Regenerate by Sarita Leone - Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sarita will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click to see the other stops on the tour.

The Octopus isn't an urban myth—and its agents are anything but ordinary. The intelligence bureau is so well-hidden most doubt its existence. A handful know its location. And fewer walk the halls in the subterranean compound.

Benjamin Sinclair didn't ask to be a scientific miracle but every mission has its risks and one perfectly-placed bullet ended his life—for a brief moment in time.

Nicole Anima battles demons every day. Life as a paranormal resources operative gives her tortured mind a rest—and keeps her from contemplating her own death.

When Anima and Sinclair partner on a globe-trotting race to eliminate the threat about to cripple humanity, all hell breaks loose. Leaping from planes, crashing into continents, dealing with voodoo priestesses, and running through jungles with zombies hot on their trail doesn't leave much time for romance, but this duo somehow manages to sizzle.

Two agents. Telepathic mind paired with regenerated commando. One world—and a mission to save it.

Read an excerpt:

Even perspiration couldn’t keep the hair on the nape of her neck from bristling at the sound of Sinclair’s deep voice. Rising to his bait wouldn’t get her anywhere. Neither would angering him, but on that score she didn’t care.

“I won’t do it.” She forced her parched throat to swallow. Straightening, she fisted a hand on her left hip and spread her legs. The shooting pose came naturally. “I refuse. I don’t work for you—and I won’t work with you. Never again.”

“Never doesn’t scare me.”

“Why would it? The never concept only works for humans.”

Her blood pressure felt higher than it had when she’d been running full out.

“Now, don’t get yourself all worked up. It won’t do you any good, and somewhere deep inside that gorgeous body of yours, you know it.” He paused, then chuckled again. “I can help with that, you know.”

The sudden turn in their conversation brought her guard down.

“Help with what?”

“Satisfaction. I can satisfy you…if you’ll let me. Jagger makes a good song but he sure can’t give you what you want.”

Facts ran in her head like a movie on high speed, reminding her of crucial bits of information about the man on the other end of the phone. Practical ones like how he took his coffee. Black, no sugar. Emotional facts, regarding his family. He didn’t have any. All killed in a horrific airplane crash in the Ecuadorean jungle. Logical details about his illogical existence.

So many things, yet she’d forgotten one of the most basic. His scientifically enhanced mind. Three minutes, and already he’d snared her in his web.

About the Author:

Sarita Leone is an award-winning author who has written romance in many forms including Regency, paranormal, and contemporary. She loves happily-ever-afters in any setting!

When she’s not writing, Ms. Leone spends her time hiking, learning languages, and traveling. She loves adventure and can pack a suitcase, grab her passport, and hit the road in less time than it takes to peel an apple!

Website: http://www.saritaleone.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarita.leone

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Calling the Reaper by Jason Pere - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

If you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?

My first love. It was messy and our sorted story really should not have happened in the first place. I often look back at that period in my life as point where my own personal story started to drift off the beaten path and end up in uncharted territory. I tend to think that had it not been for that brief relationship I would have ended living a much more normal sort of life.

If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

I’ll tell you what, you can keep your dragons and unicorns if I can have a duck. I wouldn’t mind if it could be a talking duck.

How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

People say show don’t tell. I say its called being a storyteller not a storyshower. I am not afraid to just lay down some thick exposition in the narrative if the story needs it. I often keep my dialogue sparse and instead put my readers into the mind of my heroes and villains. I think that it is much more interesting wandering about inside the head of some of the epic personalities that I create instead of listing to them banter back and forth. The main text of my work aside, I like to put “interludes” in my stories that may be a quote of excerpt of text from another fictional document. It is an element of world building that I wouldn’t say I pioneered but it is certainly not common practice.

What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?

The best advice I ever received was to write every day and show your work to as many people as possible. The worst advice I ever got was that writing FanFiction is a waste of time. I understand that there are people out there who do not care for FanFiction but I find the notion that is a useless pursuit as, frankly, quite laughable.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Yes there are several characters in Calling the Reaper that present elements of myself or my history in their tales. Some of their characters also represent significant figures in my life, both friend and foe. Lastly some of the characters represent elements of the kind of person that I wished I was or hope to become. There is definitely a lot of me contained inside of Calling the Reaper.

The time of the Unity has ended. Now, the realm of man is stranded between Paradise and Purgatory. The Valkyrie and Reaper battle over the fate of all who pass from the land of the living and into the afterlife.

Eight mortal spirits from vastly different worlds tread the same, inevitable path toward their last, crucial decision. Within them all exists the defining conflict every man must face—to look upon the end of their life with glory and honor, or to give credence to their baser longings, calling the Reaper to their own demise.

In this rich, harrowing tale of pride, deceit, honor, vengeance, and redemption, each individual must battle their inner turmoil, facing the sacrifices they have made before their unavoidable end in the land of the living.

But their last day in life is also their first day of death amidst the terrors of the underworld. Lord Master Death wants them all…and the real battle has only just begun.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

“In the beginning. In the time before. When the Unity sat atop the throne in Paradise and reigned over the world of man below, all was good and fruitful. There was life without end for every spirit drawing breath within the embrace of the Unity. Things were as such for a time longer than memory itself. But such things end. The day of the Shattering came upon us all. Paradise above and the realm of man below were forever changed. The Unity became no more, and from it was born both Life and Death. On that day, it was decreed that all who lived must one day die. And we the Valkyrie, the children of Paradise, became its warriors. Our robes were replaced with armor, and hands once empty now grasp sword and shield. Our charge is to watch over those who dwell below in the realm of man. We are tasked with the guardianship of every spirit that yet holds life. We shall protect them until that life is at an end. Then it must leave the realm of man. For each spirit that meets its end with virtue and courage, we the Valkyrie shall fly to them and bid them welcome into the warmth of Paradise. For each spirit that meets its end with fear and wickedness, they shall call the Reaper, and I shall mourn them as they are cast into the cold realm filled with weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

—Laurel, ArchValkyrie of the Thorn Crown

About the Author:

Jason Pere is a born-and-raised New Englander. He always had a passion for the arts and creative storytelling. At the age of thirteen, Jason took up the craft of acting for film and theater. He pursued that interest for over a decade until refocusing his medium of expression into writing.

At first, Jason took a causal interest in writing, starting with poetry and journaling. Over time, he honed his direction and finally began writing larger works. In November of 2012, Jason self-published his first book, Modern Knighthood: Diary of a Warrior Poet.

Since then, Jason has continued writing on his own, mostly short stories and poetry. Calling the Reaper was his first experience committing to a full-length Fiction title.

