True Target by Austin S. Camacho - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Austin S. Camacho will be awarding a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Skye Maddox is a contract assassin driven by both personal demons and professional discipline. Hired by grieving father Milo Williams to hunt down the chain of men responsible for his son’s death, Skye takes on a mission that escalates into a war with Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous underworld figures led by a man known only as Hetman. As she climbs Milo’s ladder of revenge, Skye uncovers a web of corruption that links drug dealers, judges, mobsters, and even international crime syndicates.

The story escalates through brutal shootouts, betrayals, and psychological games, as Skye pushes deeper into Hetman’s empire. Each success makes her a bigger target. In the end, she must weigh the cost of finishing Milo’s revenge against the danger of becoming just another expendable weapon in someone else’s war.

EXCERPT ONE:

When Jayla stood, Skye raised a palm to stop her. “Yes. Yes, all right. I just finished an assignment, but it was part of a larger contract so I’m feeling like both the situations you mentioned. I’m on the job, and I just took a player off the board.”

Jayla jotted in her notebook. She always collected the euphemisms Skye used for her profession. “So, tell me about this latest assignment. How do you feel about this player you’ve taken off the board? Was it, in your mind, a just action?”

“You always want to go there,” Skye said, shaking her head. “What did I tell you? The first rule of the assassin’s doctrine. The target has got to deserve it.”

“Oh, yes,” Jayla said with a half-smile. “Your job, while criminal, does have rules

“I misspoke earlier,” Skye said, sliding a slim dagger out of her boot. “It’s not a job. It’s a profession. All professions have their rules. For doctors, rule number one is ‘do no harm’, right? For an assassin, it’s that the target has got to deserve it.” Skye began to absently flip the dagger in the air, catching it by its tip each time. “In this case, this bastard kidnapped my client’s son. I don’t know how they got him. My client kept his family totally under the radar. But once he got the ransom demand, the client agreed to pay, and the ransom money was in transit but not fast enough to suit the kidnappers. They killed the boy, I think just to make a point. Just to be snotty. The action took place overseas and no way the police would ever have gotten close to the killer.”

Jayla nodded. “I think I understand. So, you were hired to…”

“Correct the balance,” Skye said, standing.

GUEST POST:

Falling in Love with the Main Characters

In past novels, I’ve presented heroic characters who were easy to fall in love with. Private eye Hanibal Jones is a traditional hero, with all characteristics we associate with that role. But when I got the inspiration to feature a professional killer I faced a new challenge. How could I make readers fall in love with Skye Maddox.

After I examined my character, I realized it might not be so hard. After all, people love James Bond and he is, after all, licensed to kill. But he worked for his government. So, step one with Skye was to give her limitations. She does her job following a number of rules. Rule number one for her is, the target has to deserve it. That makes it easy to make sure she only goes after people who are worse than she is, people readers would be happy to see gone.

As she materialized on the page she turned out to have several attributes we all like to see in our heroes. She has the courage, the confidence and the total independence we want to see in a strong woman. But she also displays empathy and kindness, even if she doesn’t want to show those qualities off.

And when Skye interacts with other characters, she turns out to have quite a smart mouth. We can’t help but like people who are wise guys (or gals) especially when we know they can back it up. 

But most of all, I knew that to make readers love my professional assassin, I would have to show them how much she is like them, and everyone else. She has all of our worries and fears, she has a definite sense of personal morality, and tries to keep her word. As it turns out, she has all the characteristics of a real hero, and I think readers will come to love her as she chases down the bad guys.

 

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel Beyond Blue. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

Website:

https://ascamacho.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572508767550

Instagram:

http://www.instagram.com/ascamacho135

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-camacho-1a5a622

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FV6FYVZK

Amazon CA:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FV6FYVZK

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-target-austin-s-camacho/1148461145?ean=9798988533351

GIVEAWAY:

The Hotel Guru's Journey by Robert Rauch - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Robert Rauch will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

For over half a century, Robert Rauch, referred to as "The Hotel Guru", has witnessed and made history within the evolution of modern hospitality. From performing night audits on Sweda cash registers in the 1970s to utilizing AI-enabled revenue strategies today, he has seen it all. The Hotel Guru's Journey combines his fascinating behind-the-scenes narratives with proven operating insights.

This unique operations guidebook shares both the "war" stories and the systems that matter. Rauch shares lessons learned the hard way in trust, crisis management, technology adoption, and leadership. And aside from the entertaining personal experiences, you'll gain access to tried-and-true frameworks, in-the-trenches checklists, and practical guidance for all aspects of hotel operations.

