The Big Inch Author Interview

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THE BIG INCH

By KIMBERLY FISH

  Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII

Date of Publication: January 19, 2017

Number of Pages: 344

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Kimberly Fish’s debut novel, The Big Inch, was released in February, 2017 and it reveals the lengths to which Texas oilmen, state, and federal governments would go to get Texas crude oil to the troops fighting their first mechanized war. With Nazi threats (and a steady stream of oil tankers sunk by German submarines) speed was necessary, as was OSS intelligence. The Office of Strategic Services was often staffed with female spies and Longview’s World War II efforts were critical for success. 

Lane Mercer, sent to Longview, Texas in July 1942, is part of a select group of women working undercover for the fledgling federal agency, the Office of Strategic Services. Assigned to protect the man carrying out President Roosevelt’s initiative to build the nation’s first overland pipeline to hurry East Texas crude to the troops, she discovers there’s more to Longview than the dossiers implied. There’s intrigue, mayhem, and danger. Shamed from a botched OSS mission in France, Lane struggles to fulfill her mission and keep from drowning in guilt. Getting involved in local life is out of the question. Between family, do-gooders, and Nazi threats, she’s knitted into a series of events that unravel all of her carefully constructed, plans, realizing that sometimes the life one has to save, is one’s own.

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PRAISE FOR THE BIG INCH:

“With an eye for detail, Kimberly Fish weaves a compelling story of a war widow who finds herself in Longview, Texas in 1942. Reading Kimberly’s novel was a bit like going back to a cloak and dagger time, and I enjoyed the local references. Longview was an amazing place to be during WWII.”   — Van Craddock, Longview News Journal, Columnist

“Kimberly Fish’s unique writing style snatched me out of my easy chair and plunked me down into the middle of her character’s life where I was loathe to leave when my real life called me back. Her descriptive visual writing drew me in on the first page. Can’t wait to read more stories by Mrs. Fish.” — Vickie Phelps  Author of Moved, Left No Address

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Author Interview with Kimberly Fish

What does your perfect writing spot look like? Is that what your ACTUAL writing spot looks like? I have an imperfect writing spot in an upstairs office in our home that I share with my husband (that’s not why it’s imperfect, really,) but its best qualities are proximity to the Internet router and my pantry—which I can raid without judgement. I also like to pack up my computer and drive to our cottage at Lake Cherokee and write there because it has no Internet router and an empty pantry—really better in the long run.

Do you have any strange writing habits or writing rituals you’d like to share with your readers? The process of writing is strange to anyone who doesn’t like to do it, because it involves a lot of staring into space. I have no special traditions beyond the usual obstacles to making myself sit down in a chair, put my fingers on a keyboard, ignore social media, the phone, laundry, possibly dinner, and write.

What book do you wish you could have written? Oh, without a doubt, the Mitford series, by Jan Karon. Or anything by Lauren Willig. Or Pam Jenoff. Or Mary Kay Andrews. Or . . ..

Is there any person you credit for being your inspiration for reading and/or writing? Jan Karon, she showed me that a writer could weave in a whole mixed bag of quirky people, tears, laughter, hope, faith, redemption, animals, art, and betrayal and still have an entertaining series that made sense and that readers would buy.

Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie version of your book? I do tape photographs of celebrities on my inspiration board to help me hear their voice and remember the character’s physical traits, but whether or not Matthew McConaughey or George Clooney would appear in my movie is up to their agents. Unless I stalked them, which, let’s be honest, wouldn’t really help my cause.

How important are names to you in your books? How do you choose names? I spent some time playing with names that I felt suited the people who’d be walking the path I set out for them. I enjoyed going back several generations to dust off names that are no longer in vogue.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it? I don’t read a lot of science fiction or things related to the occult, so I’d probably not write about that. Or vampires.

What do you like to read in your free time? I read books my friends have written, biographies, historical fiction, romance novels, cozy mysteries, travel blogs, newspapers of all persuasions, philosophy, magazines, and cookbooks.

If you were a superhero, what would your name be? What costume would you wear? I’d probably be the one to go obscure but with wings that I had to keep hidden under a coat. I like doing a good deed and then getting out of the way before it’s noticed.

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before? Australia

If you were an animal in a zoo, what would you be? Tell us why. Panda Bear, because seriously, who doesn’t think they’re adorable?

Do you have a mantra for writing and/or for life?  Be kind.

What do you want your tombstone to say? She loved her life.

 

Kimberly Fish started writing professionally with the birth of her second child and the purchase of a home computer. Having found this dubious outlet, she then entered and won a Texas manuscript contest which fed her on-going fascination with story crafting. She has since published in magazines, newspapers, and online formats, She lives with her family in East Texas.