In early 2015, Jason became affiliated with Collaborative Writing Challenge (CWC). Since then, he has joined many other writers on numerous collaborative projects. Jason is a regular contributor to CWC and is scheduled to have multiple pieces of his work appear in their publications throughout 2016.

http://www.collaborativewritingchallenge.com
http://www.facebook.com/jason.pere.7
http://teamcovenant.com/ashesonline/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6648189.Jason_Pere

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The Stone Sage Prophecy by N.S. Wikarksi - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Where do you hide a mysterious artifact that could change the course of history? You scatter clues to its whereabouts across the entire planet. Five objects buried beneath the rubble of lost civilizations point to the hiding place of the fabled Sage Stone. A secret society and a fanatical religious cult vie against one another in a global treasure hunt to claim the prize. The Arkana wants to preserve it for posterity. The Blessed Nephilim wants to exploit it to create a terrifying new world order. Only one faction can win. More importantly, only one can survive.

Read an excerpt:

Hannah heard the key slide into the lock just in time to throw her e-book reader inside a dresser drawer and bury it under a pile of stockings. She whirled about as Joshua entered the room.

His face was grim. “For someone who doesn’t speak, you certainly provoke a lot of chatter among the community. Tongues are wagging about Mother Rachel’s last visit to you and the tragic aftermath. No one can seem to talk of anything else.”

The girl gave a slight smile and shrugged.

Joshua stared at her intently. “You think you’re clever, don’t you?”

Hannah regulated her expression to its characteristic blankness.

“You have them all fooled, not simply my father. No one can believe a child who looks so sweet and innocent could be capable of such monstrous duplicity. But you are, Sister Hannah, and I intend to prove it.”

The spymaster removed a small object from his pocket and set it on the dresser. It appeared to be some sort of digital recording device. He switched it on and then turned back to the girl.

“The Brotherhood is in crisis. My father has set us on a path to destruction and I alone can avert disaster. To do that, I must persuade the Diviner that I am the only one he can trust—the only one who has his best interests at heart. And you’re going to help me convince him.”

About the Author:

"There's a 52% chance that the next Dan Brown will be a woman ... or should we just make that 100% now?" --Kindle Nation Daily

Nancy Wikarski is a fugitive from academia. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, she became a computer consultant and then turned to mystery and historical fiction writing. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Society Of Midland Authors, and has served as vice president of Sisters In Crime - Twin Cities and on the programming board of the Chicago chapter. Her short stories have appeared in Futures Magazine and DIME Anthology, while her book reviews have been featured in Murder: Past Tense and Deadly Pleasures.

She has written the Gilded Age Mystery series set in 1890s Chicago. Titles include The Fall Of White City (2002) and Shrouded In Thought (2005). The series has received People's Choice Award nominations for Best First Novel and Best Historical as well as a Lovey Award for Best Traditional Amateur Sleuth.

Her seven-book Arkana Archaeology Mystery Series is a #1 Amazon Bestseller. Titles include The Granite Key (2011), The Mountain Mother Cipher (2011), The Dragon’s Wing Enigma (2012), Riddle Of The Diamond Dove (2013), Into The Jaws Of The Lion (2014), Secrets Of The Serpent’s Heart (2015), and The Sage Stone Prophecy (2016).

http://www.mythofhistory.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1867557.N_S_Wikarski
https://www.facebook.com/pages/N-S-Wikarski/111546722263900?ref=hl

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Griffen by A.J. Blakemont - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

"They are immortal, deadly, ruthless. I don’t belong to their dark underworld.

I won’t be a victim. Never again."

She has nothing—not even a roof above her head. She has unimaginable powers, but these powers come at a price: she has to feed on the mental energy of human beings, killing them in the process.

Her name is Griffen and she is a newborn. She is a copy, a paranormal twin of a young woman, Letitia. Griffen is not the only one of her kind—there are others like her, living among humans or hiding underground. Romantics called them doppelgangers, ghostly twins, the harbingers of death. Scientists who know that they exist call them simulacra. They call themselves mirror souls. Who are they and what are their goals?

Lonely and desperate, hunted by her fellow mirror souls, Griffen hides in the London underground and preys on criminals. In this dark underworld, is there a place for compassion, for love?

In this action-packed paranormal thriller, dark fantasy author A. J. Blakemont will guide you on an epic journey through parallel realities toward a dramatic revelation.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

O night, my ark, my refuge! I’d spent the day hiding in the underground tunnels to escape the busy city life, and only now, when the streets were quiet, when the pulse of the metropolis had slowed down, could I return to the surface to savor the freshness of the night.

I went to Hyde Park, one of the largest parks in London. I needed to be alone, as far from people as possible. There I sat on a bench and gazed at the distant city lights.

What I saw mesmerized me. The Aurora borealis above London—this sight was surreal. Clouds of luminescent particles drifted above the city, and the city responded with its own luminescence. That was just the beginning. I saw colors, lines, motifs that I couldn’t even begin to understand. Suddenly the world became overwhelmingly complex.

After an initial moment of awe came a moment of terror. What am I? A question I’ve been asking myself ever since.

Light-headed, I closed my eyes, then opened them again and looked at the objects surrounding me. A bench, a tree, a street lamp, an empty alley. Everything looked normal. Everything looked as it should through human eyes. I peered at the night sky and focused. Glowing clouds appeared again, like ghosts from another world, a parallel reality. What kind of radiation was I perceiving? Electromagnetic fields certainly, and probably much more. It would take me years to fully understand all the nuances.

About the Author:

I am a novelist and essayist interested in all things dark and mysterious. My favorite genres are science fiction and fantasy. I am also passionate about music, mythology, and history and its mysteries. I have a degree in literature and a PhD in molecular biology, and I earn a living as a professional writer. I live near London in the UK and I am a member of the Society of Authors.

Website: http://blakemont.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blakemont.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/blakemont_books
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+AJBlakemont

Links to the books: http://blakemont.com/mirror-souls
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The Singer and the Charlatan by D.C. Fergerson - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. D.C. Fergerson will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

D.C., welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I grew up not liking fantasy that much. I judged the books by their cover a bit too much growing up. When I got married, my wife showed me her all-time favorites, including Legend, The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Willow - and I fell in love with fantasy. One little taste of Dungeons and Dragons, and I was hooked. I still play, though a lot less these days, but fantasy has always been the one place where I can let my mind run free. I love that I’m untethered to create. I can see a small blurb about the monster in my keep, and weave it into a whole tapestry. Why is he such a menace? What is he doing in this keep? What happened to him? What’s his story?

What research is required?

