Sir Kaye: Legend of the Forest Beast Coloring Download

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SIR KAYE THE BOY KNIGHT BOOK 3
LEGEND OF THE
FOREST BEAST
By Don M. Winn

Genre: Children’s / Chapter Book / Medieval
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Date of Publication: July 8, 2016
Number of Pages: 178

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The beloved tutor Alchir has vanished! And a dangerous criminal with a grudge against Alchir has just escaped from prison. Kaye is determined to find the tutor and earn a fine reputation as a knight. The search leads Kaye, Reggie, and Beau to a sinister manor house at the edge of a dark forest where nearby villagers live in terror of a deadly monster. As they investigate the mystery of the forest beast, they uncover a terrible plot that could destroy Knox. When there’s no one to turn to for help, can they save the kingdom-and their lives-by themselves?

PRAISE FOR LEGEND OF THE FOREST BEAST:

*Silver Award Winner: Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

“A cracking, fun-filled adventure. Highly recommended!”

—The Wishing Shelf Awards Book Review

“LEGEND OF THE FOREST BEAST captures colorful adventures, fun characters, and inspirational thoughts in a quick and easy read for children.” —IndieReader Review

“OMG! My kids and I just finished reading book 3 of the Sir Kaye series. We loved, loved, loved this book. It was full of twists and turns, excitement, near misses, and lots of humor. . . It’s a must read. The whole series is a must read. We are impatiently waiting for book 4!!” —Amazon Reviewer

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* or Signed Copies from Progressive Rising Phoenix Press *

Click the image below to color these wild pages! Have fun!

Don M. Winn is a multiple award-winning children’s author of ten picture books and three children’s novels. His Sir Kaye the Boy Knight® series of novels for independent readers include The Knighting of Sir Kaye, The Lost Castle Treasure, and Legend of the Forest Beast. Don’s picture books include The Higgledy-Piggledy Pigeon; Superhero; Twitch the Squirrel and the Forbidden Bridge; Shelby the Cat; Space Cop Zack, Protector of the Galaxy; and many others.

Don has been writing for over 20 years. After beginning with poetry, Winn moved on to writing children’s picture books. Almost immediately, his growing young readers begged for chapter books, which led to the creation of the Sir Kaye series. As a dyslexic himself, who well knows the challenge of learning to love to read, Winn’s goal is to write books that are so engaging they will entice even the most reluctant or struggling reader. Winn lives in Round Rock, Texas.

TWITTER WEBSITE

AUTHOR FACEBOOK

SIR KAYE FACEBOOK

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2nd PRIZE: Skype Visit + 3 Softcover Copies of Books 1-3

3rd PRIZE: Signed Softcover Copy of Book 3

*Winners of Skype visits can gift them to a school, public library, or homeschooling parent*

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

10/22 Review Hall Ways Blog

10/23 Guest Post 1 StoreyBook Reviews

10/24 Illustration Preview It’s a Jenn World

10/25 Review Margie’s Must Reads

10/26 Excerpt Country Girl Bookaholic

10/27 Review Reading By Moonlight

10/28 Author Interview Forgotten Winds

10/30 Review Kara The Redhead

31-Oct Guest Post 2 Chapter Break Book Blog

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Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales: Excerpt and Giveaway

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TWELVE TANTALIZINGLY TWISTED TALES

David C. Hughes

Genre: Children’s / Horror (ages 8-11)

Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press

Date of Publication: July 29, 2016

Number of Pages: 176

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Synopsis

Who can pass up a scary tale or a spooky ghost story, especially right before bed on a stormy night after eating a sloppy bean burrito? From possessed bunny slippers to a house guarding an ancient secret, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales features a dozen short stories sure to raise a few goosebumps, conjure a giggle . . . and make you think twice before disobeying your mom the next time she asks you to clean the shower stall.

PRAISE FOR TWELVE TANTALIZINGLY TWISTED TALES . . .

“This book is ‘Twilight Zone’ for kids.” –Don Winn, founder of Cardboard Box Adventures Publishing and author of the Sir Kaye book series

“Each story is a pleasure!” —Linda LaRue Austin, writer, historian, and author of Midnight Amethyst

“David Hughes is a modern-day weaver of tales much like the classic Grimm brothers. Each story awakens the imagination and questions what we commonly refer to as reality, while entertaining and delighting the senses.” –Jan Sikes, author of Flowers and Stone and other biographical fiction.

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Excerpt from “Masquerade,” from Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales, a spooky middle-grade reader by David C. Hughes, illustrated by Christina Evans.

“So what’s up, bro?” Sam dug into his coat pocket and pulled out another bar of soap as they trekked through the woods toward the bus garage. He offered it to Reginald, but his younger brother shook his head. Sam dropped the soap back into his pocket. He thought his brother would’ve been more excited about the prospect of soaping up the school busses, especially good ol’ number 111. Sam had loved riding that bus when he was in elementary school. He sighed. For some reason his brother had shrunk into a world of his own tonight, more than usual. “Cat got your tongue?”

“Naw,” Reginald said. “I think I got its tongue instead.”

Sam chuckled. Reginald’s magic skills were improving nicely. He only wished his confidence would catch up to his talents. “Yep, that was pretty funny what you did with that rubber mouse, bro,” he said. “I’ve never seen a cat jump so high before. Seriously, though,” Sam prodded. “You okay? I thought calling in that colony of bats and swooping them at the cars on Main Street would make your night. I mean, did you see the look on Mrs. Lance’s face when she drove by? That’ll teach her to keep her windows rolled down on cold nights like this. I think one of them grabbed the cigarette right out of her hand! That was awesome stuff.”

Reginald nodded but didn’t look up. “Yeah, it was great. I mean, really cool.”

Sam frowned. Reginald was definitely not himself tonight. “Okay, spit it out,” he said. “Something happened at school today.”

Reginald sighed. “They got me again.”

Sam stopped. His heart fell. He put an arm around his brother. “Who? That bully? What’s his name . . . Roger Morris?”

“And Jerry Bartholomew. Pelted me with eggs this time. I washed up before you guys got home.”

