Shadowslayers by Colin Sephton

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Colin Sephton will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN 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?

The genre I write in is fantasy. I just think you can be so imaginative and free, creating your own world with its own unique life forms and characters. Anything goes, and nobody can tell you you’re wrong! It’s your world, you are the creator, and you can have fun with it.

What research is required?

The level of research depends on what you are writing. This trilogy of which Shadowslayers is the second novel and it is a metaphysical science-fantasy journey that weaves together ancient Vedic wisdom, modern scientific speculation. It’s a deep psychological and spiritual inquiry and at its heart it asks what is consciousness? Can we alter fate? And what does it mean to be whole in a fragmented universe? The two protagonists, Ignatius and Indigo are struggling to come to terms with the events of the first novel (Timeslayers) when they are unwillingly thrust into another, and much darker, cosmic adventure. Their relationship with each other may be due to affection, but it may also be out of necessity because they are the only two humans who have shared this experience.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine

I guess I have learned that the two protagonists are really aspects of myself. They both represent me! This is something I hadn’t realized at first. They have different personalities, Ignatius often symbolizes reason, tradition, or structured inquiry, and Indigo represents intuition, inner knowing, and spiritual receptivity. When I am writing their dialogue, it flows easily in my head. So, I think they are both me!

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

I’m not sure how many other writers work like this, if any, but sometimes I have a scene in my head that is so detailed and exciting I must use it. I might have no idea where it will fit into my novel, but I just think it’s such a good idea it must be used so I write it, add more detail, edit it, then will work and weave it into the plot somewhere.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I think I Am both. I will often be a pantser. I like to get what’s in my head down on paper or into the laptop. But then to develop an idea, particularly if it is complex I will scribble charts and tables in a notebook or create a spreadsheet on the laptop. I can then see all the links throughout a long plot and can move things around and add in to improve them.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

Nobody. Writing is a solitary craft! When I can I like to work in my study surrounded by my inspiration, science books, fantasy books, graphic novels and art books. However, I can work virtually anywhere because I do a lot of my writing in a notebook, on an iPad or a laptop. I write in coffee shops, hotels and even at the beach.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I have a couple of things that are imminent. I have the third book in the trilogy, called Soulslayers that will be published in November. I also have an art book I am looking to release soon to accompany the first novel, Timeslayers, containing all my fantasy artwork showing the world and characters that inhabit the cosmos I have created.

Do you have a question for our readers?

If you wrote a fantasy novel yourself, what would it be about?

When doppelgangers start appearing in Oxford, Union Jack agents Ignatius and Indigo find themselves on another cosmic quest, one they didn’t set out to investigate.

Drawn into the search for the elusive and dangerous Book of Shadows, they find themselves traveling across the cosmos once again, racing against other versions of themselves, and visiting the Oracle to be given prophecies of terrible destruction that will engulf the cosmos in darkness. Only these two heroes—or their doubles—can open the book, which would lead to dreadful consequences for themselves, the world and the whole of creation.

The agents must outwit their own mirror souls and invade the impregnable Administorium, which holds the answers they need but also fearsome enemies of both the Union Jacks and the entire cosmos. In this quest, Ignatius and Indigo must protect not only England and the Empire, but the world and the cosmos.

Read an Excerpt

The scene became liquid, and blackness enveloped all, circling everything in the room, like an archaic ghostly phantom made of deadly vapours, before giving way to the slightest of dim light in which Indigo could see the ancient crepuscular shadow deepen and fully form into the upper body of the Queen of Shadows. She had concealed herself and had escaped the destruction earlier and was now a phantom bent on revenge. Her beautiful face appeared before Ignatius and she kissed him, her blue lips locking on to his as she pulled him closer, her slender arm locked around his neck. He had no escape. She looked directly at Indigo and sneered. The queen knew this would hurt Indigo the most.

As the queen kissed Ignatius again, then withdrew her face, Indigo could see she was sucking the lifeforce from his rigid lifeless body, revealing her black fangs as she pulled back, black tendrils draped between them like foul saliva.

The queen was now fully formed, her naked body displayed, her legs wrapped around Ignatius like a succubus in the night. Black tattoos covered her body, and as she moved, so did the tattoos. They writhed and changed shape, sliding over her skin, caressing her, absorbing energy from her.

Indigo knew it was only a matter of time before Ignatius would be an empty husk, a living zombie.

About the Author:

Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/timeslayers
Art Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sephtonart
Website: http://www.colinsephton.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shadowslayers-Colin-Sephton-ebook/dp/B0FN4H2SH5/ref=sr_1_1

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Wedding Planning by Kathy Forbes

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kathy Forbes will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

This book has everything you need to know to plan your perfect unique wedding.

This is not your typical wedding planning book. Chapter titles alone will tell you what needs to be done, and the subtitles break it down further. The book includes tips, advice, stories, templates, and notebook to keep track of everything.

All the other books, magazine articles, Instagram and Pinterest timeline posts state on the "day of" to have a good breakfast. They don't mention the people that take care of all the duties and tasks throughout the day so you can be VIP guests at your own wedding.

