Month: November 2014

The Shadows by Alyne De Winter: A hidden gem

REVIEW
I always feel lucky when I discover hidden gems like ‘The Shadows’. This is a story well written, in a smooth and mellifluous style, and with an interesting plot that makes you read as fast as you can to find out what happens next. I liked the Harry-Potter-style world the author created. I loved the idea of the old fashioned British boarding school placed in the middle of nowhere, full of mysteries and hidden secrets, as I loved Alyne De Winter’s writing style. That was the prefect Halloween read for me.
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Lebrus Stone by Miriam Khan

COVER REVEAL

We are sooooo excited for this reveal today! 

Let’s start off with a little about our author.

 

Miriam is from Cheshire, England and a family of six siblings. Her love for creativity led to acting at her local theatre before being a lead vocalist in rock bands. During those years, she often found solace penning her thoughts and feelings through lyrics or poetry. She chose not to continue singing in 2006, and two years later she woke up with the idea for The Lebrus Stone and began typing. revising and editing it for the next six years. She is now eager to see what readers will think.

To see the latest going on with Miriam Khan:

 

When Eighteen year old orphan, Crystal Valdez, accepts an invitation to the small town of Blacksville, West Virginia, she’s hopes to have a summer to remember, a chance to get to learn more about her parents, even the family she never knew existed.

But the Lockes begin to act strange and erratic; eerie movements in the night further fuel her very vivid and gruesome nightmares. To complicate her summer further, she becomes attracted to the menacing handsome Cray Locke: her none blood related cousin who seems hell bent on keeping his distance. The only bonus seems to be the Housekeeper and Gardener.

And when a local informs Crystal of the secrets buried at Thorncrest Manor, one consisting of a forbidden love and war between hidden worlds and even witchcraft, she must decide who to trust. Even if it means leaving behind those she has come to love and trust.

Ok here it is!!!! 

 

The cover you have all been waiting for!!!!

 

 

 

Isn’t it FABULOUS!!!!!

Now for the trailer! This is gonna knock your socks off, so hold on to your seat!

 

 

 

And as if all of that isn’s exciting, awesome, and amazing!

Forever True by Gwedolyn Grace

COVER REVEAL

Forever True (The Story of Us #1.5)

By Gwendolyn Grace

Release date: November 19, 2014

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Blurb:

Alex and Courtney’s love is true. It was a lesson they had to learn the hard way. Now with hearts mended they focus on the future but have they learned from the past? Do they have what it takes to stay each other’s true…forever?

Forever True, a novella, follows Alex and Courtney into their second chance at happily ever after.

**still contains hot sexual situations*

Add to your Goodreads TBR list:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23456180-forever-true?from_search=true

ON SALE NOW!

True (The Story of US #1) is just .99 cents!

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Blurb:

I never thought I’d risk my true… my everything, but one mistake can change lives. True love is undeniable… but is it forever?

Alex Turner was my true… my husband, the father of my children, the man of my dreams. But what happens when that isn’t enough anymore?

I knew something was different about Justin Rich. The way his eyes lingered a little longer on places they shouldn’t, his brazenness and suggestive double meanings excited me. I knew I was flirting with danger but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.

True love can make your heart soar. Secrets and lies can break it.

*includes hot sexual situations and the topic of infidelity*

Add to your Goodreads TBR list:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23146369-true

BUY LINKS:

http://amzn.com/B00N3MJK30

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-gwendolyn-grace/1120378397?ean=2940046285727&itm=1&usri=2940046285727

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id924959247

http://store.kobobooks.com/Search/Query?fcmedia=Book&query=9781311009760

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About the Author:

When Gwendolyn Grace is not daydreaming about fictional characters, she tries to be a fairly decent wife and an attentive mother. During the day she manages the office for a small maritime security company that fights pirates, just not the cool Johnny Depp kind. In her spare time, she is a blogger and book reviewer however writing has been her passion for as long as she can remember. True is her debut novel and hopefully the first of many to come.

Author Pages:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorGGrace

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3289703.Gwendolyn_Grace

Michael Wheeler and The Practical Method for Taus, Dilruba, and Esraj

INTERVIEW

Today my blog fills with music. I read a book and I enjoy a cup of coffee while listening to the sound of Taus, Dilruba, and Esraj. And Michael Wheeler is responsible for that.

