Becky Monson, author of 'Speak Now, Or Forever Hold Your Peace' shares her playlist

My Playlist

Before I became an author, I wanted to become a famous singer. It was my dream. Me and Jordan from New Kids on The Block were going to get married and tour together and have babies that grew up on the road with their musical parents. It was so meant to be.

It wasn’t until around the age of twenty six—after a very small jaunt with a record label and an album—that I realized, it wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t devastated. It was a long and somewhat tiring journey to get to that point, and so it was not that hard to walk away from it all.

Music is and always will be a part of my life. These days I sing concerts for my children as they plug their ears and ask me to stop. They’ll warm up to me … someday.

So when asked if I listen to music while I write, the answer is a big, resounding, DUH! Of course I do. It’s like the joining up of two things I love dearly. I make playlists for all my books. Sometimes they go along with the story, sometimes I just like the tone of a song and it gives me all the feels when I’m writing.

I thought I might share one of my playlists for Speak Now (there were a few playlists for this book). This one is called “Ian & Bridgette”:

• Little Things – One Direction (Don’t judge me, I love me some boy bands.)

• Not a Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake (He used to be part of a boy band.)

• Chandelier (Piano Version) – Sia (Download this version immediately. It’s amazing.)

• One Last Time – Ariana Grande (I’m totally being judged for my love of pop music, aren’t I…) 

• Night Changes – One Direction (Yep. More boy bands.) 

• The Heart Wants What it Wants – Selena Gomez (Love the lyrics on this one.)

• Mirrors – Justin Timberlake (This is by far my favorite song from him.

• Still Into You – Paramore (Love these lyrics.)

• How You Get the Girl – Taylor Swift (Can’t have a playlist without some T-Swift in it.)

• Begin Again – Taylor Swift (The lyrics of this song are so poetic and really wonderful.) 

And there you have it. If you haven’t read Speak Now, don’t read into these lyrics too much, or it might be a little spoiler-y. ;) I’m definitely inspired by the music I listen to.

(PS I won’t apologize for my love of music that should only be listened to by teenagers. Although, if asked in a public forum, I might lie.)

If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup.

Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance.

Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all.

Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?

Buy on Amazon

About the author:
By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.

Follow Becky:

Website: http://www.beckymonson.com

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmonsonauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Monson/e/B00DMB4HYY

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/BeckyMonson

Literary Addicts: http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profile/BeckyMonson

     

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'Charmed, I'm Sure' by Lynda Simmons

Charmed, I’m Sure

by Lynda Simmons 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Laugh Out Loud Funny...With Just a Touch of Magic

One minute Maxine Henley is the happy bride-to-be and the next she’s the girl who gets dumped over the phone. Max has never believed in magic and fairy’s tales, but if wearing a love charm can warm her fiancé’s cold feet, she’s happy to stuff that little wooden heart next to her own and wait. The charm came with a promise that the right man will find her, guaranteed, but how can that happen when her teenage crush Sam O’Neal keeps getting in the way!

Read an excerpt:

“Excuse me, miss,” a male voice said. “I seem to have lost my phone number. Could I have yours?”

Max smiled. She’d know that voice anywhere. She just hadn’t expected to hear it in Schomberg. “Your lines don’t get any better with age, O’Neal,” she said, stuffing the charm into her back pocket as she turned around.

“I’m a little out of practice.” He grinned and stepped from the shadows. “How are you, Max?”

“Better now,” she said, meaning it.

Sam O’Neal had been the boy next door, her older brother’s best friend and the one voted most likely to get out of Schomberg. She’d had a crush on him once, the kind of heart-pounding, breath-stealing obsession that fifteen year-old girls do so well. Watching him come toward her now, she wondered if it was her imagination or perhaps some trick of the light that made him look even better than she remembered.

Max moistened her lips even as she felt the faint shift in her shoulders, the tiny flicker of awareness that was as unexpected as it was inappropriate. This was Sam, after all. The one who didn’t think twice about taking her baby-sitting money in a poker game, or daring her to steal peaches from the Jenkins’s’ orchard, and turned out to be the best friend she’d ever known.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” she said, rising up on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. “And without even a hint of elf anywhere.”

“I hid until they ran out of size eleven curly toes.”

She looked up into his eyes and for the first time was glad she’d made the trip. “I have missed you,” she said softly.

“Me too,” he said, kissing her on the cheek, the way any friend might, and pulling her close for a hug. She held on tight, feeling the strength of his hands on her back, the hard wall of his chest against her breasts and a warmth from both that reached through her fine cotton tank top, making her shiver. She started to step back and wondered for one brief moment if he would stop her, maybe hold on a moment longer, and what she would do if he did.

 Available on Amazon

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Lynda Simmons is a writer by day, college instructor by night and a late sleeper on weekends. She grew up in Toronto reading Greek mythology, bringing home stray cats and making up stories about bodies in the basement. From an early age, her family knew she would either end up as a writer or the old lady with a hundred cats. As luck would have it, she married a man with allergies so writing it was.

