Continuance by Marta Tandori On Tour

It’s my pleasure to be a part of author Marta Tandori’s Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour for her suspenseful family saga novel, CONTINUANCE.

As  part of the tour, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on Marta’s intriguing book, tell you a bit about her and share the blog tour schedule with you.

CONTINUANCE by Marta Tandori

Stories that deal with kidnapped children always tugs on the heart strings and author Marta Tandori does a great job of combining mystery and intrigue with those feelings.

Seven-year-old Ethan du Maurier disappears during school recess. The FBI determine he’s been kidnapped as he is the only son and heir of New York City real estate tycoon Alexander du Maurier. A nationwide bulletin is issued and soon reports begin coming in.

Acting on an anonymous tip, a task force is set to a Savannah restaurant where he boy has allegedly been seen. The agents search the historical building, but instead of finding the youngster they discover the skeletal remains of a man in a pirate’s tunnel under the building.

Restaurant owner Annie Eastwood finds her business temporary shut down as the FBI conducts their investigation. Not one to sit idly by, Annie begins search the building’s history for clues to the murdered man. What she uncovers, however, may tie the youngster’s disappearance to secrets from the du Maurier family’s past.

Tandori quickly draws you into this story beginning with the youngster believing he’s getting a surprise. She holds you spellbound with twists and turns as you guess at the true nature of the events. The story flows smooth and steady as it dips from the present to the past and back again.

The characters are well-developed and likable. The protagonist is determined and resourceful. The secondary characters add depth to the story. Dealing with a kidnapped child, CONTINUANCE will tug at your heart strings but also provide hope and inspiration.  

Continuance by Marta Tandori, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, @2013, ISBN: 978-1484123300, Paperback, 300 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - A digital copy of this book was sent to me as part of the author’s virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…..

By the time Marta Tandori reached fifth grade, she was an avid reader and writer with a stack of short stories collecting dust in a box under her bed but it wasn’t until she began studying acting in her early twenties at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York that Marta realized acting wasn’t really her passion – writing fiction was. What followed was years of writing workshops as well as correspondence courses in writing for children through the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut. She credits the award winning author, Troon Harrison, as the instructor who helped her find her literary voice. 

Marta’s first work of middle-grade fiction, BEING SAM, NO MATTER WHAT was published in 2005, followed by EVERY WHICH WAY BUT KUKU! in 2006. With her more recent endeavors, Marta has shifted her writing focus to “women’s suspense”, a genre she fondly describes as having “strong female protagonists with closets full of nasty skeletons and the odd murder or two to complicate their already complicated lives”. 

To learn more about Marta and her writing, visit her blog, The Marta/Kindle Project at http://www.martatandori.com.

TOUR SCHEDULE:
Monday, August 5 - Book review and 1st chapter reveal at Miki's Hope
Wednesday, August 7 - Guest blogging at From the TBR Pile
Thursday, August 8 - Book reviewed at Kaisy Daisy's Corner
Monday, August 12 - Guest blogging and 1st chapter reveal at Inside BJ's Head
Tuesday, August 13 - Book review and Guest blogging at Queen of All She Reads
Thursday, August 15 - Interviewed at Review From Here
Monday, August 19 - Book reviewed at Love Books! Book Reviews
Monday, August 19 - Guest blogging and 1st chapter reveal at Cindy's Love of Books
Tuesday, August 20 - Book featured at Beyond the Books
Wednesday, August 21 - Book featured at My Cozie Corner
Friday, August 23 - Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz
Monday, August 26 - Book featured at My Devotional Thoughts
Tuesday, August 27 - Guest blogging at The Writer's Life
Thursday, August 29 - 1st chapter reveal at Read 2 Review
Friday, August 30 - Interviewed at Broowaha
Wednesday, September 4 - 1st Chapter Reveal at As the Pages Turn
Friday, September 6 - Book featured at Tales of a Book Addict
Tuesday, September 10 - Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Thursday, September 12 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure
Friday, September 13 - Guest blogging at Between the Covers
Tuesday, September 17 - Book reviewed at Bless Their Heart Mom
Wednesday, September 18 - Book reviewed at Raven Reviews
Thursday, September 19 - Book reviewed at The Self Taught Cook
Friday, September 20 - Book reviewed and 1st chapter reveal at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Monday, September 23 - Book reviewed and 1st chapter reveal at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, September 24 - 1st chapter reveal at Books R Us
Wednesday, September 25 - Book reviewed and 1st chapter reveal at Literary Winner
Thursday, September 26 - Book reviewed at Create with Joy
Friday, September 27 - Book reviewed at Mary's Cup of Tea
Friday, September 27 - Book featured at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you shy away from books about youngsters being kidnapped?

On Tour With Julianne Donaldson’s Blackmoore

I’m delighted to be a part of author Julianne Donaldson’s virtual book tour for her latest Regency romance novel, BLACKMOORE, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing under the label: A Proper Romance.



For more reviews and a chance to win a copy of this charming book, check out Julianne’s Tour Page on Shadow Mountain’s website. As part of the tour, I’m sharing my review and a brief background on the author.

BLACKMOORE by Julianne Donaldson

This Regency romance also has a good bit of intrigue, mystery and loyalty woven into the delightful story.

Kate Worthington wants to be nothing like her mother. She doesn’t care about marriage, but wants to embrace adventure with her aunt on a trip to India. More than anything, she wants to visit the stately manor Blackmoore for the season.

