NEW RELEASE!
The Case of the Curious Canine
It’s here! Book #7 in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries, and it’s a doggone good mystery!
(Although part of a series, it CAN be read on it’s own!)
The next best thing to owning your own dog is having a job where you get to take care of them. That’s what Sam figures when she, Ally, and Cassy all volunteer at a local animal shelter. But they don’t expect the trouble that comes along with the work.
When dogs start showing up at the shelter with odd symptoms, the director doesn’t seem concerned. However, strange coincidences start to happen and Sam doesn’t believe that they’re random.
Confronted with the hard decision of following either her heart or her nose for a good mystery, Sam faces an emotional dilemma. Sometimes, the right path is the most difficult and this is one challenge that’s going to take all of her friends to help solve.
Tara Ellis, an Amazon best selling author, lives in a small, rural town in Washington State set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her two kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time.
Her on-going middle grade mystery series, The Samantha Wolf Mysteries, has hit the best seller status on Amazon in the children’s detective story genre several times, and continues to grow in popularity. The engaging, fun stories herald back to the days of Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon, and several readers have commented that the series is of the same caliber. These are clean reads that are suitable for the whole family to read together, and are also part of the Kindle Unlimited program.
@taraellisauthor
Introducing…
Long Lost Neighbors
By: Frances Hoelsema
Gregory Bronson learns he’ll soon be moving away from his neighbor and best friend, Alison Levin. When he tells her the shocking news, she feels her world is being turned upside down. What would she do without Greg? What would Greg do without her?
Fast forward fifteen years. Ali is engaged to Sean Whitman who can provide her with anything she could ever want. While vacationing, however, she runs into Greg. Suddenly she’s not so sure Sean is the one.
Greg finds himself just getting out of a bad relationship when he and Ali reunite. He can’t help but be attracted to her and wonder if the two of them could ever stand a chance.
As the two of them rebuild their friendship, the foundation for something more is set. But after they are interrupted with an emergency, Ali realizes she must make a choice. Will she choose her fiancé, Sean, and go through with a wedding that is already planned and paid for? Or will she give it all up for her friend, Greg, who could give her the one thing Sean doesn’t: all of himself?
Long Lost Neighbors is a clean, contemporary romance that focuses on what it might look like for two best friends to be separated while still young and to reunite later in life. This novel is full of tough life situations, internal struggles, and sweet/steamy attraction. The best part is that you can feel good reading it AND sharing it because there’s nothing that will make you cringe! You can find Long Lost Neighbors on Amazon in PAPERBACK for just $8.99 and EBOOK for just $2.99! And as with all of Frances Hoelsema’s novels, Long Lost Neighbors is FREE on Kindle Unlimited! This is the third novel in Frances Hoelsema’s Neighbors Series where each novel shows some kind of love connection between neighbors. Though it’s the third and last installment, Long Lost Neighbors can be read as a complete standalone novel. For information on her first two novels, please click on the picture you’re interested in.
About Frances
Frances Hoelsema is a wife and mother residing in Michigan where she gets to enjoy all four seasons, autumn being her favorite. After earning a degree in business and transcription, she now gets the best of both worlds by working from home as a real-time writing manager for an international transcription firm.
In her spare time, Frances thoroughly enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, shopping and loving on her cats. She is also an avid reader and writer who loves to engage with others through social media. Some concepts that Frances stands for are positive parenting, homeschooling, clean eating and pursuing a relationship with Christ instead of pursuing religion. She also believes in never giving up; that everyone should keep pursuing their dreams. Frances loves to imagine a good story and write it to life so she’s always busy working on her next novel. To connect with her, please choose any of the following links:
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Cassie M. Shiels
Title of book and/or series: Lady A (A Princess Tale book 2)
Brief summary of the story:
Lady A is in terrible danger, an annoying side effect of her brother’s latest scheme. Forced to run for her life from a madman, she must return to the one place she vowed never to go again, or die. After a failed attempt on her life leaves her without a name and her memories, Lady A must fight to regain them in order to help the handsome prince defeat the madman, who is threatening their kingdom. But will she remember in time? Or will she lose everyone and everything she loves?
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Lady A takes place in the country of Slavina and three of its closest towns. Veyon where Lady A and her brother Dan live. Avern where the old wheel Inn is located. Avern is also between Veyon and Saris. Saris is the capital city of Slavina where the castle and most of the story takes place. There is a little bit of magic in this country but not as much as some surrounding countries. They mostly have healing magic with select holders.
If we were to visit Slavina as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
Go see the castle in Saris. It is huge and beautiful. The gardens at the castle are a must, especially the maze gardens. The rose gardens are a close second. If you need a place to stay there is no place better than the Old Wheel Inn in Avern.
