The very contrary fairy sure has a lot to say about what she must do each
day. But when she decides to run away, will she make it home in time and
stay?
About the Author
When not writing books, hosting the Emmy nominated television series,
Selling Knoxville, hosting her podcast, ConnectTheKnox, or Brokering her
office, Julia can be found camping with her family, snuggling with her dog
Ripp, or cooking a gourmet meal with her best friend and partner for life,
Joe. Julia can be contacted via email at julia@justhomesgroup.com.
Dayal Singh is brilliant, quirky, & has Asperger’s. Son of parents
trafficked to East Africa from India just before independence, he knows he’s
Sikh, African, and calculus is the evidence of God.
He becomes fascinated by a broken piano. and is offered a piano to sell,
buys it and learns to play.
Mentored by his older brothers, he follows them to Singapore to further his
education, then goes to Switzerland.
He falls in love with the granddaughter of the man who bought his father.
She tells him that the situation is impossible, and that he must stay in
school as long as his way is paid.
His youth is fraught, being an other. In Switzerland, he is constantly
proselytized to, which only defines for him how he wants to live. He’s
studying physics and engineering, but finds peace in playing the piano. He
meets other students, they jam, and suddenly they are rock stars…which
Dayal never imagined could happen.
He agrees to meet Sita, the daughter of a Sikh man his father met, and
Dayal thinks they are both in agreement about how they will live and raise
children, but things gradually go downhill. When Dayal learns Sita hasn’t
been truthful with him, he has to make a decision.
Excerpt
The song I wrote, “Is This OK?” was a hit. We got it out as a
single, and added it to shows. We started in Boston and zigzagged through
large cities in Canada, the USA, and Mexico, then to Spain and France. We
broadcasted live shows to theaters around the USA, San Jose, Lima, Buenos
Aires, Sydney, Perth, and Brasilia, and Japan. I wrote the Glazer girls, but
there was no way I could see them.
At the end of the tour in
August, I flew to Dubai for a week. We hadn’t seen each other since
December! I couldn’t imagine where Sita got the idea that there was so
much to do in Dubai. Was she comparing it to Mumbai? I noticed the town was
growing. There were triple the number of buildings, many quite tall. We got
out to the desert for camel races, where I saw my first Salukis. I thought
they looked like Mara’s dogs. They ran a few races, and were so
graceful. We went out to eat, saw movies, strolled the mall, the beach, met
her girlfriends (she knew no guys and did not socialize with the
girls’ brothers or husbands), had dinner with Baba Makkar’s
other family, and we talked more about our expectations. Again, I asked her
if she had explored birth control methods, and hit a road block.
“You know, a lot of
women use the rhythm method based on their cycles and it works,” she
said to me.
“Do you know how it
works? I will use condoms, but you need to know your options.”
We had no arguments, but
our conversations were never about anything controversial or deep. She
wasn’t wearing a lot of makeup anymore, at least not when I saw her.
She told me she had started saving her allowance, and was even going through
her wardrobe to decide what clothes she would really need, as the weather
would be different in Europe.
We weren’t sleeping
together in Dubai, but we could bring each other to orgasm, and I was happy
for that.
I asked Fatima about how
the wedding planning was going, and she told me she was thinking of next
March.
Seven months more?
“Why are you delaying this?”
“Your
horoscopes… .”
“This is nonsense.
We’ve known each other over a year. I have a school break in November.
Make it for then.” I found this irritating, but when I was stressed,
and back then, it was almost all the time, everything was irritating.
I really wanted to see my
parents. I was halfway there, being in Dubai, so I asked Fatima and Sita to
come with me. Mr. Makkar agreed to pay for their flights if I would pay for
a place for them to stay, which was at Mr. Curtis’s hotel. A few other
small hotels had been built, but Curtis’ place was still the
nicest.
I surprised my parents (I
did send a telegram). I sent Sita and Fatima on several safari runs,
suggested they have my tailor create some clothes for themselves, and took
them around in the truck to see Alfred. I brought him a solar lantern, a few
books on alternative energy, and a football and badminton set for his three
children, who were giddy about the gifts.
Fatima and Sita were
surprised at how far out from Arusha Alfred lived. When we pulled into their
compound, Fatima asked me, “They speak English?”
“Alfred was in
primary school with me, and he often guides safaris, so I know his English
is good. I’m not sure about the rest of his family.” I spoke to
his wife and children in Kiswahili.
