BK Walker Books Etc....

GFP Tour Stop - Behind The Wings by Dana Littlejohn

2012-01-24T00:01:00.003-05:00

Dana Littlejohn was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but has called Indianapolis, In. her home for over ten years. She has always wanted to write since early childhood, but put that wish on hold to raise her growing family and have a career. With the encouragement of her husband, Dana picked up her pen again in 2003 and has no intention on putting it down. With 3 novels, 8 novellas, 4 stories in anthologies, 42 short stories published to date and a long list of wip (works in progress) she is literally living her dream. Join her on the wild journey through her imagination. It’s a ride you’ll never forget!
Website: www.danalittlejohn.net
Blog: www.authordanalittlejohn.blogspot.com
Facebook: search authordanalittlejohn
Twitter: follow authordanalittlejohn

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Dana! So happy to have you join me today.

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...
My name id Dana Littlejohn. Many people ask if that is a pseudo, but no, it’s my real name. I write sensual and erotic romance. I work a nine to five, Monday - Friday and mostly write the rest of the time that I am awake.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book....
Jade Dupree is beautiful, smart and the only daughter of a well known and liked general. Many young airmen would like the chance to be with her; not only for her own accomplishments, but the connection it would give them to the general would be invaluable. Jade’s mother is all for her being with an airman and spends most of her time matchmaking. When she finally introduces Jade to an airman she might be compatible with, Jade met Mike Davis, a young entrepreneur. Jade dates them both trying to get to know the men and learns a great deal more then she bargained for.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?
Behind the Wings came about after a conversation my son and I had when he came home from the air force. I asked him how life was in the air force and he laughed. He said you don’t have a life when your soldier, you just do as you’re told. Only officers have a real life. I thought about and wondered what life would be like. So I made up what I thought life was like and Behind the Wings was born.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I have always considered myself a writer. I wrote my first complete short story when I was 12, but I became an author when I sold my first story. That was an amazing feeling I will never forget.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?
I don’t actually. I can only write when the characters speak to me. I know the beginning, the middle and the end, but they tell me how I get from one point to the other. I f they don’t tell me where to go I can go.

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?
Oh yes. When they stop talking to me it’s frustrating, but there’s nothing I can do. I usually watch movies to take my mind off the story or play Mahjong to give my brain something else to do.

BK: What is your writing process like?
Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write? Yeah, I do. I always have a bag of sunflower seeds nearby and my music is playing too. Most of the time it’s guys singing love songs. It gives me the feeling that I’m being serenaded.

Jade Dupree had always been a hot commodity among the young airman. She tried not to date them, but having an old school mother and a worldly father gave her a challenging social life. Her mother’s only goal in life seemed to be to get her to settle her down with the next available airman and birth as many babies as possible.

Her father’s outlook for his children’s future was much less intense. Jade let her mother set her up with an extremely handsome tech sergeant, just as she met the very interesting Mike Davis.

Having spent time with both men Jade can’t help but wonder if her mother finally got lucky in choosing Steven Jones for her…or was Mike Davis a better match for her after all?

Purchase HERE

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?
I’m aware that I’m small player in the big leagues. I’m grateful that is enough love to go around, I’d like to write that one novel that takes me to the next level. When you ask people who writes horror the first name that comes to mind is Steven King even if you don’t read horror you know that. I think that would be amazingly cool if the question was asked about erotic romance and people said Dana Littlejohn.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
Satisfaction. When they read the last lines of one of my books I’d like a smile to appear on their face and have them sigh with pleasure saying, ‘that was cool. I really liked that one’.

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?
Before I start another book I read a few in that genre to see what has worked and what is acceptable. Having said that, I constantly remind myself just because that style or idea worked for them doesn’t mean it will work for me to keep myself true to my own style and voice when I write.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?
As a writer the first thing you want to do is know how to write. No matter how good your story is it will get dropped into the trash with the quickness if it is riddled with writing errors. Improve on your craft consistently. As an author find your voice and stay true to it.

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects?
What can we expect from you in the future? Oh yes. My WIP list is an arm long. LOL I am usually working or 2 or 3 stories at once because the characters stop talking and then pick back up often. I just sent out a 2 book series on the African goddess of the sun and her sister the goddess of the moon, Conquering the Sun and A Warrior for the Moon The next story that is almost ready to be subbed is Ming’s Mojo. It’s about a wife who thinks her husband has become complacent with their marriage. She uses unconventional means to spark his interests in her again.

BK: Where can readers find you?
Readers can always get updated info on me on my website, www.danalittlejohn.net or my blog, www.authordanalittlejohn.blogspot.com They can also follow me on FB and Twitter by searching author Dana Littlejohn

Excerpt One

Jade walked by the dance floor, bobbing her head to the music. Just as she put her glass on a passing waiter’s tray, someone grabbed her hand and yanked her to the dance floor.
“Hey! What the—”
“Shh! Here, turn your back this way. You gotta dance with me. Can you step?”
“What? Excuse you, but—”
“Shh! Please, help me out. I’m trying to hide over here.”
“Hide?” She looked around quickly, letting him pull her around the dance floor. “Hide from what?”
“Not a what, a who. I don’t know who she is, but she’s been following me around since I got here.” He ducked behind her and twirled her around.
She moved stiffly in his arms and spoke crisply. “Look, I didn’t come to this party to do protection work.”
“Okay, then why did you come to this party?” He lowered himself again, his body folded almost in half in an attempt to hide himself behind Jade’s smaller frame. “Shit, don’t move. There she is,” he whispered urgently.
He retreated, pulling Jade with him, closer to the center of the dance floor. Somehow he managed to keep the beat with the fast paced music as he slipped by the dancers He kept his face down and her back turned to the woman, using her as a shield, but Jade’s curiosity was peaked. She peeked over her left shoulder, trying to spy who the man was hiding from.

Excerpt Two

He laughed again. “Yeah, okay. You know, you dance good for someone who got dragged out to the dance floor.”
“It’s well.”
“What’s well?” he asked, sending a quick look over his shoulder.
“It’s, ‘you dance ‘well’ for someone who got dragged to the dance floor.’”
Mike’s brows scrunched as he twirled her again. “That’s what I said.”
Jade shook her head negatively, careful not to miss the beat. “No, that’s not what you said. You said good.”
“Good is bad?” the man asked with a raised brow.
Jade continued to stare at his feet to stay in step with him. “No, good isn’t bad, it’s just not right.”
“So, good is wrong, but not bad?” he asked in a teasing tone.
“No, good isn’t—” Suddenly she stopped moving and looked up at him. “Are you doing that on purpose?”
“Doing what? I’m learning,” he assured her with a laughing grin.
Jade stood on the dance floor staring into his smiling eyes as the people continued to dance around them. Then she rolled her own.
“Whatever.”

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.
Thanks for having me. I had a great time. J

Giveaway:

I have promotional ink pens and key chains I can give away. I will give one 2 readers. (meaning 1 person gets a pen and the other gets a key chain) You can follow Dana's tour HERE to learn more about her and her books and earn more chances to win prizes.

VBT Pit Stop & Guest Post with Cesar - Book of Prophecies

2012-01-20T00:04:00.001-05:00

Prophecies are something I've never really thought about until Cesar came along and introduced me to his book. We've all so much to learn and think about and Cesar gives us a great thought provoking book to help us. Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Cesar, such a pleasure to have you with us.

Cesar has a very experienced background in the spiritual world. He was brought up in a Christian family, but branched out from that base as he got older, seeking answers about the world around him, and the spiritual world around him. In his mid-twenties dramatic events occurred in his life which challenged his very existence, but he learned from these experienced and most of learned that how that life is not just in our own hands. Now Cesar is a firm believer that everyone has their own path to walk in life, and part of that walk is all about the choices that you make. Some people choose a good life and some a wicked life, but most of us live the life in the middle, influenced by the world around us and our own upbringing, Cesar understands that life is simply not black and white.

My Inspiration for Book of Prophecies

There is a lot of talk about whether 2012 might end up being the end of the world, people have pointed to the Mayans and the Hopi and the Egyptians who are all supposedly linked to prophecies about the end of the world. Like many others I have been listening to all the hype with a lot of doubt, but there is an underlying feeling that all of us have; that the world cannot continue as it is. Yes, most of us go around with our head in the sand, but the simple fact is that we are slowly but surely killing our own planet. But why? What is it about our society that makes it impossible to change how we treat our planet?

Well there is a very simple answer to why we cannot change. Greed. You see our society is built upon a system of money and loans and finance, they say that 'money makes the world go round' but you see the world belongs to all of us! I take out a loan to buy a piece of land; land which rightly belongs to all of us. I take my car to fill up on petrol;petrol which rightly belongs to all of us. I could go on, but my point is that in a world where there is no ownership, there is no sense of responsibility. We feel that our responsibility stops at the point where we hand over money.

But this is not the way that life was intended for us all, and change will happen one way or the other. Either we, as a society take responsibility and make the changes, or the changes will be forced upon us by things beyond our control. These ideals were inspiration, but more-so the rollercoaster of ups and downs that my life has become, but I feel now more than ever that my purpose in life was to stand and say to God that I am here and willing to speak for Him. And that simple choice has led me on a long journey to this point, it has opened my eyes to knowledge and things that were maybe forgotten hundreds of years, but I remain a humble man, just existing to pass on a simple message; now is the time for change.

A collection of brand new Prophecies about the world, about the world's economy, about disasters and wars, about terrorist attacks and about survival itself

In this book Cesar takes prophecies to the next level. In the year where everyone will be hearing once again all about Nostradamus, a year in which the Galactic alignment will occur on the 21st of December, comes a Fantastic book which is sure to broaden the imagination of those who believe in prophecies

www.cesarprophecies.com

Thank you so much for chatting with us Cesar. I wish you much success in the future. Cesar is currently on tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and you can view his schedule HERE. Follow along to learn more about Cesar and the prophecies.

GFP Tour Stop & Interview with Lisa Scott

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

Lisa Scott is a former TV news anchor who now enjoys making up stories instead of sticking to the facts. The first book in her Willowdale Romance series will be released by Belle Bridge books in November 2012. In the meantime, she'll be releasing short stories linked to the Willowdale series, in addition to her Flirts! collections.

When not begging her husband and two kids for a few minutes of peace to write her stories, she works as a voice actor and putters around in her koi pond and garden in upstate NY.

Blurb: Every volume of the Flirts! Collection features five sweet, funny romantic short stories, linked by a loose thread. It all ties up in a fab, fun ending, bringing together characters from all the stories in that collection. Each short story is 8,000-12,000 words long--the perfect length to squeeze in during your lunch break or kids' practices. Sometimes you need a little love!

http://readlisascott.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Read-Lisa-Scott/227457993948941

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me to kickoff your tour today from your well-worn recliner with the dog’s chin resting on your laptop. For those of you joining us today, you will also have a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card which Lisa will randomly draw from those that leave a comment during her tour. The more you comment, the greater your chances are of winning!

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...
I work from home as a voice artist and writer. I’m a former TV news anchor and it’s great fun not to be constrained by the facts anymore when telling a story. I’m married with two kids, two cats, a dog, and a pond full of koi fish.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book....
My latest release is Fairy Tale Flirts! It’s volume number four of my Flirts! Collection. Each volume has five linked short stories that tie up together in a fabulous happy ending. My readers love how characters appear in other stories and usually make an appearance at the end.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?
I thought it would be fun to write modern love stories inspired by fairy tales—without any magic. So, I put together Fairy Tale Flirts! Hopefully, they’re infused with a bit of real-life magic.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably the first time I sold something for publication. I’ve sold a few essays and even greeting card verses. When my children were little, I wrote a humorous parenting column online. I didn’t start writing novel length fiction until 2007.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?
I just push through that first horrible draft, no matter how bad it is. I love the revising process, polishing it up with humor and description.

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?
Oh yes, writer’s block is a beast. But usually if I take a walk, things work themselves out in my head and I’m ready to get back to the keyboard.

BK: What is your writing process like?
Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write? I usually have to have the main characters’ back stories all worked out before I can sit down and do serious writing. Once I have that in place, it flows nicely. Then I need to perfect the first few pages so when I’m in the middle of the project, convinced it’s horrible, I can go back to those first few pages and remember why I love it.

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?
I hope more people discover and enjoy short stories. I’d love to keep writing these collections. It’s great for someone like me who comes up with loads of ideas for stories.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
I had a reader write in a review that they were in such a good mood after finishing one of my books. I’d love my books to be the bright spot in someone’s day.

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?
Write what you love to write. While erotica is a hot seller, it’s just not me. But I do love sweet, funny romances, and while my audience might be smaller than that for erotica, this is where I feel comfortable writing, and have a lot of fun with it. I wouldn’t start writing something just to chase a trend.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?
Not everyone is going to love what you write. Don’t be discouraged by that. It’s just not possible to please everyone, so please the audience you’re targeting.

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects?
What can we expect from you in the future? I’m always working on several projects. I signed a two-book deal with Belle Bridge Books for my Willowdale Romance series. Think fun, contemporary romance with a southern twist. No Foolin’ will be published in November 2012. A small town girl poses as a movie star’s girlfriend so no one will know why he’s really in town. Tricking the press they’re in love is one thing; fooling themselves they’re not is getting harder each day. I’ll be preceding that book with a few Willowdale short stories, and of course, more Flirts! Collections. Wedding Flirts! And Reunion Flirts! are coming soon.

BK: Where can readers find you?
www.Readlisascott.com Read Lisa Scott on Facebook and on Twitter.

Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories to squeeze into your busy life. Fun, flirty, sweet, and sassy—always with the perfect happy ending. Discover the link that ties the stories together.

Each story is 8,000 to 11,000 words in length (approximately 32-44 typical book pages in length. 53,000 words total, or 210 typical book pages.)

The stories include:

“The Hot Girl’s Friend”
How can a plain Jane find love when her best friend is a curvy blond man magnet?

Jane usually busies herself during a night on the town, fending off the men lusting after her gorgeous friend Miranda. When Brady the bartender overhears her inspired, ludicrous excuses, he resolves to hook up Jane with his friends. But Jane would be quite happy with him. Pine along as Jane tries to find her own happily ever after.

“Wrong Place, Right Guy”
She’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can the guy who saves her be Mr. Right? Or will his past keep them apart?

