Queen of Hearts by Various Authors - featuring Jae El Foster

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Adesanya, Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe, Anarie Brady, Jae El Foster will be awarding a $25 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.

Greetings and thank you for hosting me today as I work to promote a book that I’m in love with, Queens of Hearts.

Here are a few interesting things about me to make you go hmm.

While visiting with a friend a few weeks ago, I met one of her buddies from Alabama. A very cool guy who was curious about my books. Naturally, I was explaining the genres I dabble in and what I’ve had released, what’s done well, what’s flopped and so on. He asked what I do on downtime to clear my thoughts. I admitted that I like to play Call of Duty to burn off writing frustrations. I’m not sure how he took that, but he seemed surprised by it.

When it comes to writing, I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth. For years, I swore I would never write in the vampire genre. Then, in 2012, I wrote Restless, a story with a vampire that became a decent seller. I’ve also said that I would never write zombies. Now, here we are with Queens of Hearts, and my contribution is a teenage zombie romance called ‘You Don’t Eat People You Love.’ I’ve decided just to stop saying I won’t write in a particular genre because it seems the opposite always happens.

You know those reoccurring dreams that just get to you sometimes? When I was a child, I was hooked on Nick at Nite and their old black and white repeats. I guess I had binged too many of them, as one night while I slept, I dreamed I was in space on a ship with the casts of The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy. The problem was that, for some unknown reason, they did not like me. So, without a spacesuit on, they threw me out into space and stared at me through the window, laughing and pointing at me as the seconds ticked down and I woke up. I had that nightmare for three nights straight, and to this day, I am still terrified of outer space.

I cannot read books written in first person. I know it’s a weird quirk of mine, but I find it difficult to invest myself fully into the thoughts and actions of a protagonist in a first person narrative. I even have trouble writing in first person. I’ve only penned one story through that point of view – ‘Elisabeth’s Holiday Gift’ in DCL Publications’ winter anthology The Greatest Gift of All. The inclusion is actually a revision from its first appearance in the 2008 DCL anthology When the Snow Lay Round About.

I’m as unsure about my writing as anyone – maybe more so than most. To make sure I don’t deliver crud to my readers, I have a wonderful system set up where I send what I’m writing to my best friend of twenty years, author Adesanya, who reads as I write and lets me know what works or doesn’t work. Naturally, I do the same for her when she needs that extra set of eyes. Then, my work goes to Jean, a wonderful woman who has been my friend and editor with DCL Publications for several years now. Jean tolerates a lot from me. I have dyslexia, and sometimes I switch letters in words, leave letters out, use the wrong words completely, and even invent brand new words. She helps me find all of those little things while further helping me transform the story into the best, most complete piece of fiction it can be. ‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ in Queens of Hearts is no exception. It went through both of these fabulous women before publication and they are a good part of why the story is as good as it is.

Thank you again to It’s Raining Books for hosting me today on this exciting virtual book tour! Thanks to you, the visitors and readers, for checking us out as we promote our new anthology Queens of Hearts from DCL Publications. If you have any comments or questions, please – ask away! My gratitude to DCL Publications and Goddess Fish Promotions for making this tour possible. And a very special thanks to my co-authors Adesanya, Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe, and Anarie Brady, to our fabulous editor Jean Watkins, and to our handsome golden lord and cover model CJ Hollenbach, who worked to get us the perfect, sexiest image possible for this cover to represent the animalistic quality of the stories inside.

A romance anthology unlike any other, Queens of Hearts will seduce you, romance you, make you laugh, and make you afraid with four very different stories from four different, talented authors.

‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ by Jae El Foster

An infection is spreading throughout the town, and it has made its way to the countryside where a party of high school seniors is underway. When the infection spreads through the party in a most savage way, Bethany and Tommy must flee for their lives before they too are either eaten like their friends or they become a part of the living dead. Will sheer determination and the love that bonds their teenage romance be enough to keep them alive, or will they face a fate that is much worse than death?

‘Regina’ by Adesanya

Her name is Queen by definition, and she wears her dreads – dreads she spent half of her life growing – atop her head as her crown. Her name is Regina, and as romance sweeps through the wintry air with promises of Saint Valentine and Cupid’s mighty arrow, she finds herself entangled with a handsome man who knows all the right things to say. As a love affair blooms and romance comes into full blossom, Regina and Clive seem like a match made in Heaven. But is Regina really the woman that Clive believes her to be, or will a dark secret put an end to their cold-weathered fling?

‘All I Want is to be Happy’ by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe

Michael is feeling down over his life. He works two jobs, has four roommates, can’t afford a car, and he’s as single as they come. Worse yet, after winning the crown at a local drag competition, he begins comparing himself to his nemesis – Madame Vivian, whom he stole the crown from. Now, as a popular author and a missing wallet come into his life, Michael finds himself on a series of misadventures that will either help him see the silver lining of life or drive him further into his self-despair.

‘On Bended Knee’ by Anarie Brady

As the Greek goddess of Springtime and the queen of the underworld, Kora divides her time equally between her husband, sweet and gentle Aides, god of Hades and her dominant, Grant, a.k.a. Grannus, Celtic god of salt water and spa. This arrangement suited all three of them perfectly for years. However, when Hecate, Kora’s handmaiden and supposed best friend decides she’d make a better paramour for Aides, things could change drastically for everyone.

Read an Excerpt from 'You Don’t Eat People You Love' by Jae El Foster

That thing – that hideous, terrifying being – inside of her house… what was it? She was baffled. It had looked just like a person when it arrived. Someone let it in, believing it to be just another guest. But then… then it went rampant. With the loud music and the celebrating voices to accompany, no one noticed at first. They had all been dancing or drinking… making out, or more. Then, there were screams that blended with the music, blood splattering that blended with the punch, and the deaths of nearly twenty Deerborne High School seniors – a massacre on Saint Valentine’s Day.

Bethany wanted to scream. She knew that she needed to. A scream would be a release, and she was desperate for a release of any sort. She could not unsee everything that she had witnessed. It was burned into her brain and forever etched into her memory.

She had left her home and the carnage within to find help… to stay alive. But Tommy… Tommy was in there, and she didn’t know for sure if he’d been eaten. There was still a chance that he was alive, and it was that chance that – at least for the moment – kept her from further fleeing the scene. Taking a deep but nervous breath, she prepared herself to return to the house and rescue her boyfriend.

