Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Young Knights of the Round Table Blog Tour


BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE – Young Knights of the Round Table: The King’s Ransom
SERIES – Book I
AUTHOR – Cheryl Carpinello
GENRE – Middle Grade Arthurian Legend
PUBLICATION DATE – 2016/2012
LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 120 Pages
DISTRIBUTOR – Bublish, Inc.
PUBLISHER – Beyond Today Educator
COVER ARTIST – Berge Design
Formats – paperback, ebook


BOOK SYNOPSIS
Answer the hero's call to Adventure with the Young Knights of the Round Table on their Quest.

Three friends. Three quests. Three mysterious predictions.

In medieval Wales, eleven-year-old Prince Gavin, thirteen-year-old orphan Philip, and fifteen-year-old blacksmith's apprentice Bryan are brought together in friendship by one they call the Wild Man. When an advisor to the king is killed and a jewelled medallion is stolen from the king's treasury, the Wild Man is accused of the theft and murder. Filled with disbelief at the arrest of the Wild Man, the three friends embark upon a knight's quest to save their friend's life. To succeed, the three must confront their fears and insecurities, and one of them will have to disclose the biggest secret of all. Join Gavin, Philip, and Bryan on their quest and share the adventures that await them in the land of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

BUY & TBR LINKS




AUTHOR BIO
I am a retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. Now, I hope to inspire young readers and those Young-at-Heart to read more through my Tales & Legends for Reluctant Readers set in these worlds.




AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS






EXCERPT
Prince Gavin
Gavin’s gaze was drawn back to the castle’s battle-scarred walls and the heavily armed guards. The evil emanating from the structure surrounded and held him captive, like a lone deer surrounded by hungry wolves in the dead of winter, unable to move, its eyes glassy with fear, its limbs frozen by the hypnotic gleam of the wolves’ yellow eyes. Even knowing its life was ending, the deer wouldn’t break and run. So Gavin sat frozen in front of the castle.
The enormity of his quest enveloped Gavin and he sighed. Continuing on meant he might save the Wild Man, but he might put himself in danger as well. King Edward was his father’s enemy and possibly responsible for Aldred’s murder. If Gavin were caught, Edward wouldn’t treat him kindly. The young prince summoned his courage and focused on the Wild Man. It had seemed so simple last night in the company of Bryan and Philip.
********************
Philip
Looking at the stack of chopped wood, he smiled sadly. Two years ago he would never have dreamed he’d be here, chopping wood for food and a dry place to sleep. He shook his head at his thoughts, his shaggy, ill-cut black hair falling unevenly across his forehead. Two years. It seemed like forever.
Two years earlier, he had lived with his parents and baby brother on their small farm up north. His parents worked hard to put food on the table and to pay off the farm. Philip’s main job was to watch baby Benjamin while his mother helped his father in their small field. When Benjamin fell sick, Philip helped his father clear the old stalks and rocks from the soil while his mother nursed the baby. He helped his father carefully plant the winter wheat and barley for harvest in the spring.
As autumn slipped into winter, Benjamin hadn’t gotten better. His tiny body burned with fever. Those last few days when Philip held him, the heat coming from Benjamin threatened to slowly engulf him like the embers of a dying fire.
**********************
Bryan
In the five years he’d been James’s apprentice, Bryan had learned a lot. He made a sturdy sword, so James said. Two years still remained in his apprenticeship. Two long years.
Like most sons of tradesmen or farmers, his family had secured this apprenticeship early on. At eleven, he and his father had made the three-day journey south to the Pembroke Castle blacksmith. At first, the prospect of being away from home, on his own, and learning a respectable trade, was exciting. More importantly, it allowed him to see and talk with real knights.
He spent every day learning how to forge stronger swords, tougher armour, how to shoe horses, and even make pots and pans. It was a satisfying trade and one that would ensure him a livelihood. But Bryan didn’t want just a livelihood. Even now, only two years away from completing his apprenticeship, he still couldn’t see himself working with metal for the rest of his life. As long as he could remember, he had wanted only one thing: to be a knight like Sir Lancelot.

