Category Archives: Uncategorized

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing my whole life, but I made my first effort to write a story with a beginning, middle, and end when I was 10 years old. It was a story about a haunted house, something simple yet effective. The story itself spanned 4 hand-written pages and wasn’t very good, but I enjoyed it. A few years later I wrote a 60-page story about a group of teenagers who use witchcraft to call upon the ghost of their favorite dead super model with hopes of having a fun time. Hormones wrote this one. I had it written in a red notebook I carried with me everywhere I went. One day I showed it to a classmate who passed it to another student, and eventually to another and another. It became the talk of the school, a story about a group of teenagers having sex with ghosts, and no one believed that I was the person who wrote it…you know because I was just the quiet kid in the back of the class. Well, when I finally got it back, I decided I’d best just put it away. To this day I have no idea what became of it. Maybe that’s a good thing.

How did you get started? Tell us about your journey to publishing.

My first serious attempts at writing, and what lead to my current body of work, began in October of 2009 when my friend Andrew and I outlined an idea for what would eventually become Harvester: Ascension. This novel is an alien invasion story with a twist.

After completion, it took a year of submissions before it found a home with World Castle Publishing.

Tell us about your book(s). What inspired you to write it/them?

My novels—Harvester: Ascension, An Inner Darkness, A Light in the Dark, 9111 Sharp Road, and Children of Time—were all informed by the readings I have done my whole life. I have read literally thousands of novels, histories, biographies, memoirs, etc. These combined with other media for speculative fiction such as television shows and video games, as well as life experiences, lead to a vast treasure trove of material from which I can draw as I write.

What inspires you to write? Do you have a particular song or mood that carries you through?

Writing is the one thing I’m really good at. Growing up and staying up all night reading, or begging my parents to take me to the bookstore so I could get my hands on the latest installment of a series or the newest book from my favorite writers were some of the happiest times of my childhood. I still carry that feeling with me, but today I am the writer with readers salivating over my next book.

In fact, I have the same feeling over my own work that I did over the work of Stephen King growing up. I remember the late nights as I devoured the The Eyes of the Dragon or The Dark Tower as I had to know what happened next, or how the story would end. I remember as I was writing Harvester: Ascension, as I deviated from the outline Andy and I had developed, as the story developed a life of its own, I stay awake late into the night writing, so into the story, so wired with adrenaline,that I had to see if my characters would come out all right in the end.

Who is your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is Lou Bryan from Harvester: Ascension. He was not part of the original outline for the novel, but when I created him, he took over the whole novel, becoming the focus of it because his story was more compelling than all the others. He starts out a character without a moral compass, but circumstances thrust an opportunity for redemption upon him. The story of whether he can find it in himself to ascend is very compelling.

What made you decide to write a book?

It was a lifelong goal. In fact, writing novels was the only thing I really ever wanted to do. With Harvester: Ascension I found my voice and discovered I had something I wanted to say. With each subsequent book, I’ve refined that voice and that message.

Who are the writers that inspire you the most?

Stephen King has been my ultimate inspiration. Many consider him the master of modern horror, but I think his biggest contribution to literature is his characters. He is the master of character. Without Stephen King, I wouldn’t be as adept at developing characters as I am.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My family inspires me. I have a beautiful fiancé and daughter, and two step-daughters who all inspire me. In fact, elements of Children of Time were directly inspired by my real-life family.

Childhood Memories

Which cereal do you remember requesting the most?

Fruity Pebbles

What is your favorite childhood cartoon character and why?

Donatello from Ninja Turtles. He was the “smart” one.

Favorite super hero?

Superman

What is the first movie that you saw in a movie theatre?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Favorite TV show from younger years?

Star Trek: The Next Generation

 

Just for fun

Are you a night owl or early bird? What time of the day works best for your muse?

I prefer going to bed at a reasonable hour and waking early. I work best from 4 AM to noon.

If you were an animal what would you be and why?

Since humans are animals, I could just say human because I’ve been one my whole life. But if you are referring to a non-human animal, then I will say a dolphin…because they are intelligent but not as destructive as humans.

Favorites: color, food, season, music, movies, books.

Blue, pizza, summer, any music from the ‘50s and ‘60s, The Green Mile, The Dark Tower series

Links where you can be found?

https://www.facebook.com/authorericjohnston?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/HarvesterAscension?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/EJohnstonAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6439796.Eric_R_Johnston

http://www.ericjohnstonauthor.blogspot.com

Elissa Daye’s Birthday Bash. Join me and my wonderful friends in celebration, of well me. Nah, just kidding! It’s a celebration of all of you! I am so thankful for all the readers in the world and so are my friends. Feel free to enter to win all these wonderful prizes by clicking here–>>Elissa Daye’s Birthday Bash Giveaway.

Also my second book, In Rapture: Destined Series Book 2, will be free for download onto Kindle all day on May 6th!

My friends, their donations, Book Blurbs and Author Links:

Kathi Barton has donated an e-book copy of Force of Nature. She has a fantastic new book out as well, which I will be featuring May 7^th with an author interview. Kathi is also giving away a bookmark and button.

Book Blurb: CJ’s father, Charles Webber, had been a real bastard all her life. And when her mom died he’d told her that without Becky there to make him acknowledge CJ as his daughter, he was finished with her and she was never to darken his door again. The slap that bloodied her mouth at her mom’s funeral had been more than enough to make his point. So she didn’t, not even to come home to his funeral

Austin Force wanted the property that the prick Webber owned. He wanted it for his pack and the house for his mom to call hers. But Webber dying had him dancing a jig and contacting the lawyer to make an offer. But finding that the man had a daughter and that she was his mate had Austin at his wits end.

