2018 AFL Grand Final

Such a very close game all the way from halfway through the first quarter.

Both teams played superbly. In the end, West Coast Eagles beat Collingwood Magpies by a narrow margin of a few points.

Congrats to both team for an awesome game.

Final Score:

Eagles: 79
Magpies: 74

VBT – THE PSP CHRONICLES

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tim Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Follow the struggles, joys and sorrows on one man’s personal journey as he chronicles his travails with early onset dementia and a rare, terminal brain disease- no treatment, and no cure.

Read an Exerpt

Now the worst part of the exam was about to be begin. The technician did a series of checks making sure the instrument was properly calibrated the light was working, and the monitor was in the correct position, so Trish and I could see the procedure. The nasal violation began. Up my right nostril – every inch felt like a foot – and slowly down the back of my mouth. It was then I learned I had a strong gag reflex.

About the Author:

T.J. Brown-an ordinary family man with an extraordinary story. He is from Toronto, On but has called the small town of Ayr, in southwestern Ontario home for the past twenty-five years. He worked in the automotive parts manufacturing sector until five years ago when he had to leave work life due to illness. Tim has been blogging his PSP journey, sharing his personal experiences with this disease as well as FTD – frontotemporal dementia. His readership spans the globe. Through his efforts, it is Tim’s hope to give voice to those suffering from PSP and similar diseases that no longer have a voice of their own. Advocating for those affected… patients, spouses, families and friends. Always, with the goal of raising awareness, understanding and support to further research into prime of life brain diseases. He has made his story universal, yet personal and relatable.

Website: http://www.timbrownauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pspchronicles/

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/PSP-Chronicles-Tim-Brown/dp/022880342X

Tim Brown will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour

a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT – Gun Kiss

Gun Kiss
by Khaled Talib

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GENRE: Thriller

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BLURB:

The United States media is abuzz with news of the mysterious disappearance of Hollywood movie star, Goldie St. Helen.

Ex-Delta Force Blake Deco receives a tip from a Mexican friend that a drug lord, obsessed with the beautiful actress, is holding her captive in Tijuana.

With the help of a reluctant army friend, Blake mounts a daring rescue.

What he doesn’t expect is to have feelings for Goldie—or that a killer is hunting them.

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Excerpt:

Clad in tactical black, Blake rested on his chest in the dark chaparral. He watched his curly-haired friend beside him maneuver the tiny dragonfly drone with his phone. The luminous screen showed its flight path toward Dai Lo’s hacienda in the northeastern outskirts of Tijuana, nothing around it for miles.

The drone sent back images of the 375,000 square feet compound, including some of Dai Lo’s men patrolling. It hovered in front of the three-floor mansion built with stacked balconies and double-hung windows. It then swooped down to a porch with three tall columns under a pediment. Finding no entry point, Jack raised it up again.

“I’m going to circle behind,” Jack said.

“Do that,” Blake responded.

“You going to kill Dai Lo?” Jack asked.

“Not unless I have to. I’m not an assassin,” Blake said.

“So why did you give Chavez the impression you will?”

“If Chavez knew what I was thinking, he wouldn’t give me the weapons. Then how are we going to save the actress?”

“You better know what you’re doing, Blake.”

“If you still want to go on that European tour, start thinking positive.”

The tiny drone went around the mansion and flew past a lit pool, buffeting over a garden and an annex connected by a sheltered catwalk. It moved sideways until it came to a lit corner window on the third level. The visual zoomed closer to the windowsill and sent back an image that left both men recoiling with gasps.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Khaled Talib is a former journalist with local and international exposure. He has authored three thrillers since 2014.

The author’s works have been praised by NY Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds, NY Times bestselling author Ruth Harris, USA Today bestselling author Jon Land, NY Times bestselling author Keith Thomson, K.J. Howe, and Jon McGoran.

