Rocketship Ride by Franco D'Auria

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Come for a journey through the minds of two loving brothers as they explore the world around them using their imagination!

Join them in their rocketship as they barrel through space, meet with remarkable aliens, get in and out of extraordinary situations, and find the time to enjoy the company of amazing friends and family.

Let them take you on this incredible journey, and hopefully they inspire you to have your fantastic adventures too!

About the Author: Franco D'Auria discovered a passion for writing and world-building through his long career as a game designer for HitGrab Labs. Lending his voice to the game MouseHunt and its whimsical fantasy world of Gnawnia, his imagination was bursting for new creative outlets.

What started as an innocent request from his children to sing a bedtime song about rocketships gradually evolved into this book. It celebrates the boys' love of books, their special relationship as brothers, their adventures with family, and the spark of imagination that they share.

Buy Link: https://amazon.com/dp/1779412479

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Cerys: Valkyrie Earth by Merrin Slade

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Merrin Slade will award a $50 Kobo gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a world where perfection is demanded of its citizens, one imperfect woman may be the only person who can save humanity.

One thousand years in the future, humans have developed the ability to alter their genes to create a perfect version of themselves, but not all are so fortunate. Cerys Skye is a Wild Type, genetically unaltered and forced to live in the Refuge—a place for Wild Types and the unlucky citizens whose genetic modifications society has deemed as imperfect.

All the fiery tempered young woman knows is how to fight. Using her wits and skills, Cerys must compete in brutal prize fights if she is to bring food to the table for her younger sister. But, she is always aware that the next fight could her last—she must find a way out of this life.

Leaving behind all that she knows, the last place the tempestuous Cerys expects to find herself is joining the United Planet's Space Force Academy, where she battles prejudice and intolerance in a world run by genetically modified humans.

As the new recruit discovers, not all is as it seems at the Academy with a shadowy cyber-evil seeking to threaten humanity. But, when loyalties are tested and the stakes are high, can Cerys rely on newfound allies and her unshakeable courage to stop the impending catastrophe?

Contains mature themes.

Read an Excerpt

She felt light-headed. “I need half an hour. To find my sister, that’s all…” Starla would understand this was for both of them. She would ask Gerry to take Starla in. Of course, she would. Gerry had a big heart.

“If you’re joining the Space Force, you leave now. You must decide,” he said.

Panic seized her. “I have to say goodbye. I must make arrangements.”

“Step into the pick-up zone. Or you are free to stay behind.”

Cerys glanced up at the silver disk darting through the clouds towards them. She looked back at the crowd. Inquisitive tourists gathered in a wide circle around her. Standing on the edge of the pick-up zone, their faces flashed: green, white, green, white.

In that moment, a woman shoved to the front of the crowd, the haft of a sword glinting over her shoulder—a Valkyrie.

“Kara,” Cerys shouted. “Over here.”

“Cerys.” Kara strode towards the checkpoint. GMs shrank away. “What’s going on? Did they take you? I heard about it.”

The secofficer scowled, and the crowd whooped.

“Kara, listen.” Cerys tugged her aside. “I’ve been recruited to the Space Force. Tell Gerry to look after Starla, and tell Starla…I love her. I’m getting her out of here. I’ll send money. Promise me.”

Kara blinked. “Now? You’re going now?”

“Just promise.”

“I promise.” She nodded vigorously. “Of course, I promise. Hey, what’s this…?”

Secnoids grabbed Kara from behind, dragging her away. Even the famous Valkyrie were not permitted to say goodbye.

“Tell Starla I’ll message…” Cerys shouted, but Kara was already lost in the crowd.

About the Author: Merrin Slade is a science fiction writer who transports readers to alternate futures and faraway universes.

Connect with Merrin Slade:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@merrinslade
Website: https://merrinslade.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrinslade
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrinslade

The book is discounted for a limited time in NZ, Australia and the UK. https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/cerys-valkyrie-earth

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The Witches Prophecy by Janae

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

Things You Might Not Guess About Me

One thing you’d never guess about me is that in reality I break all the rules set out for newbie authors on purpose. I don’t like rules and I am not trying to be a literary author at all. I think putting rules on something creative like writing is a bit silly. No, you don’t need to use adverbs all the time, but I love them. No, you don’t have to have a prologue but sometimes its necessary. I don’t restrict myself when writing or editing. I write what fits the story.