“Why didn’t you tell Mom and Dad?”

Reginald shrugged.

“You need to tell them, bro. I mean, truly.”

“Why?” his little brother finally looked up at him. Moonlight glistened from the tears running down his face. “It won’t do any good.” He wiped his nose on his sleeve.

Sam put his hands on Reginald’s shoulders and squinted. “Why won’t it?”

“Because Mom and Dad need us to blend in,” Reginald moaned. “Remember?”

Sam grimaced. “That doesn’t mean we can’t defend ourselves.”

“I know,” said Reginald, “but I figure it’s easier this way.”

“Easier? To just take it? It doesn’t look like it’s easier to me. Cripes, Reggie. We’ve been ‘just taking it’ since we got here, and look where it’s gotten us. Jeez.”

Reginald gave his brother a half-hearted smile. “I’m happy.”

“Are you?”

“Sure . . . for the most part, I really am.”

Sam started toward the bus garage again. He felt for his brother. Yeah, he was odd, but in a good sort of way, always with his nose buried in a book, living in his own world, a world far away from their own. He played the part well. Maybe too well. He resolved to talk to his parents about his brother, but in the meantime Devil’s Night was still young, and they still had three bars of soap left. As they approached the bus garage, an idea popped into his head. “I got it!” he blurted.

“Got what?” Reginald asked.

“Mom and Dad are always telling us to blend in, right?”

“Sure.”

“The costume parade is tomorrow night, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So, instead of just watching it this time, let’s blend in. Like in the old days.”

“The old days?” In the moonlight Sam saw Reginald’s face bloom. “Oh . . . like in the old, old days.” He smiled. “Yeah. . . .” He looked at his brother. “Yeah! That’d be awesome.”

Sam laughed, and for the first time that night, Reginald joined him.

David C. Hughes defies the premise that engineers can’t write. With almost four decades of writing experience, he left his full-time corporate job in 2013 to launch his writing career. He has a passion for writing and for other writers, and loves to “talk shop” with anyone who will listen.

A former youth leader and deacon, David’s life is resolutely defined by his pursuit of God, and his desire is to convey God’s love, joy, grace, and healing through his testimony. His blog site, “David C. Hughes, Writer,” broadcasts his latest take on what it means to be a Christ-centered man, husband, father, son, brother, and friend in these exciting and challenging times. His God-ordained book, The Epiphany of Joy, and his picture book, Melted Clowns, both won the Texas Association of Authors 2015 Best Book Award. He is also the author of 10 Little Hiccups/10 pequeños hipos, a bilingual counting book.

In July 2016, Progressive Rising Phoenix Press released his latest book, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales, a collection of a dozen spooky stories aimed at 8 to 14 year olds.

Originally from the town of Maine, New York, David now lives in Granbury, Texas with the loves of his life: his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Hannah. At last count he also has two dogs, a handful of fish, six chickens, and countless geckos.

TWITTER AUTHOR WEBSITE
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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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10/12	Review	Margie’s Must Reads
10/13	Author Interview 1	Texas Book Lover
10/14	Review	Hall Ways Blog
10/15	Excerpt 1	Kara The Redhead
10/16	Promo	Momma On The Rocks
10/17	Review	My Book Fix Blog
10/18	Author Interview 2	Forgotten Winds
10/19	Promo	Books and Broomsticks
10/20	Review	Reading By Moonlight
10/21	Excerpt 2	The Page Unbound

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Gathering Courage Review

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GATHERING COURAGE

A Life-Changing Journey through Adoption,

Adversity, and a Reading Disability

T.A. McMullin

Genre: Inspirational Memoir

Publisher: Gathering Courage Media

Date of Publication: January 19, 2016

Number of Pages: 222

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Why do some people find success despite hardships and

others sink into a pit of despair?

Gathering Courage: A Life-Changing Journey through Adoption, Adversity, and a Reading Disability by T.A. “Terry” McMullin is the author’s incredible, award-winning
memoir meant to inspire hope and encouragement to those who are going through tough times.

Terry dusted off the hurt from abandonment, rejection by her adoptive parents, dyslexia, shock of placement in a foster home, and a life-altering accident. Her faith and tenacity along with the internal desire to overcome is thought provoking as Terry worked her way through Texas A&M University. Terry’s life transformed from a broken-hearted child who could barely make out words in elementary school to a distinguished educator and writer who encourages young people to work hard and achieve their greatest aspirations.

Any reader who loves a true story with a Christian focus should definitely read this book. Learn about the special love for rescued animals and how they played a part in healing hurts and encouraging success.

PRAISE FOR GATHERING COURAGE:

*North American Book Awards, 2015 Winner

“Gathering Courage is an American story filled with adversity, triumphs, heartbreaks, and great personal victory. . . I give this epic book five stars. I held my breath after every chapter and you will too! — Charmaine Carraway, writer for the HUFFINGTON POST

“Overall, this memoir is a testament to the endurance of the human spirit in the face of emotional and physical pain. The author consistently notes the need for love and encouragement when dealing with both people and animals as well as the necessity of prayer and thankfulness; it’s almost a rhythmic incantation in the text. Readers will feel as if they’re walking alongside McMullin as she tells her story and advises readers how they, too, can survive setbacks. — KIRKUS REVIEW

“Gathering Courage is a truly moving read that will touch many hearts and positively inspire them to touch the lives of others.” — Faridah Nassozi, READERS’ FAVORITE

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Gathering Courage is the recounted memories from the author Terry and how she struggled with adoption and a reading disability. Gathering Courage was difficult to read in the sense that I couldn’t believe a little girl had to endure so much. I’m a special education teacher and work with children that have varying disabilities, and it broke my heart to read about a girl struggling with a disability and what she had to bare and overcome. I think special education has since come a long way, but none the less, I couldn’t believe some of the things Terry recounted. Her struggles were so deep, so difficult to bare, that I couldn’t believe she had to endure all this alone. She went from being given up for adoption as an infant to being sent to live with another family because she had failing grades in 5th grade, to other horrific things that had happened to her. But through it all Terry had hope and kept her head up. Despite what anyone said or what others had done to her she found it within herself to forgive and love.