When Kristen is jumped in a parking lot, Tony jumps in to save the day. While she thinks her hero could also be her heartthrob, Tony’s worried his past is reason to stay apart. Will the good guy get the girl in the end?

“Not You”
One night with a stranger…gets even stranger the next day.

Single, lonely Carly thinks the best way to handle her mother’s third wedding is by throwing her own bachelorette-party-for-one the night before. What’s the harm in her first one-night stand ever? She’ll find out the next day.

“Desperately Seeking Cupid”
Does she finally have the key for finding love?

Brianna has tried everything to find love—with no luck. So she’s turning to feng shui to bring romance to her world. Too bad the guy she’s after thinks its bunk. Will her formula for love work—or blow up in her face?

“Never Been Dumped”
It’s a relationship with an expiration date and it’s going to go bad.

Rachel hates breaking hearts. She’s never been dumped, and she’s tired of being the one to walk away. But a handsome stranger in town for the summer promises he’ll dump her after their summer fling. Will they be able to say goodbye?

Flirts! Five Romantic Short Stories to make you smile and swoon—buy the collection now for 2.99 or buy single stories for .99 each. Look for Beach Flirts! 5 Romantic Short Stories due out in late summer 2011 and Holiday Flirts! in early November 2011.

excerpt: from "Washed Up" story #4 in the Beach Flirts! collection

He woke to darkness and pain, with a pounding head and churning stomach; but soft lips crushed against his, so the night couldn’t have been that bad. His mouth moved in response, and he reached to find the body attached to those remarkable lips. He wrapped one hand around the back of her neck, while the other trailed further south over her collarbone, cupping a round, firm…

Slap! His eyes opened to an explosion of light. Then he sat up and puked. Seawater spewed from his mouth and someone rolled him onto his side.

“He’s okay, but get the lifeguard!” a woman shouted. She rubbed his arm. “You’re fine. Everything’s fine.”

This wasn’t exactly his definition of fine. He blinked away salty brine and fell back on the sand. “What the hell happened?” He looked up at the woman—petite, with dark eyes, and long hair that glowed in the sun.

“I’m not sure. I found you washed up here.”

He winced at the familiar phrase. Just ask his agent, who hadn’t been able to land him so much as a mall opening in the past three years.

“And then you kissed me?” he asked. Crazy fans had tried worse. At least duct tape and handcuffs hadn’t been involved this time; an actor without his sense of humor might have pressed charges.

“Kiss you?” She rolled her eyes. “Ever heard of CPR? I was a lifeguard in high school. You kissed me, and then you tried…” she winced.

excerpt #2 from "The Hot Girl's Friend" story #! from the Flirts! Collection

We boogied to the hip song of the moment and soon enough, a few gutsy gals left the security of the scattered tables and joined us. Then the drunker of the men crowded the floor, probably wondering if they should shoot for the top and approach Miranda or pick one of us “lesser” girls—like they could flatter us into bed by flirting with us first. For the most part, men at bars are idiots. Newsflash, I know.

“You with the hot chick?” a short, curly-haired guy asked, bumping his hip into mine in some pretense of a dance move.

I bumped back hard enough that he had to catch his balance. “If you mean the tall blonde, yes, I am.”

Out came another bad dance move, with him jiggling his hands like he was shaking a Martini. “She available?”

I shook my head and gave him the bad news. “Not exactly. She starts her prison sentence tomorrow. This is kind of a last hurrah.”

His bushy eyebrows scrunched as he recalculated his plan of attack, not quite ready to give up the chase. Perhaps prison stripes are a turn-on for some guys.

I shrugged. “I suppose she could use a pen pal. Although her ex might be writing to her, too. He seems to have gotten over the whole stabbing thing. You really only need one testicle, right?” I boogied away from him and started getting my excuses ready for the string of men who would soon be lining up to meet the second most appealing woman in the bar—the hot chick’s best friend. Always a good girl to know when trying to make your move. At least, that’s what the men seemed to think.

excerpt #3 from "Spooked by Love" story #1 from Holiday Flirts!

“So, I’m invited to a grownup Halloween party next weekend. Would you like to come? We’ve already got fabulous costumes.” He waggled his eyebrows.

I blew out a long breath. My heart was shouting ‘yes,’ but my brain stamped its foot ‘no’—kind of like Chelsea often did. “I don’t think so.”

Jeff snapped his fingers. “Wait, just a minute. I know what the problem is. I’ll be right back.” He dashed over to the big cauldron of candy and goodies set up on a banquet table, dug through the treats inside, and hurried back. He sat down and stared at me, all serious. Then he smiled, showing off neon-green vampire teeth. “Do you ‘vant to go out ‘vith me now?” he said, with a deep, sultry, Dracula accent.

I laughed so hard I thought I might hiccup. “Because you’re wearing fake teeth?”

Frowning, he lost the accent. “I heard women are really into vampires these days.” He shrugged. “Did my sister lie to me about that?”

My lips twitched into a smile. This guy could’ve been a new hot member of the Cullen family from Twilight, but I still wouldn’t go out with him. “I’m sorry, not even the sexiest, pointiest, vampire teeth could tempt me.”

He leaned across the table towards me, lowering his voice. “I’m a police officer. Are women into police officers these days? I’ve got the uniform and everything.”

I giggled—and I am so not a giggler. “I’m sure plenty of women have a thing for police officers.”

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

Thank you to our sponsor:

VBT Pit Stop Review & Interview with Armin Feldman and Dorene Sager - Our Mother's Recipes

2012-01-17T00:20:00.002-05:00

Dorene Sager and Armin Feldman are sister and brother. the idea for the cookbook sprang from the discovery of a treasure trove of their mother’s recipes after she passed away. Now Our Mother’s Recipes, Carrying On a Jewish Tradition is a Web site, a cookbook, a TV show and a place to learn about what the best Jewish cuisine has to offer.

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Armin and Dorene. It's such a pleasure having you here (Scottsdale). I'm very excited about your cookbook, and after reading it I've found some great recipes I'm going to try myself.

BK: Please tell us a bit about youself...

Dorene represents the best of so many different things. Dorene is a cookbook author, a wife and mother, a commercial real estate broker, a devoted family member, a true friend and so much more. Dorene says “I had so much fun working with my brother putting together all of the different ways to showcase our mother’s recipes.

Armin wears a number of hats too. Armin is a cookbook author, husband, dog lover, supporter of friends and family, medical doctor and a lot more. Armin says “What a treat to work with the best sister ever in creating all of these venues to showcase our mother’s remarkable culinary skills.”

BK: What inspired you two to work together to create a cookbook such as this one?

After our mother passed away (our father had passed away 5 years before) we found hundreds of our mother’s handwritten and typed recipes on 3x5 cards, scraps of paper and in notebooks. We wanted to share these great recipes.

BK: What was it like going through all your mother's recipes, deciding which ones to include in the book?

It was a near impossible task because there were so many great ones to choose from. We picked recipes we enjoyed while growing up.

BK: Was there a lot of reminiscing during this process?

Yes. Most social and family occasions involved meals. We shared lots of good memories.

BK: Which is your favorite recipe?

Armin: I absolutely love mom’s beet borscht. You don’t need to even like beets to love this soup.

Dorene: It’s impossible to say, however, you can’t beat our mother’s brisket. It is to die for. I always want to make enough for leftovers the next day.

BK: I hear you two will be doing cooking videos online, tell us a bit about this?

We hope we are not doing cooking videos online. We would like to have a show on the Food Network. Visit our website at ourmothersrecipesonline.com, take a look at our TV pilot and if you like it click on the link to let the Food Network know we should have a show.

BK: Where do you hope your book will be in the future?

The first book in a series. Our next book will be a holiday cookbook.

BK: Where can readers find you?

Our website is www.OurMothersRecipesOnline.com. Please visit and tell your friends. There is tons of information, recipes and tips. Join our Recipe of the Week Club, it’s free.

BK: What can we expect from you two in the future?

Cookbooks, TV shows and cooking demos.

BK: Anything else you'd like to share with us today?

Check in with our website for new developments, locations of our personal appearances, recipes and more.

Add a wonderful cuisine to your everyday meals and special gatherings. Traditional Jewish cooking is flavorful, fun and hearty particularly with Our Mother's Recipes, Carrying on a Jewish Tradition. These recipes have been handed down through many generations influenced by Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Spanish, German and Eastern European styles of cooking. In our family all of these cultural influences were combined, synthesized and affected by local ingredients through the years resulting in sumptuous, rich and wonderfully fulfilling traditional Jewish dishes.

My Thoughts: I loved this cookbook and have found some amazing recipes that I will be cooking for my own family. They are all easy to understand, and though this may be a Jewish Cookbook, you're going to love it! There is something for everyone. Be sure to visit them online too where you can signup for their Recipe of the Week, watch videos of them actually cooking and more.

Thank you for taking time to chat with me Armin and Dorene. I loved the book, love the site and wish you much success in the future.

Armin and Dorene are on virtual book tour and you can view their schedule HERE.

VBT Pit Stop Giveaway & Guest Post with Kat Jorgensen - Your Eight O'Clock is Dead

2012-01-16T17:17:00.000-05:00

Today we welcome guest author Kat Jorgensen. She will be discussing the road to publishing. Welcome Kat!

A notorious daydreamer, Kat knew it was only a matter of time before she became a writer. She learned to read by age four and had her first library card before her fifth birthday. To this day, she can lose herself for hours among the books at her local library or neighborhood bookstore. Ebooks and online ordering have made it really easy for her to keep her To Be Read pile from ever going down. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Kat is married with children and has a cranky tuxedo cat named Ben.

http://katjorgensen.com

The Road to Publishing

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer. Essays were my favorite part of school. Only a page! You’ve got to be kidding. While classmates breathed a sigh of relief, I was thinking of ways to write smaller so I could crowd more words on that one page. My world history report in high school was a meaty 100 pages. Others turned in a wimpy 25, the required minimum. I had an absolute blast researching and then compiling my notes into a cohesive document. And the A+ wasn’t too bad for my GPA either.

Over the years, I wrote for school newspapers and company magazines, and I enjoyed every minute of it. But somehow I was hesitant to commit to a full-length novel while working full-time and raising a family. Instead, I entertained friends and family with satires on various subjects, short stories and just plain old story ideas. When my audience would laugh, cry or applaud, it was just the best feeling.

My mother always encouraged me to pursue my writing. She always nurtured and supported me in whatever I undertook. Her belief in me was astounding.

So when she passed away in 2000 and I found myself with an empty nest, I decided to write that novel. I figured if she believed in me so wholeheartedly, I should believe in myself.

But where to start? The blank screen stared at me. I switched to paper. The yellow legal sheet mocked me. I read books on writing. I took online classes. I joined online groups. I took writing classes at one of our local universities. I joined local writers’ groups. I wrote a novel. It was the greatest feeling. It ended up being 991 pages!

I was so proud when I went into my monthly writers’ meeting and announced it was done. Much applause. I gave the page count. Total silence. Then someone spoke up and asked if I knew it was too long to be marketable. Yes, I was aware of that. It needed editing. So I went home and thought that one over. The next month I came back and let them know that I knew what my book needed. My college writing teacher wanted to know if it was an eleven page prologue. I had to smile. By now they all realized I like to write and write long. But no, it wasn’t a prologue this book needed. It was severe editing.

I proceeded to phase two - learning how to edit what is written. I trimmed the book by more than half. And in the process learned a great deal about the whole writing process and added even more tools to my novelist toolkit.

Then came phase three - sending it out. More research followed on how to do that. And then the rejections poured in. I was not happy. How could they not love my plot or my characters? How could they reject ME? Yes, I was that new.

I went to writers’ conferences, seminars, took more classes, networked with more writers. Joined a critique group. Went on writing retreats. Volunteered for positions within my local group. Sought out mentors. Gave back where I could as I learned. Immersed myself in my craft. And learned so much.

I continued to write novels. Continued to pitch. Continued to get rejections. But the rejections were better, the feedback more positive. My writing tighter.

As co-program chair for the local writers’ group, I worked on programs with an amazing New York Times best-selling author, Cathy Maxwell. We brought in top writers from all over the country for programs. And we brought in agents and editors. I got to meet with them and I learned from all of them. It was a fabulous experience. And I continued to write and take classes and attend writing events.

In 2008, I had a non-fiction story about how our cat responded to my husband’s 2006 cancer surgeries and recovery published in A Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers. Man’s Best Friend was my first paying writing experience. I got to do local book-signings and met with readers.

Surely, my next novel would sell. Success was right around the corner for my fiction, right? Well, not exactly.

I did continue to write. But I also wasn’t feeling so great. I grew more and more fatigued, but I chalked it all up to the horrors of what my husband and I had been through in the past couple of years.

Cancer hit me, too. Twice. In 2008 and again in 2009. I went through surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. My brain was fogged and my body was weak. My characters and stories were silent. It was a dark time. One where I didn’t write. I wasn’t physically able. I was fighting for my life and I was determined to win.

As I regained my strength, the notion came to me that I should write something funny. Laugh out loud funny. My previous books had been dark and serious. After so many serious issues in my personal life, I didn’t want to go back to that in my writing life. I wanted to kick back and kick up my heels and play. The River City Mystery Series was born. I wrote Your Eight O’Clock Is Dead and amused myself. I amused the people that read it and knew that I’d finally hit my niche.

And I sent it out to the traditional publishers and to New York agents that I had met previously. Which one was going to pick it up? The rejections started. Very positive, almost apologetic rejections. They loved it. YAY, me! They couldn’t represent or buy it due to the fact that I was an unknown quantity and the economic times were so tight in publishing that they were unwilling to take a chance on me. OUCH.

At that point, I had two choices. Write another book and try submitting to traditional publishers or go the indie route. I believed in myself, this book, these characters and this series. So I took the plunge. And I haven’t regretted it for one minute.

People are buying the book, they’re writing to me to tell me how much they enjoy it. I love these letters and emails. To know that my writing is helping people take their minds off of their problems and allowing them to laugh is everything I dreamed it would be. My sole goal in writing is to entertain people. To give them a diversion. To amuse them. If I can do this, then I consider myself successful.

It’s been a long and winding road toward publication for me with plenty of straight stretches, some hills and valleys and lots of curves. But I’m here now at my chosen destination and having a grand time.