About the Authors:

JAE EL FOSTER:

Jae El Foster is an author with whom you question going to bed with at night, but you dare to venture beneath the sheets with him anyway. As the venture concludes, you are perhaps romanced by it, or perhaps you are frightened by it. Don’t worry because you are always satisfied by it. Despite the title or genre of the book, Jae El sets out to please you with climatic and unexpected conclusions that will make you tremble with emotion. Hop aboard the Jae El train and give it a good ride. Follow him on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/jaeelbooks, ‘like’ him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorjaeelfoster and visit his website at http://www.jaeelbooks.com. ‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ from Queens of Hearts is Jae El’s tenth release with DCL Publications.

ADESANYA:

Although born and raised in Chicago, Adesanya often draws inspiration for her writings from her Nigerian heritage. Her love for the written word developed at a young age, and today, she enjoys sharing her own stories with the world. Sometimes the tales are romantic. Sometimes they are frightening. Adesanya believes that these traits and more are what make up Life in all of its pain and glory, and no matter the genre she tackles, it is always Life that she is writing. Currently, Adesanya resides on the West Coast, USA. ‘Regina’ in Queens of Hearts is Adesanya’s first release with DCL Publications. She can be found online by following her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/theindieauthor or on her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/adesanyaindieauthor.

JENNIFER PATRICIA O’KEEFFE:

Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe is an author of romantic comedy and anything quirky. She resides in Tennessee, just outside of Nashville where she shares a home with her cats. Ms. O'Keeffe loves to make the world laugh and to find humor and love in the least likely of places. Readers may keep up with her and her writings by following http://www.twitter.com/authorjpokeeffe on Twitter. She is currently working on her first full-length novel Runaway Heiress, and her short stories ‘We Made Snow Angels’ and ‘All I Want is to Be Happy’ can be found in the anthologies The Greatest Gift of All and Queens of Hearts, respectively.

ANARIE BRADY:

When not dreaming up steamy romance novels, Anarie Brady spends her time cooking delicious meals, sipping beautiful wines, and enjoying her time with her husband of over 30 years. She published her first novel, Conquest of a Fairy, in 2008 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her novels are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. She’d love to hear from readers. You can find her at https://twitter.com/AnarieBrady or on Facebook, Instagram, and https://anariebrady.blog. Her recent DCL Publications releases include ‘As I Follow, So Shall I Lead’ in Kings & Queens and ‘On Bended Knee’ in Queens of Hearts.

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Trailblazer by Michelle Diener

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michelle Diener will be awarding a $25 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.

He's on a mission . . .

She's running for her life . . .

And if they get off-planet alive, she'll have to trust he won't reveal her darkest secret.

Tally Riva is not what she seems, and even she's not happy about it. Infected, invaded, she's not quite sure how to describe it, but on a disastrous mission to a ghost ship, something burrowed its way into her body. Into her mind.

When her commander decides the best cure for what he thinks is Tally's trauma is to send her on the famous Veltos Trail, Tally goes without revealing what's really behind her mental anguish. Anything to be seen as normal again, anything to ignore what she's afraid is happening to her.

But Veltos isn't the safe place it seems. The chosen military personnel lucky enough to be offered the chance to walk the Trail are supposed to be the only people on Veltos. But Ben Guthrie, a captain in Arkhoran Special Forces, knows they're not. He and his team have been on Veltos for a month already, tracking suspicious enemy activity, and he's gone undercover on the Trail in search of a satellite his superiors are sure has been shot down.

When Ben's worst fears become reality, and they find themselves hunted by a cunning enemy through the thick forests of Veltos, Tally and Ben fight together to survive. And Tally has to decide if accepting the changes inside her will save them both, or be her doom.

TRAILBLAZER is part of the Verdant String series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. Other books in the series include Interference & Insurgency (Two Novellas of the Verdant String), and Breakaway and Breakeven.

Read an Excerpt

Ben stood outside to watch the military runner come in.

The flare of the engine was visible because dusk had already fallen and the sky was the indigo blue that shouldn't be unique to Veltos, but somehow was. There was just something special about the color here.

“Nervous?” Irwin stepped out to join him and looked up, following the runner as it fell toward them.

Ben glanced at him, wondering if the guide actively worked to be this annoying, or whether it was just a gift.

“Should I be?” He kept his tone mild.

Irwin glanced at him, shrugged. “Most people are a little nervous to meet their fellow Trail walkers. It's a two week journey, and there's no getting away from anyone who's difficult.”

And certainly no getting away from them if they were the guide.

Ben crossed his arms and watched the runner touch down lightly on the hoverpad a thou away. It was close enough that he could hear the hum of the engine and the silence when it cut off.

“So you never said which warship dropped you off.” Irwin had turned to watch the runner, too.

“No, I didn't.” Ben kept his answer short.

Irwin gave a snort. “Super secret, huh?”

Ben said nothing.

“Do you Arkhorans actively try to irritate the living shit out of the rest of us, or is it just how you're made?”

Irwin's comment was so similar to what Ben had thought about the guide, he couldn't help the laugh that burst from him.

“Let's leave it at 'super secret'.”

About the Author:

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction. Having worked in publishing and IT, she’s now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her at her website, or online at Twitter and Facebook.

Website: https://www.michellediener.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/michellediener
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michelle.diener.author
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/michelle_diener/

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Trailblazer-Verdant-String-Michelle-Diener-ebook/dp/B07P6PJ51H

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Lowcountry Incantations by C.J. Geisel

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. C.J. Geisel will be awarding a paperback copy of "Lowcountry Incantations" to a randomly drawn winner (U.S. Only) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Quinn Riley has just had her life turned upside-down. Life is about to get worse…and weird.

After losing her job, Quinn Riley goes on the hunt for another boring, nine- to- five when a split- second decision to save a dog turns into a nightmare. The ghost of a stunning young woman in a blue dress starts to follow her, she is forced to move in with a stranger named Caleb, and events in her life have her questioning everything she thought she knew. With the help of Caleb, a new Psychologist turned friend, and a magical root doctor, she navigates the blessings and dangers of her new life.

Read an Excerpt

“You see, we have da’ powa’ between you and me to talk to da girl. She wants to talk to us, too. I can sense it. She has secrets dat’ need to be told. We jus’ need ta’ help her,” Cornelia explained, taking a seat across from me. She lit a large hurricane candle in the middle of the table and started setting out some items that she had grabbed from her walk around the room. She started muttering something under her breath, something I couldn’t really make out. I was guessing it was another language. She almost appeared as if she was going into some sort of trance. Before I had a chance to react, she reached out for my arm, grabbing it firmly. In her free hand, she held a spectacularly ornate dagger, bronze and black on its hilt and the carvings too hard to make out in the poor lighting. My eyes darted back and forth from one hand to another, as if it were a slow motion car wreck and there was nothing I could do but watch. She had slashed the palm of my hand, swiftly, effortlessly.