My rules for writing sci-fi are so different from fantasy. With sci-fi, I like to be well researched in bleeding-edge science and theoretical topics so my world-building is grounded in realism. Raised a sci-fi geek myself, I know how particular we can be. For fantasy, it’s so much easier. Much of what I write is based on worlds I’ve already created and played in for years. With The Singer and the Charlatan, I let the reins off the players, and created the world as we went.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

Leanna Moonbody in The Singer and the Charlatan is the exact opposite of the classic amnesia cliché. She’s not searching for her past, she’s downright afraid of it. She likes who she is now, and doesn’t want her past to define her or change what she’s becoming. I think there’s something to that I absolutely love.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Most people will swear you get your best writing done first thing in the morning. I am by far most productive late at night. I wrote most of The Singer and the Charlatan, and the follow-up, The Princess and the Holy Juggernaut, over the course of a week between the hours of midnight and whenever the sun told me to go to bed.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Little bit of both. I flew by the seat of my pants through The Singer and the Charlatan, as I mentioned, but usually I like to have an outline.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

A glass of iced tea and some Magic cards. It’s game night.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

Well, Book Two of the Wicked Instruments, The Princess and the Holy Juggernaut, is set for a late February/early March release. While I’m scribing up book three, I’ll be releasing an ‘anti-romance’ novel called Horses on the Wind sometime late spring. It’s been a great experience writing, I rarely get the chance to use words like engorged or throbbing.

Do you have a question for our readers?

I would love to know what they thought of The Singer and the Charlatan! Please, post reviews and give me your thoughts. I don’t shy from email, either, if someone would like to cut me down more personally.

Leanna Moonbody dreams of playing at the Saul Amphitheater. With just one adventure to fund her trip, she meets up with a priestess that dreams of a massive flock to take on a pilgrimage. Together, Leanna will set up the crowds, and Priestess Trixi will bring them to Our Lord.

With an elf, dwarf, rogue, pixie and a paladin on their side, they set out to realize both their dreams. They just have to maneuver past a lovesick noble, the clergy, a deranged halfling that can’t seem to die, and a plague.

What could possibly go wrong?

Read an excerpt:

“Ooh, this is exciting,” Leanna said with a smile, grabbing up Tear and Jonathan’s hands.

With the circle complete, Trixi looked to the ceiling.

“Lord. Oh, Lord, who is great and true. Take this offering of Form R226 and whatever leftovers we have here from dinner. Commune with me so that I may be a better Fawnspear, walking the path of truth. May it be really, really funny.”

With that, the scroll burned away before their eyes. Then, nothing. The silence became awkward.

“Did it not work?” Jonathan asked.

“Quiet,” Trixi demanded, turning her ear to the table.

The faint sound of terribly boring music filled the space all around the table. Any old ear would think it came from the building next door, but the trained ear of a Thistlite knew better. She listened to the song for a moment with her eyes closed.

Leanna joined in, leaning in to try and make out the tune. Suddenly, a loud voice spoke out, scaring her so bad she almost fell out of her chair.

“Our Lord is currently speaking with another faithful! You are very important to Our Lord! Your prayer shall be heard in the order it was received!”

Leanna broke the circle. “Oh, come on! Why did that have to be the loud part?”

“Leanna, you must be quiet,” Trixi whispered. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

About the Author:

An avid reader, fantasy gamer, humorist, husband, and father. I wear a lot of hats, some of them terribly silly, with feathers and such. I’ve channeled years Dungeons and Dragons campaigns and late-night stand-up comics into a series full of wit, charm, magic, and laughs.

Facebook: facebook.com/dcfergerson
Twitter: @DCFergerson
Blog: dcfergerson.wordpress.com

Get the book: getBook.at/SingerCharlatan
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/unIrumr6hxQ

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Ghost Witching by Ally Shields - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ally Shields will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Trivia I Learned Doing Research for Ghost Witching

One of the necessary and fun things about writing is doing the research to keep the real world information as accurate as possible. Since that often leads me into unusual websites and strange articles, I pick up a number of obscure facts. This is just a brief sampling, but some of them actually made it into the book.

1. A cottonmouth snake aka water moccasin is North America's only venomous water snake (http://www.livescience.com/43597-facts-about-water-moccasin-cottonmouth-snakes.html), and people who breed and study venomous snakes (and other reptiles) are called herpetoculturists.

2. Not all Satanists worship a fallen angel. They are more often atheists, believing neither in God or the devil. (http://www.churchofsatan.com)

3. Many famous cemeteries don't have a night watchman. Well, who could blame someone for not wanting that job?

4. The docks at the New Orleans ports are guarded like Fort Knox - fences, armed guards. They won't even let you take pictures (unless you're sneaky enough).

5. Kate Batts, known as The Bell Witch, was actually a ghost. She haunted a Tennessee family with eerie sounds, strange sightings, and violence for nearly four years, resulting in the death of one man. (http://www.prairieghosts.com/b-cave.html)

Too many ghosts is never a good thing...

Detectives Maggie York and Josh Brandt's latest murder case comes at the wrong moment. She just moved out on him and wants to "cool it." But complications throw them together more than usual. Even for New Orleans, the case is unique—with way too many suspects and creepy things—ghosts, snakes, curses, not to mention the witches.

Maggie and Josh try to make sense of it all and resist finding consolation in each other's arms. Then Josh's ex-fiancee, a curvy blonde, arrives from Boston, making a touchy situation impossible.

But this killer won't wait for them to sort out their personal lives, and the situation spins out of control...

Enjoy an Excerpt:

The old woman had been particularly insistent on attendance tonight, piquing Maggie's curiosity. And a little apprehension. Had Selena had another of her visions, possibly foretelling trouble in the near future? When asked, her cousin had given a typically cryptic answer. "Good and evil are always in motion."

Which told her nothing new. Maggie sighed, darting a glance at the focused women around her. No matter. The future wouldn't be changed by worrying. Besides, she had no real objection to being here and supporting the coven's hopes of healing one member's gravely ill four-year-old niece, for a laid-off worker to find a new job, and a universal plea for greater wisdom. They could all use a dose of that.

While calling upon the Goddess to bless and protect them, Selena made a three-sixty turn, her gown billowing as she included every participant. Maggie suddenly stiffened and peered behind her cousin. Had something dark and wispy swooped past? No, of course not. The lifting dawn mist had fired her overactive imagination.

Yet her heart beat a bit faster, and she joined in the final lines of the closing chant with more gravity than usual.

"In calm or stormy days to come, light our pathways safely home.
Gracious Goddess, grant our plea. So mote it be."

Maggie was tempted to add an "Amen" for good measure.

As they blew out their candles, her cell phone buzzed. She checked the screen. Police dispatch. Her real world snapped back into place. While they'd been surrounded by the hope inherent in these pre-dawn gatherings, someone else had committed the most grievous assault upon society…the murder of one of its citizens.

About the Author: Ally Shields grew up in the Midwest along the Mississippi River, still considers herself "a river rat," and currently resides near Des Moines. After a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time fiction writing in 2009. Her first urban fantasy, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) was published in 2012, and she currently has twelve published novels. She loves to travel in the US and abroad and incorporates many of those settings into her books. Ms. Shields welcomes reader contact through her website and can frequently be found on Twitter.

