Alone Yet Not Alone - Book, Movie, Giveaway

I recently became aware of a movie that will soon be released based on a book about the true story of a family’s saga and enduring faith at the beginning of the French and Indian War.

I find this era of our history fascinating and thanks to Laura Beth and the great folks at FlyBy Promotions, I had the opportunity to read this inspiring book. To make it even sweeter, they are also offering one copy of the book as a giveaway to a lucky visitor today. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

Here’s my thoughts on the book, followed by some additional information about the author and the upcoming movie.

ALONE YET NOT ALONE by Tracy Leininger Craven

 

The Leininger family, like many others, fled Germany for a life of freedom in America. They settled in the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania. There they lived a life of hard work, but peaceful existence. 

Then one day while the youngest son and Mrs. Leininger were away to grind their corn harvest, the unthinkable happened. In what would become known as the Penn’s Creek Massacre, Leininger and his oldest son were killed, their cabin burned, and the two daughters taken captive by members of the Delaware tribe.

Barbara, age 12, and Regina, age 9, were taken from their home and then later separated from each other. Before they were separated, Barbara urged Regina to remember what their father had always told them - that God would never leave them.

The story, told from Barbara’s view point, describes how they endured holding firm to their belief in God and family and their hope that they would be reunited again.

Author Tracy Leininger Craven tells a story that is rich in historical details, family bonds, and faith. This inspirational true story will hold you spellbound as you follow the family’s saga.

ALONE YET NOT ALONE is a quick and easy read that will be hard to put down once you begin. Recommended for youngsters ages 8 and up, this extraordinary story will inspire all ages. 

Craven blends great adventure, enduring values and fascinating history for a captivating read. The incredible journey this family takes will stay with you long after the last page is read.

Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven, Zonderkidz, @2012, ISBN: 978-0310730538, Paperback, 148 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher as part of a virtual blog tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

    Tracy Leininger Craven loves history and retelling real-life stories in her historical fiction books. She also loves spending her free time in the great outdoors with her husband David and their four children.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

    ALONE YET NOT ALONE will be released in theatres September 27. To locate a theatre near you showing the movie, click here. The movie has been awarded five Doves from the Dove Foundation!

    The movie stars: Kelly Greyson, Natalie Racoosin, Clay Walker, Jenn Gotzon, Joanie Stewart, Ozzie Torres, Tony Wade.

    For more on this amazing movie, visit the movie website and find it on Facebook and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have one print copy of ALONE YET NOT ALONE to giveaway. To enter, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Alone.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of ALONE YET NOT ALONE is 8 p.m. (EST) on Monday, Sept. 2

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you’re enjoying your Sunday and have a good book handy to read. Here’s a trailer for the upcoming movie ALONE YET NOT ALONE for your viewing pleasure.

Author Anya Wylde: Seeking Philbert Woodbead Giveaway

It’s my pleasure today to tell you about a new book recently released by one of my favorite authors and friend, Anya Wylde. Her third release, SEEKING PHILBERT WOODBEAD, is available as an eBook.

Anya is graciously offering a giveaway today to celebrate this release. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of SEEKING PHILBERT WOODBEAD:
   
 Miss Celine Fairweather’s life was bobbing along like a boat on a tranquil stream when all of a sudden a summons from her beloved sister Penelope Radclyff, the Duchess of Blackthorne, changed it all.
    Celine hurtles off to the London to help the duchess run the Blackthorne Mansion and to discover the whereabouts of her lost love Philbert Woodbead.
    Sensible Celine manages to keep things deathly dull and under control for a whole week until she enlists the help of the handsome Lord Elmer—a mischievous rogue, an ex-pirate, and an incorrigible flirt who is wanted dead by all of England’s husbands with attractive wives.
    They scurry from one giddy escapade to another seeking Philbert in musty inns and dusty streets, and through it all Celine tries to keep her bonnet straight, her gloves spotless and her heart in tune with her head.
    Life has suddenly turned exciting, and love has well and truly bitten her rosy buttocks. Now the only question is … who has done the biting? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anya lives in Ireland along with her husband and a fat French poodle (now on a diet). She can cook a mean curry, and her idea of exercise is occasionally stretching her toes. She holds a degree in English literature and adores reading and writing.


