Monday, December 31, 2012

Murder for the Halibut by Liz Lipperman

Happy Release day toLiz Lipperman author of Murder For the Halibut!



this is book 3 in the Clueless Cook Mysteries!

Check out the overview for it.

Overview

A sports writing job would have been the perfect catch for Jordan McAllister, but in Ranchero, Texas, all she could reel in was the food column. Though she may not know her way around a kitchen, she has no trouble finding herself in a kettle of fish…
Tempted by the offer of a free Caribbean cruise, Jordan accepts a spot as a judge in a week-long big-time cooking competition aboard the Carnation Queen. She just better hope no one finds out that her famous palate is far from refined.
But there are bigger fish to fry when arrogant chef Stefano Mancini falls face first into his signature halibut dish during the first event. While evidence suggests that the handsome Italian chef’s death was an accident, Jordan thinks otherwise. But she’ll have to keep her wits about her—and the sea sickness pills handy—if she’s going to solve this one…

Pick it up today !!!!!!!!!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Release Day Dec 31st Tomorrow!

Happy Release Day to all the AMAZING authors who have books coming out tomorrow, Dec 31st!!!!!

Deal to Die for by Josie Belle


Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates aka Cricket McRae

Murder Hooks a Mermaid by Christy Fifield aka Christina York

Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy

Murder for the Halibut by Liz Lipperman

Panic Button by Kylie Logan

A Function of Murder by Ada Madison aka Camille Minichino






What a great line up for some New Year reading!!!!!!!

Head out to your bookstore, Barnes and NoBLE, Amazon,(which you can do right from here with the button on the low middle right) and anywhere you buy your books!!
 






Book Line and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay review!


my review!

Do you love Pirates? Do you love Treasure hunts?If yes then you will love this series.Pirates and treasure maps and yes murder are happening at Briar creek and Jenn pulls you right in from the start.

Jenn has done it again with this amazing fast paced, keep you on the edge wanting to know what will happen next with her newest book Book Line and sinker!

Lindsey is head of the crafternoon group and is pulled in to this treasure hunt which leads to trying to solve the murder of Trudi Hargrave and clearing Charles's name as prime suspect in her murder.

This series will take you on a wonderful adventure and you will love getting to know all the people of Briar Creek. Check it out, the First in the series is called Due or Die, you will fall in love with it from the start!

Overview

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING LIBRARY LOVER'S MYSTERY FROM THE AUTHOR OF DUE OR DIE
“Avast” in pirate speak means what?*
Answering tricky reference questions like this one provides plenty of excitement for library director Lindsey Norris. But when a shocking murder is committed in her cozy coastal town of Briar Creek, Connecticut, the question of who did it must be answered before an innocent man gets the book thrown at him...

Lindsey is enjoying her second year in Briar Creek as the library director, meeting with the crafternoon club, and happily dating tour boat captain Mike Sullivan. But when a salvage company arrives in town to dig up treasure buried on Pirate Island over three hundred years ago, the locals are torn between protecting the island and welcoming the publicity. 

In spite of the squabbling, Charlie Peyton, Lindsey’s downstairs neighbor, takes a job with the salvage company. But when Trudi Hargrave, the local tourism director who hired the company, is found murdered at the excavation site, Charlie becomes the chief suspect. To help him, Lindsey must do some digging of her own before the real killer buries the truth for good…

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Saturday Morning with Kylie Logan

Hi everyone, Kylie Logan stopped by to talk about her Button book series. Have you read it yet?





Tell us about yourself.
 
That's a pretty open-ended question!  I guess I should start by telling you that I'm really two different people.  I'm here today as Kylie Logan, author of the Button Box mysteries.  I'm also Casey Daniels who writes the Pepper Martin mystery series.  I'm a fulltime writer, and the book that's coming out on December 31 ("Panic Button") is the third in the Button Box mystery series and my 43rd bood overall. The Button Box series is about a woman named Josie who owns an antique and vintage button shop in Chicago.  Of course, there's plenty of murder and mayhem involved!
 
In "Panic Button," Josie meets a woman who's inherited a button charm string.  A little history here: in the late 1800s and the early 1900s, many young women collected buttons and put them on charm strings.  The trick was that you were supposed to have only one of each button on your charm string and you were never supposed to buy any of the buttons.  Young women got buttons as gifts and traded them.  Legend said that when you had 1000 buttons on your charm string, you'd meet your Prince Charming.
 
Well, Angela, who owns the charm string in the book, isn't worried about meeting her Prince.  She's convinced the charm string is cursed and she can't wait to get rid of it.  Josie, ever practical, is sure she doesn't believe in such nonsense.  That is, until Angela is found strangled, the charm string around her neck.
 