Whether you're breaking ground on your first property, expanding a hospitality portfolio, or seeking to avoid costly mistakes, Rauch's five decades of experience provide your competitive advantage in building a successful and sustainable hotel.

For up-and-coming hoteliers, veteran general managers, and hospitality investors, The Hotel Guru's Journey is your map to long-term success.

EXCERPT ONE:

Wellness

True wellness is about more than just physical health. It encompasses mental and emotional well-being too. Offering a range of amenities designed to help guests relax, recharge, and feel great is the goal. From spa services to tranquil relaxation areas, providing the perfect environment to unwind and find balance will always score points. We’ve built spas into hotels, but they’re tough to make profitable. As hotel operators, we knew we didn’t have the skills necessary to operate a successful spa, but the fix was simple: bring in a spa operator as a partner! We chose a spa operator who had a following in the areas of hair, nails, facials, massage, and more. Professional spa operators are better than most hoteliers at operating a spa and will help make including a spa more profitable in the long run. But that’s not where our wellness desires ended. We continually get involved in each of the wellness modalities.

Nutrition

Eating well is crucial for maintaining energy and vitality, especially when away from home. Menus should be carefully curated to offer a variety of nutritious options, catering to diverse dietary needs and preferences. Prioritizing whole foods and balanced meals, supporting the body’s natural rhythms and promoting sustained well-being throughout a guest stay is a noble deed. Our chefs are in tune with this, and they shop locally so that everything is fresh. At our newest hotel, opened in late 2024, our chef was even featured as the top chef in the region! And our menus always have gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Nutrition can include fun activities as well. We’ve often partnered with wineries, chocolatiers, and beer brewmasters. Nutrition isn’t the focus, but in moderation, wine, beer, and dark chocolate can provide a great combination of mindfulness, delight, and healthy imbibing! Cooking classes with our chefs are also in high demand, and wine tastings paired with healthy choices are a close second.

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

With a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Western International University and a master’s degree in Tourism Administration from Arizona State University, Mr. Rauch has served as president and on the board of numerous tourism organizations. Mr. Rauch is a recently retired faculty member at Arizona State University and taught Tourism Industry Entrepreneurship. He is widely quoted on television and radio and in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times. He speaks at industry conferences regularly and has developed several leading brand hotels, three of which the firm still owns and manages, and has been a finalist for CEO of the year in San Diego, CA, and Phoenix, AZ.

Mr. Rauch currently utilizes his private company, R. A. Rauch & Associates, Inc., to provide management services for his owned hotels, consulting services for various Wall Street firms and selected litigation support clients, and asset management services designed to provide hotel owners with oversight and review of potential and currently operating hotels. He also serves as Chairman and Chief Strategist of Brick Hospitality, a company formed by his management team to operate hotels in California. Mr. Rauch recently sold RAR Hospitality, a leading hospitality management firm with 20 hotels under management or development, retaining management of selected hotels where he serves as an owner in San Diego. As a student, teacher, and mentor in the hospitality industry over a six-decade period, Mr. Rauch continues to be active at industry conferences, in key meetings, and when needed to support the hospitality sector.

Website:

https://hotelguru.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertrauch

Twitter:

https://x.com/truehotelguru

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20244045.Robert_Rauch

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Gurus-Journey-Excellence-Industry/dp/B0FQBTH878

Amazon CA:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hotel-Gurus-Journey-Excellence-Industry/dp/B0FQBTH878

GIVEAWAY:

Shooting at Shadows by Forest McMullin - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner will win a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

A photograph can tell the truth. It can also get you killed.

Ethan McGuire’s relentless pursuit of explosive stories has cost him his family, his integrity, and now–possibly–his life. While documenting the rise of white supremacist movements in Western New York, Ethan encounters a world of neo-Nazis, heavily armed survivalists, rogue FBI agents, and violent criminals, all with something to hide. But when a crew of ruthless bank robbers starts hunting him for photos he doesn’t even know he has, the stakes turn deadly.

As his enemies close in and his family becomes a target, Ethan must expose the truth–before it buries him. Shooting at Shadows is a relentless thriller and chilling cautionary tale, inspired by the author’s real-life experiences as a photojournalist. It exposes the darkness lurking beneath the surface of American extremism–and the cost of bringing it to light.

"One hopes that McMullin has further adventures planned for his unlikely hero." –Kirkus Reviews

"...a provocative thriller exploring highly pertinent themes in American culture today..." –Fredrick Soukup, author of Blood up North

EXCERPT ONE:

Someone outside began pounding on the truck in time to the chant and within moments it sounded like everyone who could reach the sides was pounding too:

“BOOM BOOM BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM!

