#AmReading - The Park Service by Ryan Winfield @WinfieldRyan

The Park Service by Ryan Winfield

Amazon

What would you do if everything you had been taught turned out to be a lie? That's the question fifteen-year-old Aubrey VanHouten must answer when he stumbles onto a post-apocalyptic paradise where the few remaining humans live on the run from deadly drones controlled by a mysterious Park Service.
Now Aubrey must learn to survive in a world he never dreamed existed while searching for answers to why everything he was taught is a lie.
Destined to become a classic, The Park Service trilogy will inspire and delight readers of all ages.

Author Interview – Sarah Krisch

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
Really, if my characters entertain my readers for a few hours, then I’m doing my job.  It’s hard to predict how many readers I’ll ever have, but I would feel like a success if my readers follow me from one book to the next.
Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?
From the book description:
A failed actress, twenty-something Julia McCarthy begins writing a fictionalized blog as a form of self-therapy. Based on her carefree summers at her grandparents’ farm, she never expects her little experiment to garner a viral following, but it does. Boy, does it ever.
Now, with thousands of loyal blog followers, and a syndication deal with the Chicago Herald, Julia is approached by GreenTV to adapt her blog into a TV show. The producers see her as a “Rachel Ray on the Prairie-type”. She sees herself as a fraud.
In Julia’s fictional world, she’s successful. She can pay her bills on time. Heck, she even has a fictional gorgeous husband and charming little boy. Ready to realize her dreams, Julia returns to her grandparents’ farm to shoot the TV pilot.
Brad Taylor is definitely not her type: he’s rugged, sensible, and oh-so smug about learning that Julia’s blog is a farce. As the manager of her grandparent’s farm, Brad doesn’t have time to deal with whimsical women who don’t even know how to cook.
Julia can’t allow her attraction to Brad to distract her, not when her dreams are about to come true. But are these truly her dreams, her good life?
A fun, fast (150 pages) contemporary romance
What’s your next project?
Right now I’m wrapping up Madi, The Good Life Book Two.  Next up, I’m planning to write a Christmas novella: Trudy, A Good Life Christmas.  That story will focus on Julia’s grandmother when she was a newlywed during the 1950s.
How do you feel about self-publishing?
I find it both liberating and scary.  On the one hand, it has freed so many talented authors from the confines of the traditional publishing model, many of whom never had the chance to get their work published until now.  One the other hand, with few constraints to what gets published there is also a rising tide of bad books on the market.  It makes it confusing for readers.  I would encourage any reader in this new publishing world to read samples before you buy.  Reviews are helpful, but they can only help so much.
I LOVE my Kindle Paperwhite, I just wish it was waterproof so I could relax a bit more when I take it into the bath.  When I find a free half hour I enjoy romance, paranormal romance and new adult books, mostly.
Do you find the time to read?
It’s hard to find the time, but when I do I read mostly romance, paranormal romance and new adult books.

A failed actress, twenty-something Julia McCarthy begins writing a fictionalized blog as a form of self-therapy. Based on her carefree summers at her grandparents’ farm, she never expects her little experiment to garner a viral following, but it does. Boy, does it ever.

Now, with thousands of loyal blog followers, and a syndication deal with the Chicago Herald, Julia is approached by GreenTV to adapt her blog into a TV show. The producers see her as a “Rachel Ray on the Prairie-type”. She sees herself as a fraud.

In Julia’s fictional world, she’s successful. She can pay her bills on time. Heck, she even has a fictional gorgeous husband and charming little boy. Ready to realize her dreams, Julia returns to her grandparents’ farm to shoot the TV pilot.

Brad Taylor is definitely not her type: he’s rugged, sensible, and oh-so smug about learning that Julia’s blog is a farce. As the manager of her grandparent’s farm, Brad doesn’t have time to deal with whimsical women who don’t even know how to cook.

Julia can’t allow her attraction to Brad to distract her, not when her dreams are about to come true. But are these truly her dreams, her good life?

A fun, fast (150 pages) contemporary romance

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Sarah Krisch on Facebook

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

Becoming Human (The Exilon 5 Trilogy, Book 1) by Eliza Green @elizagreenbooks

Two Worlds. Two Species. One Terrifying Secret.

