tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46446642734110241202024-03-14T08:04:22.418-07:00My Book LaunchUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-29412375725146959382024-02-18T21:00:00.000-08:002024-02-18T21:00:00.133-08:00My Book Launch: Going There by Donna Fletcher Crow #GoingThere #travelmemoir #shortstories<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcGw6PVlzaCxPAmKT0fwXeNTkDd1ulZhYZnYwHTBxf-3SfRx-OMVal1AIM_QzqGy-w_GEQeJtE_Jf7SXk1_7Cw_eUxcGOyTH2HiEjctU7vT_SXGjFtvG4jzANuzTl-O-TvE2XJ4O4qMxfTdkEbxPkZdG0-Un1LH_wrPcL5W7FXdesgn7jBnkU5Ed7nOPh/s595/Going%20There%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcGw6PVlzaCxPAmKT0fwXeNTkDd1ulZhYZnYwHTBxf-3SfRx-OMVal1AIM_QzqGy-w_GEQeJtE_Jf7SXk1_7Cw_eUxcGOyTH2HiEjctU7vT_SXGjFtvG4jzANuzTl-O-TvE2XJ4O4qMxfTdkEbxPkZdG0-Un1LH_wrPcL5W7FXdesgn7jBnkU5Ed7nOPh/s320/Going%20There%20cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Title: Going There: Tales from the Riviera and Beyond</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Author: Donna Fletcher Crow</span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Publisher: Verity Press</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Pages: 152</span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Genre: Travel Memoir | Short Stories<br /></span></span></span><p></p><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">In the
summer of 2021 my daughter-in-law and I slipped through a brief window
of sanity in a world driven mad by the Covid pandemic. Our purpose was
to see my granddaughter Jane to a summer program in Monaco, then back to
her ballet school in Switzerland. In spite of restrictions, protests,
and nail-biting worries, the result was a marvelous experience. I
invited characters from my mystery series to join me in my imagination
and have their own adventures in each setting. Their encounters are:
Nice: “The Crime of Passion”; St Tropez: “The Mother Decrees”;
Villefrance-sur-de-mer: “The Ghost Boy”; Monaco: “Fracas in Monaco”; The
Loire Valley: “The Old Winemaker”; Saint Gallen: “Whispers of Legend”.
The final coda is “Home Another Way” As 2 years later I return from
quite a different trip aboard the Queen Mary 2 and my characters join in
the celebrations as worlds coincide. More information on the book GOING
THERE: TALES FROM THE RIVIERA AND BEYOND can be found at <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Going-There-Tales-Riviera-Beyond-ebook/dp/B0CPHBRVJH?ref_=ast_author_mpb">https://www.amazon.com/Going-There-Tales-Riviera-Beyond-ebook/dp/B0CPHBRVJH?ref_=ast_author_mpb</a>. <br /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Book Excerpt:</span></b></span></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Le Garçon Fantôme</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">(The Ghost Boy)</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">The
taxi stopped on the gravel driveway before the pink and white
confection of Villa Ephrussi and Elizabeth clapped on her wide-brimmed
straw hat as she scrambled out into the bright sunshine while Richard
paid their driver. The scene was stunning every direction she looked
with gardens extending from the chateau before them on to glimpses of
the shining blue Mediterranean beyond their mountain perch.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">“Oh,
Richard, this is…” her voice trailed off. Richard had already crunched
past her toward the entrance to the villa. She sighed and followed.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">The
rooms, filled with antique furniture and art treasures, followed one
another in a square around the central patio of Verona marble where
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild had welcomed her guests. Each room was a
mini museum of elegance. Their fellow tourists followed the same path,
exclaiming over each new display of the eighteenth century opulence in
rooms designed for luxurious entertainments: The grand salon with tables
for the games Béatrice loved to play; the small salon, designed for
after-dinner conversation. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Regardless
of the grandeur around her, though, part of Elizabeth’s mind held back.
Should they have come on this trip? It had seemed such a good idea when
they planned it a few months ago: Time away together from Richard’s
responsibilities at the boys’ school in Oxford, a chance for her to do
some research for her articles on literary figures… Somehow, it didn’t
seem to be working out.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Richard
strode up the staircase to the first floor and Elizabeth followed. Here
were the rooms for the baroness’ guests. Elizabeth paused at the blue
bedroom, admiring the delicate scrollwork of the panels adorning the
walls. She smiled at the tiny porcelain bird set amid the flowers of the
Meissen chandelier. Elizabeth’s guide sheet told her that Béatrice had
placed it there with her own hands.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">She pointed it out to Richard. “Isn’t it charming that she took such personal interest herself ?” </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">“Mmm,” he said and moved on to the tapestry room. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Elizabeth
followed, but her mind was not on the priceless Gobelins depicting
romantic scenes by Boucher. Richard’s curtness still stung. How long had
he been like that? What had happened to the closeness, the sense of
teamwork they had always shared? What had happened to him? Where had the
twinkle in his eye gone? His playfulness, even?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">The
beauty began to blur in Elizabeth’s mind by the time they descended to
The Apartments of Béatrice, surely fit for Marie Antionette herself.
Bedroom, dressing room, bathroom… escritoire, tables, settees…</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">It
was in the boudoir that Elizabeth focused on two small pieces of
furniture set apart from all the rest. A pair of elegant child-sized
chairs. She gazed at them in silence for some time. Were they just
interesting objet d’art the baroness picked up on a whim somewhere in
her world travels? Their central placement in her own, personal space,
seemed to say otherwise. Had she purchased them after her marriage, for
the home she and Maurice maintained in Monte Carlo—the square-shaped one
for a son she hoped to have; the one with rounded back and curving arms
for a longed-for daughter?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Elizabeth
scanned the brochure she held, making quick calculations. Béatrice had
married at 19, was married to Maurice for 21 years, divorced at the age
of 40—when perhaps all hope of child-bearing was over? Three years later
she threw herself into the grand building project Elizabeth saw all
around her. And lived here alone, in spite of the lavish parties she
threw. Elizabeth shivered.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Her
shiver, though, was not for her imagined sterility of the inner life of
Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild amid her opulent surroundings.
Elizabeth was thinking of their own miscarried infants and the tiny boy
who arrived so early and had lived barely three hours—just long enough
to receive the sacrament of baptism and be christened Richard, Jr. So
long ago—some thirty years now.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">She
continued to stand in the middle of the room, only dimly aware of the
fine objects surrounding her and of the brilliant view of sky, sea and
greenery beyond the pillars supporting the wide window in front of her.
Until she felt a tap on her arm.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">“Ready to go to the gardens?” Richard asked.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">She nodded, pleased that he had asked.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Out
through the baroness’ bedroom onto the terrasse and on to the series of
side gardens. Richard went on ahead, but Elizabeth stood at the
information board. It wasn’t the plan of the gardens that drew her,
however, but rather the photograph of Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Having
just seen the lavish elegance of the woman’s life, Elizabeth was struck
by the look of child-like innocence on her face. The tiny hint of a
smile—surely a rival for the Mona Lisa? The round smoothness of her
cheek, the clear brow with hair held back by a plain band. But the thing
that struck Elizbeth most powerfully was the look of trust in the
far-gazing eyes.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;"> The
baroness couldn’t have been older than her mid-thirties when it was
taken. By then, however, she would have been married to her Parisian
banker husband for perhaps 15 years. Elizabeth’s mind went back to the
empty infant chairs in the lonely chamber. By then Béatrice would have
known that any hope she had of a family was unlikely to be realized. Or
was the picture much younger—before any dreams she might have had were
shattered?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Or
was Elizabeth reading her own losses into what could have been
collected merely as a charming curiosity? She gave herself a shake.
Perhaps the globe-trotting couple was far too busy to encumber
themselves with children—or even thoughts of them. Or perhaps the
Parisian socialite desired nothing more than the rare works of art she
traveled the world to collect and commission like her fabulous Fabergé
egg.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Still,
Elizabeth couldn’t shake a small feeling of sadness and disappointment
behind all the elegance and stories of lavish parties. A poet had
written of one when Anna Pavlova danced in the moonlit gardens to Chopin
nocturnes. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Yet
it was the coldness of the moonlight Elizabeth felt as their feet
crunched on the gravel path past banks of flaming coral flowers to the
Jardin Espagnol. Elizabeth thought they were alone as they walked the
length of the placid reflecting pool until she was startled by a pebble
breaking the mirror surface of the still water. She turned to see who
had thrown it but caught only a flicker of movement and the hint of a
shadow disappearing into the verdant greenery beyond the border.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">“Did
you—” she began, but Richard was already leading toward the Jardin à la
Française. They were just about to emerge into the formal elegance of
the French garden with its repetitive borders of pink roses outlining
each formal bed around the myriad fountains when Elizabeth stopped to
gaze up at an enormous urn surrounded by banks of delicate flowers. A
trill of laughter made her turn, but there was no one there. Had she
merely heard the splashing of the fountains playing in rhythmic patterns
the length of the garden?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">She
hurried forward as Richard had already covered almost the length of the
long garden and was about to ascend the stairway to the small, domed
temple of love that overlooked the French garden. Elizabeth frowned.
Couldn’t he wait for her? Surely, they should view the temple of love
together? Again, she thought of how distant, impatient, even, he had
seemed of late. So unlike him. She had hoped these days on the Riviera
would help them find their old closeness. She sighed.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">By
the time Elizabeth had reached the top of the stairway to the small
temple encircling the statue of the goddess Venus, there was no sign of
Richard. Elizabeth consulted her map. Which of the gardens had he gone
toward? The Rosarie? The curving double stairway of the Jardin
Florentin? The Jardin Exotique filled with the succulents so popular in
this terrain? Elizabeth looked at the picture of the prickly cacti and
shivered at the thought of Richard choosing anything so forbidding.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Whether
from an actual decision or mere instinct Elizabeth’s feet followed the
path to the Lapidaire Stone Garden filled with antique pillars, arches,
and statues of magical beasts and comic human figures. At first, she was
amazed that the baroness would have chosen such whimsical figures for
her garden, and then she thought of the tiny smile playing at the
corners of the enigmatic mouth in the picture she had studied earlier.
The lady must have had a charming sense of humor that seemed to have
come out to play in this garden tucked in one of the far corners of her
vast property.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">And
then Elizabeth heard the silver laughter she thought she had only
imagined before. This time far too distant from the fountains to be
confused with their sound. A child’s laughter, certainly. “Hello, are
you hiding from me?” She looked around. “Shall I find you?”</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Surely
that stirring of the bushes wasn’t from any breeze. Elizabeth set out.
“Ready or not, here I come.” She took purposely crunching steps across
the path, then dived between two azalea bushes still sporting a few
vibrant, late blossoms. A tiny giggle and a stirring of the bushes along
the higher path led her up a few stone steps between two carved exotic
creatures and on toward a colonnade. Elizabeth more skipped than ran,
engulfed in a sense of the freedom of childhood.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Now
all was silent. Had her mischievous phantom child been scared off by
her chase? Or did the quiet mean she was closer? She looked around. What
should she do next? “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you. Don’t
you want to play anymore?”</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">It
was more a stirring of the breeze than any sound that made her turn.
And there was Richard. Standing with his arms folded, leaning against a
pillar supporting one of the comic figures. How long had he been
observing her? Was his presence what had stopped the child playing? She
drew breath to call out to Richard, but he put his finger to his lips
and took a step forward.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Elizabeth
could only hope she had interpreted his action correctly. She turned
back in the direction of the last indication of her apparition. “Don’t
be frightened. This is Richard. He only looks stern. He likes children,
too.” </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">The
plants between the stone gothic arches rustled and a child-sized shadow
darted toward the lavabo fountain with its spouting water. </span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">But
Richard was nearer. He reached the water first, dipped both hands in
and held them up, trails of silver drops falling between his fingers. He
scooped another handful in a cupped hand and extended it. Was he
offering a drink? Or asperges? Or merely playing?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Now
Elizabeth didn’t hear laughter, but music. Was the elusive child
singing or had he pulled a set of panpipes from a pocket? The sound
continued, mingled with the breeze and trickling water, and Richard
continued his offering. But Elizabeth didn’t move. She barely breathed.
The moment was magical, holy.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Had
they encountered a real child—playing a clever game? Was it all her
over-active imagination conjuring up a might-have-been from her recent
melancholic thoughts? Or even a forgotten scene from her own childhood?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">She
didn’t believe in ghosts—did she? Had the baroness, like herself,
suffered loss—with the shade of that bereavement still hanging over
these pleasure gardens?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Or
had Elizabeth been granted a glimpse of something far greater? A future
still awaiting in the next world—a world without sorrow?</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">The
cessation of the music made her look up. She had been so lost in her
thoughts she didn’t realize Richard had left the fountain and come to
her. She blinked. He looked—he looked somehow younger, with a new light
in his eyes that seemed to glow from within.</span></span></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">He opened his arms and she walked into them with a radiant smile as they closed around her.</span></span></h2><p></p></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZ7Lkbnt1eKvp04x5zg8K-uwdWKuPvhSmASQYBGLzLMDna_zfu5TC_FbKxHVI_yw7y446pC2wZGXFb-zBGhWXJOCB8aBrXb9N4QMyMzh7pfQE3BzWeUeZFhI0zbr-8bfxJi23XZdo3XLxPI_YUVvvVqcvFM73SAGhiaKRyX_9MixIv6iI89Gu_NhSzFUD/s610/Donna%20Fletcher%20Crow%20Author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="408" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZ7Lkbnt1eKvp04x5zg8K-uwdWKuPvhSmASQYBGLzLMDna_zfu5TC_FbKxHVI_yw7y446pC2wZGXFb-zBGhWXJOCB8aBrXb9N4QMyMzh7pfQE3BzWeUeZFhI0zbr-8bfxJi23XZdo3XLxPI_YUVvvVqcvFM73SAGhiaKRyX_9MixIv6iI89Gu_NhSzFUD/w428-h640/Donna%20Fletcher%20Crow%20Author.jpg" width="428" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="font-size: 18px;">Donna Fletcher Crow, Novelist of
British History, is an award-winning author who has published some 50
books in a career spanning more than 40 years. Her best-known work is <i>Glastonbury,</i>
The Novel of Christian England, a grail search epic depicting 1500
years of British history. The Celtic Cross is a 10-book series covering
the history of Scotland and England from the 6th to the 20th century.
Crow writes 3 mystery series: The Monastery Murders, contemporary
clerical mysteries with clues hidden deep in the past; Lord Danvers
Investigates, Victorian true-crime stories within a fictional setting;
and The Elizabeth and Richard literary suspense series, featuring
various literary figures. Where There is Love is a 6-book biographical
novel series of leaders of the early Evangelical Anglican movement. The
Daughters of Courage is a semi-autobiographical trilogy family saga of
Idaho pioneers. Reviewers routinely praise the quality of her writing
and the depth of her research. Crow says she tries never to write about a
place she hasn’t visited and one of her goals in writing is to give her
readers a you-are-there experience. Donna and her husband of 60 years
live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 children and 15 grandchildren, and she
is an avid gardener.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Author Links </b> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><a href="https://www.donnafletchercrow.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DonnaFletcherCr">Twitter</a> |<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063745772509"> Facebook</a> | </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56147.Donna_Fletcher_Crow"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Goodread</span>s</a></p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-90519920876695742402024-01-24T21:00:00.000-08:002024-01-25T04:17:47.320-08:00My Book Launch: Echoes of a Voice for Justice by Anita Hackley Lambert #EchoesofaVoiceforJustice #historical #biography<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTFmZ3d0crKOUNlP9DxGurBN4xTaIKquwdC8F1ep0UueLvSFk-5OwBsio3cQ8sXE6Hws-UrWZpu3xCGcAO4ZGiJOiAfq5YVDD2exisV4zHb0Qq5nmKXoD5gVrMlA_nFphshgXWio9GAyUq1Csy32K3tJFG-qBJCggYSf2oJ5vehAe_eRPzUfNjeufpCIs/s582/Echoes%20of%20a%20Voice%20for%20Justice%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="401" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTFmZ3d0crKOUNlP9DxGurBN4xTaIKquwdC8F1ep0UueLvSFk-5OwBsio3cQ8sXE6Hws-UrWZpu3xCGcAO4ZGiJOiAfq5YVDD2exisV4zHb0Qq5nmKXoD5gVrMlA_nFphshgXWio9GAyUq1Csy32K3tJFG-qBJCggYSf2oJ5vehAe_eRPzUfNjeufpCIs/s320/Echoes%20of%20a%20Voice%20for%20Justice%20cover.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Title: Echoes of a Voice for Justice</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Author: Anita Hackley Lambert</span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Publisher: HLE Publishing</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Pages: 296</span><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> Genre: Historical Biography <br /></span></span></span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Experience
the extraordinary life of Barry Antonio Murray, an unwavering champion
for the progressive Black movement of the post-Reconstruction era. Ms.
Lambert masterfully tells the riveting tale of this unsung civil rights
activist, influential publisher, and uncompromising editor in this
historic biography. Uncovering a 50-year-old family secret, Ms.
Lambert’s captivating narrative begins at her book's debut, where chance
encounters forever altered her life. Delve into Barry Murray’s legacy,
his ties to F.H.M. Murray, a civil rights trailblazer and the
great-grandfather he never knew—yet, walked in his shoes. Readers gain
insights into the nation’s racial divide and witness the heart-wrenching
conclusion and his questionable sudden death. This captivating
biography sheds light on Barry’s remarkable journey, celebrating his
unwavering activism, pursuit of justice, and empowerment of the
community. This saga intertwines history, personal struggles, and family
secrets, leaving an indelible mark on readers, showcasing the
indomitable spirit of one man’s triumphs and divine destiny.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>“Barry
was one of those Black people who was loyal to his belief in the need
to sacrifice for full Black freedom. People like him often make great
sacrifices but do not benefit from their sacrifices. He never got
rewarded by the community for his service to the community – most never
do. If we all lived as Barry did we would be free.” -- </em><strong><em>Wayne Young, Editor of Port of Harlem Magazine</em></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Buy Link:</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3T8UDka"><strong>Amazon</strong></a></span></span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span>Book Excerpt:</span></b></span></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God blessed me, then set me up to bless me again. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Call it an omen if you like. I know better. It was a clear
demonstration of God's favor in my life, as He has always been present.
In His infinite wisdom, the Holy Spirit sent a message to my spirit,
assuring me that great things would transpire once my book, <em>F.H.M. Murray: First Biography of a Forgotten Pioneer for Civil Justice</em> was released. Little did I know how astonishingly accurate that message would prove to be. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a first-time author entering the arena of Pulitzer Prize-winning
authors, the journey behind the creation of this book is remarkable in
itself. Allow me to indulge in a few eventful affirmations leading to
this book.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Revelation At Harpers Ferry</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>DAY 1</strong>. Over three remarkable days, I experienced an
extraordinary blessing. The journey began with a captivating audience of
history enthusiasts eagerly awaiting the scholarly presentation of my
book. Hosting the event was none other than the talented actor and
orator, Fred Morsel, adding an extra layer of prestige to the occasion.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>DAY 2</strong>. The second day brought an unforgettable
collaboration as I joined forces with the esteemed Dr. Henry Lewis
Gates. Together, he and our volunteer group embarked on a historical
reenactment that transported us back in time, allowing us to breathe
life into the past. The experience was nothing short of awe-inspiring.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>DAY 3</strong>. As the event's third and final day unfolded,
it delivered an exceptional finale that surpassed all expectations.
Amidst a captivating photo shoot, I had the incredible honor of meeting
the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and esteemed historian, David Levering
Lewis. His approval of my book was a momentous validation, solidifying
its significance in the literary world. Furthermore, I had the pleasure
of engaging with readers and selling and signing copies of my book--an
experience that felt like a dream come true for a first-time author.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But the wonders did not end there. On this very same day, I had the
privilege of capturing memories alongside the illustrious Dr. DuBois
Irving, the great-granddaughter of the legendary W.E.B. DuBois, as well
as Reverend Walter Fauntroy. It was a surreal convergence of influential
figures embodying the legacy and impact of the subject I had delved
into within my book.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In retrospect, I realized how mistaken I was to believe that the day
couldn't get any better. This trifecta of days had become the pinnacle
of a first-time author's aspirations, a once-in-a-lifetime culmination
of success, connections, and reflective experiences. It was an
unforgettable chapter in my life, ever etched in my memory.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The true purpose behind our fateful meeting that day in Harpers
Ferry, West Virginia became crystal clear, and its significance can
never be underestimated. It felt as if the forces of destiny were at
work, orchestrating every detail. Joan Anderson and her daughter Kelly
had embarked on a journey with a singular objective in mind: to find me
and engage in a discussion. Their presence was no mere coincidence; they
sought me out with a determination reminiscent of an eagle's relentless
pursuit of its prey.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As they made their way across the paved courtyard towards me, I
immediately sensed an air of urgency and purpose. Joan, with a
noticeable limp and relying on a cane for support, locked eyes with me.
The tremor in her voice betrayed her emotional state as she began to
speak. What she revealed next left me utterly stunned. "My son, Barry,
has been a closely guarded family secret for half a century," she
confessed. Her words hung heavy in the air. "He is none other than
F.H.M. Murray's great-grandson. He shares a bloodline with you."</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sensing the watchful eyes of curious onlookers, Joan guided me away
from the crowd, creating a cocoon of privacy amidst the bustling
celebration. She revealed that other family members were in attendance,
yet she chose to trust me, a stranger, with her most painful secret. As
she spoke, her words carried a weight of sincere love and immeasurable
loss. It was palpable how deeply she cherished her son and the
devastation she felt in his absence. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The burden she had carried for so long was finally lifted, and she entrusted it to me, a confidant she had only just met.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In that moment, the weight of generations converged, extraordinarily
intertwining our lives. The revelation brought forth a deep sense of
connection as if a hidden mystery of familial ties had been unveiled.
Our encounter was far more than a chance meeting—it was a cosmic
convergence guided by an unseen hand. It was as if the universe itself
conspired to bring us together, weaving together our shared heritage and
the legacy of our ancestors.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sat in awe as Joan continued to unveil the depths of her long-held
secret, her words flowing uninterrupted. It was as if she bore the
weight of this revelation for years, and now she was resolute in her
purpose. There was a certainty in her voice, an insightful understanding
of the task before her. With a firm determination, she looked directly
into my eyes as if she could anticipate my very thoughts.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You have been chosen," she declared, her gaze piercing into the depths of my soul, "to write Barry's story."</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At that moment, the weight of responsibility and privilege
intertwined. For over fifty years, the truth about Freeman Murray's
audacious fight for African-Americans had remained buried, neglected by
historians and authors who failed to uncover his significant
contributions. Yet, she believed that I, and only I, possessed the
ability to breathe life into Barry's legacy, to connect him to his
Murray lineage, and to share his untold journey with the world. Joan was
adamant, unyielding in her conviction that it was my divine purpose to
write Barry's biography.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An inexplicable connection enveloped us instantaneously as if the
threads of fate had bound our lives together across the ages. It felt as
though I had stumbled upon the long-lost sister I had conjured in my
childhood fantasies. Joan articulated that our bond symbolized her
"freedom," a newfound purpose that propelled her forward. As I grappled
with the weight of this extraordinary opportunity, I contemplated
whether I dared embrace an encounter that would bind me by an
unbreakable oath while simultaneously liberating her.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though cognizant of the commitment that awaited me, I recognized it
as a remarkable honor to undertake. The magnitude of this chance was too
extraordinary to overlook. It held the promise of a cherished
friendship, a sisterhood forged in the depths of shared secrets, a bond
of cousinhood, and the revelation of a hidden familial legacy. Moreover,
it presented an unparalleled opportunity to craft yet another
captivating book, exceeding my wildest aspirations. The first book had
merely set the stage, but this authorized biography, bestowed upon me
like precious rubies, was a treasure of immeasurable worth. It came
accompanied by invaluable documentation, slashing through the dense
thicket of research and providing a shortcut to truth.</span></span></p></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBEuDhRkm7ad0ChHOxBP_C0KTkWMj3UraLxMLw-dDU8sMis8cYUGjx1LnQw2d0K7aPPQeFhga5_1z9F8MRUs5tIZhbcz-cN3PkHgZdrN715Ee5_p73-2L0wP7pHUkDa5QJcb3dkgFbYiVFeMq-Ej0B8PLOewaH_Au3kPKgHYYINtUY71oXX9IiPngY-tc/s413/Anita%20Hackley%20Lambert%20author.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="410" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBEuDhRkm7ad0ChHOxBP_C0KTkWMj3UraLxMLw-dDU8sMis8cYUGjx1LnQw2d0K7aPPQeFhga5_1z9F8MRUs5tIZhbcz-cN3PkHgZdrN715Ee5_p73-2L0wP7pHUkDa5QJcb3dkgFbYiVFeMq-Ej0B8PLOewaH_Au3kPKgHYYINtUY71oXX9IiPngY-tc/s320/Anita%20Hackley%20Lambert%20author.png" width="318" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;">Ms.
Lambert, a distinguished genealogist, historian, and biographer,
achieved historical acclaim with her inaugural book, praised by
luminaries such as Pulitzer Prize-winner David Levering Lewis and
historian Charles Patterson. As an unrivaled familial authority, she
penned insightful biographies of visionary businessmen and civil rights
champions F.H.M. Murray and Barry A. Murray. Nestled in the Appalachian
Mountains of West Virginia with her husband, Ms. Lambert continues her
literary journey, poised to add two more captivating biographies and
contribute to a quartet of nonfiction gems, that showcases her
unwavering commitment to illuminating the human experience.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;"><strong>Author Links </strong> </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Gabriela;"><a href="http://www.anitahackleylambert.com">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AnitaLambe49625/">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Anita-Hackley-Lambert-Author/61552071992665/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/anitahackleylambertauthor/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.googlereads.com/author/show/718627.Anita_Hackley_Lambert">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://linkedin.con/in/anita-hackley-lambert-148021a/">LinkedIn</a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-43442622973944329302023-09-20T21:00:00.001-07:002023-09-20T21:00:00.146-07:00My Book Launch: Hatch: A Change Your Life Guide by Jamie Saloff #Hatch<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://mybooklaunchforauthors.blogspot.com/2023/07/my-book-launch-becoming-flawesome-by.html"></a>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2396499735130259628" itemprop="description articleBody">
<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugowLE8ArYc5HzxmBn3ifqU1mLXOqecMzPRWG1s1UNJ9G3znU9jYXwpHih71PcNHNF6_A5LU_jdUn281csuJvYZWpP5nI0wsNXXqjcXPRIxBGvL_thMgRy8-mtV3HN6PwgS64VgbmNU8oaZzkvBtTI5n2Wp2QaerJUpoo2cjvblA9IAifPcahdROVGE0q/s524/Hatch%20book%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="425" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiugowLE8ArYc5HzxmBn3ifqU1mLXOqecMzPRWG1s1UNJ9G3znU9jYXwpHih71PcNHNF6_A5LU_jdUn281csuJvYZWpP5nI0wsNXXqjcXPRIxBGvL_thMgRy8-mtV3HN6PwgS64VgbmNU8oaZzkvBtTI5n2Wp2QaerJUpoo2cjvblA9IAifPcahdROVGE0q/s320/Hatch%20book%20cover.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title: Hatch: A Change Your Life Guide</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Author: Jamie Saloff</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Publisher: Sent Books</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Publication Date: June 25, 2023</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Pages: 384</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Genre: Self-Help/Motivational, Religion/Spirituality, Personal Growth/Personal Transformation <br /></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>If you could, how would you change your life?</strong> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">While
bravely facing the motherlode of difficult life challenges, you never
dreamt the result would be a soul-sucking, heart-crushing existence.
