Showing posts with label Meet the Author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meet the Author. Show all posts

Aug 13, 2015

Call to Arms: Nations Fall w/ $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 8/13/2015 0 comments
A review copy was provided

CALL TO ARMS: NATIONS FALL
by Randy Lindsay


Joining the military had seemed like the right thing to do, but when war breaks out in Europe Robert wonders if he hasn’t made the biggest mistake of his life. The Russian juggernaut grinds its way toward Italy, the country Robert has grown to love. As one of a handful of American soldiers in the area, he must find a way to help the ragged remnants of NATO’s forces to prevent any more European nations from falling.

While back home, the rest of the Williams family struggles to protect themselves in the face of an impending civil war. The very fabric of society continues to unravel, threatening the destruction of the Constitution and the American way of life.

As Vice President, Calvin McCord continues to defy both sides of the political divide in order to find a solution to the war in Europe, the ravaging of the United States, and an espionage ring within the White House.

You Tube http://youtu.be/38X2-XaENEQ

Purchase your copy here: AMAZON /  B&N


RANDY LINDSAY is a native of Arizona. He lives in Mesa with his wife, five of his nine children, and a hyper-active imagination. His wife calls him the “Storyman” because he sees everything as material for a good story. Randy’s first novel, The Gathering: End’s Beginning, was published in 2014. He has also been published in several anthologies during 2013-2014. If you want to find out more you can check him out at RandyLindsay.net.


This book is VERY INTRIGUING!
And SO. SO. SO. GOOD!

A curious look at what might really be coming--

And what might possibly happen when we reach the "end of the world."

It was interesting to see where all of the family members where at the time--

Some were heeding the call to gather, some were not, some were across the world fighting for our freedom and some were in their own yards trying to protect life and family.

So well written you will ponder and wonder for a long time after the last page is turned if this is how it will truly play out in our own personal lives.

I read The Gathering: End's Beginning from this author and was happy to see the story continue--although both books can be read as stand alone stories.

I really liked this book and highly recommend it!


Top Ten List:

10. Favorite television show – Top Chef.

9. Favorite child – whichever one is asking me that at the time.

8. Favorite character in Call to Arms: Nations Fall – Calvin McCord.

7. Favorite fun activity – going to the movies.

6. Favorite book – Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazny.

5. Favorite place to visit – Delores, Colorado.

4. Favorite non-author job – theater manager.

3. Favorite movie – It’s a Wonderful Life.

2. Favorite ice cream flavor – double salted-caramel.

1. Favorite author activity – working on lists of my ten favorite things.
 





August 12

August 13

August 14

August 15

August 16

August 17

August 18

August 19

August 20

August 21

August 22

August 23

August 24

August 25


   
Labels: , , ,

Aug 12, 2015

Marrying Christopher

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 8/12/2015 2 comments
From Amazon Top 100 Regency Romance author 
Michele Paige Holmes  
MARRYING CHRISTOPHER
a regency romance from the Hearthfire Romance series.

Having seen both his sisters Grace and Helen happily married, Christopher Thatcher is free to pursue his dream of life in America. With adventure in his heart and mind, he boards one of the first steamships set to cross the Atlantic in the record breaking time of only twenty-five days.

Within the first two of those, his resolve—to avoid women and the complications they often bring to a man’s life—falters when he meets Marsali Abbott, a young woman with a past even more troubling than his own. 

Whether from years of habit protecting his sisters, or simply because he feels drawn to Marsali, Christopher chooses to help her and becomes her friend. As the truth about what awaits Marsali in America becomes evident, he is faced with a more difficult choice, one that will impact their lives far beyond four weeks together at sea.

Excerpt
After being delayed in port an extra day, Christopher and Marsali explore their new friendship and take advantage of the music coming from the Scottish immigrant ship docked next to theirs.
__________________________________________________________________

After a few minutes, more instruments joined the first, and the tune turned from melancholy and soulful to a vibrant jig. The sounds of stomping feet soon accompanied this, along with joyful singing and the occasional shout. Christopher almost imagined he could see the larger ship swaying with the rhythm of the dozens of stomping feet inside her.

“Are they—?”

“Dancing,” he confirmed. “See the light coming from the windows below deck? That’ll be where their quarters are— one big open area. No private cabins like we have, but plenty of room for dancing.”

“My sister sailed on a packet like that. She said it was dreadful.”

“It likely is a good deal of the time,” Christopher said. “But for tonight, at least, all is merriment. They’ve left their homeland behind and are about to sail toward the hope of a better life.”

“Ooh, listen. They’ve a piper, too.” Miss Abbott’s face lit as the sound of bagpipes carried over the water. Her toe began tapping in time with the fiddles.

