Guest Post/Blog Tour Renea Mason Symphony of Light and Winter

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Symphony of Light and Winter
(Symphony of Light #1)
Renea Mason
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Length: Novel
Word Count: 88,375
Page Count: 389
Price: 5.99
Heat Level: 4
Release Date: 06/21/2013

One woman. Seven men. All bound by one man’s undying devotion.

Fundraiser Linden Hill has a knack for reading people. She always knows which conversations will put a prospect at ease, which drink will loosen a patron’s lips—or his wallet, and how cleavage will make a donor sweeten the deal. She’s even foreseen her dateless weekends four hundred and sixty-four times in a row.

But ten years after watching life drain from her former mentor’s and first love’s eyes, her skills for divining the predictable are lost. When Cyril returns, he’s still gorgeous, but this time he’s beyond human, far less dead, and pissed. His lack of memory drives him to desperate acts, and his turbulent re-acquaintance with Linden pulls her into his war with a creature hell-bent on his destruction. His group of six supernatural men share a tantalizing secret, but despite the hunger, it’s love that leads her to sacrifice everything to save him…

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Guest Post
by Renea Mason


I'm a little behind the times.  Most people make this type of post around Thanksgiving, but as the year ends and I'm looking forward to new opportunities, I also wanted to take a moment and cherish the gifts of the past year.

In 2013:

I became a published author.

I finished my first novel in 2012 and in 2013 I took on the painstaking task of querying.  Etopia Press decided the novel would be a good addition to their erotic romance collection, and that began the wonderful relationship we now have.  Thank you to them.  And a big shout out to my editor Kyle Lewis, who believed in the story, made the editing process as painless as possible, and answered all of my ridiculous questions. Yes, I ask a lot.

My family didn't disown me.

In fact, they have supported me all the way.  My husband has given me hours and hours of time to bring Cyril and Linden to life, so that I could still maintain my day job, which I also love and spend time with my boys. Without him none of it would be possible.  Then there is my extended family who believed in me and supported me even when they found out what I write. :)

All of the wonderful people I met.

My new friends (internet and non-internet), colleagues, my awesome street team, my fans and all of the connections I made this year.  Starting 2013, I knew nothing of social media.  I kept reading about the importance of it in connection with readers and fellow authors, but I never imagined that a year later I'd have 10,000 Twitter followers, and almost 5000 likes on my Facebook Author Page.  I never thought that I run a virtual party but in 2013 I either hosted or co-hosted over half a dozen.  I'm very thankful for all the wonderful friends and acquaintances I've made over this past year.

Success in other parts of my life.

My fledging venture as an author has been a success, but in other areas of my life, I've known great accomplishment.  I recently took a new position my company that will allow me to continue to grow and learn and I am most thankful for that opportunity.

I could go on forever.  But my hope for you in 2014 is that you find peace, love, success and happiness in everyday!

All my best,

Renea

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Etopia Press
Impostors’ Kiss
Symphony of Light Book 0.5
Renea Mason
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Length: Short
Word Count: 7601
Page Count: 42
Price: 0.99
ISBN: 978-1-940223-62-9
Release Date: 11-15-2013

One night of sexual pleasure could teach a lesson in love.

Cyril is weary from weeks of traveling the Scottish moors, but his luck takes a turn when he rescues a battered and broken child. To express his gratitude, the boy’s father offers Cyril a night of carnal indulgence with his eldest daughter. Cyril graciously accepts, looking forward to a night of sexual release to ease the loneliness of his travels.

But what the supernatural sex god and deliverer of souls doesn’t expect is to be taught a lesson in love from the young and beautiful Celestine.

In a night of passion, two lost spirits find solace in an impostor’s kiss: one longing for a love that doesn’t yet exist, the other drowning in pain and guilt over love lost. Neither is what they seem…but what they learn will change them forever…

Excerpt

“Who is she?”

This was not a question I expected. Even though I was comfortable being nude, most humans were not. I saw in her mind what horrors men had bestowed upon her. The massive erection I sported should have frightened her, but with each quick glance I made in her direction, I saw she stood firm and resolute, while twirling the blindfold between her fingers.

“Who?” Not the time to speak riddles.

“The woman for whom that kiss was intended.”

“Oh.” I brushed my hands through my hair. The long, black strands fell one by one back into place. I sighed. “She’s my love. My light. But she is out of reach.”

“I have a confession.”

***

About the Author:


Renea Mason writes steamy romances to help even out the estrogen to testosterone imbalance caused by living in a house full of men.

When she isn’t putting pen to paper crafting sensual stories filled with supernatural lovers, she spends time with her beyond-supportive husband, two wonderful sons and three loving but needy cats.

Renea is a member of Romance Writers of America, The Paranormal Romance Guild and The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal subchapter of the Romance Writers of America.

She is also a founding member of Coffee Talk Writers and the Coffee Talk website–a site designed to support established writers and foster new talent.


ReneaMason.com
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Amazon.com Author Page
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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Awakening Olivia North by Hamilton Wade

Awakening Olivia North is a love story... tender, romantic, and sensual. It also says a lot about life and how we should all strive to get back to the true essence of who we are.

Outwardly, Olivia North looked the happily married woman. Her children continually made her proud, and her husband had indeed provided the kind of lifestyle and financial security most women could only dream of. Few of her friends could understand what needs she may have beyond the beautiful house, the cars and the apartment on the Sunshine Coast. Yet there was something quietly missing… a sense of partnership and intimacy, and had been for a great many years.