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">Although
you try to ignore the emptiness, detachment, and feeling that you don’t
belong, you rarely make changes. It just seems too impossible for so
many reasons. Instead, you silenced your heart’s nagging with
self-sacrifice, food stuffing, or by becoming a workaholic. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">Contemplating
ending her life, Jamie Saloff chose instead to hatch a new one. She
knows how self-doubt and unworthiness can cloud our ability to move
forward after the darkness of illness, grief, trauma, or tragedy –
because she’s faced it too. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><em>In Hatch – A Change Your Life Guide</em>, Saloff walks readers through her step-by-step method to: </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"> • Awaken your soul’s purpose by listening to your heart’s voice </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">• Find confidence in your next forward step by hearing your body speak </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">•See messages of guidance everywhere by learning where to look </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"> • Uncover your future in your past by examining your ancestral heritage </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"> • And much, much more… </span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><em>
“It’s a simple question “Do you wish you could change your life for the
better” while the answer is an easy one – do you have any idea of how
to accomplish the task? “Hatch – A Change Your Life Guide” gives you a
systematic process that will take you on a journey of physical,
emotional, and spiritual healing…I highly recommend this wonderful and
enlightening book”</em> – Yolanda Renee</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Buy Links:</strong> </span></p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/3ukyuhk5">Amazon </a>| <a href="https://amzn.to/3NMi66m">B&N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/reflections-on-the-boulevard">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yy2j85xc">BooksAMillion</a></span></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></b></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"></span></span>As long as I can, remember—though I’m not sure why—I’ve been labeled a
misfit—a square peg, a Goonie, an outcast (every generation seems to
have its own word for this). <p></p>
<p>In kindergarten kids laughed at me saying I had a boy’s name. In
elementary school, they said I hadn’t grown up with them, I wasn’t from
there. Or maybe it was because even though I have never been outspoken, I
decided I wouldn’t tolerate the bigoted French teacher and refused to
go back to her class. The principle reprimanded me, called me “a
quitter,” but I wasn’t swayed. I don’t think the kids (or the teacher)
could quite understand that kind of rebellion from a ten-year-old. </p>
<p>Another time, the teacher ordered me into the hallway where she told
me to repeat to the principal what I’d just told her. I explained my
drawing of an aneurysm to him. (Due to cholesterol or other blockage in a
vein, a balloon-like area forms expanding the side of the vein. If it
would burst, my father would have 45 minutes to live.) My teacher didn’t
approve of my mother sharing the details of my father’s illness with a
child. The principal only shrugged.</p>
<p>In middle school, I argued with the principal that, due to a highly
publicized paper shortage, it was stupid to waste it by writing
punishment sentences hundreds of times. I ended up having to run around
the gym in front of my class, which did very little for my already
degraded social status, but it was a win for my cause.</p>
<p>If you’ve been in this position, you know there is no going back.
Once you’re tagged as an outlier, that’s where you stay. As I entered
high school, I wasn’t “the right fit” to be one of the majorettes. They
can give whatever reasons they liked, but I’m pretty sure none of them
had 60 trophies attesting to their ability and, while they were marching
up and down the muddy hometown football field, I performed all over the
world, including for servicemen at Pearl Harbor, in the shadow of
Scotland’s Edinburgh castle, and other cities across the US and Europe.
As they continued buddying up with football players in their cliques, I
was privileged to experience foreign cultures and see historic sites
firsthand instead of reading about them in a text book.</p>
<p>When we are mistreated or outcast by someone, we may blame ourselves.
We falsely wonder, “Am I ugly?” “Fat?” “Horrible?” and all sorts of
self-degrading ideas. This self-blame can cause us to slip into
isolation because we feel unliked or unloved. </p>
<p>Eventually, if you give yourself space, you learn that being a misfit
is a good thing. It allows you to do things your way without others
caring. You may discover you <i>are</i> a bit of a loner, and that’s
okay. This is particularly true for creatives and those who have
suffered for their uniqueness. Yet it is your uniqueness that can make
you great.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter what labels they put on you. You can’t change their
actions. Instead, you must realize that deep down they know you’re
somehow different in ways they can’t understand. Whether that means you
become a target or are simply ignored, they know there is something
special about you, more specifically, you’re not like them—you’re not
like “everyone else.” And maybe that scares them a little because
they’re afraid to step out of the crowd—and you’re not.</p>
<p>What they sense is that you carry traits offering you the potential
to do great things, even if you don’t realize it or feel like it could
ever be possible. As it turns out, some of the worst things that have
happened in your past, particularly in your youth, formed the exact
survival traits you need to succeed as you trod forward.<sup>1</sup></p>
<p>Despite the obvious definitions of <i>hatch</i>, i.e., “hatching new
life from an egg,” “an escape hatch,” or “hatching a plan,” for readers
of this book “hatch” means all that and more. It means realizing that no
matter what brought you to this point, you have options and choices
available to you <i>right</i> <i>now</i> to help you to Hatch a new and
better life, one worth loving. And it doesn’t matter if they mark you
as “an outcast,” “a misfit,” or whatever else they want to label you
because once you “hatch” it will no longer matter. </p>
<p>Some of you are what I call the “Endurers.” You are still on the
inside of the “egg” feeling trapped and not realizing there is a whole
other, much better life waiting for you “out there.” (It’s hard to see
through those thick-shelled walls.)</p>
<p>Others of you have potentially “hatched” but are now looking at all
the broken pieces of your life. You may be feeling all “Humpty Dumpty”
(who couldn’t put it all back together again) and are wondering, “what
do I do now?” </p>
<p>This book is about how I found myself in those positions and hacked
my way out with very little guidance or direction. With much angst, I
began seeking my way as a young adolescent and continue to machete my
way forward as a senior. </p>
<p>As you read on, in Phase One, you’ll learn how to listen to and follow the longings of your heart. </p>
<p><b>Scratch that.</b> If you knew what your heart wanted and how to
follow it, you wouldn’t be reading this book. You’d be doing it.
Instead, in Phase One you’ll learn how to listen to your body groan and
soul weep. I’ll show you how those nagging little aches and pains,
illnesses, and even accidental injuries can be translated into Marvelous
Messages™ that can help you plan your Hatch. (This is where I had my
first real breakthrough in my life.)</p>
<p><b>In Phase Two</b>, we will circle back to your heart and all it
desires. I’ll teach you ways to identify what your heart’s aching for
you to do and how it ties into your soul’s purpose. Now, having a
clearer idea on what you really desire—(you have known it all along,
you’ve simply silenced it)—you can now set goals and a plan to obtain
it. We’ll take a “look back to leap forward” to understand how some of
the challenges you face today are the result of inherited trials that
were never properly resolved in the generations that came before you.
Lucky you, it’s now your turn to see if you can make it right. But,
you’ll also learn about the gifts implanted within your spiritual DNA to
help you along in your soul’s journey. </p>
<p><b>In Phase Three</b>, we will dig a little deeper. Having opened up
the lines of inner communication, I’ll show you many ways to recognize
and follow your intuition. </p>
<p><b>In Phase Four</b>, we will talk about the hard stuff—those
barriers holding you to where you are now and how to overcome them—fear,
mistaken perceptions, and other beliefs that cloud your mind and
prevent you from being the “you” you came here to be. </p>
<p><b>Lastly, in Phase Five</b>, you’ll see how, once you open these
doors to your body and soul, you not only are creating a new and better
path for your life, you can create a better world. And that is a true
transformation. Let’s begin…</p></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGve8tyaxJdudhOwEcKTmS2iLQmM0ooGPM3OV3exMcIzaGW57Yh97T5KwVOK7nSYz0wgbrz4t6QAXHfin9FohGTy3udlSRPpOs4o_PfaC7XjybBjb_k0sRpVVZxtZREIYkSyCPbYOeNEq3IzcrFfnKBewbwM7-wNtSqke0eeNIcq3eCv5NdkwkW3y3DvBd/s410/Jamie%20Saloff%20author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="410" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGve8tyaxJdudhOwEcKTmS2iLQmM0ooGPM3OV3exMcIzaGW57Yh97T5KwVOK7nSYz0wgbrz4t6QAXHfin9FohGTy3udlSRPpOs4o_PfaC7XjybBjb_k0sRpVVZxtZREIYkSyCPbYOeNEq3IzcrFfnKBewbwM7-wNtSqke0eeNIcq3eCv5NdkwkW3y3DvBd/w640-h640/Jamie%20Saloff%20author.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Jamie Linn Saloff</b>
is passionate about aiding fiercely independent, misfit, square pegs
trapped in an unfulfilling life. Author, teacher, story weaver,
spiritual counselor, seer of visions, pathfinder, for over thirty years
Jamie’s taught how to reignite your heart by listening to your body
groan and your soul weep. She is the author of twelve books including <i>Hatch: A Change Your Life Guide</i> and her <i>Marvelous Messages™</i> series.<br />
</span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Author Links </b> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.MarvelousMessages.com">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JamieSaloff">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/JamieLSaloff">Facebook Author Page</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/JamieSaloff">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/jamie_saloff">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiesaloff">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://tinyurl.com/38dknc49">Amazon Profile</a></span></p><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-23964997351302596282023-07-17T05:31:00.002-07:002023-07-17T05:31:18.397-07:00My Book Launch: Becoming Flawesome by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani #BecomingFlawesome<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNtwPxAZSwTd3bJRt44LDrcLmBp08mY_0JdYuAg4nOhdV-60RsMerPf2jAEuH4CiXIwkcCfPq_qYmmpFBX5HQP8s2frICGA0jngbDyDbswrWlRK70T5dk67XvsFGJEWPgW7M2vh9A8k0hohuVFIjumAXf59pttZf19Afarhii87G1-YI_lsMB6nIWOEJb/s927/Becoming%20Flawesome%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNtwPxAZSwTd3bJRt44LDrcLmBp08mY_0JdYuAg4nOhdV-60RsMerPf2jAEuH4CiXIwkcCfPq_qYmmpFBX5HQP8s2frICGA0jngbDyDbswrWlRK70T5dk67XvsFGJEWPgW7M2vh9A8k0hohuVFIjumAXf59pttZf19Afarhii87G1-YI_lsMB6nIWOEJb/s320/Becoming%20Flawesome%20lg.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>BECOMING FLAWESOME<span><br />Kristina Mand-Lakhiani<br />Ottawa Press and Publishing<br /><span style="color: black;">280 pp.</span><br />
</span>Nonfiction<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-6a0182e4-7fff-d643-a53b-8a71c652a737" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-6a0182e4-7fff-d643-a53b-8a71c652a737" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it…</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it is in the name of perfection that we demonise our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Kristina’s upcoming book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, she reflects on her own story, her </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">battle against perfectionism</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10 years worth of therapy in one book,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Becoming Flawsome</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this book, Kristina breaks the mould as she takes the reader on a journey through:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /></span></span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Self-care vs self-love, and why you need both</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The ‘Hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers </span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily </span></span></p></li></ul><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amazon: </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx" style="font-family: Cherry Swash; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><br /></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mind Valley Books: </span><a href="https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome" style="font-family: Cherry Swash; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><div><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></b></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"></span></span>The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life<p></p>
<p>Introduction</p>
<p>Let’s Begin</p>
<p>It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a good book has to start with a proper introduction.</p>
<p>And by “proper” I mean that it has to prime the reader for the
journey, raise excitement and set expectations, explain the process, and
make reading the book an experience both profitable and smooth. After
all, we are about to spend some time together on this journey.</p>
<p>Therefore, I was not surprised when on the first meeting with my
publisher I was asked if I would consider writing a proper introduction
to my book. You see—the original manuscript started with a story of me
pondering my future book while standing in the shower, warm water
running down my back, and my finger absentmindedly drawing random
patterns on the fogged-up glass.</p>
<p>I started this book during the long years of successive COVID
confinements, and I was planning to self-publish it because I wanted the
freedom to make decisions about the book—how to write, what to write,
what stories to include, what kind of experience to offer to my reader.
So, naturally, it wasn’t following any universally acknowledged truths
or conventions.</p>
<p>Yet, by the time I had to present my book-baby to the world, I felt
that I wanted to give it the best possible future, and I had to face the
big decision between my heart and my brain: Will it be self-published
(heart), or will I work with a traditional publisher (brain)? Going the
traditional way meant facing more choices between my quirky and
obstinate self-expression and conventional ways of doing things.</p>
<p>This book is about finding your way back to yourself, about
understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches,
your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in
being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.</p>
<p>This book has been through the hands of several editors ever since I
put the last stop on its original manuscript. This journey has been both
emotional and transformative for me. I had to face my biggest dragon by
far—my obstinate need for pure self-expression—over and over again.</p>
<p>When do you follow convention, and when do you stick to your own principles and values?</p>
<p>There is no simple answer to this question, except: you have to learn to balance.</p>
<p>If you follow all the rules that your peers expect you to follow, you
bet all there is on a slim chance of the grand prize, but you do it at
the price of your own unique self-expression. At times, I felt like I
had to “sell my soul to the devil” for a chance at success.</p>
<p>But if you obstinately stick to your own unique quirks and
principles, you might end up being unheard and misunderstood so
universally that there is no point in writing a book. For it is the
readers who make a writer. Without the readers, a book is just a private
diary.</p>
<p>Reader, will you judge me if I tell you that this book is a delicate
balance between convention and my own uniqueness? Of course, I want you
to succeed. But I cannot give you the proper introduction to my book
because every book is a journey. This book has been my journey, and</p>
<p>now it is yours. I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . .</p>
<p>and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your
flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are,
but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest
strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.</p>
<p>Now I am hoping that you will take this journey with me to your
unique destination—to finding the path back to you. I will be your
companion on this journey, but it is yours to take.</p>
<p>So why wouldn’t I tell you what’s ahead? Imagine if Gandalf told
Bilbo Baggins that on his journey, he would encounter trolls, go through
a perilous enchanted forest, and face a dragon in a far-away mountain.
Wouldn’t that be a bit of a spoiler?</p>
<p>I want you to take this journey back to you without any spoilers,
with an open heart, and trust that the destination is going to be worth
your effort. Because becoming flawesome is the best gift you can give to
yourself.</p>
<p>So, if you are ready, let’s begin!</p>
</blockquote></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWiEdIETiUsk_TDtjJgQzB5kDjVgEgq6vzw2lCOVOPLU6ShaK0C9D7qhaaFx-hoaLs1SOMTZC7WOYo15fW5mfRd0r7gvLrF0zU8hZZRHqosDQQXWK6607mV4eaaHN5A7q6x9UVUWPy-gKottBc98kYXn9dEzNn0pfSpCG8_pw5JzqaaFuq51BWDKQjeoy/s821/Kristina%20Mand-Lakhiani.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="821" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWiEdIETiUsk_TDtjJgQzB5kDjVgEgq6vzw2lCOVOPLU6ShaK0C9D7qhaaFx-hoaLs1SOMTZC7WOYo15fW5mfRd0r7gvLrF0zU8hZZRHqosDQQXWK6607mV4eaaHN5A7q6x9UVUWPy-gKottBc98kYXn9dEzNn0pfSpCG8_pw5JzqaaFuq51BWDKQjeoy/w640-h414/Kristina%20Mand-Lakhiani.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BHYz1-0BzJ4XUOGIIZwnymF4WHLyQ8ZP/view?usp=share_link">Kristina Mand-Lakhiani </a>is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of <a href="http://mindvalley.com/">Mindvalley</a>,
a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated
the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith,
Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">She
started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by
her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male
politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that
Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small
meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York,
the company quickly grew into a global educational organization
offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of
thousands of students all around the world. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Kristina
believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to
bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother,
entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her
students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique
framework - “Hacking happiness” - a unique framework of balancing your
life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small
daily choices. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests - <a href="https://kristinamand.com/7-days-to-happiness/">"7 Days To Happiness</a>", <a href="https://kristinamand.com/#programs">"Live By Your Own Rules.</a>”
and "The Art of Being Flawesome". Kristina talks about personal
transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a
path to happiness.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book - "<a href="http://mindvalley.com/book/flawesome">Becoming Flawesome</a>"
#BecomingFlawesome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from
being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping
aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path
towards being more honest with herself. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Website: <a href="https://kristinamand.com/">https://kristinamand.com/</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand">https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/</a></span></span></p>
<p></p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><b><span><span></span></span></b></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYqldym-Q80BHTDaF3Mo0-ZSd3awj2GHfkvkeQcGh7yycihgEeHrehTE4OAZjfjTNMy-YBezeqMGjKnh5p0vwDwjUnxNHbTNAdd4s7kHv3g64bvgmtM2pRpuzGN3uCIpByaWdamKCNFRhVYxYXYzL-I0P93ZINY7iIeXqtemNVA54TeLMOU-Cq_4/s2720/A%20Final%20Farewell%206.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-66878641318054586082023-07-04T21:00:00.001-07:002023-07-04T21:00:00.149-07:00My Book Launch: Happy Book Birthday to Smooth: Life Hacks To Get You Smoothly Through Chemo<div><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfN71qDZAE69pRq3gGEdhHED2ZiLep1XErA7J2zPa5FGn6XRm1v-k1GAusYA4k7KbFHdtkaM5YKeXEi91NQakCgOgOrKl49IM0aDId382e9FpFNJdTSxuJGAETWKMd-OutnFCpUp_Gdtr_4G89ymsPr_wnQeCizuBQU1IIPPfBqfrpahRjetNMFEIeg/s640/Smooth%20Happy%20Birthday%20Bash%20Invitation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfN71qDZAE69pRq3gGEdhHED2ZiLep1XErA7J2zPa5FGn6XRm1v-k1GAusYA4k7KbFHdtkaM5YKeXEi91NQakCgOgOrKl49IM0aDId382e9FpFNJdTSxuJGAETWKMd-OutnFCpUp_Gdtr_4G89ymsPr_wnQeCizuBQU1IIPPfBqfrpahRjetNMFEIeg/w574-h430/Smooth%20Happy%20Birthday%20Bash%20Invitation.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span>We're
thrilled to announce the release of Celia Bonaduce's new book, SMOOTH: LIFE HACKS TO GET YOU SMOOTHLY THROUGH CHEMO today!
To help celebrate, we are asking our readers if you can please pretty
please pick up a copy at<a href="https://tinyurl.com/ywf2mjc3" style="color: #15a3a3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> Amazon</a> and come back and tell us how you liked it? Or, leave a review while you're there!</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YQg3D-e1x-w-MLw4xzXhfb8vcZXhjOwQQwjevdideQwAv5z_zT4vMFyLyLmhOmINbVqKYAe9gft0iVgyTiQ201VU0EETyT1fMLZlvSmJuJ9_LvdeCMr8bKyFsq_YarJaqS1a5N3FbLWHl_r7Fh12gZYDHkU2iO5MbOFIhQHKNJJpXfXkvgU93k/s716/happy%20book%20birthday%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="716" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YQg3D-e1x-w-MLw4xzXhfb8vcZXhjOwQQwjevdideQwAv5z_zT4vMFyLyLmhOmINbVqKYAe9gft0iVgyTiQ201VU0EETyT1fMLZlvSmJuJ9_LvdeCMr8bKyFsq_YarJaqS1a5N3FbLWHl_r7Fh12gZYDHkU2iO5MbOFIhQHKNJJpXfXkvgU93k/w553-h254/happy%20book%20birthday%206.jpg" width="553" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Congratulations, Celia, on your new release, Smooth: Life Hacks to Get You Smoothly Through Chemo!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nu1xZ7h47Ldcfg8yV7TSYdJbzu_McQ3Pw1D3NYrg2ohiFmrYt9DCodpoAPHYXRvI2tKL47QiRLTRw_64rQf9AaRvACdrm6CmjL-Abg7QxAawuRFOoSkia8GfckjPORx8TLpeXoEXeao/s1600/balloons+2.png" style="color: #15a3a3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nu1xZ7h47Ldcfg8yV7TSYdJbzu_McQ3Pw1D3NYrg2ohiFmrYt9DCodpoAPHYXRvI2tKL47QiRLTRw_64rQf9AaRvACdrm6CmjL-Abg7QxAawuRFOoSkia8GfckjPORx8TLpeXoEXeao/s320/balloons+2.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy6rj_E9GrLVoWS8rkSxVYzVYEeuNn5UMVNOGqx18BKy7lXWnFT6CKGZE0Wi-KmgVX5iS8X_9TbLForlS9TQEgmDMwZrCE_IXq4Dm3LRN_TBdiKynI9tINtmVNtQlHUOJ5Z-6XS-LSg1ATfY3_p1A_6raJmRLpPH1lajS2ELix5vDGbDAvPBgg3bLPA/s373/Smooth%20xxx.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="115" data-original-width="373" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZy6rj_E9GrLVoWS8rkSxVYzVYEeuNn5UMVNOGqx18BKy7lXWnFT6CKGZE0Wi-KmgVX5iS8X_9TbLForlS9TQEgmDMwZrCE_IXq4Dm3LRN_TBdiKynI9tINtmVNtQlHUOJ5Z-6XS-LSg1ATfY3_p1A_6raJmRLpPH1lajS2ELix5vDGbDAvPBgg3bLPA/s320/Smooth%20xxx.png" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dhiSwiooiCNZrldycURh1lvYejnUkM8qzK-O0ZCkEZI2gJClMTjjS3bMXiV58OLadoXhL2eurSYZEM7GeRs2E1kD6Z_gLStLWADptMFONXyc4lqBuQmnTkujc4sEVtRTUaHMR4QpgGXvrNJzixO4F7DppAq9-dq3fdUGcNmiZ6JbbZ8fU16PuYo/s1245/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20xxx.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is Now Available in Paperback!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFK1cOBKgqCI_NKFqQxZ-qG-cdsvGTZVdjBGuekc5oE9RF2N7UvKKbuPLUz1scrfzI6c6iwW1ZypcnPJPs0pqnK8QothOKLM2SQ5qSN-zH1VMUPjXCoAw9_Nx9xZXE12D-ABxb3buXhMGB_a1hAouDp35I3w_nhuMIVk-Mh3XiJUN0Yw9cY5s_UXMiA/s640/Smooth%20happy%20book%20birthday%20anim.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFK1cOBKgqCI_NKFqQxZ-qG-cdsvGTZVdjBGuekc5oE9RF2N7UvKKbuPLUz1scrfzI6c6iwW1ZypcnPJPs0pqnK8QothOKLM2SQ5qSN-zH1VMUPjXCoAw9_Nx9xZXE12D-ABxb3buXhMGB_a1hAouDp35I3w_nhuMIVk-Mh3XiJUN0Yw9cY5s_UXMiA/w589-h442/Smooth%20happy%20book%20birthday%20anim.gif" width="589" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIBnhrNSPCU8mpCdZNZS4NMmr7YItDOfCIWjyAiAp8OCAb6rnlJFo5KCwAMH_BBu0Z8GIHwNSA8o0LezGl1zKaE1Q6HrchTFa3FyYkgIiHD31w11Vn0DBKNvM1d6QapGZ5ZEQOgrhuW_ovwYWPY3_MA84h6iKxrDUf4SagLSmxalxL5-q8ihsGXeing/s513/About%20the%20Book%20books.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="513" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIBnhrNSPCU8mpCdZNZS4NMmr7YItDOfCIWjyAiAp8OCAb6rnlJFo5KCwAMH_BBu0Z8GIHwNSA8o0LezGl1zKaE1Q6HrchTFa3FyYkgIiHD31w11Vn0DBKNvM1d6QapGZ5ZEQOgrhuW_ovwYWPY3_MA84h6iKxrDUf4SagLSmxalxL5-q8ihsGXeing/s320/About%20the%20Book%20books.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfd1lu8Kz1NM6NOEVpj427jdah2JhR6sqX7S8P471I_0NXGPr_rhssx4Ru8sCO1dHX_Y_R1KzrT3W-crWRuT6kh0z5h3WZxVdj1ihvIMekbRld3yhCkEH2Zcisu0Zlsod-XeiDOQ_rjebaJdXmCloZ6oQRwHZyqBaQfaerAU8NYBb_WjdvRTHQW-tZQ/s694/Smooth.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="694" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfd1lu8Kz1NM6NOEVpj427jdah2JhR6sqX7S8P471I_0NXGPr_rhssx4Ru8sCO1dHX_Y_R1KzrT3W-crWRuT6kh0z5h3WZxVdj1ihvIMekbRld3yhCkEH2Zcisu0Zlsod-XeiDOQ_rjebaJdXmCloZ6oQRwHZyqBaQfaerAU8NYBb_WjdvRTHQW-tZQ/w640-h530/Smooth.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Title: Smooth: Life Hacks To Get You Smoothly Through Chemo</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Author: Celia Bonaduce</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Publisher: BookBaby</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Pages: 100</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Genre: Nonfiction<br />
</span></p>
<p><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">When cancer got in the
way of Celia traveling for her day job as a field producer on the hit
HGTV show, House Hunters, she did not let it stop her creativity. While
the road to her first nonfiction book was anything but SMOOTH, it was a
path that Celia felt compelled to explore. This collection of life hacks
