A Taste of My Mind

Monday, March 5, 2018

Book Blast: Arising by Sarah Kennedy - Win a $25 Gift Card

Title: Arising

Author: Sarah Kennedy

Publisher: XlibrisUS

Genre: Fantasy

Format: Ebook

Darkness comes. A world hangs in the balances. The Time of the Prophecy has begun.
Lorshinó
A cursed soul, wracked by guilt, plays a dangerous game with the Dark
Cadclucanó
Hiding and hunted, the Guardian of the Stone of Existence is the last of his kind remaining in the world.
Sgarrwrathó
He is the ancient evil relentlessly seeking the eternal object of his forbidden desire and the means to dominion.
And a Disruptionó
A Human whose face shines like the Sun.
Four lives bound in Prophecy.
One choice for all: Surrender or Die
An epic, dark fantasy saga continues . . .

I have always loved to write stories and was blessed with wonderful parents who still encourage me to follow my dreams. To hone my craft, I have taken courses through the Institute of Childrenís Literature and Long Ridge Writerís Group. In 2005, I was published in Angels on Earth, and in 2011, I published my debut novel, Sgarrwrath, Prequel to the Prophecy of Hope, which recently received an Honorary Mention in the Halloween Book Festival Competition of October 2013. Today, I live quietly in a small town with my three rambunctious cats.

https://www.sgarrwrath.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLxnIJTzTc

https://www.facebook.com/fantasyauthorSarahKennedy

GIVEAWAY

Sarah IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins February 26 and ends on March 9.
Winners will be contacted via email on March 10.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday,February 26
She Writes
Review From Here

Tuesday, February 27
Literal Exposure
The Writer's Life

Wednesday, February 28
As the Pages Turn
A Title Wave

Thursday, March 1
I'm Shelf-ish
The Dark Phantom

Friday, March 2
The Zen Reader
Inkslinger's Opus

Monday, March 5
All Inclusive Retort
A Taste of My Mind

Tuesday, March 6
Bent Over Bookwords
Lover of Literature

Wednesday, March 7
The Book Czar
The Book Refuge

Thursday, March 8
The Revolving Bookshelf
Voodoo Princess

Friday, March 9
From Paperback to Leatherbound
Harmonious Publicity

Friday, March 2, 2018

Guest Post from Ilona Salley, author of Yesterday Is Never Gone

Title: Yesterday is Never Gone
Author: Ilona Sally
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Thriller/Crime
Format: Ebook

Niki is no stranger to horrific personal challenges. As a child, she bravely endured abandonment by her father. While in her teens, she witnessed her mother’s murder and the abduction and presumed death of her only sibling. Although her secrets have always been carefully cloaked from others, they have shaped her personality more than she would like to admit. But with a past as terrible as hers, how can Niki ever hope for a bright future? Years later, Niki is a dedicated profiler in a criminal investigation agency with no idea her life is about to change exponentially. One day, through a quirky twist of fate, she receives startling news that her sister, Inge, is alive. As a driving force compels Niki to search for her, she embarks on a quest that takes her through cities and wilderness on two continents. She encounters difficult decisions, threatening mobsters, near-death experiences, and romance, yet nothing deters her from reaching her goal—not even a gruesome discovery about her father. But Niki is about to discover that things are never what they seem to be. In this thrilling tale, deception and inner turmoil hamper a young woman’s journey toward a new reality as she attempts to reconcile her past and find the truth.

GUEST POST

I went to your website and see that you are not particularly interested in thrillers, however, I would like you to consider what my book has to offer. First, be aware that it received an Editor’s Choice Award.

The story line is fast-paced and adventurous, moving from Europe to Canada. There are current social issues in the book, notably the problems of smuggling, human trafficking and drug use. The characters are interesting and strong, are often conflicted by moral issues, and two of them have psychological anomalies which are well-developed. In addition, a lot of ‘real news’ items help to move the plot along, and allow for more thought on the issues.

Here then, is my article.

YESTERDAY IS NEVER GONE by Ilona Salley/ Available on Amazon and at www.iuniverse.com

In the book, Yesterday Is Never Gone, strong and interesting characters move the plot along, some sympathetic, and some dangerous. Two of them have truly overpowering psychological anomalies. During her quest to find her sister who had been presumed dead, Niki, the heroine, encounters difficult decisions, threatening mobsters, near-death experiences, and romance. Yet nothing deters her from reaching her goal - not even a gruesome discovery about her father.

Throughout this thrilling tale, deception and inner turmoil hamper Niki’s quest to find her sister. And she learns that things are not always what they appear to be.

But the story does not limit itself to the plot and characters. Current social issues, notably the problems of smuggling, human trafficking and drug use are explored. In addition, many ‘real news’ stories like those of the sinking of The Estonia, the discovery of the mummy of Ramses II, or the horrific story of ninos robados add interest and offer an opportunity for reflection and research.