His debut thriller, Smokescreen, was listed as one of the six “boundary-breaking indies” in 2016 by the IndieReader. His second novel, Incognito, won the Silver Award for the AuthorsDB Book Cover Contest 2017. Gun Kiss is his third novel.

Khaled, who is also a member of the International Thriller Writers, resides in Singapore.

Authors website : http://www.khaledtalibthriller.com
Twitter account: https://twitter.com/KhaledTalib
Author Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/khaled.talib/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khaledtalibbooks
Author Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B00DYPSB72?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6940359.Khaled_Talib

Gun Kiss (YouTube) Book Trailer

GUN KISS Buy links:

The book will be on sale for only $0.99.

Author website direct: http://khaledtalibthriller.com/books/
Amazon Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/823918
Kobo
https://www.amazon.com/Gun-Kiss-Khaled-Talib-ebook/dp/B07CVGKQY6
B&N
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gun-kiss-khaled-talib/1127553149?ean=2940155243199
Ibooks/Apple
https://itunes.apple.com/nz/book/gun-kiss/id1380716623?mt=11

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Khaled Talib will be awarding a Amazon Fire 7 8GB tablet to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. The prize is limited to U.S. and Canada only.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire – a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview With … Khaled Talib

Welcome Khaled. Tell us about you as a person.

I’m intuitive and stubborn, but that doesn’t mean I won’t offer a lending ear. I’m considered serious by many, but that’s because I know who will appreciate my humor and who won’t. I’m not loud and I like my privacy, so when people obtusely ask me personal questions, which is common where I live, they’ll never see me again.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

George Clooney. I like his style and temperament. I enjoy watching him in all kinds of movies. He’s a cool and sensitive guy. I remember reading about him once settling the bill of another customer at a restaurant in Berlin. He thought he and his friends were noisy and he was concerned that they might’ve disturbed the customer’s peace.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

Gun Kiss is an accidental book. After completing my second thriller, Incognito, wasn’t sure if I could write another book. I couldn’t sleep one night because my legs were cramping. While rubbing them with an ointment, I watched an old comedy starring a famous actress.

Suddenly, an idea came to write a novel. I started working on it immediately. It’s a fun and breezy novel set in southern California. I can’t say what movie or which actress inspired me to write the book, at least not now. It’s my little secret.

Gun Kiss is a story about a former Delta Force soldier who runs a taco restaurant in Sunset Boulevard. He wears a few hats. He gets into trouble after rescuing a famous movie star from an obsessed drug lord in Tijuana. He finds himself falling in love with her, but their moments together are constantly interrupted by the drug lord stalking them and killing everyone around them to exact revenge.

What is your writing process? 

I can write anytime with music or without. Sometimes I listen to music with a certain tempo to boost my energy level, especially for action scenes. When I do listen to music, it doesn’t have to be something that was recently released. It could be from any era. After all, music is music. I also stockpile chocolates to boost my endorphins. I don’t force myself to write if I’m tired. I’ll just take a break and watch some TV and resume the next day.

Tell us about your main character:

Blake Deco is a fictional character. He lives in Hollywood Hills and he’s been trying to break into the movie business as a screen writer. He’s not been successful. He joined the army for a while before setting up a taco restaurant in Sunset Boulevard. Blake is a slightly tense personality with money concerns. He’s worried about the restaurant’s overheads. So, he also moonlights for Homeland Security and the FBI as an artefact hunter. In the beginning of the story, he is tasked by the FBI to recover the Deringer that shot Abraham Lincoln, which has been stolen by a Russian military general in the Balkans. At the same time, he’s compassionate, which explains why he decides to rescue the abducted movie star. It wasn’t part of any assigned mission, but something he chose to do on his own.

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.

James Marsden. I see him as Blake Deco. His expressions are not rigid and he’s capable of expressing different emotions. My protagonist is complex; he can be funny and angsty at the same time. He’s also action-driven and well-toned. He’s neither big nor small.

What are you working on next?