For more on Anya and her writing, visit her on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: The giveaway for this book is for an eBook copy only and the winner needs to have an Amazon account where the book can be gifted to them. (Amazon accounts are free. If you don’t have one you can sign up here.)

To enter the giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Seeking Philbert Woodbead.” Your message should include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. The deadline to enter this giveaway for an e-copy of SEEKING PHILBERT WOODBEAD is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, Sept. 1.

Thanks for dropping by today. Do you find yourself reading more eBooks lately or do you tend to read more print?

Author Kirsten Weiss: Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery Novels & A Special Note

I’m delighted today to welcome author Kirsten Weiss to Thoughts in Progress to talk about her Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery Novels and her latest release, THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE.

Here’s a brief synopsis of THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE:
    Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives.
    When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in the bedroom, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.
    Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer walks away from her pre-wedding party, she believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?
    Marrying romance, mystery, and the metaphysical, THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE is a fast-paced urban fantasy, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

This is what Diana Orgain, Best-selling author of The Maternal Instincts Mysteries, had to say about THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE - “A high-voltage, cleverly-spun mystery that I couldn't put down. Riga Hayworth is addictive.”

Kirsten joins us now and has graciously answered some questions about her series.

Your heroine, Riga Hayworth, is a metaphysical detective. How did you come up with that character?

Kirsten:
I’d just quit a rotten job (for me) and was daydreaming about careers I’d rather have. Of course, the career I really wanted was mystery writer. But metaphysical detective popped into my mind and I began wondering what one might do. 

I visualized a female, brooding, noir detective. And soon she became a character. What would I call her? I’ve always liked the name “Riga” and since Riga rhymes with Rita, the last name “Hayworth” popped into my brain. And since these are paranormal books, to add a level of weirdness, Riga looks almost identical to her namesake, Rita Hayworth.
 
Was this your first book?

Kirsten:
No, I’d written several manuscripts which frankly didn’t deserve to be published before I wrote the first Riga Hayworth novel, THE METAPHYSICAL DETECTIVE. THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE is the fourth in the series.

What makes your books unique?

Kirsten:
Each book in the Riga Hayworth series explores a different “brand” of magic as it’s practiced today. They’re not instruction manuals, because that would be boring. But I do a lot of research and try to make it as realistic as possible within the confines of fiction. Though I have to say, the results of the magic in my books are a lot more spectacular than they tend to be in real life. 

Another difference – though I’m not unique in this – is that most of the paranormals or urban fantasies I’ve read have heroines in their 20s or early 30s. Riga is in her 40s, so her perspective on life is a bit different. She falls in love, but romance isn’t the painful drama that it might be for a twenty-year-old. She knows what she wants and who she is. And she doesn’t put up with any crap, which frankly makes her a lot of fun.

And finally, I write the fight scenes a bit differently. Female martial artists can do a lot of damage, but we tend to have less speed and less mass. And since force equals speed times mass, we have less force. It’s just physics. So in a street fight (which is very different from a sparring match), women need to fight differently if they’re going to get out in one piece.
 
Have you learned any fun paranormal facts in your research?

Kirsten:
I researched necromancy for THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE, and it was far less gruesome than I thought. To the ancient Greeks, necromancy was divination by talking to the spirits. Today, it refers to any type of death magic, but it still largely involves invoking and conversing with the deceased, and getting help from them to power magic spells.
 
What’s next?

Kirsten:
I’m working on book five of the Riga Hayworth series, where she goes to Kauai. Sadly, my research will not entail me going back there. But I get to research Hawaiian magic, which is beautiful and fascinating.

Kirsten, thanks for joining us today. This behind the scenes look at how Riga came about was intriguing. I like that you put Riga in her 40s with that different look on life.

For those of you not familiar with Kirsten, here’s a bit of background on her. As we’ve mentioned, she is the author of the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mysteries: the urban fantasy. The books include: The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, The Shamanic Detective, and The Infernal Detective. 

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

For more on Kirsten and her writing, please visit her at any of the following sites:
@RigaHayworth
Kirsten's Facebook Page
Kirsten's Google+ Page
Kirsten's Pinterest Boards
Kirsten's Website: http://kirstenweiss.com


SPECIAL NOTE.........