Ilona Salley emigrated from Germany to Toronto, Canada, with her family when she was three. Throughout her life, her interests have included squash, skiing, wood carving, literature, art, and languages. Her fascination with architecture and archaeology has led her to travel in search of ancient places and artifacts. After a long career as an educator, she expanded her horizons by teaching in England and China. Now, she spends part of each year in Fort Myers, Florida.

Book Blast: Malayan Enigma by Nicholas Snow - Win a $25 Gift Card

Title: Malayan Enigma: An Andrew Bond WWII Adventure

Author: Nicholas Snow

Publisher: AuthorHouse UK

Genre: Military/History

Format: Ebook

Malaya, 1941 – a fool’s haven from the devastating war raging elsewhere in the world Sent to Singapore towards the end of 1941 to evaluate the intentions of the Japanese Empire, Lieutenant Andrew Bond finds himself embroiled in a series of events accelerating towards all-out war in the region. The city, a heady, exotic blend of cultures teeming with intrigue, is oblivious to what lies ahead. Facing betrayal, incompetence, Japanese spies, and the Yakuza underworld, Bond manages to gather a band of trustworthy companions, including the striking beauty Liu-Yang. In a desperate race against time, he must force his way through enemy-infested jungles and seas to bring home a device that will help change the course of the war – the Malayan Enigma!

Nicholas Snow is the pen name of Nicholas C. Kyriazis, who holds a diploma and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Bonn, Germany. He has acted as visiting professor at Harvard and at the University of Trier. He has worked as a consultant to the Directorate General of Research of the European Parliament, to the National Bank of Greece, and to the Ministries of National Economy and of Defence, and has served as secretary general of Public Administration. Professor of economics at the University of Thessaly, he is a member of the board of Alpha Trust Investment Fund (listed on the Athens Stock Exchange), vice president of Ergoman Telecommunications, and vice president of the Kostas Kyriazis Foundation. He has contributed more than sixty papers to academic journals and has published eight books on economics, history, and strategy as well as a volume of poetry. Poems of his have been translated into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Maltese. As a novelist, he has published eighteen books in Greece, several of which have been translated and published in English, including Themistocles (Kosbil Publications, 2004), The Shield (AuthorHouse, 2005), Assassins (AuthorHouse, 2007), and, in collaboration with Guy Féaux de la Croix, Last Love (Plato’s Last Love) (AuthorHouse, 2014).

GIVEAWAY

Nicholas IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins February 19 and ends on March 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on March 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, February 26, 2018

Book Blast: A Thousand Points of Truth by V.P. Hughes - win a $25 gift card

Title: A Thousand Points of Truth

Author: V.P. Hughes

Publisher: XLibrisUS

Genre: History

Format: Ebook

PURCHASE HERE

My interest in Colonel John Singleton Mosby began in 1950 However it wasn t until 2002 that it led to extensive research on the subject centered upon newspaper reports on the man begun during the Civil War and continued throughout and even after his life And while I rejected Virgil Carrington Jones s observation on Mosby contained in the preface of this work I did not contemplate writing this book until an even more disparaging observation came to my attention during my research The comment was contained in an article in the Ponchatoula Times of May 26 1963 as part of a six article series written by Bernard Vincent McMahon entitled The Gray Ghost of the Confederacy Mr McMahon in turn based his comment upon General Omar Bradley s judgment of what might have been the postwar life of General George Patton Now substitute Mosby for General Patton in the book A General s Life by Omar Bradley I believe it was better for General Patton Mosby and his professional reputation that he died when he did He would have gone into retirement hungering for the old limelight beyond doubt indiscreetly sounding off on any subject anytime any place In time he would have become a boring parody of himself a decrepit bitter pitiful figure unwittingly debasing the legend emphasis mine McMahon however only proffered in his writings the widely accepted view of John Mosby held by many if not most However like General Ulysses S Grant I have come to know Colonel Mosby rather more intimately through the testimony of countless witnesses over a span of 150 years and I believe that it is time for those who deeply respect John Mosby the soldier to now also respect John Mosby the man A century ago the book of John Singleton Mosby s life closed It is my hope that this book will validate the claim he made during that life that he would be vindicated by time V P Hughes,

For many years, V. P. Hughes has been drawn to certain historical figures whom she researched at great length and in considerable depth regarding not only the person of interest but the period in which that individual lived and his influence upon it. Over the years, she has studied such heroes as Sir William Marshal (1147-1219), Sir Harry (Hotspur) Percy (1364-1403), Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), Sir William Wallace (1270-1305), Francis Marion (1732-1795) and the legendary figures William Tell and Robin Hood. The last three were of especial interest because they, with their few followers, engaged the most powerful armies of the time-and prevailed. Of course, John Singleton Mosby was another such champion-a man who defeated his adversaries with cunning and courage rather than brute military force. Yet Mosby became an even greater curiosity when during her research the author discovered that he had died twenty-five years to the day and hour of her own birth-May 30th, 9 a.m, 1916 and 1941 respectively. Although acknowledged as a mere coincidence, however curious, Mosby’s unique style of warfare and his astonishing success under the circumstances extant, made him of especial interest. Early on, her knowledge of the man centered around the Civil War, but then, copious written works as well as the opinions of past and present day Mosby sages brought to light his post-war life in a manner that seemingly disparaged and negated all the glories that had gone before. Finding this both troubling and unacceptable, when the opportunity arose to refute these calumnies and slanders, the author felt obligated to undertake what is, in essence, a posthumous defense of the man. It is hoped that this unique work will achieve the goal of undoing a great injustice and restoring to a noble American hero the respect and admiration he so richly deserves.

