Gloria Oliver's Blog, page 3
August 13, 2023
Virtual Tourist 08/11/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStory Origin Swap 1Virtual Tourist – Ghostwire TokyoStory Origin Swap 2I Want To Go There Group PromoUrban Fantasy Mysteries Group PromoStrong Women – Strange WorldsReviewer’s Corner
Greetings!
Have you melted yet? We’re trying our best in these 100+ degree days to stay as cool as possible! 🍧 Hopefully, you are too!
News/Musings
We got SUPER LUCKY! Hubby’s foot fixed itself up within a couple of days of icing it up, keeping it elevated, and taking anti-inflammatories. Rather than the few weeks they warned us it might take, he was back to his old self pretty quickly. Phew!
The Winner of The Secret Humankind Release Celebration has been picked! They responded and off the lamps went.
Thanks to everyone who participated!
On the “why am I stupid?” department – I realized I could have been offering one or two of my books in different ebook formats for those who live outside the US. I’m tucking that away for the next one of these I have to do. 😁
Are there prizes you prefer above others? (Aside from good old $$?) I’d be more than happy to offer things book lovers would appreciate (within budget) so the prizes go to those who love to read. 📚 (Since I am creating worlds, you’d think I’d do a little better on that front. 😝)
If you’re going on vacation and want to receive one or two fewer emails, let me know and I can add you to the Vacation group! (Just make sure to give me a date range!) I had a request from someone and figured out how to do it! Bwahahahahaha!
Writing News
I can now quit bothering everyone about The Secret Humankind! Yay! I’ve been doing some FB ads on it to try out some new advertising tactics. Amazon ads. Even a month-long promo push through Itsy Bitsy Book Bits. There was also the release celebration, and who knows what else. I’m tired! 😫
I’m still working on the science fiction short story I mentioned last time. LOL.
I’ve also hit 50K words on The Death of Music Blues – only 20K more to go!
One of my publishers, Zumaya Publications, had a new cover done for Willing Sacrifice a few months ago (they also did an interior refresh – woot!). The owner told me a week or two ago that she’s thinking of doing a revamp on the cover and interior for Vassal of El as well. Looking forward to it! YAY!
A New Record!
I didn’t track this as well as I should have, but I think I still caught the top rankings for the release a few days into August. Highest rankings I’ve ever had on any of my novels. Woot!
But I threw in more advertising than usual. I’m breaking about even there…maybe. 🤣 Still, it was awesome to see it. Figured I’d share! Thanks to everyone who helped me get there! It actually hung around that ranking for longer than I expected. Huzzah!
See where it's at now...😋
Extra content today:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (Freebie)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
3) I Want To Go There Group Promo
4) Urban Fantasy Mysteries Group Promo
5) Strong Women – Strange Worlds Rapid Fire Readings
Scroll on down to get all the deets. 😉
Counting CrowsStoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
On a fog-bound hill, the crows are feasting on the body of a dead man. Lorne Turner has seen more than his fair share of corpses, but never one like this. The markings on the body and the position all lead towards ritual sacrifice.
Just what Lorne doesn’t need, another lost soul keeping him company at night. But he can’t ignore the questions this dead man brings in his wake.
Why here, right on the highest point on Exmoor? What do the occult markings mean? And why do the authorities seem so intent on avoiding the obvious ceremonial element?
One thing he knows for sure is that someone in the police will stop at nothing to prevent him discovering the truth. When those in power are this corrupt, who can he turn to for help?
Old friends step up, and new alliances are forged. Lorne and the vicar, Ella Morgan, begin their search for answers by plunging into the evil engulfing their lives.
Driven by the ghosts of his past, Lorne is forced to abandon his new-found peace and follow the trail into a world of occultism, corruption, and greed. Trained for war, he must now fight the darkness of a madman threatening all he holds dear.
What will break first, his mind, or the bodies of his enemies?
If you enjoyed Stephen King’s The Outsider, you’ll find the same gripping atmosphere and suspenseful thrills in Lorne Turner’s investigation. Buy now before the price changes!
This occult, supernatural thriller is the first book in a Best Selling series.
Ghostwire TokyoI got an invite to the closed beta for Palia – an MMO that has so far been super cute. But couldn’t figure out how to take pics in time. (Most of the games I play are through Steam so it’s easy to take screenshots. But Palia is not and the mechanic for it I had to find online!)
So you get Ghostwire Tokyo instead. 😎😋
You can see all the currently uploaded pics here.
A ghost playing the piano.
An overgrown path in forgotten temple grounds.
Chasing a ghostly dragon through the cemetery to close a gate.
Fighting off incoming ghosts while trying to stop the dragon.
Open gateway to another realm filled with evil spirits.
A secondary gate to the deeper temple.
Hah! The game company’s logo as a magnet on the fridge. Hee!
A supernaturally guarded motorcycle to get through the evil barrier of death! (And a sweet ride!) 😋
The Death of Noah BlackStoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)
Blade Runner meets Sherlock
A Mind-Bending Mystery
Tim Reynolds, Detective: The Death of Noah Black is a gripping murder mystery with action, puzzles, and heart.
Detective Tim Reynolds is no stranger to death. As chief of investigations, he’s seen his share of crime scenes, but when Noah Black is found dead in a locked room, and he is called in to investigate, the injuries sustained by Black leave him boggled.
To make matters worse, the weapon used in the murder is nowhere to be found. Reynolds must push himself to the limit to uncover the truth behind Black’s death, following leads that take him into uncharted territory.
As the evidence piles up, Reynolds realizes that the killer is closer than he ever imagined, and the truth may be more shocking than he ever expected. With mounting pressure, Reynolds must fight to solve the case before it’s too late.
Will he be able to crack the case and bring the killer to justice, or is this one mystery that will elude him forever?
Find out in Tim Reynolds, Detective: The Death of Noah Black.
A Christian Sci-fi Mystery
(Written in an Interactive CYOA Book Club)
I Want To Go There! An all-genre group promo for stories with a strong sense of place. Where do you want to go today?
Urban Fantasy Mysteries Group Promo! Mysteries, magic, and more!
Strong Women Strange Worlds Quick Reads for 08/17/23!
JO🌟 Shout out to Reviewers Corner! 🌟Thanks this month go to:
The JOY of Murder – Laura Emerson
The Secret Humankind – – Barbara, Lisa, Amanda Haller-Doris, Naomi Valkyrie, Susan M Rheaume, Colleen Dondero, Amanda Haller-Doris, Valerie, Susan Ratchford, Alyssa, Brandy Jo Rymer, Sharon, Roxanne Lesieur, Shannen, Julie, Jo Wright, Rayne, Angela, Jenni Bishop, Toni, Kerry Baker, Tara Johnson, Rebeca, Kerry Carr, Shelly Kittell, Lisa Hunt, Naomi McDonald, Regular Ed, Kindle Customer, Amanda Haller-Doris, Valerie Anderson, Suze13, SMF PT, Faithfulgirl, WhiteQueen45, Johanna, Angela Hayes, Jennadb, Antoinette Sellers, Tim in Alaska, Quakerwidow, pdx_runner, AVG9, kavab12, Panner, Lisa Helmick, Mandy_panda_bear17, AVG7, Suze Ratchford, Alyssa, Washburn, Julie J, Johanna Fleek, Jennifer Bishop, xtonicx1, Rfigueiras, PartyGirl1985, and Skittell51
A great big THANK YOU to all the reviewers!
(Do you want your name in here, too? All you need is to post a one or two-sentence review at Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon, or send me a link if it’s posted elsewhere and I will add you here next round!)
Can I get more organized and share cool historical tidbits I’ve run across? Maybe… Guess we’ll see in two weeks! 😂
Until next time!
Gloria
July 29, 2023
Mind Sieve 07/28/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStoryOrigin Swap 1Mini Movie/Show ReviewsStoryOrigin Swap 2Movie/TV Show PreviewsJust for Fun!The Secret Humankind Release CelebrationCruel, Cruel Summer Group PromoStrong Women Strange Worlds
Greetings!
Life is weird. Life is chaos! Hurtling through release week madness, juggling things like crazy, think I am doing okay, and then…. 🥁🥁🥁🥁 (Drum roll please!)
News/Musings
Watering your lawn can be dangerous to your health!
Yep, that’s what we discovered for our surprise chaos this week. 😋
It’s been super hot out and we’d been neglecting our lawn and bushes. I got hubby to fish out the sprinkler connection for the hose so I could set it up and have it water the lawn a bit in the cooler evening. Like a super sweetie, he took it on himself at the last minute rather than have me do it. But little did I know…
Hubby said his foot was bugging him before we went to bed that night and took an Advil just in case. He didn’t think it was his gout, he just figured he stepped wrong somewhere. So I was surprised to see him up early and in the family room rather than at his desk surfing the internet or watching videos.
He admitted that his foot was actually hurting him a lot. So he finally gave in and we went to the emergency room. Several hours later, we’re told he has a sprained foot, they wrap it up, put it in a boot, and give him some crutches. Should take a couple of weeks to heal. Whee!
So the day is pretty much shot, my to-do list needs a lot of revising, and now we have more things to juggle. Life is never boring!
