Real Dogs Don’t Whisper and a Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Gale M. Congratulations to Gale and thanks to all those who entered.
 
I’m delighted to be participating in author Kelly Preston’s Pump Up Your Book Virtual Blog Tour for her award-winning book, REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER.

As part of her tour, Kelly is giving away an autographed copy of REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER and an extra surprise to one lucky Thoughts in Progress visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER highlights Kelly’s life journey caring for four special needs dogs and the life lessons they taught her along the way. The overall message within REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER is about giving those with special needs a second chance. The book touches on integrity, unconditional love, leadership, trust, stopping abuse and opening your heart to receive and give both unconditional love and friendship. 

To lighten the message, Kelly developed a co-author, Mr. MaGoo. Mr. MaGoo is her Lhasa Apso and he is larger than life. He adds humor within the book; sharing with the reader how life is so tough for him being the only male in the house and living with a crazy lady (Kelly).

Mr. MaGoo is a nine-year-old Lhasa Apso and the book’s co-creator and co-writer. He is, in his own words, “the alpha and omega of all dogs – in the cutest and sparkiest, most fun-loving package ever.” 

Ignoring Kelly’s persistent eye-rolling, Mr. MaGoo has forged ahead with this project in an attempt to, as he puts it, “present the facts from a dog’s perspective. In other words, the correct, most accurate, most interesting, only-one-that-matters perspective,” to which he adds, simply, “Woof!”

ABOUT KELLY PRESTON

Kelly is, first and foremost, an animal lover. Raised on a ten-acre property in a small town in Pennsylvania, she grew up with horses, rabbits, and – of course – dogs. 

When she left home after college, she acquired Gizmo, an irresistible Lhasa Apso that started her on a journey full of joys and sorrows, hopes and tribulations, frustrations, endless lessons in patience, and above all else, love. All of this has come at the hands (more precisely the paws) of Gizmo, Betty Boop, Buffy, Carla Mae, and the inimitable Mr. MaGoo.

For more on Kelly and her writing, visit her website.

Here’s a brief excerpt from REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER:

       It was at that very moment I realized Carla Mae was not just an angry, aggressive little cuss I taught to play, dance, and cut loose. I saw Carla Mae for the first time, as she really was— a scared puppy who learned to mistrust those around her and who learned self-preservation the only way she knew how — by biting first and asking questions later. She was a frightened little dog who eventually found a greater lesson in letting go and learning to laugh and play and yes, of course—dance. Carla Mae, found unconditional love in our family and along the way, she learned to trust. Anyway, as for Dim-Bulb King, cooler heads prevailed that day and, lucky for him, his human finally dragged him away from us. But I sure learned something about my new sister that day.

        Carla Mae turned out to be a competitive little tomboy and fair adversary. We love to play Kibble Attack—a game that involves her patiently planning preemptive Kibble invasions, only to be taken off guard by a MaGoo surprise maneuver, overrun and forever a close second only to me. She’s quite the copycat as well, often mimicking our moves. I’m not sure if she’s mocking us all, doing the “when in Rome thing”, or a little of both. What I do know is that I have learned to love Carla Mae and Carla Mae has learned to accept love and even try to nudge in on my petting time with the human and even with random human strangers in the house. She is loved and cared for and Carla Mae is no longer afraid... well, maybe a little afraid of King Crazy Dog, but who wouldn’t be? Other than me, of course.

REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER is available at the following sites: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Nook, Bookshop Santa Cruz, and Kobo.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Pump Up Your Book and Kelly are teaming up to give visitors a chance to win an autographed copy of REAL DOGS DON’T WHISPER and a canvas shopping tote! 

Terms and conditions:
· By entering the giveaway, you are confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
· One winner will be chosen to win an autographed copy of Real Dogs and a canvas shopping tote.
· This giveaway begins January 6 and ends January 17, 2014.
· Winners will be contacted via email on or before Tuesday, January 21, 2014.
· Winner has 48 hours to reply.
· Giveaway is open to U.S. only.
· Send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Real Dogs.” Your message should include your name and mailing address.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Do dogs have an impact on your daily life? Be sure to enter the giveaway for a copy of REAL DOGS and the canvas shopping tote. Good Luck Everyone!