 How did you come up with this series?
 
Actually, the series is an excuse to indulge my love of old buttons.  Sound crazy?  Next time you have a chance, take a look at some old buttons.  They are really amazing, tiny little pieces of art.  A couple years ago when I was browsing through buttons at an antique shop, I realized it would be a perfect setting for a mystery series.
 
 What are you working on now?
 
Right now, I'm working on the fourth book of the series. I 'm calling it "The Button of Doom." We'll see if my publisher sticks with that! I'm having great fun with this one.  I won't tell you what it's about, but I will give you a hint: voodoo and buttons.  A great combination!
 
 If you could be any fictional character from any book you have read who would it be and why?
 
There's no way I could make a choice!  I love certain characters for their special qualities.  For instance, I love the Flavia de Luce character from Alan Bradley's books because she's precocious and curious.  I love Amelia Peabody from Elizabeth Peters's mysteries because she's got great wit and she knows how to use an umbrella as a weapon.  Miss Marple is so good at seeing little things and figuring out what they mean.  Sherlock Holmes, of course, has wonderful powers of observation.  The list goes on and on!
 
 What book are you reading right now?
 
At the moment . . . nothing, unfortunately.  That's because I'm knee deep in this book and when I'm writing, I seldomly read fiction.  I find it much too distracting.  I can tell you that the last book I read was "One Mountain Away" by Emilie Richards.  Wonderful and moving women's fiction.
 
 

Overview

Josie Giancola, owner of the Button Box shop, knows her buttons. But when she comes into contact with a rare charm string, she never imagines it will lead to murder…
Josie is approached at her shop to appraise a very rare item—a complete charm string. In Victorian times, girls strung buttons on long strings to make the charms. Once the string reached 1,000 buttons—no two alike—the legend was that the owner would meet her beloved.
But the owner of this charm string is not looking for love—she’s desperate to donate the piece to a museum and be rid of it. She believes the string is far from charmed—it’s cursed. When Josie finds the woman strangled with the charm string, she doesn’t know whether the curse is real…but the killer certainly is.

Panic Button comes out on Dec 31st~!





Thank you Kylie for coming to visit today! Looking forward to reading Panic Button!!!!!!!!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Dec 31st book releases


December 31st is just a couple days away and that means, BOOKS!!!!!!!Check out this AWESOME list of reads for the new year!!Which ones will you be getting?

Deal to Die for by Josie Belle aka Jenn McKinlay
Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates aka Cricket McRae
Murder Hooks a Mermaid by Christy Fifield aka Christina York
Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy
Murder for the Halibut by Liz Lipperman
Panic Button by Kylie Logan
A Function of Murder by Ada Madison aka Camille Minichino
Scrapped by Mollie Cox Bryan
The Road to Cardinal Valley by Earlene Fowler
A Friendly Game of Murder by J.J. Murphy

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Thursday First

Today's First is one I haven't read yet but is on my list to read, it looks pretty amazing!!!!! Have you read it, what do you think?



Overview

Lauren Vancouver is the head of HotRescues, a no-kill animal shelter north of Los Angeles, but it's often human nature that puts her in the path of danger. Just like when she helps rescue four adorable beagle puppies that were dumped down a drainpipe at a nasty puppy mill. One of the mill's employees has a history of dog abuse-and a bone to pick with Lauren. And when he's found dead at HotRescues after threatening her, Lauren will have to sniff out the real killer to keep herself out of a cage...


Let me know what you think of this book!!!!!

Cara Leyba Blog Tour

As women, we have become professional self-critics. We've become so convinced by society that we need to attain a level of perfection that just isn't real. Whether it's trying to get skinnier, look younger, get that promotion, please our parents, get fuller lips or rid ourselves of cellulite -- we're on a never ending mission to change and it always makes us feel like crap.

Instead, why not focus on all the fabulous qualities we already possess? There is so much to celebrate when we look at all of our accomplishments. In this straight-up girlfriend's guide, lifestylist and wellness coach Cara Alwill Leyba encourages women to discover what makes them sparkle so that they can design the lives they desire and deserve. So raise your glass and toast yourself. You're about to start shimmering, shining, and dazzling every day. Because isn't everything better when it sparkles?
my review:
I really enjoyed this book and am glad that there is a book out there written by some one who cares about you as a person, not as someone who doesnt fit in to society standards. I am one of them and after reading this book, I am finding my sparkle and no matter what society says I am happy with me and I think this book will be a wonderful encouragement to anyone who has trouble with loving you for you! So thank you Cara for this great book!
Tell us about yourself.