With two daughters to raise, Lynda and her husband moved into a lovely two storey mortgage in Burlington, a small city on the water just outside Toronto. While the girls are grown and gone, Lynda and her husband are still there. And yes, there is a cat – a beautiful, if spoiled, Birman. If you’d like to read the legend of Birman cats click here. If you’d like a link to allergy relief, click here.

When she’s not writing or teaching, Lynda gives serious thought to using the treadmill in her basement. Fortunately, she’s found that if she waits long enough, something urgent will pop up and save her - like a phone call or an e-mail or a whistling kettle. Or even that cat just looking for a little more attention!

Links:

Website www.lyndasimmons.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynda-Simmons-Author/149740745067442

Twitter @LyndaMSimmons

Prizes for the tour are as follows:

• One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

• One randomly chosen host will receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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Happy Release Day! 'Smother' by Lindy Zart

Author: Lindy Zart

Title: Smother

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Blurb:

You won't like me.
I am not the nice girl.
I am not your friend.
I don't care about you, but most of all, I don't care about me.
Go ahead, hate me.
We all have secrets.
I have them as well—dark, terrible secrets.
The only time I can breathe is when I forget.
I need to be numb. You don't want to know how.
But as long as I can breathe, the past cannot smother me.

Buy links:

Amazon US / Amazon UK / Amazon CA / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

Smother Release Day Party Link: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/845546405543761/

Excerpt:

When she reached the door at the back of the shop, Reese tried the doorknob, not really sure if she would find it locked or unlocked because she'd never tried it before. It wasn't locked. She blinked, surprised that her confrontation wouldn’t be delayed. Then she pounded up the steep carpet of stairs and stared at the white door at the top of them.

Out of breath and heart pounding so hard she felt it through her chest, she raised a fist to the door and went to town, banging all of her frustration into the woodwork. It flew open and the air was knocked from her lungs for another reason entirely. Her mouth went dry and she swayed backward, Leo's quick grab saving her from a fall down the stairs.

He yanked her into the apartment by the front of her shirt and kicked the door shut behind her. Then he crossed his arms and stared. She was staring as well. Reese had never seen him without his shirt on. She couldn’t pretend it wasn’t a notable sight, or that her body didn’t respond to it. His shoulder muscles alone were impressive, but then there were the cuts to his biceps, the chiseled pecs and abs, all covered in black ink.

Reese tried to swallow and couldn't. She stared intently at the artwork, wanting to decipher it. She decided she'd need her brain functioning better than it presently was to attempt such a thing. Big muscles were not her thing—she was prone to go for lanky, lean frames. That tidbit was forgotten as her eyes went up and down the tattooed body before her. It was impossible not to appreciate the beauty of it.

Leo was the equivalent of a dark warrior on an unending, unknown quest, regardless that other than the ink that stained his upper body, there was nothing dark about his looks. From his light brown hair to his gray eyes to his pale skin, he should be forgettable, but there was more to him, something that made him stand out. It was an inconsistency, like all of him, and all of her. And the two of them.

“Better be good,” he growled. “Not even eight in the morning.”

“Funny, I pictured you as a person who got up at the first sign of dawn to not be wasteful of any second of daylight.”

“Thought wrong.”

She forced her eyes from his body and up to his light gray eyes instead—the eyes that judged her from the recesses of her mind when she least wanted. She went on the defensive as she remembered why she was here. “I don't appreciate you having people check up on me. It's none of your business what I do or don’t do.”

One pale brown eyebrow lifted. “No smoking in the building.”

She sputtered for a bit before she could get words out. “I wasn't smoking in the stupid building! And if that isn't the most lame ass answer I've ever heard of for trying to justify having me hauled from a party! I was drinking. I'm twenty-four. I can drink. Unless there's a rule against that too?”

Reese poked a finger against his hard chest and tried not to get distracted by the smoothness of it. “You may own the apartment building I live in, but you don't own me. Don't do that again.”

She spun away from him and reached for the doorknob when he said quietly, “If you can't be responsible for yourself, then you have no right to be upset when others are.”

Stiffening, Reese digested the fact that he'd spoken a full sentence to her for maybe the first time, and then she mulled his words over. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him he could shove his apartment and this job right up his ass, but then what? Then she would be jobless and homeless once more. Whether she liked it or not, he did have power over her.

Reese’s lips were trembling, but she somehow managed to keep her voice steady as she said, “I'm not your responsibility.”

“Sure about that? Seems like you are.”

In this moment, Reese hated Leo Chavez.

 

About the author:

Lindy Zart is the USA Today bestselling author of Roomies. She has been writing since she was a child. Luckily for readers, her writing has improved since then. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, and one cat. Lindy loves hearing from people who enjoy her work. She also has a completely healthy obsession with the following: coffee, wine, Bloody Marys, and pizza.