In 2163, a polluted and overcrowded Earth forces humans to search for a new home. But the exoplanet they target, Exilon 5, is occupied. Having already begun a massive relocation programme, Bill Taggart is sent to monitor the Indigenes, the race that lives there. He is a man on the edge. He believes the Indigenes killed his wife, but he doesn’t know why. His surveillance focuses on the Indigene Stephen, who has risked his life to surface during the daytime.

Stephen has every reason to despise the humans and their attempts to colonise his planet. To protect his species from further harm, he must go against his very nature and become human. But one woman holds a secret that threatens Bill’s and Stephen’s plans, an untruth that could rip apart the lives of those on both worlds.

BECOMING HUMAN, part one in the Exilon 5 trilogy, is a science fiction dystopian adventure that you won’t want to put down.

˃˃˃ Thought Provoking SciFi, Dystopian Tale – Compulsion Reads

I would happily recommend this book to fans of dystopia, science fiction and conspiracy lovers. You will be in for an exciting ride.

˃˃˃ Excellent Use of ForeShadowing – Masquerade Crew

This book demonstrates why I read Indie books and have enjoyed doing so immensely. Yes, some self-published books don’t deserve to see the light of day, but this isn’t one of those. Far from it. It was exciting and it had mystery. It sets up the next book while still giving you closure in this one–a difficult task for a book in a series.

˃˃˃”Becoming Human”… a promising first book… 4 1/2 Stars – Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer

A well written and deftly told Sci-Fi tale that got better and better.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect withEliza Green on Facebook &  Twitter

Website http://www.elizagreenbooks.com

Great White House by Christoph Paul @ChristophPaul_

Prologue

Most stories should not start with “it was a dark and stormy night” but this evening in Washington, DC could be described no other way. A great storm was raging, as were key members of Congress and other important figures. The politicians waited in silence staring at a blank satellite screen for the eccentric Chinese President Xi Jinping to appear and discuss the massive debt America owed China.

The group was in the East Room of the White House above the library, where a small window reflected the faces of those who had enough ‘klout’ to sit at the round table with President Obama and Vice President Biden.

It would be any news reporter's dream to sit alongside these political heavyweights, but the “China Task Force” or C.T.F. had made this a closed conference, top-secret event. So secret, even Snowden didn’t know about it.

Even if the White House let the press in, the reporters would not have made it through the heavy downpour in Washington, DC. Visibility in the city was close to zero. Normal traffic ended hours earlier as young and old government employees hunkered down in their favorite bars to weather the storm.

Now, rain poured so hard the echoes of the downpour shot through the White House, giving attention to the awkward silence in the East Room.

As the large teleprompter screen remained blank, an animated Michele Bachmann broke the silence. “I just don’t trust these Chinese, even with their food. My husband ends up having problems with his rectal area after he eats it when I’m away. You should see the fees I pay his proctologist. Thank the good Lord we don’t have ObamaCare or he wouldn’t be able to walk.”

The other members of the C.T.F. remained silent, as most believed Mr. Bachmann to be a closeted homosexual. Being the peacemaker, President Obama wanted to avoid any divisive issues. “Yes. I understand. Chinese food, though delicious, bothers my stomach and Michelle’s as well Congresswoman Bachmann.”

Joe Biden rose from his chair and headed toward the decanter on a table at the side of the room. “Hey, Barry, I thought it was only black guys that were late, not the Chinese. Ha. That's good one.”

The oft-amused Biden smiled and gave a self-satisfactory laugh. President Obama shook his head, grateful the press wasn’t here to catch another ‘JoeGaffee.’ Biden poured himself a glass of scotch as Obama popped a piece of Nicorette in his mouth.

“Since this meeting is 'not official,' I suppose it's all right to have a drink.” Biden cheered the room. He brought another cup over to Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan and sat back down; the two had become close since their 2012 Vice Presidential debate and would drink over the ‘malarkey’ of the day.

Eric Cantor, next to his also-tanned counterpart Majority Leader Boehner, was fed up with the jokes. “In all seriousness, what the Chinese President is doing is a power move. It’s a psychological display of dominance. You can’t trust a communist.”

