Guest Post from William A. Clifford, author of Amy

Title: Amy
Author: William A. Clifford
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 268
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook/Paperback

Purchase at AMAZON

An experiment in creation, with some religious views, that shows the reasons why, we may not want, what we think we want. How plans take on a life of their own, and there is no going back.

 Stories set in modern times are undoubtedly going to come in contact with some sort of authority. In some cases you can limit the official input and continue on your merry way. Some make the authority contingent the main focal point. Amy needed to have a way to show she had an official status. She needed to go through the gauntlet of official inspection, because she had no childhood history. No parents, school records, vaccinations, or any such thing existed for her.

Tom knew there was only one thing that could explain a lack of memory on all aspects of her life. A special type of amnesia that involved the whole gamut of interactions from short to long term memory. Showing them going through the testing and raising no red flags gave her an opportunity to be given an identity and with that she could do anything that anyone else could do.

This was such a requirement that the first book was dedicated to showing this process from the beginning to end. There was one option I nearly included and that was a suspicion from the investigating officer. I decided that there was not enough evidence and the normal screening took care of that suspicion. Other than establishing her identity, I wanted to bring to light the problem that Children's services is having with funding being cut. It is true here in my area and has been alluded to in other districts in other countries. Child welfare needs to be a priority with every stage of government taking this and making a stand.

Amy had a straight forward walk through of the system and required little drain on the resources in the process. She was fostered by the family that found her and that family was prepared to adopt her, so that a minimum of supervision was needed. Only one case worker was needed for her welfare. The school system was a bit more challenging, but with enough input from the different agencies and teachers involved, she was placed in an appropriate level for her aptitude.  It was a toss up as to how this would work out. She could have gone with her reported age, her apparent age, or her aptitude testing.

There are a number of children in our area that are very mature looking for their age. Even kids within our social group show too much physical development for their ages. Because this would affect her placement in school and submit her to differing social groups within the schools, I had Amy appear to be older yet just in the start of puberty for the story to be addressed as it needed to be. The next book in the series has very little to do with the authorities as far as Amy is concerned, so we ended book one with her getting her identity.

Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Raised in Ancaster, in the country setting. Attended Ancaster High and Vocational School, where I got my diploma. After that I enrolled in the working world until my retirement. I am married with three grown children and six grandchildren. I build miniatures and like to build landscapes of my own design.

The Diary of a Nobody by Gaylon Kent Book Feature!

From earning a living to getting the dog to poop to running for the United States Senate, The Diary of a Nobody chronicles the life of Sparrow, a funny, average man passing an average life. In addition to Sparrow, you’ll meet The Wife, the cat, the dog, his friend Bonser and his rug rat Matt and Brian, Sparrow’s co-worker at the Doily Delivery Company.

 The Diary of a Nobody is a real-time novel, updated daily at www.writersshack.com. It begins in October, 2013 and was inspired by a 19^th century British novel of the same name. Gaylon Kent, 49, is an American writer. In addition to The Diary of a Nobody, Gaylon has written the novel The Regular Guys and Backstairs at the Monte Carlo: A Vegas Memoir. He also writes the columns The Daily Dose and The Bottom Ten. All of Gaylon’s work is available exclusively at www.writersshack.com.


 In past lives Gaylon has been, among other things, a radio announcer and a newspaper reporter, as well as working security at the Monte Carlo and Venetian/Palazzo hotels in Las Vegas and working a Brinks armored truck. Gaylon was the Colorado Libertarian Party’s nominee for United States Senate in 2014, finishing third in a six-person race with a bit more than 52,000 votes. He is a two-time graduate of the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires and is an accomplished high school sports official. Gaylon served on an old diesel submarine, the USS Blueback, in the Navy and still like his grandfather, Gaylon C Kent, commands his American Legion post. Gaylon and his wife Marian live in Hayden, Colorado. He is originally from Los Angeles. He enjoys a wine pairing from time to time and is known to not wash his coffee mug.

  For More Information

• Visit Gaylon's website.

Principium: The Stone Prophecy Series by Alexandra Lamarre Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon GC!