Michael Wheeler lives in Roseburg, OR along with his wife and cat. He is an assistant professor of music at Umpqua Community College, instructing Indian Music, Music Technology, Music Appreciation, and Music Fundamentals. It’s not long ago when he decided to pursue a writing career as well.

“I’ve always enjoyed reflecting on music. I host a couple of music blogs – one on music pedagogy, one on music history/ethnomusicology, and one on popular music. For my book though, I wrote that as my Master’s degree dissertation” he explains.

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– Was getting published hard?

“I self-published through CreateSpace, so it was super easy. I think the need for publishers will start to diminish even more over time until just about everybody putting stuff out is either on blogs, or self-published.”

– What genre are your books? 

“Music and education – I publish compositions and materials on musical pedagogy mostly.”

– Which of your books is your most favorite?

“Well, as far as full text, I only have one. That is “A Practical Method for Taus, Dilruba, and Esraj.” But I also love my published compositions – the Pieces for Violin and Piano are pieces I’m really proud of.”

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– Do you have a specific writing routine? 

“Yes, work under deadlines!”

– What are your current projects?

“Working currently on an MFA in Music Composition through Vermont College of Fine Arts, so that is really time-consuming. I’m in the process of composing for Dilruba in a slightly more western-classical orientation which is challenging. I’m also working on a composer’s guide to dilruba.”

– What’s next for you?

“I think eventually I will need to write a follow-up to my beginner’s book in dilruba. Hopefully I can get to that before I’m too old!”

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BUY ON AMAZON

A Practical Method for Taus, Dilruba, and Esraj: Level 1: Beginner

Michael Wheeler Studios

http://www.michaelwheelerstudios.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelWheelerStudios

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/user/wholegreaterthansum

Author Bio

Michael Wheeler holds a Master of Arts in World Music Studies from the University of Sheffield U.K. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (with Honors designation) in Music History from Charter Oak State College as well as a Master Certificate in Music Theory, Harmony and Ear Training from Berklee College of Music (graduated 3.97 GPA). During his undergraduate education Michael was awarded both a music department vocal scholarship as well as the prestigious Bill Cosby Celebrity scholarship for Berklee’s extension program. He is also currently enrolled in the Gurmat Sangeet Outreach program from Raj Academy U.K. as a student of Dilruba, for the preservation and promotion of Sikh music. He’s also a member of many professional organizations including; Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA), American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and National Association of Composers USA (NACUSA).

As a performer, Michael Wheeler has appeared in over 10 independently and commercially released albums in addition to having logged hundreds of studio hours. He has also appeared in well over 300 stage performances as a singer (musical theatre), pianist (classical and jazz) or keyboardist (dance music).

As a composer, Michael’s works are published through the German internet publisher Copy- Us (under his pen name “Misha Kolesoski”) and has written scores for commercial as well as amateur film. In May of 2009 his “Adagio for Erhu and Chamber Ensemble” was premiered at Edinburgh University in Scotland, featuring the Erhu virtuoso Peng Yeuquang. He is also a regular contributor to HowCast Media videos and has music featured in the motion picture “Dirty Step Upstage.”

As an author on musical subjects, Mr. Wheeler maintains two blogsites; Tools for Learning Music, and Pondering Music from a Global Perspective. He also hosts a YouTube channel which details diverse information such as instrument purchasing, methods for self-study and advice for college music students.

From 2004 to 2011 Michael Wheeler was instructor and curriculum coordinator at Arizona Music Academy in Tempe AZ.

Beth Durkee’s amazing fantasy world: The Legend of Lord Randall Castle

INTERVIEW

Beth Durkee is an author of Christian romance, relationship self-help and fantasy. She has written three stand-alone novellas, contributed a small section to Ess-Jee Rautenbach’s premier book, How to Stand for Your Marriage, written a short promotional e-book (out of print) starring singer Darryl Markette (with permission), and is currently engrossed in writing her popular historical fantasy e-book series, The Legend of Lord Randall Castle. Across all genres, she is known for her characters, her descriptiveness and her anchor to morality. Her works include The Disposable Noble Wife, Navigating Marital Abandonment, The Bleeding Love, The Rumor’s Secret (out of print) and The Legend of Lord Randall Castle e-series.

