King Daniel Historical Fiction by Susan Wolf Johnson

Historical Fiction
Date Published: July 2016
Publisher: BalboaPress
 
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On a summer’s evening in 1972, while the band plays amid the sizzling heat at the Tampa Yacht Club,Gasparilla pirates and their ladies eagerly await the arrival of their newly crowned king, Daniel Westcott. But to their dismay, Daniel never shows up.
By the wee hours of the next morning, the townspeople are scratching their heads as members of the Westcott family deliberate whether or not to call the police. As the story unfolds, King Daniel has disappeared without a trace.
Praise for King Daniel:
“Nautical twists abound as King Daniel excites with its page-turning thrills and familial revelations….” – Foreword Reviews, 5 Stars
 
“The disappearance of a Tampa Bay blue blood rattles the skeletons in his family’s closet….A gripping tale of a missing patriarch in 1970’s Florida; an auspicious debut.” – Kirkus Reviews
 
“In this thriller, Susan Wolf Johnson delivers an ambitious, sprawling melodrama about the bitter end of a Southern patriarch and the damage a family can inflict on itself for generations.” – BlueInk Review
 
“This intriguing novel centers on the disappearance of Daniel,the newly anointed ceremonial king of Gasparilla, a series of pirate-themed festivities similar to Mardi Gras but held in Tampa. The author does a great job with character development for Daniel’s family: his distraught and distracted wife, Natalie; his mentally-challenged daughter, Julia; and his pregnant, unwed granddaughter, Becca. The story unfolds slowly, with a huge array of characters and a narrator who speaks directly to the reader rather than fading into the background. The mystery surrounding what happened to Daniel takes a back seat to the internal strife each of the characters battles.” – Booklife

 

About the Author

Susan Wolf Johnson earned her MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts.  She has taught creative writing and composition at the University of South Florida for fifteen years.  Her short stories and book reviews have appeared in the Mississippi Review, the Dallas Review, the Florida Review, The Sun, New Letters, and the Charlotte Poetry Review.  She lives in Tampa, Florida with her family.  King Daniel is her first novel.
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ROADHOUSE SSMC (Sons of Sanctuary MC, Austin, Texas) Book 5 by Victoria Danann

 

Genre: Contemporary Biker Romance

She’s on the run. He’s as steady as they come. Karma is calling. And so is the mob.


“New York Times BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Victoria Danann, adds an unlikely, but weirdly charming romance to the SSMC series.”


Get ready for a fire and ice story that proves love is no respecter of plans.

Gin: 


How did I end up almost two hundred thousand dollars in debt? It wasn’t as hard as it sounds.
I went to Colombia and studied anthropology. The perfect background to get a great job. Right? Okay. It was a stupid choice. As it turns out, one of several. But I was still a teenager when I picked a major. I’ve since learned that brains aren’t fully developed until years later. A lot of good that information does me now. So I ended up answering phones at a third rate magazine. In New Jersey. When a duffel bag full of big bills showed up in my gym locker, I did what anybody with student loans would do. I paid them off.
It turns out that the money didn’t come from my fairy godmother after all. More like godfather and he’s the furthest thing from a fairy tale. Some goons stashed the bag in the wrong locker. For the mob. It probably won’t surprise you to learn they want it back. So, again, I did what anybody would do. I ran. All the way to the Texas Hill Country. I mean, they wouldn’t follow me there. Right? It’s practically the Outback. Right?

Raze: 


It was Bike Night at my place, which meant it was crowded. But when she came through the door, she stood out like a neon sign. I didn’t care that she looked lost or that she had unbelievably suckable curves. And it didn’t occur to me to worry when she looked back over her shoulder. I guess I figured she was looking for a boyfriend or a husband who, if he was smart, would always be real close behind.
The fact was, I needed help. Marjorie called in with some lame excuse, which meant she was fired. Employees can’t bail on Bike Night. It’s a cardinal sin. I don’t really know what that is ’cause I’m not Catholic, but it’s bad. I said, “You got any experience slingin’ drinks?” She shook her head. I gave up a disgusted sigh. “You good with people?” She gave me a cute little smirk that’s probably served her well up to now and shrugged. I shook my head, knowing I’d be sorry, and handed her an apron.
She took it, looked at it like she didn’t know what to do with it. After a second of two she raised those big blue eyes to mine and said, “I don’t have a place to stay.” I looked away so she wouldn’t think she had me by the balls and let go with a stream of cuss words in my head.
“Do a good job and you can sleep in the studio in the back. For tonight,” I said. She gave me a hug like she was grabbing onto a lifesaver and filled my nose with her rainy green apple feminine shampoo smell. ‘Course I didn’t show it, but that hug knocked me on my ass. She was just some woman coming off the road. I knew this. But there was something… I pushed her away. “Just for tonight.” My voice was gruff, sounded harsh. Good. She needed to know my Roadhouse was no plushy crash pad. I was firm. I was clear.
Wasn’t I?