Blackmoore, which sits atop cliffs above the seashore, belongs to her best friend, Henry and his family. Due to a mysterious tiff between her mother and his, she hasn’t been asked to visit when the family stays there even though she longs to. Meanwhile, Kate’s meddlesome and flirtatious mother plans to marry her off to a wealthy man - any wealthy man.

Kate hope to escape comes when she is finally allowed to visit Blackmoore. In addition, her mother has stipulated that she must receive and turn down three marriage proposals while at Blackmoore before she is allow to go India with her aunt. Finally, Kate foresees a way to leave her domineering mother and a life she can’t image living.

However, when Kate’s adventure finally begins, she soon realizes that she left more behind than the love of her temperamental cat. Will the adventure be enough to fill the void she now feels for a concept she never imaged?

Author Julianne Donaldson weaves a mystical tale of romance, hopes and dreams. Her characters are well-developed and likable. She gives them flaws and quirks, but strength and determination.

The story flows smoothly even though it shifts in time a bit the reader is not lost or confused. An eye for detail, the author paints a beautiful setting for this enchanting romance. The alluring story will draw you in and hold you captivated until the end. 

Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson, A Proper Romance, Shadow Mountain, @2013, ISBN: 978-1609074609, Paperback, 320 Pages 

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Julianne Donaldson grew up as the daughter of a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot. She learned
how to ski in the Italian Alps, visited East Berlin before the wall came down, and spent three years living next to a 500-year-old castle. After earning a degree in English, she turned her attention to writing about distant times and places. 


She lives in Utah with her husband and four children. A great way to stay in touch with Julianne is through her Facebook Page or find her online at www.juliannedonaldson.com

SPECIAL!
  
During Julianne’s blog tour, Shadow Mountain Publishing has Amazon.com specials running on the digital books under the ‘A Proper Romance’ brand. These include: EDENBROOKE - $1.99 and BLACKMOORE - $7.99.

Thanks for stopping by today. Don’t forget to check out the other blogs participating in Julianne’s tour for a chance to win a copy of this intriguing book. Have a great Sunday and HAPPY READING!!

CassaStorm Hit Bookshelves This Week and a Giveaway

I’m thrilled to be a part of fellow blogger and author Alex J. Cavanaugh’s sizzling launch party this week as his third novel, CassaStorm, hit the bookshelves Tuesday, Sept. 17.

To celebrate this exciting event, Alex is hosting an awesome giveaway on his blog. Comment on his blog this week for a chance to enter this giveaway. One person will be chosen at random to win a Cassa mug, Cass mouse pad, swag, and a $25 iTunes gift card (or Amazon.)

First a look at CassaStorm from the Amazon Bestselling Series!


    A storm gathers across the galaxy…

     Commanding the Cassan base on Tgren, Byron thought he’d put the days of battle behind him. As a galaxy-wide war encroaches upon the desert planet, Byron’s ideal life is threatened and he’s caught between the Tgrens and the Cassans.

    After enemy ships attack the desert planet, Byron discovers another battle within his own family. The declaration of war between all ten races triggers nightmares in his son, threatening to destroy the boy’s mind.

    Meanwhile the ancient alien ship is transmitting a code that might signal the end of all life in the galaxy. And the mysterious probe that almost destroyed Tgren twenty years ago could return. As his world begins to crumble, Byron suspects a connection. The storm is about to break, and Byron is caught in the middle…

With Alex’s three novels behind him now, I ask him…..If you could co-author a book with anyone (living or dead) who would it be with and what would the book be about?

Alex:
It would be cool to work on a book with Robert E. Heinlein since we both write a similar style of space opera. Not sure what I would bring to the table, but I would learn a lot from the master!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games.

Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. The author of the Amazon bestsellers, CassaStar and CassaFire, he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

For more on Alex and his writing, visit his website or find him on Twitter and Goodreads.

Here is what others are already saying about CassaStorm….

    “CassaStorm is a touching and mesmerizing space opera full of action and emotion with strong characters and a cosmic mystery.” – Edi’s Book Lighhouse
    “With a talent for world building and a compelling cast of characters, Alex J. Cavanaugh combines high powered space battles and the challenges of family dynamics to provide readers a space opera with heart.” - Elizabeth S. Craig, author of the Southern Quilting and Myrtle Clover mysteries     
    “I thought the revelation was going to be one thing and I was completely wrong … CassaStorm pushes the limits…” - Tyson Mauermann, Speculative Reviews

CassaStorm, listed as a science fiction/adventure and science fiction/space opera, is available in trade paperback (ISBN: 978-1939844002, $16.95 USA) and eBook (ISBN: 978-1939844019, $4.99, available in all formats). The 268-page book was published by Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. You can find CassaStorm at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Amazon Kindle, and Goodreads.  

Thanks for stopping by today. Please join Alex for his exciting launch party and be sure to comment on his blog for a chance to win an awesome prize. Now for your viewing pleasure, here’s a book trailer of CassaStorm.

Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost Cover Revealed And Giveaway

It’s a pleasure today to be a part of the Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Cover Reveal for ROMANCING THE MILLION $$$ GHOST by three intriguing authors.

First, a brief synopsis of the book….