“KKK! GO AWAY! KKK! GO AWAY!”

It was deafening, like being inside a giant bass drum. The thin metal walls of the truck amplified the beating and Ethan could feel the horrible reverberation in his chest. Everyone moved toward the center of the bed as if the walls could come crashing in on them at any second. The two holding the rear gate down were fighting the door as people outside tried to raise it.

Suddenly the pounding stopped and Ethan felt the truck moving. The crowd was so loud he hadn’t heard the engine start. But how could they get through that mob without running anyone over? Maybe if Kevin went slowly enough, they’d let the truck pass. Surely the police would be able to get there and see to their safety. Then he realized it wasn’t forward motion he felt. The truck was swaying side to side. The chanting changed too. “O-VER! O-VER! O-VER!” They were trying to turn the truck on its side. Ethan didn’t think it could be done, but with this many people it was impossible to know for sure.

Everyone inside moved away from the center and put their hands against the sides to steady themselves. It was like trying to stand in a boat on choppy seas. Back and forth, back and forth the truck rocked, gaining momentum every time. Ethan saw the men holding the door down lose their balance and fall. The door rose and blinded them with brilliant sunlight.

GUEST POST:

I’m a little hesitant to offer advice about writing to new authors since Shooting at Shadows is my first novel, but I did learn a lot in the process, so here goes.

Read a lot. Read everything, but especially in the genre you’re writing. Pay attention while you read. Take notice of how the writer constructs a scene, how they convey dialog, how they describe characters. Is it too much? Do you wish for more? What is there you wish you could do? What is there you think you could do better? Writing has made me a much more critical reader and I’m thankful for that.

Take a class and/or find a writers’ group. These two can be almost interchangeable, but either (or both) can be enormously helpful. As we all know, writing is a very solitary practice. We toil for weeks/months/years trying to come up with something that will resonate with others. The isolation we feel needs to be counteracted by spending time with those having similar experiences. I’m not talking about mental health, although that can be a component. I’m talking about positive professional contact.

Many times, we are so close to our work that obvious problems become invisible to us. It takes an objective view to give us the feedback that will make our work stronger. It wasn’t the instruction in the nuts and bolts of writing classes that was most valuable to me. It was the critiques and reactions of class members and writers’ groups that helped me to craft my narratives, characters, and plot lines. I urge you to find a class or writers’ group. Or both.

Utilize the services of an editor early in your process. A mistake I made was to find an editor after I had come up with what I thought was a relatively final draft. It made rewriting sections of my manuscript difficult, even painful. I had worked so long and gone through so many drafts, I thought I was close to finished. I was wrong. For the follow-up to Shooting at Shadows, I’ll be working with a development editor much earlier in the process, before I’m quite as invested in my novel.

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Forest McMullin is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Earlier in his career, he was a photojournalist who specialized in photographing fringe social groups. Today he writes both long and short form fiction, Shooting at Shadows is his first novel.

Website:

http://forest-mcmullin.com

Instagram:

http://www.instagram.com/forestmcm

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/forest.mcmullin

Substack:

https://substack.com/forestmcmullin

Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/forestmcm.bsky.social

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Shadows-Crime-Thriller-McGuire/dp/B0FC2VR1KS

Amazon CA:

https://www.amazon.ca/Shooting-Shadows-Crime-Thriller-McGuire/dp/B0FC2VR1KS

GIVEAWAY:

Seal Watch by Petie McCarty - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Petie McCarty will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Someone is watching Cory.
She can feel it in her bones . . . but why?

Navy SEAL Sean MacKay's teammate is murdered after stealing a deadly nerve gas formula from Syrian terrorists. Naval Intelligence believes MacKay's teammate was a traitor and shipped the stolen formula to his sister in the States for safekeeping. MacKay is ordered to find the sister before the terrorists do and to recover the stolen formula at all costs.

Foreclosure looms for Cory Rigatero as she struggles to keep her rustic resort near Mt. St. Helens afloat after her brother abandoned her to join the SEAL Teams. Cory's whole world plummets into a tailspin when Sean MacKay shows up at her resort with news of her brother's death and the shocking suspicion that her brother sent her traitorous classified documents.
r> No way will Cory ever trust MacKay—the man who once seduced her and then vanished into the night without a trace.

EXCERPT THREE:

Mac was nearly back at his cabin when he heard Garth’s frantic bark again. The sound didn’t come from the lake, and Garth wasn’t hunting night critters like he had earlier suspected. The bark echoed from near the barn.

