Tailwinds Past Florence by Doug Walsh - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Doug Walsh will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

After getting blacklisted from the venture capital industry, twenty-nine-year-old Edward Vaughan will do anything to avoid telling his wife what happened. Even if it means agreeing to her dream of bicycling around the world. Kara, tired of being married to a workaholic, was readying for a divorce. Now, she’s packing bags of a different kind. Together, they pedal away from Seattle, headed east on the open road across America, Europe, and beyond.

Theirs is a decision that reverberates across centuries, shattering a continuum that bound their souls throughout time, and traps Edward in a battle with a past life over an eternal love.

As the miles roll by, and the couple's sordid secrets begin to surface, the couple encounters several men plucked from history, each one a vessel of Edward’s soul in a prior life. Of them, a 19th century art dealer proves dangerous, believing Kara is his ticket back to the past.

Tailwinds Past Florence is a contemporary love story with a magical twist, landing readers in the saddle of a global bicycle adventure.

Read an Excerpt:

Kara clutched her chest as her breathing returned to normal. It was one thing not to know why he wasn’t at work, it was another for him to be hiding behind the door. What the hell, Edward. She bent to pick up her dropped keys. “You’re home.” It came out more statement than question.

“Long story. Why didn’t you cover your eyes?”

She raised her hands in answer. They held a gym bag, purse, keys, and an envelope she’d somehow forgotten about in the commotion. “You didn’t give me any time,” she said. Then, noticing the map—her map—and the champagne, asked, “What’s all this?”

“This,” he said, grinning like a schoolboy about to receive his first kiss, “is a change of plans.”

Her mouth fell open as she processed what she was hearing. Kara spent months asking him to take time off, hoping he’d see how important the trip was to her, practically begging. She tore the map down after the holidays, after diplomatic overtures had failed. She’d been holding a bomb ever since, delaying the inevitable. Now, with her self-imposed deadline having come and gone, he wanted to do it.

Today? You’ve got to be kidding me, she thought, clutching the envelope, dumbstruck.

“I thought you’d be excited.” His smile drooped.

“I … I am,” she stammered. “I think. You have to admit, it’s a lot to swallow.”

“You still want to go, right?”

Did she? It’d be an incredible adventure, a badge she’d wear the rest of her life. But, to Kara, cycling around the world was a means to an end. Her gaze drifted to the map, the promise held within its Sharpie itinerary. The promise of change, of resurrecting the man she married, her best friend and lover. For three years, it’d be just the two of them, reforging their bond against the anvil of the open road. And if her plan didn’t succeed, if he returned to his workaholic ways when it was over, she’d at least know she tried.

About the Author:

Doug Walsh made his fiction debut with Tailwinds Past Florence, a road-tripping love story with a magical twist, inspired by the two years he spent cycling the world. The novel was a prizewinner in the PNWA Literary Contest. He's also authored One Lousy Pirate, a travel memoir, and over one hundred officially-licensed video game strategy guides. Travel guides to fictitious places, as he likes to call them. Originally from New Jersey, he now lives and plays in the mountains of western Washington.

Web/Social Links

Web: http://www.dougwalsh.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DougWalsh.Author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/doug_walsh75

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougwalshwrites/

Purchase Links

Tailwinds Past Florence is available at the following locations:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JNKK79N

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tailwinds-past-florence-doug-walsh/1129769707

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tailwinds-past-florence-1

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Buzz: The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing by Roseanne Cheng and Dara Beevas - Book Blast and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a 30 minute book marketing consultation to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Congratulations, indie author!

You’ve finished your book—now all that’s left is to get it out into the world. Unfortunately, for many authors, it’s that step of the process that’s the hardest. Marketing is seen as something to be feared, dreaded, and outsourced as much as possible—a daunting task that will leave you drained.

But fear not! The team at Wise Ink knows a thing or two about how to sell your book. And they’re here to tell you everything.

Buzz is the indie author’s ultimate guide to marketing effectively, inexpensively, and excitingly. Within its pages, you’ll find answers to the questions on every writer’s mind:

• What does it really mean to “market” my book?

• How do I best reach my specific audience?

• What are effective ways to promote my book via social media?

• Do I really need to be a public speaker?

In addition to this, the Wise Ink marketing team has provided sample content calendars, email promotions, a marketing starter kit, and more to ensure you’re prepared to get out there and sell your book.

Marketing doesn’t have to be a horror story! Let Buzz teach you how to take your book to its maximum potential.

Read an Excerpt:

How do I best reach my specific audience?

You will hear us say this over and over again, as it is one of the Ten Commandments of book publishing: Know thine audience!

Think carefully about your “ideal” reader. What do they do in their spare time? Where do they normally purchase things? Where do they go for information? And most importantly, what are some unique and organic ways to get your book and message in front of them?

Hopefully, by the time you begin marketing your book, you will have already thought through these things carefully. Still, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory. Also, be concrete in how you determine your market demographics. Go deeper than the standard questions around gender, age, education, and geographic location. Those are just places to start.

When describing your ideal reader, be specific with the details that matter, such as how much time they have to read, how they might use your book day-to-day, and how they generally make recommendations to others. Another thing to do is segment your readers into three specialized subgroups—communities that align with each reader’s professional identities and personal aspirations. This helps you dig even deeper into the psychology of how to sell your book smartly and where it makes the most sense to spend your time. As an example: To market your business book, you might segment your readers into millennials and recent grads, aspiring entrepreneurs, and motivational speakers. If you've just published a sci-fi thriller, your subgroups might include fans of the popular sci-fi series Black Mirror, sci-fi writers who frequent fan-fiction sites, and people who attend conventions like WorldCon.