Becca Reynolds is having a bad day. Her grandfather’s lecture (#405: Eat a Healthy Diet or Die Not Trying) makes her late for her job at Daley and Palmer, the psychiatrists' office where she works as the office manager—her title, not theirs. Then her sausage and egg breakfast biscuit creates an oil slick that takes out half her desk, along with that day’s patient files. But she knows the day has taken a really bad turn when she discovers the firm’s eight o’clock patient dead with Dr. Dick Daley’s letter opener opening the patient instead of the mail.

With the fledgling firm in danger of an early demise, Becca appoints herself the unofficial investigator since the police seem to be looking in all the wrong places and doing a half-assed job of solving the crime. She begins a journey to find the killer, keep the practice afloat and with it, her job. In the course of her interfere—er, investigation—she finds a virtual cast of characters who could have done it, including the fancy side piece of the murder victim, his wife, his business partner, and even his psychiatrist.

The case takes Becca from the sordid depths of the Russian mob, to the upscale West End of Richmond, Virginia (known locally as River City), and even to her own backyard. In the course of the story she finds herself in hot water, hot danger, and with dreams of hot men.

Thank you for stopping in Kat. It's been a pleasure having you. Kat is also offering one lucky commenter a chance to win an e-copy of Your Eight O'Clock is Dead. Just leave Kat a comment with your email address for a chance to win. Winner will be drawn using Random.org and announced next Monday.

You can get even more chances to win a copy of this title by following Kat's tour, which you can view HERE.

VBT Pit Stop - Guest Blog & Giveaway with Kiki Howell, What Are You Afraid Of?

2012-01-09T03:00:00.003-05:00

Welcome Kiki Howell back to BK Walker Books Etc. Kiki is on tour with her new children's book, What Are You Afraid Of? This little picture book has been getting some awesome reviews and is not just for Halloween. So follow along for a chance to win her grand prize at the end of her tour and to learn more about Kiki and this wonderful new picture book.

Welcome Kiki!

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

“After a long break having my boys, I finally just had to write again. And, as soon as I gave the stories the space, they entered it. It’s both awesome and humbling to find the words in my mind become characters on a page and create their lives.”

She has now had over twenty stories published between seven different small presses. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. Please look around. Although, a bit of caution, most of her stories tend to hang out on the graphically sexy side of town.

In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel,Torn Asunder.

Kiki resides in the Midwest with her incredibly handsome and talented, singer/songwriter husband and two children. When she is not writing, she is spending time with her family, reading, baking or knitting.

Her biggest dream is to have a novel she writes be made into a movie that her husband creates the soundtrack for, and then cruise to Alaska with her family on the money they make.

www.kikihowell.com

Guest Blog – Transitioning From Paranormal to Children’s Stories

I’ve been called a diverse writer, and maybe I am writing all over the place with a published children’s picture book as well as published adult, paranormal romance novel and a many more genres and lengths in between. But, I’m not sure I transition as much as hop *giggles* I’ve never been one to ease into anything, more a stay up all night learning all I can so I can jump in with both feet type of gal. Yes, I should come with a warning sign! LOL But, I write what I’m inspired to - sometimes a subject laying heavy on my heart and sometimes a type of character I want to experiment with, and sometimes a plotline I’ve been handed, etc. But, a good four years into my writing career, I think I am still in that experimental phase, just having fun with whatever inspiration comes my way.

I think I’m more trying my hand, finding my place. I thought when I was younger and dreamed of writing that I would write children’s books, picture books to be exact. But then I grew up with after-school specials and soon my stories turned to be like those. I know when I was first in college that I wrote a few stories, one about a runaway, another about a woman with an eating disorder, and so on – still haven’t been brave enough to go back and read those yet though. LOL Someday. But then life happened, and I didn’t get to write for a good decade. Come the year 2007, I wrote two stories for a writing exercise that were supposed to be in a genre I was not comfortable with, I took as not familiar with. Having just read my first erotic romance, I tried that that genre, and to my surprise, having submitted them on the encouragement of my ever-supportive husband, they were accepted. This of course took me down a road of writing I had never dreamed of. Never even imagined in my wildest dreams! And, these events had all who knew me saying, “It’s always the quiet ones!” Of course one reader early on also said that I could describe anything, sex included. LOL

During this time though, what I noticed I had this constant need to try something new with my writing. I went from contemporary to historical, from paranormal to magic realism, etc. Even in the paranormal realm I moved from different types of creatures, witches to vampires to shapeshifters to incorporating them all in one story. I got good and bad reviews, noticing a consistent theme that the way I liked to describe things often was not right for the adult genre reader that I was writing for. Reviews proved a love or hate my writing kind of thing. But, without description, well I might as well not write, I figured. Because plying with words is what I love about writing, as much as weaving a good tale. What was missing, but crept in from time to time still in various ways, was the messages. I still had this need to tell a story that not only evoked emotions but made people think about important issues in life. I have this constant need to help, to do something worthwhile with my life which translates into assisting others in their lives. So, when I got that first email where a couple who had lost their daughter three years ago and had grown apart had come together again for the first time after reading one of my stories, and was now ready to work on their marriage, well that was an indescribable feeling.

So, when the idea of helping kids overcome their fears, having been a fearful child myself, popped into my head, I did the research and just had to write a story. To help kids overcome such a big issue in a way that didn’t stifle their big creative minds, well I felt on a mission really. It did cross my mind many times to question if I should write a children’s story having established myself as an adult writer. But the story would not be kept silent. And even with many obstacles in my way as the story progressed, I kept with it feeling the message just too important. It was the lesson I wanted out there that kept me going. So one day I was writing a story about a witch using a sex magic spell and the next I was writing a rhyming story based on a dog who was afraid of kids in a Halloween costumes. A jump? Yes. Of course. But one I made happily, not slowly, but jumping in with both feet, writing furiously and snapping pictures of my dogs to illustrate it to boot. And, I did dress my poor dog in a witch costume. I think he has forgiven me?

Now that I have such a diverse line of stories out, I don’t seem to be stopping. Again, no smooth transitions, but absolute leaps and bounds from genre to genre. You should see my line up of stories to edit and write in 2012! I have a sexy trilogy involving vampires, witches and werewolves at war in a resort town; I have my first steampunk story with a Valentine’s Day theme; I have a more reality based mainstream novel about a gifted woman coming to accept who she is and what she can do in the city of Salem, MA; and I have a story taking shape, a contemporary, feel-good type story about a veteran forty years after the Vietnam war as told through his forty year old daughters eyes. All I have left is to try YA! LOL No ideas yet though unless I brave those old manuscripts from college. But I shall keep hoping until I find where my writing voice shines best, or maybe I shall just keep jumping around. Who knows?

What Are You Afraid Of? - A Children's Picture Book

While this book is set during Halloween, it's really a book which addresses the issue of dealing with a child's fears and is meant to be read during any season by any child dealing with any fear. The setting came about because the author's dog is actually afraid of children in costumes on Halloween, and the idea seemed just funny enough an approach to work with this very important subject. Please read the Note from the Author to find out more about why this book was written. “Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark.

Everyone has fears, even a big dog like Drake. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the children in costumes on Halloween. He really only likes the candy his boy drops.

Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game.
Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along.

Giveaway:

Kiki is offering one lucky commenter from her entire tour a chance to win a tote bag with a picture of Zoe and Drake on it that will be filled with dog stuff - plush dogs, dog coloring book, etc.

Schedule:

December 22 - Kick Off at VBT Cafe' Blog
December 27 - Review at Loves To Read
December 29 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
December 29 - Interviewed at KWOD Radio 7:30pm ESTJanuary 2 - Review & Interviewed at Rhodes Review
January 4 - Reviewed at Sacred Legacy Reviews
January 7 - Reviewed at From The TBR Pile
January 9 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc
January 11 - Interviewed at Reviews & Interviews
January 17 - Interviewed at BK Media Entertainment
January 19 - Interviewed at Writing Innovations
January 24 - Guest Blogging with Louise James
January 26 - Review & Guest Blogging at Mad Moose Mama

VBT Pit Stop with Jimmy Gordon - Dartboard

2012-01-08T13:29:00.002-05:00

1776: An English payroll ship loses sight of its convoy and wrecks on the shoals of a small, remote Caribbean island during a terrible storm, marooning its crew and a small group of soldiers. After rescuing the gold and burying it on the island, they are overrun by a tribe of cannibals, leaving the treasure hidden... Today: Jimmy Quigley, a small town cop, inherits a boat and a treasure map from his Uncle Jackson, a renowned world explorer. He hooks up with Evelyn Quinn, who also received a small inheritance from his uncle. He heads to the Caribbean with Evelyn and her friend, Kristin, and his friend, Rick, for some fun in the sun and a possible treasure hunt. When the boat is ransacked by thieves not once, but twice, Jimmy wonders if his uncle's warning to watch his back has more to it than he first thought. With his friends' safety and the fate of the Lorraine gold in mind, Jimmy heads off into the biggest adventure of his life...

Firefighter and paramedic-turned-author Jimmy (J.D.) Gordon was born and raised in Chicago where he developed a taste for the finer things that the Windy City has to offer - pan pizza, live blues and the Cubs.

Jimmy dropped into the world of literature, literally. After falling off a train and breaking his knee Jimmy had to spend quite a bit of time recuperating. While visiting the firehouse his peers asked what he planned to with all that time away. This when Jimmy said the words that he now claims to have changed his life. "I should write a book."

Despite some skepticism from his peers ("You don't even use punctuation on your run reports!"), he completed a novel, Island Bound, and made it a point to use punctuation throughout.

Another injury, sustained on the job, ended his career in the fire service. Aside from writing Gordon spends his Spring and Summer as an umpire for high school and youth baseball. He now lives with his wife and children in Glen Ellyn IL, a suburb of Chicago.

Schedule

December 26 - Meet &Greet at VBT Cafe' Blog

December 29 - Interviewed at Reviews & Interviews

December 31 - Guest Blogging at Ashley's Bookshelf

January 2 - Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine

January 6 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words

January 8 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.

January 9 - Interviewed at Writing Innovations

January 10 - Interviewed by Louise James

January 14 - Interviewed at Written in Blood

January 17 - Six of a Story at Authors Promoting Authors

January 23 - Interviewed at BK Media Entertainment

January 26 - Interviewed at Unnecessary Musings

January 30 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services

February 1 - Reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

February 3 - Guest Blogging at Words I Write Crazy

VBT Pit Stop & Review of Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot by Guy Magar

2012-01-07T12:11:00.000-05:00

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Guy. I'm so pleased to take part in your tour. I had the pleasure of reviewing his memoir, Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot. So have a seat, grab a coffee, and let's talk books shall we?

Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot is a memoir about magic...the magic of making movies and the magic of finding true love.

Movie lovers will discover what it would be like to work in the dream factory, to be a film director, to have an inside peek at Hollywood s inner workings making movies and TV shows. This memoir brings to life the many personalities and stars encountered, and tells the hilarious stories on the rocky road to Hollywood success.

With production work spanning over 100 credits from shorts to TV shows to feature films, Guy Magar s behind-the-scenes stories range from his first producer turning out to be a Mafia assassin, to shooting in Egypt for the original series Battlestar Galactica, to almost decapitating a young Drew Barrymore after ET, and to almost derailing James Cameron s career (or slowing it down as he proved way too talented for anyone to alter his storied destiny.) This memoir is about living the great American dream, an immigrant s dream to make movies in Hollywood.

” Kiss me quick before I shoot has been my welcoming catchphrase to my wife Jacqui whenever she visited on-set, seemingly always just before I rolled cameras.” And so this book is also about a deeper magic, the magic of finding a life partner.

Jacqui and I were married in a beautifully costumed Renaissance-themed wedding. I got to duel in a sword fight to win her hand against hooligans (stuntmen friends) who kidnapped her after she arrived by horse and buggy in front of 300 surprised guests. It was a magical wedding and my Errol Flynn life moment! Now, 28 years later, I am still head-over-heels in love with Jacqui.

But then, suddenly, Jacqui was diagnosed with leukemia. I immediately moved into the role of caregiver, and my entire 24-hour life focus became Jacqui s healing. We discovered the medical mecca of the City of Hope where we met a world-class gifted doctor who welcomed Jacqui to join their national stem cells trial. We locked up our house, boarded the dog, and moved in to start Jacqui s curative journey back to health.

DARE TO DREAM! As an immigrant I had Hollywood dreams to become a director and I did...I dreamed of finding true love and I did at 34...and when Jacqui got ill, I dreamed we would find a way to heal her, and we did. People love stories about making dreams come true. I dared to dream!

This passionate, life-celebrating memoir embraces both love and work within entertaining stories of what it s like to live this dream. Join me on a wild and thrilling rollercoaster ride of a Hollywood film career, of the intoxicating highs of finding and sharing true love, and of the sweet triumph of survival and healing…all rolled into one magical journey!

My Thoughts:

Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot is one of the best memoirs I've read. It was so wonderfully written that I didn't feel like I was reading a memoir, but more like sitting down with Guy listening to him tell me stories about his life as a director and finding his true love. Who knew life as a director could be so darn interesting? I loved hearing all his stories, about his college years, being wild and crazy, and finding his wife, Jacqui, What a wedding that would have been to witness too. The fact that he was asked to direct Children of the Corn: Revelations, and then found creepy corn growing in his yard was what I would definitely call "irony". I truly enjoyed this book, it was easy to read, kept me turning the pages, had me laughing and even sometimes crying as we learned about Guy and Jacqui, how they found each other, and some of the major trials they had to overcome. They did it though, together! By the way, where can I find a Guy? LOL.

Definitely worth reading so I suggest you grab a copy and start reading, you won't be disappointed.

Guy Magar was nine years old when he left Egypt in 1958. His family immigrated to the U.S., where he grew up in Middletown, New York. Graduating from Rutgers University with a B.A. in philosophy, Guy began his film career at the London Film School. Soup Run, his first short about the homeless, won a Special Jury Prize at the 1974 San Francisco International Film Fest.

In 1978, Guy relocated to Los Angeles to attend the American Film Institute. His first dramatic short, Once Upon an Evening (made for $500 at the AFI) earned him a seven-year deal at Universal Studios. He soon began directing network TV dramas in the action/adventure genre. Guy has over 100 film credits including episodes of series La Femme Nikita, Sliders, The A-Team, Blue Thunder, Fortune Hunter, The Young Riders, Lawless, Hunter, and the CBS pilot/Movie of the Week Dark Avenger. He also directed 35 episodes of the studio daytime drama Capitol. In 1995, Guy was nominated for a Golden Reel Award for his television work on the series Nowhere Man.

