Monday, August 17, 2015

Taking on Water by David Rawding #NewRelease #Amazon #Crime

 *****Release Day August 18th*****


When James Morrow, a social worker, first meets Kevin Flynn, he suspects the teen is being abused. To learn more about Kevin’s home life, he gets to know the boy’s father, Tucker, who’s a lobsterman. James is able to put his suspicions to rest, and the two families begin to form a friendship.

When a kid at the local recreation center dies of an overdose, Detective Maya Morrow adds the case to the long list related to the drug problem plaguing the small New Hampshire coastal town of Newborough. But her investigation gets her much too close to the dangerous players.

Both the Morrows and the Flynns are holding dark secrets, and when their lives collide, tragedy is inevitable.

 
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***Special Release Day Price for E-book, Aug 18 only!***


About the Author


 David Rawding has a BA in English from The University of New Hampshire and an MFA in Fiction from Southern New Hampshire University where he teaches English as an adjunct professor. David has an award-winning children’s book and his short fiction has been published in Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, Black Heart Magazine, Barnstorm Literary Journal, The Write Room Literary Magazine, Steel Toe Review, Extract(s) Daily Dose of Lit, Black Lantern Publishing Magazine, and Forty Ounce Bachelors. In addition to his professor work, David has worked as a fly-fishing guide in Alaska since 2012, and enjoys traveling the world with a backpack and a fly rod. He also writes as a travel writer for the apparel company, A Big Day.



Read an Excerpt

http://redadeptpublishing.com/

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Eluding Illusions by Wren Michaels New Release!

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Emma Banciu dreams about her novels taking on a life of their own. Thanks to a centuries old Gypsy curse, they tend to do just that. Writing with pen and paper she brings things to life, and hell hath no fury like an antagonist scorned. Now she's on the run from Kyrin, an evil demon warlord who surfaced from one of her first manuscripts. And the only way to get rid of him is to destroy the manuscript.
Enter JG1988, her long-time online friend. He knows nothing of the curse nor the magick Emma possesses. His only wish is to finally meet her in person and take their relationship to the next level. He reveals a surprise of his own when he shows up at Emma's door as international recording artist Jake Griffin.
Destroying the manuscript will not only get rid of Kyrin, but also end her relationship with Jake. But keeping secrets from him may end up doing just that. In order to survive they'll resort to love, lies, and a little Gypsy magick.
RCPR-BookLinks
Excerpt
Jake lead her into the adjoining room where a baby grand piano sat in the corner. Turning the piano bench sideways, he sat back and motioned for her to sit in front of him. His arms slid alongside her shoulders as he reached out for the ivory bars, and he tightened his legs against her outer thighs. The heat radiating off him surrounded Emma like a blanket of safety. She snuggled up against his chest as his fingers tickled the keys. Succumbing to the enchanting melody, her eyes fell closed. His chest pressed against her back, rising and falling as he sang out the verses he wrote just for her, simply titled, Emma's Song. The words took her breath away how he spoke so lovingly of her through song. Each refrain more passion filled than the one before, pouring his heart out with each note. The emotions welling up inside confused her, as she let herself become entranced by his baritone voice. Fear and happiness pooled in her eyes, releasing in tears that slid over her cheeks. They met for the first time tonight in person yet it felt like they had known each other all their lives. Their electronic relationship manifesting into something real and tangible excited her, but also scared her to death. The keys stopped dancing, and the room held a silence marred only by the heaving of Jake's breath. Reopening her eyes, Emma turned her head toward him. His fingertips pressed against her jaw line, guiding her head as he leaned in. Their lips met with a cautious tenderness. She swung her body around on the seat, raising her hands to encompass his neck. He pulled her closer, parting her lips as he swept his tongue over hers. An innate ache pulsed through her, taking over her self-control. His very touch tingled every nerve along the way. She slipped her fingers through the back of his wavy hair, massaging his head in rhythm with their exploratory kisses. His breathing grew heavier, as he cradled her in his arms. A startling mixture of sharp chords rang out through the air as her back landed against the keys. Soft laughter danced through their kiss as Jake picked her up by the hips off the bench and placed her on top of the baby grand. Her chest heaved in succession with the thumping of her heart. He stared at her with such intent she'd never seen. His intense eyes hypnotized her, holding her gaze.I've pictured this a thousand times, but nothing compares to the actual taste of your lips,he whispered as he laid her back, brushing the chestnut locks of hair from her face. Lush lips caressed her neck, kissing the delicate skin down the plunging neckline of her dress. Words made no sense. They circulated in her head, jumbled by the emotions coursing through her. Her body ached for him to take her completely as his hands caressed the length of her body, exploring every inch of her, memorizing every curve. She dreamed about this moment. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Her head screamed no, she'd only hurt him. But her heart shouted louder as she let her fingers ride up the length of his forearms, pressing against the hard muscle.As breathtaking as you look sprawled across my piano, I have a better idea,” he whispered. Pulling her to him, he slid her off the piano. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he carried her to the sofa, laying her beneath him.Carefully, he slid the silken dress above her hips, exposing her stomach where he decorated her skin with the warmth of his tongue and lips. A shiver climbed her spine releasing itself in a vocal aching of want and need.
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giveaway
In celebration of ELUDING ILLUSIONS release, I'm going to give away a digital copy of VEXED, my other recently released novel. Click below to get entered!
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Vodou stole her life. A gay ghost stole her boots. And the man who stole her heart stole her memories. Kena plans to get it all back. Ex-cop Kena's life is filled with regret, beer, and Cheetos. That is, until her ghostly roomie sends her dumpster diving, leading her to a sexy stranger named Luc and a fate she'd rather not remember. As Kena's memories resurface, so do her feelings for Luc, the man she's secretly been in love with for the last thousand years. And he needs her for more than a stroll down memory lane. Vodou spirits, known as Loa, have been trapped in human form, and are trying to make their way back to the spirit world. But Luc's brother is possessed by a vengeance demon conjured at the hands of NOLA's crime syndicate kingpin. Saving him means damning herself to a spirit prison in a loveless, arranged union with the very man she's supposed to rescue. But not helping Luc's brother sentences him to death, leaving New Orleans in the hands of black magick, and losing Luc forever.
RCPR-AuthorLinks
Wren Michaels hails from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin where beer and cheese are their own food groups. But a cowboy swept her off her feet, and carried her away below the Mason-Dixon line where she promptly lost all tolerance for snow and cold. They decided they'd make beautiful babies together and they got it right on the first try. Now Wren lives happily ever after in the real world and in the worlds of her making, where she creates book boyfriends for the masses to crave.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