Victoria Danann is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty romances. For the past four years in a row, Victoria’s Knights of Black Swan series have won prestigious Reviewers’ Choice Awards for both BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES and PARANORMAL ROMANCE NOVEL OF THE YEAR. This past year three of her series and three of her novels were nominated. Two of her series took the top two places and two of her books took first and second place in the PNR Novel of the Year category.
In addition to vampire hunting knights, Victoria writes other paranormal romance, scifi, fantasy, and contemporary romance.
Victoria co-hosts the popular ROMANCE BETWEEN THE PAGES podcast which can be found on itunes or at → http://www.romancecast.com
Website ✯ Twitter ✯ Goodreads ✯ Amazon ✯ Facebook ✯ Street Team ✯ Newsletter ✯ Pinterest

 

SURVIVAL by RACHEL WATTS

YA Speculative Fiction
Date Published: March 2018
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Ignorance is cheap. And then it costs you everything.
Perth author Rachel Watts’ latest release delivers a devastating vision of a post-climate change world in which governments have collapsed and corporations rule with an iron fist. In this world two young women from different backgrounds find themselves unexpectedly aligned in their pursuit for the truth.
The world has suffered economic collapse and multiple environmental crises. In a flooded city, Ava Murasaki is searching for her activist sister Sophia. Meanwhile, Valerie Newlin lives in the secure complex of the Scylla Corporation, the world’s only remaining multinational. There, she finds evidence of something horrifying in the Corporation medical research data. Set in a searingly real near-future, Survival is a story of what people will face for those they love.
Survival is accompanied by four of Watts’ previously published dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories.
About the Author

Rachel Watts is an award-winning journalist and a writer of literary and speculative fiction. She holds a Master’s Degree in Media and Communication and teaches creative writing to adults and teenagers. Her short stories and non-fiction have been published by Westerly, Island, Kill Your Darlings, Tincture and more.
Rachel Watts lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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VICTORIAN TOWN by Nancy Thorne

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance with Mystery & Time Travel elements
Abby Parker planned out her whole life: complete her final year of high school, go to college, get a job, move away from her insane family, stay best friends with Jessica.
But, that was before she broke into the nearby tourist attraction and unwittingly answered a call from a centuries-old spirit who dragged her into the 19th century.
Now she must solve a Victorian mystery without getting herself killed, or worse, spend a lifetime trapped in the past, leaving behind everyone she loves and altering their lives forever.
When she meets gorgeous Benjamin, the future looks a lot like wreckage.