Website: http://allyshields.com
Blog: http://allyshields.com/blog.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ShieldsAlly
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527209.Ally_Shields
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Ally-Shields/e/B009AKNDZU
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/100652807699295011703/posts
Newsletter: http://paper.li/ShieldsAlly/1353941420

Check out all of Ally Shields' books on Amazon.



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The Adventures of Grant Scotland by Dan McClure - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

I’m not special

One of my favorite forums to peruse out there in internet land is the one for authors on Goodreads. One particular thread on that board occupies most of my time. It’s called “Best Bang for buck book promos.” It serves as an invaluable information trading tool for all of us self-published authors curious about which advertising sites work well and which don’t. Although I’ve never found any silver bullet pieces of wisdom (aside from “get BookBub to promote your book, duh”) it’s good to keep track of any scams people trip over or any new/cheap promoters that always seem to boost your sales just enough to make a profit and expand your audience.

Occasionally, though, the thread wanders a little off topic. Not too long ago there was a flurry of posts where people commiserated with each other over the flood of terrible books on Amazon and what that glut of bad writing is doing to hurt the sales of all us good, honest, sincere, forthright, god-fearing and hygienic self-pubbers.

Luckily, I missed the week where these laments were being posted. Had I seen them in real time, I don’t think I could’ve resisted jumping in and picking a fight. My main problem isn’t with people complaining about bad books – for the love of Robert Heinlein, I’ve done plenty of that myself – but some commenters went so far as to recommend Amazon start trying to be more proactive about demanding a higher-quality of product before allowing it to be sold on the site. That’s when I started hopping up and down in my chair and blowing steam out of my ears.

The whole point of self-publishing is to bypass any self-appointed gatekeepers and present your work directly to the consumers and letting them be the final judge of its merit! To start hemming and hawing and saying “yeah, but there are people who are just throwing up unedited half-finished manuscripts and it’s giving us all a bad name” makes you sound like you feel like you’re THE special snowflake and all those other snowflakes can kiss off.

I made this realization a number of years ago about myself and believe me, it was an uncomfortable shock. I thought because I was good at this thing or that thing, it meant I should be given as many breaks as I wanted. Slack should be cut to fit me! When it was explained to me through subtle suggestion and workplace experience that you’re only as good as the latest good thing you did and if you want to succeed at something you have to care enough about it to keep trying to be better at it – only then did I understand I should stop wasting everyone’s time and start carving out my place in the world. On a good day, the world will make a little room for you, but most days you have to dig it out for yourself.

But you say you want Amazon to start separating wheat from chaff for you and your readers? Really? Who’s to say your work isn’t crap? So, you published something that’s 100K words and paid to have it edited and packaged professionally. Good for you! So what? That means you deserve something and the guy who’s just using the marketplace as a free sounding-board for a peer-review and revision process (I’ve read a couple of authors who do this) should be shut out? No. That author has as much right to the open market as you do. You don’t like it? Fine. You’re allowed. Just don’t be one of those guys who wants to change the system to suit himself and tries to make it sound like it’s somehow for the greater good.

Don’t be that guy. I understand you’re struggling and getting frustrated because you just can’t find an audience. Welcome to the club! Being an author is hard! But here’s the thing – you have to decide whether you actually want to be an author or you want to make money on Amazon. Because if all you want to do is sell books on Amazon, it’s actually not that hard to do. Go copy and paste some out-of-print novels, change some names, photoshop some covers and then post under a pseudonym. Guaranteed after a few promotions and a dozen or so titles, you’ll be raking in a steady profit. The romance genre, in fact, is rife with this kind of nonsense and I feel bad for the real authors who publish in it and try to make an honest name for themselves.

Want to be an author? Write. Write as much as you can as well as you can and after revising your work to the point where you can’t change anything more without changing the whole thing – then publish it. Wash, rinse, repeat. You’ll note that nowhere in that list of instructions does it mention complaining to Amazon that other writers seem not to try as hard as you do, so they should be shut out so your work is a little less buried under the pile. There’s no need for that and you shouldn’t have time to worry about it anyway.

Want to pass a gatekeeper and be in an elite club? Go the traditional publishing route! Then you won’t have to worry about any of this stuff!

You are not special. Neither is anyone else. However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from promoting your work and yourself. Keep writing and challenging yourself and your skills will eventually attract an audience. But trying to lobby for gates and referees on the playing field won’t help your game any.

Spy for a Dead Empire (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One)

AELFA, THE GRAND CAPITAL of the once mighty Aelfan Empire, has fallen. Barbarian war parties and nomadic tribes harass the retreating and broken legions that once overawed them. All that stands against them now is the city of Zyren, the last bastion of Aelfan rule.

Acting as a spy for Zyren is Grant Scotland, a man leading a double life because his own had been taken away from him by the very people he serves. An unwilling recruit into the business of clandestine missions and deceit, he searches for anything real to cling to as the world around him devolves into insanity. And when an old friend shows up asking him to help save his family by delivering a mysterious book to a shadowy figure, Grant's two lives collide and he is thrust into an even stranger world than he had known; one where ancient magic is wielded by deadly players who compete against one another for a prize greater than simply the rotting carcass of a dead empire.

*****

Spy for a Troubled King (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two)

AMONG THE ASHES of the mighty Aelfan Empire, the House of Gregyan seeks to forge a new kingdom—one where both Huthan and Aelfan alike can prosper. But old prejudices and ancient traditions and an exiled enemy threaten the peace. Caught between compassion for his home and allegiance to his fallen empire, Grant Scotland finds himself trapped in the turbulent machinations of enemies and friends. As he works to uncover mysteries about his father’s treachery and confront new threats to his future, he moves perilously close to revealing his identity and losing everything.

*****

Spy for a Wayward Daughter (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Three)

AS THE GREGYANS MARCH TO WAR and his handler takes a trip to Zyren, Grant Scotland, spy errant of the Aelfan Empire, gets ready to pursue a lead on finding a man who might be able to tell him the truth about his father's treason. Old friends, new enemies and hidden dangers soon confront him on his quest, but when he enters the dark world of another family's intrigue, he finds that not even the frontiers of the Aelfan Empire are far enough away to escape the dangers of fortune and fate.

*****

Spy for a Greedy Villain (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four)

RACIAL TENSIONS IN AELFA simmer and threaten to boil over when the harbormaster is found dead and the Huthan oppressors threaten to crack down in the Lower Docks. As Grant Scotland finds more questions than answers in the journals of Berthul Magnussen about his father’s treachery, he is drawn into a murder investigation, a kidnapping plot and the nefarious machinations of the city’s biggest crime lord—Mr. Quinn. In order to stop Quinn’s plans and save the city from being thrown into open revolt, Grant prepares to take his biggest gamble yet.

The first three books can be also be read in The Unlikely Spy (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Volume One): The Adventures of Grant Scotland series is an entertaining mix of fantasy, mystery and espionage featuring a hero whose many faults provide almost as much challenge to him as the formidable obstacles he must face as he attempts to impose sanity upon a world rapidly descending into chaos. Collected in this volume are the first three books in the series: Spy for a Dead Empire, Spy for a Troubled King and Spy for a Wayward Daughter.

