The Bridge of Deaths

Serenya Crowe may be a half-elf commoner, but she’s no ordinary woman. With the ability to interpret dreams, and a birth defect that forces her to wear gloves, she’s endured gossip and the cruelty of her husband, Sebastian, The Earl of Summerwind. All she’s ever wanted is to live a quiet life and raise a family. When she meets the new stranger in town, her world and her heart, are turned upside down.

Wood-elf Jayden Ravenwing is an ex-secret agent who wants nothing more than to forget matters of the heart. He left the bustle of Leogard and his failed marriage to make a fresh start in Summerwind. He never planned to fall in love again, especially with the enchanting Serenya Crowe.

When a strange portal opens on the Crowe property, Jayden is thrown into an investigation, knowing that if he fails, Serenya and everyone in the town may die.

Together, he and Serenya must overcome an ancient evil, and their own inner demons, to save Summerwind and find the love they’ve always dreamed of.

Read an excerpt here: http://www.mystiparker.blogspot.com/p/serenyas-songa-sneak-peek.html

A Ranger’s Tale:

In the world of Tallenmere, an elven noblewoman longed to leave her gilded cage. A half-breed former pirate wanted nothing more than to escape his guilty past. Easier said than done…

High elf Caliphany Aranea leads an enviable life as King Leopold’s niece and daughter of Sirius, Leogard’s most famous wizard. Yet, being forced to follow in her father’s footsteps and being betrothed to a man she doesn’t even like makes her want a taste of life outside the city walls.

As a young boy, half-elf Galadin Trudeaux witnessed his parents’ death at the hands of pirates. After being raised by those same murderers and forced to do their bidding, he escaped and now lives an honest life as a sea merchant and ranger.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap Caliphany while she dreams of faraway lands, Galadin comes to her rescue. Impressed by his skills, she asks him to train her as a ranger. Though he is hesitant at first to train a woman of her class, Caliphany’s hefty sack of gold finally persuades him. Unfortunately, her father is not amused, and the two must escape before Caliphany faces a forced marriage and Galadin faces a noose.

From that moment on she and Galadin embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Only if they can survive the trials ahead, will they find a love that stands the test of time.

Read an excerpt here: http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/p/excerpt-from-rangers-tale.html

Hearts in Exile (coming June 3!)

In Tallenmere, fate has a way of catching up with you…

Somewhere, hidden in the waters of the Southern Sea, lies an island unlike any other. Within the amber glow of its pyrogem-laden cliffs, legend says the very heart of the dragon god Drae keeps the island, and its occupants, alive.

Loralee Munroviel, daughter of Leogard’s High Priestess Arianne, had no idea what she would face when she arrived by boat ten years ago and was left alone in exile. All she knew about Draekoria’s inhabitants was written in one tattered notebook. Now, her life revolves around keeping Drae’s descendants happy. Never in her life did she imagine being a Dragon Keeper.

Captain Igrorio Everlyn, known as Sir Robert to his unit of Holy Paladins, has faced his share of hell, battling the evils of Emperor Sarvonn’s tyranny and the dark god Tyr’s abominations. But none of that compares to the ten years of hell he’s been without Loralee, presumed dead.

One freak storm changes everything. Now the two of them must fight to reestablish the delicate balance of the island before the dragons take things into their own hands. Through it all, they discover the secrets that kept them, and their hearts, exiled for a decade.

First Chapter Preview: http://www.mystiparker.blogspot.com/p/new-hearts-in-exile.html

Bio:

Mysti Parker (pseudonym) is a full time wife, mother of three, and a writer. Her first novel, A Ranger’s Tale was published in January, 2011 by Melange Books, and the second in the fantasy romance series, Serenya’s Song, was published in April 2012. The highly anticipated third book, Hearts in Exile, has already received some great reviews. The Tallenmere series has been likened to Terry Goodkind’s ‘Sword of Truth’ series, but is probably closer to a spicy cross between Tolkien and Mercedes Lackey.

Mysti’s other writings have appeared in the anthologies Hearts of Tomorrow, Christmas Lites, and Christmas Lites II. Her flash fiction has appeared on the online magazine EveryDayFiction. She has also served as a class mentor in Writers Village University’s six week free course, F2K.

Mysti reviews books for SQ Magazine, an online specfic publication, and is the proud owner of Unwritten, a blog voted #3 for eCollegeFinder’s Top Writing Blogs award. She resides in Buckner, KY with her husband and three children.

Contact the Author:

Blog: www.mystiparker.blogspot.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mysti-Parker/103786449704221

Twitter @MystiParker

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4625596.Mysti_Parker

A Ranger’s Tale, Tallenmere #1

Serenya’s Song, Tallenmere #2

Hearts in Exile, Tallenmere #3 (Coming June 3!)

GIVEAWAY ~ One ebook in PDF ePub or mobi format of both A Rangers Tale and Serenya’s Song. comment and leave email address here or @ Mysti Parker’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mysti-Parker/103786449704221

Psychic Medium Candy O'Donnell

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:25:40 -0400

follow message

PsychicMedium Candy ODonnell

United States, EnglishSpirituality

Sundays~4-5pm PST, 7-8pm ET—PsychicMedium, BA, Empath, Reiki/Meditation Practitioner, Animal Communicator, Past-Life Regressionist, Spirit Communication, Published Author. Candy is NOT a Medical Professional and will … not read anything medical. read more

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/psychicmediumcandyodonnell

Upcoming Broadcasts

01:00

Pastlife Reading for a Volunteer and Card Readings

Candy will be pulling cards for everyone on the phone lines and in chat this Sunday. She is also asking for a volunteer for a pastlife reading over the phone. Youll need a comfortable place that is without distractions for the pastlife… more

by PsychicMedium Candy ODonnell
in Spirituality
next Sunday at 7:00 pm

CANDY HELPED SO MANY AUTHORS WITH HER WONDERFUL INTERVIEWS. Let us support her new endeavour.

Get to know Lynda Dickson of Books Direct 1. Tell me a...

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:37:00 -0400

I've had a great love of books my whole life

I would love to write a book

I would like to meet Stephen King one day

Get to know Lynda Dickson of Books Direct

1. Tell me a little about you

This might get a bit confusing, so bear with me. My mother was born in Yugoslavia and my father is Australian. They met in Australia and, after getting married, they moved to Bombay (India), where my sister was born. You see, my father was an engineer and installed lifts in developing countries as they started building skyscrapers. From India, they moved to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), where I was born. We went on to live in Quito (Ecuador), Bogotá (Colombia), São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), before moving to Sydney (Australia) when I was 15. When I finished high school, I worked in the court system for 10 years, where I met Malcolm, who was a police prosecutor. We got married when I was 22 and we now have two daughters (13 and 15 years old). Ten years ago we moved to Strathmerton, a small country town in Victoria, where we bought a caravan park. It’s a pretty quiet lifestyle and, now that the girls are older, I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. Since moving here, I have become a Girl Guide leader (the equivalent of Girl Scouts) and my daughters are both Girl Guides. I also discovered the internet. But reading has always been my passion.