How does your ideal reader obtain information? Blogs? Magazines? Newspapers? Ads? What social media sites do they frequent? Be as specific as you can here. These are the places you will want to target in terms of marketing.

Where does your ideal reader shop? Think beyond bookstores. Are they frequent travelers? (Maybe they shop in airports a lot.) Do they have stores they tend to gravitate toward? Make a list of these places, and find connections there to share your book with.

About the Authors: Roseanne Cheng is a former high school English teacher and author of two young adult books, The Take Back of Lincoln Junior High and Edge the Bare Garden, which won the gold medal for young adult fiction at the Writer’s Digest Self Published Book Awards and the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. She now works as Marketing Director at Wise Ink Creative Publishing where she holds the secondary title of “Author Therapist” and has the pleasure of helping authors create plans to get their work into the world. When she’s not reading a book or practicing yoga, you can probably find her hanging out with her hilarious husband of ten years and their two ridiculously awesome kids. Follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/teachablelit.

Dara Beevas believes that books can save lives, open doors, and build bridges. As co-founder of Wise Ink, she encourages authors to share powerful stories that ignite change, tolerance, and growth. She has been involved in the publishing community for fifteen years, acquiring manuscripts, managing projects, and creating marketing and sales strategies for authors and publishers. She’s helped more than four hundred authors publish their books. She is the author of The Indie Author Revolution and co-author of Social Media Secrets for Authors. When she’s not busy pushing the envelope in this crazy world of publishing and networking with inspiring entrepreneurs, she’s traveling and enjoying her husband Tomme’s delicious Jamaican meals with her daughter Genesis.

Follow her on http://www.twitter.com/darairene or http://www.instagram.com/darairene.

Website: http://www.wiseink.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WiseInkPub

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wiseink

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/wise_ink

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/wiseink/pins/

Buy Link: https://wiseink.com/store/buzz-the-ultimate-guide-to-book-marketing

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D’zia’s Dilemma by Keri Kruspe - Book Blast and Giveaway

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

Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Princess Bride.

The second book in the trilogy, D’zia’s Dilemma features a disembodied galactic gangster, a snarky spybot, and a sentient, lovesick spaceship. If you like non-stop action, powerful emotions, and sensual aliens, you’ll love the next installment of An Alien Exchange.

A woman betrayed. An alien duke faced with an impossible decision. Can two lovers who long to be together overcome those determined to keep them apart?

Lora Dharma Callahan excitedly agrees to leave Earth to attend “The Exchange” and meet the alien mate of her dreams. Instead of finding true love, she’s forcibly kidnapped and held captive by an alien lunatic who plans to take over the galaxy. He’s going to use her to create a serum that will ultimately enslave every human female on Earth. But no emperor wannabe is going to keep this girl down. Lora will find a way to save not only herself, but her planet as well.

Duke D’zia Yaq E’etu, cousin to the crown prince of Zerin, suspects a malicious plot to overthrow the galactic government. When the opportunity arises to insinuate himself in the suspected traitor’s stronghold, he doesn’t hesitate to use his infiltration skills. While there, he encounters Lora, whom he soon recognizes as his TrueBond. The only problem…she’s imprisoned and scheduled for experiments that will destroy her.

Now D’zia has a hard choice to make. Should he stay and get the proof he needs to prevent a narcissistic megalomaniac from taking over the galactic government…or escape with the only female he can claim as his own?

Read an Excerpt

She didn’t remember falling. One minute she’d been in the middle of hundreds of bodies, and the next…she was…here.

“Here” was a damp, cobbled floor. The uneven rocks painfully dug into her head, back, and bottom. With a wobbly, shaky breath, she coughed at the moldy smell of rotten eggs. Her tongue was thick and dry as she shivered in the damp air.

Oh, ick! Even her tunic and leggings stuck to her skin.

Okay, time to sit up. After a few pathetic tries, she finally levered her body into an upright position and panted, completely exhausted. Now for the next problem…she couldn’t see anything. It was so black it was hard to tell if her eyes were open. At least nothing hurt, except for her head. Yay for small favors.

She tilted her head at a distant, stomping sound. What was that? Her stomach dropped. Was someone coming?

The blackness eased into a murky gray. Wait, was it getting lighter? She blinked, waiting for her eyes to adjust. The dimness morphed into simple gray as a dull light filtered through the small door window. As the image of her surroundings became clear, she shivered and shut her eyes. Like that was going to help. There was no way to unsee she was in a tiny prison, complete with rock walls slathered in dirt and green slime.

It looked like “Dungeons-R-Us” had a sale and she was the lucky recipient.

About the Author:

“Author of otherworldly romantic adventures”

Keri Kruspe has been an author since the age of twelve and has always been fascinated with otherworldly stories that end in Happily Ever After. Her current works, An Alien Exchange trilogy had its first release Winter 2018. The trilogy continues with D’zia’s Dilemma and concludes with Ki’s Redemption — to be released by the first quarter of 2019.

A native Nevadan, Keri resides with her family in the wilds of Northwest Michigan where she enjoys the stark change in seasons and the pleasures each one brings. An avid reader, Keri loves an enjoyable bottle of red wine, a variety of delicious foods and watching action/adventure movies…usually at the same time. You can find her most days immersed in her fantasy world on her latest novel while foot tappin’ to classic rock. When not absorbed in her writing, Keri works alongside her husband in building their dream home or discovering intelligent life in America in their RV.

