Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman

Murder at Midnight

by Katharine Schellman

September 18 - October 13, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.

But secrets aren't only found in London. Jack's younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman--the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia's.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it's clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man's death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack's sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn't commit.

Praise for Murder at Midnight:

"Delightful . . . Historical mystery fans will devour this holiday treat."
~ Publishers Weekly

"A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects."
~ Kirkus Reviews

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781639104321 (ISBN10: 1639104321)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, 4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Read an excerpt:

Lily sat bolt upright. Where had the sound come from? It hadn’t been loud . . . another part of the house? For a moment, in the pressing silence, she wondered if she had drifted back to sleep without realizing it and imagined the whole thing.

But a moment later, the sounds of a commotion rose just outside her window. Lily dashed to the window, throwing it open with some effort and peering out into the swirl of snow and early- morning light.

The guest room she had been given was one of the smaller ones—the better to quickly heat rooms that hadn’t been prepared in advance—and as was typical for such rooms, it lacked a pretty view. Hers looked over what she realized after a moment must be the poultry yard. Darkly clad figures who she could guess were servants stumbled through the thick layer of snow that had fallen, trying to reach the two people in the middle of the yard.

One Lily could see from her vantage only as a still, upright figure, hand outstretched and pointing toward the second person, who lay sprawled on the ground. The one on the ground was half covered by the ice and snow, unmoving.

Lily grabbed the dressing gown from the chair, pulled on her shoes, and ran from the room. In the hallway, a few guests were poking their heads out of their doors, hair tousled and faces creased with sleep, inquiring grumpily if anyone had heard an odd noise.

Lily didn’t stop to consider propriety or worry about what anyone else might think before she yelled “Jack!” as loudly as she could. She didn’t know which room he had been given, but a moment later, a door past the stairs was flung open and the navy captain’s head appeared.

“What is it?” he demanded. He was already dressed and wearing his driving coat over his clothing. That was odd at such an early hour, but Lily didn’t have time to be surprised.

“Downstairs.” In spite of the months they had spent apart, Lily knew she could depend on him to understand and act quickly. “Something happened. We have to help.”

And in spite of those months apart, he didn’t stop to ask questions. More guests were emerging, summoned by Lily’s shout, and questions were beginning to fly back and forth as she dashed down the stairs, Jack on her heels.

They didn’t need to wonder where to go; on the floor below, Mrs. Grantham was following a stately-looking woman who might have been the housekeeper or another upper servant. Their pace was just barely too dignified to be a run, but they couldn’t hide their worry as they disappeared down the steps to the kitchen. Lily and Jack hurried after them.

The servants’ staircase was narrow and cold. At the bottom, servants clustered in the kitchen, talking in shrill, anxious voices as the cook tried to keep some order. The underservants glanced uneasily at Lily and Jack as they came into the kitchen, but no one seemed to know what to do or say. The door to the yard had been left wide open, and the wind blew in gusts of snow and icy morning light. Outside, more servants were gathered, though they parted like a wave as the housekeeper led Mrs. Grantham out to see what had happened.

As Lily and Jack tried to follow, they were stopped by the frail but determined body of the butler, who interposed himself between them and the open door. “Madam, sir, perhaps you would care to return to your rooms? Breakfast will be ready shortly.”

Jack drew himself up, clearly prepared to use his rank to push his way past the aging servant. Before he could say anything, though, and before Lily could think how to reply, Mrs. Grantham turned sharply.

“What is . . .” She trailed off, eyeing Lily and Jack with trepidation. She looked ready to send them on their way with some commonplace assurance. But half a dozen emotions chased their way across her face in that moment, and she instead asked, “Mrs. Adler, how many of the rumors about you are true?”

“That depends on the rumors,” Lily replied calmly, though her heart was pounding. Behind Mrs. Grantham, she could see the limbs of the eerie, still figure sticking out of the snowbank. “Though if you refer only to the ones that are most relevant at this moment . . .” She turned her gaze pointedly toward the body in the snow. “There is indeed some truth to them.”

Mrs. Grantham hesitated, then seemed to make up her mind in a rush. She stepped aside, pulling the confused housekeeper with her. There were boots for the servants lined up next to the door, crusted with mud from repeated use. Lily pulled off her delicate evening slippers, slid her bare feet into the pair that looked closest to her size, and followed as she and Jack were ushered into the yard, their eyes fixed on what awaited them there.

A man dressed in borrowed clothes, his skin white with cold, his hair thick with clumps of ice and snow. He could have fallen, hit his head, been caught in the storm and frozen. He could still be alive, in need of help. He could have had an innocent reason for being out in the storm.

He could have. But this close, Lily could see the snow that had been kicked aside and trampled by half a dozen feet in the servants’ frantic attempts to clear it away. The icy powder was too thick on the ground for her to see the mud of the yard. But it was still stained with red and brown from where the man’s life had leaked away in the night.

The once-snowy linen of his shirt was stained the same color, jagged and torn from the bullet that had ended his life. The gun that had fired it had been unearthed beside him, as snow-logged as his own body. The man’s frozen eyes and mouth were wide open, as though he had not believed until the last moment that whoever had faced him in that yard could be capable of the shot that had ended his life.