“Hey! What the hell, Cornelia?!” I shrieked. I tried to jump up, but her grasp was still firm around my wrist.

She pulled my now bloodied hand above the hurricane candle and allowed three droplets to pool on top of the wax. She released me at last, and I held my wounded hand against my chest, baffled. I watched as she did the same to herself, letting our blood mix in the candle’s wax. All I could do was gawk as our blood mingled and swirled in a pool on top of the hot wax. The candle’s flame danced into something I couldn’t even imagine in my wildest dreams. It had life of its own, its body gesturing to Cornelia.


About the Author:

CJ Geisel is the author of the paranormal crime thriller "Lowcountry" series. She lives in Florida with her boyfriend, family, and dogs. She is an animal advocate, especially for those who are misunderstood or disabled. She also loves baking, photography, and travelling.
br> Website: https://www.cjgeisel.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cjgeisel
Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/cjgeiselauthor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cjgeisel

Purchase links-

Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NF9LWR7
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Lowcountry-Incantations-CJ-Geisel/dp/1796311715/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

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Don't Mess with Gracie by Carol Kilgore

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Carol Kilgore will be awarding a $50 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.

The mysterious Mr. Ott is trying to intimidate Gracie Hofner into being his internal spy at The Bastion Group. She’s learned a lot about him through several sources, even using information provided by the pair of ghosts trying to save their granddaughter. But it isn’t enough. Mr. Ott is an expert in hiding his true identity.

Gracie isn’t as worried for herself as she is for her family, her friends, and her new tenant, Milo Porter. Her feelings for him have grown, but she can’t show them. Mr. Ott’s threats involve those she loves, and one friend has already been killed. Besides, she’s certain there is someone else in Milo’s life.

It takes Gracie and her growing support team to unmask Mr. Ott, but it’s what Gracie learns along the way that shows readers the wisdom of the advice Don’t Mess with Gracie.

This is the conclusion to The Amazing Gracie Trilogy—a story so big it takes three books to tell it. Gracie’s adventures begin with Jalapeno Cupcake Wench, continue with Bluebonnet Ballerina, and conclude here.

Read an Excerpt:

“I’m so glad we were down here, Milo.” Cameron blinked a few times, as if she couldn’t believe what she saw. “She could’ve been killed.”

“No. She would’ve protected her head.”

I tried. How did he know?

Milo still held her shoulders, and now his fingers were making tiny circles above her shoulder blades. “We saw you in here and were coming in so I could introduce the two of you.”

“Nice to meet you, Cameron.” Gracie nodded. “I’m bleeding? Where?”

Milo took her hands before she realized she was moving them toward her face. “It’s not bad. Let’s go inside. I’ll fix you up.”

Cameron followed them. “Milo was a corpsman in the Navy. He knows what he’s doing. When I sprained my ankle a few years ago, he took care of it.”

“I don’t usually meet people like this,” Gracie said.

“Yeah she does.” Milo still held her hands in one of his.

Gracie turned to make a face at him. The quick movement made the ground wobble. “Whoa. I’m a little dizzy.”

“That’s all right.” Milo put his free arm around her waist. “You won’t fall.”

How was this happening? She was always the one in control. The person in charge. Yet Milo had stepped up when she needed someone, and she didn’t mind. That was it—she didn’t mind. She always minded when she lost control of a situation. Maybe I have a concussion.

Milo held onto her and led her out of the garage. He glanced at her car. “I like your new Jeep.”

About the Author:

Carol Kilgore is the award-winning author of the three books in The Amazing Gracie Trilogy: Jalapeno Cupcake Wench, Bluebonnet Ballerina, and Don’t Mess with Gracie.

In addition, she is the author of In Name Only, Solomon’s Compass, and Secrets of Honor, three standalone romantic suspense novels set along the Texas Gulf Coast.

She and her husband live in San Antonio, the setting for the Amazing Gracie books, with two quirky herding dogs who still require help opening the food bin and the door.

You can learn more about Carol by visiting her website and subscribing to her newsletter or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. Newsletter: http://www.carolkilgore.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolkilgore.author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carol_kilgore

Carol is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Carol-Kilgore/e/B008FRCXQY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P61FPNP

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Where Sleeping Lies Lie by M. Naidoo

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Naidoo will be awarding a $15 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.

“Two men... two worlds... one desperate promise...”

If Anna had only known how the simple push of a button would turn her life upside down, she would never have pressed ‘Play.’

Just 22 seconds into the recording she’s hit by the realization that, if the voice in the thick German accent is right, she has been living with an unthinkable lie for the past thirty years.

There is only one way to find out: Follow the instruction left by a dead person and head back to Germany, to a life Anna has next to no conscious memory of.

To her surprise, she finds an unexpected ally in Peter, an old childhood friend whose law degree and language skills prove to be more than useful. Besides, he has the most gorgeous blue eyes and the uncanny ability to push Anna's buttons without the slightest effort. At every turn, their search for answers is littered with more lies and revelations.

Anna must ultimately decide whether even the noblest of ends, truly justify the means and whether some secrets should better stay buried.

“Mystery, history, and a twist at every turn. Brilliant characters and prolific storytelling... irresistible!”

Read an Excerpt

"God, I can't even imagine." The weight of what Martha had lived through had made Anna feel queasy. She needed water.

"No, you can't."

She hadn't noticed how Peter was leaning forward, rubbing the back of his head, or how his voice had taken on a frigid undertone.

"Losing a child? I mean how do you get up in the morning?" Anna picked up her glass from the table.

"You don't—not for a long time." Anna froze. As she turned to look at Peter, his eyes, blank and dark, were fixed onto the candleholder in the center of the coffee table. She let herself fall back onto the sofa under the weight of the realization.

"When?" As if it would make a difference how much time had gone by.

"Nine years ago, in August." He turned his head to look at her. Anna didn't know what to say. What could she say?

"Her name was Sophie, the happiest, smartest, funniest, most loving three-year-old you will ever meet. One minute she's running and laughing, the next she's hooked up to machines with doctors telling you she won't ever wake up again." The pain she had felt in his voice had turned to bitterness.

"I'm so-"

"Sorry for my loss?" He finished her sentence. "That's what they all said, doctors, nurses, family, friends… everyone."

"What else were they going to say?"