Title: Principium: The Stone Prophecy Series
Author: Alexandra Lamarre
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Kindle

 Ever since her mother’s death twelve years ago, fourteen-year-old Kiarra Johnson wonders if she is a good witch or if she is doomed to a lifetime of evil. Her life is anything but mundane as she lives in a rented room in her father’s home in the village of Kiamika, a magical society hidden from mortals who would persecute them for their gifts. For many years, Kiarra has lived across the lake from Kasy Sheridan, a girl who has led a life vastly different from her own. They both have been accepted to attend the magical Hollow Institute for Gifted Young Women. During this time, their lives become intertwined as they study magical theory and learn rituals that will change their view of magic and give them insight into the mystery of dying familiars. Kiarra wonders if she will be able to uphold her mother’s legacy of helping to save the world. She and her friends are faced with that challenge when they encounter the evil Feuer, a vampire-demon hybrid. What chance do these teens, with just one year of magical training, have against creatures who are more than three hundred years old?

To Purchase Principium

Alexandra Lamarre earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Carleton University with a double minor in French and history. She began writing this book when she was thirteen years old, using inspiration from both her high school and college experiences. Lamarre lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with her three roommates.  

Alexandra is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins April 20 and ends on May 1.
• Winners will be contacted via email on May 3.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Bookwright: Book One of the Vanir Trilogy Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon GC!

Title: Bookwright
Author: George R. Dasher
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Kindle/Paperback/Hardcover

 With his ship crippled and his crew dead, Jarl Hawkins fights for survival in space as his dying spaceship, the Cassiopeia, drifts out of control. But there is nothing he can do, and his own death is certain. Oddly enough, rescue comes in the form of an old wizard named Kvasir, who offers Jarl his chance at a new life on Vanir, a planet unlike anything Jarl has ever encountered. There, the King fights his rivals for control of his kingdom, wild nomads roam the northern Ghost Plains, wizards and witches use magic, and an all-powerful church viciously suppresses independent thought through prison, torture, and fire. Once on Vanir, Jarl befriends the Kettlewand Rangers and is drawn into a war that he doesn’t truly understand. Separated from Kvasir, he patrols with the Rangers, witnesses the murder of a Ghost Raider, and travels to Tyr, the capital city, to locate Kvasir or another wizard. But he instead finds himself on the wrong side of the Church, and his modern weapons are taken from him and he is imprisoned for being a sorcerer. Once inside the prison, however, he finds a friend and protector, a samurai-like warrior. After a pardon from the king himself, Jarl and his new friend returns to Tyr and makes a startling—and dangerous—discovery: a translated Vanir bible. Determined to break the church’s hold on the citizens, Jarl begins to print the bible, infuriating the church leaders. His time on Vanir becomes even more dangerous, and it is only with the King’s protection that he and his printing company can survive. But Kvasir is still missing, and without the help of the old wizard, Jarl is powerless to make his way back into space.

To Purchase Bookwright

George R. Dasher has worked as an EMT, paramedic, and a coal and oil-and-gas geologist. Now an environmental geologist, he oversees the remediation of contaminated groundwater sites in West Virginia. His hobbies include diving, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, camping, and caving. He is the editor of a state-wide caving newsletter and the author of eight books on caving. He lives in West Virginia  

George is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins April 27 and ends on May 15.
• Winners will be contacted via email on May 17.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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Correcting Misconceptions by Rev. Dr. Hazel Ann Gibbs Depeza Book Blast - Win a $25 Amazon GC!

Title: Correcting Misconceptions
Author: Rev. Dr. Hazel Ann Gibbs De Peza
Publisher: Partridge Publishing
Genre: Education
Format: Kindle

 The book, a research paper, reveals and analyzes misconceptions about the Spiritual Baptist Faith, an indigenous religious expression of Christianity in Trinidad and Tobago. It highlights the academic bias to the Faith, which is maligned and misunderstood because of its humble beginnings amidst ex-plantation slaves of African descent and its history of persecution and prosecution by the colonial authorities of the early 20th century.The research provided answers to some of the troubling questions about the Faith and served as the source for the book My Faith, Spiritual Baptist Christian by the same author.

To Purchase Correcting Misconceptions

Dr. Hazel is  giving away a $25 Gift Card!

 

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
• This giveaway begins April 20 and ends on May 1.
• Winners will be contacted via email on May 3.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prophase: A Present Tale by M. Street Book Feature!