Senator Ted Cruz slammed his fist on the table. “Those commies will play mind games. I agree.”

Congresswoman Pelosi raised her hand. “Excuse me, but I’m more worried about this storm. We might be stuck here.” She gestured at the window. “This storm has gotten dangerous. I'm telling you, it's global warming. Only global warming could cause a downpour of this magnitude! My constituents are very worried about this issue and so am I.”

Democrat Senator Harry Reid and Socialist Bernie Sanders agreed but Congresswoman Bachmann and Congressman Tim Scott shook their heads in annoyance and said a silent prayer for the socialists in the room.

Other Republicans rolled their eyes at Pelosi’s statement. Libertarian-leaning Senator Rand Paul responded, “If global warming even exists, the market will fix it. What we need to worry about is the debt. The Chinese have every right to call this emergency meeting and to want their money.”

Ben Bernanke and Tim Geithner (who was called out of retirement to help out the C.T.F.) nodded in approval of Senator Paul’s market solution.

President Obama took a deep breath and offered a fake but serene glance to acknowledge Paul's statement. He put his hand up and quieted the room. “Now, now, let's not have the global warming debate right now, folks. There is talk that the Chinese are very upset about our debt and want us to pay now, which is a surprise to us all. But that is not the only reason for this emergency meeting. The NSA has heard some terrorist chatter about an attack on Annapolis that could dismantle many of our Navy’s resources. They say the Chinese might know about it. We might be in for a long night. Look, if the storm gets worse, you can sleep here; it’s a big house. We can sell to it to the press as a political sleepover. They’ll find that cute and bipartisan.”

New York Senator Schumer rubbed his temples in frustration. “Oi vey, I don’t have my Ambien.”

Senator McCaskill gave him a nice Missouri smile.

“It’s okay, Chuck. You can have some of mine. Senator Rubio, I have some bottled water if you need it, too.”

The group laughed and Senator Rubio inwardly grimaced at the overused joke but mustered a smile that only a man running for President in 2016 could pull off.

Senator McCain put down his unfinished poker game. “You pansies and your sleeping pills. When I was in Vietnam I slept on pure steel and spider shit… President Obama, sir, I’m sick of waiting for these communists. Either you call them or I will.”

President Obama saw an annoyed crowd and felt the temperature in the room rising. On days like this he was sick of being President but he knew this was not a time for self-pity. He looked out at the storm and thought of his Kenyan father herding goats in this type of downpour. His father would not have been deterred by hardships like this. The President sighed with finality. “All right, John, enough is enough. Let’s get President Xi Jinping on screen. We’ve waited long enough.”  

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Fiction, Humor

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author and the book

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Kathleen Shoop – Lessons Learned About Becoming Published

Lessons Learned About Becoming Published

by Kathleen Shoop

1. One of the biggest lessons I learned about becoming a published author was that the “quality” of a book doesn’t guarantee a book deal—quality is not objective. I’m not talking about quality that applies to unedited, unformatted work or books that boast a sloppy cover or where there is little attention to the writing at all. I’m talking about people who think romance is frivolous and therefore the books are junk or that historical fiction is too serious to enjoy with all that realism, so those books stink. That type of sweeping critique is troublesome to me. Yes, I know that professors and agents, editors and even readers will brand one book as great and another as crap and many times there is wide and deep agreement on such an assessment, but really? I’ve read some “fabulous” books that I could barely get through. Crap is subjective, talent, skill, viability in the market—it’s very subjective. So, take this seriously, write the best book possible then sell it.

2. I learned that writing the next book is an author’s best marketing. Quality matters in the sense that you have to pay attention to every single detail a big-time publisher would. You want a great editor, a fabulous, insightful cover artist, a plan to get your work noticed…but when readers begin to see you have a stable of fantastic books, they tend to buy more and spread the word. Write, write, write. It’s central, it’s the key to building a career.