Author Links

Pinterest | Twitter | Website | Instagram | Amazon Author Page

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One Winner wins a signed copy of The Big Inch

One Winner who purchases the book during the tour wins a bag of Johnny Cace’s Cheese Croutons

March 8 – 22, 2017

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

3/8 Review Hall Ways Blog
3/9 Author Interview Reading By Moonlight
3/10 Excerpt Books and Broomsticks
3/11 Review Kara The Redhead
3/12 Promo Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
3/13 Character Interview CGB Blog Tours
3/14 Review Syd Savvy
3/15 Guest Post Chapter Break Book Blog
3/16 Author Interview Forgotten Winds
3/17 Review Books in the Garden
3/18 Playlist My Book Fix Blog
3/19 Promo Margie’s Must Reads
3/20 Review StoreyBook Reviews
3/21 Author Interview The Page Unbound
3/22 Review Missus Gonzo

 


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The Perfect Tear Promo and Giveaway

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The Perfect Tear schedule

The Perfect Tear
by Connie Lansberg
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: November 11th 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

Eleanor, a timid orphan, is a Singer. Her songs keep nature in balance, but when they are stolen from her the grey mist descends, and her world fails to thrive. This timid orphan is forced into a course of action she never asked for, nor envisioned.
Eleanor grapples with crippling self-doubt and fear until she learns these are far more perilous than the physical dangers she faces moment to moment on her terrifying, puzzling and often funny search for The Perfect Tear, a crystal which contains the Third Vibration and able to heal the land. She is horrified to discover that she must defeat an inter-dimensional being or become his accomplice in the destruction of she loves.
But Eleanor is no savior, just a simple girl with strong instincts and she must learn to trust them. Just like the notes of a song must form connections to create a melody, Eleanor must discover the connections needed to create the harmony required to truly save her world.

Teaser:

Eleanor, a timid orphan with an extraordinary musical gift has just turned sixteen. She has no clue to her real purpose, but she refuses to become a subservient old maid, like the miserable nuns she grew up with. Eleanor knows Mother Superior has no intention of letting her leave–her songs are the only thing keeping the grey mist at bay. Her best friend Audrey begs her to run away with her but where would they go? The world outside the Abbey is barren and dangerous. Eleanor finally decides to take her chances and in the act of running away, meets her destiny. The girls find themselves in a strange land full of unknown dangers where they are met by an ethereal creature, Tsera, who gives Eleanor a choice. Go home to Edward, the boy she loves, never to sing again and wait until her world dies or, risk everything to find The Perfect Tear, a crystal that contains the Third Vibration and the only thing that will stop the destruction of her world.

 

Excerpt:

The wind hit Eleanor with a great force. She staggered back, bumping into the wall of the quarter gallery. She had always loved the elements—wind, rain, lightning, and thunder—but always with solid the earth beneath her feet. Here, they were all at the mercy of the storm.

She kept her back against the gallery wall and watched the men struggle with the main mast. The rope had come loose and whipped about like a wild animal. Audrey clutched the railing. Her mouth moved but Eleanor could hear nothing above the shrieking of the wind. Audrey needed to come back to their quarters. She was in danger. Eleanor’s heart pounded. She knew nothing of the sea, but she could feel its power and knew Audrey was too brave for her own good.

Eleanor left the safety of the wall and headed toward Audrey. She pitted herself against the wind. It tore at her dress and whipped her hair around her face, stinging her cheeks.

Edward motioned for her to go back. He looked frantic. She peered over her shoulder to see Bella at the top of the stairs. Why wouldn’t they go below deck where it was safe? She yelled for Audrey to come away from the railing, but Audrey couldn’t hear her over the shrieking winds. Eleanor had to get to her.

The tempest roared past her ears and brought with it another sound. The resonance made her blood freeze. Eleanor felt her body stiffen, and a sense of foreboding took over.

Her gaze darted about, and the hairs on her arms stood up. What was happening? The very air felt different, and the sound, low and ugly, grew louder until she could no longer hear the wind. A small moan escaped her lips. Something was happening. Something bad was about to take place, and she needed to stop it.

In the space of one breath, the wind halted, the rain stopped falling, and the sea grew still. Eleanor raised her head and reached out her hands as if preparing to ward off a blow.

A long-necked creature rose from the sea and towered over the ship. Eleanor pressed her hand to her throat and tried to scream, but the sound stayed trapped within her.

The clouds disappeared, and the serpent glittered in the full moonlight. It was magnificent and terrifying. It opened its mouth and roared. Eleanor shivered.

The ship, lifted from beneath its hull by a massive wave was tilted portside. Eleanor hit the deck hard as Bella skidded by, and she managed to grab the frightened animal. With Bella under one arm, Eleanor slid forward until she was able to fling her arm around the mizzenmast. Audrey hung onto the railing with a terrified look on her face and Eleanor could see she was at risk. The men clung to the main mast, but Edward lost his grip and skidded toward the ship’s railing.

The serpent roared again. It bent its enormous head toward the deck, toward Edward, and the scream inside her finally escaped. This monster was as tall as the barn from which she had jumped all those years ago. She dragged the comb from her hair and pointed it at the fiend. “STOP.”