    Eccentric tobacco tycoon Rodger Hawthorne III can have anything his heart desires except his dead wife, Sarah. Feeling responsible for the car crash that killed her twenty years earlier, he offers one million dollars to anyone who can find her spirit and bring it to him within one week or the money is forfeited. 
    Six spiritually-challenged—but highly intuitive—women find his ad over the Internet and accept his challenge only to embark on a journey they didn’t quite expect that covers astral traveling, past life regressions and spiritual encounters of the unworldly kind.
    While this book is lightly based on a true story of a real man who is offering one million dollars to anyone who can prove that spirits exist, this story is purely fictional. Or is it? Coming October 2013! 
 
Now a bit about each of the delight authors.

HEIDE AW KAMINSKI…..

Heide is the mom of three very successful children, and she lives in southeast Michigan with her partner, her son and her stepson. She teaches English in a high school for juvenile delinquent boys, as well as co-directs the Sunday school program for an Interfaith Center. She is also the editor-in-chief for the Interfaith Center’s monthly 16-page newsletter.  

She is currently the author of five books, ADHD and ME , Get Smart Through Art, The Ability Gang (a novel for upper elementary readers), Von Riesiggross bis Klitzeklein (a German children's book), and South of Eden (a not so serious novel about life in Heaven). She has also published stories in 15 anthologies, including Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul.

Heide was born and raised in Germany, and after spending a year as an exchange student in the USA, she ended up marrying an American and has been a permanent resident in the U.S. since 1984, as well as a citizen of the U.S. since 2007. After dedicating many years to being there for her children first, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in English communications at the ripe age of 50 and her English teaching certificate two years later.

PAM RYAN…..
  
Pam is a writer and professional psychic from Northwestern Ohio. She is the mother of two and has been a widow for the last five years. Her writing career began back in high school where she wrote a column for the Sylvania Sentinel Newspaper in Sylvania, Ohio. Pam was also the first page editor of the high school newspaper as well as doing the public relations for the high school musicals At the University of Toledo she helped to create the Public Relations Department for the Department of Theatre and Speech, worked as a reporter for the college paper, The Collegian, and was assistant to the Public Relation Director of a local Toledo, Ohio, theatre group, Lynro Productions. 

After college Pam went to work for the United States Government and part of her duties were to write, and publisher a newspaper for the Migrant Opportunity Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Back in Ohio she lent her talents to the local Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make A Wish of Northwestern Ohio, worked on newsletters for Grace Lutheran Church and Christ the King Church, both in Toledo, and did public relations for the Parent Organization of Lake Elementary School. 

Pamela Ryan, as she is known professionally, began her professional psychic career in 1990. She presently does private readings and parties, and is also available at Lite the Way, Lambertville, Michigan, and The Healing Oasis in Clay Center, Ohio. Pam has recently completed classes and become a Certified Hypnotherapist and has completed the Master’s level for hypnotherapists. Publication is tentatively set for 2013, for her book, “My Dearest Children”, channeled by Mary Magdalene, and is presently working on a biography of world renowned journalist, Ruth Montgomery and a series of books about a fictional psychic medium. The first one is called, "The Macrame Cross".

DOROTHY THOMPSON…..
  
Dorothy is the owner/founder of Pump Up Your Book, an innovative public relations firm specializing in online book promotion and social media marketing for authors. Pump Up Your Book was voted #1 in the Preditor's and Editor's Readers Poll in 2012.

She is also the co-author/compiler of Romancing the Soul, an anthology which proves soul mates exist and has appeared in USA Today, Chicago Times and other publications. Dorothy loves the paranormal and is spatial clairsentient. She lives on the beautiful island of Chincoteague, Virginia.

Together, these three authors make up the writing team for ROMANCING THE MILLION $$$ GHOST. For more, visit the official book blog at www.RomancingMillionDollarGhost.com or like them on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/RomancingTheMillionDollarGhost.

To celebrate the cover reveal for their book, the three authors are giving away a number of fabulous prizes:
    * One Halloween party kit (valued at $49) or PayPal Cash!
   * Two $25 Amazon Gift Cards or PayPal Cash!
   * One FREE psychic phone reading from one of the authors, Pam Ryan and one ROMANCING THE MILLION $$$ GHOST eBook gifted from Amazon Kindle Store!
  
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

By entering the giveaway (below), you are confirming you are at least 18 years old. One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a Halloween Party Pack for 18, an eBook copy of Romancing the Million $$$ Ghost gifted via Amazon only, one psychic phone reading from Pam Ryan and two winners will be chosen to receive $25 Amazon Gift Cards (or PayPal Cash)!

This giveaway began September 2 and ends September 27. Winners will be contacted via email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. (EST) September 27 2013. Winners have 24 hours to reply. Visit each “stop” daily for more entries.
Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for a chance to win one of these amazing prizes. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks so much for visiting today. Do book covers ‘speak’ to you when searching for a new book?

Author Julia Asel Thomas: Journal Writing to Enhance Fiction & A Giveaway

I’m delighted today to be a part of author Julia Asel Thomas’ WOW (Women on Writing) Virtual Book Tour for her new adult book, LOVING THE MISSING LINK.

Julia will be joining us to talk about ‘journal writing to enhance your fiction.’ In addition, thanks to Julia and the lovely Crystal at WOW I have a copy of LOVING THE MISSING LINK to giveaway to a lucky reader. Please see the end of the post for the details.