One thing I found most inspiring was her ability to teach herself how to read. She has dyslexia and problems with reading comprehension. Over time Terry found a way to overcome this challenge. She found a solution when no one else was there to help her. I’m always proud to see any child with special needs over come their obstacles…. but Terry did this all on her own, a fact that is beyond inspiring.

I think Terry’s recounting is definitely worth a read. The writing flowed nicely. The only complaint I had was that it often jumped around and wasn’t always written in a linear fasion. But even then I think Terry’s story is powerful and eye opening. If you are interested in reading Gathering Courage I encourage you to do so. It’s a very gripping read about personal struggles and a special kind of individual that still manages to keep her head high, endure, find hope, forgive, and still find beauty in the world.

I included a few quotes that really stuck out to me from Gathering Courage:

“Words spoken or unspoken have the power to bring their own degree of pain.”

“Yes, I am a simple person. A simple person, however, can be extraordinary if they have the drive to succeed and the courage to press through the mud of life.”

“Forgiving can be difficult, but the hardest part is to push through the pain of hurt and mistreatment.”

“Yes, forgiveness is an ongoing process, and many times has to be applied over and over. Forgiveness is the gift we give to ourselves.”

“Sometimes, all it takes is a listening ear and a friendly smile.”

Terry is an extraordinary woman and I’m so thankful and honored I had the privilege of reading her exceptional and inspiring story.

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Award winning Gathering Courage author, T. A. “Terry” McMullin, knows as well as anyone that hard times are a part of the journey of life.

Terry was born in an orphanage, then adopted, and made a foster child by her parents. Because Terry struggled with reading, comprehension, and spelling, she was placed in a foster home at the age of nine. As a child in the 1960s, hardly  anyone recognized the learning issues related to dyslexia. The struggle to learn continued through high school.

From her deep faith in the Lord, Terry developed an internal desire to excel, no matter the obstacle, no matter the situation. Pushing adversity and a reading disability aside, Terry enrolled in college. While attending college and working full-time, Terry taught herself how to read and study. With pure grit and determination, Terry succeeded and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas A&M University.

At crucial points in her life, Terry found people who showed her unconditional love and encouragement. Terry gained gratification, emotional, and spiritual support from working with horses and dogs. The encouragement from others made Terry’s life better so she vowed to be a champion for others who needed help.

Terry lives on a small ranch in Texas, a forever home, with her horses, donkeys, and rescued border collie dogs. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

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10/3	Review	It’s a Jenn World
10/4	Author Interview 1	Hall Ways Blog
10/5	Review	Country Girl Bookaholic
10/6	Excerpt 1	Margie’s Must Reads
10/7	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/8	Guest Post 1	My Book Fix Blog
10/9	Promo	Momma On The Rocks
10/10	Author Interview 2	StoreyBook Reviews
10/11	Review	Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
10/12	Excerpt 2	Byers Editing Reviews & Blog
10/13	Guest Post 2	Books and Broomsticks
10/14	Review	Reading By Moonlight
10/15	Author Interview 3	A Novel Reality
10/16	Promo	Syd Savvy
10/17	Review	The Page Unbound

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Short Stories by Texas Authors

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SHORT STORIES BY TEXAS AUTHORS

Volume 2

Short Stories by Texas Authors, Volume 2 is comprised of winning stories

submitted in an annual contest to highlight Texas Authors

while raising money for literacy programs.

Genre: Short Stories

Publisher: Texas Authors, Inc.

Date of Publication: October 3, 2016

# of pages: 110

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Texas Authors have once again allowed their creative minds to open up and expand the Universe in which they live with short stories that captures one’s emotions through the everlasting aspect of storytelling.

In this, the second volume of award winning short stories, readers are taken on a personal ride of growth and understanding then through history both factual and fictional as they explore each side of two wars. Then fear grabs hold of readers and shakes them with terror before unleashing giggles and out-right laughs.

These are just a few of the emotions readers will experience as they read these 17 short stories from all parts of Texas.

Chosen as a Library Journal SELF-e publication

$2.00 from the sale of every book goes to DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Texas literacy program, which gets books into schools, libraries, and those in need. Last year, we donated $5,000 worth of books by Texas Authors, Inc., and we are currently on track to donate $10,000 for 2016.

$2.00 from every sale is donated to

DEAR Texas literacy Programs

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AMAZON TEXAS AUTHORS

click the authors’ names for their bios and books!

Story Titles & Winners:

Non-Fiction/Inspirational

1st Place – The Bluest Eyes in Texas by ElizabethGarcia

2nd Place – Tough Love by Jackie Smith

Fiction/Horror

1st Place – John Sleeps by David Hughes

2nd Place – Cheeseburgers by Teresa Trent

Fiction/Humor

1st Place – Cactus Anne by Lorri Allen

2nd Place – Getting Even by Jackie Smith

Fiction/Biography

1st Place – Bluebonnets for Naomi by Teri Metcalf

Non-Fiction Biography

1st Place – A Diamond in the Rough by Roger SFriedman

2nd Place – Hodge Podge by Teri Metcalf

Fiction/Political

1st Place – Funny How Things Turn Out by Robert DeLuca

Fiction/YA

1st Place – Homecoming Queen by ElizabethGarcia

Fiction/Suspense

1st Place – A Private War by Mary BryanStafford

Fiction/Science

1st Place – Todd by Fern Brady

Fiction/Historical

1st Place – Mountain Laurel by Jan Sikes

2nd Place Tie – Dawn of the Angry Guns by Pat Hadock

2nd Place Tie – Gone by Curt Locklear

Non-Fiction/Historical

1st Place – The Last Day by William Harper

Connect!