TRADE THE DAY is a one day event on August 23 where you can donate to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society simply by purchasing a book!  

Join us from the moment the stroke of midnight rings in Friday until Saturday on www.colbymarshall.com/blog for guest posts and interviews with some of your favorite authors, your chances to win signed copies of their books and author swag, and more! 

But most importantly, know that all sales of THE TRADE by Colby Marshall made on StairwayPress.com on this day will go to benefit the Leukemia Lymphoma Society!   

For more information, visit http://www.colbymarshall.com/trade-the-day !

Now for your viewing pleasure (and to tempt your reading taste buds), here’s a book trailer from THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy. What are your thoughts on metaphysical detectives?

Author Miggs Burroughs On Tour

It's my pleasure to be a part of author Miggs Burroughs' first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book as he tours with

his spiritual self-help book, The What If? Book of Questions: to some of your most revealing answers on Love and Health Wealth & Happiness!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

     A thoughtful Q and A book that asks life questions about who you are and how you might navigate the challenging choices we all have to make. With charming illustrations throughout, it points a way toward wisdom like a Zen Koan, with each question wrapped in its own. 

The book can be flipped through at random resulting in many a smile and nod of recognition or awareness. Or read only a paired question and illustration at a time to better absorb the message that we should live each moment of our lives, one moment at a time.  

The What If? Book of Questions can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and found on Goodreads. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

     A lifelong resident of Westport, CT, Miggs Burroughs has been creating art and graphic design since he was 20 and his very first painting was accepted into Silvermine’s prestigious Art of the Northeast show. At age 26, he was chosen to design a Commemorative U. S. Postage Stamp. Shortly thereafter he illustrated several covers for TIME Magazine, one of which resides in the Smithsonian Institution. 

Miggs has designed hundreds of award-winning logos, websites and print material for global companies as well as non-profit organizations. He has recently won acclaim for his work with lenticular imagery, which has been exhibited in several one-man shows and is held in several private collections. 

Miggs graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Carnegie-Mellon University and has taught graphic design at Fairfield University and UCONN. As part of the healing process after his divorce in 1995, Miggs compiled a list of “What if” questions, which are now creating a sensation in book form. 

For more on Miggs and his many talents, visit his blog at http://www.whatifthisbookcouldchangeyourlife.com/ 

Here's a book trailer for your enjoyment.

    

TOUR SCHEDULE:

To follow Miggs on his tour, check out the blogs listed below for additional information.

Monday, August 5 - Guest blogging at From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, August 6 - Guest blogging at Gina's Library

Tuesday, August 6 - 1st chapter reveal at Maureen's Musings

Wednesday, August 7 - Book reviewed at My Book Retreat

Thursday, August 8 - Book featured at Literary Winner

Friday, August 9 -Book reviewed at Create with Joy

Monday, August 12 - Guest blogging at Books Books the Magical Fruit

Tuesday, August 13 - Interviewed at I'm Shelf-ish

Wednesday, August 14 - Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts

Thursday, August 15 - Guest blogging at Authors and Readers Book Corner

Friday, August 16 - Book reviewed and Guest blogging at The True Book Addict

Tuesday, August 20 - Book reviewed at My Cozie Corner

Tuesday, August 20 - Interviewed at Read 2 Review

Monday, August 26 - Book reviewed at Review From Here

Wednesday, August 28 - Book reviewed at Melissa's Midnight Musings

Friday, August 30 - Interviewed at Review From Here

Thanks for stopping by today. Have you ever compiled a list of 'What Ifs?'

Author Carolyn Brown: The Last of Spikes & Spurs and Giveaway

It’s always a hoot to welcome bestselling author Carolyn
Brown back to Thoughts in Progress because I know it means she has a new book out and lots of fun things to share with us. However, today’s return comes with a bit of sadness as her latest release, COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, is the last installment in her tantalizing Spikes and Spurs series.


But with that sadness, Carolyn always brings joy. Thanks to her and the lovely Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have a giveaway to offer today to a lucky winner. Please see the end of the post for details.