So if the newsletter this time around seems a little rushed, blame the lawn! 😁
Writing news
Zumaya Publications (one of my publishers) has added a new online retailer for the ePub versions of my books! You can now find those titles at Smashwords! You can see them all here. Until 7/31/23, Willing Sacrifice, my ya fantasy novel will be 25% at Smashwords! The novel has a new cover and a revamped interior.
The Secret Humankind is LIVE! Woot! I’ll try not to mention it again, I swear! I’m just glad it’s out! Reviews have been great. Thanks to everyone who’s posted one. All the names will be in the place of honor in the next newsletter!
This time around I used the services of ItsyBitsyBookBits and they’ve been doing a great job building up hype and getting the word out. So big kudos to them!
Book 3 of the Daiyu Wu Mysteries is now around 42K so I am past the halfway mark on the first draft. As soon as I can get that first draft, I’ll start on Book 2 of the Discoveries of Julia Xero. I’m chomping at the bit to get to it, but Dai also has things to do. 😋 Still trying to stick to my goal of two books a year. 🤞
Extra stuff I’ve shoved in here:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)
3) The Secret Humankind Release Celebration Giveaway
4) Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo
5) Strong Women Strange Worlds Rapid Fire Reading
More deets on all of these in their sections. 😊
StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)Darkness WithinI thought my problems were bad until a voice in my head keeps talking to me.
As an orphan, I grew up bouncing from home to home within my church. All I wanted to do was get over my fear of the dark, graduate college and join the police force. Now, a voice is telling me it can help me if I’ll just let it take control. People are asking me if I’m ok because I keep talking back to it out loud.
To make matters worse, two homeless girls get kidnapped in front of me. When I report it to the cops, they think I had something to do with the kidnapping and that I’m high on something.
The guy I like may be hanging around me because of this voice that keeps telling me to “Punish the Sinners.” My best friend thinks I’m shutting her out but all I’m trying to do is keep her safe. After I wake up next to a dead girl and freeze some bad guy’s fingers, I realize things have to change. Time is running out and unless I take control.
But between the cops tracking me, people asking me if I’m ok and the voice in my head, will I find the girls before time runs out for them and me?
Mini Movie/TV Reviews 🎥★ – Why did I go see this? Why?!
★★ – Showed promise but on execution, crashed
★★★ – Enjoyable, just don’t look under the hood too closely
★★★★ – A great film, totally worth seeing!
★★★★★ – 🤯 Too fabulous for words!
Indiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyI refused to get my hopes up, so it ended up being better than expected. A vast improvement over the Crystal Skull (not that it would take much). Great cast, great effects and action sequences. Even a subtle subplot about Indy himself and the effects of his son’s death in the Korean War. Several nitpicks but nothing that was horribly glaring. YAY!
Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1Just when you thought the stakes couldn’t get any higher! And don’t ask me how I missed this, but Agent Carter (Hayley Atwell) is in it! YES! She was perfect as Grace! Nice give and take between her and Cruise. A ton of action and stunts, and loads of locations. They even use the same stairwell near the Vatican as they did in the last Fast and Furious film. Lol. A wild ride!
Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
OppenheimerIt took me several minutes to realize Lewis Strauss was Robert Downey Jr.! DOH! But he knocked his part out of the park. Cillian Murphy was also great as Oppenheimer. The film has a bit of the surreal about it in its presentation. Oppenheimer’s imaginings blend with the reality around him at times. All scenes he is not involved in are in black and white, while those he experienced are in color. Especially poignant was the short but rousing words he gives to those who worked on the project after the first bomb is dropped—even as his imagination reveals to him the horror that’s been unleashed. A ton of subtext throughout.
Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
BarnieThis film won’t be for everyone. Wes Anderson’s films tend to be quirky, odd, thought-provoking, and even weird. I’ve seen a number of them, so I knew what to expect. 😋
This film wasn’t made for kids, but for their parents—thus the PG-13 rating. I thought it was awesome. The tongue could not have been more firmly in the cheek. In-jokes abounded from all over the place. My favorite was the first – one done from 2001 a Space Odyssey. Brilliant! Pay particular attention to the Matel offices and people-they are as much in a Barbie world as the Barbies are. They never do tell us where all the Kens go at night! ROFL. Slightly heavy-handed in a place or two, but a fun time all the same. 😋
Rating: ★★★★ out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price of Admission
StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)Red ParadeA washer woman’s daughter claims her place in the crown princess’s army.
(The origin story of Commander Ashlyn of Cairn featured in the Modutan Empire Series.)
Young Ashlyn of Cairn doesn’t dream of war. Her village sits at the farthest point from the battlefront. Thus, rumors of the crown princess’s all-female army seldom reach her ears.
Ashlyn’s fate has been set from birth. She will marry her third cousin Rupert and be a cobbler’s wife. That’s a vastly better situation than being a washer woman’s daughter.
If only the taxes weren’t due and Ashlyn’s father hadn’t gambled away her mother’s meager earnings, then a humble girl might never have been set on the path to aid the return of the Modutan Empire.
Movie/TV Previews 🎥WonderWell – looks fun!
The Pod Generation – this should be a hoot!
Napoleon – a big-budget historical – sweet!
Just for Fun!Smile – Butterfly (Official Music Video) – so catchy!
Palia – a new upcoming MMO Beta. Supposed to be super laid back with crafting, farming, and more. Looks super pretty!
Pulp Fiction as a Pixar Film – I have never actually watched Pulp Fiction, but the concept of this sounded like a hoot!
The Secret Humankind Release Celebration Giveaway Group Promo—last chance to sign up to win and grab some urban fantasy freebies!!
Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo – creepy books to chill your blood and keep you cool – grab them before they’re gone!
Strong Women – Strange Worlds QuickReads for 8/4/23! They’ve switched signups to Eventbrite.
Have fun ya’ll!
Till next time!
Gloria
July 20, 2023
The Secret Humankind Release Day is HERE!
Greetings!
Just a quick note to let you know that The Secret Humankind release day is finally here! 🎺
🎆🎇 Huzzah! 🎆🎇
What are reviewers saying about The Secret Humankind?
Here are some highlights from the reviews that have come in so far!
4.7 Stars from 10 ratings and 9 review texts
(You can see the full text reviews here.)
“Be prepared for a long night of reading as the story unfolds. The end will leave you wanting more.”
“The plot is intriguing, fast-paced, and fraught with suspense, making it a page-turner.”
“Enjoyed every minute and read it straight through as I couldn’t put it down. Then I reread it and it was even better.”
“I loved this book and the characters and had a hard time putting it down (even at 2 a.m.).”
Again, you can see the full reviews here.
What formats is it available in?
The novel is available in hardback, paperback, and Kindle.
The paperback should be getting picked up by other online book retailers but seems to be propagating slower than anticipated. Boo!
The Kindle version is also part of Kindle Unlimited.
Feel free to share the LOVE and don’t forget to signup to win the lamps!
You can sign up for a chance to win at www.gloriaoliver.com/giveaway (The lamp set is US Only – sorry!) and grab a ton of freebie shorts and novels, too! (Worldwide)
Happy New Release Day! 😁
Gloria
July 15, 2023
Virtual Tourist 07/14/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStory Origin Swap 1Virtual Tourist – Coral IslandStory Origin Swap 2The Secret Humankind Release Celebration GiveawayCruel, Cruel Summer Group PromoStrong Women – Strange WorldsReviewer’s Corner
Greetings!
Texas is living up to its reputation for 🔥 summers with a vengeance. Luckily, we’re also the land of air conditioning! The new window unit that’s supporting our central A/C unit is doing its job well. Huzzah!
News/Musings
It’s less than a week before The Secret Humankind goes LIVE in all formats!
After going down a rabbit hole trying to fix/figure out what was wrong with something that should have been easy, I think everything is now in order.
The paperback and hardback editions are now active and should trickle down to other paperback book outlets. For those of you who’ve been kind enough to grab a copy in exchange for a review, this means you should be able to post a review at Amazon if it’s one of the places you use. Yay!
The ebook will be in Kindle/KindleUnlimited and should go live on 7/20/23.
If you haven’t yet, don’t forget to sign up to try to win the two-lamp of out-of-this-world set (US Only) and check out the freebies from other authors. More details in the promo spot at the bottom of the email. (Or click here!)
Missed out on the sample chapters? You can get those here.
Yes, I am about to go into madness mode. Wheee!
I was doing some research for the Music of Death Blues and ran across Jacques Casanova. Everyone’s heard the name, but I didn’t know much about the man. So I stumbled upon the fact that he wrote a 12-volume set of memoirs! I found volume 1 at Forgotten Books and have been thoroughly enjoying it. Aside from his raging libido (though no graphic descriptions are given – yay!), the man is extremely intelligent and brutally honest! Just today, there’s a passage where he says he can tell the Adriatic sea is moving away toward the east and that in 3 to 4 hundred years, he expects to see Venice connected to dry land. They’ve been saying Venice has been drying up for several years now! The attitudes and expectations of people of the time have also been fascinating. The clergy regularly had chocolate for breakfast! And they drank coffee! (For some reason, though I knew they drank coffee here in the States in the late 1700s, my brain never connected with it being drunk overseas during the same time. DOH!)
Writing News
I worked up some more character pics for The Secret Humankind to share! (See below!)