Website: https://www.kerikruspe.com

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/klkruspe15

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkkruspe

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kerikruspe/

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MTGNR7D

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The Young Adult Writer's Journey by Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds & Janet Schrader-Post - Book Tour and Giveaway

Finally, an all-inclusive book on young adult fiction must-do, don’t do and how-to. If you want to write a young adult novel, you need to read this book first. Coauthored by an award-winning YA author and an acquisitions editor, both experts on kids and what they like to read, this encyclopedia contains all you need to start or improve a career as a YA fiction author.

From an examination of the market, genre and its sub-genres, to mechanics and the business, everything is at your fingertips. This amazing writer’s resource is written in a relaxed and interesting style, with plenty of contemporary references and examples for clear understanding and easier application.

Excerpt

Most writing classes for Young Adult fiction and Middle Grade tell you the duty of your book’s opening is to hook your reader and to catch the interest of an agent. The truth is, that’s only one of the purposes of your opening. Too often we forget that, as Frank Herbert said in Dune, “A beginning is a very delicate time.”

When writing for young adults, you should know where you’re going, just as when you write adult fiction. Plot construction for stories with universal themes is the same in any genre. There is a plan, a plot, a diagram you can follow to create a satisfying read. Just as with painting, every artist who uses the same subject will create a different and unique work of art. So, using a basic outline to be sure you write a story that resonates to the inner psyche of readers is not a bad idea.  

Some may argue that modern stories can’t demonstrate enough diversity when trying to fit the entire world into a single format such as The Hero’s Journey, but iconic success stories like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, the Harry Potter stories and more don’t seem to mind. They’re hardly the same stories, are they? Do they seem like boring knockoffs to you? Millions of fans and dollars later...they are still growing their fan base. Lucas even spoke of Star Wars and the incorporation of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and appeared in his Bill Moyer’s series.

Interview

What should readers expect when they pick up your book?

Elizabeth and I wrote a how to book, The Young Adult Writer’s Journey, so I think readers expect to learn something about writing young adult fiction. And we produced. This book contains more information about teens, their peer groups, high school cliques, what living in the twenty-first century is like if you’re a teenager. We include who’s reading YA, chapters on how to write great stories, we addressed the beginning, the sagging middle and the end of a good books, and we related it all to young adults. We even included marketing tips.

What is your favorite scene in the book?

This is nonfiction, so I’d say the chapter on different kinds of teenage characters is my favorite chapter.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

It doesn’t mean much to me when I’m buying a book, but this cover got 28,000 hits on a review site. The site manager said it was the most he’d ever seen. I don’t know if it was the topic or the cover, but it is a beautiful cover.

What do you think of “trailers” for books?

Tell-Tale Publishing has created trailers for every one of my books and I love them for doing that. I think they are a wonderful marketing tool. You’re on UTube and you can use it on your website and in promotional material and on social media.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I’m determined to make it to the New York Times Bestseller list.

What have been your most effective ways to connect with readers?

This is a hard question. I like to attend conferences, especially for this new book because it’s for writers and conferences is where they are. I promote on a lot of social media groups, but I have no idea if this really works. I like to visit libraries and give away books. I do some book signings. I entered some big contests and the first book of The Vagrant Chronicles, Vagrant, a Science Fiction YA, won Best Book’s Science Fiction award and New Adult award. I also won an International Best Book award for Science Fiction and an Apple award. Getting the awards has brought me more notice. I’m going to try to speak at the Romance Writers of America National conference this year. As I said, it’s tough. The market right now is brutal.

Any last words?

Young Adult and New Adult fiction are very popular right now. Our book, The Young Adult Writer’s Journey, is the best book out on writing for teens and middle school kids on the market. It’s received great reviews and so far is well-received.

Thanks...

About the Authors

Daughter of a Colonel, Janet Schrader-Post lived the military life until she got out of high school. She lived in Hawaii and worked as a polo groom for fifteen years, then moved to Florida where she became a reporter. For ten years she covered kids in high school and middle school. Kids as athletes, kids doing amazing things no matter how hard their circumstances. It impressed her, and it awed her. “How wonderful teens are. They have spirit and courage in the face of the roughest time of their lives. High school is a war zone. Between dodging bullies, school work and after school activities, teens nowadays have a lot on their plate. I wrote stories about them and I photographed them. My goal was to see every kid in their local newspaper before they graduated.”

Janet love kids and horses, and she paints and writes. Now she lives in the swampland of Florida with too many dogs and her fifteen-year-old granddaughter. She started to write young adult fiction with the help of her son, Gabe Thompson, who teaches middle school. Together they have written a number of award-winning YA novels in both science fiction and fantasy.

Elizabeth Fortin-Hinds knows kids well. She spent decades teaching teens and adults to write and improve their reading skills. As a literacy expert and certified coach, she helped both teachers from elementary to secondary and preservice graduate students learn to improve reading and writing instruction. She has taught at both the secondary and graduate level, everything from rhetoric, essays, and thesis statements, to poetry, short stories, and how to write a novel. She has learned to use both sides of her brain simultaneously, but enjoys the creative side the most, learning to play piano, draw and paint, and find time for her own writing since retiring from her “day” jobs.

A “true believer” in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, mythic structures, she uses that lens when considering manuscripts for Tell-Tale Publishing Group, a company she founded with some friends from her critique group a decade ago.