2. Do you write as well as sell books?

I would love to write a book. When I was a girl I used to write all the time. As a teenager I did the usual angst-ridden love poem thing and wrote short stories. (I still have these.) I have a couple of ideas for books and have been to a few creative writing courses, but I think I’m too scared to start writing in case I find out I’m no good. I think my strength actually lies in editing, and I would like to take this up. My daughters both love writing and I have edited a lot of their work through the years. They’re becoming a bit more private now and won’t let me read anything. But they both aspire to become published authors, so I might be able to help them again soon. I’ve also recently done some editing for a couple of writers I’ve met online.

3. When did you identify your love of books?

I’ve had a great love of books my whole life. As a child living in South America, it was dangerous to play outside. I spent most of my childhood reading, except when I was playing with my Barbies! So books have always been my best friends. I especially loved fairytales, my favorites being Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales and The Arabian Nights. As a young teenager, my favorite book was Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. From there I went on to read Gone With the Wind, The Thorn Birds, James Michener, and Stephen King, as there wasn’t a dedicated young adult genre in those days. As an adult, my favorite writers include Maeve Binchy, Amy Tan, Jodi Picoult, and Bryce Courtney. My current favorite books are The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

4. If you could meet any author dead or alive who would it be?

I would like to meet Stephen King one day. I’m sure he would have a lot of experiences and wisdom to share. I love the way he writes in such a conversational tone. I also admire the way he draws his characters and is able to make their dialogue so realistic. Having read Stephen King’s On Writing, I feel like I kind of know him already.

5. If you could meet any fictional character who would it be?

If I could meet any fictional character I would pick Henry from The Time Traveler’s Wife. I was totally captivated by that book and by the strength of Henry’s love for Clare. Anyone who could live such a tortured life yet remain so committed to his soul mate is a person well worth meeting.

6. How many books do you read in an average month?

This varies on the time of year and how busy the caravan park is. These days I usually only have time to read before bed, so it takes me about 2 weeks to finish a book. When I am forced to be away from my computer, I can read for hours at a time and finish a book every 2-3 days. I own so many books (over 1000) that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to read them all. And now that I have an eReader, things are even worse. I am now an eBook hoarder as well (I have over 25,000)!

7. Are you keen on a particular genre?

My favorite kinds of books are family dramas involving long-hidden secrets. However, I went through a phase last year where I only read young adult fiction. My 13-year-old is an avid reader and I found myself reading all the books she borrowed from the library. John Green would have to be a favorite in this genre.

At the moment, I only seem to be reading books sent to me for review, so the genres are quite varied. I’ll read practically anything, but have difficulty reading fantasy and science fiction, especially when unusual names are used for people and places. I find it very difficult to remember who’s who or where’s where, unless I keep notes. I remember writing up a family tree when I read the Clan of the Cave Bear books years ago. And I never was able to finish The Lord of the Rings (sorry!).

8. How did Books Direct get started?

OK, this is embarrassing, but 1 ½ years ago, I got caught up in one of those get-rich-quick schemes, where they sell you a website and tell you you’ll make millions overnight … You know the ones. Anyway, I didn’t know anything about creating a website or social media or anything else of the sort, so I signed up. My website is the result of this. From there, I realized I wasn’t going to make any money unless I got my name out there, so I started marketing myself. I started with my Tumblr blog (3000 followers), which drove tons of traffic to my website but made no sales as my followers are mostly teenagers. From there, I went on to Facebook (1800 likes) and Twitter (5500 followers). I’m also dabbling in merchandise through my made-to-order Bookish Look range. So as you can see, I got my name out there … but I still haven’t made any money! What I have done is meet a lot of really nice people, mostly Indie authors. That’s when I decided to start my blog to help them market their books. My blog has just reached over 50,000 page views after only 10 months!

9. How do Indie authors approach you?

I love to hear from Indie authors. All the information is on the List Your Book page on my blog. So if you’re interested in being featured on my blog just click on the link and email the specified information to me.

Links

WaAr ~ Wanda's amazing Amazon reviewers

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:49:29 -0400

REPOSTING FROM CHRISTOPH FISCHER’S Blog

Do you love to read?

Do you have an active account on Amazon?

Do you want to pay forward some Indie author love?

Then this is how you can do it –

Ask to join this closed group:

Wanda’s Amazing Amazon Reviewers

We will accept you. Were a bit crazy and we have a loon or two but we love them all the same.
Once in the group see the top pinned post. These are the books we are featuring. We need help on those books ASAP.
Every Friday all the authors in the group gets to ask for reviews on their books above and beyond the featured authors…. thus you can fill up your Kindle for free.

All we ask in turn is for you to leave a minimum of 21 words on Amazon telling other readers if you loved, liked or hated the book. That is it. From time to time we have giveaways, we always have a chat or 20 going and we share, like and love each other.

If authors wish to join this is easy. Join but remember that we will expect you to pay it forward as well. If other authors review your book return the favour. If you really can’t read all their books, then like their pages, share their giveaways and show us that you care about your Indie community and in turn we will show you how much we care for this community.

http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/wandas-amazing-amazon-reviewers-2/

T HAMMOND and Team Red Series MOVIE NIGHT

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:59:00 -0400

Team Red – Movie Night Contest and Rafflecopter giveaway
So, if you’ve read Blind Seduction, A Team Red Novel, by T Hammond, you know about movie night. Janey pulled out copies of a popular erotic BDSM novel to distribute to the group. She …had us skip to ‘the good parts’ as she called them and each person was assigned a book character. Then each person was told to choose a cartoon character voice to use when reading their portion of the book.
I am looking for two YouTube submissions to include in my next Team Red novel, Color Blind (tentative release date in June 2013). The rules of the contest are written below. I will choose two of my favorites (I will also pay close attention to popular opinion) to feature in my book. The people involved in the winning YouTube submissions will have their names included in the acknowledgement of the book, and a link to your video will be added to the book.
Excerpts from Blind Seduction, A Team Red Novel, by T Hammond:
We were all in hysterics by the time Christian, read by Bas as Foghorn Leghorn finished an intimate encounter with Ana, read by Ken as Tweety Bird. I think reading erotica might have just become our favorite group activity…
Our little group is on the second book of the erotic BDSM series. I don’t think anyone will be able to top Gil’s characterization of Christian using the voice of Speedy Gonzales matched with David speaking the Ana parts as Natasha, the Russian spy from the Bullwinkle cartoons.