I wasn’t going to do it initially, but since readers do not all signup for newsletters… I’ve decided to put Pay It Forward – The Discoveries of Julia Xero prequel short—up at Amazon as well. (One funny thing is that it showed up almost immediately at BookBub, but Goodreads, which Amazon owns, does not show it yet! DOH!)
A few weeks ago, I got an idea for a short story concept when watching episodes of Young Indiana Jones (Some are so good, and others so so very bad! Though they do a great job in explaining a lot of the prevalent thoughts and actions of different countries at the time). It was going to be a historical short, but now it’s turned into a science fiction story! I love the concept, but I’m not totally sure where I want it to go. I’m having to sneak it in to work on it here and there outside my main writing time. So much juggling! 🤹♀️Lol.
Cillian DoyleLadies man and a general, incorrigible scamp. Works the stock shift at night at Bloom’s Candy. He gets visions regarding future events. Dum Dum DUM
Penny BaxterJulia’s supermodel roommate. They wouldn’t pull each other out of a fire, but they make it work.
Detective Rafael RuizDetective in the ‘know’ about the Secret Humankind.
Supernatural Assassin(Yeah not exactly what I was aiming for, but close enough!)
This thing out of one’s nightmares takes a liking to Julia. Bwahahahaha!
Extra content today:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
3) The Secret Humankind Release Celebration Giveaway
4) Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo
5) Strong Women – Strange Worlds Rapid Fire Readings
Scroll on down to get all the deets. 😉
Aria SF and F Firsts Boxed Set Vol 1StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
A boxed set of firsts!The Association of Rhode Island Authors proudly presents their first boxed set!
Each author has contributed one book of an ongoing series. From the sandy wastelands of far-off world filled with magic, machines, and men to war torn edge of space to aliens invading Earth.
There’s a little something for everyone. We hope you enjoy sit back and enjoy the ride.
This boxed set includes:
K. Bentley – Where Weavers Daire
Keith Carreiro – The Penitent, Part One
Tabitha Lord – Horizon
Paul Magnan – Kyu, The Coming of Dis
Christopher Paniccia – Heaven’s Gate
Debra Zannelli – Sisterworld
Coral IslandThree out of four family members are playing this one now. 😁 The game is still in progress, but there’s enough there to keep you busy for some time. Anyone who loved Stardew Valley will love Coral Island.
You can see all the currently uploaded pics here.
There are multiple festivals during the year. Each comes with several mini-games. (Not all are active.) This is the spot for a pumpkin-smashing game during the Fall Festival.
The Pufferfish Oil Company has a stand and we also have a Moon Cake shop. All the festivals tend to have a shop with either discounted goodies or rare items. They’re also the best way to talk to everyone and get some rapport going.
There are four mining tunnels—earth, water, wind, and fire. This is the breaking seal for earth as you try to set free the spirit giants.
The main/lobby area of the mine. The big guy is the leader of the giants. You can see the opened earth mine shaft on the right. The tiny statues behind them are the other trapped giants.
The secret village of the giants! (Yes, that’s how they refer to themselves! We’re hoomans.😋 ) The structure in the center can be used to magic your tools.
I’ve spotted a merman! And yeah, there’s trash all over the ocean we get to clean. But you can find goodies, too! (The mer people should be in the next update. This little sequence is all we see of them at the moment.)
All the festivals have the cutest moving banners. This one is for a big dinner to celebrate the coming new year!
You can’t get here anymore. They locked us out on the last major update. This will be the gate area into the mer people zone. Impressive, no? 😁
Death Comes Up ShortStoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
A missing boy. A deadly contract. A new target.Having recently caught a killer, EMT Abbie Grimshaw thinks things might settle down.
She’s mistaken.
A boy goes missing, and the clues point to powerful traffickers targeting magical children.
Worse, a child in her care, Jimi, might be the true target, and he’ll do anything to find his friend.
If Abbie doesn’t find the missing child and stop the traffickers, she could lose Jimi forever.
If you enjoy magical mysteries with a fairy tale flavor, you’ll love this new face on the Grimm scene.
Pick up this magical adventurous mystery today!
The Secret Humankind Release Celebration Giveaway! Loads of urban fantasy freebies for all!
Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo – let your blood be chilled this sweltering summer with some creepy reads!
Strong Women Strange Worlds Quick Reads for 07/20/23!
🌟 Shout out to Reviewers Corner! 🌟Thanks this month go to:
Black Jade – Laura Emerson and AmberKitty15608
The Secret Humankind – Wolfkin, Kuzlin, Margaret Both, Anne Kavcic, and Shellie
A great big THANK YOU to all the reviewers!
(Do you want your name in here, too? All you need is to post a one or two-sentence review at Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon, or send me a link if it’s posted elsewhere and I will add you here next round!)
May sweet winds cool your brow and great books your mind. 📚
Until next time!
Gloria
July 1, 2023
Mind Sieve 06/30/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStoryOrigin Swap 1Mini Movie/Show ReviewsStoryOrigin Swap 2Movie/TV Show PreviewsJust for Fun!Cruel, Cruel Summer Group PromoStrong Women – Strange Worlds
Greetings!
We’ve been melting, melting, all this week out here in Texas. Temperatures have been super hot! 🔥 As the old saying goes, you could cook eggs on the sidewalk! 🍳 😋
I hope you are keeping it cool! 🧊
News/Musings
We have an air conditioning window unit for where I am most of the day and the poor thing keeps throwing the breaker trying to keep up with this heatwave. Ugh! (Luckily it has a breaker all for its lonesome or it would be taking out who knows what else with it. Eek!)
There are only a few (double eek!) weeks to go before The Secret Humankind goes LIVE! What reviews have come in have been excitingly positive. Squee!
Tomorrow starts the month-long release celebration! Aside from the out-of-this-world two-lamp set (US Only – sorry!), there will be a ton of freebie urban fantasy short stories, samples, and novels.
The giveaway page is up and goes active 7/1/23. Sing up to win or grab freebies here.
Book 3 of the Daiyu Wu Mysteries – The Music of Death Blues is now up to 30K. Woot! If I can keep at this pace, the first draft should be done in three more months. It would be a new record for me! 🤞
I’ve been toying with Midjourney, which is an AI driven art generator. Several of the pics I used in The Secret Humankind’s book trailer were made there. It seems to do best when you do things in pieces, depending on what you need. It’s amazing how wrong it can take a simple prompt, too!
So this week I’ve been toying with trying to make character cards for The Secret Humankind. I shared one on FB Thursday and figured I’d share a few more here.
Not all are spot on to the actual character descriptions, but I figure they’re decently close to give you a good idea.
Dawn AnghelescuOwner and CEO of Remington Safe & Clean, a trauma and crime scene decontamination company.
She’s good to the employees and for those specially vetted, has extra ‘secret’ work for them.
Julia XeroThe series protagonist. Julia is looking for better employment when she comes across the ad for RSC. Much to her surprise, she gets the job, even as she warns herself it’s too good to be true. She’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Karamel OaksReceptionist for RSC. Bubbly, friendly, and loves to take care of everyone. She’s hyper-excited when Julia “another girl!” joins the company.
Stan Lockhart3rd shift employee at RSC and Julia’s work partner. Laid back but hard working. Keeps insisting the work they do is important. Has nicknamed their work van ‘Rocinante’ after Don Quixote’s steed.
Extra stuff I’ve shoved in here:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)
3) Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo
4) Strong Women Strange Worlds Rapid Fire Reading
More deets on all of these in their sections. 😊
StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)A Pandora InitiativeGet the first three thrillers of the Pandora Initiative Series in one box set.
John Seal is a spy whose patriotism is admirable, but the motives of his famed handler are questionable.
The collection contains:
Mirage
John Seal thought investigating the cause for an uptick in greenhouse gas emissions in the middle of a desert would be easy. He was wrong. As a CIA cybersecurity operative, Seal is working for the ongoing covert Pandora Initiative.
Exiled
CIA agent John Seal is a marked man the moment he steps off the plane in Tel Aviv.
From a previous assignment, Seal collected intel that an Iranian weapon of mass destruction is moving forward unhindered.
Silk Road
Disavowed, burned and forgotten, CIA agent John Seal is learning to play by his own rules.
During his previous mission, vital intel that sheds light on the development of a weapon of mass destruction was stolen – intel needed to clear his name.
★ – Why did I go see this? Why?!
★★ – Showed promise but on execution, crashed
★★★ – Enjoyable, just don’t look under the hood too closely
★★★★ – A great film, totally worth seeing!
★★★★★ – 🤯 Too fabulous for words!
ElementalElemental is a super adorable film. It weaves into its premise a lot of the things many deal with today—familial expectations, assumptions, traditions, bureaucracy, and love in all its forms. How even one person believing in you can make all the difference.
One thing that was very subtle but spoke volumes were the fact the city had actually been made with the intention of creating a place where all four elements could live and thrive. A quick pan during the beginning showed how each element had come to the city in phases. Yet as many things do, something was lost in translation as time passed, and rather than the fire element getting included, it was just easier to shunt it to the side and those of fire were happy to go.
Oh, there’s a short before the film – post “Up” – it was nice to see Carl and Dug again!
Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
Spider-man Across the Spider-verseThis is PART 1 – just thought I’d warn you upfront. 😋 (Everybody seems to be doing multi-part films now! It’s not a bad thing, but it would be nice to get a heads up!)
All the awesomeness of the first film is back in the second. This time, the starter POV is from Gwen’s side so we see her before and after she met Miles. This gives us a good foundation for all that comes after.
Family, friendship, hope, trust, guilt, love, parenting, we run the full gambit. Loads of new spider guys and gals we get to have a ton of fun with.
In a weird type twist, while Elemental shows you how one person can boost someone to greater heights, here in the multiverse we see how not taking someone seriously can send them in the opposite direction and with dire consequences!
Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
FlashThere is a lot of notoriety around the lead actor of this film, and people have boycotted it due to his actions. The only problem is when they do, they are hurting 100s of people who also worked on the movie, not just the actor. So something to keep in mind?
In recent years I have noticed a tendency to make what had been serious characters in the comics into somewhat comedic characters in the films. (Thor, Aquaman, etc.) So though Barry is a genius, he doesn’t always come across as smart.
Great effects, the CGI stays great aside from a couple of blips, a good buildup leading to the big reveal (you can see it coming, but only if you really pay attention—bwahahaha—and that’s the best way to know it’s been done right. So kudos, guys!) Some nice ways to use Barry’s powers.
I was impressed with the fact they took the time to give Barry a unique way/pose to run. It made me think of the ancient statues of Hermes. Giving his run an identity rather like the way Superman would take off back in the day.
I loved Bruce Wayne’s explanation of the multi-verse. Tons of homage to the different Batmans and Supermans over the ages. They even brought back pieces of music from the older films.
Yet another super hero is about to be taught the dangers of time travel and mucking about with it. Bwahahahahaha
Rating: ★★★★.25 out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Worth Full Price To See Again!
Asteroid CityThis film won’t be for everyone. Wes Anderson’s films tend to be quirky, odd, thought-provoking, and even weird. I’ve seen a number of them, so I knew what to expect. 😋
This one crosses and blurs the lines between reality and fiction and vice versa. It is about a play called “Asteroid City” which we see played out in movie-magic reality (despite the fact it is a stage play), but also get glimpses behind the curtain. The narrator’s comment when speaking about the writer’s creative process and all the things it took months to do all condensed into a sentence or two was EPIC! (Too many films depict writing as easy, one draft affairs instantly ready for publication – which it is not!)
I think older audiences will see a lot more to like/recognize than younger ones. There are tons of nods and winks to 50’s and 60’s Hollywood SF films and famous movie stars. For example, Scarlett Johansson in the play is a Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor mix.
Some of the zingers are fast. Others are subtle and in the background (So keep your eyes peeled). They are things to be seen and assimilated yet not said forthrightly. (The paintings in the writer’s home are a perfect example. At first, they seem like typical cowboy paintings until you take a better look!)
Hubby has enjoyed some of the other films, but not this one. I did! So take from that what you will! 😂
Rating: ★★★★ out of 5 Hubby’s Rating: Better on Cable.
StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)Braden HawkFramed for a crime he did not commit. Braden Hawk seeks vengeance.
My life changed forever in a single, tragic evening.
They convicted me of killing twelve people with a single swipe of my Sword of Wind. Little did they know someone else committed the crime.
They never knew I was betrayed. Betrayed not just by an ally, but by my dear cousin. My best friend at the Celestial University of the Northeast, she fought alongside me in the Elemental War against the notorious Machis. Then, she revealed her true colors and took everything I had. My parents, my little godsister, my freedom.
Now I’ve broken out of my little cage and I will avenge their deaths, along with everything else she and the Machis took from me.
I am Braden Hawk. I am a Wind Master. I am a Sentinel. I am out for blood. And I will reveal the truth.
Movie/TV Previews 🎥Dune Part 2 Trailer 2 – can’t wait!
Wednesday Adams Season 2 is coming! Sweet!
Dr. Who 60th Anniversary Specials! Tennant is back!
Just for Fun!Noodle the Singing Cat – he’s awesome! Wait till you hear him sing!
Noodle the Cat reveals who is behind his singing voice. Awesome rendition of Live and Let Die!
The Sounds of Ancient Languages video. Pretty darn cool!
Cruel, Cruel Summer Group Promo – creepy books to chill your blood and keep you cool! 😋
Strong Women – Strange Worlds QuickReads for 7/7/23!
Stay hydrated and have a ton of fun!
Till next time!
Gloria
June 18, 2023
Virtual Tourist 06/16/23 Plus!
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsThe Secret Humankind Ch 3StoryOrigin Swap 1Virtual Tourist – Sherlock Holmes The AwakenedStoryOrigin Swap 2Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book FairScience Fiction Books That Knock You OutBookSirens Jun 2023 UF ARCSBookSirens Jun 2023 Thriller ARCSReviewers Corner!
Greetings!
Our weather the last couple of weeks has been wonky! Everything they’ve forecasted is either totally wrong or comes days before the predictions. More 2023 chaos! 😋
News/Musings
We have such weird dogs! Heck, even all the cats are odd. I wonder if we suffer from weirdness magnet? The older of the two pooches, Minerva, has a huge case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). She’d also go outside regardless of the weather—including thunderstorms. Then suddenly, she won’t go outside at all! Since she will go to the puppy park and run everywhere, and also goes out when the kids take them to play with their friends’ dogs on game night, I’m starting to wonder if there is a smell or sound we can’t hear as humans that are affecting her. But then Xena has no issues with whatever it is and is happy to romp about out there. 🐕 So I’ll say it again—dogs are weird… 😁
Thanks to everyone who sent good vibes in my editor’s direction! Progress to the madness she had to deal with has been made! Her life should now be going back to something resembling normal. YES!
Writing News
Daiyu Wu Mysteries Book 3 – The Music of Death Blues is still moving along. Expect some new hijinks and more on the Aiden Campbell side of the fence. 😎 (I did spend a couple of hours trying to find out one factoid and got mostly nowhere, though I did run across some interesting bits while I was at it, so it wasn’t a total loss. Whee!)
This round comes Chapter 3 of The Secret Humankind!
And check below for The Secret Hunmankind Book Trailer! I finally got it done! Yipee! Feel free to let me know what you think of it!
The Secret Humankind – Chapter 03
(Missed Chapters 01 and 02? No Problem! Download them here.)
“So, how did it go?”
I put my keys in the dish by the front door and glanced at my roommate. Penny asking after me? That was rare. Typically all she thought about was herself. I hoped this wasn’t a sign she was about to slip into one of her ‘moods.’
“Okay, I think. The receptionist said I should hear back in a day or two.”
I was positive I hadn’t generated any points in my favor during the interview, as my usual solution when unclear as to what to do was to stop talking. I doubted it had reflected well on me.
“The higher pay would be nice, of course.” Penny sent me a weighted glance. “I’d worry less about your ability to hold up your end of the rent.”
Good old Penny—always showing concern for others. Right…
With her long legs, red-streaked blond hair, and angular features, Penny made an impression wherever she went. And she liked it that way. The fact that I was plain and called little attention to myself suited my roommate just fine. My ability to ignore her didn’t hurt the relationship either, not that Penny ever noticed.
We might not pull each other out of a fire, but when she’d offered to give me a discount on my share of the rent in exchange for keeping the whole place clean and tidy, I couldn’t pass it up. Half the rent for a place like this had been beyond my means. With the added perk of not having to pretend to be interested in each other’s business, the arrangement suited both of us. A match made in heaven? Not on your life. But weirdly enough, it worked. “Thanks. Your concern is underwhelming.”
“As if.” Penny rolled her eyes. “Just hold up your end and we’re golden.”
I gave her a thumbs up and walked through the fancy living room with its giant-screen TV over to my plain and spartan bedroom on the left. Penny didn’t know I knew, but my roommate had gone through twelve other people before I’d found her. None had stayed over a week—sometimes their choice, sometimes not.
Self-confidence was a must for a model, but Penny took it to god-like levels. Yet she still had no idea why she couldn’t keep a roommate. But since modeling could at times be a cutthroat business and her personality and methods had left others in her wake, Penny had enemies, lots of enemies, and she often traveled for work. So she wasn’t fond of leaving the place without a body in it to discourage any childish retaliations. Enter me—convenient, dull, without any modeling aspirations. Perfect!
My phone vibrated in my pocket. “This is Julia.”
“Ah, Miss Xero. It’s Dawn Anghelescu from Remington Safe and Clean. I am pleased to inform you that you have the job if you want it.”
“Are you sure?” My face turned hot. I really must be tired to question Anghelescu’s decision like that. Idiot!
A soft chuckle came from the other end of the call. “Yes, I’m positive. I believe you’ll be a good fit.”
My cheeks only grew hotter. “Thank you. I—I’ll have to give two weeks’ notice at my current job. Though they may let me go sooner.” Harry was going to go ballistic. Too bad.
“Two weeks is perfectly acceptable. You’ll receive your offer letter via Fed Ex by tomorrow. It will include your new employee packet as well as an appointment for a full physical and hepatitis B shot—but let us know if you need to reschedule for any reason.”
“A hepatitis B shot?” I asked.