The book will be $0.99 during the tour

Wise Words Publishing, an Affiliate of Tell-Tale Publishing Group, LLC

We are a small press, a traditional publishing company bringing you the best in E-books, print and audio books to feed your body, mind and spirit.  Our cutting-edge fiction includes old favorites and edgy speculative fiction for today's eclectic readers.  Our stories will grab your attention and take you on a fast, exciting ride that will leave you breathless. WW, our affiliate, publishes select literature under our Cosmos Imprint and nonfiction titles under our Ivy Tower Imprint. www.wisewordspublshing.com

Founded in 2009, in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Our company motto of "excellence in creative entertainment and learning, " informs our artwork, manuscript selection, editing and publishing.
www.tell-talepublishing.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Young-Adult-Writers-Journey-Encyclopedia-ebook/dp/B07K3VZ2ZK

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-young-adult-writers-journey-janet-schrader-post/1129903135

Giveaway
The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Mistress of Desire & The Orchid Lover ~ The Quest! by J. A. Jackson - Book Blitz and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. J. A. Jackson will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Neither Tiara Blake or Delmar Devereaux has a past to be proud of. With a joint history packed with dishonesty, blackmail—and a juicy, torrid love affair—the pair didn’t expect their paths would cross again.

Can a quest to break an ancient curse give two former lovers a second chance?

After a torrid love affair, shady businessman Delmar Devereaux disappeared from Tiara Blake’s life, leaving her to raise their twin sons on her own. So, when he shows up unannounced one day, her first instinct is to kick him to the curb.

But Delmar has discovered a centuries-old curse placed on the pair by their ancestors—and he needs Tiara’s help to break it. Ending the curse means they will have to learn to trust each other, which won’t be easy when their explosive secrets are revealed.

Once again torn between lust and duty, can Delmar and Tiara discover the true meaning of love in order to break the curse before it’s too late? Or will their complicated past doom them forever?

Join Delmar and Tiara in Book II of the Mistress of Desire and the Orchid Lover on their sensually sizzling action-packed adventure!

Read an Excerpt:

Glenda cleared her throat. “Ladies, now that we’re all here now. Let’s begin.”

Nona put her hand boldly on her hip. “Begin what? Consuelo and I have no idea why you summoned us here, with Halloween just around the corner we all have things to do. Why are we here?”

“Didn’t I tell you? We are here because of Delmar Devereaux.”

“You called us here because of that asshole?” Nona inquired. “You have got to be kidding me. Everyone knows, Delmar carries a truckload of bullshit wherever he goes.”

Consuelo fixed Glenda with a stern look and interrupted her, pounding her with questions in rapid Spanish. “And you want us to help him? What has he done? Mother Mary, I pray, please tell me he hasn’t killed someone?”

Nona turned to Consuelo and Glenda. “If he did, I say let him rot in jail. He deserves too.”

“I righteously agree!” Consuelo added, rolling her “r’s.”

Glenda stood and glance back at Nona and Consuelo and sighed, “Ah, ya ya ya ya!” She shook her head. “Ladies you have no compassion for a fallen man. Didn’t you hear me. I said, Delmar Devereaux, has come to us for help.”

“Help?” Nona and Consuelo said in Unisom.

“Yes, Ladies, he has.”

“Well, where is he?” Consuelo asked.

“He had to leave early, but no worries. I have captured a memory of his visit with me today. We can all talk to Delmar in just a few seconds,” she said, walking over to the huge cauldron pot sitting on an open fire. The pot bubbled as steamed escaped and evaporated into the air.

Glenda D’Goodwrench, reached into her pocket and pulled out a small clear glass vial, that contained a bluish liquid.

“Ladies, please come closer,” she said softly, as she slowly opened the vial and gently poured the contents into the cauldron.

A heavy primeval smell filled the air as the bluish liquid ascended into the air and circled until a frisson… Then slowly the face of Delmar Devereaux, appeared.

“Check him out,” Nona stated.

After a moment of hesitation, Delmar spoke. “I am so sorry I had to leave early, ladies. I meant no disrespect.”

“None taken, right ladies?” Glenda asked.

Consuelo and Nona nodded their heads and muttered agreement.

About the Author:

J.A. Jackson is the pseudonym for an author, who loves to write deliciously sultry adult romantic, suspenseful, entertaining novels with a unique twist. She lives in an enchanted little house she calls home in the Northern California foothills.

She spent over ten years working in the non-profit sector where she wrote grants, press releases and contributed many stories to their newsletter. She was their Newsletter editor for over ten years. She loves growing roses, a good pot of hot tea, chocolate, magical stories, suspense stories, ghost stories, and reading Jane Austen again and again in her past time.

https://www.amazon.com/author/jajackson

http://jerreeceannjackson.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerreece-Ann-Jackson/204377496289139

https://twitter.com/jerreece

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01ISNR0B2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HR1KSHN

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The Prophetic Mayan Queen by Leonide Martin

She was born to serve the Goddess Ix Chel. But K'inuuw Mat is destined to continue the Palenque (Lakam Ha) dynasty by marriage to Tiwol, fourth son of famous ruler Pakal. Trained in prophetic arts, she uses scrying to foresee the face of the man with whom she will bear the dynastic heir—but it is not her husband's image. She is shocked upon arriving at Palenque to recognize that face as her husband's older brother, Kan Bahlam. They are immediately attracted, sharing deep interest in astronomy. Though she resists, the magnetic force of their attraction propels them into forbidden embraces, until Kan Bahlam designs a bold plan that would solve his inability to produce a son—if he can gain his brother's cooperation. 

