Get Your Spook On! Within Gallows Reach Giveaway

The Legend of Turtle Pond: The Initiation of Tabitha O’Brien (Book 1) is on SALE for a limited time!

#Kindle #Mystery #Paranormal #Historical #Supernatural #DorcasPress

✯ ☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆It is a story of family, their bond, and the hardship they experience when they set out to make a homestead in a foreign land where everything comes apart at the seams.✯☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆

Disclaimer: I can’t promise that you won’t relate to the O’Brien’s struggles or that you won’t get so invested that it will affect you deeply enough to bring tears to your eyes.  So, if you are into that type of literature, try it. The journey begins with the first page.

¸¸.•*¨*•★`Additional qualifier ★•*¨*•.¸¸

✯ ☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆U.S.A entries only, which includes Puerto Rico and the USVI. ✯☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆

Blogger reviews are welcome, however, they must obtain their own copy of the eBook.

Please note: 

Upon completion of the drawing, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.

¸¸.•*¨*•★`eBook Purchase Link ★•*¨*•.¸¸

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Turtle-Initiation-Tabitha-Astonia-ebook/dp/B00BB5YXW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1477530821&sr=1-1&keywords=the+legend+of+turtle+pond

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-legend-of-turtle-pond-mila-a-ballentine/1114313133?ean=2940016221182

Enter for your chance to WIN and autographed copy of 

Within Gallows Reach.

Congratulations 

✯ ☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆ Frances Hampton ✯☆҉‿➹⁀☆҉☆

You won an autographed copy of Within Gallows Reach.

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A Review of The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King - My Favorite Selections

Since childhood, Stephen King has propelled my imagination to foreign places, delivering horrors that keep on giving. If you are like me, you have a lifelong relationship with Mr. King...well, at least with his stories. Granted, few can say they actually know him, but I am okay with being one of his constant readers as long as he keeps writing. 

I find it comforting that even with all his accolades, King states that he is an amateur. In his opinion, writing is something all writers can consistently improve on. A story is never truly finished as long as the author is alive and eager to perfect his/her art. I'll try to keep that in mind whenever I'm working on a story that has me on the ropes in a choke-hold.

So he's at it again...

The title alone and accompanying artwork is enough to invite me in and once I'm there, his stories carve into my subconscious, navigating  busy junctures, leading me into a boondocks of endless possibilities. This time he's taking me/us on a bazaar of bad dreams. I have no expectations and yet, I playfully whisper, surprise me. 

Mile 81

For the record, I'm not a fan of driving on the highway, the concrete dividers inspire nightmares in and of itself.  At times, it can be a scary place; even when you're at the wheel. All it takes is one wrong move by you or a distracted driver and anything, everything can go wrong. If the odds are in your favor,  you walk away with minor abrasions or you're carved into by carnivorous metal that somehow graduated with a PhD in Creative Butchery in a matter of a millisecond.

In Mile 81 we're introduced to various characters that vie for our attention. I have a healthy imagination, but the story didn't seize my fear. Christine had teeth; the antagonist in Mile 81... Well, I'll let you decide for yourself. The characters, specifically the teenagers were interesting, but with short stories, it's hard to get to know the characters, much less care about what happens to them.  I started to care when Rachel and Blakey came into the story line.

To his credit, King delivers jokes you can enjoy for years to come. Often, it comes to mind when you’re trying to get a joke or jab in. That's why I read his stories; he keeps me entertained even when I don't particularly like a story.

Premium Harmony

Life can become redundant for couples and even more so when they’ve been together for 37 years. Still, I enjoyed the depth of the couple’s interaction in this story. Ray and Mary spend most of their time disagreeing than loving  and appreciating each other until the couple goes for a ride and stop to pick up a treat for their niece in a dilapidated part of town.

Life is strange like that; one minute you’re going toe to toe and the next, you're staring at the mirror wondering if it was all a dream. I like this story the most. It just goes to show you that sometimes getting a good scare is not necessarily the best form of entertainment; being able to sit back, and appreciate the deeper meaning of a story can be equally gratifying.