The five easy steps and how they relate to each other is the foundation of this book, which will make sure you have an educational, memorable, stressless, wonderful experience throughout the whole process:

1) Timeline
2) Budget
3) "Day of" schedule
4) Duties and tasks
5) Lists and assignments

The secret is having a planned schedule that catches everything, and a specific person in charge on the "day of" that pulls it off while you enjoy with the guests. Let me show you how to perfect your wedding planning experience.

Waiting to your wedding day is just too late to realize the importance of this thought process and having a specific/special go-to-person working the "day of" on your behalf.

You will enjoy the days up to the wedding as much as the day itself, as this book helps make it all come true.

Read an Excerpt

Wedding Planning 101

This book has everything you need to know to plan your perfect unique wedding.

This is not your typical wedding planning book. Chapter titles alone will tell you what needs to be done, and the subtitles break it down further. The book includes tips, advice, stories, templates, and a notebook to keep track of everything.

All the other books, magazine articles, Instagram and Pinterest timeline posts state on the “day of” to have a good breakfast. They don’t mention the people that take care of all the duties and tasks throughout the day so you can be VIP guests at your own wedding.

There is more to planning a perfect “day of” than you think – believe me.

So, you can enjoy the days up to as much as the “day of”, this book will help.

The Reality is: 3 things are kept – your spouse, the ring, and your photographs. All the rest is but a fading memory over time. You most likely have read the saying “don’t sweat the small stuff” or as I suggest, we rewrite it for wedding planning to state “plan for the small stuff details and you won’t sweat”.

I have been married since 1973 – the oops, challenges and happenings - they all happened at our wedding and at least one of them happens at every wedding. Some things never change. This book will help you Plan for them, Minimize them and Smile through them.

This wedding planning book will help you to succeed in putting on a memorable, unique, and stress free wedding. Forge onward through these pages to discover the secret to learning how to pull it all together by just following the easy 5 steps.

Included is the industry insider stuff such as what the vendors and suppliers would like you to do, ask them and the reason why it is important. Through this direction you will acquire the knowledge of what questions to ask your vendors and suppliers. All you must do is fill in the blanks on the easy to complete templates supplied for all the steps.

As I said earlier, this is not your typical wedding planning book filled with wedding dress styles, centerpiece designs and how to walk down the aisle at the ceremony. Everyone has access to that in books, internet, and visuals on Pinterest. This book has the real stuff you need to know. It is a gift you give yourself to be happy and successful in the whole exciting process of your wedding planning.

This book shares real stories (to make a point, relate to real people and tips to make it easy) and of course professional advice.

About the Author: I knew that our youngest daughter was going to be engaged soon, so I enrolled at BCIT and got my wedding and event planning credentials in 2005. I changed careers from corporate sales analyst to something that puts meaning and joy into my life every day. In no time I put it to good use: one daughter married in 2006 and the other in 2007. I retired in 2020 but continued to expand my world. I paint and am a miniature hobbyist—both produce a connection with a memory that I want to preserve and share. I wrote this book as a memory for me, and as an educational reference book to educate you all. My goal is to make planning a wedding a wonderful experience.

My life's motto is: be interested and interesting.

Websites:
http://www.kathyforbesauthor.com
http://www.anewpaigeevent.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237476373-wedding-planning

Buy Link: https://a.co/d/cnjW6AP

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Sound Catchers by Jessica Coriat

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

Sound Catchers is about Maddy, a twin girl who experiences hearing loss early in her childhood. Initially, she is fitted with bilateral hearing aids. As her loss progresses, she makes the transition to cochlear implants. The book captures the world in which Maddy lives in a lyrical and loving way. It creates an awareness of children with hearing loss as part of the world around them, enabling the reader a glimpse into that experience through Maddy's journey.

This book contributes to a greater understanding of those who live with hearing loss. It helps the reader to build empathy, and it creates an awareness of differences. As such, it holds a valuable place in the social/emotional curriculum, which is taught in schools nationwide.

About the Author:

Jessica Coriat completed her bachelor of science in Special Education/Elementary Education and went on to earn two master's degrees, one in Deaf Education and the other in Creative Writing for Children. With over twenty years of experience as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, Jessica continues to teach her students alongside their typical hearing peers. As a full-time working mother of three teenagers, Jessica has plenty of free time on her hands. She enjoys spending it in her home in New Jersey, with her son, her twin girls and their cavapoo, Bailey. Jessica is also passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. She is thrilled to have written this book and continues to make time to write each day. Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/@soundcatcher
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235174168-sound-catchers
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1779621175

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The Chronicles of Ordi by Alex Zenk

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alex Zenk will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*******

In reflecting on the writing process for Chronicles of Ordi: Brotherhood of the Lost Gems, my previous discussion on how minor characters drive the story, by catalyzing plot points, enriching world-building, and escalating conflicts, indirectly addresses the question of whether a minor character insisted on a larger role. It does so by illustrating the organic way these characters can evolve during creation, often forcing their way into greater prominence, as happened with Verdun in my book. However, to directly answer the query: yes, I did have a minor character who insisted on playing a larger role, and that was Verdun, Ordi's brother, whose growth exemplifies how characters can "misbehave" in a writer's mind.