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DEAR TEXAS TWITTER

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1 GRAND PRIZE: $25 Gift Card to Texas Authors Book Store

5 RUNNERS-UP: Copies of Short Stories by Texas Authors!

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10/10 Hall Ways Blog

10/11 Syd Savvy

10/12 Chapter Break Book Blog

10/14 Country Girl Bookaholic

10/15 The Crazy Booksellers

10/16 Kara The Redhead

10/17 Reading By Moonlight

10/18 Texas Book Lover

10/19 StoreyBook Reviews

10/20 It’s a Jenn World

10/21 Forgotten Winds

10/22 Momma On The Rocks

10/23 Books and Broomsticks

10/24 A Novel Reality

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Hurt Promo

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HURT

The Inspiring, Untold Story of Trauma Care
by
Catherine Musemeche, M.D.

Genre: Medicine / Medical History

Date of Publication: September 6, 2016

Publisher: ForeEdge

# of pages: 268

The heroic story of the invention of trauma care, from battlefield triage to level 1 trauma centers Trauma is a disease of epidemic proportions that preys on the young, killing more Americans up to age thirty-seven than all other afflictions combined. Every year an estimated 2.8 million people are hospitalized for injuries and more than 180,000 people die.

We take for granted that no matter how or where we are injured, someone will call 911 and trained first responders will show up to insert IVs, stop the bleeding, and swiftly deliver us to a hospital staffed by doctors and nurses with the expertise necessary to save our lives. None of this happened on its own.

Told through the eyes of a surgeon who has flown on rescue helicopters, resuscitated patients in trauma centers in Houston and Chicago, and operated on hundreds of trauma victims of all ages, Hurt takes us on a tour of the advancements in injury treatment from the battlefields of the Civil War to the state-of-the-art trauma centers of today.

PRAISE FOR HURT: THE INSPIRING, UNTOLD STORY OF TRAUMA CARE

“Musemeche’s fast-paced medical history mixes the gritty reality of treating life-threatening injuries—including her own heart-pounding experiences as surgeon—with an unfettered optimism about what trauma care can now promise: an assurance that most people will survive even a devastating injury.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Hurt is a fascinating journey through the history of trauma care in this country. Musemeche’s unique ability to weave moving, personal stories with intriguing facts takes this book well beyond a great read. It is an education in the human spirit.” —Paul Ruggieri, MD, author of Confessions of a Surgeon and The Cost of Cutting

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“Expanding the Golden Hour”
Guest Post
by Catherine Musemeche, M.D.

R. Adams Cowley of Maryland Shock Trauma was the first to describe “the golden hour,” the critical hour after injury during which action must be taken to save a patient’s life. Treatment of injury is time-sensitive. Patients must be treated in that first hour after injury, before they bleed out and before the body’s predetermined biological processes set the scene for shock to take hold.

But getting a patient to a hospital within that first hour is not always possible and when it’s not we need to think of ways to expand the golden hour, to give our patients their best chances of survival in the field. Nowhere has this been better demonstrated than on the battlefield, particularly in the last decade of war.

One of the best ways to expand the golden hour and buy time for a patient in the field is to stop the bleeding. Military doctors found that most combat casualties die within ten minutes of being wounded and usually from exsanguination. Tourniquets had fallen out of favor during World War II and Vietnam over concerns about choking off the blood supply to a damaged limb but they have made a comeback because of concerns over fatal hemorrhage.

The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) is a simple tourniquet that can be applied by a wounded soldier using only one hand. Applying a tourniquet before a patient goes into shock can improve survival by 90 percent. Tourniquets have been so effective in combat that the CAT is becoming part of standard civilian EMS procedure again and even some police are carrying them.

Other ways to expand the golden hour include using hemostatic bandages like QuikClot Combat Gauze, bandages impregnated with kaolin, an agent that accelerates the body’s own clotting mechanisms. There is even a way to stem suspected internal bleeding. The XStat, the “medical version of Fix-a-Flat,” is a syringe filled with small spongelike discs impregnated with a clotting agent. The syringe can be deployed into an open wound like a bullet hole in the abdomen to help tamponade internal bleeding.

These hemorrhage control measures will only buy so much time for the injured. When effective, however, they might just delay the onset of shock and expand the golden hour sufficiently to save the patient.

More on bleeding and R Adams Cowley in Chapters 6 & 7 of HURT: the inspiring, untold story of trauma care.

about the author

Dr. Catherine Musemeche is a pediatric surgeon, attorney and author who lives in Austin, Texas. She was born and raised in Orange, Texas and attended Lutcher Stark High School. She is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston, The Anderson School of Management in Albuquerque, New Mexico and The University of Texas School of Law in Austin, Texas. Dr. Musemeche is a former surgery professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, the MD Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute and the University of New Mexico where she was the Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Trauma. She currently works in the field of regulatory medicine.

In addition to publishing extensively in the medical literature, Dr. Musemeche has been a guest contributor to the New York Times. Her writing has also been published on NPR.org, KevinMD.com, in the anthology At the End of Life: True Stories About How We Die and in the Journal of Creative Nonfiction. Her first book, Small: Life and Death on the Front Lines of Pediatric Surgery was nominated for the Pen American/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Award and was awarded the Writer’s League of Texas Discovery Prize for nonfiction. Her second book, Hurt: The Inspiring, Untold Story of Trauma Care will be published in September of this year.

author links

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WEBSITE

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/29	Guest Post #1	Missus Gonzo
9/30	Excerpt #1	It’s a Jenn World

10/1	Review	StoreyBook Reviews
10/2	Promo	Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
10/3	Author Interview #1	All for the Love of the Word
10/4	Review	My Book Fix Blog
10/5	Guest Post #2	Byers Editing Reviews & Blog
10/6	Excerpt #2	Syd Savvy
10/7	Review	Reading By Moonlight
10/8	Author Interview #2	Kara The Redhead
10/9	Promo	A Novel Reality
10/10	Review	Country Girl Bookaholic
10/11	Guest Post #3	The Page Unbound
10/12	Review	Hall Ways Blog

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I Just Came Here To Dance Review

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I JUST CAME HERE TO DANCE

By Susan Mary Malone

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: White Bird Publications

Date of Publication: September 15, 2016

Number of Pages: 340

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Paula Anne Fairbanks understands all about the unexamined life. And she likes hers that way—until her world gets ripped smooth apart.