Alfred and I discussed
putting in a rain catchment system on his house. He had managed to build a
burned brick house with a cement floor and tin roof, but still had his
rondoval. His wife and daughters still had to fetch water. I told him
I’d loan him the money if he agree to pay it forward.
Sita and Fatima seemed
uncomfortable with the goats, chickens and dogs approaching us in their
curiosity. Alfred’s mum offered us chai and mandaazi, which is a fried
pastry. I saw that Fatima and Sita were hesitant, but I whispered to them,
“Everything’s boiled or fried. You won’t get
sick.”
On the way back to town,
we stopped at a Maasai encampment. I just wanted to greet them, and I had
bought them a few plastic buckets. We didn’t stay long. The flies were
too annoying, and there was no place to sit.
On the drive back to my
folks, Sita and Fatima commented how remarkable it was that people could
live like they did and be so happy. Sita asked me, “How is it you have
a relationship with such primitive people?”
Her question shocked me.
“They aren’t primitive. They’re just poor. You know, they
haven’t had the advantages we’ve had.”
“What do you
mean?”
“The Maasai like
living the way they do. They are free. Their children do all the chores. As
for Alfred, I had my older brothers to help me learn. Alfred was the eldest
child. He had nobody to help him. Also, his father had two wives, so
resources for the children were spread thin.”
My parents were cordial
towards Sita and Fatima. However, I knew from the way they were acting, that
they weren’t comfortable. There was a real class difference between us
and them. Baba pulled me aside and asked, “They knew they were coming
to Africa. Why didn’t they dress more simply?”
I remembered the time Avi
and Sodhi came home after guiding safaris one day, and were counting their
tips in various foreign currencies. Sodhi remarked that most of the tourists
on his lorry were French, and Avi responded, laughing, “Today mine
were all Italian. They always dress like they’re going to a photo
shoot. The women, always silk shirts unbuttoned to show cleavage and gold
necklaces, tight silk pants that look painted on, and stiletto heels. Not
just high heels—pointy six inch heels. They tottered and had to be
boosted into the lorry. I can’t imagine what they were thinking. That
the ground would be hard so they wouldn’t sink in?”
My future wife and
mother-in-law were dressed as if going to a business luncheon, and I
wondered if they owned any clothes that didn’t need to be dry
cleaned.
“Baba, these people
live in a tall building. They don’t even have a garden. These are
their ‘simple’ clothes.” He understood this because he had
visited my brothers.
I had been living in
Europe as a European and just accepted that some people never did any real
work. This was also why I took time to address expectations with Sita.
Hassan had brought one of his wives to live with him, and she was helping
Ama with baking. Fatima expressed surprise that my mother could bake such
amazing things over a grill in a covered pot.
About the Author
I am a retired dog groomer and have titled dogs in performance and
conformation. I didn’t go to college until I was 30 and took CLEP exams to
avoid prerequisites. I have a degree in anthropology with concentrations in
African & Indian studies and a master’s in urban planning. I was
a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. I have had several short stories
published in literary journals and the pet industry press.
Long enough to get Violet through the worst, then send her through it
again. When her new husband and his friends go grave robbing, they dig up a
legend. They recover a thousand-year-old ring with a curse. When she finds
it she uses it to her advantage like the last ring she owned, and her
husband confesses to her how he obtained it. The magic flees from the ring
after killing the people it sees deserving, but when it attacks her, Violet
knows what she must do. It’s go back to grandma’s, then Misty
Falls.
When she goes back her curiosity gets the best of her and she goes with a
friend to investigate a murder in the haunted forest. Soon the forest is
haunting her, and she is met with the killer, who wants more young blood.
Though born on Friday the 13th, she believes in herself. Is she able to
escape a streak of bad luck?
Excerpt
Curtis and his friends split up into three motel rooms ten minutes away
from the cemetery they wanted to rob. They couldn’t bring them on the
plane, so they had to go to a local store and get a shovel for each of them.
The plan was to rob Jessie’s grave first and look for the famous ring
that was fashioned in hell. “I want to see this ring,” one of
them said. “I hope it doesn’t say made in hell or I will
run.” They snickered at his joke except for Curtis. All their rooms
were right next to each other. After hitting Jessie’s grave that night
they would look through other graves and the mausoleum afterwards because
there was no digging with those, then they’d go for the bigger graves,
because the families may have had more money to pay for them.
After a quick dinner it was darkening. “Can
we go now?” Curtis asked.