3. With that said, my experience has shown me that I still need to do other types of marketing (than writing the next book). If I don’t have 10 books out to start things rolling, in my opinion, I need to do something to draw attention to my work. Others say no, just write and it will take care of itself. But I needed some validation, I am insecure, I needed readers in order for me to say, okay, this is worth, my mind, my heart, my soul, my sanity every day. So, gently spread the word through social networking, and save up some money for a stronger sell—hard-working marketing plans.  Groups like Fostering Success require a miniscule fee to join and they teach you to market smartly. BUT, I’ve also learned there are many experiences with this…some people don’t market and sell beautifully!

4. I found out that every reader wants quality work—whatever that means for him or her—at a good price, but most don’t give a damn who the publisher is. It takes some time to make the shift from dreaming of a traditional deal to going full force into self-publishing, but once you realize it’s readers you want, you realize it’s the book that matters, it’s getting it to readers that counts.

5. I’m sort of shocked to find I’m satisfied with indie/self-pubbing instead of traditional publishing. Every bit of work I did up until I started writing was accompanied by an institutional hallmark of success…bachelors, masters, PhD…I get the whole validation by “the system” type of thinking…I wanted that so bad! But, I’ve found that being able to call all three of my books bestsellers, to have two of them be multi-award winners, to know that readers do connect with my writing—all of this has soothed my need to tether myself to a big publisher. I’m not totally anti-traditional. I see the value in their work, what they lend to writers. But, when the choice to toil away for years and hope a publishing house sees my novel as its needle in the haystack goes up against the choice to actually get my work in front of readers, I’ll take the readers every time. That was a big lesson for me.

6. Even with all I learned in number 5 up there, I still, at times I feel the old credibility issue creep in. I’m surprised there would be a tiny part of me, a sliver that is affected by the fantasy related to traditional publishing. It rears its head when a fellow writer dismisses my success because it was done the “easy way.” But, I simply sit quietly and reflect on what I’ve done and my goals, meditate a bit and voila! I realize yet again, it’s the readers, dummy, that’s why I write.

7. I can’t believe the networks I’ve formed in the last nineteen months. Being the type of person who keeps to myself in my physical world, I am stunned at the extent to which I’ve found that I work with/support/am supported by such an incredible, and selfless network of writers, that people are so damn savvy and willing to share their knowledge. If I reach out and reach back, there are people willing to lend a hand up and many who need my help as well. It’s an exciting, entrepreneurial time for publishing.

8. The flip-side of that is I’m equally surprised that some people are heartless and will gladly, selfishly harm other writers just because they can. I hate to even think of it. Moving on…

9. I’m irritated and pissed that I’ve had to learn that even I (reserved girl who holes up in her house to write at the expense of real social activities) can be so suddenly distracted by chores unrelated to actual writing. I’ve learned that even I have to actually work at putting my ass back in the seat to write after NEVER having a problem belting out word after word for years! There’s a lure to marketing and networking—the results that come from it. None of that matters if there’s no next book.

10. Publishing is AWESOME if you’re willing to be flexible, exposed, and do all the things you dislike along with the things you love. I think any writer will feel vulnerable to the hurt that comes with the opinions of others no matter which publication path is chosen. And no, we shouldn’t look at reviews…but when you’re indie, you have to monitor your marketing and the sales rank is right there in the same cluster of review numbers, your eyes will stray…and then, well, once you know there’s a new review to read, you can’t quite stop yourself… You can’t write if you don’t put your ego and sense of self at risk of the opinions of others. But, as I’ve said above, all the negatives have taught me about the business and myself. And truly, they pale in comparison to the contentment I feel at being able to put my work into the world. Flexibility, vulnerability, willingness, all play a role. I think that’s what I’ve learned so far…

Five authors contribute five novellas to this romantic collection set over centuries, in one home on the Albemarle Sound.

