Monday, January 31, 2022

Caves, Cannons and Crinolines~Spotlight




 In May of 1863, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford decides to enlist in the Confederate Army. Two incidents trigger her decision. First, for months General Ulysses S. Grant and his Federal troops have been shelling Vicksburg, Mississippi. To control Vicksburg is to control the Mississippi River. Now, Vicksburg is under siege, cut off from the rest of the world.

Caves, Cannons and Crinolines is the story of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford and her family's daily struggle to survive a changing way of life during the American Civil War. This is a story of fear, courage, and understanding that people, no matter where they live, have the same needs: love, peace and security.

Caves, Cannons and Crinolines by Beverly Stowe McClure is an Award-Winning Finalist in the 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Award in the category Young Adult, an Award-Winning Finalist in the Novella category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and also an Award-Winning Finalist in the category of Teen Literature Fiction in the 2011 Global eBook Awards.
  
About the Author



Most days, you'll find Beverly at her computer writing stories young voices whisper in her ear. When she's not writing, she plays the piano. Her cats don't appreciate good music and run and hide when she tickles the ivories. She's sometimes called the "bug lady." She's not telling why. 




Author Links: 
 

A Solitary Romance: Book 1 in the Only Love Series


Daydreamer Katrina Crimshaw just met the man of her dreams, again. A chance encounter with Robert LaSalla, the co-worker she admired from afar years before, brings the past alive for the shy auditor. Will she be able to juggle her secret life with her career and changing work situation?

Katrina leads a comfortable life with a loving family and close work relationships. She finds an outlet for her creative side by blogging about her passion for jewelry under a pseudo name. There's no room for romance in her life until she runs into Robert LaSalla, the man who caught her eye when she was just out of college and still stinging from a broken engagement. Although she hasn't seen him in years, he still intimidates her and sets her heart pounding. As unexpected opportunities arise from her blog, she finds herself drawn to a charming British museum director, while unforeseen circumstances throw Robert back in her path and upset her well-ordered life. When passion flares, will she let love slip through her fingers again? A Solitary Romance is a clean romance that will set readers’ pulses racing. 

Violet Sparks 
pulls from her career in corporate America, her time at a major auction house, and her love of all things girly when penning her romance novels. She won writing contests as a teen and always dreamed of becoming an author. A fan of the arts, Violet created one-of-a-kind gift items, sold in shops throughout Southern California, before raising a family. She met and married the man of her dreams and they now have two young children. Violet has a zeal for vintage costume jewelry, literature, museums, and travel. She writes a blog about her other passions under a pen name.

Links


Follow Violet on Twitter at @VioletSparks20

Sunday, January 30, 2022

I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes

Sabrina Kerrigan is a sassy, independent woman whose fiancĂ© ditched her a week before they were to be married. Since then, she gives all her attention to a backyard filled with flowers and a spindly grape arbor. Her meddling twin, Lilith, thinks Sabrina’s had enough time to grieve the relationship that wasn’t meant to be. Lil registers her to be one of twenty-one bachelorettes who will vie for one guy’s heart in an event called Pick Me. Sabrina is furious at Lil for immersing her in what is sure to be three weeks of nonstop chaos. The only reason she agreed to take part is because the entry fee goes to charity. The minute Sabrina arrives at the hotel a case of mistaken identity sets the chaos in motion.

Millionaire winery owner, Beau Reinholt has had the worst luck with women. He seems to pick those interested in his money not him. His best friend, Marco Santaguida, the director for Pick Me, cons Beau into being this year’s bachelor. Beau agrees on one condition - the women aren’t to know his true identity until he either falls in love or finds extreme-like with one of the candidates. Everything goes smoothly until he meets Sabrina Kerrigan. She ticks him off right away. She also turns him on. The more Beau tries to focus on the twenty other women the more he’s drawn to the one who says she doesn’t want any part of him.

Can two wounded people tune out the noise going on around them to listen to their hearts? 

 

 

About Jan Romes

Jan Romes grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she's also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandma.

Jan writes contemporary romance and women's fiction with sharp, witty characters who give as good as they get. The more she writes the more risks she's willing to take with her characters.