I’m working on a thriller set in South Australia. It’s called Spiral. I used to manage the public relations account of the South Australian Tourism Commission for the Singapore office. My duties included bringing journalists to the State, so I’m familiar with the region. Spiral is a mystery thriller that introduces a Sydneysider working in a Clare Valley vineyard. One night, he stumbles on a dead body…

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?

You can’t afford to detach yourself from the marketing and promotion side. It means spending time every single day creating awareness through social media platforms, advertising on book promotion sites, and pitching to book bloggers. I also manage an email newsletter that goes out to my subscribers. I feel the newsletter is most important because you’re in direct contact with your readers.

What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?

The Bone Shroud by Jean Rabe. It’s a thriller about an archivist at the Chicago Field Museum who travels to Italy to attend the wedding of her brother. However, the occasion turns into a desperate search for historical relics, and a struggle to stay ahead of a killer.

Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?

I create my own book trailers. Please let me know what you think of the one I did for Gun Kiss.

You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?

If I could be like Superman and fly, I would protect every child on earth.

Any final thoughts?

I want to write more stories. I hope I can.

Book Blast – SOFT IRON

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Megan is giving away a prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Bia is the goddess of strength and compulsion, but those traits have her trapped in iron. A simple kiss could break the curse, but who wants to kiss a statue? Especially a statue of a woman stabbing a man in the heart? She knows better than to hope her celestial mate will find her, but what if her hopes are justified?

Oliver, a very quiet, geeky guy, knows his way around fabric and fashion. He excels at his job of dressing mannequins for storefronts, but he’s lonely. When he sees the statue of Bia, he’s smitten. She’s everything—strong, confident and sexy—everything he wishes to be. What will happen if the shy man overcomes his fears and gives in to his heart’s desire? He just might be able to harness the power of the goddess.

Read an Excerpt

©Megan Slayer, 2018 All Rights Reserved

He waited until the door closed and peeked around the closest boxes. He didn’t want anyone listening in to his conversation. Call him overly private, but he liked keeping some things to himself.

Oliver whipped his phone from his pocket and snapped a few shots of the statue for future reference. He draped his bag over his shoulder, then hesitated.

Oliver turned and ascended the ladder one more time. He stared into her black eyes. He didn’t know what to say, but he felt he owed her a good-bye of sorts. “I’ll do my best for you to make you beautiful,” he said, then pressed his lips to hers. His mouth tingled and he bit back a moan. He’d never forget the statue. He’d see her again, but still she was one in a million.

Oliver eased away from her and touched his mouth. “Good night, Bia. Until tomorrow.”

He climbed down the ladder and headed out of the stockroom. He’d find the best dress and make her look stunning. Now he had to get her out of his mind so he could focus on his other jobs. He waved at Kratos, who was on the phone, then left the store. His favorite consignment shop tended to have summery dresses in stock and always the one-of-a-kind garments he preferred. If he played his cards right, he’d be able to find what he needed, get the statue dressed, and still make it to his six o’clock appointment before Matilde had a snit fit. Time to hit the stores.

About the Author:

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Sign up for the newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/xgjmjumygmgj

Website: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Blog: https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com/

Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer/

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Slayer/e/B008BJCFSC

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MeganSlayer

AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY:

A prize pack featuring a necklace made by the author

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Promo – Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical

Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical

Do you believe in love at first swipe?

Presented by Something Blue Productions

Fresh from it’s sold out premier season at the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, ‘Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical’ is back for a second date!

Written by Mattie Mcleod and Thomas Bradford, ‘Tinder Tales‘ tells the story of Abby, a hopeless romantic so stuck in her own head that she can’t simply date someone. When Abby meets a guy who she thinks is ‘The One’, we not only see the effect their blossoming relationship has on her self-esteem, but also the affect her self-esteem has on her relationship. Her Insecurities and Doubts manifest themselves as characters, her Mother’s helpful advice haunts her and just when it seems like it can’t get any worse, Dr. Over-Analyze comes out to play.