Read an excerpt from Spy for a Greedy Villain (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four):

I gave him a brief recap of my espionage activities over the past few months, which included reports on the growth and temperament of the One God followers, the coming and going of any Huthan notables and the operations of Doogan and Quinn. At last I followed up with a summary of the harbormaster investigation and finished with the discovery of a ghost in the Lower Docks.

“There’s no such things as ghosts, Scotland.”

“I know, but I haven’t worked up a better nickname for him yet.”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something. I have every confidence in your ability to accomplish inane tasks of trivial importance.”

“Everybody has to be good at something.”

“And while your limited mental capabilities will no doubt be severely taxed in that endeavor, I’ll do some checking into what could make a man entirely concealed in plain sight.”

“You mean invisible. You can just say invisible.”

“Were I interested in being as lacking in attention to details as you, I could use the word invisible, but luckily for the both of us I am not. Complete invisibility is impossible. Not even the greatest Aelfan wizards were ever able to accomplish such a feat. But, there are several ways a man can remain unnoticed. Take me for instance. For the eleventh time in a row you failed to spot me before I spotted you.”

“How am I not surprised you’ve been keeping score? At any rate, he didn’t sneak up on me, I’m telling you I looked right through him.”

“Except his boots. Unless in addition to invisibility you also believe in the existence of a sentient pair of boots?”

About the Author:

Writing stories infused with the smoky charisma of classic film noir mixed with the pulse-pounding excitement of adventure fantasy and the cagey class of suspenseful espionage, Dan McClure brought the best parts of all of our most cherished pulp together and added his own signature brand of wit. He currently lives, writes and works in and around beautiful and historic Arlington, Massachusetts.

He can be reached at dmcclure17@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DMcClure17
Like Grant Scotland on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/grantscotlandseries
Sign up for his newsletter on his blog at https://dmcclure17.wordpress.com/
Visit his Amazon Author page at http://www.amazon.com/Dan-McClure/e/B00JUNYTZA

Buy the book at Amazon. See below for sale dates on the books.

KINDLE COUNTDOWN SALE DATES:

Spy for a Dead Empire (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One): Kindle Countdown Deal
1/14 - 1/18 @ $1.99

Spy for a Troubled King (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two): Kindle Countdown Deal
1/18 - 1/21 @ $0.99
1/21 - 1/25 @ $1.99

Spy for a Wayward Daughter (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Three): Kindle Countdown Deal
1/25 - 1/28 @ $0.99
1/28 - 2/1 @ $1.99

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Behind Picket Fences by Hend Hegazi - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hend Hegazi will be awarding one copy of Normal Calm and a copy of Behind Picket Fences (U.S. and International) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Here are five things people would probably never guess about me. They revolve around one theme: movies.

1. I love movies almost as much as I love books. My favorite movie genres are romantic comedy (or anything comedy, actually) followed by action. I HATE horror movies despite the fact that my husband has spent the past 15 years trying to get me to change my mind. I haven’t changed my mind. I won’t change my mind. I will close my eyes and turn my head if I am subjected to this type of torture, and despite these self-preservation tactics, I always end up having nightmares after I’ve ‘seen’ a horror movie.

2. Something I myself have a difficult time understanding is the fact that, while I can watch a movie many times over, I won’t ever re-read a book. You would think that a reader, a writer, would find the same amount of entertainment—maybe even more!—enjoying a good book repeatedly, but I simply won’t do it. I still haven’t figured out why that is. Let me know if you have any guesses.

3. I’m that annoying person sitting next to you as you watch a movie, making all sorts of comments. Yup, that’s me. Hello, nice to meet you…and I’m sorry if my outbursts annoy you. But I simply can’t help it. Well, I guess I can, because I tone it way down if I’m watching the movie IN the movie theatre; if we’re at someone’s house, however, then God help you! I just get so into it! I was watching Kung Fu Panda with my kids the other day, for the second or third time, and as someone was flying through the air, I was gasping and ‘OH NO-ing!’ rather obnoxiously. (My intention is not to be obnoxious, mind you, but I fully understand that it is, indeed, obnoxious.) My fourteen year old says to me, “Mom, you’ve seen this already; you know what’s going to happen.” Yes, young man, I know I know what’s going to happen…but it hasn’t happened yet, now, has it? No, it hasn’t. In this scene right here, Tigress and her buddies are being clobbered by that dude, and I’m living the moment!

4. Which brings us to my next point: I love animation movies. Most of the adults in my life don’t get that, especially my husband. He falls asleep if we watch a cartoon movie with the kids. Not me! Maybe because I was raised on Disney and just fell in love with the colors and the beauty of storytelling. Maybe. Who knows. But I do love cartoons.

5. I will rarely watch a movie which is based on a book I’ve already read. Whenever I did so in the past, I was always extremely dissatisfied, so I’ve chosen to save myself the disappointment.

Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a bit more about me. I hope you’ve found this entertaining. And let me apologize in advance if you ever get stuck sitting next to me watching a movie.

Behind Picket Fences exposes four families from behind their comfortable lifestyles and smiling faces. Sharing the same neighborhood, even spending time together, no family knows the truth about the difficulties the others face.

On the outside, Sidra and Farris have the biggest house and the most expensive cars. What no one sees is their struggle to accept an unfulfilled dream. If they do not adapt to the blows of fate, their malcontent may give birth to deception.

Mariam and Morgan’s modest home exudes the rich scent of family. With children playing in the yard, they seem picture perfect. But financial struggle is their continuous battle, and their only solution may produce an envy which is more destructive than hunger.

Summer and Porter enjoy youth and the freedom of self-employment. But discontentment and mental instability linger between them. If they are not able to bridge the gap, their search for happiness may have a fatal end.

May and Hasan enjoy peace and true happiness. Illness cares not, however, of letting them relish in their blessings. Only patience and time will prove if this unwelcome visitor is simply passing by, or if it will tear their world apart.

An honest portrayal of love and family, Behind Picket Fences opens our eyes to the difficult truths hidden behind each happy facade.

Read an excerpt:

“Actually,” Farris interrupted, “I’m just going to call it a night.” Farris began to walk away without saying goodbye or even recognizing the women. Faruq stood there for a second, jaw open, utterly embarrassed by his brother’s anti-social behavior. “I’ll be right back, ladies. Don’t go anywhere.”

He ran after his brother and quickly caught up with him. “Man, what are you doing?! This is the best thing for you right now.”

“I don’t want this. This has never been my scene, Faruq, and you know that. I’m just going to…”

But the sight of something beyond Farris made his brother interrupt, grabbing him by the shoulder. “That’s him! Farris, man, that’s him!” Faruq shouted, pointing in the direction he was looking.