Emptiness engulfed Olivia after her youngest daughter Lucy moved out of the house to university. With no regrets or thoughts of resentment, Olivia walked away from her marriage, reaching out for emotional support from her brother, his wife, and her daughters. Olivia took stock of her financial situation, embracing an uncertain future with faith everything would fall into place.

Descending the companionway steps to get her mobile phone, she saw the cook busy preparing dinner. The mince was in a large pan on the galley stove, and he had finely sliced onion and garlic on the cutting board. She hugged and kissed him as she passed to and from the aft cabin, saying she would make a quick call to her girls while he made the boat smell so yummy.

Sitting comfortable on the swim step, she was pleasantly surprised that both Sally and Lucy answered their telephones. The must have recognized the call as being from Thailand, and as she hadn’t been calling anywhere near as often as expected, they didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see how things were in Phuket.  Sally had looked thought all the pictures, and especially close at the ones her mother had taken of Andrew.

“Mum, I think I can see what Lucy has been saying. Looking at his eyes, I can understand it when you say Andrew is a gentle and caring man. It shows mum.”

Olivia loved this softening of Sally towards Andrew Walker. Sally had been protective, wary, and not at all caught up in the romantic notion of a holiday in another country with a man she herself had never met. Things were changing.  Lucy, on the other hand, never questioned her mother’s decision. She sensed something about Andrew from the moment they met, and she wholeheartedly approved. She was the romantic of the family. She too had loved the pics and had been back to look at them many times.

“Mum, that Meridien resort in Khao Lak was a romantic paradise. I adored it and you must have had such a nice time there. Have you fallen in love mum?”

That question interrupted Olivia’s thoughts completely. How could she answer Lucy when she wasn’t sure she had the answer herself?  She hesitated a little before saying a word.

“Mum, I’m waiting!”

“Don’t do this to your poor mother. I’m sitting on the back of the boat a few hundred meters off the beach. Andrew is down below cooking lasagna, and the sky is becoming the most beautiful shade of pink. To be honest sweetheart, all I can say is that I am having the most wonderful holiday and I don’t even want to think about this dream coming to an end.”

“Oh My God Mum. I’m crying tears of joy for you. I love you and I love that you guys are having such a romantic time.”

Olivia too had tears in her eyes and saying goodbye to Lucy, reached for the towel she had folded to sit on. Cradling her face in the towel, drying her tears, she sat there looking out over the water as she thought more about Lucy’s question. Yes, she and Andrew definitely shared something very deep. Still, neither of them had mentioned the word love. In a multitude of ways, the word itself seemed superfluous. Emotions were not words, and it was difficult to use words to describe or explain emotions.

I'm an Australian,  the product of a conventional upbringing, and marriages to a couple of very different, yet extraordinary women. My life has comprised the normal range of failures and successes, and continues to be a wonderful and enlightening journey.I've lived and worked in numerous places around the world, including Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, the United States, and India. I continue to divide my time between Thailand and Australia.

Where to connect with Hamilton Wade:

Social Media

Book site:  http://www.awakeningolivianorth.com/

Author site: http://www.hamiltonwade.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/hamilton.wade.5

Amazon:    Hamilton Wade

Buy Links

Amazon-  Awakening Olivia North

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Gargoyle's Embrace by Lisa Carlisle

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Gargoyle’s Embrace
Underground Encounters Part 5
Lisa Carlisle
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Date of Publication: November 27, 2013
Number of pages: 50 pages
Word Count: 14k
Cover Artist: Syneca
Ellora’s Cave | Amazon | BN | Kobo


Book Description:

Fifth in the Underground Encounters series.

Tracy isn’t sure why she’s drawn to a particular gargoyle statue in the Goth club where she works. After the stone takes human form to protect her from her abusive ex, she brings the handsome, naked male to her apartment. It’s impossible to ignore the seductive appeal of a man sculpted like a Viking warrior.

Danton has only hours in human form to spend with the woman he has hungered for. He’s convinced what’s between them is more than hot sex, but he needs to convince Tracy of that before he turns back to stone.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Excerpt:

Tracy brushed her fingers over the smooth stone of the gargoyle perched at the end of the bar of the Vamps nightclub.

“I’m stuck with the late shift tonight,” she said. “But at least I took in some good money.”

She stood over the crouched gargoyle and ran her hand over the smooth area between its two horns, down the back of its head and over its hunched back where its two wings connected. “Thanks for always listening,” she said, aware of how foolish she sounded speaking to a statue. If anyone saw her, they’d think she was stone-cold crazy. She bent to kiss its smooth, chiseled stone cheek in gratitude.

Over the last few months, Tracy had begun talking to the stone gargoyle as if it were a companion whenever she had a few moments alone in the bar. Why she gravitated toward this one gargoyle while several others were perched around the club, she didn’t know. She found something compelling about it, drawing her in, and she often confided her secrets to it.

Tracy rested her hand on the gargoyle’s shoulder while she scanned the club. Bottles and cups were scattered in every dark corner and under the other perched gargoyles. The scent of sweat and spilled beer still permeated the club.

“Trace.”

Was it one of the guys out back? The guys she worked with were bringing out the trash and the bottles for recycling. The other bartenders had already settled up and left for the night. They rotated who could leave first and who had to stay to make sure they were stocked for the next night.

No, they knew better than to call her Trace.

“It’s Tracy,” she said, turning to face the intruder.

And stared into the face of her ex.

“What are you doing here, Brian?” The muscles in her body tensed as she gauged the distance between her and the pepper spray behind the bar should she need it.