The contest rules, should you decide to accept them…
YouTube video:
a) Can not contain any nudity, but dialog can be any scenes from the 50 shades books
b) Videos Can visually focus on people’s faces, sock puppets, a fixed image of Blind Seduction’s book cover, a shadow puppet show, whatever, use your imagination!
c) Video Must reference passages from any of the three 50 Shades books
d) Entry Must be 30-120 seconds long (that’s half-a-minute to two minutes folks- I don’t want the whole freaking book!)
e) Cannot use cartoon voices already used in Blind Seduction (Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety, Speedy Gonzales, or Natasha)
f) Can use cartoon characters, or other unique but identifiable characters/voices for your entry video (I think Ana played by Dirty Harry would be a hoot!)
g) You DO NOT have to use all the Blind Seduction/Color Blind characters (see H and I, below), but Submissions must have at least two people reading for their characters. In Blind Seduction, Movie Night is a group activity.
h) Color Blind male characters that can be included in your video: David, Sebastian, Ken and Gil
i) Color Blind female characters that can be included in your video: Janey, Ash, and Teresa
j) Each Video can only be submitted ONCE by a team/group of members (Pick a boss of you!)
k) A Team/group can submit as many entries as you would like, but each entry link must be added to the pinned post on the T Hammond, Author facebook page (I will immediately delete any )

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/3c6c754/

Video

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:39:24 -0400

‘They Don’t Work For You’ – New Campaign Targets Pro-Gun Senators

Sat, 11 May 2013 12:10:00 -0400

‘They Don’t Work For You’ – New Campaign Targets Pro-Gun Senators:

DID YOUR SENATOR HAVE THE COURAGE TO VOTE FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS IN GUN SALES? MINE DID NOT!

http://www.theydontworkforyou.org/

#AskThemWhy

StatePartySenatorPhone Facebook Twitter AL Republican Jeff Sessions 202.224.4124 Facebook @senatorsessions AL Republican Richard Shelby 202.224.5744 Facebook @senshelbypress AK Democrat Mark Begich 202.224.3004 Facebook @senatorbegich AK Republican Lisa Murkowski 202.224.6665 Facebook @lisamurkowski AZ Republican Jeff Flake 202.224.4521 Facebook @jeffflake AR Republican John Boozman 202.224.4843 Facebook @johnboozman AR Democrat Mark Pryor 202.224.2353 Facebook @senmarkpryor FL Republican Marco Rubio 202.224.3041 Facebook @senrubiopress GA Republican Saxby Chambliss 202.224.3521 Facebook @saxbychambliss GA Republican Johnny Isakson 202.224.3643 Facebook @senatorisakson ID Republican Mike Crapo 202.224.6142 Facebook @mikecrapo ID Republican James Risch 202.224.2752 Facebook @senatorrisch IN Republican Daniel Coats 202.224.5623 Facebook @sendancoats IA Republican Chuck Grassley 202.224.3744 Facebook @chuckgrassley KS Republican Jerry Moran 202.224.6521 Facebook @jerrymoran KS Republican Pat Roberts 202.224.4774 Facebook @senpatroberts KY Republican Mitch McConnell 202.224.2541 Facebook @mcconnellpress KY Republican Rand Paul 202.224.4343 Facebook @senrandpaul LA Republican David Vitter 202.224.4623 Facebook @davidvitter MS Republican Thad Cochran 202.224.5054 Facebook @senthadcochran MS Republican Roger Wicker 202.224.6253 Facebook @senatorwicker MO Republican Roy Blunt 202.224.5721 Facebook @royblunt MT Democrat Max Baucus 202.224.2651 Facebook @maxbaucus NE Republican Deb Fischer 202.224.6551 Facebook @senatorfischer NE Republican Mike Johanns 202.224.4224 Facebook @mike_johanns NV Republican Dean Heller 202.224.6244 Facebook @sendeanheller NV Democrat Harry Reid* 202.224.3542 Facebook @senatorreid NH Republican Kelly Ayotte 202.224.3324 Facebook @kellyayotte NC Republican Richard Burr 202.224.3154 Facebook @senatorburr ND Democrat Heidi Heitkamp 202.224.2043 Facebook @senatorheitkamp ND Republican John Hoeven 202.224.2551 Facebook @senjohnhoeven OH Republican Rob Portman 202.224.3353 Facebook @robportman OK Republican Tom Coburn 202.224.5754 Facebook @tomcoburn OK Republican James Inhofe 202.224.4721 Facebook @inhofepress SC Republican Lindsey Graham 202.224.5972 Facebook @grahamblog SC Republican Tim Scott 202.224.6121 Facebook @senatortimscott SD Republican John Thune 202.224.2321 Facebook @senjohnthune TN Republican Lamar Alexander 202.224.4944 Facebook @senalexander TN Republican Bob Corker 202.224.3344 Facebook @senbobcorker TX Republican John Cornyn 202.224.2934 Facebook @johncornyn TX Republican Ted Cruz 202.224.5922 Facebook @sentedcruz UT Republican Orrin Hatch 202.224.5251 Facebook @senprrinhatch UT Republican Mike Lee 202.224.5444 Facebook @senmikelee WI Republican Ron Johnson 202.224.5323 Facebook @senronjohnson WY Republican John Barrasso 202.224.6441 Facebook @senjohnbarrasso WY Republican Michael Enzi 202.224.3424 Facebook @senatorenzi* As Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid voted against the Manchin-Toomey Bill out of procedure which allows him to bring up the legislation again at a later date.

In The Matter of NIKOLAS TESLA : A Romance of the mind by Anthony Flacco

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:30:00 -0400

IN THE MATTER OF NIKOLAS TESLA: A Romance of the Mind

By Anthony Flacco

I try to write succinct reviews with no spoilers. That is what I posted on AMAZON under the title ELECTRIFYING (yes the pun was intended), for Anthony Flacco’s Book In The Matter of Nikolas Tesla; a Romance of the Mind.

I enjoyed the book tremendously and as others have chosen to write reviews full of spoilers I decided to write a LONG version here.

The opening chapter is more about Thomas Edison than Nikolas Tesla, and I must admit at first it confused me a little but after I got into the book I chose to go back and re-read the first chapter and smiled as I thought; Very clever Mr. Flacco. Here the author sets the tone for the theme that Nikolas Tesla was surrounded but strong powerful individuals and organizations that blocked his amazing progress and accordingly that of the world as a whole.