“Garth!” Mac yelled into the night.

Two sharp barks burst in rapid succession from the dog. A long, piercing howl swiftly followed.

Worried the dog might be in trouble, Mac sprinted toward the barn, surprised to find all the doors shut. He forced one of the large double doors open, and Garth burst out, almost knocking him over.

Mac stepped into the darkened barn and called out, “Vern? You in here?”

Nothing.

Squatting down to Garth’s level, he got a couple of quick face licks. “How did you get shut up in the barn?” He ruffled the dog’s ears and noticed the big canine looked a little unsteady on his feet. “You okay, boy?”

Garth wagged his tail, and Mac led him out into the moonlight for a better look. A scream ripped through the night air, stopping them both.

Cory!

Mac sprinted toward the main house with Garth, breathless and struggling to keep up, already winded. Something was wrong with the big dog, but he couldn’t afford to worry about that right now.

The two tore through the border of the side garden. Mac spied the kitchen door to the main house standing wide open and raced that direction.

A second scream sliced through the air. This one sounded closer to the front of the house, and Mac changed course to race in that direction. Garth stayed straight and bounded through the open kitchen door as Mac cleared the front corner of the house.

He stumbled when he caught sight of a man in dark clothes and a black hoodie, half-carrying, half-dragging Cory down the front steps with a knife to her throat. Mac skidded silently into the rhododendron bushes lining the porch. The assailant hissed over his shoulder to someone behind him.

Okay. Two tangos.

AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:

Petie spent a majority of her career at Walt Disney World—"The Most Magical Place on Earth"—where she loved working in the land of fairy tales by day and crafting her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said goodbye to her "day" job to focus on her stories full-time.

These days, Petie spends her time writing new tales for her Cinderella series, her new paranormal-romantic-suspense series, The Watchers, sequels to her Regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and more standalones like Any Fin For Love and Ambush in the Everglades.

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy, who makes a cameo appearance in Christmas Watch, Book 2 of The Watchers series.

Visit Petie at her website, http://www.petiemccarty.com, or her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty, to get to know her, learn about her current projects, and discover her other published works.

http://www.petiemccarty.com
https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty
https://x.com/authorpetie
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6094579.Petie_McCarty
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/petie-mccarty
http://www.amazon.com/author/petiemccarty

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/SEAL-Watch-Watchers-Book-3-ebook/dp/B0FW5QPSB5

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/SEAL-Watch-Watchers-Book-3-ebook/dp/B0FW5QPSB5

GIVEAWAY:

Watch Things Grow by Jay L O'Callaghan - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jay L O'Callaghan will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Curious brothers Zack and Liam love healthy food—but they've never grown their own! With help from Mum and Dad, they learn how tiny seeds turn into fruits and vegetables. They discover the magic of plants, the power of patience, and why nature matters.

But will their plants really grow? And what surprises will the garden bring?

Watch Things Grow is a fun and engaging story that inspires young readers to connect with nature, get their hands dirty, and see the world in a new way. It's the first book in an exciting series that explores the wonders of nature, creativity, and the joy of learning through hands-on adventures!

EXCERPT THREE:

Everyone worldwide likes different types of vegetables and fruits, that nobody can dispute.

Whether crisp and hard, soft or sweet, bitter and sour, we love to devour.

Zesty Zack loves cooking broccolini and zucchini with his pasta linguine.

Mango, strawberry, and banana give him good karma in a world full of unpredictable drama.

Pak Choy, pumpkin, passion fruit, and peach, are some of his favourites he likes to eat.

Tomato and potato go great in a soup; apple and kiwi are his preferred fruit.

AUTHOR BIO & LINK:

Jay O'Callaghan has been crafting stories through writing, directing, and producing for over 15 years. With a Digital Media and Film & Television Production diploma he co-founded 4word Thought Entertainment in 2007, bringing narratives to life through music videos, corporate films, advertisements, and short films.

A career highlight was designing the graphic interface for the Kids B Safe smartphone application and directing its promotional campaign. Away from the screen, Jay spent 15 years as a chef in the aged-care industry, mastering the art of nourishing body and soul.

A storyteller at heart, Jay has transitioned from film to full-time writing, developing a captivating children's book series inspired by his own kids, and other books for young readers. His work blends imagination with rich storytelling, drawing from his deep interests in philosophy, history, and antiquities. Beyond writing, he is an illustrator, painter, and avid gardener, always exploring creativity in various forms. With a passion for promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle, he brings thoughtfulness and depth to every project he undertakes.