"Nothing. Because there wasn't anything, anyone could say that would have brought her back. Words were just a waste of time."

"What about her mom?" Anna couldn't help but ask.

"Gone." He paused. "Without Sophie… we couldn't pick up the pieces."


About the Author:M.Naidoo lives in Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs. Born and raised in Germany, she was able to draw on a wealth of memories and passed down stories for Where Sleeping Lies Lie.

When she is not in front of her computer, pounding out story lines and characters, she enjoys reading, movies, spending time with her family, and long walks on the beach - her proverbial 'happy place'. M's love for the shore line and ocean shine through in the vivid descriptions of the coast in her debut novel The Pelican.

"Juggling my life as a writer and a full-time 'real' job has its challenges. I don't get to spend half as much time as I'd like doing what I love, and there are never enough hours in the day. Still, I feel extremely lucky to be following my passion, and I am enjoying every minute of it. Getting here has been one heck of a ride!"

Like and follow M. Naidoo on social media

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMNaidoo
https://www.instagram.com/authormnaidoo/

For information about the author, her blog, upcoming releases, and more visit http://www.mnaidoo.com.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NL34N26

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His Secret Love by Anya Summers

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Anya Summers will be awarding a $15 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.

Meghan Mallory has a plan for her life and it does not involve falling in love. She doesn’t have the time nor the inclination. She’s too busy trying to save the world. But when a freak snowstorm puts her in the path of a man she has secretly been fascinated with for years, she is forced to reconsider her stance on dating. Spencer is rude and obnoxious with his bad boy swagger but then he rescues her when she gets stranded on the side of the road, like a knight in tarnished armor, and sweeps her away to his house to ride out the blizzard.

Spencer Collins likes his life just fine, thank you very much. As the owner of the lifestyle club Cuffs & Spurs in Jackson Hole, he has a bevy of available subs who are his to command – not that any of them have held his interest in longer than he can remember. When his best friend’s sister-in-law gets herself into trouble, Spencer heads out to rescue the little brat who is in need of a firm hand. But he never expects to be forced to confront the incendiary heat that has always existed between them.

As the storm rages around them, they surrender to a passion hotter than the sun. Now that he has felt her surrender, Spencer attempts to lure Meghan into his world. But will they let go of their pasts or will they allow secrets to destroy them?

Read an Excerpt

“I’m to tell you that your sister is pissed you worried her this way.”

Meghan squelched the ever-present guilt when it came to her sister and sighed. “She always worries. Why aren’t we going to Carter’s? It’s a hell of a lot closer than your place in Jackson.”

She studied his profile, the angular, firm jaw covered with a neatly trimmed black beard.

His gaze was trained on the road as he navigated. The way his big hands—the fingers long and bluntly tipped—kept a firm hold on the wheel made driving in these horrendous conditions appear effortless. “We aren’t going into town. My house is roughly ten minutes from here.” His gruff voice, the deep, rather exasperated, bass slithered along her spine like a caress.

“But I don’t want to stay with you,” she protested. She’d rather be stranded on Hoth or on the U.S.S. Enterprise without power. Plus, she’d been looking forward to a night or two at Casa Jones with lots of yummy food and the chance to hang with her nephew. She was indoctrinating him into her love of pop culture and science with measured success. Then there was also the tiny little fact that the thought of being cooped up with Spencer, alone, made her entire body simmer, and not in anger but anticipation.

“Why? Chicken?” he dared and glanced her way.

Meghan’s heart thudded. Her mouth went dry. And deep down she knew the answer was a resounding yes, not that she would ever admit it. With a deadpan glare, she snorted. “Nope. In your dreams, big guy.”

“Relax. I don’t bite. I have guest rooms you can pick from and we will hardly see each other.”

“Sure. Thanks. I just don’t want to be an inconvenience.” Not just to him but to anyone. Not ever again.

He rolled his shoulders in a manly shrug that was so distinctly bored alpha male, her entire body whimpered with the desire to feel all that strength against her.

And then he opened his mouth. “There are always ways in which you can thank me.”

The innuendo flash-fried her brain, bombarding her with carnal images she wanted to deny. But her body told a far different story. Stupid hormones. Her blood ignited. She pressed her thighs together to squelch the distinct throbbing and felt her nipples bead into hard points. Thank god the parka cloaked and hid her desire. She didn’t want to feel this way about him—or anyone, for that matter.

She cast him a withering stare. “Ew. Thanks, but no. You can let me out right here if this rescue comes with those kinds of strings.”

“Just saying, if you really feel that bad, I can find plenty of chores to keep you occupied.”

“Chores?” She glanced his way. His lips were compressed into a thin line but those midnight eyes of his, the ones she saw in her darkest fantasies, danced with merriment. He was teasing her, the big lug.

“Sure. I could use a maid or a cook.”

She couldn’t help it. Really, the man drove her to it. And perhaps her brain had not yet completely defrosted from her sojourn on the side of the road and then the tawdry images her brain had conjured at his innuendo… Her fist curled of its own accord. She punched him in the arm.

“You’re such a jerk. You had me thinking—”

Before she could retract her left fist, he snatched her wrist. “Careful, brat. Had you thinking what?”

And his dark gaze glittered, bored through her defenses before shifting back to the road.

What did he see? Did he intuit that she was fascinated by him? That the thought of him putting his big hands on her again liquefied her insides? Just the simple contact of his hand gripping her wrist, his thumb pressed against her wildly beating pulse, made her panties wet.

About the Author: Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.

Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.

Visit my website here: http://www.anyasummers.com

Plus, I have an Exclusive Bonus Scene from HIS SECRET LOVE available for a FREE download by subscribing to my newsletter: https://goo.gl/phM786

Website as Maggie Mae Gallagher: http://www.maggiemaegallagher.com/

Visit her on social media:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyabsummers?lang=en
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Anya-Summers/e/B01EGTVRKC/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anya-summers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anyasummersauthor/

Buy the book at https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Love-Cuffs-Spurs-Book-ebook/dp/B07NKN5Y2S/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2

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Dead Gold by Hawk MacKinney

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 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.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Hawk MacKinney

Born, bred and raised in the southwest railroad towns, coal mine communities, and paddlewheel-ferry river towns along the Arkansas River from Little Rock to Tulsa –

I am a licensed pilot –

Don’t like heights or flying as a passenger –

Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral degrees; postdoctoral electives in forensics, languages, medicine, university faculty; served in the USN/USMC -

Home was a moderate-sized family farm with every critter you can imagine; some we ate, some chewed on us -

The dazzling lure of Olympic gold fame is a spotlight glare hotter than any fifteen minutes of fame.