A beam of liquid light flew from the comb. Within the stream, she could see smaller, pulsating circles of bright silver. The beam grew in size until it split, forming a web around the monster. It acted as a net. It created a barrier between the ship and the demon, thwarting its plan to devour Edward. Its roar was terrifying.

The ship leveled, and the serpent vanished. John raced to Edward’s side and pulled him to safety. The silence was like a thick cloak, and Eleanor stared in wonder at the sparkling net, which hung in the night sky.

She set Bella down and tried to calm herself. Edward was safe. They were all safe for now. Her breath came in bursts. She needed her heart to stop racing. An arm slid around her and she leaned into the support.

Audrey squeezed. “What are those little silver balls of light?” Her voice was soft and full of wonder.

They all stared at the sparkling lights, like tiny stars hung in the night, connected by the web of light.

Eleanor peered up through heavy lids. Her heart finally slowed its frantic pace, but she felt strange as if part of her was suspended in the night sky. She found it hard to move her limbs. She knew what the little balls of light were.

She struggled to speak. “Songs, my songs. Those I have sung and those I have yet to sing–they kept the garden awake.”

Audrey gazed at the wondrous sight and nodded. Eleanor lifted the comb and pointed it at the glistening net. She must call them back for she could not bear the emptiness inside, as though her soul had gone missing. She took a deep breath and readied herself to receive them.

“Not this time.” The voice inside her head reverberated throughout her body. Eleanor froze. The giant serpent reared its head from the sea. With no sound, it opened its mouth wide. The creature swallowed Eleanor’s net of light and all her songs with it.

Eleanor screamed and doubled over, clutching her stomach, and she heard Audrey gasp.

Edward raced toward her. “Eleanor.”

The long tail of the serpent slipped onto the deck and curled around Eleanor. It dragged her to the railing. Bella jumped on her skirts and bit down. Audrey flung herself at the tail. In an instant, Eleanor, Audrey, and Bella were swept overboard.

 

Book Trailer:

About the Author

Connie Lansberg is a singer/songwriter and now author based in Melbourne Australia. She’s had her original songs placed in some of Australia’s best loved TV shows that play around the world and The Connie Lansberg Quartet is a fixture in the Melbourne jazz scene. Her most recent original musical project is Tsera’s Gift, written especially for The Perfect Tear and she performs these songs throughout Melbourne. This is Connie’s first novel and the movie is coming. The record will be out soon.
Connie has received several grants from the Victoria Council of the Arts for the development of mobile phone games that she created.
Connie joined the Melbourne Writers Group in 2010 to work on ideas and scripts and during this time the idea for The Perfect Tear began to develop and take shape. She continued her education by taking scriptwriting classes at the Australian Film and Television School in Melbourne. She has two more stories to complete The Perfect Tear Trilogy and is hoping to have the second book finished in 2017
“The first thing anybody tells you about this business is to say what makes you unique and different, but I couldn’t and the very idea of it never sat well with me and after much deliberation, I finally realized why.
Because, I’m not unique or different-I’m exactly like you and I love that. We each have a unique filter through which we interpret the world, and with this filter in place, I write stories and songs and you might find them surprising or intriguing or confronting, you may relate or you may not. They may make you laugh and sometimes, even cry.
You may or may not understand what I’m trying to say and you may not understand me, however, rest assured, once we get past the filters, at our core, we are wonderfully and beautifully, exactly the same.”

 

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Youtube│Instagram

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Traveler Review

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Traveler 
By L.E. DeLano 
(Traveler, #1) 
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: February 7th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Book Summary
A teen writer discovers that every mirror is a portal into an alternate version of her life in this romantic YA fantasy by author L.E. DeLano.Jessa has spent her life dreaming of other worlds and writing down stories more interesting than her own, until the day her favorite character, Finn, suddenly shows up and invites her out for coffee. After the requisite nervous breakdown, Jessa learns that she and Finn are Travelers, born with the ability to slide through reflections and dreams into alternate realities. But it’s not all teacakes, pirates and fantasy lifestyles…Jessa is dying over and over again, in every reality, and Finn is determined that this time, he’s going to stop it… this Jessa is going to live.

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My Review

 

Jessa spends her time dreaming of traveling the world and being a world renowned writer. She gets a taste of her wish when suddenly she’s traveling to parallel realities of her life. With some twists. Suddenly her dreams, including a green eyed boy named Finn, are her reality. After being weary of him at first, he explains that she’s in danger. As a Traveler that can go to different realities, Finn discovers the Jessa’s are being targeted and killed.

Something I immediately noticed and enjoyed is Jessa’s perceptiveness. As a writer, she’s very observant and it was very entertaining the way the book was shaped around her own observations and narrative. The pacing starts out slower and then really picks up. I liked the air of mystery at first and then the craziness that ensues.

Another aspect was Jessa’s love for her older brother who is autistic. It was handled very well from the beginning and had great variation from the main plot. Her relationships and dynamics between the people in her life were well written. Especially considering the changes with each new reality.