Guy’s feature film credits include Lookin’ Italian (starring TV “Friends” co-star Matt LeBlanc and singer Lou Rawls in their first film); Stepfather 3 which launched HBO’s World Premiere Series; and the cult thrillerRetribution which will be released for the first time on DVD on its 25th anniversary on Halloween 2011. His most recent feature directing credit is Children of the Corn: Revelation based on Stephen King’s original story for Dimension Films.

Guy is founder of the Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminars, which for the last ten years, has provided the acclaimed “page to screen” industry workshop—a two-day educational overview of the creative filmmaking process. Action/Cut has taught thousands of filmmakers at over 100 weekend seminar events during annual USA and international tours. His seminar is offered as a 12-hour DVD home film course which sells worldwide in stores and online.

Guy is also founder of the annual Action/Cut Short Film Competition, which provides an opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their talents. The one-of-a-kind prize packages are designed to help launch film careers and assist in opening industry doors. Action/Cut was one of the first to stream winning films on the Internet, which can be viewed year-round on its website. MovieMaker magazine reviewed the Action/Cut Competition as one of the “Top 10 Shorts Festival in the World for Filmmakers.”

Guy provides a consultancy service for directors and screenwriters, and private coaching for actors. In 2011, Guy published his memoir entitled Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot. He can be reached through thecontact page on this website or at his Action/Cut Filmmaking Seminars and Short Film Competition website.

Guy lives in the Hollywood Hills with Jacqui, his beautiful wife of 26 years.

Thanks Guy for sharing your memories with us. You can follow Guy's entire tour HERE for a chance to get to learn more about him.

VBT Pit Stop & Interview with David Knight - I Am I: The In-Dweller of your Heart

2011-12-29T13:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today from your home in the UK

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...

Hi, my name is David and I’m 47 years of age. I’m married to Caroline and we live with our adopted cats Toby, Treacle, Spiky and Missy in Northamptonshire in the UK. In growing up I could describe myself as a Mr. Average or like a 'Joe Bloggs really. I don’t feel that I have any airs and graces but just want to help people in their lives, especially through Spiritual education and guidance Whilst I have earned a living in various types of work, (this ranged from HM Forces, Financial Services, Care Assistant and self-employment) my search for fulfilment changed from the exterior and without to the interior and within. My hobbies (when time permits) are DIY, renovating, spending time with family and friends and very rarely now…online PS 3 gaming.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book....

I am I: The In-dweller of your Heart is the first part of at least two books to uplift and inspire one’s soul and heart throughout this roller-coaster called life. It’s like having a reference to guide and lean upon in both happy and sad times. If one is not able to connect with their own heart’s center, one of the 52 lessons will surely help and motivate you to overcome the challenges that we all face. Ultimately, it is for leading you on towards the goal of self- realization of one’s own Divinity, recognizing the permanent bliss and peace within.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?

After books one (Pathway) and the sequel (Deliverance of Love, Light and Truth) which were both ‘Channeled’ books, something bizarre occurred. It felt like an even stronger connection to my heart had enveloped me. I had been instructed by my spirit guides that I would hear and sense the words of God flow in, through and from me. It was at that point I knew I needed to write a new book.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I guess that was when the first book came to fruition really. It’s interesting though, because from the outside looking in, people often assume that you’re only classed as a writer if you’re being paid for it. Or, if someone writes a Novella then it’s not really classed as a book as such. As with any creative expression you need to have a passion for what you’re doing or else what is being said, painted, built etc will not contain the essence of the true you. I guess it’s for others to judge whether something is worthwhile to them or not. Price / cost shouldn’t really enter into the equation but the materialistic world in which we live in seems to dictate and try to have a hold over us all.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?

I knew, or rather felt within that there would be 52 lessons to write so I had it quite easy in that respect. I knew at what point the book would end and its actual structure as it were. There aren’t any characters apart from the reader and God…which in fact is one and the same as weird as that may sound! I just wanted to may sure that I didn’t let ‘God’ down in any way, as its difficult sometimes to get that balance of family, work and home responsibilities right in our lives isn’t it?

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?

Mmm…I didn’t really have set times to write but almost always knew within when I needed too. It was like a pull of the heart strings. Or, something could happen or I could feel emotions within me from what I see or hear. On occasions when my mind has been a bit turbulent or am very tired then when I have started to write the connection to my heart becomes slightly disturbed. If one is unfocused in any way its like looking through Rose colored glasses…you don’t see the true picture. We need to look through the lens of our heart, mind and soul as one. That way we can look, feel and sense the truth.

BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?

I guess most writers like peace and quite and I am probably no different. I used to try and set the scene…incense, candles… soft music etc but nowadays nothing can be better than sitting in the garden on a warm day and feeling God’s words flow from within, while seeing / sensing God in nature all around you.

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?

Well, many years ago I had a feeling that Spirit wanted me to write 7 books in my life so this is book 3 and 4 to go! A lot of people feel they need fame and fortune but they are just trinkets that adorn the body within the permanent world. Yes I would like to write full time for a living but that would have to be through God’s will not mine. He knows what we need and when and I am sure he’s fully aware of mine! It would be great to be able to have an income from my books. Ideally I would split it into 3 …one third for charity, one third for continued writing / promotion / marketing and making the books as good as they can be …and the rest for living and bills and for helping family and friends too.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?

I sincerely hope that they will feel the love that is within and all around them. That they can move forward in their lives with an open heart and make all their dreams come true.

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?

That the power, love, light and the truth is within everyone single one of us and in all ‘life’.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?

Don’t give up on your dreams and goals...for it’s only yourself who can stop you from being who you want to be.

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?

Yes, I am currently working on part 2 of I am I: The In-dweller of your Heart. The lessons are even more amazing (if that is possible) and will make you want to reach beyond the stars from within your heart. Love is simple and everything is simply love too. Tears of joy and hope have flowed while writing it.

BK: Where can readers find you?

The books are on all e-book formats (through Smashwords.com) and they are available from Amazon on paperback / kindle too. I have my blog/ website which is http://AscensionForYou.co.uk/blog

I am also on the social networks Twitter@AscensionForYou and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AscensionForYou-Spiritual-Guidance-and-Education/147338671945241

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

It’s been great. I really appreciate your support and I hope that the readers can connect in some way with the interview today! God Bless to all. Thanks Dave

DAVID KNIGHT was born into his current physical embodiment in 1964. He is married to Caroline and they live with their adopted cats Toby, Treacle, Spiky and Missy in the UK. In growing up he describes himself as a Mr. Average or like a 'Joe Bloggs'. Whilst earning a living in various types of work, (this ranged from HM Forces, Financial Services, a Care Assistant and also self-employment) his search for fulfilment changed from the exterior and without to the interior and within.
Spiritual education gained a greater momentum and at the age of 21 a more urgent sense of dedication as well as a new realization had set in. New evidence of and from God, were soon revealed through his life experiences. With the aid of Spirit guides and beings from the ethereal planes, the foundations were laid for all who wished to develop and experience their Hearts flame of love and light and to embark upon a unique opportunity for all soul's in this lifetime.

http://www.ascensionforyou.co.uk/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AscensionForYou-Spiritual-Guidance-and Education/147338671945241

I am I: The In-Dweller of your Heart is a stepping stone for all who embark upon their own quest for 'Spiritual' education and guidance. So, even if you are comfortable with your own faith and religion, you may have decided to explore new interpretations and such issues on a personal or global scale.
The author David Knight has received and transcribed these passages of text in a process known as 'Inner Dictation'. He describes this as writing from within the connection of his heart where peace, bliss, love and light reign supreme.
God's wisdom and teachings are laid out before you so you can simply choose and read whenever or whatever your heart needs or desires. They are guidelines, principles and simple directions for you to now dip your toes or dive headfirst into the waters of you're own Divine essence.
These books will form the very threads of life's new tapestry, each being spun into 52 lessons from, to and through our own hearts and soul's. They are like a father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, partner or personal friend who knows you better than you can ever know 'yourself'.
Part 1 is a companion for life which does not judge, condemn or scold, but hopes to encourage, guide, console, teach and remind you of who and what you are, why you live and for what purpose too!

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/-Dweller-Heart-Inner-Dictations-Knight/dp/1466499354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322343692&sr=8-1

David's book is being launched on 2/2/12 on Amazon. There is an exciting contest that is in effect from now until the Launch.

There are great prizes that are involved:

$100 gift certificate for Amazon toward a Kindle

Two $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificates

Authors can substitute their choice of a video book review or Facebook Welcome page for the Kindle Gift Certificate if they win.

To enter, visit David's blog: http://www.ascensionforyou.co.uk/blog

Please fill out the Contest form. You can complete at least one task option to enter
but the more tasks you complete, the more entries you will have.

Giveaway:

There is the free e-book to down load of Deliverance of Love, Light and Truth at Smashwords… here is the link http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/15380

Follow David's Tour HERE

VBT Pit Stop with Rachel Thompson - Review of Mancode: Exposed & Kindle Giveaway

2011-12-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc Rachel! Today I had the pleasure of reading Rachel's newest release, Mancode:Exposed. I enjoyed reading A Walk In The Snark, read my review HERE, so much that when she asked me to review the next installment I jumped on it. So welcome Rachel and let's check out Mancode:Exposed!

Is it possible to truly expose men?

Men, women, sex, love, stereotypes. Important world topics like garages, lingerie, and um, chocolate? It's a melting pot (okay, now you're just getting hungry)...

But more than that, it's about all the levels in which we communicate...viewed through Thompson's looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark.

Thompson explores controversial questions like: Can we outrun our DNA? Will we women always be slaves to our talkative nature (après sex)? Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding? Can we transfer man's paper towel changing abilities from garage to kitchen?

"Women see a man scratching his stuff and want to run away. Quickly. Men see a woman rearranging her breasts, he's mesmerized. Imagine that."

My Review:

According to the dictionary, the definition of Snark is - Combination of "snide" and "remark". Sarcastic comment(s). Also snarky (adj.) and snarkily (adv.)

According to me, the definition is RachelintheOC, Rachel Thompson, Mancode vs. Chickspeak, A Walk In The Snark, Mancode Exposed!

I absolutely just love the work of Rachel Thompson. Not only is she an amazing person, her writing is witty, humorous, and OMG Brilliant! Where the heck does she come up with this stuff? She never fails to bring a smile to one's face and if you have followed her blog or read her first book, A Walk in the Snark, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you haven't done either of the above, well let me tell you, you're missing out on some good stuff. So hop on over to www.rachelintheoc.com, buckle up, and enjoy the ride! You will love it!

In Macode Exposed Thompson hits more on the man aspect of her rants and deconstruction, but boy oh boy is she right on. Don't fret guys, she also incorporates some Chickspeak as well. From a man's personal domain - his garage, to California Barbies, to a guys "One Size Fits All Fix It" box, you are sure to be laughing with her antics and explanations!

Rent-A-Husband was brilliant though I really love the idea of a Cabana boy. I absolutely loved Mark on the World, where men may actually need to be marking their territories. It just goes on and on, and I'm telling you this is stuff you need to get your hands on, guys and gals alike. I believe with Thompson's books, it may just open up the lines of communication in relationships, which let's admit it, that's where many fall short, (no she's not a therapist, but what better way to crack that code than with humor and a book to prove it?)!

I absolutely give Mancode Exposed 5 stars, and highly encourage you to buy it, buy A Walk In The Snark, and watch for her upcoming releases which I know she will not disappoint. You'll be glad you did.

I'm a chick who writes stuff that makes you laugh. My blog has been nominated for funniest blog this year. I've been told I write in the style of that Dickens guy. Kidding.

I'm a mom, a wife, and a recovering pharmaceuticals rep. It's been a long process but I'm doing okay, thanks.

I usually write about men (The Mancode), marriage, kids, being a mom, living in the OC (ya know--being a pale redhead living in a sea of blondes) and vodka. Not necessarily in that order depending on the day.

I also write occasionally about serious stuff, like the death of someone I once loved or lost love--so don't be shocked if you come visit and don't see the funny.

Don't come here looking to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I'm pretty much allergic to both of those words.

If you want to learn how to find humor in everyday life, well, I'm really not your girl either. Mostly I just laugh at stuff and make up words (See "Refrigeratoritis and Manesia.") Yet somehow it all seems to work.

And don't call me cute. (Hint: babies and puppies are cute. Grown women are not.)

www.rachelintheoc.com

Giveaway Time!

Follow Rachel's tour HERE. Be sure to introduce yourself in a comment, she loves to hear from readers! PLUS - for every comment you leave along her tour, you also get an entry to win a brand new Kindle at the end of her tour where one lucky winner will be randomly drawn! WOOHOO!

Giveaway & Interview with Emlyn Chand - Farsighted

2011-11-30T00:04:00.003-05:00

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. Emlyn. I'm so pleased to have you here taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me today.

Emlyn is currently on tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. She is also offering one lucky commenter from her entire tour to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, YAY! Who couldn't use some new books or gadgets?

Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

BK: Please tell us a little bit about your current release...
EC: Farsighted tells the story of Alex Kosmitoras. Here’s my mini teaser: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.

BK: What inspired this particular novel/book?
EC: Everything started with a single image—my face in these tacky oversized sunglasses reflecting out at me from the car’s side mirror. I was daydreaming while my husband drove us across Michigan for my sister’s wedding. Something about my image really struck me in an almost horrific way. I felt the glasses made me look blind but found it so weird that there was still a clear image within them; it seemed so contradictory. At the time, my book club was reading The Odyssey, which features the blind Theban prophet, Tieresias. I started thinking about what it would be like to have non-visual visions of the future and began forming a modern Tieresias in my mind. Lo and behold, Alex Kosmitoras was born. I didn’t want him to be alone in his psychic subculture, so I found other characters with other powers to keep him company. Thank God for my poor fashion sense.
BK: Sounds fascinating!

BK: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
EC: I was born with a fountain pen grasped firmly in my left hand, at least that’s what my Twitter bio says. But seriously, I do believe writers are born into the craft—we haven’t got much choice, but it’s a great calling to have. As a child, I always had a story to tell. I also loved illustrating my own books and comics. I first became a writer writer when I began doing a book review column for the local paper. That taught me the importance of deadlines and letting the words flow out even when I had no idea what direction they’d take me in.