Home is where the heart is…

One stately residence on North Carolina’s Albemarle Sound. Five stories of heart-warming romance. Told against the backdrop of the Civil War, the loss of an unsinkable ship, the patriotic zeal of the second world war, the heart-rending conflict of Vietnam, and the thrill of modern day Nascar, Jamie Denton, S. K. McClafferty, Kathleen Shoop, Marcy Waldenville, and J. D. Wylde deliver a variety pack of poignant, sexy, and sweet.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Romance

Rating – R

Connect with the authors on Facebook

#AmReading - First Ink by Laura Wright @LauraWrightRom

First Ink by Laura Wright

Amazon

Rush
Women in his bed, celebs and rockers in his chair and a killer bank account at his disposal, life is pretty freaking swell. Then she walks back into it again. With her mismatched eyes, perfect pink mouth and a laugh that still haunts him, she gave him nothing but marvelous misery. Now she wants his hands on her again. Not for pleasure, but for pain. For Ink. A bleeding heart to match the one she left him with five years ago.
Addison
She can’t forget him. No matter how hard she’s tried. The pain she caused him in the past eats at her daily, and she can’t move on with her life. But she has a plan, a hope for redemption – a way for him to take his revenge out on her flesh. But it’ll only work if he lets her inside his exclusive world, under his famous artist’s needle and into his bed—and heart-once again.

The Eden Plague (Plague Wars) by David VanDyke @DVanDykeAuthor

A hard-hitting military technothriller, ON SALE for a limited time. Pick it up today before it’s back to its normal $3.98 price.

A Kindle Book Review 2013 Best Indie Award Winner semi-finalist. thekindlebookreview.net/2013-book-awards/ 

Rule #1: Try not to shoot your future wife. When special operations veteran Daniel Markis finds armed invaders in his home and it all goes sideways, he soon finds himself on the run from the shadowy Company and in possession of a genetic engineering breakthrough that might throw nations into chaos. Out of options, Daniel turns to his brothers in arms to fight back and get the answers he needs. Soon he takes possession of a secret that threatens the stability of the world, as he leads a conspiracy to change everything.

Eden Plague leads readers into the exciting and engrossing Plague Wars apocalyptic-thriller series. It borrows from the traditions of Michael Crichton, Dean Koontz, with shades of David Drake, Jerry Pournelle, S. M. Stirling, Vaughn Heppner and B.V. Larson.

Also from David VanDyke:

The Plague Wars Series:
- The Eden Plague
- Reaper’s Run
- The Demon Plagues
- The Reaper Plague
- The Orion Plague
- Cyborg Strike
- Comes the Destroyer

Stellar Conquest Series:
- Planetary Assault – contains First Conquest: Stellar Conquest Book 1
- Desolator: Book 2
- Tactics of Conquest: Book 3 (Winter 2013)

PG-13 for language, violence and adult situations (non-explicit)

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – SciFi, Adventure

Rating – PG13

More details about the author

Connect withDavid Van Dyke on Facebook &  Twitter

Blog https://davidvandyke.wordpress.com/

#Free - The Adventures of Crog and Zog by Emily A. Cabot

The Adventures of Crog and Zog by Emily A. Cabot

Amazon Kindle US

Frog Toad adventures will keep your child delighted as this precious frog tale unfolds. In The Adventures of Crog And Zog In The Land Of Frogs And Toads, frog and toad are friends, teaching your children important lessons about getting along with those who are different from them. This story features the frog prince Crog and his friend, Zog, who decide that when frog and toad are friends, everyone's life is better off.
In this delightful book, your child will stay on the edge of his seat while learning of the trouble that frog and toad get into throughout the pages of this book. Your young child will meet the friendly ducks who can make frogs fly,and learn about the thrills of adventure while our young stars visit the place where frog and toad all year live together. Because of the exciting nature of this children's book, like the other book in the frog and toad series, your children will learn that being brave enough to face the unknown can take them to marvelous places that they had only before dreamed of visiting.
Emily A. Cabot goes all out in this frog tale, giving children the opportunity to learn important lessons while remaining safely within the realm of comfort for a children's frog prince story. Since frog and toad are friends in this book, your children are introduced to the always challenging concept that just because you are different from someone else doesn't mean that you can't be friends.
Within this second book featuring the frog prince Crog, your child will be delighted with colorful drawings and playful illustrations that bring the frog and toad drama to life in your hands. Your child will want to read about frog and toad all year long, quickly becoming one of their favorite tales to be told at the bedtime setting
As frog and toad together gives the story a feeling of unity and delight, your child will fall in love with these playful characters from the frog and toad series all over again in this newest adventure.
The time spent with your child reading these tales will create fond bedtime memories that your child will cherish for the rest of their lives. Don't delay, get your copy of this tale of frog toad today, and open your child's mind to the delights and wonders of the imaginative world of Emily A. Cabot's delightful story.