What dangers should we avoid in Slavina?
Slavina has a river that falls into a ravine right next to Avern, between Avern and Veyon. It would be best to avoid this river and only cross at the one bridge in the town of Avern. It starts out as a normal river near Veyon but as it arrives at Avern it falls into a deadly ravine.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Slavina?
They eat the usual mutton and bread. The drink of choice for most is ale. The castle cook is especially good at making white cakes for the royal family. They live in an area where berries grow well. Strawberries do especially well.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Slavina?
The knights of the realm prefer swords to any other weapon. Crossbows are also used fairly often. Boot daggers are the norm for the prince and his best friends.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to Slavina?
Travel in Slavina is limited to walking, riding a horse, or a carriage. The lower class people use wagons. The technology is also limited. No electricity. They use fires, candles, and torches for light. Animals are the normal forest animals.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Slavina? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Magic is only being discovered in Salvina. Other nearby countries have more of it, but so far those in Salvina are only aware of healing magic. Those who hold it are healers. They are still discovering their magic. They can heal small wounds easily. Things like breaks are harder, though they can speed the healing process. Memory loss is beyond them at present.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Slavina?
Tournaments held by the knights. Balls held by the royal family and the nobles who attend court. Court is the biggest weekly event, where all those of nobility gather.
What is the political or government structure in Slavina? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
King William is the leader of Slavina. He is a good king. He has full control of his country but he does have a group of lords who help run their various sections of the country. They are however still under the control of the king. William cares a great deal for his people and trys to protect them and keep the peace as much as possible.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
A little bit of medieval history has been a small influence. As well as a few movies like Ever After, and Cinderella. I spent a long time on pintrest looking at castles and medieval dresses for ideas and images to keep in mind while I wrote the story. I also took the idea of the memory loss from my own stories that I told myself when I was a little girl.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I think I avoided most of those. I do get into the history of Slavina where the true ruler of the country is questioned.
Author Autobiography:Cassie M. Shiels has loved stories since she was little. Her love of writing started even before she could write words. She was one to be found, reading late into the night (wait, she still does that!), on the school bus or before she did her homework. In middle school she determined that she liked creating her own stories as much as she liked reading them; so she decided she wanted to be an author and keeps working on making that dream come true with every story idea that bounds into her head.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
Lady A is available in both paperback and ebook on
Amazon.I hope to expand into other areas like nook soon.
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to Slavina. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!-Annie Douglass Lima
Hi, I’m Author Angela Carling and I’m excited today to tell you Shackled. This book, Shackled, has an amazing story, one that pushed me to write this important and suspenseful story. Today I’m excited to share the new cover and make a big announcement! Shackled, originally written as stand-alone story will stand-alone no longer! I’ve already begun work on part two of this truly emotional story inspired by my sister’s own real-life struggle. The new book will be called RELEASED! If you’ve read Shackled and ever wondered what happened to Ryan, Released will change everything!
Before I forget…you can get Shackled on sale Thursday and Friday December 15-16 for .99 super cheap cents Here on Amazon
or to learn more about all my young adult books click Here
When people read Shackled, they have a strong reactions one way or the other. Here’s what they are saying….
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“I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one afternoon, but once I started reading, I couldn’t stop!”
“I was impressed by how Angela Carling tackled such a sensitive topic. You experience Lucy’s emotions with her, including her struggles when she starts to notice Ryan’s behavior changing. This is my favorite aspect of this novel. In such novels you more than often feel for the character but you do not always feel what they feel, as if you are that character. I also loved how she developed Lucy’s relationship with Mason. If only all those in Lucy’s situation had a Mason.”
“Read this book! And then read it with your sons and daughters. Make this very important subject part of what your family discusses.”
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Yay! It is time for the the blurb and, a little about Shackled, and best of all, the new cover created by the talent Kaelen Carling.
After shy, quiet Lucy and her family move from their small hometown in Minnesota to Seattle, Washington, she is surprised when Ryan, the most popular boy at school asks her out. Soon, she is swept up in a whirlwind romance and her naïve and trusting nature allows her to fall head over heels in love with her too-good-to-be suitor. Suddenly, Lucy finds herself enraptured by the excitement of her new relationship, leaving her blinded to the warning signs of danger ahead. Can her fairy tale romance last, or will she find that her prince charming is more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Want a little more? Here’s an excerpt from the first chapter of Shackled. Happy Reading and most of all Happiest of Holidays!!
If you’d asked me about my life a year ago, I would’ve told you it was boring, white-bread, middle-class-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich-in-my-pink-polka-dot-lunch-bag-every-day boring. That was before everything changed. That was before I met him.