BK: How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?
EC: One thing I hear from readers quite a bit is that the paranormal seems normal in Farsighted. They don’t question the existence of the powers, and it doesn’t seem out there like some other books of the genre do. That was important to me. I wanted my story to be run by the characters, not the fantastic elements. This is a story about Alex, not about a blind psychic.

BK: What was the hardest thing about writing this story?
EC: The hardest part was getting started! I spent about three months trying to talk myself out of writing Farsighted. It’s too ambitious, my inner critic pointed out. You’ll never get it done, not in the way it deserves to be done, it pressed. But there was another part of me that couldn’t resist; I knew I had to at least try before giving up. So glad I decided to be an optimist for a change!
BK: The inner critic can sometimes be the worst. Glad you won out on that :).

BK: What character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?
EC: Shapri. She is the kind of the person I wish I could have been back in high school. She’s strong, always true to herself, and won’t let anyone disrespect her. Sure, she has fears, but we all do. Shapri is the kind of girl I would love to be friends with. You know she’ll always go to bat for you when you’re too tired to step up to the plate. As for more romance brewing, you can count on it.

BK: Which was your favorite scene to write?
EC: Definitely, definitely the big show-down scene at the end. I can’t say more, or it’ll give the story away!

BK: Will this become a series? If so, what inspired it to be a series?
EC: Yes. It’s a 5-book series. There was just too much story to be told and too many great characters to explore. Plus YA series are a ton of fun!

BK: Now for a little fun, and into your everyday life, What is a day in your life like?
EC: Really, my day is quite simple. Wake up (usually anywhere from 2 AM to 6 AM depending on how much I need to get done). Work until 7 PM. Eat dinner with my husband. Either watch television or read a book until I fall asleep. Repeat on loop. When I’m actively writing (as opposed to editing or marketing my work), I like to write at least 1 1/2 hours first thing in the morning. I go to Biggby or Panera to get it done. The rest is devoted to my burgeoning business, Novel Publicity.

Hey, didn’t somebody important say, “far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing?” I don’t mind having to give-up the other parts of my life to pursue my work, because I love it. I know I’ll eventually need to achieve a better balance, but for now, I’m content to push the pedal to the metal.

BK: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
EC: I like to watch Glee and eat Taco Bell. I also run a 400-member book club that reads the classics.
BK: Mmmm. Love those stop sign tacos from TB. Book club? You are a busy woman :).

BK: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
EC: Hmm... Well, up until quite recently, I was a shy and socially awkward person. I felt very nervous participating in social interactions and was constantly sticking my foot in my mouth and giving it a good chew. At some point, I adopted the policy fake it until you make it and forced myself into extraversion. Novel Publicity has really brought me out of my shell. I had to get over my social anxiety if I wanted my business to take off, so I did, and it did.
BK: YAY YOU! I find that happens with a lot of writers. They are shy until the marketing begins, including myself lol.

BK: What do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
EC: I LOVE YA—I read it, write it, love it! JK Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and JD Salinger are classic faves. I’m currently reading Matched by Ally Condie and am absolutely loving it. Next up is the Tiger series by Colleen Houck, another set of books I anticipate greatly enjoying.

BK: Please tell us one piece of advice you were given as an author that you carry with you when you write?
EC: Always believe in your work while always trying to make it better :-D

BK: What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?
EC: My advice is this: Have fun with your writing. Don’t put pressure on yourself or your story and don’t try to fit either into some type of mold. Not every work HAS to be published, but every work will teach you something, and it will make you a better writer. Find the joy in writing, and you won’t go wrong.

BK: What are you currently working on?
EC: Farsighted is a 5-book series. Each book will be told from a different character’s point-of-view, so in book #2, we’ll actually be able to see what Grandon looks like! Next up is Open Heart. I hope to have that ready by the middle of next year.

BK: Where can readers connect with you?
EC: Here’s my link-laden bio: Emlyn Chand is the president of Novel Publicity and a YA author. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her first novel Farsighted released in late 2011 and is of the YA genre. Learn more about Emlyn at www.emlynchand.com or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or GoodReads.
Author Website: www.emlynchand.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/emlynchand

Twitter: www.twitter.com/emlynchand

GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/emlynchand

Google+: www.gplus.to/emlynchand

Novel Publicity: www.novelpublicity.com

SUPER AWESOME BOOK TRAILER: http://youtu.be/tZjskE5zjzM

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Excerpt: This is from chapter 3. I call it “fight.”

I sulk into school the next day, irritated about the way my brain’s been malfunctioning lately and embarrassed by how I’ve been around Simmi. The last thing I need is more problems. I head into first period attempting to disappear. No such luck.

“You better watch yourself, Kosmitoras,” Brady Evans growls. I wasn’t even aware he had entered the class, but now here he is, uncomfortably close to my desk.

I don’t say anything. I don’t want to encourage him. Even the slightest word taken out of context might set him off. The bell rings, but the teacher hasn’t come in yet. The other students are milling about, whispering excitedly.

“You’re lucky you’re a cripple, freak, or I’d—” Brady says. Why is he still here? I didn’t do anything to make him angry. Some of the students start taunting Brady, telling him to throw a punch at me. Brady laughs; clearly he loves the attention.

After a moment, the whispering stops. Brady’s moved away from my desk so fast I hardly even realized it. I decide to let the whole thing go, but then footsteps come toward me again, carrying with them the scents of Axe deodorant spray and dried sweat. Brady seems intent on a confrontation. Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint him.

Slyly, I nudge the end of my cane across my seat and into the aisle. Not sticking out far enough to be noticed but still far enough to get in the way.

Thud! Brady trips and falls headlong down the aisle.

Ha, always wanted to do that. Sometimes blindness comes in handy. No one would ever guess this wasn’t an accident.

“You better watch yourself, Kosmitoras,” Brady growls, back on his feet now.

“You better watch yourself, Evans,” I hiss back, drawing out the S at the end of Evans. I’m a venomous cobra, ready to spring at the slightest hint of danger.

The bell rings. Wait didn’t the bell already ring? Haven’t I been here before?

The other students in the class are milling about, whispering excitedly.

“You’re lucky you’re a cripple, freak, or I’d—” Brady says.

“Or what?” I challenge, rising to my feet while wrapping my knuckles around the handle of my cane and solidifying my grip. I’ve had enough, and besides, what have I got to lose by standing up to him? If anything, a fight with Brady could improve my social standing.

The whispering grows louder. Some of the students start taunting Brady, telling him to throw a punch at me.
Brady laughs arrogantly, “or I’d make you sorry.” He cracks his knuckles as if his words weren’t clear enough.

“I’m not a cripple, but I am going to make you sorry,” I shout, bringing the end of my cane down hard on Brady’s toes.

I can tell it hurt, but Brady doesn’t make any noise to indicate it. He’s too much of a tough guy. Instead, he punches me in the stomach.

I don’t feel anything except a pulsing pain in my middle. And anger, a lot of anger. I raise my cane again and thwack Brady higher up—his face, his neck, I don’t care as long as it hurts.
This time he cries out in pain.

Now, I’m laughing. This is what he deserves, since he just couldn’t leave me alone.
The teacher comes into the classroom. The other students grow quiet, waiting to find out what she’ll do.
Brady punches me in the nose. There’s a crack as he makes contact with the bone. Blood spurts out from my nostrils and flows into my mouth—guess I’ve gotten my daily dose of iron now. I almost throw up, but before I can, the teacher is pulling me and Brady out of the classroom by the collars of our shirts and walking us down the hall toward the principal’s office.

Giveaway:

Follow Emlyn's tour for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. One lucky commenter will be randomly drawn at the end of her tour and maybe that will be you. You can access her tour schedule HERE. To enter, just leave a comment with your email address. Good luck.

Thank you so much for stopping in Emlyn. It truly has been a pleasure. I wish you much success in the future and can't wait to learn even more about you :).

Rise and Fall of a Track Star by Omegia Keeys - Review

2011-11-25T18:27:00.002-05:00

From Pan Am Game bronze medal winner to All American, Omegia Keeys was once touted in Track Magazine as one destined for greatness, but walked away from it all. Rise and Fall of a Track Star is Omegia’s firsthand account leading her to the breaking point. For years Omegia held on to the shame of a dirty little secret, one too common in the African American Community.

Through her memoirs Omegia takes you on a journey through her childhood onto her adult years. Her struggles as a teenage mother is only a checkmark on the list of life altering experiences, ones she hopes young girls and woman can learn from.

Omegia has one goal with her story, to educate, help others, and to release the long carried shame.

My Review:

Rise and Fall of a Track Star by Omegia Keeys was definitely not what I was expecting. This title will have you feeling so many emotions as you flip through the pages. I give her credit for putting it all out there like she did.

There were times I was angry at her mother, then at her friends, because really? How could friends do that to you? In the end though, I was left with a strong respect for Omegia and her Mother, feeling sorry for all this woman and child had to endure yet amazed at the strength she portrayed through it all.

If you are not touched by this story, then you are just completely heartless. Instead of her experiences breaking her, she found the strength to survive. Kudos Omegia! There are several messages involved in her story, the one that stands out for me is to never let your dreams die. This is a very fast paced, intriguing story that you will find you can't put it down until you are finished just to see how it all ends. She holds nothing back and I can only imagine how hard it was to write it all down, then bare it for the world to see. I highly recommend Rise and Fall of a Track Star, giving it 5 lattes!

Entrepreneur, Award Winning Author, Publishing Liaison, and Motivational Speaker are just a few of the makings of Omegia Keeys. After serving two terms in the military Omegia went on to apply her strategic planning to the publishing industry for the past five years. She has garnered numerous awards and praise to include theScribe Award for the National Black Book Festival and ranking in the top 100 books of 2010. She is currently on tour promoting her memoir Rise and Fall of a Track Star and finishing up the sequel entitled Single, Black, and Government Owned.

From The Mind of Omegia

VBT Interview & Giveaway with Omegia Keeys - Rise and Fall of a Track Star

2011-10-27T14:28:00.000-04:00

Today I am pleased to welcome Omegia Keeys. She is currently on tour with her memoir, Rise and Fall of a Track Star. You can view her entire schedule HERE. She is also kind enough to offer 2 lucky winners an e-copy of her book. Just leave a comment with your email address for your chance to win, and also follow her tour for even more chances by clicking above.

So without further ado, Welcome Omegia. Let's talk books.

BK: What inspired you to put your life in a book for all to see?
OK: Well my oldest son was graduating from high school and I felt it would be the perfect time as he is a huge part of the early years of my life.

BK: Penning a memoir can be very difficult, yet healing. What was it like for you to write this story?
OK: It was an emotional rollercoaster. For years I had repressed things, thought I was completely over some, and because I am older realized things were not as cut and dry as I once thought. I am thankful I had a great friend, another author, who I read a few chapters to at a time as I was getting in it all out my head.

BK: What kind of response have you received from the people you speak about in your book?
OK: It’s amazing a lot of people said they can relate to the topics I covered. I didn’t know so many people could be touched by my words. I just had a reviewer tell me she loved the book.

BK: Has your family read it? Were they shocked to learn some of the things you had to go through?
OK: Shock from some, mainly my mother. She had no clue of some of the things going on with me. My close friend was like she is glad I wrote it and had no problem with me using her real name.

BK: How has writing this memoir changed your life today?
OK: It has made me a lot stronger and open. I no longer feel like I am hiding the real me behind a brick wall.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
OK: I hope my readers feel they are not alone and can talk to someone. If their family doesn’t want to listen there are others that will.

BK: Have you received any mail or reviews stating that you and your book have helped them in some way?
OK: I just had a reviewer tell me she loved the book. My editors comments were she wanted to hug me and punch the people who did me wrong.

BK: What is one thing you would like to say to readers that have or will read your book?
OK: That they are now willing to stop judging people so hard. You never know what is making someone else be distant, angry, drink a little too much, instead ask the person what’s wrong and let them know they are there to listen.

BK: What advice or counseling would you give to someone who has gone through what you have endured, or something similar?
OK: After I stop crying I will hug them and let them know whatever happened it is not their shame but the person who did it shame. I know it will be hard but do not let the incident be the defining moment of their life.

BK: Anything else you would like to share?
OK: I have recently had the pleasure of speaking to some teens about my book as well as bullying a peer pressure. I had a great time, but I would like us as adults to quit trying to hold children responsible for adult things. Each person handles things differently and it is our job as adults to take care of the youth.

BK: Where can readers find you and purchase your book?
OK: It’s available on Barnes & Noble, and on Amazon right now.

From Pan Am Game bronze medal winner to All American, Omegia Keeys was once touted in Track Magazine as one destined for greatness, but walked away from it all. Rise and Fall of a Track Star is Omegia’s firsthand account leading her to the breaking point. For years Omegia held on to the shame of a dirty little secret, one too common in the African American Community.

Through her memoirs Omegia takes you on a journey through her childhood onto her adult years. Her struggles as a teenage mother is only a checkmark on the list of life altering experiences, ones she hopes young girls and woman can learn from.

Omegia has one goal with her story, to educate, help others, and to release the long carried shame.

Rise and Fall of a Track Star is powerful and inspiring.

- Darci Fielding, Senior Editor

Omegia’s voice and courage will help us to save our girls.

- C.H. Towns author of Night and Day

Omegia’s writing touches the soul of every young girl fighting to find her voice.

- Alexis “Cherie” Norwood author of Bittersweet: Diary of a Safegirl

Amazing, must read!

-Joy, Readers Favorite

Thank you so much for having me stop by BK!

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you with me today and I wish you much success in the future. Please watch for my upcoming review of Rise and Fall of a Track Star coming up Nov. 24th. You can view Omegia's entire tour schedule here for more chances to win and leave a comment with your email address to enter to win today. Contest will run through Nov. 4 and winners will be announced Nov. 5.

Good luck,

VBT Pit Stop & Giveaway with Laura Rodela - Confessions

2011-10-14T00:01:00.001-04:00

Today I'm happy to be chatting with author Laura Rodela. Laura is currently touring with her book Confessions, a memoir of self discovery and friendship. Laura is also offering a giveaway for an e-book copy or two of Confessions. All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address and you are entered to win.

Welcome Laura and thank you so much for chatting with me today.

BK: How long have you been writing?

Laura: Confessions is my first book. I have always had a passion for the pen, however, due to obligations I put it aside for many years.

