Posts Tagged ‘kindle’

Suspense/Thriller: Eyes Don’t Lie: You Can’t Hide by Crystal Dawn Mason – Interview and Giveaway Included!!

Posted: May 9, 2018 in Blog Tour Hosting, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading
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Book Details:

Book Title: Eyes Don’t Lie: You Can’t Hide by Crystal Dawn Mason
Category: Adult Fiction, 142 pages
Genre: Suspense / Thriller
Publisher: self-published
Release date: Oct 11, 2017
Tour dates: April 30 to May 18, 2018
Content Rating: PG

Book Description:

Curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes are the only women that seem to capture Keith’s attention. But is it really their appearance that attracts him or something sinister? Keith, a broken soul, who’s battling between good and evil, goes about his days trying to fight his evil urges. But because of a demonic stronghold, in most instances good loses the battle to evil.

Affected by the pain and hurt of his childhood, he now seeks out the love he didn’t receive as a child. But when he doesn’t get it, there’s retribution to pay…and what a sad day it is for those curly-haired brunettes with blue eyes who fail to make the mark. But things take a turn when he meets a grocery store cashier who has the ability to see evil through his eyes. McKenzie is able to connect dots, interfering with Keith’s destructive path – a path that could lead him to prison or even the grave.

Buy the Book:

 

 

Author Interview 

 

How long have you been writing?

I started writing in 2014. I began writing poetry, then I transitioned in to narrative writing. I haven’t wrote any poems lately, but I just published a short book of poems; poems I had written years ago. Also, I incorporated one of those poems in Eyes Don’t Lie. Nowadays, I’m more drawn to creating stories, but from time to time, I may grace you with a poem and/or book of poems.

Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

I get my inspiration from my experiences, and I believe this to be the case for everyone. What we are exposed to shapes our thoughts and is manifested through our talents (if we are brave enough to share our talents with the world).

What advice would you give budding writers?

Don’t give up! And this is geared more toward self-publishing authors like myself who are working with minimal resources while having to learn the ins and outs of the publishing process, marketing, etc. It requires a lot of hard work and consistency. And if you’re not willing to learn and put in the effort, you won’t go too far. Also, patience is important because when you’re a new author, you have to build your audience. And that does not happen overnight. You can become discouraged if you’re not patient with the process. Also, it’s important to know that your work will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s okay! Don’t let people’s opinions deter you from moving forward and/or make you believe that your work is not good. And it’s not to say that one shouldn’t take heed to constructive criticism. But as writers, we need to stay true to ourselves and not feel obliged to always alter our work to appease others (especially if it’s a matter of the reader just not liking your writing style; focus on the things that really matter). Remember, it’s your masterpiece. It’s your contribution to the world. And what one person may not appreciate, someone else will.

Can you tell us about your road to publication?

I started off with publishing my books through a publisher. But I realized that wasn’t the road I wanted to take considering the costs associated with a publisher, not having all your rights to your work, etc. There are pros and cons with having a publisher, but I would much prefer having free reign to do what I want with my work, without restrictions. It’s a lot of work to self-publish, but it’s worth it. Thus, I will continue to self-publish my work.

What do your fans mean to you?

The feedback I get from people who enjoy my work means a lot to me. Having a supportive fan base contributes to my growth as an author, and the support motivates me to continue writing inspirational and entertaining stories.


About the Author:
Crystal Dawn Mason started writing books of poetry, then transitioned into narrative writing. Becoming a writer was not a goal as she began her studies as a psychology major at Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis. It wasn’t until she had a bad experience that she stumbled upon her natural ability to create stories. And this discovery started her down a newfound path of purpose. While working, she found another niche in the education field, which led her to pursue a teaching degree. Thus, she is now pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies to become an elementary teacher. She enjoys working with children, and her goal, outside of teaching, is to continue writing stories that are inspiring and entertaining for her readers.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest 

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 26, 2018

CLICK HERE for the Rafflecopter giveaway

 

All the Way to Italy: A Modern Tale of Homecoming Through Generations Past by Flavia Brunetti – Interview and Giveaway Inside!!