Conceived initially as a secondary figure in the Brotherhood, a stoic warrior brother to Ordi, the dwarf mage protagonist, Verdun was intended to provide muscle and occasional comic relief during their quest for the Otthroite Gems across Asheros' rugged landscapes. His role was limited: guard the group from threats of Asheros, offer gruff support to Ordi's leadership, and serve as a foil to more flamboyant members like the loyal hound Mira or the elven druid Nimue. But as I drafted scenes in the depleting mines of Unrar or the forests of Asheros, Verdun kept asserting himself. His protective instincts, rooted in their sibling bond, turned into profound moments of vulnerability, revealing backstory about their shared losses and Asheros' darkening world, which added emotional depth. What started as a brief dialogue ballooned into key subplots, like Verdun's uncertainty about their quest, which mirrored Ordi's doubts. He "insisted" on this expansion because he felt too alive to sideline; ignoring him made scenes flat, so I let him grow, ultimately making him a co-anchor for the Brotherhood's dynamics. He shines bright in book 3.

This experience taught me that characters don't always "behave" as planned; they emerge from the subconscious like stubborn sparks. To manage them in my head, I use a multi-step approach honed through trial and error. First, I visualize Asheros' terrain vividly: picturing Verdun trudging through cold rivers or glowing cliffs helps ground his actions in the environment, preventing wild deviations. Second, I rely on loose outlines tied to the map I designed, plotting journeys that constrain character arcs. Third, when a character like Xerxes threatens to overshadow with his cunning schemes, I pause and journal their motivations in short bursts, asking "What does this serve the quest?" to rein them in. Finally, beta readers act as my "reality check," flagging when someone like Verdun dominates, allowing revisions that balance the ensemble. This method keeps the story's rhythm intact while embracing surprises, turning potential chaos into richer narratives. Without it, Verdun might have stayed minor, but Asheros' epic feels more authentic because he didn't.

In a world where ancient magic is fading and darkness grows, one dwarf mage stands between his realm and destruction.

Ordi, a gifted mage with the rare ability to command all elemental magic, is summoned by his king on a perilous quest. Accompanied by his loyal posh hound Mira and his warrior brother Verdun, Ordi must recover the legendary Otthroite Gems—powerful artifacts thought lost to time.

As they journey through forbidden forests, abandoned dwarven cities, and haunted valleys, they discover these gems are the only hope against the rising threat of the long-banished Dark Lord. With each step, they uncover secrets of ancient magic and face betrayals that test the bonds of brotherhood.

Rich in world-building and filled with magical encounters, "The Chronicles of Ordi" blends classic fantasy elements with fresh perspectives on courage, loyalty, and the price of power.

Read an Excerpt

A hellhound emerged from the swirling smoke, its eyes burning with an evil fire. Two towering demons flanked the beast, their twisted forms radiating dark energy. Accompanying them was a horde of monstrous spiders, their grotesque legs and mandibles glistening in the dim light. Ordi's heart pounded in his chest; he hated spiders—no, he was terrified of them. These were no ordinary arachnids; they ranged from five to eight feet tall, their massive forms looming menacingly. The challenge before him was immense. Hellhounds could withstand most mortal magic, and the demons posed a threat he had only read about in the academy's ancient tomes. Desperately cycling through spells in his mind, Ordi cursed under his breath, doubting whether any would suffice against such formidable adversaries. Read more – link in comments.

About the Author: Alex Zenk brings a fresh voice to the world of epic quests and magical realms. Born and raised in the midwest, Alex's love for fantasy was kindled early by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and nurtured through years of immersive role-playing games. As a pastor by day and a storyteller by night, Alex brings a unique perspective to his writing, weaving themes of morality, redemption, and the complexities of good and evil into his narratives.

Drawing inspiration from his experiences in World of Warcraft, Alex has crafted a rich and immersive world in his debut series, "The Chronicles of Ordi." His background in theology and his deep understanding of human nature inform the complex characters and intricate plot lines.

When not writing or tending to his pastoral duties, Alex can be found exploring the natural beauty of Iowa with his family, using these adventures to fuel his imagination and inspire new fantastic landscapes. With plans for multiple books set in the world of Asheros, Alex Zenk is poised to make a significant impact on the fantasy genre, offering readers a blend of classic epic fantasy with a modern, thoughtful twist.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apzenk/
Amazon: https://a.co/d/g00TgiA
Website: https://apzenk.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565462734987

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The Passenger by Joie Lesin

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joie Lesin will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

She’s a 1940s ghost whisperer.

Burdened with her empathic gift, Elizabeth Reilly wants to be free of it and fit in with normal people. Nevertheless, when the spirit of an old man asks for her help, she travels across the country to help him return home.

He’s the son of a ghost.

Gio Clemente is still angry with his father who abandoned him as a child. To help the father pass on, Elizabeth must persuade Gio to let go of his anger. Though he resents her intrusion, they are both stunned to find themselves fighting a profound attraction.

Elizabeth can accept his headstrong brand of love, but can Gio accept her gift—and believe in her?

The Passenger, a 1940s ghost story set in the California wine country, tells a tale of family connections, life-changing choices, and love—lost and found.