“It’s supposed to be late, but we will
all take the rental car and be there in about thirty minutes. It’s
getting darker at this point. I don’t think anyone will see
us.”
“Have you done this before?” Curtis
asked.
“No, I’ve stolen but not from a grave
and this will probably be the only time.” By the time everyone was in
the car it was darker, and they left. They had shovels and gardening tools
in the back.
A red glow of light began to come from over the
horizon. “I thought the sunset was over,” one of them in a black
leathery jacket said.
“It was,” said the dark blond who
appeared to be the leader. He had the most experience stealing and did not
spend one day in jail for anything.
As they got out the red seemed to get bigger.
After opening the trunk, they then got out shovels and began looking for the
one grave with the ring. There was a large, rounded tombstone straight ahead
with some fresh flowers there half dead. The leader went for that one and it
read Jessie the name they were looking for. He had died almost ten years ago
and there was a card against the stone. It was about how someone missed him
so much and how she loved him but never told him enough and it was signed
Tess. It was from his girlfriend. The leader left it open and put it back.
His friends began to dig but Curtis wandered around looking for graves to
start digging. “Go to the mausoleum,” the leader told him, and
Curtis went that way glad Violet had no idea where he was.
As the guys dug Curtis tried opening crypts with
the shovel but they didn’t come open. When he found an old one with a
big crack he decided to try that one. This person had died in the
1920’s. He hit it hard a few times with the shovel and the right side
fell off. Sliding the coffin out and peeking in he could not see well but
there wasn’t anything buried with him of value. He put it back and
tried to find another one. He kept looking for older graves because if they
were buried with anything old it could be valuable.
Curtis stepped out of the crypts and saw that most
of the sky had turned red accept a circle of black in the middle. They all
stared at it. “What makes the sky like that?” One of them asked.
No one responded.
“Guys I don’t like this,” Curtis
said.
“We are almost there,” the leader
said, and he made deep holes with his shovel. “Go look for crypts to
steal from.” Just then he smacked into the coffin with his shovel.
They dug it out and opened it. Curtis came to see. “There he
is.” Exactly, Here lies Jessie just like the tombstone said. Curtis
glanced up and the whole sky was red. It seemed like an omen to him but
there were still pretty twinkling stars shining through. The leader pulled
the ring of his finger. Examining it the design looked like hell fire and he
check on the inside. It said made in Hades. He wanted to throw it but
pawning it would be a better idea. He put the ring in his pocket, and they
began reburying Jessie.
They kept looking around the graveyard for ghosts
and zombies coming to get them for revenge, but they didn’t. If
anything, Jessie would have been glad the ring was gone and being the good
person that he wouldn’t hurt anyone. They finished covering the grave.
“Don’t worry. We’ll pawn it as fast as we can,” he
told Curtis.
“If and when we find a pawn shop,” one
of them said. Curtis was the only one uneasy and they couldn’t drive
away fast enough. He would never do this again and was sorry he broke the
man’s crypt marble.
The sky had stayed red for the rest of the night.
When morning came it seemed like a dream but they needed to find food and a
pawn shop. There were still days left in their stay in Michigan to do as
they wished after finding what they needed.
After Curtis called Violet the leader wanted to
tell them his decision. “I easily found a pawn shop in the phone book,
but it’s not close. So, I have decided we have more to steal, and we
can pawn that before we go back to Canada where we won’t get caught.
Is that ok?” he asked Curtis.
“That’s fine. It’s only a ring
and I’m not even staying with it,” he responded.
“Yes, and it must be worth so much. We can
split it just tell your little lady back home your business was doing
well.” Curtis nodded in agreement. They spent the day looking for
places to rob and eat.
While they ate Chinese food in a motel room the
leader made his announcement. “We will rob an old mansion. It’s
old but they look like they have money. Tomorrow me and Anthony will go and
see if there’s an easy way in and what they leave open or
unlocked.” All they could do was nod. “Then we’ll come
back when they’re gone and get you Sawyer. Curtis we need someone to
drive the car. You can get out, but you need to be ready to drive. Hopefully
these people are going on summer vacation. How’s that sound?” he
asked Curtis.
“Sounds fine. If we go in through the backyard
it’s harder for people to see what we are doing,” he
suggested.
“Good idea,” the leader Tristan said.
He turned on the TV while they had a beer and relaxed. “It’s
funny how rich people like to come out here thinking that it’s nice
and peaceful and then get robbed.”