Austin didn’t want to be impressed by her. He didn’t want to like her. He wanted her to obey him, whelp a few pups so she wouldn’t be bored and run his house for him. CJ wanted to do as she please which included maybe murdering the Alpha in his sleep. The two of them coming together is wonderfully steamy and sarcastic wit. Austin and CJ will make great alpha’s…or will they?

You can find her at:

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author-kathi-s-barton.html

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dark-Nature-Series-ebook/dp/B008LE4A3A/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dark-Nature-Series-ebook/dp/B008LE4A3A/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

http://kathisbartonauthor.blogspot.com/

Debbi Kump had donated an e-book copy of 7G.

Book Blurb:7G, Apocalyptic Thriller

In the near future, Smartphones will be obsolete. Instead, technological innovations provide virtual computer screens for texting, surfing the Internet, or reading an ebook on lenses worn directly over the eye. With the upcoming conversion to 7G Network allowing instantaneous optical and audio recording, limitless military and civilian applications abound. Yet an unexpected programming glitch proves fatal, spelling disaster for the nation. In the aftermath of 7G, the fates of college sophomore Erik Weber and submariner Alyssa Kensington entwine. Will they escape and manage to survive in a crippled world?

You can find her at:

https://sites.google.com/site/debbiekumpbooks/books
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Kump-Author/106841479415271

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GX31CU

Ronald Paxton has donated an e-book copy of his  book Winter Songs.

Book Blurb: A dark and malevolent force has invaded the normally tranquil world of Shenandoah County, a small, rural community located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Emma Howard is living her dream. She has just graduated from veterinary school and returned to her hometown to accept a position as an equine veterinarian with her friend and mentor, Dr. Adam Waller. Best of all, her boyfriend and fellow veterinarian, Chase Reynolds, has accompanied her. Emma’s dream soon turns into a nightmare as she and Chase become victims of escalating acts of hostility. Someone doesn’t like the fact that Emma is dating a black man and is determined to put an end to it.

John “Cowboy” Howard, retired national rodeo champion and owner of Wild Pony Ranch, loves his daughter and will do anything to protect her. When the sheriff’s office fails to produce results John launches his own investigation and finds himself chasing an elusive and relentless foe. Time is running out and John is forced to consider some questions for which he has no answers. How far will this bigot or hate group go in their harassment of Emma and Chase? Who could be behind this? A greedy developer who has his eye on Wild Pony Ranch? Zealous members of a local evangelical church? A white supremacist group?

Someone needs to find the answers before John’s family and the community are ripped apart.

You can find him at:

www.ronaldpaxton.webs.com

www.facebook.com/ronald.paxton.3

www.linkedin.com

Mary Ting has donated an e-book copy of Between: Book 2 in the Crossroads Saga

The first book, Crossroads is free on Kindle and Nook. Grab it while you can!

Book Blurb: As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelve, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside-a place between Heaven and Earth-he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators–nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?

https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsBook

tweet: @MaryTing

blog www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com

Alexandrea Weis has donated an e-book copy of Diary of a One Night Stand.

Book Blurb: Resilient and practical, Kara Barton has continually strived to live a respectable life. She went to college, embarked on a promising career as an attorney, married a great guy, and always appeared to be the perfect wife and mother. But all is not what it seems, and the troubling past Kara has been running from her entire life is about to catch up with her. Urged on by her insecurities about growing older, and desperately wanting to feel one more night of passion, Kara agrees to share a tryst in a hotel room with a sexy business associate, Scott Ellsworth. But Scott wants more than one night together, and Kara quickly discovers it is impossible to resist him. Soon Kara finds herself transformed into the kind of woman she vowed never to become, and the secure world she has struggled all her life to build begins to fall apart. Kara Barton is about to find out how a one-night stand can change everything.

You can find her at:

FB https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis

My website: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html

Elizabeth Seckman has donated copies of Past Due and Healing Summer in either e-book or print copy. Winner decides!

Book Blurb Past Due: Jenna Austin is a young, widowed artist raising a teenage son on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As the costs of living in paradise rise, she struggles to make ends meet. Life isn’t easy, but she manages.
When her car breaks down, she trudges on. She assumes life can’t get any more complicated than it is. But it can…

Chance brings her nose to well-formed chest with Tres Coulter, the handsome, affluent aid to Governor Hunt. Jenna and Tres share a history; they also share a love they thought long lost. Their lives are about to be altered forever as the deceptions of the past transform the very foundation of the present.

The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due.

Book Blurb Healing Summer: Ditched at the altar…biopsied for cancer…Mollie Hinkle is having a bona fide bitch of a summer.When life sucks so hard it takes your breath away, what’s a girl to do?

Road trip! Pack a bag, grab a few friends, and leave the past and the worry in the rear view mirror. What wounds can’t be healed by a drive across the Heartland, where quarter flips at cross roads determine the route and the future?

All roads lead to Craig, the second son and bad boy of the haughty Coulter line. Craig has spent his life taking care of number one—himself. He’s not interested in a relationship and he’s definitely not looking to fall in love. But if a morsel drops in his lap, who is he to refrain?

You can find her at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Seckman-Author/361427683923220

http://eseckman.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806570.Elizabeth_Seckman

Eric Johnston has donated e-book copies of An Inner Darkness, A Light in the Dark, and Children of Time (new release) by Eric Johnston

Book Blurb An Inner Darkness: Noremway Parish, founded 2,000 years ago by the Great Savior Ragas Moliere, is the last bastion of humanity after the war with the demons known as the Darkness. The continued existence of Noremway Parish is imperative to the survival of the human race.