Website:

https://jaylocallaghan.com

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US:

https://amazon.com/dp/1764140311

Amazon CA:

https://amazon.ca/dp/1764140311

GIVEAWAY:

Hippie Mermaid by Joanne Guidoccio - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Joanne Guidoccio will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

From sea to shore, betrayal follows her wherever she goes.

On Christmas Eve, psychic Kendra Adams reveals the secret she’s hidden for decades—she was once Rosina, a mermaid torn between sea and shore. Betrayed in her ocean kingdom and desperate to escape banishment, she persuades a politician to smuggle her into the human world. But freedom on land comes at a cost, as she soon finds herself ensnared in another web, this one spun by the politician’s power-hungry sister.

EXCERPT TWO:

A smile crept up on Aunt Lina’s face. “We have seven days to captivate your human.”

“What…How?”

“I heard all about the excursion from the Ettas,” Aunt Lina said. “They couldn’t stop talking about the attention you received from those four men. And that, my dear Rosina, is why Annabella is determined to get rid of you. She doesn’t want any reminders of a competition she didn’t win.”

“But I wasn’t competing. I said nothing and let the others pick their humans.”

“Ah, but the humans wanted you. And the one called Blake was not too happy when Annabella claimed him.” Aunt Lina spoke more briskly, “You made a good impression. You stayed much longer than the others, and you risked your life for a man.”

I shook my head. “I forgot about the time.”

“Something you cannot afford to do when you go up there tomorrow night.”

“I can’t go up there.”

“Did La Bella forbid you?”

“No, but I don’t want to upset her any further.”

“If she has mentioned Crete, she has already decided. You need to find a way out of this disaster. Go up there each night until you connect with the human. Persuade him to take you with him. If a human desires you, La Bella will not interfere. She will expedite the process.”

I tried to recall scattered bits of the conversation with Lloyd. At one point, he did mention wanting to take me with him, but there was uncertainty in his voice. He already had issues with the two women in his life.

“Cry,” Aunt Lina advised. “Humans cannot handle our tears. And if necessary, beg him to take you away.”

“His life is already complicated.”

“And yours is not?” Aunt Lina grabbed my shoulders. “This human is your only way out of this mess.”

AUTHOR BIO:

Joanne Guidoccio enjoyed a rewarding career teaching mathematics, business, and co-operative education courses before retiring to pursue writing. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational stories from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

CONNECT WITH JOANNE:

Website:

https://joanneguidoccio.com

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio

Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/joanneguidoccio.bsky.social

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest. jca/guidoccio

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio

Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US:

https://www.amazon.com/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon CA:

https://www.amazon.ca/Hippie-Mermaid-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

Amazon AU:

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FVHQ2T3N

GIVEAWAY:

Toil and Trouble: A DCL Publications Anthology - Six Remarkable Tales from Six Fabulous Authors - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The authors will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The brew is hot and bubbling over with romance and terror in this twistedly beautiful anthology that welcomes the darkness of horror and the temptation of love's veiled promises. Six remarkable tales from six incredible authors fill this book of dark shadows and ancient whispers.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble - by Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe: Enchanted pastries and spell-brewed coffee make Esmerelda's sugar-dusted counter the city's most coveted haunt—until a dangerously charming newcomer slips into her shop, immune to her magic and unraveling her carefully guarded world. As his witch-hunter heritage threatens to burn her legacy to ash, Esmerelda finds herself torn between the threat of revenge from the witch hunter's ancestors and the intoxicating truth of the connection that they share.

Silverwood - by Lynn Hubbard: A lonely rancher's daughter finds her isolated Wyoming homestead upended when an amber-eyed stranger ignites a mud-splattered passion that defies reason—until his supernatural secret and the vengeful ranch hands hunting her force her to choose between the man who saves her and the monster who might destroy her. Torn between fierce protectors and forbidden desire, she must trust the very darkness that could shatter her world to survive the wild frontier's deadliest threats.

Ivy, Lichens and Wallflowers - by James Ryan: Marketing executive Hilda finds solace from her stifling corporate life and overbearing past in the quiet companionship of Miriam, a mysterious 19th-century marble statue in a city micro-park, only to discover their connection transcends stone when Miriam begins answering her handwritten notes through cryptic poetry left in return. As their forbidden connection deepens into an intoxicating dream-bound romance, Hilda uncovers Miriam's supernatural secret: she's a cursed thaumaturge sustained by stolen life force, forcing Hilda to confront whether love can survive the devastating cost of keeping her alive.