When she's not writing, you can find Jan with her nose buried in a book or engaged in some sort of activity to stay fit. She loves spending time with family and friends. A hopeless romantic, she enjoys sunsets, sappy movies, and sitting around a campfire. Though she doesn't claim to have a green thumb, she takes pride in growing all kinds of flowers and plants.

Jan's passionate about everything that involves the written word. She loves to connect with readers. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, at writer's conferences and book signings. If you love books as much as she does, she'd love to hear from you.

If you'd like to stay current on her most recent works-of-heart, click the  links below.

Twitter: @JanRomes

 

Sharela's Diary: A Christian's Everyday Life

Sharela is a young Christian and Blogger from Germany. In this book, she talks about her life, honestly and openly: about living your faith, searching for God and loving your neighbor. Using a pen name she shares her life without exposing her friends and family. This book combines amusing anecdotes from her every-day life with thoughts about God and the world and her most popular blog posts from the past four years. Feel welcomed by your next-door Christian!

 

 


Sharela Koch is a Christian indie author. In her books and on social media (Twitter, Facebook) she shares anecdotes of her everyday life and thoughts about her faith. She also writes fiction and adventure novels. She is married and lives with her family in Germany. When she's not writing, you can find her doing sports or baking in the kitchen.

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M3T4LNB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o06?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Twitter: @sharelakoch

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011464883543

Saturday, January 29, 2022

Sarah's Song

5 STAR review:
Beautifully written. It touches the heart, and stirs emotions.
It’s the 1940’s in rural East Tennessee, Appalachian country. For most everyone there is only work, and possibly church, if there’s one nearby. People rise before the sun is up, work hard, go to bed early, and rest in church on Sunday. Little chance for much else to happen. Right?
So, why would keeping one little secret for over sixteen years be so important? What could possibly have happened that could change the lives of so many people, if the secret were to be revealed?
There are only three people alive that know the answer to that question. For now. 

About Vicky Whedbee

Vicky Whedbee was born and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she resided until her 40's when she relocated to San Mateo, Florida, where she currently resides with her husband. An avid reader, she wrote her first novel over a period of years as a labor of love and fulfillment of a life long dream that began with the encouragement of her Engish teacher in high school.

With a diagnosis of cancer for her dad, she decided to become an independent author and published her novel on her own in order to present a finished product to her father before his demise. She was in the process of reading said novel, "Things He Hadn't Told Her", to him at the time of his passing.

She wrote her second novel "Sarah's Song", which was a collaboration with her father set in the time of his childhood in the rural Appalachian mountains, with notes taken prior to his demise. Both books have been met with stellar 5-STAR reviews on Amazon & Goodreads, as well as awarded the 5-star review seal from Reader's Favorite.

After numerous requests, she wrote a sequel to Sarah's Song, titled Sarah's Home, which could also be read as a stand-alone. It, too, is being received with love and 5-STAR reviews.

She is currently working on her next novel.

Visit & contact her through her website: https://crwvao.wixsite.com/vickywhedbee

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072BMPSYR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o05?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Twitter: @vicky_whedbee 

 

Murder Dog (Zombie Dog Series Book 5)


 

Friday, January 28, 2022

Voices in the Wind: Christian Fantasy


A Christian fantasy for every member of the family.
Two accusations of murder against her, a lack of belief in God and a loveless marriage cause Rhoda to label herself as “unlucky,” so when she hears voices in the wind, she follows them.
Rhoda finds herself in a land that exceeds all her dreams and expectations, as do the two men vying for her love—rain man Tal and sun man Victor. She could have it all, but Treasury is God’s secret holding place for rain and wind. Rhoda must prove herself worthy to the Protectors who guard Treasury.
To prove her worthiness, Rhoda must ascend dangerous Verboten Mountain to bring back a jar of dry dirt. Verboten is as forbidden as its name and to succeed in her quest, Rhoda faces warlike cave men, dinosaur birds, enormous serpents and an army of Great Dane-sized Bullet Train Ants.
Even deadlier, Rhoda faces the truth about her past and the age old question: is God real?