Another thing you’d never guess about me is that I am both an introvert and an extrovert. I am usually reserved when meeting a person for the first time but after that I can be quite wild. I love walking into a room and feeling it for “temperature.” If the tone is depressing and quiet, I walk around talking to people to elevate their moods. I love making people laugh. Nothing other than writing gives me more pleasure.

On the same note, I am a people attractor. Yep, no matter where I go, people walk up to me and start talking. It’s a phenomenon that has been happening all my life. It doesn’t matter if I am in a good mood or a bad mood, people walk up to me and start talking. I always attract attention. Even when my hair isn’t a weird color, and my eyes are normally colored. I’ll be in a store, minding my business and a stranger will walk up to me and start talking about their day or asking my opinion. It’s a drain on my system so I have to go out when I am fully “charged.” Yep. I’m an empath too.

I based the characters in The Witches Prophecy on people in my life or people I knew. Everyone except Xaivier. I had to imagine him as my ideal guy. Trouble is based closely on me. You’re always told write what you know. I know myself quite well. In order to write Trouble, I based her solely on myself. She’s full figured, sarcastic, and sassy. You’re told not to do that as a writer either. In the earlier drafts she has an ex-boyfriend in the book that was an amalgamation of all my ex-boyfriends, but I hated him so bad I wrote most of him out.

One last thing you’d never guess about me is that I love action movies and anime. I love it so much I used to watch it all the time but something funny happens to me when I watch it. When I am watching anime especially, I get so wrapped up in it. Too wrapped up. And when I get too excited about something I pass out. Yep, something thrilling like a karate will be happening and I will get so amped up I will start screaming then I will pass out. It’s happened twice to me. My daughter bans me from watching certain anime. So, no Attack on Titans for me.

Within the shadows, a prophecy-bound assassin emerges, holding the fate of our world in their lethal grip - the key to salvation or the catalyst of our downfall.

Trouble Ferell is your average gun toting assassin, never once caught she revels in anonymity. But she can’t face the demonic force that has come for her. She can no longer trust herself but burgeoning from her is that what you’d call magic. Now, as a sorceress with divine lineage she must face creatures from other realms in a race against time.

Confronting the truth, she must rise to the occasion of becoming the most formidable witch throughout history. She is tasked with banishing abominable entities back to the depths of the Underworld, all while ensuring her own survival.

Pity. It’s on Tuesday.

Read an Excerpt

When Darkness looms, the world finds its hero…

In "The Witches Prophecy," Trouble Ferell, a renowned assassin, yearns for normalcy and acceptance. However, her world turns upside down when she discovers her involvement in an ancient prophecy and unlocks her long-dormant magical abilities. Doubt and uncertainty fill her mind as she grapples with her newfound identity and the visitations of a powerful deity.

With her best friend turned lover by her side, Trouble must confront monstrous beings in human bodies and an impending apocalypse orchestrated by Chaos, an entity seeking her as his bride. As interdimensional gates creak open, Earth dangles on the edge of peril. Trouble must embrace her role as both a Demi-goddess and witch, rallying against her half-sister's ascent and thwarting Chaos's pursuit of the formidable Darkveil Talisman.

In a race against time, Trouble and Xaivier unravel the tapestry of their shared history, hurtling towards an epic clash that pits good against evil. 'The Witches Prophecy' weaves a spellbinding tale, where ultimate victory tips the scales for but one contender. Pity. It’s only Tuesday.

About the Author:

Janae’s family is from Louisiana and Georgia. She is the middle child of three. She began her writing career as a teenager in high school writing steamy love scenes for her classmates. She wasn’t convinced as a writer until her English teacher found her stories and told her she should be a writer. She treasured those words for all of her adult life. She has a bachelor’s degree in information Technology. She is a dedicated mother, friend and writer. She is usually found hunched over her laptop dreaming of different ways to entertain. She lives in Savannah, Ga with her cat Persephone and son. She loves dogs and wants to own a Husky and loves making people laugh and feel comfortable. She has a podcast called How Not To Write with Janae and her favorite color is blue. She is a Cancer.