Tinder Tales is presented in one act with a catchy pop score, heavily stylized movement and melodramatic fantasies. This raunchy original show delights in satirizing both romantic comedies and online dating, even as it succumbs to all their worst tropes. Through the lense of digital dating, the show explores anxiety, sexuality, love and mental health in a modern age.

We invite you to be a part of a world that is as comical as it is touching, and as cringe-inducing as it is relatable. With direction by Clary Riven, choreography by Kirra Sibel and musical direction by Thomas Bradford, ‘Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical‘ is proudly presented by Something Blue Productions.

Highlights from the premier Melbourne International Comedy Festival:

What the critics are saying…

 “The audience was constantly in stitches” – Weekend Notes

“Laughs of recognition rose in waves from the crowd…” – Squirrel Comedy

“Perhaps the loudest applause should go to the creators of this show….Tinder Tales is a stroke of musical comedy brilliance.” –  Theatre Press

Bookings highly recommended.

Please be advised this show contains adult themes, sexual references and mature language. Not recommended for people under the age of 15. Parental discretion recommended for people under the age of 18.

Tinder Tales – A New Australian Musical

Dates: 24th – 28th of October, 2018

Time: 24th – 27th at 7pm, 28th at 8pm

Cost: $35/@$32 (plus booking fees)

Venue: The Loft, Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel Street Prahran.

Tickets: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/tinder-tales

Media contact for interview arrangements, high-res photos, bios and further info:

Anne Gasko
Producer
Something Blue Productions
Ph: +61-405-025-321
Email: anne@somethingblueproductions.com 

Book Blast – PRISCILLA

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlene will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

After losing her father and husband in a mine disaster, Priscilla Heartsel faces poverty and eviction from her home by a heartless mine owner. Tricked into a bank robbery gone wrong, Braxton Gamble finds himself shot and unconscious in Priscilla’s bed. Can they survive long enough to find a love more precious than gold?

 

 

 

Read an Excerpt

April 9, 1844, Wildcat Ridge, Utah

Priscilla Heartsel wiped her bloody fingers on her long, filthy dress. She was kneeling in a hole, one of several she had dug with her own hands, seeking, searching….

Papa. Robert, where are you?

She sat back on her heels and glanced around. Several other women and children remained on the hill of rubble that, earlier that day, had been a working gold mine. The Lucky Lady. What a travesty.

“Priscilla?”

Her friend, Thalia, climbed the ragged hill toward her, holding her skirts up out of the dirt.

“You need to go home and sleep, Priscilla,” Thalia said when she reached her. “You need to eat.”

“No. I have to find Robert and Papa.” She began clawing at the earth again and uncovered a shoe. Brown, not black like Robert’s. Not Papa’s either. She thought of the smile her husband had given her that morning as she’d tied his shoes before he left for his law office. If only he’d stayed there.

Why did you have to come to the mine? Why didn’t you stay here? With me? Wasn’t it bad enough that I lost Papa? Why did I have to lose you, too?

Thalia grabbed her wrists to stop her. “They’re gone. They’re all gone. All our men, some of the women and even children. Gone.”

Priscilla managed one word. “Jeffrey?”

Thalia nodded, and a tear escaped to run down her cheek.

Priscilla pulled her friend into her arms. Poor Thalia and Jeffrey were to be married in May. Priscilla wanted to cry. For Thalia, for herself, for all the widows and children left behind by this horrible, horrible tragedy. The need was a pain in her chest, in her throat. Her entire body felt ready to explode from withholding her grief.

Grown women do not cry, Priscilla. We keep our emotions to ourselves. No one wants to hear about your pain. They have their own.

Thalia drew away, tears raining down her cheeks now, but kept hold of Priscilla’s grubby hands. Looking down at them, Priscilla noticed her wedding ring was gone.