Today in the United States when we can see members of congress smiling and gloating that they managed to derail something just to make the president look bad; even if it hurts the country or society; background checks for guns anyone? It is very easy to grasp the manner in which NIKOLAS TESLA was treated.

The book cleverly presents Nikolas Tesla as a man with a muse with which due to his religious upbringing he has a complicated and tortured relationship. It is a very clever way to show the struggles of the genius that was Nikolas Tesla.

The scientific experiments; whether in the form of success of failures will leave a curious reader wanting for more and Mr. Flacco very graciously offers sources in his afterword including a documentary for those who prefer to read fiction but are indeed curious about facts.

In my Amazon review I compare my experience to reading this book to Irving Stone’s biography of Vincent Van Gogh. The books are absolutely different but both books succeeded in pulling at my heartstrings and made me feel deeply for the historical figure.

In a very detailed and interesting review @ http://kddidit.wordpress.com/ I read that the reviewer felt …. “I wish I had a time machine and could go back and help this man.” I read a few other reviews and all seem to feel like embracing, helping and being there for Nikolas Tesla, which means that Mr. Flacco really succeeded in bringing the scientist in a very real way into our minds and hearts.

First let me say that this book makes me wish there were more than five stars to rate it, far more. It is absolutely electrifying!

The author’s creative use of the muse Karina is very clever and entertaining. Each chapter is exciting and informative.

When I was 17 Irving Stone’s Book LUST FOR LIFE made me fall in love with Vincent Van Gogh. I am now past 50 years old and I never expected an author to make me feel that way again, Mr. Anthony Flacco did.

This is an extraordinary historical Biography, full of courage and information; I checked, his account is historically accurate and his prose and imagination make the reader soar hand in hand through the life and inventions of Nikolas Tesla.

Readers be warned that you will fall in love with Nikolas Tesla as much as you will be sorely disappointed by other historical figures.

“It is a monumental task, this getting into the mind of a man as complex and extraordinary as Tesla. Anthony Flacco is up to the task. In the Matter of Nikola Tesla: A Romance of the Mind reads at times like a psychological exploration worthy of Dostoyevsky, at other times like one of John le Carre’s espionage novels, and even sometimes like Joseph Campbell’s mythical ‘hero’s journey.’”
—NY Journal of Book Reviews

“Anthony Flacco’s In the Matter of Nikola Tesla is really fascinating—especially for me as I’ve been very interested in Nikola Tesla for many years. I believe Tesla was one of the most special characters of last century. I hope that this book will soon become a film!”
—Mario Spezi, NY Times Bestselling Author, The Monster of Florence

This fictionalized story of the true-life genius NIKOLA TESLA—arguably the most influential inventor in history—offers a “young-to-old” portrayal in the form of “A Romance of the Mind.” It reveals his impassioned inner life and his secret love for Karina, the muse no one else can see who brings him life-altering inspirations.

Karina may be invisible to others but she is exquisitely real to him. It is for her, for the life and the work that she shares with him, that this gallant, passionate man maintains a loner’s life even when he is working among many others and subject to their constant temptations.

Book Blurb:

This fictionalized story of the true-life genius NIKOLA TESLA—arguably the most influential inventor in history—offers a “young-to-old” portrayal in the form of “A Romance of the Mind.” It reveals his impassioned inner life and his secret love for Karina, the muse no one else can see who brings him life-altering inspirations.

Karina may be invisible to others but she is exquisitely real to him. It is for her, for the life and the work that she shares with him, that this gallant, passionate man maintains a loner’s life even when he is working among many others and subject to their constant temptations.

About the Author:

Anthony Flacco is an author of five nonfiction books and three historical novels, all released by major publishers.

He holds an MFA in screenwriting from the American Film Institute. He was selected for the Walt Disney Studios Screenwriting Fellowship, and spent a year writing for the Touchstone Picture division.

His first nonfiction, A Checklist for Murder, was acquired in auction by Dell Books and turned in solid sales. Anthony adapted his book as a two-hour television movie script and sold it to NBC Studios for a movie of the week. He completed his nonfiction bookTiny Dancer for St. Martin’s Press, and the advance copy was selected by Reader’s Digest as their Editor’s Choice for August, 2005. His other books are The Last Nightingale, The Hidden Man, The Road Out of Hell, Impossible Odds and Publish Your Nonfiction Book.

IN THE MATTER OF NIKOLAS TESLA

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:59:37 -0400

May 5th Stormi @ http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/ (guest post)

May 6th Kathy @ http://kddidit.wordpress.com/ (review)

May 7th Darryl @ http://www.savagelullabye.com/ (interview)

May 8th Stacy @ http://sdwperfectchaos.blogspot.com/ (review)

May 9th Catalina @ http://thebridgeofdeaths.tumblr.com/

May 10th Paula @ http://communitybookstop.blogspot.com/ (review)

May 11th Ruth @ http://www.mydevotionalthoughts.com/ (guest post)

Book Review: In the Matter of Nikola Tesla: A Romance of the Mind by Anthony Flacco

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:26:07 -0400

Book Review: In the Matter of Nikola Tesla: A Romance of the Mind by Anthony Flacco:

THIS IS ANOTHER FIVE STAR REVIEW FOR ANTHONY FLACO…I will post mine in a few days.

Monster by Ben Burgess Jr - The Tour

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:20:39 -0400

Monster by Ben Burgess Jr

Genre: Fiction (Contains explicit adult content, not for readers under 18)

May 1 to May 14

Don’t miss out on learning about this stellar novel and the author behind it.

Giveaway starts May 1!

May 1 - Brianna of Brianna Lee Reviews

May 2 - M.C.V. of 4cover2overt a Day in the Spotlight

May 3 - Brenda of Naughty Bits Reviews

May 4 - Len of As You Wish Reviews

May 5 - Catalina of Bridge of Deaths

May 6 - Ann of Rambling Voices in My Head

May 7 - Chick of Candy Coated Blog

May 8 - Mona of Mythical Books

May 9 - Jessica B of Our New Generation of Reading

May 10 - Ren of A Little Bit of R&R Reviews

May 11 - Kj of Fated Paranormals

May 12 - Teracia’s Book Hoarding Problem

May 13 - Kc of Out of Control Characters

May 14 - Penelope of The Library at the END of the Universe

Travel the Social Media Universe,

1) Can you tell us a little about Your Book(s) without giving away too many spoilers and what inspired you to write it?