Here’s a summary of the book…

   LOVING THE MISSING LINK is a fabulous tale about love, success, hope and music. During the 1970's. Young Cheryl Simpson feels trapped in her small Missouri town. As her mother tries to help her find a way up and out, Cheryl begins to feel that it is all an impossible dream. She sees herself living a boring and dismal life for the rest of her days.
    Just at the moment when she is about to give up on happiness, she gets the opportunity to join her high school band. The band promises a connection with the world outside her town, but Cheryl does not see any future for herself in music. It is just a tool to get where she wants to go. However, Cheryl’s mother arranges for Cheryl to take private lessons with an accomplished musician, who helps her realize the beauty and awesome power of music.
    Still, Cheryl feels that small-town inferiority and finds it too hard to believe that she could ever be anyone special out in the “real” world. On the eve of a music contest that could help her earn a music scholarship, Cheryl begins to panic. Scared and feeling alone, Cheryl runs off with her high school sweetheart and gets married, leaving the band behind.
    During the next years, Cheryl and her husband make a life for themselves. Cheryl meets friends along the way who help guide her to becoming the woman she wants to be. She becomes interested in the arts again. All the while, Cheryl and husband Jerry face the challenges of homelessness, miscarriage and an extra-marital affair before an unexpected disaster brings Cheryl’s life crashing to the ground. Cheryl survives, with the help of her extraordinary friends and her life-long love for music. 
 
LOVING THE MISSING LINK, published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing, is available as a print (190 pages) and eBook at Amazon.

Julia joins us now the talk about journal writing.

Nearly every creative writing teacher, whether in a high school, college or community class, will tell you to keep a journal to enhance your fiction, poetry or other creative endeavors. It’s been my experience that most people start out with good intentions of filling up the journal with fascinating facts, ideas and observations. Somehow, though, it isn’t as easy as it seems. 

To me, journal writing is just another facet of the discipline of writing. I write down something every day. If nothing is hitting me over the head with its uniqueness and importance, I still put something down. Like anything else, great habits lead to better results. 

So, what do I write about? The most useful entries in my journal are physical observations. I once saw a middle-aged man pacing on a four-foot stretch of sidewalk in downtown Wichita. His short steps and quick turns looked comical, and made me wonder what he was so anxious about. The image stuck in my mind, and I used that bit decades later while writing my first novel, Loving the Missing Link. Of course, it was a woman in my story and not a man, and it was in a trailer and not on the street. The comical image transported well and found a place in my story. 
 
Of course, I sometimes write about how I feel about my life, my community or the 6 o’clock news. These entries are helpful when I want to recapture a certain emotion to energize my writing. On the other hand, this is not a “feelings” journal – it is a writing journal. As long as I keep that in mind as I write, the material I end up with is more likely to be usable when I get ready to sit down and write fiction. 

Distinctive memories are also helpful to include. Unsettling or incomplete memories can jumpstart my imagination when other methods fall flat. The important thing I try to focus on is that the memories are not usable for fiction as-is. They are only a jumping-off place. They sometimes propel me to new and interesting premises for stories. 

Then, there are my specific writing notes. These are ideas that come to me, as they come to all writers, and often when I don’t have anything to write them with or on. In the beginning, I tried to write these ideas down on napkins, the backs of envelopes, or anything I could get my hands on. After losing too many promising ideas, I began to train myself to remember those ideas until I could type them into a document. I simply did it by trying over and over. Eventually it started getting easier. 
 
And now, let me say something about dreams. I have never used a dream in its raw form to write anything. However, the strange juxtapositions of images and feelings lend themselves well to lighting a creative spark. I keep a pen and a stack of paper on my bedside table just in case, because dreams tend to dematerialize quickly if I don’t get them down as fast as I can. 

Anyone can write haphazardly in a journal. As a writer, I approach it as a fun part of my job. Because, even though I am my own boss, and I am doing exactly what I want to be doing, I never get anywhere if I don’t hang onto my sense of discipline. Otherwise, I would be where I was years ago, wishing I could write, hoping I could someday write, and fantasizing that I was a writer. 

Julia, thanks so much for visiting with us today and sharing this look at journal writing. It does take discipline to keep a journal, but at the same time I think it enhances your creativity. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Julia Asel Thomas writes stories with vivid descriptions, authentic dialogue and revealing narration. Her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, presents the engrossing and moving story of a young, small town girl who grows up, lives and loves while trying to find a balance between despair and hope.

Like the protagonist in her debut book, Loving the Missing Link, Julia Asel Thomas knows small town life. However, Julia’s experiences were quite different than Cheryl’s. Julia is the middle child of seven children and the daughter of a church organist and a business manager. Growing up in the small town of Hamilton, Missouri, Julia’s family enjoyed a reputation as a bright and interesting family. Julia thrived on the quiet and carefree life she lived in that gentle place.

When Julia was in high school, she earned a scholarship for a trip to Cali, Colombia as a foreign exchange student. The experience, although it only lasted a few brief months, had a profound influence on the rest of her life. After her time abroad, Julia realized in a very real way that, although customs may differ from culture to culture, the substance of human emotions is constant. We all need love. We all need to feel secure. We all have happy moments and sad moments. Back from Colombia, Julia become ever more interested in capturing these human emotions through music and writing.

After high school, Julia took a break before going on to college. During this time, she married her husband, Will. Will joined the Air Force, and Julia accompanied him to bases around the country, taking college classes in each town where they resided. Their two children were born in Las Vegas, Nevada, while Will was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. Married in 1976, Julia and Will are thrilled to celebrate each new anniversary and look forward to staying together for life.

Julia began writing fiction at the age of ten, when her 5th grade teacher gave her the assignment to write about “My Worst Day.” Julia took the opportunity to concoct every possible disaster a young child could face during the course of a normal day. The teacher loved her work and asked her to read it to the class. From then on, Julia wanted nothing more than to be a writer.