About the Author
Martha has studied writing with Writer’s Digest and has an
associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and
songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes
getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase
and read Martha’s books a review on this web site will be greatly
appreciated. She can also be found at http://www.marthawickham.com.
Genre: YA SciFi Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror
Dive
into this fast-paced, suspenseful Sci-Fi fantasy novel that melds
sizzling romance, action, heart-stopping horror, and a high-stakes
battle to save humanity.
Changing
Tide
by
Robert Joncas
Genre:
YA SciFi Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Horror
“Changing
Tide,” 2023 Book Awards:
*Maincrest Media Award,
Winner, YA Fiction (2024)
*Outstanding Creator Awards, Best Fiction Book of 2023,
2nd Place
*Royal Dragonfly Awards, Honorable Mention, Best Cover, Sci-Fi,
Fantasy & YA Fiction
*American Fiction Awards, Finalist, Romance – Paranormal:
Supernatural
*American Writing Awards, Finalist – Science
Fiction
*Halloween Book Festival, YA Horror – Honorable
Mention
*Literary Titan Book Award – August 2023
A
wild adventure that takes you on a journey from the California coast
to the depths of the Grand Canyon. Dive into this fast-paced,
suspenseful Sci-Fi fantasy novel that melds sizzling romance, action,
heart-stopping horror, and a high-stakes battle to save humanity.
After her father’s tragic
death, eighteen-year-old Skye Conner and her mom visit her Nana on
the California coast. There, Skye stumbles across a mystical conch
shell in the surf. Suddenly her dull, empty life takes on a thrilling
and terrifying turn.
Skye has had to endure a
despondent mother drowning in grief, living in a private world of
darkness. Nana is a feisty, intelligent, take-no-bull grandmother
with a flaming sense of pride and heart of gold. Then comes a
handsome, mesmerizing alien on a mission to save the Earth. But are
his intentions sincere, or does he have another agenda?
Skye has finally found someone
to love, but can he be trusted? Changing Tide is a witty,
original page-turning thriller that will make you look at First
Contact in a whole new way.
“…simply
elegant…from the plotline to the characters to the action to the
humor… (and) a story for anyone, young adult or adult, who enjoys a
good science fiction novel with some romance thrown in. I would
recommend the book to everyone.”
-FEATHERED QUILL BOOK REVIEWS
“…truly a breath of fresh
air! …A sci-fi romance like this was exactly what we needed.
…despite dealing with things like loss, coping, and mourning this
book is surprisingly fun and lighthearted…reading like a Disney
script.”
-OUTSTANDING CREATOR REVIEW
“Anyone who enjoys sci-fi
horror thrillers will find plenty to love about this book.”
-READERS’ FAVORITE BOOK
REVIEW
“I thoroughly enjoyed every
moment spent reading this book and was genuinely sad when it came to
an end.”
-ONLINEBOOKCLUB.ORG REVIEW
“…an enthralling fantasy
novel that immerses readers in Skye Conner’s captivating journey…”
-LITERARY TITAN
“…traverses science
fiction, fantasy, horror, and mystery seamlessly, entertaining you
with thrills galore.”
-READERS’ CHOICE BOOK REVIEW
“Nothing is as it seems… a
speculative sci-fi page turner that will keep you on the edge of your
seat. …brings in sci-fi and fantasy elements of magic seashells and
aliens to create a call to adventure.”
-INDEPENDENT BOOK REVIEW
–snippet
of a review from OnlineBookClub.org–
“Robert
Joncas has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the
edge of their seats. The pacing is well-balanced, and the author’s
ability to evoke a wide range of emotions is commendable. Skye’s
character development is particularly noteworthy, as readers witness
her transformation from a grieving and vulnerable girl into a brave
and determined young woman.
….Changing
Tide is a remarkable book that grabs the reader’s attention from
the very first page. With its compelling characters, intriguing plot
twists, and seamless blending of genres, it is a true page-turner. I
thoroughly enjoyed every moment spent reading this book and was
genuinely sad when it came to an end. Without a doubt, I highly
recommend picking up Changing Tide by Robert Joncas and
awarding it a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars.
–snippet
of a Review from Literary Titan–
In
“Changing Tide,” Robert Joncas masterfully entwines an evocative
narrative of a young girl, Skye, wrestling with her personal turmoil
while being swept into a journey far beyond her understanding.