***

Excerpt from Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman. Copyright 2023 by Katharine Schellman. Reproduced with permission from Katharine Schellman. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Lily Adler Mysteries and the Nightingale Mysteries. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal, starred review), have received multiple accolades, including being named a Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of 2022, a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2020, and a New York Times editor’s pick in June 2022. Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
www.KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @KatharineSchellman
Instagram - @katharinewrites
Facebook - @katharineschellman

 

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

 

 

Join In for a Chance to WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Katharine Schellman. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

Reflections on the Boulevard by L.J. Ambrosio

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner and an autographed copy of the book to a second randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books.Tell us a little about yourself.

I had a varied career. I ran three regional theatres …we brought 2 plays into Broadway. I then opened a talent agency that grew amazingly fast - the agency was in both NY and LA and had an affiliation in London. I then produced several films (three remarkably successful), and taught at 7-9 universities from Los Angeles to New York. Now I find myself an author, but I'm still producing films when there is no strike.

What makes this genre you are involved in so special?

It is the truth covered with fantasy.

How important is research to you when authoring a book?

Oh!! So important especially locations and events—the worst is to not be specific and getting called out on it, because that could ruin your credibility and the book.

What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand?

Unless you have great penmanship, a computer with great spell and syntax checks is the only way to go.

When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?

About 17 months ago

What inspires you to write?

My life, my observation of people and life, and my passion to know and explain.... my intellect. THE HUMAN CONDITION

How often do you write?

No more than 2 hours a night

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?

I'm always inspired. I write every evening from 9-11 pm

How hard was it to sit down and start writing something?

Never

Do you aim to complete a set number of pages or words each day?

No. Tonight I just wrote a transitional paragraph that was important.

What makes being a writer so special, or is it just another job?

It is incredibly special. I get to explore my mind and my life experience.

Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?

I do have a general plot, but I added to it as I go along. Like tonight I was going from A to B, but as I was listening to some classical music lying-in bed, I added a whole new plot point. I will do this right up to the final read.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing?

Writing too fast and then forgetting on the first read what I meant.

What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?

Flow of my mind

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last?

For me it is just like talking; I can never stop--I have no writer's block.

Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?

Pray

Do you read much and if so, who are your favorite authors?

JD Salinger, Jack Kerouac, Thomas Mann, Albert Camus, Ginsberg, Emily Dickinson, Virginia Woolf. Shakespeare, Herman Hesse, there are more

Over the years, what would you say has improved significantly in your writing?

Spelling but that is a lie ------age made me free

If you had the choice to rewrite any of your books, which one would it be and why?

None they are doing too good right now

Any advice you would like to give to your younger self

Do it again

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?

Write with passion; do not hold back; tell your truth

Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?

I write stream of consciousness; I do occasionally change point of view which is fun and not confusing

How much of yourself (or people you know) do you put into your books?

I do this not to protect them but to let the character grow with no restrictions of their (the real character) life

Have you ever incorporated something that happened to you in real life into your novels?

All the time

Are there any books that you are currently reading and why?

I am rereading Leaves of Grass a lot and Joyce's Portrait of an Artist

Is there anything you are currently working on that may intrigue the interest of your readers?

Everything I write- I let them into my mind, my soul, and my condition

Who is the most supportive of your writing in your family?

My son and a friend

If given the opportunity to do it all over again, would you change anything in your books?

Not a word

Writers are often believed to have a Muse, your thoughts on that?

Dragonfly is a muse for the book I'm working on now.

Does your day job ever get in the way of your writing?

My day job is promoting, writing, keeping the home and my wonderful dogs, and spending time with my granddaughter

How do you see writing? As a hobby or a passion?

Necessity

Do you think it is true that anyone can be a writer?

People have a problem with truth and grammar, but anyone could write.

Are you satisfied with your success?

Which success? I have lived a great life.

Are you a member of any writing committees; if yes, define your role

No, I am a loner. I love to be alone but that does not happen too often here.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your first book?

I slept peacefully with my two dogs on the bed with me listening to Leonard Cohen.

Which book would you want adapted for the silver screen?

Ask my friends. That is all they talk about especially with book two Reflections.

THANKS FOR READING ---I LOVE LIFE AND LEARNT TO LIVE LIFE FROM BOOKS. YOU SHOULD ALL READ THE MASTERS---READ A BOOK A DAY. GOODBYE

Michael's story continues from "A Reservoir Man" (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protégé and journeys with him in a haphazard adventure throughout America and Europe. In Michael's final journey in life, each twist and turn of the road brings unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship, and discovery.

Read an Excerpt

On one particularly bumpy part of the trail, Michael assured Ron.

"You look great and natural on that mule! Like Gene Autry!” Ron was falling over now, off the mule. Ron had some choice language for Michael. After a minute he also asked, “Who is Gene Autry?”

“He was the cowboy who sang 'Don’t Fence Me In'!”

The mule train proved to be extraordinary. The views were spectacular; being inside the canyon was the best. The formation of the rocks was either tilted, straight, or flat. The horizontal layers of rocks produced the colors yellow, red, and blue. The mule and Ron were no problem; he was a natural mule rider. Thank heavens he told the mule about his relationship with Rhonda - that was the key to their bonding. Ron had a wonderful time, even if his butt was in pain. He felt the saddle was still attached to his bottom even after they left.