Author Playlist






Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Book Blast with Giveaway for Makai United



Book blurb
In the depths of the ocean a war is brewing. Ka Moho-ali, ruler of the sharks, has joined forces with the ruthless Lua Pele to destroy Queen Tessa and the city she loves and protects. But Queen Tessa holds a secret that could change everything. Will revealing this knowledge be enough to pierce the darkest of hearts?

Evil permeates the sea and threatens the very survival of those who call it home. The time has come for Queen Tessa and her friends to stand and defend their city once and for all. How much will the ocean queen be willing to sacrifice to save the souls of those she holds dear? She is about to find out.



Author Bio
Dr. Fairfield is a licensed psychologist with her doctorate from Northern Arizona University.

Tara grew up in Southern California and loves being near the ocean. Some of her fondest childhood memories are of swimming and snorkeling around Catalina Island. She has three grown children, three grandchildren and four dogs. Life is good!

When she's not writing, you'll find her having fun on the ocean, playing with her dogs or just hanging out with family in the Pacific Northwest.  










Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Buried Alive by Jeremy Simons Blog Tour


Monica wakes. It’s cold, damp. She feels confined…trapped…alone, and doesn’t know where she is or how she got there. Then panic sets in…clawing, feeling the dirt falling onto her face, Monica realizes she’s been buried alive. Escape may not be easy, it may not even be possible. She tries to remember what happened, how she became trapped inside this box, who it was that did this to her, and then the truth becomes crystal clear. Soon they will learn, when you kill someone, you better make sure they’re actually dead.

The links for Buried Alive are as follows-

Jeremy Simons lives with his wife and three young daughters in Grayson, Louisiana.  He writes constantly in his spare time.  His dream is to someday be able to write full-time.
Jeremy has had stories appear with Carnage Conservatory Aphelion, Psychopomp, Voices from a Coma, The Horror Zine, Hellfire Crossroads Volume 4, Deathlehem Revisited, Short-Story.Me, Massacre Magazine, and three separate anthologies from Horrified Press (October’s End, the X3 Anthology, and Midnight Ghosts).  His novella (Buried Alive) and debut novel (Untold Tale) are both under contract with Celestial Waters Publishing and are available on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.



Character Interview
Question one:  So tell us a little about yourself.
Answer one:  My name is Monica Campbell. I live in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana. I was engaged to be married, but it didn’t work out. No kids. I’m currently unemployed.


Question two:  So why are you here today?

Answer two:  I’m here to tell my side of the story while I await trial.

Question three:  So what was it like waking up at the bottom of your own grave?

Answer three:  Well, it was dark (haha). But seriously, it was the most frightening thing you can imagine. Disoriented. Misplaced. Bound. Short of breath. And even if you’re not claustrophobic, you feel it in that moment. I wouldn’t wish that fate on my worst enemy.

Question four:  Speaking of which, would you have liked for Jeff and Martin to suffer that same fate?
Answer four:  No. That would have been getting off easy as far as though two are concerned.

Question five:  What was you thinking while climbing out?
Answer five:  Freedom. Getting out was the only thing that mattered at the time. When you’re underground and can barely breathe, dirt caving in on top of you as fast as you can knock it out of the way, you don’t really have time to worry with thinking. Plus, I didn’t remember anything that had happened at that time.

Question six:  How did you feel when you did remember?
Answer six:  Anger. Resentment. Pity. Sadness. Joy. I think every emotion in existence passed through me at one point.

Question seven:  Do you think you handled it accordingly?
Answer seven:  Absolutely.

Question eight:  Really? Why?
Answer eight:  The justice system is flawed. It was my word against theirs. They would have gotten off easy…probably with a slap on the wrist.

Question nine:  Do you regret it?
Answer nine:  Hell no. I just wish I wouldn’t have let them off as easy as I did.

Question ten:  One last question. Now that you’re here…do you feel any differently?
Answer ten:  No. I don’t think I did anything wrong. I’m innocent. I’m the victim here.