So, what's the verdict?

This collection did  not inspire bad dreams, but if you are a fan of King's body of work give it a try. 

Either way, I enjoyed the book and I think you will too. 

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"There are times when life is shorter than a waltz, so dance—damn it, dance!" - Mila A. Ballentine

A Review of Jade Sky ( A Matt Rowley Novel) by Patrick Freivald

 

 

Genre: Militia, Science Fiction

Book Description

 

Matt Rowley hasn't been human for years. A commando for the International Council on Augmented Phenomena, he hunts down superhuman monsters the military can't handle. But his abilities come with a price: bloodthirsty whispers that urge him to acts of terrible violence. An encounter with a giant, angelic being with wings of smoke and shadow casts him into a world of inhuman brutality, demonic possession, and madness, where he must choose between his family and his soul.

The Review

 

Matt Rowley, an ICAP commando, and his crew are always on the move. This time, they are inside a warehouse.  It should be an easy operation, with little to no casualties. They maneuver the building and encounter more resistance than they had expected, but they hold off the goons long enough to make it to the helicopter. Once they are out of harm’s way, Matt and his boss debate the likelihood that something was off about the mission.

From then on, disturbing events unfold, and Matt and his team learn things that would make grown augmented men shudder—things that might very well strip away everything they know and love. In the meantime, ICAP kept them busy, sending them to foreign lands to spearhead negotiations with a Jade dealer.

Midway, Matt and his squad are propelled into a high-octane bloodlust fight. Lives are extinguished, some they regret, others not so much. Cursing the choice he was forced to make, Matt soldiers on, determined to find out what went wrong.

 

Will he find out what caused all of the chaos or will they die before learning the truth?

I like that…

Matt can crush a trachea with his thumb, but when he is at home with his wife, Monica, he is a different man.  Even when he feels like his humanity is slipping away, she is the thread that holds him together.

Purchase Links

 

Kindle     Nook

 

I’m looking forward to reading the sequel, BLACK TIDE, which comes out 4/17.

 

Author Bio

Patrick Freivald is a two-time Bram Stoker Award nominee, a teacher (physics, robotics, American Sign Language), beekeeper, and author, and coach of an award-winning competition robotics team for high school students.

He lives in Western New York with his loving wife, birds, dogs, cats, and several million stinging insects.   

Social Links

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.freivald?fref=ts

You can find him at http://patrick.freivald.com

 

****************Mila's Summer 2013 Beach Read*******************

The beach is one of my favorite places to be.  I love the feel of the sand beneath my feet, the cool water caressing my body and a tropical breeze brushing against my skin. I  don't live near a beach so, I look for books that will make me feel like I  am  relaxing on a beach  as the sea teases the shoreline.

My Beach Pick is, Wish You Were Here by Amanda McIntyre

The Blurb:

"A broken engagement.

Two BFF’s stuck in a tropical storm in the Keys.

There’s bound to be thunder and lightning.

But what happens after the storm passes?

Ever since certifiably geek Maggie saved the hide of Josh from a mean dog, the two were destined to be best friends. Social barriers kept them closet friends as Josh became popular and Maggie remained the brains that kept the brawn in academic good standing. Maggie carried her secret crush, only to be devastated when given the chance, Josh walks away, leaving her to suffer her unrequited fantasy of being with him.

Maturity reveals to Josh how badly he once treated Maggie. When she calls him then, to tell him of her engagement being cut off, it’s hard for him to be happy about his own wedding plans feeling guilty that Maggie is walking this road alone. Challenged by his bride to be that he may harbor unresolved feelings about his friend, she calls a break in their relationship, challenging him to find out and be sure of what he wants. Determined to prove her wrong, that he only cares for Maggie as a friend, he pays her a surprise visit where she’s gone to relax and recuperate.