A Forbidden Love

Teret Finley never thought she’d have children. When she took the oath to become parochial vicar, the keeper and teacher of the histories of Noremway Parish, she took an oath of celibacy, but that all changes when a pair of conjoined twins mysteriously appears in the parish cathedral. She becomes a mother to them, and with the help of the parish friar, Decon Mangler, gives them love and warmth.

Rumors begin spreading throughout the parish, rumors that could undermine their entire way of life as Decon and Teret grow close. Is Teret breaking her oath by caring for these children with Decon? There is one person who will stop at nothing until she finds out—Rita Morgan, the parish gossip.

The recent death of Mayor Tomias Waterman has sent the parish leadership into turmoil, and the sheriff, Franz Phoenix, has seized control, using Rita as his lap dog. He finds amusement in her gossiping ways, and puts her to use to tear down Decon and Teret, destroying the foundations of the society, and making room for his own brand of moral corruption.

Can Decon and Teret’s love survive? And if they are found guilty of crimes against society, what will happen to the twins?

Book Blurb: A Light in the Dark: Eighteen years after the events in An Inner Darkness, the twins, separated by time and distance, yearn for something missing in their lives. Julian studies hard to become a friar, while Gaylen, banished to a desert wasteland, determines to stop at nothing until he is again attached to his brother. Julian cannot remember Gaylen, and the people of Noremway Parish have done all they could to ensure he never learns about him.

Julian must confront a mystery after he finds a copy of The Book of Ragas, a culmination of all the history and moral teachings of Noremway Parish, hidden away on a bookshelf in the mayor’s house. Why had he been told all copies were destroyed nearly twenty years ago?

The mystery builds as he finds evidence that both Teret Finley and Decon Mangler are both alive despite Franz Phoenix’s claims that both of them are dead.

Julian quickly finds himself at the center of a 2,000-year-old war, and the only chance he has at survival is a willingness to challenge what he’d grown up believing.

You can find him at:

https://www.facebook.com/authorericjohnston?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/HarvesterAscension?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/EJohnstonAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6439796.Eric_R_Johnston

http://www.ericjohnstonauthor.blogspot.com

Judy White has donated an e-book copy of A Method to Madness.

Book Blurb: It’s January 1943 and things are slow for Sam Flanagan, Detroit private detective. He’s about to call it a day and return to the woman he shares a home with; his eighty two year old grandmother, when in walks Chicago socialite Phyllis Killburn. She’s the daughter of the late tire tycoon, Alden Whitaker, and she’s got troubles. It seems her husband may be stepping out on her with another woman and he’s keeping a big secret as to his involvement with the military. She wants to know what’s going on and she’s willing to pay big bucks for the information.

Sam travels to the Windy City and looks up his longtime friend, Harry Blevins, journalist for the Chicago Tribune. With Harry’s assistance, and with the inadvertent ramblings of his grandmother, will Sam be able to put all the pieces together to solve what is happening within the walls of the Whitaker Estate to stop a murder plot? The deeper Sam digs into the case, he uncovers more twists. Does Sam find a method to this madness?

Author Kelly Abell has donated e-book copies of Haunted Destiny and The Lost Jewels of Hera.

Book Blurb Haunted Destiny: Destiny Dove is the only survivor of a tragic car crash that killed her parents and baby brother. A teen uprooted from her home, she is forced to live with her New Age Grandmother whom she’s been taught her entire life to fear. If that’s not enough, Destiny soon discovers she has developed the family gift of being able to see and talk to ghosts, The Shade Sight, her grandmother calls it. Grams Rose will be the one person who can help her understand her haunted destiny.
When Destiny meets hot hunk Jake Turner along with his jealous girlfriend Amy, sparks immediately fly. Jakes sees Destiny as a new kindred spirit, while Amy sees her as a threat and is determined to ruin Destiny’s life at Blake High. But when Amy’s mother, an antiques dealer, buys Amy some old furniture, it comes with a lot more than anyone bargained for. Only Destiny stands between Amy and an ancient ghostly evil so strong it might just take the entire town of Arcadia down with it. When called upon can Destiny forgive and draw upon her new gift to save Amy and a group of local teens from certain destruction?

Book Blurb The Lost Jewels of Hera: Tenacious and tough as nails, archeologist, Kindra Ceres has just unearthed the one clue linking her life’s work with an unknown destiny. The Lost Jewels of Hera, an ancient necklace of immeasurable power, exists—and not just in legend.

The ancient legend states Hera, Queen of the Gods, destroyed the necklace in a fit of jealous rage, and only the Guardian of the stones can restore them to power. Kindra is the key, but her past life is but a distant memory. This presents a challenge for two men determined to protect her…Aiden Flint, a lover Kindra doesn’t remember from her ancient past, and Ryan Colburn, assigned to guard her by Zeus, the King of Gods, himself. Kindra is caught between the one man who stole her heart, and the other predestined to win it.

Cyrus Hayden, a demon sent by Hades, God of the Underworld will stop at nothing to steal the stones and plagues Kindra’s journey with ruthless and terrifying danger. Kindra must discover enough about her past to find and restore the stones to power to stop Hades from destroying the Earth she’s destined to protect. Will destiny or shear will determine the fate of Kindra and her companions? Will she choose or will the god’s choose for her?

Links where you can find her:

www.kellyabellbooks.com

www.twitter.com/kellyabellbooks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Abell/83527376788?ref=hl

David R Bennett is donating an e-book copy of The Crimson Clan.