So, here I am a year later, on the floor of some stranger’s parked car, trying not to breathe for fear of being discovered. The inside of the car reeks of day old fast food and dirty feet, but I don’t dare raise my head, even for cleaner air. Instead, I wait for the headlights to fill the cracks where the doors’ hinges leave tiny fissures in the metal, letting small bits of light through. I know the light is coming from his headlights and when the light passes over me, there will be a brief window of opportunity I can use to escape and run for my life.
Finally, after I hear the distinctive ping of his diesel engine, and his precious cherry red Mercedes passes me, I carefully open the door and climb out of the backseat as noiselessly as possible. My eyes dart nervously, taking in my surroundings. The long, orderly, suburban street looks quiet. All the houses are black, with the exception of a few scattered televisions sending pulsing light out into the night. Now is my chance.
Mason is only ten houses away and he has the tools to free me from this hellish nightmare. He knows my anguish. Tonight he will be my white knight. Keeping low to stay in the shadows, I begin to move as quickly as I can down the street. I can see Mason’s house now. My skin starts to prickle with anticipation. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins and has been for several hours.
I stand up, making myself taller than the car for the first time all night. Suddenly, I realize how sore my back is and a little yelp escapes my mouth as my vertebrae complain at their mistreatment. My guard is down for ten seconds, and somehow, from some invisible hiding place, a dark figure emerges and grabs me from behind.
It happens so fast that I don’t even yell. All that comes out is a small murmur, not even enough to rouse the sleeping dogs. I feel his arms wrap around me like a straight jacket and I thrash wildly, made more powerful by my fear. Still, his strength trumps mine and he holds me tight.
“It’s okay, Lucyloo,” he coos in my ear. “I got ya.” He knows I don’t want to be held. His words are coming from some demented place from within him, some place that he kept hidden from me when we first met.
For a second, I rest, letting him believe that I am giving up. I need the time to think. No one is coming for me. He made sure of that. The worst part is that I let him. I even defended him when my friends warned me and then eventually left me, growing tired of my excuses. I watched him lull my parents, creating a persona that they could trust.
Heck, I believed him too. He looked the part—clean-cut, good grades, well spoken. Everything my parents wanted for me. His words were just right and his beautiful blue eyes were like quicksand, pulling me in, deceiving me without giving away the danger. Now I‘m in knee deep, covered in the toxic lies of his trap. I am like an insect, tangled in his sticky web of deceit, but I still have one last trick up my sleeve.
I know his ego is huge, and his need to feel control consumes his every waking thought. At least I finally understand this now. Taking a breath, I force my rigid body to seem relaxed. I lay my head back against his chest and let him feel my hair against his neck. He always likes that.
He doesn’t let go, but his stance loosens just the tiniest bit. “You got me,” I purr as I lie against him. “How did you know I wanted you to get me?”
Thanks for stopping by!
BeachBoundbooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the children’s adventure book, Mary’s Song by Susan Count. The tour will run December 12, 2016 – January 2, 2017.
About the Book
Title: Mary’s Song (Dream Horse Adventure Book 1) | Author: Susan Count | Genre: Children’s Fiction | Number of Pages: 122 | Publisher: Hastings Creations Group | Release Date: October 20, 2016
Book Description: Mary’s heart breaks over the pending destruction of a beautiful but damaged filly. When life is not fair, the courageous challenge the obstacles. Twelve-year-old Mary was disabled at the age of four by the same virus that took the life of her mother. While she longs to have a horse of her own, she’s limited to reading horse books. A talented artist, she spends her days on a blanket in the grass sketching the horses at the farm next door. She falls in love with one of the foals and is outraged to learn the filly is considered worthless as it was born lame. Mary befriends and enlists the help of twelve-year-old Laura, whose family owns the horse farm. Against the better judgment of the farm manager, a brief reprieve is negotiated for the foal’s life. The girls conspire to raise money to save her, but time is running out. Sadly, it appears the expensive surgery the foal needs has little chance to correct her problem anyway. Mary isn’t about to give up. She sacrifices what she holds dear, including the trust of her papa, to gain her heart’s desire. Will she lose everything in her struggle to save the foal?
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Excerpt:
In the year 1952
“Maybe today?” Twelve-year-old Mary gripped the arm of her wheelchair with one hand and the bedrail with the other. Her weight balanced on the edge of the bed, and she inched forward onto her feet. Her legs trembled and buckled. As her knees slammed onto the wood floor, she grabbed desperately for the dresser, but snatched instead the crocheted covering. When it ripped away from the dresser top, her favorite carved horse sailed across the room, careening into the wall. One of the Morgan mare’s legs and its ornately carved black tail snapped off as it ricocheted under the bed.
