So excited for my besty Bernard Foong. Not only is his agent shopping a screen play but he has a number of promotions coming up to highlight his amazing work. Good for him and good for me: opening up my email and finding his words is reward aplenty:
“Hi A.B.,
“Glad to hear from you and that spring has sprung in your neck of the woods. I’m well and the weather is always pleasant in Hawaii. Never a ‘dull’ day. Lol!
“Meantime, for the blog, if you could include the special announcements listed below, I’d be very grateful…
* May 8th – Friday : the final sales promotion day for A Harem Boy’s Saga – book I – INITIATION. The book is at US$4.99 from the normal $5.99. This is a one day sale.
* A Harem Boy’s Saga – Book II – UNBRIDLED special sales promotion announcement;
That will be great if you can give this special promo a shout-out. Other than that – the other special announcement is:
* The screenplay TV Pilot for A Harem Boy’s Saga – I – INITIATION; a memoir by Young is currently scouting for potential film/television companies/producers by Gilbert Literary Agency.
Anthony Rudzki was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Spent 9 years in the USAF, married and has 2 children. With Allison and Alfred grown up and moved out of the house, he took up recreational writing after about 35 dormant years. With the camaraderie of a Fantasy_Writing group online, he wrote 100K words worth of short stories and finally managed to finish a 93K word Fantasy novel, his first, Medallion of the Undead. He currently working on a novel based on one of the characters in Medallion, as well as outlining episode 2 and 3 of the Undead Trilogy.
MEDALLION OF THE UNDEAD
Kyle is a young man who lives with his father on a farm that has seen better days. When the 20 year cycle of torrential rains come, they bring disaster to the fields and unearth a 300 year old curse. After the discovery of a valuable silver button, Kyle hunts for more to save the farm and his father. That search brings him in contact with one of three hidden artifacts. Artifacts that in the wrong hands could spell the end of mankind.
Q: What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
A: As much as I would like to think that there is a little thing clanking around in my skull providing inspiration, I can’t believe it. If she’s in there, she’s leaning on a shovel and smoking an unfiltered camel waiting for her break to end. My muse is an outline with the scenes worked out enough to get me from waypoint to waypoint.
Q: Characters have a great capacity for love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and real life?
A: Love in fiction is one of the great motivators that can be used to make your characters do any number of things, just as in real life. Love can make a character do despicable things to keep love away from others and is willing to lay down their lives in the pursuit of it for themselves. Of course, in real life many people are too afraid to open themselves up for fear of being embarrassed or hurt by that emotion.
Q: Without giving specifics, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
A: Hmmm. My short stories tend to have twist endings (or that’s what I’m shooting for), but my novel is more of a mixed bag. Is that murky enough to confuse everyone?
Q: What would you like to be remembered for?
A: I would love to just have those that actually know me, smile and tell a story involving me.
Q: If you could dine with any historical figure, living or dead, who would it be and why?
A: I’d like to have dinner with Mike Rowe. I know, he’s not historical, but I really enjoy listening to good storytellers and I think he is one. And with his Dirty Jobs program, we would have plenty of things to talk about.
Q: Past, present, or future? Where does your mind dwell?
A: Present. I have so many simmering irons in the fire that I can’t dwell on the past or toss more on the fire to prepare for the future.
Q: What informs your writing most?
A: Just writing. And re-writing. When I picked up the keyboard and began writing again after many years, I was pretty rusty. But, just like any skill, the more I wrote the easier it came and the quality actually rose. I love getting feedback about what works and what doesn’t. Hell, if you wrote a little note in a comment balloon, I’d kiss you right on the mouth.
Q: Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
A: I act very locally. I try to do simple good deeds for people that hopefully puts a smile on their face and makes them pay that forward. If enough people would do one simple kind act a day, who knows how far it would spread. That being said, if my characters look at me cross-eyed, I kill them off without a warning.
Q: Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
A: Role Playing Games. Not the lonely wife and Geek Squad repairman, kind. Computer Role Playing Games where you solve puzzles and gain gold/experience.
Q: Your greatest victory?
A: After staying married? Getting my novel actually finished and having my beta readers say, “Okay, we want to read the next one. Where is Episode 2?”
Q: Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place, or thing.
A: Retiring from the USAF. I was in for 9.5 years and decided to get out. Looking back, it would have been wiser to stay in and get more schooling and experience.
Q: What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
A: Good vs. Evil, of course. Also, sticking together as a team. The characters in Medallion of the Undead have numerous chances to just say “Forget It, I’m outta here!”, but they have a bond that forms from their adventures together, that makes them want to help one another out…even when their lives are in danger.
Q: Who do you admire and why?
A: Authors who can write well and are able to turn out novels in 6 months. Incredible, not just because of the quantity of words, but that there is actually a cohesive story that you want to read and turn the page to find out what happens next.
Q: Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
A: Works in progress, of course.
Thank you Tony for stopping by. Best of luck with your progress….
TOMORROW: AUTHOR CHARLENE JONES PROFILES HER NOVEL THE STAIN, AVAILABLE WITH FREE DAYS BEGINNING MAY 19
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
Welcome Charmaine Pauls, author of the Seven Forbidden Arts series and resident of the world. Born in Central South Africa, she has lived and worked in France and Chile. A published author with three novels and a number of short stories to her credit, it is an understatement to say that Charmaine has been very prolific since 2011. Two more releases are due out soon.
Pyromancist (Book 1, Seven Forbidden Arts)
When you play with fire, you get burned.
At the same time as mysterious fires commence to rage through Clelia d’Ambois’ home village in Brittany, France, she starts sleepwalking. Daughter of a Japanese orphan, Clelia’s heritage is riddled with dark secrets that threaten anyone she loves. In a recurring nightmare she sees Josselin, the haunted man who abandoned their village nine years earlier, come for her, but she doesn’t know why. All she knows is that she has to run. As fast as she can.
Leader of a paranormal crime taskforce, Josselin de Arradon is called back to his hometown with a mission–find and kill the firestarter responsible for Larmor-Baden’s blazing destruction. Sensing that Clelia is the key to solving the crime, Josselin kidnaps her to use her as bait. The battle doesn’t turn out quite as he expected. Nothing could have prepared him for the truth, or the depth of his desire for his prisoner.
This is Book 1 of the Seven Forbidden Arts series, but also reads as a stand-alone.
* This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
Pyromancist is available from all leading internet book retailers in paperback and electronic formats.
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
Muses are integral to the creative process and come in many forms. It can be a person, a song, an energy or an object. For me, it is sometimes my internal daemon, the male muse, that can come to me in a dream, or be the fabrication of my imagination. The Monster High doll, Frankie Stein, with her one blue and one green eye has been my muse for my rebel character Zenna in my wine romance, The Winemaker. A fantasy figurine (an angel and a dragon) that I had bought in a medieval village in Brittany, France became my muse for my futuristic erotic Chilean romance, Between Fire & Ice. I am currently working on a new paranormal erotic romance series, Seven Forbidden Arts, for which I am using fantasy art to inspire me.
Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
In fiction, it creates the conflict and suspense needed to drive the story forward. In real life, we are all searching for that one person who will be our soul mate, forever.
Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
I am a great fan of classic unrequited love stories such as Frankenstein, Dracula and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but a happy ending is compulsory for both my romance novels, and the peace of my romantic writing mind. J
What would you like to be remembered for?
A piece of writing that has touched someone. And I hope that my children will look back and remember me as a good parent.
If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
Gandhi, because I admire his wisdom.
Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
I’m a great believer of living in the present moment.
What informs your writing most?
Authors who inspire me. In my genre, my favorite authors include Lora Leigh and Anna Zaires.
Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
My life philosophy is to live every second to its limits with social responsibility for thoughts, intentions and actions, and respect for diversity.
Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Staying in bed all weekend with a box of chocolates and a great book. And then getting dressed up and dancing the night away.
Your greatest victory?
To do the very best I can in everything I do. It’s an ongoing challenge.
Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
I really should have bought that dress. When I went back, it was sold. J
What are some of the overriding themes in your work?
To live in the moment, to strive for balance, and a compliment of opposites, such as the yin-yang.