Sunday Salon: Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs

Happy New Year to those still celebrating as we launch into the first Sunday Salon of 2014. Hopefully everyone is safe and warm this cold winter’s day as yet another storms blankets the country.

One fun way to enjoy cold, gloomy days is to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate (coffee, tea, etc.) and a good book. I have a delightful book to tell you about today. It’s the latest in an enjoyable series I find refreshing.

Grab an extra throw, fill your cup to the brim with your favorite hot beverage, settle into a comfortable chair and let’s talk books!

EGGS IN A CASKET by Laura Childs

What was to be a quick trip to the Memorial Cemetery to deliver flowers for the site’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration, turned into a find that was unexpected and dangerous.

Suzanne and Toni had left their other partner, Petra, handling the breakfast rush at their café, the Cackleberry Club, to run the errand to the cemetery. In their search for the historical society tent, they’re almost run off the small cemetery road by their friend Missy. When they stop, they discover ex-prison warden Lester Drummond dead and lying face down in a freshly dug grave.

Drummond was well known throughout Kindred and had quite a few secrets. Suzanne knew that he had been hitting on Missy and won’t take no for an answer. With the cemetery celebration fast approaching, Missy among the prime suspects and the local authorities with their hands full, Suzanne and her partners swing into action. It’s up to the Cackleberry Club trio to unscramble the murder and find the killer before another body turns up dead.

Author Laura Childs has crafted a protagonist that is spunky and realistic with flaws that readers can relate to. Her friends are likable, funny and well-developed. The setting is quaint and inviting with a small-town atmosphere that quickly draws you in.

EGGS IN A CASKET is an easy read that will have you guessing who the killer is until the very end. The story moves at a steady pace with twists and turns. There’s a good blend of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. Childs’ eye for details makes the Cackleberry Club a place readers will want to visit again and again.

This is the fifth installment in the Cackleberry Club Mystery series, but can be read on its own. New readers to the series won’t be left in the dark, while returning fans will enjoy catching up the folks of Kindred. An added bonus is the recipes featured at the Cackleberry Club are included at the end of the story.

Author Laura Childs’ website is http://www.laurachilds.com/

Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs, A Cackleberry Club Mystery #5, Berkley Prime Crime, @2014, ISBN: 978-0425255582, Hardcover, 336 Pages 

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

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this posts finds you snuggling with a good book. You can order EGGS IN A CASKET now before it's release date on Tuesday.

Special Treat for Shana Galen Fans and a Giveaway

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Renee B. Congratulations, Renee and thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.                                                                                                             If you’re a fan of author Shana Galen and her Jewels of the Ton series, Sourcebooks has an awesome special for you concerning the next installment in the series.

In addition, one lucky visitor to Thoughts in Progress will win a copy of WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND, the first book in the Jewels of the Ton series. Please see the end of the post for this giveaway details.

Now here’s how the special treat works for SAPPHIRESARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND pre-order gift!

Send proof of your pre-order of SAPPHIRESARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND by Shana Galen (PUBLICATION DATE: March 4, 2014) and Sourcebooks will send you a Jewels of the Ton-themed package of tea and candy! Sourcebooks will send this special tea to anyone who shows them their pre-order receipt until February 28, or supplies run out. Just email your receipt to casablanca@sourcebooks.com.

Additionally, everyone who sends Sourcebooks their proof of pre-order will receive an exclusive SECRET epilogue NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK! Once SAPPHIRES ARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND hits stores on March 4, Shana will send out an epilogue to the fans that pre-ordered the book.

That’s not all: everyone who sends Sourcebooks their proof of pre-order will also be entered in a random drawing for a Jewels of the Ton themed spa gift basket!

Be sure to follow Shana on Facebook, Twitter, and her Website for more details leading up to the release of SAPPHIRES ARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND, including more giveaways, more exclusives, and MUCH MORE of her fabulous regency romances!

The winner of the Jewels of the Ton themed gift backed will be announced on Shana Galen’s Facebook page on Monday, March 24, 2013.

BOOK GIVEAWAY . . . . .

To celebrate this pre-order gift special, Sourcebooks is offering one copy of WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND (the first book in the Jewels of the Ton series). A great start to an intriguing series.