Ignoring the pain in her knees, she peered under the bed. The rest of the disfigured horse lay out of her reach. Already sprawled across the floor, she scooted to retrieve the severed pieces and cradled them in her hands. “I have to hide you.”
Papa would be so angry if he saw Mama’s horse was broken. Heavy footsteps rushed toward her.
“Lame and worthless. Just like me.” She slipped the broken horse into her skirt pocket. She struggled and strained to pull herself up off the floor, but collapsed as Papa burst into her room.
“What happened? I heard a commotion… Mary?” He dropped to his knee beside her. “What happened? Are you hurt?”
“I lost my balance when I tried to stand. I’m fine.”
“Let’s get you off the floor, shall we?” He lifted and placed her on the bed. “I think it would be best to call the doctor.”
“I’m fine!” Mary said a little louder than she intended. “The hot rock therapy didn’t help.”
Papa sat on the bed and took her hand. “Don’t give up. We’ll find a therapy, my Mary. We’ll never stop trying.” He patted her hand. “You sure you’re all right? Maybe you should lie down.”
“I said I’m fine.” But she looked out the window instead of into his eyes. She would never be all right. “Can you take me outside now?”
“If you’re sure. Let’s get you out in some fresh air.” He dropped a paper-wrapped bundle of carrot pieces in her lap.
Mary tucked her long dark hair behind her ears. Gathering her sketchpad and pencils to her chest, she drew a deep breath and nodded.
In a practiced motion, he slung her blanket over his shoulder and scooped her from the bed.
“I want to believe I’ll walk someday, but sometimes, I just can’t.” She tossed him a hint of a smile. He carried her through the colonial house, past the white porch pillars, and across the field. He was so strong it made her feel safe. He was certainly the most handsome papa in all the world.
The white oak had not leafed yet, so he placed her blanket in the shade of the pines out of the warm Texas sun. Mary smoothed her skirt and spread her art materials. “You were right about throwing carrots over the fence to bring the mares closer.” She retrieved an art pencil hidden in the folds of her blanket. “Look. Here they come.” She pointed with her pencil. “They see me and gallop like crazy to get here. The foals buck and kick the whole way. Our new neighbors are so lucky. I’d like to have a pasture full of Morgan horses.”
“At least you get to enjoy them. I have to go now.” He kissed the top of her head. “Have a nice day. Mr. Joe is working in the gardens, so when you’re ready to go back to the house, holler for him.”
“Will you be gone long?”
His face tensed, and his dark eyebrows pulled together. He looked over the meadow, frowning. “Only a few days this time.”
“I wish you didn’t always have to go. I miss you so much.”
“I know it’s hard on you. If it makes you feel any better, I don’t like leaving you either. But I have business in New Orleans, and then I’m going to Destin, Florida. A doctor there thinks he can help you.”
Her temper flared, and she slashed a big ugly squiggle across the sketchpad. “Not another one, Papa! You thought the medicine man would be the miracle cure. He danced and chanted and kept me in a dumb teepee for two days. Magic smoke. And for what?”
“Well… it wasn’t one of my better ideas.”
“I thought Mrs. Tate was going to faint when you told her where we’d been. She walked around the house all day shaking her feather duster and muttering ‘pagan gods’, something about never taking another day off, and praying real loud to God asking him to forgive you.”
“Glad I missed that, but I’m not giving up. I’ll consider any opportunity to heal you.” He straightened his vest and tucked his thumbs in its little pockets. “If this technique can offer us hope, we have to try. The clinic would float you in emerald-colored seawater. Then they’d take you to the ‘Fountain Of Youth’.”
Her shoulders slumped with an exhale. “I don’t need to get any younger. I need to walk.”
“And walk you shall. That is just the name given to the spring by the explorer who discovered it.” He patted her hand. “Sketch me several poses of the filly beside the dappled gray mare while I’m gone. What is it about her that always draws my eye?”
“She’s special! I sketch her the most. The other foals will scatter, but she seems to want to be with me. If she was on this side of the fence, I think she’d be in my lap.” Mary flipped to a clean paper. “It’s her eyes. Our souls connect when our eyes meet. Don’t you think they look like dark chocolate?” Mary warmed at the thought. “She is my favorite. What a character. She hides behind her mama sometimes and plays hide and seek with me.” A frown wiped the smile off her face. “I think there might be something wrong. She limps sometimes.”
Papa checked his watch and frowned. “Hum, that can’t be good. Say, when I get home, I will have a little something special I ordered for you. Don’t ask me what it is and ruin the surprise.”