Who do you admire and why?
I admire my brother for his unfaltering optimism. He’s like a cork. No matter how deep he goes down, he always pops back up.
Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
Because of the ever-changing aspect of life, and its ever-evolving nature, it’s an ongoing process.
Thank you for dropping by Charmaine Pauls. Come visit again!
TOMORROW: FAN FAVE MALAY UPADHYAY, author of Kalki Evian – The Ring of Khaoriphea takes the Proustian Questionnaire in advance of an exciting new promotion. Details TBA. Oh, Malay…
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Bookgoodies. Check out my review on Goodreads.
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
Penny Estelle is a best selling writer for all ages, from the early reader to adults. Her books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy and time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. She also, under P. A. Estelle, has written adult stories including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances.
Penny was a school secretary for 21 years. She and her husband moved to their retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.
Jason was getting closer to Andy. His voice hissed through his teeth. “You must think we are some kind of stupid. We aren’t like the hicks who live in this town and if you think we would even begin to believe some story about an old witch who lived here, then you better think again!” Jason pushed Andy hard against the wooden cabinet.
Andy shut his eyes waiting for the first blow. Nothing happened. He squinted open his left eye and saw Jason’s head cocked to one side, trying to see behind Andy’s back. “What have you got there, Andy Pandy?”
Uh oh, the glowing stick. Andy wasn’t about to give that up. “Nothing,” he told him, trying to back away but there was no place to go.
“Oh I think there is something,” Jason sneered.
“It’s mine!” Andy shouted. “You will have to do your worst if you think you are taking this from me!”
“No problem,” Jason said, lunging forward. Andy tried to fake him out, pretending to run one way and then the other. That didn’t work. That never worked! Jason grabbed Andy’s arm that held the stick and tried to grab it. Something was going to break, and Andy wasn’t sure if it would be the stick or his arm. They both fell and were rolling on the floor. Andy knew he was losing this battle. No matter how hard he held on, he could feel his new-found treasure start to slip out of his grasp.
“Jason, stop it!” Danny shouted. “You’re acting like a big dumb toad!”
“Yeah…you’re … acting… like…a…toad!” Andy gasped between each word.
The stick exploded into a flash of light and then the fight was over. Andy jumped up, trying to fill his lungs with air. What happened? Danny came running over to where Andy stood. “Where’s Jason?” Andy couldn’t answer because he couldn’t catch his breath. Danny yelled, “Jason, where are you? Quit messing around!”
His chest still heaving, Andy stammered, “I don’t know. I . . . don’t know what just happened.”
They both looked to the floor. Under one of the boxes was what looked like a pair of pants. “Jason!” Danny hurried to lift the box. No Jason — just his pants. Lying close by were his nice Nike shoes, socks and a short distance away was his shirt. “What did you do?” he yelled at Andy.
“Nothing! I didn’t do anything! I . . . don’t know!” Andy had no answers.
Danny tried again. “Jason,” he screamed his name. “Where are you?”
Hike Up Devil’s Mountain is available in eBook, Print, and Audio
A CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH THE BOYS FROM HIKE UP DEVIL’S MOUNTAIN
BY PENNY ESTELLE
Good morning everybody. I am here today, talking to Andy Thompson, and Jason and Danny Crew.
Me: Good morning boys!
Andy: Morning
Danny: Morning
Me: Oh, I thought there were three of you.
Andy: Well, there is…or was
Danny: We had a bit of trouble.
Me: Uh oh. What kind of trouble and Danny, what is that sound coming from your pocket?
Danny: That’s my brother, Jason. He is kind of a…uh…toad now.
Me: OH! Is that the bit of trouble you were talking about?
Andy: It wasn’t my fault. I was in the basement of this old house that is about to be demolished, minding my own business, and in walks, Jason and Danny. I found this awesome glowing stick and he tries to take it. So you can plainly see it was not my fault. He’s the school bully!
Jason: I am not!
Me: Wow! The toad talks?
Jason: Yea, I can talk. We were having this little disagreement and then poof, out of nowhere, I’m a toad! He did this to me!
Me: You boys are in quite fix. What’s the plan of attack?
Danny: We are headed up Devil’s Mountain. There’s a witch there and we hope she can fix this whole thing. My parents won’t like it if Jason as to live at the lake.
Jason: Not funny, Dude.
Me: Boys, that’s a big, dangerous mountain and I’ve heard some scary things about it, so be very careful and good luck on your Hike Up Devil’s Mountain!
Thank you Penny Estelle for dropping by The Blog today. All the best to you and your future future projects!
MONDAY: Author Vicki-Ann Bush talks about her father and the courageous battle that binds her family.
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday.
The Blog welcomes resident Athenian, action, adventure, romance writer A.A. Schenna whose thoughts on travel, musing and the one that got away will surprise and delight. Welcome A.A.
THE ALPHAS
The black angels have come, destroying the world to remake it in their own image. Some humans will survive, even overcome. As their world burns, they will rise from the ashes.
And some survivors will fall.
EXCERPT
Dark Secrets
656 BC
“You destroyed everything!” The tall man was exclaimed, trying to unchain his hands.
“No, you destroyed us,” the powerful speaker, the winner of this battle answered and looked at his enemy, feeling sorry for him.
“We could be together in this. We could do anything, Marc.” He couldn’t accept his failure and forthcoming punishment as he attempted to earn Marc’s trust by making him feel emotionally trapped.
“It’s over, Leonim.” Marc would never disrespect the law.
“I will never forget your betrayal, Marc. The next time I will kill your Alphas after cutting off your head first.” Leonim was sure he would be given another chance, and didn’t hesitate to threaten the leader of white soldiers of their lord as well.
“You will miss being embodied, Leonim. I will see you the final day again.” Marc waved his left hand at the guards and took him away while he watched his violent removal in silence.
“You will regret it, Marc. I will kill you and your Alphas like you did to my race,” Marc shouted out, scuffing his feet roughly on the ground, trapping the white soldiers in a cloud of dust. He was unable to accept the consequences of his mutiny and kept resisting.
Marc turned back and walked to the place where the first Alphas had been slaughtered by Leonim and the rest of the revolutionists. The moment he gazed at their bleeding, soulless bodies, he cried out and, although he was aware of how things would evolve, he could do nothing but admire their strength. He had truly loved these people and never stopped admiring their passion to protect their offspring by sacrificing their lives.
Marc made a circle around the place they were found and, later, he knelt in front of the true fighters, touching their bodies while praying for their souls before giving the final signal to burn the temples of their pure hearts.
“The gates are closed. Leonim and the rest will remain locked in until the last day. The offspring of the first Alphas are enough to restart everything again,” the tall man opposite him intoned.
The white angel got up and remained stable, staring for the last time at the first Alphas. The dark had covered the forest and the towering oak trees–the last remaining paradise on earth– but the new day would turn into the new beginning of humanity.
After a while, the fire turned the bodies of the first Alphas into ash whereas the smoke kept rising, becoming one with the white clouds of euphoria, seeking for a shelter to transfer and let their souls rest in peace.
The black angels were defeated and now they would remain trapped in the abyss, the zone between life and death, unable to do anything other than wait for their punishment.
“I think we are done here,” Marc said and looked toward his powerful soldiers. The white angels nodded at their leader and waited for his next move.
Marc looked around him and spread his great wings to take to the air. The rest of his team followed him back. Flying higher, Marc remembered the past and his initial reaction, considering whether he could have done something to prevent this from happening or not.
***
“Look at them!” Leonim said contemptuously.
“It’s not our business.” Marc said firmly.
“The only thing they know is producing offspring, they are pathetic,” Leonim added, pointing at the people who lived in small villages.
“You know the rules, Leonim.” Marc was able to guess Leonim’s thoughts.
“We could make things different, Marc. We could be their Gods and worship both of us everyday.” Leonim whispered, feeling guilty for his selfish confession.
“Are you insane?” Marc shook his head, trying to forget his words.
“Stand by my side and I will help you do everything you want,” Leonim dared to suggest while Marc remained speechless, coming across the ruthless reality.