Love Unbroken (Love, Life, & Happiness) by Sheena Binkley @ChevonBink

Riana:

I wasn’t expecting to meet anyone when I arrived at Shaw University. After my last stint at love, the only thing I wanted to focus on is getting through my first semester of college without any drama. That was my intentions, until I met Shawn Walker. At first I didn’t like him. He was arrogant and cocky; someone that I could easily despised, if he wasn’t so damn sexy. But one night changed my thoughts about him. I was able to let down my guard and be myself. Now, I have a second chance at love. Will I let myself love again, or will I continue to live in the past?

Shawn:

After my last girlfriend cheated on me, love was not on my agenda. I tried to escape it at all costs, until I met Riana Robertson. After thinking she was like every other girl, I easily avoided being around her, but that night, when I saw what happened to her, I had to help her. I had to protect her. That night changed the way I felt about her and I realized I could fall hard for her. But will our relationship survive once she finds out the truth about me. Or will I lose her forever…

This story is intended for readers 17+ (adult content/language, sexual content/language).

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - New Adult Romance

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Sheena Binkley on Twitter

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Date with the Dead by Chris Myers @CMyersFiction

Chapter 5

After the Caldwells give us our licenses back, Reese and I head out.

“Do you want a ride home?” he asks.

“That’s okay. It’s only a couple miles,” I say. “Let’s talk about the evidence tomorrow.”

“I’ll go over it tonight,” he says, grinning at me.

I’m glad he’s into the techie side of the business. Going through hours of video and voice recordings bore me. Drew and I climb onto my bike. Dark clouds cover the moon, so I pedal fast to beat the rain. I should’ve accepted the ride.

We aren’t even a quarter of the way home when fat droplets splatter my arms. “Shoot.”

Drew squeezes my waist. “Get over. This SUV’s going to clip us.”

Bike reflectors are hard to see at night, so I don’t look behind me but get off the road as far as I can. The headlights shine on me and light up the road in front of me. I’m right against the curb. Surely, he sees me. The SUV slows. The engine breathes on me. I don’t look back. Why isn’t he going around? The vehicle camps on my rear fender for a minute.

“What’s he doing?” Drew asks.

“I don’t know.”

The SUV slowly comes beside me. I look into the tinted windows. I can’t see inside, but the thought of someone staring back at me sends chills along my arms.

The SUV speeds up and brushes against my left pedal. My body jumps as if I’ve been struck by a live wire. The bicycle swerves. I hit the curb and flip, which would’ve seemed graceful if it had been on purpose. My body slides against the sidewalk then onto someone’s lawn.

“Jerk,” Drew yells, pumping his fist in the air.

“I don’t think he can hear you.” I gather myself while rain droplets plunk down on my head, matting my hair.

“Are you okay?” Drew asks, helping me to my feet.

“I’ll survive,” I say, assessing the damage. My right knee is banged up. Shin and palm road rash. I’m shaking hard like I’m holding onto the wing of an airplane flying through a storm.

Computer? I yank it from my back pack. It’s okay. I sigh with relief.

My front handlebars are askew. Great. I’ll have to walk my bike home in the rain. Another drop hits my nose. I tighten my thin jacket and shiver from the sudden wet cold. I pick up the bike and push it while wincing with each step I take. 

A blue FJ Cruiser drives onto the curb behind me. Add embarrassment now to my list of injuries. The rain patters my head.

The driver gets out. It’s Hayden, Mr. Terminator. My knees buckle, not that they needed much encouragement. Why couldn’t it be a teacher, someone I don’t care if he sees me looking my worst? Hayden’s in jeans and a snug polo shirt and looks fabulous whereas I probably look like road kill.

“Jesus,” he says. “I saw that guy run you off the road. He was probably chatting on his cell phone.”

That could be true, but the way he slowed down still has me trembling. “Did you get his license plate?” I ask.

“Sorry. I was too far back.” Hayden walks over to me. “Are you okay? Do you want me to call an ambulance?”