Martha and her father walked arm in arm into the line of the Grand March while I sat and searched the room for Ben, just in case he’d changed his mind.
There must have been over a thousand people mulling about, dressed in the most beautiful clothes I’d ever seen. My mind flashed once more to Cinderella, but of course that was just a fable. Who’d want to be rescued by a prince anyway, unless it was Harry, and he’s taken. Although, I had to admit it, how great it would be to have someone sweep me away from my home now and then.
My thoughts continued to drift until the Grand March came to an end. Applause sounded through gloved hands, muffled. I watched Martha and Dr. Edgecombe steer themselves between the many twosomes.
Piano chords and single notes played a rhythmic pattern and I recognized the song as a waltz. I couldn’t remember how I knew this, but knew it nonetheless. One-two-three, One-two-three.
The woman I’d met on Main Street earlier in the day, the woman with the guard geese, sat next to me. I didn’t recognize her at first, though. She was dressed in an emerald green gown, and three feathers towered above her thick, curly black hair. All that hair was squished under that frilly cap?
“So nice to see you again,” she said. A truly magnificent evening. A multitude of colors paraded past.
“Truly,” I said, placing my fingers along my cheek to expose the ring. She noticed it right away, but the reaction I hoped for didn’t materialize. She only asked again about Little Current and exactly how long my train ride had been, and if I traveled from the north, south, east or west.
What direction is the future? Martha waved her hand and smiled as she and her father swirled in front of us.
The day was beginning to feel long and I was no closer to the significance of the ring. “Please excuse me,” I said to the woman as I stood.
She remained seated and with an attitude of defeat said, “Of course, my dear.”
I walked over to the front of the hall and stepped outside. The ring slipped easily off my finger.
I knocked on Jess’s door, hoping her parents were still at work so we could talk freely. I had gone to eighteen seventy-six this time without waiting for her to come to my place like we’d planned, and the truth is, I felt guilty about it. She opened the door and stepped outside.
“I’ve only got about twenty minutes. I told you on the bus I’ve got practice tonight. Why didn’t you text? What’s up?” We sat on her porch steps.
“Oh yeah, I guess we were just on the bus.”
“What’s going on, Abby? You’re acting really weird.”
“I forgot about your practice.”
A realization came over her. She stood abruptly. “How could you forget when I just told you? You went back there, didn’t you? You went back without telling me.”

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Nancy Thorne is an award-winning author of fiction inspired by the romance, courage and struggles of youth.
Born and raised in a suburb of Toronto, she fostered a passion for creating stories in grade school but hid it much too well. Five years ago she stepped away from the pediatric health care field to pursue her lifelong dream of telling them.
When she’s not writing books or reading, she’s dreaming.
Nancy lives outside of Toronto with her husband, two sons and an incredibly energetic fox-red labrador.
She loves to hear from her readers, even just to say hi.

12 Steps for Revising Your Novel

Nancy J. Cohen's avatarNancy's Notes From Florida

Revisions on your novel can seem like a never-ending task. This seems especially true when you get a letter from a reader years later to tell you about a misspelled word. We’re never going to get it absolutely perfect, but we can do our best.

revision steps for your novel

In an earlier post, I’d mentioned the Five Stages of Writing. I’ve also talked in other posts about line editing and other techniques for improving your work. What comes next after you’ve sent the book in to your editor? Here’s a list of suggestions:

1. Make the corrections advised by your editor when she sends your story back with comments.

2. Check your formatting throughout the manuscript after making a series of changes. Be sure all chapter headings are consistent. Turn on the paragraph symbol in Word and look for misplaced sentences or extra spaces. Do a search for [space]^p and replace with ^p…

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LOVE LORN Book 1 of The Twisted Love Series Written by Bestselling Author Amy Manemann Co-Authored Series with USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton

LOVE LORN

Book 1 of The Twisted Love Series
Written by Bestselling Author Amy Manemann
Co-Authored Series with USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton

Continue reading “LOVE LORN Book 1 of The Twisted Love Series Written by Bestselling Author Amy Manemann Co-Authored Series with USA Today Bestselling Author Stacy Eaton” →

AUGUST 15th 1939 – The Bridge of Deaths

Piece Keeper by Antwan Floyd Sr.

1) What inspired you to write this book?

 

    I wanted to write a story
about a street smart/book smart Black male in the detective genre, I feel like
this genre of mystery/crime fiction is ripe for black authors.
2) How long did it take you to write the book? 
A year.

 

3) Coffee or Tea? 
Tea.
4) Describe your special writing place 
Any place clean and quiet.
5)Are you a plotter or a pantser?
Panster? Good word, Iol. I am definitely
a planner.
Thank you for the interview.

 
About the Book:

Teresa Prince, a small town girl with a big
heart, had dreams of working in law enforcement her goals put on pause in the
worse way possible. Will she overcome this tragedy and emerge triumphant with
her mind and soul intact? Or will the mental anguish be too much for her to
bare? 

James, a twisted soul with ideas of love and
grandeur with a woman that doesn’t feel the same for him, at least not yet.
That will all change if he has anything to do with it. Also, her old flame has
stepped into the picture. Will James be able to win her over and make her the
love of his life before the flame is rekindled between her and her ex? Or will
he be left in the cold while they live happily-ever-after?