You can connect with Lindy at:

Lindyzart@gmail.com

Twitter.com/lindyzart

Facebook.com/lindyzart

Lindyzart.com

Listen to the playlists for Lindy’s books on Spotify.com

Get an eBook autograph from Lindy at Authorgraph.com

Review of 'Adding Lib' and Author Kathryn Elliott on Real-Life Dementia

Hi Andi and thanks for hosting!

I think the best way to start is with dreaded backstory. (I hate prologues as much as the next gal, but in this case I’ll toss the ‘show don’t tell’ wisdom out the window and go for it!)

With each book club I visit, with each lecture to the dementia and Alzheimer’s community, I inevitably get the same question: “Is Adding Lib autobiographical?” No, Adding Lib is fiction, plain and simple. The story centers on Libby O’Rourke’s relationship with her mother, Mae McGinn and the struggles that accompany her early dementia diagnosis. However, my grandfather Jack’s battle with Alzheimer’s planted the seed for the story, and through my work with the American Alzheimer’s Association and the Brain Injury Association of Connecticut, Adding Lib took shape.

Dementia isn’t something to joke about. But in my family, we do; often.

Now don’t assume we’re an insensitive group of heartless tools – although, we are Yankees fans so there’s an element there, however we do know firsthand the healing power of laughter, especially when the brightest of minds falls under the shadow of Alzheimer’s.

My grandfather, Jack, was the first officially diagnosed in our family, however there’s evidence the disease extended back to his parents and beyond. We’re Irish, the odd behaviors and forgetfulness were easy to chalk up to scotch, but in truth the problem was deeper and the symptoms more menacing than booze could explain.

It was the little things at first, the 700th telling of the same story, switching up names of family and friends – nothing alarming, all symptoms synonymous with the joy that is aging. God willing, we’ll all get there someday. But once Jack’s behavior progressed to more unsettling patterns, reality set in and a very proud and accomplished man began disappearing by inches.

A decorated Navy veteran, Jack was the pillar of dignity, and nothing shatters a man of pride faster than a loss of independence - a car accident was the catalyst.

Not major, no injuries, but with the loss of ignition keys came a loss of self-worth and an increased amount of time under the watchful eye of family. It was then the true depth of his illness became apparent, and with symptoms impossible to mask under twenty-four hour supervision, the ugly face of Alzheimer’s made itself known – and feared.

Fear is consuming; it eats up everything in its path and often families affected by dementia feel guilty embracing the joys and smiles of life in the midst of the uncertainty and emotional pain. Through countless interviews with dementia patients and their families, as well as my own experiences, one thing became undeniably clear before the first words of Adding Lib came to life on the page – laughter heals.

Laughter vanishes when any type of dementia diagnosis is handed down. But its warm tones are familiar, comforting to those battling the disease as well as those who love them struggling with what to say and do to lessen the mounting fear.

Adding Lib is the first in the McGinn series and a true labor of love. Its humor and heartstrings approach was crafted in hopes the relatable characters and honest dialogue resonates with the dementia community, and all those who appreciate the healing power of laughter.

Thank you!

Adding Lib

by Kathryn Elliott 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Libby O'Rourke has a short fuse. Her mother, Mae, carries a big match. Engulfed in the never-ending life-juggling of suburbia, Libby fails to notice Mae's emerging dementia symptoms until a kitchen fire puts the problem on the front burner.

Proficient in the art of denial, Mae brushes the shattering diagnosis aside and sets her sights on a matchmaking crusade for her eldest son. After all, if her lucid days are numbered, Mae’s going to make damned sure he makes it down the aisle while she still recognizes the groom.

It’s going to take a razor wit and an iron stomach to handle Mae's diagnosis. Thankfully, just like her mother Libby has both.

Read an excerpt:

Libby felt the weight of the coming conversation bear down on her shoulders like a lead blanket and struggled to find the right words.

“It’s all right, Libby,” Mae said, interrupting her thoughts. “Say what you need to. We’re here for a reason. We both know it.”

Shocked by her mother’s perception, Libby stared at Mae.

The older woman’s eyes were moist but holding back. She continued. “Spit it out, honey. I won’t have a public tantrum. It’s obvious you have something important to talk to me about, and I think you’ve delayed long enough.”

Libby’s shoulders slumped. “How’d you know?”

“Well, let’s examine the facts...” Mae grinned despite the gravity of the moment. “You took me to church, plied me with brunch, and now you’re standing there biting your bottom lip raw. Daddy used to call that your tell. We always knew something was wrong if your bottom lip looked like it had a run-in with a cheese grater.”

“Huh?” Libby ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “I never noticed.”