“I will pretend you never said that, Leonim.” Marc murmured.
“I understand.”
That moment Marc realized that his brother had lost his mind, desiring the privilege of their father. He was certain that nothing would be the same again since Leonim stepped into the zone of selfishness, ignoring the law and disregarding the love of their father. Leonim regarded that he could make everything better whereas nothing and no one would be able to stop him.
The following day, Marc found Leonim sleeping with the daughter of a man under the shadow of an oak tree. He loved his brother, and now froze in fear because he knew what their father would do to him.
“What have you done?” Marc cried, trying to hide his tears. Leonim had crossed the line and betrayed them all.
“I decided to change everything and make a new race. Come with me, Marc, we could be the best team. Our offspring will become very strong–no one will be able to hurt them and we will become their Gods.” Leonim was so passionate with his plan that he couldn’t understand the consequences of his actions yet.
“You did something you knew was forbidden,” Marc whispered.
Thank you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A.A Schenna was born on May 8, 1982 and currently lives with his partner Maria in Athens, Greece. As a child, A.A dreamed of being a cardiac surgeon. Later, Schenna realized that this was not what he wanted.
Writing has always been his greatest pleasure. When he doesn’t write action, adventure, romance stories or anything else, he reads everything.
Schenna admires all the writers he comes across and enjoys talking about books and magazines.
A.A loves traveling, meeting new people and discovering new places.
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
They treat me well! If they were real, and if I had the chance to meet them, I would definitely talk with Clio and Melpomene.
Life and the people I love give birth to inspiration. When I am surrounded by their positive energy, I feel the need to write stories that I want to share with everyone in this world. Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
Love is passion, obsession. Although we are capable of almost anything, I do believe that we can’t control the power of love. Most times, love turns into a wonderful, but dangerous addiction as well. We demand everything and we never feel satisfied. Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
Yes! Sometimes life treats me well and I feel grateful to God for keeping me healthy and safe. But there are times I feel sad and I really need to read something that will help me forget my problems. I love reading and writing books with happy endings. What would you like to be remembered for?
For being a good man… Everyday I do my best to be kind, and I try to be patient and friendlier with everyone. If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would definitely do that with Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and scientist (384-322 BC). His philosophy continues to influence Christian Theology, and continues to be the object of active academic study today! In my opinion, this is amazing. Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
Present! As Angel, the human being, I like having contact with reality. On the other hand, A.A Schenna, the writer, could turn back the time and travel in future… What informs your writing most?
The people, the experiences I come across and the power of nature.
Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
Yes, and I still can’t understand the reason we gave up on this philosophy. In my view, locally means family and globally means God. I wish we would think globally and act locally again. I am sure our world would be different since we would love, appreciate and respect one another. Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Ice-cream! I believe I am addicted to chocolate. Your greatest victory?
I would say the presence of some people in my life. These people know what love means, and they helped me realize the real meaning of this word. It’s easy to say “I love you”, but it’s very difficult to prove it. Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
It was a dog. My grandmother moved to the countryside and Maggie didn’t stay with me. She couldn’t live without my grandmother! What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
Hope and determination are my favorite themes. I think that when we lack positive emotions and virtues, we stop living, we just exist, and this is tragic. Who do you admire and why?
The people who never give up and keep doing everything they can to achieve their goals. I admire their energy, their passion and the way they affect the rest of us. When I meet such people, I feel I want to do the same thing. Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
I don’t have a straight answer.
I believe that writers produce stories.
On the other hand, stories are made of words. Then again, words can be put together to build larger elements of language. But the language is a living and growing organism, and we can feel it changing.
I think only the time should answer this question!
Thank you A.A. for stopping by. All the best in your work and travels!
TOMORROW: Swashbuckler David K. Bryant talk pirates, Presley and all good things Ancient www.davidkbryant.com
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday.
Baseball season has sprung and it is the perfect time to pick up a great new book about the sport’ s all-time greatest player. “512” Ralph Peluso’s recent novel is based on the life of Babe Ruth. This is not your John Goodman/ William Bendix portrayal of the greatest baseball player of all time. This is a more serious character, emotionally scarred driven to excel at baseball – Learn about the many intriguing characters who went in and out of his life – See him as the game’s most solidifying man who stood fast against the gamblers deep hold on the sport – Discover what really lead to his sale to the Yankees and his nearly two decade feud with a mean spirited, bigoted commissioner, Judge Landis – Ride his journey to crush batting records and chase Young’s elusive 511 win mark – See how the love of a strong women led him on the right path Read 512 ! Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
512
George Herman “Babe” Ruth is widely regarded as the most recognized American sports icon. In 1902 at age 7 disheartened parents abruptly delivered him to an “orphanage”. Called incorrigible” his father coldly turned and walked away. Emotionally scarred Ruth forever craved acceptance. Painfully he mistook the exploitation of his talents for emotional bonding. Decades later his emotional void finally filled by the love of a strong and determined woman.
At the turn of the 20th century, popular American sports had fallen prey to the evil influence of gamblers, baseball was not immune. In a game controlled by mean spirited and cheap owners, players were the real victim: chattel tossed aside when no longer having purpose. Impoverished players easily lured into the web of deceit. In 1903 with the advent of the World Series, the stakes increased. Players had big paydays altering the outcomes. Baseball’s little secret hidden until 1919 when news shocking the nation broke. The World Series was fixed!
Enter a self-serving and biased federal judge handed absolute power to save the crumbling sport. He looked for help in the one player unapproachable by gamblers. In Ruth, Landis found a perfect and unsuspecting accomplice for control over every aspect of baseball. Ruth, with popularity soaring, was not controllable. A second scandal erupts in 1926 threatening to end the Landis grip on baseball. Never more fragile, the game was on the precipice to status as another corrupt sport. Landis looked to Ruth once again. This time Ruth wanted assurances about his future.
This is the remarkable journey of Ruth’s assault on the baseball record book including his attempt to surpass the unreachable record of 511 wins as pitcher. He meets an assortment of unique characters and experiences colorful events; leading to a dramatic showdown with his chief adversary, Commissioner Landis.
About the Author
Ralph was born and raised in New York City. At a very young age his father introduced him to baseball. He has been a sports enthusiast since. Active in youth sports for over thirty years, he has coached high school and middle school teams to many successful seasons. He has served on the board of several regional youth team organizations. He is an advocate of player and parent sportsmanship. In 2006 he became a member of the Society of American Baseball Researchers and currently serves on the Overlooked Legends committee.
He has an MBA in Finance from Bernard Baruch College (Zicklin School of Business) of the City University of New York. Ralph has had a successful and award winning business career, serving in senior executive positions for several major corporations including MCI, WinStar and Cisco. Today he is a partner in a boutique consulting practice that helps emerging companies fulfill their promise.
Ralph has published a series of short stories including ‘Outer Banks Chronicles’ and ‘Jersey Shore Fever and Other Seaside Maladies.’
Ralph and his wife Renee currently reside in Virginia.
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
A personal muse, sure do have one: the sight of the early morning sun peeking over the horizon, the soothing warm rays gracing my face, the sounds of the dawn silence broken by the gentle commotion as the city awakens, and the blending of the sweet aroma and jarring taste of that first cup of steaming coffee. All of my senses awakened fully. Inspiration 101!
No need to worry about my muse being turned into a magpie, as a plethora of fresh thoughts erupt, I just hope I can write them down quickly enough before I forget them.
Yup this daily routine led to the creation of many of the great scenes in 512. My favorite, a young Ruth, in his best pre-teen mezzo soprano voice sings the Ave Maria at an all school Mass.
Your central character in 512, Babe Ruth has great capacity to love, yet he was starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
You can find Ruth among the bevy of children.
“Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” This is a great quote from Mark Twain.
The legendary George Herman “Babe” Ruth is perhaps the most misunderstood and misrepresented person in sports and entertainment history. He was full of love, especially for family and children. He fought for the little guy, a well-paid athlete who battled miserly owners to help other players make more money. He did things for other people today’s superstars would not dream of, unless they could make a buck from it. One time hearing a semi-pro team lacked enough players to field a team, so Ruth borrowed a uniform and played first for them.