comes from Celia’s own experiences living through chemo. </span></p>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon:<a href="https://amzn.to/3pmQoFa"> https://amzn.to/3pmQoFa</a></span><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX5fwfa8X_ZOWqrVsfm3BPuRVnATj-K-76_UwNBVqPJHxnkFZizxnZT8wLQpWWLoX7oiagxM10QQF_QPnI4DyBhjeePJwUYFAgcpt8atx0SQWlWYaEeH81F-NvTrynPIR4MxY0y_oMDxX5yACNiEntWUDY4aRWBOxiedksWftEC7_IBnpGBNAXDk67g/s782/Smooth%20happy%20book%20birthday%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwX5fwfa8X_ZOWqrVsfm3BPuRVnATj-K-76_UwNBVqPJHxnkFZizxnZT8wLQpWWLoX7oiagxM10QQF_QPnI4DyBhjeePJwUYFAgcpt8atx0SQWlWYaEeH81F-NvTrynPIR4MxY0y_oMDxX5yACNiEntWUDY4aRWBOxiedksWftEC7_IBnpGBNAXDk67g/w506-h640/Smooth%20happy%20book%20birthday%202.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLYcij7jSwh7BUEJmoGteBpo2Rc2h8fg7leGoLwPZC6OXQV7z15QM44Zgwfl_A-fBy9MU8700CXTXrXOQJiLyUl6nqlYYuDrGSQVO5d59YJH8sPYxJai9iuyLf6h7omlcMfUALATA1TVXCfTFlg06XL9cBa7FlWl6Dh5RmS5HaJcPxnaOobSjYw5eLQ/s266/excerpt%20books.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="266" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLYcij7jSwh7BUEJmoGteBpo2Rc2h8fg7leGoLwPZC6OXQV7z15QM44Zgwfl_A-fBy9MU8700CXTXrXOQJiLyUl6nqlYYuDrGSQVO5d59YJH8sPYxJai9iuyLf6h7omlcMfUALATA1TVXCfTFlg06XL9cBa7FlWl6Dh5RmS5HaJcPxnaOobSjYw5eLQ/s1600/excerpt%20books.png" width="266" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span><p></p>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">One test had led to the next and then the next. I’d had two mammograms, an ultrasound, and a biopsy. So when the call came, I was ready.</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Hi, Celia…” my doctor said, her voice trailing off. “It’s cancer.”</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">“Yeah,” I said, picturing my life as a novelist and a TV producer grinding to an immediate halt. “My village would have to be missing its idiot for me to not have suspected this.”</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">So then I did the breast cancer thing—lumpectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. I learned a lot about breast cancer (for example, that mine was Stage 1-B triple-negative breast cancer). But here’s a secret: while there are lots of books out there about women’s personal stories during their breast cancer journeys, when you’re going through it, you don’t give a rat’s ass about anyone else’s story. You just want to know how to get through it yourself.</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This isn’t a personal retrospective, nor is it a medical journal. But I do have some recommendations I’d like to pass along—just some ideas that might make your life easier during this most stressful of times. All the products mentioned are my personal favorites from my own chemo adventure. No company has endorsed, sponsored, or bribed me. The photographs of the products are beautiful and professional looking because my beautiful and professional friend Justine shot them.</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As you start your journey, you will wonder where you will get the mental as well as physical strength to voluntarily show up for chemo month after month. But you will find that strength or that strength will find you. I hope these tips will make your trip easier.</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Because it’s all about you.</span></span></i></h2>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">As it should be.</span></span></i></h2>
<p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fGEXX_5xyzSvior6glgwgSgQB11d8OcHAEToN-esWFqtU9XcmioTOHGHmz_A4od5BLlCRR7eZVB7R6ce0v39UZeXDlmtB-5tyg1z6U8veNKbN3pdXJOC6qqjKiQw3TuGIoOtd8507nu2d_QK0j9r5suZ0glJdB-r8yZTfCf650kVIUSxUd9FtWiGA/s581/About%20the%20Author%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="112" data-original-width="581" height="78" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1fGEXX_5xyzSvior6glgwgSgQB11d8OcHAEToN-esWFqtU9XcmioTOHGHmz_A4od5BLlCRR7eZVB7R6ce0v39UZeXDlmtB-5tyg1z6U8veNKbN3pdXJOC6qqjKiQw3TuGIoOtd8507nu2d_QK0j9r5suZ0glJdB-r8yZTfCf650kVIUSxUd9FtWiGA/w400-h78/About%20the%20Author%203.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><p><span data-mce-style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMOkYwcvxVI4-7RthXMrwaBAlJxnD3aMwvx3sR1p8WQ1MkMoIjYM0j9E6h4p4udyjof-wbe78rPSuzaumn70yMpsZjDy9kkhLZsKrdATH5xdwArplvBz3RafbefNs1ELfhI6UvK58j0p9ITVU88dm4A5-QFf5IM6sE4XXo4_SRDHDE67rC9QcqLg3Mw/s592/Celia%20Bonaduce.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="545" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMOkYwcvxVI4-7RthXMrwaBAlJxnD3aMwvx3sR1p8WQ1MkMoIjYM0j9E6h4p4udyjof-wbe78rPSuzaumn70yMpsZjDy9kkhLZsKrdATH5xdwArplvBz3RafbefNs1ELfhI6UvK58j0p9ITVU88dm4A5-QFf5IM6sE4XXo4_SRDHDE67rC9QcqLg3Mw/w374-h406/Celia%20Bonaduce.png" width="374" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Celia Bonaduce is an
award-winning novelist, podcast writer, and television producer. Celia
spent fifteen years as a producer-director in lifestyle programming on
shows that include ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and HGTV’s House
Hunters and Tiny House Hunters. As a novelist with Kensington
Publishing, Celia has written three trilogies: the Venice Beach
Romances, the Fat Chance, Texas series, and the Tiny House Novels. The
Tiny House Novel series won top honors with a Grand Finalist nod from
the New Apple Official Selection, first place in the Book Excellence
Awards and Gold from both the National Federation of Press Women and the
Elite Choice Awards. Celia is also a co-author of <i>A Texas Kind of Christmas</i>, an Amazon #1 Best Seller in Historical Romance that took Gold from the National Federation of Press Women. </span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Website: <a href="https://www.celiabonaduce.com">https://www.celiabonaduce.com </a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Twitter: <a href="https://www.twitter.com/CeliaBonaduce">https://www.twitter.com/CeliaBonaduce </a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBonaduceAuthor">https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBonaduceAuthor </a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/celiabonaduce">https://www.instagram.com/celiabonaduce </a></span></span></p>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Bookbub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/celia-bonaduce">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/celia-bonaduce</a></span></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"> </span></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbdFNhNs4bSJFSYQxliqR9ZIt10kejCB1h_A8WZ2kFWZqUabRq5LobGeIAwA51oNgYKiVf0rwASmBp63Q787-PHDkm_DMv1mDNiPmTIWHsCyAQ3FarS9xkq3p6p8LY26_MaAw49H3Ry_T0fdp3VLxcn42o-1nWY2__xF0_lu9-BJnFke2Whch9gWEIA/s306/giveaway%20books.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="111" data-original-width="306" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbdFNhNs4bSJFSYQxliqR9ZIt10kejCB1h_A8WZ2kFWZqUabRq5LobGeIAwA51oNgYKiVf0rwASmBp63Q787-PHDkm_DMv1mDNiPmTIWHsCyAQ3FarS9xkq3p6p8LY26_MaAw49H3Ry_T0fdp3VLxcn42o-1nWY2__xF0_lu9-BJnFke2Whch9gWEIA/s1600/giveaway%20books.png" width="306" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br id="docs-internal-guid-cc67bdfe-7fff-0e20-880f-bb89187ebb78" /><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 17pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Celia Bonaduce is giving away one $25 Amazon Gift Card!</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Terms & Conditions:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Card.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This giveaway ends midnight July 5.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Winner will be contacted via email on July 6.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Winner has 48 hours to reply.</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Good luck everyone!</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ENTER TO WIN!</span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1a49cf61257/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></a><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="1a49cf61257" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1a49cf61257/" id="rcwidget_4wwlx6p5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br /></p> </div><br /></div></b><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/85dOq4pDPz0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"></span></div></b></div><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"> </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzg2aAxndG0EAOUrOmdj8CyPslod-V6yx1B6iX4Yi1kpxcSZpiEhVUzRf_s6rhBT36GwXzIgNfODsjY-WU-Say0gd4lmXYpERi2WH6gSOEPdYBZMsn9rkLyDaVJUcLjFz6Wqt7oxe_6JTCyB7JBEVnP58moieNJjygeEVp79QOuzRaBjEB6A5L2hU=s268" style="color: #15a3a3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzg2aAxndG0EAOUrOmdj8CyPslod-V6yx1B6iX4Yi1kpxcSZpiEhVUzRf_s6rhBT36GwXzIgNfODsjY-WU-Say0gd4lmXYpERi2WH6gSOEPdYBZMsn9rkLyDaVJUcLjFz6Wqt7oxe_6JTCyB7JBEVnP58moieNJjygeEVp79QOuzRaBjEB6A5L2hU=w640-h449" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /></div><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-71236858494799813172023-06-20T21:00:00.001-07:002023-06-20T21:00:00.159-07:00My Book Launch: All That Glitters by Mike Martin<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddAkPxEGUPSHXPcwwqk2Agrm8LThQLb8VHGRySnEeSKjfePFVjT6ZrvUpr1RBxmBFlnfm9WLaOY0_xIvwGJz1BEt4aD8KUuuRCIkxx46Znw_K1xbxgZEDx_oZnT2UtbiWrb1oKDr1iKkAuQYHKu1Jktp-1V2tZSBOouDT8kWsvGM0q3ZXr-Ns0uVTFQ/s547/All%20That%20Glitters%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddAkPxEGUPSHXPcwwqk2Agrm8LThQLb8VHGRySnEeSKjfePFVjT6ZrvUpr1RBxmBFlnfm9WLaOY0_xIvwGJz1BEt4aD8KUuuRCIkxx46Znw_K1xbxgZEDx_oZnT2UtbiWrb1oKDr1iKkAuQYHKu1Jktp-1V2tZSBOouDT8kWsvGM0q3ZXr-Ns0uVTFQ/s320/All%20That%20Glitters%20cover.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">ALL THAT GLITTERS<span><br />Mike Martin<br />Ottawa Press and Publishing<br /><span style="color: black;">282 pp.</span><br />
</span><span style="color: black;">Mystery</span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sergeant Winston Windflower is moving on to a new chapter of his
life, no longer an RCMP officer but now a Community Safety Officer in
his home of Grand Bank, Newfoundland.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">But when a body is found in the bed and breakfast he co-owns,
diamonds are found in the body’s digestive system, and then Windflower’s
friend Dr. Sanjay, who was given the diamonds for safekeeping, is
kidnapped, it’s clear that crime has returned once more to Grand Bank.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Windflower finds himself back in the thick of it, helping his newly
promoted friend, RCMP Corporal Eddie Tizzard, track down a ruthless
diamond smuggler who will stop at nothing — kidnapping, even murder — to
pull off his dirty business.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is another finely spun Windflower mystery that contrasts
suspense and tension with the joys of friendship, family, and gratitude.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon (US): <a href="https://tinyurl.com/4ucyjwzv">https://tinyurl.com/4ucyjwzv</a><br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Amazon (Canada): <a href="https://tinyurl.com/z9b2n5br">https://tinyurl.com/z9b2n5br</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Barnes & Noble: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/2nzf687b">https://tinyurl.com/2nzf687b</a></span></p><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></b></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"></span></span><i>After hugs and kisses and pats on the head all around, Windflower
managed to get out of the house and walked to the B&B. He had just
opened the front door of the beautifully restored inn when Levi Parsons,
the manager, came running towards him.</i><p></p>
<p><i>“We think he’s dead,” said Levi.</i></p>
<p><i>“Who’s dead?” asked Windflower. </i></p>
<p><i>“The man in Room 12,” said Levi. “Beulah tried to get in to make
up his room, but the door is locked and bolted from the inside. And
there’s not a sound.”</i></p>
<p><i>Beulah, the cleaner and part-time server, came around the corner from the kitchen when she heard Windflower arrive. </i></p>
<p><i>“I don’t know for sure, but there’s something funny going on,” she
said. “We haven’t really seen him all week, and now there’s no answer
when I knocks on his door.”</i></p>
<p><i>“Maybe he’s sleeping,” said Windflower.</i></p>
<p><i>“His breakfast tray is still outside his door. I knows we don’t
see much of him, but he always takes his meals in and leaves the empty
one outside. Then he often goes out in the morning, and that’s when I
cleans up,” said Beulah.</i></p>
<p><i>“Sneaks out,” said Levi. “I only seen him once. When he checked in. I haven’t seen him since.”</i></p>
<p><i>“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” said Windflower. “What’s his name?”</i></p>
<p><i>“Robert Smart,” said Levi. “From Burlington, Ontario. That’s his
Cadillac parked on the side. He wanted a safe and secure place for his
car.”</i></p>
<p><i>Windflower climbed the stairs to the second floor and walked down
the corridor to Room 12. He knocked on the door and called out the man’s
name. No answer. He took the keys from Levi and tried the lock. But
they were right. The deadbolt was locked from the inside.</i></p>
<p><i>He looked at Levi and then at Beulah. “Do you have a couple of hair pins I can borrow?” he asked Beulah.</i></p>
<p><i>The woman looked at him funny but reached into her hair and pulled out one bobby pin and then another. She handed them to him.</i></p>
<p><i>“Don’t look,” he said to Levi as he inserted the closed side of
one bobby pin into the bottom portion of the lock. Then he broke the
other pin in half and pushed it into the top of the lock and jiggled it
back and forth. After a little while he could feel the deadbolt moving
and finally unlocking. He swung the door open.</i></p></blockquote></div></div></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeuxR6w164dkL-tl6f6nqQ1GHa1V2Px9ZU-KxfUkL-B3MGEreghqE9LTbQ2QT8wdlffY2GfCK4mGvh7PG9wuNpHbeMde4Spbgz4KhqDYKkxF62MO1AMPpSBFsKCWaSEdZhnNO85iGv7QU5OEkRZc7K1ofYcEm1dQ6Yd3vi9QQdppD9SAMJ1Gt3GO7CA/s640/Mike%20Martin%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeuxR6w164dkL-tl6f6nqQ1GHa1V2Px9ZU-KxfUkL-B3MGEreghqE9LTbQ2QT8wdlffY2GfCK4mGvh7PG9wuNpHbeMde4Spbgz4KhqDYKkxF62MO1AMPpSBFsKCWaSEdZhnNO85iGv7QU5OEkRZc7K1ofYcEm1dQ6Yd3vi9QQdppD9SAMJ1Gt3GO7CA/s320/Mike%20Martin%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on
the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He
is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have
appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in
the United States and New Zealand.<p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">He is the award-winning and best-selling
author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series set in
beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 13 books in this light mystery
series with the publication of <i>All That Glitters</i>. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i>A Tangled Web</i> was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and <i>Darkest Before the Dawn </i>won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest <b>A Tangled Web</b> was released as an audiobook in 2023. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime
Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and
mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and
Capital Crime Writers.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Website: <a href="https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/">https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin">http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore">https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-76789559433136977362023-06-07T05:43:00.003-07:002023-06-07T05:43:10.819-07:00My Book Launch: Happy Book Birthday to Babe in the Woods<div><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmB_5_ERndCCrnatUQZxXgzU5NF4gKt_Gx4STav5NoKIgZcS2i6tpQRMIhueL6bjTRgxKKHTG3EV17lmPoP1D8Wd8RQ8jpFqCZ1VpTFxSPFPwzmxvhIrNlF3B2lvGpLasmV8uI-jZEqjV5xTotAs1KHsmeXQdUiQKsYYSrkixD-wDhiPqOWaz3VE/s640/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20Happy%20Book%20Birthday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmB_5_ERndCCrnatUQZxXgzU5NF4gKt_Gx4STav5NoKIgZcS2i6tpQRMIhueL6bjTRgxKKHTG3EV17lmPoP1D8Wd8RQ8jpFqCZ1VpTFxSPFPwzmxvhIrNlF3B2lvGpLasmV8uI-jZEqjV5xTotAs1KHsmeXQdUiQKsYYSrkixD-wDhiPqOWaz3VE/w585-h439/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20Happy%20Book%20Birthday.jpg" width="585" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span>We're
thrilled to announce the release of Jude Hopkins' Babe in the Woods today!
To help celebrate, we are asking our readers if you can please pretty
please pick up a copy at<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Babe-Woods-Jude-Hopkins/dp/1509248439/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UDYUTWUIQRZR&keywords=jude+hopkins+babe+in+the+woods&qid=1677248702&sprefix=jude+hopkins,aps,194&sr=8-1" style="color: #15a3a3; text-decoration-line: none;"> Amazon</a> and come back and tell us how you liked it? Or, leave a review! </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YQg3D-e1x-w-MLw4xzXhfb8vcZXhjOwQQwjevdideQwAv5z_zT4vMFyLyLmhOmINbVqKYAe9gft0iVgyTiQ201VU0EETyT1fMLZlvSmJuJ9_LvdeCMr8bKyFsq_YarJaqS1a5N3FbLWHl_r7Fh12gZYDHkU2iO5MbOFIhQHKNJJpXfXkvgU93k/s716/happy%20book%20birthday%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="716" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_YQg3D-e1x-w-MLw4xzXhfb8vcZXhjOwQQwjevdideQwAv5z_zT4vMFyLyLmhOmINbVqKYAe9gft0iVgyTiQ201VU0EETyT1fMLZlvSmJuJ9_LvdeCMr8bKyFsq_YarJaqS1a5N3FbLWHl_r7Fh12gZYDHkU2iO5MbOFIhQHKNJJpXfXkvgU93k/w585-h269/happy%20book%20birthday%206.jpg" width="585" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Cookie;"><span>Congratulations, Jude, on your women's fiction new release, Babe in the Woods!</span></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nu1xZ7h47Ldcfg8yV7TSYdJbzu_McQ3Pw1D3NYrg2ohiFmrYt9DCodpoAPHYXRvI2tKL47QiRLTRw_64rQf9AaRvACdrm6CmjL-Abg7QxAawuRFOoSkia8GfckjPORx8TLpeXoEXeao/s1600/balloons+2.png" style="color: #15a3a3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nu1xZ7h47Ldcfg8yV7TSYdJbzu_McQ3Pw1D3NYrg2ohiFmrYt9DCodpoAPHYXRvI2tKL47QiRLTRw_64rQf9AaRvACdrm6CmjL-Abg7QxAawuRFOoSkia8GfckjPORx8TLpeXoEXeao/s320/balloons+2.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></span></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dhiSwiooiCNZrldycURh1lvYejnUkM8qzK-O0ZCkEZI2gJClMTjjS3bMXiV58OLadoXhL2eurSYZEM7GeRs2E1kD6Z_gLStLWADptMFONXyc4lqBuQmnTkujc4sEVtRTUaHMR4QpgGXvrNJzixO4F7DppAq9-dq3fdUGcNmiZ6JbbZ8fU16PuYo/s1245/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20xxx.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="1245" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dhiSwiooiCNZrldycURh1lvYejnUkM8qzK-O0ZCkEZI2gJClMTjjS3bMXiV58OLadoXhL2eurSYZEM7GeRs2E1kD6Z_gLStLWADptMFONXyc4lqBuQmnTkujc4sEVtRTUaHMR4QpgGXvrNJzixO4F7DppAq9-dq3fdUGcNmiZ6JbbZ8fU16PuYo/w593-h72/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20xxx.png" width="593" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is Now Available in Paperback!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaySa4Bhe-78V-mLnY7DD7UHcYSOJ2EGutPj7p5B-crNdpkJT5YP8PDbqqbXmFQdvkti_v0JiSAt2upLD0myFx0MC12riFyWl7i5jqLOHcmtS-LtmJ6vc-IAY7aZbJ5p_IJjQhW6fMxKk5PAIqNo6uthotTYWzan2biF4CDMSbSUh_6hrdQE9ZUJE/s640/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20Happy%20Book%20Birthday%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaySa4Bhe-78V-mLnY7DD7UHcYSOJ2EGutPj7p5B-crNdpkJT5YP8PDbqqbXmFQdvkti_v0JiSAt2upLD0myFx0MC12riFyWl7i5jqLOHcmtS-LtmJ6vc-IAY7aZbJ5p_IJjQhW6fMxKk5PAIqNo6uthotTYWzan2biF4CDMSbSUh_6hrdQE9ZUJE/w603-h452/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20Happy%20Book%20Birthday%202.jpg" width="603" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7AIw4hTdoNHsoThzhM_o_nbiQGn6kocWIaeCkF9AzCTYsLemn43kVwn9F_M9MBxDxcwCiQVQl4Jr_yCmaIAYGj5fkld5nLJrbyYHlmRe_4DWh7QMwF_HBKa_-tiNyxgp0pEegw_Kcqup0sY9QBpQNXlM5vA2B10wHp4NTpq2gbPkigUsuCLFtlE/s1158/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%207.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="400" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7AIw4hTdoNHsoThzhM_o_nbiQGn6kocWIaeCkF9AzCTYsLemn43kVwn9F_M9MBxDxcwCiQVQl4Jr_yCmaIAYGj5fkld5nLJrbyYHlmRe_4DWh7QMwF_HBKa_-tiNyxgp0pEegw_Kcqup0sY9QBpQNXlM5vA2B10wHp4NTpq2gbPkigUsuCLFtlE/w222-h640/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%207.gif" width="222" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's
September 1995, the first year of the rest of HADLEY TODD'S life. After
a decade in Los Angeles, trying and failing to launch her career as a
playwright, Hadley has returned to her hometown in rural New York to
write and to be closer to her lonely, ailing father - not that he always
welcomes the help. Between looking after him and teaching Shakespeare
to teenage malcontents at the local high school, Hadley is determined to
produce a masterpiece before 36. She even joins a writing group,
thinking the structure will keep her focused. Hadley hopes to channel
her recent heartbreak from being dumped in L.A. into writing a play
about the last moment of a woman's innocence, a play that an agent
friend in Hollywood has promised to produce. But she struggles with
writer's block and seeks inspiration.</span></span> <p></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: large;">Enter
TREY HARDING, a young, handsome sports reporter for a local radio
station who covers sports at the high school where Hadley teaches. Trey
reminds Hadley of her L.A. ex and is the perfect spark to touch off her
imagination. Trey has two girlfriends who work at the school, giving
Hadley a great perch from which to watch and write down their
interactions. The fact that Trey is an aspiring rock star and she has
L.A. record biz connections makes the alliance perfect. She dangles
promises of music biz glory while watching his moves. But after they
both go to Hollywood, Hadley learns that believing in herself is all the
inspiration she needs. </span></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: large;">Amazon: <a data-mce-href="https://amzn.to/41FoWQa" href="https://amzn.to/41FoWQa">https://amzn.to/41FoWQa</a> </span></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: large;">Barnes & Noble: <a data-mce-href="https://bit.ly/451nn20" href="https://bit.ly/451nn20">https://bit.ly/451nn20</a></span></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-size: 14pt;" style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDGGkpMQuNOBP62fTNQ-u9g1A4wfXjL3W_dV-3XEg7ZMCzGy6O_Ay3i0zMBK_Mw-4CYdQ0omG9ugKtky_55oAzUeLThXfthTvT4TxTsDp53t0O3_KPa29TckWtH2flcON1t8u-DIR7pYvEIKkkZ2BxMJ-bxcH5Vz5wCEmuQLlsCaw-etS2K_WQ7I/s839/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20happy%20birthday.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="547" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDGGkpMQuNOBP62fTNQ-u9g1A4wfXjL3W_dV-3XEg7ZMCzGy6O_Ay3i0zMBK_Mw-4CYdQ0omG9ugKtky_55oAzUeLThXfthTvT4TxTsDp53t0O3_KPa29TckWtH2flcON1t8u-DIR7pYvEIKkkZ2BxMJ-bxcH5Vz5wCEmuQLlsCaw-etS2K_WQ7I/w418-h640/Babe%20in%20the%20Woods%20happy%20birthday.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-weight: 700;"><span><span style="font-size: x-large;">About Jude Hopkins</span></span></span><br /></p><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><p><span data-mce-style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLlEg9phDYJhA0Kmn5ZLGtdZaYhAGlDUOa0FzfkyYgs2TyY7R-iU_jXaSvZpgDHZ2MDqxE5Ol4sh5Lesy9W5xUxdMG_BBDfpElp50_IIa_gOqezL5TdjzyK8KMsqwGG_qr0bUZPGc-Xlv3ELlWpTPWZZisF536D-1v5Il5XFcwEY86V8EKFw36_c/s556/Jude%20Hopkins.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="556" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLlEg9phDYJhA0Kmn5ZLGtdZaYhAGlDUOa0FzfkyYgs2TyY7R-iU_jXaSvZpgDHZ2MDqxE5Ol4sh5Lesy9W5xUxdMG_BBDfpElp50_IIa_gOqezL5TdjzyK8KMsqwGG_qr0bUZPGc-Xlv3ELlWpTPWZZisF536D-1v5Il5XFcwEY86V8EKFw36_c/s320/Jude%20Hopkins.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jude
Hopkins has published essays in The Los Angeles Times, Medium, and
elsewhere, as well as poetry in numerous journals and magazines. Her
work can be found on her website at <a data-mce-href="http://www.judehopkinswriting.net" href="http://www.judehopkinswriting.net">judehopkinswriting.net</a>. <p></p><p><span data-mce-style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Twitter: <a data-mce-href="http://www.twitter.com/HeyJudeNotJudy" href="http://www.twitter.com/HeyJudeNotJudy">www.twitter.com/HeyJudeNotJudy </a></span><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></p><span data-mce-style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;" style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Medium: <a data-mce-href="https://medium.com/@heyjudehopkins" href="https://medium.com/@heyjudehopkins">https://medium.com/@heyjudehopkins</a></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E_5kzXC67ek" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> <br /></span></div><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400;"> </span><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"></b></div></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzg2aAxndG0EAOUrOmdj8CyPslod-V6yx1B6iX4Yi1kpxcSZpiEhVUzRf_s6rhBT36GwXzIgNfODsjY-WU-Say0gd4lmXYpERi2WH6gSOEPdYBZMsn9rkLyDaVJUcLjFz6Wqt7oxe_6JTCyB7JBEVnP58moieNJjygeEVp79QOuzRaBjEB6A5L2hU=s268" style="color: #15a3a3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzg2aAxndG0EAOUrOmdj8CyPslod-V6yx1B6iX4Yi1kpxcSZpiEhVUzRf_s6rhBT36GwXzIgNfODsjY-WU-Say0gd4lmXYpERi2WH6gSOEPdYBZMsn9rkLyDaVJUcLjFz6Wqt7oxe_6JTCyB7JBEVnP58moieNJjygeEVp79QOuzRaBjEB6A5L2hU=w640-h449" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /><br /></p><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-38590467830881881312023-05-29T21:00:00.001-07:002023-05-29T21:00:00.149-07:00My Book Launch: What Did Jesus Say: The Seven Messages From the Master by Rev. Terry Allan Christian<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO7ajHUKmSYsUtsNqV1blUm499QNmt0vFRX5tQ10ZkeZcCF82XfxbL4Fk9EvNwl3jjXg00-GYMhv9a94x3otK074-XAaLZ9tgc26OumDBUOghs_7WtOweA1JHmZ-B5wR-Eplg8FJeI5OB2o5DdglGu3zJirV0ms8nZUCAUf3p_KhU8DAfsihVcu_twQ/s566/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO7ajHUKmSYsUtsNqV1blUm499QNmt0vFRX5tQ10ZkeZcCF82XfxbL4Fk9EvNwl3jjXg00-GYMhv9a94x3otK074-XAaLZ9tgc26OumDBUOghs_7WtOweA1JHmZ-B5wR-Eplg8FJeI5OB2o5DdglGu3zJirV0ms8nZUCAUf3p_KhU8DAfsihVcu_twQ/s320/What%20Did%20Jesus%20Say%20cover.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>What Did Jesus Say</span><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Terry Allan Christian<br />Divine Publication<br /><span style="color: black;">157 pp.</span><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christian | Gospel </span></span><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Imagine
you’re walking down the beach, and you come across a crowd waiting for
Jesus to appear and teach them. What would he say? Would he talk about
current religious and political conflicts, or would he speak about Love,
Light, and Truth? Join us as we go for a walk with Jesus, and listen to
his words as he shares with us the Seven Messages from the Master. Each
spiritual message reveals His teachings that will strengthen and guide
you to a most peaceful life in Christ.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/404q0fA">https://amzn.to/404q0fA</a> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Audible: <a href="https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Terry+Allan+Christian">https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Terry+Allan+Christian</a> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/13827563">https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/13827563</a> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">YouTube: <a href="https://bit.ly/3KseiWj">https://bit.ly/3KseiWj</a></span></span></p><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></b></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">The Christ</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"> <br /></span></span></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">It’s early morning and the sun is rising over the water.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"> <br /></span></span></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">You can see a crowd gathering at the water’s edge, waiting for Jesus to appear, and teach them.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"> <br /></span></span></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">As everyone begins to quiet, a deep silence falls and the only sound to be heard are the birds flying above.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"> <br /></span></span></blockquote></div></div></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Then Jesus suddenly appears and says...</span></span></blockquote></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHu1OIG1Po7RqPdSU8I8AXBCUuKFctBBsNuDRKOjpmR1kFBlBAPn8F2sE04qKhQyl3g3EzzNhwBOzCfzCaelsuUwFI_RvX5H5WfH70KtNudirxQWlNdDxCnoZzPszlWsQxuN9h6BYVs1micNKluXjLuCOcKFCUtKLExIE5WLAb7edkh1N6fbWlnxsrg/s600/Rev%20Terry%20Allan%20Christian%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHu1OIG1Po7RqPdSU8I8AXBCUuKFctBBsNuDRKOjpmR1kFBlBAPn8F2sE04qKhQyl3g3EzzNhwBOzCfzCaelsuUwFI_RvX5H5WfH70KtNudirxQWlNdDxCnoZzPszlWsQxuN9h6BYVs1micNKluXjLuCOcKFCUtKLExIE5WLAb7edkh1N6fbWlnxsrg/s320/Rev%20Terry%20Allan%20Christian%20lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Since
dedicating his life to Jesus at the age of 23, Terry Allan Christian
has been reading the red lettered version of the 4 Gospels as recorded
in the KJV Bible. Even though Terry reads the whole Bible, his primary
focus is on the words of Jesus and the example of His actions.<p></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Terry
grew up in a violent dysfunctional family where he quit school at 16
and left home. He stuttered so bad he could only say 3-5 words in a row.