I'm Cara, and I'm an author, life coach, and radio host from NYC. I work full-time at MTV Networks in advertising, but my true passion is connecting with and empowering women. I run a blog called The Champagne Diet, which encourages women to celebrate themselves, live effervescently, and always leave room for champagne. I truly feel that life is meant to be lived passionately, and we as women need to be kind to ourselves. There's so much negativity and criticism in society, so I want to inspire women to feel good and let that all go. I live in NYC and am married to a wonderful man named Ryan and we have the most adorable dog-child named Yoshi. Life is good.


What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to write a book that hadn't been done before. Although I am a life coach and have read my fair share of self-help books, I wanted to write something for women that made them feel good. I didn't want them to feel like they had to change everything about themselves in order to be happy. Sparkle really helps women feel like they already have everything they need in order to live the lives they want, it just helps them recognize those things and celebrate them.



What are you working on next?

I'm not totally sure! There will definitely be a follow-up to Sparkle. I have a few ideas right now, but really want to ask my readers what they want to see more of, because after all, I write for them. So if anyone has any suggestions, please email me your thoughts!


Who inspired you to become a writer/author?

In the 4th grade, we had a school project where we had to write and construct our own book. I remember this project so vividly and that's truly where I fell in love with the idea of writing and publishing. I wrote a book called "The Cat Who Couldn't Fit In" about an orange cat who lived in a town of all black & white spotted cats. The orange cat got made fun of, so he made a white sweatsuit with black spots all over it and wore it to school so he could fit in. The black & white cats felt so bad after realizing how out of place he felt, and they wound up accepting him as is. The storyline was so fun to write and I actually did all the illustrations myself and constructed the book out of canvas boards and felt. I wrote my "About the Author" on the back cover and from that moment on knew I was meant to write for the rest of my life!

What character in any book would you like to have a dinner date with and why?
I know this technically isn't fiction, but I would love to have a dinner date with Jen Lancaster in any one of her memoirs! She's one of my favorite writers and she just seems so funny and smart. I'm sure we'd talk for hours!

Author Bio:

Cara Alwill Leyba is a best selling author, and certified life and wellness coach from New York City who empowers women to live their most effervescent lives and celebrate themselves. She encourages women to indulge in the things that make them happy, and swears that every woman can live a "champagne life," no matter how busy she is or how tight her budget.

Her blog, The Champagne Diet, boasts a following of thousands of loyal readers and has been featured in Glamour, Shape, Cafe Mom, Daily Mail UK, MSN Australia, AOL UK Lifestyle, and a host of other publications worldwide. Cara's writing has been featured in The Huffington Post, xJane, Mind Body Green, MTV News, and many other sites.
Cara regularly appears on the “Ask Dr. Fritz” radio show on WWRL New York, where she helps host Dr. Fritz answer questions from callers about love, career, family, relationships and more. She also hosts her own lifestyle and wellness show, "Uncork Your Best Self" on Blog Talk Radio.

Cara's first book, SPARKLE, became an immediate #1 bestseller on Amazon in both the Happiness and Self-Esteem categories upon hours of its release. She celebrated the release of her book with a book signing in New York City this past fall.

When she’s not popping bubbly, blogging, or working with her coaching clients, Cara spends her days leading a digital advertising team at MTV Networks. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and dog-child. For more on Cara visit www.LiveCreateSparkle.com

Connect with Cara!




Cara's website: www.LiveCreateSparkle.com
Cara's blog: www.TheChampagneDiet.com
Want to learn how to sparkle? Join Cara's "Sparkling Start" workshop next month and kick off 2013 in glittering, shimmering style! http://www.livecreatesparkle.com/group-workshops.html 
 

  Buy the Book!

Amazon




Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Author Shoutout Wednesday

Happy Holidays Everyone! Our Author Shoutout goes to...

                                      Jennie Bentley
                 (author of the Do it yourself mysteries!!!!!!!)



Overview

Avery Baker never thought she’d leave Manhattan, until she inherited her aunt’s old Maine cottage and found her true calling—home renovation. But when Avery goes to work restoring a condominium, she discovers it’s another condo owner who’s been condemned... 
Avery and her partner, Derek, are fixing up a cute little condo in homey Waterfield, Maine, hoping for a quick turnaround and some extra money. It seems like a simple project—and Avery is looking forward to using her big-city experience with small spaces.
But they didn’t expect to have their every move watched by the resident busybody in the condo, Hilda Shaw, who loves snooping on everyone’s comings and goings. When the busybody becomes a dead body, Avery suspects foul play. Soon she’s doing some snooping of her own—and it seems everyone in the complex has a secret. Could one of them be worth killing for? Avery needs to work fast, before someone decides to fix her...for good.

Check out this wonderful series!



Monday, December 24, 2012

Night before Christmas

Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there...