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Prophecy-legends-Flamed-Witch-ebook/dp/B0CGTHV8QC/

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Nerd Meets Curvy by A.C. James

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a winner a book box with the stunning hardback special edition with sprayed and stenciled edges, a dual-sided dust jacket, and custom swag. Please include this link with your post for her giveaway: https://acjames.com/blogs/news/nerdmeetscurvystories-hashtag-challenge-special-edition-book-box-giveaway

Coralie dreads starting over, but Mystic River beckons her home like a siren's call. Armed with determination and a toolkit full of DIY magic, Coralie sets out to revive her grandmother's worn-down house. If anyone can breathe new life into the old walls, it's her. And with lifelong friendships awaiting her, she has a support system as sturdy as a bear shifter's embrace.

Little does she know that her homecoming will launch her into the wildest roller coaster ride of midlife dating and a mating bond that makes her head spin faster than a tornado. Coralie certainly hadn't signed up for this level of excitement, but here she was, courtesy of the enigmatic mastermind herself, Mrs. Wilde. The queen of matchmaking and the architect of the notorious Peculiar Hearts Dating Agency promises Coralie a spicy rebound for her upcoming high school reunion.

Enter Jax, a scorching hot bear shifter haunted by a love that's gripped him since high school. Just when he finally has a shot at settling down, a pesky ex-harpy swoops in, flapping her wings and causing more drama than a forest full of squawking birds. Tired of the chaos, this bear is ready to throw in the towel and hibernate for good!

But as they say, fate has a wicked sense of humor.

Beneath the surface of his chance to make things right and rewrite history are secrets that could detonate like a ticking time bomb, threatening to shatter their fragile bond. Coralie holds a haunting secret buried deep within her heart. It shapes the choices that molded her into the fierce, curvy woman she is today. As for Jax, his past is a murky labyrinth of pain and darkness. Lives and love swing on a high-stakes pendulum as danger closes in.

Can Coralie and Jax beat the odds, untangle the mystery of the danger stalking them, and build a future that defies the limits of their pasts?

Read an Excerpt

Coralie doubted her decision to visit Mrs. Wilde, the matchmaker with an enigmatic reputation. It felt like a leap of faith that teetered on the edge of being a colossal mistake. She had confided in Jessie, expressing her reservations about the whole mess. But she had stood at Eleanora’s door, unable to turn back. After all, Jessie had driven her here. It would be incredibly rude to stand up the sprightly matchmaker after her friend had made the appointment and likely bartered something with Mrs. Wilde. Coralie couldn’t help but wonder what kind of deal Jessie had struck.

Coralie inhaled, steeling herself as she met Eleanora’s piercing gaze. There was a glimmer of hope, so faint it was almost imperceptible. “Honestly, I don’t know anymore.”

“Your sex life may be nonexistent, but deep down, do you want it to be?” Eleanora asked, cutting right to the chase.

Coralie took a moment to ponder the question, considering the possibilities. Jessie’s persistent nudging had pushed her to this moment, and perhaps it was time to let go of the past. She had grown comfortable in her skin, embracing her curves, plus-size hourglass figure, and innate sensuality. The hurtful words of her ex still lingered, but she refused to let them define her. She didn’t want to resign to a life of spinsterhood and missed opportunities.

She licked her lips, feeling a flutter of excitement in her stomach. Wasn’t it time for her to indulge in some fun and pleasure? Besides, she had a looming high-school reunion on the horizon, and she needed a date who could turn heads.

“I may not be ready for a serious commitment at the moment, but I think I could handle some no-strings-attached fun,” Coralie confessed, her voice taking on a husky tone. “And I definitely need a date for my reunion.”

Eleanora pursed her lips, assessing Coralie with a shrewdness that made her squirm. “Is that all you want, my dear? A shifter with the perfect balance of charm and wildness? Are you absolutely certain that’s all you’re looking for?”

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, including Eternal Ever After (rebranded as Eternal Lover), featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. Her Ever Dark Immortals Series, which begins with Eternal Lover, has been described as “brimming with sensuality” and “romantic and sizzling hot.” The Isle of the Horse Shifters series starts with Ride: Awakening and is “lighthearted,” that is a “joy ride from beginning to end.”

