Friday, June 27, 2014

Book Blast & Giveaway: Wizdom and Pandora by K.M. Woodard

By  at 7:00 AM  , , , , , ,  No comments


About The Author:

A lifetime resident of the Washington, DC area, K.M. Woodard has always enjoyed the outdoors and loves to 

 travel. After working 17 years with the MetLife Insurance Company, she pursued her career as a Federal Law

 Enforcement Agent with Homeland Security and has a Masters Degree in Criminology. A true Tolkien fan, her 

 passion for medieval and ancient times and her personal travel adventures often inspire ideas for new books.

 Her active imagination and fascination with escaping reality to a world of enchantment, mystery and suspense

 has resulted in a series of novels sure to delight readers looking for fast-paced adventure at every twist and 

 turn, interspersed with a smidgen of humor.

Author Links - 

www.wizdomandpandora.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WizdomandPandora

Twitter: @wizdomandpandor

Goodreads member/blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7380415.K_M_Woodard

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Wizdom-And-Pandora-Quest-Blood/dp/1468538020/ref=sr_1_1?

ie=UTF8&qid=1400258256&sr=8-1&keywords=wizdom+and+pandora



Book Genre: Young Adult/Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Authorhouse
Release Date: 10/30/2014


Book Description:

Wizdom didn't know dragons really existed. He's never ridden a white woolly mammoth or flown on a griffin. He's never known a real king or a princess or been friends with a goblin. Wizdom's never seen elves that glow blue all the time. All he's ever known are his adoptive mother and his aunt Kayden. One day he finds himself in a secret world, face to face with dragons and fire monsters. He meets an interesting girl, Pandora, who he learns is no ordinary girl, just as he is no ordinary boy. Wizdom soon finds himself on a magical journey full of secrets, sorcery, danger and evil. He fights many fierce battles and faces certain death as his quest leads him on an adventure like never before as he discovers his true identity . . . or does he?

Excerpt:

Wizdom stared in awe, unconsciously holding his breath, as
he looked up the endless staircase of gleaming black marble
before him. The air around him was damp and musty and tickled his
nostrils. Cobwebs hung overhead, dangling high above him from the
towering ceiling. Perched at the top of the stairs was a large, golden
dragon throne. Sitting on white marble, it was surrounded by statues
of goblins, gargoyles and other strange creatures. They all stared back
disconcertingly at Wizdom, some with tongues out, others with piercing
eyes, bared teeth or pointed ears. The dragon’s head held its mouth
agape, as if ready to devour him, revealing a long golden tongue jutting
out and sharp pointed teeth. The arms of the throne were created by
the front legs of the dragon and the claws made up the feet of the chair.
A huge tail jutted out from the back of the chair and coiled around
to the front like a sitting cat. Three spikes on the tail’s end glistened
in piercing diamond shards. Giant wings stood out from the dragon’s
back, poised for flight, black and shimmering like dark sapphires. Its
eyes were large rubies, and its body was sprinkled in faceted jewels.
Two spiraling horns jutted out from its head, over a foot of solid gold,
with diamonds on the tips. Held within the horns shone an enormous
crimson red stone, casting an eerie glow and dancing shadows over the
stone statues surrounding it.

What was this place? Where was he? He dared to move forward,
ever so slowly, toward this great altar. His pulse racing, palms sweating,
he paused momentarily, staring up at the dragon’s red gleaming eyes.
As he approached the stairs, the dragon’s fiery eyes stared down at him
unnervingly, as if it was alive, watching him.

Wizdom wondered about how he had gotten there. How did he
get here? He glanced around the great hall surrounding him. Flickering
candles, sconces and torches aligned the walls of marbled stone. The
ceiling was several stories high and great pillars supported the wooden
arches above him. Shadows and darkness surrounded him, except for
the faint glow of the iron torches, and the scarlet glow of the jewel
radiating from the dragon’s crown jewel. He could feel some sort of
power emanating from it as he stood there. It made him feel happy and
safe, despite his surroundings.