“Yes. It’s for your safety. People may not think much of CTS decon, but the work does have risks. No matter how prepared we believe we are, you can’t discount Murphy’s Law, so we cover as many bases as possible to minimize any potential hazards. It’s also an OSHA requirement.”
That made sense. There was a lot I’d need to learn.
“In a few days, you’ll receive a package with more paperwork to fill out as well as a couple of uniforms to get you started. There’ll also be a schedule and dates for a five-day training course. First time for you, but a refresher for some of our other employees.
“Welcome to our family, Miss Xero. We hope you’ll be with us for a long time to come.”
This was actually happening. I’d done it! Despite everything, I got the job! So why was my spidey sense suddenly screaming?
***
The following two weeks were a wild, emotional rollercoaster.
The offer letter arrived early the next day. After spending a listless night sure I’d imagined the whole thing, I had physical proof it was real. Then there was the salary—the salary! Twenty an hour was double what I made at the Golden Corral, with tips, and that was before the third shift differential of fifty percent kicked in. I stared at the paper with its shiny Remington Safe and Clean logo for thirty minutes, basking in the weird, giddy feeling flowing up from my toes. I had felt nothing like it before—never thought I would feel it. I was sure that only someone who’d won the lottery would have an inkling of what I was experiencing at that moment.
But when I came off the high, doubt nibbled at the back of my brain. It was too good to be true. It had to be, didn’t it? Or did it? Wonderful things happened to bad people all the time. So why couldn’t I have some luck swing my way for once?
Still, it wasn’t a big surprise when things got bumpy. I purposely didn’t turn in my notice until the end of my shift, not wanting to be around when Harry lost it.
What I hadn’t expected was him trying to make me feel like I’d betrayed him, like I owed him for putting up with me all this time. He even had the gall to try to guilt me into staying. Then there was Melody. Suddenly we were besties. She kept asking all sorts of questions—not that I answered any of them in anything but the vaguest of terms. I couldn’t tell if she was trying to get me to stay or figure out where I got the job so she could try to take it from me.
They were two of the most exhausting weeks of my life.
I had only one regret—Mrs. Conrad. I would miss seeing her. More than that, I worried about the older woman getting enough to eat, about Melody bullying her for tips she couldn’t afford, or that she wouldn’t be allowed to take some extra bread home once I was gone.
The next time she came in, I made sure we had a few private moments.
“Mrs. Conrad, make sure to sit in Mary’s area from now on when you come. She’ll take good care of you. Georgia is okay if Mary’s area is full. But you should avoid Melody at all costs.”
“Oh, dear, don’t worry about me, and call me Roxanne.” Mrs. Conrad patted my hand. “I’ll be all right. You deserve more, so I’m happy for you—though I will miss you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “Would, would you like to keep in touch? I’ll be working the late shift, but I can probably meet you somewhere for coffee now and again. Or I’d love to take you to lunch sometime. Not here, though. Unless you’d prefer not to.”
The old lady chuckled. “I’d like that. We can trade email accounts, or—are you on Facebook? You can find lots of eligible men there, you know.” She looked hopeful.
“No, sorry. Never been much for social media.”
“Ah, an old lady can but dream.” Mrs. Conrad gave me a wistful smile. “I guess I’ll have to figure out some other way to find you a promising young man.”
Ugh. I certainly hoped not. I didn’t have time to indulge in something fanciful like romance.
Pre-order the ebook at Amazon here. Paperbacks will be wide and coming soon.
Can’t wait? How about getting it free in exchange for an honest review? You can grab a copy at StoryOrigin, BookSirens, or BookSprout! 😁
Extra content today:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
3) Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Fair Group Promo
4) Science Fiction Books That Knock You Out! Group Promo
5) BookSirens Jun 2023 Urban Fantasy ARCs
6) BookSirebs Jun 2023 Thriller ARCs
Scroll on down to get all the deets. 😉
Tales From ThacStoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
Dragons, pirates, magic and deceit. Thac is no place for the faint of heart…
Grand Choosing:Kortiama longs to prove herself at the Day of Choosing. Yet that day will hold more for her than she ever bargained for, if she manages to survive.
Price of Honor:Seishin never expected to fall in love, nor that his love would hold a dark secret. The Pirate Coast is a dangerous place, one which might hold the key to his future, if it doesn’t kill him first.
Art of the Steal:Where did the enigmatic Donatello come from? Where did he learn to be a thief, artist, and swordsman? Who is the mysterious woman who broke his heart?
Fortune Tellers:Fran was not always blind, nor was she always a druid. It all came down to a fateful day and a run in with a certain blonde-haired, violet-eyed fortune teller.
Battle of Fish Eye Cove:Outnumbered two to one, Ves and Ruka engage in a desperate battle with a flight of evil dragons. Can the two dragon girls escape their deadly fate?
These and other thrilling tales are included here in this fantastic anthology from the world of Thac…
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
From Frogwares comes the latest Sherlock Holmes game – The Awakened. Basically, Sherlock Holmes meets Cthulu! Sherlock and Watson have just recently become roommates after Sherlock’s adventures in Cordona (See Sherlock Holmes Chapter 1).
The game is shorter than the others and was funded through Kickstarter as part of the company is in Ukraine. The bonuses are set in such a way as to encourage a second play-through, especially is you did not have the DLC with extra cases the first time around.
Some definite adult themes as you could expect from anything related to Cthulu. I loved a conversation Sherlock and Watson had where he asks not to include the information Watson had learned about Sherlock’s mother out of his stories – thus securing the game stay in canon with the original stories. 😋
You can see all the currently uploaded pics here.
Sherlock takes out his frustrations on Watson with cutting sarcasm. The painting behind him is the one he recovered in Cordona in SH Chapter 1.
Watson has enticed Sherlock to come to visit an old acquaintance of his who needs his help. The estate is in the background.
A missing servant’s drawing of gods from home.
A bridge is under construction at the harbor. Same as the one they fought on in one of the newer films, perhaps?
Inside the Cursed Mermaid bar – you can see their logo on the wall. (I think I lowered the resolution too much on these. 😢)
A merchant ship that had an explosion its hull the previous evening. Could it be related to all the resent people going missing? Dum Dum DUM
The clues have led Holmes and Watson to a warehouse.
Frogwares always takes care to include all sorts of lovely details to their games.
Mystery of the Dancing StatueStoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
A Paranormal Women’s Fiction (PWF) that’ll have you in stitches!
Poppy’s uncontrollable mind-reading magic makes her an outcast in the Manhattan magical community, but when an enchanted statue is stolen from an exclusive organization of witches, she’s recruited to track down the thief.
With the help of her beloved Irish wolfhound and an old friend from out of town, Poppy must follow the clues through magical New York—a mysterious lab, a fake date, and the heart of an old neighborhood—to solve the Mystery of the Dancing Statue!
This prequel novelette is part of the Midlife Undercover series and the Moseman Midlife Universe, and can be read at any time.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Fair – grab some reads in your favorite genre for Jun 2023 Group Promo!
Feed your Sci-Fi cravings with Science Fiction Books That Knock You Out Group Promo!
BookSirens available ARCs for June 2023 for Urban Fantasy! Grab them while you can!
BookSirens Thriller ARCs for June 2023! Can you handle the thrills and chills?
🌟 Shout out to Reviewers Corner! 🌟Thanks this month go to:
Black Jade – Ysobella Black
The Joy of Murder – Donna and Ysobella Black
The Secret Humankind – Margarita Bailey, My2Doxie, Delphia Von Heeder, and Margarita Rose
A great big THANK YOU to all the reviewers!
(Do you want your name in here, too? All you need is to post a one or two-sentence review at Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon, or send me a link if it’s posted elsewhere and I will add you here next round!)
I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Until next time!
Gloria
June 3, 2023
The Secret Humankind - Chapter 01
The Secret Humankiknd — Book 1 of the Discoveries of Julia Xero Urban Fantasy SeriesBlurb:She keeps her head down and cleans up messes. When the body count starts rising, will trying to make a living get her rubbed out?
Julia Xero is stuck in survival mode. After losing the only person she loved, the introverted orphan longs to escape her toxic employment for the zen of crime and trauma scene decontamination. But when she lands her dream job and is called to a bloody rooftop with a decapitated corpse, she’s horrified to come face to face with an otherworldly shark-toothed assassin.
Furious to learn she’s been enlisted by a clandestine race of beings against her will, Julia’s dismay fountains when she finds out they implanted her with a neck bomb to ensure her lips stay tightly sealed. Fit to be tied, and her thunderous confrontation with her boss hitting a deadend, the stubborn young woman begins plotting ways to leave the energy-powered entities in her dust.
Can she outwit an ancient civilization before her carotid goes boom?
The Secret Humankind is the gritty first book in The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series. If you like fish-out-of-water heroines, complex worlds, and dark truths, then you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s multi-faceted mystery.
I’m so busted!
The DART bus came to a stop and opened its doors, its familiar squeal and whoosh propelling me to my feet. I hustled out into the baking Texas sun, oppressively aware I was late for my shift. But rather than break into a run to make up time, I paused and looked around nervously, my hands and feet feeling twitchy.
