Author Archives: authorcamilson
VBT – Vengeance of Grimbald
Vengeance of Grimbald
by Richard Hacker
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GENRE: Fantasy Thriller
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BLURB:
Addison and Jules, members of the League, a secret alchemist society of Inkers who protect the time continuum, believe they defeated their enemy, Cuthbert Grimwald, known to them as Kairos. When he resurfaces filled with vengeance, intent on destroying the League, and acquiring the Alchimeia, a book of such power the League has hidden it for millennia, Grimwald leaves a path of destruction across centuries. As he quests for absolute control of reality, Addison and Jules pursue him through time and death in a desperate struggle to save the world from his vengeance.
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EXCERPT
“You’ve done well my friends. A bit of a shaky start, but in the end, I am pleased with the result.”
Jules glanced to Addison, who was also pulling himself up to stand. “What are you talking about? You could have killed us.”
“If I wanted you dead, we wouldn’t be talking.” Boggy raised his hands as if to parry their blows. “Today’s lesson is partnership. Do you see?”
Addison slowly rotated an arm with a grimace. “Keep talking.”
“Inking is a dangerous enterprise. You find yourself in a foreign world in an earlier time, often fighting to survive long enough to complete your mission. But the physical dangers of inking do not hold a candle to the emotional and psychological dangers. Your consciousness, the essence of your being, occupies the mind of another. With each passing moment, a small part of who you are slips out of your grasp unless you master the relationship between Inker and host. You must die to live, right? But all living creatures naturally gravitate toward life and away from death. The world of an Inker is therefore a paradox of conflicting realities. Without a partner, you struggle alone against insurmountable odds. Partners have each other’s backs, keeping the hosts alive and the mission viable. And upon completion, partners ensure their hosts die. Because we never leave an Inker behind. Never.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links
Richard Hacker, lives and writes in Seattle, Washington after living many years in Austin, Texas. In addition to the science fiction/fantasy novels of The Alchimeía Series, his crime novels ride the thin line between fact and fiction in Texas. Along the way, his writing has been recognized by the Writer’s League of Texas and the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. As a judge in literary contests shuch as PNWA and ChicLit, and as a freelance development editor, he enjoys the opportunity to work with other writers. In addition, he is the Sci-Fi/Fantasy editor for the Del Sol Review. DIE BACK was his first novel in the Alchimeia series.
Del Sol Press books by Richard Hacker are available at Amazon
The Alchimeía Series
DIEBACK: Book One
VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD: Book Two
Other books by Richard Hacker:
Nick Sibelius Crime Series
KILL’T DEAD OR WORSE
BUZZARD BAIT
ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE
Follow the author at www.richardhacker.com
Or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWHacker
Amazon buy link:
https://www.amazon.com/Vengeance-Grimbald-Alchime%C3%ADa-Richard-Hacker/dp/0999842595/
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Richard Hacker will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Richard, thanks for being my guest. Tell us about you as a person.
I’d say people who know me well, know me as creative and willing to fall flat on my face. So I took up drawing last year after not drawing anything but stick figures since childhood. I kept a sketch journal on a recent trip to Europe. Urban sketching is the sort of thing where you’re putting yourself out in the world. You’re standing on a busy street drawing the scene. People come by to chat, to see what I’m up to. It’s still a bit scary, but I keep on doing it. And what a great way to see the world with new eyes! Another thing that takes me out of my comfort zone is singing in a vocal jazz ensemble. I’ve always enjoyed singing—choral music & singer-songwriter music with a guitar, but doing a scat solo in a performance is pretty challenging (to me, least). One other thing most people don’t know about me is that was an instrument rated private pilot. I’m not active anymore, but flying is a peak experience in my life.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Barak Obama. Have a beer, shoot some hoops, talk about the world. What a day that would be.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Six hundred years after a fifteenth century scryer gains the alchemical knowledge to create a dark future in his own image, Addison Shaw inherits a destiny: to fight this ancient war that threatens all he loves with extinction. Using an alchemical pen, he writes himself into past lives, leaving his body in the present. Upon completion of his mission, he must die in order to break the link and return home. Addison, and his inking partner, Jules, are members of the League, a secret alchemist society of Inkers who protect the time continuum. They believe they defeated their enemy, Cuthbert Grimwald, known to them as Kairos. When he resurfaces filled with vengeance, intent on destroying the League, and acquiring the Alchimeia, a book of such power the League has hidden it for millennia, Grimwald leaves a path of destruction across centuries. As he quests for absolute control of reality, Addison and Jules pursue him through time and death in a desperate struggle to save the world from his vengeance.