She resides in the Philadelphia suburbs with her adoring husband Ron (aka Mr. A.C. James), who loves her imaginative yarns and punny sense of humor. She’s also a domestic violence advocate and discusses intimate partner violence and addiction to raise awareness on social media and through her writing. Many of her books include themes like alcoholism or addiction. If you love books that feature underdogs and redemption, her stories will capture your heart.

She spends most of her time drinking large vats of coffee while wrangling kids by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There’s probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don’t tell anyone.

Connect With Me

Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/acjames
Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/acjamesbookclub
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ac.james.9
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/acjamesauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@acjamesauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acjamesauthor
Website: https://acjames.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nerd-Meets-Curvy-Peculiar-Hearts-ebook/dp/B0CJ85QSWD/ref=sr_1_1

Fashionista's Playbook by Candi Scott

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a randomly drawn winner a $50 Amazon GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The door to the New York fashion world shut firmly in her face, Moriah Stanhope’s only option seems to be to return to her small-town home as a failure. At least, she would go home in disgrace, but her car was just repossessed. In front of the hottest guy she’s ever seen.

Travis Madera is supposed to hire an assistant. One with qualifications and experience. Someone who won’t be starstruck by the fact he’s a professional football player. But he never could resist a damsel in distress, especially one with all those curves.

Moriah’s been humiliated in front of guys like Travis before. But as his assistant, she has access to every moment of his day-to-day life, so surely she can stay ahead of any potential problems.

Until the past comes rushing into the present.

Read an Excerpt

“You’re kidding, right?” I sat straight on the leather sofa and gaped at Moriah.

She was grinning, a big cheesing smile that would have turned me on had what she was telling me not been so ridiculous. “Indeed not.”

Damn it. She wasn’t supposed to find humor in my misery.

“I thought you were Team Madera.” I scowled. There was no way this was happening to me. A large chunk of my masculine pride rebelled, and I recoiled as she stepped closer.

Moriah’s giggle was vibrant, rich, and made my groin twitch.

“I am, Travis. But the production company will pay more money if you wear the Speedo—plus, your female fans will be thoroughly impressed.” She pinched each end of a tiny, bright red men’s bikini, stretched it out, and wiggled from side to side with it.

She was taunting me. And despite my horror, I liked it.

Everything stopped, and I fixated on her face. Those flirty lips were plump, ripe. As were other parts of her, I was betting. Things I shouldn’t think about, especially not now and not about her.

She was better than that.

I shouldn’t have hired such a sexy assistant. I’d have been better off with a doting grandma type. A maternal old lady that folded clothes. Definitely not a woman I’d fantasize about wearing one of my jerseys and nothing else.

“Being objectified for cash feels wrong.”

The disdain that dripped from her sizzled all around us. “And yet men have been doing it to women for decades.”

“Fair point. But I’m an athlete, not a model. Hell, I’m covered in ink—not exactly Speedo material there.” I leaned back on the couch. Arguing with her was fun, even if I was going to lose. I’d film for Shark Week, if nothing more than to out-Speedo Gronkowski.

Moriah snorted. “I think the ink is part of the appeal. Women love it—nothing screams bad boy like tattoos.”

She turned away, but not before something like to embarrassment flashed in her eyes and darkened her cheeks.

God, I wanted to make her blush like that when she was naked under me. “You like inked up guys, Mariposa?’ I sure the hell hoped so.

About the Author:

Candi Scott is the spicy contemporary pen name for award winning author of Two Hearts, One Stone and the Arkadia Fast Series, Leslie Scott. She has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. The happier the ending, the better. Currently, she lives and writes amidst her own happily ever after with her soul mate, son, and domestic zoo.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fashionistas-Playbook-Jersey-Chasers-1-ebook/dp/B0CQT8VMZJ

Website: http://lesliescottwrites.com/candiscott
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorcandiscott
The Candi Shop Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/910227007420004
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@candi.scott
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47511401.Candi_Scott
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Poetry From My Heart by Paul Guerin

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Paul Guerin 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.

"Poetry: writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm."

"Poetry: a literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm."