First, let’s take a peak at what COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE is all about:
    He's Tough as Nails and Ready to Ride...     Rancher Dewar O'Donnell is just an old-fashioned cowboy at heart, and he can't wait to reenact the historic Chisholm Trail ride with his buddies. The trial-run cattle drive for a reality TV show sounds like a great time—until H.B. McKay pulls up in her slick red sports car...
    She's Way Out of Her Element...     Haley McKay is a feisty, high-powered businesswoman with the power suit and stiletto heels to prove it. She's keen to research her company's hot new idea for a reality TV show—but mount up with a bunch of modern-day cowboys? Are they kidding?
    It's too late to back out now, so Haley sets out to prove that it will take more than snakes, storms, and stampedes to make her back down.
    Besides, sleeping under the stars with Dewar O'Donnell could prove mighty interesting...

I hear Carolyn coming in, let’s see what she’s up to. I think she has a trip planned for us. Hi, there Carolyn, what’s up?

Y’all are cordially invited to come on over to my house today where we’ll be havin’ dinner…just to be clear, that would be the noon meal in this part of the world. It’ll be put on the bar at, you guessed it, twelve o’clock sharp and we’ll serve it up buffet style. 

Menu includes sweet tea with lots of ice because it’s hotter than the devil’s spiky little tail, mashed potatoes, fried squash, fried chicken, a nice big garden fresh salad with endive and fresh tomatoes, black eyed peas and a choice of hot yeast rolls or cornbread—or both if you’d like cornbread with your peas and maybe a hot roll when you go back for a second plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. No one is counting how many plates you use up so don’t be shy. Dessert is your choice of pecan pie and/or fresh peach cobbler, with or without homemade ice cream.

While we’re eating we’ll gather around the ten foot dining room table and talk about COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, the seventh and last book in the Spikes & Spurs series that started with LOVE DRUNK COWBOY in May, 2011. 

Dewar and Haley’s story was such fun to write. Next time the O’Donnell’s gather up to sing out under the shade trees in Ringgold, Texas (population less than 100), they’ll have a wild tale to tell about herding those cattle all the way up through Oklahoma to Dodge City, Kansas.

What’s that? Someone has a question down at the end of the table.

What is it that I like about country living that makes me continue to write about it? 

Well, darlin’ a few years ago I went to a little school auditorium up in Coleman, Oklahoma to see Jerry Clower. Some of y’all might not have ever heard of that fellow but he was one of my favorite comedians from the time I was just a teenager. Believe me, it was a big deal for me to get to sit up in the bleachers in the old gym and listen to him. I even bought a brand new pair of boots to wear that night.

After he’d entertained us with his stories about Marcel Ledbetter and Uncle Versy, he had a little time left before his car arrived to take him to the Dallas airport and on back to Mississippi where he lived. He opened up the floor for questions and someone asked him why he always talked about the country life and why he loved it more than city living.

His answer was that in the country folks know their neighbors and they take care of their friends. When his mama passed, the family all came home to her house and not one relative cooked so much as a biscuit during their time of mourning.

That kind of sums it up. In the country, folks might know everyone and get into their business and offer up advice when it’s not even asked for. But when babies are born, when folks pass on, when there’s sickness or joy, folks are there with food and a helping hand. And believe me not a dime passes hands for what’s done, either. Friendship is a priceless commodity like love. Country living has a heart beat and a pulse of its own and once you partake of it, you will come back for a second helping sometime. It might just to be for a visit, but you’ll get to cravin’ the slow simple lifestyle and nothing else will satisfy that itch but a day or two in the country.

That’s the way things are done in the Spikes & Spurs series down in Ringgold, Texas. Cash and Maddie O’Donnell are that kind of folks and they’ve raised their kids that way.
 
So it’s no wonder that Dewar has trouble wrapping his mind around falling for a city girl. And it’s no wonder that it’s difficult for Haley, being a city girl, to admit that she could fall for a country boy with values and a lifestyle so very different from hers. But the heart wants what it wants, and it don’t give a damn whether the body that houses it lives in the country or in the city.

What is it that appeals to y’all about country living? Or maybe we can take it a step on up the ladder and ask what is it about country living and cowboys that makes reading about them exciting to you?

While you’re thinkin’ on that, does anyone need a refill on their sweet tea while I’m up and checkin’ on the ice cream freezer?

Carolyn, thanks for the invite and dinner. Fine as always, but like your books. I have to agree with you and Jerry Clower (a funny man) about country living. It can’t be beat.