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– So many great achievements but yet, who exactly is Beth Durkee?

” Hard question. I have worn so many different hats in my life and each is so different from the next, but I am the culmination of all my hat-wearing personalities and I am just one at a time. Right now, I am wearing the hat of friendly recluse who writes amazing but undiscovered stories for a very tiny international audience.”

– How did you decide to pursue a writing career?

“I think it is more pursuing me. Really what happened is that I grew up in a household where my dad is an avid reader and my mom’s whole family is a bunch of story-tellers. I grew up with both and wound up combining them after my children were grown and I had nothing more interesting to do with my time.”

– Was getting published hard?

” I am self-published, so that part was not hard. The hard part is getting enough readership for my books to make a profit. I am not yet to that point so in that respect, yes. It is very hard.”

Spellbound

– Are your characters based on people you know?

” Some of them are. Some are not. For example, the druid in the very beginning of Engaging Enchantment is modeled after my favorite restaurant manager at Brothers 3 Pizza in Marinette, Wisconsin. But Barwick, the story’s hero, is someone I have never met. (But I would like to!)”

– What genre are your books?

“I have a Christian romance and a relationship self-help that got me started writing for publication, but now my focus has turned to my first love – fantasy.

– Which of your books is your most favourite?

“I would have to say that the one I am currently in the process of editing, Spellbound Souvenir, is my favorite so far. But then, my favorite is always the one I am working on or I would be working on something else.”

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– Do you have a specific writing routine?

“It’s funny because I would not have said I do until I had to think about answering your question. Now I think the answer is yes. I pretty much get around to writing after lunch. That is about the time my dog lets me kick him off my lap and I can replace him with my laptop. Then I write until I am ready for a cup of hot tea. I get it, take a sip and resume writing until I realize my tea is cold. Then I stop for a while to reheat it. Sometimes I will repeat the cycle right away and sometimes I will stop for the day.”

– What are your current projects?

“Spellbound Souvenir consumes my world at the moment. I am absolutely in love with facets of of the story and with several of its characters. I need to get them polished for the e-book’s November 23 debut so we all are not embarrassed.”

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– What’s next for you?

“I need to finish editing and publishing Spellbound Souvenir, of course. But then Book 3 in The Legend of Lord Randall Castle e-series needs to be titled and written. I have an awesome end in mind for the series and I have to figure out how to get to it.”

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Beth Durkee lives in the United States. She has a BS degree in Liberal Arts from Carroll University and has been imagining stories for as long as she can remember. In her spare time, she enjoys long talks with family and friends, travel, DIY projects and amateur radio.

Keep in touch with Beth Durkee on social media

http://www.bethdurkee.me/
https://www.facebook.com/lordrandallcastle

and buy her books on Amazon

http://amzn.to/1mazX7K
http://amzn.to/1t2K6WP

Author John Mathews and the dark side of human nature

INTERVIEW

Today’s guest is John Mathews, a tenured University Professor who lives in the beautiful city of Rome, Italy.

With a background in creative writing, professional blogging, and web content creation, John Mathews decided that it was time to start writing fiction novels and share his passion for compelling stories with unforgettable characters.

“I feel the desire to break out of the mold and delve into fiction which focuses on the dark side of human nature, both that which is unfeeling and indifferent to the fate of others and that which derives pleasure and a feeling of power from pain inflicted on them” he explains.

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 – Was getting published hard?

“I self published my books, so I am my own agent.”

– Are your characters based on people you know?

“My characters are not based on individuals that I have known personally, but each one is created from a combination of real personality types, mind-sets, and ways of thinking that I have experienced throughout my life.”

– What genre are your books?

“I write thriller / suspense novels.”

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– Which of your books is your most favourite?

“I have just published my first novel on amazon, A Game of Greed and Deception, and it is a real doozy. Can you possibly guess what is really happening before the final scene?”

– Do you have a specific writing routine?

“No, I don’t.”

– What are your current projects?

“I am currently working on a crime novel with a real twist.”

– What’s next for you?

“I would welcome honest reviews for my novel on amazon.”

John Mathews first novel A Game of Greed and Deception is on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OHQA4HW