In 2007, Julia began earning her living by writing articles, press releases and website content for a number of clients. As she settled into a routine of working every day on her writing, the old urge to write fiction resurfaced. In 2012, Julia started with a story she had written in 1985 and continued it to create the story in Loving the Missing Link.

After Julia’s husband, Will retired from the Air Force, they moved back to Missouri and now live in Kansas City, Missouri. Find out more about this author by visiting her online at her blog, Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter. You can also find Julia at Twitter by using the hashtag: #LMLThomas during her tour.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one print copy of LOVING THE MISSING LINK for residents of the U.S. and Canada. If you’re an international resident, you can win an eBook copy instead.

To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Loving The Missing Link.” Residents of the U.S. and Canada can select either a print copy of the book or an eBook. Your message should include your name and mailing address for the print copy or the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. If you are an international visitor entering the giveaway, please include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to in your message. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a copy of LOVING THE MISSING LINK will be 8 p.m. (EDT) on Friday, Sept. 27.

TOUR STOPS:

Monday, September 9 @ The Muffin
Stop by for an interview and book giveaway! http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

Wednesday September 11 @ CMash Reads
Get in on the giveaway for Loving the Missing Link and hear from Julia Asel Thomas with her guest post "Life Long Learning and Self-Education" http://cmashlovestoread.com/  

Thursday, September 12 @ My Fiction Nook
Giveaway and guest post by Julia Asel Thomas today! She shares her debut work with Loving The Missing Link and speaks candidly offering insight in her guest post “Establishing a Writing Routine”. http://www.myfictionnook.com/ 

Friday,  September 13 @ Steph the Bookworm
Don't miss your chance to win a copy of Loving the Missing Link and hear what Stephanie has to say after reading this first published work by Julia Asel Thomas. http://www.stephthebookworm.com/

 
Monday,  September 16 @ All Things Audry
Get in on the giveaway of Loving the Missing Link and enjoy a guest post by author, Julia Asel Thomas with the fun topic of “Life Experiences in Fiction” http://allthingsaudry.blogspot.com/  

Wednesday,  September 18 @ Selling Books
Don't miss today's author interview with Julia Asel Thomas and find out more about her debut book Loving the Missing Link! http://www.sellingbooks.com/julia-asel-thomas-loving-the-missing-link/  

Friday, September 20 @ The Book Bag
The Spotlight at the Book Bag is none other than Julia Asel Thomas and her New Adult Novel, Loving the Missing Link (#LMLThomas); check out this great blog stop and get in on the giveaway! http://susan-thebookbag.blogspot.com/  

Monday, September 23@ Bring on Lemons
Giveaway and guest blog stop for Julia Asel Thomas, author of Loving the Missing Link - Julia visits the lemons to lemonade blog and shares her wish for music education titled: "Channeling the Spirit of Professor Harold Hill". Don't miss this stop and giveaway opportunity! http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 24 @ Words from the Heart
Join author, Julia Asel Thomas as she discusses "The Pros and Cons of Teen Marriage" and offers a giveaway and some insight into  Loving the Missing Link. Find out more about Julia and her first published book! http://contemplativeed.blogspot.com  

Wednesday, September 25 @ Words by Webb
Hear from Jodi Webb as she reviews Loving the Missing Link by Julia Asel Thomas - don't miss this great giveaway and insight! http://jodiwebb.com/  

Thursday, September 26 @ I’d So Rather Be Reading
Join Julia Asel Thomas, Author of Loving the Missing Link as she blogs about "Choosing Your Words Carefully: a guide to finding the best verbs for your purpose" and don't miss this giveaway of her newly published work! http://www.idsoratherbereading.com/  

Tuesday, October 1 @ Mom-E-Centric
Julia Asel Thomas, Author of Loving the Missing Link offers a giveaway opportunity and shares her insight on “Finding Realistic Hope” this is something we can all benefit from; don’t miss this tour stop! http://momecentric.com/

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do you keep a journal? If so, do you use a print format or online version?

Author Paul Byers On Tour With Arctic Fire And A Giveaway

It’s my pleasure to be a part of author Paul Byers’ Premier Virtual Author Book Tour for his thriller, action adventure, ARCTIC FIRE.

The book, published by Fortress Publications, is available in print and eBook format. It’s a available to purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Paul and the lovely Teddy at Premier, I have a copy of ARCTIC FIRE to giveaway to a lucky reader. Please see the end of the post for the details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of ARCTIC FIRE:

    Wealthy entrepreneur Nigel Cain has devised an efficient new way to bring the earth’s most precious resource to the masses – clean water – by transporting massive man-made icebergs from the frigid arctic and delivering them literally to the doorsteps of millions.
    Gabriel Pike works at a small engineering firm that has been awarded the task of giving the final safety approval to pilot the first gigantic block of ice into New York harbor.
    A consummate showman, Cain has built a fabulous 5-Star hotel and casino high atop the iceberg so his celebrity guests and media elite can cover this spectacle from beginning to end. Pike is whisked away from his work-a-day world and dropped into the lap of luxury where he’s expected to simply rubber-stamp his inspection.
    A brutal winter storms ravages the iceberg and exposes structural inconsistencies and hidden agendas that fill Pike with serious doubts about the true intentions of the project.  But a grisly double homicide on the ice puts the inspections on the back burner and sends Pike’s life spiraling out of control when he’s accused of being the jealous murderer in a lover’s triangle.     But Pike soon discovers that there is far more at stake than just his life. He uncovers a conspiracy more heinous than anything he could have imagined – a plot that will level a city, change the political face of America, and whose shockwaves will be felt around the world. Fate rests in his hands – if he can survive long enough to take action…

Paul joins us now to tell us how ARCTIC FIRE came to be, as well as a bit he learned while writing this story.