They found a bench looking at their incredible view of the North Rim. Michael turned to Ron telling him how nice and cool their friendship was. Michael agreed.

“I had so many friends and partners, but I was never able to have as much fun and conversations as I have had with you, Ron.”

“Partners like Gail, your former business partner?" Ron asked.

Michael playfully responded, "No, like loving, and those other things.”

About the Author:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio
Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-on-the-boulevard-lj-ambrosio/1143396462
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Boulevard-LJ-Ambrosio-ebook/dp/B0C2F31BLW/ref=sr_1_1
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/reflections-on-the-boulevard/id6448296429
Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/reflections-on-the-boulevard
Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1068548362
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1384458?ref=draft2digital
Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798985965162_9798985965162_10020/reflections-on-the-boulevard

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chasing Harmony by Melanie Bell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melanie Bell will award a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I write and publish in multiple genres. Coming-of-age stories like Chasing Harmony appeal to me because writing about growing up is a good way to tap into emotions. When you’re experiencing things for the first time, you experience them in technicolor.

What research is required?

It depends on the book. For Chasing Harmony, I researched the lives of geniuses and prodigies, and drew on firsthand accounts from musical prodigies I’d met. I read coming-of-age novels, especially those focused on art and music, and I interviewed a teacher at a music school.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

I learned hope. Anna goes through a lot, but discovers that she can rewrite her story in a new way.

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

You don’t have to write alone! I do plenty of writing at home by myself, but I also like to participate in writing groups – some in person, some virtual – where several people write at the same time and chat afterward. It’s supportive, fun, and encouraging!

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a hybrid – a “plantser.” When I first started writing, I went by the seat of my pants, making things up as a went along. As a result, my stories usually stopped around chapter 5. I tend to start out with an idea for the ending, but without planning, I didn’t know what was supposed to happen in the middle! I learned to write brief outlines with bullet points for different chapters or sections. I also keep a lot of notes for my stories. I leave room for flexibility, and the story usually changes as I tell it.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

I’m sitting in an easy chair next to the window. To my right is a view of the Victorian houses and gardens on my street in Brighton, England. I’m lucky that it’s sunny today and not raining!

Anything new coming up from you? What?

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move is coming out in 2025. It’s an honest look at my experiences moving to the UK and adapting to a new culture. I’m also working on a fantasy novel that I first conceived of as “feminist Amadeus with magic.” It’s about a composer who channels magic through her music and ends up working for the devil.

Do you have a question for our readers?

What story would you like to write – and why aren’t you writing it now? 😉

A refreshing YA debut from Canadian author Melanie Bell, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell, Becky Albertalli, and Nina LaCour.

Melanie Bell has created a compelling coming-of-age story, featuring a bisexual protagonist, for those that can relate to the search for untapped potential. Told in alternating timelines on Prince Edward Island and Vancouver, Chasing Harmony reminds us of the exhilarating feeling that comes with hearing your heart’s song.

Piano prodigy Anna Stern is used to having all eyes on her. As she becomes a teenager, Anna struggles to find her identity without the soundtrack of sonatas and concertos. There’s also the worry that comes with the crushing expectations of her musical gift and her parents’ imploding marriage.

Anna finds refuge in her best friend, Liss, who is full of magic and escape plans. However, now their relationship is changing and Anna is starting to fall for her. Adding to the complicated status is new kid Darien, who is always vying for Anna's attention.

As the haunting spectre of burnout lurks close by, an upcoming performance with Liss will determine both of their futures. With everything building to a crescendo, what follows is an authentic life in the making.

Read an Excerpt

Liss’s violin, marbleized wood luminous as eyes. Her foot’s proximity. Liss outshining her. An inch between sole and polished body. Liss so satisfied. Hesitation. Liss’s lips touching her, Liss’s gifts untouchable. Impact before she realizes there’s been an impact. Hideous cracking sounds. Again, again, encore.

There is a sense of cold grandeur in Anna’s eyes. In the keys of every piano are salamanders, scorpions, grass snakes, rats. Anna is made of piano keys. The violin is on the floor and the pinchy flat of her right foot is through it and touching the uncolorful speckles. The music room has windows but they’re high and hard to see through. Anna’s pulse is doubled where the veins stick out. Beethoven is a musical negative. Everyone had loved them. Past is a negative sometimes set to music. The violin is in two main pieces with a hole scrunched in the middle and assorted splinters. The violin is back in the case on the shelf. It has a name on it. Adrenalin has Anna’s veins alight. Liss now owns two halves of a violin. The splinters would be hers too but Anna has picked them up and thrown them on top of the lint and pizza box in the garbage. A piano is too big to stomp through. Love? She shudders. A splinter is lodged in Anna’s index finger just below the nail.

About the Author:

Melanie Bell is a Canadian multi-genre writer living in the UK. Her books include a short story collection,Dream Signs, a nonfiction title, The Modern Enneagram, and the YA novel Chasing Harmony. She has written for several publications including Contrary, Cicada, The Fiddlehead, and Huffington Post. She loves music, art, and nature, and aspires to see as much of the world as she can.