It was such a refreshing plot! I don’t think I’ve read anything with pirates in it since a children’s book. This had amazing fantasy elements and action to keep me turning ‘digital’ pages as fast as I could. I did want to see more on how the romance would develop between her and Finn. Finn is protective and becomes quite lovable throughout the book. I’m not a big fan of love triangles (which comes later) but the characters were compelling and I look forward to the next addition. I liked the surprises of not just one character but their parallel self as well. It made it really interesting and I became really invested in the characters. Plus, a shocking ending! As someone who loves writing cliffhangers and starling ends, I felt particularly close to L.E. Delano’s desire to make us want the sequel right away.

About the Author
L.E. DeLano is a YA novelist rep’d by Barry Goldblatt Literary agency, author of the upcoming “Traveler” (Swoon Reads/MacMillan 2017) and lifelong writer. Her work has been featured on various online outlets and she lives in Pennsylvania with two very adventurous kids and two very ridiculous cats. In her spare time, she writes (of course) and binge-watches way too much Netflix.

 

Author Links 

 

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Birthright Review

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Birthright

By Jessica Ruddick

Genre: YA Supernatural

Release Date: March 20th 2017

Book Summary

 

How do you live with yourself when you decide who dies?

 

Ava Parks would have killed for an iPod for her sixteenth birthday. Anything would have been better than coming into her birthright of being a seeker for the Grim Reaper, an arrangement made by her fallen angel ancestor in exchange for his re-admittance to heaven. And she isn’t just any seeker — she finds souls that have the potential for becoming angels and sentences them to death. A year and two souls into her role as a seeker with her conscience overflowing with guilt, Ava comes up with a plan to thwart the system. When it goes awry, she is forced to submit the name of a classmate, Cole Fowler, an ornery, rough around the edges guy who always seems to come to her rescue, whether s he likes it or not. Her feelings for Cole prompt her to intervene, and she saves him from death, upsetting the Grim Reaper’s agenda.

 

While Ava schemes to find a way to save Cole, she learns he has some secrets of his own. She lets him believe he is protecting her, and not the other way a round, until a final showdown with the Grim Reaper forces Ava to make choices Cole may never forgive.

 

 

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Review

Birthright is a very consistent and well-paced book. It was very easy to get lost in Ava’s struggles and bravery in her wish for freedom. She is quite literally trapped in her life but continues to stay defiant against Xavier despite the destructive power he holds. I found it very easy to instantly like Ava. She is a very self-aware character who knows her own flaws and tries to improve herself despite everything going against her.

I particularly found her relationship with her mother moving. While she is angry with her mother for keeping the Seeker secret from her for years, she stills tries to push past her anger and be close to her. Both of them are trapped as Seekers, a job that requires them to name a person of pure white aura and therefore dooming them to death. The catch is that it is for the purpose of them possibly becoming angels. Possibly. While there is no guarantee and they never find out, they both struggle with being responsible for their deaths. In many ways, I could tell the subtle examples of anxiety and PTSD that Ava experiences. Biting her nails, nightmares, and a feeling of detachment are consistently in the book. She struggles with the guilt of the past people she’s named and desperately tries to figure out how to escape Xavier’s demands.

This book balances between a darker theme and the straightforward narrative of a young adult. Ava is mature for her age and keeps to herself but is still a teenager. Ruddick does a great job of giving Ava very mature experiences and then showing her own teenage urges for a normal life and feelings towards Cole. The only critique I would give is the age difference between Ava and Cole. While Cole is only two years older and still in high school, I thought having them a closer in age or moving slower towards a relationship would have been better. At times, I wanted them to become closer in getting to know one another instead of kissing as it felt more meaningful with Ava’s actions to save him. Of course, teenagers tend to be a bit more distracted towards other things. Overall, great book! Engaging moments and dynamics between characters and the rising action to the epic climax was perfect. I look forward to reading the next one!

About the Author

Jessica lives in Virginia with her college-sweetheart husband, two rambunctious sons, and two rowdy but lovable rescue dogs. Since her house is overflowing with testosterone, it’s a good thing she has a healthy appreciation for Marvel movies, Nerf guns, and football.

 

Connect with Jessica

 

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Home Excerpt and Giveaway

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Home
by Eleni McKnight
Genre: YA Dystopian
Release Date: November 22nd 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

Knowledge is a Dangerous Commodity

HOME – the last bastion of civilization in a corrupt and fallen world. Outside dwell the reanimated dead, cannibals, and scavengers; remnants of a once great race. Inside, the commune is ruled with an iron fist by Deacon, and administered without mercy by the Elders.

Everyone knows their place in HOME. Everyone is safe in HOME…as long as you follow the rules.

Handmaiden Suzannah Commons is content with training to be a wife and mother, the only occupation open to women in HOME. But her world is turned upside-down when she tastes the forbidden knowledge contained in outlawed books.

Suzannah discovers a new way of life is possible, but that knowledge comes at a high price. It could cost her life. Or the life of the boy she loves. 