Read an Excerpt

When her husband was on his way to her to say goodbye, she’d sweated through the cries of soldiers falling into the mud around her and the deafening noise of battle.

Don’t go there, Elizabeth. You couldn’t help him.

She’d known the only help she could provide was to help him pass on in peace.

Elizabeth had expected Patrick’s ghost to visit her. For weeks, she braved the early spring chill to await his arrival. Bundled in layers, she waited on the beach for him. Their special place. When he finally came, he met her there. Patrick sat next to her on the blanket he’d given her as a birthday present when they were younger. The one with the purple daffodils. When she thought of his final goodbye, she thought of the daffodils she’d stared down at while he talked—as if the color of the flowers were the most important detail of the day.

Yet the broken dead man who sat beside her was.

Patrick’s once handsome face wore sadness like a caul. He’d wished she would remember him as the whole and healthy man who she clung to and kissed before he shipped off to war. When she pictured the delicate purple flowers imprinted on the fabric, she overlooked the bloodied gash in his side where he’d taken the bullet.

About the Author:

Award-winning, Minnesota-based author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and poet. She is most recently the author of The Passenger (The Wild Rose Press, 2024) and her work is also featured in Scribeworth Magazine. She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including mermaids and ghosts. Joie writes character-driven, emotional, atmospheric tales about heartache and hope.

Website: https://www.jlesin.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joielesin.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjoielesin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoieLesin
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joie.lesin
Goodreads BookPage: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214564853-the-passenger

The Wild Rose Press Book Page: https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-passenger/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6WBVJB9
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-passenger/id6504288982
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-passenger-joie-lesin/1008401528?ean=2940185717905
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-passenger-48

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The Rebellious Countess by Helene Matheson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Helene Matheson will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Society may be run by the men of the ton, but six scandalous sisters are determined to take it by storm one gentleman at a time.

Máira Blair married for love, her honeymoon trip with the Earl of Dorset is a dream come true—until reality turns it into a nightmare. Máira wakes up to discover her husband isn’t an earl, but the captain of a pirate ship and what was supposed to be her honeymoon, is a voyage bound for war-torn France. If that isn’t enough to disparage her husband’s character, he abandons her in the middle of a French port where she must find a way to survive as she defends her virtue and her life. Just when she’s convinced of what kind of rogue she married, the pirate transforms into a hero on a quest to save her and the missing Earl of Astley.

Sir Elias Drake married for convenience, he needed a Scottish bride to complete his mission. He can resist his desire for his beautiful wife, especially after she discovers his true identity. Except Máira Blair was more than he bargained for. He needs her skills, cherishes her compassion, and is tormented by her passion, which only makes him want her and the life their marriage represents more.

It will require both of their talents to rescue the Earl of Astley, and it will take more than a war to defeat their hard-won love—if they can escape.

Read an Excerpt

“Máira…” He took a step toward her, wanting to take her into his arms and erase the horrors she’d experienced in the hours since he saw her last. The way she quickly moved to keep distance between them, nearly gutted him and he stopped before he made her run out the door she’d just entered.

“You look as if you fought off the demons of hell and somehow won. Are you alright?” He asked.

The noise she made was decidedly unfeminine and nothing like the woman he knew. Somewhere between a snort and a growl, it was attached to a sneer that only hatred could form. “I’m breathing, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Breathing?” Holy, bloody hell. What had he done? He was going to kill Peter and every one of his crew for not looking out for her. “I meant, do we need to fetch a surgeon?” He spoke softly, as if that would keep their conversation private in the middle of a tavern with every eye and ear observing them with avid curiosity. If he were lucky, only the barkeep and her henchman, and spoke English.

“Are you worried about my reputation? My virtue? My life? Or are you worried that I still stand on this green Earth?” Her hand rose to her chest in a display of mock distress. It succeeded in drawing every eye in the place to her damned feminine curves.

He glared at the men around him, some looked away sheepishly, others didn’t care. They would look their fill unless he challenged each and every one of them.

About the Author:

Helene Matheson writes steamy regency historical romance novels with intelligent, unstoppable heroines who don’t require an alpha male to save them—having one in their bed is another story.

Helene moved south for fun in the sun after she retired from public service and began pursuing her life-long dream of writing. She wrote the Amazon best-selling mystery series The Book Barn Mysteries for Lyrical Press and has written multiple award-winning romantic suspense novels under Kym Roberts.

In her spare time she can be found woodcarving by the pool or blogging for The Cozy Corner on Fresh Fiction. To contact her on social media, you can find her under KymRoberts911 on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Her books can also be found on her websites.

Helene Matheson: http://www.HeleneMatheson.com
Kym Roberts: http://www.KymRoberts.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRDM5CSH
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rebellious-countess-helene-matheson/1147883832
Books a Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Rebellious-Countess/Helene-Matheson/9781648399787

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Only in September by Cynthia Flowers

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Cynthia Flowers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN 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?
I didn’t pick the genre it chose me. The story came to me through a patchwork of experiences (mine, others), pieces of conversation or experiences shared.

What draws you to it?
It was a ‘what if moment’ I had after an encounter several years ago and then the idea for the story took flight.