Now, for those who don’t know Carolyn let me share a bit of background. She is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than sixty books published. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances, as well as women’s fiction. 

Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. Look for THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY in stores this October! 

For more information on Carolyn and her writing, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com. 

Here’s what some others have to say about Carolyn:
    "Lazy drawls and pointy-toed boots are at the heart of Brown's Texas-set romance...the couple's relationship is hot as the Texan sun." — RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
    "Funny, frank, and full of heart...One more welcome example of Brown's Texas-size talent for storytelling." — USA Today Happily Ever After
    "Alive with humor...Another page-turning joy of a book by an engaging author." — Fresh Fiction

COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE can be found at these locations: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo/Chapters, IndieBound, Discover a New Love, and Sourcebooks.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Now for the giveaway, thanks to Carolyn and Danielle. I have 1 copy of JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY (the book directly preceding COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE in the Spikes & Spurs series) to giveaway. The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only.

To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win JUST A COWBOY.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of JUST A COWBOY AND HIS BABY will be 8 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Thanks for stopping by today. Well, what’s your thoughts on country living?

Author Jesse Giles Christiansen: Why Pelican Bay

I’m delighted today to welcome a new author I recently met that has given me a totally new outlook on the sea. Author Jesse Giles Christiansen joins us to talk about his latest release, PELICAN BAY. 


Here’s a brief synopsis of the mystery, suspense novel published by Imajin Books. 

    After Ethan Hodges discovers an undersea cemetery just off the beach of Pelican Bay, South Carolina, he seeks answers from a grandfatherly fisherman named Captain Shelby. The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn't listen.
    Ethan's best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay.

Jesse joins us now to talk about this tantalizing story.

Hello readers, thank you for stopping by. My name’s Jesse Giles Christiansen, author of PELICAN BAY, and I’m very excited to be here today!  

I think important questions that authors may often forget to ask themselves are, “Why did I write this novel?” and, “What do I want the world to know as a result of it?” I think that not knowing the answers to these questions ahead of time can lead to mediocre novels. 

The first reason that I wrote PELICAN BAY was mainly cathartic. I went through tremendous emotional suffering in a relationship and thought that the most constructive way to deal with it was to write a book so that others might be able to know and learn from what I went through. In other words, I decided to make a treacherous ex-girlfriend into literature. And that is how I was born as a writer, I believe. My wiring, the simple marrow of me, is such that, from the very early age of twelve, I have turned to songwriting and fictional writing to digest those pains thrust on all of us by reality. My pains of life have been deep and unique. Perhaps we all have our own deep and unique pains, and that’s what makes us who we are. 

A dream with the ex-girlfriend is what started it all. Her name is Morgan in the novel, not entirely different from the real woman she is based on. Withdrawn, cynical, inaccessible, but somehow still a beautiful and irresistible librarian. We were standing on a South Carolina beach and staring out to sea. But there were sinister dark stones lurking beneath, things that I soon realized, after waking and starting to write PELICAN BAY, would give me a much bigger reason for writing the novel. From these dark stones would emerge the greatest character of my writing career: Captain Shelby. Captain Shelby is one of those characters born of the white amniotic fluid of the spaces between the words on the page. He takes over, and if you know something of novel writing, you LET him. 

Suddenly there was this huge second reason for writing PELICAN BAY. I needed the world to know that the greatest source of my suffering was having to have many fathers instead of the original one, and that from that suffering there is deep wisdom to be shared. I lost my father very young. But some of us have fathers and have still lost them. If life is about working things out, then maybe, just maybe, most of us need many parents from teachers to friends to uncles to grandfathers, and so on, to work it all out. Have I worked it all out? No. I need a lot more novels to do so, novels I hope that will each speak to the human experience and offer readers more than just solid page-turning.
 
Captain Shelby is that greatest of great-grandfathers that we all hope to know and learn from. The problem is that we cannot find such ancient men in reality. We need to turn to novels. And there is a price that comes with such age and wisdom. And you must read PELICAN BAY to understand that price. But having done so, I hope that you will come to love the old fisherman as much as I have. PELICAN BAY has been a list bestseller for a month running now, and I think that Captain Shelby is responsible for much of that. 