She thought she felt a tiny movement under her hand.

No, she had to be losing her mind. As if stone could move.

She kept her hand on the stone like a security blanket, almost gripping it now that Brian had appeared.

“I came to see what you were doing tonight. Thought maybe we could hang out.” The way he slurred the words indicated he’d already had one too many, a bad sign.

“Definitely not. The restraining order should make that clear.”

“Babe, I was in a rough place and I took it out on you. Let’s put the past behind us and try again.”

The cold stone felt warmer beneath her hand. How strange. Was she so heated from the tension of Brian arriving that her palm could warm cool stone?

“No, Brian. I’ve given you too many chances and each time it ended worse than the time before.”

“Babe.” He approached her. “I would never hurt you again.”

“Don’t come any closer.” She moved away from the gargoyle to get to her purse behind the bar.

“Trace, you’re soooo dramatic.” He moved behind the bar.

Tracy was distracted by the gargoyle statue behind him. It was changing color, from gray stone to what appeared to be—flesh.

“Come on, we were good together. Don’t you miss the sex?”

The stone wings of the gargoyle statue unfurled into enormous sleek, black, feathered ones. The gargoyle reshaped itself, rising from a crouched position to stand on two legs to a full height well over six feet.

And its head. The horns sank back into the stone while light-blond hair sprouted to take their place, growing past its broad shoulders. Within a few seconds, the grotesque stone creature she found lovable had transformed into a breathtaking male with flawless bronze skin, long blond hair and the magnificent physique of a Viking warrior. Who stood before them stark naked.

“Holy shit!” she exclaimed, eyes widening.

“I know, babe. The sex was awesome.”

She fumbled for her purse, searching for the damn spray. She wasn’t even sure who she was going to direct it at now with two threats facing her.

It was too late. Brian had grabbed her wrists and tried to kiss her.

“Get off me!”

She attempted to knee him in his testicles, but he deflected the blow by turning his body to the side.

Enormous black wings surrounded Brian and a second later he was lifted off the ground. Brian exclaimed, “What the―” which was cut off as he was thrown over the bar onto the empty dance floor.

He scrambled to his feet on unsteady legs. The gargoyle stepped over to him in a few massive strides. While Tracy’s gaze paused on his sculpted buttocks, the gargoyle raised one of his sinewy legs and kicked Brian in the gut. Brian groaned and clutched his stomach. The gargoyle lifted a foot over Brian’s head.

Tracy screamed while Brian shielded his face with his forearm to brace against the gargoyle stomping on his head.

***

About the Author:

Lisa gravitates toward stories with dark, brooding, isolated characters (think Heathcliff, Dracula, Darth Vader and Severus Snape) and tough, independent, caring heroines. She’s wanted to write since the sixth grade and is thrilled to now be a multi-published, award-winning author. 

She spent a short time in the Marine Corps, living in Parris Island, the California desert, and Okinawa, Japan. She then backpacked alone around the US and Europe and lived in Paris, France, before returning to the U.S. to buy a bookstore. Now she lives in New England with her husband and children and draws on these experiences in her stories. 

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Youtube

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Guest Post & Giveaway The Arkansas Connection by David Evans

Title: The Arkansas Connection

Author Name: David Evans

 

Author Bio:

  David Evans is a Toronto-based pain consultant with an interest in all types of chronic, intractable non–cancer pain. An avid fly fisherman, crossword and Sudoko aficianado and global traveler, The Arkansas Connection is David’s first novel but he is hard at work on a second one!  

Author Links -

www.thearkansasconnection.com https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18334552-the-arkansas-connection?from_search=true http://www.amazon.com/The-Arkansas-Connection-David-Evans-ebook/dp/B00BJCFNKA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384466022&sr=8-1&keywords=%22the+arkansas+connection%22    

Guest Post

Starting out as a Writer- 5 Things you should know

By David Evans http://www.thearkansasconnection.com/

Hello, and thanks for having me write a guest blog today. I thought I would give a few tips for when you are just starting the craft. Hopefully you will find them helpful. 

1. Inspiration can come from anywhere- keep your eyes open. Sometimes inspiration to write comes from the oddest sources. When you are just starting out as a writer it’s important to write down your daily observations. I write down little things like a signpost I find interesting, or a different type of headline I’ve seen online somewhere. A friend of mine took out a fiction library book about a plague in the 17th century and someone had pasted a clip of a current news item about the bubonic plague resurgence in Europe. They had handwritten the date on it. Later they were to find similar clippings in other books on the same topic. She found it fascinating and used that to develop a character who had an obsession with finding newspaper clippings to relate to books. You never know where inspiration is going to strike- be prepared!

2. It’s not about writing what you know, it’s about writing who you know. I wrote my book the Arkansas Connection set in Arkansas. I’ve never been there. I know it’s supposed to be a big faux pas to write about a place if you haven’t been there, but I think that’s part of the fun. You can do basic research and read wonderful descriptions about the place you want to write about, but it means nothing if you don’t have great characters. I set my story in Arkansas, but it doesn’t really on the setting. It relies on the WHO I’m writing about.  If you have fully developed characters that come alive then you could set them down on some far off planet and the reader wouldn’t care because they are so involved in what you are offering in terms of authenticity for the characters. Of course you should be mindful of the genre you are writing in- that will influence your decisions. I’m just saying if you focus on Who, then the where and what will fall into place. 