Lets see if you all know the rest..

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saturday reading fun!

Hey all, have you read an amazing book lately and want to tell me about it ! Leave me a comment with the title and author ,mystery, cozy mystery, YA , teen. I will help get the word out. So come on and let me know, so we can spread the word to others. We don't want them to miss out!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Thursday First

Its Thursday and today our First in a series is...

                               Mum's the Word by Kate Collins


First in the Flower Shop Mystery Series


Overview

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

This is a GREAT series! Would make a perfect Christmas Gift! Pick it up today , you will love it!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Author Shout Out -- Grace Carroll

It's Wednesday and our Author Shout out goes to

                              

                               Grace Carroll author of Shoe Done it..

 

 

Overview

Rita Jewel has a dream job selling fabulous clothes and accessories to the socialites of San Francisco at Dolce's Boutique. But when a pair of heels becomes a clue in a murder, Rita finds herself engaged in a high- end crime of fashion.



And Died with a Bow



Overview

April in San Francisco may be all about layers, but it also marks one year since the stylish Rita Jewell began working at Dolce’s, an upscale boutique catering to the city’s trendy socialites. And while it may seem like a glamorous world, someone’s about to get ugly…

Things have been less than pretty for Rita lately. There’s her lackluster love life. Then Dolce hires a new salesgirl. Fast-talking fashionista Vienna Fairchild is young, confident, and horribly entitled. She’s rearranged the store and relegates Rita to answering her phone—and the men are ringing for Vienna as though it were going out of style. Lucky for Rita, Dolce has tickets to a charity bachelor auction—but what to wear?

While Rita opts for something simple, Vienna stuns the crowd in a breathtaking black dress with a pink bow on the back. Rita is even more stunned when she sees Vienna in that same dress the following day—dead on the sales floor of Dolce’s. With Rita’s fingerprints all over the scene and a believable motive, she’s going to need to find some clues and throw together the perfect outfit that says: “I’m innocent.”

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Read it, Wrap it, Love it!!!

My book today that is an amazing read is Iced Chiffon by Duffy Brown!
This would make a wonderful Christmas Gift ! Get it today and You will not be disappointed!




Overview

There’s always something to gossip about in Savannah, Georgia, and Reagan Summerside always seems to be in the middle of it. She’s busy enough running her consignment shop, The Prissy Fox, with her vivacious Auntie KiKi, but now the gossip—and the sales—are about to pick up after a gruesome discovery…

Reagan’s messy divorce has left her with nothing but a run-down Victorian and a bunch of designer clothes. Strapped for cash, Reagan makes use of the two things she has left, turning the first floor of her home into a consignment shop and filling it with the remnants of her rich-wife wardrobe.

Thanks to his cunning lawyer Walker Boone, her ex got everything else, including the Lexus—not to mention a young blond cupcake. When Reagan finds the cupcake dead in the Lexus, she’s determined to beat Boone to finding the murderer. As it turns out, the gossip fiends flooding Reagan’s shop will give her a lot more than just their unwanted clothes—they have information more precious than a vintage Louis Vuitton…


Why I love this book, This book is a great read and Duffy introduces you to some really awesome people that you will fall in love with from the start! Reagan is a terrific person that I think everyone can relate to and Aunt Kiki will have you in stitches , she is hilarious!  And who doesnt love a consignment shop where you can find vintage and many other treasures.







Meet the Author

Duffy Brown loves anything with a mystery. While other girls dreamed of dating Brad Pitt, Duffy longed to take Sherlock Holmes to the prom. She has two cats, Spooky and Dr. Watson, and works at a consignment shop when she’s not busy conjuring up who-done-it stories. 

Way to Go Duffy for an AMAZING Book!!!!!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Wrap it, Read it, Love it!

I Highly recommend Written in Stone by Ellery Adams!!!

Overview

When Munin Cooper, known as the Witch of Oyster Bay, warns Olivia Limoges that death is coming, neither of them realize that it is the older woman herself who will soon be found dead. And Olivia’s instincts tell her that something—or someone—more sinister than a mystical force is at play…

Olivia has a lot on her plate preparing for the Coastal Carolina Food Festival. When she hears the news of Munin’s untimely death, however, finding the murderer takes priority. The witch left behind a memory jug full of keepsakes that Olivia knows must point to the killer—but she’s got to figure out what they mean.

With handsome Police Chief Rawlings by her side, Olivia starts to identify some of the jug’s mysterious contents—and finds its secrets are much darker than she suspected. Now Olivia must enlist the help of the Bayside Book Writers to solve the puzzle behind the piece of pottery and put an end to a vengeful killer before any more damage can be done.