There are other unique characters with much to offer in the book. Ethan may be semi-autobiographical, and you keen readers will see that after reading this blog and picking up the book. Ethan needs facts, love, and wisdom, things that are missing, leaving a little black hole when a storm took both his parents as a child, a little black hole that perhaps only you-know-who can fill. 

His grandmother, Sidney, does a great job raising and trying to protect Ethan. She is a noble, beautifully aged, English settler, almost of yore, with an inner strength that I hope my astute readers will also net.
 
I am very interested in taking your questions now about PELICAN BAY, or writing in general. I look forward to speaking with you. See you in the Land Between the Lines! 

PELICAN BAY is available on Amazon as an eBook for a special sales price during my publisher, Imajin Book’s Summer Sizzles eBook Sale. It’s also available in a beautiful, sturdy paperback as well.
 
Jesse, thanks for joining us and sharing this behind the scenes look at PELICAN BAY. It is indeed an intriguing story that will have you pondering many things.

Now let me tell you a bit about Jesse. He is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature. 

He wrote his first novel, ABOUT: JOURNEY INTO THE MYSTIC, after spending a summer in Alaska working on fishing boats. 

One of his literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he reminds himself always of something that Ray Bradbury once said: "You fail only if you stop writing."

For more on Jesse and his writing, visit his website, follow his blog or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Now here’s a PELICAN BAY book trailer for your enjoyment. Thanks for stopping by and remember, Jesse is interested in answering your questions.

Author Cristiane Serruya: Trust Trilogy Continues

It’s a pleasure to welcome author Cristiane Serruya back to Thoughts in Progress with the release of the second

installment in her Trust Trilogy, BETRAYED.

Here’s a synopsis:
   BETRAYED, the second installment of the TRUST trilogy, journeys back into the past to reveal the secrets and dark deeds of Sophia, Ethan and Alistair. 
    Sophia, the ravishing owner of Leibowitz Oil, is determined to have a relationship with Alistair, but a dark and terrible secret lurks beneath the surface she presents to the world. Will she be able to find peace within herself?
    Alistair, a powerful banker, is in love with Sophia but has difficulties overcoming his guilt over his daughter's death and his BDSM proclivities. Certain that he doesn't deserve to be loved, he will do everything to push Sophia away, despite his love for her. Will he be able to find redemption?
     Ethan, a steel tycoon, no less haunted by his secrets and lies, is still in love with Sophia after their short lived relationship. He now lives in an alternate reality he has created, because the loss of Sophia is too unbearable to face. He will pay any price to have her. Will he have her back in his arms or will he master his loss and move on?
    Sophia, Ethan and Alistair will need to overcome their guilt, fear and pain and learn to see themselves through forgiving eyes to find love. Will they succeed? Or will they succumb to their misery?

Cristiane has graciously answered some questions about her trilogy and her writing. Welcome, Cristiane.

Hello Mason, I’m so happy to be hosted in your amazing blog. I want to thank for the opportunity of talking about my books and for the interesting interview.
 
Mason - What are some of the advantages and disadvantages when writing the second book of a trilogy?

Cristiane:
Hmmm… I didn’t see any disadvantages in writing the second book of the TRUST trilogy. The first book, TRUST: A NEW BEGINNING was my first romance ever published and I learned a lot with it. I would dare say that TRUST: BETRAYED came out even better and easier than the first one. Well, the reviewers say so too.

Mason - How do you keep the facts straight about your characters and locations from book to book? Do you use a journal, spreadsheet, etc.?

Cristiane:
In fact, the story was almost all done when I decided to make a few changes and introduce new characters’ qualities and behaviors, being the middle of the story, TRUST: BETRAYED, the part I still had to develop more. However, the characters were so alive in my mind, the way they talked, dressed, behaved, their needs, desires and goals, that I didn’t need a follow-up. For the third book, TRUST: PANDORA’S BOX, I did a small planning as soon as I finished BETRAYED, because I’m wrapping up the story, so I can’t leave loose ends.

The next romance has a few characters from the TRUST trilogy. Of course, I’ll need to consult a few times the books for names, dates and places, but I have the story already planned on my mind. I’m anxious to finish this trilogy and start the next one.

Mason - What advice would you give someone just getting started writing?