Melanie’s Digital Footprint

http://inspireenvisioning.com/
https://www.facebook.com/InspireEnvisioning/
https://twitter.com/InspireEnvision

Read Furiously’s Digital Footprint

https://readfuriously.com/
http://facebook.com/readfuriously
https://www.instagram.com/readfuriously/
http://twitter.com/readfuriously

Where to purchase Chasing Harmony (print)

https://readfuriously.com/products/chasing-harmony
https://bookshop.org/p/books/chasing-harmony-melanie-bell/18542996
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-harmony-melanie-bell/1141640134
https://www.target.com/p/chasing-harmony-by-melanie-bell-paperback/-/A-87380558
https://www.waterstones.com/book/chasing-harmony/melanie-bell/9781737175896

Where to purchase Chasing Harmony (digital)

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chasing-harmony-melanie-bell/1141640134?ean=9781960869999
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/chasing-harmony
https://www.scribd.com/book/631773896/Chasing-Harmony
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Harmony-Melanie-Bell-ebook/dp/B0BYSRC29S

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Futility of Defense by Bryan Cole

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bryan Cole 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.

Paladins are nothing but trouble. When Krell, an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea, hears the call from ReckNor, the capricious god of the seas and skies, the attention of the rich and powerful turn their gaze toward him. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.

When Krell stands against the might of the sea devils and emerges victorious, concern and interest turn to fear—fear of their secrets and plans being revealed and exposed, of the ruin that often follows in a paladin's wake. Now he stands in defense of a pitiful town at the edge of nowhere, even as the sea devil menace grows more dire for each day that passes.

For as deadly as the sea devils are to Krell, his past choices and the consequences of his actions may be deadlier still . . .

Read an Excerpt

“Corporal Sabah, calm yourself. There is no honor in striking bound prisoners.” Commander Serkinth sighed, then looked at Mog. “You are Mog?”

Mog looked around in alarm, his eyes fastening on Krell. Krell smiled and nodded.

“I am, my lord,” he said, his voice quiet.

“Commander, Mog. I am no lord. Why did you interfere with these men?”

Mog’s face flushed. “On account of how they wanted to break into my home, my… er, commander. My wife was nursing a little one, and wasn’t no place for armed men to come barging in!”

Commander Serkinth went very still and turned his gaze slowly back to Sabah, who looked suddenly unsure. “By Hieron’s honor, why would you seek to enter this man’s home?”

“Well, commander, we were given orders to learn the lay of the place, and—”

“Enough, Sabah.” Serkinth shook his head and gestured. “Release them.”

“Commander? They interfered with soldiers of Baltorc who—”

“Who were attempting to break into a private dwelling?” shouted Serkinth, his face flushing as he stood. His chair toppled over with a crash, causing the soldiers to flinch. “Is your honor so meaningless that you deliberately shame followers of Hieron through disrespectful, dishonorable conduct in front of followers of ReckNor? In front of their paladin?”

As one, the soldiers all turned and looked at Darvin, their faces paling.

Darvin smiled, his eyes filled with amusement, and gestured toward Krell. Krell struggled to contain the laughter he felt, seeing their horrified expressions.

Krell stepped toward Serkinth. “What happens now?”

About the Author:

Bryan is an avid reader, and has loved the fantasy genre since he was a child. His love of stories of mighty knights, terrible dragons, and noble steeds has inspired him for decades.

Website: https://www.fatpaladin.ca/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22517522.Bryan_Cole
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FatPaladin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatpaladinbooks

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Futility-Defense-Paladins-Journey-Bryan-ebook/dp/B0C9XBWJ8H/ref

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Voices of Cancer by Lynda Wolters

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lynda Wolters 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.

"I don't know what to say" and "I don't know what to do" are common responses to a life-threatening diagnosis. Voices of Cancer is here to help.

Every cancer story is different, but there is one commonality: both patients and the people supporting them often struggle to properly articulate their wants and needs through particularly challenging and in many cases, uncharted territory. Lynda Wolters knows firsthand: she was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal mantle cell lymphoma in August of 2016.

Voices of Cancer offers a candid look into the world of a cancer patient, informed by Lynda’s own story and conversations had with dozens of patients weighing in on their needs, wants, and dislikes as they navigate the complex world of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. With comprehensive and accessible insight from people who’ve been there, Voices of Cancer helps educate, dispel fears, and start positive conversations about what a cancer diagnosis truly means, while shining a light on how best to support a loved one on their own terms.

Read an Excerpt

Cure Is a Four-Letter Word

Once you’ve had a cancer diagnosis, being “cured” may be an unreachable goal. And the fear never goes away.

“Remission is a lesson in guarded optimism rather than magical thinking,” is a line I read from a blog post by Steve Jacob, a consultant for Baylor, Scott & White Health, who was describing remission, and I appreciated it immediately.

The word “cure” is often misconstrued as “remission” and, conversely, remission is often thought to mean cure. Unfortunately, those words are mutually exclusive and can be painful when misunderstood or misused.