Running from reality, Paula falls under the mythological yarns being spun on Diana Maclean’s porch. Surely Paula’s own choices aren’t to blame for the summer of insanity she spends under the spells of Diana…who is, after all, known as the White Witch of Sociable, Texas.

I JUST CAME HERE TO DANCE, a modern allegory, waltzes atop the line between the creative and the crazy, the sacred and the maligned. Through myths it weaves together the multi-layers of personal Self with that of the collective whole. And finally, Paula Anne and the townsfolk learn the simplest of truths: that the fire’s ashes produce wisdom and courage, just as the stories say.

PRAISE FOR I JUST CAME HERE TO DANCE:

“Malone’s voice is one of the most charming I’ve read. It brings the story and her characters to life. I feel like I grew up with Paula right over the hill from the lively little town of Sociable, Texas.” –New York Times bestselling author M. Leighton

“Susan Mary Malone pens well-crafted characters that are so vivid you can picture them in an award winning movie or television series.” –New York Times bestselling author Mary Honey B Morrison

“. . . a magical story about love ripped apart, a life examined, and then healed. To be read slowly, to savor as one would a tall cool glass of lemonade, on a hot afternoon, watching the world become new.” –Ginnie Siena Bivona, author of Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party, made into a Hallmark TV film, Bound by a Secret

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Malone has a very charismatic way of writing. I would consider it easy reading, with great flow and dialogue throughout the scenes. To be honest, I put the book down a few times in frustration and would revisit it later. It was easy to read it in sections and not be lost at all. The characters really leave an impression. I thought it interesting that characters in the book tell stories so you get this added story in a story ‘inception’.

What struck me most for this book was the pure Texan vibe I got from it. It really exuded Texas in such a way that I knew this place. I’ve seen those scenes described, experienced those people, heard that drawl. I felt like it perfectly captured what a Texan native grew up with and was literally nodding my head at points for things I strongly remember.

Of course, It also had those frustrating parts of this state as well. There’s a certain line of traditions and closed-mindedness. It was really frustrating to read through Paula’s actions, especially after the ‘not-so-shocking’ discovery of her husband. It felt very melancholy in the first half while she is trying to live her life day to day in an unhappy marriage and livelihood. It’s her love for her son that is her main motivation but it’s clear in the beginning that she’s beginning to spiral and make bad decisions. As well as choose to ignore events happening around her. Still, every book that encourages you to look deeper into society and makes you feel deep emotions is considered good in my opinion.

Paula learns to pick herself up, to speak her mind, and to break from what is expected. This book is about the grittier side of relationships and the end of them. The reality of heartbreak and expectation to tough things out when all you want to do is run away. Drama with a side of pure-Texan humor.

Texas native Susan Mary Malone has published two novels, co-authored four nonfiction books, and written many short stories. Her happiness is fiction, wine, and Labrador Retrievers, the latter of which she raises, trains, and shows. Literature is her love. In addition to writing, she edits; fifty-plus Malone-edited books have sold to traditional publishers, and one of them was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame film (while another is in production, set to be released in 2015). Her stories revolve around the passions and purpose, the myths and meaning of women’s lives. Which often involves wine. She does, however, try to keep the Labradors out of that.

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Whisper Hollow: Interview and Giveaway

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WHISPER HOLLOW
by
Chris Cander

Genre: Literary Fiction / Friendship
Publisher: Other Press
Date of Publication: March 17, 2016
Number of Pages: 400

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Synopsis

Set in a small coal-mining town, Whisper Hollow is full of secrets, love, and betrayal, where Catholicism casts a long shadow and three courageous women make choices that will challenge our own moral convictions.

One morning in Verra, a town nestled into the hillsides of West Virginia, the young Myrthen Bergmann is playing tug-of-war with her twin, when her sister is killed. Unable to accept her own guilt, Myrthen excludes herself from all forms of friendship and affection and begins a twisted, haunted life dedicated to God. Meanwhile, her neighbor Alta Krol longs to be an artist even as her days are taken up caring for her widowed father and siblings. Everything changes when Myrthen marries the man Alta loves. Fourteen years later, we meet Lidia, a teenage girl in the same town, and her precocious son, Gabriel. When Gabriel starts telling eerily prescient stories that hint at Verra’s long-buried secrets, it’s not long before the townspeople begin to suspect that the boy harbors evil spirits—an irresistible state of affairs for Myrthen and her obsession with salvation. Rendered in exquisite prose, Whisper Hollow is an extended reflection on guilt, redemption and the affirmation of life in this early 20th century Appalachian community.

PRAISE FOR WHISPER HOLLOW . . .

~Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW)

“Cander divinely delves into multiple points of view, crafting a collage of vibrant, layered characters while charting six decades of poignant, precise moments. A distinctive novel that sublimely measures the distressed though determined heartbeat of a small mountain community.”

~Shelf Awareness (STARRED REVIEW)

 “Cander weaves together the stories of these varied characters across nearly five decades with skill and grace, and in her hands, Whisper Hollow grows into much more than the sum of its many parts. The result is a memorable novel about the bonds of town and family, the strength of friendships in unlikely places and the power of secrets to shape a life–or many lives–often without anyone even recognizing it.”

~Booklist

“Cander superbly envisions the town, its residents’ dynamics, and the early twentieth-century immigrant experience…[and] rewards the reader with…well-developed, believable characters whose mental fortitude and capacity to love linger in the reader’s mind long after the last page.”

~Publishers Weekly

“[Whisper Hollow] is inextricably rooted in West Virginia coal country—the rough locale that determines and intertwines [Cander’s] characters’ fates…Cander closely tracks how Myrthen’s and Alta’s romantic decisions unknowingly complicate each other’s lives in the lead-up to a tragic incident that bisects the novel…[and] admirably captures the lack of choice that men and women have in rural West Virginia.”