That would cost money. “No. I’ll be fine.” I hobble another few steps forward, because the rain is picking up its tempo.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - YA Paranormal Mystery, Romance

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author and the book

Connect with Chris Myers on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.chrismyersfiction.com

Julia (The Good Life series) by Sarah Krisch

Julia

The Good Life Book One

Chapter 1

1.

...and looking out on the two acres of newly planted seedlings, I feel a sense of satisfaction that only working your own land can bring. Although my back is sore and dirt cakes my fingernails, I know that the land gives back so much more than the effort I put into it. Inhaling the fragrant spring air, feeling the sun's gentle warmth, I am at peace. For tonight, my family will feast on cream of asparagus soup, an early season tossed green salad, and a crusty home-baked bread that melts on your tongue. Pair this with a bottle of local elderberry wine, and you're living the good life.

Julia closed her eyes, her fingers a hair's width from striking the laptop's keyboard. She could almost feel the sun on her cheeks, smell the freshly turned soil. It was a comfort she would often recall whenever she needed a reminder of some of the happiest moments of her life. As a child she'd spent her summer months living at her grandparents' farm in Harmony Grove, Iowa. In retrospect, those quaint, stuck-in-time summer vacations were a great way to grow up, but she couldn't be happier having moved to Chicago—or living with Nora, her best friend since they'd been paired as college roommates eight years ago.

The click of high heels brought her out of her reverie. Julia looked up to see the overly made-up face of the nail tech as she glanced at the timer and whispered, "Five more minutes." Julia nodded and looked back at her laptop screen.

She sighed, happy to have finished another weekly column. Not only was it finished, it was actually pretty darned good. Nine months of weekly columns… she never imagined it would last so long, or that she would even have enough to write about to keep it fresh and interesting. When she'd started the column as a simple blog she never thought anyone would read it. But somehow, in the mysterious workings of the internet, her little Wordpress blog had garnered a following, a following that soon outgrew the free domain world of Wordpress. Her blog, The Good Life, had been syndicated by the Chicago Herald website for six months. Her thousand loyal readers had now become ten times that amount, and growing.

She saved the file to her laptop, careful not to smudge her manicure, and then emailed a copy to her editor at the Herald.

When the timer went off, Gloria, the owner of the salon, approached with a smile and lifted the hairdryer. "How was your day of beauty?"

Julia stood up from the pedicure drying station and glanced down at her toes. "I finally look worthy of the gorgeous Jimmy Choos I bought last week. They only cost me a month's worth of columns."

"I don't know how you get any work done here with all of this racket going on."

"When I'm working on my column, I'm not really here," Julia said as she closed her computer and stowed it in her laptop bag. "I'm at the farm."

"You sure don't look like a farm girl to me."

"And thanks to all of your fabulous skills, I never will." Julia wiggled her fingernails, gleaming with fresh polish. She hadn't had her hands in freshly turned soil in many years.

"None of your readers suspect that you're really just a city girl with an active imagination?"

"No, ma'am. That's one of the reasons I keep coming back to you. Beautician-to-client confidentiality," Julia said with a wink.

"Your secrets are safe with me, girl," Gloria said as she walked Julia to the cash register. "Same time next week?"

Julia handed over her well-used Visa. "You know I can't resist."

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Genre – Contemporary Romance

Rating – PG-13

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Author Interview – George A Bernstein @GeorgeBernstein

What’s your favorite quality about yourself? That I’m driven. Once I start something, I want to finish it, and I’m not satisfied until I’m sure it’s absolutely right. There’s a bit OCD there, I guess. It’s amazing that, no matter how many time you reread a manuscript, you can always find ways to tweak it.

What’s your least favorite quality about yourself? That I’m driven! I have to force myself to say, “enough is enough,” and stop editing and rewriting. At some point, I’ve got to say, “This is ready to go.” Then I can leave it up to an editor to see if something else needs to be done. No matter how many times you rewrite, a good content and/or line editor will find thing to improve your work.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world? I always answer this first by saying, “Home with the wife and my granddaughter, who is current living with us, along with her mother.” But actually, it would be a tie between fly-fishing on a remote, northern Canadian lake for big pike, or wading a medium-sized wilderness river, fly-fishing for smallmouth bass. Those are places where the world disappears for me, and I can live in the moment, challenging great game fish with the long rod.