Remission is essentially classified as either partial or complete. At its truest level, it means there is no evidence of active cancer at the moment.

A cure, on the other hand, is defined as cancer never coming back again. That is a pretty lofty statement, since there is always a chance of relapse. Once diagnosed with cancer, being “cured” can really only be used if the person reaches their death without ever experiencing the cancer again. Therefore, “cure” is just too big a word for most of us to feel comfortable with.

As a patient who has been told there is no cure for her disease, the word remission feels like the heavens opened up and the angels sang; it really doesn’t get much better. Cure, however, feels like a pipe dream, out of reach and inconceivable. Regardless of how long a person has been in remission, we still hold our breath during checkups and hear the whisper in our head: “Is it back?”

Before becoming fluent in the language of cancer, I thought cure and remission were interchangeable. Now I realize that remission is the only dream we have and cure lives somewhere in fantasy land.

Many patients will go in and out of remission, some more than once during their journey, and each time they have to deal with the, “But weren’t you cured?” question from family and friends. Perhaps some of this responsibility for confusion lies with the patient, and we should use language that is less confusing and more accurate, such as No Evidence of Disease (NED); No Evidence of Active Disease (NEAD); and “dormant.” A non-patient cannot be expected to understand what a sting the word “cure” can have.

About the Author:

Lynda was born and raised in a tiny farming community of 400 in northern Idaho. She worked on the family farm, with her first job being picking rocks out of the fields and ultimately graduating up the ladder to driving a grain truck and combine during harvest. Following high school, Lynda continued her education in Las Vegas before she moved back home to Idaho to raise her three sons.

Lynda still resides in Idaho with her husband and their peekapoo, Max.

Lynda has worked in the legal field for 30+ years and enjoys ballroom and swing dancing, horseback riding, kayaking, and river rafting. She has a heart for people and enjoys regularly volunteering. She spends the bulk of her spare time reading and writing.

Lynda was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) in August 2016. She touts herself as being a thriving warrior of the disease.

Lynda has completed two books of nonfiction: Voices of Cancer, released in October 2019, and Voices of LGBTQ+, released in August 2020.

The Placeholder, Lynda’s debut novel, was released in November 2022.

Lynda has published the following articles: Navigating the Workplace with Chemo Brain, February 23, 2020, Elephants and Tea. and When Masks Weren’t Popular, March 24, 2020, Patient Power. She has spoken on several podcasts, been a guest on a local talk show regarding Voices of Cancer, and given interviews for other outlets and print.

Jane Brody wrote up Voices of Cancer in the New York Times, her article entitled What to Say to Someone with Cancer, on January 13, 2020, with a follow-up on January 20, 2020, entitled, When Life Throws You a Curveball, Embrace the New Normal.

The Chinese translation rights of Voices of Cancer have been purchased by a grant to offer the book to medical students in Tawain.

Lynda donates Voices of Cancer books and a portion of its proceeds to Epic Experience, a nonprofit camp for adult survivors and thrivers of cancer located in Colorado.

WEBSITE: https://www.lyndawolters.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynda.wolters24
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lyndawolters1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndawolters/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Wolters_Lynda

Amazon links:

KINDLE: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really-Want-ebook/dp/B07YLZKSTX/
HARD COPY: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really-Want/dp/1645430391/
AUDIBLE: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really-Want/dp/B0839PK3GJ/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to Wonderland by Bobbie Candas

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bobbie Candas 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.

A recently fired biologist with mommy issues, a successful entrepreneur with a dead wife, and an immigrant hiding from gang violence…These three have only one thing in common.

They’re all screwed up

Biology researcher, Violet Hill, was just let go and is devastated. She found the solitary lab and long hours the ideal respite for her anxiety issues--doing meaningful work while avoiding people and conversation. Now unemployed, with diminishing finances, Violet is forced to face the enemy, her mother.

For years, Turner Cooper was consumed with building his company’s client roster, until the sudden death of his wife throws him totally off kilter. Now, instead of work, Turner’s guilt and alcohol issues consume him.

Living a reclusive life in Dallas, Rosario Guzman is hiding from a Mexican cartel while working in the shadows at three part-time jobs. Finally, the item she covets the most, a Green Card, arrives in her mailbox. But Rosario quickly realizes the paper card doesn’t solve all her problems.

While navigating social issues, private demons, and nightmare memories, these three lives collide as they find each other at a place none of them ever imagined they’d be working at. As their mutual relationship evolves, Violet, Turner and Rosario lean into each other and unexpectedly find their lives unfurling in remarkable and magical ways.

Read an Excerpt

The Winning Ticket
Rosario Guzman

The alarm went off with news blaring through the radio, jolting me awake from a deep sleep. It was ten PM. I’d showered before bed and rarely bothered with makeup anymore. When your job was washing and folding laundry at a twenty-four-hour lavanderia, what was the point? I put on my favorite fitted jeans, a clean white tee shirt, and pulled my shoulder length brown hair into a tidy bun. I forced a smile in the bathroom mirror before brushing my teeth and then repeated my mantra, “It’s going to be a great day!” I tried to keep the sound of my voice upbeat, but lately, maintaining positivity was becoming more challenging each day.

