest of my family to go to her aide.

” Gregor, Maiya needs help–there are too many shadows attacking her at once. Go to her quickly!”

The thought of another person being seriously injured as my uncle had been was not an option.

“That will not happen Eden. I will not allow those insects to harm her.”

I sent a mental swell of pride at him. My vampire, always so chivalrous.

“You are a pleasant distraction my heart, but just now I must stay focused.”

Oops.

Gregor raced with blinding speed over to the silver wolf and threw the two shadows back; the crunch of bone against rock gave a sickening echo. Koren saw what was happening and ran at the third, clamping his strong jaws around the shade’s neck, ripping the head from the body. Black ooze splattered from the head as it was severed from the neck. Maiya rolled over onto her feet and sprang at another shadow, never missing a beat, always ready for the next assailant.

I admired my friends and family for fighting with me, for putting their lives in the balance for a cause that was mine.

BIO

D.M. Sears lives in Missouri with her daughter and one crazy cat. Her first paranormal fantasy, Eden’s Mark, was recently published by Solstice Publishing. D.M. Sears is a Director of an early childhood center and bakes cupcakes on the side. She loves most genres of books and is currently finishing Book 2 in the Ellethny Series.

 Connect with D.M Sears:

Social Media

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK 

TWITTER

Buy Links

AMAZON

 

Enter here for a chance to win a copy of the ebook or a 15 USD Amazon gift card!

 

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership. They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

 

 

The Necklace of Goddess Athena FREE on Amazon today

 

“The Necklace of Goddess Athena” is a fantasy adventure of Greek myths and time travels that will thrill the whole family! It has received a perfect 5-star rating by the Fantasy & Sci-fi Network where it was described as a “Rare Gem”.

More praise for the ebook:

“A journey of fantasy and morality”

“Gem after gem of wisdom that will touch your heart”

“A sweet, nostalgic view of Athens”

“I didnt want it to end – a remarkable achievement!”

 

Download it FREE now from Amazon.com
Download it FREE now from Amazon.co.uk

 

Please note that the ebook will remain FREE only for 3 days (Thursday March 13th – Saturday 15th).

 

Reblogged: Scotland’s role in an Elgin Marbles mystery

The following post made me particularly mad. This has nothing to do with its writer, the lovely Marjory McGinn, who has done a remarkable job introducing the Elgin family and their renowned thieving practices. What made me mad was the typical arrogance with which Elgin’s descendants hold on to whatever plundered Greek antiquities they still proudly exhibit inside their lair of stolen goods. You may have noticed that I have not used the word ‘Lord’ before Elgin’s name as in my opinion such a title would suit somewhat, more honourable people.  It is no surprise that the Greeks think of Elgin as the devil, given the devastation he has caused to their most precious Parthenon and the great injustice that he has caused them to endure for centuries. As for the term ‘Elgin Marbles’, this is a British term which cleverly implies that Elgin was  the legal proprietor of the Marbles until the British museum purchased them from him. The Greeks, however, who know under what circumstances he snatched them from this end, know better than name them after him, prefering the P.C. term ‘Parthenon Marbles’. After all, if you wake up one morning and your telly has gone missing, whoever and wherever the robber may be, you can never refer to it as the robber’s telly, can you? It’s still your home telly, right?

Back to this excellent post though. I am pleased to introduce you to Marjory McGinn today, a Scottish girl who somehow has been surrounded by Greeks so much and for so long that inevitably, she got to love them. She tells me that when she was little, her family migrated from Scotland to Australia. Her first best friend there was a Greek girl. Later in life, she moved to Mani in Greece where she spent 3 years with her partner and her ‘crazy jack russel’. Her book ‘Things Can Only Get Feta’ is a humorous account of her Greek adventures during that time. You can find out more about her and her book on her website www.bigfatgreekodyssey.com.

I AM standing within sight of Broomhall House in central Scotland on a bitterly cold day and marvelling at how this grey, slightly dour stately home has been at the centre of one of the most heated cultural debates of modern times.

This is the house built by Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, which he planned to adorn with his vast heist of Parthenon sculptures, and other antiquities that are now known as the Elgin Marbles. It amounted to some 220 tonnes and nearly half of what the Parthenon was decorated with up to the late 18th century, as well as other significant items from the Acropolis and other sites around Athens.

Broomhall House, near the village of Charlestown, Fife, is fenced off to the public, so you can’t get too close, yet even from a distance the house seems vast: a huge frontage, Grecian-style columns at the entrance, large windows, but Downton Abbey it is not!

Visit Marjory’s ‘Big Fat Greek Blog’ to read the rest of the article.