What research was required?
None, just my imagination for this one.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.
Survivorship. Resiliency. Positive attitude helps. Be open to new experiences.

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?
Not yet. My habit is to write in the early part of the day or when I need to escape from the real world, which seems more often these days.

Are you a plotter or pantser?
Somewhere in between. The plotter part is when I let the story marinate in my head for a while (months) and then when I feel there’s enough there I start clanking away on my laptop. The joy comes while writing and new things suddenly pop up that give the story twists and turns I had not considered. That’s the pantser part.

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?
A wall with my ‘to do list’ posted for both my fictional and grant writing assignments.

Anything new coming up from you?
Yes. About 4,000 words written for the sequel to Only In September.

Do you have a question for our readers?
What do you look for in a good read? Is it the characters, the plot, the genre, style of writing?

When Jacqueline follows her trusty Labrador Bailey down a hidden path to the beach, she's unaware that her vacation plans on a small island off the New England coast has already taken her life in a new direction. Running into an unassuming local beach comber stirs new thoughts, desires, and a self-determination she never knew she possessed. Jacqueline will need to trust her instincts and make the most of what fate has in store if she wants the future that, until now, she has only dared to dream of.

Read an Excerpt

With the sun barely over the horizon, Jacqueline awoke to Bailey licking her face and the best morning smell ever. Michael had the coffee pot simmering over the fire pit.

Jacqueline wasn’t ready to give up the warmth of her sleeping bag, so she managed to sit up while still inside it.

“Looks like you’re in a cocoon. Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“Surprisingly, yes. I was snug as a bug,” she said with a yawn.

“Well, one of the other reasons for camping out is to see the first rays of the sunrise, so let’s get you up so you don’t miss it.” He helped Jacqueline to her feet while she was still inside the sleeping bag. To remain steady, Michael had to hold her. She was all right with that.

I hope this sunrise viewing lasts a while.

Consumed by the beauty of the moment, Jacqueline felt a swelling from inside that took her nearly to the brink of tears as she looked out at the bright yellow rays that made the ocean glisten.

“We have a few clouds, which is a good thing,” he said. “It helps make the sunrise a bit more dramatic.”

“I bet you’ve seen lots of these,” Jacqueline replied while trying to compose herself.

“Yes, but I never get tired of it. It’s like seeing it for the first time every time,” he shared.

They both grew silent and took in the beauty of the early morning sky, and the warm connection of being so physically close to one another.

About the Author: Cynthia Flowers, a recently retired advertising professional, now grant writer, resides with her husband and four-year old Labrador named Eddie, at their “sanctuary” in Upstate New York, Although previously published, this is Cynthia's first book of fiction. Early on in grade school, Cynthia looked forward to creative writing class and enjoyed reading her stories aloud to her eager classmates.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Only-September-Cynthia-Flowers-ebook/dp/B0DWT79L6N/ref=sr_1_1

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Father of One by Jani Anttola

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Maka, a young Bosnian soldier, has survived three years under siege. When the enemy forces launch their final attack on his hometown, he must escape to the hills. But traversing the vast woods is a task against all odds: to stay alive, and to find his infant son and his wife, he is soon forced to make a desperate move.

Set against the harrowing background of raging guerrilla warfare and the genocide in Srebrenica, Father of One is, at heart, a story of deep humanity, compassion and love. It is the account of one man’s desire to reunite his family, separated by war, and of bonds unbroken by trauma, sustained by loyalty and tenacity. Writing in a voice that rings with clarity and authenticity, Jani Anttola lays open a dark moment in Europe’s recent history.

Read an Excerpt

The old man they called Dedo died in September after a two-day storm. The wind blew from the south, bringing sea clouds, grey and ragged like used steel wool, that poured down on the valley and the gusts drove rain against the window planks, making them wet and dripping, with pooling water on the floor of the cell. Outside the camp the trees bent in the heavy wind and the hayfields were flat in the rain. It was a summer storm but it wasn’t warm: the police stayed holed up in their house and grey smoke puffed from the stovepipe and was ripped away flatly in the wind. The cops had reduced their perimeter to a few that huddled in the far corners. In their olive-green ponchos the guards looked like some strange, dark-glistening mushrooms behind the rain. Then, after the storm broke, the drizzle continued for a day and the hills were deep green and misty, and the rusty old silos of the batching factory stood out brightly in their crumbling yellow paint. There were pools of water on the paths between the barracks and tree branches blown across the yard and everything was washed out, fresh and silent.

That afternoon they were corralled into the third barrack. The hundreds of inmates stood waiting, packed in the hall now, happily surprised by the announcement of an additional tea portion. The previous police crew had repurposed the building as a prison canteen. On the low counter the inmates had built, a gas stove was alight. On its grate sat a fifty-litre, boiling aluminium kettle. Maka stood behind the cauldron with another inmate, a ladle in hand, feeling the heat from the little blue flames that flickered underneath.