Title: Prophase: A Present Tale
Author: M. Street
Publisher: Mitchel Street
Pages: 334
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Format: Kindle

Become swept away into a world of light just beyond our perception.

Piper Walker, a high school senior, has seen her share of hard times. At a young age, she lost her mother to breast cancer shortly after her brother Charlie was born. Raising her baby brother under the wrathful eye of an abusive and alcoholic father, she relies heavily on her small, but tight core of friends. Lisa, her best friend from kindergarten, and Chris, her longtime boyfriend, help to keep her above water. Along with her friends, Piper’s elderly neighbor, Ester, and her lynx point Siamese cat, Jazz, become the extended family she never had.

Even before her mom died, Piper always felt different. She was opposite of her popular best buddy Lisa, and didn’t enjoy doing what most other teenage girls liked to do. She wasn’t much for fixing up and thought hanging out was boring. Music and nature were her muses. Piper grew up next to a forest with countless paths, one of which led to the high school; the others to myriad of seasonal wonders. Piper spent countless hours in the woods exploring and finding solace in the trees, wild flowers, and every kind of animal. Although somewhat shy and insecure of her voice, Piper was lead vocals and a passionate bass player for a garage band called ‘The Coat Tails’ that consisted of Lisa, Chris, and their close friend Josh. Having never sounded better, they were sure to win the senior talent show.

After a Spring Fling dance, a near-death experience prematurely rebirths Piper to her destiny, for not even she knows who she really is. Her identity has remained buried deep for her protection. She awakens to a dimension where light laden with emotions emits from everything around her. Overnight, Piper and her world are transformed into something radically different. What she thought was real was only the beginning, a thin veneer to actual reality. Universal truths are turned upside down. She wakes to a magical world with an ancient history and kingdoms of races. Life becomes way more beautiful, complex, and breathtaking than she ever imagined.

A menagerie of supernatural and metallic gleaming mythical characters come to assist Piper to take her first steps in her new world and keep her safe. The realm of brilliant auras, feelings, and endless color surround her creating a language she doesn’t understand. She begins a long journey to discovering and mastering her powers and senses that defy fantasy. Riding gravity waves, casting spells, and leaping to exotic locations become her new curriculum.

However, amongst the Eden lies a fatal danger. For centuries, a tyrannical rule has suppressed and strangled the enchanted world she is now part of. A most brilliant Guardian, named Eli, and his council, the Arbitri, have become the only voice. Evolution has stopped. Only Piper has the power to bring about change.

Amongst the unspeakable beauty, unknown danger, and the desire to find out who she really is, Piper stumbles upon an unexplainable, first-time love that becomes the only thing that she can cling to in her stormy and unexpected life. From the first time his voice dances on her ear drums, she is taken by something wonderfully unreal.

Piper now must juggle her two worlds – and disguise her increasing abilities and morphing appearance while attempting to be the slightly nerdy teenager everyone knows. This story captivates the imagination with the beauty of nature and the celebration of love, life, and light – and the power of one girl.

For More Information

• Prophase is available at Amazon
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

    M. Street is an avid storyteller with an innate passion for fiction writing. He was raised in rural Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Michigan across from a small forest that became his second home. As an adult, M. Street has lived on the East Coast in Boston, on the West Coast in San Jose, and now resides South, in the great city of Austin, TX. A love for nature, art, spirituality, and science has been his foundation. He has been fortunate to have been adopted by cats, dogs, birds, frogs, turtles, and Monarch butterflies. His professional background is rooted in Engineering having earned a graduate degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is technically published (under a different name). He is currently creating Metaphase and Anaphase/Telophase, the follow on to Interphase/Prophase, part of the Mitosis series. For More Information

• Visit Mitchel Street’s website.
• Connect with Mitchel on Facebook.
• Find out more about Mitchel at Goodreads

Reclaiming Her Heart, Reclaimed By Her Master, hot @nd nerdy and Daisy Chains Book Feature

Title: Reclaiming Her Heart
Author: Allison Merritt
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle

  When a broken heart heals, love can grow stronger…

 Ben Darling is infuriating, arrogant, and though he may look like every woman's dream, he's no better than a common thief for stealing Paralee Blake's childhood home. She stopped trusting Ben the moment he broke her heart, and now nothing and no one is going to sway her opinion of him. Not her father's defense of Ben, not his mother's matchmaking attempts—and certainly not the way his kisses make her heart pound. Paralee is infuriating, short-sighted, and too stubborn to see Ben only wants one thing since his return to Wilson township—her happiness. He never intended to hurt her when he left on a personal mission to right a wrong. The trouble is, there's no walking back into Paralee's life. From the moment he sees her again, it's clear it's going to take far more than his usual charm to reclaim her heart…

For More Information

• Reclaiming Her Heart is available at Amazon.