My story begins with my main character Ken Ferguson, a twenty something guy that is put through the wringer growing up in a dysfunctional family. As an adult his heart and ego are ripped to pieces when his girlfriend, the one he thought was “the one”, emasculates him and dumps him for a bad boy. Ken begins his transformation. Fueled by anger, and tired of being the “nice guy”, Ken drowns himself in one-night stands, threesomes, affairs with married women, and sleeping with one conquest after another. He adopts the philosophy of having no commitment and no attachments, but meets his match with Ashley, a girl that makes him want to stop his promiscuous ways. Ashley turns out to do even more damage to his ego and his heart, wounding him deeply. With his philosophy reinforced, Ken spirals out of control and becomes a MONSTER. Sleeping with and mistreating random women he meets at bars and clubs, Ken uses sex to forget about his insecurities, his anger, and his sadness. He becomes a predator that uses and abuses women to no consolable end.

There are a lot of things that inspire me to write. My character inspiration comes from people watching and observing friends, co-workers, and family. I think when you take the time to observe their mannerisms, listening to the way they talk, their characteristics and expressions, it helps you to write realistic characters that people can connect with. I also like to read a lot. Reading the works of my favorite authors always pushes me to want to be a better writer and inspires me to write more.

2) Which character do you like the most? Why?

I would say I love Ken Ferguson, because his character was based off of myself and some of my past experiences.

3) When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was in the 8th grade, my English teacher Mrs. Marcus gave the class a poetry assignment. My poem was on basketball. I don’t even remember what I wrote, but I remember my teacher was blown away by it. She encouraged me to keep writing. She was one of my most influential teachers, and I promised her if I ever wrote a book, I would write a poem about the Holocaust for her (She was Jewish, and had family in it) My dream back then was to write a book. I continued to write throughout high school and college. My college professors told me I had talent, so I decided to go to open mic’s and perform my poetry. Hearing people cheer for me and appreciate my words, inspired me to want to keep writing.

4) What books have most influenced your life most?

Richard Wright’s Native Son, Eric Jerome Dickey’s Milk in my Coffee, Cheaters, and Between Lovers are the books that I actually felt like I was those characters. I felt so moved by the stories, and so connected that I knew I wanted to write a story that could one day have that type of effect on people.

5) Are there any new authors that currently interest you? And which is your favorite author of all time?

New authors that interest me right now are Christine Hazel, Kennedee Devoe, and Jamel Harden. They are all talented self published authors like myself who encourage me to continue with my dream. My favorite author of all time is Eric Jerome Dickey

6) What do you love most about writing?

What I love most about writing is that I get to control the world that my characters are in. In life, we have control over our lives to a certain extent, but the world that I create when I write allows me total control. Writing allows me to vent. Writing allows me to repent about past decisions that I’ve made. Writing allows me to see the world from different perspectives because all of my characters are different. I often have to put myself in different mindsets to get the voice of the character down correctly. To sum it all up, What I love most about writing is the control and the freedom it allows me to have.

7) What kind of research did you do for this book?

My past experiences, people watching, and observing friends, co-workers, and family. I think when you take the time to observe their mannerisms, listening to the way they talk, their characteristics and expressions, it helps you to write realistic characters that people can connect with. I’m a firm believer that reflecting on your own experiences and taking the time to listen and observe people and different surroundings are some of the greatest ways to do research.

8) What’s a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write? Do you set a daily

I wake up at 5am to get ready for work. While traveling to work, I read different authors, or write for different projects that I’m working on. I get to work at around 8am and handle my responsibilities. Being in Law Enforcement, you never know what can happen that day, so I come home at different hours often. When I travel back home, I read or work on my projects again. I work out for at least an hour and a half, and then I spend the rest of my time with my family. I write wherever the urge hits me. I like to keep a notepad and pen with me, where I jot down ideas, dialogues, or potential chapters. When I have time, I enjoy writing on my home computer the most, but because of my busy schedule I write whenever and wherever I can. Mostly on the train going into and coming from work.

9) What authors do you like to read?

My favorite authors are Eric Jerome Dickey, Zane, and Carl Weber.

10) What inspired you to write Monster?

“Monster” is based off my life and experiences. After enduring some pretty interesting experiences, I believe that “Monster” is a story that can benefit everyone and it’s a story that needed to be told. I was inspired to write it to teach people. I feel that people can learn from my mistakes. I wanted people to learn that:

1. Every action has a consequence- It can be good or bad, but there is a result for everything we do.

2. We need to take time to truly heal emotionally and mentally after a break-up. If we don’t we are bound to bring that pain into future relationships.

3. We need to be conscience of our actions. We never know the effects they can have on other people.

11) Best/worst writing advice you ever got?

My favorite author Eric Jerome Dickey, told me to never give up and continue to do what I love to do. He explained the importance of learning the craft and constantly reading other writers to learn different styles and techniques to form my own unique style. He also supported me by buying a copy of my book.

12) What is your latest

My latest work is my new novel “Monster”

These are the links for the book:

Android Devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.impelsys.monster.android#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmltcGVsc3lzLm1vbnN0ZXIuYW5kcm9pZCJd

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-ebook/dp/B00BBKE6AI/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Barnes&Nobles:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monster-ben-burgess-jr/1114313407?ean=9780988374508

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/283252 : Make sure the adult filter is off or you wont be able to find the book

Monster is also available for iBooks.

13) What do you want your fans to know about you and your work?

I want my fans to know that this is my dream. I put my heart and soul into all of my writings. I constantly try to improve to become a better writer for myself and my fans.

14) Provide your website link.

I currently don’t have a website, but here are the links to my author page, and my Monster’s fan page:

Monster’s Fan Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Monster/231214637006067

Author Page

https://www.facebook.com/BenBurgessJr

15) Where can we purchase your work (provide links)?

These are the links where you can purchase the book:

Android Devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.impelsys.monster.android#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmltcGVsc3lzLm1vbnN0ZXIuYW5kcm9pZCJd

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Monster-ebook/dp/B00BBKE6AI/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Barnes&Nobles:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monster-ben-burgess-jr/1114313407?ean=9780988374508

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/283252 : Make sure the adult filter is off or you won’t be able to find the book

16) Have you ever been discouraged in regard to your writing ability and if so, how did you get past it and move forward?

When I first started to pitch my novel to agents, I was turned down left and right. I felt like I wasn’t good enough. I felt like quitting. One agent finally talked to me, and told me that while my writing was good, it wasn’t great. He told me to make it in the book business I needed to be great. I thought long and hard about just giving up on my book, but then I thought about all of my friends, and even some strangers that thought that my novel was really good. I reminded myself that this is my dream, my passion, and if I sold one copy or a million, I would publish this book. I learned more about my craft by studying books on writing. I took the time to hire an editor to read over my work and listened to her criticism (even though some of it was brutal) Just the fact that I accomplished my goals of finishing the book and publishing it, is a success for me. I self published the book, but I have been blessed to receive great reviews for it. People are actually getting the points of my book, and I’m so happy that I have written a book that people are enjoying. When strangers message me on Facebook and tell me how much my book has changed their lives or how much they enjoyed it, I think back to those times where I wanted to quit. I’m proud of myself for believing in my own abilities, and accomplishing my dream after going through so much rejection. I may never be number one on the New York Times Best Seller List, but the fact that I can have an impact on the people who have read my book, makes me extremely happy.