Suddenly, he saw movement out of the corner of his left eye. He
looked quickly, but saw nothing. Turning to scurrying sounds to his
right, he still saw nothing but black. Was he imagining things? Because
of the obscuring darkness, he could not see very far, only as far as the
torches lining the walls. He was only eleven but he was an adventurer
and never scared and despite his current situation, he normally loved
mysteries and secret places. Unconsciously, his pulse kept racing as

the silence crept eerily around him… 







Thursday, June 26, 2014

Northwest of Eden by Yancy Caruthers (Book Tour & Giveaway)

By  at 6:00 AM  , , , , , , , , ,  2 comments



Truth or Fiction?

I knew I wanted Northwest of Eden to be based on true events – and ultimately, it is – every single event in the story is absolutely true, at least the best that I can remember it, and I think I did a pretty good job of taking notes.

Had I continued on the path I took initially, I would have captioned it “Based on a True Story,” which means, “There actually is a true story that inspired this but most of what you read is utterly fabricated.”

First, there were a LOT of actors in this macabre play – there were around 250 soldiers in various capacities that made that Combat Support Hospital work – I am proud to say that I knew most of them, at least on a casual basis, and many became like family. In the Emergency Section alone, there were 23 of us at any given time. I couldn’t possibly mention them all without confusing the reader.

Secondly, the emotions were raw, perhaps more than I was comfortable with revealing. There was love and caring married with absolute hatred and having an affair with the two sisters, anxiety and insecurity. I wasn’t sure I wanted to reveal those things about myself, much less a whole group of other people.

Would I need their permission to use their real names? What if I said something about someone that they felt was private? There were so many issues to overcome, that I started out by creating a character based on Thomas Hartley, who appears in Chapter One, and John Myers, who appears in the second chapter. I amalgamated those two fine men and created Jim. Jim could be revealing without getting hurt, and I could insult him if I wanted. I could even end up hating him. No one would care, because he wasn’t a real person.

And therein lied the problem - as the first few chapters progressed, Jim became like a mannequin. He felt sort of real, but he just wasn’t, no matter how hard I wanted him to be. Sometimes he was Tom, John, or Jon, but he never really developed into Jim.

I might also have included “Names have been changed to protect the innocent.”

Except they weren’t. And they aren’t.

So I went back and made them all real. I used real names, because it would have been insulting to hide them. These were the finest people I have ever worked with. They did remarkable things under the worst conditions, and sacrificed a piece of themselves to do that. Many of them still feel the hurt when they are by themselves in a quiet room and have a little too much time to think.

I made two exceptions for the witches who occupied the nursing executive office. I decided that if they didn’t have souls, then they didn’t deserve names, either.

As a true story, the truth of it all was just too important. The reader needs to feel the warmth, laugh out loud, and cry out in anguish with each one of us.

That was the only way that the truth felt true.





Yancy Caruthers (1971- )grew up in Alton, MO, and joined the Army Reserves at 17. He became a nurse, and worked in several areas until finding a passion in emergency medicine, which ultimately led to a job with an air ambulance company. He served in Iraq two different times, and retired from the Army as a Captain.

After this experience, he decided to leave the medical profession and pursue other endeavors. He has now lived on three continents, and is hoping to reside on at least three more. He currently lives with his family in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Author Links - 





Book Genre: Memoir, Military/Medical
Publisher: Independent (CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing)
Release Date: eBook April 2014, paperback May 2014
Buy Link(s):

Book Description: Northwest of Eden is the author's first person account of his experience during Operation Iraqi Freedom as second-in-command of an Army emergency department and leader of an air transport team. The varied cast of characters provides top-notch medical care to service members in harsh conditions, while wielding the darkest humor against each other just to stay sane. Most of the time they succeeded...