GIVEAWAY

V.P. IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins February 19 and ends on March 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on March 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Book Blast: Chubby Wubbles by M.J. Abrams - Win a $25 Gift Card

Title: Chubby Wubbles: A Ferret's Tale

Author: M.J. Abrams

Publisher: Trafford

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Format: Ebook

A delightful story about the adventures of a young man and a mischievous ferret awaits in Chubby Wubbles! This vibrant picture book tells a compelling story about the bond that develops between them. As the story unfolds, their loneliness leads to a fateful meeting and a growing friendship. Together they embark on an exciting journey that progresses with lots of humor, fun, and unexpected drama along the way. Chubby Wubbles will warm the hearts of children everywhere!

After being an observer and non-pet owner, I was thrown into the mix because my son was leaving and I couldn't bear the thought of him having to give up his pet ferret to someone else. Since I've grown so attached to this lovable critter, I agreed to take care of him while he was away. Because of the many experiences my son has had with this adorably sweet animal, I decided to write a children's book based on a true story about their adventures and misadventures.

GIVEAWAY

M.J. IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins February 19 and ends on March 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on March 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, February 19
Literal Exposure
She Writes

Tuesday, February 20
A Title Wave
Inkslinger's Opus

Wednesday, February 21
The Dark Phantom
All Inclusive Retort

Thursday, February 22
A Taste of My Mind
T's Stuff

Friday, February 23
The Zen Reader
Bent Over Bookwords

Monday, February 26
Voodoo Princess
Comfy Chair Books

Tuesday, February 27
The Writer's Life
Harmonious Publicity

Wednesday, February 28
The Literary Nook
A Book Lover

Thursday, March 1
As the Pages Turn
From Paperback to Leatherbound

Friday, March 2
I'm Shelf-ish
Lover of Literature

Friday, February 2, 2018

Book Blast: A Reed in the Wind by Thomas Griffith - Win a $25 Gift Card

Inside the Book:

Title: A Reed in the Wind

Author: Thomas Griffith

Publisher: xLibris

Genre: Poetry

Format: Ebook

The book starts out with a very short autobiographical sketch.

The next piece is about lousy relationships. It begins by being about a cat who doesn’t like being a pet. Then a mouse is introduced. He doesn’t like being terrorized by the cat. I do some editorializing here too.

The third piece follows the four seasons. It starts with Spring, and I am in love. Then it moves to Summer, and I am having a hard time meeting the demands reality makes on me. Then comes Fall, and I write about the tragic sense of life. Then Winter, and I begin the long road of accepting and coping with being broken.

The fourth piece is about the first of the 10 LSD trips I took back in the hippie days. Millions of people have taken it, and the hippie sub-culture it spawned has profoundly positively effected our music, social skills, language, dress, literature, etc It really encouraged and facilitated my spiritual development. I heard that some colleges and clinics are experimenting with experiencing it.

The next two pieces are beautiful and my favorites. They embody and personify the mystical state of dreaming.

The talk about the relationship between seeing and dreaming. The next piece talks about the complex and crucial experience of inner space. Very little is known about inner space, but I believe it is the source of all life.

The next piece and the 11th piece are about sex. Sex creates all life on Earth. Fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc are foods which were made by nature to serve a reproductive purpose. People like to imagine sex is as simple as sticking a rod in a tube. But often the simplest things turn out to be the most complicated. Sex has a wonderful side and it has a dark side.

The next piece attempts to start the conversation about how we all are multiple personalities. It is a huge unknown territory. Multiple personality is a common psychiatric diagnosis.

The next piece is melancholy and pastoral musings about life.

The next piece is about sex again. Having a sexual orientation and perspective is a very difficult role to play.

The next piece is about how my teenage friends and I would come together and party.

The next piece has 4 sections: Women, children, men and teenagers. I try to describe the belief systems and purposes of each group.

I have written 2 other books: A Schizophrenic’s Notes and A Way with Heart.

I have taken psychotropic medication for the treatment of schizophrenia everyday for 40 years. I was one of the founders of a mental health provider association that was staffed and run by mental patients. It has a 15 million dollar budget. I left it a few years ago because it had become like the system were trying to transform. I have had 25 jobs, most of them were part-time, all of them were minimum wage. I have volunteered umpteen times. I went to 6 colleges as I moved around. I have read a lot of classic and sacred literature. I fool around with guitar and piano.

Giveaway

Thomas is giving away a $25 Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins January 22 and ends on February 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on February 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!