BK: What inspired this particular novel?

Laura: My friends and I have shared many life changing moments together. As I got older I realized a lot of women out there go through similar situations. I felt that talking about self image, self love and other issues that women face daily I would hopefully be able to help someone else get through it. Confessions came about as a need to publicly discuss issues that we normally dont talk about in public.

BK: What was the most difficult part in writing this story?

Laura: the most diffcult part for me was knowing that I was putting my life out there for everyone to examine with a microscope. it is not easy exposing intimate parts of your life for people to judge. I knew that I would either receive harsh critisism or praise for being brave enough to do it.

BK: If a series, what made you decide to make it a series?

Laura: I decided to make it a series because there is a lot of subjects that I didnt get to talk about in the first book. I wanted to introduce the characters and explain how we became lifetime friends. I also wanted to start by scratching the surface. there is a lot more that needs to be revealed.

BK: What is one piece of advice you were given and have carried with you to help in your writing?

Laura: My friends told me to write from the heart and at the same time not wear my heart on my sleeve. I can't take it personal if someone disagrees with the subjects I wrote about in this book.

BK: What advice can you give to new aspiring writers?

Laura: you will get better at your craft as you go along. the first book was an eye opener for me. I have learned a lot from writing this book. I believe this will make me a better writer.

BK: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Laura: I enjoy volunteer work. I have learned valuable life lessons by helping others. I also spend a lot of time at the gym. we all need a stress reliever and the gym does that for me. last but not least I travel. I like to learn from the world. getting away from your comfort zone helps you grow and realize there are many other ways to look at things.

BK: What is one surprising thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

Laura: good question. I am a huge fan of PRINCE the singer. my lifetime dream is to meet him. I have followed his career for many years. most people are surprised by this considering his music is a bit out of the norm.

BK: Where can readers find you?

Laura: they can follow me on twitter @write_aholic. I tweet about all kinds of subjects. I also have a fan page on FB www.facebook.com/allaboutconfessions

BK: anything else you would like to mention?

Laura: the Ebook is available at amazon.com and Smashwords.com. I love to interact with people so everyone is welcome to drop a line at my fan page or tweet with me. I respond to everyone.

Confessions is a story of five friends and a journey of self-discovery, the events in their lives that shaped who they have become and a friendship that lasted a lifetime. A true, funny and sometimes sad story about self love and acceptance.

Thank you so much for stopping in Laura. I wish you much success on your tour and with your book. If you want to win a copy of Confessions, leave a comment here with your email address.

For an extra entry:

Fan Laura's Facebook Page
Follow Laura on Twitter
Follow Laura's Blog
Share this Post and leave link

Be sure to let me know in your comment what you did for an extra entry.

I will see you on the flip side!

Love Drop #10 - The Nevins Family

2011-10-12T16:50:00.000-04:00

October 2011 – The Triplets

This month we’re helping Jeff and Becca from Indianapolis prepare to bring their new triplets home from the hospital. All three were born very underweight and are currently in Neonatal ICU, but are doing well and will be coming home soon. With four children already, adding a surprise batch of triplets is going to put considerable financial strain on the family, and that’s where we come in!

Let’s help give them everything they need to welcome the triplets home, including diapers, food, furniture, gift cards – any cool baby stuff you can think of. We’re shooting for at least $3,000 in cash, plus gifts. Let’s do this!

Where Your Money Goes

We’re going to direct everything we raise this month toward taking care of these new babies. Jeff and Becca live in a very small trailer home that’s already quite full with four other children. Now with a total of seven kids, it’s a lot to handle all at once. Diapers alone are going to run hundreds of dollars per month! Let’s give them a big supply of those, along with a ton of other baby stuff.

And if you could find a way to help us get them a single-family home, that would be awesome too. ;)

For all of you who have had children of your own, you understand the amazing joy they bring, but also the incredible amount of responsibility that comes with them. It’s always a bit scary (especially financially) to bring a new baby home, right? Now imagine bringing home three at once – wow! Time for us to help out…

Why We’re Helping This Family

Even though these two don’t have much, they still give back as a family. Becca will often cook extra food for dinner and invite over other kids from the neighborhood to help feed them when they don’t have enough to eat.

It’s a tough time financially for Jeff and Becca right now, and many of us have been there before . . . uncertain about our children’s future, let alone our own. But now that we’ve made it through, it’s a great time for us to extend a helping hand to them, and let them know that everything will turn out okay.

Let’s surprise the Nevins family with a GREAT Love Drop this month!

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New Release - The Last Rites by Yvonne Mason

2011-08-10T01:25:00.001-04:00

Yvonne's my girl and I love her to death. She just came out with a new title. The Last Rites. It's based on true events and just look at this cover! It's gorgeous. So I want to congratulate Yvonne on her newest release, and tell you all - go buy the book man! You Will Love It! :). Seriously though, consider buying it. You really will love it :).

In the early summer of 1975 a badly decomposed female body was found on Ulrich Rd in Fort Pierce, Florida. The case was initally investigated as a Jane Doe. No one had reported her missing and the body was so badly decomposed it was hard to get an identification. She was finally identified as Pauline Metler age 33 years old. In early fall the case went cold.

In 1976 it was reopened when a prisoner had a case of conscience and wanted to unburden his soul.

This book is her story so that she will never be forgotten again.

I love the music with this video. It's just seems so fitting :).

The eldest of five children, Yvonne was born May 17, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia. Raised in East Point, Georgia, she moved to Jackson County, Ga. until 2006 then moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida where she currently makes her home.
Lic
She holds an Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bounty Hunter and a Published Author.

VBT Pit Stop with Debra Chapoton - Edge of Escape

2011-08-09T07:56:00.000-04:00

Please welcome Debra Chapoton to our blog today. Debra is on tour with her book Edge of Escape. She won her tour with The Virtual Book Tour Cafe', and she is also our winner for the Heart of Eden short story contest. We are so happy to be chatting with Debra today, and we are also her last tour stop. Welcome Debra to my humble abode.

Please tell us a little about yourself......

What inspired you to pen your first title?

A colleague of mine required his students to write a novel over the course of two semesters. He said that everybody had a novel in their heads. I thought that if teenagers could accomplish such a feat during the school year then I would give it a try on summer vacation. I was amazed at how much fun it was to create.

How long have you been writing?

I wrote my first novel THE SECRET IN THE HIDDEN CAVE in 2002 and have tried to complete a new novel annually.

What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?

I based the main characters in EDGE OF ESCAPE on former students. It was hard to keep my mental image of them from invading the fictional characters’ personalities to the point where they would be recognized. You know that phrase on the copyright page that says “any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental”? Well, keeping it “coincidental” was the hardest part.

Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?

Absolutely. Holding a finished book in my hand is a dream come true. Leaving a legacy behind is another dream realized.

Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

I would love it if people would start to notice the “invisible” kids and at least acknowledge them and be kind to them. The main character in EDGE OF ESCAPE, Eddie, suffered a tragedy that contributed to his emotional impairment. If he had had friends to see him through those early years he would have turned out all right. Of course then there would not have been an obsession, an abduction or this novel.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I’m having fun trying different genres. My next novel will be a youthful romance, a first love type of story, laced with adventure and hard decisions. Then I want to finish a sci-fi story I set aside a few years ago. I also have the outline in my head for a fourth book in the Big Pine Lodge series as well as a sequel to A Tick in Time and some more scary stories like Bigfoot Day,Ninja Night. I have plenty of ideas, just not enough time.

What advice do you have for writers just starting out?

Writers that are starting out should take some English classes, study literature and really learn grammar. Read, read, read. Then write, write, write. You can always edit later.

Anything else you would like to share with us today?......

I just self-published CROSSING THE SCRIPTURES, a Bible study book that covers how the 66 books of the Bible correspond in incredible ways with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The Bible is the ultimate treasure chest. Discovering the amazing connections between each book and the symbolism of its matching letter was totally fascinating.

Congratulations on publishing Crossing The Scriptures! It sounds like an amazing book for any age.

Emotionally impaired yet clever, Eddie obsesses over pretty Rebecca. He drugs her, abducts her and locks her away. She escapes, but that is part of his plan as he pretends to be her knight in shining armor. Will she accept his special devotion or reject his fragile love? Stalking gets a sympathetic twist in this story of fixation and fear.

Edge of Escape Excerpt
Chapter 1
Mmm. Sleep. She took an involuntary sniff through her nose and made an audible sigh out her mouth, loud enough to pull her almost all the way up from the strangest dream. It was a soft nightmare, not scary but very unpleasant. Weird, the way dreams sometimes are. She rolled to her right and jerked herself completely awake. The room was pitch black but her eyes were wide and searching. Her left wrist seemed tethered to the side of the bed. She reached with her right hand and felt blindly from her wrist to a cold metal pole. She was handcuffed. Panicking, she rattled the pole and started to scream. The screams turned to grunts and groans as she struggled with the shackles. She paused to listen, holding her breath. Nothing. Still pitch black. There were faint sounds from somewhere. Far away expressway noises, a breeze through tall trees, closer crickets. But no house sounds, no refrigerator hum, no creaks, no ticking clock. She let out her breath and tried to calm herself. She was fully clothed but shoeless. Her watch was gone. She pulled her legs up under herself for leverage and started to stand, intending to rip her wrist restraint free of the metal. She placed the chain links in her left hand and grabbed the wrist metal with her right. She braced herself, tilted her head upwards, gritted her teeth and straightened her legs fast. Her head met an unexpectedly low ceiling hard enough to knock her back into the soft nightmare.

* * *

“Is she awake?” the nurse asked. A handsome man was hovering over the young woman’s bandaged body, continually checking the monitors and lightly kissing her cheeks, her right hand, and her forehead.

“She’s been moaning and her eyes fluttered once. I’ve been squeezing her hand but there’s no response.” He touched her face again, “Come on, Becca, wake up.”

The nurse scanned the chart again. Rebecca MacPherson, 18, unmarried. And what a hunk of man at her bedside. The nurse admired his devotion. He had not left her side in the 36 or so hours that the unconscious girl had lain there. Her injuries did not appear severe though her left wrist was bandaged. There was a lump on her forehead, which must have hurt, but the patient was unaware of pain and oblivious to her surroundings. The nurse checked the monitors and frowned. Rebecca should have awakened by now. She didn’t want the guy to worry any more than he already was so she smiled at him and gave him an encouraging thumbs up sign. “She’ll awake soon. Everything looks fine.”

She headed for the door and glanced back. Such a handsome young man, she thought. No matter the age, the good ones are always taken.

* * *

Rebecca was unconscious for only a few minutes but she had no way of knowing that. It was still pitch black in the low ceilinged room. This time she was more cautious. She felt around first with her feet and then with her free arm, stretching and twisting in order to get as clear an idea of her position as possible. All the way to the right she could feel the side of the bed. She could dangle her feet over the side and outwards three feet but could not feel anything solid. The top of the bed had a crib-like railing instead of a headboard and when she stuck her right arm through the slats there was no wall immediately behind it. She clicked her fingers in an effort to sense the space as if she had sonar abilities. She even squeezed her eyes tightly shut to concentrate on her hearing. She guessed that the wall was near, maybe a couple of feet away. She reached up and felt again the low ceiling. Rebecca was only 5 feet two inches tall and identifying ceiling textures was not on the list of things a short girl like her would do, but this felt like concrete, more like a basement floor than a ceiling. No wonder I knocked myself out, she thought, raising her fingers to her forehead. Whoa. She had a huge knot above her eyebrow, tender to the touch.

She continued her blind search, first feeling with her feet down the left side of the bed beneath the metal pole. There was a horizontal pole along the bottom of the mattress, then nothing. She couldn’t feel the floor. She placed both hands on the pole and lowered herself. Still no floor. She was dangling like a kid on a trapeze. She pressed one bare foot against the pole and made a 180-degree arc with the other. Her big toe grazed something hard and smooth. Glass, she thought, a window. She changed position and used her other foot, stretching harder and scraping with her toenail. A sliver of gray night bled through the blackened window. She continued to stretch and scrape until her muscles ached and her cuffed wrist bled.
Exhausted, she pulled her body back onto the mattress. She tilted her head toward the window and tried to think. The last thing she remembered was shopping with her friend, Sarah, and feeling a little nauseated from an ice cream drink. She was walking alone down a corridor to the restrooms when … what? Obviously I’ve been abducted, she thought. She had been suppressing this thought since the moment she awakened. Rebecca was stronger than her small frame indicated, physically and mentally. She was an iron-willed person, always wanting to be in control, and always the center of attention.

Her stomach growled and she realized she needed to go to the bathroom as well. She refused to acknowledge the chilling fear that was creeping up her spine and instead stared at the window, at the gray strips of light that were appearing to brighten. She worked the handcuffs along the pole and reached further but still nothing. She twisted until she could get her head over the bedside and then she vomited. Time to cry. The frustration and fear, the handcuffs and the darkness were overwhelming. Rebecca wept.

You can learn more about Debra and her books at http://edgeofescape.blogspot.com

Debra Chapoton has taught kids of all ages in her main career as a teacher. She has a BA in Spanish and a Master of Arts degree in Teaching English. She started writing in 2002 and was surprised to find out that the characters quickly take over the action and dialogue in the stories.

Her first YA novel is Edge of Escape. The main character, Eddie, is brilliant yet emotionally impaired. He fixates on pretty and popular Rebecca. He abducts her then tries to be her rescuer as she escapes his traps. His fragile devotion reveals a delicate spirit that Rebecca can either accept or reject. Stalking and obsession get a sympathetic twist in this story of physical and psychological survival.

Chapoton has also written the Big Pine Lodge series for kids ages 8 – 12. These books follow the adventures of Missy and Kevin as they explore the lodge, the cemetery, the old ruins and especially the labyrinth of caves which run beneath the lake and mountain near Big Pine Lodge. They solve mysteries, confront danger and face off with teenage bullies or wild animals in The Secret in the Hidden Cave, Mystery’s Grave and Bullies and Bears.

Other chapter books she has authored are A Tick in Time, a fantasy adventure into a parallel universe, and Bigfoot Day, Ninja Night, a pair of spooky stories that kids love. She has recently published a non-fiction work, Crossing the Scriptures, which explores the amazing connections between the 66 books of the Bible as they align with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This Bible study reveals the intricate weaving of words and themes in books that are spaced at equal intervals.