What I was searching for, I had no idea. But what my friend Laurel had dubbed my ‘spidey sense’ had been blaring for the last couple of days, on and off. It didn’t help that I’d had the nagging feeling I was being followed and watched since I’d left the apartment that morning. As ridiculous as it sounded, my hunches were rarely wrong about this type of thing. I just didn’t have a clue what was setting them off.
The sun continued to glare down at me, waves of heat from the sidewalk making the air ripple. I could feel sweat already gathering in my armpits and lower back.
No one was around, unless you counted the old tom cat licking his furry leg and acting like I wasn’t even there. The doors huffed shut behind me and the bus clattered away, spouting clouds of foul-smelling exhaust.
I took another look around and slipped one hand into my pocket to grip Stitch, my five-and-a-half-inch folding switchblade. If trouble arrived, I would be ready to prove it had made a bad decision in coming after me.
Still spotting nothing and no one that shouldn’t be there, I finally broke into a jog and headed toward the Golden Corral. The familiar red-and-gold logo soon loomed before me, forcing a change in my mental gears as I approached my daily battlefield.
I opened the door and faltered for a moment, the sudden slap of cold air robbing me of breath.
“Harry, she’s here!” Melody’s sing-song mockery blared through the restaurant.
I cringed, and turned to spot my coworker at the double register near the entrance. Melody had just heralded my arrival to the one person I’d hoped to avoid. A smug look and a small inflating gum bubble met my glare.
“Julia! You’re late.” The heavyset shift supervisor rolled into view like an approaching train about to go off the rails.
“I know, I know. Sorry! The buses were off schedule. Some big wreck on I-35.” I avoided making eye contact. If Harry got going, he’d keep me from clocking in for another half hour. Losing the cash and being dressed down in front of customers wasn’t my idea of a good start to the day, which had been lousy enough already. I hurried past him to the employee area in the back of the restaurant.
Melody’s giggled snort followed, her bubble gum popping for emphasis, as I scurried away like a coward. I couldn’t afford to lose this job. Not yet.
Ever since I had applied for the third-shift job at Remington Safe and Clean, things had felt ‘off.’ If she’d still been alive, Laurel would have said I was just being paranoid—that these were only feelings brought on by the scary prospect of the awesome possibilities that would open up for me if I got the higher-paying job.
Even though I knew what she would have said, I still wished I could talk to her. I missed Laurel terribly, and felt a flicker of anger at her for dying. Yes, I was well aware she hadn’t wanted to die—but being a tiny bit mad about it was easier than giving in to the bottomless despair I felt at her loss.
Laurel Caine… Just thinking her name made me sad. She had been more than my caseworker—she had been my only real and constant friend during my formative years. And Laurel had believed in my ‘spidey sense’ even more than I did. It had caused me some problems when I was very young, but Laurel taught me to see it as a good thing. She’d always been a glass-half-full type of person. As a social worker, it was pretty much a requirement if you wanted to survive the job.
My spidey sense was a skill I had developed while growing up in foster care. Some would call it hyperawareness or hypervigilance, even though sometimes there was nothing around to trigger it. All I knew was that I trusted it, even if I didn’t always understand it. Laurel’s curiosity about it had never waned. She’d wanted to find a way to bottle it and share it with some of her other clients—a few who needed more help or common sense than she could give.
Once I’d turned eighteen and been turned loose by the system, Laurel had made sure we stayed in touch; we’d meet every two weeks or so. To me, she was family—my only family. I was seven years old when I met Laurel, and for fifteen years the woman had been the only unchanging thing in my life. But that had ended twelve months ago, when a brain aneurysm had unexpectedly taken her life. I never even got a chance to say goodbye before she passed, though I did still visit my friend occasionally at the cemetery.
I changed into my work clothes, pushing the depressing thoughts away. I stashed my shoulder bag in the locker, but pulled out my prepaid cell before locking the door. Wondering why I even bothered, I slipped the phone into my apron pocket. The people at RSC wouldn’t be calling me back—they wouldn’t give me the crime-scene cleaning job. I needed to set my sights lower if I wanted to escape from this place.
The realization was as bitter now as when I’d left the posh RSC offices in downtown Dallas a few days ago. It’d made it twice as hard to get moving this morning, to choose to willingly come to my dead-end job and put up with the endless aggravations. But I had to eat, and I had to pay rent. So that was that.
I checked that my mousy straight brown hair was still neat and tied back, that my plain face was clean, and that the company shirt and apron were on straight. There was no point in giving Harry more to complain about. At least Melody was stuck at the register. That was for the best, even though I knew she’d end up making a mess of the till. But working the register would keep her from coming over to my assigned area, sniffing around for things to tattle on me about. If only Melody would pay as much attention to her work as she paid to finding fault with others! But her thick, shining, blond tresses and protruding double-Ds kept the skank employed, much to everyone else’s continued misery. Harry had a type.
My serving area was on the restaurant’s other end, past the grill house and dessert stations. I waved at a couple of the cooks as I walked by. They weren’t close acquaintances, only fellow stalwart soldiers eking out a living in this unfriendly landscape. The scents of roast beef, fried chicken, and other foods mingled in the air. The melted contents of the chocolate fountain were already cascading, filling the air with their cloyingly sweet scent.
The day wore on, the cell phone in my pocket growing heavier by the hour and staying as silent as I had known it would. But at least the paranoid feeling of being watched had gone away.
“Something wrong, Julia?” An older woman leaned out on her cane and looked up at me sideways from behind a pair of rhinestone-studded glasses that matched her dark blue day dress.
“No. Everything’s fine, Mrs. Conrad.”
Mrs. Conrad was one of my regulars. A bit peculiar, but kind and friendly—just how I had always imagined my grandmother would be, if I’d had one. “Just have a few things on my mind today.”
“Come now, call me Roxanne,” she said. “We’ve known each other long enough to not bother with all that.” Her dark eyes were alight. “Could it be boy trouble?” Mrs. Conrad set two quarters on the table, her face hopeful.
“No, no boy trouble. Sorry.”
The wrinkled face sagged a little with disappointment. “You’re such a sweet girl. You should have a boy. If you would only smile more…”
I tried to oblige her, though it wasn’t my thing. This was a topic we had covered before, much like her wanting me to call her Roxanne instead of Mrs. Conrad. The fact that I wasn’t interested in having a relationship with a man, and felt no need to ingratiate myself to others with unfelt smiles, only seemed to encourage the old lady. “I’ll keep it in mind. Promise.”
Mrs. Conrad smiled up at me. “See, such a sweet girl.”
I walked with her as she shuffled along, making sure there were no wet spots or anything that she might trip over. A high shriek warned me of the careening five-year-old running between tables. I used my body to block him and keep him from running into the older woman and send her tumbling to the floor. Someone her age might end up with a broken hip—or something worse.
“Hey, kid! Watch where you’re going, please!” The boy bounced away, never even slowing down. He left three streaks of chocolate on my apron as a parting gift. The little git. His parents never even looked our way, much less ask him to stop running. I fought the urge to sigh.
As we neared the exit, the odd sensation of someone staring hard at me returned. I glanced in Melody’s direction, figuring it must be her this time. But the cashier was talking animatedly with one of the other regulars about the virtues of black light-enhanced nail polish. I half-turned as I opened the door for Mrs. Conrad, but couldn’t spot anyone looking in my direction. Still, the feeling hadn’t gone away.
“Julia!” Harry shouted. “Shut the freakin’ door and quit letting all the A/C out. You think we’re made of money?”
I stepped back inside and let the glass door close. Just my luck—money was the one button I never wanted to push with Harry. I plastered a contrite look on my face. “Sorry.”
“Prove it.” He loomed over me, the heat and stench coming off him worse than what was outside. “Get your ass back to work before I dock your pay.”
The sound of a plastic plate hitting the ground and bouncing around snapped his attention away from me. Harry stomped off to wave his arms around and yell at anyone who looked even one percent responsible.
Melody snorted, enjoying my embarrassment and discomfort. “Why do you waste your time on that old biddy, anyway? She tips for shit.”
Why, indeed? But then again, why not? I would be old, too, someday. Having someone watching out for me in my dotage would be nice.
Besides, I was pretty sure the small tip was more than Mrs. Conrad could afford. She only came twice a month, and ate as much as she could stuff down her gullet. And she always requested more rolls than she ate—but none were ever left behind. Making sure Harry and Melody were none the wiser was one of my few joys in life. I knew what it meant to go hungry, and I wouldn’t wish that gnawing feeling on anyone.
So I returned to my work area, not bothering to answer Melody’s question. She wouldn’t have understood, anyway. Melody stared daggers at my back for ignoring her, but thankfully, hers was the only stare I sensed, and it was one I was quite used to. But enough was enough; I needed to get out of this place pronto.
I went on break a while later, still feeling down and no closer to a solution. I jumped when the phone in my apron pocket rang loudly for attention. My hand dived for it. I could have sworn I set the thing to vibrate. If it had gone off while I was on the floor…
I shook my head and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Is this Miss Julia Xero?” The unfamiliar female voice had an undercurrent of a strange accent and sounded very young. I didn’t recognize it, but she said my last name correctly—the same pronunciation as zero—which was unusual.
“Yes, I’m Julia.”
“This is Dawn Anghelescu from Remington Safe and Clean. You filled out an application with us a few days ago for the open third shift position, I believe? We’d like you to come in for an interview and testing if you’re still interested.”