The Trees Beneath Us--A Must Read!

http://www.amazon.com/Trees-Beneath-Us-Darren-Leo/dp/1933586737/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436633448&sr=8-1&keywords=the+trees+beneath+us
I don't often review books, because basically, my reviews tend to sound like a five year old wrote them. "I liked it" or "It was okay", etc. For a writer, I have a hard time explaining what exactly works for me in a book other than---I finished it and didn't throw it across the room. However, The Trees Beneath Us by Darren R. Leo is such an amazing read, I have to say something. 

I do have to give the disclaimer that Darren is a friend of mine, which I know at times takes a way some of the credibility of a review. It shouldn't. We became friends through our writing, and we were attracted to each other because we basically liked each others work. We are more critical of each other because we can be, and therefore, my opinion should have more weight, not less. Believe me, if this book was crap, I would tell him, and wouldn't be saying anything to the world about it.

So, here's my 'official' Amazon/Goodreads/BN review, and as I said, I know, a first grader could have done better. But I don't want to give anything away in this book. It is a treasure, and everyone should read it. Everyone. 

Haunted by the unexplained death of his son and consumed by a painful, debilitating health condition, Finn has lost faith in this world. He sets off on a journey to hike the Appalachian Trail and hopes, in the process, he will be able to find some answers or at least some peace. The farther he goes on his literal journey, the more he disconnects from his life and the woman who loves him. Finding yourself may seem like a good idea, but as Finn realizes, sometimes, when you search for something, you just might find it---and it isn't always what you expected or hoped for.

This book is brilliantly written, delves into some very serious subject matter, and gives you a protagonist who is so deep and complex that you will think about him long after putting it down. Darren Leo will make you laugh, and will make you bawl like a baby.

I loved this book so much, I bought two extra copies for gifts. It will forever remain on my top ten list of favorites. 


Enjoy!

Buy The Trees Beneath Us on Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

Visit Darren's website

Thursday, June 18, 2015

When You Make it Home #giveaway #99cents @LoveClaireAshby

When You Make it HomeWhen You Make it Home  by Claire Ashby  283 pages Red Adept Publishing Published July 15, 2014 When You Make it Home Synopsis Meg Michaels, a bookstore owner, has already walked away from two cheating exes. She’s learned her lesson and has her mind set on success—until she gets knocked up. Embarrassed and unwilling to discuss her situation with friends and family, she wears layers to hide the pregnancy. When Meg gets sick at a party, she’s mortified. Even worse, Theo Taylor, the guest of honor, discovers her secret. Theo, an Army medic wounded in the war, agrees not to reveal her condition, and the two forge a bond of friendship that blossoms into love. Theo is soon filling all of Meg’s late-night cravings—and not just the pregnancy-induced ones. But can their love overcome all the obstacles that stand between them and creating a happy family? When You Make it Home When You Make it Home

BUY LINKS

AMAZON/KOBO/iBOOKS/GOOGLE PLAY

When You Make it Home

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Claire Ashby Claire Ashby was born and raised in the heart of Atlanta. At a young age, she began keeping journals and over time embellished the details of her quiet days. Eventually, she let go of writing reality altogether and delved completely into the world of fiction. When she's not reading or writing, she spends her time watching extreme survival shows and taking long walks after nightfall. She has an unnatural love of high places, but still regrets the time she skydived solo. She believes some things are better left to the imagination. She resides in Austin with her family and a pack of wild dogs.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

When You Make it Home

GIVEAWAY

Good luck and happy winning!
When You Make it Home
Feature courtesy of...
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="240"]Happy-Geek-Media Happy Geek Media feature[/caption] Book cover courtesy of Streetlight Graphics

Friday, June 5, 2015

Authors and Self Promotion



When I was seven, my older brother and I found an advertisement in a Grit magazine to sell Christmas cards and earn prizes. We had our eyes on two bikes, but not just any bikes. Mine was pink, with a pink banana seat, large spoked wheels with lights and clickers, long handlebars with plastic fringe, a basket with pink flowers and a sissy bar twice the height of the bike itself. Basically, the Cadillac of little girls bikes, dripping in pink. Oh, I wanted it, and I wanted it bad.