“No fair! Is it a book on the Lipizzaners?”
“You’re a bad guesser.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll love it.”
Papa grinned, tossed a piece of chocolate in her lap, and left.
“Thanks!” She waved and sailed a few carrot offerings over the fence to the gathered herd. They rushed to grab the bribe. With ears flattened, the horses jostled, shoved, and charged at one another to gobble the carrots. When the treats were gone, the mares went back to grazing. As the foals cavorted in circles around their dams, Mary inhaled the delight of being in their company. To draw a foal, she took a snapshot with her mind and sketched it in a great flurry. After capturing the likeness, she fussed with the details and the shading. A twine-wrapped portfolio she kept in her library bulged with sketches. Each sketch was a secret wish to ride, wild and free, someday.
She imagined herself cantering across a meadow polka-dotted with pink flowers. Her hair streamed behind her. Her arms held wide as if to soar. The palomino horse moved in response to her thoughts. A smile lifted and softened her face.
Mary shifted her useless legs to balance the sketchpad better. “It’s not just a dream.” The filly cocked her feminine head to the side and peered at the curiosity in the grass. Mary stared back, hoping the filly would hold the pose long enough for her to soak in every detail. The dark graphite pencil seemed to flow on its own, and soon the rough outline of the curious baby splashed across the paper.
“I will sketch you every minute until Papa comes home with my surprise. It might be—could be—a horse.”
What others are saying…
“An excellent and engaging book from start to finish. A must read.” – Amazon Review
“Susan Count knows how to write about horses, family, friendship, love, faith, and sacrifice. Her true-to-life characters easily engaged me in wanting to know more about them and how their conflicts would be resolved.” – Geoffrey W.
“A genuinely touching story about friendship and recovery. I strongly recommend this to anyone looking for a good horse book perfect for middle age girls!” – Amazon Review
About the Author
One day…I began to write with no preconceived ideas about anything. I’d read what I had written the day before and add another scene to the adventure. No one could have been more astounded than I was when it turned into a book. The whole process gave me great joy and restored my spirit after a season of loss. My motivation was my desire to bless one particular young lady with a story to show her a love relationship in a family, with the Lord, and with a horse. I truly thought the story would remain in a drawer until she was old enough to read it. Surprise.
I write at an antique secretary desk which belonged to the same grandmother who introduced me to horse books. The desk has secret compartments and occupies a glass room with a forest view. Bunnies and cardinals regularly interrupt my muse, as do my horses grazing in a clearing.
Though I am a rider and lover of horses, I make no claims of expertise in any riding discipline. I hope that my research keeps me from annoying those who would know.
The only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories. Saddle up and ride along!
Blog Tour Giveaway
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize (winner’s choice) Giveaway ends: January 2, 11:59 pm, 2017
Open to: Internationally.
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Susan Count and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to [email protected].
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Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Timothy Trimble
Title of book and/or series: Air Born – Do You Dream of Flying?
Brief summary of the story: There are those who hide among us who are different. They know how to fly! They guard it with their lives, not even daring to express in writing, or verbally in public, how it feels to embrace the wind and the clouds. They don’t even know if they’re a part of humanity or if they came from somewhere else. All they know is they are hunted. Hunted by the royal lineage of the Eighteenth of Ahmose, who once considered themselves to be gods, and the only rightful ones to own and control such powers. A young Avitorian, Leif, discovers his heritage and the love of his life, only to suddenly be thrust into the ever present threat of The Eighteenth as they seek to discover the secrets of flight.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story: The story is based in the modern world today. Significant scenes in the story are from Joshua Tree National Park in California, and the Seattle (Pacific Northwest) area.
If we were to visit Seattle as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there? Go hiking on one of the many thousands of trails to see a waterfall, majestic mountains, or wildlife.
What dangers should we avoid in the Pacific Northwest? Bears! They will eat you! Which is one reason Avitorians love having the ability to fly.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in Seattle? Salmon, with more salmon, and a little salmon on top?
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in Air Born? No distinctive fighting style. Most of the action/conflict scenes are good old street grappling. There is some distinct, high technology weaponry utilized for capturing Avitorians.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used for travel in Air Born? Aside from normal, every-day types of transportation – the Avitorians have the ability to fly. No capes or special devices are required. It’s all based on particle physics and if I try to explain it you’ll all start yawning and stop reading.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter? The main characters are Avitorians. Aside from their ability to fly, they also have the ability to sense the flow of electricity. Since all life forms (plants, animals, humans, etc.) have electrical impulses flowing throughout, the Avitorians are able to sense it.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in Air Born? Sorry, no magic! The Avitorian ability is all based on biology and physics. While fanciful in concept, there is no magic.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in Air Born? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples. Some of the weaponry used against Avitorians utilizes microwave energy. Yes, the same as is in your microwave ovens. Heat signature tech is also utilized, and the use of cryonics is highly advanced in the Air Born universe.