During plans for a cross-country ski vacation, Aspen Police Department Criminal Investigation Division Detective David “Spinner” Krespinak and SEAL-bud Craige Ingram are ensnared by glamour, upmarket glitz and bling, and greed in the deadly champagne powder world of a money-gets-you-anything high-country ski-mecca. Body parts start turning up in the most unlikely places. As the two friends start their investigation, A hornets nest of the local elite do not want the publicity. For good reason it seems, they may be part of the mystery of bodies and body parts piling up at the morgue.

The closer they get to the killer the more confused they become. Who is behind the murders and mutilation? The list of suspects grows as they close the net on the killer.

The tender underbelly of Aspen is not what it seems. It is a raw open sore that oozes blood, drugs, and murder.

Read an Excerpt:

Portly Erwin Garnal relaxed in his high-backed black leather chair. He liked his black office, his black chair, his black kidskin sofa, and his polished ebony desk that gleamed like expensive burnished stainless steel. Erwin Garnal wore money like a bestowed heraldic escutcheon. It made for a special prestige that raised him above the riffraff of the mundane, the primary respected tool in an underling world where the only rules were his rules.

The center of his neat fiefdom arrangements was being rattled beyond his wildest fears by the voice from Chicago. Erwin Garnal had never had a panic attack, but it had to be kin to what he was feeling. He pressed the phone tighter to his ear. His office’s broad picture windows framed the pastel blue and purple wind-blown snow-curls peeling off the high mountain peaks.

Garnal’s pale insensitive eyes pierced the figure sitting across from him as he listened to the Chicago accent of Frank Walton, “Yes, Mister Walton.” Phone pressed harder to his ear, “I agree." His gaze razored toward an unshaven Ski in two-day-old rumpled clothes. “Janoski is right here. I told him there was nothing to worry about.” He listened. “I agree completely,” came his speedy answer. “We got us a bullheaded cop putting the squeeze on Janoski.” A fake smile formed on his cigar-puckered lips, “I agree. I'll personally make sure Janoski keeps a low profile.” He nodded, “I already saw that was took care of.” About the Author: Hawk MacKinney served in the US Navy for over 20 years. While serving as a Navy Commander, he also had a career as a full-time faculty member at several major state medical facilities. He earned two postgraduate degrees with studies in languages and history. He has taught postgraduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem, Israel.

In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction—historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers. His titles are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Moccasin Hollow Mystery Series—murder and mayhem with a touch of romance. Hidden Chamber of Death, the first book in the mystery series, was followed by Book 2, Westobou Gold and his latest, Book 3, Curse of the Ancients. All have received national attention. The Bleikovat Event was Vol I in The Cairns of Sainctuarie Science Fiction Series followed by Vol II, The Missing Planets. Vol III, Inanna Phantom is in final galleys.

http://www.hawkmackinney.net
https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Gold-Moccasin-Hollow-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07NKR1PTJ/ref=sr_1_1

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Legend of Song de Light by Kaitlynzq

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding 2 $15 gift cards to her book boutique, 2 $10 gift cards to her book boutique, and 4 $4 gift cards to her book boutique to randomly drawn commenters (8 winners) via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The stories within Legend of Song de Light
connect, unfold, interweave many character’s stories needs, feelings, desires, dreams

their threads as two crescent moons connected under the firelights
that layer the chords, and form the lyrics

all of you entered my world as dawn’s awakening sky of soft palette my garnet heart melted in iridescence to bloom in sun’s rays glow in night’s depth as the stars echo the rhythm of my heart my insides sigh and expand in delight harmonious blend as our lives circle the melody

The audiobook is recorded in Kaitlynzq’s voice with a blend of music like a heart’s wave into downloadable mp3 files.

An audio book that is interwoven in the Lovecontu Song de Light Lovecontu series that includes

Ancient Script of Lovecontu audio poem
Legend of Song de Light audio book Legend of Song de Light audio play
Lovecontu Song de Light Lovecontu audio set

Listen to the synopsis: https://youtu.be/j2XiCz03N0Y

Read an Excerpt

“...Danseur pulls ballerina into him, their eyes speaking the volumes in their hearts as he lifts her above to hold a cherimey for an eight count. He draws her into him again, and upon her signal, tosses her high in the air for a leatur to land softly in his arms. Danseur reimey, as ballerina performs an intricate olor fu de ar, a bea uh li, triple tizpin, turns back to Danseur, and magnifi-gras-se-susay. Danseur catches her right on cue. Joined hand to hand, they geeté, geeté, adream petite into the final truset luh-es-aglo lift, and return encircled with their eyes speaking the volumes in their hearts...”

“...The development process of this collection included the use of a paint brush to add to the photos the undercurrent of feeling within them, and when the four piece panorama is placed side-by-side, a gentle stream is seen that carries this private story...”

About the Author:

My fictional stories are written from the inside view of a character’s interior heart-that beautiful, vulnerable, intimate space feelings, desires, needs, dreams a blend of delicate feather ripples of heart waves needs, feelings, dreams, desires quiet, gentle heart strings tender, continuous soft, vulnerable air mist circles, weaves to caress a sonic sea of heart’s breath

Woven into audio books that are recorded in my voice with a medley of music as a heart’s wave into downloadable mp3 files;

audio plays adapted from the audio books, and layered into pdf files like a heart’s song;

audio poems that are multiple poems designed to connect to form a story as a heart’s breath;

and audio sets that are sets of these interconnected stories with elements from each story that interweave in one another as heart’s wave, heart’s song, heart’s breath.

https://kaitlynzq.com
https://kaitlynzq.boutique
Blog: https://kaitlynzq.com/blog/
vlog: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFAc7uEIdMGMrxLFzym5y6g
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18554610.Kaitlynzq
Contact Information

melodicprose@kaitlynzq.com or contact page: https://kaitlynzq.com/contact

Purchase Links:

https://kaitlynzq.com/legend-of-song-de-light-audio-book
https://kaitlynzq.boutique/legend-of-song-de-light-audio-book/

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The Next to Last Mistake by Amalie Jahn

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amalie Jahn will be awarding a $20 mazon 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.

Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.

Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the societal challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she’ll never fit in with the students at her new school.

When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess’s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of cultural disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

Read an Excerpt

I stand without making eye contact with anyone else in the room, especially Mrs. Alexander who’ll block me from leaving if given the opportunity. I gather my books hastily into my arms and run for the door. After skidding into the hallway, I make a beeline out to the student parking lot.