3. Be authentic when developing characters. If you don’t make your characters believable then your story goes nowhere. Too often new novelists try to do too much and it isn’t necessary. Sure a physical description is great for the reader when they follow the action in the story, but don’t overwork the issue. I always find that if you look around at real people in your life and use them as a baseline, then you can throw in your imagination and you will have genuine characters that people want to care about. And that’s the crux of it. Your character can be perfectly evil, but there has to be something about them that the reader wants to know more about. Being authentic is so important. If you think that characters swears, then have them swear. Don’t hold back!

4. Real life makes for the most interesting stories.  Even when you write in the world of fantasy or science fiction I think you’ll find that events that happen in real life are a great springboard for all kinds of stories. I work in the medical field, and I have an interested in baseball, and I have an innate distrust of bankers and stockbrokers. Mix that altogether and you have my book. The main protagonist being a frustrated baseball manager, his dysfunctional team; a young doctor and his dysfunctional hospital chief, and a young baseball phenom who happens to be a financial genius. Take everything you know and experience and you have a novel!

5. Behind the scene stories make for great characters. My book is about the behind the scenes antics of the Mets baseball team. At one time they really were the laughing stock of the sport. My book is not really about baseball, but what happens behinds the scenes in the industry. Everyone loves to watch bloopers of t.v shows . Sometimes they are more entertaining than the actual show. The play Noises Off! a British smash tells the stories of actors behind the scenes- what is going on below the surface is fascinating.  Television series like 30 Rock and The Crazy Ones are all about what really happens in their industry and people just love it. If you are looking for something interesting to write about then consider what your day job is and enlighten everyone on the crazy stories and people you meet! 

If you are just starting to write then I offer this advice. Don’t worry about an audience. Write for yourself and worry about the business parts later. And remember if you are bored by what you are writing. Then stop and start again!

About The Book

 

Book Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Jemsdale Publishing

Release Date: February 21, 2013

Buy Link: Amazon

  Book Description:   Frank Munro, manager of the New York Mets, leads a turbulent life trying to win with a team of dysfunctional underachievers. Soon after the Mets lose the final game of the season, Frank finds out his mother has died, and he must return to his hometown of Catsville, Arkansas, to arrange her funeral. His attempt to give her remains a grand send-off results in mayhem, and out of pity his mother’s friend Alice invites him to a "tea party” with three other ladies, where the tea is actually moonshine. Frank gives them a play-by-play of that final game, and manages to survive the evening. He returns to New York to find the Mets’ owner has decided to give him one more chance. 

  Meanwhile, Bobby Sherward, a doctor-turned-right fielder who sustained a concussion from the fly ball and lost the Mets' final season game, decides that his future is in medicine, not baseball. He takes a position at a veteran’s hospital in Arkansas. Upon arrival, he is amazed to find it's within spitting distance of Frank's hometown.  That’s not the only unsettling coincidence Bobby must contend with, for it soon becomes apparent that Broken Arrow Memorial is the medical equivalent of the Mets. 

Run by a psychotic medical director, the hospital is the home of indifferent or incompetent doctors, electro-convulsed patients, and assorted weird experiments. Bobby soon has enough, but before he leaves town he encounters a remarkable sandlot baseball player named Jonathon Brown. Besides being a phenomenal player, Jonathon is also a mathematical genius who runs a highly successful investment group in the back room of a local diner.  Bobby manages to convince Jonathon to try out for the Mets, and his incredible skills both on the field and in finance bring him and the team fame and prosperity. But Jonathon also raises the ire of the brokerage firm losing customers to his sound investment advice. As a result, the company's CEO makes plans to “eliminate” the new competition. Will Jonathon survive his trip to the big league, and complete the Arkansas Connection?

PLEASE NOTE: There are some suggestive scenes and swearing in the book- so it’s not for children.      

The Arkansas Connection

by David Evans

Excerpt 2

Bobby did return the next week to watch the Tigers play against a team that apparently had no trouble with their septic tanks, the Brownwood Dodgers. The teams were made up mostly of young enthusiastic guys in their thirties trying to escape from their wives and kids for a night out with the boys. There were also some veterans, a few who had played in semi-pro leagues. Jonathon Brown stood out, both physically and athletically. He was twenty-two years of age, about six feet four inches tall with long, blond hair. Most women, Bobby thought, would consider him extremely handsome. He had the upper body of a heavyweight boxer and the legs of an Olympic sprinter, and seemed to glide over the field, defying gravity.

He played right field, and propelled the first ground ball that came to him like a radar-guided rocket to first base, to get the runner before he was halfway there. He moved effortlessly to the right or left, making impossible-looking catches and gathering up ground balls that were drawn to him like magnets to a refrigerator door. He was also impressive at the plate. He hit three monster homers and drove in eight runs. Bobby had to keep telling himself that this was a primitive team in a primitive league. In this company, even he might look like Willie Mays. Yet he had the feeling that Jonathon would look good in any league, including the Majors.

Bobby returned a number of times, and was never disappointed. The boy was good. Good enough that he was determined to call Frank Munro and try to get him to give Jonathon a trial. Of course, he had to talk to Jonathon first. For all Bobby knew, the guy might already have been scouted and have an agent. He knew that that even in a population of three hundred million, it was rare for someone with Jonathon’s talent to go unnoticed.

He was determined to do this after his next visit. As it turned out, he made a mistake reading the schedule and he didn’t watch Jonathon the jock perform but Jonathon the investment counselor. Having found the field bereft of baseball players, Bobby asked a gas station attendant where he might find Jonathon.