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

I sat up and spotted something else. More stars hanging over a large, long desk. Is this more medicine? Did they leave a second package? I pulled the fabric out and beneath it was a light-colored box. It was more medicine. I was sure of it. Feeling proud to have discovered this second package, I decided to open it.

My eyes flew open wide. Instead of medicine there were more of those beautiful heart-shaped cookies. I picked one up. It felt soft and fresh. I broke it apart and popped a piece into my mouth. I literally melted in my mouth, the sweet taste making me feel like I was floating. I moaned softly.

“Suzannah? Where are you?”

“Here,” I answered.

Silas appeared in the empty doorway. “Did you find something?”

“Yes,” I said, holding out the box for him to see.

“And you’re planning on keeping them all for yourself?” Silas asked. I saw him grin in the moonlight.

“Maybe,” I grinned back. “I just ate one.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” Silas said, “But you have to give me one.”

“Here,” I reached the box toward him, but he didn’t take it.

“Put it in my mouth for me,” he said. “My hands are dirty.”

“And mine aren’t?”

He opened his mouth and I realized he was serious. This was not like when Morris commanded me to feed him. This was something…different. This was…exciting. I broke off a piece of the pastry, and held it out to him, placing it on his tongue. His lips closed around my fingers. I jumped back and pulled my hand away. It felt like lightning had shot through my fingers, up my arm and straight down into my abdomen, setting my nerves on fire. I tingled from head to toe.

“Silas!” I giggled. “You can’t do that.”

But why can’t he do that? I liked it. I liked the feeling of his lips on my skin. Was this what a kiss felt like? Kissing was forbidden except for married people. I imagined Silas kissing me and a fire exploded in the base of my stomach, an unfamiliar and exciting feeling that made my heart race. I realized I wanted him to kiss me; to kiss me full on the mouth.

About the Author:

Eleni McKnight is a Murfreesboro, Tennessee native. She graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a degree in Theatre with an emphasis in Literature and a wild passion for creating clothes and doing make-up. She’s also an avid reader and loves music and theatre. She started writing at age eight when she had read all the Baby-Sitter’s Club books that were out and wanted something new to read. It’s never quite left her over the years

These days, you can usually find Eleni working backstage or costuming in local community theatres, reading a book, walking (that FitBit is addictive!), at a concert, drinking a craft beer with friends, knitting, embroidering, or taking a dance class.

Author Links:

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Foy: On the Road Video Guest Post

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FOY:ON THE ROAD
TO LOST
by
GORDON ATKINSON
  Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Material Media LLC
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Date of Publication: March 1, 2017
Number of Pages: 194

 

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Gordon Atkinson, of the popular blog RealLivePreacher, brings us Foy, a recently- divorced, recently-resigned pastor in the midst of redefining personal meaning. As Foy travels to New Orleans, hoping to find a new identity separate from the church, he keenly observes the everyday, rendering ordinary moments unexpectedly significant. Atkinson’s own background as a preacher and blogger inspires Foy’s confessional voice, the voice which characterizes this story about how our own experiences impact the universal search for meaning. 
 ***

 

 

PRAISE FOR FOY: ON THE ROAD TO LOST:

“If the magnitude of difference between the stars and humankind is the purest of religions, reminding us of our insignificance (so thinks Foy), then that magnitude is collapsed in the hands of Atkinson, whose words elevate the most insignificant of objects, acts, and characters to startling heights. A key shifted on a desk, a communion cup offered to an old woman despite a philosophical mismatch, a baby’s bottle first ignored and then retrieved for a frazzled stranger on a bus. Each commands, each arrests, each persists. And we suddenly remember that what we create with mere words can be as lasting as the luminaries.”
— L.L. Barkat, author of Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing, twice named a best book of 2011

“Few writers can match Gordon Atkinson’s ability to tell stories about the sacred in our everyday lives. Foy is a work of power, beauty, and clarity–I saw myself and the world more clearly after reading it. I think you will too.”

— Greg Garrett, author of The Prodigal and Entertaining Judgment

“I really, really like Gordon Atkinson’s Foy. I like the character Foy himself. He’s Everyman and he’s me and he’s Gordon, all at the same time. Nice trick. I like Gordon’s writing — straightforward, but with a simple elegance. But what I really like is the no-holds-barred honesty. This feels real because it is real. Foy at his worst, Foy at his best, Foy at his most wonderful/awful. It’s an on-going series, just like life. I look forward to the next chapter.”
— Robert F. Darden, author of Nothing but Love in God’s Water, Volume II: Black Sacred Music from Sit-Ins to Resurrection City
Atkinson is the author of the books RealLivePreacher.com (Wm. B. Eerdmans), Turtles All the Way Down, and A Christmas Story You’ve Never Heard.  He was a contributor for the magazine Christian Century and founding editor for the High Calling website, which brought together hundreds of independent writers and featured their work. 
His writing career started on Salon where he was among the most read bloggers on the site.  One of his essays was chosen to be included in The Best Christian Writing 2004 (Jossey-Bass) and his book RealLivePreacher.com won the Independent Publisher Book Award in the creative non-fiction category.
  —————————————
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Grand Prize: Signed Copies of Foy: On the Road to Lost, Turtles All the Way Down, and A Christmas Story You Never Heard
2nd Prize: Signed Copy of Foy: On the Road to Lost

