Thoughts in Progress: #feature

Showing posts with label #feature. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The Last Chance Library

Bookworms near, far, and of every genre throughout the ages have been united by their love for a unique and special place: the library. Libraries are hardly just buildings that house books: they are dynamic community centers that serve everyone. The youngest patrons come to pore over picture books and attend story times; teens can be found doing homework after school and checking out non-school books for fun, and adults might meet with their local book clubs and writing groups at the library. It might be the most magical, multi-functioning place on earth.

Author Freya Sampson taps into the collective love we have for libraries in her quirky, warm, and fun-filled debut novel, THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY (Berkley Hardcover; On sale August 31, 2021). In this special novel, a young, quiet librarian finds her voice when her beloved library is threatened with closure.

A book for book lovers, THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY is perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Bookish Life of Nina Hill. Freya’s debut novel offers a feel-good read that will make you want to give all your love to your local library!

June Jones is a 30-year-old library worker who has never left Chalcot, the sleepy English village where she was raised by her beloved, now-deceased mother. Shy and reclusive, June would rather spend her time at the library, or curled up at home with her cat, buried in books, than do…well, pretty much anything else.

June’s entire world is thrown in to chaos when she learns that the Chalcot Library is in danger of closing permanently. The library is underfunded and underperforming, according to a board of executives in charge of such things. But the people of Chalcot who use the library each day strongly disagree, and decide to push back against the decision.

To keep from saying goodbye to her beloved library, June is forced to emerge from behind the shelves to save the place that holds her happiest memories and the heart of her community.

Meet the Author: Freya Sampson

Freya Sampson works in TV as an executive producer. Her credits include two documentary series for the BBC about the British Royal Family, and a number of factual and entertainment series.

She studied History at Cambridge University and in 2018 was shortlisted for the Exeter Novel Prize.

She lives in London with her husband, two young children and an antisocial cat.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. When was the last time you visited your local (or any) library?

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

A Special Place for Women

Today I’m happy to tell you about a book that is released today by author Laura Hankin, A SPECIAL PLACE FOR WOMEN (Berkley Hardcover; On Sale May 11, 2021).

This is scandalous fun that can best be described as “The Wing” meets “The Illuminati” -- the story of a New York journalist who goes undercover to tease out the secrets of an elite women’s-only social club.

It’s a club like no other. Only the most important women receive an invitation. Or at least, that’s what the rumors say―no one has yet to confirm the existence of Nevertheless, New York’s most secret, female-run society that seems to have inordinate influence over the city and its biggest scandals. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: membership dues cost $1,000 a month. The women even handpicked the city’s first female mayor. But no one knows for sure.

Jillian Beckley, a native New Yorker and recently laid-off journalist, makes it her mission to prove the existence of this top-secret club.

It’s not long before Jillian manages to find an “in” at Nevertheless―and is captivated by the billionaire “girlbosses” who mingle with the astrology-obsessed and the trendiest of New York influencers. While it’s hard to ignore the sense of confidence and belonging that Nevertheless seems to provide―for its up-and-coming young members, and for Jillian, too―Jillian can’t help but keep a watchful eye on the club’s founders, who seem to be hiding something beyond the secret of the group’s existence, and who are just a little too fond of calling themselves “witches.”

As Jillian dives deeper into the inner circles of Nevertheless, it becomes apparent that bad things happen to those who dare to question the club’s motives―and its leaders may be far more powerful, and dangerous, than she ever imagined.

Meet the Author: Laura Hankin

Laura Hankin is the author of Happy & You Know It. She has written for publications like McSweeney's and HuffPost, while her musical comedy has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and more.

She splits her time between NYC, where she has performed off-Broadway, and Washington D.C., where she once fell off a treadmill twice in one day.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you ever heard of any type of club like this elite women’s-only social club?

Friday, May 7, 2021

We've Been Adopted

If you stopped by Thoughts in Progress on Wednesday, April 7^th, you may have seen where I mentioned we’d been adopted by a yellow tabby. Several of you asked to know more. Well, I’m finally getting around to telling you more. BTW, thanks for asking.

First, if you visit here often you probably already know this but for anyone who is new to the blog, here’s a bit of background on why being adopted was big for us.

Traveler

In 2011, I took in a beautiful grey stray cat I called Traveler (his photo also remains on the sidebar). Long story short, he became a huge part of my life. He was my fur baby as I have no children. Traveler moved with me to Alabama in 2015 and seemed to love living on the lake adapting to his new life with ease. He became ill in 2019 and we learned from our vet that he was much older than I had guessed as he was a grown cat when he found me. We treated his illness for almost a year, but we lost him a year ago on April 3^rd (2020). His little heart just finally gave out.