Monday nights you’ll find him in the back room at Betty’s Diner,” the attendant told him. “He runs some sort of club for people who want to get into the stock market. Can’t understand why anyone would want to chuck their money away like that. The bank was good enough for my grandfather and my father, and it’s good enough for me. Mind you, by the look of the cars they’re driving, they must by doing pretty good.”

Betty’s was about a mile out of town, an oasis in a wide expanse of cow pasture. There were about ten cars parked in front, and Bobby couldn’t help noticing that besides half a dozen of the ubiquitous half-ton pickup trucks, there were also a couple of fancy looking sport utilities, and even a Corvette and a Porsche. Betty was standing behind the counter reading the latest line on the nags running at Pimlico. There were no customers in the diner.

“I’m looking for Jonathon Brown,” Bobby said. “The guy at the gas station thought he might be here.”

“Yep,” she said, pointing a greasy finger to a door at the rear of the diner. “He’s got his meeting in the back room. Every month. Investments and things. Danged if I understand it, but some of those guys are now gentlemen farmers....Well, I dunno about gentlemen, but they’ve certainly given up shoveling shit for a living.”

“Do you think they’d mind if I went in?”

“Nah, I don’t think so. It ain’t exclusive or nothin’ like that.”

Bobby invested in a Coke and a multi-layered burger and fries, and quietly slipped into the back room. Jonathon was explaining the finer points of a graph thrown onto a screen by an overhead projector. He was dressed in black pants, a pure white shirt and a red tie. He was also wearing suspenders. There were about ten people in the audience taking notes.

Jonathon paused and acknowledged the presence of the stranger. “Can’t say I recognize you,” he said.

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No,” Bobby agreed. “I came to see you play baseball, but got the days mixed up. I wanted to talk to you. Would you mind if I sat in until you’re finished? If not, I’d be quite happy to sit in the diner…. ”

“No, no,” Jonathon insisted, “stick around, by all means. We’re talking stocks and stuff, so it may be a bit boring. Baseball it ain’t.”

Bobby sat down and listened for two hours, fascinated by a discussion surrounding the stock market potential of about twenty small to medium-sized companies. All were listed on various stock exchanges around the country. As far as Bobby could tell they were mostly computer companies, but there were also a couple of banks and oil and gas companies.

Each member of the club apparently had the responsibility of assessing at least one stock. This assessment meant reading annual reports, scanning the major business papers for articles or mere mentions. Specific trade journals would be scanned. Especially important was the strength of management, earning potential, product uniqueness and market share. Often a member would actually go to the town where his company was located. He would look at the plant and watch for activity. If possible, he would inveigle his way into the plant and observe production lines. He might also pick up some local gossip as to how the company was doing. All this information was given to Jonathon. He would then plug that information plus some of his own ideas into a computerized model that he himself had developed, to give a bottom line: Buy or Sell.  

         

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Book Spotlight: My Beautiful Suicide by Atty Eve

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Suicide is selfish.

It tells the world that you are weak. It tells the world your family and friends have failed. It leaves them with guilt that they could have done more but didn't. It tells them they are clueless and helpless.

I am weak, but I am not selfish.

My suicide will not leave my family and friends with guilt and shame; it will leave them thankful that they knew me for the short time I was here.

- Cosette Hugo

Her brother died. Her parents divorced. Her high school bully is relentless. Cosette doesn't have a lot to live for, but it isn't until she accidentally kills someone that Cosette makes the decision to take her own life.

Unwilling to bring shame to her mom, best friend Mattie, or her boyfriend Chris, Cosette decides the best method of suicide is to become a victim of the local serial killer, The Poser. But every time she goes out to find him she gets attacked; her instincts take over, and she ends up killing her attackers. This quickly leads to unbearable guilt. Desperate to finish this before she gets caught or racks up more victims, Cosette does the unthinkable.

"And when I reach my final goal, to meet my brother in heaven, and we're looking down at my victim in Hell, he will say to me 'Well done, Cosette. What a Beautiful Suicide.'"

“No, I just want to apologize.” He loosely holds my hand and walks me to my couch. “I crossed a line I said I wouldn’t and you warned me. You know enough about me to know that I’m no boy scout. But I want you to know that I know enough about you that I think I should stop asking questions.”

I hate what he’s saying to me, but before I get mad at him, he holds up a finger. “I have something for you.”

“Do I want it?”

“Actually, I have two things, and yes, you’ll want one and need the other.” He holds his fist out. I put my hand underneath, waiting to catch whatever he drops. “This I stole, because that’s just what I do, but it doesn’t make it any less meaningful, okay?”

“Okay.” I grin at his cute introduction.

“If you’ve changed your mind about committing to me, then let me know now before I open my hand and look stupid.”

“You saw me completely naked. I think that’s commitment enough.”

“Very true, good answer.” He opens his hand and drops a small ring with two diamonds separated by a deep blue sapphire. “This is a promise ring. It’s not an engagement ring or anything like that. It’s just me pledging myself to you. If you accept me, then accept the ring. If you aren't sure, then don’t take it. I know it’s old fashioned, but I’m an old fashioned kind of guy.”

“I’ll take it and I’ll take you.” He slides it on my finger while I cry. I lunge at him and kiss him. He smiles and kisses me back.

He’s perfect, just perfect.

I wish I could be like him, so loving, and thoughtful, and kind—but I’m not. I knew when I started that I would not be good for Chris. Shit, I’m on a suicide mission and here he wants to pledge himself to me.

“Chris, I can’t take this.”

“What? Rejection already?”