Two small clips
Monica steadied her breathing, as best she could, and tried to ignore the dirt still trickling in, little by little. Her attention became focused on freeing her hands from their bounds. It would have been difficult before, but now with the dirt caving in atop them, it was damn near impossible.
She was losing her edge…losing control of the situation. She had known he might have a few tricks up his sleeve, seduction being the most obvious, but she hadn’t expected being caught off-guard by it. And it wasn’t just that, she was taken back by his sincerity. She had loved him once, still did; the possibility that he could talk himself out of whatever dastardly plan she had in store crossed her mind. She could not—would not—allow that.

Author interview
Question one:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Answer one:  My name is Jeremy Simons. I live in Grayson, Louisiana, with my wife and three daughters. I’m a horror/suspense author with Twilight Terror Press, a subdivision of Celestial Waters Publishing.

Question two:  How long have you been writing?
Answer two:  I’ve written on and off since I was a kid but only recently had any interest in pursuing getting my works published.

Question three:  Why do you write?
Answer three:  I write because I need to. New ideas come to me on almost a daily basis, and I feel it’s my duty to tell everyone those stories.

Question four:  Who’s your biggest inspirations?
Answer four:  Writing-wise, my biggest inspiration will always be Stephen King. Another would be R. L. Stine; I still have all of the original Goosebumps series tucked away (but don’t tell anybody, HaHa). But in life, I’m inspired by anyone who is just willing to recognize their dreams, work at them, and do what is necessary to achieve them.

Question five:  What’s your favorite thing about writing?
Answer five:  Just being myself in a world I know nothing about. Escaping reality. Exploring new worlds. Being able to discover all of these characters and situations without having to worry about political correctness or offending anyone or pissing anyone off.

Guest post
I loved writing this book for several different reasons. For one, it’s loosely based on true events; it was fun to take something real and embellish it while keeping it an empowering story. Starting it was difficult, but it was interesting to try and pour my own emotion—my own fears and reservations—into trying to climb out of a grave.
This was also the first time I’ve ever really led with a female character, and going from victim to assailant is no easy feat. I only hope I did it justice.

Top ten favorites
Favorite Book:  probably It by Stephen King.
Favorite Movie:  Maximum Overdrive
Favorite Band:  Metallica
Favorite Song:  I don’t know about of all time but right now is probably Jekyll and Hyde by Five Finger Death Punch
Favorite Food:  Cookies-n-cream ice-cream
Favorite Saying:  “Don’t take life too seriously…you’ll never get out alive.”
Favorite Author:  Stephen King
Favorite Hobby:  Writing of course, but a close second would be playing basketball
Favorite Sport:  Basketball




















Thursday, September 1, 2016

Maggie Blog Tour



Maggie blurb-


Have you ever wondered what it would be like to share your home with an unearthly spirit who can’t find closure? Living on the edge of a cemetery with souls dating back to the 1700s would be enough to spook anyone, but Naomi finds it oddly romantic, and becomes inspired to write her next novel. Why not, when her muse, Maggie, calls to her from beyond her own window? 




After all, the story couldn't possibly be as complicated as Naomi's own love life. Torn between Ryan, the mysterious and seemingly perfect man she just started dating, and Bryce, the sexy single dad who recently moved in next door, Naomi must navigate the tangled web of dating—all while trying to solve the mystery of Maggie's death.


When things turn dangerous, Naomi quickly learns whom she can trust and, more importantly, whom she can’t. Will she be able to write Maggie’s story and finally give Maggie the peace she deserves?


Buy links


Author Bio


Mya O’Malley was born and raised in the suburbs of New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, daughter and three step-daughters. The family also consists of a boxer, Destiny, and a ragdoll cat named Colby. Mya earned an undergraduate degree in special education and a graduate degree in reading and literacy. She works as a special education teacher and enjoys making a difference in the lives of her students.

Mya’s passion is writing; she has been creating stories and poetry since she was a child. Mya spends her free time reading just about anything she can get her hands on. She is a romantic at heart and loves to create stories with unforgettable characters. Mya likes to travel; she has visited several Caribbean Islands, Mexico and Costa Rica. Mya is currently working on her ninth novel.



Social Media




Character  Interview for Naomi


DDB- Hi Naomi. It’s a pleasure having you with us today. Let’s get started. Can I just say that you’ve had a very busy time lately! Tell us about it.