A Mirror to Die For - by Cindy Lewis Smith: A desperate woman finds solace in an antique mirror that whisks her nightly to 1880s Arizona, where a charming outlaw named Johnny Ringo fulfills every fantasy—until her jealous fiancé shatters the glass and vanishes, leaving her trapped in an asylum screaming that he is the real monster, a man who shouldn't exist: Dr. John Henry Holliday, the gambler who killed Ringo a century ago. Now, with "MPR" carved into her cell walls and time itself unraveling, she'll stop at nothing to prove her sanity by proving time travel is real—even if it means unleashing the very darkness that destroyed her.

Flight 1031: Cosmic Turbulence - by Julian Christian: Diplomatic courier Sarah Martinez boards Flight 1031 expecting routine turbulence, not a Halloween dimensional rift that strands her at Germania International Airport—where the Greater German Reich has ruled since 1943 and perfected technology to harvest souls from parallel realities through consciousness-scanning machinery that pulses with seventeen-beat rhythms. Now trapped in a terminal that breathes like a living organism, Sarah must navigate a world where every passenger hides a secret and her resistance could either save her timeline or doom infinite versions of humanity to eternal enslavement in a Reich that spans all dimensions.

Dream a Little Dream - by Jae El Foster: After a near-death car crash rewires her brain, Sarah's nightmares bleed into reality: sugar on the counter forms glyphs, bats appear out of nowhere in broad daylight, and her own hands betray her—while the velvet-eyed stranger from her dreams appears in her waking hours, his urgency growing as Halloween's veil thins. Now, with her reality twisting into something surreal and an ancient language hijacking her voice, she must confront a dark truth: her soul isn't hers to keep, and the man who saved her in death is the very entity hunting her in life.

Read an Excerpt From ‘A Mirror to Die For’ by Cindy Lewis Smith

"May I have a glass of water?" I asked.

I'm just so uncomfortable. These clothes I am wearing are itchy and stained. I have no recollection of purchasing this outfit. It's definitely not mine nor my style. My hair feels gritty and needs to be washed and brushed. Any day now my fiancé John Henry, some people call him Doc, will be bringing me my own clothes and makeup, and a new hair brush too. I know he will. I can't wait to see him. It's been so long.

In fact, I don't know where he could be. The last time I saw him we argued, but that was the way it was for us. I'd forgive him and we would go on as if nothing happened. This chair is uncomfortable. The seat is worn out and the softness of the padding has long gone. I have to keep squirming and readjusting my body just to be able to endure the sitting.

I noticed the clock on the wall directly in front of me. It's one of those large heavy clocks, probably weighing fifty pounds or more. There's a picture of the Eiffel Tower in the face of the clock. The word Paris is written in a pretty script over the tower. I doubt anyone in this place has ever been to Paris. It's on my bucket list. John Henry and I may honeymoon in Paris once we're married, although he's been talking about going back to Georgia instead.

To distract my thoughts in the silence of this morbidly uncomfortable room, I envision the clock falling and crashing to the floor, leaving a giant hole in the wall where the nail would be. I imagine that the glass in the clock has broken into thousands of tiny pieces. Sharp pointy shards of glass are scattered throughout the room, glittering like diamonds on velvet. Aren't they so pretty?

"I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought."

"Go on," he said, "Tell me more about what happened to John Henry"

I love talking about John Henry. My story, it's all true, you know. Every single word. I wouldn't have believed it myself if it didn't happen to me.

I readjusted myself one more time in the chair and continued.

"It all started the day I purchased the mirror," I explained.

"You see, I hadn't slept but maybe four or five restless hours the entire previous week. My life had become mundane and boring. The excitement was gone between me and John Henry. His demeanor had changed. He said it wasn't him, it was me who had changed. But, I knew he was lying."

He never told me any truths. Not anything about his past or what he did when he left me. Sometimes, I felt like he was only using me. Like I was a mysterious link or something between what he used to be and what he wanted to be now. It's hard to explain, it was probably nothing more than my imagination.

John Henry was just so ruggedly handsome, I couldn't help myself, so I forgave him often when we argued. Maybe because of our fighting and torrent relationship, the headaches were coming more and more frequently. And, more intense.

I refused to take the prescription medication I was given. Those pills... those little pink and red pills! NO! No, not those pills again. I couldn't take it anymore. I tossed the prescription bottle into the trash can and grabbed the keys to my car on my way out the door. I heard the door slam behind me and I didn't look back. I was not going to think about John Henry, if only for one day.