His family and friends mocked him and that caused much stress in his
early life.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">At
the age of 23, he had a near death experience and in which he had a
dream. In this dream, he was told that one day he would be a teacher for
Jesus. Needless to say, he was scared at first because of his
stuttering and lack of structured education however, he always had a
child-like faith and trust in Jesus as Lord.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">After
the dream, he was soon hired by the Dale Carnegie Organization and
trained in sales and public speaking, where he met a man who taught him
how to visually read. During the next few years Terry read several
hundred books on the subject of personal growth.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">At
the age of 30, Terry became a professional Motivational Speaker and
Executive Trainer and over the next 20 years he would deliver more than
2,500 presentations to private and public audiences across America and
Canada.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Several
years ago, Terry retired as a public speaker after feeling the Holy
Spirit redirecting his life. He was led to do what Jesus told him many
years earlier. After researching the 4 Gospels he composed the book What
Did Jesus Say: The Seven Messages from the Master, using only the Words
spoken by Jesus as recorded in the 4 Gospels, without adding any
personal comments or opinions.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">As
in all God called missions it took longer, cost more and challenged him
to the edge of his faith. He would later say, he had to read the Book
of Job just to understand why this was happening to him and was he being
tested or penalized. In the end, he was being tested and by the grace
of God, he prevailed.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Now
after 12 years of study, obedience, difficulty and struggle, this book
is now available in Paperback, eBook, Audio Book and Kindle.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Today,
Author, Teacher and Counselor, Rev. Terry Christian is founder of
Foundations for Life ‘Online’ Ministries and he presently lives Negril
Jamaica where he does local missionary work in schools and churches
while counseling Christians worldwide online thru his program Christian
Helping Christians.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Negril,
Jamaica is where Rev. Christian went to fast & pray while seeking
divine healing for Bladder Cancer. His doctors gave him 3yrs to live so
he created a healing sabbatical and after fasting & praying, and
walking the beach for 21 days, he returned to his Doctors and they
released him ‘cancer free’.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Terry
calls this program: The Life Walk –aka- The Miracle Walk and now offers
this ‘restoration’ program online or in Negril, for Christians seeking
Life, Health or Marriage Restoration.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;">Rev.
Christian believes: WITH GOD, all things are possible, all the time,
wherever we live and at every given moment, when we pray, believing.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><b>Website</b>: <a href="http://www.wdjbook.com">WWW.WDJBOOK.COM</a></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><b>Twitter</b>: <a href="https://twitter.com/RevTChristian">https://twitter.com/RevTChristian</a></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><b>Facebook</b>: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/revchristian">https://www.facebook.com/revchristian</a></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><b>Book Website:</b> <a href="http://www.whatdidjesussay.world">www.whatdidjesussay.world</a></span></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-6859222668095950602023-05-11T21:00:00.001-07:002023-05-11T21:00:00.141-07:00Cover Reveal: All That Glitters by Mike Martin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhviBYwkvt_V_CfC78ULZ3TVoy2uc03slZrA71_PuiJ_V55HVcAlE9aKqD4KL-6yAYp-Al4bu6VS1-ajAEYGPsBRO8JhBiJvdRa4mz_cAdnPATXNXxQW5xIUqUw8JGV8Cghk2cdyXChw4uJAB9E6UgSwmL4pt0IHgO8bopgXe0bhImvN0-mL99Zo/s688/All%20That%20Glitters%20banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="688" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhviBYwkvt_V_CfC78ULZ3TVoy2uc03slZrA71_PuiJ_V55HVcAlE9aKqD4KL-6yAYp-Al4bu6VS1-ajAEYGPsBRO8JhBiJvdRa4mz_cAdnPATXNXxQW5xIUqUw8JGV8Cghk2cdyXChw4uJAB9E6UgSwmL4pt0IHgO8bopgXe0bhImvN0-mL99Zo/w569-h178/All%20That%20Glitters%20banner.jpg" width="569" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">____________________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We invite you to Mike Martin's <span style="color: #2b00fe;">ALL THAT GLITTERS</span> Cover Reveal! Please leave a comment to let Mike know you stopped by and don't forget to order your copy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
___________________________________________________</div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi5FVutOI0XeqHWlLDzDEiPKqdSl34MFIPTeFLIScOeKJ-tL5IuFdQ1gDxBOsmt39EKyEwxDwKvSw4vKhALgSiKWWcsgTgqPnPnmEBG3zTgnATgKn6gopGL33mFJRthv9I2HJz06ctUVO0Q4k68XK8hZIiReR1u3A3jl8iDqTxrO5Sryb5-MzC0U/s697/All%20That%20Glitters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="517" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi5FVutOI0XeqHWlLDzDEiPKqdSl34MFIPTeFLIScOeKJ-tL5IuFdQ1gDxBOsmt39EKyEwxDwKvSw4vKhALgSiKWWcsgTgqPnPnmEBG3zTgnATgKn6gopGL33mFJRthv9I2HJz06ctUVO0Q4k68XK8hZIiReR1u3A3jl8iDqTxrO5Sryb5-MzC0U/w474-h640/All%20That%20Glitters.png" width="474" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Title</b>: ALL THAT GLITTERS<br />
<b>Author</b>: Mike Martin<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Ottawa Press and Publishing<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 282<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Mystery </p><p style="text-align: center;">
</p><p>Sergeant Winston Windflower is moving on to a new chapter of his life, no longer an RCMP officer but now a Community Safety Officer in his home of Grand Bank, Newfoundland.</p>
<p>But when a body is found in the bed and breakfast he co-owns, diamonds are found in the body’s digestive system, and then Windflower’s friend Dr. Sanjay, who was given the diamonds for safekeeping, is kidnapped, it’s clear that crime has returned once more to Grand Bank.</p>
<p>Windflower finds himself back in the thick of it, helping his newly promoted friend, RCMP Corporal Eddie Tizzard, track down a ruthless diamond smuggler who will stop at nothing — kidnapping, even murder — to pull off his dirty business.</p>
<p>This is another finely spun Windflower mystery that contrasts suspense and tension with the joys of friendship, family, and gratitude.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/products/pre-order-all-that-glitters-by-mike-martin-release-date-may-22-2023">Ottawa Press and Publishing</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-That-Glitters-Windflower-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C3SGWMWT/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1683827708&refinements=p_27%3AMike+Martin&s=books&sr=1-2">Amazon U.S.</a> | <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/All-That-Glitters-Windflower-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C3SGWMWT">Amazon CAN</a> <br /></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDNPclZLL8Uaw7G5mxyp4flz3SfZYBo9DZ3lCE-iNqwwsiuegJJERhlNCWykWLDcm7_Yyv5IGESrEMIfNd6l4_JFhR4bzYjnLtwVIHOdo10WfaYF3w79QP_00lYCDA2D9K37BQByBLQgPBnl4zoEB0WVnmQY0y8dMf-Rd35qtuhHULJkw1JbYkAE/s569/all%20that%20glitters%20about%20the%20author.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="60" data-original-width="569" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDNPclZLL8Uaw7G5mxyp4flz3SfZYBo9DZ3lCE-iNqwwsiuegJJERhlNCWykWLDcm7_Yyv5IGESrEMIfNd6l4_JFhR4bzYjnLtwVIHOdo10WfaYF3w79QP_00lYCDA2D9K37BQByBLQgPBnl4zoEB0WVnmQY0y8dMf-Rd35qtuhHULJkw1JbYkAE/w537-h57/all%20that%20glitters%20about%20the%20author.png" width="537" /></a></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWYJ_YFIjMQrLIBZpf2wKTEC3qisTFUsmPaAGCRwIcwW0pG1ydQwHm7kwIonS3wWm5aSlHMPNaQCwCooSAfJqyUawFHB8EmLV876Uv59JvpQJV-cH7T-8fkGT8mbkxiQ2o1rXPFSX1J-3yMX1YU7wYmuUiON9RU47fUkiUXURMF_mU5INvN5mfxQ/s700/Mike%20Martin%20lg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="700" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWYJ_YFIjMQrLIBZpf2wKTEC3qisTFUsmPaAGCRwIcwW0pG1ydQwHm7kwIonS3wWm5aSlHMPNaQCwCooSAfJqyUawFHB8EmLV876Uv59JvpQJV-cH7T-8fkGT8mbkxiQ2o1rXPFSX1J-3yMX1YU7wYmuUiON9RU47fUkiUXURMF_mU5INvN5mfxQ/w640-h506/Mike%20Martin%20lg.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<p>
</p><p>Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and
now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance
writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers,
magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.</p>
<p>He is the award-winning and best-selling author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 13 books in this light mystery series with the publication of <em>All That Glitters</em>. </p>
<p><em>A Tangled Web</em> was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and <em>Darkest Before the Dawn </em>won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. </p>
<p>Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest <strong>A Tangled Web</strong> was released as an audiobook in 2023. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.</p>
<p>Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.</p>
<p>Website: <a href="https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/">https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com/</a></p>
<p>Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin">http://www.twitter.com/mike54martin</a></p>
<p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore">https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore</a></p>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-65222980578080537022023-03-07T21:00:00.001-08:002023-03-07T21:00:00.186-08:00My Book Launch: Being Present: The Gift of Experiencing Life As It Happens by Keith Sykes<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFOzEMLftPzEOgaN3nPihsxtBdHuEqMdFtlvMzh3Qx5-6PdDyTzpdrXb3tE0mh-uNjijY7PVGJOUH6vYJ1bmd47li2oXrxSV-EbtKj5GpxHE2hgbH1GY9BoHTf5BILNHSpfVzzuvcM5y6rOCPuHtAAzxnNXFZ39CljBBxu2h7lOoUR3LjSLGYOp87zw/s685/Being%20Present.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="433" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFOzEMLftPzEOgaN3nPihsxtBdHuEqMdFtlvMzh3Qx5-6PdDyTzpdrXb3tE0mh-uNjijY7PVGJOUH6vYJ1bmd47li2oXrxSV-EbtKj5GpxHE2hgbH1GY9BoHTf5BILNHSpfVzzuvcM5y6rOCPuHtAAzxnNXFZ39CljBBxu2h7lOoUR3LjSLGYOp87zw/s320/Being%20Present.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>Being Present: The Gift of Experiencing Life As It Happens</span></span><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keith Sykes</span><br />
Chosen Pen Publishing<br /><span style="color: black;">104 pp.</span><br />
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Memoir</span></span><br /></span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Being Present details
my life growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, the youngest of 8
children. It gives the reader an intimate look at the relationship
between me, my parents, and my siblings. It discusses life and death,
joy and pain, and strength and perseverance. The book talks about love
and loss and is an optimistic look at overcoming the obstacles of life.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Being Present talks
about how I dealt with life after my parent’s death and how joining the
military completely changed my life. It gives a glimpse into how the
military inspired my love for travel and the many places that I was able
to visit as a result. Read about my life after the military and the
challenges I faced that shaped the man I am today. Lastly, the book will
provide samples of my photography and discuss how it was inspired by my
travel.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Release Date: January 5, 2023 </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Publisher: Chosen Pen Publishing</span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Kindle: ASIN: B0BRT7CRWH; eBook $1.99 </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><span style="color: black;">Amazon:</span> <a href="https://amzn.to/3jWFLpw">https://amzn.to/3jWFLpw</a></span></span></span></p><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></b></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One evening, while visiting my mother, her physician pulled me aside to
ask what my short and long-term plans were, and I told her I wasn’t
sure. I let her know that I was in college, but other than that, I had
no plans beyond school. She insisted that I make a firm plan because she
didn’t expect my mother to be around much longer, and she said if I
needed anything, let her know. I remember sitting in the room that
night, and when it was time to go, I didn’t want to leave because I
always had this thought in the back of my mind- how long is not much
longer? It was tough sitting at my mother’s bedside, knowing that my
time with her was coming to an end. She was my everything. What would I
do now? I had no clue. I didn’t think that far beyond my sophomore year,
and now I had the rest of my life staring me in the face in one night.</span></span></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuqKWwE-lTcXRGcj9ejhnUS-EP_brfL0jdEcWIKKJSGpHweaNkvpheoIj-fpXw8_xPOavQl-dp8A7NmzzbY1czjAhcokmRa3C2K2PlUwr5vfx--DRC_Rq2cxIDdZdN7bdB9Rre5LiscOr0BEHbO-rs3KvIVXU_T1v8lFwrJDPLb9lvT9nLUMx-Sstkg/s458/Keith%20Sykes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuqKWwE-lTcXRGcj9ejhnUS-EP_brfL0jdEcWIKKJSGpHweaNkvpheoIj-fpXw8_xPOavQl-dp8A7NmzzbY1czjAhcokmRa3C2K2PlUwr5vfx--DRC_Rq2cxIDdZdN7bdB9Rre5LiscOr0BEHbO-rs3KvIVXU_T1v8lFwrJDPLb9lvT9nLUMx-Sstkg/s320/Keith%20Sykes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keith Sykes grew up in
New Orleans, Louisiana with his 7 siblings; he is the youngest of 8.
Keith attended Xavier University of Louisiana where he studied Computer
Information Systems and Graphic Design. He lost both parents by the age
of 20 and joined the United States Army in 1990 where he completed 20
years of active military service. He continues to serve as a Department
of Defense civilian where he works as a Health Systems Specialist at
Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is a freelance writer, photographer and
event planner and is heavily involved in the community. Keith is a
cancer survivor as of February 2022 and attributes his positive attitude
in dealing with the condition to his mother Violet who succumbed to
cancer in January 1990. He loves exploring nature and traveling. Some of
his most memorable trips have been to Egypt, Belize, and Cuba.</span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can visit his website at <a href="https://kasykes.com/">https://kasykes.com/</a> or connect with him at Facebook at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ikreate4u">www.facebook.com/ikreate4u</a>.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br /></span></span></span><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-14013390216726738622023-01-31T21:00:00.001-08:002023-01-31T21:00:00.201-08:00My Book Launch: The Code by Sean Keefer<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS5kf43wZPRd2-sVnFc90aCruw3bwXrKbsrdt4RYUp1uG9aD9ErZZh3GtvXdauy0gBZxV6-3SomjzLo-auDUST0Mb4vXEpw5-MSDJIraRTl2xahBrRulNNTyWI-xJbCDzudRWdQzLhTyXT8qhfboEc-tUj4WFXOxsmNq_AuzMLLGn9v2N21-Y1oDgzQ/s552/The%20Code%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHS5kf43wZPRd2-sVnFc90aCruw3bwXrKbsrdt4RYUp1uG9aD9ErZZh3GtvXdauy0gBZxV6-3SomjzLo-auDUST0Mb4vXEpw5-MSDJIraRTl2xahBrRulNNTyWI-xJbCDzudRWdQzLhTyXT8qhfboEc-tUj4WFXOxsmNq_AuzMLLGn9v2N21-Y1oDgzQ/s320/The%20Code%202.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Code</span></span><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Sean Keefer</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Rivers Turn Press</span><br /> <span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">319 pp.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"> Mystery/Suspense/Legal Thriller</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">It should have been an
otherwise uneventful Sunday morning for Charleston attorney Noah Parks.
Perhaps a trip to the beach or a run with his new Australian Shepherd,
Austin. But with a cryptic voicemail, everything changes. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">A client has vanished,
leaving nothing behind as a clue to where he may be. Neither his
family, friends, nor neighbors are able to provide help.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Turning to his friend
Emmett Gabriel, Charleston’s newest police detective, Parks can only
watch as what started with a simple voicemail takes on a sinister life
of its own. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Parks soon finds himself entangled in an affair that spans centuries, going back to the time of Charleston’s birth. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">With a focus on
learning his client’s fate, Parks will soon find himself facing a
mystery that will not only be a test of his wits but leaves him
challenged in ways he never imagined. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Facing down twists, turns, betrayals, and traditions of honor, will he break The Code? </span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Release Date: October 7, 2022</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Publisher: Rivers Turn Press</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Soft Cover: 978-0998575575; 319 pages</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3IETRpM" style="color: black;">https://amzn.to/3IETRpM </a><br />
</span></span></p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">Rivers Turn Press: <a href="https://bit.ly/3V9725u" style="color: black;">https://bit.ly/3V9725u</a></span> </span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><blockquote><br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>He
looked into my eyes with something that could only be described as
desperation. Suddenly, his look of despair faded as if a veil was lifted
from his face. He stopped speaking and stood straight. His hands
stopped moving, and he looked at each of them, turning them over, back
to palm, as he examined them. He raised his head back to my eyes. As he
looked at me, in an instant, the fearful look drained from his face,
replacing it, a blank, expressionless gaze took hold of his features. He
moved his eyes to my hand on his bicep, then shifted his gaze back to
my face. He slowly twisted his arm from my slight grasp. He spoke slowly
and methodically. </em> <br /></span></span></span><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></span><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em></em><em>“No, Cash didn’t call. No one called. There was nothing from Cash.”</em></span></span></span></span></h2><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></span><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em></em><em>“But you just said...”</em></span></span></span></span></h2><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></span><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>“I didn’t say anything. Nothing,” he said as he turned and faced the rear of the lot. </em></span></span></span></span></h2></div></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h2 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><br /></em></span></span></span></span></h2></div></blockquote><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>_______________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com/"><b></b></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu9n3ubiSJDW-hLXmYfa8A1VPQs_ymL3u_oUthwBTA2YOM8aFK1ppvI95zV_zBPChKf8dopjZT5KYQOdsJBGV0W9oxdBg4_PGhVtWZC_hmszfEkzkJznmYZPgylWSARp4rtKKnp1NxnA52VgfQoyBD-rYMW4MgGis9sKBtdjSG3b7Wq2NFJ2yzKbhbQ/s448/Sean%20Keefer%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMu9n3ubiSJDW-hLXmYfa8A1VPQs_ymL3u_oUthwBTA2YOM8aFK1ppvI95zV_zBPChKf8dopjZT5KYQOdsJBGV0W9oxdBg4_PGhVtWZC_hmszfEkzkJznmYZPgylWSARp4rtKKnp1NxnA52VgfQoyBD-rYMW4MgGis9sKBtdjSG3b7Wq2NFJ2yzKbhbQ/s320/Sean%20Keefer%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">Sean Keefer</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"> <span style="color: black;">is the award winning author of three legal thrillers, <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07451W7CD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1"><b><i>The Trust</i></b></a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073VY9C39/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0"><b><i>The Solicitor</i></b></a></span><i><span style="color: red;">,</span> and </i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3IETRpM"><b><i>The Code</i></b></a></span>, all set in and around coastal South Carolina. </span></span></span><p></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;">He is also the author of <span style="color: red;"><b><i>Mediation in the Family Courts of South Carolina</i></b></span>, a legal treatise on family law mediation. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;">He lives and writes in Charleston, South Carolina. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;">In addition to his
writing, Sean is a recording and performing guitarist/singer/songwriter
of Americana and Alt-Country music. Watch him sing <span style="color: red;">Carolina Sunset </span>which
was inspired by his latest book, <span style="color: red;">The Code</span>. Listen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFzo4cZrcqw" style="color: black;"><b>here</b></a>! </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="color: black;">For more information about his writing and music, visit <span style="color: red;">SeanKeefer.com</span> and <span style="color: red;">ADogNamedBear.com</span>. </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span><span style="color: black;">Follow him on Facebook</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNoahParksMysteries">@theNoahParksMysterySeries</a> and @<a href="http://www.facebook.com/SeanKeeferMusic">SeanKeeferMusic</a>. Follow him on Instagram @<a href="http://www.instagram.com/NoahParksMysteries">NoahParksMysteries</a> and @<a href="http://www.instagram.com/1ADogNamedBear1">1ADogNamedBear1 </a></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;">
</span></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span><a href="http://www.seankeefer.com">Website</a><b> |</b> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/noahparksmysteries">Instagram</a> <b>|</b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheNoahParksMysteries">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4606153.Sean_Keefer">Goodreads</a></span></span></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-60318501584708182792022-12-06T07:00:00.003-08:002022-12-06T07:00:56.081-08:00Book Launch Q&A: Deven Greene Author Erica Rosen MD Trilogy #booklaunch<div><p> <br /></p><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w593-h180/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="593" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"></b></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"></b></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><b style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.mythologypress.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></b></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITO-C4b47FadrFJ5Il5hANRgJoCvHqZsYXghb1brje-zobhe_gkoJQ9USEu_gxR0C70W1808Ui2E3HQcaQ2uEAM0EurzFMJYwnhWpd3CQ7xma1mY9VnC6ojVtrVuPdG1LSG25sIVhZ_Rp_fwy88l7EzmizbDHZUalaJiPRpvITTfuRwZVq2bpispwug/s249/Deven%20Greene.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="175" data-original-width="249" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITO-C4b47FadrFJ5Il5hANRgJoCvHqZsYXghb1brje-zobhe_gkoJQ9USEu_gxR0C70W1808Ui2E3HQcaQ2uEAM0EurzFMJYwnhWpd3CQ7xma1mY9VnC6ojVtrVuPdG1LSG25sIVhZ_Rp_fwy88l7EzmizbDHZUalaJiPRpvITTfuRwZVq2bpispwug/s1600/Deven%20Greene.png" width="249" /></a></div>Fiction writer <a href="https://www.devengreene.com"><b>Deven Greene</b></a>
lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Ever since childhood, Deven has
been interested in science. After receiving a doctorate in
biochemistry, she went to medical school and trained as a pathologist.
She worked for several decades in that field before starting to write
fiction. Deven incorporates elements of medicine or science in most of
her writing. She has published several short stories. Her debut novel, <a href="https://amzn.to/3wv8hlN"><b><i>Unnatural</i></b></a>, is the first book of the Erica Rosen MD Trilogy, and was released in January 2021. <a href="https://amzn.to/3qe4zJP"><b><i>Unwitting</i></b></a><i>, </i>released in October 2021<i>, </i>is the second Erica Rosen MD novel. <a href="https://amzn.to/3Tp8u3J"><b><i>Unforeseen</i></b></a> is the final book in the Trilogy.</span></span></span><p></p>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Visit her website at <a href="http://www.devengreene.com">www.devengreene.com</a> or connect with her on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/DGreeneauthor"><b>Twitter</b></a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/devengreeneauthor"><b>Instagram</b></a>.</span></span></span></span></span><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After your books were released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?</b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">I told my friends about the book.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After that, what was your next step?</b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">I did a virtual book tour after the release.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?</b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Other than a virtual book tour, I didn’t use a PR agency.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?</b> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Finding reviews was a top priority. I used Google searches and <i>The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages </i>by David Wogahn to find reviewers.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>What social media has worked best for you? </b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t think social media has worked well for me.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>Did you create a book trailer?</b> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">A book trailer was made for my first virtual blog tour.</span><br /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch? </b></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Sending books to reviewers was money well spent.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><b>Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?</b> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">All my book launches have taken place during COVID, which has been
very limiting. I don’t believe any of my launches were particularly
successful, so I am reluctant to give advice.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Oswald;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></b><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Oswald;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Oswald;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK_B5bJJbRh3HeQUMzWVyWbZe22zYZALCNmFEv7fhSJVR_3cvJGDCM6jVqJRuWvxyW70I511hZ1jpD2gsLIJH1IeYCYzSsOwVN7RJCHbCwnfWO7V7_L-CeRcQNfrb274BUOJhPiYWuM5-DUEsIIGDRLXpSK5seuH9m11DKD-4aIAqT8k5v3NYQvk/s649/Unnatural.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="483" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvK_B5bJJbRh3HeQUMzWVyWbZe22zYZALCNmFEv7fhSJVR_3cvJGDCM6jVqJRuWvxyW70I511hZ1jpD2gsLIJH1IeYCYzSsOwVN7RJCHbCwnfWO7V7_L-CeRcQNfrb274BUOJhPiYWuM5-DUEsIIGDRLXpSK5seuH9m11DKD-4aIAqT8k5v3NYQvk/w476-h640/Unnatural.png" width="476" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Oswald;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <br /></span></span></b></span></span></b></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; text-align: center;"><b></b></p><b><span style="font-family: Oswald;"></span></b><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arvo; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;"></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; margin: 0px; text-align: start;"><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Dr. Erica
Rosen is perplexed when she sees a young Chinese girl with blue eyes in
her San Francisco pediatrics clinic. The girl’s mother, Ting, is
secretive, and Erica suspects she has entered the country illegally.