Poetry means different things to different people. For me, it is all about feelings. If it captures the emotions of the reader, a poem will resonate and fill the soul. It can mean everything to one person and not much at all to another. The mood of the reader, and no one else, determines the outcome.

For example, love poems are wonderful when you are in love, and their passion is amazing. If you are facing adversity, however, love poems likely will just annoy you.

In this second book, Poetry from my Heart: The Journey Continues, I have again divided the poems into categories which will fit your mood no matter what you are experiencing at the time you choose to explore them. There should be something for everyone, whether you are in love, out of love, hurt, lonely, angry, abandoned, or facing other challenges in your life.

Poetry has a healing power that nurtures the soul and quietens the mind and so I hope that whatever your situation is in life, you have found something here that helped you safely on your own journey.

Read an Excerpt

The green hills of Ireland

The green hills of Ireland are calling to me
I hear their soft whisper wherever I roam
No matter whether on land or on sea
The green hills of Ireland keep calling me home

I lived in old Ireland as a young lad you see
And I left my heart there on some mossy hillside
Now I yearn to go back to set my heart free
And awaken a dream I can no longer hide

For I love your high mountains and windy seashore
Your hills and your streams rolling down to the sea
And I long to go home to my lost land of yore
And return to the Irish that’s deep within me

Now sheep in the pastures are calling to me
From the craggy rock walls that keep them inside
While the streams that run down from the mountains so free
Speak sparkling with hope and a joy they can’t hide

I long for the ocean on the Wild Atlantic Way
And the crazy coast road that winds in and out
And the sea breeze that whispers I hope you will stay
And the people all happily wandering about

I remember the old priory standing in ruins
Near Castletownroche with its bridge and its mill
I recall all the pubs with their loud Irish tunes
And my mind wanders back where my soul lingers still

I miss all the people so friendly and kind
With their musical language and soft Irish smiles
How they welcomed me home with a grace so refined
That I felt their great love from thousands of miles

The green hills of Ireland keep calling to me
Come home now we’re waiting to see you once more
For you know in your heart it’s the place you must be
So return again Irish to your green land of yore

About the Author:

Paul Guerin is an Irishman. He was born in September 1946 in Castletownroche, a small townland village in County Cork, Eire.

It was there in Castletownroche that his romantic imagination was sparked as he came to love and appreciate the magic of his surroundings. Those early experiences were the genesis of his poetry that emerged in later life.

As a young adult, Paul lived in London, England, where he became a chartered accountant.

At age 25, restless for adventure, Paul moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where he still resides today.

Paul is happily married and is a proud father and grandfather.

Paul writes poetry as the inspiration comes to him. As long as his mind, body and soul are willing companions and his spark of inspiration remains alive, he will continue to write.

This book is Paul's second publication in his Willing Heart series. His first book was published in the Spring of 2022 and is called Poetry from My Heart: A Journey through Feelings. The book reached #1 on Amazon’s Kindle chart in British Poetry and #2 in Poetry Anthologies November 2023.

For more information visit http://www.paulguerinpoems.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60876796-poetry-from-my-heart
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulguerinpoems

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Poetry-My-Heart-Journey-Feelings-ebook/dp/B09XFFQ5GW/ref=sr_1_4

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The World Council by Norm Meech

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Norm Meech 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.

Ricky Montgomery had just graduated high school in June 1976 and was enjoying life as an 18-year-old teenager. He was hired by the Dawson City Police Force, and after graduating from police college he was assigned to work as an undercover operative in a motorcycle gang.

Ricky, although happy, was struggling living his double life as a cop and biker. Then it happened: during a biker war, Ricky's life was saved by agents from the World Council (TWC). TWC was created by the world's leaders to prevent manmade disasters from happening and to liaise with aliens who have been monitoring mankind for hundreds of years. TWC's mandate, with the assistance of aliens, is to ensure mankind's continued existence.

TWC is a highly secretive organization, whose agents have the ability to travel through time, to change history, and to take lives to save lives. Ricky becomes a TWC agent and discovers that TWC's command staff is making unethical decisions, hiding secrets about aliens and trying to reduce the world's population through biological warfare. Ricky teams up with other agents and tries to save mankind and the world from disaster.