“In your teens, we were pretty sure you were going to bite clean through it,” Mae joked. “At least your nervous habit isn’t offensive; whenever Kevin lies, he grabs his testicles. Since the day he was born that boy treated his penis like an accessory. It’s terribly inappropriate, especially at parties.”

Buy links

Amazon / Wild Rose Press / iTunes / Barnes & Noble

**My thoughts**

I loved this book. I needed this book. Alzheimer's and dementia are serious issues, but a sense of humor is always such a breath of fresh air. My mother has Alzheimer's. We took her problems quite seriously, but always had to look at situations with a sense of humor. If you don't, you could very well go mad.

Libby and her husband have an amazing relationship. They understand each other and work well together. Family support is crucial when going through these hardships. She also has an amazing strength about her, which keeps her going, but isn't afraid to let people know when she needs help.

I loved her banter with her brothers. Siblings are another essential support system when dealing with a failing parent. Kevin, Sean, and Libby obviously love each other very much. I only have one sister, but know that I depended on her immensely as we dealt with our parents.

Mae is an amazing woman. She is crass, mouthy, and outspoken, and I love her for it. She is terrified as her sentence is imposed, which is quite understandable. Yet, she is determined to fight with whatever she has left, even as she is in denial. She would embarrass the hell out of me, but I would be proud to call her my mother.

Anyone who has ever been down the dementia road with a parent should be able to relate to this story. We have all been through a kitchen fire, or a similar version of it. We have had to confront our parents about their mental failing. We have had those arguments and felt all of those frustrations. I really felt like I was reading about my own story in a parallel universe.

This was one of those books that made me feel all kinds of emotions. I found myself laughing out loud. I found myself crying. I savored every page and the journey on which it took me. I am impressed that this is the author's debut novel.

In addition to the dementia part of the story are revelations of family history and secrets that helped to shape their current relationships. Romances are brewing in more than one generation. There are so many stories yet to be told in this family and I can't wait to read more about their journey.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kathryn Elliott is a lifetime journalist with awards in political satire, human interest, and commentary. A Connecticut native, she is a happily married mother of two sons with high hopes one of them will pay for a delightful rest home.

A true believer in laughter's healing power, Kathryn writes characters whose flaws resonate with readers long after "The End."

ADDING LIB is her debut novel, and the first in The McGinn Series.

Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynElliottAuthor?ref=bookmarks

TWITTER: @CandidKathryn

BLOG LINK: http://candidkathryn.com/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5961246-kathryn-elliott

Kathryn will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

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Review of 'The Clock Strikes Midnight' by Joan C. Curtis

The Clock Strikes Midnight is a race against time in a quest for revenge and atonement. This is a story about hate, love, betrayal and forgiveness.

If you found out you had only 3 months to live, what would you do? That’s the question Janie Knox faces in this fast-paced mystery full of uncertainty and tension that will surprise you until the very last page.

Hiding behind the façade of a normal life, Janie keeps her family secrets tucked inside a broken heart. Everything changes on the day she learns she’s going to die. With the clock ticking and her time running out, she rushes to finish what she couldn’t do when she was 17—destroy her mother’s killer. But she can’t do it alone.

Janie returns to her childhood home to elicit help from her sister. She faces more than she bargained for when she discovers her sister’s life in shambles. Meanwhile her mother’s convicted killer, her stepfather, recently released from prison, blackmails the sisters and plots to extract millions from the state in retribution. New revelations challenge Janie’s resolve, but she refuses to allow either time or her enemies to her stop her from uncovering the truth she’s held captive for over 20 years.

**My thoughts**

I don't remember ever reading a book quite like this one. It is the journey of a family, torn apart by betrayal and secrets. It has elements of romance, suspense, and mystery, but not so much so that you could easily categorize this book as any of those three. 

Janie has been hiding family secrets for her entire adult life. Now, she is also hiding her own truth, that she is going to die. She seeks resolution of her past, to make things right before she leaves this world. On the surface, she seems like a very selfish person. As the story evolves, though, you begin to like her even more. She goes through the more subtle transformation in the book, as it happens so slowly. In some ways, it was almost like she had the bigger transformation.

Marly is a mess. She is not as adept as Janie at hiding how she feels, though she thinks she is. She doesn't realize how many family secrets exist. She is cowardly about facing her problems. She does have the inner strength to deal with it all, but just doesn't know it. Her life is only just beginning.

Eloise is a tough woman to like. You want to love her, based on her memory. When you find out the truth about her, it is tough to accept. In the end, you do realize that she did what she thought was best, and can't really fault her for it.

Their story is a tangled mess that slowly unravels as you make your way through the book. You are curious to find out each revelation. I found it very easy to stick with it. I admit that I had a few of the lesser characters a little mixed up in the beginning, but quickly sorted out all of them. I did find myself wondering what I would have done if I were in their situation, and was ever so grateful that I don't have such stories in my own past. 

I liked this story a lot. It was "light" enough that I could read it in one evening, yet had enough substance on which I could chew as I turned the pages. A nice change of pace.