*********** SOLSTICE by Debbie Christina New...

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

*********** SOLSTICE by Debbie Christina New Release ***************

Can you tell us a little about your book without giving away too many spoilers and what inspired you to write it?

SOLSTICE is a paranormal romantic suspense where magic, murder and mayhem abound. It stars Sofia Palmalosi, a powerful Italian witch or Strega, who must break a 250-year old family curse the hero, Armend, has on his head before his 30^th birthday - the winter solstice. There is only one way to break the curse and Sofia and Armend must find and put the pieces of a puzzle together while battling the one person who doesn’t want them to succeed.

How did you get interested in writing this particular genre?

I’ve always been a paranormal and horror fan so it was the natural way for me to go. I’ve had two short dark fiction stories published in anthologies and I hope to have more published.

Both my novels are paranormal romance. TWIN FLAMES is a story of reincarnation, past lives and soul mates – and of course, a ghost.

What can I say? I’m a hopeless paranormal romantic at heart.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always been an avid reader and as a little girl when I finished a book, I’d stop and think of different endings, even if I loved the way the author ended it. When I was about 11 or 12 I took the family Smith-Corona typewriter – yes, I’m dating myself – and wrote a story about mummies coming alive in ancient Egypt.

Do you have a dedicated space or a particular office space? Do you have any little ‘things’ you do or traditions you follow when you write.

I write in a beautiful space in the corner of my bedroom that my husband helped me fix up. There is a wonderful window next to me that looks at into the woods behind my house. The two small corner walls are littered with cards and letters from friends as well as a few rejection letters along with some of my favorite quotes about writing and life.

I write for a few hours in the morning, then exercise or go to yoga, and do the rest of the things life needs me to do then try to get a little more writing in during the afternoon before dinner. I need music to write - silence or the blaring TV drives me crazy. I have playlists for different scenes. I light scented candles, usually lavender, sandalwood or vanilla. I like to have a small object that has something to do with the story. I have a small sexy witch ornament hanging from a small light that I used as inspiration for SOLSTICE. Now I have a picture of a mermaid on a ceramic tile next to my computer screen for a short story I’m writing about a mermaid.

Do you ever write longhand? Do you ever use a tape-recorder?

I do write longhand occasionally. I have a journal I carry around with me. You never know when an idea will hit. Sitting in traffic or in a waiting room. I find I write a little different with a pen than a computer. It’s not as easy to fix on paper; there is a lot of crossing out and scribbling, so I think things through a little more before writing it down. Now if I could only do that while at a computer J

What’s the best part of being an author?

Telling stories and sharing them with readers. We all see and experience life differently so naturally each of us has a unique voice and vision. I was asked to write a vampire and a witch short story for two different anthologies. It was a wonderful experience and each compilation has ten very different stories. Even though we all wrote about the same subject, each of our witches and vampires were a creature all their own.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

I think most authors answer this question with ‘don’t give up.’ It’s true. I received countless rejection letters for my debut novel, TWIN FLAMES. The day I got my offer from Black Opal Books, I received two rejections letters. Keep writing and keep submitting.

All writers need skin at least three inches thick. A woman in my critique group once told me, “This isn’t a romance, it’s a tragedy.” Granted most people are tactful and try to give helpful advice instead of harsh criticism, but there are exceptions, and you can’t take it personally.

What do you love most about writing?

I love doing research. I love history and even thought I write paranormal it’s fun and interesting to base things on real events from the past. My novel TWIN FLAMES is about reincarnation, past life regression and soul mates. When the two main characters were regressed, I tried to make each of their past lives happen during an incident in history. In SOLSTICE, a story about Italian witches, or Stregas, I delved into the relationship between Italian witchcraft (Stregheria) and the Goddess Diana.

Is there a historical angle you could share with us?

The hero in SOLSTICE, Armend Kogu, is Albanian. Italy and Albania have had their share of history through the centuries. Many Albanians immigrated to Italy, especially around Naples. Only forty-five miles separate the two countries across the Adriatic Sea. It’s due to Armend’s relatives who moved to Italy in the 1700’s, that his family have been cursed.

The heroine, Sofia is a Strega and she and Armend travel to Sicily the actual ruins of the Temple of Diana there. Diana was a beloved Goddess during Roman and pre-Roman Times.

What kind of research did you do for this book?

I spoke to and gathered information from many witches in person and online. I met some great people, took a few classes on Wicca and emailed an author who wrote a book on Stregheria. Everyone was wonderful and happy that I was portraying witches and witchcraft in a real and positive way – for the most part – of course there’s a villain.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Sex scenes  In romance, no matter the genre, it seems love scenes from sweet to spicy have all been written before. It’s challenging to make things interesting or even humorous. I like to try to give my couples a few comical disruptions. After all, we’re human and have the occasional mishap even when we’re intimate, even if that intimacy is just a kiss.

What are you working on now?

I’m in the process of writing a sequel to Twin Flames, which includes a novella, linking the first book to the second. I’m also working on two short dark fiction stories I hope to submit for an anthology.

SOLSTICE BLURB:

Time is running out for Armend Zogu. The 250-year old family curse on his head will come to claim him on his 30^th birthday, the winter solstice.

Sofia Palmalosi may be the Strega who can save him. A descendant of a long line of powerful Italian witches; her family’s magic was a gift from the Goddess Diana.

Together Sofia and Armend embark on a journey from New York to Sicily and the ancient ruins of Diana’s temple and back to New York, all the while fighting a battle of magic and wits with a psychopath who wants them both dead and the curse intact.

If the curse doesn’t kill Armend, breaking it just might.

BIO and CONTACT:

Debbie Christiana would sit in her room as a little girl and write stories about ghosts, unexplained events and things that go bump in the night. She combined her love of the paranormal with her fascination of unusual love stories and decided to write paranormal romance. Black Opal Books who will publish her second novel, Solstice on May 4, 2013, released her debut novel, Twin Flames in 2011. She has had two short stories published. The Land of the Rising Sun was one of ten in the anthology, BITES: Ten Tales of Vampires and The Thirteen Steps was included in BELTANE: Ten Tales of Witchcraft.