Read an Excerpt

Jeffrey moved closer to Tiffany and was trying to convince her that she had done the right thing, in helping mankind.

Jeffrey then started to spill his guts, “I have plans to save mankind and the planet through population control and that it is necessary for that virus outbreak to kill millions of people. If you reduce the population, you reduce the pollution and increase the food supply around the world. We would have eventually rescued the agents and brought them back to TWC.”

“I really don’t understand the need to kill millions of people and if it is such a good idea why did TWC authorize the agent’s original assignment to that country?”

About the Author: Norm Meech has been retired for nearly two years, capping a distinguished forty-four-year career in policing. He fondly recalls the camaraderie of work friends forged during his tenure and the unique experiences as a police officer.

While missing aspects of his former profession, Norm keeps himself engaged by maintaining fitness and pursuing various hobbies. Additionally, he channels his creativity into writing, aiming to produce a book annually. His latest work delves into science fiction, inviting readers to ponder questions about the existence of aliens, unidentified flying objects, government involvement in secret conspiracies, the potential for time travel, and the impact of human activities on the planet. Norm hopes readers enjoy the fictional stories he crafts, sparking contemplation and curiosity.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/people/Norm-Meech/100078187723504/
Wordpress.com: https://normmeech.wordpress.com/about-author/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normmeech

Amazon buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/World-Council-Norm-Meech-ebook/dp/B0CLGPHWCX/ref=sr_1_1

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The Ghost of Shantel Thompson by Curtis Maynard

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotins. One randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC and one randomly drawn host will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. What is something you’ve lied about?
My age. Wouldn’t I really like to be younger.

Who is the last person you hugged?
My wife.

What are you reading now?
Actually writing to much to read right now.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?
I visualize like a movie and title it like one.

Share your dream cast for your book.
I would love to write a book and use Mike Piazza, former baseball player, in it. I would write about his fabulous career and how he barely got into the league, but went on to be one of, if not the best, hitting catchers.

When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…

In Curtis Maynard's heart-stopping paranormal thriller, 'The Ghost of Shantel Thompson,' a new family, fifty years later, grapples with a haunting legacy where the line between life and death is hauntingly thin.

Just as they begin to settle into their new life, their own young daughter is gripped by chilling visions of Shantel. It's not just fleeting shadows—she's entangled in a vengeful spirit's relentless quest for justice, a quest that spans generations.

As whispers from the grave reveal long-hidden secrets, this new family faces a terrifying truth: some ghosts refuse to be silenced. Now, they must confront the mystery of Shantel's death before her ghostly agenda consumes them all.

Dare to uncover the truth? 'The Ghost of Shantel Thompson' awaits to send shivers down your spine

Read an Excerpt

Reacting swiftly, Damian lunged out of bed and rushed to Sarah's side, using his body as a shield between Alicia and her mother. "Alicia? Alicia?" he repeated, his voice desperate, hoping to break the hold of whatever trance had possessed her.

Alicia blinked, her eyes refocusing as she met her father's gaze. "Dad?" Her voice was calm, confusion evident in her tone. She glanced down at the knife in her hand. "What happened?"

"That's what we want to know," Damian replied, his voice filled with concern. "Your mother woke up and saw you standing over her with a knife."

Alicia's gaze shifted to Sarah, who sat trembling on the bed. "I don't remember coming in here. I don't know where I got the knife from." She looked back at her father. "I must've been sleepwalking again."

"What's the last thing you remember?" Damian asked, a trace of suspicion in his voice.

Alicia's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation. She couldn't afford to be caught in the act of sneaking into their room. "I... I remember a nightmare. Yes, that's what it was. I was sleeping, and I had a nightmare. I didn't know what was going on. And the next thing I know, you're shaking me awake."

Relieved by Alicia's explanation, Damian gently took the knife from her hand. "Let me just take this from you," he said, his tone soothing. "And let's get you back into bed."