Later, Erica encounters Ting’s son and discovers he has an unusual
mutation. Erica learns that Ting’s children underwent embryonic stem
cell gene editing as part of a secret Chinese government-run program. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">The Chinese
government wants to murder Ting’s son to prevent others from learning
about his unusual mutation and the secret gene-editing program. At
Ting’s urging, Erica heads to China to expose the program and rescue the
infant Ting was forced to leave behind, all while attempting to evade
the watchful eye of the Chinese government.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Book Information</b></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Release Date: January 7, 2021</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Publisher: Black Rose Writing</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Soft Cover: 289 pages; $4.53; eBook $4.65; Free with Kindle Unlimited</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3wv8hlN">https://amzn.to/3wv8hlN</a> </span></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Black Rose Writing: <a href="https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unnatural?rq=deven%20greene">https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unnatural?rq=deven%20gree</a><a href="https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unnatural?rq=deven%20greene">n</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQWWuN1bBolOFz0RJTIMJdZNztlIrU0JnZ1PbVg-6Jq4KMb_OifkGzAIY2-EC24kAs_C67MGeRAeAIvAURkCszfxUgwfB1Wyw1apHipxrW95aXpYP7zVneFV3TNMFNp8NkCiV1MRsOGXKYexYOXRY6bnk6HeMvUgRMoj8unR2Yk6XQxVMLu3O1AQ/s650/Unwitting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="481" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQWWuN1bBolOFz0RJTIMJdZNztlIrU0JnZ1PbVg-6Jq4KMb_OifkGzAIY2-EC24kAs_C67MGeRAeAIvAURkCszfxUgwfB1Wyw1apHipxrW95aXpYP7zVneFV3TNMFNp8NkCiV1MRsOGXKYexYOXRY6bnk6HeMvUgRMoj8unR2Yk6XQxVMLu3O1AQ/w474-h640/Unwitting.png" width="474" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Dr. Erica
Rosen’s world is turned upside down after a suicide bomber explodes
amidst a large crowd entering Oracle Park baseball stadium, near her San
Francisco home. Many are killed or injured, and police have no leads in
solving the case.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Erica
becomes involved after a teacher of young autistic men contacts her. The
teacher believes her students are involved in the bombing but is afraid
to contact law enforcement. She reaches out to Erica, who has
experience with special needs children. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Erica
arrives at the school but finds the police already there and a young
autistic man doing a jigsaw puzzle, oblivious to his murdered teacher on
the floor. The young man has information about the mastermind behind
the bombing but has limited ability to speak. Erica is determined to
protect him, prevent further bombings, and find his missing classmates. </span></p>
<h2><b>Book Information</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Release Date: October 21, 2021</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Publisher: Black Rose Writing</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Soft Cover: 281 pages; $17.38; eBook $4.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Amazon: </b><a href="https://amzn.to/3qe4zJP"><b>https://amzn.to/3qe4zJP</b></a><b> </b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Black Rose Writing:</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unwitting?rq=deven%20greene">https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unwitting?rq=deven%20greene </a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARZt57wOEewJybQvcVWMKHZRmJpMgYqWD6akfew83XwdEmKk57wN8f26vbKAXJyQtKf2V1MyaMc4UH_9moReX1kUb5rWfjq91bVO3rQvHT5PPhimfReMqPPO4rjVwRmXg-VnmOT-cwXGmArGhS-pM15PEvwrRLICARTpV0-Q74skDiVTUbg9L9xk/s650/Unforeseen.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARZt57wOEewJybQvcVWMKHZRmJpMgYqWD6akfew83XwdEmKk57wN8f26vbKAXJyQtKf2V1MyaMc4UH_9moReX1kUb5rWfjq91bVO3rQvHT5PPhimfReMqPPO4rjVwRmXg-VnmOT-cwXGmArGhS-pM15PEvwrRLICARTpV0-Q74skDiVTUbg9L9xk/w472-h640/Unforeseen.png" width="472" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Pediatrician
Erica Rosen is stymied when two of her patients don’t respond to
medicine as expected. When other patients later develop strange,
unexpected illnesses, she is determined to get to the bottom of it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Meanwhile,
the department’s newest pediatrician, Dr. Nilsen, appears to be trying
to steal her patients. Erica suspects he is after her job as the clinic
director. She also discovers Dr. Nilsen has become romantically involved
with her trusted assistant, Martha. One evening, while looking for
patient information on Martha’s desk, Erica comes across a list with the
names of some of her patients. A boy who recently became ill with a
mysterious malady is on the list and has an asterisk by his name. What
does that mean?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">Erica is
convinced something nefarious is underfoot, and Dr. Nilsen, rather than
simply being after her job, is engaged in a dangerous scheme involving
her patients. Unable to recruit the help of law enforcement in a timely
manner, she realizes she must take matters into her own hands. As she
proceeds with her investigation, she is unaware of the dangers she is
about to encounter. </span></p>
<h2><b>Book Information</b></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Release Date: August 18, 2022</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Publisher: Black Rose Writing</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Soft Cover: 329 pages; $21.95; eBook $6.99; FREE on Kindle Unlimited</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Amazon: </b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Tp8u3J"><b>https://amzn.to/3Tp8u3J</b></a><b> </b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Black Rose Writing:</b></span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unforeseen?rq=deven%20greene"><b><span style="font-family: Cherry Swash; font-size: 14pt;">https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/unforeseen?rq=deven%20greene</span></b></a></p></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /><br /></p></div><br /><div><p>
</p><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-16923380671446031042022-11-22T09:21:00.003-08:002022-11-22T09:21:53.811-08:00My Book Launch: The Lapone Sisters, by Barry Wilker<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs_Pvn1s40OrYd_-o0Xs_mPHd7zZQzoayX2w3Xcqfg1tbh3cdBmpX5cm4UOpkF-qsZh2iVUQ7yb9-EVEs5xdlPa4rG4tQ8B5Fbwsph_4jrWzWDO5Q1hndhrAkKa3NiPMeauim9S2fO9zUqfxhwsTODLRlZo9bfFuDHg2zGWTlSHvCq33P292bow/s479/lights.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs_Pvn1s40OrYd_-o0Xs_mPHd7zZQzoayX2w3Xcqfg1tbh3cdBmpX5cm4UOpkF-qsZh2iVUQ7yb9-EVEs5xdlPa4rG4tQ8B5Fbwsph_4jrWzWDO5Q1hndhrAkKa3NiPMeauim9S2fO9zUqfxhwsTODLRlZo9bfFuDHg2zGWTlSHvCq33P292bow/s320/lights.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have been asked to write to you about my new novel, The Lapone Sisters. I think it will be fun to let you in on all the why’s, how’s, and what’s of the story, and the reasons that led to my final decision to put pen to paper . . . or to be honest, fingers to keyboard. <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jF1NblH3ny0VugO5o7-p_bd-wMVlW2mXtLkgnh7lJH7_zLz0MII7nMVLecDs441R06xxsZV7bjfP6IUPHlIa0I79-JwdXl7K21si10qXdO8BohSiBxFJyT2xiKidJbcc_Nlfb5mTPImeggigbDlPUgl59Fk6VDz6XYXHm8e3ZHKcx5RdnfZ9aCnI/s3600/IMGL0699%20F%20High%20Res.jpg" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="HELEN BURRUS PHOTOGRAPHY" border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jF1NblH3ny0VugO5o7-p_bd-wMVlW2mXtLkgnh7lJH7_zLz0MII7nMVLecDs441R06xxsZV7bjfP6IUPHlIa0I79-JwdXl7K21si10qXdO8BohSiBxFJyT2xiKidJbcc_Nlfb5mTPImeggigbDlPUgl59Fk6VDz6XYXHm8e3ZHKcx5RdnfZ9aCnI/w213-h320/IMGL0699%20F%20High%20Res.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Let me first tell you a little about myself. I am a retired interior designer. For most of my career, I worked on residential design for homes from coast to coast. I primarily worked on larger homes but always made the time for smaller jobs. I worked with a myriad of clients, some with budgets and some without where the sky was the limit. Each new job felt like the start of a guessing game. We had to get to know each other. I needed to get a perspective of a new prospect’s lifestyle, their attitudes toward life, their personal tastes and interests. After a week or two in conversations we would decide if our ideas and objectives aligned and if they did, we were ready to begin. </div><div><br /></div><div>The jobs I worked generally took up to two years. During our time together, my clients would share the same stories of their personal lives repeatedly, sometimes three and four times or more. I think you can understand how at such times my mind might have begun to wander. In those instances, my imagination took free reign. As my eyes followed their lips moving, I was in a totally different world. My head was in an offbeat mode hatching wisps of ideas that were unrelated situations. When we’d finished and the client left, I’d jot down those thoughts and ideas. Some things were humorous and some were just plain introspections. When something nagged at my mind for any length of time it went onto paper and into a folder. I’m one of those people that you only have to tell me something once and I’ll remember it forever. </div><div><br /></div><div>That’s how The Lapone Sisters got started. Those ideas were seedlings that over time grew and multiplied and became my novel. I playfully dreamed up the first names of my characters. I still have no idea where they came from and certainly had no idea if there might be a nationality involved. That was how my research began. Google came in very handy when I had one of those “AHA!” moments. I eventually found a country where the first names of my characters actually fit. Who knew it would be Romania? Welcome to the world of Schmellda, Sorina, and Esmeralda Lapone. I decided the primary setting for them would be Nashville, Tennessee. It helped me by putting them in a familiar setting. Nashville is my hometown and I have fond memories of places in my past. I want you to know that while the story is set in Nashville, my tale is not about the city. These girls could have lived anywhere in the world. The story is about personal philosophies, our differences, our commonalities, and the need for thoughtful kindness. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, after finding Romania it became fairly easy to establish a ladder from which the story could climb. After researching the city, I began my tale in Bucharest during World War II. I picked 1944 specifically to build a family tree so the girls could be the ages I wanted some thirty years later. I felt it was important to establish a bit of family history for too many reasons to explain. April 4, 1944 saw the Allied bombing that destroyed the city. The sad reasons behind the sisters curious names are layered in these first few pages. Going forward, I wanted to make this a happy story. The story quickly jumps from 1944 to June of 1976. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiQmuTkpo0-R_93gwm_ZdVn6Mfu_d_1leYrl3N6sjdWFxeD0risrqb1ceKbbbvvzE5Ub8S28l5niLisjmJoEkevXuWpcyo34xHVTOdGBM7ev8-oNI7hYztzWc1rhBIXHklZ7J_EqmlaiBRJutLbUhRX2L4rxN9avrvSMG4MSB2EB_sfaNf0Z9jGr0/s1288/Cover%20Art.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiQmuTkpo0-R_93gwm_ZdVn6Mfu_d_1leYrl3N6sjdWFxeD0risrqb1ceKbbbvvzE5Ub8S28l5niLisjmJoEkevXuWpcyo34xHVTOdGBM7ev8-oNI7hYztzWc1rhBIXHklZ7J_EqmlaiBRJutLbUhRX2L4rxN9avrvSMG4MSB2EB_sfaNf0Z9jGr0/s320/Cover%20Art.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br />It took me years to plot the exacting dates and sometimes hilarious events that take place over the six month period in 1976 covered in my story. This is a tale of three sisters and how radically their lives change during the short six months of their story. While relatively close in years, each sister is completely different. Each has their own look and desires for their future. All three have significant situations occur that propel their individual stories. On a journey to discover themselves as individuals, they concurrently learn to live truly satisfying and full lives. Their story is told through wry humor and often outlandish satire that encompasses a very colorful cast of characters. </div><div><br /></div><div> My hope is you will become engaged in the story and enjoy the double entendres, satire, dark and light humor along with the humanity, thoughtfulness and ideological hopes of my characters and myself. When all is said and done, I would encourage you to listen to the inspiration and hopefulness expressed in the two songs referenced in the footnotes on pages 199 and 300. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for your interest in The Lapone Sisters. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Reading! </div><div><br /></div><div>Barry Wilker</div><div><a href="http://thelaponesisters.com">www.thelaponesisters.com </a></div><div>Buy the book from the <a href="https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/836928-the-lapone-sisters">Publisher</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lapone-Sisters-Barry-Wilker/dp/1665723432">Amazon</a>, or your favorite bookstore </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>About the Author:</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Barry Wilker spent forty-three years working as an interior designer for myriad clients across the United States. Retirement provided Wilker with ample time to assemble the amalgam of wild ideas, clever stories, and figments of his active imagination, which he has oh-so-stylishly fashioned into his debut novel, The Lapone Sisters. He lived for a number of years in the Los Angeles area and currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
</div></div>Mayra Calvanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01444333264952371471noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-63835282227085162762022-08-10T21:00:00.001-07:002022-08-10T21:00:00.194-07:00My Book Launch: Half Moon Lake by Steve Brock<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrJ1d47Tl9i7-3rX1oBD-cg5BjYITKqav2xXw0CrxeMN1-xvELgO_WjNGOjqzHmgO2CjTM2tfVJpf-qXeHN3aSiUc3gy5QJ44Q94OHhq4DcLQD9fJzVllOM-jWeERtWJXhkAsMMnOS_HatKephCG-vkfv37YLBMSEofcoBpo3Ewp9eRokBUgAIc78OQ/s521/Half%20Moon%20Lake%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrJ1d47Tl9i7-3rX1oBD-cg5BjYITKqav2xXw0CrxeMN1-xvELgO_WjNGOjqzHmgO2CjTM2tfVJpf-qXeHN3aSiUc3gy5QJ44Q94OHhq4DcLQD9fJzVllOM-jWeERtWJXhkAsMMnOS_HatKephCG-vkfv37YLBMSEofcoBpo3Ewp9eRokBUgAIc78OQ/s320/Half%20Moon%20Lake%202.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>HALF MOON LAKE</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Steve Brock</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Independent</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">187 pp.</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">Suspense </span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Crease Williams lived a charmed life with a bright future. Only in his junior year at Texas Christian University, his skills as a wide receiver had already captured the attention of NFL scouts.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Then a tragedy cost him his family and his desire to play football. Personally devastated, he left his old life behind and got as far from Ft. Worth, TX, and football as he could get.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Keeping mostly to himself, he became a float-plane pilot in the far north of Minnesota. Flying fisherman and hunters into remote locations was how he spent his time. When a group he had flown to Roudy’s Cabin goes missing, he faces accusations and more turmoil than he could have ever imagined. To make matters worse, his quiet existence is upturned by an element from his past bent on vengeance.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3knaPfd" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Half Moon Lake</a></em></strong> is Steve Brock’s first novel. A suspenseful mystery written with likable characters and a lighthearted flavor.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date:</strong> March 30, 2022</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Steve Brock</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-0578391977; 187 pages; $9.99; Kindle Unlimited FREE</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3knaPfd" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3knaPfd</a></span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><b><span><span style="font-size: large;">Book Excerpt:</span><o:p style="font-size: 14pt;"></o:p></span></b></p><p>The Bobcat Bar and Grill was rockin’. In the center of a raised stage that faced a collection of round wooden tables and ladder-back chairs, a middle-aged R and B diva gyrated her hips to the music. With a double-fisted death grip on a stand-up microphone, she belted out lyrics: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T…Find out what it means to me…” The stage lights created spheres of pink and blue fog in the smoke-filled atmosphere. A saxophone player swung his horn back and forth in rhythm with the music, while the keyboard player stood and pounded the keys of a baby grand piano like they insulted his sister. The diva ended the song with a flourish and the already dancing crowd erupted with applause.</p><p> The singer announced a quick break while the more intoxicated in the crowd continued to clap in appreciation. When the noise subsided, a uniformed deputy sitting at the bar looked at the keyboard player and said, “I hate to be a killjoy, but don’t you think we ought to get our prisoner to the station, Sheriff?” He nodded his head toward a scruffy-looking character in handcuffs next to him.</p><p> Still smiling from the moments on stage, Sheriff Maurice Broussard replied, “Yeah, you’re right, Joe. Let’s pack him up and go.”</p><p> As he spoke, he felt a hand on his shoulder. The sax player said, “Come back and sit in with us again, Mo.”</p><p> “Count on it. I’ll be back,” the sheriff said with a big smile. The 10-15 call was the reason they came to the Bobcat, but Sheriff Mo couldn’t resist the chance to relive his jazz band days back on Bourbon Street in a previous life.</p><p> He was a native of New Orleans, but like so many others, Katrina had forced him to flee north on a temporary relocation. At least, that was the original plan. Once here, he found some stability that he lacked before. The weather took some getting used to, but it was otherwise a nice place to live, so he decided to stay. Being county sheriff wasn’t something he’d ever considered before he came here, but he found it agreed with him.</p><p> He and his deputy each grasped an arm of the scruffy-looking man and led him out the door and to the car. Obviously inebriated, the prisoner asked, “What am I being arrested for?"</p><p> Joe shook his head and said, “I’ve told you twice already."</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- /wp:paragraph --></p><p> “For being a drunken asshole,” Mo said. “You can be an asshole, and you can get drunk, but you can’t do both, not around here.”</p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>________________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH3DLwiPk13RDrPcFnMNDLBET_1-Zk7Z1MWRMmV6CSHvAYvhRZZT9Vv4lAvfqcsNOurwGmKRw-OXP15xRJ414cUMO87T_Z4J_DxVVK__4WkTjBDY-S0RIXOygcs_-8BavoXi08N1UzTOmMzNMTWmg0RLz8WyUFfn1uiAHw2X-LzHcZZ_yw_YTQ9sz5A/s326/SB.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="326" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUH3DLwiPk13RDrPcFnMNDLBET_1-Zk7Z1MWRMmV6CSHvAYvhRZZT9Vv4lAvfqcsNOurwGmKRw-OXP15xRJ414cUMO87T_Z4J_DxVVK__4WkTjBDY-S0RIXOygcs_-8BavoXi08N1UzTOmMzNMTWmg0RLz8WyUFfn1uiAHw2X-LzHcZZ_yw_YTQ9sz5A/s320/SB.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />I’ve been an author in search of a novel for just about forty years now. Writing was the first thing I ever wanted to do seriously. Over the years I’ve done quite a variety of things. My first real job, the kind where you have a schedule and get paid hourly, was as a cook at the local Sonic Drive-In. I’ve been a machinist, a forklift driver, a production worker, a computer programmer, an IT guy, an installation manager, a software trainer, and an education department manager. Those are just the employment highlights. Through it all, I was a husband and father, and I attended college at night to get my bachelor’s degree in technology management.<p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Before all that started, I wanted to be a writer. It just didn’t work out that way. Maybe that’s ok, I’ve had a good life and I have a wonderful family that I am proud to have. I don’t regret any of what I’ve done to support my family over the years. The desire to write has persisted, however, and I took a look at my odometer one day and it read 61 years old. None of us know how high our personal odometer will go, but I knew if I was ever going to be a writer, now was the time.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">I’m bringing my lifetime of experience to my novel writing. Many of my characters are loosely based upon people I’ve known in real life. Some of my plot elements are also influenced by real-life experiences as well. As of this writing, my first novel, Half Moon Lake, will be published on Amazon in a few weeks. I have begun work on my second book as well. I hope you will take time to register your email address so I may keep you apprised of announcements and special offers. I’d be thrilled to count you as one of my first dedicated readers.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Steve Brock’s latest novel is <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3knaPfd" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Half Moon Lake.</a></em></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">You can visit his website at <a href="http://www.brocknovels.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">www.BrockNovels.com</a> or connect with him at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/brocknovelist" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a>.</span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-52957972957642389522022-08-09T21:00:00.001-07:002022-08-09T21:00:00.176-07:00Book Launch Q&A: Palmer Pickering Author of Moon Deeds #booklaunch<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.mythologypress.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></strong></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhKqenLa2wMvWFhG8ovWOedNVBHWtJtysFQ6TI6L4Z-zsuW9MnxdU3vtz9oNhV8q_jn3QDuyyYosgjYs9556uSenOv_30XTMON8IryxD80TI8f2y1Jg7wYuoY3h4-JqZLjwd0NgT8Jyb5CwsHzq_S0Rfy9B0TraKD5WyZoXWk5Bm7Wd73lKpI5yBgZQ/s1024/Palmer%20Pickering%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhKqenLa2wMvWFhG8ovWOedNVBHWtJtysFQ6TI6L4Z-zsuW9MnxdU3vtz9oNhV8q_jn3QDuyyYosgjYs9556uSenOv_30XTMON8IryxD80TI8f2y1Jg7wYuoY3h4-JqZLjwd0NgT8Jyb5CwsHzq_S0Rfy9B0TraKD5WyZoXWk5Bm7Wd73lKpI5yBgZQ/s320/Palmer%20Pickering%20lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Palmer Pickering</strong> has been writing fiction since she was eight. She received her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University, with concentrations in Religion and Race Relations.<p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">She currently works in Silicon Valley in the gaming industry and high tech. In addition, Palmer holds a certificate in Chinese Acupressure, is a certified solar panel installer, and studied Tibetan Buddhism with the 14th Dalai Lama.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">She lives and writes in the magical redwood forest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, California.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Her latest book is the scifi fantasy for adults, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3uKWq2o" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Moon Deeds: Star Children Saga Book One.</a></em></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">You can visit her website at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.mythologypress.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">www.MythologyPress.com</a></strong> or connect with her on <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://twitter.com/PalmerPickerin1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a></strong>, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MythologyPress" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong>,<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lioncutcat/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a></strong> and <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/redwoodforest/fantasy-inspirations/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Pinterest</a></strong>.</span></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I let all my beta readers know, and they told their friends. They were very </span><span style="color: black;">enthusiastic about the release of my book, and they helped spread the word.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>After that, what was your next step?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I bought a bunch of ads, including social media ads, Amazon ads, and radio ads. </span><span style="color: black;">I contacted a bunch of reviewers, I posted the book on Netgalley, and I called </span><span style="color: black;">independent bookstores.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, I hired a different website designer to make it more modern and to work </span><span style="color: black;">well across PCs and mobile.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I actually work with multiple PR professionals to help spread the word about my </span><span style="color: black;">books, mostly for blog tours and getting readers and reviewers interested, but I’m not </span><span style="color: black;">using a full-service PR firm. I am a member of Independent Book Publishers Association </span><span style="color: black;">(IBPA), and they manage a bunch of really good promotional activities for you, such as</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">Netgalley, book fairs, librarian outreach, press outreach, radio ads, etc.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?</b> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Yes, reviews are key. I bought some reviews from review services such as</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;">Readers Favorite, I entered several contests that also post reviews, and I contacted a lot of </span><span style="color: black;">Goodreads reviewers directly. Now I am reaching out to people on Twitter, doing author </span><span style="color: black;">swaps, and participating in several blog tours.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your views on social media for marketing your book? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">It’s a lot of effort for not a lot of sales. I hope that the name recognition of </span><span style="color: black;">putting the book info out on a lot of social media channels will have a positive effect over </span><span style="color: black;">time, but there is so much content out on the internet, it’s difficult to break through the </span><span style="color: black;">noise.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>What social media has worked best for you? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I measure my sales results and Goodreads adds realtime, and here are the things </span><span style="color: black;">that resulted in the biggest bumps: 1. Newsletters such as BookGorilla. 2. Goodreads </span><span style="color: black;">giveaway. 3. Reviews posted by a few bloggers with loyal followers. 4. Amazon ads.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for you?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I did write a press release. I used it as part of my PR packet when I contactedn</span><span style="color: black;">bookstores and when I did a press release email blast via IBPA. Otherwise, it did notn</span><span style="color: black;">serve much use. I only got two hits from the press release blast from not very interestingn</span><span style="color: black;">publications, and I got very few bookstores to carry my book, but I attribute that ton</span><span style="color: black;">calling them on the phone and speaking with the buyer directly.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><b>Did you create a book trailer?</b> </span></span><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="white-space: normal;"> I did create a book trailer. Here is the 0:60 version. I posted it on TikTok (via a </span><span style="white-space: normal;">boost/paid placement ad) and Facebook (via a boost/paid ad) and got tens of thousands of </span><span style="white-space: normal;">views, thousands of likes, hundreds of reposts, and dozens of comments, but almost no </span><span style="white-space: normal;">book sales as a result.</span><br style="white-space: normal;" /><span style="white-space: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/Xt13Js_M-P4">https://youtu.be/Xt13Js_M-P4</a></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Joining IPBA</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b>Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?</b> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Set aside time to do outreach however you can to generate interest in your book.</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Keep it up for at least three months. Try different things and see what works for you.</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Develop relationships in the indie book world and with other authors. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Keep it up. Don’t </span><span style="color: black;">think that lack of huge sales means your work is no good. You are literally competing </span><span style="color: black;">with millions of books. In my experience, I worked hard for every reader and reviewer.</span><br style="color: black;" /><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">It’s a slog, but I am slowly developing a loyal reader base. Don’t give up! </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">And keep </span><span style="color: black;">writing. As a successful indie author friend told me, “Your best advertisement is your </span><span style="color: black;">next book.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoTpxOXgGU3bpt7HDBkA3zygj43fsZCcfkPe-ztOlTN_nN3WNivtdd7y2OTy5VZis45nT6zST7D4sxerh_WMjEbG_VfxZnpzTvV-pAjZ8EWfe19-to8a8SDFS7_tvabgF8uii88A85Zy6KgzgTKFfX1mERotk9BC0zPJf7sysQ_n6-1qq7Sf-w39x5Q/s471/Moon%20Deeds%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="312" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxoTpxOXgGU3bpt7HDBkA3zygj43fsZCcfkPe-ztOlTN_nN3WNivtdd7y2OTy5VZis45nT6zST7D4sxerh_WMjEbG_VfxZnpzTvV-pAjZ8EWfe19-to8a8SDFS7_tvabgF8uii88A85Zy6KgzgTKFfX1mERotk9BC0zPJf7sysQ_n6-1qq7Sf-w39x5Q/w424-h640/Moon%20Deeds%202.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title</strong>: MOON DEEDS: STAR CHILDREN SAGA BOOK ONE</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author</strong>: Palmer Pickering</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher</strong>: Mythology Press</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre</strong>: Adult Fantasy/Science-Fiction</span></p><h2 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 18pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Blurb:</strong></span></h2><h4 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14pt;">“The path to power is cloaked in shadows, so if you avoid all the shadows, you’ll never learn anything.”</span></h4><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">It’s 2090: the last outpost of freedom is the moon, the best defense against technology is magic, and the only hope for humankind rests in the hands of the Star Children.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Twins Cassidy and Torr must save Earth from a ruthless enemy at a time when the only force more powerful than alien technology is magic. Moon Deeds launches the siblings’ journey across the galaxy, where they must learn their power as the Star Children, claim their shamanic heritage, and battle dark forces that threaten humankind.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">The Star Children Saga follows Cassidy and Torr as they slowly awaken to their destiny as the twin Star Children, born every millennium to reconnect with the source of all life. They come to discover the sheer enormity of their task: to find our ancestors on a lost planet across the galaxy and save humanity from a spiraling descent into darkness. The powers they must wield to accomplish this task are truly frightening and put at risk everything they love.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Come along with twenty-year-old twins Cassidy and Torr, who inherited deeds to land parcels on the moon. They want to use their moon deeds to get off Earth and escape a brutal dictatorship. But first they must unlock their shaman powers.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">A rollicking yet poignant adventure in the not too distant future, when we have colonized the moon and nearly lost Earth to a dictatorship. Only the shamans remain free, plus the lucky ones who escaped to the moon.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Join the adventure! An addictive space opera, science-fantasy series.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“This is a marvelous book. The characters are compelling, complex, and emotional. The future described is neither all evil nor all good, and it’s described so realistically that I can still feel the moon dust in my nose and expect to see large packing containers around every corner. The text is delightfully written with none of the bad grammar that makes picky people like me wince even in an otherwise great story. Alas, this is just the first book of the series, and it appears I’ll have to wait a whole year for the next one. I really need to know *now* what happens next!”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">– Garden Reader</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I was totally captivated by this story. It is set just far enough into our future that I could see it all unfold. This tale has it all, mystery, magic, aliens, war, family, friendship and love. The authors ability to paint landscapes with words is amazing! I can not wait for book two to come out. I must know the fate of the Star Children!”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">– VR</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Anything dealing with the moon is almost immediately mystical and magical. Throw in a heart racing adventure and characters that will leave a mark on your heart and you have a masterpiece!”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">– Taylor Johnson</strong> (Educator, Netgalley)</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“I found this novel to be as much a psychological thriller as it is a science fiction adventure, and the draw-in happens almost instantly. This is unquestionably one of the best books I’ve read this year and Pickering has roped in an entire family as new fans. I’d give Moon Deeds a whole bucket of stars if I could.”