Excerpt:

My nose hairs stung as I shook the sleep from my head. The putrid smell was back in force, although I hadn’t noticed it the night before. I reminded myself to call someone in housing and have them try to disrupt whatever animal funerals were occurring under my hooch.
I sat down in my office and rested my head on my left hand, feeling stubble there. I hadn’t forgotten to shave, but I’d somehow skipped that half of my face.
“You look like hell,” Maria said.
“I love you, too,” I replied. I went on to tell her the details of the prior night’s flying adventure. I was just wrapping up the story when I looked up to see Sullivan.
“I just wanted to apologize for last night,” she began. “I didn’t mean to leave you hanging with an unstable patient but I had to have eyes out.”
“I understand that. What was going on up there?” I asked. I wanted to ask what was more important than giving our patient CPR, but I held off, figuring Sully would explain it, and she did.
We had taken fire.
Apparently some idiot with a machine gun had opened fire on us, and the pilots had released several clusters of flares to mask our position, then banked sharply to fly sideways to our original course.
Sully laughed as she told me the rest – the bad guy had then turned on a spotlight, trying to shine through the flares to get another crack at us, but he discovered an interesting military fact instead.
The Cobra AH-1 attack helicopter also has a spotlight.
Upon seeing our escort craft, the dirtbag repented of his terroristic ways and ran full speed into the bushes. I waited with anticipation to hear about how the AH-1 fired a rocket up this guy’s ass, but apparently when the medical chopper one is supposed to be protecting takes off in a dead sprint at 150 mph, it’s considered bad form to stick around to shoot one bad guy, so they peeled away and followed us.
Sully’s commander would later tell me that we hadn’t taken “enough” fire for the engagement to qualify as a combat action.
So I was content to know that we got shot at “some.” I was also glad that the guy wasn’t that good at it.








Monday, June 9, 2014

Interview with Kellie Lane - When God Is Silent Book Tour & Giveaway

By  at 7:00 AM  , , , , , , , , , ,  2 comments



Author Bio:

Kellie Lane, a native of Lexington, MS is a passionate orator and writer of God's spoken word. She is an author, motivational speaker, and professional life coach. Kellie has dedicated her life to the work of encouraging others to reach their maximum potential in Christ. Her message to the world is " Don't give up, push, pray, and persist " until you reach the point of breakthrough. In addition to writing and speaking, Kellie serves our nation's veterans a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Author Links - The link for any or all of the following...

Website


Amazon

Twitter: @kellieelane


Linkedin:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/kellie-lane/90/361/315



Interview 

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today.

BK: Tell us about your office. Is it a mess like mine, or is everything in its place? Not the neatest or the messiest, somewhere in between. I love sticky notes with little messages. I have them everywhere! 

BK: What is a must-have, such as coffee or a favorite pen, that you need to write? For some reason, my thoughts flow better with my desktop computer, laptop is second choice. So I really need my desktop! 

BK: Do you like to write in silence, or do you need music or background noise? Silence ..shh! 

BK: Tell us a bit about your hero.
Bishop T.D. Jakes is the person that I think I look up to the most. He is an awesome Man of God. His message delivery is phenomenal and I feel like I already know him although as of yet I only get to interact with him on YouTube. I would so love to meet him in person! 

BK: As a writer myself, I'm always curious how other writers get through stumble blocks. When you find a story not flowing, or a character trying to fight you, how do you correct it? I have to pay attention to fine details. Sometimes I will walk in the park or just get all by myself and say “ Okay. Lord, I need you to speak to me right now!”. 

BK: Using the letters of your first name as an acronym, describe your book...My book encourages you to:  
K-eep the faith, God will do just what he has promised
E-expect only the best 
L-Learn to embrace your waiting period 
L-ive with the expectancy of a miracle every day
I-invest time with God
E-ven if God is not talking, He’s listening. Don’t give up! 

BK: How did your writing journey begin?
As a result of my own suffering with the agony of enduring God’s silence 

BK: Tell us one thing you've done in life that readers would be most surprised to know.---My mother passed away 7 days before I gave birth to twins –the book is dedicated to her although she did not live to see the finished product. 

BK: What can we expect from you in the future? Many speaking engagements, many more books, many more words of life declared over every one of you! 