By the time I get there, Leonetta is already waiting for me, leaning against the hood of my car.

“Shortcut,” she says as I approach. “There’s a delivery corridor behind the closest stairwell to Mrs. Alexander’s room. Comes out right over there.” She nods toward a door on the side of the building, not twenty feet from where we’re standing.

Despite the storm raging inside me, I grin at her. She’s a good friend. A great friend. I should’ve known she’d come after me.

“What’s going on?” she asks as I sidle up beside her.

I consider saying ‘nothing’ and leaving it at that. I don’t want to talk about my epiphany, but I can’t lie to her. She’ll see right through me.

“You remember the guy, Zander, my friend from back in Iowa?”

“The one you talk about all the time?”

I glare at her. “Not all the time.”

It’s her turn to raise an eyebrow at me.

“Okay, I talk about him sometimes,” I concede. But then I stop. I can’t find the words to go on.

“What about him?” Leonetta urges, nudging me with an elbow.

“I…” I’ve never said the words aloud and it’s harder than I thought it was going to be. “I love him,” I say finally.

She makes a small sound. A bit like a laugh but more like a contented coo, as if she’s a baby and I’ve been tickling her toes. “I know.”

It feels almost like she’s punched me in the gut.

“You know?” I say. “How is that even possible? You’ve never even met him.”

She lays a hand on my shoulder, and if it had been anyone else doing it I would have thought it condescending, but since it’s Leonetta I’m certain she’s being sincere.

“Honey, that wistful look you get whenever you talk about him… There’s never been any doubt in my mind about your feelings for him.” She narrows her eyes at me, searching for something in the lines of my face. “Don’t tell me you’re just now figuring it out.”

Am I just now figuring it out?

“I’m afraid we might end up like Catherine and Heathcliff because we’re exactly like them, and I don’t want that for us. We were kids together. We grew up together. We have this thing between us that’s so much bigger than simple friendship. When Catherine says ‘I am Heathcliff,’ I totally relate. Because I am Zander, whether I want to be or not. I can’t separate myself from him because so much of who I am is tied to who he is. Our history is long and deep. But since we’ve been apart, things have changed.” I take a deep breath, surprised at how easily all of this is flowing out, but I focus, forcing myself to come to the point. “What destroyed Catherine and Heathcliff was their refusal to embrace change. They didn’t let their love mature. If my friendship with Zander is going to survive, it’s what we need to do.”

Leonetta shrugs. “So, you gonna tell him?”

My heart stops. “Tell him I love him?”

She slides off the hood of my car. “Yeah.”

“I don’t know if I can. At least not right now. Not while we’re so far apart.” She scowls at me. “I will, though, eventually. Maybe this summer if he comes to visit.”

“What if he never comes to visit?” she asks.

Tears pool in the corners of my eyes. “He’ll come,” I tell her. “He has to.”

About the Author:

Amalie Jahn is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 8 young adult novels, including The Next To Last Mistake, her latest release (Light Messages Publishing 2019). Amalie is the recipient of the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for her debut novel, The Clay Lion. She is a contributing blogger with the Huffington Post and Southern Writers Magazine, as well as a TED speaker, human rights advocate, and active promoter of kindness. She lives in the United States with her husband, two children, and three overfed cats.

When she's not at the computer coaxing characters into submission, you can find Amalie swimming laps, cycling, or running on the treadmill, probably training for her next triathlon. She hates pairing socks and loves avocados. She is also very happy time travel does not yet exist. Connect with her right here in the present day at these social media sites:

Websites – http://www.amaliejahn.com and lightmessages.com/amalie-jahn
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AmalieJahn
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AmalieJahn
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amalie.jahn.official
Visit http://www.amaliejahn.com to join Amalie’s FREE Readers Group and in addition to receiving promotional discounts, sneak peeks, and monthly newsletters, your membership will now grant you exclusive access to bonus material (shorts and novelettes) delivered right to your inbox!

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611532647/ref=as_li_tl
Barnes and Noble – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-next-to-last-mistake-amalie-jahn/1129761093?ean=9781611532630
Apple – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-next-to-last-mistake/id1439682885?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-next-to-last-mistake

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Mona Lisas and Little Whie Lies by John Herrick

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. John Herrick will be awarding a $10 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.

Hello readers! The crew at It’s Raining Books asked me to share five things readers might never guess about me. So, jumping at the chance to spend a few minutes with you—and quite possibly embarrass myself—here we go!

1. I’m a paranoid writer. I never allow anyone to read what I’ve written until the first draft is done. I won’t even tell anyone what the book is about until I have the first draft in hand. As a kid, I dreamed of writing novels. But when you’re young, you don’t know how to accomplish a long-term goal. I’d get bored and “put the novel on the shelf for a while”—which became each project’s kiss of death! No matter how many books I’ve written, I’m always scared I won’t finish. And that, my friends, leaves me paranoid.

2. I won a TV game show when I was 11 years old. The local show was called DB’s Delight, which aired Saturday mornings in the mid 1980s. I even featured a character named DB, which was really a guy who hid underneath a table and shoved his hand up the DB puppet to make him talk. Each week, a group of sixth graders from a local school would come to the studio of the local CBS affiliate, and four kids would compete in an educational trivia show. I won my round and the winner’s round that day, and the prize was two tickets to Six Flags. I still have the show on VHS tape, which is probably the only copy in existence, and it will NEVER see the light of day. Why? Simply put, I was such a nerdy looking kid. Big 1980s eyeglasses with the plastic frames, hair that was messed up by the time we went on TV, probably some dandruff on my shoulder. No joke. (Now I might burn the tape. Hmm…)

3. I seem to have a knack for writing love stories, but in real life, I might just be the worst date you’ve ever had. Okay, enough said there! Seriously, though, I’m not good at playing games. I want to be honest on a date and I think that freaks people out. (That reminds me. Never date someone you work with. Long story.)

4. I had a obsessive-compulsive tendency as a kid. I kept it hidden well, but I would do something or repeat something to myself four times. That was my thing. Four times. When I was 15 years old, I decided I would break that habit. So whenever I wanted to do something four times, I purposely did it 3 times—until my new habit became to do or say things three times. Somehow, I outgrew the tendency. Praise God for that—no joke there. I was thankful for the freedom.