Book Blurb An Inner Darkness: Noremway Parish, founded 2,000 years ago by the Great Savior Ragas Moliere, is the last bastion of humanity after the war with the demons known as the Darkness. The continued existence of Noremway Parish is imperative to the survival of the human race.

A Forbidden Love

Teret Finley never thought she’d have children. When she took the oath to become parochial vicar, the keeper and teacher of the histories of Noremway Parish, she took an oath of celibacy, but that all changes when a pair of conjoined twins mysteriously appears in the parish cathedral. She becomes a mother to them, and with the help of the parish friar, Decon Mangler, gives them love and warmth.

Rumors begin spreading throughout the parish, rumors that could undermine their entire way of life as Decon and Teret grow close. Is Teret breaking her oath by caring for these children with Decon? There is one person who will stop at nothing until she finds out—Rita Morgan, the parish gossip.

The recent death of Mayor Tomias Waterman has sent the parish leadership into turmoil, and the sheriff, Franz Phoenix, has seized control, using Rita as his lap dog. He finds amusement in her gossiping ways, and puts her to use to tear down Decon and Teret, destroying the foundations of the society, and making room for his own brand of moral corruption.

Can Decon and Teret’s love survive? And if they are found guilty of crimes against society, what will happen to the twins?

My Review:

If you like zombies, aliens, werewolves, forbidden romances, and karma for the judgmental all rolled into one story, you will like this book. I would like to say that this is not my typical genre that I read, but I really wanted to stretch my horizons so I gave in and gave this a try. I was certainly not disappointed. Even if you are not used to this type of book(which I think falls into horror/sci-fi/fantasy), you will not have any trouble keeping up with it. The world depicted is in the future, where people have only vague recollections of how life used to be. There is very little vegetation and water, but the people make do with the yearly rainfall that seems to come at scheduled time. In the beginning the Mayor and his pregnant wife are killed, but the one child that remains is saved. You later find out that this is no ordinary child, in fact this child will change the future of the world as we know it.

Now I am not sure that the monster-like things that the people start to turn into after a while are a combination of zombies and werewolves, but that is the way my mind interpreted it.  I found myself picturing the story teller like the aliens from Stargate: as beings who were highly evolved and intelligent. I’m not quite sure if that is where I was intended to go or not, but it made the story interesting for me, considering my previous lack of experience with this genre.

There are a few things that happen in this book that will be stuck in your head weeks after you read it, like the way a prisoner attacks his guards. I really don’t want to ruin this scene for you, so let me just say it is graphically horrific and hysterical at the same time. I believe it comes from the author’s dry sense of humor. I also like how the story teller could be interpreted as the author planning out how his story would go.

All in all, a good read from beginning to end, even for a newbie.

Elissa Daye’s Birthday Bash. Join me and my wonderful friends in celebration, of well me. Nah, just kidding! It’s a celebration of all of you! I am so thankful for all the readers in the world and so are my friends. Feel free to enter to win all these wonderful prizes by clicking here–>>Elissa Daye’s Birthday Bash Giveaway.

Also my second book, In Rapture: Destined Series Book 2, will be free for download onto Kindle all day on May 6th!

My friends, their donations, Book Blurbs and Author Links:

Kathi Barton has donated an e-book copy of Force of Nature. She has a fantastic new book out as well, which I will be featuring May 7^th with an author interview. Kathi is also giving away a bookmark and button.

Book Blurb: CJ’s father, Charles Webber, had been a real bastard all her life. And when her mom died he’d told her that without Becky there to make him acknowledge CJ as his daughter, he was finished with her and she was never to darken his door again. The slap that bloodied her mouth at her mom’s funeral had been more than enough to make his point. So she didn’t, not even to come home to his funeral

Austin Force wanted the property that the prick Webber owned. He wanted it for his pack and the house for his mom to call hers. But Webber dying had him dancing a jig and contacting the lawyer to make an offer. But finding that the man had a daughter and that she was his mate had Austin at his wits end.

Austin didn’t want to be impressed by her. He didn’t want to like her. He wanted her to obey him, whelp a few pups so she wouldn’t be bored and run his house for him. CJ wanted to do as she please which included maybe murdering the Alpha in his sleep. The two of them coming together is wonderfully steamy and sarcastic wit. Austin and CJ will make great alpha’s…or will they?

You can find her at:

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author-kathi-s-barton.html

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dark-Nature-Series-ebook/dp/B008LE4A3A/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

http://www.amazon.com/Force-Dark-Nature-Series-ebook/dp/B008LE4A3A/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

http://kathisbartonauthor.blogspot.com/

Debbi Kump had donated an e-book copy of 7G.

Book Blurb:7G, Apocalyptic Thriller

In the near future, Smartphones will be obsolete. Instead, technological innovations provide virtual computer screens for texting, surfing the Internet, or reading an ebook on lenses worn directly over the eye. With the upcoming conversion to 7G Network allowing instantaneous optical and audio recording, limitless military and civilian applications abound. Yet an unexpected programming glitch proves fatal, spelling disaster for the nation. In the aftermath of 7G, the fates of college sophomore Erik Weber and submariner Alyssa Kensington entwine. Will they escape and manage to survive in a crippled world?

You can find her at:

https://sites.google.com/site/debbiekumpbooks/books
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Kump-Author/106841479415271

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005GX31CU

Ronald Paxton has donated an e-book copy of his  book Winter Songs.