“I don’t see why they should be the only ones having a jolly good time of it tonight,” Christopher said, having difficulty keeping his own feet still. He wasn’t usually one for dancing, but this wasn’t a crowded ballroom filled with a bunch of gossipy, giggling women.

“Would you care to dance, Miss Abbott?” He asked the question almost before he’d considered it fully.

“Here?” She glanced about, her eyes darting to and fro over the deck.

“Why not?” He shrugged. “We’ve got to have a bit of shipboard entertainment— aside from Miss Cosgrove, that is.” Christopher looked over his shoulder. “I’m going to dance with the lady,” he called to Murphy. “Join us if you care to.”

Murphy grunted acknowledgment and continued cleaning his nails— toenails now— confirming his lack of interest.

Christopher bowed to Miss Abbott. “May I have this reel?”

“Is it a reel?” She angled her head, listening carefully.

“A reel, a jig, a step dance— a waltz. Does it matter?” Christopher said, finding the idea of dancing with her more appealing by the minute.

“Indeed it does.” She laughed at his ignorance. “I should like to see you try waltzing to such a tune.”

“We shall see who is laughing and who is fastest on their feet and still standing at the end of the night,” he challenged, holding his hand out.

Miss Abbott took it at once as her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together.

She is not one to deny a challenge, he remembered, recalling her earlier conversation with the medical inspector.

She gave a slight curtsey. His fingers curved over hers. He would never have been so bold back in Yorkshire or London. But England was behind them now, or nearly so— no matter that her shore was still but a stone’s throw away. Aboard the ship for these few weeks, the rules were different. He knew it, and he sensed Miss Abbott did too.

“I haven’t danced in years. I’m not sure I remember how.” She cast her eyes down and suddenly tried to pull away. He wouldn’t allow it.

“I’ve avoided dancing for years.” Christopher grinned. “In England I employed every tactic to avoid the gentlemanly pursuits of balls and dancing. So this ought to be good.” He captured her other hand so that they stood facing one another. “Ready?”

After a brief hesitation she nodded, and their eyes met as they listened for the right point to enter with the music.

“Now,” Miss Abbott declared, and by some unspoken communication, they began skipping sideways down the deck, out of the swath of lantern light, then back again. On their second turn they traveled farther, passing Murphy, who looked at them as if they’d both gone mad.

As they reached the edge of the upper deck and paused to return the other direction, Christopher kicked up his heels in an attempted jig— and failed miserably, landing sideways on his ankle and nearly falling. Only Miss Abbott’s firm grip kept him from making a complete fool of himself.

“We shall see who is still standing.” She repeated his earlier words, then pulled one of her hands away to cover her mouth in an attempt to hide her laughter.

“I meant to do that,” he said. “Trying to make you feel more confident.” Christopher released her other hand and began clapping and high-stepping in a circle around her.

She held her skirts at the sides and began a jig of her own, pointing her toes in front of her as she skipped about.

“Not bad,” he said. “Are you sure you’re not Irish instead of French?”

She shook her head. “But I’ve Scottish blood, too,” she boasted. “And my grandmother was a fine dancer.”

“That explains it.” Christopher looped his hand through the crook of her arm, and, facing each other, they began to circle about. Her smile was infectious, and he felt his own grin broaden.

Grace told me dancing was enjoyable, but I never believed her.

They passed beneath another lantern, and he saw that Miss Abbott’s face was flushed. Her eyes were bright and merry, and when they locked on his for the merest of seconds, something in her look set his heart racing.

About the Author
Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education, and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children's literature.


FUN FACTS ABOUT MICHELE

1. In fourth grade Michele's teacher called her parents in to talk to them about a paper that she was certain Michele had copied directly from a textbook or some other source. Aside from being upset that her integrity was questioned, Michele was stoked that the teacher thought she could write that well. And thus an author was born :)

2. Michele married her high school sweetheart a mere two and a half months after he returned from his mission (still sorry about that short notice, Mom!). He is her best friend and they've had many great adventures together. It seems like their wedding was yesterday, but August 5th will be twenty-seven years.

3. Michele's youngest son is six, and she has a grandson who is two and a half. And no, she didn't get a surprise baby. Just a long awaited, later in life miracle who is keeping her young!

4. One of Michele's favorite things is reading books out loud with her family. She is fortunate enough never to get carsick, and since 10+ hour long road trips are a regular occurrence in the Holmes' family, she's enjoyed a lot of books with them over the years. That she has one more little one (and then grandchildren) to enjoy reading some of her favorites to, makes her so happy.