Debbie is a member of RWA and the International Thriller Writers, Inc. She is the secretary of her local RWA Chapter of Connecticut and Lower New York (CoLoNY). She lives in Connecticut with her husband and three children.

www.debbiechristiana.com

Curious Tales of Love, Magic and Mystery

www.debbiechristiana.com/blog

BUY BOOK @

http://www.amazon.com/Solstice-ebook/dp/B00CMJA3SQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1367674378&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Solstice+by+debbie+christiana

www.blackopalbooks.com

Reposted from www.writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:33:00 -0400

Two days ago I published my second book, SEBASTIAN. Here are a few thoughts about what motivated me to write it and answers to Some questions I have been asked about the book.

“Sebastian” is the second book in my Three Nations Trilogy, a series on war torn Central Europe that focuses on how lives could be changed by politics and cultural and ethnic developments.
“The Luck of the Weissensteiners” was about a group of Jewish and Catholic people in Slovakia during WWII, “Sebastian” is about a family in Vienna around WWI. The stories are using similar themes but are not connected directly.
Sebastian is based on an idea I have always had of my grandfather when I was young. I unfortunately never met him because my grandfather had divorced my grandmother and lived with his new family on the other side of the Berlin Wall. None of us ever met them until the late Eighties, by which time my grandfather sadly had already passed on.
Like Sebastian in my book he lost his leg due to an accident, which is at the heart of “Sebastian”, a young man who has to come to terms with this loss, his responsibilities and the life in a time where great political and personal changes bring in a new era.
I already wrote about World War II in “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” and so I transferred the story to a different era. I had read and heard so much about that time and Vienna that it seemed the logical setting, particularly since it was described as a perfect place for Jews at the time, something that so often is referred to in literature that talks about the horrors that followed.

Sebastian is an interesting character. How did you come up with the idea of him?

As a gay man I was always fascinated and frightened by the ideals of ‘real’ men, strength and masculinity as their main attributes and the requirement to finding love. How could a man like my Sebastian find love? A friend of my father had a wooden leg and I was scared stiff of it when I was younger. Much later did I learn about my grandfather’s wooden leg. I was astonished to hear that my grandfather had divorced my grandmother and had easily re-married.
Unfortunately I was able to learned only a little about my grandfather and his life from my aunt. Much of the details she gave me about his life and his rather philosophical and wonderful outlook on life have found their way into the actual grandfather figure in my book, Oscar, who becomes Sebastian’s best friend in my story and who helps him to find the right attitude.

Did you have difficulties to decide as how to portray a disabled boy?

Myself, I was not the strongest and sportiest of children and that probably leaked into Sebastian’s character as well. Expectations of what a man is supposed to be like and so on, all that feeds into his own journey of finding self-worth and confidence, something most of my characters in Sebastian have to struggle with, not just Sebastian. I did not mean to picture him as a victim; In those days as much as today many genuinely disadvantaged people try extra hard to compensate instead of looking after themselves properly. I wanted to show how strong and determined these people can be, that is why in his family almost everyone has an ailment of sorts, leaving him the strongest of the weak bunch.

What is your message with this book?

That is difficult to pinpoint, but I will try a few central themes:
Always be the best that you can.
Never settle for being second best.
Love and be loved for the right reasons.

Why did you set the second part of your Trilogy back in time to Vienna?

It has often been said that Vienna before the war was a golden era, for Jews and for Austrians. Especially during my research for “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” I came across many such statements and I wanted to clarify that myself, so I read a lot about it.

The other reason was that the themes in the first book are often seen as a consequence of the times during which Sebastian is set. I realised how much I still had to learn about the times and delved into research. Since I had mentioned the consequences of the Habsburg Monarchy and the end of World War I already in “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” I did not need to repeat myself and go into the political aftermath but could stay focused on how society and life in general was changing in Vienna, which enabled me to make Sebastian the second instalment.
Knowing what would become of Austria a mere 20 years later made me feel for my characters, who at that stage did not know anything about their future or the future of their newly formed country.

Now we are at the concept of Nations, the title of your trilogy. Can you tell us about the idea behind that trilogy?

In “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” I am doing a close up of one particularly affected country, Czechoslovakia and splitting from it, Slovakia. Even in that small new nation there are various ethnic groups, hinting at the difficulty to choose and defining a valid border with the many historic changes that have affected Central Europe over the decades and centuries even. The National Idea, taken to the extreme by Hitler, can destroy everything and everyone to the point that we see how ridiculous and meaningless such concepts can become in the face of human suffering.
In Sebastian I am going back a step to a time when forcefully Nations were glued together with politics and force, despite their natural force to drift apart. The fall of Habsburg to me is a symbol for the infeasibility of forcing nations against their will and that the movement was born from a legitimate human desire for self-rule.
In both books the political changes affect the people and in both books the characters overcome the barriers in their own ways and form their own leagues and bonds.

Why is this so fascinating to you?

I don’t think I am Nationalist of any kind but I am probably a little sensitised to the issue.
I was raised in Bavaria but thanks to my father I had a different accent than the local Bavarian. I was singled out for it and queried about my origins almost on a daily basis because I did not fit in linguistically. Refugees from the Sudetenland were occasionally called foreigners and I learned soon what it felt like to be different even when you did not receive discriminatory behaviour.
I was ready to leave for Hamburg, the North where they spoke ‘proper’ German, but to them I was clearly from the South and I wasn’t quite home there either.Now I live in the UK as a German, half my life spent as a different type of alien.
I have always been confronted with stereotypes and the concept of being different, based on place of birth and language and have examined why neither place or Nation has managed to make me feel part of it.

Here are some quotes from the six 5 STAR Reviews so far:

a marvellous and well-crafted story about the trials and tribulations of one family, about loyalty, about human failings, and the inner strength it takes to get through difficult times.

won’t be easily or readily forgotten

pulls the reader in, pulls at our heart strings, and keeps us glued to the page

Would I read it again – Yes
Plot – Well organised and developed, keeps you interested
Characters – Funny, intriguing, excellently developed
Movie Potential – Yes
Ease of reading – Very easy to read and enjoy

Links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-2/dp/1484156005/

Kindle edition http://www.amazon.com/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CLL1UY6

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebastian-2-Three-Nations-Trilogy/dp/1484156005/

Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CLL1UY6

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17834808-sebastian

SEBASTIAN is a FIVE STAR STORY links added

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:05:00 -0400

http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/sebastian-by-christoph-fischer-out-now/

Sebastian is the story of a young man who, due to an unfortunate accident, has his leg amputated shortly before World War I. When his father is drafted to the war it falls to him to run the family grocery store in Vienna, to grow into his responsibilities, bear loss and uncertainty, and hopefully find love. Sebastian Schreiber, his extended family, their friends and the store employees experience the ‘golden days’ of pre-war Vienna, the time of war and the end of the Monarchy, while trying to make a living and to preserve what they hold dear. Fischer brilliantly describes life in Vienna during the war years; how it affected the people in an otherwise safe and prosperous location, the beginning of the end for the monarchic system , the arrival of modern thoughts and trends, the Viennese class system and the end of an era. As in the first book of the trilogy, “The Luck of The Weissensteiners” we are confronted again with themes of identity, nationality and borders. The step back in time from Book 1 and the change of location from Slovakia to Austria enables the reader to see the parallels and the differences deliberately out of sequential order, so as not to see one as the consequence of the other, but to experience them as the reality it must have felt like for people at the time.