Turning around so he could see what Faruq was pointing to, Farris narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about, Faruq? That’s who?”

“That’s him!” Faruq repeated, excitedly grabbing Farris’ shirt at the shoulder. “That’s the man I saw with Sidra!”

The words forced Farris’ eyes into focus. He saw the tall, brown haired white man so vividly, as if he were the only one in the parking lot. He didn’t hesitate for even a split second; Faruq barely blinked, and suddenly Farris was sprinting toward James. He lunged at him, punching him square in the face. The man fell to the ground as the woman who was with him let out a gasp and crouched to the floor beside him.

Looking up at the attacker she screamed, “What the hell is wrong with you?! Why did you punch my husband?!”

Farris hovered over the couple, breathing heavily, rubbing his throbbing knuckles. Faruq, now standing beside his brother, held Farris’ arm back and spoke out, “Your husband is having an affair with his wife. Isn’t that right, James?”

“James?!” the woman yelled. “He’s not James!”

About the Author: Hend Hegazi was born and raised in Southeastern Massachusetts. Despite her desire to pursue writing as a profession, she graduated from Smith College with a degree in biology and a minor in religion. Shortly thereafter, the winds of life and love blew her to Egypt where she has been living for the past 14 years. She is a full time mother of four as well as a freelance writer and editor. Some of her work has been featured in SISTERS Magazine. Her fiction and poetry focus on the human condition, often shedding light on the Muslim American experience. Hend strives to be God-conscious and aims to raise that awareness in her readers. As a common theme in her pieces, the intimate relationship between God-consciousness and love is often explored. Hend’s debut novel, Normal Calm, was published in January 2014.

You can read her poetry and blog posts on her website, http://www.hendhegazi.com, and follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AuthorHendHegazi. For updates on giveaways and special offers, kindly opt-in to her free newsletter at this link http://eepurl.com/bZa7fH.

Both of her novels are available through most major book distributors, or click here to purchase through Amazon:
Normal Calm: https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Calm-Hend-Hegazi/dp/0990387674/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476700442&sr=8-1&keywords=normal+calm
Behind Picket Fences: https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Picket-Fences-Hend-Hegazi/dp/0996545344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476700489&sr=8-1&keywords=behind+picket+fences

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Exit Signs by Patrice Locke - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Patrice Locke will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five things about Patrice Locke, author of “Exit Signs”

1. My grandson picked the cover of my book “Exit Signs.” The publisher sent me the proofs while I was visiting Alexander in Denver last summer. I showed him the five options and he immediately picked number four, which turned out to be the cover. Of course, at the age of 7, he hasn’t read the book, but had a definite opinion. I asked him why he chose that one. “Well, Granny, they look fancy on that one. Don’t you want them to look fancy?” Yes, Alexander, yes I do.

2. I won a $150 gold and diamond watch when I was in 8th grade for decorating a turkey drumstick to look like Batman. It was a big deal, earning me a whole paragraph of coverage in the student newspaper, where they referred to me as “Pat,” a name I have never liked for myself. I envisioned a great career in the arts, but, alas, that was the last recognition I snared in the field. I still have the watch. I’ve probably worn it five times. Today nobody even wears watches, and certainly not dainty little women’s watches with gold sculpted leaves and diamond chips.

3. When I was a kid, Paul McCartney was my favorite Beatle, but I said it was George Harrison because Paul seemed too cliché. I actually thought that picking George made me unique. Yes, I was the ONLY George Harrison fan ever. Quite the renegade. Strange what thoughts kids concoct. My main character in “Exit Signs” would prefer John Lennon. She would appreciate his sense of humor and his post-Beatle work, I think.

4. I interviewed Mother Teresa when she opened a charity mission in Gallup, New Mexico. Though I wasn’t Catholic, I felt an aura of peace and spirituality around her. I sat next to her at a little table in the Gallup Bishop’s backyard along with about five other reporters. It is my one brush with greatness. I was working as a correspondent for the Albuquerque Journal at the time. That is something Tracy Price in “Exit Signs” would have done. She’s a documentary film researcher and a native of New Mexico. I’m a Michigander, but I’ve lived in the Land of Enchantment for, oh, let’s just say years and years.

5. In March I will see Elton John for the third time. The first time, I was 19 years old and a freshman at Michigan State University. Elton was into his glam rock era, lots of sparkles and big round glasses. About 10 years ago I saw him again in Albuquerque and it was like time traveling. Some people sitting near us had one second row seat, which they allowed everybody in the row to use, so I heard Elton play “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues,” from close enough that I could see the hairs on the back of his hands. I never really liked that song before, but now it’s one of my favorites. I’ll see him again in March here in Albuquerque, but even though we bought tickets within moments of the sale beginning, we’re nowhere near the stage. Still, hearing him play “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” and “Your Song,” well you can’t beat that. I hate to say how many years have come and gone between my first and my upcoming Elton concerts. Let’s just say love for him has lasted decades. No need to do the math. In “Exit Signs,” Tracy sings along with Sir Elton on this exact song. She and I share musical tastes for some reason.

Tracy Price has a documentary-style life until rockstar Jesse Elliot rewrites her script and takes the wheel to drive her crazy.

In her quest to find a writer missing since the 1930's, Tracy thinks she has discovered exactly how to handle her new relationship. But she may be listening to the wrong voice.

Then Tracy and Jesse find out they've both been keeping some big secrets, and the truth may ruin everything.

Will sharing the missing writer's story open both their hearts?

Read an excerpt:

Jesse lunged toward me. It was too late. I had already launched. He reached out but didn’t connect. Instead, I broke the trajectory of my upper body by grabbing him at chest level and sliding down. He was pushed backward into the table, which stabilized our ungainly host-parasite tableau. He softened my landing so that physically I was fine, but my pride was ready for intensive care.

Heaped at his feet, like a demented penitent, I hugged his knees, my face pressed flat into his thighs. I might as well stay down. What’s worse? To stand up and face you, or remain here, nestled between your legs? What do you think? Then, the finishing touch: I erupted into nervous, snorting laughter. He guessed there was no serious injury.

“It’s nice to see you, too. You are okay, aren’t you? Can you stand?” He reached for my arms to unwrap them from his legs and help me up. I jammed my eyelids together to conjure up a do-over, but no such luck.

I would have to deal with it.

He held my elbows in his hands. “I guess we were both in a hurry to see each other.”

I do appreciate your attempt to lighten the mood, but you are standing SO close. I can feel your body heat. Or is that mine? By the way, you smell tart and fresh, like a lime.

I stared at his shoulder. My dignity meter was stuck on empty.

“Enthusiastic greeting. Thanks for that.” He was blatantly amused.

“It was nothing.” I stepped backward to regain a semblance of independence. Don’t mock me. But, you did go to all the trouble to bring your hair. And your eyes. I might forgive you for witnessing my disgrace. That hair.