Buy on

iTunes | Kobo | B&N | Amazon | Smashwords | MuseItUp Publishing

 

About the author:

Award-winning author Joan C. Curtis will release her first mystery, The Clock Strikes Midnight on November 25, 2014. She has also authored four business books published by Praeger Press numerous stories.

Her first place writing awards include: Best mystery manuscript in the Malice Domestic Grants competition, best proposal for a nonfiction piece in the Harriette Austin competition, and best story, Butterflies in a Strawberry Jar in the Cassell Network of Freelance Writer’s Association.

Other Books:

Hire Smart and Keep ‘Em: How to Interview Strategically Using POINT, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA 2012.

The New Handshake: Sales Meets Social Media, Praeger Press, 2010, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA Managing Sticky Situations at Work: Communication Secrets for Success in the Workplace, 2009, Praeger Press, an imprint of ABC-Clio, Santa Barbara, CA.

Strategic Interviewing: Skills for Savvy Executives, 2000 published by Quorum Books, Greenwood Press.

Joan has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. She reads all kinds of books, including women’s fiction, mysteries, biography, memoir and nonfiction. Joan says, The Clock Strikes Midnight is exactly the kind of book she loves to read.

“I write about characters who remind me of myself at times and my sister at times, but never fully so. My stories are told from a woman’s point of view. Characters drive my writing and my reading.”

Having grown up in the South with a mother from Westchester County New York, Joan has a unique take on blending the southern traditions with the eye of a northerner. She spent most of her childhood in North Carolina and now resides in Georgia.

Check out her website: www.joancurtis.com and her blog www.joancurtis.com/blog

Also find her on Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter

 

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The Power of Springtime: Setting the Stage for 'Permanent Spring Showers' by Scott D. Southard

When you grow up in Michigan, you feel the seasons.

I know, everyone in different states will argue with me on this one, but we hit all the hallmarks in our mitten of a state, each time, each year. Snow in winter, check. Leaves in autumn, check. Summer at the beach, check.

It’s all here!

And when you grow up in such a setting, chances are your emotions will start to attach something to each of them. In autumn, I am reflective. It is a time for remembering. In summer, a little hyper and full of excitement. I’m usually more daring during those three months. And in winter, I always feel more peaceful, quiet like a light snowstorm. But, in spring, I get edgy.

Spring in Michigan is unpredictable.

You can’t help but feel that in the very air you breath. It’s almost as if the world can shift on a dime. It’s moody. It’s a time of change, of rebirth (but into what?). And when I set out to find a time period for the story that became Permanent Spring Showers, I couldn’t think of a better season. Because like the season, my story is passionate, unstable, dramatic, comedic, and never the same from chapter to chapter.

Permanent Spring Showers covers the lives of my cast during those three volatile months. The story begins with an affair.

In the morning, right before Professor Rebecca Stanley-Wilson is set to leave for a literary convention, her husband admits to having an affair… and to make matters worse it was with one of her college students.

This affair sets off a chain reaction that slowly begins to build over the novel. Rebecca, while in Chicago, has an affair of her own. But hers was with one of the up-and-coming painters of his generation. That evening of passion will inspire a work of art of such beauty and power that it will capture the attention of not just the art world, but the entire globe. This novel follows everyone associated with the work of art. From the painter and the professor, to a romantic, to an Olympic hopeful, to even an author determined to make an impact in literature, by any means necessary.

This may sound a little odd to say, but one of the fun things about writing in a season like spring is you get to play God with the weather. Many times in the tale, I will use a shift in the weather to represent what a character may be feeling, and sometimes the season is saying more than that character would ever dare say aloud. It’s a fun writing device, and I’m sure all of the English majors in the audience will have fun picking out what I do on the pages.

When I first worked on this story, I imagined the idea of creating a work around each season, encapsulating the feeling and vibe of that time within the work. I don’t know if the others will ever find the light of day, but I could not be more proud of this surprising and fun novel.

I hope you enjoy Permanent Spring Showers.

Permanent Spring Showers

by Scott D. Southard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Professor Rebecca Stanley-Wilson is having a very bad season. The ramifications of one torrid evening with one of the great upcoming painters of his generation, will not only be felt across her life but over the entire art world. Sexy, funny, and very surprising, Permanent Spring Showers is the tale of one very memorable springtime and how it impacts a group of unique artists and dreamers. From the the hopeful Olympian with the failing marriage to the writer who is creating a new literary movement (through outright manipulation) to the romantic wondering what he did wrong to drive away the love of his life, each tale walks the line between reality and fantasy. And waiting at the end of the line is a very important painting... and possibly the revolver used in the Lincoln Assassination.

Read an excerpt:

“You’re going to be fine, aren’t you, Steve?” A male voice with a British accent said behind me as I scanned the restaurant for the person I once considered my soulmate.