My second cousin, Miguel, owned Bright White Laundry, where I’d worked the eleven PM to six AM shift for a year. I was grateful for the work but knew I was capable of so much more. It was boring, repetitious, and surprisingly busy. At eleven PM, Diaz Avenue in East Dallas was dark, but Bright White Laundry sat on the corner of the sketchy business block like a shiny fluorescent-lit beacon for the unwashed.

I walked in waving to co-worker, Enrique, another distant cousin. I hated following Enrique’s shift. He was lazy and usually left a string of unfinished tasks in his wake after clocking out.

“¿Qué pasa, Enrique? How 's business tonight?”

Seeing me, he’d already grabbed his backpack and was walking to the office to clock out. He stopped and nodded towards the bathroom. “Welcome to Wonderland, Rosario. I just locked the bathroom. Man…you do not wanna go in there. That place is nasty. Tonight, if I was you, I’d keep the street people outta there.”

I shook my head, once again surprised at his lack of work ethic. “Enrique, you know the person on each shift has to clean the bathroom. That’s your job. You expect me to work ‘till six tomorrow morning and not use it?”

“Well, I’m not doing it. It’s up to you, chica. Gotta fly. Things to do tonight.”

“OK, but I’m telling Miguel.”

“Do what you have to do, man,” he said with a little laugh. “Do you think I give a flying fuck about this job?”

Apparently not. I watched him walk out, while shaking my head. What a jerk! Sad to think I was loosely related to him. Very loosely.

I checked out the place. One lady and two guys were doing laundry after carving out their own personal space amongst the machines. Pretty slow for a Thursday night. I gingerly unlocked the bathroom, needing to see what I was dealing with. Yeah, it was bad. I took a picture to show our boss, pulled up my mask. put on rubber gloves, and got to work.

At six AM, I clocked out and went next door to Daylight Donuts, also owned by Miguel. As usual, I grabbed a chair in the back, craving my morning cup of hot fresh coffee with lots of milk, and then bit into a soft and sweet pineapple empanada. Heaven! The front doorbell began to jingle as I tied on my white apron, ready to face the early risers and day laborers needing their morning sugar rush. I put on my smile and joined the team of two others already manning the front counter.

By eleven AM there were a few late donut-seeking stragglers, but two could easily run the front while I finished clean-up in the back. After clocking out, I walked down the street and boarded DART, eating my lunch from a paper bag as the yellow city bus carried me to the outskirts of Dallas. From there, I walked the remaining few blocks to Construction Connection. From noon until four, I worked the final leg of my day in a warehouse cleaning porta orinales, or what everyone here calls Port-A-Potties. A place filled with tall, nasty smelling blue boxes that needed a thorough scrubbing and sanitizing before they were sent out for another day of duty at construction sites.

A co-worker, Yolanda, and I punched in at the same time. From our assigned lockers we donned knee-high black, lug-soled rubber boots, elbow length rubber gloves, and tied on long black canvas aprons.

Trudging out to the warehouse, we crossed a road where two guys driving forklifts were moving sanitized port-a-potties onto trucks. As I walked by, they both hooted, whistled, and called out, “Looking good today, Rosario! Your ass, in those jeans… so hot.”

I blushed and tried to ignore them, amazed anybody would think me sexy in my rubber encased work clothes.

Yolanda tapped my shoulder. “Hey, don’t mind them; they’re harmless. Enjoy it while you can. Trust me, nobody’s whistled at me in ages.”

“How long you worked here, Yolanda?”

“Ten years, girl. Can you believe it?”

“Shit!”

“That’s right. Ten years of shit.”

I pulled the mask up over my mouth and nose, grabbed a power hose and yelled, “If we’re both working here ten years from now, just shoot me. Promise, OK?”

Yolanda laughed and nodded, “Sure, but then who’s gonna shoot me?”

At four my shift ended and once home, I had five hours before the whole crazy cycle started again. I knew the schedule was extreme but it was the only way I could maintain an apartment and manage to send a bit of money to my mother in Mexico.

Standing outside my apartment, I pulled a white envelope out of the dented tin mailbox. A thrill momentarily pulsed through me. Carefully opening the white envelope from the U.S. government, I pulled out an unimpressive looking, but oh-so-important, printed paper card qualifying me for legal work in the United States. The coveted Green Card. My ticket out of the shadows, away from working lousy jobs that nobody else wanted to do for less than minimum wage.

I’d applied a year ago--scrimping and saving, paying all the filing fees, going to interviews, paying an immigration attorney. And now, here it was; but suddenly my excitement fizzled. Receiving it felt so bittersweet because I had no one here to share my news or happiness with.

I’d purposely tried not to befriend people since coming to Dallas. And I didn’t want the people I worked with to know I’d be looking for other work. I wasn’t sure who I could trust. Most of my family, the few I cared about, were in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico or dead. That evening, I felt so alone.

I placed the card in a hidden compartment in my wallet, set my alarm for ten PM, removed my clothes, took a shower, and then smiled to myself in the mirror.