About the Author: As a journalist, Patrice Locke wrote a lot of stories with unhappy and even tragic endings.
Facts are facts, and a writer doesn't mess with facts.


But fiction is another world. Patrice began writing novels, where she could control the endings and make them as happy as she wants. The best thing about fiction, she says, is having time to think before her characters speak, so they can say the things most of us only come up with after the perfect moment has passed.


She loves to write, read, and watch romantic comedies where life always turns out the way it should. Her only obsessive relationships are with semicolons and Oxford commas.


Though she doesn't like to brag, Patrice is an award-winning artist. She won a gold and diamond watch when she was 13 for decorating a turkey drumstick bone to look like Batman. Alas, that was her last recognition in the fine arts.


Patrice lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the blue sky is brilliant, the air is thin, and the vistas are breathtaking. She is none of those things, which is one reason she enjoys living among them.

Webpage: http://www.patricelocke.com/index.html
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bypatricelocke/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/patricelocke
Email: Email

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Worlds Reclaimed by Maggie Mundy - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Maggie will be awarding a digital copy of Worlds Changed to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Clare and her group of vampires, fae and werewolves want to live on Earth. To do that, they must heal the worlds they have been visiting through the portals.

Vesi, is an albino vampire and Heln, is a white werewolf. Neither has been accepted by their people. This unlikely couple tries to fight their growing attraction to each other while helping to save two worlds.

On one world, a mist is closing in so nothing will survive. On the other, the High Priestess Sari is at war. Her power is failing and she wants to use Vesi’s blood so she can live forever.

Can Heln save his love and help his friends save both worlds. Will their group ever get to Earth?

Enjoy an Excerpt:

Heln ran across the deck as he watched Vesi fall. Everything seemed to slow down and yet he knew it had been only a second since the lightning streaked across the sky and hit her chest. It might as well have hit his chest, for he thought his world was being wrought in two. He knew one thing for certain. If she died he did not want to live. How could he have changed so much in such a short time?

He had grown up hating bloodsuckers. One had killed his mother and the pain still ran deep. He was a soldier and a hard man; he needed to be to survive. All his life he had been an outcast amongst the wolves and more than anything he wanted to belong. He always hoped when he imprinted on a wolf female, the clans would then accept him.

Heln knew that would never happen now as he felt the tug of his heart going towards Vesi. His yearning for her gave him a physical ache in his chest. His acceptance within the clans had always been tenuous at best. The clans considered a white wolf a bad omen and he would have been killed before now if he could not fight so well. His mother always protected him when he was small, but once she was gone he fended for himself. All his life he needed to prove himself to get respect and now would be no different. He would fight these feelings he had for Vesi, and not give up on his dream of being part of the clan.

About the Author:

Maggie Mundy lives in Australia and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia. She recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and English at Flinders University. She had a short story published in the RWA Topaz Anthology Little Gems in 2010 called Sea and Vines. She has four books with Rogue Phoenix Press. Two erotic novellas called Blood Scent and Blood Oath and two paranormal romances called World Change and World Apart.

She has also performed for many years in corporate entertainment for which she wrote her own sketches, which probably explains why her head is so full of characters. She loves writing romance but thinks falling in love can be scary, especially in her stories where creatures of the night exist.

http://www.maggiemundy.com
http://maggiemundy.blogspot.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/MaggieMundyAuthor
https://twitter.com/MundyMaggie
http://www.pinterest.com/maggiemundy/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5428101.Maggie_Mundy

Buy the book for only $0.99 at Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

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Gawain and the Green Knight by Stefan Emunds - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stefan Emunds will be awarding a copy of Gawain and the Green Knight to 5 randomly drawn winners (US ONLY) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A knight goes out of his way and seeks his execution on his own free will in the hope people will remember him as the embodiment of honor.

Sir Gawain serves as the most honorable knight at King Arthur’s Round Table, and after an encounter with the mysterious Green Knight, Gawain’s fate becomes intertwined with that of his own honorable death - a destiny he must fight for to the bitter end. After accepting a beheading challenge from the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is awestruck to find the knight quite alive, despite his mortal wound.

In the year that follows, Gawain strikes out across the land in search of the green chapel, just one link in the chain of a perplexing and ancient mystery behind the Green Knight, and the circumstances of Gawain’s voluntary execution. Along the way, Gawain’s strength, duty, and honor will be tested as he fights through treacherous trials and carnal temptations. Trapped in a terminal karmic scenario, and honor-bound to seek out his own death, Gawain leaps into the ethos of mythology as a hero of legend.

A classic retelling of the story of Gawain and the Green Knight, this story of karma and honor brings the legend back to life as a mystical romance and epic adventure tale that will whisk you away to an era of chivalry, honor, and divine purpose.

Read an excerpt:

My God - it’s the Lord’s wife!

Noiseless, he dives back into the bed and pretends to be asleep, the thin sheet over his head.

The Lady is wearing a luxurious dress in champagne shades, tight around the hips, sporting a generous décolleté. Her pearl necklace rolls over her tightened breasts all the way onto her lap. She casts the bed curtain aside and thrones herself on the mattress. The tight dress forces her into a straight posture. The scent of her opulent perfume invites Gawain, but he shallows his breath and remains stiff under the blanket. Quickly, she runs out of patience and pokes him. Gawain uncovers his head and fakes a surprise by crossing himself theatrically.

“Good morrow, Sir Gawain. Did I scare you?” She asks in a melodious voice.

“Apologies, my Lady. For a moment I thought I saw a gho … I mean an angel.”

“What a charmer! And so careless. Do you always leave your door unlocked? I could have tied you up in your bed.”

About the Author:

Stefan loves to write spiritual, visionary, and inspirational fiction and non fiction. He was born in Germany and enjoyed two years backpacking in Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia in his early twenties.

Although drawn to philosophy and spirituality since adolescence, Stefan chose a career in the telecommunication industry. Since then, he has worked as a business development manager in Europe, Middle East, and in South East Asia.

For almost three decades, Stefan has pursued a spiritual career at B.O.T.A., a modern mystery school teaching Tarot, Qabalah, Gematria, esoteric Astrology, and Alchemy.

2012 Stefan kick-started his author hobby career. He writes about the mysteries of life and beyond and likes to tickle people’s spiritual bone. He has set his heart on promoting a contemporary, spiritual Christianity too. Of course, he also writes to entertain. Spirituality is fun.

When Stefan isn’t writing, he spends his time with his children and works on his spiritual career, in the hope to meet God face to face in this lifetime.