~Library Journal

“Spare, elegant writing by the author of 11 Stories evokes a bleak atmosphere and creates a smooth, compelling narrative… much of the prose is so outstanding, this writer is clearly gifted. Give this literary, plot-driven novel to those who enjoy the West Virginia setting and who like a gentle handling of their tragedies.”

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AuthorInterview

How has being a Houstonian influenced your writing?

Houston is a relatively young city to be the fourth largest in this country, but it comes with a rich history. Against the backdrop of the Alamo, the Indian wars, and the cattle drives, early settlers along Buffalo Bayou in the 1830s were known for their profanity and prostitution, drunkenness and dueling. (We locals are still trying to tame one another.) The ship channel and railroads made Houston a successful cotton and lumber market, and the discovery of Texas Tea at Spindletop made the economy go boom in the 20th century. Since people tend to follow the money, Houston has always been a fascinating melting pot. If there’s a more vibrant place for a writer to observe a cross section of humanity—and to be influenced by those observations—I’d like to know where it is.

Which Texas writers do you read and which Texas writers have inspired you?

Of all the Texas writers I’ve read, I’ve probably been inspired most by Katherine Ann Porter’s stories, especially “Pale Horse, Pale Rider.” I also love Donald Barthelme for his disciplined, unique, word-cloud prose. Mary Karr, who grew up in my dad’s hometown, for her vivid, tragicomic memoirs. Larry McMurtry for Lonesome Dove. The poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye, who used to babysit my husband when he was a pre-teen in San Antonio in the late 1960s. I’m a fan of Justin Cronin’s early work, and recently picked up Friendswood by René Steinke, which I’m looking forward to reading.

How long have you been writing?

For almost forty years.

What do you think most characterizes your writing?

My fiction isn’t about what happens to people, but the way that those people respond to what happens. It’s very character-driven, and can be, I’ve been told, dark.

What’s the most important part for you when creating characters? And have you ever created one you really didn’t like writing about?

I like to explore the dark truths about the human condition. To create authentic and interesting characters, first I plumb the shameful, private, aching depths of my own soul, then I start in on the people I know or have read about or simply imagine. The best literary figures are those who appear unique on the page, but who reveal something universal about humanity. I’ve created characters that are vehemently unlikeable, but I’ve never disliked writing about them.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?

Rewriting it. Three different publishers asked for total rewrites—and then didn’t accept the manuscript for publication. My agent finally said, “We’re not doing this again. You write the book you want to write, and we’ll go with that.” I put the book back into its original structure and added everything I learned about the characters in those three subsequent drafts. It was so much work. So many cut pages! So many lost words! I realized, though, that those losses weren’t waste. They were practice. After I returned the book to her, my agent sold it within two weeks.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?

Myself.

What’s your funniest flaw?

I’m hyper-organized. I like things at 90-degree angles and if something’s the tiniest bit out of alignment, I can spot it instantly. Is that funny? Probably not. But certain people would definitely consider it a flaw.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

Writer, fighter, mother, lover.

about the author

author-pic-cander2

Chris Cander is a novelist, children’s book author, screenplay writer, and writer-in-residence for Houston-based Writers in the Schools. Her novel Whisper Hollow was selected as an Indie Next pick and nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize in fiction and her award-winning novel 11 Stories was included in Kirkus’s best indie general fiction of 2013. Her children’s book The Word Burglar received the silver 2014 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for Reading Skills & Literacy. Her animated feature film Germs! is currently in pre-production with Cinsesite in partnership with Comic Animations. Chris well knows that the pen is mightier than the sword, but she’s willing to wield one of those, too. A former fitness competitor and model, she currently holds a 3rd dan in taekwondo and is a certified ICSU Women’s Defensive Tactics Instructor. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Author’s Guild, the Writers’ League of Texas, PEN, and MENSA.

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Oh, how the years fly by! Review

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Oh, how the years fly by!

A whimsical coloring journey. . .

&

A whimsical inspirational journey . . .
By Annette Bridges

Genre: Inspirational Adult Coloring & Quote Books

Date of Publication: August 1, 2016

Publisher: Ranch House Press

# of pages: 72

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Oh, how the years fly by! A whimsical coloring journey is an adult coloring book that features thirty vibrant original illustrations and quotes that will take you on an enchanting voyage of reflection. Be reminded of the simple pleasures that make you feel happy. Find the encouragement you need to nourish your soul and refresh your spirit. Get out your colored pencils or crayons and discover the stress relieving, calming pleasure of coloring.

Oh, how the years fly by! A whimsical inspirational journey is a smaller hardcover full-color rendition of the coloring book featuring the same illustrations and quotes.

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I love coloring and couldn’t sign up quick enough. I was really surprised by all the package included. Bridges included a bookmark and bag that I love and coloring pencils as well! I immediately set up the challenge of how many I could use on just one page. The miniature inspirational book was great. I really loved all the quotes included and spent some time choosing between all of my favorites to color.

There is so much potential for each page and I liked being able to look at the colored illustration in the miniature book and then go creative on the blank page. I love how unique each picture was. There is a lot of love put into each one and it was really fun to flip through and remember my own similar memories. I chose the Zoo because I loved it as a kid and immediately wanted to go wild, using as many colors as possible. One side effect though was my hand was sore the next day at work, whoops!

Both of these books are great for all ages. You are never too young or old to color. The quotes are a perfect reminder to live each day well and relax while being creative. You’ll absolutely love this!

Annette Bridges is an author, publisher and women’s retreat host on a mission to help every woman realize her story is extraordinary, valuable and noteworthy.

Before writing books, this former public school and home school educator spent a decade writing hundreds of helpful, instructive, and lighthearted columns published by Texas newspapers, parenting magazines, websites, and bloggers.

Annette lives on a Texas cattle ranch with her husband John, dachshund Lady, and lots of cows. She can drive a tractor but only if wearing a fresh coat of lipstick and it’s not her pedicure day!

Annette loves to journal in color and create word art. She especially enjoys coloring with glitter markers. She looks forward to spending hours with her daughter coloring this book and giggling together as they remember their many happy adventures.