5. I’ve always been a night owl, but I do my best work early in the morning. Like many (or most) authors out there, I have a full-time job during the day. When I started writing novels, I worked on the books for a couple of hours before bedtime. That worked well at first—until I lost my joy in writing. After working all day, I didn’t feel like showing up to start working again at night on books. Plus, I started going to bed later and later because I’d hit my stride and refuse to stop. That meant less sleep at night, which left me more tired. I So I got creative: What if I rearranged my daily schedule, and started my day doing what I love, giving it my first and best? I tried that new schedule when I wrote Between These Walls. It changed my life. I no longer viewed sleep as an enemy. Moving immediately from book work to career work prevents my body from taking a break, which means no more motivating myself for a second round of work. And best of all, I get to watch the sunrise every day!

Thanks for the opportunity to stop by spill my guts here! If you’re interested in reading a romantic comedy that comes from a mind as messy as that, I hope you’ll check out Mona Lisas and Little White Lies.

She’s America’s hottest new celebrity. But her identity remains a secret.

Lily Machara is a wisecracking auto mechanic. She’s never cared for glitz or drama. But when Ryder Flynn, a rising star in the world of commercial art, adopts Lily as his muse after a random sighting, Lily discovers herself painted into his hot new pieces … and becomes America’s newest — anonymous — celebrity.

The only problem: The woman Ryder imagines isn’t the true Lily.

Or is it?

Now, as Lily and Ryder give in to mutual curiosity and a budding romance, Lily’s life — secrets and all — fall victim to a pop culture with one question on its mind: Who is the woman in Ryder Flynn’s art?

In the spirit of Cyrano de Bergerac and Pretty Woman, MONA LISAS AND LITTLE WHITE LIES is a delightful new romantic comedy from John Herrick, bestselling author of Beautiful Mess.

Read an Excerpt:

Lily considered the man handsome with his firm jaw and wavy, brown hair. In fact, he had one of those faces which could, with one glance, render you at ease. She sensed instant comfort in his presence. He also had the sort of appearance that made you feel as if you had met him before.

And Brooke was right. The woman looked exactly like Lily. Her hair color, complexion, nuances in her face and fingers—Lily recognized them all.

Brook leaned over her shoulder. “See what I mean?”

“Yeah…” Stunned, Lily examined the woman closer but couldn’t find the words to speak. An honest-to-goodness lookalike! Yet somehow, that red dress and fancy environment had transformed her into a different person altogether. The change had escorted her into another world!

Even though this woman was a fictional character, Lily tried to imagine her background and what she did for a living. The superficial differences between Lily and this woman were obvious, but Lily knew something else must have come into play between a couple like this. What did this woman have that Lily didn’t? What would draw this particular man to this particular woman?

A hint of jealousy stabbed Lily’s heart, but she shoved the feeling aside.

Before she knew it, Lily pictured herself in the woman’s place—which wasn’t difficult, given the similarities.

She imagined the floral scent of that wine…

The brush of the red dress against her thighs…

His arm around her waist…

What am I doing?!

Lily snapped the magazine shut and tossed it on the dining room table.

About the Author:

John Herrick is best known as a chronicler of the human heart. His complex characters and earnest tone prompted Publishers Weekly to write, "Herrick will make waves." When he is not writing, he loves long drives on the interstate. He is a sucker for 1990s music. Herrick lives in St. Louis.

In addition to novels such as BEAUTIFUL MESS and FROM THE DEAD, he authored the nonfiction bestseller, 8 REASONS YOUR LIFE MATTERS.

Visit his website at http://www.johnherrick.net.

You can find John online at:

http://www.amazon.com/author/johnherrick
http://www.facebook.com/johnherrickbooks
http://www.goodreads.com/johnherrick
http://www.youtube.com/c/JohnHerrick
http://www.twitter.com/johnherrick

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The Moment Between by Gareth Frank

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gareth Frank will be awarding a $50 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.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Steven King once said: "(The writer's) job isn’t to find ideas but to recognize them when they show up."

For me, the idea for my novel showed up in the mail. I received a Christmas card that mentioned the death of a friend's brother and alluded to his wife being the murderer. A very strange Christmas card, indeed. I couldn't stop thinking about it. When I called my friend and asked what had happened, I found out that, as they say, fact was stranger than fiction. I used the woman in question to create one of my characters. Some people think I created a monster. The truth is, real monsters are often real people. That was the genesis of my storyline.

The theme of my book grew out of my fascination with near-death experiences, and what they tell us about the conscious mind. Polling has shown that about 70 percent of Americans believe in some sort of afterlife. We all struggle between two competing natures, the logical and the spiritual. Where we lie between those two points largely defines who we are. That dualism lies at the heart of my book.

The Moment Between is a psychological thriller that brings death to life.

What sort of research did you do to write this book?

I started my research very broadly. I wanted to incorporate near-death experiences, afterlife, neuroscience and even physics in my budding novel. Even though I had read previous books on the subjects, I took the time to read six or eight books that I thought were most relevant, taking notes as I went, and trying to capture facts and ideas that were integral to the story I envisioned. As I began writing scenes, I referred back to this base research, but invariably items would arise that needed further exploration. For that research, the internet was crucial. I can't imagine how much time I would have spent in the library in the good old days.

I would often get sidetracked on a sentence or a paragraph, researching for hours just to get the right facts and words. My favorite example is the research I did on brain surgery, especially the time I spent watching doctors on YouTube as they sliced into flesh and brain. The truth is I loved it. While that may seem like an extravagant use of time, if it fits in the story, it is never a waste, even if you don't use it.

What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?

First and foremost, I want people to care about my characters and be engaged by the storyline. I want them to feel Hackett Metzger's pain for the loss of his wife and his nervousness as he tries to find romance four years later. I also want readers to experience that moment between life and death when all the possibilities open before them.

Did you always have the reins of the story or the people in it tried to take over?

I don't believe that a good novel can be created full and complete. It must evolve like life itself, growing incident by incident. That is the way to build real characters and to create the conflicts necessary to drive the story forward. While writing The Moment Between, I had a preconceived notion of the ending. I ended up throwing it away. I couldn't make it fit who the characters had become and what the story needed.

If your novel were being made into a movie, whom would you pick to play the lead roles?

Paul Giamatti would be the perfect Doctor Hackett Metzger. He can play smart, vulnerable, awkward and determined all at once. Sarah, my antagonist, needs someone cool and calculating, who can also hide themselves under a pretty veneer, perhaps Kate Winslett or even Charlize Theron. Kathy Bates would be the perfect Ella Mae. The director would be Ridley Scott.

The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer?