Set in the splendor of Lakam Ha's artistic and scientific zenith, royal family conflicts and ambitions play out in a tapestry of brilliant Mayan accomplishments in calendars, astronomy, architecture, arts, and secret language codes that will astound people centuries later. As K'inuuw Mat contends with explosive emotions, she must answer the Goddess' mandate to preserve Mayan culture for future generations. Her passion with Kan Bahlam leads to a pale daughter and bold son who carry this out as their civilization begins the decline and eventual collapse her prophetic vision foresees. 

One great cycle rolls into the next . . .

Contemporary Mexican archeologist Francesca and her partner Charlie, a British linguist, venture into Chiapas jungles to a remote Maya village, seeking to unravel her grandmother's secrets. The hostile village shaman holds the key, but refuses to share with outsiders the scandal that leads to foreign blood and ancient Palenque lineages. Only by re-claiming her own shamanic heritage can Francesca learn the truth of who she is, and bring her dynasty into the present.  

Excerpt

After several rounds of dancing, Tiwol took K'inuuw Mat's hand and they returned to their mat. Her fingers entwined with his; she liked the warmth of his grasp. She felt happy and content, thinking that the Goddess' intentions were surely coming to pass. Tiwol turned to talk with two young men who stood by the mat. Still standing, K'inuuw Mat looked across the patio to watch the more vigorous dancing that had started. She patted one foot in rhythm to the music, until suddenly she caught view of the man who had just entered from the far veranda. 

Her heart did a flip-flop and began pounding, while her stomach clenched into a tight knot. Eyes wide in disbelief, she stared at the tall man slowly weaving his way between dancers. Torchlight caught his face and brought his features into sharp focus—the face she had seen in her scrying bowl.

No-nooo!  Her mind screamed silently. This could not be happening. The exact face, every feature she had so carefully memorized, of the man who would be her husband. Just when she accepted that her scrying was inaccurate, he appeared precisely as she had been shown. A wave of nausea swept over her and she clutched her stomach, dropping her gaze and collapsing onto the mat.

Interview

What should readers expect when they pick up your book?

Readers should expect to be transported back 1300 years to the lush jungles of southern Mexico and Guatemala where the ancient Mayan culture thrived. Surrounded by birdcalls and monkey chatter, moisture dripping from the dense canopy, earthy humus and tropical flower scents, they will gaze awestruck at towering pyramids and wide plazas gleaming white in the hot sun. The masters of this intense world soon appear, to astonish readers with their exotic costumes, high court protocol, advanced arts and sciences, and surprisingly familiar society. Human desires, ambitions, and foibles remain much the same, no matter the outer differences in their cities and environments. 

As readers delve into the book, they will discover fascinating characters and a compelling story. Although their names may seem odd, using the rhythm of Mayan names helps readers feel a unique vibrational quality. (A pronunciation guide is given in the end material). The main female character, K'inuuw Mat, wants to become a priestess but her destiny is to marry into the region's ruling family at Palenque and produce the dynastic heir. Her course in life seems set until she encounters a forbidden love, and realizes the duty to preserve Mayan culture for future generations rests on her shoulders. The story is full of palace intrigue, hostilities between cities, pageantry and rituals, and the tangle of relationships in the royal family. Kan Bahlam, the ruler's oldest son and K'inuuw Mat's brother-in-law, has driving ambition to rule and intense attraction to her which play out in unexpected ways. 

     

Tell us about the cover and the inspiration for it.

I love this cover—it creates a magical and soaring tone that fits perfectly with K'inuuw Mat's prophetic abilities and mandate to save Mayan culture. She is pictured on the cover, standing on a pyramid with rays of the setting summer solstice sun highlighting her face. Her hands are making a Mayan hand sign that signifies "breaking through" or transformation. The Mayas had a complex language written with hieroglyphs, augmented by hand signs. 

The inspiration for the cover is part of Palenque's history. When Kan Bahlam became ruler, he designed a complex of three pyramids called The Cross Group. Each pyramid had deep symbolism reflecting Maya cosmology, their creation myth, and his accomplishments as an incarnation of the Gods. On the largest of the three, The Temple of the Cross (Sun God's Temple), there was a stela—standing stone monument—carved with Kan Bahlam's full figure and many hieroglyphs. It was set on the upper stairs of the pyramid, where once each year the setting sun illuminated it. In my story, K'inuuw Mat acts as his muse in creating this complex. Theirs was a deep and highly creative relationship. When thinking of a cover, I envisioned her standing in the place where the stela once stood to honor him. After his death, the stela was destroyed in an enemy attack. It is the only stela ever erected at Palenque, though most other Maya cities had many. 

What have been your most effective ways to connect with readers?

I connect mostly with readers through social media. Initially my books were ebooks and using the internet was essential. Now they are also in print. I have a website devoted to my writing, and a blog where I focus on Mayan culture. My Author Facebook page features Mayan culture and my books; I also have a personal Facebook page. As a member of Goodreads, BookBub, LinkedIn, and Twitter, I find these all serve connecting with readers. You can see my author profile on Amazon, Authors DB, and other online sites. 

What kind of books did you like to read growing up?

Historical fiction was always my favorite to read while growing up. My grandfather sent me many novels over the years, made easier for a youngster through Readers Digest Condensed Books. I continue reading this genre, now in full novel form. I also like reading mysteries, especially in archeological settings. As a teen I read lots of Western and space adventures. 

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

My greatest ambition was to complete this four-book series about Mayan Queens. I started writing about ancient Mayas over 15 years ago, and had to do lots of research. This involved numerous trips to Maya ruins, and living in Yucatan, Mexico, for 5 years where I studied and apprenticed with Mayan elders. I conceived the series while living there, and started writing the first book in 2007. Now that the final book is published, I'm focusing on the book launch and marketing. After that, I've got some projects on the horizon branching in new directions. 