Posted: May 3, 2018 in Blog Tour Hosting, guest post, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading
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Book Details:

Book Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past
Author: Flavia Brunetti
Category: Adult Fiction, 222 pages
Genre: Women’s Fiction (can fit into YA Fiction as well)
Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Release date: April 21, 2018
Tour dates: April 23 to May 18, 2018
Content Rating: PG for the occasional use of “for God’s sake” and a few religious references (though very mild). No violence, no swear words, and no sex scenes.

Book Description:

Until her dad died, Little considered herself a Californian. Now, thanks to half a letter, a symbol she can’t quite remember, and writer’s block, she finds herself back in Italy, the country of her birth. In a headlong rush to return to her beloved San Francisco, Little will journey throughout Italy, hoping to find the answers she needs to move on with her life so she need never look back. She’ll enlist the help of the woman who raised her, Sira, her father’s sister; but Sira has secrets she’s kept for decades, and Little underestimates the power of the country she fled years before.

In this powerful story of mixed cultures in a world trying to globalize, one girl’s struggle to leave her home behind will lead her back to the women in her family and the memories each of them has safeguarded through the generations. From war-torn Italy to the belpaese of today, All the Way to Italy is a tale for those in search of a balance between wanderlust and the necessity to come home, a reminder that although we may be fragments, we are never a lost cause.

To follow the tour and read reviews, please visit Flavia Brunetti’s page on Italy Book Tours.
Buy the Book:

 


Author Interview:
  1. If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you? I thought this one was going to be particularly difficult to answer, but my absolute favorites pop up immediately (though it is hard to keep it to 3!): The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and Beach Music by Pat Conroy.
  2. Favorite travel spot? Like the question above, there are so many, but if I have to pick just one: Il Giardino di Ninfa, and Sermoneta, the little town right next to it (one of the reasons both these places are in All the Way to Italy!).
  3. Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time? I don’t think this counts as a ritual, but I have a really hard time writing without eating, even if it’s just nibbling on something. White chocolate-covered raisins, and the little Reese’s bites, are my kryptonite.
  4. What is your next project? I have two ideas in my head at the moment: one is the story of Little a few years on, when she’s grown up and has moved to a new country; the other is the story of Sira when she was younger. So let me answer this question with a question: if you’ve read All the Way to Italy, which one of those two stories would you most next want to read?
  5. How did you do research for your book? Some of the research did itself and was the inspiration to actually write the book: growing up between Rome and California, hanging out in a lot of airports growing up, falling back in love with Italy, meeting so many people who had also become enamored with the country. The rest of the research process was mostly sitting down and compiling everything, stitching the ideas together—organizing and editing was the hardest part for me!
 
About the Author:
Photo credit: Roberta Perrone

Born just outside of Rome, Flavia Brunetti grew up bouncing back and forth between Italy and California, eventually moving back to the Eternal City and confirming her lifelong commitment to real gelato. Flavia holds a Master of Arts degree in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from John Cabot University. Today she travels the world working for an international humanitarian organization and spends her free time writing and wandering around her beloved Roma in constant search of bookstores and the perfect espresso. You can find her city blog on Rome at whichwaytorome.com and her portfolio of published writing at flaviinrome.com.

Connect with Flavia: Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!
Ends May 26, 2018

CLICK HERE for the Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Check Out: Waking the Ancients: Nemesis of the Gods 1 and 2 by Catherine Cavendish. Guest Post and Giveaway Inside!