Ruth after playing a game for the Hartford Poli semi-pro team.
In his life Ruth was starved for love, he suffered deep emotional scars from abandonment numerous times. Neither fictional nor biographical accounts can describe the extreme distraught this rambunctious seven year old must have felt when he was unceremoniously dropped at the “feet” of the Christian Brothers by cold parents. He spent the next dozen years at St. Mary’s Industrial School. This was not an orphanage but a “reform school”. From this point on Ruth yearned for acceptance.
A few days shy of his 19th birthday, Ruth is “emancipated” from this safe environment, thrust into cruel heartless world, his guardianship entrusted to a complete stranger who was simply looking for a pitcher. Within months, that same man sells Ruth to a different club. Ruth, now among the real life wolves, would suffer pain of abandonment several more times. What young adult male with money to burn and no support system, free from rules after years of rigid discipline would not act out? And he did, very wildly at times. Ruth acted foolishly but he was not a fool.
After an ill-fated and hasty first marriage, he finally discovers love and family guided by a strong willed woman, Claire. She pierces his external personae, seeing his vulnerability, and that he is easily exploited by others. She grabs hold of him and guides him on a path of stability. From Claire, Ruth learns how to accept love.
Through all of his wildness Ruth never lost his ability to give love. I did have the fortune of interviewing Julia Ruth Stevens his daughter, the deep sense of love for “Daddy” ever present.
Fiction and reality exist in blended harmony within my characters; it is tough to separate the two.
Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
Unless I am writing a humorous piece I definitely want to leave the readers thinking one of two things: “What the heck just happened? “Or “Could it have happened that way?”
My view is to make the work memorable, a water cooler conversation piece for the readers.
I want them to let their minds wander and debate all aspects of possible outcomes.
What would you like to be remembered for?
This is sort of like writing your own epitaph. I think the remembrance I would most want is simple admiration for having a positive impact on lives that I have touched, whether through my writings, in business, teaching or coaching children.
But, most of all I want to be remembered by my family members; who had to endure the countless odd ball life stories I shared, each having a unique moral they called “RalphO-isms”.
Don’t ask why they stuck the O in the middle of the name, that’s a story for another day.
If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
Nixon, opening day 1969, most likely only President to ever wear a baseball glove while throwing out a first pitch! What a geek!
The 37th President of the United States
I guess I just have a soft spot in my heart for the completely misunderstood enigmatic heroes. Richard Milhous Nixon never was comfortable in the limelight but he was equally uncomfortable when not in a suit, shirt, tie and wingtip shoes, even when strolling on the beach. He was bold and confident enough to take on the most difficult decisions imaginable, but vilified for the easy arrogance with which those decisions were made. Despite the many achievements during his abbreviated tenure in the Oval office, he is remembered most for his departure in disgrace, which he accepted valiantly. Nixon went through a second resurrection after leaving office, with historians finally recognizing the importance of his accomplishments.
Nixon was a man counted out at least twice politically but managed to arise from the ashes each time. I think anyone can learn from him. The art of perseverance, what does it take? How do you muster the courage to face the fierce adversaries who criticize and have beaten you, then to reverse your defeats?
Heralded and hated, there is so much I would like to ask him.
Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
The George Harrison lyrics frame it for me.
“Sunrise doesn’t last all morning
A cloudburst doesn’t last all day
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning
It’s not always going to be this grey
All things must pass
All things must pass away”
Each day is a new page in our lives, only we can complete the chapter or the story. As I get older, I believe that there is pre-destination to our lives. The beginning and ending are known but we assemble and shape our own journey. Along the way we will encounter rocky and smooth points; how we pave the road will determine our happiness.
The forward of 512 is the true life story of my friend Larry. I talk about his path taken and the certainties that would have happened to others had he gone down a different road.
When I get up, I think about the kind of road I will pave today.
What informs your writing most?
Life, every bit of it! Everything has a story. People watching is one great source of creative material. It does not matter where you are: at the mall, on the beach, on a crowded subway platform. Absorb what you see, hear and experience –“the truth is stranger than fiction”, especially when you can write it your own way.
Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
Learning to survive a nuclear attack in the 1950’s
Well I actually grew up in the 50/60’s. We were encouraged to think about careers in which we could not be replaced computers. But that was after we were taught to kneel under our desks and put our head between our knees in case of an attack by the Soviet Union.
Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Guilty pleasures, well there are all too many to name; but none that I feel guilty about! But if I had to narrow it down to just one, I would say 18 holes of golf, alone, on a not too crowded course, playing three or four balls each hole.
Ruth could hit the golf ball a long way!
Your greatest victory?
My greatest victory was convincing my beautiful wife to marry me, after years of heavy pursuit. Not sure how or why she caved finally but that was a big win!
Now if you had asked about greatest accomplishment, then it would be watching the youngest of my children graduate knowing each child was now on their way to a fulfilling adult life on their terms.
Finishing close behind the above is having 512 published after the 4 ½ years of research and writing effort.
Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
I grow up in the Bronx and did a “boat load of fishing” (no pun intended) let me tell you many, many more than one got away. But I have to draw from Don Quixote quote “in last year’s nest there are no birds this year”. Don’t spend time looking backwards.
I try not to get stuck thinking about the past; or thinking the grass always greener on the other side.
Too many people think “Oh my life would have been better if…” Thinking that way one will never be fulfilled and the basket of ones that got away will rival the parable of the fish and loaves, never ending.
What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
I have a soft spot for the plight of the underdog who manages significant accomplishments while facing long odds or against a more powerful adversary. It is hard to imagine the iconic Ruth as an underdog, but certainly he was.
Born in perhaps the poorest section of Baltimore, emotionally crippled, he substitutes a street gang for family. The only life he knows is inside the walls of a tough love reform school. He is a boy with no interpersonal or social skills. Somehow this youngster, barely 19, not only survives but thrives through pure determination of will to crush all the baseball records, transcend the sport against an antagonistic and megalomaniacal commissioner, and to this day 67 years after his death remains an iconic figure.
Ironically, Ruth himself had a soft spot in his heart for the underdog and downtrodden.
Other favorite themes are “conspiracy and the hidden agenda.” I enjoy keeping the readers on their toes.
Who do you admire and why?
Again this is tough question, especially when you think about all those who helped build our great country. In honor of 512, I will stay with the baseball theme.
As product of the Bronx, New York who else is there to pick but Mickey Mantle, nearly every New Yorker’s hero from 1951- 1968. So much has been written about him.
Before every game both legs were heavily taped so he could play through the pain
Blessed with blue eyes and golden hair, and an even more golden smile, this powerfully built athlete had to fight demons his entire life. From a small rural mining town in Oklahoma, the shy 18 year old was thrust onto the bright New York City lights, with a cardboard suitcase and one change of clothes. His athletic prowess and boyish charm elevated him and hid his real fears from the public eye. No male in his family had lived beyond the age of 40. Imagine electrifying a city six months a year for 18 years believing your time on earth had a defined expiration date. He did that while battling chronic pain from injuries his entire career. Such great fortitude is deserved of every ounce of admiration I can muster.
Mantle used excessive drinking to suppress his demons. Ironically, Mantle lived into his mid-sixties, losing his battle from the effects of alcoholism. In the end Mantle’s story was a true a Shakespearean tragedy.
Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
Hum…writers are fully informed works of art in progress! Writers, I think are like Michaelangelo. Years and years after studying anatomy he creates the statute Moses. The work is an astounding sculpture renowned for its detail, the muscle definition in the arms and bone structure in the hands are exquisite perfection. Nearly completion, Michaelangelo step back to review his work. WHAM! He banged his mallet in frustration on the knee of the statute, dissatisfied with an imperfection he noticed.
The delete key is my mallet; definitely I am an informed work of art always in progress.
Thank you so much for stopping by Ralph. All the best with 512 and we’ll see you on the links!
TOMORROW: Author Angel Schenna talks THE ALPHAS, endings and the ideal muse.