Do you listen to music when you're writing?

Actually, there is music playing as I write this interview! But, it's not music that I've deliberately put on—it's a classical symphony that my husband is watching through music streaming on his computer next to mine. If he isn't around, I don't put on music myself. Not that I prefer writing in silence, but that my concentration is so intense that I tune out the surrounding world.  Music, as everything else, would be lost on me when I'm writing.   

Any last words?   

Each book in the Mayan Queens (Mists of Palenque) series stands alone. You can read in any order, each is a complete story about one queen's life and world. All four of these powerful women were real historical figures in the dynasty of Palenque. In telling their stories, I've made efforts to remain true to what we know about them from the archeological record. There is a surprising amount of information about the Mayas, from over 100 years of exploration and excavation. Not much is known, however, about their personal lives, feelings, hopes, fears, and loves. This is where an author's story-telling imagination comes into play, and I've used a great deal of it. 

Thanks for visiting Edgar's Books and my blog tour. I really appreciate your taking time to read these thoughts. I hope you will read the story of K'inuuw Mat. If I'm successful in getting your interest, I'd love for you to read the entire series.

Thanks...

About the Author

Leonide (Lennie) Martin: Retired California State University professor, former Family Nurse Practitioner, Author and Maya researcher, Research Member Maya Exploration Center.

My books bring ancient Maya culture and civilization to life in stories about both actual historical Mayans and fictional characters. I've studied Maya archeology, anthropology, and history from the scientific and indigenous viewpoints. While living for five years in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, I apprenticed with Maya Elder Hunbatz Men, becoming a Solar Initiate and Maya Fire Women in the Itzá Maya tradition. I've studied with other indigenous teachers in Guatemala, including Maya Priestess-Daykeeper Aum Rak Sapper and Maya elder Tata Pedro. The ancient Mayas created the most highly advanced civilization in the Western hemisphere, and my work is dedicated to their wisdom, spirituality, scientific, and cultural accomplishments through compelling historical novels.

My interest in ancient Mayan women led to writing the Mayan Queens' series called Mists of Palenque. This 4-book series tells the stories of powerful women who shaped the destinies of their people as rulers themselves, or wives of rulers. These remarkable Mayan women are unknown to most people. Using extensive research and field study, I aspire to depict ancient Palenque authentically and make these amazing Mayan Queens accessible to a wide readership.

My writing has won awards from Writer's Digest for short fiction, and The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'nal of Palenque (Mists of Palenque Series Book 1) received the Writer's Digest 2nd Annual Self-Published eBook award in 2015. The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K'uk of Palenque (Book 2) published in 2015. The Mayan Red Queen: Tz'aakb'u Ahau of Palenque (Book 3) received a Silver Medal in Dan Poynter's Global eBook Awards for 2016. The Prophetic Mayan Queen: K'inuuw Mat of Palenque (Book 4) is the final in the series, published in November 2018.

I live with my husband David Gortner and two white cats in Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country, where I enjoy gardening, hiking, and wine tasting.

For more information about my writing and the Mayas, visit:

Website: http://www.mistsofpalenque.com

Blog:   http://leonidemartinblog.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leonide.martin  

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lenniem07

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leonide-Martin/e/B001HCZ1UY/

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Mayan-Queen-Kinuuw-Palenque/dp/1641463651/

Giveaway

Leonide Martin will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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For Her Honor by Holly Bush - Book Blitz and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Holly Bush will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

1873 –

Adam Gentry, heir to the celebrated Paradise Stables in Virginia, is haunted by the visions of his lost love. Feeling cursed by fate, he slips deeper into grief, shrouded in a cloud of liquor and depression, and neglects his duties and responsibilities. But when Adam is forced to accept that there’s nothing he can do to change his past, he knows he must move on.

And he accepts his own destiny: that he will never love again.

Emmaline Somerset finds herself in the worst possible position any unmarried woman can be in. She will have to abandon all of her plans, hopes, and dreams for an independence using her own talents. The only viable solution is to move to a distant relative’s home and reinvent herself as a widow with an infant. No one will ever be the wiser.

Adam, now determined to secure the Gentry legacy, plans to save longtime family friend Emmaline from her embarrassment with an offer of marriage. But what Adam didn’t plan on was how his unexpected attraction to her would stir something inside of him, something he's kept locked deep within.

Can love finds its way between two troubled souls, one driven by duty, the other by honor, both determined to find their way home?

Read an Excerpt:

Adam thought that she really did need some rest as it seemed to him she was holding herself upright by sheer will alone. He stood at his place. Everyone turned their heads to him as if he would be giving another toast like Matt had done, making everyone chuckle, and then Jim, whose wishes for them had everyone in the room misty-eyed, including him. But his mother and Mrs. Somerset, his mother-in-law, strange as that sounded, both looked at Emmaline and stood.

“Come along now,” Louise said to Jane and Phillip and Betsy and motioning to Edwin to help her from her chair. “This has been a long day and I am exhausted.”

“Yes. I am as well,” Eleanor said. “And these children have near worn themselves out.”

Everyone drifted to the front hallway, gathering wraps and kissing children. Jim had Nettie’s two in his arms, carrying them outside to their carriage. Adam helped Louise into her seat and kissed her cheek as Edwin gathered the reins and nodded at him.

“See that Emmaline lies down, won’t you, Adam? I’m so worried for her,” Louise said.

“Of course. It’s been a trying week, but I think it was a beautiful and memorable day.”