About Stephanie Parker McKean

Stephanie Parker McKean Biography

I've survived mauling by an African lion.
I've survived being bitten by a water moccasin snake.
I've emerged victorious from having been sexually abused as a child. Fleeing that abuse, I lived under a bridge. Now instead of living under a bridge, I use them as titles for my Texas Miz Mike "Bridge" series, humorous mystery-romance-suspense novels.
I've learned that what doesn't make you bitter makes you better. You really can't make lemonade without lemons.
And thank God, I've made the transition from atheist to Christian. My two favorite Bible verses are: in everything give thanks; and all things work together to good for those who love the LORD.
I used to think that the worst day in my life was the day I lost my job; my mother died and I couldn't attend her funeral because my husband was sent home from the hospital to die; our sheepdog died, and my truck caught on fire in downtown San Antonio. Several years later, I learned what a really bad day is. My son, USMC Major Luke Parker died in a plane crash on November 17, 2013. It doesn't get worse than that. "Bridge Beyond Betrayal" is dedicated to Luke.
I'm now married to wonderful Alan McKean, author of historic time travel books. He retired as a Church of Scotland minister after 35 years in the pulpit and we moved to Dunoon, Scotland. But I bet you want to hear more about the lion.
First, I was born in Texas, which was at that time the biggest state in the U.S. I learned at an early age that everything in Texas is bigger and better. When Alaska became a state, I cried. But what about the lion?
Along with an innate pride for Texas, I was born with a love for animals. When I was five, my first pet was a grasshopper that I carried around on a silver spoon. When I accidentally dropped spoon and grasshopper down the radiator in an upstairs apartment building, I sobbed. My mother sobbed too. The spoon had been a wedding gift.
History repeated itself when my five-year-old son's pet grasshopper was consumed by a small spider. Luke sobbed inconsolably. That experience inspired me to write what is my newest book at the moment, "I'm the Grasshopper." But back to the lion.
My love for animals led to the snake bite. Because I was an unpopular child, I made pets out of snakes. Other girls were afraid of them. Riding a bicycle with a snake around my neck made boys notice me. (They thought I was crazy.) The day after I appeared on a local television show explaining how to tell a poisonous snake from a harmless snake, I was bitten by a cotton mouth. Now, finally--the lion!
Ebenezer arrived in the back of a station wagon to join our family's roadside zoo, a collection of animals that included opossums, raccoons, assorted harmless snakes, a fox, a large boa constrictor, monkeys, a skunk, and a jaguarundi. The 200-pound pet fit right in with our family, until he reached 400 pounds and became a lion.
Sadly, when I became mature enough to quit riding bicycles with snakes in my quixotic attempt to impress boys, I remained immature enough to use a gimmick like an African lion. I invited a fellow college student home to see Eb. Not realizing that Eb had transformed from pet to lion, I walked up to him. Eb grabbed me by the stomach, threw me to the ground, and mauled me. My terrified college friend jerked me out of the cage--which made Eb bite even harder because he was about to lose his toy. "I hope I did that right," Ed panted. "I've never had to rescue anyone from a lion before!" I never saw Ed again.
And now you know about the lion. And when you read the Texas Miz Mike Christian mystery-romance-suspense novels set in Three Prongs, Texas, where the misfits fit, you'll know more about Texas.
And hopefully, you'll learn how to make lemonade out of lemons. Because what doesn't make you bitter makes you better. With God's help, all you need to add is a little prayer, a little praise...a little sugar.
Links
Twitter: @StephaniePMcKea

The Secret of the Great Red Spot: The Jupiter Chronicles - Book 1

The family adventure of a lifetime begins!

Book One of the Epic Steampunk Series, "The Jupiter Chronicles"

It is the year 1892 and Ian and Callie Castillo have had to suffer the hardships of a single parent family since their father went missing five years ago. Since then Ian has refused to use the last gift that his father left the wounded boy; a telescope that sits collecting dust in the attic.