I pull away from him, feeling the vacuuming black hole sucking onto me, letting me know it’s there waiting for me. “I’m not good enough for you, Chris. I can’t take you down with me.”

“What do you mean down with you? Cosette, I’ll go anywhere with you. You’re perfect for me.”

“The Cozy you know is not the real me. You are pledging yourself to my body, not my soul.”

“I don’t understand. You said you loved me.” His voice cracks, breaking my heart.

“Oh my God, I do! But my soul is dying. It started dying a long time ago and keeps dying the more I cross these lines. It’s not fair for me to offer you something that isn't perfect. I can’t take this from you. I’m not worthy.” I take the ring off and hand it back to him.

He stares at it, confused. “Did I happen to mention that this was stolen?”

I chuckle through tears.

I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Family life was rough with a religious mother and a short-tempered, alcoholic father. (Picture Archie Bunker) My escape was reading and music. I think I was the only kid with my nose in a book during the Air Force Academy football games.

   As a teen I was an 80's new waver with black shaved hair, a pale face and bright red lipstick. I was very self-destructive and always got into trouble. Needing a change I followed my father's footsteps and joined the Air Force.

   During my four year enlistment I was stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada where I met my wonderful husband. We both got out of the military and moved to Southern Indiana, on the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky. I have two teenage boys whom I try to embarrass but have yet to succeed, they have great senses of humor.

I wrote my first novel over ten years ago and was on the verge of having it published when, sadly, my publisher passed away. I shelved my books for a few years to work on our family business. Now I'm back to writing and have decided my fate is in my own hands. And since I hate being told what to do I am self-publishing.

Where to connect with Atty Eve:

Social Media

Booke site:  http://www.MyBeautifulSuicide.com/

Author site: http://www.AttyEve.com/

Goodreads: My Beautiful Suicide

Twitter:     @Atthaliah

Facebook:  Atty Eve

Amazon:    Atty Eve - Author

Buy Links

Amazon-  My Beautiful Suicide

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Barnes & Noble-- My Beautiful Suicide

Fabulosity Reads Book Promotions is a book touring website that promotes authors and their precious works to an extensive audience using blogs, twitter, Facebook and other Social Media, with the aim of introducing them to an appreciative readership.

They offer a diverse range of both complimentary and affordable products to help the reach of your book go that much further.

Blog Tour/Guest Post & Giveaway Fun House by Michael Bray

The long & The Short Of It – Michael Bray

Although it may not seem so on the surface, there is a definite difference between approaching writing long fiction, such as novels etc., and shorter stories like the ones that appear in Funhouse. Both need to be approached in a different way, and I advise any author to get into the habit of practising both writing styles regularly.

For novel length works, you have to take into account a lot of things. The pacing of the plot needs to unravel at a slower pace, often you will also need to include several self-contained sub-plots to keep the reader engaged. Characters need to slowly develop, gradually revealing more and more about themselves as the story goes on. For an author used to writing shorter works, this can prove a challenge, and authors will often worry that their works will fall in that limbo where it is too long to be a short story, but not long enough to be a novel. There is nothing wrong with this of course, and I have published a story like this called MEAT. The story was initially intended as a short story for my debut collection, Dark Corners, but as it progressed, and this cast of characters started to develop, I quickly realised that this was going to be a standalone. The 5,000 word short story that I had envisioned, ended up being a near on 50,000 word story. I was really happy with how it turned out, and consider it one of my favourite stories.

The flip side of the coin, is that those who write exclusively long fiction might struggle to be able to write short enough works for submissions for anthologies and such. As with writing novels, there are certain guidelines to follow which should help to trim those big story ideas to smaller, bite sized chunks.

First of these is to get straight into the story. The beauty of the short is that the reader wants to know what is going on right away. Dive straight in at the crux of the story. Pull the reader in from the first page. As for cast of characters, keep them minimal. Just the important players with minimal distractions. Forget sub-plots and dragging out the story. Give us the goods without delay. If you do find that you have gone a little bit longer than intended, edit mercilessly. Look at every single line in the story and ask yourself what it contributes to the flow of the story. If it doesn’t tell you the information that you need to get to the resolution, then get rid of it.

Writing both types of story is a really good discipline for authors to practice. There are good lessons to be learned from regularly doing both, and it will really help to develop your skills.

I hope this has been of some interest, and given some insight into the differences between both styles of writing.

About the Author

Michael Bray is a Horror author based in Leeds, England. Influenced from an early age by the suspense horror of authors such as Stephen King, and the trashy pulp TV shows like Tales From The Crypt & The Twilight Zone, he started to work on his own fiction, and spent many years developing his style. In May 2012, he signed a deal with the highly reputable Dark Hall Press to print and distribute his collection of interlinked short stories titled Dark Corners, which was released in September 2012.

His second release was a Novella titled MEAT which was initially self-published before being picked up by J. Ellington Ashton Press. His first full length novel, a supernatural horror titled Whisper was initially self-published, and following great critical acclaim, sold to Horrific Tales publishing where it went on to reach as high as #3 in the amazon paid best sellers list.

About the Book

Roll up to the Funhouse, a brand new collection of tales from the author of Whisper, Dark Corners & Meat, Michael Bray.

A man who makes an unscheduled stop gets more than he bargained for in ‘CANDYLAND.’

A Group of teens discover a terrible secret on Samsonite farm in ‘SCARECROWS.’

A school yard bully and his former victim reunite with horrifying results in ‘LONG TALL COFFIN.’

A High school party becomes an arachnid nightmare for one unfortunate guest in ‘THE BOY WHO SAW SPIDERS.’