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9/16 – Video Guest Post – Texas Book Lover
9/17 – Promo – Momma On The Rocks
9/19 – Author Interview 1 – Margie’s Must Reads
9/20 – Excerpt – It’s a Jenn World
9/21 – Review – StoreyBook Reviews
9/22 – Free Download – Forgotten Winds
9/23 – Author Interview 2 – A Novel Reality
9/24 – Review – Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
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A Wife of Noble Character: Excerpt and Giveaway

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A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER
by
Yvonne Georgina Puig
Genre: Women’s Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
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Date of Publication: August 2, 2016
Number of Pages: 320

Synopsis

Thirty-year-old Vivienne Cally is wealthy in name only. Orphaned as a child and raised by a cold but regal aunt, Vivienne was taught to rely on her beauty and Texas tradition, and is expected to marry a wealthy and respectable man who will honor the Cally name. Friends with Houston’s richest and most prominent families, she’s a beloved fixture at the social events big and small, and suffers no shortage of access to some of the city’s most eligible bachelors. Preston Duffin has known Vivienne and her set since childhood. He’s never shared their social aspirations or their status but is liked and respected for his sharp wit and intelligence. About to graduate from a prestigious architecture program, he is both fascinated and repelled by this group of friends he sits on the cusp of. He’s long admired Vivienne’s beauty and grace, but isn’t sure he holds any place in such a traditional life. Intrigued by Preston’s ambitions and the extent to which he challenges the only way of life she’s ever known, Vivienne both courts Preston’s attention, and rebuffs his critiques of her predictable and antiquated priorities and values.

Inspired by Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth, Yvonne Georgina Puig’s A Wife of Noble Character shares the original novel’s astute social commentary at the same time that it illuminates the trappings and rewards of coming of age that are wholly unique to the twenty-first century. Charming and shrewd at once, this Texas love story takes readers from Houston to Paris and Switzerland and back again, and will speak to both fans of Wharton and anyone who has every struggled to find their way in life.

Praise for A Wife of Noble Character

“A fun take on Edith Wharton’s classic.”—Marie Claire

“A Wife of Noble Character is equal parts wry social commentary and heart-fluttering romance — an insightful journey for both the head and the heart.” —Refinery29

“This sharply drawn novel about Houston’s oil-money elite strikes a beautiful balance—rollicking at times while deeply felt at others.”—Elle.com

“A compelling and complicated love story…The characters hearken back to Wharton’s while still not feeling like archetypes, and the interior narration matches the introspective style of Wharton’s writing.”—Book Riot

“A Wife of Noble Character possesses something that is intrinsically Houstonian: a sense of humor. . . Apparently, no matter how far you move, Houston sticks with you; Puig has the local milieu down cold.”—Texas Monthly

“In this vivid, socially acute novel of manners set in oil-money Houston society, Yvonne Puig charms us with prose and braces us with insight—a masterful, sharp-eyed and eloquent debut.” —Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander and Paint it Black

“A fresh, funny look at what it means to be an adult in the 21st century and a juicy Texan comedy of manners, at its heart, A Wife of Noble Character is a good old fashioned love story.” —Sarah Bird, author of Above the East China Sea

“A Wife of Noble Character is a wildly unique creation: A social novel that is simultaneously classic and utterly modern. I found it sharply insightful, lyrically written, and often laugh-out-loud funny; and could barely put it down until the last page. Puig is a talented satirist and a breathtakingly astute observer of character.”—Janelle Brown, author of All We Ever Wanted Was Everything

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Chapter 1
A Wife of Noble Character
By Yvonne Georgina Puig

Preston noticed her immediately. He always did.

It was a Friday in May, a warm, windy day. Campus was busy. He was going home after a night spent at the studio preparing for his final reviews, but what was Vivienne doing here? She stood in the middle of the path, wearing a long white sundress, as dozens of students rushed past her. The wind played with her skirt, lifted her long, straight hair. She kept glancing around. There was nothing new about her—Preston had known her for years—yet he could not see her without feeling keenly curious.

He decided to approach. If she didn’t want to talk, he knew, she would pretend not to see him. If she did, she would be his best friend. He wanted to see which it would be.

“Preston Duffin!”

She smiled and gave him a fragrant half embrace, stirring his senses agreeably after twenty-four hours spent in a room rank with the body odor of future architects. He hoped she couldn’t smell him; her height met his shoulders exactly. A few underclassmen brushed by and took a second look, probably wondering who she was and why he got to touch her.

She stepped back and tucked her pale hair behind her ears. She was carrying a substantial and obviously, even to Preston, expensive white leather purse over her shoulder. It was covered in polished hardware and buckles that seemed not to buckle anything, and she slipped her small hand beneath the strap to relieve the weight of it from her shoulder. He’d seen her only a few weeks ago, but he’d never seen her so radiant, so bright and unblemished. Maybe it was the humidity filling in the grooves of so many late nights spent drinking light beer in West Houston mansions, Preston imagined, calling up his usual distillation of her character. He knew they were the same age, but she didn’t look thirty. In the broad collegiate thoroughfare full of earth-toned students and not-getting-any-younger professors, she was a fine beam of light.

“I’m so glad to see you. Thank you for coming to help me.” She stood before him at full expectant female attention, her eyes green as spring moss. “You look like you slept with your head on a desk.”

He thanked her for the observation—he’d actually been awake most of the night with his head on a desk—and said that he was always happy to appear the moment she needed help.

“I’m looking for the Rothko Chapel. I thought it was on the Rice campus.” She interrupted herself to explain that she’d just had breakfast with their mutual friend Bladimir. “I know it’s near Blad’s, but I can’t find it and my phone is dead.”

“You’re in the area,” Preston said. “But the Rothko Chapel isn’t on campus; it’s a couple miles from here.” After some questioning, he figured out where she’d parked and gave her directions.

To his surprise, she suggested they go there together. “Are you busy?”

Click here to read the full chapter!

about the author

author-pic-puig

Yvonne Georgina Puig’s fiction and essays have appeared in Salon, Variety, Los Angeles Magazine, and The Texas Observer, among others. She holds a Masters in Professional Writing from USC. She lives in Santa Monica with her husband.