3rd Prize: Signed Copy of RealLivePreacher.com
(US ONLY)
March 1 – 15, 2017

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:

3/1
Video Guest Post 1
Hall Ways Blog
3/2
Review
Momma On The Rocks
3/3
Excerpt 1
CGB Blog Tours
3/4
Video Guest Post 2
Syd Savvy
3/5
Review
StoreyBook Reviews
3/6
Author Interview 1
Kara The Redhead
3/7
Review
Forgotten Winds
3/8
Video Guest Post 3
The Page Unbound
3/9
Excerpt 2
My Book Fix Blog
3/10
Review
Margie’s Must Reads
3/11
Video Guest Post 4
Chapter Break Book Blog
3/12
Author Interview 2
Missus Gonzo
3/13
Review
Book Chase
3/14
Video Guest Post 5
Texas Book Lover
3/15
Review
Reading By Moonlight

 

 

 

 

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Curse of Stars Excerpt and Giveaway

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Curse of Stars
Donna Compositor
(Diamond Crier #1)
Publication date: February 19th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.

Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.

In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.

“. . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . .” BookLife Prize in Fiction

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Excerpt:

Fingers dug into her arm and she was yanked to her feet. She grunted as her skin pulled under the man’s grip and she stumbled when he dragged her along the corridor.
“Where are we?” she asked, her voice echoing on the dark stone around her. A well-worn carpet laid under her feet, track marks running the length of it.

“What do you want with me?”

“Normally I wouldn’t have the patience for stupidity,” he said without looking at her. “But seeing as how you haven’t lived in Raydin for more than a decade I’ll abide you this.”

“You’re so kind,” she said as she tried to jerk her arm free.

No dice. Instead the man swung her around and slammed her back into the stone. Precious air rushed out of her lungs and panic made her gasp, wheeze, scramble to bring the air back in.

“There is no escape, Sabina. Rest assured, you’re here for life. However long that may be.”

“Why?” She sneered at the immaculate face in front of her. Not a hair out of place. Not a blemish anywhere on his skin. She wanted to rake her nails across his perfection. “Why did you kill my papa? Why did you chase us out of our home?”

He smiled then, a look that crawled up his face and failed to reach his eyes.

“Your home, little Crier, is here. Far south from this castle. That’s where your parents ran from the first time. Alas, they couldn’t run forever.”

Sweat broke out on her forehead. She didn’t understand, but Papa said the same thing. They weren’t from a world that had New York. They were from somewhere else. Nausea swirled in her stomach.

“I have all the powers of the stars,” he said as he brushed a piece of hair from her face. She jerked away from his touch.

“Well, not all. Most. Most my family took from the Giver when they deposed him centuries ago. He was such a pacifist. It was almost too easy. All that power he just gave away to filth in this kingdom. Such a waste. We stopped that, though. We just couldn’t get diamond tears.”
Sabi’s head spun. “I don’t understand.”
The man frowned and leaned away from her. He yanked her off the wall and continued walking down the corridor.

“No, I imagine you wouldn’t. We couldn’t throw a successful coup without money. Lots of money. We had it, of course, but not enough. Not enough to sustain us. With the Giver’s powers, especially diamond tears, our problem would be solved. Instead we were still at his mercy, the decrepit old man.”

No, she wanted to say. That’s not what she meant. She understood why power-hungry people wanted power and money. What she didn’t understand was this Giver, his powers. What this all had to do with her. Her back throbbed. Bruises formed knots along her spine and she already felt their ache.

“It worked out for us and for him. While he’s stored away, nice and safe, he keeps doling out diamond tears and we merely collect those with the power. If he stops, the slaughter of his people would be on him. You understand? Sabina, I asked you a question.”

Sabi choked on the answer and finally said, “Yes.” It was a lie, but this man didn’t seem like someone who was used to hearing no.

Author Bio:

Donna has been writing since she was in the single digits when she first realized she needed to do something about all the thoughts in her head. After a stint with bad poetry she finally found her way to novels, mainly of the young adult fantasy variety. When she’s not cranking out more stories she works a regular 9 to 5, reads anywhere from 2 to 3 books a week, drinks copious amounts of tea, eats way too much, and makes her own beauty products because her skin turns into a sentient hive if she uses anything else. This is mostly because she lives in the desert where the air siphons water clean out of her. She lives with a man named Steve and several quadrupeds: three cats named Renfield, Sam, and Dean; and a MinPin named Malfoy.