I blinked twice, sure I had heard her wrong. “Really?”
“Karamel gave you her stamp of approval, and everything else seems to be in order.”
The RSC’s receptionist had been something of a shock. The petite woman behind the boat-sized reception desk had literally squealed in utter delight when she learned I wanted to apply. She had even rushed around the desk to grab my hand. Apparently the office didn’t have many female employees—but the intensity of her reaction had still felt totally weird.
A touch of amusement filled the woman’s voice, almost as if she knew what I was thinking. “I believe you’re what we’re looking for in an employee. But this type of job isn’t for everyone, I’m afraid,” Anghelescu said. “The practical test will prove if you’ll be able to handle it.”
My spidey sense rang out louder than before. I couldn’t think of a reason why it would do that about a job, but I decided it didn’t matter. It wasn’t like it was a done deal, and if by some miracle I did get in, I would deal with any fallout then. Because at the moment, no matter what my gut told me, working anywhere else would be better than here.
***
Coming 7/20/23 in Kindle and Paperback!
Review ARCs available at StoryOrigin, BookSirens, and BookSprout!
May 6, 2023
Pay It Forward and more!
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStoryOrigin Swap 1StoryOrigin Swap 2
Fantastic FREE Fantasy Group PromoFree Fantasy Fun
Greetings!
The Year of Chaos continues! Boo! So I’ll be skipping the Mind Sieve portion of the newsletter this time around. Hoping to get back on track by next time. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
News/Musings
My poor sinuses! Though the air quality has been good down here, the pollen count has been nuts! No colds have been caught yet, so good news there, at least! Yay!
Writing newsThe banner at the top will be the series banner for The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series! The series is set in Dallas, TX and it has a lovely and varied skyline!
The edited manuscript for The Secret Humankind is running a bit late as my editor has also been suffering from 2023 the Year of Chaos, but I hope to get it in the next couple of weeks.
The date for the ebook to go live on Amazon is now locked for 7/20/23 with the paperback release the week before. I want to try to give reviewers 2 months to get done so some reviews will be live when the ebook goes live. I also hope to do a giveaway of some sort, so stay tuned!
The Secret Humankind – Book 1 of the Discoveries of Julia Xero – is now on Pre-Order at Amazon!
She keeps her head down and cleans up messes. When the body count starts rising, will trying to make a living get her scrapped?
Julia Xero is stuck in survival mode. After losing the only person she loved, the introverted orphan longs to escape her toxic employment for the zen of crime and trauma scene decontamination. But when she lands her dream job and is called to a bloody rooftop with a decapitated corpse, she’s horrified to come face to face with an otherworldly shark-toothed assassin.
Furious to learn she’s been enlisted by a clandestine race of beings against her will, Julia’s dismay fountains when she finds out they implanted her with a neck bomb to ensure her lips stay tightly sealed. Fit to be tied, and her thunderous confrontation with her boss hitting a deadend, the stubborn young woman begins plotting ways to leave the energy-powered entities in her dust.
Can she outwit an ancient civilization before her carotid goes boom?
The Secret Humankind is the gritty first book in The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series. If you like fish-out-of-water heroines, complex worlds, and dark truths, then you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s multi-faceted mystery.
Buy The Secret Humankind to match wits with monsters today!
This also means I have a new freebie short story for peeps who subscribe to the newsletter! It’s a prequel short to The Secret Humankind called Pay It Forward. The only way to get it is by signing up! I’d love for you to join!
A social worker fighting the good fight. A mousy orphan dodging trouble. Can the public servant find common ground before one of them gets permanently kicked to the curb?
Laurel Caine wants to pay it forward. As a case handler in child protective services, Laurel maintains a professional distance from her charges while using her stash of ‘secret weapons’ to keep them safe. But after she meets a thin, timid girl named Julia, keeping the child at arm’s length is proving harder than resisting the call of chocolate.
So when Julia’s current foster home wants to ditch her without cause, Laurel bayonets the rules and goes all in. But Julia is a tough nut to crack and wheedling what Laurel needs to know out of her is like pulling teeth from a bucking bronco.
Can Laurel hammer the cryptic clues together in time, or will she stay stuck in the muck and lose more than she ever imagined?
Pay It Forward is the prequel short to the Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series. If you like gutsy women, unlikely orphans, and your fiction laced with the supernatural, you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s moving tale.
Grab your free copy of Pay It Forward to foresee the future today!
Sample chapters for the novel will be coming soon!
Extra stuff I’ve shoved in here:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)
3) Fantastic FREE Fantasy Group Promo
5) Free Fantasy Fun Group Promo
More deets on all of these in their sections. 😊
StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)Winter’s WolfA teen out of options. When her ancestry manifests, will she find friendship and love… or meet death at the pack’s jaws?
Louvette Blackwood struggles to keep her temper in check. So after getting expelled yet again for trouncing a bully, she’s shocked when she inherits her grandfather’s Montana estate. Frustrated by her mother’s tight lips over her heritage, she travels north while juggling disturbing dreams of wolves and images of the dad she never knew.
Stressed to discover her granddad may have been murdered, she heads to her new school where a hallway encounter triggers a horrifying transformation. And when a handsome boy soothes her inner beast, Louvette’s blown away to learn she’s a Lupine—a birthright that puts a target on her back.
Can she embrace her terrifying legacy without falling prey to a depraved killer?
Winter’s Wolf is the bone-chilling first book in The Cursed YA paranormal mystery series. If you like heroines coming into their own, a dash of romance, and deadly foes, then you’ll adore Lou Grimes’ gripping tale.
Buy Winter’s Wolf to explore a wild destiny today!
StoryOrigin Swap 2 (Freebie)Dragondale AcademyMagic isn’t real, and dragons don’t exist. Right?
Growing up in foster care wasn’t easy on Ava. At eighteen, she left all that behind, and prepared to start her new life.
But she never expected it to take the turn it did.
Daughter of a druid, she finds herself invited to study at the Dragondale Academy of Druidic Magic, and thinks maybe she’s found the thing she’s been looking for her whole life – a home.
But not everything is as it seems at Dragondale. She’s years behind the other students, and an outcast in a foreign country. And there’s only one thing on her mind.
She never thought she was much of an animal person – until she met Dardyr, the dragon with a dark past. Together, can they heal each other, or is there a reason he’s offlimits?
If you like magic academies, fun characters, and adventures, you’ll love Dragondale Academy: The First Semester.
For the first of our two May 2023 Group Promos, I bring you – Fantastic FREE Fantasy!
Our second group promo for May 2023 is Free Fantasy Fun!
Summer is almost here! 😲 Stay cool, ya’ll!
Till next time!
Gloria
April 22, 2023
Virtual Tourist 04/21/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStoryOrigin Swap 1Virtual Tourist – Coral IslandStoryOrigin Swap 2Soul of the Paranormal Group PromoYoung Adult Freebies Group PromoReviewers Corner!
Greetings!
I hope your allergies haven’t been getting the best of you! Colds seem to abound everywhere at the moment. We’ve felt unusually nasally but have managed not to get any colds so far. *knockonwood*
News/Musings
Our dog Minerva does one of the sneakiest and cutest things EVER! She’s a ninja dog in multiple ways—the quietest dog ever when she wants to be! But there’s a trick she does to tease the younger Xena that is too cute! She can take a small stick or stick treat and flip them sideways with her tongue and hide the whole thing in her mouth! Then she will flip it the other way to show you she has it and then hides it again. Isn’t that adorable? What a tease!
Writing News
Daiyu Wu Mysteries Book 3 – The Music of Death Blues is slowly forming – I’m up to 10K words so far. Doing research on Deep Ellum, Freedman’s Town, and Blues! Research can be fun, eye-opening, and frustrating! I do love learning new stuff though. 😍
You would not believe the agony authors sometimes have to go through with regard to covers. There’s a fine line between what you want and what the market expects… So both Pay It Forward’s cover and The Secret Humankind have changed. Purple is currently the rage for Book 1’s, leather jackets are a must, and so are fighting poses. The placement of typography also needs to be consistent across a series, so since one changed, the other had to, too.
So below is the new cover for Pay It Forward and a sneak peek at new and improved The Secret Humankind cover. 😁
Edits for the novel should be in this weekend. *fingerscrossed*
Part 2 of the freebie prequel short Pay It Forward was in the newsletter this round. If you want to catch part 3 (and links of parts 1 and 2) make sure to sign up for the newsletter! 😎
Extra content today:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (Freebie)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
3) Soul of the Paranormal Group Promo
4) Young Adult Freebies Group Promo
Scroll on down to get all the deets. 😉
The OtherSide ChroniclesStoryOrigin Swap 1 (Freebie)
When the Magi find a pair of children on the battlefield wearing ancient relics they realize that there is more to them than meets the eye. They are from Otherside, a world of mythical creatures and magic, and are the only ones able to wield the Relics of Skolt.
Separated and each thinking the other dead, Stella and Darc are raised by the Magi in secret to be ruthless assassins for a cause they aren’t able to name.
Why are they kept in the dark about their pasts and away from each other? Too many questions and not enough answers will lead them to a shocking discovery.