This or That...

Coke or Pepsi? Coke (diet)

Night Owl or Early Bird? Early bird 

Fantasy or Mystery? Fantasy 

Pen/Paper or Computer? Computer 

Pizza or Burger? Depends on which day you ask me 

Rock or Country? Country 

Chocolate or Vanilla? How about a swirl 

Beach or Mountains? Beach 


Thank you so much for having us as one of your stops today. It has been great getting to know more about you and your book, and wish you the best of success!










Book Genre: self- help/inspirational,spiritual growth
Publisher: Creation House
Release Date: March 4, 2014

 Buy: Amazon | Christian Books | BN | BooksAMillion


Book trailer:




Book Description: "When God is Silent” confirms through scripture that God indeed hears the cries of
his elect and the broken hearted. The book explains to the reader why he or she may be waiting on the answers to their prayers and how to endure in a season of silence. It also reveals how to recognize "God's answer" if he chooses to answer differently than what we anticipate. The take home message is “ Never Give up! Even if God is not talking he’s still listening”. We must learn to “push, pray, and persist” until we reach the point of breakthrough. God desires to give only the best to his children. We must understand this.


Excerpt:

Introduction

I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You yourself are the answer.
—C. S. Lewis

If you’re reading this book, more than likely you are in what is called a pressed place; a place of waiting. Does it seem as if God has forgotten about you? Has everyone else around you begun to celebrate their miracles, yet you are still crying yourself to sleep at night? Are you feeling a
sense of weariness and emptiness? Have you been praying and crying out to God day in and out and still you see no change? Have you found yourself wondering if God has gone on vacation? Have you been contemplating that perhaps what you are believing God for is not in His will? Well if this describes you, congratulations! You are next in line for a miracle. I decree and declare defeat is not your portion; victory is your portion. Receive it, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What the enemy wants us to believe is that God will never answer our prayers. The kingdom of darkness works overtime as we get closer to our breakthroughs. Satan and
His generals know that if he can get us to lose our focus, we will not be in position when the fullness of time comes and we will miss the blessing. We must know without a doubt that God is faithful and never fails. We must be certain that even if God is not talking, He’s still listening.

For it is written:

But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
—Psalm 66:19





Follow Tour Here





Monday, June 2, 2014

Healed by a Heart by Cynthia Woolf Book Tour & Giveaway

By  at 10:21 PM  , , , , , ,  2 comments


Healed by a Heart 
by Cynthia Woolf

This is the second book in the Destiny in Deadwood series but you can also read it as a stand alone.




Quick Facts                                        
Release Date:                  
Genre: Historical Romance. Western                                              
Formats to buy: Papaerbacks and all ebook formats








Book Synopsis
 
All Liam Anderson wanted after the War Between the States, was a little peace. After seventeen years in the army, he’s tired of fighting and killing. Having lost his beloved wife to influenza, he’s tired of hurting. And seeing his baby brother framed for murder, he’s tired of injustice.
He left everything behind to help his brothers escape, packed up his children and possessions, and took them all to a gold claim in Deadwood. Miss Eleanor Smith is a thirty-two year-old spinster. She gave up her dream of a home and family a long time ago. Instead, she has spent her life traveling the world, ministering to the weak, the injured, the poor, and the forgotten, following her preacher father from one hell hole to another.
From what she’s seen of men and the world, she’s better off taking care of herself. And she gets along just fine, until she literally falls into Liam’s arms, gets in the middle of a fight that isn’t hers, and becomes a pawn for an enemy’s revenge.
Deadwood was supposed to be a fresh start for Liam Anderson and his younger brothers, but trouble followed him and his children. And when Eleanor disappears, only Liam can rescue her. The headstrong, independent woman awoke his dead passion, but refused to surrender to his touch. Can he convince her that merely surviving isn’t enough? Despite his sins, he's the only man who can save her, and she's the only woman strong enough to heal his broken heart.








..............................................................................................................................................