I love this book (part of a series) because the characters make you feel welcome in their town. You get to know each one as a friend and Ellery really makes it fun to sit and read by pulling you in to the story right from the start. And of course Captian Haviland is the Best! You will fall in love right from the start.

I also love this book well, because I am in it too.

Pick it up today and get an extra copy to share as a gift this holiday season!!!!!!!

This is a blog hop so go and check the other blogs out!


Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero? WINNER OF THE GENERAL FICTION/NOVEL CATEGORY OF THE 2012 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS!
Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah’s call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?
Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.ust become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.


EXCERPT:


Knock. Just one solid sound.
Recai sat up too quickly and fell back against his mattress gasping as Rebekah stuck her head into his small room, her face creased with worry and fear.
“Cover yourself and stay silent,” she whispered before closing the door and rushing back into the living room to retrieve her burqa and open the door. Recai heard the movement of the heavy fabric she wore on top of her house dress as she moved across the room to greet their visitor. He wondered if she had retrieved her father’s gun which he’d overheard Hasad say was under the couch in the living room.
Before hiding beneath the thin sheet that covered him, he reached down and pulled the rug from the floor and threw it across his legs. He covered his head and melted against the wall with the pillow on top of his upper body. Feeling foolish, Recai laid there, wishing he had his ID, his phone, anything to help bribe his way out of this situation if it was indeed the RTK at the door.
Perhaps it’s just a neighbor, he thought. A neighbor come to ask after Rebekah’s father’s health or to borrow some salt. His attempt at rationalizing the unexpected visit did not quell his fears. The RTK made a habit of performing home inspections, especially if they suspected a woman alone. It wasn’t a safe time for anyone under the jurisdiction of Mayor Yilmaz.
Rebekah’s voice from the front room was soft and gentle. Recai could not make out the words but he managed to hear the sound of another voice. Was it a man? What man would she let into her home, knowing he was back here and her father away? Only one she could not turn away. Recai squeezed his eyes shut and prayed to Allah that it was her Rabbi, come to check on her.
“ . . . Only a storeroom, my father sleeps back here with the supplies and sometimes the animals so I can have the proper privacy a woman should be afforded,” Recai heard her say.
Rebekah’s voice was right outside the door to his room. She remained calm, not a hint of fear betrayed her. Few were able to handle themselves as coolly as she sounded. Recai prayed her strength would be enough.
They were in trouble. The only men who would feel at liberty to explore a woman’s home when she was alone were the RTK and their morality police. No one else possessed the sheer hypocritical audacity. And to come all the way out here, to this nothing village without even a paved road or proper mosque. Recai had the fleeting thought that perhaps this was not about Rebekah but about him and however he had ended up in the desert on the brink of death.
The door swung open abruptly, startling Recai despite his knowing it would happen. He was as covered as was feasible. He willed himself to fade into the shadows of the small room and tried not to breathe. In’shallah this would all be over soon.


Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number cruncher. She graduated Smith College in 1999 with a degree in Theatre. After graduation, she moved to New York, where she worked as a Dramaturge, Assistant Director and Production Manager on productions both on and off Broadway.

Later, Pavarti went to work in the finance industry several international law firms. She now operates her own accounting firm in the Washington DC area, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and two terrible dogs. When not preparing taxes, she is busy working as the Director of Marketing at Novel Publicity
or penning her next novel. www.FightingMonkeyPress.com

Behind the Veil: My Experience with Hijab by Pavarti K Tyler

Hijab is the headscarf some Muslim women wear.  There is great debate over the need, use and appropriateness of the hijab, which has fueled cultural debate and conflict.  In Islam there is a cultural practice of covering a woman’s hair and neck, this is considered modest dress and the roots of the practice are based in the Qu’ran.  There are multiple surahs (verses) and hadiths (oral histories) which are used to explain the need for men and women to dress modestly.

The specifics of what needs to be covered is controversial.  Some say only the hair must be covered, others say everything but the eyes and hands should be.  From Burquas in Afghanistan to hijabs in France, it seems everyone has an opinion.

In 2001, right after 9/11, I participated in an event called “Sisters for Solidarity.”  The sponsoring group was an interfaith movement for social awareness.  Over 200,000 women in the US donned hijab for Eid Al-Fitr, a celebration that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Somewhere in the depths of my basement there is a picture of me with a beautiful red-and-gold scarf covering my hair and neck. For three days in November, 2011, I went to work, the grocery store, church and everywhere else with my hair covered.

I could discuss the political reasons for doing this, or my own religion beliefs, but what I learned during those three days has nothing to do with either. I donned a headscarf for very personal reasons, which I believed deeply and still hold dear.  And every moment I wore it, I felt stronger in my convictions.  Something about a physical declaration of my beliefs was empowering and liberating.