“Like warm applesauce,” I mumbled in reply, not bothering to turn around and face Vince.

Vince is my age and has a resumé an arm’s length long, painter, poet, performance artist, etc.; and he looks the part for all of those roles, from his black trench coat with the collar up to the tight shirt with an obscure artistic expression on it to the jeans with the holes that are a little too perfect. He has black hair, blue eyes, and from what every girl tells me, he is frightfully handsome. Hanging out with him can make a person feel like a pre-destined wingman, chosen by a maker never to be the center of attention. Oh, by coincidence, I met Vince at the creative writing course I mentioned earlier. He spent the entire time correcting the teacher and even once he stood on his desk screaming about romantic literature (I still don’t understand half of what he said), the whole class was sure he came in drunk that day, but he might’ve been acting. There is a lot of acting around Vince. Did I mention he’s pretending to be British right now? And no, I don’t mean RIGHT now, I mean for the last four months right now.

“Applesauce?” His accent rising a little in confusion.

I didn’t bother to say anything more to him because I had found her; and, shit, she still looked like a fallen angel.

Buy links

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Scott D. Southard is the author of A Jane Austen Daydream, Maximilian Standforth and the Case of the Dangerous Dare, My Problem With Doors, Megan, 3 Days in Rome, and Me Stuff in addition to his latest release, Permanent Spring Showers. His eclectic writing has also found its way into radio, as Scott was the creator of the radio comedy series The Dante Experience. The production was honored with the Golden Headset Award for Best MultiCast Audio and the Silver Ogle Award for Best Fantasy Audio Production. Scott received his Master's in writing from the University of Southern California. Scott can be found on the internet via his writing blog “The Musings & Artful Blunders of Scott D. Southard" where he writes on topics ranging from writing, art, books, TV, writing, parenting, life, movies, and writing. He even shares original fiction on the site. His blog can be found at http://sdsouthard.com. Scott is also the fiction book reviewer for WKAR's daily radio show Current State.

Scott D. Southard will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a signed copy of his previous title: A Jane Austen Daydream (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn host. Follow along for more chances to win!

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'The Girl Who Made Me Sing' by AARIS

Blurb:

Does true love, love at first sight really exist, or just a figment of our imaginations, just a fairytale.

A naive young man had one ambition in life, to find true love, as described in fairytales, and to be able to sing a song that elevates those around him. He embarks on a spontaneous love affair that enables him to believe again and fulfils his long term obsession.

You can believe in Fairytales!

Available on Amazon

About the book:

The Girl Who Made Me Sing takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and highlights the missed chances we all had and possible regrets. It allows you to remember that special moment, when you the first found true Love and the devastation of a heartbreak. But most importantly, gives you the Hollywood ending we all dream of, and allows you to believe in fairytales.

As with any story based on real events, some portions of the novel were more illustrative of the central message than others. Initially the story is based on the idea that the protagonist, Thomas Christo finds solace in music. You are unaware that he is dating the same women. And is perceived to be dating two individual women, Dani Daniels and DD. This is later explained and revealed in the final chapter. The novel tries to place subtle hints throughout the story, but is left open to the reader to put the clues together.

Also available on Amazon UK

Read a preview on Google here.

About the author:

AARIS was born and raised in the United Kingdom. From a young age, he would write numerous short stories and screenplays and would act them out with his friends. He would often dream up interesting stories to quench his creative thirst and allow him to indulge into his creative side of his personality.

He would often set himself difficult goals to achieve, often ignoring traditional means and boundaries, believing that nothing in life was impossible to accomplish.

This is his first attempt at professional writing, and he hopes it gives readers as much enjoyment and pleasure as it gave him to produce, and that they will continue to follow his creative journey.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGirl.Who.made.Me.Sing

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AARIS74

'Unleash the Undead (Tales from the Apocalypse)' Compiled by Samie Sands

Unleash the Undead

compiled by Samie Sands

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Delve into the horrifying world of the zombie apocalypse, as bought to you by the following authors and artists: J.L.Drake, Marina Hume, Matías Andrés Bravo Jara, Ana Prundaru, J.H., Dale Herring, Jonny Graham, Klarissa Del Rossario, Saadia Ammad, Akash Sagar, Rob Shepherd, Rhys Curtis-Thompson, Kayleigh Edwards, Diego Tonini, Lachelle Redd, Victoria Pagac, Noel Osualdini, Glen Holman, Mathias Jansson, Kyle Flack, Ceri Matthias, Gia Berryman, Max Ferreira, Diana Alexandru, Kevin S. Hall, Art Pic, Zoja Vladisavljevic, B.S. Purwanda and Samie Sands.

Read an excerpt:

Along with the thigh-high PVC boots, Lucy was also wearing a long-sleeved leather body suit and a pair of PVC goggles. Anna smirked; she looked like the lovechild of the steampunk genre and a member of Marilyn Manson.