What is your writing process?
My writing process is intentionally unstructured. I’ve got lots of colleagues who like to have a certain environment, like yourself, certain music, a specific location. I know one writer who has to have a latte and chocolate or it’s just not going to happen. LOL. Each of us has to find our own path. Mine is to ready to write anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance. I’ve written on planes, trains, buses and cars; in coffee shops, studies, offices, park benches; morning, day, and night; in silence or with music. I will say, while I do try to be flexible, some situations provide more challenge than others. I was on a plane with a small extremely unhappy child (and a parent with weary survivor eyes) screaming. Yeah, it was a bit difficult to concentrate.
Tell us about your main character.
Addison Shaw is a twenty-something young man whose father was brutally murdered. He walks with a cane because of a leg injury he received in a car accident as a teenager. Addison is emotionally fragile, especially in light of the loss of his father, but he also has an deep inner strength that enables him to persist even when his world appears to be falling apart.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
I think I’d go with either John Krasinkski (The Office, Jack Ryan) or Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker, Altered Carbon). Both of those actors do a great job of projecting their humanity and internal pain while having the ability to be pretty kick ass.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on the third book in the Alchimeia series—untitled at this point. And I’ve got another project I’ve worked on and off over several years, a humorous science fiction story along the lines of Tom Holt’s novels, called THE BIFURCATION OF DUNGSTEN CREASE. Hopefully, Book 3 of the Alchimeia will be out in 2021.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
I’ve done a lot of different things from book tours to release parties to email campaigns. I can’t say I’ve found any one thing that is the silver bullet. The book business is very crowded these days, so I think you just have to be persistent. Keep putting yourself out there.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
If you by shelf you mean what I’m reading right now, well I got inspired by the HBO version of His Dark Materials to read Pullman’s trilogy again. I’m currently on the last book and it still reads well. If you mean my fav from anything on my bookshelf—way harder question! Books that come to mind: Ian Tregillis, The Mechanicals; Iain Pears, The Instance at the Fingerpost; William Gibson, Neuromancer; China Miéville, The City In The City. But I could go on and on.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
Not sure how special they are. I draw, I write, I sing, and I cook. Occasionally I do one of those in an extraordinary way—I hope.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Mind control. We’d always go to the restaurant of my choice and I’d guest post on your blog. (Dammit! Didn’t mean to say that. (I’m gazing at you with my super-power mind control eyes). You have just forgotten what I said about guest posting…
List 5 things on your bucket list:
- Tour Japan
- Tour Australia
- See the Northern Lights
- Speak a second language fluently –I’m going for Spanish
- Stand on the site of first powered flight at Kitty Hawk.
Where can readers find you on the web?
Thanks for having me on the blog and thanks readers for dropping in today. Please check out DIE BACK and VENGEANCE OF GRIMBALD. Both are available on Amazon. And I’d love to hear from you. Visit my website, www.richardhacker.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RWHacker and drop me a line.
I don’t have a trailer for Vengeance of Grimbald, but I do for Die Back and it’s a good visual introduction to the series. You can find it here.
Any final thoughts?
Two things I’d like to add. First, the underlying message of the Alchimeia series is about courage and perseverance. When life looks hopeless, when everything seems to be turned upside-down, the people who make a difference are not superheroes, but people like you and me, who persevere in spite of the odds. And second, readers are the reason for the season. Without you, writers would be lonely people sitting in coffee shops pounding on laptops. With you, we become the tellers of fantastical stories, entertainers, philosophers, and poets. And together, a writer and a reader, we make magic. Thank you for sharing some of your life with me.
Book Blast – PARAGON
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Now that high school is over, Randi just wants to live her quiet life in her little town, but it doesn’t feel right without her friends there. Ever the daredevils, they’ve gone to seek adventure in the capital city of Grandin, and Randi can’t help but feel left behind. Not to mention she definitely can’t stop thinking about that kiss she and Eddy shared before he left.
When Randi discovers a mysterious mark on her skin that matches an illustration in “A Handbook on Paragonhood”, she’s thrown into a world of powerful gods and ancient magic that she thought only existed in the myths. She’ll have to step out of her comfort zone—and into the dangerous streets of Grandin—to find a way to protect herself and the people she loves.