His loss hit us hard. One good thing about the pandemic was that we were able to be home with him 24/7 the last few weeks of his life. Even now as I write this, it’s through tears. While we weren’t really sure we were ready to bring another cat into our lives, fate had other plans for us.

I tell you all of that to let you know that we have been adopted by a yellow tabby. Some might call him an orange tabby, I’m really not sure. Tell me what you think.

Persi

The process started back in late December (2020) when this big bundle of fur appeared as if out of thin air. My partner was out tending to some plants in the yard and looked down to see a cat rubbing around his legs. The cat then followed him around the plants checking each to see what my partner was doing to them. Then the cat started rolling around on the grass in front of him as if to say, “see I want to play.” The cat was friendly and followed him around for a while that afternoon.

We had not seen the cat anywhere before in our yard or the neighborhood. He was just there and then was gone again. We didn’t see where he came from or where he went. The next day he was back so I picked up a bag of cat food. We fed him on the front porch and by the next day he wanted to come inside. He would only stay for short periods after eating and would want to go back outside. We didn’t want to force him to stay in as we didn’t know where he came from. But we did start trying out names for him. We settled on Persi, short for persistent since he seemed to be persistent in being a part of our lives. Each day he stayed longer and became more and more a part of our family.

It’s been almost five months now that he’s been with us. He stays in all day, goes out for only a few hours in the evening when he wants to, and come in at night when we call to play with his toys and sleep with us or in his new bed. I’m amazed each day that he’s with us. We don’t know where he came from or why he showed up here. He just seemed to appear at a time when we needed him without us knowing we were ready.

There are times he reminds me of Traveler. The way he seems to understand what we’re saying and what it means. The way he lays sometimes, the strange positions he gets in. I’ve seen him laying near Traveler’s grave and a part of me wonders if Traveler may have guided him to us.

While we still miss Traveler terribly everyday (and always will), Persi has brought us much joy and continues to amaze us.

Thanks for stopping by today and letting me share our “adoption” story with you. Have you ever been adopted by a stray?

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Southern Sass and a Battered Bride (+ Giveaway)

I’m happy to be a part of author Kate Young’s Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for her latest release, SOUTHERN SASS AND A BATTERED BRIDE, the third installment in her Marygene Brown Mystery series.

Southern Sass and a Battered Bride

By Kate Young

Cozy Mystery

3rd in Series: A Marygene Brown Mystery

Publisher: Kensington (April 27, 2021)

Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages

ISBN-10: 1496721497

ISBN-13: 978-1496721495

Digital ASIN : B08F2WNNPQ

At a murder mystery–themed wedding reception on Georgia’s picturesque Peach Cove Island, the bride is doing an awfully good job playing dead . . .

Marygene Brown always figured she’d marry her childhood sweetheart, Alex Myers, not cater his wedding. But the Peach Diner could use the exposure. Most of the island is showing up—although more for the role-playing murder game at the reception than for the widely loathed bridezilla, Lucy Carmichael. Marygene may have to smile through the festivities, but Mama doesn’t have to hold her peace—especially since only Marygene can hear her mother’s ghost. Mama says she sees an aura of darkness around the wedding.

So, when Marygene finds Lucy lying beside the wedding cake, buried in batter, with no pulse, it looks like Mama called it. This is no game. And when the bride’s body simply vanishes, it’s up to Marygene and her best friend Betsy (cousin to the groom and no fan of the bride) to solve a real-life mystery—with a little help from Mama’s sassy spirit . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Marygene’s Kitchen!

Southern Sass and a Battered Bride is available at the following sites: Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound

Meet the Author: Kate Young

Kate Young writes Southern mystery novels. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Guppy Chapter.

Kate lives in a small town in Georgia with her husband, three kids, and Shih Tzu. When she is not writing her own books, she’s reading or cooking.

For more on Kate and her writing, you can connect with her on the following links:

Website – https://www.kateyoungbooks.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKateYoung/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/KAYoungBooks

GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527572.Kate_Young

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kate-young-b3339e9c-d2e4-482d-a637-5afd7b064d73

Thanks so much for stopping by today. You can follow Kate’s tour by visiting the blogs below. Also be sure to enter the giveaway. If the Rafflecopter widget doesn’t show up, you can still enter by clicking HERE.

Can you image catering your childhood sweetheart’s wedding? Have you ever had to participate in an ex’s wedding or such?

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

April 26 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

April 26 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

April 26 – Angel's Guilty Pleasures – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 27 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW

April 27 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

April 27 – I Read What You Write - REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 28 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 28 – My Journey Back the Journey Back – CHARACTER GUEST POST