About the Author:

Curtis Maynard is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author passionate about suspenseful storytelling. Enthralled by the paranormal, his mysteries and thrillers feature everything from hauntings and visions to cryptic messages from beyond the grave. Curtis currently resides with his wife and son in Alabama, a setting rich with inspiration for his novels and short films. He hopes his stories will leave you spellbound, disquieted, and suspicious of the slightest shuddering shadow.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Curtis-Maynard/author/B07PQ88PSZ
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CurtisMaynard12
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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Shantel-Thompson-Curtis-Maynard-ebook/dp/B0CPCJFM6B


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Emissary by E.B. Brooks

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. What group did you hang out with in high school?

Oh, I was a mix. Band nerd, for sure (tuba/sousaphone), and chess club co-founder (the Diamond Lord’s habit of toying with his prey is definitely inherited from those days). But I also ran cross country and track (4x800 was my jam), and I got into pit band for the school musicals every year. So definitely on the nerdy side, but generally versatile.

What are you passionate about these days?

On the broad side? Contending with the changing climate and all the chaotic consequences of that, from preparing the homestead for better resilience (building a goat pen, expanding the rainwater harvesting systems, etc.) to getting the Emissary Quintet out to as many people as possible. On the more relaxed side, I’ve been playing a marathon of all the Legend of Zelda games this year, in in-universe order (as much as one can with the timeline, haha). That’s been a blast.

If you had to do your journey to getting published all over again, what would you do differently?

I’d probably skip the few years where I hadn’t settled on being an indie author and was querying agents. That put me in a stall, and when I realized I wasn’t likely to change my story because of a publisher demand anyway (a consequence of having already drafted five books before querying), I committed to the indie route.

Ebook or print? And why?

It’s hard to beat a hard copy. I’m old enough now (and my kids are old enough to do this as a gift idea) to appreciate the collector’s editions of classics, like Lord of the Rings or Dune. But as a forest scientist and someone very focused on climate change and responses to it, I’m a big supporter of both ebooks (for less paper and shipping) and print (for when the power goes down).

What is your favorite scene in this book?

My favorite scene in Emissary is spoiler-heavy, but the confrontation at the end between Ewan, Tree, and the Diamond Lord gets me fired up every time. An entire book of experience, struggle, suffering, and learning comes together as the character face off, all (or enough) secrets in the open, to fight for the futures they believe in.

Two Worlds. One Future.

Ewan O’Meara is no stranger to death: in recent months, he’s found his way to limbo at least once per week, much to his parents’ concern. It’s a necessary price for getting experience to become the greatest adventurer his homeland of Veridor has ever known, but the overbearing Veridian Church has him pinned down, soaking him for the penance gold to unlock his stats each time he respawns. And because the Church’s ancient war put an end to both the godlike Gems and the epic quests they once bestowed, Ewan has no better alternative.

That is, until he encounters a young woman fleeing arrest from the Church’s soldiers. At first glance, Treanna Rothchild needs it: she’s clueless about Veridian life. But she has other skills that defy Ewan’s understanding, and she knows things. Unsettling, seditious things the Church wants kept secret at any cost.

And she’s in Veridor to raise an army, to fight an enemy only she can see.

Risking both life and soul, Ewan follows Treanna where no Veridian has ever been and there is no respawning. But for him to have a chance at making a real difference in the strange, harsh world she reveals to him, he must first come to terms with it. Especially as he and Treanna discover how much it has in common with Veridor—and how much they depend on each other to survive.

New-adult science fiction, wrapped in gaming and fantasy around a hopepunk core, Emissary is an immersive, thought-provoking adventure with a little teen romance and a lot of heart.

Read an Excerpt

Tree broke contact, then looked at the others. “I’m taking command. Samuel, move Nathan to cover by the lift. Put his feet up, and keep pressure on that wound. We’ll throw down a kit once we can.”

Sam hesitated but nodded, then knelt to scoop Nathan up.

“Love,” Tree said, locking hard, frightened eyes on Ewan. “You’re with me. Loot the corpses. We’ll disguise ourselves, then retake the camel and retreat.”

“What about Gabe and Vincent?”

“They’ll escape with us, if they’re quick enough.”

Ewan swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”

She darted off to one of the bodies, and he stepped over to the robed figure he’d impaled, thinking a bloody gash in his outfit might be less of a giveaway than a giant frapping hole. But when he pulled the robes free, he knew with a sickened jolt that blood was the least of the differences in appearance.