Black Love was always a white collar kind of guy
more so than a gangster when an unfortunate incident occurs in a small town in
Illinois he rushes to the side of his ex-fiancé to attempt to save the day. It
does not take long to figure out that not everyone wants to see justice served.
On top of that, his feelings for his past love may not only cause conflicts in
the case but also add a rift to his new relationship. Will Black put his past
behind him and find out who violated Teresa? 

In this fast-paced tale of pain, misguided
passion, and lost love we follow these three souls as they embark on a journey
of romance, rape, and retribution. When there’s no one to count on but yourself
will you stand and deliver? Or bend and break? Each will face that question in
the midst of what they once thought was true. They all find out that when love
turns to war, someone has to be the Piece Keeper!

 
Book Links:
Piece Keeper via Amazon  
Piece Keeper via Barnes & Noble  
Read an Excerpt:
Prologue
The
streets were desolate and cold. James shook off the chill that shot through his
bones as he pulled the skull cap slightly down over his eyebrows not leaving
very much of his face to be seen. He took his time moving to the ATM machine.
He had transferred a small portion of his money from the offshore account to
his account in the states. He had been in Burr Ridge for almost a week now.
Nothing or no one, other than Witherspoon, was connecting him to what happened
to Teresa or the others he’d dumped in the river over the past year. He knew
Witherspoon would never speak and their employer had no idea who it was and
didn’t want to know. He felt bad about not trying to bring Teresa. He
contemplated that she was better off without him. He slid the bank card into
the machine, keyed in the code followed by the amount he wanted to withdraw,
and then waited for the machine to spit the bills out. Once the money was out
he retrieved his cash and card and went back to his car. He had nothing to
worry about yet he still felt compelled to get out of Illinois. He wanted to
see his sister before he left because he didn’t know when he would see her
again. As he climbed into his car and started the engine, he heard the sound of
a click behind his head.
“You
can have the money and car,” he said. The person behind him remained silent.
James
spoke again. “It doesn’t have to end badly. I haven’t seen your face so you can
just take the cash and go. Everyone’s happy.”

 

“This
isn’t just a robbery,” the woman’s said as she pulled the trigger.
About the Author: 
 
Antwan Floyd Sr. is a Publisher, Author, and Reviewer. He publishes Crime Fiction novels under his publishing company Maleah Solange Books. He has released two titles
in the Black Love Detective Series: Piece Keeper & Cannibal in the City. He has also written Dope Fiction and Dope Fiction pt. 2 “Greed Between the Lines”. Originally from Chicago, IL he currently resides in Indianapolis, IN where he is penning his next novel.
 
 
Contact the Author: 

What I Have Learned from Chronic Illness – Guest Post by, Tina Frisco…

Chris The Story Reading Ape's avatarChris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

The opportunity to learn presents itself more often than most of us recognize. We ignore or do not hear the knock on the door to our hearts and minds. We become outraged or sickened when engaging with or reacting to someone whose behavior strikes fear in us. We allow our attention to divert to the trivial when facing something that makes us uneasy. Yet everyone and everything we encounter is a mirror, a reflection of ourselves.

I have been off line for most of the past six weeks, coping with a flareup of fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue. When homebound and at times bedridden, it is a challenge to feel connected to the outside world and not slip into depression. I constantly have to remind myself that I am not alone. My shaman teacher told me this early on:

The first lesson of power is that we are alone.

The last lesson of…

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Star review for “The Healer”: ‘A psychologically astute book’

Christoph Fischer's avatarwriterchristophfischer

I’ve spent another week with festival work and have neglected my own marketing. So I’m all the more grateful to have found this latest in depth review of my medical thriller “The Healer” on Amazon:

The story is deceptively simple. A woman suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, desperate, follows the advice of her personal assistant and approaches a healer, Arpan. I am not sure if he would call himself a “faith” healer, but he insists that those he treats should be totally invested in the process, including transferring 50% of their assets to his account. Although he states all that money goes to charity, it caused suspicion and scandal years back, and he has been keeping a low profile ever since. After much insistence and a different deal, he agrees to treat Erica, who also has secrets of her own. There are strange conspiracies surrounding Arpan and his healing process…

View original post 857 more words