"My old Chevy was stuttering and in need of some repairs, but it didn't stop me from driving wherever I wanted to go. And that day, I wanted to go across the border. It was a warm day in late September, with barely a breeze moving through the dry air. I was wearing a big straw hat, the same kind the Chiquita Banana woman wears on the TV commercials, a pair of dark sunglasses and shoes that flipped back and forth on my feet."

I was getting low on gas so I coasted into an old, mostly deserted town in southern Arizona. It was just a few miles or so, maybe thirty or forty minutes across the border. I didn't want to take a chance on stalling out the car. Service stations out there are few and far between. I parked my car on a dust covered side street and strolled to the downtown area of this dusty little town.

Some old-timers were outside sitting on benches that lined the wooden sidewalks of the streets. Their wrinkled cheeks were swollen on one side from a wad of chewing tobacco. A dirty brass spittoon was centered on the sidewalk between them. I could feel them staring at me. You know that kind of stare implying that I didn't belong there, that I'm out of place.

BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS7DXSXX

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1849875

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toil-and-trouble-jae-el-foster/1148244179

Apple:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6752260026

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/toil-and-trouble-17

GIVEAWAY:

Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder - Book Tour - Author Interview - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Extraterrestrial Noir
by Rich Leder

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GENRE:   SciFi

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BOOK BLURB:

A PSYCHO-CRIMINAL EXTRATERRESTRIAL ON A SUBURBAN CUL-DE-SAC

A FAMILY ON THE BRINK OF ALL-ENCOMPASSING INSOLVENCY

A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD UBER-GENIUS DAUGHTER IN THE LINE OF FIRE

CAN SHE SAVE THE FAMILY, NOT TO MENTION THE PLANET?

An extraterrestrial crashes into a suburban cul-de-sac Colonial, absorbs every binary bit of information ever chronicled in all of human history, rearranges its molecules and presents itself as a couple of late and legendary film noir superstars, then immediately displays an appetite for debauchery, depravity, decadence, and destruction, seducing the family into its psychopathic criminal orbit with irresistible Hollywood panache, alluring sexual charisma, and inconceivable intergalactic powers.…all in the name of saving the family from their emotional, marital, and financial ruin.

But uber-genius-daughter Mike Devine figures out fast that the extraterrestrial’s principal plan is to employ its unfathomable interplanetary muscle and implode the planet. Which leaves the fate of her family, not to mention the world, in her twelve-year-old hands.

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EXCERPT TWO:

“Maybe it’s a missile, or a rocket,” Emily said. “Jesus, it’s really moving fast.”

“Is it me?” Carol said. “Or is it coming right at us?”

“It’s not you,” Maggie said.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Lisa said.

“Do meteors split off from the flock?” Carol said.

“I don’t think meteors travel in a flock,” Maggie said.

“It’s like somebody aimed the thing right here,” Emily said.

And then they were silent, watching whatever it was shoot toward them. A fireball, they were now realizing, that was going to hit New Jersey any second.

“Jesus,” Lisa said, and the women dove to the ground. There was no time for them to think of their husbands, who, as it happened, were face down on Peter’s green, or their children, who were unaware that some kind of cataclysmic crash was about to occur. 

No time even for their lives to flash before their eyes because the thing was low in the sky now and not aiming for New Jersey or Bergen County or Paramus. Aiming for The Stars. And not just for The Stars, for Hope Circle.

With a blinding blast of flame and a supersonic swoosh, the thing shot over their heads and hit the Devines’ roof at a forty-five-degree angle on the front side. There was a smashing sound that was oddly muted and echoless, though the original crash was followed by three successive lightning-quick crashes, and then there was nothing.

Maggie got to her knees first and followed the black, smoky, fast-dissipating trail over their heads to her house, where smoke was wafting around the hole in her roof where whatever it was had gone crashing in.

“Oh no,” she said, “My kids.”

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW:

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

Dozens of them. I’m a writer, remember? Imaginary friends are tools of the trade. When my children were young and living at home, they would stand at my office door, listening to me have full conversations with people not in the room, and say things like, “There’s something wrong with you, Daddy.”

Do you have any phobias?

Don’t love hanging around wasps. But I don’t beat myself up over because I don’t know anyone who does.

Do you listen to music when you're writing?

I do not. I need to hear the sounds of the world I’m creating. In fact, I wear noise-cancelling headphones. No sounds other than the voice of my characters and the locations they inhabit.

Do you ever read your stories out loud?