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in Air Born. Soaring with eagles is a lot of fun, along with flying as fast as possible through evergreen trees without smacking into a solid tree trunk. Just drifting through the house without leaving foot prints on the walls is also a bit of a challenge.
Is there a particular religion practiced in Air Born? Please describe what it involves. While there is no religion mentioned or practiced, the Avitorians do have a higher standard of morals than humankind. They wish for a peaceful existence. And when it comes to finding their mate, it is a singular bond for life.
What is the political or government structure in Air Born? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she? One of the supporting characters in Air Born is Georgeo, the Elder of the Avitorians. Though he likes to have everyone call him Uncle Georgeo, he has the massive responsibility of keeping all Avitorians safe and secretive.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of? The need for absolute secrecy by the Avitorians is vital to their existence. Nothing specific about them is ever written. Even emails and texting is done discreetly and with coded phrases. All history and culture is handed down verbally.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book? I used to have incredible dreams about slowly drifting and flying through my house. These dreams began when I was a child and every now and then I will still have one. And the internal angst of desiring to be truly in love, to have someone who admires who you are, what you dream of, and what you aspire to be. I wanted to capture that feeling with this story.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book? The lack of humankind to be able to get along with one another. Any consideration of being different and thus hated or mistreated is one of the primary reasons the Avitorians remain as secretive as they are.
Author Autobiography: Timothy Trimble is a published author of science fiction and fantasy, stories and novels. He has written non-fiction books for Wiley Publications, Microsoft Press, and over forty articles in print media publications. His Zegin’s Adventures stories are popular ebook and print releases on Amazon, and his latest full-length urban fantasy novel, Air Born (Sept. 2016, ebook & print) has received glowing five star reviews. Due the clamoring of fans, the latest focus of his attention is Air Storm, as the second book in the Air Born trilogy series. Timothy lives in the Pacific Northwest, where the prevalence of coffee shops and hiking trails contribute to his inspiration. His insightful, and sometimes humorous mumblings, can be followed via Twitter and his web site (see below).
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book(s)? Please include links.
· Order from any bookstore
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the Pacific Northwest. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Today I’m excited to celebrate the cover reveal for THE PERFECT TRIP by Stacy Barnett Mozer releasing March 24, 2017
from Spellbound River Press. Before we get to the cover, here’s a little about the book and the author:
About the book: Sam Barrette’s life is finally going in the right direction. She’s made the boys’ travel baseball team, her friendship with Mike is turning into something more, and she’s even connected with her stepmother. But a cross-country family camping trip filled with secrets and surprises challenges everything she thought she knew about what the future will hold. To save her dreams, Sam must find a way to fix her perfect trip.
About the author: Stacy Barnett Mozer is a middle grade author, a book blogger, and an elementary school teacher. Stacy started writing novels when one of her third grade classes told her there was no way a real author who wrote real books could possibly revise as much as she asked them to revise. She’s been revising her own novels every since. Stacy is an active SCBWI (Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators) member and is an Assistant Regional Advisor for New England SCBWI, coordinating the region’s critique groups. She is also the founder of Sporty Girl Books, a blog for anyone who loves to watch, play, read, and write about women and girls in sports.
THE PERFECT TRIP is the companion novel to THE SWEET SPOT, which released from Spellbound River in March 2016.
About THE SWEET SPOT: When thirteen-year-old Sam Barrette’s baseball coach tells her that her attitude’s holding her back, she wants to hit him in the head with a line drive. Why shouldn’t she have an attitude? As the only girl playing in the 13U league, she’s had to listen to boys and people in the stands screaming things like “Go play softball,” all season, just because she’s a girl. Her coach barely lets her play, even though she’s one of the best hitters on the team.
Finally, here is the cover of THE PERFECT TRIP, illustrated by Lois Bradley:
Like the cover? You can win an ARC of The Perfect Trip here:
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Thank you for hosting me today, Annie. It’s such a pleasure to be here on your blog. I thought it might be fun for you and your readers to meet Captain Rock Laroux from Garden of Her Heart.
Thank you for joining us, Rock!
Rock: Hello. Thank you for welcoming me here today.
You’re a captain in the US Army. Is that correct?
Rock: Yep. I was a captain in the US Army Air Force until I crashed my plane and ended up in the hospital.