Randi’s not the only one with a secret, though, and she finds herself questioning who she can trust. Randi will have to wrestle with what it means to be a Paragon and how far she’s willing to go to do what’s right.
With the fate of the world on the line, can she live up to being one of the chosen?
Read an Excerpt
Louis comes into view as I round the corner of the restaurant into the simple, well-kept yard. He’s facing the other way, holding a wooden staff, not even wearing a coat. I’m about to call out and let him know I’m there, but before I can, he spins in a circle, extending the stick as gracefully as if it were a part of his arm. His movements are soft and flowing as he twists around a large cobbled circle in the middle of the yard. It looks like a gentle dance, but it’s evident from the way he maneuvers the stick and guards his torso that it’s also a fight.
Louis comes back to a neutral position and bows to an invisible adversary before him. “That was the swan,” he says, making me jump. “And this is the dragon.”
He steps aggressively, each strike hard and fierce. He jabs the staff out before him and twirls, nearly horizontal with it. A few stances later, he accidentally whacks himself in the shoulder with the practice weapon.
He bursts out laughing. “It’s not my best form.” He approaches me while massaging his shoulder. “Good thing you’re not my grandma, or you’d make me practice until I got it right.”
“I like the swan better, anyway.”
“Me too.” He blinks as a raindrop falls on his cheek. We both turn to the sky as thunder rumbles in the distance. “Looks like it’ll be a downpour.”
About the Author Shauna Alderson began writing teen fantasy even before she was a teen. After she “grew up”, she completed creative writing courses (and a BA in Development Studies) at the University of Calgary. When not reading or writing, she can usually be found teaching ESL, composing on the piano, creating art, or volunteering abroad. She also enjoys dessert, Studio Ghibli films, and being the silliest person she knows.
Website: https://shaunaalderson.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AldersonShauna
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paragon-Shauna-Alderson-ebook/dp/B0851YGGTW/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paragon-shauna-alderson/1136514085?ean=9781643901275
Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/paragon/9990058018816-item.html
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/paragon-8
Shauna Alderson will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
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Giving away a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner
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VBT – MERLIN RAJ AND THE SANTA ALGORITHM
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter. Click the link to see the other stops on the tour.
My name is Merlin Raj. Usually, I only have to worry about being the best service dog. I help my boy, Matthew, walk at school. But when my human Mom has to go away for winter break, getting ready for the holiday becomes a mess. I might be a super-smart golden retriever who wears glasses, but could I help my best friend with more than a disability?
Gulp.
Will a class on algorithms get me barking up the right Christmas tree?
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Merlin Raj, The Santa Algorithm is the first installment in the Merlin Raj, Computer Science Service Dog chapter-book series. With a Computer Science degree and a passion for preparing kids for the future, author D. G. Priya blends technology with animal stories to stimulate a desire to read. Each book in the series introduces a new programming skill, complete with study guides for educators. If you or your child like delightful dog tales, practical examples, and accessible learning tools, then you’ll love D. G. Priya’s tail-wagging adventure.
Read an Excerpt
First snow brushed the ground with white. I loved winter. My fur kept me nice and warm on most days. For freezing cold days, my human mother, Mom Raj, had bought me a bright, thermal rain slicker. It was sky blue with a service-animal label.
Blue best matched my golden fur, which I liked to keep well brushed at all times.
Even my glasses were on a stylish athletic band, and they matched Matthew’s glasses. My nose twitched from the cold.
About the Author:
D.G. Priya is the pen name of Bestselling Author Priya Ardis. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Austin, #6 in the world (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2014) and #8 (US News, 2020) in Computer Science. Her advocacy of early education in computing and the challenges of childhood disabilities come from her experience as a parent and volunteer. Her love of dog stories comes from the antics of her own golden retriever.
Talk to me!
Website: http://www.dgpriya.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/dgpriya
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dgpriya
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/priyaardis
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/priya_ardis
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/priyaardis
D. G. Priya will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
VBT – LOVE, LIES AND BAD GUYS
Love, Lies, and Bad Guys
by Bill Blodgett
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GENRE: Romantic Suspense
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BLURB:
When US Marshal Jay Stonewalker sees a possible terrorist comment in a chatroom frequented by anti-government radicals suggesting a nuclear threat to New York City, specifically the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, he can’t get it out of his mind. Against his boss’s orders he heads off to NYC to investigate on his own time. While there he follows a suspicious character into a secluded recess of the New York Subway system and foils what he believes is the terrorist event. In a shoot-out with his suspect he’s wounded and calls the NYC PD for backup. When he sees NYPD Detective KC Daviau and other uniformed officers slipping into the darkness from the subway platform he’s relieved, but to his surprise he’s met with resistance and disrespect by Detective Daviau. Against his objections, KC takes custody of the evidence and leaves the scene. When Jay asks an officer if she is always that way he’s told that, “Since her parents died, she’s been… let’s say… a little cold.” When they are assigned to work the case together, KC’s icy exterior soon begins to melt away as they begin to fall for each other, but KC has to hold back. She has a dark secret and knows he can’t ever know her truths because if he did he would hate her just as she hates herself for what she’s about to do.