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Awakening: Bloodline Review

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Awakening: Bloodline Book One 
by Tiera Rice 
Publication date: October 12th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal

Book Synopsis

Antanasia knows better than anyone that being royal comes with lots of expectations. Born into war as a Vampyre Witch, she has to battle the ultimate enemy: her own blood. When she has a terrifying Vision, Antanasia fights harder than ever to prevent it from coming to pass. Will she succeed? Or does she die trying?

∞

Nadia is an average teenager celebrating her nineteenth birthday. But her day turns upside down when she starts developing unusual abilities that make her question everything she knew. Searching for answers to her predicament, she finds herself trusting Nicolae, a stranger with a familiar presence. Why does she feel so drawn to him? Will Nadia find answers to the questions about her past and take on her new role willingly? Or will she choose to remain in the dark and deny her destiny?

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My Review
I don’t usually admit it but the cover is what really first appealed me to read Awakening. It turned out to be a great decision as this book navigates through the perspective of two appealing characters. Nadia, a girl in present day who just celebrated turning nineteen and falls into a completely different world. Then there is Ananstasia who lived centuries ago and also happens to be a Vampyre with magical abilities.
From reading the summary, I had my own sort of theories about how these characters connected but there were plenty twists I didn’t expect. While the idea of such a drastic time jump between characters would seem confusing, Rice structured the elements of each time to keep the reader entertained. You’re thrown headfirst into this chaotic world. I really appreciated the amazing history you sensed in this story. References and subtle details were revealed that easily tempted you into wanting more.
The changing course of past and present was something I haven’t often experienced before and was really impressed with. Not only was the personalities of our two leading ladies an interesting constrast but so were the very different times. Magic, war, folklore, and family drama were just part of a blended mixture to this story. Overall, Awakening was a thrilling and suspenseful read that was an great beginning to this series. This is best for a mature audience that enjoys a fast-paced and action filled novel.
About the Author
Tiera Rice was raised in Rockland County, New York and is a realtor in Rockland, Westchester, and Orange Counties. She earned her degree in criminal justice from Temple University, is the founder of Laughter and Lemonade: a project that focuses on motivational posters for those experiencing a chronic illness, and co-founder of #26forTiera: a foundation that provides financial resources to single parents battling life-threatening illnesses.
A creator of poems and short-stories for many years, Tiera challenged herself by leaping into the world of novels. Having recently survived a battle with cancer, Tiera decided to use her writing to entertain and motivate her readers. When not writing or selling houses, Tiera can be found spending time with her friends and family, especially her young daughter, fish, and kitty cat. Her other interests include singing, drawing, and dancing.
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Bulletins From Dallas

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BULLETINS FROM DALLAS

Reporting the JFK Assassination

By BILL SANDERSON

 Genre: Biography / Journalism

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing

Date of Publication: November 1, 2016

Number of Pages: 280

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Thanks to one reporter’s skill, we can fix the exact moment on November 22, 1963 when the world stopped and held its breath: At 12:34 p.m. Central Time, UPI White House reporter Merriman Smith broke the news that shots had been fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade. Most people think Walter Cronkite was the first to tell America about the assassination. But when Cronkite broke the news on TV, he read from one of Smith’s dispatches. At Parkland Hospital, Smith saw President Kennedy’s blood-soaked body in the back of his limousine before the emergency room attendants arrived. Two hours later, he was one of three journalists to witness President Johnson’s swearing-in aboard Air Force One. Smith rightly won a Pulitzer Prize for the vivid story he wrote for the next day’s morning newspapers.

Smith’s scoop is journalism legend. But the full story of how he pulled off the most amazing reportorial coup has never been told. As the top White House reporter of his time, Smith was a bona fide celebrity and even a regular on late-night TV. But he has never been the subject of a biography.

With access to a trove of Smith’s personal letters and papers and through interviews with Smith’s family and colleagues, veteran news reporter Bill Sanderson will crack open the legend. Bulletins from Dallas tells for the first time how Smith beat his competition on the story, and shows how the biggest scoop of his career foreshadowed his personal downfall.

***

PRAISE FOR BULLETINS FROM DALLAS:

“So much of what we know about any story depends on how reporters do their work. Bill Sanderson takes us through every heartbreaking minute of one of the biggest stories of our lifetime, with sharp detail and powerful observations. As you read the book, you’ll feel all the pressure and adrenaline rush of a reporter on deadline.” —Neal Shapiro, former president of NBC News, current president of WNET

“The life and work of a noted White House reporter…. Focusing on [Merriman] Smith’s reporting of the Kennedy assassination, for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, Sanderson conveys the tension and confusion after the event, as Smith and other newsmen scrambled to ascertain facts.” —Kirkus Reviews

“To read Bulletins from Dallas is to touch the fabric of history, through Sanderson’s artful weave of many voices, from presidents across the decades to the last words uttered by J.F.K. Swept back through the corridors of time, we hear the urgent bells and clatter of the teletype machine: Merriman Smith’s first report to the world, ‘Three shots fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade today in Downtown Dallas.’ This compelling narrative takes us to that moment when our whole nation cried, and, even now, to tears of primal sympathy that never seem to end.” —Allen Childs, author of We Were There: Revelations from the Dallas Doctors Who Attended to JFK on November 22, 1963

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Video Interview

NY1 “Inside City Hall”Interview:

Errol Louis interviews Bulletins from Dallas author Bill Sanderson on NY1, New York City’s premier cable news channel.