Book Blurb: A dark and malevolent force has invaded the normally tranquil world of Shenandoah County, a small, rural community located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Emma Howard is living her dream. She has just graduated from veterinary school and returned to her hometown to accept a position as an equine veterinarian with her friend and mentor, Dr. Adam Waller. Best of all, her boyfriend and fellow veterinarian, Chase Reynolds, has accompanied her. Emma’s dream soon turns into a nightmare as she and Chase become victims of escalating acts of hostility. Someone doesn’t like the fact that Emma is dating a black man and is determined to put an end to it.

John “Cowboy” Howard, retired national rodeo champion and owner of Wild Pony Ranch, loves his daughter and will do anything to protect her. When the sheriff’s office fails to produce results John launches his own investigation and finds himself chasing an elusive and relentless foe. Time is running out and John is forced to consider some questions for which he has no answers. How far will this bigot or hate group go in their harassment of Emma and Chase? Who could be behind this? A greedy developer who has his eye on Wild Pony Ranch? Zealous members of a local evangelical church? A white supremacist group?

Someone needs to find the answers before John’s family and the community are ripped apart.

You can find him at:

www.ronaldpaxton.webs.com

www.facebook.com/ronald.paxton.3

www.linkedin.com

Mary Ting has donated an e-book copy of Between: Book 2 in the Crossroads Saga

The first book, Crossroads is free on Kindle and Nook. Grab it while you can!

Book Blurb: As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelve, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside-a place between Heaven and Earth-he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators–nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?

https://www.facebook.com/CrossroadsBook

tweet: @MaryTing

blog www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com

Alexandrea Weis has donated an e-book copy of Diary of a One Night Stand.

Book Blurb: Resilient and practical, Kara Barton has continually strived to live a respectable life. She went to college, embarked on a promising career as an attorney, married a great guy, and always appeared to be the perfect wife and mother. But all is not what it seems, and the troubling past Kara has been running from her entire life is about to catch up with her. Urged on by her insecurities about growing older, and desperately wanting to feel one more night of passion, Kara agrees to share a tryst in a hotel room with a sexy business associate, Scott Ellsworth. But Scott wants more than one night together, and Kara quickly discovers it is impossible to resist him. Soon Kara finds herself transformed into the kind of woman she vowed never to become, and the secure world she has struggled all her life to build begins to fall apart. Kara Barton is about to find out how a one-night stand can change everything.

You can find her at:

FB https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis

My website: http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html

Elizabeth Seckman has donated copies of Past Due and Healing Summer in either e-book or print copy. Winner decides!

Book Blurb Past Due: Jenna Austin is a young, widowed artist raising a teenage son on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As the costs of living in paradise rise, she struggles to make ends meet. Life isn’t easy, but she manages.
When her car breaks down, she trudges on. She assumes life can’t get any more complicated than it is. But it can…

Chance brings her nose to well-formed chest with Tres Coulter, the handsome, affluent aid to Governor Hunt. Jenna and Tres share a history; they also share a love they thought long lost. Their lives are about to be altered forever as the deceptions of the past transform the very foundation of the present.

The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due.

Book Blurb Healing Summer: Ditched at the altar…biopsied for cancer…Mollie Hinkle is having a bona fide bitch of a summer.When life sucks so hard it takes your breath away, what’s a girl to do?

Road trip! Pack a bag, grab a few friends, and leave the past and the worry in the rear view mirror. What wounds can’t be healed by a drive across the Heartland, where quarter flips at cross roads determine the route and the future?

All roads lead to Craig, the second son and bad boy of the haughty Coulter line. Craig has spent his life taking care of number one—himself. He’s not interested in a relationship and he’s definitely not looking to fall in love. But if a morsel drops in his lap, who is he to refrain?

You can find her at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Seckman-Author/361427683923220

http://eseckman.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806570.Elizabeth_Seckman

Eric Johnston has donated e-book copies of An Inner Darkness, A Light in the Dark, and Children of Time (new release) by Eric Johnston

Book Blurb An Inner Darkness: Noremway Parish, founded 2,000 years ago by the Great Savior Ragas Moliere, is the last bastion of humanity after the war with the demons known as the Darkness. The continued existence of Noremway Parish is imperative to the survival of the human race.

A Forbidden Love

Teret Finley never thought she’d have children. When she took the oath to become parochial vicar, the keeper and teacher of the histories of Noremway Parish, she took an oath of celibacy, but that all changes when a pair of conjoined twins mysteriously appears in the parish cathedral. She becomes a mother to them, and with the help of the parish friar, Decon Mangler, gives them love and warmth.

Rumors begin spreading throughout the parish, rumors that could undermine their entire way of life as Decon and Teret grow close. Is Teret breaking her oath by caring for these children with Decon? There is one person who will stop at nothing until she finds out—Rita Morgan, the parish gossip.

The recent death of Mayor Tomias Waterman has sent the parish leadership into turmoil, and the sheriff, Franz Phoenix, has seized control, using Rita as his lap dog. He finds amusement in her gossiping ways, and puts her to use to tear down Decon and Teret, destroying the foundations of the society, and making room for his own brand of moral corruption.

Can Decon and Teret’s love survive? And if they are found guilty of crimes against society, what will happen to the twins?

Book Blurb: A Light in the Dark: Eighteen years after the events in An Inner Darkness, the twins, separated by time and distance, yearn for something missing in their lives. Julian studies hard to become a friar, while Gaylen, banished to a desert wasteland, determines to stop at nothing until he is again attached to his brother. Julian cannot remember Gaylen, and the people of Noremway Parish have done all they could to ensure he never learns about him.