Cristiane:
Research what you are writing about if you are not familiar with the theme. Surely one of your readers will notice if you were lazy. And, of course, exhaustedly review your manuscript and ask, at least five of your friends to read it too. The naughty typos will be there if you don't polish your manuscript over and over again.

Mason - If you could co-author a book with any author (living or dead), who would it be and what type of book with it be?

Cristiane:
Kafka or Ionesco for philosophical stories. Imagine being able to write those nightmarish stories! Oh, but unfortunately they are dead! And I cannot think of a great author alive on the philosophical genre.
However, for the romantic genre, I think Gena Showalter, Kresley Cole, Nora Roberts, Maya Banks, Tessa Dare and many more would made great partners to write a romance. But I don't think they have heard of me. Yet.

Mason - What type of books do you read for relaxation?

Cristiane:
Oh, what would I be without books? I'm kind of obsessed about books. I read in traffic, in the doctor's waiting room, and a few hours every day at home. I read at least two books each week, and I have very eclectic taste on books. When I was young, I loved Barbara Cartland, Charlotte and Emile Bronte. As I grew, Kafka, Becket, Anouill, Victor Hugo, George Orwell and many others made their way into my library. And, of course, the Greek classics and lots and lots of romance.

Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?

Cristiane:
I'm finishing the third book of the trilogy, TRUST: PANDORA'S BOX, and it will be released in the end of the year. After the TRUST trilogy, I intent to write about the love stories of Sophia's siblings.

I think another trilogy is going to happen, since I've already started to Carolina Santo's story. The girl is going to rock Rio de Janeiro, Hollywood, New York and London. Lunches, dinners, fashion weeks and gala balls will vie for her presence. The books will be full of gossip, beautiful and rich people, “drugs, sex and rock'n'roll”.

But everything can happen. Felipe has been asking to go first, since he is the older brother. Stay tuned!

I really hope those who haven’t read the TRUST TRILOGY enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. I love to hear from readers and I'm always posting new blogs, along with news about Sophia, Ethan and Alistair, on my website, http://cristianeserruya.com.br/ on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cristianeserruyauthor and on twitter: @CrisSerruya

I’ll be waiting for you all to get in touch with me!

Cristiane, thanks for joining us again and sharing more behind the scenes information about this tantalizing trilogy. I can see we readers have much to look forward to.

For those who haven’t met Cristiane yet, let me share a bit of background with you. Cristiane works as a lawyer specializing in cases of sexual abuse and violence against children and women. She also has a Masters in Business Law and a BA in Fine Arts.

She has always loved to read, write and listen to music. In addition, she has lived and studied in England, France, Italy and Switzerland. Traveling is one of her passions - as is keeping fit and healthy. 

Cristiane lives in Rio de Janeiro with her husband and two daughters. For more on her and her writing, visit her website.

Thanks everyone for visiting today. Do you find that a deep, dark secret makes for an intriguing theme in a story? Are you a fan of trilogies or do you prefer single books?

Skinny Little Tree, Oliver the Clownfish, Fifth Grave

Do my titles confuse you or just make you wonder what I’m up to? Well, today I’m sharing three books that are delightful each in their own way.

First, I’d like to share my thoughts on two charming children’s books. The first is by a ‘new-to-me’ author from Georgia. I couldn’t resist the cover. The second is by an author I adore for children’s books and is the third in her fun series. Then I’ll share my thoughts on the fifth installment in the zany Charley Davidson series that I enjoy immensely.

SKINNY LITTLE TREE by Jayme Martin

Learning that all seasons of life are worth living is the focus of author Jayme Martin’s delightful tale, SKINNY LITTLE TREE.

A youngster finds a skinny little tree smiling and ask why. It says Wiggly Worms are tickling its toes. Then the tree cries because its friend the Blue Bird leaves.

Next the tree becomes worried when its leaves begin to fall. But then the tree dances with glee under the moon. Finally the tree is happy again when all things return.

With each new find, Martin has left a page for readers to draw what the tree is discussing. This enables the reader to participate in the story in their own way. This enchanting story follows the seasons of the tree with great detail and insight. Martin has a delightful way of showing how life changes giving parents and children a fun way to talk about it.