About the Author:

Bobbie Candas lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Mehmet Candas, a stray gray cat, and a jealous tabby who does not enjoy sharing affection with the interloper. Bobbie attended The University of Texas in Austin, earning her degree in journalism. She took a detour with a career in retail management, and found her happy place when she returned to writing fiction about nine years ago.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00MNS6KV0
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292457.Bobbie_Candas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGYSJL4P

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An Eye for the Highest and Best by Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel 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.

Living in this world of such disruption and uncertainty can result in us facing despair. How can we attune to the rainbow after a storm, and create hope and happiness? How do we develop an eye for the Highest and Best, when faced with what appears to be the worst? What steps should we take to reconnect with our ability to be resilient?

In this book, Dr. Doetzel shares some important insights gained from her own experiences of teaching university, battling cancer, being a journalist, travelling worldwide, dealing with grief, and facing the global pandemic. Along the way, she introduces her readers to fresh ways of viewing their lives, by applying an Appreciative Inquiry lens that inspires the practice of a more conscious way of living, resulting in discovering serenity.

Readers may start to re-examine their own challenges, while discovering their own gems that warrant gratitude. The reflective questions and stories suggest ways of removing blocks to happiness and constructing healthier relationships.

The book is also an ideal tool for educators to apply to teaching Appreciative Inquiry as a qualitative research methodology.

Read an Excerpt

So, when she travelled to Mexico during the Christmas season, she booked herself to swim with the dolphins. She was very excited to become like a playful child swimming with them and feeling uplifted. At the time, her leg was still healing from a recent car accident, and she believed that swimming with the dolphins would assist the healing process.

Angel enthusiastically jumped into the cool waters to prepare for her dolphin swim. Before joining her in a shared swimming venture, the dolphin kissed her on the cheek and then he stood straight up and started to dance with her. She was laughing and anticipating a great swim, when suddenly the dolphin took off swimming beyond the pool and grabbed Angel’s arm with his teeth. Her arm was momentarily in his mouth before she started to scream and to pull it free from his grip. With blood spurting out, she was terrified to check out what had happened.

About the Author:

Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel has been teaching in the Sociology Faculty of Mount Royal University since 2006, and as a seasonal sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary since 2005.

An award-winning scholar, journalist, and musician, she won a Distinguished Dissertation Award for her doctorate dissertation, leading to the publication of her two books: Cultivating Spirituality in Education: Synergizing Heart and Mind and Old Heart Child's Eyes: A Diary of Miracles. In 2017, her students at Mount Royal University honoured her with a Teaching Excellence Award. In 2018 her students also acknowledged her for promoting wellbeing and good health within the classroom, and for being a good mentor. She received her MA, HBA, HBSW, and BA degrees from Lakehead University.

She received her PhD from the University of Calgary in 2004. She studied Intuitive Medicine in Vancouver and received a professional certification (I.C.A.D.C) from the Canadian Council of Professional Certification. She also was awarded a Broadcasting Radio and Television diploma from Confederation College. She encourages her students to examine the world through different lenses, exercising altruism, promoting social justice, and learning to be a good sociologist.

Her Mount Royal University blog is titled, Debunking Deceptive Myths. In addition to her recently published books, she has also authored and published eight scholarly articles in her field.

In February 2020, the Calgary Herald, rated one of her books (a pre-amble to this one) as a local best seller. She is currently conducting research about complementary medicine and continuing to teach at Mount Royal University.

Aside from teaching and conducting research, Dr. Doetzel has hosted a radio show "From the Heart," airing on AM 1140 High River, for the past 10 years. She has recorded four albums of her own original songs.

Website: https://drnancyangeldoetzel.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.nancyangeldoetzel/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eye-Highest-Best-Practicing-Appreciative/dp/0995992339

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mind Expressions by Alysha Potente

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alysha Potente 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.

This poetry book has a total of over 130 poems, and most feature alongside: beautiful photography art. All of the poems are different from the next, in meaning and technique.

Analytical in nature, each poem dives into various topics. With this are also syllable counts, where the number of syllables per line are counted and arranged. This brings forward a technical side to poetry writing, where it is precise and balanced.

It is a skill that requires practice, where you hear the word for what it is, using mathematics while rhyming words together. All of the poetry features different rhyming forms.

Read an Exclusive Excerpt

OUR NIGHT SKY IS WONDEROUS...

Look up at the Horse Head Nebula..
It’s beauty derives spectacular..
On Earth see the Aurora Borealis.
Bright colours merge like it gave the sky a kiss..
There is this wonder in Outer space..
Where it too can make your own pulse race..
Stars twinkle in clusters in the Milky Way..
They are quite bright in its path like a Highway..
A galaxy seen by telescope..
An eye up to it just cannot cope..
Our moon has craters if you are to zoom in..
It rotates around the world every min..
Telling the timeframe down here on Earth..
Calculating this since our own birth..
We were born under its coordination’s..
All different phrases and moon formations..
Throughout these distinct generations..
To these much larger populations..
Our night sky is beautiful to glance up at..
It really highlights where we are on the map..
All existence has been had down here..
We’re a human in this atmosphere..
Living our breathing lives in the day and night..
Contemplating ourselves at the night skies sight..
The sky is vast blackness with pieces scattered..
Important planets and cosmos which mattered..
Astrologists could spend many hours..
Studying this format that’s near ours..