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">– Asher Syed</strong> (Readers’ Favorite)</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“There is so much to love about this book, from its complex and intricately woven plot filled with tension, strife, and discovery, to the personal attachment you begin to build with the characters due to finely executed character building, engaging personalities, and difficulties in both moral dilemmas and situations. The pace is perfect to build tension, and I loved the length of this book.”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">– K.J. Simmill</strong> (Readers’ Favorite)</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Information</u></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">May 25, 2019</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Mythology Press</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </strong>978-1732568808; 598 pages; $21.99; E-Book, $.99; Audiobook, FREE.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Trailer:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt13Js_M-P4" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt13Js_M-P4</a></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3uKWq2o" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3uKWq2o</a></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Barnes & Noble: </strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3rQteFx" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3rQteFx</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-6768734583571794852022-07-07T21:00:00.001-07:002022-07-27T06:52:54.220-07:00Book Launch Q&A: M.N. Grenside Author of Fall Out #booklaunch<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></span></p><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.mngrenside.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></em></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6hYy0jlxlvnBuR7Rl8FQU6HMp3gwnsYv90cSy_hSzA3DTAH7U3Ykv9KJMgJzH5ykBVKEcffHgNyT_d2hemF5_e2aZRCsdnbWVbntsG9u0aux6hwvO9ZeIMSsTsUtx3P6-XXV3A79bEFpOj7ZS4QKojjt8ZDqo74hB_a-o3p1XIgAlVvkenUdDVkgfA/s470/M.N.%20Grenside%202.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="470" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6hYy0jlxlvnBuR7Rl8FQU6HMp3gwnsYv90cSy_hSzA3DTAH7U3Ykv9KJMgJzH5ykBVKEcffHgNyT_d2hemF5_e2aZRCsdnbWVbntsG9u0aux6hwvO9ZeIMSsTsUtx3P6-XXV3A79bEFpOj7ZS4QKojjt8ZDqo74hB_a-o3p1XIgAlVvkenUdDVkgfA/s320/M.N.%20Grenside%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></em></div><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">Mark Grenside</span><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">, </span></em><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">born and raised in London, began his working career straight out of school at Lloyds of London, specializing in Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion Insurance. At 25 it was time for a career change and to dump the suit and tie, so he started his media career working for Jim Henson and The Muppets©. From that moment on he has been involved in Entertainment and nearly every aspect of it.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">He went on to create and produce several television series and mini-series. At the same time, he started a music management company launching million seller artist Neneh Cherry.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">In 2004 he arranged the US $250 million buy-out of the Hallmark Channel International which was then successfully sold to NBC. He returned to producing a number of movies and mini-series.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">He has recently morphed into a serial entrepreneur and is now a co-founder of seed to shelf CBD producer Dragonfly Biosciences (www.dragonflybiosciences.com) and a founder in two separate digital companies.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">In addition to his love of cooking, an unhealthy amount of time and money is lavished on a collection of classic cars that he has raced all over the world. He enjoys risk and has parachuted in New Zealand, scuba-dived in the Pacific, hang-glided in the Himalayas and even tobogganed down the Cresta Run. In nearly every case chasing after his wife who is utterly fearless!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">He is now writing the follow up to <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fall Out</em></strong>, entitled <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Bastion</em>. In addition, he writes a humorous blog with subscribers in more than 40 countries. <a href="http://www.andanotherthing.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">www.andanotherthing.com</em></strong></a></span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">He has two grown sons, two daughters’-in-law, three grandchildren and lives in Malta with his wife and two French bulldogs.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">Mark’s latest book is the thriller, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3M133DQ" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">Fall Out</a></em></strong>.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: large;">You can visit his website at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.mngrenside.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">www.MNGrenside.com</a></strong> and his blog at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.andanotherthing.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">www.AndAnotherThing.com</a></strong> or connect with him on <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/mngrenside" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a></strong>,<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MGrenside" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong> and <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58891098-fall-out?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=bXW2ukuR29&rank=1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">Goodreads</a>.</strong></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch?</span></p><p>I danced a JIG! Sadly, due to Covid all my launch events to include my book tour and party were cancelled! On the actual launch day, my wife and I opened a bottle of champagne on our balcony full of balloons. However, I did several TV and Radio interviews where I live as well as a number of podcasts internationally. </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">After that, what was your next step?</span></p><p>Getting my head around social media to create promotions and increase followers which was a huge learning curve. After much toing and froing, I became active on Twitter (@mngrenside), Facebook (@mgrenside), Instagram (@mngrenside), LinkedIn (@markgrenside) and more recently on TikTok</p><p> In addition, I have my own humorous blog (www.andanotherthing.com) which is in 40 countries.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release? </span></p><p>Goodness yes! I spent a considerable amount of time and money creating my author website. I updated the pages, changed the user journey and tried to make it more engaging. Check it out on <a href="http://www.mngrenside.com/">www.mngrenside.com</a> as well as my own humorous blog (<a href="http://www.andanotherthing.com/">www.andanotherthing.com</a>) which is in 40 countries.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route?</span></p><p>I did both. The more promotion the better so I tried to cover every angle. Constantly trying to think outside the box.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that? </span></p><p>It was absolutely a top priority. Especially with Amazon due to the marketing algorithms. The more reviews you receive the more Amazon promotes you which in turn drives sales. I was very fortunate that early on Fall Out received some terrific reviews from both Oscar Nominated and Multi Emmy winning Producers underscoring the accuracy of depicting the real world of Hollywood. Next, I set into action networking with friends, colleagues, and family members to buy the book and leave a review on both Amazon and Goodreads.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">What are your views on social media for marketing your book? </span></p><p>In simple terms it is crucial. In this day and age, the fastest way to reach readers is through social media. When my book launched my wife and I made a list of social influencers together with famous people that we either knew personally or could get to through other contacts. One well known personality and influencer posted a photo and rave review of the book to his 7.5 million followers on Twitter. This was a Godsend both in new book sales and new Twitter followers. Never underestimate how much publicity you can create on your own.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">What social media has worked best for you? </span></p><p>It varies as I believe each one targets different groups. Twitter is definitely a driver but creating posts and videos on Instagram can show more of your personality.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for you?</span></p><p>Yes a Press release was written for the book and it proved to be extremely valuable. It was put out on a worldwide press wire and was picked up by loads of publications internationally that I would never have been in otherwise. That proved to be the best value for money during the launch.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you revamp your author’s page at Amazon in any way to prepare for the launch (<a href="https://authorcentral.amazon.com/">https://authorcentral.amazon.com/</a>)?</span></p><p>Yes. I went onto Amazon, Goodreads, etc. to add my photo together with my biography.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you create a book trailer?</span></p><p>My publisher created a small book trailer.</p><p><a href="https://mngrenside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mngrenside-teaser.mp4?_=1">https://mngrenside.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mngrenside-teaser.mp4?_=1</a></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?</span></p><p>Probably a really great bottle of wine! Actually, I would say it was paying for the Press Wire.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
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<!-- /wp:paragraph --></p><p>Don’t leave anything to the publisher you can do yourself.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uvMvwc95RlH8FUBR7mog-mCL1DU3MVTPrN1dbLBydo2nAN0lQEoZRl9QjfJW3BF4ZX9Ajjb8X29D79c4w7whCLDFy91TieclEuMd93cJhjoFQn6StQ1WGh7RE0s54DUCmmXV3VI7EBVIIkLuBDOXKlJyVQyZxdmpvPc_RW2L0Xb7iGcsWEPBYmaX6A/s500/Fall%20Out%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uvMvwc95RlH8FUBR7mog-mCL1DU3MVTPrN1dbLBydo2nAN0lQEoZRl9QjfJW3BF4ZX9Ajjb8X29D79c4w7whCLDFy91TieclEuMd93cJhjoFQn6StQ1WGh7RE0s54DUCmmXV3VI7EBVIIkLuBDOXKlJyVQyZxdmpvPc_RW2L0Xb7iGcsWEPBYmaX6A/w420-h640/Fall%20Out%20cover.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title</strong>: FALL OUT</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author</strong>: M.N. Grenside</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher</strong>: BloodHound Books</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Pages</strong>: 455</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre</strong>: Thriller</span></p><h2 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: Charmonman; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 24pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Blurb:</strong></span></h2><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A page-turning, jaw-dropping thriller of action and surprise. A riveting debut.” – Damien Lewis, international bestselling author</em></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">An LA screenwriter is killed shortly after completing his latest script, FALL OUT – a thriller destined to be a blockbuster but written with a secret double purpose. Echoing events from the past, the screenplay is sent to a very specific group of people and will change their lives forever. All are connected to a movie that had abruptly stopped shooting in the jungles of the Philippines years before. FALL OUT exposes the truth about a conspiracy and murder that led to a half-a-billion-dollar fortune for a select few.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">Follow the story of Producer Marcus Riley, who sets out on an increasingly dangerous quest to get FALL OUT made. From a powerful agent’s office in Hollywood, hidden treasures in Belgravia and a remote chalet in the Swiss Alps to murder at the Cannes Film Festival, Marcus teams up with designer Melinda (Mako) de Turris as they and the other recipients of the screenplay are pursued by an assassin from the past.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;">With clues cleverly concealed in the screenplay, Marcus and Mako unravel a lethal puzzle that for some will bring death, others the truth and ends in a cave with a shocking secret…</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“If you want a fast-paced stand out different thriller, I can’t recommend Fall Out enough. I loved it.”</em> —<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Emma Forbes, broadcaster</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Amazing . . . I agree with all the other reviews that have stated if you like Dan Brown or James Patterson, then this book is for you.”</em> —<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Joyful Antidotes</em></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“And, action! Plenty of it and super nasty bad guys and stories so outrageously crazy they can only be true . . . Fall Out is inventive and, at times intentionally filmic . . . The fun doesn’t stop for 440 pages.”</em> —<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Booksplainer</em></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Information</u></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date:</strong> August 27, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Bloodhound Books</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-1912666751; 400 pages; $13.46; Kindle: ASIN: B09C1PJNZ4; 480 pages; $4.99; FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED, FREE AUDIOBOOK WITH AUDIBLE TRIAL</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3M133DQ" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3M133DQ</a></strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Barnes & Noble: <a href="https://bit.ly/3Fz1DhI" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3Fz1DhI</a> </strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Cherry Swash"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14pt;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kobo: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fall-out-11" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fall-out-11</a></strong></span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-438625214011953162022-06-07T21:00:00.000-07:002022-06-07T21:00:00.202-07:00My Book Launch: Ignatius and The Swords of Nostaw by D.A. Mucci<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><br /><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5wJgb9btKAlweo1QJWsCcZoNU2AIepRsF_9hgtgWGPb7Qu8XpyeK9Xlc2oiSq_sK9za4yS0KRoOx8m40WURebup7peJQJy0q6Ci7GAuJGpHpQOGpKz7ZWgTtuRhNHmd_6oNt9TUH-oP8_hSCD2Vm0h98B7Ue0qCExsl4rmMQGikifJYlGUlc2dGwZg/s585/Ignatius%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5wJgb9btKAlweo1QJWsCcZoNU2AIepRsF_9hgtgWGPb7Qu8XpyeK9Xlc2oiSq_sK9za4yS0KRoOx8m40WURebup7peJQJy0q6Ci7GAuJGpHpQOGpKz7ZWgTtuRhNHmd_6oNt9TUH-oP8_hSCD2Vm0h98B7Ue0qCExsl4rmMQGikifJYlGUlc2dGwZg/s320/Ignatius%202.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span></b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">IGNATIUS AND THE SWORDS OF NOSTAW</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">D.A. Mucci</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">St. Barts Publishing</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">294</span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">YA / Fantasy </span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">…languages, witty retorts, and running from a fight.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Now he is faced with his first days in high school…</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">…Is there anything worse than high school?</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">When a clever, peace-making verbal volley failed, and the guy pulled a switch blade, Iggy took off. A locket he wore warmed up. Suddenly, he wasn’t in Susquehanna, PA anymore. Before he could gather his wits…</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">…someone had tackled him.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Pinned on the ground, his assailant bade him, be quiet. Something was going on just up ahead. A horrifying-looking knight in black armor, and a strange looking creature were locked in battle.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">The knight won.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">The large dog-bird beast, lay dying. Iggy sensed evil had won. When the man let him up, they eased forward to see if the dog-bird beast was dead.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">No. And with its dying words…</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">…the warrior gave Iggy his swords.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">And thus, Ignatius adventure began.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A beautiful read.”<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> — </strong></em><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Robin Roberts, as seen on Good Morning America</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">★★★★★<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“D.A. Mucci does such a great job of creating a universe that is entirely fantastical yet believable and relatable. Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw has an almost Harry Potter-ness to it in that we are guided into this world through the eyes of a character who is learning of it the same as the reader and who is a character very similar to its target audience. But, it is also entirely different in a good way. I have honestly not taken to a fantasy novel as much as this one in quite a long time. The author is an excellent storyteller and writer.”</em><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> — Kate Leboff</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">★★★★★ <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“</em>Right from the start this story is breathtaking in how much detailed surrounding the kingdom of Skye… a once luscious and beautiful place that had been filled with animals and people. Now it’s a kingdom with no beating heart. In desperate for a hero, a teen named Iggy finds himself becoming the hero these people need. Mastering a set of growing magic skills in a challenge but its mastering the skills in handling the towering secrets that are claiming Skye is something else altogether. A wondrous journey in a finely painted world. Highly recommended.”—<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lori Goodreads review</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">★★★★★<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The author managed to create quite intriguing magical world full of fantastic beasts, some of which are not what you typically expect from beasts – they are mighty warriors, living in seclusion, whose abilities in battles are legendary. The world building is really nice and takes your imagination to amazing places. Combine this with an awkward, introvert and insecure boy who gets swallowed into the greatest adventure of his life, one which is too big for him to understand at a time, but he grows and shows his worth and true power. Definitely recommend this book</em><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">.”—Lia Goodreads review</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Book Information</span></u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong>October 10, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> St. Barts Publishing</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-1737277804; 294 pages; $9.99; E-Book, FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3ooqGwz" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3ooqGwz</a></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Book Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;">The towering stone Castle Maol, the
unrivaled seat of power in the Kingdom of Skye, sat inland almost bereft of
life. </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once known for its inspirational beauty, Skye’s forests and meadows
were more barren than green now, enveloped by stillness instead of bustling
wildlife. Lakes and waterways once teeming with marine life lay stagnant. Most
of those who lived here survived under gray clouds of despair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Several of the eldest knew of the prophecy that would return the
land to its prior golden age and quietly hoped it was true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="CSP-ChapterTitle" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: .25in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Only a handful knew the secret that would allow the prophecy to
come true. They refused to speak of it. </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>________________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2m_8uglz1UvDftfigRKnBboTn67un0U76YmZiWxitjv-Mm611V9XyEaxrHtcuOqmra6ECX7EzmBsQqdnbsG1TtSBzq2ud-C7b7YPKTq_OH3HmUfZ3dK6PpReDef0R_woDjK3P42-EWf2E0Rj4pEujz6lF4Fr9q6iVYGSAd5uGZCQWkpif3hVeA42Iw/s468/D.A.%20Mucci%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2m_8uglz1UvDftfigRKnBboTn67un0U76YmZiWxitjv-Mm611V9XyEaxrHtcuOqmra6ECX7EzmBsQqdnbsG1TtSBzq2ud-C7b7YPKTq_OH3HmUfZ3dK6PpReDef0R_woDjK3P42-EWf2E0Rj4pEujz6lF4Fr9q6iVYGSAd5uGZCQWkpif3hVeA42Iw/s320/D.A.%20Mucci%202.jpg" width="243" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Months of self-induced isolation to protect loved ones from exposure to Covid-19 led Emergency Medicine Physician <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://damucci.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">David Mucci</a></strong> to create a fantasy world as an outlet to manage pandemic stress and support his own mental health. The resulting novel, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ooqGwz" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw</a></em></strong> (St. Bart’s Publishing, October 2021), tells the tale of an impossible mission led by an unlikely hero – a relatable feeling for many figuring out how to survive unprecedented circumstances in 2020.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Accustomed to acting quickly to save a life or manage an urgent health situation by applying the knowledge and experience gained over his nearly 40 years in emergency medicine, Dr. Mucci deeply felt the impact of the pandemic in the ER.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“Amongst widespread unknowns, without comparable experiences to help manage patient outcomes while trying to keep up on ever-changing medical news to treat suffering patients, the pandemic was a higher level of stress to endure. Coupled with the deep fear of bringing a deadly virus into my home after ER shifts, I needed to dig deeper than TV binges or reading books to cope and to remember the potential each person has to be a hero in everyday life,” said Mucci.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">The product of his creative outlet is the coming-of-age story of 15-year-old Ignatius, “Iggy”, who is thrown into a world of unknowns, transported to a medieval world filled with magic. Based on research of myths and legends, Mucci created The Kingdom of Skye, the setting for Iggy to develop special powers and accomplish quests to fight evildoers and find his way home.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">According to Mucci, Iggy must learn to trust a diverse set of characters but also learn to believe in himself and grow; much like as a medical provider, Mucci had to trust himself, trust his colleagues and learn how to adapt during the pandemic.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">The first in a planned 5-part series, <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3ooqGwz" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Ignatius and the Swords of Nostaw</a></em></strong> is YA fantasy suitable for both teens and adults as it gently reminds readers that they are responsible for their own destiny, and that sometimes the most unexpected people can be the best teachers.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">At 67 years old writing a YA Lit fantasy series, Mucci is also proving that there is no limit for being creative. “The only limitation is the one that you place on yourself and on your imagination,” says Mucci.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Visit his website at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://damucci.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://damucci.com</a></strong> or connect with him on<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/da.mucci.3" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong>.</span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-3269067803572571322022-06-06T21:00:00.000-07:002022-06-06T21:00:00.197-07:00My Book Launch: The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith<p> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaOmWrVOkdA8Ujnujx9niil9SYBXjxvtUPT3yesqnoEC8ul1HqcJush5XaF51zUh7Q4Y4EcAIwo6J9Q0eRyjRIGJ7bkTtSxaaONMB78jspi3D0h3QRC3H11fusTm3N5XJ-G45jk-m5QDLAeFyfOiRQtwjlQhliq-AauVT5ibz8s1-kX3XsY-CILBSGg/s597/The%20Urban%20Boys%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaOmWrVOkdA8Ujnujx9niil9SYBXjxvtUPT3yesqnoEC8ul1HqcJush5XaF51zUh7Q4Y4EcAIwo6J9Q0eRyjRIGJ7bkTtSxaaONMB78jspi3D0h3QRC3H11fusTm3N5XJ-G45jk-m5QDLAeFyfOiRQtwjlQhliq-AauVT5ibz8s1-kX3XsY-CILBSGg/s320/The%20Urban%20Boys%202.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">K.N. Smith</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">Two Petals Publishing</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;">340 pp.</span></span><br style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;" /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">YA / Urban Fantasy </span></span><div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Welcome or unwelcome. Fate has arrived.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“A captivating and poetic tale of mystery, fantasy, and reality tied together by action!” 5-stars, Lars Jackson, Amazon Customer</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">A suspenseful incident in a forbidden preserve heightens the senses of five friends. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become super-gifts that forever change the world. But furious battles confront the boys as they try to understand their sensory super powers in a race to save mankind. With light beings and mysterious strangers complicating their plight, will the boys defeat the evil Druth before it’s too late? Get prepared for the twisting and grinding of this award-winning, action-adventure story — an edge-of-your-seat narrative for young and mature readers alike.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“Brilliantly crafted and written!” – <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Megan King, Indie Book Reviewers</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“An energetic adventure debut with stellar action sequences. Smith’s writing is intelligent and often lyrical. Her exuberant prose never fails to dazzle.” – <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kirkus Media</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“Author K.N. Smith uses her mastery of the written word to weave an entrancing, yet powerful tale of adventure that keeps you turning pages in an unquenchable desire to find out what happens next.” – <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publishers Daily Reviews</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Book Information</span></u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">September 29, 2015</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Two Petals Publishing</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-0989474757; 340 pages; $12.95; E-Book, $2.99</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Available for Purchase in Paperback & Kindle at <a href="http://www.books2read.com/knsmith" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">www.books2read.com/knsmith</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Book Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;"><b><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;">FROM CHAPTER 3</span></b><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"> - Soft
swirls of light rose, dissipating <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">as they spoke. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.9pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“The others are capable, but they need our help. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Peace will not come easily. We must give them <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">strength.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: -.75pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.7pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“Druth will destroy our home. He will hurt the gifted <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">ones if the nectar finds him.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“They will not survive him.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.9pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“The others must seek the will for survival. They <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">must understand their own power.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.9pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">A transient suspension held the beings in the <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">preserve. Faint flecks of light dotted the landscape. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: -.75pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.7pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“In these two worlds, our ideas converge, yet <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">collide.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“He must be stopped!” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“It is true.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“Naculea must endure.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“It is chosen.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 13.9pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Now resting upon the succulent, running rich with the <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">life-giving nectar, the beings absorbed its energy, <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">glowing as bright as the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Thirst became a distant need yet again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“We must warn… the one.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“The one who sees.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 13.7pt; margin-right: 2.25pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“The one who sees and hears much.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">“It is the only way.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 125%; margin-bottom: .25pt; margin-left: 14.2pt; margin-right: 2.3pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5pt;"><span lang="EN-PH" style="line-height: 125%;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Final clicks faded into silence.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>________________________</b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><a href="http://www.knsmith.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzGMGnRpRYqn2jcWgaX77UwT5pL7JzszXHiTlzz7-bZhBIDD7igveUIZJAxPkrJVDwt221lx9JYxaPBQyG7kKbjuxa-Ts2Hs5PfTZMIfgOkkm5_0X_4zlXu9N0nCIHFCGNoswwh7RsZ6AjMNoBU17HzpS5Hs95ZCtpovWtTWU2tKAEhaywsNQwEt27w/s480/K.N.%20Smith%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="384" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzGMGnRpRYqn2jcWgaX77UwT5pL7JzszXHiTlzz7-bZhBIDD7igveUIZJAxPkrJVDwt221lx9JYxaPBQyG7kKbjuxa-Ts2Hs5PfTZMIfgOkkm5_0X_4zlXu9N0nCIHFCGNoswwh7RsZ6AjMNoBU17HzpS5Hs95ZCtpovWtTWU2tKAEhaywsNQwEt27w/s320/K.N.%20Smith%202.png" width="256" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville;"><span style="font-size: medium;">K.N. Smith</span><span style="font-size: medium;">, winner of the “Best of” in the category of “Outstanding Young Adult Novel” at the Jessie Redmon Fauset Book Awards, is an author and passionate advocate of literacy and arts programs throughout the world. Her lyrical flair sweeps across pages that twist and grind through action-adventure and urban fantasy in edge-of-your-seat narratives. K.N. has over twenty-five years’ experience in communications and creative design as an award-winning consultant. Reading is still her foremost hobby. K.N. inspires people of all ages to reach their highest potential in their creative, educational, and life pursuits.</span></span><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">Her latest book is the YA Action Adventure/YA Thriller/Urban Fantasy/Mystery/Thriller DISCOVERY OF THE FIVE SENSES (The Urban Boys Book 1).</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Libre Baskerville; font-size: medium;">You can visit her website at <a href="http://www.knsmith.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">www.KNSmith.com</a> or connect with her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorknsmith" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a><span>.</span></span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-82905953422682208712022-05-22T21:00:00.001-07:002022-05-22T21:00:00.195-07:00My Book Launch: Ticket To Ride by Winona Kent<p style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX05RFImqGCyNSi7IBvH44bHdPVroiF3bji6UZ9n8cgGoCaM4PcMhQQ5YIRBDSD_WYQlP6jQFAKBnZ-2HzeuAzLfhg2wkp7eO-yB6a79sh8hZB2AIqnqDJ6bBGqxHynx4Y_nSFQuQ33-ErIyJETOQH_v3whiOewYubwNySZV8ETuU9vzZ7p2E84cLKA/s1750/Ticket%20to%20Ride%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1139" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoX05RFImqGCyNSi7IBvH44bHdPVroiF3bji6UZ9n8cgGoCaM4PcMhQQ5YIRBDSD_WYQlP6jQFAKBnZ-2HzeuAzLfhg2wkp7eO-yB6a79sh8hZB2AIqnqDJ6bBGqxHynx4Y_nSFQuQ33-ErIyJETOQH_v3whiOewYubwNySZV8ETuU9vzZ7p2E84cLKA/s320/Ticket%20to%20Ride%20lg.jpg" width="208" /></a></b></div><b><br />Title</b>:
TICKET TO RIDE<br />
<b>Author</b>: Winona Kent<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Blue Devil Books<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 230<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Mystery / Amateur Sleuth<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b>BOOK BLURB:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In <i>Lost Time</i>, the third book in Winona’s Jason Davey Mystery
series, professional musician / amateur sleuth Jason Davey was rehearsing for
Figgis Green's 50th Anniversary Tour of England. Now they're on the road in Ms.