5. Michele loves baking, and sewing, and scrapbooking, and projects in general. Pinterest has opened up a whole new world of possibilities--a rather terrifying prospect considering the number of cookie cutters and the amount of fabric and scrapbook paper currently stockpiled in her home (will trade for food storage in an emergency!). But as much as she loves these things, creating stories wins out every time she has any free time at all. Michele loves being an author and bringing the stories in her imagination to life. She feels so blessed to be able to do something she loves and to share that with others.

6. Michele also loves dancing. In many of her books you will find a dance scene between the main characters. Dancing is romantic and intimate--and fun. As in the following excerpt from Marrying Christopher.

Hearthfire Romance Series
Labels: , ,

Aug 10, 2015

Eleanor and the Iron King w/ Giveaway

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 8/10/2015 0 comments
A review copy was provided

ELEANOR AND THE IRON KING
by Julie Daines

Eleanor de Lacy has been bartered: her hand in marriage in exchange for a truce with her father's sworn enemy. Now the headstrong beauty must leave her ancestral home and the man she secretly loves to become the wife of the infamous Welsh King Brach Goch. Tales of this cruel leader paint a chilling picture of a ruthless warrior—all Eleanor knows for certain is that he is the villain responsible for the vicious attacks on her people and the death of her beloved brother. Though she must marry against her will, she vows Brach Goch will never possess her heart.

Her arrival at the inhospitable castle Bryn Du confirms her worst fears—a ghost walks the halls of the castle, and Eleanor receives an ominous warning from the uneasy spirit: Brach is not to be trusted. Though resigned to a life of misery, Eleanor soon realizes all is not as it seems, for Brach is not the monster she dreaded but is a handsome and charming man whose gentle ways soon undermine his bride's resolve to lock her heart. Clinging desperately to her pride, Eleanor finds herself trapped in a web of murder and deceit. And as the lines between good and evil become blurred, Eleanor must decide for herself who is to be trusted—and loved.

My Review
This book is FANTASTIC!

I always imagined myself being very submissive if ever I was put in a situation like this--but I LOVE that Eleanor is bold and makes up her mind that if she has to go through with this arranged marriage then she was going to do it HER WAY! -- Makes for a much better story :)

I adored how the author put in tiny glimpses into the beginning chapters making you wonder if Brach really is a nice guy with a gruff exterior--or could those "attentions be nothing more than a diversion?"

And the mysteries of unexplained happenings in the castle and surrounding Eleanor are so intriguing! 

Gives you a feeling of a fairy tale/medieval romance with kings and queens-to-be and warring kingdoms, but with fantasy inspired haunting events like ghosts and witches and casting of spells encircling it.

Grab a copy of this book to see what is really happening inside Bryn Du, who is involved, and who is the true enemy!

Such GREAT WRITING!
LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. IT!

You will be absolutely enthralled with this one!

Due to my vacation I am posting late and the giveaway is already over--

However, Julie is offering 10 copies of her book on GoodReads-- Click HERE to enter
(offer ends 8/31)

BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY
About the Author
Julie Daines was born in Concord, Massachusetts, and was raised in Utah. She spent eighteen months living in London, where she studied and fell in love with English literature, sticky toffee pudding, and the mysterious guy who ran the kebab store around the corner.

She loves reading, writing, and watching movies—anything that transports her to another world. She picks Captain Wentworth over Mr. Darcy, firmly believes in second breakfast, and never leaves home without her verveine.

Things Julie Has Never Done:

*Had a facial, pedicure, or manicure--or been to a spa.

*Eaten sushi--I just really can’t stand seafood!

*Tired of seeing the full moon through wispy clouds as it rises over the mountains near my home.

*Been to Hawaii. *Update* Hawaii family vacation 6/13

*Changed a flat tire on my car. My awesome husband always does it for me! I am, however, pro at changing my road-bike tires.

*Broken a bone. Or had my tonsils out.

*Been stuck in an elevator.

*Been stung by a bee. A wasp, yes. It was hiding in my pants and when I put them on--yeow!

*Hit an animal while driving.

*Cheated on a test.

*Eaten brains. They tried to serve me some in South America. But I started having a nervous breakdown and told them, in my not-so-fluent-spanish, that I didn’t want to eat any “mind.”

*Jumped off the high-dive.

*Won the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes.



BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
*August 3rd:

*August 4th: 

*August 5th: 

*August 6th: 

*August 7th: 
Labels: , , ,

Jul 6, 2015

Meet Author Dennis Maley

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 7/06/2015 0 comments
Dennis Maley grew up in Kansas and resides in Oklahoma. He and his reading teacher spouse have two great kids and three wonderful grandchildren.