Imagine-ALL PINK
We hawked Christmas cards. Our teachers, our neighbors, our relatives, our parents even took us to work with them to sell to their co-workers (back in the day when parents didn't sell FOR the kids). We went door to door. We set up at grocery stores, on the street in front of our house, at a church picnic. We not only sold our cards, we figured out how to sell ourselves. He could sing, and I thought I could dance, so if someone wasn't interested in our cards, we'd offer them a 'performance' if they would consider our offer. And we sold cards.


We may not have outsold Hallmark that year, but we sold enough to buy two deluxe kids bicycles and a few smaller things for our baby brother, who I'm sure we used at one time or another to sell cards. It didn't end there--anytime we could find something to sell, we were on it. Lemonade stands, flower seeds, cookies, I'm sure at one time or another I tried to sell my brother. And we had no shame. None. Zero. What we did have was savings accounts---and bicycles to get us to places to spend our money.

I hear authors use the phrase "shameless self promotion" a lot, and personally, I hate the term, and believe it or not, I don't particular like asking people to buy my book. Of course, I want them to, but I often feel like friends, co-workers, even the unknown faces of the internet must be rolling their eyes every time I say, "Buy my book!" And rarely do I put it out there so bluntly; I give my little performances, I make jokes, I share reviews, I write blog posts, I offer sales. But it always feels "funny" to me. My publisher does a lot of the work, but as many authors will tell you, if you aren't contributing to the effort, you're killing yourself. So we do, and we try to find different ways to say "Buy my book!" without just saying it. It's self promotion. And it's shameless. And as writers, crafters of words, it bothers us to do it, so we feel like we need to admit to our friends, readers, faceless potential customers that we know how shameless it is.
  

It's time we stop thinking like this.


If I opened a restaurant, I'd have no problem advertising it. If I were looking for a job, I'd make my resume shine, send it to however many places I needed to, and show up to interviews in my spiffy business suit ready to tell you how wonderful I am. If I wanted to de-junk my house, I'd put stuff in the driveway and tell you what a great deal you are getting on a broken Atari for $50. And yes, I would ask my friends to help me spread the word. Self promotion is shameless, and it should be. We do it in every aspect of our lives.


So why not get over it, and sell some books?
  

I've written a book. It's a good product, something you can hold in your hand and enjoy, or give as a gift. It's less expensive than a box of Christmas cards. I'd like for people to buy it and try it. If you like it, tell your friends. If not, tell me. Do you want me to tell you a joke? Fine. Do my little dance? Maybe. Throw in my brother? That could possibly be arranged.

And if I sell enough books? Maybe I'll buy another pink bike.



Monday, May 25, 2015

Write What You 'Don't' Know



Writers often live by the rule: 'Write What You Know'. In doing so, a writer is comfortable in their surroundings, knows what they are talking about, and therefore, bring a sense of reality to their writing. It kind of keeps us from looking like idiots, I guess. However, I've discovered that I have a real problem with writing what I know. And the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem...


First of all, I have to say, I adore research. I love learning about something new. For me, it's like travelling to a different world, briefly, and getting a taste of something I've never had before. Like worms. Okay, I'm not eating a worm for research, although I did eat a rock once, but I digress. The point is, research is fun. And in writing my novel, They Call Me Crazy, I did some research on worm farming so I could make one of my characters believable.

Of course, I couldn't learn all there was to know about worm farming, but I learned enough to pick out what I considered the interesting aspects of it, and that's what I included in the book. As a reader, I don't want to know all the details about it, just the parts that get my attention. As a writer, I have to remember that the ultimate goal is to interest readers.

It seems that if I were a worm farmer, I would be able to give a lot of interesting information, because I would know so much. Right? Not always. I'm not a worm farmer, but I have been a Nurse for 30 years, and although I could tell you some great stories, I find that when I write about anything medical, I tend to instruct. I give too much information and try to be as detailed as possible. The result? Boring, run-on lectures about medically related subjects, when all I really wanted was someone to get a paper cut. I've been a Nurse for so long that choosing between 'the interesting parts' and 'the important parts' has become difficult.

Yes, I had someone that knew a little bit more than me about worm farming read the book for accuracy (Yes, there are worm experts). But the medical stuff? I've found that I have to 'consult' with other medical professionals for accuracy, and non-medical readers for interest and believability. If I were writing an instruction manual, it would be different. But I'm not. I'm writing novels, with a purpose to entertain, not teach.

So write what you know...Yeah, yeah, yeah---to a certain extent. But don't be afraid to dig through some subjects that you don't know anything about. 
How else are you going to learn how earthworms mate? 
(Well, I guess you could just read my novel....)