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EXCERPT
“I was surprised to see you had body art.”
“It isn’t body art. It is my belief. I guess that’s why I don’t show them. It’s personal. They are of my Goddess, Mother Earth and the symbol of our tribe, the mighty eagle. The Mother Earth Tree Goddess demonstrates the circle of life. Where all things on land, air and water are connected. They are all one. If one element is removed, the tree will wither and die. We believe that it is the same for people. We must be as one or we will all eventually suffer. The Eagle is our symbol for bravery, something that is essential to take on such a derêp.” He saw her puzzled look and continued before she could speak. “Derêp is our word for job or chore. The Eagle is dedicated to protecting our tribe, which is a very difficult job. I use his image to remind myself each day that my task is difficult and not to falter. If you were just another chick, maybe I’d say they were body art, but I want to share that part of me with you.”
“So…” she teased. “How many other chicks have admired your body art?”
He laughed lightly with maybe a hint of a gallows laugh, “Not as many as you might guess.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I still live in the community where I met and married my lovely wife, Janice. Actually, she lived around the corner from me and we both ignored each other until our teen years when the hormone thing kicked in and we suddenly realized that the cute little girl skipping rope and that goofy boy riding a bike had both grown up.
We are the proud parents of April and Lindsay; both of whom are now married. April married Darren and they have two beautiful boys, Brian and Owen. Lindsay married Tim and they have two beautiful children: Kailyn and Evan.
I enjoy hiking, kayaking, camping with my family, golfing, making candles, and restoring my antique European sports car, a 1972 MGB.
They say to write from what you know, so I do. I write of love, life and relationships. In addition to the romantic plot we all expect from a Romance novel all of my books deal with a real-world issue as a sub-plot that we all have had to deal in some manner in life, but not in a preachy way. I find that including this sort of theme helps me identify with my characters on a personal level. My hope is that the reader will also feel that connection with my characters.
I have four other published novels. Dead Or A Lie and Saint’s Sword are vampire Romances. Unrequited is a contemporary novel with romantic elements and received 4 stars from Romantic Times Book Review magazine. The Last Prejudice is a family saga that deals with the issues a family must address when a family member comes out.
I have been a member of the RWA and the Central New York Romance Writers since 2004 and have held various posts in my local group. By day I am a construction inspector for an engineering company.
Please visit my website: www.billblodgett.com or email me at bill@billblodgett.com You can also find me on Facebook at @authorbillblodgett and Twitter @bill_blodgett
Buy link:
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Love-Lies-Bad-Guys-Connection/dp/B084DFQWWB/
Barnes and Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Love%2C+Lies%2C+and+Bad+Guys+by+Bill+Blodgett
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Bill Blodgett will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Tell us about you as a person.
I hate watching sports other than real games with my kids and grandkids participating! It was so out of the norm for guys in the construction field like myself, but being true to yourself is important to me. So, consequently, I got good-heartedly harassed by my fellow construction workmates because I never had anything to add to the discussion about the big game that was on the night before, but they got over it!
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
Growing up in the 1960’s I would have loved to hang out with Martin Luther King. Those days and his influence was so important. In my book, Unrequited, the most influential character is Riggs, an old black man and the son of a son of a slave. In those days maybe this character wouldn’t be accepted. When writing Riggs I sought out guidance from many of my black friend to make sure his character wouldn’t offend the very same people I wanted to complement. I even sought out advice on the word “black” to make sure it would be Okay. MLK broke ground that I hope will never be forgotten or abused.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Love, Lies, and Bad Guys has a very interesting story behind it. The original title was, The Waldorf Astoria Connection, which is the sub-title now. Shortly after the attacks of September 11th we traveled to visit my daughter who lived in Waldorf, MD. My other daughter lived in Astoria, NY. While on a subway/train going into Washington, D.C. a young man got on the subway and was acting strangely by constantly checking his back pack. The See Something –Say Something signs were all over the subway. So the writer in me imagined a story about a mad bomber on a subway and as a shout out to my daughters I set the story in both Waldorf, MD and Astoria, NY!