“58 Washington reporters on the trip – one mobile telephone” fist fight.

Bill Sanderson spent almost two decades as a reporter and editor at the New York Post. His work has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Observer, and the Washington Post. Sanderson lives in New York City.

Connect with Bill:

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February 21 – March 2, 2017

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CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR

2/21 Scrapbook Page StoreyBook Reviews
2/22 Review Hall Ways Blog
2/23 Author Interview Texas Book Lover
2/24 Book Trailer Forgotten Winds
2/25 Review Kara The Redhead
2/26 Video Interview The Page Unbound
2/27 Review Blogging for the Love of Authors and Their Books
2/28 Guest Post Byers Editing Reviews & Blog
3/1 Excerpt Books and Broomsticks
3/2 Review Reading By Moonlight


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State of Allegiance Blitz

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State of Allegiance
By Summer Lane
(Collapse #9)
Publication date: February 24th 2017
Genres: Dystopian, New Adult

Synopsis

Be brave. Be vigilant. But above all, be loyal.

In the wake of a dangerous but successful mission to Yukon City in Alaska, Cassidy Hart now finds herself back in California, at the naval air station in San Diego. Together, she and Chris now face their most terrifying threat yet: nuclear destruction.

Surviving in a world gone nuclear is easier said than done. Faced with the prospect of being wiped off the face of the earth by Omega’s nuclear arsenal, Cassidy, Chris and their fellow rebel friends stage an incredible, daring journey into the Pacific Rim with the hope that they will be able to seize a weapon that could turn the tide of the war in the militia’s favor.

The clock of the apocalypse is counting down.
Choices must be made. Relationships will be strained. True love will be put to the ultimate test.
It’s militias versus Omega. Hope versus destruction.

Where does your allegiance lie?

Choose carefully.

 

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Interview with Author Summer Lane

How does it feel to publish the 9th installment of the Collapse Series – and your 16th overall?

It feels unreal! When I was a kid, I always pictured myself as an author, sharing my stories with readers, but I admit I didn’t really think that would materialize until I was much older than I am right now. I’ve been really blessed – and I’ve worked really hard!

What’s a typical day in your life like?

I do manage a business, so while I do a lot more than simply write manuscripts, writing certainly is the base of everything that I engage in. I just got a German Shepherd puppy named Kona, and she gets me up early in the morning (earlier than usual, haha!), and I’ll start work then. If I have a good day, I’ll be done with work around 2:30 or 3. If it’s a long day, I’ll be working until 6.

What is State of Hope going to be like – and is it the last book in the series?

State of Hope is going to be long, intense and flushed with adrenaline. There are so many secrets to be revealed, so many character plots to be tied up neatly, and most importantly: Cassidy’s conclusion in this apocalyptic war. While Hope is indeed the final installment in the Collapse Series, it is not the last book in the Collapse universe. I certainly do have some plans for Cassidy in the future – they may not be as huge as Collapse, but trust me: I have plans.

How do you stay motivated and healthy in your career as a writer?

I stay motivated by keeping my eye on the prize: I remove negativity from my life, because nobody needs that. I try to surround myself with people who really care about me and support what I do. Staying healthy, for me, at least, is actually really difficult. My profession requires a lot of sitting, so I have to make an extra effort to get up, walk and move. It’s also tempting to snack on junk food working in an office (am I right?). I try hard to indulge only with healthy snacks: I have celery sticks and apples in the fridge, I like cheese, and any gluten-free cracker in combination. I also just discovered baked parmesan crisps. Oh, my heart!

Advice to aspiring authors?

Don’t let anybody bring you down. Never take no as a final answer. Work hard, and it will pay off, one way or another.

About the Author

Summer Lane is the #1 bestselling author of the Collapse Series, Zero Trilogy, Bravo Saga, Collapse: The Illustrated Guide and the adventure thriller, Unbreakable SEAL.

Summer owns WB Publishing. She is an accomplished journalist and creative writing teacher. She also owns an online magazine, Writing Belle, where she has interviewed and worked with countless authors from around the globe.

Summer lives in the Central Valley of California with her husband, where she enjoys reading, collecting tea, visiting the beach and the mountains, and counting down the days until she has her very own puppy (if you’ve read Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, you’ll understand).

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Giveaway

Grand Prize: Collapse Prize Pack; $20 Amazon Gift Card, Collectible Collapse Tote Bag, Magnetic Cassidy Hart Calendar, Collapse Tee-Shirt, Special Edition Pen, Autographed Copy of Bravo: Apocalypse Mission, Bravo Plush and Wristband, and Personal Note from Summer Lane, the author.
Runner-Up 1: $10 Amazon Gift Card
Runner-Up 2: $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card

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