“Well what was I meant to do? He came at me, all chompy and toothy so I stamped in his eye.” Lucy shrugged, moving to examine a shelf crowded with accessories.

“No, not Colin. I wouldn’t have blamed you for stamping in that pervert’s eye even if he wasn’t one of them.” Anna replied, rolling her eyes as Lucy found, and snapped on, a pair of leather gloves.

“He was my best customer.” Lucy grumbled.

“I mean the outfit.” Anna explained, shaking her head. “I realise you run a sex shop whilst moonlighting as a dominatrix, but do you really have to dress like that now? We’re in the middle of an apocalypse; you don’t need your uniform.”

“It’s an underwear shop! And this outfit is for practicality. It’s nearly impossible to chew through this stuff. I’ll have the last laugh when your jeans are in tatters and your legs have been eaten off, and there’s barely a scratch on me.” Lucy smiled, grabbing a bullwhip from the wall and coiling it around her forearm.

Available on Amazon

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Samie’s debut novel, Lockdown has been published by Triplicity Publishing, and she is currently working on the sequel. She has a degree in Media and loves to gain inspiration for her writing from travelling. Check out her website http://samiesands.com

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/undead

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/477526

http://amzn.com/B00NT0CQ7S

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NT0CQ7S

http://samiesands.com

http://www.faceook.com/samiesandslockdown

http://www.twitter.com/samiesands

Samie Sands will be awarding a paperback copy of Unleash the Undead (international giveaway) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a paperback copy of Unleash the Undead (international giveaway) to a randomly drawn host. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

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'Think Like an Entrepreneur' by Deborah A. Bailey

Book Blurb

Tired of being at the mercy of the economy? Have you been downsized or are you keeping your head down, hoping that things will get better? This book will help you:

• Transfer your current skills into a new career
• Transition from employee to entrepreneur-even if you don't know where to start
• Gain control over your life and have more financial freedom
• Discover your purpose, follow your dreams and live a fulfilled life
• Start over after a job at any age or stage in your career

Even if you don't want to go into business for yourself, you'll learn how entrepreneurial traits can help you to succeed!

Available on Amazon

Bio

Deborah A. Bailey is a coach, host of "Women Entrepreneurs Radio" and author of six books including, "Think Like an Entrepreneur: Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life."

After working in the corporate world, Deborah transitioned into entrepreneurship and graduated from Coach U. Her articles have appeared publications such as Dailyworth.com, More.com, and CNN.com. Learn more at http://www.ThinkLikeAnEntrepreneurBook.com

Visit her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DebBC

Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/womenentrepreneurs

'Write Books That Sell NOW' by Candice L. Davis, Anita Rochelle Paul, & Carol Joyce Dunlop

Blurb:

Learn the #1 way to quickly position yourself as a thought leader or expert in your industry!

Have you spent years thinking about writing a book to share your story or demonstrate your expertise?

Writing a book probably seems like too much work. But by showcasing your knowledge in a book, you can change more lives and build your business or side business at the same time.

The good news is that once you have a step-by-step system, like the one outlined in this book, it's not a difficult dream to achieve.

Savvy entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and professionals know that becoming an author is one of the most effective ways to land appearances on TV, radio shows, and popular podcasts. Adding "author of" to your bio can help you book prestigious speaking gigs and prove that you're the expert everyone in your niche is looking for.

This guide takes you by the hand and helps you identify the best idea for your book, shows you how to write it, and explains what to do to self-publish it and get people to buy it. (Hint: Recording yourself and transcribing the results isn't enough.)

Confused about where to start? This system will help you jumpstart your book.

Wondering how to increase book sales? These experts show you specific ways to sell more books.

Not sure how to use your book to create more professional opportunities? It's laid out for you here.

Feel like a used car salesman when you promote your own work? Follow the steps in this book to use social media in ways that win you fans who are happy to buy your book and your other products and services.

These strategies work for professionals in every arena from coaches and consultants to executives, small business owners, solopreneurs, and brick and mortar shop owners.

Increase your value as a speaker. Build your coaching or consulting business. Demonstrate your expertise in your niche. Earn free media exposure. Or simply share a life-changing story!

Read an excerpt:

WRITE THE RIGHT BOOK: 8 Steps to Take You from Idea to “The End” 

I looked up from my laptop to see a stunning woman walking toward my table in the coffee shop. Heads turned as she crossed the room, but she seemed not to notice. In a place filled with people dressed in their casual, work-from-home duds, she was the odd woman out. Topping six-feet in her designer heels, she was dressed for the corporate takeover of a fashion house. 

This prospective client had me sitting up a bit straighter before we’d exchanged two words. She owned the room without even trying, but the minute she smiled, I knew I wanted to work with her. 