A love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she's not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas. Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.

 You can contact her at allisonmwrites@gmail.com or find her onFacebook, Twitter,  Google+, Tsu, Goodreads,Pinterest and Authorgraph too.

For More Information
  Visit Allisons website.


Title: Reclaimed By Her Master
Author: April Vine
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle

  He’ll catch her in the act—and never let her go.

 No one breaches the defenses of billionaire Dom Stephen Black—until Aria Swift does just that, stealing a priceless painting from his collection—along with his heart. But two can play that game, and soon a treasured necklace that belonged to Aria’s late mother ends up in Stephen’s skilled, waiting hands—along with a dare to retrieve it… Eight years later, Aria is ready to put closure on her infamous past by meeting Stephen’s challenge. And suddenly, she’s caught in his trap… There’s only one way to master a woman like Aria—and only one place to do it. Stephen’s luxuriously decadent Gold Room is where he’ll mete out her punishment, stroke by excruciatingly ecstatic stroke. Where Aria will submit to his every desire—and find in his touch, in his control, a frenzied yearning, and the ultimate pleasure of surrender…

For More Information

Reclaimed By Her Master is available at Amazon.

 April Vine writes erotic romance by night and is a professional dreamer by day. She has two precious sons who keep her sharp and one very tolerant husband who chivalrously and bravely defends her honor daily.

Title: hot @nd nerdy
Author: Shannyn Schroeder
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle

  With college graduation looming, three childhood friends vow to make spring break their last blast of pure fun in the sun. But some of their hottest life lessons are yet to come… 

HER BEST SHOT Layla Sharpe is definitely more math ninja than bikini babe. But she’s finally ready let loose over spring break—until her car breaks down, leaving her stranded in Georgia with a mouthwateringly hot pool shark. Layla knows enough about angles to learn the game, but when he offers her a place to stay, she wants him to appreciate her curves…

HER PERFECT GAME Charlie Castle is an expert archer and a fierce warrior—in her favorite video game, anyway. Now she’s entering a "hackfest" over spring break, where she also hopes to meet the sweet gamer who’s been flirting with her online. Instead, she runs into Jonah, the hot guy who walked away years ago. Charlie can’t fight the desire that comes rushing back, and the feeling is more mutual than she suspects…

HER WINNING FORMULA Chemistry major Felicity Stone knows everything about how chemicals interact, but when it comes to social interaction, she needs schooling. Abandoned by her friends, Felicity is faced with spending spring break alone—unless she accepts a gorgeous stranger’s invitation to pose as his girlfriend at a family wedding. Not one to turn down a research opportunity, Felicity never expected such breathtaking results—ones that could last a lifetime…

For More Information

hot @nd nerdy is available at Amazon.  

Shannyn is a former English teacher, who now works as a part-time editor while raising her three kids. Even though she wrote from high school through college (mostly poetry), she’d never considered a career as an author. Writing fell by the wayside as she focused her energy on creating lesson plans and new and fabulous ways to torment her teen students. One group in particular dubbed her “The Torture Master,” a title she carried into motherhood. After the birth of baby number two, Shannyn resigned from teaching and fell in love with reading romance novels. She read so many books so quickly that her husband teased, “If you’re going to read so many damn books, why don’t you just write one?” So she did. That first book is safely buried on her hard drive, but the process set Shannyn on the path to where she is today—agented with a debut ebook coming out with Kensington in late 2012.

 She is recovering from her Diet Coke addiction, fears putting her foot in her mouth on social media, and has a renewed appreciation for the bad girls of the world. Shannyn is represented by Frances Black and Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel.