I also felt a part of something.  Other women in hijab would stop, smile and speak with me no matter where we were.  It was a kind of sisterhood I haven’t experienced in other parts of my life.  Even when they found out I wasn’t Muslim, the kind response I received for what I was doing was deeply touching.

Simultaneously, I found the covering very oppressive.  It was hot under there, and kept slipping.  This was probably mostly due to my inexperience, but I found it physically cumbersome and something that needed constant monitoring.  I was also very surprised to find that a number of co-workers with whom I had been close to did not speak with me during the days I was wearing hijab. I received sideways glances on the bus and subway, not the usual smiles and commuter camaraderie I was accustomed to.

There are three female characters in my novel, Shadow on the Wall.  Each has an opinion of and relationship with wearing the hijab.  I pulled on my short experience to inform how I wrote these characters. Rebekah, Darya and Maryam - each of them represents a different archetype of Middle Eastern women.  While it's certainly not an exhaustive representation, the issues of gender and the veil are explored in depth through the course of the story. 

What I learned during the Sisters for Solidarity movement - and what I hope Shadow on the Wall conveys - is that covering is a deeply personal experience. Ideally each  woman would be able to decide for herself without the pressures of politics, family or cultural assumptions.  Unfortunately, we don’t live in that world, which is what makes the discussion so volatile. 

I’m curious as I move into publishing Shadow on the Wall how readers will feel about these women.  Which will they respond to?  With which will they identify?

Follow this link to get the Raffle Copter Code for your site:

Synopsis:
Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?

Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah’s call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.

Ø      Winner of the General Fiction/Novel Category of the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards
Ø      Winner in the Fiction: Multicultural category for The 2012 USA Best Book Awards!
Ø      Honorable Mention in the Mainstream/Literary Fiction category of the 20th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Purchase Links:


Thursday, December 13, 2012

Book Club Bash -Jane George

Book Club Bash today is spotlighting X-It by Jane George

LOVE IS A DRUG.
In 1980 NYC, eighteen-year-old J.J. Buckingham is an uptight trendoid. Working as a mannequin painter and a counter girl, she moonlights as a creature of the nightclubs. J.J. falls for aloof, crazy-talented artist and bicycle messenger X-It. In order to win his love, she succumbs to the dark machinations of drug dealer Marko Voodoo. X-It will love her if she’s the queen of underground Manhattan, right? Her plan backfires with horrendous consequences. J.J. must scrap her way out of a maze of drugs, clubs, and danger before she realizes she’s worthy of a better life. And true love might just come in the form of a clean-cut geek in Buddy Holly glasses.
 
 

Excerpt


We’re early for the show. The lobby contains very few patrons and a huge expanse of lurid purple and blue carpeting. X-It pays, takes my hand, and leads me to the center of the lobby. All I think about is the touch of his fingers on mine.
“Stand here. Close your eyes, and hold out your hands,” he says.
I do as he asks. I am being showered with paper. No, not paper, I realize as I open my eyes.
Dazzling golden leaves rain out of his messenger’s bag. Feather-light, fresh and spicy, the leaves keep coming down. Upon my head. Into my palms. Onto the purple-blue carpet, where they stick in perfect chromic contrast.
X-It’s eyes glitter. “Happy Fall, J.J.!”
He’s magical. He is everything I ever wanted to be. I move to throw my arms about him, but he holds out his bag and shakes it, making sure all the leaves are out.




I take a step back.
We walk home after the film. X-It veers away from me, drawn to a newsstand by the image of Karisma smiling from several magazine covers at once.
“She’s so perfect,” he says.
I grit my teeth, yet straighten my spine in an effort to measure up.
“And here’s Brooke Shields in her Calvins. Incredible. Who do you think is more beautiful?”
I think Brooke looks like a gilded giraffe-child, but that doesn’t prevent me from envying every inch of Miss Shields. I want to scream at X-It, “Look at me! I’m beautiful! And I’m just your size!”
But I say, “I don’t know. We don’t have a mannequin head of Brooke, just Karisma. So it’s hard to say.”
“I think Brooke is perfect,” he says. “But if she was a mannequin, just think of all the Prismacolor pencils you’d go through doing her eyebrows.”
So he was listening when I told him how a mannequin’s eyebrows are drawn.
“Thousands,” I say.

 I collapse against the brick wall in a fit of giggles. He joins me. Our heads arc close together. X-It’s face swims before me, isolated by the electric and bracing October night. His breath brushes my cheek. Our lips circle each other more than once.
And never manage to connect.