What is your writing process?
I really need a secluded and quiet area to write. Music will just distract me and before you know it I’m singing along or drumming out the beat with a pencil or pen. My muse speaks to me as I settle down to go to sleep or when I’m driving the car. The next day I try to pound out those ideas for the next chapter in the book.
Tell us about your main character.
In Love, Lies, and Bad Guys two characters share the title as main character, Jay, a US Marshal, and KC, a NYPD detective. KC probably has the most to win or lose and probably the character most readers will be hoping makes it through this dilemma she’s got herself into. KC’s motivation is fueled by the death of her parent due to radiation exposure where they worked. She has vowed to not let this happen to any more innocent people.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
I liked Chris Pine from the new Star Trek movies. He has really intense eyes and can ramp up his emotions perfectly to match the scene he’s working in. I think this intensity would work well in the movie version.
What are you working on next?
I’m currently working on a sequel to Love, Lies and Bad Guys, subtitled, D.C. Under Siege. (Working title for now) It will take up where Love, Lies, and Bad Guys, The Waldorf Astoria Connection , leaves off, but Jay and KC only make cameo appearances to make room for a new couple of conflicted lovers!
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
I think Facebook and Twitter have a limited value unless you have a great number of followers. I think you have to put yourself in contact with a target rich environment like Good Reads, advertise on review sites like Long and Short Reviews and blog sites where avid readers visit like this site.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks has always been a favorite of mine.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
Extraordinary talents? None! But I do have a special talent of making all sorts of candles. My favorite candle to make is a pillar candle with text or a picture on the outside that glows as the candle burns.
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
Healing. Wow wouldn’t that be great! It would be spectacular to heal people and see all of the joy it could give to that person and their family and friends. With that who needs money or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
List 5 things on your bucket list:
- Travel planet earth and see all of the marvelous wonders that there is out there.
- Travel into space even if it was just to the moon. That’s been a childhood dream since the first Apollo Missions when we’d watch in awe as space craft took off.
- Live long enough to watch my Great Great Grandchildren grow up
- Have another 50 years with my childhood sweetheart/wife.
- Drive in a NASCAR race.
Where can readers find you on the web? www.billblodgett.com
Any final thoughts? Thank you so much for having me here. The questions were thought provoking and made me appreciate everything I have.
Trailer https://youtu.be/TwVJ5PiMBtk
VBT – LEARNING TO BEND
Learning To Bend
by Michelle Davis
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GENRE: Women’s Fiction
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BLURB:
Jenna Moore’s flawlessly orchestrated life and engagement to Ben Kelly, “the perfect man,” vanish when she discovers a controlling side of her fiancé. Confused and unsure of who she is without Ben, Jenna decides to uproot from her safe, predictable life in Boston and move to Bend, Oregon, hoping to find her answers there. It’s when she meets Jackson, a former Navy SEAL who battles demons of his own, that Jenna finds the courage to let go of being perfect and embrace uncomfortable risks, transforming her life through forgiveness, compassion, surrender and acceptance. Yet the rewards from discovering her true self exceed Jenna’s expectations – not only does she find the greatest love of her life, but she also understands what’s kept her from learning to bend.
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EXCERPT
Yet, at that moment, there is a subtle shift in my being. As devastated and lost as I feel, a small part of me unfolds, almost releases. I can’t describe the feeling as it’s something I’ve never before experienced. I breathe, inhaling Ben’s scent, knowing it’s most likely the last time I am going to be this close to him. Then Ben moves his hand to the back of my head, pulling me towards him, passionately kissing me as we momentarily return to who we were. My body instinctively takes over as I languish in his taste, surrendering to him, if only for a few seconds. But I come to my senses and pull away. We are no longer the Jenna and Ben who are about to be married in two months. No, that couple is gone. It’s then that I do the unavoidable – I slowly remove the ring from my left finger and press it into Ben’s hand. After all, this is a family antique. It no longer belongs to me. I call for Sam, give Ben a final goodbye kiss on the cheek, and leave.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Michelle Davis, whose career path includes banking, teaching, and college admissions consulting, holds a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University and a M.S. in Education from St. Joseph’s University. Through her blog, elevate, Michelle’s goal is to inspire others to shift their perspectives and welcome change as they realize their life purpose. A Pennsylvania native, Michelle and her husband enjoy visiting their sons in Boston and spending time in Bend, Oregon, the settings of her debut novel, Learning to Bend. To learn more about Michelle and how to elevate your life, visit www.michellemdavis.net.
https://www.michellemdavis.net
https://www.learningtobend.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LearningtoBend/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/michellemillerdavis/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Davis/e/B083ZLXBXS/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Bend-Michelle-Davis-ebook/dp/B083L5HM7G/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learning-to-bend-michelle-m-davis/1136004857
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
The author will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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What are four things you can’t live without?