For More Information Visit Shannon's website
  Connect with Shannyn on Twitter and Facebook



Title: Daisy Chains
Author: Serenity Woods
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle

 Chase Jackson turned every one of Daisy Summers’ sexual fantasies into scorching reality. But it wasn’t enough. Daisy needed a lover who provided more than just amazing sex. That he turned out to be tall, dark and wealthy didn’t hurt. Problem is, her "perfect" man is now the perfect liar. When his secrets leave Daisy lonely and betrayed, she has nobody to turn to…except Chase. Letting Daisy walk away was one of Chase’s biggest mistakes. Now that she’s back in his life—and in his arms—he’s bent on keeping her there. But his past and her present are two shapes that don’t fit...yet. Caught up in a triangle, Daisy’s forced to choose between two men who’ve broken her trust before. Only now Chase is determined to prove he’s changed his ways—and the one thing that hasn’t changed is his love for her.

For More Information

Daisy Chains is available at Amazon.

Serenity Woods lives in the sub-tropical Northland of New Zealand with her wonderful husband and gorgeous teenage son. She writes hot and sultry contemporary romances. She would much rather immerse herself in reading or writing romance than do the dusting and ironing, which is why it’s not a great idea to pop round if you have any allergies.

For More Information
Visit Serenity's website
Connect with Serenity on Facebook and Twitter

Berceuse: The Song by Trynia Merin Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Berceuse: The Song
Author: Trynia Merin
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 350
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Paperback
Purchase at AMAZON

 Now that Trisha Maypierce is safely back on Earth, she has forgotten much of her last adventure, or has she? Everyday life on earth suddenly becomes far more surreal when she invents a new polymer, and her life is possibly in danger. Her protection, Temporal Anthropologist Professor Esmentaur, who must study the link between his charge and the being Berceuse they encountered on Avious. More questions are generated then answered, as the spark between Trisha and the Professor grows, on Earth and in the dreams of Avious.

    

 Trynia Merin has already published Elizabeth 1: the Observation, her writing skills honed in fanfiction published on the internet. She has a master's Degree in Chemistry from Villanova, and works as a chemist in Pennsylvania.  

Trynia is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins April 6 and ends on April 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, April 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

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The Actor by Douglas Gardham Book Feature!

Title: The Actor
Author: Douglas Gardham
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Format: Ebook
 Purchase at AMAZON

 It is 1991 when Ethan Jones finally wins the role of his dreams in an upcoming, big screen movie. With the envelope holding the script clutched in his hand, he arrives at his California apartment where he can hardly wait to tell his girlfriend the exciting news. But when he finds the door unexpectedly ajar, he has no idea that in just a few seconds, the life he has fought so hard to obtain will be shattered. Eight years earlier, Ethan is attending university in Ottawa, Canada. One evening after seriously contemplating suicide, he finds his way into a club where he meets Mila Monahan, a beautiful acting student who saves him from himself. After he watches Mila rehearse a university play, Ethan catches the acting bug and decides to pursue his own creative passions, causing a collision with his more secure ideals. But when Mila suddenly disappears, Ethan vows he will never stop chasing the dream she inspired in him, believing in a world entirely different from the one he is living in. The Actor is a gripping tale of a young man’s unforgettable journey of self-discovery in overcoming the trauma of a personal tragedy. It is a story of love, hardship, persistence and overwhelming joy where The Actor learns he can portray anything he can imagine.

    

Douglas Gardham is a writer who loves music, movies, and books. He lives near Toronto, Canada, with his wife and dog. This is his first published novel.

Two Brothers by C. (Mike) Dunaway Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Two Brothers
Author: C. (Mike) Dunaway
Publisher: Trafford
Pages: 296
Genre: Romance
Format: Paperback/Kindle/Hardcover
Purchase at AMAZON

 The story is about two brothers, fraternal twins. They move to California from Oklahoma with their parents in 1871 in an exchange of properties with a friend in Oklahoma and settle in on a three-hundred-acre ranch. They are attacked by three escapees from Yuma state prison who murdered their parents. For the next fifteen years, they would attempt to hunt down these killers and seek revenge. The boys are not gunslingers, but they grow up to be tough on survival. However, they don’t spend their time chasing ghosts; they do many things. One of the boys works on the ranch of a man that takes them in, and the other works at the Emporium, also owned by the rancher. They go through many trials in their search.