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THE FUNKHAUSER ROADSHOW DAY 7 WHERE I’M INTERVIEWED BY BEWITCHING BOOK TOUR MAVEN ROXANNE RHOADS. ENTER THE REALM www.roxannerhoads.com
Blog Tour brought to you by:
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Bewitching for Authors
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday.
My friend the scientist could talk for hours with future guy Frederick Crook. Dark themes, distant places, bad guys and star ships, he goes places we dare to follow, if only for the measure of hope he offers: ‘when there’s nothing to lose, there’s everything to give.’ I like that and so might you. Hello, Frederick Crook.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Frederick was born in Chicago in 1970 and now lives in Villa Park with his wife, Rae and their three miniature dachshunds. He began by writing fictional works all through high school, earned an Associate Degree of Applied Science in Electronics in 1994 and the Bachelor of Science in Technical Management from DeVry University in 2005.
In 2009, Frederick began writing his first novel, The Dregs of Exodus, which was self-published in late 2010. This was followed up with another novel, The Pirates of Exodus in 2012.
Throughout that year and early 2013, he continued writing and published four short stories in eBook form for Kindle and Nook. All of these stories share the same premise, but all are independent from one another, though the short eBook, Campanelli: The Ping Tom Affair and his third novel, published by Solstice Publishing, Campanelli: Sentinel, share the same main characters.
Minuteman Merlin was released for the Kindle by Solstice Publishing, March 1st of 2015.
He loves writing and enjoys meeting and talking to readers at book signing events.
THE BOOKS
It is 2110 and migration to the colony planet, Alethea, has depleted Earth of billions of people. As a result, migration has been declared illegal by all world governments. Human trafficking becomes highly profitable for organized crime and their influence reaches beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Many starships returning from Alethea are diverted from the scrapping process and secretly refurbished, allowing the population to shrink further.
Frank Campanelli is a blind Chicago Police detective who depends on his fully functional bio-electronic implants to see and do his job. After assisting on a botched infiltration of a top human trafficking network, he and his partner, Marcus Williams, are transferred into the CPD’s Organized Crime Division to head the newly formed Sentinel group and bring down the Ignatola family business.
Cover art by Arvin Candelaria & Velvet Lyght of “Stories by CL”.
Nebraska, 2121. A widower by the name of Merlin lives in his converted Minuteman-3 missile silo with his Black Lab, Chief. Suffering from stomach cancer, Minuteman Merlin is under the care of Doctor Larry Hammonds. On this post-Great Exodus Earth, the cure has left for the stars along with the vast majority of Mankind, so the doctor must treat him with the long-outdated methods of chemotherapy and radiation.
In the small town where he receives this medical treatment and trades goods, Merlin confronts a child abuser. The situation goes horribly wrong, resulting in the death of the victim’s father and the destruction of Doctor Hammond’s office. To make amends, he opens his home, giving the physician a place to practice medicine and the boy a place to live.
A man with nothing left to lose has everything left to give.
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
I’ve never had one specific muse. I am inspired mostly by the old men of science fiction. Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke. I’ve also been influenced by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. The ideas that came to me after I wrote my first novel, The Dregs of Exodus seem to just occur to me. “Dregs” was an interesting scenario about a dystopian future given the right circumstances. I’ve been working backwards for the most part, writing about the experiences of other characters in other times and locations. Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
Well, that depends on the characters, of course and the nature of the story. Starved enough, I suppose, you have a villain on your hands. Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
Not with everything, that’s for sure. There are stories that I’ve written with indisputably positive endings. The rest tend to end on a mixture that I feel makes for a realistic outcome. What would you like to be remembered for?
I want readers to remember me as an author of dystopian sci-fi stories that did not rely on a disaster to create them. I think many people are turned off by dystopian adventures because of the massive deaths that go along with a 2012 or a Deep Impact scenario. I wanted my work to have a positive back story: The vast majority of Mankind is making a new home on the colony planet, Alethea. If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’d have to say Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I’d like to know what it was like to be pulling the strings behind
the scenes of the world’s biggest conflict. Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
I’m in the past for the most part. I really enjoyed the music of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, and I really enjoyed the way of life back then quite a bit more than these days. All the gadgets that we live with on a daily basis are intrusive in many ways and not necessarily helpful. The reliability of something like the provider of our internet, TV and phone is often subpar because they try to stuff too much capability into it. In the ‘80’s, I had my music on LP’s and cassettes, 40-ish channels on the cable television, and we had a landline phone. It was so quiet and pleasant back then. What informs your writing most?
I have to have music running, especially lately. My mind is like an old tube-amplified AM radio. It drifts without any outside influences. I can’t even begin to list what I listen to, but you can bet it’s from the ‘70’s or ‘80’s. I like some new stuff, don’t get me wrong, but in a world where a Tom Petty rip-off wins a Grammy for the best song of the year it’s hard to find stuff that I like. Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
In the ‘70’s, I was attending a Catholic school in Cicero that, fortunately, no longer exists. Thought was not encouraged in any form, let alone actions derived from such behavior. While I tend to mind my own business when it comes to most things, I do recycle and think I do a lot to minimalize my negative impact on the Earth, though I think she’s a lot tougher than us and will be glad when we’re off her back. Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Pretzels in white chocolate are awesome. A Maker’s Mark cigar with its tip soaked in its namesake is bliss. Sneaking a beer before noon is as cool as it sounds. Your greatest victory?
I hope I haven’t experienced it yet, though the day I left a mind-numbing office job a few years ago without being jailed for assault has to be it. I lost the job but I regained my true self and no one had to get hurt. Setting myself free that day felt better than achieving my degrees. Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
Actually, anything that I’ve gone for and failed at has turned out for the better. I’ve tried for that automobile that I knew I couldn’t afford and was pissed off when the financing companies denied me, but looking back at it, I know it would have ruined me. I’ve tried for that house that I knew I couldn’t swing and was shot down by the mortgage companies. I’m happy about that, too. I’ve pursued some women in my time and I can’t say that there are any that I regret not catching. There’s a saying that I like to keep in mind about such things in life. I don’t know who said it and I can’t even remember when I heard it, but it’s this: “Never pursue a woman or money. Both will leave you in the dust.”
What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
I think that readers should understand that things that change our world are not always for the better. There is a negative aspect to everything we achieve, no matter how small. For instance, the “Great Exodus” that I feature in all of my works is a beneficial event for most of Mankind, except for the people that remain on Earth. Things will happen in our reality that may seem all good for us, but the experience will always produce some sort of negative cost. Most of the time, the bad side of something is a trade that we can live with, but sometimes it’s not. It’s as important to not be naïve as it is to not be jaded. Who do you admire and why?
I admire men and women of the arts that have become internationally recognized and are genuinely happy. I think Stephen King, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are prime examples of that. There are musicians that put that feeing across as well. Now, perhaps these are merely facades of contentment, but who is to say other than they? Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
I don’t think anyone is a fully formed work. We’re all works in progress because we as people are always changing as we get older and experience the world. It’s important to keep evolving and working toward our goals, changing things when we find the need. If we don’t keep changing, then our art will be stagnate and forgettable.
Thank you Frederick Crook for you insights. Be sure and check out F.C.’s YouTube channel. He has a je ne sais quoi for book trailers!
TOMORROW: Baseball aficionade. writer and all round New Yorker Ralph Peluso
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
“All I can tell you is this. When love is right, it’s true.
When it’s true, it’s forever.”
It is a pleasure to welcome actor, author and playwright Raegyn Perry to the Blog. Raegyn’s first novel LAVENDER FIELDS is releasing soon through Solstice Publishing and is the first in her series Eternal Journeys. Book two is currently in the works. Hello Raegyn…
Hi A.b.
Are you ready for the Proustian Questionnaire?
Sure! I had fun doing this. I had to really dig on some of them. Ha!
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
Muses. Yes, I do think anyone or anything that ignites an idea or feeling that results in getting a pen or keyboard under your fingers is a muse. Do I have one? I have many. My muses come in the form of a song, a scene in a movie, a picture, something playing out in the news, on the street, a conversation, or whatever comes out of my brain from a dream.
Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
Starving characters in real life/fiction. Great question! In fiction, I’ll use the example of my two main characters, Greye and Connor. They each have a vision of the perfect love for themselves, and each has a strong excuse for why they avoid it. They take a chance at love, only to be thrown into a murky, awkward journey. For a story, this adds tension and complexity to their pursuit of true romance. I, as a reader, want to see them work through the dark or painful obstacles, rooting for them for their happily ever after. In real life, it’s not as enjoyable to be the one in that struggle, or know someone going through it. The starving is in wanting and honestly needing both the light and dark sides of love.
Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
I love HEA’s, but with twists! 🙂
What would you like to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for being a kind, likable person who shares her love of all people and for wanting to leave a giving and tolerant footprint in the world. Hokie, but true.
If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
I’ve changed this list many times over the years. Not deleting anyone, but finding different names to add to it. Off the top, right now, I’d say Maya Angelou. Her words always seem to find a way to reach me and make me think. I’d ask her if there was one thing she wanted to see, do, experience, or write about that she hadn’t, what would it be.
Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
Where my mind dwells? Hmm, that’s a loaded question. My mind can be a very confusing place sometimes! For Lavender Fields, it went back and forth. Two lovers in two different lifetimes. Connor and Greye in the present, with an uncertain future. Heath and Lacey in the past with an unimaginable future.
What informs your writing most?
The thing that most informs my writing is how deep can I venture into the truth, be it hard and not so pretty, and find a still truthful way to get to the happiness. Life experience is big part of that.
Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
I subscribe to the belief that everyone, everybody that seeks out a life of fulfillment, and not doing harm to another is worth the space they share with the rest of humanity. I try and support as many different campaigns and organizations that are doing good things for the good it perpetuates. Even if it’s down the street, a state, country or continent away. Can I do more? Absolutely.
Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Guilty pleasures? Dare I share? OK, I might be addicted to Lindt chocolates, “Hello, my name is salted caramel”, and I may be associated with a growing cult-fandom known to call themselves Hiddlestoners. (Google Tom Hiddleston, and you’ll understand) Oh, yeah, I get it, Raegyn! 😉
Your greatest victory?
I like to think I’ve enjoyed many victories over the years, of course the most recent being given the privilege of having my debut paranormal romance, Lavender Fields contracted to be published. It was such a moment of unbelievable joy and a feeling of acceptance and validation. Writing the script and filming the teaser video was also a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. Hope to share it soon.
Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
I just recently put it all out there about the ONE that I let get away. He was an old school friend who I pined for silently while we chatted for hours and wrote tons of letters to each other, and even watched as he picked up my best friend next door for a date. We had a moment, and I didn’t go for it. (that starving thing I think), and I wonder to this day…what if?
What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
I think the favorite theme of my work is that the strength of someone’s love for another can overcome whatever gets in it’s way. Whether it’s a jealous betrayal, deep-seated hatred, or even time itself. One of my taglines is: What if love found the right people at the wrong time?
Who do you admire and why?
I admire many people, for many different reasons. In general, I admire those who go for their dreams, and then inspire others to do the same. My late great-aunt E. Pauline Myers (worth Googling too), has always been an inspiration to me. She was a foot soldier in the events that led to the Civil Rights movement. She was caring and loving and didn’t back down from a fight! (literally). She was also a writer, and it’s her family story that inspired Lavender Fields.
Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
We, writers; we merry band of writers are always and constantly works in progress. As much in that I can speak for myself! Even those who have written masterpieces, and Nobel prize-winning literature, poetry, song, whatever-will likely tell you the same thing.
There’s always room for more words.
THE BOOK
LAVENDER FIELDS
Torrential rain spikes. A scream pierces the dark night.
Greye Fields has immersed herself in her literary work, with no desire to chase the inevitable sting of rejection she knows too well. She won’t allow herself the time or the desire to pursue love.
Until she meets him.
Connor Donovan is perfectly content with his bachelor status. Life is good, teaching middle school English, and being the favorite uncle. He wants for nothing.
Until he meets her.
Shattered glass. A wash of blood.
Is it a nightmare or a memory?
Can Connor and Greye overcome the obstacles to the love of all time, or is tragedy doomed to be repeated?
What if love found the right people in the wrong time?
Raegyn Perry is thrilled to soon (fingers crossed this summer!) share her debut novel, LavenderFields, with readers. This is Book One in the Eternal Journey Series. As an actor, she’s been in various productions over the years onstage in Ohio, then Seattle and even Everett. She got to play a doctor in front of the camera with Ned the Cactus in a Taco Time commercial, as well as other fun spots. Raegyn wrote a full length play, she hopes to one day see brought to life. When not writing, Raegyn has been known to turn into a T.V. and movie-watching junkie, and is just as happy going to a movie, happy hour, concert, or theater show. She can be perfectly content curled up with a good book, or on a fun travel adventure. Anyone who knows her knows she loves to dance (a lot!) wherever and whenever possible! In addition to romance, Raegyn proudly claims to be a geek fan of most Sci-Fi, paranormal, or comic-book related media. She also just recently wrapped a teaser video for Lavender Fields, which she scripted and starred in with friends down in Portland, Oregon. She is currently working on the second book in the Eternal Journey series. Raegyn has called the beautiful Pacific Northwest home since 2001, and has one son she’s quite proud of.
Thank you Raegyn for stopping by today, all the best to you for success with LAVENDER FIELDS.
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
Today, the blog welcomes romance author and fellow Ontarian Susanne Matthews. Educator, visionary, novel crafter, Susanne tackles her storylines with a view to a journey. From first page to last, her characters move and we, the readers, are transformed with them. Welcome Susanne.
The last person disgraced reporter Faye Lewis wants back in her life is Detective Rob Halliday, the man she blames for ruining her career and breaking her heart. But when she finds an old friend murdered, he’s the one she calls.
For the past year, Rob and his team have been hunting the Harvester, a serial killer who ritualistically murders new mothers and vanishes with their infants. What Rob doesn’t need is another case, especially one involving his ex-fiancée.
Then Faye is assaulted, and Rob realizes the cases are connected. She may hold the answers he needs to find the elusive killer. But the more they investigate, the more complex the situation becomes. Can they set the past aside and work together, or will the Harvester and his followers reap another prize?
Excerpt from: The White Carnation
After more than four hours of hobnobbing with the rich and not so famous, Faye was hot, tired, and exasperated. The engagement tea had been even worse than she’d imagined. Clowns—they’d had clowns—and she hated clowns. You never knew who was behind that pasty white makeup. What kind of adults used a kiddy theme for their engagement party? Alright, so the groom’s family was in the home party décor business. What difference did that make? There had to be hundreds of themes more suitable to the occasion.
Imagine that snooty little bitch thinking she was the help—it might be the society page, but press was press. Thank God she wasn’t one of them anymore. Sure, the money, clothes, and bling were nice—although Faye wasn’t penniless, she did have to pinch the ones she had—but at least she had a valid reason for getting out of bed each day. Hopefully, Abigail and Reginald would be happy, but she wouldn’t count on it. If ever there was a marriage arranged in the boardroom, that was it. Imagining that couple on their wedding night as they completed the merger made her laugh out loud in the car. Miss Ice Cube wouldn’t possibly warm up enough for Mr. Icicle to penetrate in the first place … clowns or no clowns.
She slapped the steering wheel in frustration. The drive from Wellesley to Beacon Hill seemed interminable, and more than once, Faye cursed inept drivers who didn’t know the least little bit about driving or where they were going. She hated being late, and thanks to overlong speeches and bad traffic, she would be.
“Tourists,” she grumbled when a sudden exit off the highway almost caused an accident. “Too bad GPS doesn’t come with idiot-proofing.” When she eventually got off the I-90 and onto the side streets, she spotted a parking space on Marlborough only half a block from Mary’s family home, a neighborhood she remembered fondly from her youth. Well, at least the parking fairy’s on my side.