She nodded and looked at him with watery eyes. “It has. Thank you.”

Matt and Annie were walking home, and he waved at them after kissing the children and thanking them. He went back inside and found Emmaline hurrying to the door.

“Tell mother to wait,” she began and then looked at him, her face going scarlet. “I don’t live there anymore, do I?”

About the Author:

Holly Bush writes historical romance set in the U.S.in the late 1800’s, in Victorian England, and an occasional Women’s Fiction title. Her books are described as emotional, with heartfelt, sexy romance. She makes her home with her husband in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

http://www.hollybushbooks.com http://www.twitter.com/hollybushbooks

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Holly-Bush/247399131941435

http://www.amazon.com/Holly-Bush/e/B006ZDTQ1A/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

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Gunfight at the Old Leake Canal by GB Hope - Book Blitz and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. GB Hope will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In Liverpool, England, 18-year-old student and Freerunner, Bodie, survives an assassination attempt and flees for his life. His only thought is to secure the safety of girlfriend, Lily, and reach his journalist cousin, Anthony.

Bodie has stumbled into a diabolical plot from the world's governments to end terrorism, famine and global warming in one swift swoop. So begins a race for survival, joined by a variety of other characters, moving from one set piece to the next, as the world that everyone knows is about to change forever.

Read an Excerpt:

He didn’t have to wait long. But, instead of one or two marked police cars rushing to detain someone who had reported a murder, he was treated to the worrying spectacle of three black Range Rovers, with blacked-out windows, arriving at speed and whizzing up the ramp into the car-park. Very sinister indeed.

He got into the Beetle and drove off. Soon, he noticed that his bimbo manager had left the car with almost no fuel, so he pulled into the first petrol station that he saw. He filled up, before going in to pay with his Visa card. He also bought a packet of cheese and onion crisps, which he proceeded to eat, while he used the outside cash machine. Moving towards the Beetle, he suddenly heard the sound of the helicopter again, seemingly immediately overhead. Quickly, he grabbed the gun and ammunition from the glove compartment and bolted away. If he had driven out, he just knew they would have been straight onto him. Instead, he ran through the garage car wash, skipped a low wall, and was away across wasteland.

About the Author: GB Hope is the author of 11 novels of various genres. He lives in Manchester with his Indonesian wife and their two boys.

https://www.amazon.com/Gunfight-At-Old-Leake-Canal-ebook/dp/B01FBG6MFO

https://www.amazon.com/G.-B.-Hope/e/B005D47I8U

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Scarred by Mia Kerick - Book Tour and Giveaway

ONE tropical island.

Placida Island’s gentle ocean breezes and rolling surf beckon to those who wish to reside in remote tropical serenity.

TWO men living in self-imposed exile.

Wearing twisted ropes of mutilated skin on his back and carrying devastating damage in his soul from severe childhood abuse, Matthew North lives alone in a rustic cabin on the shore, avoiding human contact.

Gender fluidity his perceived “crime” against family and friends, Vedie Wilson flees his childhood home so he can freely express his identity. 

THREE persecutors seeking their warped view of justice.

Vedie’s past refuses to stay in the faraway city he left behind when family members, intent on forcing him to change, steal him from his island home.

TOO MANY scars to count.

Their beautiful faces masking deeply scarred souls, Matt and Vedie live in hiding from the world and each other.

Can they unite and embrace each other’s painful pasts, leaving the scars behind to find love?

Excerpt

Matt

There’s something about Vedie, I think as I drive my truck over the bridge, leading me off the island.

I’m not saying I regret doing what I did—telling the kid to keep his distance—but if I were an honest man, I’d say I feel a certain emptiness when I drive past The Only Tiki Hut and spot his old BMX chained to the bike rack. I think of eyes that can’t help but smile, and the risk he took in telling me how he wanted it to go when we fooled around on the beach, and how he held me and asked no questions when I mentally vacated the premises. But since I’m a man in hiding, I say to myself, there’s something about Vedie, and I leave it there.

Strange, but I’m missing The Only Tiki Hut, too. For almost a decade I’ve kept to myself, worked my online marketing job, played with my cats, pumped iron on my porch, and grabbed a few decent meals each week at the tiki bar on the bay. I don’t interact with many people, which is by design. I get my fill of being in the presence of human beings by visiting the one and only restaurant on Placida Island. But, for all intents and purposes, you could say I fucked the busboy and then dumped him on his ass, so I’ve earned myself a long drive off the island every time I’m in the mood for meatloaf.

About the Author

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—one in law school, another a professional dancer, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and the baby finally off to college. (Yes, the nest is empty.) She publishes LGBTQ fiction and romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-five years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of young people who are challenged by the circumstances of their lives and relationships. She has a great affinity for the tortured hero in literature, and as a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of tortured heroes and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She has NineStar Press to thank for providing an alternate place to stash her stories.

Her books have been featured in Kirkus Reviews magazine and have won Rainbow Awards for Best Transgender Contemporary Romance and Best YA Lesbian Fiction, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, a First Place Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, a First Place Story Monsters Purple Dragonfly Award for YA Fiction, among others.

Mia Kerick is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com or visit at www.miakerickya.com to see what is going on in Mia’s world. You can also check in with Mia at https://twitter.com/MiaKerick and https://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick.