These are just some of the horrors hidden within the darkest recesses of the funhouse. Look closer if you dare, and indulge in these 16 tales of madness, murder, terror and insanity.

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This giveaway is international For a chance to win one of two e-books of Meat and one of three e-books of Funhouse The winners will be announced at the end of the tour.

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Deceived by Sandy Marshall Giveaway & Book spotlight

The Deceived

by Sandy Marshall

About The Author

  Sandra grew up in the mid-west in a small farming community where she belonged to 4-H. When she was thirteen, her family moved to, Lawrence, Kansas, the town where the University of Kansas thrived. After high school, she traveled to California to live with a friend and to find a job. She became very homesick and returned home.   She worked for a major airline for thirty-six years and did extensive travel during that period. It was a lovely time in her life working for a wonderful company. In 1999 she retired to write full time and worked seriously toward publication.   In 2008, she had her first book published, and then her second one in 2009. Shortly after her publisher closed their doors, and she immediately moved to a new publisher. She is still with the publisher and has had three books and a novella published with them. She has just contracted a short story with them titled Hitting Bottom, and is working on another short one.

  Website | Blog | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Linkedin  

About The Book

Book Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Eirelander Publishing
Release Date: October 25, 2013
Amazon
Book Description:
The games they play can lead them to love or ruin. 
Melanie Dubois detests her family’s casino business. The way this addiction destroys people has her on a tear of magnificent proportions. Then again, this young lady has been put through a train wreck of her own design. She distrusts everybody except for the people who are determined to use Melanie as a poster-child for zealots. 
Mike Mercer has spent nearly a year in a deep cover mission for the FBI. The one fly in the ointment of completing his objective to take down a group of dangerous anti-gambling zealots is a fiery-tempered, blonde-haired woman named Melanie DuBois. Worse than that, she’s got a passion brewing just beneath the surface that’s an even deadlier attraction. 

Fighting for your life is never easy when the odds are stacked against you.

Excerpt:

 

Dressed for the day in pale blue sweats, Mel stood in the drab, dark kitchen of Janet Batten’s house and debated what to do. The growl of her stomach made the decision for her, she’d fix breakfast. She switched on the light over the sink, and reached into a lower cabinet for a couple of skillets. She poured olive oil in one pan and went to the freezer for sausage to put in the other one. Slowly, she drew ingredients from the refrigerator and placed them on the butcher block counter before she went to the pantry for potatoes and onions.

Early morning was her favorite part of the day, it was quiet and no one was around.

Why was she being left out of everything this group was doing? After being here for a month, she was still being treated like an outsider. It was almost like she was still at home. Why wouldn’t they let her help? She’d been picketing, but she knew there was more going on than just that.

Did they consider her a part of the establishment they were trying to destroy? True, she would inherit a portion of the Odyssey Casinos, but she didn’t want any part of the company. Why should she when her family treated her like a wicked stepchild? If that was the problem, she’d tell Janet that she would sell her part and use the money to help those who were addicted to gambling.

She didn’t want to belong to an industry that destroyed anyone, or their livelihoods. She’d led a privileged life on the backs of losers, living in a huge home, going to private schools and college because of them.

Thinking of the Odysseys’ always made her think of her family. Her relationship with them had been rocky for many years. Even so, she loved her sister, Jolene, and they’d been great friends when they were younger. After her sister was saved from the monster who’d kidnapped her, Mel had wanted to go see her, but didn’t want to risk being forced to leave this group by her mother and stepfather.

Absorbed in her thoughts, knife in hand chopping onions vigorously, she didn’t hear anyone come into the kitchen. A large shadow appeared on the wall in front of her, Mel swung around with the knife pointed at the person’s chest.

Recognizing Janet, her heart still pounding, she lowered the sharp edge. "You scared me to death."

"I’m sorry I frightened you," Janet said, stepping back. "You must’ve been in deep thought because I said, ‘Good Morning’ when I first walked in."

"I was thinking about how I don’t feel included in your plans. It feels like home. I was always an outsider there, too."

The older woman wrapped the younger one in her arms.

"We didn’t mean to do that, Melanie. You should’ve told me sooner how you felt," Janet said, releasing her and gazing into the girl’s blue eyes. "We want you to feel wanted and comfortable in your new home."

"Then why can’t I do something besides picket?" Janet probably thought she sounded like a big crybaby. She turned away to keep busy as she waited for the answer, she scrapped the ingredients from the cutting board into the skillet.

"It looks like you’re doing something besides picketing. Do you have enough for everyone?"

Mel glanced at Janet and caught a smile on her face. "I’ve got enough for a small army, but you know I didn’t mean this." She poured in the scrambled eggs and put bread in the toaster.

Janet walked to the fridge drawing out butter and milk to place on the table. "After breakfast we’re having a meeting, and it would be helpful for you to tell your family’s story," and then casually asked, "Would you be willing to do that?"

"Sure, I want to." That was an understatement; she couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the evils of gambling. Yeah, she’d gladly let them know what the casinos had done to her dad. Janet had promised her when she came here she would become involved with major activities and maybe this was the start.

Janet stopped beside her, caressing the top of Melanie’s head. "It’ll go a long way to help alleviate the others distrust of you."

"Thanks for the opportunity to explain myself." So that’s the reason she hadn’t been able to get close to any of these people except Janet. Well hell, if that’s why they were ignoring her, she’d spell it out why she was here.

"I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you."