Here are the giveaway guidelines. To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Shana Galen’s Giveaway.” 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 WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND is 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Hope I’ve enticed to you check out the Jewels of the Ton series, if you haven’t already.

Sneaky Art and a Giveaway

Author Marthe Jocelyn

Note: The winner of this giveaway is Ellie L. Congratulations Ellie and thanks to all that enter the giveaway.

I’m delighted to be participating in author Marthe Jocelyn’s WOW Virtual Book Tour for her charming book, SNEAKY ART: CRAFTY PROJECTS TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT.

The book is geared toward youngsters in grades 3 to 7 (ages 8 to 12), but can be enjoyed by all ages. An added bonus of Marthe’s stop here at Thoughts in Progress today, she’s giving away one copy of this fun book to a lucky visitor. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

Here’s a brief synopsis of SNEAKY ART:

      For young artists, tricksters, and crafters, here is a hip, friendly how-to manual for creating removable and shareable art projects from easily found materials.
      The sneaky part is in the installation! Each work of art is custom-created for display in public places — a tiny cork-bottomed boat in a public fountain, a plate of tiny paper cupcakes on your teacher’s desk, a penny left on the ground for a stranger, a funny message left on your mother’s bathroom mirror, and more.
      This utterly unique guide — part craft book, part art-philosophy — offers a stylish and sweet "made-you-look-twice" spirit of fun meant to put a smile on the faces of strangers and loved ones alike.

Now Marthe joins us to talk about her book and to answer a question for me. "What is sneaky art? Is it something that has been around for awhile or something you developed?"
Welcome, Marthe.

Thanks for hosting my book as part of its holiday season blog tour!

The book, written for young readers and artists but appealing to mischief-makers of all ages, is called Sneaky Art: Crafty Projects to Hide in Plain Sight.

Although I may have coined the phrase 'sneaky art' and wrapped it in a child-friendly package, the concept has been around in one form or another since people first painted on the walls of caves. (I had a discussion with my sister about whether cave paintings counted as sneaky art. I'm assuming they were probably more about storytelling and even happened in front of onlookers - therefore NOT sneaky!) Sneaky art is more of a greeting than a story or a comment.

Keith Haring

Keith Haring was a young artist who worked in New York City during the early 1980's and used chalk to draw images on empty black advertising space in the subways. 

I like to think of Keith as the 'originator of contemporary sneaky art' because his approach was (almost) in sync with what I tell kids in the introduction of my book: Sneaky Art is NOT: mean, defacing, ugly, hurtful, messy, or permanent. Sneaky Art is NOT graffiti or marking up someone else’s property.

Sneaky Art IS: funny, clever, thoughtful, temporary, subversive, playful, and surprising!

The transit authority probably considered Keith's drawings to be defacing but since they were usually made with chalk, they definitely qualified as temporary.

Here, however, I'm sure the "mason" who did this repair job is hoping for a permanent fix... 

Sneaky comes in all shapes and materials...

"Yarn-bombing" has become a worldwide fad in the past couple of years with devoted naughty knitters covering everything from tree branches and park benches to whole schools and bridges.

 

  THAT is some serious sneaky art!

In the book we call it yarn-blasting and suggest the kids make yarn braids to simplify their installations - or a single strand:

Kids are pretty great at adapting any idea they see into what works for their own artistic expression. Here's what can happen to a coffee filter:

It's a new year. Clean out the recycling bin, find some glue and go get sneaky! Cheers from sneakyart.com

Marthe, thanks for joining us today and sharing this look at sneaky art. It’s a fun way to brighten other’s day and make someone smile.

Now let me share a bit about Marthe.

She spent her childhood in Toronto reading books and putting on plays and circuses in her backyard. Marthe has a long string of jobs: theatre usher, cookie seller, waitress, photo stylist, even toy designer before she finally settled on writer. She has written over two dozen books of all shapes and sizes.

Marthe lives in Ontario with her daughters Nell and Hannah but still enjoys visiting New York City often.

For more on Marthe and her writing, visit her website, the Sneaky Art website, and connect with her on Twitter @scissorhouse.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one copy of SNEAKY ART. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted.