About the Author

Charlene Raddon’s first serious attempt at writing fiction came in 1980 when a vivid dream drove her to drag out a typewriter and begin writing. Because of her love of romance novels and the Wild West, her primary genre is historical romance. Kensington Books originally published five of her novels. These were later released as eBooks by Tirgearr Publishing. Currently, Charlene is an Indie author with . She also designs book covers, specializing in western historical.

Website: https://charleneraddon.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charleneb.b.raddon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/craddon

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Charlene-Raddon/e/B000APG1P8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1232154.Charlene_Raddon

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G9N8PC7/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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Charlene will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT – A REASON TO STAY

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Linda Charles will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Rachael, a successful lawyer in Sydney, returns to her foster family and the only place that ever felt like home: Mindalby, to help with the failing family business, the town’s bakery. With the cotton gin’s closure, all businesses are struggling, and it looks like the only option is to close up the bakery and hope to sell. But when Rachael returns, she realises that her skills give her other options: refreshing and revitalising the bakery and a chance to rekindle her love of baking.

Irishman, Mike O’Malley is a staying kind of man, looking to settle down in Mindalby with a woman who loves the wild country and wants to get involved in the community. Rachael is not that girl, but the attraction is hard to deny. Determined to show Rachael that Mindalby can be a home, he draws her out into the community and deeper into his life. But when it comes time to make a decision, can he trust Rachael to risk her heart?

Read an Excerpt

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I don’t play ball.’

He hugged the ball close to his chest. He understood that. None of his sisters were into sport either. But, he loved his sports; it was a major part of his life.

‘What do you play then? I’m up for anything.’

She rubbed her hands against the afternoon chill, as her clear blue eyes met his. His heart hammered. They were the prettiest eyes he’d ever seen, and if he wasn’t careful his concentration would take a serious hit, and he’d sound like some daft prick.

‘I’m not very sporty. How did they go?’

Mike shook his head. ‘Another loss,’ he all but whispered.

She gave him a soft smile. ‘Oh, that happens. Are you having a reconnoitre with them?’

His lips quivered, but he couldn’t hold back. He let out a belly laugh.

She’s gorgeous. A one-off.

About the Author:

Linda Charles is a contemporary romance writer who lives in Newcastle in the Hunter Valley, NSW. She was born and raised in Sydney where she studied and taught drama for many years. She loves to read, travel and enjoys a good conversation. Following a move to the Hunter Valley she started to write her own stories. Linda is a member of the Hunter Romance Writers, Romance Writers of Australia, and Romance Writers of America.

You can visit Linda at her Webpage; or follow her on Twitter; Facebook, or Pinterest.

Website: http://www.lindacharles.com.au/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindacharles167

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Linda-Charles-1009142862442443/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com.au/lindacharles165/

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Linda Charles will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pre-Pub Blast – Darkest Before the Dawn

About the Author

Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand. He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People and has written a number of short stories that have published in various publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome magazine.

The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Other books in the series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune and A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web was released in 2017 and the newest book in the series.is Darkest Before the Dawn.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

About the Book:

Title: DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Pages: TBA
Genre: Mystery

BOOK BLURB:

Darkest Before the Dawn is the latest adventure of Sgt. Winston Windflower, a Mountie who finds himself surrounded by a new family and a new life in tiny Grand Bank, Newfoundland. There are signs of trouble that may disturb his pleasant life, including a series of unsolved break-ins and the lack of supports for young people in the most trying time of their lives. But there are always good friends, good food and the sense that if we all pull together, we can find a way to get through even the darkest days.

Ghosts, mysterious deaths, and a new character enliven the pages as Windflower and Tizzard and the other police officers awaken the secrets that have been lying dormant in this sleepy little town. The deeper they dig the more they find as the criminals they seek dive deeper behind the curtains of anonymity and technology. But more than anything, this is a story of love and loss, of growing up and learning how to grow old gracefully. It is also about family and community and looking after each other. Of not giving up hope just before the dawn.