Excerpt:

PROLOGUE
 April 1876 - St. Louis, Missouri 

Liam Anderson sat in front of a blazing fire, in his pajamas and robe, puffing on his pipe, reading, for the last time in this house. The place he’d called home for so many years. The kids were asleep upstairs. Sleep had eluded him and he’d risen to read until he got tired.BAM! BAM! BAM!He looked up from the book he read and glanced at the mantel clock. One of the few things he hadn’t packed away. “What in the world? Who would be out in this weather at this hour?”What the hell?” said Liam, when he opened the door to his two younger brothers. “Jake? Zach? What are you two doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”Zach growled from behind Jake. “Are you going to let us in or make us stand in this rain all night?”“Come in. Zach put that gun away,” said Liam.“Can’t until the kid here,” he poked Jake in the back with his gun, “is inside and we’ve talked to you.”Jake, the youngest of his brothers, walked into the foyer of the house, followed closely by Zach. He stared down the hallway, packed with luggage and boxes down to the parlor, but didn’t question it. Didn’t even seem to notice that the house was packed up ready to move.Both of them were haggard, completely worn out. Their coats were soaked through and they couldn’t have been comfortable. He’d never seen them looking so exhausted or…desperate.“Sorry to do this to you, Liam. I know you’re leaving tomorrow,” said Zach as he holstered his gun and dripped water onto the foyer floor. He threw his had onto one of the steamer trunks. Jake followed suit.It was times like these that the difference between his brothers was so striking. Zach with his nearly black hair and dark blue eyes. There was one in every generation with the coloring of their Gypsy great grandmother, Zach was theirs and their father had been the one in his generation. It was rare to have two gypsies in the same family, usual it was an uncle or aunt rather than a parent of the latest child with the coloring.Jake with dark blond, overly long hair and light blue eyes most resembled their dear mother.Liam was somewhere between the two, with light brown hair and gray eyes. His children were different as night and day, too. Ten year old David resembled Liam not only physically but mentally too. David always seemed to weigh his words before he spoke them. Whereas Hannah, the gypsy of her generation, said whatever came into her little head. She was only five, but even at her age, David had been as contemplative as he was now.He smiled thinking of his children. They were his joy. His reason for living. He closed his eyes and grounded himself in the present and answered Jake.“Yes. At first light. Now, tell me what’s going on and why you brought Jake here at gun point.”“Only way I could get him to come,” growled Zach.“And?” Liam said, exasperated. “Don’t make me beat the story out of you word by word, little brother. Just tell me the problem.”Liam pointed at the two chairs in front of the fire and then went to the fireplace and stoked the banked coals back to a roaring blaze. He really didn’t need this now, not when he was leaving in the morning. Not when he was so close to putting the old, hurtful memories behind him.

..............................................................................................................................................


Other books in the series:

Redeemed by a Rebel








The Author

Cynthia Woolf is the author of six historical western romance books and one short story with more
books on the way.
She was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in the mountains west of Golden. She spent her early years running wild around the mountain side with her friends.Their closest neighbor was one quarter of a mile away, so her little brother was her playmate and her best friend. That fierce friendship lasted until his death in 2006.
Cynthia was and is an avid reader. Her mother was a librarian and brought new books home each week. This is where young Cynthia first got the storytelling bug. She wrote her first story at the age of ten. A romance about a little boy she liked at the time.
Cynthia loves writing and reading romance. Her first western romance Tame A Wild Heart, was inspired by the story her mother told her of meeting Cynthia’s father on a ranch in Creede, Colorado. Although Tame A Wild Heart takes place in Creede that is the only similarity between the stories. Her father was a cowboy not a bounty hunter and her mother was a nursemaid (called a nanny now) not the ranch owner. Cynthia credits her wonderfully supportive husband Jim and the great friends she's made at CRW for saving her sanity and allowing her to explore her creativity.

 WEBSITE – www.cynthiawoolf.com




GIVEAWAY:

- International
- Win a $25 Visa GC thanks to author Cynthia Woolf