We’re sorry to hear of your accident. Were your injuries extensive?
Rock: Thank you. I lost most of my eyesight for a while, had a side full of shrapnel, and then there’s my arm. (Rock holds out his arm) I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to use it again, but it’ starting to heal.
Did you really check yourself out of the hospital?
Rock: I did. By accident, I overheard my doctor discussing my case with a colleague. It sounded like he expected me to keel over at any moment, so I decided if I was doomed to die, I wanted to do it at home, not in the hospital. So I left. I’d probably be buried six-feet under right now if it wasn’t for Miko coming along at just the right time.
Miko? That’s the woman who saved you?
Rock: Yeah. She saved me, in more ways than I can explain. I was nearly delirious after walking in the rain for a while, trying to make it back to my family farm. I collapsed on the back step of her grandparent’s farm. She found me there and nursed me back to health. Thanks to my presence and her refusal to leave me until I was well, things have gotten quite complicated for her.
What do you think the future holds?
Rock: (Chuckles) If I could foresee the future, I’d be set for life, wouldn’t I. Unfortunately, I don’t possess any supernatural abilities. But I hope whatever the future brings, Miko and I can face it together.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with readers today?
Rock: An invitation to read
Garden of Her Heart. It’s a romance, but it’s also a story of hope and faith and courage – even in the face of great adversity.
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield joins us with her latest release, a sweet World War II romance.
Can forbidden love blossom amid the constraints of war?
The moment the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, life shifted for Miko Nishimura. Desperate to reach the Portland Assembly Center for Japanese-Americans, she’s kicked off the bus miles from town. Every tick of the clock pushes her closer to becoming a fugitive in the land of her birth. Exhausted, she stumbles to her grandparents’ abandoned farm only to find a dying soldier sprawled across the step. Unable to leave him, she forsakes all else to keep him alive. After crashing his plane in the Battle of the Atlantic, the doctors condemn Captain Rock Laroux to die. Determined to meet his maker beneath a blue sky at his family home, he sneaks out of the hospital. Weary and half out of his mind, he makes it as far as a produce stand he remembers from his youth. Rather than surrender to death, Rock fights a battle of the heart as he falls in love with the beautiful Japanese woman who saves his life. A poignant, sweet romance, Garden of Her Heart proves love can bloom in unlikely places even under the most challenging circumstances.
Available on: 
Join us for a Facebook Party today (December 7) from 4-7 p.m. (EST) to celebrate the release of Garden of Her Heart. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1387228264628190/
Excerpt: “Please, Miko? Would you at least consider marrying me?” She shook her head and tried to pull away from him, but he drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her and holding her. His breath tantalized her ear as he bent his head near hers. “Please?” “I can’t, Rock. I don’t want to be the cause of you missing out on the love of a lifetime.” She turned her head to the side and pressed it against his neck. Unintentionally, she heightened the yearning that already pulsed between them. Forcibly, he relaxed his hold on her. “Miko,” he whispered. “Look at me, sweetheart.” Unhurried, she tipped her head back, drawn into the bright warmth of his eyes. “Miko, if I didn’t want to marry you, I wouldn’t offer. I rather like the idea of spending my future with you. We have more going for us than many couples who wed. There is no doubt in my mind at all about your ability to be a good wife. Me, on the other hand…” His cocky grin brought an amused light to her eyes. “It might be challenging to be married to someone like me.” A smile curved her mouth upward and Rock tamped down the desire to kiss her again, even with the pastor watching their every move.
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.” Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
Find Shanna’s books at: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible
Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at: ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Hong Kong was the afternoon I spent at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden. Located outside the city in the New Territories area, the peace and quiet of this beautiful setting was a wonderful change from the hustle and noise of the metropolis.
For anyone who might want to visit, you’ll need to take the light blue MTR line to Tai Po Market. (I was staying at Fo Tan, so it was pretty convenient.) From the Tai Po Market station, take exit 1A and go to the bus area (don’t worry, it’s clearly marked). Take bus 64K to Kadoorie Farm.
The bus I was on did not announce the different stops, so you have to pay close attention, but it will be about a half-hour ride. This is how Kadoorie Farm looks from across the street. (It will be on your left as you drive up.) There is a sign, but it’s a little beyond the main building, so you may not see it from the bus.
This is the view from the same spot as above, looking after the bus as it continues on its way. Note the hard-to-read Kadoorie Farm sign just to the left of the bus, by the cyclists. If you’re close enough to read it, you’ve probably already missed the stop!
Kadoorie Farm was well worth it. I only had two hours to spend there, since I had a flight to catch that evening, but I managed to see most of what I would have wanted to anyway.