He soon realizes that while the choices he’d made long ago were noble, the feelings he had for Maggie then were very real. One afternoon spent catching up with each other’s lives reveals what neither expected--that the embers once thought dead between them are still smoldering." ~Amanda McIntyre

**My rating:  Five flip flops and a Martini .**

Review

Wish You Were Here, read more like...Wish I Was There! I truly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were easy to get to know and I felt their struggle of indecision. Decisions of that caliber are not easy to make and the author does an excellent job relating that. I would definitely recommend this book to others. It’s a book you’d want to have handy as you relax on a towel or chair at the beach. Reading this book made me miss being near the ocean, and the mood that often accompanies such a tranquil place. Wish You Were Here gave me a taste of that feeling and I will cherish it until I walk the sandy shores again.

Enjoy what's left of  the Summer weather. Treat yourself; get  a copy of  Wish You Were Here, and read it under a shaded  tree.  

When Great Expectations Come At No Cost

Imagine, Cathy wakes up, gets ready and heads out the door. She arrives at her job and starts to do her duties. She spends eight and sometimes up to sixteen hours working on a project before leaving for the day. That’s Cathy’s schedule for the next two weeks and at the end of it, she receives an envelope. She happily accepts it and leaves for the day. Cathy checks he mailbox when she gets home; it’s filled with bills. They always come on time, every time and they don't accept monopoly money...though it would be nice.

She goes through them before putting them aside. Cathy opens the envelope she received at work and her heart sinks when she reads the note tucked inside. F.Y.I: No charge, No pay! Cathy sighs. No business can survive under that business model nor can their workers. They’d go out of business. It may seem dramatic, but it’s a true representation of what many authors face. Yet, they still manage to offer books at discounted rates or at no cost.

In the real world, I enter the food court area in the mall and I look up at the restaurant signs. 

A lady approaches me with a platter of samples on a toothpick. She extends one to me. My forehead wrinkles, should I? I take the sample and eat it. The flavors dance on my tongue and I decide to order a plate of whatever that was from the restaurant. Hopefully, it’s not monkey meat. I have a funny story about that, but I’ll save it for another time. I ordered and the food was delicious. I make a mental note to eat there  the next time I’m there.

With that said, I’m not a fan of free even when I’m on the receiving end but I realize the benefits of providing samples. In light of this, I am releasing, Goodbye Reality, a short story that will be offered for $0.99 cents. During promotions featured on this blog, and other sites via Rafflecopter, Goodbye Reality will be  offered as a "Gifted" prize. Why will it be gifted on certain sites and not all? Honestly, I don't want to be bound by a lengthy contract that will limit my audience. Hopefully, readers will find my story appealing and will be compelled to come back for more.

Goodbye Reality, a paranormal mystery will be available on July 25, 2013. Get your copy on Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles and Smashwords.com.

How To Create An Ebook Cover In Publisher

Tap into your...

1.      Open a new document in Publisher.

Please note: This tutorial was done in Publisher 2010. The navigation process may vary in other editions.

2.     Select  the Page design tab. Select  the size tab and scroll down and select the 5.827 X 8.268 page option.

3.      Select the insert tab. Select the picture tab or clip art. **For this exercise, use the clip art tab and select a picture. Re-size the picture to fill out the entire 5.827 X 8.268 page. 

Please Note: This tutorial uses one photo. If you want to use two or more photos you will have to use another program.

4.   Select the Wordart tab. Choose a style of lettering.

A dialog box will pop up. Choose the font and type the title of your book. Select okay.

Please note: All text should be in the 0.5 away from the margin area.

**The font I choose has a shadow effect. It can be removed by selecting the shadow effects tab. Select No shadow effect.

**Use the same method in step 4 to add the author’s name.

5. When you have finished the cover, select the background picture, hold down the control key and select the title and authors name. Then, save the file as a JPEG. Also, save a copy of the publisher file, you may need to make adjustments based on the online retail stores system. 