Thank you so much for stopping in and chatting with us Debra. As always, it's amazing to learn more and more about you. Wishing you much success in the future!

Cheers,

5 Latte's for Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

2011-08-02T18:30:00.000-04:00

Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say? I was enthralled with this title. Hunting Human is a must read for anyone that loves a good paranormal romance! The cover is gorgeous too!

Beth Williams leads a life of keeping to herself. She is working for Angie and loves the commotion that always arises when she is at the Cafe'. When Braden Edwards walks into her life, she isn't prepared for the whirlwind of events that are about to take place.

Beth finds herself forced to relive the death of her best friend, and becoming a werewolf when the brother of the man that turned her is seeking revenge for his brothers death at Beth's hands. Now she must face the demon within her and the ones that surround her. The problem is that she doesn't know how to shift without the pain. Once she realizes that Braden too is a wolf, they must learn to look past all the bad and trust each other if they are to defeat Markko and his Bolvek clan.

The question is, will love survive?

Alvarez did a wonderful job with Hunting Human. Not only does she put her own twist on this paranormal realm, it was a type of paranormal that I've not seen too often. I loved Beth, and just wanted to give her a hug and tell her it would be alright. Braden, WHEW, I want me a Braden. Who wouldn't? Then we have Chase. I think I could like him a bunch, maybe not at first, but he grew on my as the story went on. All in all, I loved all these characters, could easily relate to them, and found myself laughing a lot at Mom Edwards. She's a put her foot down and do as I say kind of gal and I loved it.

This was a fantastic read, fast paced and it will surely have you turning the pages to see how it all ends.

View all my reviews

4 Latte's for Web of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist by Sarah Tate

2011-08-02T18:01:00.000-04:00

Web of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist by Sarah Tate

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Web of Lies - My Life with a Narcissist was an unbelievable read. The entire time I was reading, I wanted to reach in the pages and tell Sarah to get out now!

Moving to a new country, starting a new life, Sarah thought she was in for a brand new fresh start. After arriving to work, she meets Bill. Not instantly attracted to Bill, she can't help but to be swept up by his charm. He's writing her songs, taking her on extravagant getaways. She thought he was going to be her life and eventually she married him.

What she soon learned though, was lie after lie by Bill, things started to not add up. He was always on the lookout for his next big riches, not having work for months even years at a time. He was being sued for money every time Sarah turned around. She kept faith in Bill though, standing by his side knowing that he would provide.

Then came their first child. Bill doted on their daughter Lucy from the moment she was born. Sarah had no idea how to be a Mom, and was feeling a little distraught about it. Financially things didn't change though. Sarah was starting to worry she would not be able to feed her child, especially after the next one came.

Now Bill is working out of their basement in yet another new home, going to make his millions on the internet. More and more time he spends on the computer, and more and more he and Sarah drift apart. Depression sets in, and Bill's excuses are never ending.

Deciding writing her poetry would help, Sarah has Bill build her a website. It gets off the ground with a great start, members consistently joining. Now Bill is into this website, and is no longer working on his millions, but chatting online with people from Sarah's new poetry site.

Less and less time with the children, Sarah becomes agitated. In an effort to save their marriage, she tries to make it work with Bill, and romances him, thinking she is not doting on him enough and plans for another baby. While is excited about being a father again, what she soon finds out is that on his next "important" business trip, he is not alone.

This in turn causes Sarah to start investigating Bill's past. What she learns sickens her to no end and forces her mind to a decision...she will divorce this man.

This was such a moving story. The hardship and total ruins that this woman had to face was just astounding. It stands true that cycles always repeat, but Sarah had no idea what this man was doing to her. It's sad to know that their is a disease such as this out there and half the people don't even realize they have a problem. Much like addiction. Bill Tate took advantage of lonely souls, one right after another. When Sarah started questioning his every move, Bill knew it was time to move on.

Luckily Sarah got out before it ruined her. Bill's actions actually took the life of his poor wife before Sarah, and his lies never ceased to amaze. Kudos to Sarah for escaping her demise.

This is the updated cover.

View all my reviews

5 Latte's for Johnny Big Ears and the Feel Good Friend by John Paul Padilla

2011-08-02T17:29:00.000-04:00

JOHNNY BIG-EARS, THE FEEL-GOOD FRIEND, Author Special Edition Book by John Paul Padilla

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Johnny Big Ears - The Feel Good Friend by John Paul Padilla

Reviewed by Daniel Dietz

Johnny Big Ears always had curly black hair and big ears. His first day of school he was so excited to start, and his mother cut his hair revealing his big ears. Johnny loved his new haircut and couldn't wait to get to school.

He arrives to school, meets his teacher and his day begins. He learns his alphabet, writes his name on the chalkboard, it's so fun to be at school.

Then it's time for recess. He's having fun, kicking a ball around when two kids start picking on him about his ears, "You're funny looking", "You have huge ears, I bet you could fly like a bird." As they continue picking on him, Johnny gets mad, but remembers what his mother told him about bullies and chooses to ignore them. They don't let up, following him around teasing him. Johnny can't take it any longer and finally runs away crying.

Finding a new spot, he starts kicking the ball around again, feeling very sad. A new kid comes up to him and says "Hi." His name is Charlie Freckles, and Charlie knows how Johnny feels because he too gets picked on because of his freckles. They begin playing together, and a new friendship is formed.

Recess is over and Johnny is sad because he doesn't want to stop playing with his new friend. Charlie and Johnny run side by side to go back into school and their friendship continues to grow.

At the end of the day, Johnny's mother comes to pick him up. Johnny tells her about his day, how he was teased and how he made a new friend. He asks his mother, "Am I special?" She answers him with, "Yes you are Johnny Big Ears, my sweet little man." She tells him that we should love people regardless of their actions, and very proud he didn't respond to the bullying, and rewards him with a pizza.

I think Padilla did a great job describing bullying in elementary school. It would be a fantastic book for teachers to share with their students, as well as parents to help kids learn about bullying, and how it can affect children.

View all my reviews

5 Latte's for Herphus and the importance of Aroooo by Robert Wheiler

2011-08-02T17:25:00.000-04:00

Herphus and the importance of Aroooo by Robert Wheiler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Herphus and the Importance of AROOOO by Robert Wheiler

Reviewed by Daniel Dietz

Herphus is a girl bloodhound that just sits on her chain laying around all day. She's always lazy and feels the time has come to do something important. She chews the rope holding her to the yard and digs a hole under the fence.

She goes down the street, gets her foot stuck in bubble gum, trying to chew the gum off her foot she ends up getting her face stuck too. A boy comes to her aid helping to free her. Thankful, she continues on her way. She hears trained bloodhounds howling, and heads to the sound. She finds the bloodhounds tracking a lost boy, and they tell her to go away.

Their tracking device is the boys shoe. Herphus smells the shoe to get his scent. The bloodhounds lose the trail, but Herphus didn't. She locks on the scent, running past the trained hounds into the woods, howling like she's never howled before.

She meets other forest animals, and comes across a cave. Squirrels tell her that people that enter the cave never come out. She doesn't care as she's onto the boys scent and she enters cave. She sees a light and comes to the kidnapper and the boy. She growls at the kidnapper, her hound instincts taking over.

The police heard her growling and entered the cave. With the kidnapper frozen in place by Herphus, they arrest him and find the boy behind a boulder with his mouth taped and Herphus by his side. She's saved the day.

The police take her back to town with them to celebrate and Herphus gets a badge for her bravery. She becomes part of the Search and Rescue team, and her original owner gives the boy the option to keep her for the good she did.

Wheiler did an excellent job with this title. It's a great childrens mystery and would enthrall any child. I enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down until I was at the end.

View all my reviews

VBT Pit Stop & Giveaway with Robyn Bradley - Forgotten April

2011-07-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

Please welcome Robyn Bradley author of Forgotten April. She is currently on tour with The Virtual Book Tour Cafe' and today she joins me on Nauset Beach in Orleans. Welcome Robyn and thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today.

Robyn Bradley is a Short Story Seductress and Novelist Ninja with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. Her work has appeared in FictionWeekly.com, Metal Scratches, The Breakwater Review, Writer's Digest, and The MetroWest Daily News, among other places. In 2007, she won a short story award for “A Touch of Charlotte.” Forgotten April is her first novel. When she's not writing or sleeping, Robyn enjoys watching Law & Order marathons, drinking margaritas, and determining how many degrees really separate her from George Clooney. Learn more at www.robynbradley.com.

BK: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
RB: I've known I wanted to be a writer ever since Mrs. Shea gave me four red stars on a short story I wrote in the fourth grade. The whole experience -- drafting the story (in pencil), finalizing the story (in pen), and sharing it with an "audience" of fellow fourth graders -- was magical from start to finish. I knew I wanted to do that for the rest of my life, although it took some time to get where I am today (and I took a few detours as well).

BK: What inspired this particular story?
RB: For me, like so many writers, it started out with a question. What if someone was given up for adoption at birth and when she finally finds her birth mother, decades later, mom can't reveal the "why" because she's suffering from Alzheimer's disease? I know people who've been adopted, and the question of "why" is one that haunts them. The story grew from there. In the book, Maggie is the person who had been given up for adoption. She's in her early fifties when she decides to find her birth mother, and when she does, she finds she has a half sister, April, as well as a birth mother suffering from Alzheimer's.
BK: Tell us a little bit about your main character April, and what was it like to write her story?
RB: April is a fighter. She's suffered many losses in her life -- the death of her father when she was only five and then the deaths of her husband and young son when she was in her twenties. When the story opens, April is also dealing with her mother's descent into Alzheimer's. But despite all this, April has hope, deep down. It's this hope that pulls her through. I think she's a character people will be able to relate to, because we've all heard the saying "life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." April knows some of this is out of her control. And despite all the heartache, she doesn't give up, and she eventually takes a chance on forging a relationship with her half sister, Maggie. I enjoyed getting into April's head, but I also enjoyed getting into the other three main characters' heads as well (the story is told in multiple first-person viewpoints), since this device showed April from different perspectives.

BK: Will we be seeing more of April?
RB: April's story feels "done" to me. But never say never, right? :)

BK: What have you learned about yourself as a result of becoming a published author?
RB: I've learned how valuable my day job as a self-employed marketing copywriter has been in helping me market my fiction. I've approached this publishing venture as a business, which I realize might make some fellow writers cringe. Writing is an art, but once the book or short story is finished (and I realize a story is never really "finished"), the writer has a choice: let it "be" and be satisfied with whatever happens. Or treat the book like a product and do everything in your power to get it out there to your audience. I've been self-employed for almost a decade, so starting up this second business wasn't as daunting as I sometimes hear it is for other writers. I know how to market (and I know it takes time, thus the "drudgery of marketing" that you'll hear about). I'm willing to take risks. And I'm not afraid of falling, or failing.

BK: What is a day in the writing life of Robyn Bradley consist of?
RB: My day starts with strong coffee and scratches behind Dorian Gray's ears (my cat). Then, I check email, my FB page, my Twitter account, Goodreads, and KindleBoards. I don't check sales, believe it or not, but I do check my rank on Amazon and on B&N and see if there are any new reviews. From there, I divide my day between writing, reading, marketing my books, and client work for my copywriting business.

BK: Do you have any writing quirks or must have's that you need to write?
RB: Coffee. Red Swedish fish for a treat. I prefer silence to music, although background noise (like what you find in a coffee shop) can be a nice change of pace. Otherwise, all I need is a computer (I'm not a longhand writer, mainly because my handwriting stinks).

BK: What do you hope your readers take away from your writing? Is there a hidden message?
RB: I want my readers to be entertained. I'm a storyteller first and foremost, and I love it when readers tell me they couldn't put the book down. If someone loses sleep because he or she is reading my book, I've done my job well. There are no hidden messages per se, but some threads are perhaps a little more subtle than other threads.

BK: What is one piece of advice that you have received that you always carry with you while you write?
RB: I like Stephen King's "write with the door closed, but revise with the door open" advice. The hardest part, for any of us, I think, is just getting it down. Don't censor. Don't judge. Turn off your inner critic. Write with the door closed and know it's you and only you right now. Be fearless in your drafts and know you can always go back later and change things.

BK: What can readers always expect from you, regardless of the covers of your books?
RB: Readers can expect a story -- I'm not looking to be cute or precious or to introduce a new form. I just want to tell stories, ones that make people laugh, cry, think, feel.

BK: Are you currently working on any projects now?
RB: My next novel, What Happened in Granite Creek, is coming out in October. I'm working on final revisions now as well as the marketing plan and cover art.
BK: Where can readers find you?
RB: I love connecting with readers! I'm proud of the community my readers have helped me create on my Facebook page, so if you're on FB, I hope you'll stop by and join in on the conversations: http://www.facebook.com/RobynBradleyWriter

I'm also on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RobynBradley

My website has links to my blog and Goodreads: http://www.robynbradley.com

For April Sullivan-LaMonica, the last ten years have been hell: her husband and young son were killed in a car accident, and soon after, her mom descended into the darkness of Alzheimer’s. So when broadcast journalist Maggie Prescott shows up claiming to be April’s half sister and tries to capture their reunion on film, April outwardly regards Maggie with much suspicion. In reality, she’s simply afraid to grow close to someone again, only to have that person leave — or worse.

Maggie, meanwhile, is battling her own demons: figuring out why her biological mother gave her up, facing a secret she’s kept from the one man she’s loved all her life, and giving herself permission to follow the dream she’s had since she was a child.

Separated by nearly two decades and radically different life paths, April and Maggie must decide if pursuing their sisterhood is worth it…or even possible.

A story of loss, love, survival, and redemption, Forgotten April will speak to anyone who’s experienced the pains — and riches — of an unexpected friendship that emerges from family ties.

Thank you so much for chatting with me.
Thank you! :)

Giveaway

I'm happy to give away one paperback (mailed in US) and 5 ebooks (Mobi or ePub files).

Thank you so much Robyn. To enter, simply leave a comment for Robyn, telling her one life struggle you've overcome. Don't forget to leave your email address so we have a way to reach you should you win.

Extra Entries:
Follow Robyn on Facebook
Follow Robyn on Twitter
Follow Robyn on Goodreads

(you will have to visit her site to go to Goodreads)

VBT Pit Stop with Chloe JonPaul - This Business of Children

2011-07-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Please help me welcome Chloe JonPaul today. She is a phenomenal woman which you will soon learn and is here today on tour with her new release, This Business of Children. Check this out...