“I have to tell you,” she said. “I’m not really a writer.” Perplexing words from a woman whose work I’d seen in national magazines, a woman I knew had already written and self-published a book and who was looking for help getting her second one ready for publication. 

As we talked, I realized she was right when she said she wasn’t a writer in the strictest sense of the word. What she meant was that she’d never set out to write for a living and that would never be her focus. The heart of her business was coaching, speaking, and teaching through her online courses. She wrote books as a means of reaching more people, positioning herself as an authority, and producing another income stream. Together, all those things made up a very successful business for her. 

I do consider myself a writer. Writing books is my passion, but

it’s only one of my passions and only one facet of my business. I’m just as passionate about my work helping other people write their books. If you’re a writer too, that’s excellent. All of this will be easier for you.

But for the rest of the world, for people who’ve never thought of themselves as writers, writing can seem like some mystical skill or special talent you have to be born with or spend decades mastering. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

You don’t have to be that person who earned an A+ on every essay in school. These days we have software to check our spelling and punctuation. They’re imperfect, but they catch most of what we screw up. More importantly, if you invest some time in a few specific pre-writing strategies, writing a book will be much like managing any other project. It’s really just a matter of following a formula. With that formula, you turn your ideas and existing content into real profits. Revision and editing will smooth out the rough edges.

Available on Amazon

Author Bios:

Anita Rochelle Paul is an author coach and independent publisher. She helps new and experienced authors self-publish high-quality, business-building books that don’t look self-published.

Candice L Davis works as a ghostwriter, book coach, and editor. She helps people get their ideas, experience, and expertise on the page, so they can write their books and enjoy the benefits of being an author.

Social media marketing pro Carol Joyce Dunlop teaches authors to use social media to make sure the right readers find their books—without spending all day online.

Carol, Anita, and Candice believe everyone has a story worth telling. Together, the “Write Books That Sell Now” team has helped dozens of entrepreneurs, professionals, and other experts become authors so they can grow their businesses and change more lives!

'A Soul to Keep (Saints & Sinner #1)' by Moira Keith

A SOUL TO KEEP

by Moira Keith

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

In the realm of the Fallen, there’s a little saint and sinner in us all…

One moment can impact the future.

Love never served Jayde Cross well and owing a debt to a demon is the proof. Reaping is a lonely existence and with her thirtieth birthday approaching, she's got enough to worry about without adding romance to the mix. It's why her friendship with the man living next door works so well. They both live lives filled with secrets and ignoring their self-imposed rules isn’t an option. Too bad her heart disagrees.

The past is about to come back and haunt one of Heaven’s Fallen.

Caleb Thorne always found living among mortals difficult, until he met the intriguing woman down the hall. She demands nothing of him and is completely safe. When an enemy from his past catches up with him, Caleb soon discovers the rules of the Fallen exist for a reason and loving a mortal may prove to be the bigger danger.

In a world where their love is forbidden, Jayde and Caleb may just discover that sometimes breaking rules is the only thing that can set you free.

Read an excerpt:

“You are in over your head.”

Caleb spun around and found Gabriel sitting on the bench behind him. “You really need to get a life, Gabriel, and stop obsessing over mine.”

“Oh, if obsession were truly the reason I’m here.” Gabriel focused his gaze on him. “I'm warning you, the things you don't know about this woman are as dangerous as the things you do.”

“Could you be anymore cryptic?”

“No. You know I'm bound from revealing certain things. Fate...destiny...whatever you want to call it, has to unfold. I can only warn based on the knowledge I possess. I cannot offer up any information and risk potentially altering the course of fate.” Gabriel leaned against the back of the bench and studied him.

“Never stopped you before.” Caleb knew if it would sway things in a direction that would benefit him or the Fallen in general, Gabriel would share every detail he possessed.

“You really are in over your head, aren't you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Gabriel sighed and stared out across the street. “I could still have you reassigned. It's not too late.”

“Good luck trying. I’ll not leave here. Not while I believe she’s in danger.”

“Mortal women cannot love us the way we long to be loved. I tried to warn you a century ago when Taelynn was still alive. The mortals we fall for become pawns in the battle between good and evil. Your love for your wife, even in death, allowed Azrael to use her against you. To use her against all of us. If you’d listened when I told you to stay away from her, she would’ve been safe to live out the rest of her life and you would still be amongst the glorious ranks of Michael’s army and not stuck here with me. Instead, she is lost to us, the one sent to protect her has gone rogue, and it cost you dearly. You didn’t listen then, but I urge you to listen now.”

Buy links

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Moira Keith is a lover of shoes, a connoisseur of Guinness, baker of cocktail themed cupcakes, and an overall complete mess! She is also a proud Texan by birth (and true Southern girl at heart).

Moira lives in the city of neon with her twin zombie sons, a fish, three parakeets, and a turtle.

http://moirakeith.com/

https://twitter.com/moirakeith

https://www.facebook.com/authormoirakeith

Moira Keith will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

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