Kent’s fourth book in the series, <b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3i0xRqY">Ticket
To Ride</a></i></b>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But when a fortune-teller in Sheffield warns them of
impending danger, the band is suddenly plagued by a series of
seemingly-unrelated mishaps.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After Jason is attacked and nearly killed in Cambridge, and
a fire alarm results in a very personal theft from Mandy's hotel room, it
becomes clear they're being targeted by someone with a serious grudge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And when Figgis Green plays a gig at a private estate in
Tunbridge Wells, that person finally makes their deadly intentions known.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jason must rely on his instincts, his Instagram
"guardian angel," and a wartime ghost who might possibly share his
DNA, in order to survive.</p>
<p style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Book Information</span></u></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Release Date: </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; font-weight: normal; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">March 26, 2022</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Publisher:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Blue
Devil Books<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Soft Cover:</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">978-1777329433</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;">; 230 pages; $15.70; E-Book, $3.93<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Amazon: <a name="_Hlk98938961"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/3i0xRqY"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk98938961;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">https://amzn.to/3i0xRqY</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk98938961;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk98938961;">
</span></span></strong><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk98938961;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Book Excerpt:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterTitle"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Garamond",serif;">CHAPTER
FIVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Garamond",serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly;">
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<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText-FirstParagraph" style="line-height: 37.1pt; mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-linespan: 3; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: dropcap-dropped; mso-height-rule: exactly; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; page-break-after: avoid; vertical-align: baseline;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 52.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-text-raise: -4.5pt;">I<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText-FirstParagraph"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had a sort-of day-of-routine that I followed
on show days. I showered and shaved at the hotel, then I walked ‘round to the
sound check at the theatre (or took a taxi, if we were staying more than twenty
minutes away). Dinner followed the sound check, and then there was a period of
waiting around to perform—which, for me, usually involved a ciggie or two out
back with Tejo, a packet of M&M’s for that all-important additional sugar
boost, a mug of coffee, some conversations on Instagram, and a personal tour of
the venue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I tried not to vary the routine
too much. I wasn</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t
superstitious. Oh all right, maybe I was.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I’d taken it easy during the
sound check. Playing the guitar wasn’t a problem. But singing was absolute
torture, so I’d decided to preserve my voice and I’d got Bob to stand in for me
while Tejo tested my mic levels.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">An empty theatre before a show
always gives me a sense of something privileged and exclusive. I used to feel
the same way when I was at sea and wandering around the <i>Sapphire</i> at two
in the morning, when all the passengers were asleep and the decks were
deserted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">The Pantheon was gorgeous inside
and its predominant colour—like the colour in a lot of those old nineteenth century
theatres—was red. Rich red upholstery on the seats, flocked red wallpaper, a
decorative scarlet curtain with gold tassels and fringes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I hiked up the stairs to the gods
and stood on my own at the very top, gazing down the steep pitch to the stage,
where all our instruments had been set up by Kato, our equipment manager. Kato
was an interesting addition to the crew—a female in a role that had always been
traditionally male. She had short blonde hair and large teeth and she was
gregariously friendly when she wasn</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t insulting me.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Old English music halls were
designed by architects who weren’t all that worried about health and safety.
Their main concern was the audience’s sight line, and because of that, the
railings at the bottom front of the balcony were usually less than three feet
high.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I was standing in Row A, acutely
aware that all that was between me and a drop of about thirty feet into the
stalls was that slim brass rail that didn</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t even reach my waist. Suddenly, I had
the creepiest feeling that I was being watched.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">And along with that came a sudden
and dramatic paralytic fear. I’m not afraid of heights, but Mitch is. And I
remember him explaining to me that his wasn’t so much the fear of being so high
up, as it was the fear of not being able to control himself if he was suddenly
seized by an irrational desire to jump.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">It was exactly that fear I was
experiencing. I was terrified to move. Someone was behind me. I could feel their
eyes burning into my back. And what overtook my imagination was my only means
of escape—leaping over that railing.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">It was, of course, utterly ridiculous.
I shoved my phone into my jeans pocket and grabbed hold of the brass rail with
both hands and gripped it, tight, focusing my attention on my Strat, propped up
on its stand on the stage below.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I listened to my pounding heart
and my breathing and the silence all around me. Whoever was behind me wasn</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t making a sound. And then…it
was over. They left. I didn’t hear them, didn’t see them…but I sensed it.
They’d gone.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I let go of the railing and
backed up the stairs, gripping the arms of the seats. At the top, when I felt
safe, I turned around. And I saw them: two grotesques, fixed to the back wall,
laughing at me.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">At first glance you</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’d have thought they were
cherubs, fashioned out of white marble, the sort of thing you’d find decorating
a chapel. But no, these were not in the least cherubic. In fact they reminded
me of those drama masks, Comedy and Tragedy. Which was probably what they were
intended to portray.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">But both of them had completely
twisted faces and they frightened the life out of me.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Perhaps it was just my state of
mind.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Perhaps it was just the Benylin.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">But I had the creepiest feeling
they weren</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t the
only ones who’d been in the balcony with me just then.</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Our caterers were another luxury
provided by my mother, who had less-than-enthusiastic recollections of tours,
back in the day, fuelled by a never-ending menu of cold chicken sandwiches.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Roadworks wasn’t a big outfit,
but the two ladies who ran it—Mary and Janice—were event veterans. And they’d
stepped in at the last minute when our original firm, Up the Hill, had to pull
out of the tour due to a family emergency.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Mary and Janice drove their own
truck and fitted everything into flight cases, which they rolled on and off at
each of our venues. They came complete with their own portable chairs and
tables and tablecloths, disposable stuff—napkins, tin foil, plastic wrap, paper
towels—and compostables—our meals were all served on fabulous bamboo plates
with matching knives, forks and spoons which were completely recyclable.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">They were dab hands at doing the
local scout for fresh food and then getting everything set up and cooked in
time to feed our little entourage—and whoever else we might have had dropping
in as special guests.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">They served dinner backstage after
our sound check on show nights, using whatever empty space could accommodate
us. They provided handwritten menus and cuisine lovingly prepared with fresh
ingredients from local markets.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">That night, we had a crab starter,
goat cheese ravioli and a raw spinach salad with honey Dijon dressing. And to
finish, raspberry and almond tarts and a little bowls of custard topped with
Devon cream and blueberries.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“You all right?” Rolly asked, as
I helped myself to the ravioli.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“I’ve been better,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">My experience in the theatre had
rattled me. I suppose it showed.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Cheer up,” Rolly said, adding an
extra serving of ravioli to his plate. “We’ve got a sellout crowd tonight.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“We’ve got a sellout crowd every
night,” I said, opting for two bowls of spinach salad to make sure I was
staving off tour scurvy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">It wasn’t until I was deciding
between the raspberry and almond tart and the custard with Devon cream and
blueberries, that my mother decided to tell me about the anonymous message
someone had left on her phone that afternoon.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“On your mobile?” I said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“On the phone in my hotel room,”
she replied. “While I was out shopping.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“What did they say?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“They informed me that we were
lucky not to have been killed by the gargoyle. Had a little rant about the
state of the country. And told me to watch out.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Sorry?” I said. “You’ve received
a threat?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“I suppose you might call it
that,” my mother replied, helping herself to the custard and blueberries. “It
might just have been a nutter, blowing off steam. I haven’t deleted it. Come
back to my room after the show and have a listen.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB">#<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I don’t really get nervous before
a performance. I used to, but I’ve done it so often now, especially at the Blue
Devil, that it’s second nature to me. What I do get is a little adrenaline kick
just before I go on. And I don’t mind admitting that I love the attention, the
applause, the feeling of connecting with an audience that I know has come
specifically to see us. I love their affection. I love the feeling I get
knowing that they want to hear us—me—play. I suppose they feed my sense of
accomplishment and my ego. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I crave their
validation. But I grew up in the spotlight. And because I had well-known
musical parents, I was always going to be put under the microscope and comparisons
were always going to be made.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I gave up trying to compete with
their legacy a long time ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">The Figs weren</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t—and never have been—a
high-tech act. No lasers or </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">Live and Let Die</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> pyros, no huge screen up the rear with rolling cameras on tracks in
the pit, no complex SFX and multi-level stages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">No multiple trucks filled with
rigs and hundreds of rolling flight cases, either. We had a single van for all
our equipment and it was driven by Kato, who also took care of moving our gear
on and offstage and setting it all up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Our stage was decorated simply,
with a series of long curtains suspended from rods, and for lighting we used
the permanent spots supplied by the venue, plus a couple of extras that we</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’d brought along to enhance
the mood during some of our songs. We had wedgies in front of us and amps in
the back and Tejo with his trusty mixing board to make us sound excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I’d like to say that night’s show
went well and without incident. But that wouldn’t be true.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Our gigs usually ran to about two
and a half hours. Eight tunes in the first set list, a thirty minute interval,
then another nine tunes and the two encores. Figgis Green’s songs have never
been long, drawn-out affairs. Quick and to the point for maximum radio play,
relaxed a little for live shows. And we were sticking to the familiar versions
of nearly everything.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">We’d come back from our break and
had played through the first three songs, “Viaggio Italiano” (which was a jaunty
tale based on a nightmare vacation my dad’s sister had taken with her husband
in the 1970s, with rollicking riffs from the first movement of Mendelssohn’s <i>Italian
Symphony</i> thrown in for good measure)<i>; </i>“Jay-Jay,” which was a lazy,
slow shuffle jazz piece that my dad had composed about me (and which was,
secretly, my favourite tune in the show); and “Four Strong Winds,” the Ian and
Sylvia classic where I sang the lead vocal and mum joined me on the chorus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Mum has always loved the
loneliness and futility in the lyrics describing the end of a love affair—and
though she</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’s
never been to Alberta, she believes wholeheartedly in Ian Tyson’s claim that
the weather’s good there in the fall. (I </span><i><span lang="EN-GB">have</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> been to Northern Alberta and I can tell you, reliably and without any
word of a lie, that it</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’s very fucking cold in the middle of February, never mind the fall.)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">We’d finished “Four Strong Winds”
and I was beginning to swelter under the lights. I think I may have had <i>Helix
Aspersa Muller</i> dripping off my face and onto my guitar. I really hoped
Janice and Mary weren’t planning on serving escargot anytime soon. I hated to think
I might be chowing down on one of my humanely-farmed certified organic facial
product’s cousins.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">We started “The Fog’s Lament,”
which my parents had always claimed was an old English folk song, but in fact
they’d made the whole thing up, cleverly creating lyrics that sounded like
something a fair damsel stuck in a medieval turret would have dreamed about as
she waited to be rescued by a lusty knight.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">And, as I waited for a break in
my fingering so I could wipe the sweat out of my eyes, there was a commotion
down in the front row.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Our audiences were fond of
getting up to dance during our more energetic songs, and </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“The Fog’s Lament” was very
definitely one of those.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">You can’t really make out a lot
from the stage when the spots are on—they essentially blind you. You can see
the general shapes of people but you can’t really single out their faces. But
we all saw someone keeling over and not moving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">We stopped the show and waited
while the person was brought ‘round and then helped up and taken out to the foyer
by a couple of guys from Security. It looked like a woman, and, while she was
able to walk, she was very unsteady on her feet.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">After the show, in the foyer, we
signed things and chatted and glad-handed and posed for pictures, but nobody
had any news about the woman, whether she</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’d been able to leave on her own or had
been taken to the hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Afterwards, still buzzing and not
nearly tired enough to sleep, we all walked back to the hotel and gathered in
my mother</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’s room
to listen to her message.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Well, hello, Mandy.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">The voice was female.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“About that gargoyle. Weren’t you
the lucky ones, eh? You could have been killed. Or Jason.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">She wasn</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’t wrong.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Accident waiting to happen, if
you ask me. Shoddy workmanship. Bloody foreigners coming over here, taking all
our jobs, lowering the standards.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">There was a pause.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“Or maybe it was deliberate. There’s a thought, eh? The perfect murder.
You never know, do you? You’d best watch out.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Click.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I studied the phone. It had a
little screen in it and lots of buttons you could press to see a record of who
rang you and who left messages. The sort of phone that often confounded my
mother, who grew up and lived a good portion of her life in an era when you
just lifted the receiver when you heard the double-ring and you said hello and
that was that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I pressed the buttons and read
the information. Mum had only received the one call. In fact, that was the only
call she</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">’d got all
day—because anyone who knew my mother personally knew the best way to reach her
was on her mobile.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">The little screen on the phone
didn’t reveal the number of the caller and it didn’t provide a name.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">In the old days, hotels had
switchboards and operators. These days it’s all conference bridging and VOIP,
virtual receptionists and in-room checkout.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Don’t you think we should report
this to the police?” Beth asked, doubtfully.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“Not worth their time,” mum
replied. “I’m not even sure it’s a crime. A crank call, yes. But it’s not
really a threat, is it?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“It’s an implied threat,” I said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">“It’s not,” mum said. “I think we
can safely delete the message and say goodnight.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">I stopped her from erasing it
until I’d played it again and recorded it on my phone.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="CSP-ChapterBodyText"><span lang="EN-GB">Just in case.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b>________________________</b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.winonakent.com/"></a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAna0jTTVkESJBiflMS-TNprgsLHqCfZe1DyFFXtpPGAlPplmSaChytbeVNlicr14cUW8iBYyJ1DX7Rh1ThgHdB024oW9abCbOuKsTrBJvTOLe4H5QtRO_fPzifwKbBWQk4CHeSj8e9SZFP7wMOhI2EBzdUQTzS7_gGoFro25NJDk9egNs_pzxylrz4Q/s983/Winona%20Kent%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="675" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAna0jTTVkESJBiflMS-TNprgsLHqCfZe1DyFFXtpPGAlPplmSaChytbeVNlicr14cUW8iBYyJ1DX7Rh1ThgHdB024oW9abCbOuKsTrBJvTOLe4H5QtRO_fPzifwKbBWQk4CHeSj8e9SZFP7wMOhI2EBzdUQTzS7_gGoFro25NJDk9egNs_pzxylrz4Q/s320/Winona%20Kent%20lg.jpg" width="220" /></a></b></div><b>Winona Kent</b>
is an award-winning author who was born in London, England and grew up in
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where she completed her BA in English at the
University of Regina. After moving to Vancouver, she graduated from UBC with an
MFA in Creative Writing. More recently, she received her diploma in Writing for
Screen and TV from Vancouver Film School.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Winona's writing breakthrough came many years ago when she
won First Prize in the Flare Magazine Fiction Contest with her short story
about an all-night radio newsman, <i>Tower of Power</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Her spy novel <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Skywatcher-Winona-Kent-ebook/dp/B08CY7PCJ7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20QQ2NALLE92&keywords=winona+kent+skywatcher&qid=1646339097&sprefix=winona+kent+sky+watcher%2Caps%2C88&sr=8-1">Skywatcher</a></i></b>
was a finalist in the Seal Books First Novel Competition and was published in
1989. This was followed by a sequel, <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D66HV22/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2">The
Cilla Rose Affair</a></i></b>, and her first mystery, <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083TC45Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i10">Cold
Play</a></i></b>, set aboard a cruise ship in Alaska.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After three time-travel romances (<b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08D74735M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0">Persistence
of Memory</a></i></b><i>, <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08DC6DV8H/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3">In
Loving Memory</a></b></i> and <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BDQ1NBX/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i8">Marianne's
Memory</a></i></b>), Winona returned to mysteries with <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07864GT6N/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i9">Disturbing
the Peace</a></i></b>, a novella, in 2017 and the novel <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TWFBB62/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7">Notes
on a Missing G-String</a></i></b> in 2019, both featuring the character she
first introduced in <i>Cold Play</i>, professional jazz musician / amateur
sleuth Jason Davey.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The third book in Winona's Jason Davey Mystery series, <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GH5S5VG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i5">Lost
Time</a></i></b>, was published in 2020.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3i0xRqY">Ticket to Ride</a></i></b>
is the fourth book in Winona’s Jason Davey Mysteries.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Winona has been a temporary secretary, a travel agent, a screenwriter
and the Managing Editor of a literary magazine. She’s currently the BC/YK/NWT
rep for the Crime Writers of Canada and is also an active member of Sisters n
Crime – Canada West. She recently retired from her full-time admin job at UBC’s
School of Population and Public Health, and is now happily embracing life as a
full-time author.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can visit her website at <b><a href="http://www.winonakent.com/">http://www.winonakent.com</a></b> and connect
with her on <b><a href="http://www.twitter.com/winonakent">Twitter</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/winonakentauthor">Facebook</a></b> and <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468117.Winona_Kent">Goodreads</a></b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-12340252295042989402022-05-15T21:00:00.001-07:002022-05-15T21:00:00.191-07:00Book Launch Q&A: Judy Serrano Author of Unorganized Crime #booklaunch<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj41dMPfrCB8AT7pErcsdT7L8xeffhnyg_PUIUae-2hiqCC5a5VwMjhXPRVDuksZbxgSE16L2R1k4hUX__yYksL0RWuSxCAu9y7BGc-9_2yDmyeh-hDtQEAzOcKLJXx6HGzDP29kWCviHDcWMWT1twH3MHndAjISIp0XS-7b0ewk-ixvhJMdxxRhlFBbA=s426" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj41dMPfrCB8AT7pErcsdT7L8xeffhnyg_PUIUae-2hiqCC5a5VwMjhXPRVDuksZbxgSE16L2R1k4hUX__yYksL0RWuSxCAu9y7BGc-9_2yDmyeh-hDtQEAzOcKLJXx6HGzDP29kWCviHDcWMWT1twH3MHndAjISIp0XS-7b0ewk-ixvhJMdxxRhlFBbA=s320" width="260" /></a></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Judy Serrano</strong> graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a master’s degree in English. She is the owner of Make Cents Editing Services, is an English teacher at a local high school, and an adjunct professor at a local junior college. Judy writes romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and Mafia romance novels. She is the author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Judy-Serrano/e/B004YRGTYG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1645032200&sr=1-1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Easter’s Lilly Series, The Linked Series, Ivy Vines Visions</strong></a><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">,</strong> and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Bq8uru" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Unorganized Crime</em></strong></a>. Although originally from New York, she lives in Texas with her husband and near her four boys. In her spare time, Judy plays guitar and sings at her church, and dotes on her fur babies.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;">You can visit her website at</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">https://www.judyserrano.com/</strong></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;">or connect with her on</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/AuthorJSerrano" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Twitter</strong></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;">and</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JudySerranoAuthor" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-align: left; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Facebook</strong></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); text-align: left;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>After your book was released, what was the first thing you did when getting ready for your book launch? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I posted the book all over my social media. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>After that, what was your next step? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I tried to get people to review it for me. I have a pretty loyal following, and they often volunteer to read for me. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you do anything different to spice up your website in lieu of your upcoming book release? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Yes. It is front and center on my website as the “new release.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote your book or did you prefer the DIY route? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I do it myself. However, I am considering hiring someone. I am a teacher, and time is hard to come by. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how did you approach that?</b> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Reviews are the way to sell books. Unfortunately, finding someone to review isn’t as easy as it used to be. Many bloggers prefer author interviews, and as time goes on, the upcoming generation isn’t reading as much. I did ask my current tour company to get me as many reviews as possible. Once the reader gets engaged, it’s hard to put the book down.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your views on social media for marketing your book?</b> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">That is how I do it. I have found that Facebook and Twitter are the most successful means. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you have other books you offered for free in order to help sell your present book? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I have 11 books published on Amazon. Yes, giving away your other books is a great way to get attention. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you set up book signings and, if so, how did that work for you? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I have done book signings before. I usually sell one or two books when I do. I need to get back into that.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Did you time your book launch around a certain holiday? </b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only time I tried to do that was with my book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easter’s Lilly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I wanted to release it around Easter, but it ended up being a December release. It worked out well because many people bought it as a Christmas gift for their loved ones who were avid readers. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful book launch?</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Giving away free books is always a great idea. Do some book signings, post the book launch all over your social media, and try to get some ARC (Advanced Reader Copies) reviewed. You can put the review of the books in the front few pages. Find someone you know gives good tours, and maybe investigate them a little if you’ve never used them before. Check other authors who have used them. Last but not least, GET YOURSELF REVIEWS! Reviews sell books. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6XadlUjbUfuX-AB5od2Na1Bw75XVrMlv69Zxo_iuF86Xg4R5-V_TlOl2fY1SAapa5rrnJ0lxucE2WzVWgyjE5uvIDqFSOfE91EGFUBWB3OpaBRYdsQlP7uqdJocAMuUdzDdlg9oKucZgj2zv6aTIZ30ZVItdMki8-0PZxzj7WEv3T6_lyA_7ohOPnMA=s654" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="654" data-original-width="486" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6XadlUjbUfuX-AB5od2Na1Bw75XVrMlv69Zxo_iuF86Xg4R5-V_TlOl2fY1SAapa5rrnJ0lxucE2WzVWgyjE5uvIDqFSOfE91EGFUBWB3OpaBRYdsQlP7uqdJocAMuUdzDdlg9oKucZgj2zv6aTIZ30ZVItdMki8-0PZxzj7WEv3T6_lyA_7ohOPnMA=w476-h640" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title</strong>: UNORGANIZED CRIME<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author</strong>: Judy Serrano<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher</strong>: 6K Publishing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre</strong>: Historical Romance/WW2/Romantic Suspense</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">As Jazz finds herself falling from a helicopter, Gage St. Claire comes to her rescue. Organized crime is once again the culprit of her parents’ situation, and as usual, she is caught in the crossfire. Gage pulls her out of the water and helps her escape to safety. The love between them is undiscovered as he tries to leave her behind in an attempt to keep her safe and move forward with his black ops pursuit. Jazz becomes an undercover cop with wiping out organized crime forever as her goal. After Jazz exposes one of the largest crime families in the country, quite by accident, she is hired to expose crime syndicate leader Michael Giambetti Jr., otherwise known as Achilles. Achilles earned his nickname because he has no weaknesses. He has no weaknesses, that is until he meets Jazz. Achilles has been untouchable, and if she were to break this case, she could finally prove herself as a serious undercover officer. Her job is not an easy one, and people around her are not who they appear to be. Will Gage come back for Jazz, or will he be lost to her forever? Will she crack the case on her own? Read as this courageous upstart stumbles through another adventure.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Book Information</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Release Date: July 7, 2020</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> 6K Publishing</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 979-8655914537; 220 pages; $10.99; E-Book, $2.99</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3Bq8uru" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Bq8uru</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd1iC3XCaVMSo7_tivvjHnmI8hhuxGjBsdL_WcSAFEEvtFCpOh5CU810ZfcTHAqLYvPYUvQq8wMD3qui3aZg1kAVlnNZCy53iEQ3lFVbRhjZHF_9RiSicFPAI6Wyld-ckezLnq3BONZomGDIn9imEBoFxU1wRoHJmvX_FUWjIoOjPapssRIOfqNhaTNQ=s646" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="646" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd1iC3XCaVMSo7_tivvjHnmI8hhuxGjBsdL_WcSAFEEvtFCpOh5CU810ZfcTHAqLYvPYUvQq8wMD3qui3aZg1kAVlnNZCy53iEQ3lFVbRhjZHF_9RiSicFPAI6Wyld-ckezLnq3BONZomGDIn9imEBoFxU1wRoHJmvX_FUWjIoOjPapssRIOfqNhaTNQ=w400-h108" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-55325812927227340392022-05-10T21:00:00.001-07:002022-05-10T21:00:00.187-07:00My Book Launch: They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark #booklaunch<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkKcXg9IE9U2KP6tFBA3Wx5uN7RDOgNLiK3BqgU3IS9scXEm_ZN_DNKjgznf45Ms4rKRySqVcPQzU_tcgbZ6vPWEtPaCeVVejwqJRhs4mbvpHgbnhus6yhHNuZHpAkUIsJ1IVS8BizHgvrrzfNPSM6QmJu3l-QgB-QyKalt23CVUv-qegI-dT-5XD0Q/s640/They%20Called%20Him%20Marvin%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkKcXg9IE9U2KP6tFBA3Wx5uN7RDOgNLiK3BqgU3IS9scXEm_ZN_DNKjgznf45Ms4rKRySqVcPQzU_tcgbZ6vPWEtPaCeVVejwqJRhs4mbvpHgbnhus6yhHNuZHpAkUIsJ1IVS8BizHgvrrzfNPSM6QmJu3l-QgB-QyKalt23CVUv-qegI-dT-5XD0Q/w640-h480/They%20Called%20Him%20Marvin%2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH4bfxQdldIxLek6ukRM1s5hINqg_eeimb6juWjxuaMRX9rjqtW7HDBIEduzzLyqMcQCt1beK5J7hiCke5PXuPxJtAVBkvR_jwRgFJE2il3vkxpBkSfu5ZZhKswiHquaGG-MtCQURuiFuTzb0H-USga-1WjVn1Y_5ot4u_jJP4qBo_qbAq5QlcpGNwg/s916/They%20Called%20Him%20Marvin%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="609" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH4bfxQdldIxLek6ukRM1s5hINqg_eeimb6juWjxuaMRX9rjqtW7HDBIEduzzLyqMcQCt1beK5J7hiCke5PXuPxJtAVBkvR_jwRgFJE2il3vkxpBkSfu5ZZhKswiHquaGG-MtCQURuiFuTzb0H-USga-1WjVn1Y_5ot4u_jJP4qBo_qbAq5QlcpGNwg/s320/They%20Called%20Him%20Marvin%20lg.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>18-year-old Pvt Dean Sherman goes to church with a friend in Salt Lake City. He meets 16-year-old Connie that will become his wife. After Pearl Harbor Dean applies for pilot training and is accepted. Dean joins Connie’s Mormon Church and they secretly become engaged.<p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">By the time Dean has commissioned a pilot, Connie is 18 and they marry and are together for a year and a half before he ships out as an Airplane Commander of a B-29. Connie is pregnant with their son, Marvin.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">A Japanese family is introduced, the Kyoshis. She is an important member of the Community Council he is a builder of water guns used in fighting fires and is the neighborhood fire captain. A son Reo will go off to war and train as a fighter pilot. 12-year-old Son Riku has a reappearing role in the story concerning the B-29’s bombing of Japan. They also have 6-year-old twin sisters that are sent to Hiroshima early in the story for their safety.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The crew of 44-69966 arrives in India after a month of flying. Letters start arriving for Connie. Discussion of the B-29s development of strategic purposes is explained.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">In Japan Reo Kyoshi goes off to war and the Firebombing of Tokyo occurs. 15 Square miles burned down to the sidewalks. 100,000 casualties and a million people homeless. The Kyoshi survive the conflagration but lose their home.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Marvin is born. Dean returns to duty and his plane is transferred to the Marianna Islands in the Pacific. Some 67 love letters are exchanged between Dean and Connie.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Dean’s plane is shot down over Nagoya Japan, the crew is captured and sent to Tokai Army Headquarters. Connie keeps writing letters that cannot be delivered. She has no idea he is in a Japanese prison.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Prison conditions are horrible, beatings and interrogations constant. Connie receives the war department telegram listing Dean as MIA.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">A sham trial is conducted the crew is found guilty and their sentence is carried out the next day.