Please note: Any changes made to a picture will change the dpi. The finished cover should be 300 dpi. You will have to change it in a photo editor program.

Once you have mastered the navigation aspect of the task, you will be able to create a cover in less than 15 minutes.   

Review of Back From Africa by Corinne Hofmann

                                        

★★★★

 

My thoughts:

I enjoyed reading Back From Africa simply because I felt compelled to find out what happened next in the life of Corinne Hofmann. I felt a sense of kinship while reading The White Masai but not with this book. I was thrilled to see that all that she gave away so willingly was returned to her tenfolds. I especially enjoyed the chapter where she sets out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. I felt the pain of the adventure, and laughed when there was an ounce of humor in the most treacherous moments of the trek up the mountain. 

If you read The White Masai it is essential to follow through and read Back From Africa. If you don't a part of you will always wonder, what happened to Corinne?

What's next? 

 Reunion in Barsaloi. I'd like to know what happens next! 

DISCLAIMER: Readers escape to another reality, if only temporarily, while reading a good book.  When I review a book, I will focus on the entertainment factor, story structure and the eloquence in the writing. I have no desire to undermine an author’s effort. After all, they are responsible for the books we enjoy.

REVIEW SCALE:

5 stars = Excellent story. I would read it to someone

4 stars = Great story

3 Stars = I liked it

AUTHOR EVENT ETIQUETTE

If you’re serious about letting the public know about your book, you should consider attending events that will allow you to showcase your books. Attending author events can be a great way to interact with the public but it’s important to communicate in a manner that will increase the growth of your trade name.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you build a network while interacting with your peers.

Ø  Your interaction with potential customers should be equivalent to your interaction with other authors. They were readers before they became a writer. 

Ø  Always maintain a pleasant face and refrain from excessive staring it can alienate you from your audience.

 

Ø  When interacting at an author’s event, always find a way to engage the audience. You can read an excerpt from your book or simply tell them something interesting about your work.

Ø When you meet a fellow author, never say that you haven’t heard of them. It is considered a cunning way to insult them. This happens more often than you think.  It is important to remember that every encounter is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Refrain from bragging. Don’t get defensive be proactive. Remember everyone is a potential customer. Simply say, “Well you can learn more about me by going to my website or any other relevant source.” Both of you should leave the conversation learning something about the each other.

 

Ø You will meet many wonderful people at these types of events but some will grow on you.  They will exude positive energy, concentrate on what matters and behave in a professional supportive manner. Be sure to get their business cards and promote their works when the opportunity arises. 

A Candid Review of The White Masai by Corinne Hofmann

★★★★★

The White Masai

Once I began the journey, I was a reluctant participant trapped in Kenya observing as Corrine found herself assimilating to customs that were vastly different from her own. And once she took a leap of faith, everything she owned became communal property in a place where women have less value than a goat. Therefore, the village milks the golden cow dry.

There were many occasions when I laughed at her alien moments and I truly felt her frustration when things did not go her way. Surprisingly, I celebrated when she found her version of the perfect man. I was there even when she felt alone and helpless and I wept when there were no solutions to the immediate problems she faced. I also felt her desperation, and the need to be free. By the last chapter, I swore if the story did not end sensibly, I would lose it. As I said before, I was emotionally  invested in her journey. Thankfully, Corrine made the right decision in the end.

Whether you agree with her choices or not you cannot deny the eloquence in her writing. There were so many moments when I stopped in awe of her analogies and metaphors. The White Masai is an essential read for any woman who has ever asked the question, what would you do for love?

 

DISCLAIMER: Readers escape to another reality, if only temporarily, while reading a good book.  When I review a book, I will focus on the entertainment factor, story structure and the eloquence in the writing. I have no desire to undermine an author’s effort. After all, they are responsible for the books we enjoy.

REVIEW SCALE:

5 stars = Excellent story. I would read it to someone

4 stars = Great story

3 Stars = I liked it