When Callie decides to peer through its murky lens it activates the device and sends the Castillos to the steam-powered floating cities of Jupiter where they discover the secret behind their father's disappearance. But can they uncover the secret behind the Red Spot and save the Jovians before the Martians launch their attack?
About Leonardo Ramirez
Leonardo Ramirez is an American science fiction and fantasy author of Puerto Rican descent. He is also a screenwriter, singer and a martial artist with a 4th degree black belt in Karate and a brown belt in American Bushido Kenjutsu which is the study of the katana (samurai sword).

From his humble beginnings in Bronx, New York, he's bootstrapped his way into the hearts of science fiction/fantasy readers--young and old alike. As a husband and father, his family is his first joy. As a child, he's lived through the hardships of extreme poverty and homelessness in a single-parent home. But these have only brought him to recognize the strength of family and the faith in God that keeps them bound together in love.

This is truly a man who understands that life is for the living and he helps every one of his readers live life to the fullest through the wonderful adventures of his written worda! He also has a soft spot in his heart for people who are hurting. These can be kids who have had to grow up in a single-parent family as was the case in the popular steampunk kids' series, THE JUPITER CHRONICLES. It can also be young girls who have suffered an assault like Haven did in HAVEN OF DANTE. Those are the kids and adults he wants to speak to share his message of hope.

Leonardo Ramirez lives with his wife Kristen, their daughter Mackenzy and their two dogs, Duchess and Tinkerbell in a small suburb of Nashville, Tennessee.

Links:
Twitter: @leonardoverse

 

Thursday, January 27, 2022

The Marshal's Mission

 

A US Marshal, a Felonious Suspect, and his lovely daughter: can love blossom for Glenna and Spence?

Glenna McKay finds herself falling for a handsome, gentleman drifter. The attraction is mutual, but Spence, on a secret mission for the U.S. Marshals, needs to keep his distance from the lovely Glenna—who might be involved in the criminal case he’s trying to solve. Glenna gets herself in danger by finding evidence that someone would kill to have. Can Spence keep her safe? Can he also keep himself safe from falling in love with her?

 


About Barbara Goss

Amazon best-selling author, Barbara Goss, is married and lives in Western New York and to date has written 50 Christian/Clean Romance books, mostly westerns. She enjoys crossword puzzles, reading, swimming, and her feline writing helper, Molly, but not necessarily in that order. She writes exciting stories with a bit of God's word spread within, without dominating the story.

Barbara began writing in 1988 and her first book, Forbidden Legacy, won first prize for fiction at a Christian Writers Convention in Titusville, Florida in 1989. This won her a book contract with Publishers: Fleming Revell and later Baker Books. She wrote four books for them under contract. She then took a few years off to work full time as a secretary to the county hospital and the local school system.

Barbara's greatest influence in writing is the 100 books written by Grace Livingston Hill. As a Christian writer, Barbara weaves some godliness into the romance and adventure yet her books are always clean. Barbara is well on her way to catching up with Ms. Livingston.

She is now turning her wonderful Ebooks into Audiobooks. Look for them on Amazon and Audible.

My website: http://www.barbaragossbooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraGossBooks?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: @Barbee44

 

Cause And Effect: Vice Plagues The City (Kind Hearts And Martinets Book 1)


A self-labeled enigma, Detective Inspector Jack Austin is at once miserable and amusing, melancholy and motivated. Running the Community Police Unit from his deck chair, D.I. Austin is known for his ability to solve crimes out of the blue.

Trying to work cases while struggling with his mental issues, Austin deals with a variety of major crimes, including bicycle theft. But when the case of an executed police officer lands on his desk, he accidentally uncovers a malevolent scheme.

Can he discover who is behind it all - and keep what's left of his sanity?


About Pete Adams

Pete Adams is an architect living in Portsmouth, UK, where he sets his books. With a writing style shaped by his East-End of London family, Pete's Kind Hearts and Martinets mini-series of 5 books have been likened to the writing of Tom Sharpe; crime thrillers that make you laugh, with a dash of social commentary. "Made me laugh, cry and think". Pete's currently writing book 10 - so, lots to come. He has a Facebook page for his books and where he also reviews books 
Links 
Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2xh49j9e
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Peteadamsauthor/?ref=bookmarks 
Twitter: @Peteadams8

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

Us vs. the Rest of the World

Thirteen-year-old Maddie knows about loss. Still coping with the death of her father, her world starts to go horribly wrong in more ways than she could have imagined. The adults who have always defined her are acting strange and then… are simply not there at all.