Glancing at the heavy gray clouds on the horizon, she cursed. It would rain soon, and she’d forgotten her umbrella in her desk. This jacket needed to be dry-cleaned, and she’d already blown this month’s budget for that. Grabbing the white carnation with the rainbow ribbon that her secret admirer had left on the windshield this morning, she got out of the car. That flower was the only bright spot in her otherwise dismal day. As always, there’d been no card. The individual flowers, their stems tucked in micro-vases that held the precious water they needed, arrived on a more or less regular basis. This was the fourth—no, the fifth one. Sloan had joked about the first one.
“Maybe O’Malley learned you hate roses.”
Jerk!
She was convinced her secret admirer was sweet and maybe a little shy. For a while, she’d thought Jimmy might have been leaving the flowers for her, but he’d been out of town on assignment the last two times. At least Mr. Mysterious wasn’t some crazed stalker sending her death threats. It was good to know someone still admired her, and if the only romance in her life was a carnation four or five times a year, so be it. Her crushed heart wouldn’t be in any danger that way. She usually took the flowers home, but this time, she’d give it to Lucy Green. Why not? The woman deserved a bright spot in her day, too.
The neighborhood hadn’t changed much. Did someone ensure that the geraniums in the window boxes looked exactly the same from year to year? Was a gardener paid to fluff the petals just so? The geraniums she’d hung on her tiny balcony had more than one dead bloom that needed removing. These? Not one.
The Greens lived in a unit on the top floor of a renovated brownstone. As she walked toward the building that had practically been her second home, Faye tried to let go of her frustrations and think of the simpler, happier days when she’d lived just a few blocks away. That had been fifteen years ago; Faye had been sixteen when her life had changed forever. She’d been the fun-loving one, the one people sought when they were down.
“Forgive me. I’m sorry.” God, she hated those words, the last ones her father had penned. She’d trusted him to love her and protect her, but he’d let her down. After one too many bad financial decisions, instead of sticking around and trying to fix things, Dad had taken the easy way out and left her and her mother to pick up the pieces. “Trust no one but yourself” was Faye’s mantra. Sadly, she’d forgotten it four years ago when she’d met Rob, and look at what had happened.
Today, her career was on life support and her heart was broken into so many pieces, she doubted it would ever be whole again. Sometimes, the easy way out didn’t look so bad. Maybe she was more like her father than she thought. She’d certainly made a few bad decisions of her own.
About the author:
Susanne Matthews was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. She’s always been an avid reader of all types of books, but always with a penchant for happily ever after romances. In her imagination, she travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. A retired educator, Susanne spends her time writing and creating adventures for her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
Muses are an interesting breed. Since I’m a pantser, I have to have a muse, otherwise, where would the stories come from? I can’t describe her, but she’s real. She enjoys tormenting me at night—giving me all kinds of great ideas that keep me from sleeping—ideas that disappear when I finally do, and even if I write down some key idea, that doesn’t make sense the next day. But, essentially, she’s kind, and shows up when I need her most. Since a lot of my books are suspense novels, she’s got to be the one with the experience, right? Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
Love can be a scary thing. If you love someone deeply, you have to lay it all out there, and when you do, you can get hurt. I think in many ways people are afraid to love. As a writer, I torture my characters, make it hard for them to find love because in real life, finding love and keeping it is a struggle. If it comes too easily, it’s not necessarily going to last. We value what we work hard for.
Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
Yes, absolutely. No matter what torment my characters undergo, in the end, things will work out for them. What would you like to be remembered for?
I’d like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in someone’s life. If they enjoyed reading one of my books that would be great.
If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
William Shakespeare. I’d like to know how he’d feel knowing that those plays he wrote by hand have been immortalized. I’d also ask him why he created two such weak men as Hamlet and Macbeth. Even King Lear was powerless.
Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
Solidly in the present at least half the time. Since I write historical romance too, I guess 25% of the time I’m in the past. The other 25 % I’m thinking of the future and planning out what I need to do. What informs your writing most?
Not quite sure what you mean by this. If you’re asking about my inspiration, then it’s events in the news. I’ll see an article and research various aspects of it until I find a story notion—that’s where the muse kicks in. Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
Growing up in the Fifties and Sixties, the world was a smaller place. I might dream globally, but I was firmly rooted at home. That really hasn’t changed. I have lots of friends around the globe now, thanks to Twitter and Facebook, but I tends to stay in my own corner of the world. Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
Cheesecake and red wine Your greatest victory?
Selling my first novel, Fire Angel. It was a dream come true. Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
I had a chance to go to Woodstock in 1969, and I turned it down because I didn’t like the idea of having to sleep in a tent. I was 19. What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
Good wins out in the end is the overriding theme. I don’t like to see women diminished or minimized in any way. True love always shines in the end.
Who do you admire and why?
Nora Roberts. She has always been one of my favorite authors and I aspire to be as good as she is one day.
My daughter, Angela, because she has faced adversity and overcome it. She has four young children, and has raised them on her own while working full time. She’s my hero. Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
A work in progress for sure—one that gets better all the time.
Thank you for dropping by Susanne and much success with THE WHITE CARNATION.
Tomorrow: Author Raegyn Perry showcases LAVENDER FIELDS and muses her way through the Proustian Questionnaire
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
Michigan born Ontario raised author Rival Gates has a foot in two countries and two worlds. His first novel, QUEST FOR THE RED SAPPHIRE, Book 1 of the Sapphire Chronicles, had its genesis in a young man’s dreams, becoming a reality in adulthood as a finished work under the auspices of Solstice Publishing. Rival owes his determination to supportive family members, but the drive to realize the written word is wholly his own. QUEST fuelled an imagination for years, but it has sparked a career that will span many years to come. Welcome, Rival.
QUEST FOR THE RED SAPPHIRE, BOOK 1
General Linvin Grithinshield was used to enemies trying to kill him on the battlefields of the medieval world of Lavacia. Now he has the fear of being killed anytime, anywhere. He thinks he is summoned home from the goblin wars to oversee the family merchant empire after his father’s disappearance; and for a while he is right. Then his mother is assassinated and Linvin’s true purpose is revealed. He must seek out and find the all-powerful Red Sapphire and claim its might before the murderers find it…or him. With new dangers around every turn in an ever-escalating spiral of violence, he must prove himself worthy of the gem and lead his party to success against insurmountable odds. To fail would mean death for far more than just him. The world, itself, could fall into permanent shadow and darkness.
Excerpt 1
Linvin was still. He closed his eyes and tried to put aside the events of the day. At last he spoke, “My life makes no sense to me. There I was, growing up with my parents and then out of nowhere my father tells me, ‘I must send you away, son. You are destined for something greater than the life I can provide. The greatness in your future lies down a separate road than I must travel. To prepare for that, I must send you to the greatest teacher you could have, Sedemihcra.’”
“‘You will be trained to be a soldier, a commander and a leader of men. He will also train you to use your mind to solve problems that force alone cannot solve. He will set you on the right path. When the time is right and your training is complete, I will send for you to return home.’”
“I asked him what was at the end of my path. He had such passion in his voice as he told me, ‘One day you will make an unrivaled difference in the lives of others. The weak, the helpless, the oppressed; all will one-day look to you as their champion. They will be counting on you. I will be counting on you.’”
“‘To send you away is the hardest thing I have ever done. Your mother is against this but the time has come for you to begin your training. There is so much at stake, son. You will have the chance to stand up to tyranny, oppression and all the evils of the world. That task will fall to you alone. You can rise to the challenge or turn your back. If you do turn away though, millions of people will suffer. Terrible storms are on the horizon. You are the only shelter the people will have. So you see my son, that is why you must go.’”
Anvar sat his stein on the rail and began to pace. “Your parents agonized over the decision and your mother was indeed set against the entire idea, but in the end, your father would not defer. He sent you away because he knew that you needed training.”
Linvin finished his ale and refilled the great vessel. “I had many years to ponder those words as I grew up in Valia. It never made sense to me but I had to trust my father’s judgment.”
“So here I am at last, summoned home to fulfill my destiny. As it turns out, I am destined to be a merchant or politician and marry some cold, greedy woman who comes from the right family. I will settle down, make more money and be a proper member of society.” Linvin’s tone had been sarcastic and his movements, grandiose.
He approached Anvar in a combination of frustration and anger. “So, dear uncle, best friend of Dirk Grithinshield, is this the life for which my father sent me to be trained?”