Author and illustrator Jane George lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a BFA in illustration from the California College of the Arts and has won awards for her art.
A dedicated writer for over a decade, she produces and publishes her YA fantasy and literary titles under her personal imprint, Paper Grove Publishing. Find out more at: www.Jane-George.com



Thursday First --Night Watcher by Wendy Corsi Staub

Our Thursday First goes out to Wendy Corsi Staub for her book Nightwatcher! It's book ONE in the trilogy!

Overview

As the city sleeps in the early hours of September 10, 2001, the killer waits and watches, unaware of the cataclysm to come. Even the nightmare of 9/11 will not postpone his private reign of terror.
Allison Taylor adores her adopted city, New York, loving every minute of the invigorating urban hustle. But on a bright and clear September morning, the familiar landscape around her is savagely altered—and in the midst of widespread chaos and fear, a woman living upstairs from her is found, brutally slaughtered and mutilated.
For Allison . . . for her neighbor, James "Mack" MacKenna, desperately searching for news of his missing wife . . . for homicide detective Rocky Manzillo, hunting for a monster called "The Nightwatcher" amid the smoking ruins of a devastated city, this tragic day will hold a special horror. Because a different kind of terror has entered their lives . . . and it's coming to claim Allison Taylor as its next victim.



Meet the Author:

USA Today and New York Times bestseller Wendy Corsi Staub is the award-winning author of more than seventy novels. She lives in the New York City suburbs with her husband of over twenty years and their two children.

Check this book out today, it will keep you wanting more. YAY!!! WENDY WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Author Shout Out ---Annette Blair

Our Wednesday Author Shout Out Goes to ...

                             ANNETTE BLAIR!!!!!!!!!





She is the AMAZING author of the Vintage Magic Series!!!






If you haven't read this series yet, check it out!!!!! You will so love it!!!!

Meet the Author

Magic or destiny, Annette Blair’s bewitching romantic comedies became her first national bestsellers. Now she’s entered a world of bewitching mysteries and designer vintage, a journey sure to be Vintage Magic.


Book Club Bash --- BLUFF by Lenore Skomal







About the Book:

To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.”

Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone’s deceptions, even her own.
BLUFF offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.


Read an Excerpt:

“We do not technically characterize your sister’s condition as a coma. We believe that she is in a persistent vegetative state, which we sometimes call a wakeful coma, and PVS for short, like I just told you. Physiologically, her brain has been severely damaged. The function of the cerebrum or the upper part of the brain has been impaired, as has the cortex or the outer layer of the cerebrum. This outer part is believed to be responsible for our conscious activity. Damage to both most likely was caused by the trauma to her head caused by the fall,” he explained, trying not to sound patronizing.
It worked. April’s face loosened.
“However, your sister’s brain stem, the lower part connected to her spine, is still functioning. Coma patients often have brain stem damage, which renders them unconscious and without the same physical functions that your sister has because the brain stem controls involuntary functions like breathing, digestion and reaction to pain. Even blinking and sleep-wake cycles. You know, that type of thing,” he continued. “As a result, PVS patients like your sister have periods of sleep and wakefulness. They flinch from pain and may react to noise or follow movement with their eyes. But their responses are of limited duration and seem to lack purpose.”

So, she’s not brain dead,” April asked flatly, as if somehow disappointed.
“No, she is far from brain dead. She has partial brain function. Right now, she is in a wake cycle. Notice how her eyes are open and her mouth is moving,” he said pointing to me, as if on display—the poster child for PVS. I didn’t realize my mouth was moving. Learn something new every time this guy talks.
“Watch this. She can respond to certain stimulus. She will grasp my hand when touched and it will appear that this is a voluntary response.”
With that, he walked over to my bed and said, “Hi there, Jude” and then placed his thick hand in mine.
A sensation shot through my arm. Nothing replaced the human touch. Oh, did it feel wonderful. The feel of flesh upon flesh was one of the things I missed the most. Even though I was not a touchy person by nature, Frances was. She was forever hugging me and grabbing my arm when we walked together. I guess not having that skin-on-skin feeling underscored its importance. Elated, I felt I could jump up and run around the room.