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9/18	Review	Reading By Moonlight
9/19	Guest Post 2	The Crazy Booksellers
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Riverside Excerpt and Giveaway

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RIVERSIDE
by
Brett Burlison

Genre: Thriller / Suspense / Action Romance
Publisher: Barton Creek Press
Date of Publication: January 4, 2016
Number of Pages: 348

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Synopsis

It’s summer 1993 in Austin. Two young lovers decide to move in together and open a cafe only to be hindered by their own pasts, drugs, and bad guys from New Orleans. Set in Austin, Texas in the early nineties.

Bobby Patrick, abandoned by his mother as a child and by his alcoholic father during high school, wants a better life for himself and his true love, Katie. The couple decides to open a café and chase their dreams under the radiant Austin sunsets. There, the long, hot days of summer in inspire their passion–but complications arise when Katie’s former love interest returns, bringing with him a whirlwind of trouble.

As Katie’s dark past reveals itself, Bobby fears it could threaten all they have been striving for. Along with Katie’s best friend, Sara, with whom Bobby has his own secret history, the couple becomes tangled up in a drug deal and falls under close watch by Austin police and New Orleans mobsters.

Bobby must find a way to protect Katie, help Sara, and help himself to thousands of dollars from the ill-fated deal. If he can’t, his future with Katie could be shattered forever.

Part romance and part suspense story, Riverside is a tell-your-friends-about-it, good old-fashioned crime novel about a young couple struggling for the American dream, and the lengths to which they will go to protect it.

“A steamy tale and beguiling thriller, with plenty of local color and some provocative twists.” – Kirkus Reviews

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Excerpt

Excerpt Chapter 1, Part 1
From Riverside

One
KATHERINE ANN SMITH

Katherine Ann Smith loved me; I never doubted it. And I loved her. She was it for me. The first time we were together, I was home. Katie was funny—a smart-ass. She also had an adventurous side. Well, she wasn’t scared of me anyway. Back then, that actually meant something.

Back then, I hardly ever wore a shirt and not at all in the summer.

It was summer. Full-on. Heat rose from the pavement. I loved Austin during this time of year. Austin was meant to be hot. Summer was when she was most in her own.

It would be light out past nine, but the night approaching felt good. I parked in the apartment complex lot. Thelma’s seats were ablaze, so I was happy to get out of the car. Two guys passed me walking toward the parking lot, and I nodded. The area was sloped downward, so I looked up the hill toward the buildings, and there was Katie.

She stood at the end of a path leading into the complex. Katie was cute—sandy-blond hair, bright-blue eyes, with a small frame and a genuine smile. She wore “a red T-shirt with a hole in one sleeve and a pair of blue-jean shorts that were frayed and rolled over at the waist because they were too big. A bikini string peeked out from the top of her shirt and wrapped around her neck. She was barefoot.

The two guys retrieved a blue-and-white cooler from their truck and carried it back toward the apartment. When they walked by Katie, she said, “Y’all put that one on the balcony.” She smiled at me. “Hey, you.”

“Hey, you, yourself.”

“I s’pose Thelma is functionin’?”

“Tip-top. Want to go for a ride?”

“Nope. But I’d bet you want a beer.”

“And you’d win.”

Katie put her arm around me and squeezed. “I usually do.”

“Not always.” I kissed her on the side of her head.

She ran her hand over the back of mine. “You cut your hair too short.”

“I wasn’t the one that did the cuttin’.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.”

We walked up the path and then up the first stairway on our right and into her apartment. The apartment was a three-bedroom unit with light-brown carpet and wood paneling painted white; a sliding-glass door opened to a large balcony. It looked like a thousand other apartments down Riverside in south Austin. The bedrooms were down a hall, two on the left and one on the right. Katie and Sara shared the first bedroom on the left and the bathroom straight across the hall.

Sara had been Katie’s best friend since childhood. Though the two had gone to different high schools in Houston—Katie at Lamar and Sara at Kinkaid—they had remained close. Sara was what the boys called “fucking beautiful.” She had dark hair and brown eyes and was tall and wicked smart. She’d scored high enough on the SAT to go to school anywhere in the country. But Sara went where Katie went. So when Katie got into UT, Sara decided to tag along.

Lake and Danny, whom Katie and only Katie called Daniel, occupied the two other bedrooms. The four had all worked at the same diner for a short time and were fast friends. The boys found other jobs; Danny moved furniture, and Lake tended bar at a coffee shop that served beer where he could play guitar in the evenings.

At first, I worried a little about a guy with such a cool name who played guitar living with my girlfriend. I played about four chords. I’m told that was as much as the Beatles knew, but it didn’t have the same effect for me. Once, when Lake impressed everyone by playing “I Feel Fine” pitch-perfect, I looked across the room to find Katie staring right at me. After that, I wasn’t worried.

Katie walked into the kitchen where a keg had already been tapped. She picked up the hose and handed it to me along with a clear plastic cup and pumped three or four times while I worked the nozzle.

“Where’d y’all get all this?” I asked.

“Daniel got it. He moved that bar into a bigger place, and I s’pose they’re generous.”

“Whether they know it or not.”

“Bobby, don’t be a smart-ass. It’s cold. It’s Shiner. I’m the one that’s handin’ it to ya. At this moment there is nothin’ for you to be but grateful and happy.”

“Okay, I am. Where is your Daniel, anyway?”

Katie leaned on one hip and pushed a strand of blond hair from her face while looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “He went to the store. You want to come with me?”

To continue reading Chapter 1, check in with My Book Fix Blog on the 9/19/16 post of the Lone Star Book Blog Tour!

about the author

author-pic-3-burlison

Brett Burlison is a writer, lawyer, and Texan living in Northern California. He grew up in the piney woods of East Texas and went to school in Austin.

He practices law in San Francisco, and writes romantic suspense stories about young couples up against difficult odds.

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9/17	Review	Kara The Redhead
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