**This is part 1 of a serial fantasy set of short stories**
Coral Island
This super cute game comes from Stairway Games. For those of you who have played Stardew Valley, the game will seem very similar. I would say Coral Island is Stardew Valley 2.0!
The game is still in beta, but a chunk of it is complete and for sale. It has/does everything from Stardew Valley and more. The graphics are great and the look and feel (and decor options) are vastly greater. There is even a riff of the theme song from Stardew Valley that pops up here and there. Super cute!
You can see all the currently uploaded pics here.
Start screen – you can see the quality just from that! You do things on land and underwater! There are even merpeople!
Tell me that boat does not look like Heyhey from Moana! ROFL. That’s the ship that brings you to the island to get your inherited farm from your grandfather. Heh heh heh.
The town meeting in front of Pufferfish—an oil company wanting to use the island to house its workers. Islanders are NOT happy about this. Especially as their tourism and businesses have been greatly hurt due to an oil spill from a nearby island. Dum Dum DUM!
There are several sacred trees scattered around the island. There are also spirit gods and a ghost!
Dock area by the two beaches at Coral Island. Professor Lin will get you started with scuba gear to help clean the waters. Lovely graphics, no?
As you progress, new storylines/paths will open up! This tree opens the first path toward the spirit village.
A temple/shrine north on the lake on the island. She will grant power and rewards for offerings which are grouped by type—gathering, fishing, growing, cooking, etc.
The entrance to the mines! There are four entryways off the main cabin. Each corresponds to an element and a spirit. Seemingly, fire trapped three of the others. The statues by the back are the trapped spirits. You can open more doors and free a spirit when you work your way down to level 40.
Every Trick in the SpellbookStoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
The fate of Segmimn’s School of Sorcery hangs in the balance and Astrid is determined to tip the scales.
In the mystical mountain town of Quincy, California, Astrid Saunders is the most beloved professor at Segmimn’s School of Sorcery. She manages to champion students and teachers alike while deftly keeping herself out of the spotlight.
But when her childhood friend-turned-rival, Claudia, is charged with murder, Astrid can’t shake the feeling she didn’t do it, and no matter how badly she’d like to see Claudia eat a slice of humble pie, she just can’t walk away.
Speaking up for a spoiled princess will put all eyes on Astrid, and right in the middle of the drama she despises.
All the clues point to Claudia, but something isn’t right. There are too many secrets surrounding the people involved, and those people go too high up for Astrid to be content with simple answers.
She’s going to prove Claudia was framed because if she can’t, Segmimn’s will be embroiled in scandal, be forced to close its doors, and Astrid will lose the closest family she’s ever known.
With so much at stake, it’s going to take everyone working together to solve the puzzle. Rag-tag students, a cranky old sorceress, and even Astrid’s intuitive dog find a way to help. The detective assigned to the case is trying to keep it professional despite the chemistry he feels with Astrid,
And Astrid, well, she’s in the middle⏤the reluctant champion of a fight she didn’t choose but one she can’t afford to lose.
Paranormal and Urban Fantasy titles are up for grabs in the Soul of the Paranormal Group Promo!
There’s still time to grab some Young Adult Freebies in this April Group Promo!
🌟 Shout out to Reviewers Corner! 🌟Thanks this month go to:
The Joy of Murder – Beckyb58, Rebecca Brown, Louise, Louisesk, and PhireAngel
The Joy of Murder Audiobook – Ysobella Black
Romeo’s Revenge – Linda Kimura and Louise
A great big THANK YOU to all the reviewers!
(Do you want your name in here, too? All you need is to post a one or two-sentence review at Bookbub, Goodreads, Amazon, or send me a link if it’s posted elsewhere and I will add you here next round!)
Have an awesome week! See you next time!
Gloria
April 8, 2023
Mind Seive 04/07/23
Table of ContentsNews/MusingsStoryOrigin Swap 1Mini Movie/Show ReviewsMovie/TV Show PreviewsStoryOrigin Swap 2Just for Fun!Soul of the Paranormal Group PromoYoung Adult Freebies Group PromoStrong Women – Strange Worlds
Greetings!
Between the temp changes, pressure changes, and very high pollen counts, we’re all struggling not to get sick at our house! I hope you’re feeling well!
News/Musings
The cats and dogs seem to have finally reached a plateau of tolerance. YAY! 😍 We still have to keep an eye on them, but the cats have areas the dogs can’t get into and that’s helped a lot. I just wish Boy had not reverted to bullying Starsong again. 😢 I would have thought after him getting ‘bullied’ by the dogs, he would have learned something, but noooo!
Still, improvements for the win! 😁 Yay!
Writing newsI got Pay It Forward (short story prequel) back from the editor Wednesday and I busted buns to get part 1 ready for the newsletter. Not yet subscribed to the newsletter? Well, there’s no time like the present! 😋 You can subscribe here. (There’ll be links in the next newsletter for those who missed part 1)
The editor should have the manuscript for The Secret Humankind (Book 1 of the Discoveries of Julia Xero) back to me in the next two weeks, so I will be setting up the preorder page for the Kindle version presently. (Can’t do it with paperbacks! Boo!) I will be sharing a sneak peek at the cover soon!
The publication date will be 7/20/23. *fingerscrossed*
(Pre-editor teaser of the week!)
The Arts District’s train station was more of an open-air stopping point for the DART Rail than what most people thought of as a station. Though many riders were disembarking, those waiting to board the next train were less than a handful. Even so, Julia found herself staring intently at each one, wondering which, if any, were part of this Secret Humankind. Were they spying on her even now?
Extra stuff I’ve shoved in here:
1) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)
2) StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)
3) StoryOrigin Swap 1 (Freebie)
4) Soul of the Paranormal Group Promo
5) Young Adult Freebies Group Promo
6) Strong Women Strange Worlds Rapid Fire Reading
More deets on all of these in their sections. 😊
StoryOrigin Swap 1 (UBL)The Ring KeeperCaught between twin brothers—one courting demons and sorcery, the other the ruler of an empire protected by magic, Ana bears a ring of unknown powers, her legacy from a mother she never knew.
Discovering the ring’s ability makes her both a valuable member of the emperor’s court and a target for abduction by his jealous brother. Soon Ana finds herself betrayed and kidnapped, ultimately held at the mercy of the emperor’s twin and his dark secrets.
The ring exposes a web of love, hatred and unimaginable betrayal. Though its power drains her life force, the fate of the empire depends on her ability to unlock the ring’s secrets. She must find the will and strength to use it, for its magic can save the lives of everyone Ana has come to love. Or it can destroy them completely…
For fans of Annette Marie’s Taming Demons for Beginners.
Mini Movie/TV Reviews 🎥★ – Why did I go see this? Why?!
★★ – Showed promise but on execution, crashed
★★★ – Enjoyable, just don’t look under the hood too closely
★★★★ – A great film, totally worth seeing!
★★★★★ – 🤯 Too fabulous for words!
Despite my best intentions, there are no Mini Movie Reviews this time around. I did see stuff, but time got away from me. DOH!
Apologies! 😔
StoryOrigin Swap 2 (UBL)Murder at the Vineyard InnInnkeeper and vineyard owner, Avery Parker, is thrilled to play a part in the town’s long-awaited wedding.
Guests from near and far have gathered for what was meant to be a joyous union.
But instead of ringing toasts and happy cheers, a mysterious death casts a pall over the festivities.
When a dead body is discovered in her newly opened inn, Avery’s dear friend is quickly put at the top of the suspect list.
Now it’s up to Avery to prove her friend’s innocence and discover the identity of the murderer before they strike again.
It’s a race against time that could prove deadly if Avery fails.
Will she be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late?
Wine pairings and irresistible recipes included!
Movie/TV Previews 🎥Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken Trailer – oooh! Turning fairy tales on their heads. Looks fun!
Elemental Official Trailer – the more I see, the cuter it looks!
Blue Beetle Movie Trailer – looks like they are turning this one family-centric like Shazam. Should be fun! (This incarnation is a lot different from the one in the comics back in the 80’s…but I am game!)
StoryOrigin Swap 3 (Freebie)WithdrawalWhy Did The Koru Leave? And where have they gone?
When the enigmatic but powerful Koru unexpectedly abandon their embassy on Proxima Centauri, Vik—a one-time activist and war hero—and his shadowy friend Copeland attempt to find out if this is a prelude to a war that would prove disastrous for humanity.
Their search for answers leads to dangerous discoveries. Will Vik now risk his marriage and comfortable life if it means a chance to finally find out the truth?
Just for Fun!Simon’s Cat 15th Anniversary Video! – the top skits colorized! So cute!
UFO Beginning and Ending Sequences – British SF show from 1970-1971 – such high hopes they had for 1980’s tech! 😁 They came up as a subject this week. This theme has stuck with me since I saw it as a teen. Commander Striker was such a hottie! 😝 (The ending theme version is super psychedelic!)
Intro video of a new Jeff Duhnam character! Url. LOL. I just got that. DOH. (U R L) 😋
Soul of the Paranormal Group Promo – tingles and chills abound!
Young Adult Freebies Group Promo – all sorts of flavors for your eyes!
Strong Women – Strange Worlds QuickReads for 04/20/23. Sign up early!
I hope you and your family have a great Easter! 🐰🐣
Till next time!
Gloria