Originally, I was looking to write a book that I could turn into a series. I know that as a reader I like to follow characters that I enjoy and sometimes one adventure is just not enough, both in the scope of the story and in the development of the characters.

For ARCTIC FIRE, the stakes had to be high but the world has already been threatened by aliens, nukes and terrorists so I was looking for a more creative way to take over the world. I was also looking for a main character who wasn’t ex-special forces or James Bond or a bored millionaire playboy. I wanted an ordinary man who found himself thrown into extraordinary circumstances.

As a writer, I see story ideas everywhere, newspaper articles, radio, television shows, and things I find on the internet. Not all ideas are good of course or can be expanded into book but I saw two shows on the History Channel that piqued my interest. One was on WWII and the other was on mega disasters. I took those two concepts and combined them with today’s headlines and developed the plot for ARCTIC FIRE.

Having forged my main character and laid the foundation for the story line, I set about writing the book. When I write, I don’t usually plot and outline my stories; I tend to let the stories write themselves. I have a beginning and ending in mind but the middle is usually pretty open. For example, I was in a part of the book where I thought I needed a little action so I started to write a storm scene. What started out as filler grew and expanded until it became a major catalyst for events and revealed the true nature of the threat.

ARCTIC FIRE is a great story with great characters, but the book did not become the first story in a series I was hoping for. There is sequel in it, (probably my next project) and maybe one more story after that but I don’t see this as an Alex Cross, Dirk Pitt or Lincoln Rhyme type series.

Satisfied with the story, I started the editing process, and here is where I’ll admit that I dropped the ball. They say that a good story is not in the writing but in the rewriting. While I am pleased with the way the story and characters turned out, the mechanics is where I feel I fell short.

I rushed the book to get it published and in doing so I didn’t deliver the best product I could have. I ended up having to go back and doing things later that should have been done in the first place. I disappoint myself and my fans. Since then I have corrected the problems and have learned to be more patient.  

For me, I find that writing is a continual process of learning. Learning the process of putting words on paper, of editing those words so they tell the right story, formatting those words so that others can enjoy them and learning how to become better at the very process of writing those words.

Paul, thanks so much for joining and giving us a look at how ARCTIC FIRE came about. I think you’re right about writing being a continual process of learning. If we don’t continue to learn, our writing becomes stale.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR……

Paul grew up in Oregon on the shores of the mighty and mysterious

Columbia River, and spent endless hours daydreaming on the beach in front of his house, making up stories about the ships from exotic ports all over the world that steamed up the river – what secret cargo might they be carrying; did they harbor spies who were on dark and exciting missions?


Later in adult life, he moved to another mysterious and provocative city – Las Vegas, just outside the famous Nellis Air Force base. After work he would sit on his porch and watch the fighters take off and land, igniting his imagination with visions of secret missions and rich speculation about what could possibly be hidden at Area 51.

After moving back to his native Pacific Northwest, Paul worked for the Navy and took every opportunity he could to speak with veterans from WWII to the Gulf War, listening to them swap stories and relate the experiences of a lifetime.

So it is this combination of a passionate love of history, a vivid “what if” imagination, and a philosophy of life that boils down to the belief that – there are few things in life that a bigger hammer won’t fix – that led Paul to become a writer of exciting, fact-based action-thrillers. His greatest joy is leaving his readers wondering where the facts end and the fiction begins.
For more on Paul and his writing, visit his website and find him on Facebook and Goodreads.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one eBook copy of ARCTIC FIRE. The giveaway is open international.

To enter, just send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Arctic Fire.” Your message should include your name and the email address you’d like the eBook sent to. And, just so you know, I don’t share any of this information with anyone other than the publisher/tour promoter nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win an e-copy of ARCTIC FIRE is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Sept 2 Review & Giveaway
She Treads Softly Sept 4 Review
Books, Books, & More Books Sept 5 Review
Books, Books, & More Books Sept 6 Interview & Giveaway
Cheryl’s Book Nook Sept 9 Review
Butterfly-o-Meter Books Sept 10 Spotlight
Butterfly-o-Meter Books Sept 11 Guest Post
My Shelf Confessions Sept 13 Review
My Shelf Confessions Sept 13 Interview & Giveaway
Room Without Books is Empty Sept 16 Review
A Book & a Lattee Sept 17 Review
Green Mountain People Sept 18 Review
Romance & Inspiration Sept 19 Review
Bloggin Bout Books Sept 20 Review
The News In Books Sept 23 Review
The News In Books Sept 24 Guest Post
Sweeps4Bloggers Sept 24 Review & Giveaway
Tales of a Book Addict Sept 25 Review
Joy Story Sept 26 Review
fundinmental  Sept 27 Review & Giveaway
Recent Reads Sept 30 Review & Giveaway
DWED Oct 1 Review
Book Lover’s Library Oct 2 Review
Book Lover’s Library Oct 3 Interview & Giveaway

Thanks so much for stopping by today. If given the chance, would you stay in a hotel built upon a moving iceberg?