     
I challenged myself to write a western and found it rather simple with a little research. I’ve written five unpublished books; perhaps I will get around to publishing them in the future. Four are fiction books. One is autobiographical; however, I embellished a trifle to make it more interesting. The other three are in sequence. Book three follows up where two left off; however, book four has it own story line with most of the same characters.

C. is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins April 6 and ends on April 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, April 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold Cover Reveal!

Title: The Lady Who Lived Again
Author: Thomasine Rappold
Publisher: Lyrical Press

 In THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN, the first book in the new Soul Survivor series, Madeline Sutter and her four gorgeous friends rule the Gilded Age resort town of Glass Lake, NY with silk-covered fists—until the day the entire clique is killed in a devastating accident.  Although Maddie is declared dead at the scene, she later awakens to find herself shunned by once adoring neighbors who now fear she has been touched by the devil.  Maddie knows the town's handsome new physician could ruin her for good if he discovers the explosive secret behind her survival, but she will need his help if she’s ever to regain her place in the sun.  As a man of science, Dr. Jace Merrick feels duty-bound to quash the superstitious rumors of Maddie’s “resurrection.”  But Jace is so infatuated with his latest patient that he’s losing his grip on his professionalism. An affair means danger for both of them, but Maddie and Jace cannot seem to fight the pull.  Instead, she hides behind lies, he hides behind logic, and both resist love as the truth is unveiled.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Lady Who Lived Again is available for pre-order at Amazon, Books-a-Million and Kobo

How to Get Kids Hooked on Reading by Sands Hetherington, author of Night Buddies Go Sky High

Title: Night Buddies Go Sky High
Author: Sands Hetherington
Publisher: Dune Buggy Press
Pages: 144
Genre: Children's Book
Format: Paperback

 Young John Degraffenreidt and his red crocodile buddy, Crosley, show up at the Pineapple Cheesecake Factory and find Big Foot Mae lying on the floor, staring up at her Great Star Puzzle on the ceiling. Crosley only wants a new supply of pineapple cheesecakes, but what Mae points to on her ceiling will start the Night Buddies on a totally new fantasy adventure. A suspicious white dot has passed through the Corkscrew Constellation and is now moving underneath the Hound Dog Stars. Across the Borough, Crosley s brother Crenwinkle sees the same curious speck in the sky. It looks to be a long night for sleepyhead John, but thanks to the time spreader dingus with its sleep retardant setting, he gets right into their next escapade. Join the Night Buddies as they embark on another Program, this time taking them all the way into the stratosphere in their racing blimp.

For More Information

• Night Buddies Go Sky High is available at Amazon.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

How to Get Kids Hooked on Reading

I immersed my son John in stories from the time he could understand speech. Bedtime stories were an absolute essential to us, like air and food. We may not have missed five nights in ten years, even when we were on trips. 

I read him everything from Aesop to Tolkien to Dahl (Harry Potter hadn't come along yet). By the time John was twelve, we had gone through most of Dickens and Victor Hugo. I made sure that he was always immersed in stories, and man did it ever work! Now I’m proud to say that he received an M.A. at Edinburgh University with Firsts in German and Russian, reads two or three books a week, and still watches Hobbit movies.

If you're determined to get kids hooked, there's something you can do in addition to reading bedtime stories: Get them involved!  This is how the idea for my Night Buddies books came about: One night when I was done reading and John wanted more, I suggested that he make up a night companion to go off to sleep with.  Within a day or two, there was Crosley, red color, goofy name and all.

At bedtime we started batting around the Crosley stuff.  I encouraged John to make up episodes. I mostly listened. If he did come up with something, I told him how super it was and asked him when I could hear the next installment. He was just six at the time! But this is where his love for stories and reading really stemmed from, and it has stuck with him his whole life.

 I haven't met a child yet who didn't take to bedtime stories.  You just have to do it, and do it every night.  If you do, your child will enjoy it, look forward to it, and quickly come to see reading literature as a pleasure.  Then, when he learns to read, he will want to read.  

Get him in on the process if you can. It's as simple as that. A reader is a reader for life, and you won’t regret getting your child loving books as early in life as possible. 