Haunted by cryptic dreams and grappling with the tragic loss of her
father and her mother’s spiraling depression, Skye’s world is
painted with a brush of melancholy. However, a glimmer of hope
emerges as she rekindles a connection with Paul, an alluring figure
from her past, previously known for his childhood mischief.
Robert
Joncas showcases an exceptional ability to portray raw emotions and
delicate sentiments. His narrative is an intricate tapestry of
romance, familial bonds, suspense, and an unmistakably human touch
enveloped in a mantle of science fiction. The characters are vividly
constructed, each contributing a unique hue to the narrative palette.
Nana, Skye’s vivacious and fearless grandmother, was a particular
standout, embodying a captivating blend of loyalty and audacious
spirit.
The
narrative is particularly successful in illustrating Skye’s
internal struggle – her battle against emotional turmoil and her
hesitant forays into new friendships. The character development of
the alien entity is equally commendable, with its adaptation and
backstory revealed in a layered, compelling manner.
“Changing
Tide” is a warmly recommended read, particularly for young adults
who yearn for a slice of relatable, yet enchantingly fantastic,
reality. This novel embodies the essence of heartfelt storytelling
interlaced with an adventurous spirit, ensuring a riveting reading
experience.
Robert
grew up in Southern California and has worked as a Real Estate Broker
in Flagstaff, AZ, for many years. He has a BS in Health Science and
graduated with Distinction from the prestigious UCLA Writers’
Program, where he studied under Author Lynn Hightower in her Master
Novel Classes. He is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors
and the Horror Writers Association.
Spider’s Web is a dark, emotional
journey of two lost souls finding one
another and overcoming loss.
Spider’s Web
Merciless
Few MC West Virginia Book 2
by
M. D. Stewart
Genre:
Contemporary MC Romance
Spider’s
Web is a dark, emotional journey of two lost souls finding one
another and overcoming loss.
Jericho
“Spider” Hodges
I
was wrongly convicted of murder, and I’m forced to navigate life as
a free man after a decade behind bars. But I’m not alone – I find
myself welcomed into the fold of the Merciless Few MC, a brotherhood
of rebels who live by their own code. Forgetting my past is easy with
enough booze and women. But when Nova Frazier enters my life,
everything changes.
Nova
Frazier
I’m
on the run from a life of forced prostitution and abuse. I’m a
woman with a past as tortured as Spider’s. I can’t let myself fall
in love, I’m too messed up for anyone. But Spider and I understand
each other’s fear of loving and losing someone special. Can our
shared traumas forge an unbreakable bond between us? Is it impossible
for two broken people to learn to trust each other?
I
was born and raised in southern West Virginia. At eighteen, I married
a man I met in college and even though we went our separate ways, he
gave me two wonderful children. I’ve always loved reading and I’d
write poems and short stories for as long as I could hold a crayon,
pen or pencil. Once I realized I could self-publish I got excited and
started writing down the stories of my characters that live in my
head. When I’m not writing my husband and I can the vegetables we
grow in our garden, take care of our pet chickens or play with our
two cats.
Taken by the vampire queen, I was sent to her dungeon with one choice
left: life or death.
I chose death, but fate had other plans for me.
The Forgotten:
The Realms of
Darkness
by KA Stefana
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Romance
My name is Luther Van Leer, and I’m a prisoner in the vampire
queen’s castle. She’ll let me out if I’m willing to meet her demands,
but I will refuse until she puts a stake through my heart. I’ll not
let her turn me into a monster. At least, that was my plan. With a
turning kiss, I was turned into a monster, banished, beaten, and
betrayed. Now, my master expects that I will fall in love with her
and play nice. If my cold-dark heart ever finds her, revenge will be
mine!
Step into the dark and feudal world of the four
kingdoms. The prophecy hangs over the land, turning kings and queens
against each other. When Amelia turns Luther, she unknowingly drags
him into her world. Instead of gaining a lover, she gains another
enemy. Will Luther forgive her ultimate betrayal and help her
survive, or will he abandon her? It would be his right.
From
the darkness of the salt mines, the horrors of the bird cages, the
temptations of the Forbidden Lake, and dragon tattoos, Luther and
Amelia will be in a race against time to save their kingdom.
Welcome
Readers! Followers and Members of the Shadowverse. I am so excited
that you are taking this journey with me. I love to weave tales of
darkness and light, pushing my characters to the end of themselves.