To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Sneaky Art.” The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of SNEAKY ART: CRAFTY PROJECTS TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT is 8 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Jan. 10.

Thanks for stopping by today. Were you already familiar with sneaky art before this post? Have you ever showed your creativity through sneaky art?

Murder Strikes A Pose and a Giveaway

Author Tracy Weber

It’s a pleasure to be included in author Tracy Weber’s delightful Great Escape Virtual Book Tour for her recent release, MURDER STRIKES A POSE, the first installment in her new Downward Dog Mystery series. 
 
As an added bonus during the tour, the author is giving away 1 autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE to a lucky visitor at each of the blog stops. Please see the end of the post for the giveaway details.

A part of the tour I’ll share my thoughts on the book, tell you a bit about the author, tell you other sites that will be participating in the tour and tell you how to enter to win the autographed copy. Now here are my thoughts on this fun debut in this bubbly new series.

MURDER STRIKES A POSE by Tracy Weber

You don’t have to be into yoga to enjoy this charming story featuring yoga instructor Kate Davidson as the intrepid amateur sleuth.

Kate is trying to keep her yoga studio afloat and doesn’t have time for her best friend’s matchmaking attempts. To make matters worse, a homeless alcoholic named George and his sidekick, Bella, start selling newspapers outside her studio. It wouldn’t be so bad, but Bella is a German shepherd the size of a small horse and makes a ruckus every time another dog comes within sight.

Kate, using her best Zen-like approach, tries to convince them to move to another spot. But after a couple of attempts, the three strike up an unlikely friendship. Kate discovers there’s more to George than first appears.

When Kate finds George murdered, the police dismiss it as a drug-related street crime. However, Kate knows George wasn’t into drugs and is determined to find his killer. She also has to find someone to adopt Bella before her intimidating ways get the lovable dog in real trouble with the authorities.

As Kate tries to maintain her calm amid the chaos, the killer is closer to making her Corpse Pose a permanent move.

Author Tracy Weber combines murder, mayhem, humor, romance and understanding for a well-balanced cozy murder mystery. The story moves at a steady pace and holds your attention from beginning to end. The story will have you laughing while trying to guess who the killer really is.

The characters are well-developed and likable. The interaction of Kate and her friends draws the reader in. Weber’s eye for detail places the reader in the Seattle setting and brings the story to life. The antics of Bella will tug on the heartstrings of animal lovers. The author’s attention to details shines through in her knowledge of yoga and dogs.

MURDER STRIKES A POSE is an intriguing debut for a fascinating new series that will delight mystery readers. Combining calming techniques, dog-related frolics, mystery and laughs; Weber has crafted a story that is hard to put down.

Murder Strikes A Pose by Tracy Weber, A Downward Dog Mystery, Midnight Ink, @2014, ISBN: 978-0738739687, Paperback, 288 Pages 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracy Weber is a certified yoga teacher and the founder of Whole Life Yoga, an award-winning yoga studio in Seattle, where she currently lives with her husband and German shepherd. 

Weber is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and Sisters in Crime. She loves sharing her passion for yoga and animals in any form possible. 

For more information on Weber, visit her online at TracyWeberAuthor.com and WholeLifeYoga.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

The author’s tour begins today (January 2) and runs through

January 15. The author will give away 1 autographed book at each stop. For more information, check out her tour page. Here’s a list of the blogs participating in the tour and more chances to win a copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE.

January 3 - Books-n-Kisses - Review, Guest Post
January 4 - readalot- Review, Giveaway
January 5 – Auntiemwrites's Weblog
January 7 - Mochas, Mysteries and More - Interview, Review, Giveaway
January 8 - dru's book musing - Guest Post, Giveaway
January 9 - Chloe Gets A Clue - Interview, Giveaway
January 10 - Read Your Writes Book Reviews - Review, Giveaway
January 11 - rantin' ravin' and reading - Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
January 15 – Killer Characters – Guest Post

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This giveaway is for one autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE and is open to residents of the U.S. only.

To enter this giveaway, please send me an e-mail ( mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Murder Strikes a Pose.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win an autographed copy of MURDER STRIKES A POSE is 8 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Are you into yoga or would you like to give it a try? What are your thoughts on German shepherds?