Personal touch had become so unfamiliar to me in the short time I was there. When I was touched, it was  merely the function of cleaning my body and adjusting my limbs for physical therapy. Seems as time has gone by, people rarely just touch me, stroke my head or hold my hand. I wanted them to want to feel close to me. Frances had been the only one to consistently hold my hand since I’d been admitted. While Jeffries and some of the nurses were good about talking to me as if I were mute, and once in a while, patting my hand or rubbing my arm, there was no prolonged touching.
But this was a demonstration. I had forgotten. As he slid his hand into mine, I watched as my hand reflexively folded around his, without any effort on my part. I seemed to have vacated my own body right after the fall. Now it belonged to this automaton that responded mindlessly to stimuli and reacted instinctively. I was reminded I was no longer in control.
I longed for him to keep it there, but he abruptly pulled away.
Demonstration over.
The tears welled up inside me, but of course nothing emerged. It had been a long time since I felt like crying, and now, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. April stood absorbed in the moment, consciously taking it all in.
There you have it, April. Now you know. I could have explained it much better myself if I could have actually talked. To my way of thinking, it was a simple matter of being fully cognitive and aware but simply not being able to move. It’s like I’m paralyzed all over, including on the inside, I wanted to tell her. It’s like being frozen, yet hearing everything, seeing everything, and at the same time being completely ignored. Sometimes I am here, connected to this cumbersome flesh; other times, I drift in an unknown place, my sense of self slowly vanishing—no, no, merging into nothingness. Hard to describe, but so very natural to accept.


About the author: Lenore Skomal wants you to eat her books. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. She is an award-winning author with the single goal of resonating with others. Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, her catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, 18 books published, a daily blog and weekly newspaper column, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues of the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. She has won many Society of Professional Journalist awards, the Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and most recently, the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor for “Burnt Toast.,” her first anthology of her award winning humor columns. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, her writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.



Research in the making of Bluff by Lenore Skomal
Like most novelists, I believe having a great story line is the best place to start but it certainly doesn’t make the novel complete. For BLUFF, a story about a 40-year old coma pregnant coma patient teetering on death, the plot needed to be vetted by medical professionals. I knew this going into the writing and thankfully my skills as a journalist came into play.
It was absolutely essential for me to interview trauma surgeons, palliative care physicians, ICU nurses, pediatric care physicians, rape counselors as well as hospital administrative staff in order to get the most authentic information to provide the bones of what would be the storyline.
My goal was for the reader to feel the stress of the E.R. to hear the way doctors really talk to and about patients, to taste and smell the sights and sounds of the ICU and to experience the time warp that only hospitals create.
Toward that end, I made sure to interview those who are in those situations each day. And while none of them had to deal with a pregnant coma patient, they all took great care to put themselves in that hypothetical situation.
Because of my parent’s deaths—both of whom died in hospitals after long term illnesses—I had my own perceptions about the linoleum floored halls and protocol, which I drew from liberally. But there were large gaps in terms of the medical handling of having my protagonist, Jude, fall from a cliff and end up in a coma. In order to reconstruct the accident and the resulting injuries, I had long discussions with a trauma surgeon. The exactitude was important to me, not only as an author but also as a former journalist. After all, I was asking a lot of my readers, in terms of taking a leap of faith when it came to accepting the seemingly highly implausible premise of the narrative coming from a coma patient. Having an accurate and reliable description of detail, starting with her fall and proceeding through the time spent in the hospital was essential for several reasons.
First and foremost, it added much needed credibility. I didn’t want to lose my readers, especially those who were sticklers for precise details. (I also didn’t want to bore the snot out of them, so I edited these parts continually to streamline yet not gut them.)
As a writer, I know how easy it is for someone to get derailed because something in the story doesn’t smack real. I also believe that with authenticity comes the stability of boundaries. The reader can trust me because I am not just making up crap in my head and trying to slam it down their throat. They can feel safe with my storyline because it is believable, it is real, and that’s where the trust comes from.
 And in the end, I do believe we have a responsibility to maintain that trust with our readers, or run the risk of losing them for good.
 About the Author
Lenore Skomal is the author of the recently released novel Bluff. As an author, Lenore wants you to eat her books. She wants you to chew them in your teeth, savor them on your tongue, breathe them in, and feel her words in your skin. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal’s catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. www.LenoreSkomal.com

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Synopsis:
To the medical world, I was a host body, surviving only to bring a new life into the world. And while I wanted to die more than anything in the world, I never wanted this. No, I never wanted to cease to exist. This was the worst death of all.

Jude Black lives in that in-between, twilight place teetering on death but clinging to life in order to bring her baby into this world. Only she knows the circumstances surrounding her mysterious fall off the bluff that landed her in the hospital being kept alive by medical intervention. Only she knows who the father of her baby is. In this poignantly crafted literary novel, the mystery unfolds and the suspense builds as the consequences of Jude’s decisions threaten to reveal everyone's deceptions, even her own. Bluff offers a sensitive look at essential questions such as the value of human life, the consciousness of those in a coma and the morality of terminating life support. At the core is the story of a tragically misunderstood woman who finds peace, acceptance, understanding and even love on her deathbed.

Purchase Links:








First in Series- Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross

Happy Monday! This week's First in Series is Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross Released on August 22, 2000. Seri...