How will they react? Some may fall into evil, spiraling into a
never-ending vortex of darkness. Others may walk the line between the
realms of darkness and light. Only a few will rise above the chaos.
They are the defenders and heroes in the world of shadows, but they,
too, wrestle with the shadows surrounding them, trying to lure them
down dark alleyways and into the back rooms of iniquity.
My friends always ask me where my tales come from. I guess it
comes from years of reading great tales from the likes of Tolkien,
Lewis, and so many others. In reality, I don’t have a clue. The
stories somehow flow from the unruly characters that beg to be
written yet refuse to follow their storylines. Just the way I
like it!
Past the shadows, you will find a twist of romance between kings
and outcasts, enemies to lovers, and everything in between.
As for me, I started my writing journey during quarantine and
haven’t stopped writing since. I am thankful for the writing
community and their support and for my family and friends. Most of
all, I am blessed to have a husband who supports all of my late-night
shenanigans, wrestling with characters and pounding away at the
keyboard until the wee hours of the morning.
~ A million hugs! Thanks for joining the Shadowverse.
This hero of legend will encounter a
challenge he has never faced before . . .
present-day New York City.
Tempus Unbound
Sacred
Band Series Book 6
by
Janet & Chris Morris
Genre:
Epic Fantasy
Is this the Lemuria of antiquity, or
of times to come? Once you’ve ridden the storm clouds of heaven from
the edge of time, anything is possible. Demonic hordes threaten to
destroy the very fabric of time itself. The fate of all humanity
rests on the shoulders of Tempus the Black, Favorite of the Storm
God. But even this hero of legend will encounter a challenge he has
never faced before . . . present-day New York City.
**Tempus
Unbound is Perseid Press’ featured title of November **
Best
selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has
since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her
husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in
the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written
historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or
edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers
and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology
and other defense and national security topics.
Christopher
Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and
non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and
singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a
defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2
Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but
occasionally uses pseudonyms.
An attempted military coup goes wrong when a journalist
stumbles
across Elephant poaching fundingit.
Behind the Rainbow
by K.J. Jones
Genre: Thriller
In an African adventure, an attempted military coup goes wrong when a journalist stumbles across a poaching of Elephants report emanating
from Tanzania. She discovers that the poaching is funding the
attempted coup. Her investigation takes her into the citadels of
power and her life is placed at risk. The closer that she gets to the
truth, the more menacing the threats with the ultimate result being
carnage.
This book is a novel
that describes what could have happened in South Africa or possibly
still could. The huge gap in lifestyle between the white and black
population is still an area of conflict. The new black government has
passed laws on black empowerment and insisted that businesses employ
minimum quotas of black employees at every level of management. This
has led to conflict between the groups, as young whites cannot find
employment. This is exacerbated when the ANC appears to use black
empowerment to their own ends by limiting business opportunities to
those closely associated to their cause.
The emigration of the elite
white South Africans from doctors to engineers has created a huge
loss of skills. This has resulted in the breakdown of the medical
services and the infrastructure. More than 20% of the white
population has already immigrated to many countries to avoid the
violence and intimidation experienced in South Africa.
There is a build up of tension
that inevitably creates clashes and resentment. There is a veneer of
calm, but real anger seething below the surface that frequently
erupts into violence. Rape and murder is widespread, but in
particular, the murder of farmers is commonplace.
I started writing my first book, Behind the Rainbow, a dozen years
ago, it was whilst living in South Africa and seeing the changes
taking place in the country. There was a swell of optimism now that
the transition had taken place, and we all hoped for new beginnings.
Yet at that time there was an indication that conservatives in the
country were far from happy and the old army personnel were still a
strong group. Behind the Rainbow reflects what could have happened at
that time.
I didn’t write
anything else until I returned to the UK where I started the James
Smythe series, Shaiton, Flames and Femme Fatale all based in the UK
and the growing threat of terrorism. In Femme Fatale, James Smythe is
shot and he recuperates in Botswana with old friends who were the
main characters in Behind the Rainbow. The book Predator, Killing for
pleasure, covers Smythe’s recovery and his sudden involvement in
the anti-poaching unit where he brings his old team together to help
bring to justice the mastermind of the poaching gangs, Moosa, but
this turns out to be far from easy as Moosa is more than capable of
defending himself and he has numerous corrupt government officials,
across most of Southern Africa, in his pay. Predator2, The Killing
Ground is nearly complete and deals with the arrest and prosecution
of a mercenary who works for Moosa. And Predator 3, The End Game,
that continues the fight against Moosa, will be released in mid 2024.