Naomi- Hi there. Thanks for having me here. Yes, I guess you could say I’ve been pretty busy. I don’t want to give anything from the story away, but let’s just say that I have recently finished writing the most amazing story AND I helped some amazing people get the justice they deserved.

DDB-  So you’re a writer?

Naomi- Yes, and this particular story will stay with me forever. The past several months have been frightening, heartbreaking and beautiful, if you can imagine that.  Maggie’s spirit came to me, begging me to help solve a cold case and give her peace and closure. How could I resist? Maggie is a beautiful but tortured soul. I simply had no choice but to help and I couldn’t stop until I gave Maggie the justice she deserved.

DDB-  Sounds fascinating. I’ve heard that you met someone recently and fell in love. Is that true?

Naomi- Oh, that’s true. I met someone very special but it took me a while to figure things out. Let’s just say I was confused about the men in my life for a while.

DDB- Oh, come on. Who is it? Don’t leave us hanging like that!

Naomi- Sorry, if you want to find out, you’ll just have to read the story.
DDB-  Wow- you have been busy! Dealing with ghosts, a love triangle and helping to solve a cold case?

Naomi- Well, yes.

DDB- I hope you have a chance to relax now that your book is written and all.

Naomi-  Oh, I don’t think so. I’m starting to find out when you live on the edge of a cemetery, there’s not much chance for relaxing.

DDB- Wait- are you saying there’s more to the story?

Naomi- Let’s just say there might be a little bit more I have to add to my story now.

DDB- Are you saying that you’re working on a sequel to Maggie?

Naomi- (winks)

DDB- I can’t wait to hear more about that. For now, try to take some time to relax and enjoy that new boyfriend.  It’s been wonderful having you here.

Naomi- I’ll try. (laughs)  Thanks again for having me. 







EXCERPT #1-

“He scooped her up and placed her on top of the large rock. Following suit, he climbed up the slight incline and joined Maggie. Kissing her again, he cupped her head in his hands. Moments later, his hands smoothed over her body.
Maggie stiffened, pulling away. He sat back, eyes wide. “What is it, Maggie? What the hell is the problem now?”
“I’m just not ready.”
Placing his head in his hands, he sighed dramatically. “You’re not ready.” His laugh was sharp.
“Why not? Didn’t I just tell you I love you?” His tone rose in agitation.
Was that why he had declared his love for her? Her face must have given away her thoughts.
“Are you kidding me? You think that’s why I shared my feelings with you?” He stood and paced on the boulder. “Let’s go. Time to go.”
What had just happened here? How had everything deteriorated in a matter of mere minutes? And how much of it was her fault?

“No. Don’t. Sit down. Please.” Her eyes looked up at his height, pleading for him to stay.
“I don’t get you, Maggie. I have to be honest here with you. You’re kind of driving me crazy. Pushing my limits, you know?” His face flushed red as he paced.

How was she pushing him? “Sit, please just come back and sit beside me.” Maggie patted the spot beside her, her lip trembling. She didn’t know why he was so upset, only that she wanted things to return to how they were prior to this walk by the river.

“Fine.” He plopped himself beside her, leaving at least a foot between them.
Maggie reached over for him, taking his hand in hers. He didn’t
move closer but didn’t pull away either.

“Maggie. You’re killing me. I love you. I freaking love you, and I feel you not returning my feelings.”
“I…”
“Let me finish. I open up to you, try to show you how much I love you and I’m met with a slam of the door.” His hands moved dramatically. Maggie leaned back so that he wouldn’t swipe her as he spoke.

“No response from you, telling me that you love me back, and now I can’t even show you how I feel.” He was upon her, grabbing her face, his eyes intense.
It was true. She hadn’t said she loved him back. She hadn’t been ready. What she definitely wasn’t ready for was showing him. The words slipped out of her mouth before she could think. “I love you, too.”

Tears sprang from his eyes as he kissed her face over and over. “Oh Maggie, you have no idea how happy you have made me.”

Maggie’s shoulders slumped. Uneasiness washed through her. It was almost as if she had been bullied into saying the words. Then again, she had always had the tendency to overanalyze her thoughts and actions.
Maggie bit her lip and kissed him.



 Maggie