Now living with her older sister and a small group of friends, they must work together to find depths of resilience as their community battle to survive. There must be an answer to the chaos that is erupting around them – it is just a matter of finding it.
About Julia Cowan

Julia Cowan lives in Bedfordshire with her husband, two children and two cats. She works as a Teaching Assistant in a small school and loves supporting the children and sharing her love of writing. When she is not at her laptop, she enjoys learning the piano and going to the theatre. Cells is her debut novel which was published in March 2020.

Us vs The Rest of the World is her second novel and published January 2021.

Julia is now working on her third book whilst also writing short stories. 
Links
Twitter: @juliacowan74
 

 

Monday, January 24, 2022

Coronavirus a short fantasy story: All you need is her

Disease has created a new virus, one so infectious and lethal that will make his master Death to be proud of him. Such a masterful work that will even overshadow the actions of two of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, War and Famine.

Is this the end for the world? maybe, it all depends on her. But who is she? and why hasn't she showed up yet?

A short motivational fantasy story about Coronavirus.

 About I.M. Redwright

Remember the last time you said "wow" while watching a movie? I.M. Redwright decided that he wanted to make readers feel that way when they read his books. So he started writing gripping action-driven stories that both adults and teenagers would enjoy.

Yes, his fantasy books are for teenagers and adults, and boys and girls indistinctly, because he wants everyone to be part of the fun.

He likes his books to have a powerful message, specially focusing on motivating his readers, The Sword's Choice is the perfect example of that. Read this fantasy book series and you will never give up again. 
Links
Twitter: @wottaread

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Interview with Larry Landgraf, author of The Adventures of Ollie Orangutan

 In the beginning, all animals were born wild and free. Ollie, however, was born in a cage and has spent his entire life in a zoo. Everything he knew, he learned from his mother and through the bars of his confinement. His life was totally dependent upon humans. He always had plenty to eat and it was fun watching the humans who visited daily, especially the little ones. Life was comfortable and Ollie grew up soft.
But as fate would have it, that is all going to change. Ollie is thrown into a completely new environment of which he knows nothing. Ollie will have to learn new things in order to survive without the help of humans. He will make new friends, but the real world is wild. He will also find those who would hurt him. Can he toughen up and make a new life for himself?

About Larry Landgraf

Larry Landgraf was born and raised on the Guadalupe River Delta on the Texas Gulf Coast.
 They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That being said, I have created two video slide shows set to music. They are "Who Am I?" and "Life in My Swamp". They are in the videos (positions #1 and #2) in the slideshow to the right. Know me first and you'll know why I write what I write. Thank you.

Interview with Larry

How difficult was it writing this book?


The stories I write always flow like water. That voice (muse) has been with me for six years. I would never tell him to go away. He's been a great friend and writing partner. I wrote a poem about him called "A Voice in My Head". I'll read it to you if you'd like.

 

Did you ever experience writer’s block and, if so, what did you do to overcome?


I've never had writer's block. I've lived long enough and extreme enough that I have a million stories. I'll never tell them all. I think caffeine (iced tea, soda, etc.) keeps my muse happy.

 

How long did it take you to write The Adventures of Ollie Orangutan?

 

I think I finished the first draft in about a month. It took another two months to polish, get it edited, re-written, and proofed. It didn't seem like a long process as with some of my really long novels.

 

Who is your publisher and how did you find them or did you self-publish?

 

I'm considered self-published but I go through Fresh Ink Group to get everything done right. They are a group of authors who write and help others get everything finished properly.

 

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

 

Drink more caffeine and don't worry about waking up in the middle of the night. Keep a pen and pad next to your bed but if the story that comes to you late at night sounds like something others would be interested in, do get up and crank up the computer. Also, live a great life... have adventures, work hard, and generate those stories. When you finish the story, re-write. Then edit, edit, edit, at least one by a professional, and a final outside proofreader

  The Kalico Kids are puppets created for use in Junior church classes. Scripts and stories, teach Biblical principles through imagined sc...