About the Author

Christoph Fischer was brought up near the Austrian border in Bavaria and has since lived in Hamburg, London, Brighton and Bath. He always loved books and one of his first jobs was in a library. ‘Sebastian’ is his second book and is part of the ‘Three Nations Trilogy’. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ was published in November 2012 and has a thematic connection but no direct link to the plot of Sebastian. Since becoming an author Christoph has begun to support other authors and has joined several internet author groups. The best of his reviews can be found on: http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com For further information you can follow him on: www.christophfischerbooks.com www.facebook.com/WriterChristophFischer @CFFBooks

* Sentimental Journey May 1, 2013

By Maria Catalina Egan

Sebastian takes the reader through a wide variety of characters that grow, learn and evolve as the story unfolds. The historical background is masterfully woven to set the reader in the time frame.
The story has very entertaining metaphysical aspects, historical flow and a wide range of the universal feeling of love.
Mr. Fischer secures a place with this second book as a great story teller who knows how to tug at our heartstrings while taking us in a journey before during and after WWI.
On a personal note I absolutely loved the way he tied everything up in the uplifting ending.

http://www.amazon.com/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-Volume/dp/1484156005/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-2/dp/1484156005/

Kindle edition http://www.amazon.com/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CLL1UY6

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebastian-2-Three-Nations-Trilogy/dp/1484156005/

Kindle edition: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sebastian-Three-Nations-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00CLL1UY6

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17834808-sebastian

Henry Sienkiewicz ****** UNTANGLED

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:25:39 -0400

Untangled: Contemplation And Entanglement

by Henry J. Sienkiewicz

Henry J. Sienkiewicz has served in multiple positions within the United States Federal Senior Executive Service since 2008. His previous commercial experience was as the founder and chief executive officer for Open Travel Software, an award-winning software developer focused on the global travel community, and in the chief information officer role at three technology companies. He or his companies have been the recipient of multiple awards for innovations or achievement in the technology industry. He retired as a United States Army Reserve lieutenant colonel in July 2008.
Henry holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Notre Dame and a master of science from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.
In 2006, he completed and published his first book, Centerlined, which dealt with interpersonal and organizational dynamics.
Henry resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
Website| Book Site | Facebook | Twitter

Genre: Practical Philosophy/Self-help

Publisher: DogEar Publishing

Release Date: April 2013

In a social media-centric, Twitter-driven world we live, the complexity created by the entanglements has caused an overload Called a Walden for the Internet Age, Untangled draws from the rich traditions of both Eastern and Western philosophy to tease apart the hyper-connected web of the modern world and challenges the reader to recognize and embrace contemplation as a way cope.

Through a highly approachable framework and the imagery of a journey through the heartland of Taiwan, Untangled provides the reader with the background of entanglement and contemplation, and identifies and discusses the three pillars of contemplation - silence, stillness and solitude. The book closes with a series of actions that allow anyone to untangled through active contemplation in daily life.

FOLLOW TOUR CLICK BELOW….

http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/3/post/2013/04/untangledcontemplation-and-entanglement-by-henry-sienkiewicz.html

April 30 - Introduction at VBT Cafe’ Blog
May 2 - Spotlight at Bikers With Books
May 6 - Untangle Me Week Intro at BK Walker Books Etc.
May 7 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.
May 8 - Interviewed at BK Walker Books Etc.
May 9 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.
May 10 - Weekly Wrap-up at BK Walker Books Etc.
May 17 - Author Fun Facts & Favorite Recipe at Writing Innovations Ezine
May 21 - Guest Blogging at Bookalicious Traveladdict
May 23 - Interviewed at Mass Musings
May 25 - Guest Blogging at Bikers With Books
May 27 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words Book Blogger
May 29 - Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
May 31 - Guest Blogging at Hardcover Feedback
June 3 - Author 2 Author Marketing at Marketing Cafe’
June 5 - Reviewed at Brooke Blogs
June 7 - Spotlight at Uttley’s Take
June 10 -
June 12 - Reviewed at A Book Lover’s Library
June 14 - Guest Blogging at 4Covert2Overt In The Spotlight
June 17 - Reviewed at BK Walker Books

livelymorgue: Feb. 14, 1940: Workers at La Guardia Airport...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:10:09 -0400

livelymorgue:

Feb. 14, 1940: Workers at La Guardia Airport fought the elements to hold down a plane as a large storm brought seven inches of snow and winds gusting at 60 miles per hour to New York, hammering the eastern part of the country. Bus services were suspended and a swath of the West Side Highway closed, but the city seemed to prevail in “what appeared to be a winning effort to keep essential services functioning.” Photo: The New York Times

"Z" ~ Zoo ~ Zebra ~ but it had to be ZEPPELIN *

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:09:00 -0400

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeppelin

Zeppelin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For other uses, see Zeppelin (disambiguation).

A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. Zeppelin’s ideas were first outlined in 1874^[1] and formulated in detail in 1893.^[2] They were patented in Germany in 1895 and in the United States on 14 March 1899.^[3] After the outstanding success of the Zeppelin design, the term zeppelin in casual use came to refer to all rigid airships. Zeppelins were first flown commercially in 1910 by Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG (DELAG), the world’s first airline in revenue service. By mid-1914, DELAG had carried over 34,000 passengers on over 1,500 flights. After the outbreak of World War I, the German military made extensive use of Zeppelins as bombers and scouts.

The World War I defeat of Germany in 1918 temporarily halted the airship business. But under the guidance of Hugo Eckener, the deceased Count’s successor, civilian Zeppelins became popular again. In 1919 DELAG established scheduled daily services between Berlin, Munich, and Friedrichshafen. Their heyday was during the 1930s when the airships LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin and LZ 129 Hindenburg operated regular transatlantic flights from Germany to North America and Brazil. The Art Deco spire of the Empire State Building was originally if impractically designed to serve as a mooring mast for Zeppelins and other airships to dock at.^[4] The Hindenburg disaster in 1937, along with political and economic issues, hastened the demise of the Zeppelin.

THANKS TO ALL WHO ORGANIZED THE A-Z CHALLENGE IT WAS A BLAST