About the Author

Jani Anttola is a Finnish novelist and a medical doctor. In the 1990s he served in Rwanda with the French military and fought in Bosnia as a soldier of the Bosnian army. His works have been published in the UK and Finland. He has spent most of his adult life abroad, working in Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

Author website: https://www.jani- anttola.com/

Buy links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-One-Jani-Anttola/dp/1915603986

https://www.amazon.com/Father-of-One/dp/1915603986

https://bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/historical/father-of-one/



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Blood in the Shadows by Hawk MacKinney

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Hawk MacKinney will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When marine buddy, Gulfport, Mississippi Sheriff asks Craige Ingram for help, Ingram and Buckingham Parish patrolman ‘Badger’ Thomas Boback find themselves in the summertime dogdays of the humid Gulf Coast. With crowded beaches and an undermanned staff, a routine investigation soon becomes anything but routine when indescribable body parts start showing up along the surf, in beachfront cabins, half-buried in bayou wetlands, stashed under freeway bridges, and across county lines. Craige’s search for answers to identifying victims and killer among the crowds of tourists and skin-and-sun partygoers soon makes it obvious the victims have no connection with one another—until conflicting DNA results and haunting premonitions resembling the warnings Craige’s grannie often had become part of the investigation. The jigsaw of abandoned cross-kin offspring begin a horrifying Gordian Knot tangle that threatens anyone who approaches the shadowy ancient wreck of an old mansion - an asylum from a lost time.

Read an Excerpt

Craige grabbed a gloved handful of matted briers; pried away the snags off his camo field pants, “County maps show a road once came through here to the main house.” Fletch said, “The only time I was ever out here to Chateau Bois was with my dad; the paths and roads were clear-cut with none of this scrum growth. We could be standing in the middle of the dirt and gravel buggy lane and never know it. From what I can see of the house, it looks about the same. Except for that big oak near the porch in the front yard, there were no trees. Yard stayed clean cut. There was a fancy wrought iron fence. You’d think there’d be what’s left of a gate or fence in here somewhere.”

“Don’t take long in this humidity for rust to take hold of iron and all manner of critters digging and chewing. Mold and big black carpenter ants, wood bees, powder-puff beetles, pesky Argentine ants—untreated fence posts and any wood don’t last long.” Craige shoved against the twist of honeysuckle runners dangling from the scrub oak and sweet gum trees. Yellow Jackets buzzed out from a jostled nest. Craige froze. “Stand still.” Only his eyes moved, “Don’t run. Somewhere in these blackberries we’ve stirred us a Yellow Jacket nest. You run; the whole nest will swarm your butt. Keep still and they’ll buzz around; go on off.” He braced himself for stings that never came. Angry buzzes cleared out; a few hung around, then were gone. After a few more shoves through the overgrowth the house emerged from its leafy shroud and towered in front of them. Fletch stopped, “I don’t remember it being so big. It’s been more than twenty years, maybe longer, since I last saw this place.”

“Must have been quite a showplace in its day.” Craige let his eyes roam the shuttered windows on the upper floors, several loose panels dangled from attic gables. Most of the upper windows were shuttered or boarded. Leaning back, he looked to the roof eaves and overhangs.

“Considerable mildew and wood-rot around the window frames, but it doesn’t look too bad for being empty all these years. Always struck me odd how a house not lived in pines away to rack and ruin as though it knows no one cares about it.” Fletch walked around one side. “Looks the same over this way, too. No sign St. Jacques drove out here, no tracks, none of the weeds and scrub growth knocked down.”

“He would likely have left the car back at the highway. No way he could get a car in here. If he’d tried, the vehicle would still be stuck in that drainage washout we jumped.”

Craige eased a step up onto the boards of the porch. Gingerly added his full weight; felt the rotted boards crackle, but they held. He wasn’t about to let rotten boards set him straddling a ball-busting floor support. Took another step; his boots echoed leaded thuds on the long unused wood.

From the corner window on the second-floor suspicious eyes peeked between the dust-covered spider-webbed slatted shutters. The eyes grew wide, breathing quickened when Craige disappeared from view beneath the rusty tin porch roof. He glanced toward Jeffus, finger held straight against his pursed lips to be still. It was too late to get Jeffus downstairs. Jeffus shuffled slowly into a corner; retreated into the shadows and hunkered. Hardly any daylight peeked through the heavy, age-rotted drapes with only a dim reflection in the smudged broken mirror in the once-upon-a-time stuffy shuttered bedroom.

About the Author:

Hawk MacKinney has authored several award-winning works of fiction that include THE MOCCASIN HOLLOW MYSTERY SERIES and THE CAIRNS OF SAINCTUARIE SCIENCE FICTION SERIES. His historical romance MOCCASIN TRACE was nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award.

Cross-genre character-driven plots reflect Hawk MacKinney’s southwest upbringing along the Texas and Oklahoma borders. With postgraduate faculty positions in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem.

Website: http://www.hawkmackinneyauthor.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Shadows-Hawk-MacKinney/dp/B0FG47PDSV/ref=sr_1_1

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American Odyssey by Michael DeStefano

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Night to Dawn Magazine & Books will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN 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?

The time of our lives we call "coming-of-age" tends to stay with us; the effects that peers had on us, and the times that shaped us, travel far into our lives, sometimes farther than we realize.