Thank you for taking time to chat with us today Chloe. Please tell us a little about yourself......

As a teacher for 35 years, I taught every grade except kindergarten. My teaching experience extended to Adult Ed in Maine and Maryland, high school English in a Maryland psychiatric facility, and to inmates in the Maryland state prison as well.

Teaching and writing have always been my passions. I retired early from teaching and turned to writing full time when the death knell sounded on my creativity in the classroom. We were being forced to “teach to the test” and that was something I refused to do.

Everything people read in my bio has been accomplished since the age of 50. I’ll simply share a few things I’ve accomplished since the age of 50. Otherwise it would be too lengthy (smile). I have three published books since 2003: 2 non-fiction, 1 fiction I won the Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003. In 1996, I was the recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South Africa I was Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years I was State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association’s caregiver community action network 2006-2008 I have traveled to all 7 continents of the world –fulfilling a lifetime goal in 2005.

What inspired you to pen your first title?

My philosophy of life is: find a need and fill it. I had been a caregiver to my parents and grandparents. When I finally had to make the decision to place both my parents in a long term care facility,I began to see the problems other caregivers were facing so I took a survey to find out what they needed to know. That information, along with my own personal experience, developed into a book.It subsequently took me across the U.S. giving workshops to family and professional caregivers.

How long have you been writing?

I have always loved to write – even as a young child but I never really thought about doing it seriously. As an adult, I wrote occasional articles for small magazines and newspapers.I started writing my first book in 2002.

What was the hardest part about writing this particular novel?

Perhaps the most hardest part was being able to get “inside the skin of the male characters – capturing their thoughts, words, and actions.

Have any dreams been realized as a result of your writing?

Yes! When I look at those three books displayed on a bookshelf in my den, I can say I’m the author! Don McCauley selected me for his book, 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading. I feel honored to have been selected.

Is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

I think that Sandy Fivecoat, one of the people who wrote an endorsement for the book says it best:
This Business of Children is a gripping tale that should not be missed! Whether you are a teacher, parent, policy leader, or interested citizen, this inside perspective, positioned in a realistic novel, is a must read! Sandy Fivecoat Founder, WeAreTeachers.com.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

1. I would like to see This Business of Children made into a movie.
2. I would like to continue writing my personal memoirs.
3. I may decide to do something with the 2 manuscripts that are still lying around: The Untold Story of the Alphabet Alessandra Teresa Petrucci: The Little Girl with a Long Name, Both stories require illustration.

What advice do you have for writer's just starting out?

My advice is simply this:
* Identify your target audience.
* Network with like-minded people.
* Prepare an outline of what you want to accomplish.
* Set a date for completion.
* Think POD: persistence,organized, determined

Anything else you would like to share with us today?......
I would love to hear from anyone of your readers. They can visit my web site: www.chloejonpaul.com and drop me a note.

Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator and writer of several published articles and a previous book entitled "What Happens Next: A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits" and More...

Her many achievements since the age of 55 include:

- Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003 Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship
- Seminars Abroad award to South Africa, 1996

- Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy

- Leadership Institute graduate Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association's caregiver community action network 2006-2008 Advisory board member: MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services: Maryland Dept. of Aging Hospice and homeless shelter volunteer Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church World traveler - all 7 continents.

Blurb:
“…because the story that claws at my brain and keeps me awake nights has to be told.”~ Vera Harriss

Vera Harriss Vera Harriss, Deidre Fletcher, Mark Pettingill, and Stu Martel are elementary school teachers in the fictional town of Blevins, Maine whose secret, private lives change dramatically as you read.

Vera, who is about to retire, vents her anger during a Board of Education meeting with a speech that brings the audience to its feet. Why does Deidre, an exceptional teacher, leave the job she loves to become a corporate trainer down South? Then there is Mark, the perennial job hunter looking for a corporate position with more prestige and pay but then turns down the perfect offer when it finally comes through. Stu, one of the most popular teachers in the school, struggles with a deep, dark secret that he can only share with Deidre. What causes Stu Vera Harriss, Dee Fletcher, Mark Pettingill, and Stu Martel are eager to share their intriguing secrets and entangled lives with you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful fun read!, June 29, 2011

Susan Fletcher (Henderson, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Business of Children (Paperback)

This is a great book that I couldn't put down until the end, and then, I wanted it to continue. I got so wrapped up in the main characters' lives. I felt like I knew them personally. As a teacher of 27 years, this was a wonderful book that pinpoints many problems that teachers encounter in their daily lives, both at school and home. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm sure you will too. I was also impressed that the author answered my e-mail.

I just wanted to throw this review in to show that Chloe will answer your emails. She loves her fans and wants to hear from you. Leave her a comment today. Thank you so much for stopping in during your tour Chloe. I wish you much success in the future.

GFP - PJ Jones is here with Romance Novel

2011-06-30T21:28:00.000-04:00

PJ Jones began writing Romance Novel in the spring of 2009 when she was seriously ill, thinking that this book would be her last dying legacy for mankind. After you read this book, you will probably wonder if she was trying to seal her fate in hell. Who knows? But PJ Jones has conquered her illness and is much better now. But you probably don't care, as long as her writing is funny. PJ Jones is also an avid reader of real romance novels. So why does she poke fun of them? Consider it comic relief.

What inspired me to write ROMANCE NOVEL…by PJ Jones

First off, I’m an avid romance reader and not ashamed to admit it. So what would inspire me to write a parody of my favorite genre? My need to laugh and to make others laugh. It’s much cheaper than therapy and it doesn’t damage your kidneys like prescription pain killers, unless, of course, you end up laughing too hard, which, I am told, has happened to a number of my readers. And, by the way, didn’t you just love my previous long-winded run-on sentence preceded by an incomplete sentence? Laughing is also much easier than editing grammar, which I hate.

It’s amazing how a writer can discover her funny bone when wallowing in self-pity. That’s how I discovered my twisted and crude sense of humor. Over two years ago, I was suffering from an unexplained health crisis, and since laughter has always been my best medicine, writing ROMANCE NOVEL was my source of therapy.

Is the tax collector banging on your door right now? Does your husband refuse to lower the toilet seat? Do you burn Granny’s famous casserole recipe every time you make it? If so, then you need some inspiration. You need to laugh.

Have you read ROMANCE NOVEL? If not, please don’t make me sick FLABIO on you. He’s carries a big and beefy grudge against anyone who doesn’t fawn over his virile body and macho moobs. I guarantee, if you are currently lacking inspiration, FLABIO, DEADWARD, SMELLA and SNAKE just may find a way to tickle your funny bone. PJ

http://pjjonesramblings.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002264026213

Smella Rosepetal must find a millionaire husband to finance her baby’s heart transplant. She flies home to her deputy father’s ranch in Pitchforks, Texas, where she falls in love with Deadward Forest, a wealthy environmentalist vampire.

When a deranged murderer is on the loose in Pitchforks, killing romance heroines, Deadward assumes Smella would be safer without him. Smella turns to her childhood friend, Snake Long, for comfort. But Snake doesn’t have the money to save her baby, so Smella places herself in peril in a desperate hunt for a rich husband.

Time is running out for Smella’s baby, and she must escape from the Australian Outback and face down Flabio, an overweight and disgruntled, aspiring cover model, plus enraged vampire wives and their homosexual, vampire, cowboy husbands, a jealous were-gerbil, James Bond, a drunk rodeo clown and Smella’s strange boyfriend who wants to drain her blood, yet is repulsed by her smell.

“Snake,” Smella cooed while trailing her fingertip along his bulging biceps. “There’s something I need to ask you.”

His eyes widened, and he looked at her with a goofy, hopeful gleam in his eyes. “You want me to be the father of your illegitimate child?”

“Don’t be silly.” She swatted his shoulder while rolling her eyes. “I was wondering if you knew anything about Deadward Forest.”

Snake winced, a gleam of anger flashing across his features. “Why do you want to know about pasty face?”

“That’s not very nice, Snake,” she scolded. “Maybe he’s allergic to Vitamin D.”

“Are you joking?” He spat. “Deadward is a bloodsucker, just like the rest of his family.”

“Bloodsuckers? Really?” Smella perked, the visualization of heaping wads of money making her mouth water. “So that’s how he got rich. Do they handle personal injuries or divorces?”

“Neither, Smella.” Snake shook his head, while jumping out of the truck and slamming the imaginary door. “You need to stay away from The Forests,” he raged, before sweeping Smella into a passionate embrace. “Let me take care of you and the little bastard,” he begged, his eyes turning dark, thunderous.

Mouth agape, Smella stared at Snake. His body was large, strong and warm. She could get lost in his liquid molten gaze. Oh, if only he was rich and white. But now was not the time to be distracted by secondary heroes. She needed a man who could save little Wally.

“Do you have the money to pay for my baby’s heart surgery?” she rasped.

“No,” he said on an exhale, as if his chest had been crushed with the admission.

“Then forget it, Snake!” Smella pushed away, trying hard to ignore her feelings for him as she bemoaned the fact that friendship sex would count as a strike against her virginity. “I’ve already made up my mind.” She spoke without conviction then bit hard on her knuckles in an effort to quell her raging sexual hormones.

“Besides,” she confessed, “even though I don’t know much about Deadward, I’m already irrevocably and unconditionally in love with him.”

4 Cafe' Imperfect by L.E. Harvey

2011-05-18T10:05:00.000-04:00

Imperfect by L.E. Harvey puts you right in the center of true love.

Carol and Alexandria met at a dance club after Carol took a night to the town with college roommate Marlene.

Hitting it off immediately, we watch their relationship grow over the years. As an interracial gay relationship, these two face constant trials, but together they come out strong.

Even when Alex's family is unsure of what might become, Carol promises Alex's twin brother she will never hurt her.

When an illness strikes and Carol is not recovering near as quickly as she should, Alex forces her to see a doctor. Not wanting to upset her love, she complies, only to find out she has contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion she received when she was sick.

Now they must find out if Alex too has contracted this deadly virus. Through the waiting and the fear, the results come back. Guilt ridden, Byron, Alex's twin brother blames Carol for Alex being sick and thinks she's broken her promise.

As they work through the news of being sick, overcoming family disputes, and now threats against their very being, Carol and Alex must overcome the worst of all. They must accept the possibility of death.

Harvey wrote a telling tale of an emotional ride. Though nobody's life is perfect, Carol can't help but to feel imperfect. We watch as this love grows and flourishes even through tough times and you will surely feel the emotion portrayed.

A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks Release Contest

2011-05-17T18:39:00.000-04:00

If you would like to donate any patriotic items or patriotic themed e-books or books, Kiki Howell is putting together a contest for her newest release - A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks. You can find all the details below, and if you know of someone that may be able to help out or has the perfect book please pass this along. It's free promo for books.

From the Author:

Got a book/ebook or handmade item that has a patriotic/military theme that you would like some promo for? I'm putting together a contest for the week of Memorial Day for the ebook release of A Strange Freedom: Blood & Fireworks.

Email me at howell (dot) kiki (at) gmail (dot) com if interested! I am hoping to have two prize bundles: one ebook bundle and one print book/handmade gifts bundle. All donations will need to be sent to me ahead of time so I can send them out together.

Note: I would like to have some craft items and promote Etsy shops or other websites as well. Or, if you are an author who does not have a patriotic book released, but would still like to be involved, think of a patriotic craft or item that you could donate. Links will accompany the item description in the contest post.

Thanks,

Kiki Howell

~where love is a mystical thing~

www.kikihowell.com

A Strange Freedom, Blood and Fireworks, a novella

Blurb: Can a witch gain her freedom to live as she chooses between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July?

A man was not exactly what Meranda was looking for when she went to her grandfather’s grave for a ritual of remembrance on Memorial Day. However, what she thinks is a ghost in the heavy shadows of the night ends up a vampire.

When Meranda’s grandfather lay dying on a bloody battlefield in WWII, Alexander promised the man he would take care of his family if he got out of the war alive. Even though he returned to the states a night walker, he has done his best to honor that promise from a distance.

When Meranda is hurt due to his negligence, Alexander valiantly fights his own desires for her blood to save her. Only, once she is better, their lives clash. But, using a little magic, she plans to win their war by the time the fireworks light up the sky on Independence Day.

Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal (Vampire & Witch), Erotic Romance

Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language, Toys

Coming May 27^th, 2011 in eBook from Excessica Publishing

5 Latte's for Broken Birds by Jeannette Katzir

2011-05-10T19:28:00.004-04:00

If you've ever been curious about the Holocaust and wanted to know more about what actually happened and the effects it left on survivors then this is the book for you. Jeannette Katzir brings you smack dab in the middle of it with Broken Birds: The Story of my Momila.

I can't say enough about this book. Katzir did such a fantastic job you feel the emotions from the beginning to the very end.

Channa and Nathan were caught in the middle of Hitler's Reign. Fighting to survive, they found each other. Though they loved each other and made it through some horrific times, surviving did not come without costs.

We are taken into the Holocaust, from Channa being on the run from Nazi soldiers to Nathan enduring concentration camps. This was so heart wrenching you had no choice but to want to save them yourself.

After Channa and Nathan marry, they have five children. Though the effects of the war are still imminent in their lives, they try to provide a loving home for their children.

We see these kids grow up, we see emotional conflict, and the worst is the sibling rivalry. I felt bad for two of the children, as they felt that they deserved everything without working for it.

It was amazing to me how Channa loved her children yet tried to control every aspect of their lives even after they were grown. Nathan always remained quiet, and took things in stride. Even after Channa departs from this world, her way of life still seemed to hold strong.

I have never read a book such as Broken Birds. I've always been curious as to what happened during this time and I will tell you that no history will ever have you feel the effects of war like this book. Katzir did a fantastic job with detail, drawing you in so deeply you had no choice but to feel. I highly recommend Broken Birds to get a real taste for what actually happened, the effects after and how that extends to the families.

If you want to learn more - visit Broken Birds online.

As a child of Holocaust survivors, Jeannette Katzir’s life has

been a study of the lasting effects of war. Inspired by her

own family experiences, Katzir has dedicated years to in-depth

research of the impact of World War II on survivors and

their children. She currently resides in the Los Angeles area , not far from her two children and grandson, with her husband.

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T11:16:00.000-04:00

I hope you all have a terrific day!