- Coffee
- Exercise of some sort – I get antsy when confined and need to move so I don’t annoy people
- Dogs – I cannot imagine life without our incredible dogs
- Dark chocolate peanut butter cups – I fool myself thinking that the organic ones are good for me
What is your favorite television show?
I love watching Friends. I think that I’ve seen every episode multiple times. In fact, when I’m home alone at night, I’ll watch rerun after rerun – sometimes till one in the morning. I recently had the “aha” moment that most likely my fondness for Friends connects to my childhood when I loved the Archie comic book series. The characters are almost identical. Plus, Friends has the most amazing cast. Wouldn’t you want them to be your friends with Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Ross, Joey, and Chandler?
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?
Tough question. It would be very interesting to be Liz Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love. What incredible life experiences she had – eating in Italy, praying in India, and loving in Indonesia. Plus, Julia Roberts, my all-time favorite actress, played her!
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
My next book is called The Healers. It’s quite different from Learning to Bend. In fact, it begins with a murder. More to come later.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Amy Impellizzeri, author of Lemongrass Hope, The Truth About Thea, The Secret of Worry Dolls, and Why We Lie, encouraged me to attend her writers’ workshop. That was my introduction to writing (I’m not counting my freshman writing class at Lehigh University). She’s been a dear friend ever since and has served as my mentor.
It’s hard to pinpoint any particular book as influencing my writing, as I believe that my writing is still in its infancy and am unsure as to where it is headed. But I’d have to say that I love the intriguing story line of The Celestine Prophecy. Additionally, the characters are beautifully developed in A Gentleman in Moscow.
VBT – GODDESS OF THE WILD THING
Goddess of the Wild Thing
by Paul DeBlassie III
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GENRE: Thriller
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BLURB:
Winner of the Independent Press Award and the NYC Big Book Award for Visionary Fiction!
Eve Sanchez, a scholar of esoteric studies, is driven into unreal dimensions of horror and hope as she encounters a seductive and frightening man, criminal lawyer Sam Shear.
Sam introduces Eve to a supernatural world in which the wicked powers of a surrogate mother’s twisted affection threaten love and life. Struggling to sort through right from wrong, frightened yet determined, Eve nears despair.
Goddess of the Wild Thing reveals the dramatic tale of one woman’s spiritual journey where metaphysical happenings, unexpected turns of fate, and unseen forces impact her ability to love and be loved.
In the magical realm of Aztlan del Sur, a mythopoeic land of hidden horrors and guiding spirits, Eve, with three friends and a wise old woman, is caught in an age-old struggle about love—whether bad love is better than no love— and discovers that love is a wild thing.
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EXCERPT
Eve sharpened her focus. She saw the sharp nail of a witch’s right finger tracing Graciéla’s image on a foggy mirror in a grungy bathroom, touching the center of the mirror with a hatred so intense, the glass burned red hot. The mirror in Graciéla’s kitchen cracked. Shards jettisoned at the old healer then were magically warded off and drifted in place about her head and neck.
Graciéla’s energy, tired as she was, had fended off the pointed shards. She hadn’t been impaled. But the strain had ushered her from one world to the next. Death came not by the hand of another but by a weakened mind and body defending itself.
Eve, shaken, allowed her soft touch to stay on Graciéla’s forehead, confirming the horror of what she’d seen. Shamanic wisdom, often discussed between the two kindred souls, spoke to Eve as she stroked her friend’s head, remembering that death provided passage for one whose life had been well spent and whose time had come.
Eve wept.
After a few moments, she closed her friend’s green eyes and whispered tenderly, “Always my friend, always love, always together in life and in death.” She stood and wiped the tears from her eyes. A gray-brown, green-eyed, great horned owl hooted from the largest cottonwood branch outside the back window.
Eve heard Shirley finishing her call to the EMTs and police, and then walking to the front of the store to await their arrival.