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

It's strange to think that one can learn from a character they created. But characters don't come from thin air; they're an unconstrained vision of a romantic past and hopeful future, a butterfly to our caterpillar reality. With Addison Caldwell, I learned that we are no less fragile on our best day than we are on our worst, and that no matter what life throws our way, there's always room for humor.

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

As far as the process of writing is concerned, I’m very disciplined; I begin at 5:00 a.m. and conclude at 8:00 a.m. As for the actual writing? It’s quite quirky. I have a love affair with irony.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I have a vision for my novels concerning what I want to say, but I don't care much for plots; I like it when a story feels as unpredictable as life itself.

Look to your right – what's sitting there?

To my right is what I hope to see when I turn to my left: The better angels of my nature.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I have written a sequel to "American Odyssey." It's the same core character ten years later. The inspiration came from reading John Updike's "Rabbit" series.

Do you have a question for our readers?

Will today's readers ever learn the art of reading between the lines? It used to be that matters of social consciousness were encrypted novels; subtle gradations immersed in powerful narratives were what passed as excellent writing. Nowadays, we're told beforehand who the oppressors are, who the marginalized are, where we're supposed to stand, and what conclusions we're supposed to draw.

Set in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s, American Odyssey chronicles the coming-of-age journey of Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco. In their quest for independence, our trio encounters the recently widowed Leila Bennett, a former prostitute turned farm owner. For Leila, a sultry summer blossoms into an odyssey of hope and healing; for the boys, work and awakening. Leila—a girl discarded and rescued—teaches the threesome that virtue does not lie in the struggle for independence or what one must sacrifice for its behalf but in love that reinforces enduring friendship.

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Joey emerged from the fields and Cillian from the kitchen. We tossed our bags in the bed of Leila’s behemoth pickup, and off we drove. Skipping the bus ride, we headed straight for Pittsburgh and the train station, blasting rockabilly music with the windows rolled down and enjoying our final time of what Leila called “hellraisin’.” As the train chugged west to east through Pennsylvania, I repeatedly asked myself: Who was Leila Bennett? Could she have been just a girl, any girl? Was Leila as common as any one of a million buttercups clustered in an open field and just as forgettable, or was she a four-leaf clover, a rare specimen who, over and over, would compel me to search for her in every crowd everywhere? Was she a young girl in a grown-up girl’s body or a grown-up girl as lost as any child would be when set to wander the vastness of the universe? Air and space: they can prove fickle entities. Not enough of each can kill you, and too much can kill you even faster. But whether we blossom in a vast field or cottage garden, in a way, we all want the same thing: the opportunity to strive for independence while enjoying the strength and comfort of unity. Leila had experienced that aspect of human desire for a time with Aunt Pearl, then later on, for a much briefer spell, with Uncle Dave. I hope, sooner than later, she finds just the right amount of air and space that allows her to bask in the beauty of youth while flourishing as a woman.

About the Author:

Michael DeStefano runs a hairstyling salon, where he has spent the past four decades beautifying the super people of Philadelphia. His past titles include the historical family saga The Gunslinger’s Companion, the comedy/tragedy Waiting for Grandfather, and The Bohemian. You can find these novels and other writings such as his love essays and perspective pieces at his blog site Michael’s Corner.

Blog: http://www.michaelscorner.blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.destefano.1654
Twitter: https://x.com/xMichaelsCorner

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/American-Odyssey-Michael-Stefano/dp/1937769895/ref=sr_1_4
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-odyssey-michael-de-stefano/1147324924

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Lucky Secrets by B.T. Polcari

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. B.T. Polcari will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN 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 absolutely love mysteries. Readers of mystery generally fall into two categories – seekers and solvers. Seekers are reading the book for entertainment, just along for the ride and not really trying to find the killer or solve the puzzle before the end of the book. Solvers, however, are determined to solve the mystery before the end of the book. The sooner the better. As a mystery reader, I am a bigtime solver. I even tag pages with different colored stickers where I think there is a pertinent clue or twist I might want to return to as I work to solve the mystery. And this is why I write cozy mysteries the way I do, because they provide an entertainment value that allows the seeker to chuckle (and at times, laugh out loud) and let the story carry them along, yet also provides the solver with a complex plot that can be solved if they pay attention along the way. The clues are there, just not always obvious. 

What research (or world-building – for fantasy/paranormal/Sci-fi) is required?

I research everything, and I mean, everything. No detail is too small. For example, in my second book, Fire and Ice, I even researched pre-1600s Atlantic hurricane seasons. I do this because I never want someone coming up to me or leaving a comment that something I wrote isn’t correct or possible or remotely feasible. That is my biggest fear every time one of my books is released. So, in the very early stages of the plotting process, I create a “Research” folder to hold all the articles, photos, maps, and similar that I come across as I build out the plot in a document I call my “blueprint.” Some of this research never makes it into the plot or ends up just being background info, and some of it forms the very basic building blocks of the plot. I spend weeks and weeks researching as I lay out the story. For Lucky Secrets, my research folder holds 169MB of data (97 files) plus a second folder with 60MB of photos I used to help visualize the various rooms and spaces of the El Sueño estate where the story is set. For Fire and Ice, the research folder holds 396MB of data (I had a TON of planning to do for this story – read the book and you’ll understand – I can’t say why without giving some things away.) 