Sands Hetherington, the creator of Night Buddies series of chapter books, credits his son John for being his principal motivator. Sands and young John developed the Crosley crocodile character in the series during months of bedtime story give-and-take. They collaborated many nights on escapades starring John and Crosley, until eventually it occurred to Sands why it was that Crosley was bright red. That was when the first book came together.

 Sands raised his son as a single parent from the time John was six. He read to him every night during those formative years: all of the classic children’s stories from Aesop through the Grimms, Lewis Carroll, Frank Baum, Tolkien and Dahl, with a lot of Dickens and Hugo thrown in. When school was out they got in the car and toured Alaska, Canada and most of the contiguous states. John still gets around. So far he has lived in Germany, Scotland, Russia, England and Spain.

 Dogs have always been a part of the author’s life, beginning with Whiskers, a cocker spaniel. When his wonderful boxer Hube died, he despaired of finding a boxer who could match him, and instead got a Saint Bernard. He ended up breeding Saints for a number of years and at this point has had twelve as house pets. Sands says dogs can do you a power of good, and if you lose one, go out and get another the next day and you will be surprised at how fast your grief goes away.

 Sands is also a Civil War buff. He would like to spend a month of evenings with common soldiers from both sides to see how they felt about the business. And eccentric generals like Jackson, Sherman and Forrest, and most of all Lincoln. Because Lincoln never gets to smile in his pictures.

 The author was born in New York City but was transplanted a year later to Greensboro, North Carolina, where his maternal grandmother lived. He never really left the area and has a lot of the South in him. His grandmother was a prominent educator and became a great friend and mentor.

 Sands majored in history at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and has an M.F.A. in creative writing and an M.A. in English from UNC-Greensboro. He lives in Greensboro now, and hangs out with his longtime friend Ann and their Saint Bernards Dudley and Maggie. He likes visiting ancient Mediterranean sites in Turkey and Italy, and most of all Greece.

  For More Information

• Visit Sands website.

Schade of Night by J.P. Wilder Book Feature - Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Title: Schade of Night
Author: J.P. Wilder
Publisher: iUniverse
Pages: 356
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Purchase at AMAZON

 Schade Lee, ex-FBI agent turned PI, is on a mission to prove her dreams wrong. While on a case to find runaway Kylie Berson, Schade follows a gruesome path where she learns Kylie is in love with a serial killer with animalistic instincts. But what she does not know is that the killer is of supernatural origins, that she will inherit a demonic bloodline on her thirty-third birthday, and that she has had a guardian since birth. After the killer lures her to a frozen town, Schade meets her guardian, Kenan Quicke, who tells her they are allies with the same goal. But Schade, who has never made a habit of trusting strangers, decides to continue on her mission—just as she learns the killer has set his sights on her. His plan is to recover an ancient artifact and use it to steal her budding power at the height of her soul’s transition. Now, with help from Kenan, she must not only defeat the killer and destroy the artifact, but also face the Sentinels, a shadowy organization that intends to enslave her for their own purposes. In this fantasy tale, a private investigator on a mission to save a runway faces a surprising destiny that leads her into a dangerous world where she can trust no one but herself. .

 

J.P. Wilder is a Certified Public Accountant. When not crunching numbers or stumbling through fatherhood, he writes tales of dark sorcery and ferocious beasties and maintains a blog about gothic, urban, and high fantasy. J.P. and his wonderful wife, Marie, live in Southern California with their children.  

J.P. is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins April 6 and ends on April 17.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, April 20.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

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Starting Over by Stacy Finz Cover Reveal!

Title: Starting Over
Author: Stacy Finz
Publisher: Lyrical Press

 The mountain town of Nugget, California, may be tiny, but with its breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and lovable locals, it has everything. Not to mention it’s the perfect setting for firsts—and seconds—of all kinds…

 On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn’t want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she’s going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss…

 The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could’ve hired Sam is beyond him. Nate’s known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he’ll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam’s got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone… 

FOR MORE INFORMATION Starting Over is available at Amazon

Stacy Finz is an award-winning journalist. After more than seventeen years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns for the San Francisco Chronicle, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writingfiction. In 2012 she won the Daphne du Maurier Award for unpublished single-title mystery/suspense. She lives in Berkeley, California with her husband.

For More Information
Visit Stacy’s website.
Connect with Stacy on Facebook  and Twitter.