The beautiful illustrations by Clark Andrews Jr. enhance the fun story. The vivid drawings will capture readers attention as they follow the tree’s story.

Youngsters will learn as they enjoy this entertaining story. It’s a fun read for all ages.

Author Jayme Martin can be found here.

Skinny Little Tree by Jayme Martin, Illustrated by Clark Andrews Jr, Outskirts Press, @2013, ISBN: 978-1478708704, Paperback, 27 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

THE ADVENTURES OF OLVER THE CLOWNFISH: STICKY FINS by Stephanie Guzman

Teaching a child right from wrong can sometimes be a difficult task. Author Stephanie Guzman has found a fun way to teach youngsters the importance of not stealing.

Oliver the Clownfish enjoys attending Fish Tale Elementary with his friends. During class one day, items turn up missing but Ozzie the Octopus finds each one.

At lunch when Oliver returns to the classroom for his lunchbox he finds Ozzie with a shiny stone belonging to Sally the Seahorse. Oliver talks to Ozzie about how bad it is to take something even if it is just to make others laugh. Ozzie challenges Oliver to take something too. But Oliver convinces Ozzie that having sticky fins isn’t right.

Guzman does an excellent job making the learning experience fun for youngsters ages 6 to 8. She includes helpful tips for parents on how to discuss about the perils of stealing with youngsters. In addition, she includes information about octopus.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Amy Balcerak. The vivid drawings will hold youngsters attention as the story unfolds.

This charming book will entertain and educate. It’s a fun read for the entire family.

Author Stephanie Guzman’s website is www.olivertheclownfish.com  

The Adventures of Oliver The Clownfish: Sticky Fins by Stephanie Guzman, Oliver the Clownfish Series, Illustrated by Amy Balcerak, Not So Plain Jane Publishing, @2013, ISBN: 978-1596640085, Hardcover, 28 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 

FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT by Darynda Jones

Visions of fear and terrible consequences come to mind when the grim reaper is mentioned unless it happens to be Charlotte Jean ‘Charley’ Davidson. Then those visions turn to sexy Reyes Farrow, laugh-out-loud antics, and a mystery or two thrown in for good measure.

In the latest installment in the Charley Davidson series, author Darynda Jones gives us a closer look at Charley’s grim reaper powers, as well as Charley the woman.

Narrator Lorelei King once again brings the characters to life with her tantalizing voice. Her cadence draws you in as she expresses the emotions of the characters with her unique mannerisms making each distinct in their own right. Her vocals elevates the author’s bewitching tale for a captivating story.

Charley is busy playing private investigator trying to help her uncle solve an arson case. She fears the arsonist may be her hunky new neighbor, Reyes Farrow, the sultry son of Satan.

Meanwhile, dead women suddenly start appearing in Charley’s apartment. The women all seem to have been tortured and killed by the same madman. Charley has her work cut out for her as she tracks the killer down only to find her sister, Gemma, could be his next target.

As Charley tackles the cases with her usual intrigue and laugh-out-loud behavior, there are twists and turns along the way to keep you in suspense until the last sentence is uttered. Jones puts an interesting spin on the outcome of this tale that will have fans clamoring for more.

Jones has a distinct way of taking a brutal murder investigation and lightening the tension with bits of humor and steamy romance. Her characters continue to evolve with each new installment. Jones blends realistic situations with paranormal events to create a plausible outcome. The more you listen (or read), the more you believe.

FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT can be read or listened to as a stand alone. However, listening or reading the series in order provides a much better understanding of the characters and their actions. Quick comebacks and snappy liners are mixed in with suspense, murder and mystery for a fun new adventure for Charley Davidson, the grim reaper.

Author Darynda Jones’ website is http://www.daryndajones.com/
 
Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones, Charley Davidson Series, Performed by Lorelei King, Macmillan Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1427230799, Unabridged, 8 Discs, Listening Time: 9 Hours 

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
SIDENOTE: There are phrases at the beginning of each chapter of this series and here is one of my favorite sayings from FIFTH GRAVE PAST THE LIGHT -- Never underestimate the power of a woman on a double espresso with a mocha latte chaser high. —T-shirt

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you found something to your liking. Do you have favorite phrases or one-liners from books you’ve read or listened to? Wishing everyone a happy and pleasant Sunday.