Name one thing you learned from your hero/heroine.

Trust your instincts and believe in yourself. 

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

I play music on a CD player when I’m working. When the music stops, I pick up the remote and hit play. Again. And again. And… Yep, I’ll play the same CD for days and usually weeks at a time. The only time I switch out CDs is when a particular song starts playing in my head away from the office, or if I’m no longer as productive with that CD. Then I’ll switch it out and start all over. In fact, today I finally switched out Jet’s Rare Tracks for Eric Clapton’s Unplugged. I played the Jets CD for easily a month. I suspect I’ll switch Clapton on sometime in August. I’ve already hit the play button twice while responding to these questions. 

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a hardcore plotter. I began as a pantser, but after too many dead ends, I switched to detailed plotting. My process starts with weeks of brainstorming and research—sometimes months—then I create my detailed “blueprint” with plot points, subplots, characters, and turning points mapped out to the percentage. I also build a chapter layout and calendar timeline. The blueprint can run 50 pages before I write a single word of the manuscript. Once the structure is in place, I write quickly—sometimes up to 3,500 words a day. 

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

One of my two white boards on the wall. Beneath it is a desk return connecting my corner computer table with the desk (it is a red-maple desk unit that spans two walls and also includes a credenza). On the return is a Mac laptop (I write on an all-in-one desktop on the corner computer table). 

Anything new coming up from you?  What?

I have several projects under different stages of development. One is a YA book for boys that an agent has expressed an interest in if I write a compelling story. Another is me spinning off my favorite character in the Mauzzy & Me Mystery Series, Mrs. Majelski, into her own mystery series. She’s a blast to write. Think of Elizabeth in Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series, and then amp up her energy level. That’s Mrs. M. I’m also working on Sara’s next adventure, which will have her hanging out a shingle as a private investigator and opening a whole new world of fun, laughs, and mysteries! 

Do you have a question for our readers?

I have too many to ask. What makes for a compelling mystery? Does there have to be a body? Can there be too much description of a scene (building, room, space) or a character in a mystery? What’s more important – great writing or a great plot?

College student Sara Donovan is in the homestretch of graduating when a mysterious package arrives with an invitation to an exclusive contest. One that will drastically change the winner’s life. Included are unsettling photographs from forgettable chapters in her life and a threatening note strongly suggesting she participate.

With no good options, Sara enters the contest and finds herself at a fabulous mansion up against eight formidable opponents, each with a dark secret and all racing to solve seven levels of riddles and puzzles.

After a contestant’s body is discovered, Sara contemplates dropping out when another package arrives, its chilling contents making clear she’s at the center of a dangerous game with deadly consequences if she quits. But what it doesn’t say is—what happens if she wins?

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Karsh Azarian’s pretentious voice came from the end of the table. “It would appear I am now the only courageous one going it alone.” He held a glass of red wine aloft in our direction, a smug grin splashed across his stupid goateed face. “As it should be, I suppose. Fair play and what not.”

Across from me and next to Olivia Fantucci, Scooter Jablonsky’s attention bounced between Karsh, Jimmy, and I. Then he pointed with his half-full drink glass toward Frederick Volkov and Rod Toft, who were seated on our side of the table to Azarian’s right. “Hey, Freddie boy, y’all been quiet tonight. Whatsa matter, your contest off like a herd of turtles?”

Volkov fixed his hound-dog eyes on Scooter. “Quite the contrary, Burl. Tell me, have you and Spencer made it out of your rooms yet, or are you still wrasslin’ with that devilish first clue?” Volkov finished with an amused laugh and clinked glasses with Toft. “Cheers, my friend.”

Scooter was about to blow when Spencer Fernsby inserted himself in the conversation. “Frederick, throughout my career, I have seen your kind come and go. Usually to prison for insider trading and fraud, I might add.” He raised a water glass to his lips. “My goodness, it would be quite difficult to win the contest from a jail cell, don’t you think?”

Volkov jumped to his feet. Even from my vantage point, I could see the blue vein throbbing in his forehead. “Are you threatening me, Fernsby?”

Fernsby smiled warmly, a contrast to his suddenly stone-cold blue-gray eyes. “That certainly wasn’t my intention. My respectful apologies.”

Jimmy whispered in my ear, “The plot thickens.”

About the Author:

B.T. Polcari is a graduate of Rutgers College of Rutgers University, an award-winning mystery author, and a proud father of two wonderful children. He’s a champion of rescue pups (Mauzzy is a rescue), craves watching football and basketball, and, of course, loves reading mysteries. Among his favorite authors are Richard Osman, D.P. Lyle, Frederick Forsyth, and Michael Connelly. He is also an unapologetic fantasy football addict. He lives with his wife in scenic Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Website: http://www.btpolcari.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/btpolcari
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btpolcari/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/btpolcari
Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/btpolcari

Signed Copies: http://www.btpolcari.com
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Secrets-Mauzzy-Me-Mystery/dp/1509261427/ref=sr_1_1
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/lucky-secrets/id6744645288
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lucky-secrets-b-t-polcari/1147214891
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/lucky-secrets/41569b963e658847

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