Boomer is a curious bunny who loves
excitement. Staying home doesn’t offer him the same fun it gives
his brothers and sisters, so he hops off to see what he can see. When
he does, what do you think awaits him?
Join this adorable
furry rabbit as he heads off into the city where he meets a range of
characters and goes on a variety of adventures. Will his discoveries
be the joyful experiences he expects?
***
Written
for children ages 3 to 9. This is a delightful tale for parents to
read with their kids or for young readers to enjoy.
**Get
it direct from the publisher for Only .99cents!!**
Diann
Floyd Boehm is
an award-winning, bestselling author. Her books inspire not only
imagination but also self-empowerment, kindness, and inclusion. As a
humanitarian, Diann has traveled extensively, meeting many people,
and experiencing many cultures. She believes in sharing the joy of
diversity, the beauty of individuality, and blessings of community
with her readers.
Diann
is the co-host with Dr. Jacalyn on USAGLOBALTV.
Together, the duo brings entertaining topics alive, aspiring to
spread global knowledge, awareness, and hope. They welcome various
guests to discuss relevant issues to modern living, including
everything from books to business.
Diann
is a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoys quilting and
singing. In addition to spending time with her loved ones, she
treasures the opportunity to meet new people and experience new
things.
The more things change, the more
they stay the same!
Four O’Clock, Montana Time
Stewart
Falls Cheerleaders Book 5
by
Shannon Kennedy
Genre:
YA Teen Drama
14-year-old, Samantha
Tiernan-Bradley and her soldier father always thought of each other
at four o’clock, Montana Time regardless of where the U.S. Army
assigned him. When they sent him to Afghanistan, he came back in a
flag-draped coffin.
It’s always been just the two of
them. Without him, Samantha feels all alone. Now, it’s four
o’clock, Montana Time and she’s thinking about Dad. Is he
thinking about her?
Then, she discovers her mother is
alive! She’s coming to take Samantha away from her grandparents and
a future in the fundamentalist, polygamous community that she and her
father considered to be their ‘real’ State-side home. Dad’s
plans for her included a Promise Ceremony and an arranged marriage
since she’s soon to graduate from eighth grade, but Mom’s arrival
changes everything.
Samantha’s had adventures before,
but nothing prepares her for Stewart Falls, Washington with her
mother, veterinarian, Dr. Cathy Tiernan. Academics for girls, movies,
cell phones, computers, clothes, jewelry, cheerleaders, and boys too
– just the whole culture….shock! What would Dad think?
How
is she going to cope with all this? And what will she do at four
o’clock, Montana Time?
Roaring Rory Gallatin’s
girl…
Daughter of the town trouble-maker…
Trailer trash
wannabe…
Seventeen-year-old Darcy Gallatin has heard it all,
especially when the local minister uses her father as a bad
example.
Everyone knows she’s different from the rest of
the Gallatin family. She earned a scholarship to prestigious Stewart
Falls Academy, is on the honor roll and is a varsity
cheerleader.
She has a dream nobody can steal. She’ll
study hard, attend a prominent university, and become a large-animal
veterinarian, specializing in horses. Then, she’ll return to the
small town of Pine Ridge and show everyone what a Gallatin can do.
This is her last year at home. Next December she’ll be away at
college, so she decides to make the holiday season special for her
ten-year-old brother. She won’t let her father ruin Christmas for
the whole family, not again.
Disaster strikes when her dad
injures Darcy’s horse, Whisky. Can Darcy ever forgive her father,
or has he finally crossed the line and made her hate him? Even Darcy
doesn’t know for sure, but one thing is certain—she needs to
change things. And fast. But how?
Shannon
Kennedy lives and works at her family business, a riding stable in
Washington State. Teaching kids to ride and know about horses since
1967, she finds in many cases, she’s taught three generations of
families. Her life experiences span adventures from dealing cards in
a casino, attending graduate school to get her master’s in teaching
degree, being a middle and high school teacher, and serving in the
Army Reserve – all leading to her second career as a published
author. She recently retired from teaching school and plans to write
more books for Fire & Ice YA, the Stewart Falls Cheerleaders
realistic fiction series and the Shamrock Stable series about teen
girls and their horses. Visit her at her
website, www.shannonkennedybooks.com to
learn about her books.
M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧ 