Lit World Interviews

A new #tool to promote (your posts, tweets, videos) Co-Promote

Thanks to Unspalsh for another great image

Hi all:

A quick post just to make you aware of a new tool an author shared in one the Facebook groups I belong to.

It’s called CoPromote and you can find it here.

I haven’t been using it very long, so I’m learning as I go along, but I thought you might find it interesting. You can sign with Twitter, Facebook…. (the usual suspects). Once you’ve signed, the site gives you the opportunity to promote (boost they call it) one of your Tweets, Tumblr posts or one of your videos in You Tube or Vine (or the four of them). You’ll have to connect your accounts in those platforms, if you have them, but then if you choose to boost a Tweet, for instance, the site brings up your Twitter feed and you can choose one of them. How it works is, you boost one of your posts (you have to tag it according to theme) and then they’ll suggest posts that you can share based on your interests, that you can record (you can edit those if you aren’t offered much choice. The wider you cast the net, the most posts you’ll be offered to retweet, reblog or feature, in the case of videso). The more posts you share for others (and you will be given a list and you can decide to share each one or not) the more others will share yours. The site tells what reach your content has achieved.

I’ve so far only tried the free option, that is limited in the reach you can achieve (although it seems to grow with time) and number of posts you can boost, but there are paid options that offer you a bigger reach and also options to boost several posts. (The free option only allows to boost a post in each platform at a time and they normally last for a certain length of time, that varies, longer for videos and shorter for others. If you connect your e-mail they’ll tell you when the campaign has finished, but it’s worth keeping an eye on it, just in case, as it doesn’t always happen. I’ve also noticed that there’s the option of terminating a boost before it’s run the time allocated).

If you enjoy the content of some of the people in particular, you can follow them there and their content then will come up automatically when you’re looking for things to share.

If you want to check their own video explaining how it works, here it is:

Although I haven’t been using it long, it seems like an interesting option to reach different people and to meet new bloggers, You Tubers and Tweeps. And as one can choose what subjects to boost, it also can be used to discover new content, that you either write about (therefore reaching people already interested in it) or you want to research.

Go on, give it a go!

Thanks for reading and you know what to do, share, comment, like…

Olga Núñez Miret

@OlgaNM7

http://www.authortranslatorolga.com

http://www.OlgaNM.com

Bodyguard of Deception by Samuel Marquis.

Bodyguard of Deception

by Samuel Marquis

Fiction: Historical Thriller/Suspense/Espionage. 336 Pages Print. Mount Sopris Publishing (March 20, 2016)

Author Biography

Samuel Marquis is a bestselling, award-winning suspense author. His books include “The Slush Pile Brigade,” “Blind Thrust,” “The Coalition,” and “Bodyguard of Deception.” He works by day as a VP-Hydrogeologist with an environmental firm in Boulder, Colorado, and by night as an iconoclastic spinner of historical and modern suspense yarns. He also has a deep and abiding interest in military history and intelligence, specifically related to the Golden Age of Piracy, Plains Indian Wars, World War II, and the current War on Terror.

Former Colorado Governor Roy Romer said, “Blind Thrust kept me up until 1 a.m. two nights in a row. I could not put it down. An intriguing mystery that intertwined geology, fracking, and places in Colorado that I know well. Great fun.” Kirkus Reviews proclaimed The Coalition an “entertaining thriller” and declared that “Marquis has written a tight plot with genuine suspense.” James Patterson compared The Coalition to The Day After Tomorrow, the classic thriller by Allan Folsom; and Donald Maas, author of Writing 21st Century Fiction and two novels, compared The Coalition to the classic political assassination thriller The Day of the Jackal.

Book Review

Bodyguard of Deception is a suspenseful historical thriller by Samuel Marquis, author of two #1 selling books: The Slush Pile Brigade, which any author should read, and Blind Thrust, both of which I may just be buying shortly, when I have the cash, in order to see how to do it the right way. In Bodyguard of Deception we have the closing months of WWII in Europe and two brothers who are fighting for the same goal, but in different ways. German spy Erik von Walburg has a mission given by ‘The Desert Fox’ himself Erwin Rommel. If successful, the war will end in a way unexpected but beneficial to those involved. Erik ends up with allies in his assignment. One is his brother, U-boat Captain Wolfgang von Walburn, the prototypical Nazi ideal, the “scourge of the North Seas” and the other ally, a woman thousands of miles away without knowledge of any of the goings on of the two at odds brothers.

Samuel Marquis’ historical thriller, Bodyguard of Deception, the fourth thriller from the #1 Bestselling author, is a well-researched, intricately plotted tale of suspense, intrigue and surprises you never see coming, all beginning in May of 1944, days before D-Day. Reading about the German spy Erik von Walburg I could not help but hope for his success. With each chapter the characters become more complex with events making their former routine lives anything but ordinary, and their decisions less reflex than before. Ideals and mantras no longer rule the day. As a former history teacher and now historian/author, I was thrilled at the nods to historical figures throughout the novel. Fans of master spy teller of tales, John le Carré, and John Gardner’s Herbie Krueger series and the Secret Generations series will enjoy this first episode in what is touted as book one in a WWII Trilogy, with the next installment with a release date of January 2017.

I don’t take much time off from my own writing of novels these days, but this was well worth it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Review by: Ronovan Hester

Get the next #1 Bestselling book at:

Visit #1 Bestselling Author Samuel Marquis at http://samuelmarquisbooks.com/.

Connect with Samuel Marquis on:

#BOOKREVIEW BY @LRWLEE OF THE WRATH & THE DAWN

This cover is SO cool and is just one reason I love this book so much!! I was very familiar with the red cover and when I went on Amazon to download it I found this new version…and that’s when I realized the image behind the original red cover. I’d never noticed before. How beautiful and fun is that?

SUMMARY (from back): A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The plot is what grabbed my attention first, but the writing and slow reveal of a deep and dangerous mystery kept me intrigued. The Wrath and the Dawn is a retelling of 1001 Nights (sometimes called the Arabian Nights).

I found the heroine, Shahrzad, to be a delightfully intelligent woman who, despite being filled with a narrative of avenging the death of her best friend Shiva, for the most part, manages her emotions and bides her time. This plotting allowed the author to slowly unfold the depth and mystery of her husband, Khalid, king of the land and uncover why he murders his latest wife each morning. Books with overly emotional female protagonists tend to drive me crazy for I don’t see most women behave that way, and this author painted our heroine with grace and dignity.

The author adds more depth to Shahzad as she reveals some of the inner turmoil she experiences as love, and its tendency to overwhelm reason, have her falling for the very man she has committed to destroy, and guilt threatens to overcome…but she fights that battle.

Plot: If I overthink the plot this story would have very little appeal, for what emperor kills his wife every morning just to have a new woman replace her during the day? But since this is a retelling, I chose to just go with it and see where I ended up. And I would say it was a very enjoyable journey.

I particularly loved the scene where the relationship between Shahzad and Khalid is clarified and made different for both of them. They both understand their relationship can never be the same from that point forward. I do wish the author had developed Khalid’s thinking prior to this more fully so we better understood the gravity of this choice for him, as I think it would have completely rocked his world, but we don’t get a peek, only a hint that “something’s” afoot…darn

The swoon factor is well done throughout as the pair confront their own inner turmoil. I loved the intimacy and vulnerability they both showed and how the author slowly developed not just a sexual relationship but slowly revealed the very essence of who each character is. Well done.

It’s clear book one sets up the next for we are left wondering how Shahzad will be reunited with her love and more. But this will be a short wait as the next installment is set to release April 26th. I’ve already pre-ordered mine and you’ll probably, too, if you choose to read this book!

I give The Wrath & The Dawn 5 Stars!

Buy The Wrath & The Dawn on Amazon

_______________________________________________________

Review by YA fantasy author L. R. W. Lee
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you thought.

FREE EBOOKS: I also invite you to download the free ebooks of the award winning Prequel and Book one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

Promote Your Backlist

It’s true that the best thing to do after launching your book is to concentrate on writing your next one, but that doesn’t mean that shortly after launch your book should be ignored other than a tweet now and then with buy links. The thing with traditional publishing, unless you’re one of the most popular writers in the world, your book won’t always be in the limelight. Even if it’s lucky enough to be moderately successful, it will still have to make way for the latest bestsellers, and eventually it will officially be backlist and have zero promotion from the publisher. Too many other shiny new books to see to.

The nice thing about being Indie published means that you can give your book a new party anytime you like. I like the idea of doing something every three months or so. As time goes by all of your online sites will grow with new followers. Followers who weren’t around when you launched your last book, and who might quite like it if they knew a bit more about it. Most people don’t inspect every link in the sidebars of blogs that they follow unless they’re looking for specific information, or if your words have impressed them so much that they simply must have more of them immediately.

Every couple of months, have a look at your backlist, and think of your next promotion. If you have more than one book published consider having them all at the party. You could make one or a couple free as incentive, and then set the particular book that you want to promote at ninety nine cents, either as a Kindle Countdown or manually set the price for however many days you plan on promoting it. You could ask your fellow bloggers to participate in a blog tour, or you could simply announce your special deals on your own blog. Many of your community friends will share posts like these, and with Facebook, Twitter, and shares on other platforms you’re very likely to find at least a couple of new readers. You can run some advertisements on promotion sites, either paid or free, depending on what you can afford too.

Don’t be disappointed when your first book launch only yields a few sales to begin with. As you grow and write more books and gain new readers, all new promotions of them are going to be new to new fans, so dust off your backlist, consider new covers or rebranding if they’ve been languishing for too long, and give your older books a new lease on life.

Stevie Turner interviews author Amy Reade

Hello today to Amy Reade, who writes women’s contemporary and gothic fiction. Her books have been compared to authors such as Daphne du Maurier, Phyllis Whitney, and Victoria Holt. Amy’s novels feature vivid descriptions of exotic and fascinating locations, such as the Thousand Islands region of New York State, Charleston, South Carolina, and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Amy Reade House of the Hanging Jade cover.jpg Secrets Of Hallstead House (eBook) The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor_ebook cover

1. You grew up in the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York, but moved to southern New Jersey. Which one feels more like home?

I would say they both feel like home. When people ask me where I’m from, I tell them I grew up in northern New York and I now live in New Jersey. We try to take our kids to visit family in New York as often as possible, and when we’re up there we all like to spend time on the St. Lawrence River. I like my kids to have some of the same experiences I had growing up in that area of the country. But that being said, they are growing up in southern New Jersey, which will always be home to them.

2. You are a qualified lawyer. Do you think you will ever go back to the law when your children are grown?

I can’t see myself going back to the practice of law no matter how old my kids are. I love writing too much, and I don’t think I could ever feel that way about the legal field.

3. How long did it take you to acquire your law degree? Were you fixed on becoming a lawyer throughout your teenage years?

I was not fixed on becoming a lawyer when I was a teenager. I really wanted to be a veterinarian. After my first few years in college, though, it became clear that I just didn’t have a passion for science and that veterinary school wasn’t for me. So after I graduated I spent the next three years in law school.

4. When did you first realise that you wanted to write?

When I practiced law I wrote all the time, every day. The ability to write is an essential skill for a lawyer, but much of that writing is dull and uninspiring, at least in my opinion. It was several years after I stopped practicing when I first realized I wanted to write fiction. I attended a three-night writing workshop at a local library and I was hooked from the first class.

5. You’ve set your new series of books (as yet untitled) in Edinburgh. What is it that attracts you to Scotland? Have you ever visited there?

There are so many things I love about Scotland- its history and lore, its legends, its customs, its rugged and majestic beauty, the people, the food, you name it. And I have visited- in fact, just last week I returned from a trip to the Highlands, where I was immersed in some of the most beautiful vistas I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing.

6. Your three standalone books are of the women’s fiction genre with added suspense, just like mine. Do you ever read or write out of this genre, e.g fantasy?

I read outside my genre quite often (especially biographies, cookbooks, and historical), but I must say I almost never write outside the genre. I have written a few essays and I have a book of historical fiction tucked away on my computer, but I’m not ready to work on that just yet.

7. What is your all-time favourite book?

A tough question! I would have to say it’s Pride and Prejudice, although my favorite changes from time to time. I also love anything by Ernest Hemingway, M.C. Beaton, and James Herriot.

8. Have you ever entered your stories into any writing competitions?

I have not. Most competitions I hear about are for short stories, and I am dreadful at writing short stories. Too long-winded, I guess! I recently wrote something to enter in a magazine contest, but I didn’t find out about the contest until the weekend before the submission was due and I just ran out of time to revise my essay.

9. What do you find is the best way of promoting your books?

One of the best ways for me to promote books is to make personal appearances at book signings, etc. Unfortunately, that’s also the most time-consuming and expensive way to promote books. But I love to meet readers and to talk with them, so I like to schedule appearances whenever I can. The other best way, of course, is by word-of-mouth. It’s how many of my readers have been introduced to my books and the reason they’ve reached out to me on social media. I’m very grateful for anyone who passes along the word about my books.
10. How do you find inspiration for your stories?

Inspiration comes from different places. The inspiration for my new release, House of the Hanging Jade, for example, came from a home I toured in Hawaii a few years ago. The inspiration for my first novel, Secrets of Hallstead House, came from the beauty of the place where I grew up.

11. One of your books is entitled ‘The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor’. Have you ever seen a ghost, and so wrote the book from personal experience?

I have never seen a ghost, so I didn’t write that aspect of the book from personal experience. In The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, only one person, maybe two, can actually see the ghost, so there is some question as to whether she really exists. I wanted to leave that question hanging so readers could answer it for themselves.
12. How do you find time to write with three children, a dog and two cats to look after?

My kids and my husband are all great about leaving me alone when I’m writing. And I try to write as much as I can when the kids are at school, so if they need me for something when they’re home, I can put the work aside and help them with whatever they need. My dog is not demanding at all, so as long as I give her some attention every now and then, she’s perfectly content. And as for the cats, they pretty much ignore me unless they’re hungry.
13. Are any of your children interested in creative writing?

They have quite a bit of writing to do for school, so most of their writing is for assignments at this point. I think the last thing they want to do at the end of a long day is sit down to do more writing.
14. You prefer not to be too far from a river, stream, or the sea. Why is this?

I’m a product of where I grew up, near the St. Lawrence River, the Black River, and Lake Ontario in New York State. And now I live just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean. The only time I haven’t lived close to water was in law school, and I felt its absence keenly. Water is peaceful, calming, and mesmerizing, no matter what its mood, and I love the sound it makes.

15. You love to cook. What is the most unusual dish you have made?

I don’t know how unusual it is, but I do make a bouillabaisse with different kinds of fish and seafood. I serve it with a homemade rouille and it’s wonderful. I learned to make it in a cookery class in Ireland.

16. I find that most wines spoil the taste of good food due to their overpowering flavour. Do you agree?

When I’m at home I generally do not drink wine with dinner. I prefer water or milk. I like wine with cheese before dinner, and I think it does pair well with cheese. One of my favorite combinations is port and Stilton, but that’s an evening indulgence, not a before-dinner treat.

17. Were you terrified or serene and laid back during your television interview? Were you aware of the questions you were going to be asked?

I felt laid-back, but when I watched the interview I some signs of nervousness I didn’t feel. I knew basically the direction the questions would take, but I didn’t know the questions specifically.

18. Did you find an increase in book sales after the interview?

To be honest, I don’t know. I don’t understand most of the metrics and analytics, as hard as I’ve tried to learn them.

19. The playlists for your books given on your website are eclectic. What is your favourite type of music?

It depends on what I’m doing. If I’m writing, I prefer unfamiliar classical music or instrumental music from the place where my story is set. If I’m cleaning or using the spin bike, it has to be fast-paced. If I’m driving, I actually prefer listening to the BBC.

20. Can you play a musical instrument?

I played both the oboe and the clarinet for years, but it’s been a long time since I played either one. I also play in a handbell choir, but I wouldn’t exactly call myself proficient. And I can play exactly one Christmas carol on the piano.

Thanks Amy for agreeing to be interviewed. If any other authors or publishers reading this would like to be interviewed, then please contact me on my website http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk

Here’s a list of places to find Amy:

Website: www.amymreade.com

Blog: www.amreade.wordpress.com

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade

Amazon: www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor

Twitter: www.twitter.com/readeandwrite

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/amreade

Tumblr: www.amymreade.tumblr.com

#BOOK REVIEW BY @COLLEENCHESEBRO OF “Maelstrom,” BY AUTHOR @FRANCISGUENETTE

Title: Maelstrom
Author: Frances Guenette
File Size: 1746 KB
Print Length: 469 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0994066414
Publisher: Huckleberry Haven Publishing
Publication Date: November 2, 2015
Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B017JFV7EQ
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Goodreads
Genres: Action, Adventure, Literature, Fiction, Romance

*The author gifted me a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review which follows*

In the Author’s Words:

“A shot is fired into the still night air and a young woman dies on Suicide Ridge. A dangerous game has begun. Over the course of one blistering, hot week, winds of change sweep through an isolated valley in small town America.

Sheriff Bert Calder, with the help of Mayor Amos Thatcher, has held the town of Haddon under his thumb for twenty-five years. As things spin out of control, Calder works the angles, ensuring he can make the most of the upheaval that is to come.

Rafael Destino, facing his own mortality, races against time to gain control of the railroad – a lifeline essential to the town’s survival. His goal – to financially destroy Thatcher, the man he believes responsible for the death of his beloved sister. His tool – adopted son Myhetta. But how far down the road of revenge will Rafael push the young man who owes him everything?

Myhetta is poised on the edge of controlling Destino Enterprises, the job he has been groomed for. While money, power, and influence are his to command, the past continues to torment him.

In a clash of powerful men, with fathers pitted against sons, no one will be left unscathed. Maelstrom is a page turner that speeds along like a runaway train.”

My Recommendation:

“Maelstrom,” is a novel rich with multidimensional characters who grapple with the turbulence of power, evil, and control in the small town of Haddon, somewhere in North American. Fear controls everyone in this novel to some degree with a darkness that I found intriguing. This is one of those novels that sucks you into the whirlwind of events from page one onward! I literally could not put this book down. The characters got into my head!

Sheriff Bert Calder is the consummate study of evil and the detrimental effects of an out of control ego and an overabundance of power. His character was one of the cruelest and most demented I have read in a long while. The wickedness of the man was just mind boggling. Calder had no scruples. Rules did not bind him to family or to those of his elected office. At times, he came across to me as an omnipotent being which made for an even more exciting read. Calder is simply sinfully wicked.

In fact, all of the characters seemed to possess a multifaceted humanness which blurred the lines between good and evil. The protagonist, Myhetta fights the demons of his blood inheritance right along with the good fortune he inherited from his adopted father. Myhetta’s entire life balances between good and evil as he struggles with his past and his future. It is this deep struggle to find a balance within his own family that made me like Myhetta so much.

Myhetta’s half brother, Casey possesses a supernatural ability to feel and see what his brother experiences. A trait that ran through the Destino family once again emphasizes the strong connection to family and blood that remains as the central theme to this novel. To me, Francis Guenette is a master at depicting “family intrigue.” All the novels she has penned, that I have read, always have strong family connections portrayed by her characters.

It was no great surprise then when I learned that this story was the original creation of her mother, June Guenette. After her mother passed away in 1997, the unfinished manuscript disappeared within the confines of Francis’ family, remaining as only typewritten notes, and passages. Once rediscovered, the manuscript began a maelstrom transformation of its own with Francis reconstructing the story. I think June Guenette would have loved the resulting collaboration between mother and daughter sharing another link in the family chain.

If you are looking for a book that will take your breath away and leave you on the edge of your seat, look no further! Maelstrom will propel you into a vortex filled with hate and prejudices where the only way out is to find trust and love within your own family.

My Rating:

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars

About Francis Guenette:

Francis Guenette has spent most of her life on the west coast of British Columbia. She finds inspiration for writing in the beauty and drama of a lakeshore cabin and garden on the Northern end of Vancouver Island. She shares an off-the-grid home that employs a combination of micro-hydro and solar power with her husband Bruce.

Between May and September, Billy Bob the Bear drops over to graze and eat huckleberries and salal. Now and then cougar tracks are spotted meandering across the property. Life is good in the hinterlands, but Francis warns – you have to keep your eyes open and know where you are.

Francis has a daughter and a son – both happily married and pursuing interesting careers. She also has two beautiful and wildly funny granddaughters who provide her with inspiration for writing and living.

For most of her working life, Francis has been an educator. She has worked with special needs children and youth and taught at the undergrad level at the University of Victoria. She has a graduate degree in counseling psychology and very nearly completed her Ph.D. There was that pesky matter of the doctoral dissertation, but enough said on that score! She has worked as a trauma counselor, a researcher, and a graduate student supervisor.

During her academic life Francis published (on her own and with others) several articles that were accepted to peer-reviewed journals as well as contributing to chapters in two published books.

Disappearing in Plain Sight is her first novel. She has recently published a sequel (in what she is calling the Crater Lake Series) entitled The Light Never Lies.

Visit her blog, disappearinginplainsight.com to learn all you would ever want to know about Francis and her writing life. There you can say hello, connect with her through her Twitter @FrancisGuenette, and Facebook at francisguenette/author.

Book Review by @ColleenChesebro of silverthreading.com

#INTERVIEW BY @LRWLEE OF YA FANTASY AUTHOR Shawn McGuire

Meet YA Fantasy author Shawn McGuire and watch as she reads from STICKS AND STONES. Then get to know her as she shares a favorite quote and poses a fun trivia question. US viewers, be sure to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for a signed paperback of the book!

https://youtu.be/TF0BANxD6f4

Summary: Everyone has a dark side. Mandy’s just moved in with her.

The last time Mandy Matteo broke a rule, her sister ended updead. Since that day she’s been the perfect daughter and student, doingeverything right for fear of the repercussions. Her friends want fun, notperfection, and abandon Mandy for parties and boys.

Now truly alone, Mandy makes a wish to simply be happy. Nothingextravagant, just a whisper to the universe that she never expects will cometrue. But then Desiree, a hippie genie with her own set of issues, shows up andgrants Mandy’s wish by bringing her childhood imaginary friend to life.

Mandy soon realizes she should have listened to Desiree’swarning. Magic wishes have one condition: Once started, they cannot be alteredor revoked. No matter how bad things get.

_________________________________________________________________

Interview by Book Nerd Paradise
Twitter: @BookNerdParadis
FB: bit.ly/BookNerdParadiseFB

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let us know what you thought.

ALSO, BE SURE TO follow our host YA Fantasy author L. R. W Lee at:
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

DOWNLOAD the FREE ebooks of the award winning Prequel andBook one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

#Bookreview Demon Road (The Demon Road Trilogy, Book 1) by Derek Landy (@DerekLandy) A road trip, a quest and a coming of age story to hell and back

REVIEWS FOR LITERARY WORLD REVIEWS

Title:   Demon Road (The Demon Road Trilogy, Book 1)
Author:   Derek Landy
ISBN13: 978-0008156923
ASIN:  B00UF812T0
Published:  January 1^st 2016 Harper Collins
Pages: 512
Genre:  Teen and YA Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Adventure

Description:

The epic new thriller begins.

The creator of the number one best-selling Skulduggery Pleasant series returns with the story of a girl on the run from everything she loves…and the monsters that await her.

For anyone who ever thought their parents were monster…Amber Lamont is a normal 16-year-old. Smart but insecure, she spends most of her time online, where she can avoid her beautiful, aloof parents and their weird friends.

But when a shocking encounter reveals a horrifying secret, Amber is forced to go on the run. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers and red skinned, horned demons – Amber hurtles from one threat to the next, revealing the terror woven into the very fabric of her life. As her parents close in behind her, Amber’s only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be….

Witty, action-packed and heart stoppingly thrilling, Demon Road will take you on an epic road trip across the supernatural landscape of America.

Body of review:

A road trip, a quest and a coming of age story to hell and back

Thanks to Net Galley and to Harper Collins Children’s Books for offering me a free copy of the novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

Demon Road is a coming of age novel of sorts. Amber, the protagonist, is sixteen and discovers that her parents, whom she’s always known weren’t exactly ordinary, are demons and so are their friends, and now she’s started turning too. Worse still, they’re determined to eat her to comply with the terms of a deal they made with the Shining Demon in exchange for power (not that they are particularly sorry about that). With the help of one of her parent’s friends, who’s decided the demonic lifestyle is no longer for her, Amber sets off on a journey to try and save herself by making her own deal. She travels in a car that’s not quite what it seems, with Milo, a bodyguard/chauffer that isn’t what he seems either. The novel follows them in their journey through the different stages of their trip, investigating the many clues, trying to find the one individual who might hold the secret to solving her problem.

Demon Road is also a road trip. The protagonist and her team (Milo and Glen, another character who’s also made a rather stupid deal and has ended up lumbered with a death mark) travel through the Demon Road of the title, a supernatural route linking strange beings, places and happenings, where everybody knows more than they say and people are never who they seem to be. The adventures Amber and her friends/associates (the relationships are open to interpretation) get into are fascinating and varied, going from towns haunted by supernatural serial killers, others with vampires gone out of control, a witch in love in the depths of a forest, winged creatures in New York, and lots of hiding and fighting. Any of the adventures they get involved in would make a great story in its own right and they ensure the plot keeps moving along at a good pace and never gets boring.

Demon Road is a quest. Amber makes a deal which results in her having to look for the only person who’s ever managed to trick the Shining Demon. Every stage of her quest brings her in contact with people, both human and supernatural beings, which have an impact on her and how she sees the world. She also has to come to terms with her new self and not all she learns is positive. As a hero (or heroine) she’s flawed. She can be compassionate and human, and the next minute act on impulse and hurt somebody. She can be quite clever at times and make stupid mistakes at others. She’s easy to anger and lacking in self-confidence but she can be magnificent. She’s not an immediately likeable character although her sense of humour and her capacity for self-reflection make her interesting. Like in all quests, the main character’s search becomes a search for her true self.

Because of all these things, and although the overall pace of the book is reasonably fast, it can feel uneven. It is composed of a number of set pieces interconnected by the trip resulting in a fair amount of telling rather than showing, as they always come upon places or events that have to be explained and grasped, and things slow down at that point and then accelerate when the action comes. Some of those episodes feel more rushed than others (for me the episode with the witch didn’t seem to quite fit in with the time allocated to it, and the bonding between the women and Amber seemed too fast, considering the amount of time they were together. On the other hand I loved the idea and the concept of that story) as if the clock counting down Amber’s time to complete her mission would speed up and slow down. Although it’s true that time is relative and the story is told from a subjective perspective…

The book is written in the third person although it follows Amber’s character and we get her insights and point of view. The writing is dynamic and easy and despite its length, the novel is a quick read.

We have very little information about most of the characters, although that’s in keeping with Amber’s point of view, and it helps us share her feelings, emotions, confusion and attempts at making sense of what’s going on. Milo and his relationship with his car is very intriguing and, at least for me, one of the big successes of the novel. We get some hints of his story but I get the feeling there’s much more to come. Glen might be a divisive one that some readers might love and others hate. I found him at times annoying but at others endearing. Although there are some characters that don’t seem to have any redeeming qualities, most of them are grey rather than black or white, and I thought that added to the complexity of the book and gave it a touch of realism.

There isn’t a love story (at least not so far) and although that might put some readers of the genre off, I didn’t mind so much. The ending is both an ending and it sets off the stage for the next chapter in the story.

In sum this is a novel that packs a lot of stories into a single book, with characters that are interesting if not immediately likeable, and although not perfect, it’s a great read. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Ratings:
Realistic Characterization: 4/ 5
Made Me Think: 3.5/5
Overall enjoyment: 4.5/5
Readability: 4 /5
Recommended: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Buy it at:
Format & Pricing:
Paperback: $ 6.23

Kindle: $6.84

Audiobook: $ 18.55

Hardcover: $ 9.21

Olga Núñez Miret

@OlgaNM7

http://www.authortranslatorolga.com

http://www.OlgaNM.com

#BOOKREVIEW BY @LRWLEE OF THE WINNER’S CURSE

I’ve been on vacation after the sudden passing of my mom so I’ve been a bit quiet lately. But I’m back and I have to say I loved this novel, the first in the The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski!

SUMMARY: Winning what you want may cost you everything you love. They were never meant to be together. As a general’s daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they can’t help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other.

Set in a new world, The Winner’s Curse is a story of rebellion, duels, ballroom dances, wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

WHAT I THOUGHT: The world the author creates is one where one people have conquered another and turned their captives into slaves. This situation lasts for a decade, but when the captives rise up and retake power, everything turns upside down. I loved how the author helped the reader empathize with the captives…how would it feel if your freedom was suddenly taken away and you were made a slave to the victor. Would you swallow your pride and suddenly serve the needs of your captor? Would you do even the most menial of tasks? And for a decade with no promise that things will ever change?

This is the situation Arin finds himself in, a slave of the victor, bought and sold at the whim of his captor. Kestrel, a young lady of the victor’s side buys him on an impulse but never treats him disrespectfully as some. Their relationship grows and love takes root.

But things are too good to stay as they are (especially to keep readers engaged), and when Arin leads a rebellion he helps topple the rule of his people’s oppressors, throwing Kestrel into his possession…how the tables are turned and she detests it. The author does a great job at keeping the opposite and colliding worlds before the reader and having us “feel” the other’s position.

As for characters, Kestrel is a dynamic and growing heroine. The author starts her as a naive socialite and through consequences of her own making, she must learn from her mistakes and ignore her peers and society’s expectations as she struggles to create a path for herself and her future.

Arin is also a dynamic and engaging character. I loved how the author slowly reveals his past, helping us see and feel how he must have felt being dehumanized by his captors. I particularly loved the scene where we find that Ibex’s house was his before the takeover…oh feels… What a great character!

And then there’s the swoon-worthy quotient…this book is slow building in a relationship that readers are sure to love. I can’t wait to see how it is deepened and grown in the next book.

I give this 5 stars!

Buy The Winner’s Curse on Amazon!

_______________________________________________________

Review by YA fantasy author L. R. W. Lee
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you thought.

FREE EBOOKS: I also invite you to download the free ebooks of the award winning Prequel and Book one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

Your Book’s Metadata on Amazon

You get to choose two categories for your book on Amazon, and seven keywords. Your book’s title, sub-title, blurb, categories, and keywords all go towards producing its metadata – the stuff that Amazon’s search engine uses to make your book discoverable to buyers searching for something to buy. That’s the fabulous thing about getting your metadata as useful as you can. People who search Amazon are looking to purchase. They’re not wanting information like when they use Google. In fact, Amazon’s search engine is not the same as Google.

Amazon’s search engine actually has its own moniker – A9. Not a very romantic name, but it is individual nevertheless. Amazon wants to get a specific sale rather than direct searchers to information as Google does. So A9 works a little differently. You may have noticed a sharp zooming up the rankings when you have a couple of sales of your books after a long slump. This is because with Amazon’s algorithm recent sales will trump overall sales. This is what sends your book to rub shoulders with Wilbur Smith for a couple of days—unless of course sales continue to come in, in which case your rankings will stay consistent. So already we have a distinct difference to the way that Google ranks pages.

Click through rate counts too, especially when they result in sales, so the more people who are shown your book on the SERP (search engine results page), and click through to it and buy it, the better for its rank. With Google the click through rate obviously doesn’t have to result in a sale, so once again we have A9 doing its job a little differently. Verified reviews from readers who bought your book or downloaded it on a free day will also get you more sweeties for your ranking haul than will unverified reviews.

SEO boffins who can help you rank on Google are not going to be very helpful with your book’s landing page with their knowledge, because Amazon frowns on keyword stuffing, so those little tricks of shoving keywords all over the place are not something you want A9 to notice. There are internet marketers (for want of a fruitier word) who have book sub-titles sentences long. Sooner or later they’ll be getting into trouble, so don’t try to do that.

A9 will use all the information that you give it to make your book as discoverable in searches as possible if you use the space you are given wisely. Your most potent keywords for searching are to be found in your book’s title and subtitle. This is much more wonderful for non-fiction books though, as it can look a little odd adding specific keywords to fiction titles. Your blurb is next, so judicious placing of a keyword or two isn’t a sin if it is actually relevant to what you are saying. If it’s a blatant SEO tactic that makes little connection to the actual book, once again, don’t do it. Do be aware though, of the usefulness of all the information that you put on your book’s sales page when it comes to buyers searches, and use what you honestly can.

So finally we come to the keywords themselves. Amazon gives you seven of them, and they can be long-tailed. In other words each of those seven can be a phrase rather than a single word, each separated by a comma. There is a character limit for each one though, so you can generally only add up to three word phrases. Don’t duplicate anything from your title here. Those words are all already available to the search engine. I don’t see any harm in using one of your category sub-headings as a keyword though, if you really want to see your book in a very specific category.

Amazon suggests some useful keyword types such as setting, character types, character roles, plot themes, and story tone. These pretty much cover most plots so are useful to help when you’re thinking out your keyword list. Make sure to get the best use of them as I said before by not adding words that are already in your title, blurb, name and so on. As always there are also the don’ts. Don’t ever use words like free, bestseller, or famous author’s names and book titles.

Don’t stress too much first time around though, because you can change categories and keywords anytime you like. Happy ranking fellow scribblers.

Stevie Turner interviews Marnie Cate

Marnie Cate.png

Marnie Cate is a fellow Creativia author, whom I would like to showcase today.

You can find Marnie on the following social media:

Twitter: @ Marnie_Cate https://twitter.com/Marnie_Cate
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MarnieCate
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UJNT7J8
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/Marnie_Cate
1. I think of Montana and ‘The Horse Whisperer’ comes to mind. Did you grow up on a ranch?
There are beautiful ranches in Montana but I lived in an Irish
mining town.

2. Where is home to you – Montana, Arizona, or California?

I think my heart will always be in California.

3. An image of a silver nest and an unknown secret came to you, and you felt compelled to write a book. What is the book about?

Mara Stone finds out her family were given the gift of elemental magic. After many years of her gift being taken from her, it has been restored by necessity. The story is about her learning the magic, the reasons for its containment, her family, and the boy she loves.

4. What book are you reading at the moment?

The Running Game by LE Fitzpatrick

5. Do you prefer writing for teens or adults?

I have always loved reading young adult books. When I am writing, I am not focused on who I am writing for but instead the story.

6. When you’re working on a novel, do you forget the time and stay up all night, only to regret it the next day?

I am more likely to get up early to write than stay up too late.

7. Are you working on a new novel?

I am working on Book 3 of the Protectors of the Elemental Magic series.

8. How do you market your books?

Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth. I am very lucky to have a
fantastic publisher that helps with this.

9. Which writer would you like to have dinner with?

Jennifer Estep. I am in love with her Elemental Assassin series. She has such real characters.

10. Do you people-watch from the outside, or are you in with the in crowd?

I bounce back and forth with wanting to be part of the crowd and wanting to be alone. If I had to pick one, I would say I am more of an outsider looking in.

11. What’s the best day you can remember?

There are so many days.

12. Looking back, do you think you got married too young, or do you think that 19 is a good age to marry when a person is young and adaptable?

Nineteen is way too young. I will always love the person I married but we had grown into different people. I think that some people can make it work but I would not recommend it.

13. Apart from family and pets, what’s the first thing you’d save in a fire?

My laptop, my Judi Dench movies and my grandmother’s painting (one she purchased and passed on to my sister).

14. What is it about Dame Judi Dench that you love?

I was at a sad period of life when I found Judi Dench by accident. I watched her tv series, A Fine Romance and I became mesmerized by her. There is something amazing about her. As I sought out more, I grew to like her as a person and an extremely gifted artist.

15. If you could ask Dame Judi one question, what would it be?

After I stopped crying, I would ask her what her favourite character was that she played.

16. Can you speak another language?

Sadly, no.

17. Where would you like to go if money was no object?

London, Ireland, Scotland.

18. If you could change one thing, what would it be?

There are things that I think I would change but the path it would have closed for me would not be worth it. Every mistake is a learning lesson. Every life event leads to another. But if you insist on an answer, I wouldn’t have wasted my money on a Microsoft Surface 2 and I would have bought the MacBook Air.

19. When you’re not writing, what hobbies do you have?

With work, writing and family, I have no time for hobbies.

20. Which one song can you listen to over and over again?

Parov Stelar’s Booty Swing or Judi Dench singing Send in the Clowns.

Thanks Marnie, for agreeing to answer my 20 questions. If any other authors or publishers would like to be interviewed, please contact me on my website http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk with a little bit of information about yourself.

#BOOK REVIEW BY @COLLEENCHESEBRO OF “NO MORE MULBERRIES,” BY AUTHOR @MARYSMITHWRITER

Title: No More Mulberries
Author: Mary Smith
File Size: 735 KB
Print Length: 262 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN:
Publisher: King Street Press; 2 edition
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B005RRDZ12
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Goodreads
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Romance, World Literature

*The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review which follows*

It all begins in Scotland –

While in college studying midwifery in her native Scotland, Margaret meets the dashing and mysterious Jawad, an Afghan engineering student. There is an immediate connection between the two and Margaret follows her heart falling head over heels in love with Jawad. They visit Afghanistan together and Margaret fearing she will lose Jawad to his homeland, proposes to him knowing the cultural roadblocks that lay ahead for the two of them. Jawad’s parents do not approve of the marriage. They finally agree that if the two can be separated for one year and still feel the same about each other they will give their permission for the couple to marry.

Meanwhile, back in Scotland, Margaret changes her name to Miriam and converts to Islam. For Miriam, this is a decision that immerses her into the Muslim culture of her future husband. After a year, Miriam and Jawad are reunited and married. Eventually, Jawad and Miriam have a son together named, Farid. Life is challenging for Miriam as she struggles to learn the language and customs of her new homeland but her love for Jawad is unwavering.

And ends far from home…

When Miriam’s father becomes ill, she takes Farid and heads back to Scotland so her father can meet his grandson. Upon her return, traveling through Pakistan on her way back to Afghanistan, Jawad’s brother informs her that Jawad has been killed. Miriam knows none of the details of Jawad’s death. All she knows is that the love of her life and her son’s father is gone. Broken by the news, Miriam knows she can’t go back to the home that Jawad and she shared as a single woman with a child. Cultural norms won’t allow it.

It is during this time in Pakistan that Miriam meets Iqbal, a doctor who is in need of a wife in order to go back to his home in Afghanistan. Culturally, it is imperative that men of Iqbal’s age be married, especially since he is a doctor/paramedic. The two enter into an arranged marriage of sorts, although they share a deep love for Afghanistan and its people. Miriam longs to stay in Afghanistan to raise Farid in his native land and marrying Iqbal seems to be the logical way to stay in the county.

What transpires is a love story steeped in the cultural differences of strict Islamic traditions, customs, and beliefs which lead Miriam and Iqbal on a mission of self-discovery to find themselves and their own true love and happiness.

Recommendation:

I was excited to read this book because I have a close friend serving overseas in Afghanistan. Culturally, I knew nothing of the country or the traditions. I only had a fundamental knowledge of Islam so I knew this was going to be a book like no other I had ever read. My assumptions were correct and I was immediately immersed into Miriam’s world. I cried with her, laughed with her, and at times tasted the grit of blowing sand feeling as if I was walking in her footsteps.

As I began reading this novel, I realized that I had to set aside my own belief system and embrace those of the people of Afghanistan. Many of the characters struggled with this same dilemma. When Miriam attended a school to brush up on medical training she met a female German doctor who was amazed at the way the Afghani women were treated by their husbands and even their own families. It was a hard lesson to learn that some things are so deeply rooted in tradition they cannot be changed. After traveling the world a bit myself; I realized that we all have cultural differences so it was not a stretch for me to embrace the people of Afghanistan.

This novel is written from the unique perspective of the author, Mary Smith, using her own observations and experiences while living and working in Afghanistan in the 1990’s. The sights and sounds of the bazaars came alive for me through powerful descriptions that made me feel like I was right there bartering for goods beside Miriam. I longed to try some of the foods and would have loved to have experienced the rich tea that was served several times a day.

The book is written from the perspective of Miriam and then of Iqbal in alternating chapters. I believe this gives the reader a chance to delve into the personalities of the pair as separate people who are also a couple. It is a deep character study of the choices people make in life and the consequences of their choices. I found that I could relate to Miriam’s and Iqbal’s experiences in many ways in my own life.

For those of you who follow my reviews, you know how emotionally vested I get in characters who come across as real individuals. These characters leaped from the pages of the book into my heart. Remember, deep down this is the story of renewal and of finding true love, which just goes to show you that true love has no cultural boundaries.

Author, Mary Smith

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 4.5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 4.5 out of 5 stars

About Mary Smith:

Mary Smith has always loved writing. As a child, she wrote stories in homemade books made from wallpaper trimmings – but she never thought people could grow up and become real writers. She spent a year working in a bank, which she hated – all numbers, very few words – ten years with Oxfam in the UK, followed by ten years working in Pakistan and Afghanistan. She longed to allow others to share her amazing, life-changing experiences so she wrote about them – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and journalism. And she discovered the little girl who wrote stories had become a real writer after all. Drunk Chickens and Burnt Macaroni: Real Stories of Afghan Women is an account of her time in Afghanistan and her debut novel No More Mulberries is also set in Afghanistan.

Mary lives in beautiful southwest Scotland and is currently working, with award-winning photographer Phil McMenemy, on an illustrated book on the town of Dumfries.

Make certain to connect with Mary through her Twitter @marysmithwriter and Facebook at Mary Smith. You can find her on her blogs too, at http://novelpointsofview.blogspot.co.uk and http://marysmith57.wordpress.com/2014/07.
Book Review by @ColleenChesebro of silverthreading.com

Stevie Turner interviews author Colin Guest

Colin Guest photo

Colin has many tales to tell, having travelled the world widely in the course of his work. Colin’s book’s Follow in the Tigerman’s Footsteps and An Expat’s Experiences of Living in Turkey can be found on his worldwide Amazon author link: http://bookShow.me/B00OM3VCLW

You can find Colin on the social media listed below:

www.twitter.com/Tigermanguest

www.facebook.com/tigerman55

www.linkedin.com/in/tigerman77

www.pininterest.com/colinguest9

www.google.com/+ColinGuest

www.youtube.com/c/ColinGuest

1. At what age did you first start writing?

I loved writing while at school, with my quite good at writing composition. In 1985 just before going to work in Brunei, I joined a correspondence writing course. However, my tutor who had been pleased with my progress was replaced with one who for some reason, did not believe the true stories I wrote were true. I was so annoyed with her comments that I stopped the course. I then started writing again after joining a course by Jo Parfitt, with my writing a number of articles that were published in online magazines starting in 2006.

2. You did a 5 year apprenticeship as a joiner/shopfitter. Do you think there’s the same apprentice opportunities for young people today?

Unfortunately, no. Most companies stopped apprenticeships many years ago. This I think a great pity, as it enabled young people to learn a trade. Nowadays, although it seems there are numerous short term training sessions available, due to the length of them, I do not think they allow for adequate training.

3. Your memoir, ‘Follow in the Tigerman’s Footsteps’ tells of your experiences and adventures whilst living and working for 19 years in the Middle East, Far East, and North Africa. Why did you prefer to work in these countries rather than in the UK?

Because I could earn far more money than if I worked in the UK. Also, by working in other countries with foreign workers, I knew it would improve my future career prospects.

4. Were any of your adventures life-threatening?

Yes, several. For Iran, see below. In Saudi Arabia, one of our men went crazy at a joke comment I made and thrust the tip of a spoon in my throat. I was petrified and thought he was going to rip my throat out. However, after what seemed like a life-time he removed it and walked away. In Qatar I almost drowned while snorkeling, and only by making a supreme effort survived. While in Manila the capital city of the Philippines, an earthquake occurred. Fortunately, it was a short one. I later heard that had it lasted a few seconds longer, it could have proved fatal.

5. Have you ever been caught up in a war zone?

The nearest I came to a war zone was when working in Iran, a revolution broke out that led to the downfall of the Shah of Iran. At one time on the way to work in our coach, we had to pass several crossroads guarded by tanks with armed soldiers standing next to them. I was about to take a photo of one of the tanks when one of the guards must have seen me. On seeing him raise and point his rifle at me, I quickly decided not to take the photo and dropped to the floor of our coach. My work colleagues were not amused to say the least. Later, due to the deteriorating situation, along with a team of expat workers that I was the superintendant- in- charge of, we had to leave the country.

6. Why do you call yourself ‘Tigerman?’

I love tigers and like them love to roam far and wide. I have adopted a tiger from Care for the Wild/Born Free organisation for the past ten years.

7. What kind of articles do you write for online magazines?

Numerous have been about my working/living in various countries, including how I came to live as an expat in Kemer down on the Turkish Mediterranean Coast. I also wrote about the rules and regulation requirements on how a foreigner can get married to a Turkish citizen. Retirement in Turkey, and Living in Istanbul, one of the most vibrant cities in the world. I also write love poems, with several receiving excellent comments. One ended up in the final five of a poetry contest, with my recently submitting a love poem in a contest where the winner gets their poem made into a film.

8. Are you writing anything at the moment?

Yes, I am working on my first novel. This is a mixture of love/ romance and about a best selling author of steamy novels helping a younger writer find a publishing agent. The present ending is a thrilling climax in the Italian Alps.

9. Who is your favourite author?

I have several authors whose books I read. These include Lee Child, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum and Eric Van Lustbader

10. One of your articles, published in the ex-pat Nexus magazine is called ‘How I Travelled to 14 Countries with no Money’. How did you travel to 14 countries with no money?

I obtained contracts to work on mainly high-class interior fit-out projects in these countries. So not only did it cost me no money to travel there, I was well paid to go there.

11. Now that you are retired, has the wanderlust stopped, or do you still have itchy feet?

No. My wife and I love traveling. We normally go abroad on holiday twice a year.

12. Where will you be spending your holidays this year?

Probably Italy and England.

13. How do you market your books? Do you enjoy the marketing side of writing?

I belong to several writing organisations and expat sites that promote my book. I also use social media and take part in online interviews, with my recently taking part in an American live radio interview show re my book.

Although it can be rather challenging, I enjoy marketing my book. I know it is an important part of being an author, and do my best to get the word out about my book.

14. What is the downside of being an ex-pat in a foreign country?

You cannot always get the food you’re used to eating. If married, unless your wife and family are with you, it can be lonely, and put a strain on relationships. Having to try and learn the language, so as to better understand things.

15. What advice would you give to people thinking of going to live in Turkey?

Be warned that on the Mediterranean and Aegean Coast where many English expats live/holiday, the temperatures can be very high compared to England. 50 degrees centigrade is not that unusual down on the Med. A major plus is that Turkish people are very friendly and hospitable.
16. How many languages can you speak?

One. Although I understand quite a bit of Turkish and know many words, despite trying for many years, I‘m sorry to say I have still not learnt to speak Turkish.
17. Do you ever get homesick for Plymouth?

No.
18. Apart from writing and travelling, what are your hobbies?

I love walking with my wife, exploring parts of old cities and looking for interesting antiques, reading and wood carving.
19. What’s number one on your bucket list?

At present, I am in the process of working with a media company who think my book could be used as the basis for a television series. If successful, it would be the icing on the cake.
20. What one possession could you not do without?

My wonderful wife who I love dearly.

Thanks Colin for agreeing to answer my questions. If any other authors/publishers would like to be interviewed, please contact me on http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk

#INTERVIEW BY @LRWLEE OF YA FANTASY AUTHOR L. R. W. Lee

L. R. W. Lee is releasing her newly rewritten book one in the Andy Smithson series, Blast of the Dragon’s Fury (BTW, it’s FREE to download). Hear her read from this improved, revised, upgraded, re-engineered book that is L. R. W. Lee at her finest! Then see if she stumps you with a trivia question. And be sure to enter to win all 5 ebooks in the series!!

https://youtu.be/lXHBblQJ9QY

Summary: Do you love dragons? Fire breathing dragons? Dragons bent on conquest? Shapeshifting seven-headed dragons? Then buckle up because this book has all manner of them!

“I LOVED it! Totally hooked and want to hear more, especially about the dragons, epic fantasy & magic!” — M. Tate, Book Reviewer

Ten-year-old Andy Smithson believes he is merely a kid too often in trouble with his overambitious parents–until his destiny as the Chosen One to break a 500-year-old curse is revealed. Swept away to the land of Oomaldee of medieval times, he discovers he must collect several ingredients for a magic potion to defeat the oppressive curse that plagues the land, the first of which is the scale of a red dragon, the fiercest of all dragon species. There’s just one tiny problem, he’s never battled dragons, except in his Dragon Slayer video game. Armed with only his wits, an ancient sword and a magic key, he must overcome grave peril at every turn before he can even attempt the feat. No pressure, but it’s his skill alone that will save – or condemn – the kingdom forever.

_________________________________________________________________

Interview by Book Nerd Paradise
Twitter: @BookNerdParadis
FB: bit.ly/BookNerdParadiseFB

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let us know what you thought.

ALSO, BE SURE TO follow our host YA Fantasy author L. R. W Lee at:
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

DOWNLOAD the FREE ebooks of the award winning Prequel andBook one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

#BOOKREVIEW Tales from the Garden by Sally Cronin (@sgc58) Enchanting stories in a magical garden

REVIEWS FOR LITERARY WORLD REVIEWS

Title:   Tales from the Garden
Author:   Sally Cronin
ASIN:  B0180Q6CKM
Published:  14^th November 2015
Pages: 126
Genre:  Fantasy/fairy-tales

Description:

Tales from the Garden reveals the secrets that are hidden beneath hedges and trees. You will discover what really happens at night as you sleep unaware in your bed. Stone statues and those hidden worlds within the earth are about to share their stories. The guardians who have kept the sanctuary safe for over fifty years will allow you to peek behind the scenes of this magical place. They will take you on a journey through time and expand your horizons as they transport you to the land of fairies, butterflies and lost souls who have found a home here.

Fairy Stories for children of all ages from five to ninety-five that will change the way you look at your garden forever.

Body of review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I follow Sally Cronin’s Smorgasboard blog and know she writes on a variety of themes, from the non-fictional: nutritional and health advice, features and reviews about books and writing, advice on marketing and blogging, and also fictional writing. After reading some of the stories she had shared on-line I had to read this book. And the description is correct. These are fairy tales for children of all ages. The characters are the stone sculptures in the garden and their adventures contain in equal parts warmth, pathos, magic and fantasy. We have animals escaping from hunting dogs, impossible love stories between humans and fairies, orchestras made up of the most varied characters, and a wonderful dedication to her mother and her gardens. You will go through a variety of emotions and always feel better and more positive by the end of each story. The book will leave you smiling and that’s something that cannot be said of many books these days.

The writing is fluid, perfectly suited to the theme and you get the sense that you’ve been taken into the confidence of the characters and have become an honorary inhabitant of this wonderful garden. The pictures —all from the author and her family’s gardens— that illustrate the book help make the reader feel even more at home.

Recommended to any readers who need a bit of magic and wonder in their lives.

Ratings:
Realistic Characterization: 3/5
Made Me Think: 3.5/5
Overall enjoyment: 5/5
Readability: 5/5
Recommended: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Buy it at:
Format & Pricing:
Kindle: $ 7.54

The author also sells her books on her own site. Check it here

Thanks for reading!

Olga Núñez Miret

@OlgaNM7

http://www.authortranslatorolga.com

http://www.OlgaNM.com

A Closer Look at Creative Commons Licensing

We’ve spoken about copyright before on here on LWI, but a lot of scribblers are still unaware of some of the pitfalls out there, especially when it comes to the Creative Commons (CC) licenses. As I’ve often said, when it comes to copyright infringement for both content and images, it is always better to err on the side of caution. Unless you’re a hundred percent certain that using someone else’s work can’t possibly get you sued, don’t use it. When it comes to this issue, ignorance of the law doesn’t count. You are always at fault even if you don’t know what copyright means, and as such, if you’re sued you’re more than likely going to have to pay up.

While titles of books are not subject to copyright, and you can use them as you please, the content of books and also songs are very much so, unless they are clearly in the public domain. Stay well away from music. Never use song lyrics in your books without specific written permission from the copyright holders, unless you are positive that they are in the public domain – not even a single recognisable sentence. It’s not worth the risk. Legally, using a phrase of ten words or less is considered fair use if you’re happy to take the chance. Plain lists can’t be copyrighted. For instance, a list of varieties of birds. Recipes can’t be copyrighted either. Unless you actually do very obviously copy and paste another writer’s recipes right down to the same words for the method. Another point to consider is that there are many images that get loaded and labelled as CC0 that are in fact not owned by the people who have loaded them. Another biggie is when using images of people. Unless you have a model release please don’t ever use free images of people for your commercial work. Free fonts downloaded onto your computer also have licences, so be sure of any limitations before you use them in your books.

Anything with a CC licence isn’t automatically free to use in any way you choose and for any purpose, so it’s always a good idea to check properly first. You’re generally safe with public domain works, although you should take note of the fact that just because something like the Mona Lisa is in the public domain and if you take a photo of it, you can indeed do anything you want to with it, photos by other photographers are subject to copyright unless they licence their images CC0. So let’s have a look at the CC licences.

Creative Commons Zero (CC0) works are purposely given this licence particularly because their authors/artists want them to be as freely available worldwide for any use by anyone. You can change them, paint moustaches on them, or use them for your commercial and non-commercial work just as you like, with the only potential problems being when they contain images of people or copyrighted places.

CC BY

Attribution

You can distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon this work, even commercially, as long as you credit the artist/author for the original creation. So in this instance all you would have to do for use in or on your book would be to place the credit in the front matter. This would apply even if the work used is only a small element of a bigger work created by yourself.

CC BY-ND

Attribution-NoDerivs

You can redistribute for both commercial and non-commercial work, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to the author/artist/creator. Once again, credit in your front matter, but with the added proviso that it can only be used exactly as it is. No changes at all including the use of only a portion of it.

CC BY-NC-SA

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

You can remix, tweak, and build on it non-commercially with credit to the creator, and the proviso that you licence your new creation under the identical terms. This is not going to do for your book, unless your book is permanently free, and even then I would think that you would be able to find something else suitable with a CC0 licence. For just playing around to publish on your blog, this would be fine—just don’t forget the credit.

CC BY-SA

Attribution-ShareAlike

You can remix, tweak, and build upon once again but also for commercial purposes with credit to the creator and identical licensing terms. This means that your new work using this would also have to bear the CC BY-SA licence online. You would have to REALLY want to use this for your book to go to so much trouble.

CC BY-NC

Attribution-NonCommercial

You can remix, tweak, and build upon non-commercially with credit to the creator, but you don’t have to licence your new work on the same terms.

CC BY-NC-ND

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

You can download and share with others with credit to the creator, but you are not allowed to change them in any way or use them commercially.

So it’s good to remember that when a font, image, or article is labelled Creative Commons, especially on Wikipedia, it’s always important to look at the exact CC license it’s using before using it for your commercial project. There are many great sites, such as Pixabay and Fontsquirrel where you can download freebies to help you on your way to published awesomeness so there is no need to upload straight from Google searches. Still, it’s always best to check before using anyway.

Stevie Turner interviews Cynthia Morgan

Cynthia Morgan's photo

I am pleased that Cynthia Morgan, one of my fellow Creativia authors, has agreed to answer 20 of my questions. Cynthia A. Morgan is the creator of the mythical realm of Jyndari and author of the epic fantasy, “Dark Fey: The Reviled”, Book One of the Dark Fey Triology. “The Reviled” draws the reader into a mystical realm of primordial forests, magic and the lives of Light-loving and Darkness-revering Feykind. Not to be confused with pixies or “Tinkerbell” type fairies, the feyfolk of Jyndari are winged beings the size of any human who live in a realm where tradition, magic, and spirituality are fundamentals of everyday life.

Reviews of Dark Fey continue to earn 5 stars by lovers of fantasy as well as readers who do not typically enjoy that genre. Compared to a fantasy version of a play by Shakespeare, “Dark Fey The Reviled” is a brutally beautiful story of Love, Hope, and finding Peace in the Darkness.

The Reviled by Cynthia Morgan

You can find out more about Cynthia and her books by clicking on the links below:

Worldwide Amazon book link: http://bookShow.me/B00JYJ0NEG

Dark Fey The Reviled on Barnes and Noble: http://goo.gl/OxNr6M

Blog: www.booknvolume.com

Website: http://allthingsdarkfey.wix.com/feyandmusings

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganBC728 & https://twitter.com/DarkFeyMorgan29

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cynthey728

1. Did you believe in fairies as a child?

I am sure I did, but it wasn’t something that I specifically focused on. More importantly was the fact that my parents encouraged my imagination and creativity, which eventually blossomed into poetry and stories, and ultimately, the Fey of Jyndari.

2. At what age did you start writing poetry?

I have been writing and rhyming since I was very young. In fact, I recently discovered cards I wrote to my mother as a child, in crayon, that contained poetry I had written for her.

3. Are you an only child?

No, I have one older sister, with whom I am very close.

4. Were you ever in trouble for daydreaming as a child?

Many times in school, but more for writing (stories) when I should have been studying. When I was at home daydreaming was fine J

5. Why do you prefer to write fantasy above other genres?

I actually do not necessarily prefer it. I have written Regency Period Dramas, Post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi, and YA Romance, all of which I hope to eventually publish. My focus right now just happens to be Fantasy, although having said all that, I do very much enjoy creating a tale in a realm where I am free to make up the rules as I go along.

6. Tell us a little bit about your latest work, book 3 of the ‘Dark Fey’ trilogy.

Book Three will take the story and characters of Dark Fey into the final phase; that quintessential battle that ultimately must take place. It will also broaden the spectrum a bit, allowing several of the minor characters the “flex their wings’ so to speak, and it will take an unexpected turn in order to accomplish the Purpose I have planned for it. I know that’s rather vague, but can’t give too much away before I’ve even written it.

7. Where or how do you find the inspiration for your plots?

The original inspiration for the story came to me through a vivid dream, which I could not stop thinking about days afterward. As I thought about it, the characters developed and the idea expanded, so I finally sat down and wrote out the first scene, which is now Chapter Six of The Reviled.

8. Did you promote your blog ‘Booknvolume’ in order to attract 15,000 followers, or did they just subscribe?

I do very minimal promotion via Twitter, but by and large, those who follow me subscribed on their own for their own reasons. I am Blessed and Amazed each time I log in and see the following continuing to increase, particularly because when I started out less than three years ago I didn’t have a clue about blogging.

9. Which social media do you think is best for promoting your books?

I have had the most response through Twitter and have been able to network with the broadest range of other writers/authors there. I think with any social media a certain level of caution is merited, but I am always willing to learn about new avenues from other Indies; this is simply where I have had the most success.
10. Where in the world is home to you?

I reside in Pennsylvania, but Wales is Home to my Heart and Spirit. The Poem “Home” which I wrote about the love I feel for the homeland of my Fathers and the Call I constantly feel to return to that place, although I’ve never stepped foot there (yet) may explain better: http://wp.me/p3C4k1-3hy

11. Do you write full-time, or do you also have a day job?

I look forward to the day when I will be able write full-time, as there is nothing I desire to do more, but until then, I also work a day job as a medical/administrative secretary.

12. Do you think there is life on Mars?

I believe the possibility exists that there was once life on Mars, though long ago. Having said that, however, I do also believe there is Life on many other worlds throughout the Cosmos. The mathematical probability is simply too great to discount. Besides, I believe all the Heavens were Created by the Great Artist of all Life and I do not know of any Artist or Creative Individual that creates just one work of art and then says they are done.

13. Does it concern you that we are just floating around in space ad infinitum?

Personally, I believe everything has Purpose, even if we do not understand that Purpose or plan. So no I am not worried. I truly Believe it is all very well in hand.

14. Have you ever seen a ghost?

Yes I have, actually, and it (she) scared the bejebbers out of me! More frequently, however, I have experienced the presence of energy without form.

15. Do you believe our spirits live on after death?

I believe our spirits do live on after the physical body ceases and it is a subject I am currently exploring on my blog (Those We Do Not Speak Of – http://wp.me/p3C4k1-3KC )

16. What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

I am very eclectic and enjoy everything from Mozart to Marilyn Manson, Beethoven to Depeche Mode, and Hans Zimmer to Delirium. The only form I am not enamored with, really, is rap.

17. Is there anywhere you’d love to visit, but as yet haven’t done so?

First and Foremost, Great Britain. But I’d love to see Italy, the French countryside, Greece, Iceland, Japan, Australia, part of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Romania, Kenya ….If it’s out there, I’d probably love to visit.

18. Do you find yourself laughing at things that others don’t find funny?

All the time. Laughter is the Music composed by the Soul that is Shared through the Heart.

19. Are you a positive Blue Sky thinker?

I do try to be, if only to keep the pragmatist in me in check!

20. Which one of your possessions would you take with you to a desert island?

Presuming that I am not stranded, but just staying on holiday, I would say my camera so I could capture the moment(s). If however you mean I am going to be stranded and can take only one thing, then I’d say my Swiss Army Knife. There I go being pragmatic, but MacGyver would approve.

Thanks Cynthia for taking the time to answer my questions. Like you I worked as a medical secretary, and I also am not enamoured with rap!

If any authors/publishers would like to answer 20 of my questions, please contact me on my website http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk with some information about yourself.

#BOOKREVIEW BY @LRWLEE OF NYSSA GLASS AND THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS

Creative. Engaging. Well written. These adjectives summarize well the fun steampunk novel, Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors by H. L. Burke.

SUMMARY (From back): Nyssa Glass is a reformed cat burglar turned electrician’s apprentice, settled into a life repairing videophones and radio-sets. However, when her past comes calling, she finds herself forced into one last job. No one has entered Professor Dalhart’s secluded mansion in almost a decade, at least not and returned to tell the tale. If Nyssa wants to ensure her freedom, she’ll brave the booby trapped halls and mechanized maids. Nyssa has skills, but this house has more than its share of secrets. As she steps into the cobwebbed halls lined with dusty mirrors, she has to wonder. Is the House of Mirrors really abandoned?

WHAT I THOUGHT: I’ve never read anything by H. L. Burke before but when she offered her latest release to me for an honest review, I thought I’d check it out and I’m glad I did, for this fun adventure did not disappoint.

I love steampunk for the creativity authors show re: inventions in the Victorian era that could have been. This novel captured Burke’s vivid imagination as we find a house full of mirrors that feed data into a central computer. I love the imagery, for mirrors not only reflect ourselves, but more importantly, give sight and that’s the roll the host of mirrors throughout the old abandoned manor serve. In fact, after investigation, they reveal that the manor is not deserted at all. But what manner of beings does Nyssa, our protagonist, find inhabit the place? Now that is the question…and it won’t be what you expect, trust me, for it proved a great plot twist when I found out.

The characters were well done as well. Our primary character, Nyssa Glass, is a spunky teen thrust into a situation not of her making. But this girl, who has a past she is trying to escape, proves quite the curious heroine as she befriends the house’s computer. I appreciated her resolve as well as ingenuity as she encounters obstacle after obstacle, but like McGyver, figures out a way through. If I had a complaint with the character it would be Nyssa’s seeming lacks of response to a horrific murder she witnesses as well as lack of an emotional response to who/what she finds in the house. When I got to several instances where I would have totally freaked, Nyssa puts on a stiff upper lip of sorts and under reacts. That’s not a big detraction from the narrative for she is very much an analytical, figure-things-out kind of character.

I also loved the house computer that she meets early on. The personality and humor it introduces are steampunk at its best and enhances the story. If the protagonist isn’t reason enough, read this book for the computer, for we find out it’s more than just your average machine..and yet another great plot twist 🙂

Overall, I give this 4.5 stars!

Buy Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors (at Amazon)

_______________________________________________________

Review by YA fantasy author L. R. W. Lee
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you thought.

FREE EBOOKS: I also invite you to download the free ebooks of the award winning Prequel and Book one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

#BookReview by @LRWLee of The Affiliate

Engaging plot. Complex world. Scintillating romance. This is how I summarize The Affiliate by K. A. Linde.

SUMMARY (From back): On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm’s lifelong plans come to fruition when she’s chosen for one of the most prestigious positions in her homeland—an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks.

When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene’s position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have…

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I’m a sucker for a believable romance and this book definitely had that in spades. But there’s more. Linde introduces us to the complex world of Byren that is filled with numerous factions vying for their own gain and thus not friendly to each other…it’s the stuff great stories are made of, right?

The writing flowed and drew me in to the world. One thing I can’t stand is when I notice the writing, for it detracts from the narrative. This was not at all the case in this book. The prose hid behind the scenes and carried the story along. I do have one complaint though and it’s purely one of style, but all the description of a new place/person was always in a large paragraph as the author introduced the “thing.” I prefer to have the details spread throughout several paragraphs so I can more easily “see” rather than be “told.” But as I say, that is more a matter of preference.

The characters were a good mix of the best and worst of Byren and I enjoyed them. We start with the main protagonist, Cyrene who is a young woman whose selection has determined her path in life. Throughout the book we see her grow from a naive girl who has been raised in a privileged household into a young woman who catches the eye of the king, introducing her to a host of challenges I dare say her upbringing never prepared her for. We see her wrestle with inner conflicts about “knowing” the king but at every turn she holds firm to her values and principles. *claps* Good for her! I hate characters who are push-overs!

We also meet Cyrene’s best friend growing up, Rhea, and what a great friend she is. I loved her humility but helpfulness. She’s the best friend everyone wishes they had. And then there’s the bad boy, Ahlvie who flirts with trouble, keeping it as a close friend who definitely pushes the plot forward.

But we also have the folks of royalty before whom Cyrene must adapt in her new role: the king of course who surprises her senseless as she catches his eye. So naive is she that she doesn’t initially understand he views her more favorably than others. But of course the king’s affections can’t be left unchallenged, for that would make for a rather boring narrative. So, Cyrene ends up reporting to the queen… yes, exactly… And said queen is very aware of her husband’s interest in Cyrene. You see the conflict.*Rubs hands together and grins*

As for the plot, the narrative is well-paced with sufficient action and reflection sprinkled throughout. One objection I had to the plot is one of the initial scenes, that of a hazing-like ritual that happened completely unexpectedly and almost seems out of place. I believe I understand why the scene is there, but I would say it was too sudden as to make it seem strange and out of place.

That aside, I thought the author also did a good job planting two central mysteries to keep readers interested: the meaning of the Presenting letter and the book that no one but Cyrene can see writing in. And this is where Linde leaves us at the end of book one, going off to search out the meaning of both. I’ll bite. And now I can’t wait until book two comes out!!

I give this 4.5 stars!

Buy The Affiliate on Amazon

_______________________________________________________

Review by YA fantasy author L. R. W. Lee
Website: LRWLee.com
Twitter: @lrwlee
FB: LRWLee Author
Blog: blog.LRWLee.com

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you thought.

FREE EBOOKS: I also invite you to download the free ebooks of the award winning Prequel and Book one in the Andy Smithson coming-of-age epic fantasy series.

#BOOK REVIEW BY @COLLEENCHESEBRO OF “Goddess,” BY AUTHOR @KELLEEMORRIS

Title: Goddess
Author: Kelee Morris
File Size: 3808 KB
Print Length: 232 Pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN:
Publisher: Kelee Morris
Publication Date: November 1, 2015
Sold by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B015JVAF54
ISBN-10:
ISBN-13:
Formats: Kindle
Goodreads
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Erotica, Literature and Fiction

*The author provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review which follows*

Wife, Mother, PTA President…

Julia Nelson is your typical wife, mother, and President of the PTA at her children’s school. Years ago, in a rebellious stage during her late teenage years, she got a tattoo on her ankle inspired by a dream that stoked the fires of her imagination with a passion that was yet to be realized.

Many years later, a chance encounter with one of Dr. Ashland Stewart’s archeology team members at a PTA meeting gives new meaning to Julia’s faded tattoo. She discovers the tattoo she was sure she had designed from her dreams is, in fact, a sacred emblem of an ancient goddess culture.

Goddess?

When Julia meets the renowned archeologist, Dr. Ashland Stewart their attraction is immediate and sexually charged. Dr. Stewart is convinced that Julia’s tattoo and the ancient symbol he discovered in Magoa are part of an ancient culture that thrived during the Three Kingdoms period. Magoa was a matriarchy and its leader was considered a goddess. Somehow, it appears that Julia and the goddess are linked through her sensual dreams of a time long ago.

Julia feels the mysterious pull of this ancient goddess and embarks on a sexual awakening with Dr. Steward as he frees her inner goddess. Julia has everything to lose as she undertakes this quest to come to grips with the deity she is linked to. Will she give up her family and comfortable life to embrace her new found love with Dr. Stewart?

Recommendation:

I must say that I really enjoyed this story! Kelee Morris created a woman who was at the crossroads of her life with the character of Judith Nelson.

This was the kind of story that most women can relate to. Judith is in her early 40’s and suddenly realizes she has given up most of her adult life to a husband that travels for work and who has become emotionally distant. The rest of her time is spent raising her three daughters who are at various stages in their own lives. There has been little time to nurture or expand “Judith the woman,” sexually or intellectually.

Dr. Stewart offers Judith the chance to translate the writings of a priest that once visited the Magoan settlement. It is the goddess symbol that signifies a sexual enlightenment to Judith represented by the tattoo she possesses. It is the mystical link to Judith and this actual goddess that moves the story along bringing you to the fork in her life journey where real life intrudes upon her desires and responsibilities.

In erotic literature the true test for me is if you remove the sexual content, is there still a story? I can say for a fact that in this book what remains is an excellent story line.

Judith is really the study of a woman awakening her inner goddess and embracing her own sexuality. The theme of marital infidelity is essential to the plot and becomes the trigger that causes emotional growth.

The book ends with a cliffhanger of epic proportions! I understand that this is Kelee Morris’ debut novel and she is writing the sequel. I hope so. This was a well thought out novel heavy in character development. I can’t wait to find out what happens next to Judith and her quest to find her true inner goddess.

Author, Kelee Morris

Character Believability: 4.5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 4
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 4.5 out of 5 stars

About Kelee Morris:

Growing up restless and bored in Terre Haute, Indiana, Kelee Morris first discovered romance when she was swept away by Thomas Hardy’s “Far From A Madding Crowd.” After earning degrees in Comparative Literature and Film, Morris pursued screenwriter, winning numerous awards and coming tantalizingly close to catching Hollywood’s brass ring.

Tired of high-concept plots and rigid, three-act structure, Morris awoke one morning with Julia Nelson’s duel life of the suburban mother and illicit lover fully formed in her mind. Her first novel “Goddess” is the result.

Morris now lives in Chicago, where she is rarely bored thanks to her family and too many pets to count.

~*~

You can find Kelee Morris on Twitter @KeleeMorris and on Facebook at Kelee Morris romance author, and on her Author Blog, KeleeMorris.wordpress.com

Book Review by @ColleenChesebro of silverthreading.com

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