Julian must confront a mystery after he finds a copy of The Book of Ragas, a culmination of all the history and moral teachings of Noremway Parish, hidden away on a bookshelf in the mayor’s house. Why had he been told all copies were destroyed nearly twenty years ago?

The mystery builds as he finds evidence that both Teret Finley and Decon Mangler are both alive despite Franz Phoenix’s claims that both of them are dead.

Julian quickly finds himself at the center of a 2,000-year-old war, and the only chance he has at survival is a willingness to challenge what he’d grown up believing.

You can find him at:

https://www.facebook.com/authorericjohnston?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/HarvesterAscension?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/EJohnstonAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/6439796.Eric_R_Johnston

http://www.ericjohnstonauthor.blogspot.com

Judy White has donated an e-book copy of A Method to Madness.

Book Blurb: It’s January 1943 and things are slow for Sam Flanagan, Detroit private detective. He’s about to call it a day and return to the woman he shares a home with; his eighty two year old grandmother, when in walks Chicago socialite Phyllis Killburn. She’s the daughter of the late tire tycoon, Alden Whitaker, and she’s got troubles. It seems her husband may be stepping out on her with another woman and he’s keeping a big secret as to his involvement with the military. She wants to know what’s going on and she’s willing to pay big bucks for the information.

Sam travels to the Windy City and looks up his longtime friend, Harry Blevins, journalist for the Chicago Tribune. With Harry’s assistance, and with the inadvertent ramblings of his grandmother, will Sam be able to put all the pieces together to solve what is happening within the walls of the Whitaker Estate to stop a murder plot? The deeper Sam digs into the case, he uncovers more twists. Does Sam find a method to this madness?

Author Kelly Abell has donated e-book copies of Haunted Destiny and The Lost Jewels of Hera.

Book Blurb Haunted Destiny: Destiny Dove is the only survivor of a tragic car crash that killed her parents and baby brother. A teen uprooted from her home, she is forced to live with her New Age Grandmother whom she’s been taught her entire life to fear. If that’s not enough, Destiny soon discovers she has developed the family gift of being able to see and talk to ghosts, The Shade Sight, her grandmother calls it. Grams Rose will be the one person who can help her understand her haunted destiny.
When Destiny meets hot hunk Jake Turner along with his jealous girlfriend Amy, sparks immediately fly. Jakes sees Destiny as a new kindred spirit, while Amy sees her as a threat and is determined to ruin Destiny’s life at Blake High. But when Amy’s mother, an antiques dealer, buys Amy some old furniture, it comes with a lot more than anyone bargained for. Only Destiny stands between Amy and an ancient ghostly evil so strong it might just take the entire town of Arcadia down with it. When called upon can Destiny forgive and draw upon her new gift to save Amy and a group of local teens from certain destruction?

Book Blurb The Lost Jewels of Hera: Tenacious and tough as nails, archeologist, Kindra Ceres has just unearthed the one clue linking her life’s work with an unknown destiny. The Lost Jewels of Hera, an ancient necklace of immeasurable power, exists—and not just in legend.

The ancient legend states Hera, Queen of the Gods, destroyed the necklace in a fit of jealous rage, and only the Guardian of the stones can restore them to power. Kindra is the key, but her past life is but a distant memory. This presents a challenge for two men determined to protect her…Aiden Flint, a lover Kindra doesn’t remember from her ancient past, and Ryan Colburn, assigned to guard her by Zeus, the King of Gods, himself. Kindra is caught between the one man who stole her heart, and the other predestined to win it.

Cyrus Hayden, a demon sent by Hades, God of the Underworld will stop at nothing to steal the stones and plagues Kindra’s journey with ruthless and terrifying danger. Kindra must discover enough about her past to find and restore the stones to power to stop Hades from destroying the Earth she’s destined to protect. Will destiny or shear will determine the fate of Kindra and her companions? Will she choose or will the god’s choose for her?

Links where you can find her:

www.kellyabellbooks.com

www.twitter.com/kellyabellbooks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-Abell/83527376788?ref=hl

David R Bennett is donating an e-book copy of The Crimson Clan.

Welcome Elizabeth Seckman! I had so much fun interviewing her and enjoyed getting to know her better. I hope you enjoy getting to know her too! We both were children from around the same time, so I share some of her childhood memories.

Tell us about you:

How long have you been writing?

Once I mastered reading, I started writing.

How did you get started? Tell us about your journey to publishing.

I had my fair share of rejections. I’d get down and I’d tell my rational self to give it up, but I couldn’t quit. I’d roam the net stalking author websites and reading books on writing and working on books until Karen Fuller sent me an email that said, “I’d like to offer you a contract.”

Tell us about your book(s). What inspired you to write it/them?

I write women’s literature (which I consider old school romance without the melting heat and the addition of a few sub plots.) I don’t know what the inspiration would be in a nutshell…a song, a picture, a phrase…anything can spark an idea.

What inspires you to write? Do you have a particular song or mood that carries you through?

Not really. It’s more like a dedication. Some days I don’t have a lick of motivation or talent, so I force myself to write crap. But crap makes good fertilizer, so it’s good to throw some around every now and then.

Who is your favorite character and why?

Melanie Wilkes from “Gone with the Wind”. She is like the ultimate human being. I’d like to be that sweet, but I have a rotten side that can’t be controlled. Sigh.

What made you decide to write a book?

It was cheaper than therapy.

Who are the writers that inspire you the most?

All writers inspire me. I read good stuff and think, wow, I want to do that…I should try harder. And I read bad stuff and think, wow, I don’t want to look stupid… I should try harder!

Where do you get your inspiration?