When I was writing movies in LA, something I did nonstop for 15 years, I would often read my scripts aloud so I could hear the characters say the lines I was writing for them. I still do it on occasion with my novels but less often. I’m better at hearing what the words really sound like coming out of this or that character’s mouth. At least I like to think I’m better at it. Anyway, I hope I am. I better be. Geez, I mean after all this time.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.

Mike Devine is a 12-year-old uber-genius trying to live a normal seventh-grade-girl life. She likes soccer, the Talking Heads, baked ziti, and dinosaurs. She’s never had a boyfriend, but, man, she’d sure like to. All normal stuff for a normal girl living a normal life in the suburbs of New York. Unfortunately for her—though good news for the planet, not to mention the cul-de-sac—she has to be a genius to save the world. She’s sassy and snarky and funny as can be. She’d be even funnier, I think, if the fate of the Earth wasn’t in her preteen hands.

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AUTHOR BIO & LINK:

Rich Leder has been a working writer for more than three decades. His credits include eight novels for Laugh Riot Press and 19 produced movies—television films for CBS, Lifetime, and Hallmark and feature films for Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Tri-Star Pictures, Longridge Productions, and Left Bank Films. 

He’s been the lead singer in a Detroit rock band, a restaurateur, a Little League coach, an indie film director, a literacy tutor, a magazine editor, a screenwriting coach, a wedding consultant (it’s true), a PTA board member, a HOA president, a commercial real estate agent, and a visiting artist for the UNCW Film Studies Department, all of which, it turns out, was grist for the mill.

Website:

https://www.richleder.com

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BOOK BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBLKSK2W

Amazon US Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestrial-Noir-Rich-Leder/dp/B0FBWVH9T6

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0FBLKSK2W

Amazon CA Paperback:

https://www.amazon.ca/Extraterrestrial-Noir-Rich-Leder/dp/B0FBWVH9T6

Bookshop Paperback:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/extraterrestrial-noir-rich-leder/22774708

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GIVEAWAY:

Rich will award one lucky winner a $25 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) at the end of the tour.

What It's Like to Be Me by Elizabeth Ann O'Handley - Book Tour - Book Blast - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Elizabeth Ann O'Handley will be awarding a $10 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner's Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Well, one thing is for certain: everyone will feel something different after reading What It's Like to Be Me!

Why you ask? It is simply because every single one of us is completely unique; that is what makes us who we are.

The young girl in this book helps us understand that the journey of self-identification is not always easy. In some cases, maybe we just have not given it much thought. I mean, how often do we check in with ourselves? At times we are more focused on what others may think about us, while we are truly unaware of what we even think about ourselves.

With reflection, it is sometimes necessary, and useful, to see ourselves objectively.

The young girl in What It's Like to Be Me has to look within to find herself. Personal growth will usually assist us in accepting the reality of who we really are. As life changes and we grow through experience, it is up to us to be the best versions of ourselves.

Living your truth is a personal suggestion for making things a little easier when embarking on the journey of knowing exactly who you are. Every experience will change us, maybe a little, or maybe a lot. Who you are going to be in this world starts with you!

I wish you all a wonderful journey!
Truth, love, and respect always,
Elizabeth Ann O'Handley

EXCERPT ONE:

Preface

The world we live in can be unpredictable. Life will challenge us and give us reasons to question many things. Life may make us feel uncertain of a decision … make us feel uncertain of ourselves.

Let us help one another affirm our purpose so we can live in a world where we feel more in tune with ourselves.

Life is so beautiful, precious, and filled with meaning. Let us start by finding ourselves and then watch that beauty grow.

May we all find what we are looking for.

AUTHOR BIO & LINK:

What It's Like to Be Me is Elizabeth Ann O'Handley's second book. It was inspired by a visit to her hometown of Glace Bay, in the province of Nova Scotia.

Elizabeth graduated from Cape Breton University with a B.A. in 2005, and received a diploma in Acupuncture from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners & Acupuncturists of British Columbia in 2011.

In realization of many things, Elizabeth is forever grateful for the love she continues to receive from her family and friends. She reflects on her experiences with a humble heart, and is very emotional about being true to oneself.

Elizabeth is convinced that storytelling can be an effective tool in helping anyone find their path.

Elizabeth is committed to creating positive content, in hopes that it will have an impact on all readers of her work.

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47332435.Elizabeth_Ann_O_Handley

AMAZON BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.com/What-Its-Like-Be-Me-ebook/dp/B0FBX92WG4

Amazon CA Kindle eBook:

https://www.amazon.ca/What-Its-Like-Be-Me-ebook/dp/B0FBX92WG4