Purchase link:  https://ninestarpress.com/product/scarred/

Giveaway

Mia Kerick will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Presenting the Marriage of Kelli Anne & Gerri Denemer by PD Alleva - Book Blast and Giveaway

The Denemer's had it all: Fame, fortune, family, and the American Dream. But tough times have landed on their doorstep— Gerri's acting career is mired in controversy, financial decline is strangling the family bond, and his marriage to Kelli Anne is on the rocks. He'd rather die than face another catastrophe, something the Devil is more than eager to assist. On the night Gerri attempts to end his suffering, his plan is thwarted by a voice in his smart TV, pulling him into a dimension where past, present, and future collide, and the fate of the human race hangs in the balance. But Gerri is not alone. The Devil's minions are nipping at his heels and Kelli is right behind them, determined to save her family and put right what has gone wrong. Will they be successful? Is the bond between husband and wife strong enough to defeat evil? Will they prevent World War III or will evil's plan triumph? Presenting the Marriage of Kelli Anne and Gerri Denemer: A Horror Story, is a tour de force thriller of dark fiction, romance, and horror in an epic battle between good and evil.

Excerpt

He ran to the house, struggling through the wind that sought to push him over, to deter him from entering that house. 

“No, Gerri,” the chaperone hollered. “Do NOT go in there!”

But Gerri quickened his pace.

The chaperone was in front of him.

He turned to go around him.

The chaperone was in front of him.

He jerked to the left, running at max speed.

The chaperone was in front of him, pushed Gerri to the ground. Picked him up and clasped Gerri’s shoulders with an iron hand. 

“It’s not allowed, Gerri.”

“What’re you talking about? I just want to go home.”

The chaperone laughed. He started pacing, circling Gerri with his hand on Gerri’s shoulder.

“What do you think, Gerri, hang yourself and you get to go back home? No, no, no, Gerri. Look around you. You’re not even close to home!”

“What? That can’t be!”

“Between worlds, Gerri! That’s where you are. What’s in that house is nothing. Nothing more than the slither of energy you left, the portal of death with the stink of fear. You’re not welcome there. Not welcome at all.” He slipped his hand off Geri’s shoulder. Stepped an arm’s length away from him. 

“No, no, no, this can’t be! This can’t be.”

“Oh, yes, Gerri, it can, and it is.”

The chaperone paused. 

“It’s best that you come with me Gerri.”

Gerri screamed, “Where did I go wrong?”

The chaperone stiffened. 

He turned to the house and paused.

Interview

What should readers expect when they pick up your book?

Suspense with information discovered during Gerri’s (and Kelli’s) journey through an alternate dimension. Darkness and evil who rely on Gerri’s fear to drive their ultimate plan to cause World War III.  A unique blend of characters and plot twists with past, present and future dimensions influenced by fear and misunderstanding. And an enduring love that trifles through the past to reset the present with an ultimate goal of redemption.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way?

There have been a lot of authors and books that have had great influence on my writing. Most notable author would be Ernest Hemingway. His minimalist style and subtle nuances into what embodies the human condition is paramount in the writing field. 

Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life?

Yes and no. I draw information from personal experiences. Essentially the roller coaster that is life, taking into account trials and tribulations and lessons learned.  As a writer there’s always a bit of ourselves in each character whether that character represents who we were, who we are or who we would like to be depends on the circumstance that drives that plot.

Three of your all time favourite books and why?

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: I’ve read it four times, the first go around was in high school and I’ve been hooked ever since. Man vs. Himself, Man vs. God, Man vs. Society and Man vs. Man. This book incorporates all the great themes that make a great story. 

The Shining by Stephen King: Why? It’s King’s masterpiece. 

Most recently The Hunger Games: While writing my current project, The Rose, my research included reading books in the dystopian genre. Of course this book topped many of the lists for the best dystopian novels. I found the book fascinating, well written (although there were a few typos), and kept my interest. Honestly I wasn’t expecting the book to be that good. Pleasant surprises are always the best. 

Have you started your next project?

I’m currently wriitng book four in the series, The Rose. It’s a dystopian sci-fi set at the tale end of World War III. The rose is a meditation used by alchemists. Alchemy is the ability to transform chemical structures. Also a useful tool when battling alien vampires. The Rose is  a prelude to a trilogy titled The Indigo Trials which will be released next year. After The Rose, I’ll be writing book four in this series about a 1940’s New York socialite whose sculpture comes to life after a break up with the love of her life. Think Frankenstein meets My Fair Lady. Title is Golem, a psychologial supernatural thriller. I have nine books planned in the Beyond the Chamber Door Series.

What is your favorite TV show?

Ozark. Jason Bateman has come a long way since he used to battle with Mrs. Pool on the sitcom Valerie back in the 80’s. 

Any last words? 

Thank you for hosting and a special thank you to those visiting today. Feel free to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. I love to hear reader feedback and answer any questions readers may have. Happy New Year everyone and good luck on the giveaway. 

Thanks...

About the Author

P.D. Alleva is an author, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist specializing in trauma, addiction and mental health. He is the author of several books, including fiction novels, Indifference and A Billion Tiny Moments In Time…, Seriously Twisted; These Gods of Darkness (Poetry), Let Your Soul Evolve (1st and 2nd ed), and Spiritual Growth Therapy: Philosophy, Practices and Mindfulness Workbook (non-fiction). He has developed behavioral protocols for addiction and mental health and teaches mindfulness, Buddhist meditations and manifestation techniques to his patients as a means and alternative to using pharmaceuticals. He is currently in private practice with his wife, Lisa. He lives with his wife and children in Boca Raton, Florida.

Follow the Author:

Instagram: pdalleva_author

Twitter:      pdalleva_author

Facebook:  @Paul Alleva

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HFJGJQR/

Giveaway

PD Alleva will be awarding a $75 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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