God. I pray before I start my writing day. A cup of joe, a boost of spirit, and I’m ready to go!

Childhood Memories

Which cereal do you remember requesting the most?

Fruit Loops! But there were five of us, so we were lucky to get Cheerios. Mostly we got oatmeal.

What is your favorite childhood cartoon character and why?

Holly Hobbie. Not sure if that counts…she wasn’t on TV. But I would get the paper dolls and the books.

Favorite super hero?

Wonder Woman. LOVED her. Strike that…LOVE her!

What is the first movie that you saw in a movie theatre?

I think it was “Rocky”. I had teenage sisters and they had more voting power than I did.

Favorite TV show from younger years?

“Wonder Woman” and “The Hulk”. And I remember watching “60 Minutes” on my dad’s lap. It was on at the same time as “Disney”…but I preferred the news…Disney gave me nightmares.

In your Easter Eggs did you prefer candy or money? Or were yours hard boiled?

Hard bolied…but there was always candy in the basket!

Did you have a childhood pet?

My dog, Whiskey. He followed me everywhere. He’d walk to school with me, wait under a pine tree, and then walk me home. Ah, good-old pre-leash laws days…

Tell us about your favorite teacher.

Wow. How to pick one. I was such a lucky girl. I had great teachers at almost every grade. I can’t just pick one. Ooh..I’ll pick my husband! He was a teacher. 😉

 

Just for fun

Are you a night owl or early bird? What time of the day works best for your muse?

Night owl, but any hour is fine…as long as the house is quiet.

If you were an animal what would you be and why?

I’d be a cat. They have a ton of style and no master!

Favorites: color, food, season, music, movies, books.

Pink, chocolate, summer, rock, comedy, chick lit.

Links where you can be found?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Seckman-Author/361427683923220

http://eseckman.blogspot.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5806570.Elizabeth_Seckman

 

Healing Summer by Elizabeth Seckman was a joy to read. I loved that the characters had a definite personality right from the beginning. Molly Hinkle is left at the altar, by a real creep I might add, and goes on a road trip with her best girls, well one of them at least. While out on her road trip she is set up with Craig Coulter, a playboy known for his lack of committed relationships, which is great for Molly because the last thing she wants is a new relationship. I love seeing Molly let go of all the things that are holding her back, and definitely relate to her lack of enthusiasm for returning back to her teaching job.

I really would like to applaud Ms. Seckman on her ability to make her characters so real. The characters come alive so easily for any reader and are not to prim and proper to relate to. I also like the fact that there is an interracial relationship in the story as well. This is not a cookie cutter romance, even though the happily ever after was still included.

I read this book in a day and a half. It was a fast read and very entertaining. I would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary romance novels.

Bravo, Elizabeth! Bravo! I can’t wait to go back and read the first book. I know I am going to love it!

Wow! What a month! I have revised my newest work in project–Land of the Shadows–for the second time. I am hopeful that my betas will love the changes. I can’t wait to send it in to my publisher once it has been polished this last time. This book truly has so much of me in it, that I feel like I am opening up a wound for the world, but sometimes the best written things are the ones that come from the heart, so I am willing to take the chance. The people who are nearest and dearest to me might find themselves hidden between the pages too. I can’t say that the other two books–In Flames and In Rapture–were even loosely based on people I know. Those characters, they lived and breathed without any assistance. (Speaking of In Flames, it’s free Monday and Tuesday this week on kindle. Make sure you download your copy, if you haven’t already had the chance.)

I feel like I have accomplished a lot this month, so I’m very proud of what I’ve done. I’m inspired by the warmer weather heading our way and since it is poetry month, I am leaving you with a poem I wrote in High School. It’s short and sweet.

Lions and Lambs

by Elissa Daye

In like a lion, out like a lamb,

The whipping winds, freezing hands.

Noses, ears, and cheeks now red.

The tyrant winds, wounding heads.

But, soon the wind will calm,

With no more blood-shot, freezing palms.

And in the days that now will follow,

This lion’s hate a lamb will swallow.

A joyful sun in times of laughter.

That peaceful lamb, Spring comes after.

Have a great week all!

Hi everyone! I thought I would spend some time in between book reviews and interviews to share some of me with you. I am also considering this month as childhood memory month. So here we go.

When I was in second grade I remember having to write to 5,000 by hand. When we completed this task, we got to choose a prize from the treasure chest. I chose a miniature notebook which I filled up with my first poetry. I wish I could share all of those with you, but when I moved away I gifted it to a friend to remember me by. I do remember one refrain.

The little chick lay,

Fast asleep in the hay.

I know, real prolific right? If you like this one, you’re going to love the next one that I wrote when I was in the 6th grade. I memorized this one.

The Black Horse

The black horse galloped so gracefully,

Like a young foal.

He remembers back in olden days,

When he was a foal.

When cowboys try to capture him,

He runs full speed ahead,

Just like Satin his mother,

Who is claimed to be dead.

Knowing how his mother was,

Keeps him running wild.

He remembers back in olden days,

When he was a child.

His mother meant the world to him,

Especially when he was foal.

The emptiness within his heart,

Will forever be a big blank hole.

Outstanding right? A good chuckle at the very least. I did not figure out until High School that every line or every other line did NOT have to rhyme. Perhaps later I will dig around and find some of that writing. The last time I wrote a poem was college, so I am trying to show a progression of my writing for you.

 

Interview on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 

What is one book everyone should read?

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  I cried so much!!! I can’t imagine writing this book knowing you will never see your family again. As my kids grow up, I would urge them to read this book.