Cover Reveal Time for Trust: Pandora’s Box

It’s a pleasure to be a part of author Cristiane Serruya’s cover reveal for PANDORA’S BOX, an adult contemporary romance and Book Three in her Trust Trilogy.

The intriguing design for PANDORA’S BOX was created by cover artist Renata Fontanive.

PANDORA’S BOX, the last installment of the TRUST TRILOGY, accompanies Ethan, Alistair and Sophia in their search for a happily ever after. 

Ethan’s parents reappear in his life, making him full of anxiety and unnerved. Ethan is beginning to get attached to Barbara, whom he pays to physically replace Sophia in his bed. He leads a double life, keeping Barbara a secret from everyone. Inadvertently, Barbara has already felt in love with him. But Ethan still cannot stop admiring and seeking Sophia’s company. 

Alistair’s sister-in-law and ex-lover, tries seduce and blackmail him. He denies her sexual offers and clearly informs her he’s in love with Sophia; but pays for the compromising photos she has of him. Although, he thrives in business and in his personal life, he feels sad for not being able to fulfill Sophia’s desire of having another child. 

Sophia, happily settled in her new life, is threatened by her late husband’s parents, who want custody of their granddaughter and to take her back to Brazil. They accuse Sophia of unbalanced behavior and of being incapable of taking care of Gabriela. Sophia finishes her Cambridge PhD and, encouraged by her supervisors, travels to India for the opening of the new branch of her charity foundation with its biggest contributors, Ashford Steel and its Board President, Ethan. 

PANDORA’S BOX has been opened by a greedy man, who uncovered that the so many secrets and wrong deeds committed by Ethan, Alistair and Sophia could bring him millions of pounds. 

Many are invited to join his team. Each one has an agenda. Each one has a target. 

But things get out of control and now, all the demons are on the loose. With so many enemies out for revenge, what will be reserved for the future of Ethan, Alistair and Sophia? Coming out in the end of this year. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cristiane Serruya lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with her husband and two daughters. She is a lawyer, who specializes 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. 

Cristiane has always loved to read, write and listen to music. She has lived and studied in England, France, Italy, Switzerland, and, of course, Brazil. 

After twenty-two years of practicing law, Cristiane decided to give writing a go. And - amazingly - she says it was just the piece that was missing in her life. 

For more on Cristiane, her writing and her Trust Trilogy visit any of the following sites: website, Facebook, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Pinterest, Twitter, Amazon Author Page, and YouTube.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. What draws you to a book first - the cover or synopsis?

On Tour With Author Michelle Zarrin: From My Heart to Yours

 
I’m delighted to be participating in author Michelle Zarrin’s Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour for her latest literary fiction novel, FROM MY HEART TO YOURS.

As part of the tour, Michelle is sharing an excerpt from the first chapter for a more enticing look at her book. I’m also including the other spots on her virtual book tour so you can check out various interviews, reviews and spotlights.

First, here’s a brief synopsis of FROM MY HEART TO YOURS (based on a true story):

    With an emotionally secure and sheltered upbringing, Sofia, was in for an unexpected ride when she married Earl. Their stable and unnerving union would take deeper turns as they experienced, health issues, betrayal and shattered hearts. With each new circumstance Sofia faced, she shed a layer of naiveté, deepening her perspective of life.
    Beautiful life lessons learned from preschool children healed her wounds and dissipated her scars. They taught her about the human condition at it’s purest. But then the biggest tragedy happened in Sofia’s life, leading her to seek deeper answers.
    At the end of the book (her story?), she learns that the art of life is how we deal with it’s struggles. Through a powerful and inspiring journey into the soul, she regains the light and love within. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…

Michelle Zarrin is an author, blogger and entrepreneur, running two businesses. Having meditated over 2000 hours in the past four years, her expertise is the internal world through the tool of the breath. Inspiration, creativity, tranquility, intuition and compassion all reside within our internal world. 

Her blogs consist of her writings on life and spirituality. She lives in Orange County, California. 

For more on Michelle and her writing, you can visit her at www.MichelleZarrin.com 

Now for a look at FROM MY HEART TO YOURS, here’s an excerpt from the first chapter.

FIRST CHAPTER 

    Two mornings later, Sofia was still on the couch, un-showered. But she knew that she would finally have to face Earl. She decided to wait to peel herself off the couch until the evening, when she knew Earl would be home from work. As she was leaving her parents’ house, she was filled with terror and deep sadness. She had not had an appetite for the past few days, but she still felt like throwing up. It was not food she wanted to expel from her body; it was the gravity of such a moment. It was grander than her. She was about to confront her husband and then change the fate of her marriage. She had reached a fork in her destiny and it was not the road she had anticipated walking on when she eagerly and happily said her vows on her wedding day.

    As she drove to her house, she thought about the pledge two people make to each other as they stand before a group of loved ones. They pledge to stand by each other through sickness and health, through better or worse, ‘til death do they part. Sofia reasoned to herself that she had stayed with her husband through his sickness. She had not left him as he was battling addiction. She had stayed with him while it got worse, and the love had weakened to a thin thread. She had stayed with him even though at times, she did not recognize the person he had become.

    But the vows do not say anything about staying together through betrayal. And this was not betrayal such as adultery. If it had been adultery, the situation would be a matter between the two of them. She would have questioned what happened that would have led her husband to find romance and love outside of her. But Earl’s betrayal was different. It involved not just her, but three other people. And it was not just random people he had betrayed. It was the three people in this world who meant the absolute most to his wife. It was the family that had nurtured her with unwavering strength all her life, and had supported him with unwavering care.