He was the preacher in his kindergarten’s production of “The Tom Thumb Wedding.” In first grade, his mother scolded him for being Chairman of the Entertainment Committee. To his credit, the post was merely honorary, he served without compensation, and as the title “Chairman” implies, he always collaborated. He sang and bet Phileas Fogg he couldn’t circumnavigate the world in eighty days in his senior class play. He’s presently learning to play banjo. But he sings, dances, acts, tells jokes too poorly to make a living at it. The same is true of golf and poker.

His vocation, income tax, taught him how people behave under stress.


Fun Little Known Facts by Dennis Maley

My wife, a schoolteacher, is my hero. She taught underprivileged kids to read, and her devotion to literacy inspired elements of "Three Links Of Chain."

My daughter was valedictorian, graduated college summa cum laude, and Phi Beta Kappa. But actually everyone within earshot already knows that.

I'm teaching myself to play the 5-string banjo. I don't play "Scruggs style," instead I'm learning an old-time style called "clawhammer."

I'm left-handed but always played baseball right-handed. I have an unfit shoulder and my golf suffered so I had to re-learn the game left-handed. I still putt righty and play the banjo righty.

I don't drive much. My main wheels are a pickup truck that's 18 years old and still has less than 100K miles. The tranmission is manual and it has no air conditioner.

I sold stuff door-to-door starting when I was in fourth grade, mostly tomatoes I grew myself. I don't like tomatoes all that much.

Two summers in a row, I worked in a grain elevator during wheat harvest. Among my duties, I was supposed to yell "WHOA-oo" when the haulers' end gate was over the floor grate. When harvest was over, I baled hay and plowed. None of these occupations required me to exercise my trigonometry skills. Machines have rendered all these jobs obsolete, except maybe the part about yelling "WHOA-oo."

Growing up in small town Kansas, the first African Americans I ever went to school with were two boys, both freshmen when I was a senior. I suspect "whites only" water fountains were around, but I'm just lucky. I never saw them.

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

Dennis authored Three Links Of Chain, a novel for middle grades and young adults, about a literate slave boy’s flight for freedom, published by Jublio.


The flyer reads, “One dark mulatto runaway, aged fourteen, well dressed and bright…”

Blanche thinks he has it good. He has risen above the field hands to a position helping run a printing press. He’s well fed, never physically mistreated, and he has taught himself to read, though he keeps the illicit skill a secret. Most importantly, he has been promised a chance at emancipation. Then, in a single bloody morning, his world is overturned, his master lies dead, and his widow has no intention of following through with her husband’s promise to free him.

Blanche would never have considered running away from his old life, but faced with the prospect of being sold as a laborer or worse, he forges his free papers and flees north, a fugitive, to create his own future. Only a few steps ahead of the slave catchers, he travels hundreds of miles across the violent backdrop of “bleeding Kansas” in the 1850s, a land torn by apart by two very different visions of humanity.

This richly researched work of fiction weaves actual historical characters and institutions into the gripping story of a young man born into slavery but resolute in his quest for freedom.





“...an excellent piece of children’s literature and a summer read that parents will approve.”

-Jerry Vannatta, co-author of The Chief Concern of Medicine

“Both the story and the main character had my interest from very early on in the book. The events and emotions did come across splendidly..”

-Margaret Faria, author of The Literary Chanteuse Book Blog

“This quest for freedom by a slave boy is a great story… thumbs up to Dennis Maley.

-A Journey With Books Review

“Three Links of Chain is more than a story about a slave boy who wants to be free. It is also a story about people trying to change a system… either way, the main thing is that it is a great story and you should read it.”

-Reading… Dreaming Book Review

Labels: ,

Jun 23, 2015

Meet Author Laura Briggs

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 6/23/2015 0 comments
Laura Briggs graduated from a Missouri liberal arts college in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Her passion for reading has inspired her to become a novelist. She has penned several Romance and Women’s Fiction novels, and hopes someday soon to dabble in the Mystery genre.

10 FUN FACTS ABOUT LAURA

1) My first published story was available in eBook format only--even though I didn’t own an eReader for almost two years into my writing career!

2) One of my newest hobbies is growing pumpkins for fall decorating. I love the blue ‘Cinderella’ ones and plan to grow some of the crimson colored ones as well.

3) I still love to use old school technology sometimes, like records and VHS tapes.

4) Sense and Sensibility has been my favorite of Jane Austen’s novels, ever since I received a copy as a Christmas present in my teens.

5) Disney’s Aladdin was the first movie I saw at a movie theater.

6) Some of my current favorite TV shows are from PBS’ Mystery! and Masterpiece Theatre. I especially enjoy Sherlock, Endeavour, and Downton Abbey.

7) My guilty pleasure TV is the CW network’s costume drama Reign. I would love to own a gown like one of the gorgeous designs featured on the show!

8) World travel is a big dream of mine. I’ve been to England on a college trip, but we didn’t visit London, to my deep disappointment. I would love to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Baker Street, among other sites.

9) In the summer, I like to reread the books I loved as a tween. Some of my favorites back then were mystery series, like The Spotlight Club and The Three Investigators.

10) I realized that despite all the fairs and theme parks I’ve visited through the years, I’ve never been on a Ferris Wheel.

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

Laura's book is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s EMMA 
with shades of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Emma Benton—known as ‘Doctor Emma’—has a knack for advising the lovelorn and lonely on her radio show Heart Therapy. Em’s sympathetic manner and spot-on instincts provide the perfect answers, or so claims her boyfriend, the handsome and clever psychologist Frank, her producer Isabel, and her ever-expanding audience of listeners.

But Doctor Colin Ferris disagrees. During a guest segment on Em’s show, he challenges her advice on the air and offends her personally in their brief, private exchanges. Rude and pretentious, he’s the last person Em would imagine as the author of a best-selling guide on being a gentleman in modern times. He’s also the last person she would choose to work with—but Fate makes that decision before Em can avoid it.

In her worst PR nightmare ever, Em finds herself paired with Colin in a reality show quest to help a romantically-challenged young woman. Shy, awkward Harriet Smith needs more than just a little advice, but can two people so vastly different in their opinions really help her? As Em struggles to find common ground with Colin, she learns there’s more to him than meets the eye…and maybe more between them than opposing ideas about love.

Labels: , ,

May 26, 2015

Meet Serena Clarke

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 5/26/2015 0 comments
Serena Clarke is from sunny Southern Utah, where it sits like an oasis in the middle of the desert. She has loved writing since she was young and has taken several writing classes. She loves fantasy with a hint of romance and wishes to contribute to the genre.

Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and is a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team. She is passionate about learning, reading, art, and design. She enjoys designing her book covers as much as writing her books.
10 FUN FACTS ABOUT SERENA

1. One of my favorite quotes is this: “Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.”

2. I love fantasy! I love that anything can happen! In fantasy you are not restricted by society or politics or history. Whether reading it or writing it, I love escaping into a world that is different than the one I live in. A world where there are princes and princesses, warriors, treasure, mystical creatures that you can’t be sure if they are good or bad, true love, happy endings, mystery.

3. I am a graphic designer and create book covers for independent authors and those writing their family history.

4. I play the piano and give piano lessons.

5. I used to accompany my mother when she would sing in concerts and recitals.

6. I played on the exact same grand piano as John Phillip Sousa. After tuning it, Sousa carved his name inside the piano and then gave a recital. The piano is at Estes Park, Colorado, and is known to be haunted.

7. Even though I choose to live in a desert region, I don’t love the desert. I love the mountains surrounding it, the warm weather, and the small town feeling.

8. I have five sisters and I’m the fifth in line. When we get together for Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s a madhouse. It’s noisy and loud and fun. We play games and drive each other crazy, but we love each other all the same.

9. I have a bucket list. I still have many things to do. Among the ones I have done are flying in a helicopter, speeding down a zipline, eating frog legs and a roasted cricket.

10. When I graduated from high school, I went to Hawaii with a friend. We saw beautiful waterfalls, drank coconut milk from a coconut, and watched the sun set over the ocean but we never went to a Luau. It was on my bucket list. Many years have past since then. I finally told my dad and he said he knew how to prepare a Luau and had done it before. He knew how to dig a hole in the ground and roast a pig. So guess what? I’m having an official Luau for my birthday in July with tiki torches, fresh cut fruit, Hawaiian music, and a roasted pig with an apple in its mouth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serena has two intriguing romantic fantasy books out 
with a third one on the way.

Fantasy is one of the most popular genres because the reader is taken into a completely new world, a world of magic and mystery with an enchanting kingdom and mystical creatures.




The Treasure of Isian is the first book in The Isian Series. Prince Garin is a brave, proud, adventure-seeking prince. Elani is his most trusted servant and she would do anything for him. Their quest to find the mystical Treasure of Isian is immediately interrupted and they find themselves confronted by giants, elves, dragons, and a vengeful water-witch. Elani must face her greatest fears to save her prince and her kingdom. Will they be able to make a great sacrifice to save the kingdom?

“The Treasure of Isian was a stirring tale of an enchanted servant and a handsome prince,” wrote Author Charissa Stastny. “The adventures they face together as they search for the fabled treasure of Isian that will grant the bearer any wish they desire. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. The author did a wonderful job pacing the story and connecting me to the characters. Superb story that brought a smile to my face and helped me remember that sometimes, we can overlook the most valuable treasures in life if we’re not careful.”


In The Alliance of Isian, Isian decides to make an alliance with their long time enemies. Isian sends a proposal, offering their daughter to the prince, in order to ensure an alliance. Princess Gabrielle and Prince Alec must learn to work together and trust each other in order to triumph in the approaching war. With a mysterious beast attacking the kingdom, their lives in danger, and overcoming their vast cultural differences, will love grow despite their trials?

When we think of fantasy, we think of magic and mythical creatures, but it is not the same without some romance. Cheryl Larson wrote: “I am always intrigued by stories of arranged marriages and how they turn to marriages filled with love. There is plenty of action and intrigue in the storyline. I can't wait for the next book in the series!”

   



Labels: ,

May 21, 2015

Death is Always a Resident

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 5/21/2015 0 comments
DEATH IS ALWAYS A RESIDENT
by Lorraine Jeffery

Jan Myers has dedicated her career to helping the elderly. But after one of the elderly residents under her care mysteriously dies, Jan’s career, her daughter, and everything she loves is suddenly in jeopardy.

It’s up to Jan to piece together the clues and find out what happened before it’s too late!

This cozy mystery is a perfectly thrilling read. With shocking twists and romantic hints, it’s sure to keep you guessing till the very end.

About the Author
Lorraine Jeffery earned her bachelor’s degree in English and her MLIS in library science, and managed public libraries in Texas, Ohio, and Utah for over 20 years. She has won poetry prizes in state and national contests and has published over fifty poems in various publications, including Clockhouse, Kindred, Calliope, Sunstone, Ibbetson Street, and Rockhurst Review. She has published short stories in War Cry, Elsewhereand Segullah. Her articles have appeared in Focus on the Family, Mature Years, The Ensign, and Utah’s Senior Review, as well as other publications. She currently lives with her husband in Orem, Utah.

Fun Facts about the Author
I am the mother of ten children (eight adopted).

My children are Korean, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Vietnamese.

I have been married to the same man for 52 years. (And no, he's not boring.)

I have published over 50 poems in various publications.

My husband and I have traveled to Thailand, Japan, England, Scotland, Switzerland and Austria. My favorite country was Thailand and my favorite city was Vienna.

My favorite dessert is crème brulee and I was 55 the first time I tried it. Mmmmm.

I was raised in Oregon and love the Oregon Coast--salt water in my veins.

I have a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in library science.

I worked and managed public libraries for 20+ years in Texas, Ohio and Utah.

I am a confirmed skeptic and optimist.

I believe there needs to be one cook and one appreciator in the house. After we retired, my husband become the cook and I am the appreciator.

Labels: , ,

May 19, 2015

Every Day a Hope w/ Book Giveaway

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 5/19/2015 0 comments
A review copy was provided

EVERY DAY A HOPE
by Marci M. Matthews

I have tried and tired to be a journal writer...
But I confess...I am a little awed by all the blank pages.

So when I saw this "interactive journal" I jumped at a change to take a look!

WOW! It is AMAZING! SO. SO. SO. GOOD!

This book is FOR YOU!

YOU do what you want with it...

Written in black and white for you to ADD color OR NOT.

Each page has a story, quote, thought, or writing prompt to help you think about your life...

Especially empowering for those who are going through a hard or dark time.

Just read a page or two...it's up to you.

Tear out a page and post it on the wall or mirror or refrigerator.

Write your thoughts to the margins.

Read, write, color, scribble, tear, paint, make lists...

Do whatever brings out your confidence.

We all have things we are dealing with...big things and little things...

These pages will make you smile, cry, contemplate, hope, dream, and HEAL.

GET A COPY FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS
THIS BOOK IS TRULY AMAZING!

The Author has graciously offered
a BOOK GIVEAWAY for my followers :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
Marci M. Matthews is an author, artist, philanthropist, and Certified Advocate. A survivor of child abuse and sexual assault, she is the founder of the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree, a charitable organization dedicated to the healing and prevention of sexual violence.

In 2013, Marci received the RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) HOPE award for Fighting Sexual Violence and Helping Survivors.

Fun Facts about Marci Matthews, author of Every Day a Hope

1) I have a pet sloth named Speedy– she’s not as friendly as most sloths, but she’s super cute.

2) My beautiful dog, the Loch Ness Monster, weighs 140 pounds, which is more than a baby giraffe weighs.

3) I’ve played Scrabble or Words With Friends with the same three people for nearly twenty years.

4) I rebuilt a motorcycle by myself. I made it look like a steampunk bike. I love it, but I’m afraid to ride it.

5) Where I grew up, the nearest McDonald’s was two and a half hours away, so it was a huge treat for us.

6) I have read more than 10,000 books.

7) I own six acres on the moon, and I have mining rights.

8) I love both playing and inventing games, especially games that involve the floor being lava.

9) When I was thirteen, I rode in a glider (plane with no engine) and the pilot did nose dives, flips, and other stunts. It was spectacular.

10) At one point in my life I lived in the mountains, and I regularly woke to find wild animals outside my window including, elk, moose, coyotes, wolves, bears, buffalo, rattle snakes, horses, cows and prairie dogs.

Sample Pages from the Book





Labels: , , , ,

Apr 6, 2015

Meet Author Jake G. Panda

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 4/06/2015 0 comments
Jake G. Panda is a hard-nosed bear investigator. He likes bamboo and saving endangered animals. He is the author of The Endangered Files, a mystery series about his misadventures in the protection business.

His partner in crime, the fella who helps write these books because, let's be honest, it's not easy typing with big, clunky bear paws, resides somewhere in New England. He has written his fair share of stuff, mostly for the big screen. And some of it has actually been projected. He likes to keep a low profile and lets Jake do all the talking.

10 Fun Facts about Jake 
1. I wear glasses.

2. No animals are ever harmed in the writing of these stories. But some names and places are changed to protect the innocent.

3. I love bamboo. Often it is all I can think about.

4. I have a partner in crime who helps write these adventures. He's a successful screenwriter. Don't tell anybody, but he does all the typing.

5. I love classic films. And I mean the old black and white stuff like Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep. Films like these were the inspiration for The Endangered Files.

6. I'm quite good at climbing trees.

7. Although I was born somewhere in the forests of China, I currently reside in New England. And I shoveled a lot of snow this winter.

8. I sleep with a teddy bear.

9. One of my favorite books as a bear cub was Charlotte's Web. Which is odd because I'm terrified of spiders.

10. We pandas are actually excellent swimmers. Which as you'll see comes in handy in my next adventure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Case of the Cursed Dodo



If you're looking for trouble, you've found it. 

The name's Jake G. Panda, and trouble seems to follow me wherever I go. I work in the protection racket at a flophouse for endangered critters called the Last Resort. I'm the hotel snoop. The resident fuzz. It's my job to keep these guests safe and outta harm's way. This is the first of my many misadventures. A wild and woolly mystery involving a lost suitcase, a green bird, and a bunch of double-crossing animals. I'm calling this jungle noir The Case of the Cursed Dodo.

This hilarious first installment of The Endangered Files follows Jake, a hardboiled panda detective, and an unusual cast of endangered creatures on a globe-trotting adventure that will appeal to young and old alike.

Get your paws on a copy now!

Labels:

Mar 18, 2015

Lighten Up & Laugh

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 3/18/2015 0 comments
A review copy was provided
Book Details
Author: Kari J. Rich
Release Date: March 2015
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Inspiration

After reading her first book, Heaven Help Us!
I immediately knew that I wanted read this NEW book by Kari J. Rich

Kari is REAL!
Kari is FUNNY!
Kari is a JOY!

Filled with 50 humorous stories this book will make you laugh out loud and smile to the end.

I LOVE the book blurb:

"Is your house cleaner before your kids help you clean it? 

Do you clandestinely de-clutter and hide items in thrift-store-bound garbage bags? 

Do you find the title “Fun Run” to be an oxymoron? 

Does your overeager garden planning result in summers spent doorbell-ditching zucchini?"

You will read true-life stories from Kari's viewpoint and learn how she finds the humor in the everyday activities.

LOVED. LOVED. LOVED. the story of her trying to make an omelette for her newly-wed husband.

And the Valentine Day Conversation is priceless!

Wait until you read how she got lost while snowshoeing with a friend...

Or how she purchased a purple phone for her husband and why...

And the things that were lost (and found) during a family vacation to Las Vegas.

The chapter on Baby Backflash is a GEM! -- SO SAD, yet SO FUNNY!

And if you think YOU have Buyer's Remorse you will LOVE the 19 steps Kari takes in buying an article of clothing.

Each story is WONDERFUL!
Take a break from your life and delve into Kari's life.
You will feel as if you have gained a new BFF.


From the Author
My name is Kari J. Rich and I’m the wife of a cowboy artist, mother of three, weekly columnist for The Herald Journal, graphic designer, public speaker, former lead singer of a band (truth!), and a big fan of Carol Burnett and the Muppets (authentic Jim Henson version).

I live in the western mountain outback with more animals than I ever wanted to take care of.

I graduated from Utah State University in English and design and worked in an advertising agency as a graphic designer and copywriter until I started a family and started working freelance from home.

As I transitioned from corporate to domestic I started writing down the funny things of everyday life in a journal to keep my sanity. Years later, a blog, a column and two books were born. I enjoy exposing the hidden hilarity that lurks in everyday life because it’s pretty darn funny if you choose to look for it.


Grab a copy of Heaven Help Us!

LDS women work hard for many people in many places, striving every day to do and be their best—but how often do they get to simply sit back and LOL? In this collection of wry and witty essays, one modern Mormon mom turns ordinary predicaments into awesome opportunities to lighten up and look at life with a laugh. Whether she’s busting through red tape to get medical assistance for her injured son, celebrating the birth of her child by losing her lunch on the bathroom floor, or having an off-beat adventure in the residue of Mormon culture found at D.I., Kari J. Rich uncovers the hilarity that lurks in everyday situations. See her thwart self-pity with self-deprecation as she rediscovers her testimony in a can of tuna, loses touch with her children by joining the PTA, gets chased down by a hawk on her bike, unknowingly turns into her father on Memorial Day, and battles the family hierarchy at the height of the holiday season. There’s more than frivolity on these pages—golden nuggets of wisdom.


10 Fun Facts about Kari

1. In 8th grade I was the first female class president elected in my junior high’s history.

2. The last thing I want to eat before I die is an Oreo shake.

3. I was the lead singer for a cover band for five years.

4. I’m a middle child (explains a lot, doesn’t it).

5. I had front row seats at the Donny & Marie Show in Vegas and Donny held my hand and serenaded "Puppy Love” to me.

6. When I was five years old I shoplifted a bunch of Andes mints by shoving them down my underwear.

7. I’m terrified of praying mantises.

8. I’ve logged enough miles on my bike to circle the earth once.

9. I hate watermelon, actually all melons. Sorry, it’s a texture thing.

10. I won first prize for my homemade chocolate chip cookies in a baking contest judged by a professional chef who used to cook at the Vatican for the Pope.

Labels: , , ,

Mar 14, 2015

Parenting Principles w/ eBook Giveaway + 10 Fun Facts

Posted by Shauna Wheelwright at 3/14/2015 0 comments
Parenting Principles
by David A. Christensen

Give your children a bright future in today’s dark world. 

Parent with confidence and love with these inspiring stories, poignant personal experiences, quotes from prophets and apostles, and scriptures to study.

This uplifting book includes a full month of daily devotionals you can read together and will help you establish the gospel habits your family needs for a lifetime of happiness.

You will find topics such as work, honoring mothers, life balance, and leaving a lasting legacy.

For each day there is:

* A quote from a General Authority or member of the general Relief Society presidency

* A parenting self-examination

* A list of scriptures that match the topic of the day.

*A parting thought to inspire you.

"CREATE A PEACEFUL REFUGE IN YOUR HOME"

GET IT HERE | ADD TO GOODREADS

CEDAR FORT is graciously offering an 
eBOOK GIVEAWAY for one of my followers :)


About the Author
David A. Christensen’s love and enthusiasm for being a missionary was sparked in a missionary preparation class at Ricks College in the late 60s. His love and testimony for the Book of Mormon was ignited in a religion class the following semester. These two classes combined as a new beginning for what would one day become not only a passion but also the centerpiece of his professional contribution in the Church Education System and at Brigham Young University–Idaho.

David has taught missionary preparation and Book of Mormon classes for over thirty years. His testimony and enthusiasm for the restored gospel was shared with missionaries and members in the Chile Santiago North Mission where he served as president, and again in Central America when he served as president of the Guatemala MTC.

He counts his eight children and growing number of grandchildren as his most important converts, and his best friend and wife, Deena Bond Christensen, his eternal companion.


10 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1. I played on my high school and college basketball teams and could dunk a basketball until age 53.

2. I grew up on a farm and for fun I would hypnotize chickens with my brothers.

3. I was the designated "hair highlighter" for several of my teenage daughters (using box kits).

4. One of my bucket-list goals is to be an extra in movie.

5. I returned from my mission to Mexico City with 4 types of Typhoid and having lost 50 lbs.

6. I was always the one to take our eight children shopping for school clothes in the Fall while my wife had a much-deserved break.

7. I have always enjoyed early mornings and using that time for studying, exercise, playing early morning basketball, yard work, walks with my Sweetheart, watching the sunrise, or listening to birds sing. I love this peaceful time of day.

8. I was very shy and quiet in my youth.

9. I met my wife on the playground when we were both ten years old. We went 'steady' for a short period of time, all thanks to a friend who delivered messages back and forth between us -- we rarely spoke to each other during that time.

10. As a parent, I greatly enjoy making traditions and memories with and for my children...and now my grandchildren.

Labels: , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
 

I Love to Read and Review Books :) Copyright © 2012 Design by Ipietoon Blogger Template