Syllables: 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11, 9, 9, 11, 11= patterns= (9, 9, 11, 11 repeated). Every two lines rhyme together.

About the Author:Alysha has been a self- taught creative writer, since the age of 16, in her hometown of Perth, Australia. Her passion for it developed on its own, the need to express herself in a different way other than verbally, was what motivated her to keep up this passion. The use of words was captivating for expression and the love of rhymes was also heard by ear.

Alysha's first poetry book that she read was actually in Primary School and it was called 'Revolting rhymes', which was a retake on nursery rhymes but in a humorous way. This book started this creative side in her at a young age, that, and also her love for art in general.

In 2015 she studied a short course at Berklee, where she was introduced to the notion of syllable counts. In fact, though she had actually been doing syllable counts unconsciously with her poetry in general. By using the same measurement of lines going off of sight, had in turn created similar syllable counts/patterns in her work.

Her book 'Mind Expressions' is a technical side of poetry writing that's come to life. It's the use of mathematics, along with creative writing. She wanted to give the reader a breakdown of each poem within, in order for them to delve into each poem further and analyse it using a different set of eyes. The poems are analytical in nature, along with syllable counts (some perfect) and perfect rhymes. This really showcases poetry at the highest skill.

Alysha is multi-talented in Art itself and is also a perfectionist. For where her passion lies in different artforms, is where she crafts her skills to a perfection standpoint.

CONNECT WITH ALYSHA

https://alyshapotente.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065852568798
https://www.instagram.com/alyshapotente_artist/

PURCHASE LINKS FOR MIND EXPRESSIONS:

AMAZON: https://amazon.com/dp/0228894085
AMAZON (AU): https://amazon.com.au/dp/0228894085
AMAZON (CA): https://amazon.ca/dp/0228894085
BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-expressions-alysha-potente/1143804488
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/mind-expressions

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happiness Mountain by Amal Indi

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amal Indi 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.

Happiness is the most important experience that we as human beings seek throughout our entire lives. Yet there is no one clear definition of happiness in the world today.

How, then, can we expect to be happy to our fullest if we do not know what happiness is?

Everyone has happy moments in life. Suppose you are awake sixteen hours a day after eight hours of sleep—how much time are you truly happy in these sixteen hours?
If you are happy only 20 percent of your day, you will not feel truly happy in life.
If you are happy 50 percent of your day, you will feel like you have an OK life.
If you are happy 60 percent or above, you are living a happy life.
If you are happy 80 percent and above, you’re living a phenomenally happy life.
What if you could change the times that you are not happy to happy moments?

If you want to get better at something, you must study and become proficient in that subject. You do not know what you are missing if you do not learn. The same principle applies to happiness. If you want to be happier, study what happiness is. If happiness is important to you, master it.

By knowing happiness, you can consciously live a happier life. You can minimize the external factors impacting your happiness. You can get happiness under your control.

Irrespective of where you are in life today, by reading this book and following the happiness definition, philosophy, and methodology, you or anyone can live a happier life.

Read an Excerpt

Living with a higher vibration is a blessing. You feel inner peace. You are resilient to what is happening around you, especially since the world is attracting a lot of negative energies. You must protect your inner peace with your higher vibration. You can only be at your higher vibration with your Higher Self. You can activate your Higher Self by establishing:

Higher Self beliefs
Higher Self values
Higher Self purpose

Oftentimes people do not have clarity of their beliefs, values, and purposes for happiness, which causes their Lower Self to take control of their life. Let’s change that for you. Let set up a great set of beliefs, values, and purposes for Inner Happiness. You can always add more or make some adjustments. Please note that these are not religious beliefs, and they are not intended to conflict with any religious, cultural, or political views. These beliefs, values, and purposes are purely defined for your happiness and wellbeing.

Higher Self Beliefs

The following are nine Inner Happiness beliefs will take you to your higher vibration. You have to believe in them and then practice them.

1. Take care of your mind and body first.
2. Objectively experience life’s duality.
3. Accept impermanence.
4. Be in service to others.
5. Be yourself, be authentic.
6. Surround yourself with quality people.
7. Stop energy drops and create.
8. Maintain a higher consciousness with mindfulness.
9. Believe in yourself and your higher power.

This chapter will give you foundational knowledge. Then you need to apply your new knowledge to your day-to-day life. After practice, these become new patterns in your mind, and you can enjoy Inner Happiness for your whole life.

About the Author:

With over 20 years of experience working for financial institutions as a Solutions Architect, Amal set out on a mission to find true happiness. After researching happiness for many years, he is ready to share a definition, philosophy, and methodology for happiness so that anyone can follow and find true happiness with inner peace, joy, and fulfillment. He has written an incredible book called “Happiness Mountain – Make every experience a happy experience”. Amal is also a father of two kids and lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Amal’s mission is to heal the world and allow everyone to enjoy true happiness.

Find out more on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBSXPNHM

Or visit

http://www.happinessmountain.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amal-indi-6874064/
https://www.facebook.com/happinessmountain.inc/
https://www.spreaker.com/show/happiness-mountain
https://www.instagram.com/happiness_mountain/

a Rafflecopter giveaway