Homepage: http://www.stefanemunds.com
Spiritual Blog: http://www.nuchrist.com
Inspirational Blog: http://www.dailyinspirer.net
Twitter handle: http://www.twitter.com/EmundsStefan
Facebook: Emunds.Stefan
The Nu Christ Facebook page
The Daily Inspirer Facebook page
Stefan on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/grstem
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/semunds
Google+
Google+ Page God Child
Google + Page Daily Inspirer
The God Child YouTube channel
The Daily Inspirer YouTube channel
Author YouTube channel
LinkedIN: http://de.linkedin.com/in/emundsstefan



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The Meadows Shore Series by Eva Charles - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Charles will be awarding a $75 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fun Facts about Eva Charles and the Meadows Shore Series

While I was filling in for the medical interpreter at Cambridge City Hospital who was on vacation, unbeknownst to me, several male medical students had a bet going about which one could convince me to go out with him, first. Thirty years and two children later, the winner of that bet is still happy he won, and so am I.

We have two adorable dogs, Abby and Jax, who are a year apart in age. While growing up, my children begged us for a dog, but because both my husband and I have asthma, and are allergic to dogs, we never did. About four years ago, my youngest son became ill and had to take a semester off from college. He became depressed about his situation, and I was at wits end, when it hit me: “We’re getting a dog,” I announced one day. And we did, a hypoallergenic puppy. Suddenly, my son had a renewed purpose, and training Abby took him outside of his own head and gave him plenty to do every day. A year later, when my son was back at college, we brought home Jax, so Abby would have company. My husband and I are now those people, you know, the ones who act like their dogs are the center of the universe.

I love writing heroes, because I love boys. We raised two sons, and our house and life was always filled with boys. As a mom who’d always been a bit of a girl’s girl, I had a front row seat to how little, and big boys think. All the juicy tidbits I overheard, and that they shared with me while I ferried carloads to and from the movies, dances, and sporting events, whipped-up late night snacks, and served breakfast after sleepovers, gave me quite an education. It was also an incredible privilege.

The town of Fair Harbor is a fictional composite made-up of a few shore towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. I know that a handful of people are POSITIVE it is their town, but no, it really is a composite. However, Meadows Shore did once exist, called by a slightly different name. An extraordinarily wealthy man built two identical homes, summerhouses, on the property for his twin daughters more than a century ago. The homes were enormous, so large, that a few curious five year-olds once got lost inside while their mothers sipped wine on the patio that overlooked the ocean. Yes, I was one of those negligent moms, visiting a good friend who lived there at the time.

I wrote and self-published my first book last year at age 55. Even though I had once argued cases before ornery judges in federal court, I was terrified at the prospect of putting my work out there, and I kept it a secret from almost everyone. With time, and the kindness of others, I’ve gotten a little braver, but it’s still scary. Telling people that I write books, still feels absurd, like telling them I’m entering a bikini contest. And trust me, no one, I mean no one, wants to see me in a bikini!

Prepare to fall in love with the Claytons and Harringtons and their rich Portuguese heritage. A Wedding at Meadows Shore is the first book in the series. In it, you’ll meet the family and visit their beloved Meadows Shore nestled along the moody Atlantic in the charming seaside town of Fair Harbor.

It all begins with Sophie’s story, where she discards the past and learns to trust herself and others. The series follows the lives of her sisters and cousins while they, too, sort through their baggage and fall in love. Travel with them on their romantic journeys, stopping in rural Minnesota, New Orleans, and other enchanted places along the way.

They are wealthy and powerful, but suffer pain and loss much like the rest of us. Even great privilege can't shield them from those experiences. But despite their wealth and power, I think you'll find them approachable and down-to-earth—or as Cole Harrington would say: “We put our pants on one leg at a time, same as everybody else.” There's an old Portuguese adage, "the rooster crows loudly, but it’s the hen who’s in charge.” And so it is with the Claytons and Harringtons: strong women, alpha males, and of course, Avó Angelina, the family matriarch who keeps them all on their best behavior. Bem vindo à família, Welcome to the family!

Read an excerpt from My Sweetest Sasha:

Alexa rose from her chair and stood in front of Cole’s desk with her chin high and her spine straight. “I know your friend Clarisse is married to Dr. McKenna. I also know you’ve been sneaking around with her behind his back. You were alone in your office with her after hours, you planned dinner together at least once, and you have hushed phone conversations with her that end abruptly whenever anyone walks into the room. Even if, and it’s a big if, you haven’t been physically intimate with her, it’s not appropriate to involve yourself in their marriage in that way. He works for you.”

“You think that’s what’s happening? Christian’s all pissed off because I’m boinking his wife?” He shook his head. “This is Boston General Hospital, not ABC’s General Hospital. You need to stay the hell out of my business.”

“This isn’t just about you, or about the morality or lack of morality involved here, it’s about the hospital, too. You’re in an executive position. I work for Risk Management. This is a huge problem, with the potential to send ripples throughout the system, putting patients at risk. I have an obligation to report this.”

“Bullshit. You have no evidence I’ve done anything wrong. Just put it in your damn report. Go ahead. You’ll look like an idiot.”

“I can’t wait for the report to disclose this incident. Dr. McKenna left here livid. You took him off the schedule. His surgeries are either being performed by another doctor or they’ve been delayed. You’ve cut off his source of income, and interfered with his right to earn a living.”

Cole blanched.

“Tell me something that will allow me to keep this confidential, at least until the report is finalized. Offer some reasonable explanation—toss me a bone.” She was pleading with him now, but he said nothing.

She placed her fingers on his desk and leaned toward him, imploring him to look up at her. “If it’s not like it looks, then tell me what’s going on, Cole. Please give me something,” she begged.

He searched her face with stormy eyes, angry and conflicted. “I’m giving you nothing. Nothing,” he repeated.

“This is your choice. I wanted it to be different,” she whispered and left the room with slumped shoulders, shutting the door behind her.

Cole whipped his pen at the closed door, and when it didn’t make him feel any better, he hurled his keys, and then his water bottle. He wanted to tell her, he desperately needed her help with this, but he wouldn’t risk his friend’s reputation and career. Not even with her.

About the Author:

Eva Charles is the author of the multi-titled Meadows Shore Series chronicling the lives and loves of the Clayton-Harrington family. She invites you to visit their beloved Meadows Shore, nestled in the charming seaside town of Fair Harbor, where you’ll enjoy love, laughter, loyalty, and an abundance of mouth-watering food, Portuguese style.

After being a confirmed city-girl for more than thirty-five years, Eva moved to beautiful western Massachusetts in 2014. There, she found herself living in the woods with no job, no friends (unless you count the turkeys, deer, and coyotes roaming the backyard), and no children underfoot, wondering what on earth she’d been thinking. But as it turned out, it was the perfect setting to take all those yarns spinning in her head and weave them into a romantic tale.

When she’s not writing, trying to squeeze information out of her tight-lipped sons or playing with the two cutest dogs you’ve ever seen, Eva’s creating chapters in her own love story.

Website: http://www.evacharles.com
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Eva-Charles/e/B0140FZ442
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evacharlesauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14223913.Eva_Charles

Buy the series at Amazon.

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