If I weren’t fishing, it would probably be Argentina. I love Buenos Aires (the Paris of South America), and Patagonia and the Andes are among the most beautiful places in the world. I’ve visited most of the country from the Iguassu Falls to Tierra del Fuego, and did a lot of fishing there, too, in connection with a “previous life” as a fishing & hunting tour operator for several airlines.

When and why did you begin writing (novels)? In 1990, when I was able to “semi-retire” at a pretty young age, my wife said, “You need something to keep busy, and you don’t want to play golf every day. You always loved to write. Why don’t you write a novel?” So we began brainstorming for a subject, and Dolores thought of a neighbor, when we lived in north suburban Chicago, who became comatose after an anesthetic accident during plastic surgery. That became the basis for my first novel, Trapped, which became an Amazon Top 100 Novel in 2012. It only took 22 years for a publisher (TAG Publishers) to recognize its potential.

What Influenced your writing, once you began? Probably the major thing that helped transform me from just a “talented writer” into a skilled writer (there’s a HUGE difference) was attending writers’ conferences.  Those are where I learned that, as talented as I (and many others) thought I was, I had a lot to learn about what makes good writing. The multitude of classes offered at these were a great asset in me developing my craft. I always recommend new writers to attend one or more of these. There are a plethora of classes about every aspect of writing, including how to get published, writing great query letters, and how to promote your work. But the meat of conferences are classes deal with the skills in actual developing characters, plots and descriptive scenes. Many also have agents you to whom can pitch your work, but other than good feedback, this rarely elicits a contract.

As a side note, I took Dolores with me to several conferences. The good news was that she also learned what make great writing, and she’s my stiffest critic. The BAD NEWS was that she learned what makes writing good (!!), and suddenly all the books and movies she used to enjoy were not always so great!

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Genre – Romantic Suspense

Rating – PG13

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#AmReading - The Sword of Sighs by Greg James @_gregjames_

The Sword of Sighs by Greg James

Amazon

THE NUMBER ONE DARK FANTASY BESTSELLER!
Sarah Bean lives a quiet life in Okeechobee, Florida until the day when she is transported from our world to the fantastic realm of Seythe. She meets a wayfaring wizard called Ossen who saves her from the dreaded black riders, servants of a being known only as the Fallen One. Together, they will have to undertake a treacherous journey to the far-away Fellhorn mountain where Sarah must find the one weapon that can save them from the black riders pursuing them - The Sword of Sighs.
NB: This novel is recommended for mature young adults as it contains occasional bad language and occasional scenes of a graphic nature.

The Beautiful American by Marilyn Holdsworth @m_holdsworth

Chapter 4

Mildred and Max were waiting for her when Abby walked back through the shop to the front window. The three of them put the finishing touches on the display and then stepped back to admire the affect. Max had washed the glass so it sparkled, and Mildred had added two more porcelains and a few pieces of antique silver and propped a pair of burgundy velvet pillows in one corner. The overall look was stunning, and Abby nodded her approval.

“Window dressing is an art form in itself and you two could make a business out of it, I’m sure. But I certainly hope you won’t. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she added hurriedly.

“Blimey, that’d be the day,” Max scoffed.

“Well, I’m really grateful for your help today. The window looks terrific, and I was glad you were here to help load that desk, Max.”

“Quickest sale I ever seen.” Max scratched his head, and Mildred gave him a knowing look.

“Nice-looking bloke. Not seen ’im around before,” she said, studying Abby carefully.

“I just met him this morning actually, at the auction. He sort of helped me out of a difficult situation.”

“Knows ’is mind,” Max said.

“Knows what he wants; that’s for sure,” Mildred sniffed. “Wonder if that desk is all he wants.”

“Now, Mildred, don’t go making more out of this than there is. He wanted a desk; I had one for sale. Simple as that. Done deal,” Abby said firmly, locking the shop’s door and heading toward her van.

“Mmhmm” Mildred mused. “We’ll just see about that.”

*  *  *

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Genre - Biographies & Memoirs

Rating – PG-13

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