The man’s copper-skinned face was scarred all over in what was obviously a deliberate, artistic pattern, as though he’d mistaken a knife for a pen. His nose and ears were pierced through with bits of metal, with hair and beard braided and bound in wire that could have come from the ruin’s walls. His muscles were lean and hard, far better fed than should have been possible for someone from the Wastes. Even in death he had a feral air about him, a lingering lethal intent that had Ewan half expecting him to leap out of the sands again.

His hand still clutched a gun, hardly bigger than a tablet. Ewan reached for it, hesitated, and left it to retrieve his thrown sword.

About the Author:

E.B. Brooks lives in the southeastern USA, where he splits his time between writing, research, and homesteading. He enjoys building fictional worlds, real houses, and landscape models, but he’s most at home with his wife and children, and their many, many pets.

Website: http://ebbrooksfiction.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EBBrooksFiction
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2vFKJoCSoJaP6qCECwPIA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19919752.E_B_Brooks
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/authors/d82b9abb-6a6a-48a7-8563-a84689316df7
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/e-b-brooks-df6155fb-c7c4-4568-b612-ac5ae2eeb86b

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/E.B.-Brooks/author/B087D6C88X

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Sam Time by Donna Balon

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to It's Raining Books. How has your book changed your life?

The book is like a child, consuming my life. I am enjoying the experience but it’s a part-time job. And the publishing stage is not a time to relax. The marketing and promotional stage is a daily effort.

What is your favorite book?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love the story of redemption. References to this book are found in Sam Time, and it’s no coincidence the protagonist is seeking three ghosts while time traveling.

Do you listen to audio books? Will Sam Time be available as an audiobook?

I have never listened to an audio book. For me, books are for reading, at my own pace. But I know people who do enjoy audio books, and Sam Time will be available in audio, narrated by Naylene Frunk.

How long did it take you to write this book?

Under 2 years. I wrote the core story in 5 months. Afterwards the manuscript was heavily edited and some chapters rewritten based on reviewer’s suggestions. Formatting the book using Adobe Indesign included editing. As the story took the shape of a book, I could see errors previously missed, such as two consecutive paragraphs beginning with the same word.

When are you most happy?

I love being at home, in my home office where I read, write, sew and knit.

When her fiancé is away on business, lonely Samantha Hunter despairs and absorbs herself in historical research. Her nighttime dreams being so vivid, Samantha believes she’s traveling to a past century. As she navigates the Victorian era rules of dos and even more don’ts, she charms Ulysses S Grant while struggling to maintain her present-day romance.

Read an Excerpt

But this was Samantha’s dream, and she could be bold. She stepped forward until she was several feet from Grant and stopped. “Lieutenant Grant,” she said softly.

He turned around. His light blue eyes were his most striking feature. Chestnut-brown hair, mustache, and beard. Straight nose. Square jaw. Wide-at-the-temples facial bone structure. About five eight in height. Slim beneath the soldier’s coat. This was Ulysses S. Grant. In his early thirties. Good-looking.

He glanced at Samantha and then turned around to tend to his horse.

He’s a married man, and he sees an unknown woman. What are the protocols?

Her dream. Her rules.

Samantha persisted, using what she thought was common phraseology for this era. “Lieutenant Grant, I am Miss Samantha. I hear you are an expert horseman. I would be most pleased in taking lessons under your tutelage.”

His back still facing her, he made no reply.

She thought quickly of a scheme. “My brothers are in town on business. It would be most helpful to our family business, if I could learn how to ride.”

“I am a soldier with duties at the fort.” He speaks.

“I understand, Lieutenant Grant. But surely you have leave.”

While keeping a distance of several feet, she stepped to his side so she could see his profile. “I understand you will not transact with a lady, but I will return with one of my brothers. He will pay you compensation.”

“Others can teach you.”

About the Author:

Author Donna Balon debuts Sam Time, a novel well-researched and professionally edited by quality talent from the publishing industry. Donna resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/41018186.Donna_Balon
Website: https://samtimebook.com/about/
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/donnabalon

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Time-History-Professor-Befriends-ebook/dp/B0CB6XHV7V?ref_=ast_author_mpb

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