Posted: April 30, 2018 in Blog Tour Hosting, guest post, rafflecopter, Recommended Reading
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Waking the Ancients
Nemesis of the Gods #2
by Catherine Cavendish
Genre: Horror
Egypt, 1908
University student Lizzie Charters accompanies her mentor, Dr. Emeryk
Quintillus, on the archeological dig to uncover Cleopatra’s tomb.
Her presence is required for a ceremony conducted by the renowned
professor to resurrect Cleopatra’s spirit—inside Lizzie’s body.
Quintillus’s success is short-lived, as the Queen of the Nile dies
soon after inhabiting her host, leaving Lizzie’s soul adrift . . .
Vienna, 2018
Paula Bancroft’s husband just leased Villa Dürnstein, an estate once
owned by Dr. Quintillus. Within the mansion are several paintings and
numerous volumes dedicated to Cleopatra. But the archeologist’s
interest in the Egyptian empress deviated from scholarly into
supernatural, infusing the very foundations of his home with his dark
fanaticism. And as inexplicable manifestations rattle Paula’s
senses, threatening her very sanity, she uncovers the link between
the villa, Quintillus, and a woman named Lizzie Charters.
And a ritual of dark magic that will consume her soul . . .
Wrath of the Ancients
Nemesis of the Gods #1
DESTINY IN DEATH
Egypt, 1908
Eminent archeologist Dr. Emeryk Quintillus has unearthed the burial chamber
of Cleopatra. But this tomb raider’s obsession with the Queen of
the Nile has nothing to do with preserving history. Stealing sacred
and priceless relics, he murders his expedition crew, and
flees—escaping the quake that swallows the site beneath the desert
sands . . .
Vienna, 1913
Young widow Adeline Ogilvy has accepted employment at the mansion of Dr.
Quintillus, transcribing the late professor’s memoirs. Within the
pages of his journals, she discovers the ravings of a madman
convinced he possessed the ability to reincarnate Cleopatra. Within
the walls of his home, she is assailed by unexplained phenomena:
strange sounds, shadowy figures, and apparitions of hieroglyphics.
Something pursued Dr. Quintillus from Egypt. Something dark, something hungry.
Something tied to the fate and future of Adeline Ogilvy . . .
Guest Post:

The Iron Staff of Vienna

My latest novel – Waking the Ancients – is largely set in Vienna, Austria’s imperial capital and surely one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities in the world. Its streets team with culture and its proud residents are almost fiercely protective of their enigmatic, sometimes quirky, and endlessly fascinating home, where everyone from Strauss to Klimt and Freud lived and worked.

You don’t have to go far to find oddities and feel yourself smiling and musing, ‘Only in Vienna. ..’ – a familiar refrain uttered by locals and regular visitors alike. Take a walk up Vienna’s most fashionable street – Kärntnerstrasse – and you will arrive at St. Stephen’s Square (Stefansplatz) right by the magnificent cathedral. There, on the corner of Graben, you will see an extraordinary sight. A seven foot tree trunk, encased in glass and embedded with hundreds of nails, bound in iron, with a padlock. It is known as Stock im Eisen (staff in iron).

So what is it doing there and what are the nails for?

Many legends and myths surround this particular specimen. In 1703, claims were made that it was the last remaining tree from an ancient forest. Later it was said to be the last tree in a sacred grove which had formed the center of the community when the city first formed.

More prosaically, there is a legend that the devil himself is responsible for all the iron in the tree and guards it to this day. Or perhaps you prefer the other legend of a locksmith’s apprentice who, having stolen a valuable nail from his employer, took lessons from the devil on how to make an impenetrable lock. Here he enclosed the nail. But what about all the other nails – and they are so close together, there is barely a hair’s breadth between them.

Well, the story goes that there was a castle not far away and the finest locksmith in the area made a special impregnable lock for it. So good was his work, that not even another locksmith could dismantle it or open it. In honour of this feat of expertise, every locksmith who found work in the city had to hammer a nail into this trunk.

Whatever the truth of the origins of this particular tree, it is known that there was a common practice in medieval Europe to hammer iron nails into trees, wooden crosses and sometimes even rocks to ensure good fortune. Apparently, it was especially efficacious if the person was sick. They would rub the nail on the affected part of their body and then hammer it into the tree, believing the healthy wood would absorb the affliction and pain. It doesn’t seem to have particularly mattered what type of tree was used. This one is a spruce, dated at over 600 years old.

The first nails were hammered into it while it was still alive. Around forty years later, it was felled and then disappears from record for the next ninety or so years. In 1533 it reappeared, referred to by its current name. In 1548, it stood on the corner of a much smaller house than today’s host – the ornate Palais Equitable, built in 1891.

In the 18th century, the practice of hammering nails into this trunk was still thriving and this ‘iron trunk’ is the oldest surviving example of this long lost tradition which died out sometime in the 19th century.

Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance,
Catherine Cavendish is now the full-time author of a number of
paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels, novellas and short
stories. She was the 2013 joint winner of the Samhain Gothic Horror
Anthology Competition, with Linden Manor, which was featured in the
anthology What Waits in the Shadows. Cat’s novels include The
Pendle Curse, Saving Grace Devine, and Dark Avenging Angel. She lives
with her long-suffering husband and black (trainee) cat. They divide
their time between Liverpool and a 260-year-old haunted apartment in
North Wales.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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