QUEST FOR THE RED SAPPHIRE is on sale on Kindle for .99 and can be bought at http://amzn.to/1npYd0S
BIOGRAPHY
I was born in Port Huron, MI and was the youngest of four surviving children. At the age of five my Father took a position as a magazine editor in Toronto, Ontario Canada. We moved to a large city just outside Toronto called Mississauga. The different cultures and demographics to which I was exposed formed many of the ideas for my story.
When I was thirteen, my Father’s declining health forced him out of work and our family struggled. It was at that time that I decided to channel my negative energy into a constructive purpose. I set out to write a short story about a magical gem called the Red Sapphire. My brothers teased me that such a stone was simply a ruby. That irony was part of the attraction for me. After all, who would be writing about a Red Sapphire? Years went by and we moved down to my Father’s home town of Harrow, Ontario on the shores of Lake Erie. It was a drastic change from city life and I found myself retreating more and more into my ever growing story. By age fifteen I had a two-hundred page hand written manuscript.
Advancing from high school to college at Michigan State University there was little time for writing and the project sat in a drawer in my parent’s home. In spite of my lack of attention to writing, every night I would fall asleep working out details of the book and the series to follow.
I met a wonderful woman at Michigan State who agreed after graduation to become my wife. As we started our family I began a career in retail management and sales. For over twenty years I excelled in the field and even incorporated some of my knowledge into the book. I hold my position in the greatest esteem.
While I rewrote the story several times on my computer, I did not attempt to publish it until the longest supporter of my writing, my Mother, became terminally ill. She told me the last time I saw her how proud she was of the story I had created and made me promise to publish it and share it with the world. With the loving support of my wife, our three children and the help of the good people at Solstice Publishing, I am fulfilling that promise.
When my Father (ever the editor) read the book, he told me how proud he was and that somewhere he knew my Mother was equally proud. I present to you the first part of the saga which is my life’s work, “Quest for the Red Sapphire.” May it bring you as much joy to read as it has brought me to write.
Linvin looked into the darkness but only saw the swaying trees in the night’s sky. “That wolf sounded close,” he noted.
“That was no ordinary wolf,” Rander commented.
“What is so unusual about that wolf?” Linvin inquired as he found his bow and arrows.
“Remember those predators I was telling you about before?” Rander asked. “That’s one of them. You can tell from the low howl. Up here, we call them Trogoandras Wolves.”
“What is so special about those wolves?” Anvar asked.
“Well, to start with, they are the size of a full grown human. Their claws can effortlessly cleave flesh from bone. They have powerful jaws that can snap your thigh in two, like a twig. Inside their mouths, are two rows of teeth. The outer set is for tearing and shredding while the inner ones are for grinding.”
“They have been the bane of loggers and farmers.
You see, for all of the creature’s strength and power, Trogoandras have one flaw. Their legs are disproportionately short for their body. Most of the prey out here is long legged and too fast for them to run down, so they hunt in packs. One will mark a target and call for the pack to assemble. Then they will corner the herd they are tracking and attack. They are reasonably intelligent and crafty hunters, few escape the net of death they drop on their victims.”
“With the ax men driving away the herds from these woods, Trogoandras have set to devouring stock and as necessary, people.”
“They attack people?” exclaimed Linvin as he placed an arrow on the string of his bow.
“Sure do,” said Bander. “Lost two friends in the last month to ‘em. Can’t run as fast as deer, ya’ know. Out a control, them Trogos are.”
“I shouldn’t worry for now,” Rander told his cousin. “That was only one Trogoandras we heard. They seldom attack alone and will never come near a campfire without a pack. As long as we keep the fire going through the night, we should not have anything to fear.”
What are your thoughts on muses and do you have one?
I have known people who had them and found them instrumental in their art. It has never been an avenue I have taken as my ideas flow from within. If you read the lyrics to the Pearl Jam song “Black” you will see the downside when the muse is gone. I like to look inward for inspiration.
Characters have a great capacity to love, yet they’re starved. Why do you think this happens in fiction and in real life?
Often times fiction reflects a writer’s experiences in the world. There is a huge difference between a person’s capacity to love and the right opportunity to do so. Love is like a butterfly passing by. It doesn’t happen often and it is illusive when it is near. But if you are lucky enough to get your hands on it, you have something special, indeed!
Without giving spoilers, would you say you’re a “happy ending” writer?
Most of the time I am a “happy ending writer.” I think the books and movies with sad or distressing endings are fine, but I rarely want to read or watch them again. This life throws enough negative things our way. We seek entertainment to lose ourselves in another story and I think most people want to finish it happy.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Aside from my writing, I would like to be remembered for the lessons I have taught my children and hopefully for being a good father and husband.
If you could dine with any historical figure living or dead, who would it be and why?
I would love to dine with Marco Polo and hear firsthand about all his wondrous adventures.
Past, present or future? Where does your mind dwell?
My mind is usually looking to the future as I am a compulsive planner. I reflect on the past and draw inspiration from there but I use that inspiration to plan for the future.
What informs your writing most?
I would have to say my imagination. I dream up different scenarios I think would be cool and then I find a way to fit them into my work.
Growing up in the Seventies, school kids were encouraged to think globally and act locally. Have you ever flirted with this philosophy?
It governs my charitable contributions. For example, hunger is a terrible thing worldwide. But before I send my money overseas I would rather feed the hungry in my city.
Guilty pleasures: we all have them. What is yours?
In a word: Doritos
Your greatest victory?
My greatest victory was publishing my first book. My father wrote for his whole life and never accomplished that. So far I have published two with more to come.
Tell us about the one that got away. Person, place or thing.
There was a girl in college I had asked out the same week I asked out my wife. It just so happened my wife was available earlier in the week and we went out. I knew right then that she was the one for me and I cancelled the other date. The other girl and I stayed friends throughout college. She went through a slew of really bad boyfriends and at one point asked me to leave my girlfriend (now wife) to be with her. I couldn’t do that. So she moved on after graduation and I never heard from her again.
What are some of the overriding themes in your work? Do you have a favorite?
One of my favorite themes is if you rush into a situation, it will almost always end badly. If you think it through, the answer is always there.
Who do you admire and why?
I admire the great artists of the past who were often unappreciated in their time but continued to do what they loved even without all the tools we have at our disposal these days.
Are writers fully formed works of art or works in progress?
Writers are definitely works in progress. We are like water. We bend around our surroundings and pick up characteristics of them. Writers change their styles over time and vary quite a bit on different pieces.
Thanks Rival, and best of luck with the series. Rival can be found on Goodreads. Be sure to add him to your MY BOOKS list.
Tomorrow: Educator and incurable romantic Susanne Matthews talks about THE WHITE CARNATION and more http://www.mhsusannematthews.ca/
Bewitching Book Tours is geared towards the new author, the ebook author, the small and independent press author, and the mid-list author- the author who doesn’t have a huge marketing budget but wants the most bang for their promotional buck.
Bewitching Book Tours aims to offer just that by pairing authors and their books with targeted book bloggers and readers who enjoy the types of books the authors write.
Bewitching Book Tours specializes in paranormal romance, urban fantasy and paranormal erotica book tours though we tour almost all fiction genres including horror, YA, NA, and all the romance sub-genres (contemporary, historical, thriller, suspense, etc).
Bewitching for Readers
Bewitching Book Tours offers readers the chance to discover new books while getting behind the scenes information about authors, books and characters.
Join us for a virtual book tour -you can read author guest blogs, interviews & book reviews and exclusive excerpts, listen to radio interviews, and participate in chats with the authors- all from the comfort of your home.
And there are always chances for readers to win prizes; free books, gift cards, prize packs, Kindles and more. New tours start every Monday. http://www.bewitchingbooktours.com/
So excited for my besty Bernard Foong. Not only is his agent shopping a screen play but he has a number of promotions coming up to highlight his amazing work. Good for him and good for me: opening up my email and finding his words is reward aplenty:
That will be great if you can give this special promo a shout-out. Other than that – the other special announcement is:
A. B. Funkhauser, Author 