One large shard lay at the end of the table, sharp tip pointed outward. It reflected Eve’s image, a glowing red ember menacingly centered at the brow point.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Paul DeBlassie III, Ph.D. is a depth psychologist and award-winning writer living in his native New Mexico. He specializes in treating individuals in emotional and spiritual crisis. His novels, visionary thrillers, delve deep into archetypal realities as they play out dramatically in the lives of everyday people. Memberships include the Author’s Guild, Visionary Fiction Alliance, Depth Psychology Alliance, International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and the International Association for Jungian Studies.
Website: pauldeblassieiii.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Goddess-Wild-Thing-Paul-DeBlassie-ebook/dp/B07656JLNR/ref=sr_1_1
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Paul DeBlassie III will be awarding $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thanks for being my guest today. Tell us about you as a person.
I am a psychotherapist and writer of visionary thrillers. I live with Kate, an artist and my wife of 40 years. We’ve raised four wonderful children – writers and artists one and all.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?:
I’d hang out with the one and only grand master of the supernatural thriller, Algernon Blackwood. He’s an old man with old wisdom about the unseen world and everyday realities.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
In therapy, I help patients through love issues just like what happens in Goddess of the Wild Thing, how it dramatizes what happens more often that we think.
What is your writing process?
An idea springs to mind then, if it lingers over months and sometimes years, I hit the page running and word after word, sentences and paragraphs a story is birthed. Then comes the cleanup – edits, edits, edits, etc. As we all know, the writing is in the rewriting!
Tell us about your main character:
Eve Sanchez, the protagonist of the story, encounters a seductive and frightening man, criminal lawyer Sam Shear. He introduces Eve to a supernatural world in which the wicked powers of a surrogate mother’s twisted affection threaten love and life. The evil woman walks a fine line between sanity and insanity, dark and mysterious happenings in her wake. Where there’s love, there is often a woman who feels spurned and wills the demise of the loved woman. Eve struggles to discover the identity of the evil woman, a fierce battle with an unexpected outcome.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
Salma Hayek would propel the drama-filled love story forward with the intensity of her presence and capacity for empathy.
What are you working on next?
The Goddess of Everything is about ready for professional editing, a thriller about mother love gone bad and the need to break free.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
Book pr is a long-term process that is ongoing, daily, and requires consistent commitment and passion.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
Tim Prasil’s, Guilt is a Ghost.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
I love what I do and do what I love!
VBT – JUNGLE BEAUTY GODDESSES SERIES
Jungle Beauty Goddesses Series: Pretty Blue, Aquatic Ball, Dirty Ball
by C. G. Sturges
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GENRE: Fantasy, Erotica
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BLURB:
Jungle Beauty Goddesses “Pretty Blue” Book 1
If you were given planet Earth as a gift to develop its life forms—would the world be a better place than it is today? What would your primary expectation and goal be for each human? Would you give them free will or plan their destiny? Would you demand that your humans worship you as their creator? Would you be available to assuage their every desire; and acquiesce to their demands, prayers, and wishes? Would you grow to resent them for living the life you imagined?
The Jungle Beauty Goddesses were free-spirited goddesses who enjoyed their freedom as the youngest children—and the last deities born to their parents—creators of the universe. Per the family tradition of being awarded a planet, the septuplets were given planet Earth as a gift for their birthday. Their siblings, also gods and goddesses of the universe since the beginning of time, warn them about the challenges of selflessness, power, worship, and divine duty.
The seven sisters struggle to maintain their own freedom as limitless beings, while sibling rivalry makes it difficult to accept their collective duty to fulfill the family obligation to the deity-hood as creators for planets.
The entire universe threatens to collapse due to their negligence and disobedience. They question the boundaries of their divine powers as they ponder whether it is possible to mold a being to be superior to its creator.
Jungle Beauty Goddesses “Aquatic Ball” Book 2
Sometimes your worst nightmare is having everything you ever wanted. Upon visiting planet Earth, the Jungle Beauty Goddesses discover that the life forms they created are in danger of extinction, and an unforeseen dominant species has positioned itself to take dominion.
Unprepared and disillusioned about how to access their highest vibrational frequency; the Jungle Beauty Goddesses face their own demise.
The only way they can save themselves, their planet, and ultimately the universe is by managing to align with their deity powers and the wisdom of their highest selves in the face of their worst fears, disappointments, and betrayals.