If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I would love to be able to fly. I could fly to Paris for lunch…hehe!!!
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Crossroads is about love and friendship know no boundaries.
What inspired you to want to become a writer?

I was never inspired to become a writer. Writing Crossroads was a way for me to heal the death of my grandmother. Stephenie Meyer has also inspired me as well. Twilight was based on her dreams and I based my story on my dreams.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

I’ve meet so many wonderful people around the world. Many of them have become my friends. Friendship knows no boundaries for sure.
What is your dream cast for your book?

Claudia-Nina Debrov

Michael-Ben Barnes

Davin-Channing Tatum

Vivian-Megan Fox

Caleb-Chase Crawford

Patty-Amanda Seyfried

Philip-Orlando Bloom

Agnes-Courtney Cox

Margaret-Angelina Jolie

Gamma-Susan Sarandon

Aden-Huge Jackman
What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? 

I loved reading Judy Blume and V.C. Andrew series.
What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Write all your thoughts down. Ask your friends to read your draft. And most importantly, believe that you can!!!
What is your favorite Quote?

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.  Maya Angelou

Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

Though I don’t like to admit it, Claudia is just like me.  Her experiences are my personal experiences…first car, first job, first time camping, but too bad there was so Michael when I was in high school…lol!!!

Hidden talent?

I oil paint. I once painted the cover of New Moon. I sold it for $100 at a Twilight convention. I also make jewelries. My friends and I started a website called www.inspiredbytwilight.com  I also love to dance. I teach a dance routine every year for a talent show for my daughter’s group, the school I work at.
Favorite Candy?

Giant Chewy Sweet Tarts. I can eat one pack as I write…lol!!!
What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

Breaking Dawn
How do you react to a bad review?

I know that my book will not please all. It’s impossible!!! I think about the reasons why I wrote this book and the great reviews I got. My husband, family and my friends are proud of me. I’ve been told many times that they don’t know how I do everything that I do. I don’t either…lol!!!
You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?

A publishing company…lol!!!  I would love to help other authors publish their first book.

What do you do in your free time?

Besides spending time with my family. I enjoy shopping…hehe!!! I enjoy reading, listening to music and watching movies.

.
What’s your favorite season/weather?

Fall. I love to wear boots, scarves, and jackets
What is your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate…yum!!!  Especially with nuts.

I took on a journey not knowing how rewarding it would be for me. I’ve meet so many wonderful people from all over the world through facebook, twitter, goodreads and blog sites.  I’ve made everlasting friendship where friendship knows no boundaries.  And I have to thank my grandmother who continues to watch over me from Heaven. Thank you so much for having me!!!

1. If you could meet up & chat with one author who would it be and why?

It would have to be Stephenie Meyer because she wrote Twilight based on her dream.  Crossroads is also based on a couple of dreams I had in high school.  She was one of my inspirations to write this book.

2. How long of a process is writing a book? (you can talk about the challenges of getting a book published here if you would like 😉 lol

Ahhh!!!  I say this in a good and bad way.  First, it was so much fun writing about these characters, and many characters are based on people I know.  In some ways, Claudia is a lot like me, so her character was easy to write.  There was one time when I wiped out the last five chapters because my friend thought I could do better.  I’m glad she told me I could, but deleting those chapters brought me to tears. Then there is re-reading, re-writing and re-editing.  Let me just say that I found a new profound respect for authors.
3. Did you always want to become a writer?

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever thought about becoming a writer.  To tell you the truth, I didn’t really enjoy reading.  I read because I had to.  Not until I became a teacher did I find reading truly enjoyable.  I started writing because it was a way for me to heal from the death of my grandmother.  She is also a character in my story-Gamma J.

4. What were some of your “inspirations” for writing this novel

One of my inspirations for writing this novel was my grandmother.  Writing was a way for me to heal.  Another inspiration was my dreams I had in high school.   I can vividly recall all the details of them, which comprises chapter one and two.

5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Besides spending time with my hubby and my two children, I enjoy shopping, watching movies, oil painting and making jewelries.  I also enjoy reading young adult novels.  They help me escape the stress of everyday life.
6. Which character in Crossroads was the most fun for you to write?

It’s difficult to say because many of the characters are based on people I know.  But I can narrow it down to two characters, Claudia and Michael.  Claudia’s character is based on me and my experiences.  The first car, the first job, camping, and yes…I was very sheltered…lol!!!  Michael is also somewhat based on my husband, the protector and romantic. I especially had fun writing about them being together and the chemistry of getting to know each other, knowing that they didn’t have that much time.

7. The end of Crossroads book there is a tiny snippet into the next book, can you give us a fun little spoiler about that next book?   

Austin plays a bigger role and there are more angels on earth.  I just finished up to chapter ten.  It’s still a rough draft but here are some teasers that I have not shared with anyone yet.

“I give you my soul . . . willingly upon thee,” Claudia said reluctantly, as tears streamed down her face.  Aliah gave a deceiving smile and placed his left hand behind her back as if to give her a hug and with the other hand, drove his sword straight into her heart.

“Love doesn’t just go away that easily.  It clings to your heart.  It goes with you wherever you go, even if you don’t want it to.  Love is like the ocean.  Sometimes it’s smooth and sometimes it’s rough, but it’s constant, it never dries out,” I stated, hoping this kind of love is not what he felt for her.  I love you, not her,” he said, inching his way toward me.

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry.  Writing Crossroads was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother.  It was inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl.

Visit her website  www.marytingcrossroads.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/crossroadsbook
Twitter   @maryting

Blog   www.marytingbooks.blogspot.com/