    She parked the car outside instead of going into the garage. She felt frozen. She wanted to crawl under the seat, roll into a tiny ball and cry her eyes out. Her heart began beating so hard she was afraid it was going to give her a panic attack to the point of paralysis. Taking deep breaths while gripping her steering wheel with both hands, she tried to calm her breathing. As soon as she felt her pulse calm just a little, she grabbed the keys out of the ignition, opened the car door and headed for her house before she felt too overwhelmed to move again.

    She opened the front door and gasped in astonishment when she saw Earl standing there, as if he was waiting for her. She did not know what to say. They stood there, staring at each other. Something told her he knew why she had disappeared and what was about to take place. Yet she could not do it. She could not bring herself to talk about what had happened. She was afraid he would lie to her, which would crush her even more. So instead of saying anything, she lowered her head, and marched up the stairs to begin collecting her belongings.

    Sofia was in the closet for over fifteen minutes, packing her suitcases, before Earl walked in. He just stood there. Neither of them knew what to say. She had prepared herself for a fight, for yelling and tears and accusations; not for silence.

    Finally, Sofia wondered, Does he have anything to say? Should I ask him if he has anything to say? Should I ask him why? What if my family is going to want answers when they see me?

    But she could not bring herself to speak a word. The quietude surrounding them in the walk-in closet of their bedroom marked the reality of the turn of the events in their marriage. It was too grave for words; too heavy for discussion. She never thought this was the way it would end. It was shocking. And she could not bring herself to verbally tell the man she had loved so deeply and so dearly that she was filing for divorce. That one simple word had so much pain and loss behind it, she could not bring it to her lips. It was wavering through her heart and her spirit, which was enough.

    As she continued packing, she saw Earl sit on the edge of their bed, head hung low. She wondered if it was in shame. She wondered if he knew she was leaving for good; that this was a divorce and not time apart. She wondered if he knew that his life was changing as much as hers. He was so quiet, she wondered if he even cared. Did he not want to talk to her? Did he want all of this to happen? What if this was all part of another grander scheme to get her to leave his life altogether?

    The wordlessness between them was turning eerie. At first, she was numb to it because she did not have the strength or energy to tell her husband how disgusting she thought he was and how much pain he had inflicted on her family. She did not have the courage to say the word “divorce”, afraid she would become hysterical. But why was he not uttering a word? Did he not want to salvage any part of their relationship? Had he been waiting for this day to come? Did he not love her one bit anymore? Did he despise her? Was he happy to see her packing her bags? Instead of packing with a vengeance, she moved slower, as if buying time might open Earl’s mouth.

    Finally, Sofia’s three suitcases were packed. Earl was still sitting on the bed, staring at the ground, without speaking a word. She hauled the suitcases one by one down the stairs and placed them in her car. She thought that she was probably involved in the quietest divorce in history. Was it even possible for the collapse of two lives to occur without a word?

    She knew the actions were enough to speak volumes, but she was dumbfounded by the smoothness of her leaving Earl and the life they had shared in their home. But she decided she was not going to leave things lingering. Having put the final suitcase into her car, she marched back into her house and up the stairs. Earl had not moved from his position on the bed.

    “Earl,” she began, voice quivering. She took a deep breath to steady herself as he looked up and into her eyes. “I think you know why I’ve packed. I want to inform you that this is not a separation. I am filing for divorce.” She was sobbing uncontrollably, standing in the doorway of their bedroom. Pain from her heart gushed all over her body. She felt a part of her was dying as she stood there uttering those words to the man she had shared so much with. Her knees were giving out on her, but she forced herself to stand tall before him. Through her own watery eyes, she could see tears rolling down Earl’s cheeks as well. He remained quiet, but his tears came down faster than hers.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday, August 5 - Book featured at Literary Winner
Tuesday, August 6 - Book featured at Margay Leah Justice
Wednesday, August 7 - Interviewed at BlogHer
Thursday, August 8 - Guest blogging at The Self Taught Cook
Friday, August 9 - Guest blogging at Straight From the Authors Mouth
Tuesday, August 13 - 1st chapter reveal at Cheryl's Book Nook
Wednesday, August 14 - Guest blogging at Redroom
Friday, August 16 - Interviewed at Review From Here
Tuesday, August 20 - Book featured at Plug Your Book
Wednesday, August 21 - Interviewed at I'm Shelf-ish
Monday, August 26 - Guest blogging at The Writer's Life
Wednesday, August 28 - Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz
Thursday, August 29 - Guest blogging at Allvoices
Friday, August 30 - 1st chapter reveal at Examiner
Monday, September 2 - Guest blogging and 1st chapter reveal at Cindy's Love of Books
Wednesday, September 4 - Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book
Friday, September 6 - 1st chapter reveal at Authors and Readers Book Corner
Tuesday, September 10 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure
Thursday, September 12 - Book featured at My Book Addiction and More
Friday, September 13 - Interviewed at Examiner
Tuesday, September 17 - Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking
Thursday, September 19 - Interviewed at Literal Exposure
Friday, September 20 - 1st chapter reveal at As the Pages Turn
Tuesday, September 24 - Book reviewed at My Devotional Thoughts
Wednesday, September 25 - Book featured at Examiner
Thursday, September 26 - Guest blogging at Between the Covers

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse at FROM MY HEART TO YOURS.