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Almost 50 years later, Dean comes to Connie in a dream/vision and confirms his love for her and that they will yet have a life together.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Information</u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">September 1, 2021</strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Silver Star Publishing</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-0578855288; 333 pages; $17.43; E-Book, $2.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Goodreads:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD</a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3JsqVi1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3JsqVi1</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">IndieBound:</strong> <a href="https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3BnQYnD</a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Barnes & Noble</strong>: <a href="https://bit.ly/3Lv4sD3" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bit.ly/3Lv4sD3</a></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><h3 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: helvetica_condensedmedium; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: center;">_______________________</h3><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWYIyxzdpzmr8A8ZCD_mSiDiSmYp5iNaXw_XyfJIi1XEU2zZeoRnUZe_CE1rIeJHI3VENiFvAAKxntCYGg1VIfIu3LokE6u1O-Xv4yRkVnsYTLZNs0sEUa9-Hza-fTQ98QV-eqq2KElAFNxKFp_9FILmVZD5Ugfv_Mk8fTAcjUqApxR--vpbyanIErA/s960/Roger%20Stark%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWYIyxzdpzmr8A8ZCD_mSiDiSmYp5iNaXw_XyfJIi1XEU2zZeoRnUZe_CE1rIeJHI3VENiFvAAKxntCYGg1VIfIu3LokE6u1O-Xv4yRkVnsYTLZNs0sEUa9-Hza-fTQ98QV-eqq2KElAFNxKFp_9FILmVZD5Ugfv_Mk8fTAcjUqApxR--vpbyanIErA/s320/Roger%20Stark%20lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am, by my admission, a reluctant writer. But some stories demand to be told. When we hear them, we must pick up our pen, lest we forget and the stories are lost.<p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">Six years ago, in a quiet conversation with my friend Marvin, I learned the tragic story his father, a WW2 B-29 Airplane Commander, shot down over Nagoya, Japan just months before the end of the war.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">The telling of the story that evening by this half orphan was so moving and full of emotion, it compelled me to ask if I could write the story. The result was <a href="https://amzn.to/3JsqVi1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">They Called Him Marvin</em></strong></a>.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">My life has been profoundly touched in so many ways by being part of documenting this sacred story. I pray that we never forget, as a people, the depth of sacrifice that was made by ordinary people like Marvin and his father and mother on our behalf.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">My career as an addiction counselor (CDP) lead me to write “The Waterfall Concept; A Blueprint for Addiction Recovery,” and co-author “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain.”</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">My next project is already underway, a memoir of growing in SW Washington called “Life on a Sorta Farm.” My wife of 49 years, Susan, and I still live in that area.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">We raised seven children and have eleven grandchildren. We love to travel and see the sites and cultures of the world. I still get on my bicycle whenever I can.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">You can visit Roger’s website at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://theycalledhimmarvin.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://theycalledhimmarvin.com</a></strong>/ or connect with him on <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TCHMarvin" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong> or <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rogerstark64/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Instagram</a></strong>.</p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-83221402081232667192022-05-03T05:58:00.001-07:002022-05-03T05:58:05.499-07:00My Book Launch: Grandma's & Grandpa's Tales by Cheryl Carpinello #booklaunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2D8xgn49SKLyrHXRohEZgf8MRx0IHAqL61a0Nol77p06uxVkxVKdmhg7fu7j2b4ChWGZxjeJbPEWTdR68KYhEoxAgH6A-2XrV6z8tf7Pfb4SeYAhfqCGiB2E8ZZypuUCeKniWbbKOZLmXo75rQkCHEQgCAJKYdcAdI8tC23r5nntWrjNCX1lOYZMUw/s640/Grandma%20&%20Grandpa's%20Tales%2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2D8xgn49SKLyrHXRohEZgf8MRx0IHAqL61a0Nol77p06uxVkxVKdmhg7fu7j2b4ChWGZxjeJbPEWTdR68KYhEoxAgH6A-2XrV6z8tf7Pfb4SeYAhfqCGiB2E8ZZypuUCeKniWbbKOZLmXo75rQkCHEQgCAJKYdcAdI8tC23r5nntWrjNCX1lOYZMUw/w640-h480/Grandma%20&%20Grandpa's%20Tales%2015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;">Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book 1</strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood</em> and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">What if I Went to the Circus</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">,</em> explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book 2</strong>, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Singers of Songs</em> and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Not Too Stubborn Humpback</em>, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book 3</strong>, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vampires in the Backyard </em>and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Fish Tale</em>, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real.</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book Information</u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Grandma’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandma’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandma’s Tales #3 (2021), Grandpa’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandpa’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandpa’s Tales #3 (2021)</strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Silver Quill Publishing</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> Grandma’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Grandma’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Grandma’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Grandpa’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Grandpa’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;">Grandpa’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99</p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Ma 1: <a href="https://amzn.to/3374bEX" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3374bEX</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Pa 1: <a href="https://amzn.to/3uHMKpA" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3uHMKpA</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Ma 2: <a href="https://amzn.to/3Jan0X5" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3Jan0X5</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Pa 2: <a href="https://amzn.to/34HGt2g" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/34HGt2g</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Ma 3: <a href="https://amzn.to/3wELnJj" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3wELnJj</a></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Pa 3: <a href="https://amzn.to/3GyXTLJ" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3GyXTLJ</a></strong></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><h3 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: helvetica_condensedmedium; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: center;">_______________________</h3><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: left;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub-WzMqPmeDpeG__Na2p4yCRHvGmXYCvNSGTrE7dyVFhFTFxdAnzLAAR3FMLPgRKmGHgjONYQy3vyjx8H25dF8Np0tmbFzdmVkZ6DNE9J4OJC2rhDoeODflgtf2y7bBnD7h65X3ZKmYsnAPPM5mn6cAIxy6szc_iJw9Lw5HxZpcIa8nVASlu7uEJcSA/s3000/Cheryl%20Carpinello%20lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2583" data-original-width="3000" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub-WzMqPmeDpeG__Na2p4yCRHvGmXYCvNSGTrE7dyVFhFTFxdAnzLAAR3FMLPgRKmGHgjONYQy3vyjx8H25dF8Np0tmbFzdmVkZ6DNE9J4OJC2rhDoeODflgtf2y7bBnD7h65X3ZKmYsnAPPM5mn6cAIxy6szc_iJw9Lw5HxZpcIa8nVASlu7uEJcSA/s320/Cheryl%20Carpinello%20lg.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Cheryl Carpinello</strong> taught high school English for 25 years. During that time, she worked with numerous students who didn’t like to read for a variety of reasons. However, she discovered that even the most reluctant readers became engaged in the classroom and in reading when she introduced units on King Arthur and the works of ancient world writers. Upon retiring, she set out to write fast-paced, action-filled stories in these setting to encourage young readers to read more. Her success with readers aged 8-16 led her to reach out to the youngest of readers and those readers just starting out. Revising stories she had written for her own children, she created <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MYKWYVY?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales</strong></a> for ages 4-7. Her four grandchildren’s conversations created the stories in Book 3 of this series.<p></p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">Visit her on </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/ccarpinello" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a> </strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">and </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">.</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-65822619732026522742022-03-20T21:00:00.001-07:002022-03-20T21:00:00.215-07:00My Book Launch: Awaken to Tarot: Be Your Own Guide with Astrology, Numbers and the Tree of Life by Karen La Puma<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; color: #d52a33; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /><br /></div><span style="font-family: Manrope;"><strong style="background-color: #fefdfa; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></strong><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMLkTb0coCV_mwjkmh1gC5sDK1_stxstvQo-O-sxEVBjq9kTgpk_JqVtWJk2kNVCb8rLltGJ8VLxil8QWASHttMGBJUVktDF2Npzs0HTva88w7ghwJfxe5qS5Oux40th0qRaCEQ_224VnsQtkAOQuyb2wn3HySEIdqdjjT-NSXx-i93CsUJMcF1sD1YA=s582" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="379" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMLkTb0coCV_mwjkmh1gC5sDK1_stxstvQo-O-sxEVBjq9kTgpk_JqVtWJk2kNVCb8rLltGJ8VLxil8QWASHttMGBJUVktDF2Npzs0HTva88w7ghwJfxe5qS5Oux40th0qRaCEQ_224VnsQtkAOQuyb2wn3HySEIdqdjjT-NSXx-i93CsUJMcF1sD1YA=s320" width="208" /></a></div>The Tarot is a visual system that reveals both our True Nature and our obstacles. Introducing a new Tarot deck, made with digital collage. Through pictures, symbols, meanings, questions, processes, Kabbalah, key words, and affirmations, you can learn to:</span></span><ul style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; list-style: outside none none; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Find ways to reflect your inner guidance.</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Explore the magical journey of evolution</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Blend Astrology, Numerology, and the Tree of Life with the Tarot</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Discover the power and implications of the symbols of Tarot</span></li></ul><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Book Information</span></u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong>November 2, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> SoulSource Publishing</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: <span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span>978-1878203106; 420 pages; $24.95; Kindle Unlimited FREE<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3poitYX" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3poitYX</a><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </strong></span></p><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Watch the book trailer at</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><strong style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMHi8eBQ458" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">YouTube</a>.</strong><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><h3 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: helvetica_condensedmedium; font-size: 24px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 20px 0px 10px; position: relative; text-align: center;">_______________________</h3><div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.soul-source.org/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPyynSe_PkhPjKCXBhktaG9EqNh-8pxm35hAbTe67Sj4UfwbGw4qLd8MEb0Ngus71Fhh7Qdt7fT0Z-vKEh19ch6AhZyJgQe1x35wmJGghpUwhQF168A9m6Sd3_32Q7mMiz4gMMSUA_cu9nvoKHRyUvzLBPUaEFeHuziKMV1htGM030p6EGSNQgFpheUg=s474" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPyynSe_PkhPjKCXBhktaG9EqNh-8pxm35hAbTe67Sj4UfwbGw4qLd8MEb0Ngus71Fhh7Qdt7fT0Z-vKEh19ch6AhZyJgQe1x35wmJGghpUwhQF168A9m6Sd3_32Q7mMiz4gMMSUA_cu9nvoKHRyUvzLBPUaEFeHuziKMV1htGM030p6EGSNQgFpheUg=s320" width="320" /></a></strong></div><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Karen La Puma</span></strong><span style="font-family: Manrope;"> is the Author of a series of books called <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AKaren+La+Puma&s=relevancerank&text=Karen+La+Puma&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">A Toolkit for Awakening,</a></strong> which are based on the Goddess Warrior on the Hero’s Journey. She is a motivational, intuitive, and spiritual counselor in private practice in the Bay Area since 1979. She is a teacher, astrologer, hypnotherapist, reiki master, inspirational speaker, and creative storyteller with a potent and timely message to empower your life.</span><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Her latest book is <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3poitYX" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Awaken to Tarot: Be Your Own Guide with Astrology, Numbers and the Tree of Life</a></em></strong>.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope;">Visit her website at <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="http://www.soul-source.org/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">www.soul-source.org</a></strong> or connect with her on <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://twitter.com/1GoddessWarrior" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Twitter</a> </strong>and <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/karen.lapuma" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">Facebook</a></strong>.</span></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-57367583316211267892022-03-15T21:00:00.001-07:002022-03-15T21:00:00.205-07:00Book Launch Q&A: Tracy Shawn Author of Floating Underwater #booklaunch<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0KWUaE8DcBY83t4hystxZissV5czhmZcyee4IlPi8eFkYXpIZHGrrKV-5S3acmwm03JccTX_W98Bx_yBhFDAM9j3BUvS6dwN8C-a8Fq66XRzR5r4rk4D-vbOpMCWe0Da6j43IZzGUfr7wMb-afHAYsm9d0pi7ZX1cn-nGS6r3JaLVc8sY3fJ3HaWIbw=s640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh0KWUaE8DcBY83t4hystxZissV5czhmZcyee4IlPi8eFkYXpIZHGrrKV-5S3acmwm03JccTX_W98Bx_yBhFDAM9j3BUvS6dwN8C-a8Fq66XRzR5r4rk4D-vbOpMCWe0Da6j43IZzGUfr7wMb-afHAYsm9d0pi7ZX1cn-nGS6r3JaLVc8sY3fJ3HaWIbw=s320" width="214" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Award-Winning Author <a href="https://www.tracyshawn.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tracy Shawn</strong></a> lives and writes on the Central Coast of California. Her debut novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FSWMBXE/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Grace of Crows,</em></strong><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em></a>won several indie book awards. <a href="https://amzn.to/3tALCnw" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Floating Underwater</em></strong> </a>is her second novel. Tracy Shawn’s short stories have appeared in <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Literary Brushstrokes</em>, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Psychology</em> <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Tomorrow Magazine,</em> and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Steel House Review Literary Journal. </em>She’s written numerous articles for print and online publications and is currently working on her third novel.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">You can visit her website at <a href="https://www.tracyshawn.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">https://www.tracyshawn.com/</strong></a> or connect with her on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TracyShawn" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Twitter</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/tracyshawnauthor" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Facebook</strong></a><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">,</strong> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7315322.Tracy_Shawn" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Goodreads</strong></a>. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #333333;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>After your book was released, what was the first thing
you did when getting ready for your book launch?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I posted the professional reviews that I had secured
before the release onto my Amazon page as well as my personal website.</span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>After that, what was your next step?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Email and text all my friends!</span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if
yes, how did you approach that?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">First, I made sure to get a few professional reviews
before the release date. I researched indie book review sites and went with the
ones that resonated with me. Then, my publicist found individual reviewers and
I sent ARC (advanced reader copies) to whoever requested one.</span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your views on social media for marketing your
book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Social media is a great way to connect with potential
readers and fellow authors. It doesn’t sell a ton of books, though, so I don’t
spend <i>too </i>much time marketing on any one site.</span></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">What social media has worked best for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I spend most of my social media time on Twitter
because I can “publish” a very—and I do mean <i>very</i>—short piece of flash
fiction there in an instant. Also, my novels have found homes with readers from
all over the world there!</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Did you write a press release and do you
think it worked for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">My media kit (which is a clickable link at the bottom
of my website) is my press release. It’s been helpful when I want to send info
to someone in the media (a podcaster, potential reviewer, etc.) who may be
interested in interviewing me and/or showcasing my work. </span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Did you create a book trailer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6Pfw-WOpU"></a></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6Pfw-WOpU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6Pfw-WOpU</a></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">
<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">What did you do on release day?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I cried with relief that I finally got it out there!
Then I had dinner on the pier with my husband (keeping with the ocean theme of <i>Floating
Underwater</i>).</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Any tips for those authors wanting to set
up a successful book launch?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">It takes a lot of energy! Stay healthy, eat well, and
exercise. And remember to scroll through your contact list on your phone and
computer. Send almost everyone you know a personal message and a link to where
they can purchase your brand-new book!</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4QEhsxgx1fLLj1e1HBFEDtk2WId5dR7mrOcwXNgIz8gD8zXlh-4rZIDZBpyRnGOQrZiKvz31HSroMsBowqyrAXStmRammLqw5JP07HLFPV-P5UABr1bg8YRwOcvDgMu7-hx-leKFpPe4w5Vu-WFVGnUoNaOH8lWAvOdL-T6K8j5zsotCLC1nu2d3HTA=s828" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="592" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4QEhsxgx1fLLj1e1HBFEDtk2WId5dR7mrOcwXNgIz8gD8zXlh-4rZIDZBpyRnGOQrZiKvz31HSroMsBowqyrAXStmRammLqw5JP07HLFPV-P5UABr1bg8YRwOcvDgMu7-hx-leKFpPe4w5Vu-WFVGnUoNaOH8lWAvOdL-T6K8j5zsotCLC1nu2d3HTA=w458-h640" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title</strong>: FLOATING UNDERWATER<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author</strong>: Tracy Shawn<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher</strong>: Turbulent Muse Publishing<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre</strong>: Women’s Fiction / Magical Realism / Psychological Fiction</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Floating Underwater</em> follows a woman’s astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her self-actualization and power.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision foretelling a third miscarriage comes true.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences, and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma learns to accept her gifts and embraces a far different future than she ever could have imagined.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“One woman’s mystical journey to move forward while confronting a troubled, mysterious past. Beautifully written; an ethereal, eloquent pleasure.”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">~~Marlene Adelstein, author of USA Today bestseller <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Sophie Last Seen</em></strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“Mystical and magical realism permeates this women’s novel, and Amy Harmon fans would embrace Shawn’s adept storytelling. The author delivers spot-on dialogue, believable and enchanting characters, and surprising twists. It’s easy to imagine the novel as a talked-about book club selection (in fact, there’s a list of questions at the book’s conclusion). Poignant and beautiful, Floating Underwater leaves readers yearning for a sequel and another look at these captivating characters.”</em> <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">~~Starred Review by Patricia Moosbrugger for BlueInk Review</strong><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The writing is stunning…Paloma’s journey toward friendship, love in her marriage, and the realization that her fears have kept her eyes closed to everything happening around her is a journey worth following. This book will remind you to listen to the wind when it speaks and to look for what’s floating beneath the surface of the water.”<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">~~</strong></em><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reviewed by Jenna Swartz for San Francisco Book Review</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“A mystical journey that will take its readers on a whirlwind tour of beautiful imagery and meaningful life adventures, Floating Underwater is the story about a woman named Paloma Leary who learns that she has some very special gifts to share with the world…This book is wonderfully written in a lovely beach setting…Floating Underwater is the perfect book for someone looking for a bit of fantasy thrown into a realistic setting with realistic characters. Written with special attention to little details, this book is relatable, yet very special and is a one-of-a-kind read.” </em>~~<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Reviewed by Kristi Elizabeth for Manhattan Book Review</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Book Information</span></u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Release Date: </strong>September 8, 2021</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> Turbulent Muse Publishing</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: 978-1736664902; 312 pages; $10.99; E-Book, $3.99</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Amazon: <a href="https://amzn.to/3GrO5TV" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3GrO5TV</a></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon Kindle:</strong> <a href="https://amzn.to/3qA2EA3" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium !important; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3qA2EA3</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd-ncJbg_VYDjvpKNmfLokHWrQ18Oj_cjY6ZTS5XsJtECbmIgEiyUvlCecao57JlU4oytiMFZGrvg7yzkYD08Lo-t6lkWgJRue7vqfgmfWkzCGABjk6636y01UVT_4pcJ0Cwk76RbtLajFBWuBBvisdtlf1h1sMrByz6XL7BGnPV-a3A6Y3S76MSYGuA=s618" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="618" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgd-ncJbg_VYDjvpKNmfLokHWrQ18Oj_cjY6ZTS5XsJtECbmIgEiyUvlCecao57JlU4oytiMFZGrvg7yzkYD08Lo-t6lkWgJRue7vqfgmfWkzCGABjk6636y01UVT_4pcJ0Cwk76RbtLajFBWuBBvisdtlf1h1sMrByz6XL7BGnPV-a3A6Y3S76MSYGuA=w640-h236" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644664273411024120.post-10492735541694214002022-03-09T21:00:00.003-08:002022-03-10T05:55:06.316-08:00Book Launch Q&A: Gabriella Zielke Author of The Sound of Creation #booklaunch<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/s479/lights.gif" style="color: #d52a33; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="136" data-original-width="479" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkpfFycEawa7ZFQWaQ_g8UkPzjC8xbFw2jKPrlCluG3hwnc5MRd8exlW-SixPUWMJlPmlJs9_xq5_Ac0ebLWgCoSmY_G7h67Rd-JnDW35StfP-t_hRRpGarM97zkBd_8KiENeRKn54b3m/w640-h182/lights.gif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.judyserrano.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></span></p><br /><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.gabriellazielke.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"></strong></a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbQIP5Hr9Yy9mJbCZeYtDjFdeB415i8PviOKMoqYLjLM5GaxcRIOAY9KoQHkUb_Ctb0x_pWArK_54nWAgPOIUmpPU8q-L-y4M4zA4DTrLi47Jb57RfncVnL-AoRgVsauHachmLUvEtsN9uXxyKy5HslEaqu_DvyAYWGZ-wh9AxFQlT3VAcESUzhphXFQ=s621" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="463" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbQIP5Hr9Yy9mJbCZeYtDjFdeB415i8PviOKMoqYLjLM5GaxcRIOAY9KoQHkUb_Ctb0x_pWArK_54nWAgPOIUmpPU8q-L-y4M4zA4DTrLi47Jb57RfncVnL-AoRgVsauHachmLUvEtsN9uXxyKy5HslEaqu_DvyAYWGZ-wh9AxFQlT3VAcESUzhphXFQ=s320" width="239" /></a></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br />Gabriella Zielke</strong> founded one of the world’s first tech accelerators where she was fortunate to mentor and fund hundreds of founders whose ideas previously only existed as science fiction. Fast Company named Zielke one of its Most Creative People, among other accolades from her business career. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Creative Writing at Harvard University Extension while living on St. Croix with her husband and their zealous Great Dane. When she’s not writing, you can find her dancing with fire.</span><p></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Her latest book is the scifi novel, <a href="https://amzn.to/3B8ILUz" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Sound of Creation</em></strong></a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Visit her website at <a href="http://www.gabriellazielke.com/" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">www.gabriellazielke.com</strong></a> or connect with her at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/gabdraney" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Twitter</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gabriellazielke" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Facebook</strong></a>.</span></p><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxgmm1f4meFX0XW4TkDRZ8xegLgB85w2drld7v9oP4mOJ1_naz_f_BmsZbvEtOjzjoYGTV9VBqqkmlvn-QYpaxVgw5IPrlhyHgRSgp_H7957DTVzWHM47-GiPBL-m0T7F3tEN4iu3BTro/s1600/interview+my+book+launch.png" style="color: #7d181e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;">INTERVIEW </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>After your book was released, what was the first thing you
did when getting ready for your book launch? </b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I celebrated my launch day with a reading at a favorite
restaurant. We had a champagne toast, then took to the stage for a reading
accompanied by…fire. It might have been the world’s first book reading set to
fire dancing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you do anything different to spice up your website in
lieu of your upcoming book release?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Nothing too special. I deleted the coming soon language and
wrote a blog about where the idea for the book came from.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you ever consider using a PR agency to help you promote
your book or did you prefer the DIY route?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I spoke with a PR agency at one point, but decided to learn
as much as possible on my own for my first novel. It won’t be my last, so I can
take this time to determine which marketing approach works best for me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Were finding reviews a top priority for you and, if yes, how
did you approach that?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Absolutely. Reviews are a great way for a buyer to determine
if they might enjoy a book. I didn’t get the prerelease reviews I planned on
because I didn’t create a system for sharing the book and asking for reviews. I
also didn’t know how the book would be received. So, I decided on a wait and
see approach before spending the effort. It took a week to get the first
review, and it wasn’t from someone I know. Thankfully, they’ve all thoroughly
enjoyed the story and gave it 5 stars!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What are your views on social media for marketing your book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Social media helped me spread the word to my friends easily.
However, a reading audience doesn’t come only from friends, so social media
isn’t an end all, be all. Now that my first novel is out, I am focused on
growing my reading audience on social media.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What social media has worked best for you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I’ve really only spent time posting on facebook.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you write a press release and do you think it worked for
you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">No. Press releases can be great if you aren’t showing up in
search engines (highly recommended if that’s the goal), but it’s rare to
receive any actual press from them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you revamp your author’s page at Amazon in any way to
prepare for the launch (<a href="https://authorcentral.amazon.com/">https://authorcentral.amazon.com/</a>)?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I created my page during the presales period, so yes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you have other books you offered for free in order to
help sell your present book?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">This is my first novel!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you set up book signings and, if so, how did that work
for you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Aside from the launch, I found book signings difficult to
set up due to covid restrictions. I also decided they would be better received
after the book had more reviews. Now I’m setting them up in cities where I have
friends or family. What a great excuse to visit!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you create a book trailer?</b><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://youtu.be/3OVYTMwz2eU">https://youtu.be/3OVYTMwz2eU</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What did you do on release day?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">I threw a launch party with a reading set to fire dancing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Did you time your book launch around a certain holiday?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">No, but 2-2-22 is pretty awesome date.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>What was the best money you ever spent on your book launch?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Purchasing copies of the book to sell at the launch party.
Should have tripled my order.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><b>Any tips for those authors wanting to set up a successful
book launch?</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">There are so many things you can do for a great launch. This
is one place where social media is an absolute must. You can create invitations
for the event, keep track of RSVP’s, post updates, etc without feeling spammy. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Also, have fun with it. Is there a theme in your book you
could extend to the party? Could you have characters attend? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Control costs and expand your audience by having the event
at a restaurant where attendees can take care of their own refreshments if they
want them. I paid for a champagne toast, but that was a personal celebration
decision, not a marketing one. Many of the people who bought a book that night
weren’t even there for the party!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Consider a giveaway that fits with your book. It’s another
excellent use of social media premarketing.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOK DETAILS</b></span></div></div></span></div><div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjthrCclCaj23P_oghNiKYq3QG8DDZx3psp46Py6lHVpN-cAosW3Du0AUqBr6KcUBYWIlXqfZgqYgjXa2KuYVhE0qdmmQgfHldwZ02sN4nawr5wLShvxcb4n37KtiN0yHN7QOzet0hcXSiuzIoQVuO5kQJxpSZ1fw6XpYsgu3jIMrrC4iHqlKx1NmWEkQ=s645" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjthrCclCaj23P_oghNiKYq3QG8DDZx3psp46Py6lHVpN-cAosW3Du0AUqBr6KcUBYWIlXqfZgqYgjXa2KuYVhE0qdmmQgfHldwZ02sN4nawr5wLShvxcb4n37KtiN0yHN7QOzet0hcXSiuzIoQVuO5kQJxpSZ1fw6XpYsgu3jIMrrC4iHqlKx1NmWEkQ=w476-h640" width="476" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: #fefdfa; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Title</strong>: THE SOUND OF CREATION<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author</strong>: Gabriella Zielke<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher</strong>: The Wild Rose Press<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre</strong>: Science Fiction</span></p><h2 style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #2d3e50; font-family: helvetica_condensedmedium; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: center;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">BOOK BLURB:</strong></h2><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Brilliant and relentless tech CEO Ava Lawson built a system to play the currency market and make her billions. Instead, it begins to play strange music and makes normally level headed people behave irrationally, violently, dangerously.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">While on the run from a coup to steal her code, Ava meets an ethereal stranger who seems to know more about her than she does.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">The stranger calls himself an apprentice. He pleads for her help to stop what they have started.</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">“The Sound of Creation is a mind-bending book filled with big questions about our existence. It takes you on a journey disrupted by action scenes and strange characters. You will find yourself floating on dimensions you did not know even existed. This book is a mind game. You have been warned.”</em> ~ <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">George Papa, author of The Manual and The Architect’s typist for The Code</strong></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Book Information</span></u></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;">Release Date: February 2, 2022</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Publisher:</strong> The Wild Rose Press</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soft Cover:</strong> ISBN: <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </strong>978-1509239139; 342 pages; $17.99; E-Book, $5.99</span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Amazon: </strong><a href="https://amzn.to/3B8ILUz" style="background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ed6c0e; outline: none medium; text-decoration-line: none;">https://amzn.to/3B8ILUz</a></span></p><p style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Manrope; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7jlDXB0vFHM4gSilB10zQSqlDoT1yYarJdtYYcOMqh7z86YvrQXl_SZxu1dOztH_3ty2zrtKziSCWZ3auP-I-R6XBTYk6x3Wcq5ApPKt9pRVJgO47nJ_Iihh4iRv9qQB7fnn6VPLA3VsgR7ki2umTJ7lzfE4VulZXcoYWfpi8LJRRhvLkhb5rmgoUuQ=s653" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="653" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi7jlDXB0vFHM4gSilB10zQSqlDoT1yYarJdtYYcOMqh7z86YvrQXl_SZxu1dOztH_3ty2zrtKziSCWZ3auP-I-R6XBTYk6x3Wcq5ApPKt9pRVJgO47nJ_Iihh4iRv9qQB7fnn6VPLA3VsgR7ki2umTJ7lzfE4VulZXcoYWfpi8LJRRhvLkhb5rmgoUuQ=w400-h119" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0