I am a logical and linear thinker. My first novel was a historical novel about a bombing at the University of Wisconsin during the Vietnam War protests. I approached it with too many historical restrictions. The desire to illuminate history often overshadowed my story. I realized that I had to let a lot of myself go and allow the story to flourish on its own. When I wrote The Moment Between, I freed myself of time as a writer, much like the conscious mind does during a near-death experience. Some of the best scenes were those where I move between time, place and characters in order to tell a fuller more dramatic story. Check out Chapter 5.

A fun fact about writing your book.

In my novel, I fictionalize a real life medical study about near-death experiences. The real study was conducted by Dr. Sam Parnia and released in 2008. Parnia studied cardiac arrests in fifteen major hospitals in the U.S. and Great Britain. He found that 39 percent of patients who suffered cardiac arrest, were revived and those that could be interviewed reported conscious memories at the time of resuscitation. Thirteen percent reported a separation of their conscious mind from their physical body.

Has your environment /upbringing colored your writing?

My mother was a botanist and professor of biology. My father was an engineer. Both looked at the world though the skeptical lens of science. They looked at the world and sought out explanations. Especially my mother, who seemed to be a living encyclopedia. Yet she was also a woman who went to church every Sunday and saw no conflict between science and God. I approach the afterlife with a natural skepticism, but that does not mean I am not open to the possibilities, and so I wrote The Moment Between to explore what happens in that instance of death.

Do you have any scars? What are they from?

I have a couple of scars, including a six-inch scar on my stomach where they opened me up for exploratory surgery after my appendix burst. The appendix was apparently in the wrong place so they had trouble diagnosing me even though I was close to death, but that is not the scar that comes to mind. I have a small circular scar dead center in the middle of my chest. I got it the day my brother tried to kill me, or so I thought for a split second. I was about twelve years old at the time. I walked out our front door, crossed over our driveway and heard my brother call my name. When I turned and faced him, he was sitting on the ground at the back of the house.

"Look at this!" he said.

His legs were stretched out in front of him. A strip of rubber from a bicycle inner-tube was wrapped around his feet like a big sling shot. He released. I stood frozen, unable to move as an arrow flew toward me. In my memory, I see it flying true. The silver of the metal tip glistens. The feathers balance the shaft as it makes a perfect arc and heads directly at me.

It hit my chest right on the solar plexus, stopped and wobbled slightly before falling to the ground. It bled a little, but I lived and succeeded in scaring the crap out of my brother as much as he had scared me.

What are you working on now?

I am getting close to finishing my next novel. Although it is similar in style, its characters inhabit a totally different "world."

Torn Skin is the story of Jonny Pirpal, a punk rockin, freight train hoppin loner with a history of ego and anger issues. Back in the nineties, he achieved a moment of rock and roll fame but his world fell apart and he lost everything in a single day. Syierra Antalek is a mystic who quite literally saves the lives of strangers but couldn't save her own family. After years of dedicating herself to others, she, too, has become a lonely traveler, but for very different reasons. Their paths cross as Jonny's history is about to catch up with him.

One of the things I love about writing Torn Skin is that I have gotten the opportunity to write lyrics to Jonny's songs, both as a punk rocker and a vagrant.

After four years of mourning, Doctor Hackett Metzger is determined to stop letting his wife's death control his life. He is finally beginning to live again, but his recovery leads to an unexpected fight for his own survival and startling revelations about what happens to all of us in The Moment Between.

Hackett, a brilliant neurologist, is a skeptic. He doesn't believe he will one day be reunited with Jean, or dwell with God in heaven. What he does believe is that he should have seen the warning signs of her heart attack; he should have saved her. He also cannot accept the possibility that his clinical study of near death experiences could prove the existence of a conscious afterlife. When Hackett falls for the mother of a patient, grief finally begins to fade. But he has no idea his new love is hiding her dangerous past. Will Hackett's damaged spirit endure another heartbreak?

Read an Excerpt:

The gravelly voice scratched Hackett’s memory, banging, scraping and popping just as it had that snowy night outside the hospital. Once again, he felt the force of the man’s knee on his neck. His heart pounded. He looked around the garage, thought first of finding a hammer or wrench on the work bench, but his eyes registered nothing within easy reach. He briefly thought of taking the man down with a chainsaw, as if he were in a scene from a Quentin Tarantino movie. He felt the uncomfortable hiccup of a laugh bubble up inside of him. Without thinking, he grabbed and felt a cool, wooden handle among the garden tools.

Careful not to make a noise he lifted the pitchfork up and stared at it. In that moment, Hackett thought about all the times he had cut into human flesh. He had seen blood, he had seen death, but as a doctor, he had always strived to save life, not take it. Now, holding the pitchfork, he tried to convince himself this would be no different. He watched his hand shake, like a ninety-year-old patient holding a coffee cup. Could he do this? He wasn’t so sure. Noise within the house drew Hackett’s attention.

About the Author:

Gareth Frank is a former union organizer and administrator. He received a Master's Degree at the University of Wisconsin and later studied at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The Moment Between is his first published novel. His short stories have been published in various journals and have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize as well as the Silver Pen Write Well Award.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarethFrankAuthor
https://www.amazon.com/Moment-Between-Gareth-J-Frank/dp/1732294208

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First Love by A.M. Cummins

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A.M. Cummins 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.

Everyone has had a first love. The one they had new experiences with and the one they can’t forget. Whether it be the boy next door, a loyal princess, or a supernatural being, all of these stories have two things in common: love at first sight and elements of fantasy.

Featuring stories by Meg Boepple, Sofi Laporte, Kathryn St. John, Zoey Xolton, Melinda Kucsera, A.R. Johnston, Simon Dillon, A.M. Cummins, Edeline Wrigh, D.S. Durden, A.D. Carter, and Galina Trefil.

Read an Excerpt:

Drew fixed his eyes on the dead man’s face. The eyes stared back unseeing and empty. An uncomfortable tingle ran down his spine. The Indian woman rose from her knees and walked away from them. But he had a hard time taking his eyes away from the haunting look permanently etched on that cold, dark face.

About the Author:

A.M. Cummins is a fantasy author, graphic designer, and a self-proclaimed organizational freak living in Toledo, Ohio with her husband, son, and two spoiled cats named Indiana Jones and Dollface. When not working her day job, she enjoys making characters come to life in her yoga paints and messy bun while munching on an egg roll and sipping bubble lemonade. She adores hearing from her fans!

Contact her at http://www.amcummins.com.
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Webpage: http://www.amcummins.com

Publisher: Dragon Soul Press

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