I spent most of my time walking around the grounds, enjoying the trees and flowers and a small stream. Apparently there was a longer hiking trail up to the top of a nearby slope (with a wonderful view), but I didn’t see it and didn’t have time anyway. If I ever go back, I’d like to do that hike.
I have no idea what this dragon thing was doing on its little platform in the trees!
This mountain boar is among dozens of animals (or maybe a couple hundred?) that call Kadoorie Farm home. Most were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
Hong Kong had just been experiencing a cold spell, so some animals were temporarily lodged in warmer quarters.
Informative (and sometimes interactive) displays accompanied most of the exhibits.
Indoor areas housed special exhibits of small reptiles and amphibians.
Several Chinese water dragons had a pretty comfy life there.
There was also a little building for fish and river-related displays.
Kadoorie Farm places great emphasis on ecology and protecting the environment.
Larger reptiles lived in outdoor enclosures. It was fun seeing some different species hanging out together!
There were several aviaries hosting a variety of birds, like this kite.
In a different enclosure, this cockatoo saw me walking by and came over to say hello (literally).
I could tell this mynah bird had also been somebody’s pet. He was very friendly and wanted my attention!
I really enjoyed the insect display. It was quite educational (and not too creepy!).
I don’t recall actually seeing any butterflies (it may have been too cold for them), but this display board was interesting.
There were several little deer in an enclosure there. They didn’t want to stand still and pose for pictures, though!
I enjoyed the areas where guests could just walk through and see animals in a (sort of) natural habitat, as opposed to behind bars or glass.
They had a scenic pond habitat that housed a number of varieties of small wildlife.
I think the little waterfall was manmade, but it was still pretty!
Some animals at Kadoorie Farm were gifts from other countries.
These flamingoes, for example, were sent over from the Bahamas.
Kadoorie has its own little cafe on the premises.
Everything on the menu is vegetarian and fairly healthy (but tasty)! Prices are reasonable, too.
I heard the red rice with veggies in curry sauce (option B below) was really good. I had eaten a late breakfast and wasn’t hungry enough for a full meal, though.
I ended up ordering the mushroom soup with garlic toast and a cup of hot citron tea. Tasty and satisfying on a chilly day!
All in all, my afternoon at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden was time very well spent. It would make a great school field trip (for any grade) or family outing. Young kids would love it (and I saw plenty of them having a great time there), but as an adult, I loved it too. With admission costing only 30 Hong Kong Dollars (with discounts for kids, the elderly, and groups), it was more than worth it.
Highly recommended for everyone!
This is Not a Werewolf Storyby Sandra EvansMiddle Grade Fantasy
Hardcover & ebook, 352 pages
July 26th 2016 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
This is the story of Raul, a boy of few words, fewer friends, and almost no family. He is a loner—but he isn’t lonely. All week long he looks after the younger boys at One Of Our Kind Boarding School while dodging the barbs of terrible Tuffman, the jerk of a gym teacher.
Like every other kid in the world, he longs for Fridays, but not for the usual reasons. As soon as the other students go home for the weekend, Raul makes his way to a lighthouse deep in the heart of the woods. There he waits for sunset—and the mysterious, marvelous phenomenon that allows him to go home, too. But the woods have secrets . . . and so does Raul. When a new kid arrives at school, they may not stay secret for long.
Sandra Evans is a writer and teacher from the Pacific Northwest. Her forthcoming middle grade novel, This is Not a Werewolf Story (Simon & Schuster July 2016), was inspired by her favorite 12th century French tale, Bisclavret, by Marie de France. Born in Washington state, Sandra spent her childhood on U.S. Navy bases from Florida to Hawaii, and returned to the Northwest as a teenager. Since then, she has lived and traveled in France and Europe, but has never strayed far for long from the Puget Sound region.
Tour Giveaway
A hardcover copy of THIS IS NOT A WEREWOLF STORY by Sandra Evans plus Swag
Open internationally
Ends December 16th
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Author Autobiography:
Author Autobiography: Timothy Trimble is a published author of science fiction and fantasy, stories and novels. He has written non-fiction books for Wiley Publications, Microsoft Press, and over forty articles in print media publications. His Zegin’s Adventures stories are popular ebook and print releases on Amazon, and his latest full-length urban fantasy novel, Air Born (Sept. 2016, ebook & print) has received glowing five star reviews. Due the clamoring of fans, the latest focus of his attention is Air Storm, as the second book in the Air Born trilogy series. Timothy lives in the Pacific Northwest, where the prevalence of coffee shops and hiking trails contribute to his inspiration. His insightful, and sometimes humorous mumblings, can be followed via Twitter and his web site (see below).