Jungle Beauty Goddesses “Dirty Ball” Book 3
If you had the power to make anyone in the world fall in love with you—would you? Jungle Beauty Goddess Afar revokes her deity vows and takes her destiny into her own hands by participating in the life she was born to create for others.
Afar embraces the deepest, darkest nuances of her shadow self with brutality, dignity, and integrity. She brazenly unleashes the murkiest qualities of the human condition and leaves the chaos for her unsuspecting sisters to clean up or suffer the consequences of losing the planet given to them by their parents–creators of the universe.
Jungle Beauty Goddess Afar’s actions give a new meaning to the saying, “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.”
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EXCERPT
Solution: We, the merbeings /mermaids/merfolks, are on the side of the Jungle Beauty Goddesses. We want to preserve the natural beauty of Earth and all of its life forms that are capable of adapting to Earth’s natural environment causing the least amount of damage to the cosmos.
We, the Mermaids, do not need to me be monitored like humans. We do not need the assistance of other worldly guides, angels, or higher order omnificent beings to exist and coexist peacefully with like-minded beings on planet Earth.
We will not use or create industrialized products or services, technology, or substances that will destroy the Earth’s natural resources. The Earth, as it is, without alterations, machines, or chemicals creates the prime and ultimate living conditions for our species.
Summary:
We are the natural evolutionary heirs to planet earth bequeathed by the hands of destiny. Planet earth is rapidly becoming an aquatic planet designed for life forms which can adapt to a water-only environment. If you sign planet Earth over to us for safekeeping—you will never have to worry about this planet being selfishly exploited for its resources. You will never have to come here again and you are free to live your life as you please.
With the deepest Respect and Love,
Merlady Jophiel
MerladyJophiel
Merlady Gabrielle
Merlady Gabrielle
By signing this document, you are collectively agreeing to give Planet Earth to Mermaids who would graciously take domain over all life forms in this world.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Cassandra George Sturges is the author of “A Woman’s Soul on Paper,” “Success & Beauty is an Attitude,” “The Illusion of Beauty: Why Women Hate Themselves & Envy Other Women,” and “Why Racism is a Mental Illness.” For many years, she was an advice columnist for Today’s Black Woman Magazine and is currently a full-time psychology and sociology professor at a college in the mid-west. She is a high school dropout who graduated with her General Education Diploma and eventually earned five college degrees including two masters and a doctorate degree. In her late forties, she began making life-size fabric sculpture, cloth dolls that turned out to be the main characters in her Jungle Beauty Goddesses coming of age, modern creation Nubian Mythology fantasy fiction, sensuous, romantic series. She is the mother of two adult children, a grandmother, and for over 20-years has shared her life with her twin flame.
Cassandra George Sturges Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/Authentikbeauty
https://www.authentikbeautymagazine.com/c-g-sturges-bio
https://twitter.com/georgesturges
https://www.instagram.com/cassandrasturges/
http://junglebeautygoddess.blogspot.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/AuthentikBeautyBlogs
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One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Any weird things you do when you’re alone?
I talk to my Star Alien Being Gemstones and Crystal Skulls. I love them and they love me. They all have different energies, properties, and personalities. I wear them in the center of my bra most days. They highlight and exude different parts of my personality. When I want to be charismatic and devilish—I wear my peach aventurine. When I need protection, I wear my clear Black Tourmaline Rutilated Quartz Crystal Star Alien Being. When I need to get things done and be extremely organized, I wear my Citrine Star Alien Being. I also noticed that people treat me differently based on the alien being or crystal skull that I am wearing. Random people speak to me and are kind when I wear my African Jade Alien Being and my blue apatite skull. When no one is looking, in stairwells, elevators, when I am in the car alone… we have conversations about what is going on in my surroundings. At the end of the day, I try to remember to kiss them and thank them for accompanying for that day.
What is your favorite quote and why?
My Favorite quote in the universe is: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” By Dr. Seuss. I have been teaching Sociology and Psychology full-time for 20-years and I have this quote centered at the top of all of my courses syllabi. I encourage my students to be authentically truthful and respectful during class discussions because I believe as human beings we grow and evolve through each other’s truth. The richest, juicy, class insights and discussions have come from students sharing their truth. I tell my students that 2+2 = 4 all over the world, at every school—so the content that they are learning can be absorbed from home reading a book—but the collective energy of each student’s history, culture, and beliefs creates a unique learning experience that will never be duplicated ever again in human history. This is why it is essential to the learning process that my student’s share their honest opinions, outlooks, and beliefs about life.