"Thanks," Mel murmured, as she darted a glance at the salt and pepper-haired woman while Janet took silverware and plates to the long, scarred wooden table. "Why are you so nice to me?"

Janet walked to stand beside her. "I had a daughter about your age." She touched Melanie’s arm. "If she had lived, I would want her to be like you."

Mel leaned toward Janet. "I wish I’d had a mother who loved me." It would have been nice to have someone really care about her. She glanced past the woman as she heard people streaming into the kitchen. "We’d better hurry, here they come."

The first person she saw was Al Slavery, who could miss that evil scarred face. It was all she could do to keep from flinching as he drew closer to her. Next came Dan dressed in his usual jeans and sweater with a swagger that would turn on most women. Several young stringy-haired women in sweats and a few older men followed behind him.

"Leave the juice on the counter along with the food. It won’t hurt them to help themselves today." Janet winked at her.

Mel smiled at Janet, saying, "Good idea." She swished the food from the skillets onto platters.

Janet winked at her and turned toward the people before they could sit at the table. "Come and get it before it gets cold."

The guys grabbed plates and rushed forward. Mel backed away from the counter so she wouldn’t be trampled in their attempt to get to the food. It would be a miracle if there was any left; she’d probably have to settle for a bowl of cereal.

"Hey, you guys leave some food for the rest of us," Janet barked, sounding like a drill sergeant.

Mel suppressed a grin, watching the men take smaller portions. She might get to eat some of her cooking after all. She flinched when Slavery purposely brushed against her scowling at him.

The man gave her the creeps. 

   

     

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Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Atlas by Becca C. Smith

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Atlas
The Atlas Series 
Book 1
Becca C. Smith
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Date of Publication: 11/14/13
Number of pages: 293
Word Count: 73,000
Amazon | Kindle


Book Description:

Kala Hicks is part of a covert elite military team that answers directly to the President of the United States. But during an emergency mission aboard Air Force One, Kala is shocked to discover that the real threat is none other than the President himself. Defying her commanding officer, Jack Norbin, Kala takes the shot, and her life changes forever.

The moment the President is killed, a supernatural force speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to commit one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Thrown into a reality she never could have imagined, Kala faces off with creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.

Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn. And four days later, she’ll have to do it again.

Excerpt
End of Chapter 3:

Very carefully, Jack opened the door that led to the President’s office.

What awaited them was terrifying.

President Jareth Wilton stood behind his desk. He was wearing a vest that held five grey bars of C-4 wired into a bomb. Wilton was a tall man, well over six feet with stark black hair and a long face. He was a young President, only fifty years old, but he looked like he’d aged twenty years since the last time Kala had seen him at a press conference, with dark rings under his eyes and worry lines on his forehead.

But his smile was what made the scene surreal and horrific. His thin lips were grinning as if he’d just climbed Mt. Everest.

President Wilton stared directly at Jack as the door swung open the rest of the way. “I figured it out! I figured out how to break it! No one will ever have to do what I’ve had to do again! Do you realize what this means?”

Kala knew then and there that the man was cracked. Figured what out? Break what? He was rambling like a mad man.

But the more frightening moment came when Jack responded back to Wilton. “Killing yourself is impossible. People have tried that in the past.”

Not only was President Wilton talking crazy, but apparently Jack knew his language and was responding accordingly.

Kala noticed that Wilton’s eyes lit up when Jack spoke. “You’re the one they sent to replace me.”

Jack nodded.

What? Kala was seriously confused.

Kala spoke up, “What’s going on Jack?”

Replace him for what?

Jack didn’t acknowledge Kala or the rest of the team, which was shifting uncomfortably behind him.

Wilton shook his head, serious. “You can’t do it. You have to let me detonate this bomb. We have to crash the plane! It’s the only way to stop it!”

“You can’t stop it!” Jack yelled back.

“I can and I will!” Wilton talked into an earpiece. “NOW!”

The plane nose-dived.

Everyone jolted forward and stumbled from the force of it.

Jack barked orders, “Lali get up to the Flight Deck and by any means necessary take over this plane!”

Lali paused for a second, she looked more confused than Kala felt, but after a moment to gain her bearings as the plane was falling fast, she managed to high-tail it out of the room and up to the Flight Deck.

Kala was sure they’d hit ground at any moment.

Jack aimed his gun at the President’s head.

Wilton was frantic. He ducked behind his large oak desk that was bolted to the ground.

“You can’t kill me! You’ll ruin everything!” Wilton yelled.

Jack turned to Kala and Derek. “No one shoots him but me!”

Kala kind of nodded, but she was in shock at the fact that they were about to flatten a part of the capital with Air Force One. She really didn’t care what Jack was saying. She couldn’t let President Wilton set off that bomb and kill thousands.

Jack shot at the desk, trying to hit the president, but he didn’t come close.

Only Kala could make a shot like that and not get them all killed from shooting a hole through the plane.

Kala and Derek made eye contact. Kala could tell Derek was thinking the same thing. He whispered so only Kala could hear, “Do it.”

Kala’s nod was barely perceptible.

Jack saw her and his eyes went wide. “Kala STOP!”

Kala shrugged. “I can’t let him do this, Jack. I’m sorry.”

Only the top of Wilton’s head was showing.

It was enough.

Kala took her shot.

***

About the Author:

Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted. 

Becca currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.

Website: http://www.beccacsmith.com

Blog: http://therisersaga.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Riser-Saga/140711422626243

Twitter: https://twitter.com/therisersaga

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4201733.Becca_C_Smith

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Giveaway:

5 print copies Atlas by Becca C. Smith

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