Wednesday, October 31, 2018

*Book Tour & Giveaway* It Happened to Me by T.A. Beasley-GUEST POST


It Happened To Me
by T. A. Beasley
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Mystery

In one weekend, seventeen- year-old Delilah Murphy loses the one person she could count on. She tries to deal with the loss but the one she blames makes it hard. Delilah leans on her best friend for comfort but only for a short period of time. She must face her enemy and try to adjust to not having a support system. 


Delilah’s behavior and attitude are out of control as is her non-existing relationship with whom she believes is the cause of her pain. Will Delilah finally come to her senses and learn to forgive? Or will her childish antics lead her down a path she may not be ready to travel?


**Trigger warning: of sexual assault, alcoholism, domestic violence **




T.A. Beasley has been a lover of books, reading and writing since she was ten years old, when she encountered the teen department librarian at Central Library in her hometown of Evansville, In. She became a book reviewer and blogger in 2010 as well as a tour host, helping authors, publishers and publicists share books with readers through her blog, Authors & Readers Book Corner. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband. It Happened To Me is her debut novel and she is working on her next title.


GUEST POST
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
I have a very active imagination and love storytelling so what better way to share these two things than to become a writer. I feel it is the right decision for me because it is my dream to be a published author and I don’t want the “what if” syndrome so I’m going for it.

I don’t like to take the easy way out among other reasons, which is why I choose to be an indie author. I don’t mind the challenge of doing it myself but its not for everyone.



What advice would you give new authors?
To start building a platform as soon as possible so you are known a little before your book comes out, meaning start interacting with others in the industry. You can do this by reviewing other author’s books, interviewing them, offering to do a guest post on their blogs and offering the same on your blog.

To have thick skin because everyone is not going to like or support your work. This is very important. You can’t let negativity and naysayers mess with your spirit and mental. Don’t let them still your joy.

To educate yourself before entering the industry and understand social media etiquette while promoting yourself.

To surround yourself with individuals who love writing, books and this industry as much as you do.

Last, to stay humble and always support your fellow author. There is enough space for us all, but you don’t want to burn bridges because you never know when you may need someone’s help.

What are they currently reading?
Currently, I am concentrating on review books due out in December. I am reading the following:

*The Frame-Up by Meghan Scott Molin
*In These Streets by Shelly Ellis

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
When I start a book I first create my character profiles. I then plot my novel to create my outline. I will then collect my research and interviews to make everything as authentic as I can. I then I start the first chapter and go from there.

If you could tell your younger writing self-anything, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to protect your credit source, wait to have children after you’ve pursued your career, bought a house and have gotten married. To go after the career, you feel is best for you not what everyone else wants you to do. This way you won’t have any regrets when you turn 40.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
I have a difficult time with writing the opposite sex’s dialogue. I can’t talk like a man, so I must ask my husband what he would say in certain situations.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?
It took me along time to write my first book because of fear and procrastination because I was coaching and consulting others. If I stay focused I can write a first draft in three months no later than six months.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes, but I believe if writers have a plan in place when writer’s block happens, it will be easier to get out of it. Believe me it is easy to get stuck on a scene, but you must walk away from it and take a break. You may even have to do something to relax yourself and your mind and then go back to it a couple of days later to get your creative juices flowing again.  

Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!






*Book Tour & Giveaway* The Deabliest Sins by Rick Reed


The Deadliest Sins

Jack Murphy Thriller #7
by Rick Reed

Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Pub Date: 10/16/18


Reed writes as only a cop can.” —Nelson DeMille

Jack Murphy Won’t Back Down

The headlines scream the ghastly news of an abandoned truck filled with murdered immigrants. Detective Jack Murphy and his partner Liddell Blanchard are on the case. They’ve got a lone survivor, rumors of a witness, and the feds getting in their way. Jack’s gut tells him there’s a connection with a local killing—and the bloodshed is far from over. He’s going up against a butcher who commits the unspeakable in the name of protecting America. Some say the worst crime is to look the other way. Jack Murphy only looks for justice . . .



Sergeant Rick Reed (Ret.) is a twenty-plus-year veteran police detective. During his career he successfully investigated numerous high-profile criminal cases, including a serial killer who claimed thirteen victims before strangling and dismembering his fourteenth and last victim. He recounted that story in his acclaimed true-crime book, Blood Trail. Reed spent his last three years on the force as the Commander of the police department’s Internal Affairs Section. He obtained a Masters Degree and upon retiring from the police force, took a fulltime teaching position with a community college. He currently teaches Criminal Justice and writes thrillers. He lives in Evansville, Indiana, with his dog, Belle, and his two cats, Hannibal and Clarice.



Follow the tour HERE for exclusive content and a giveaway!





*Cover Reveal* Tribe of Daughters by Kate L. Mary

Title: Tribe of Daughters
Author: Kate L Mary
Genre: Adult Dystopian
Publisher: Twisted Press
Editor: Lori Whitwam
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2018
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Blurb:
For the past seventy years, deep in the mountains and totally secluded from civilization, a matriarchal society has thrived. In this small village there are no brothers, no fathers, no sons. In this village men exist only to serve the women, and boys have no mothers. In this village men do as they are told and defiance is severely punished.
This is the only Life Wilderness has ever known, but when Jameson is brought in from the outside to be her husband, everything she thought she knew about strength and love is tested. As they struggle to find their place in the village, they suddenly find themselves face to face with outsiders who threaten to destroy everything they love, and it doesn’t take long to realize that they will have to work together, men and women alike, if they want to survive.
Pre-Order Link:
Kate L. Mary is an award-winning author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, ranging from Post-apocalyptic tales of the undead, to Speculative Fiction and Contemporary Romance. Her YA book, When We Were Human, was the 2015 Children's Moonbeam Book Awards Silver Medal Winner for Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fiction, and the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult Science Fiction.
Author Links:
Pre-Order Link:

*Cover Reveal* Twisted Love by R. Linda

Title: Twisted Love
Author: R. Linda
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Editor: Lori Whitwam
Cover Designer: Pink Ink Designs
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb:
Running.
It's what I do. What I've always done.
For fitness. For fun.
And now for fear.
He took me. Trapped me. Destroyed me.
Broke me down, little by little.
His captive.
His slave.
His pet.
But...something unleashes.
Something forbidden. The passion. The pleasure.
It's wrong. Unforgiving, and I should do what I do.
Run like Hell.
From this Twisted Love.
R. Linda drinks wine and writes books.
A coffee addicted, tattoo enthusiastic fangirl with a slight obsession for a particular British boy band and solo artist, she is a writer of Contemporary YA/NA Romance and Suspense, sometimes dabbling in Paranormal as well.
Renee lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two sons. When not writing she can often be found reading books to her children and cuddling up with them on the couch to watch their favourite movies.
Author Links:
Get up close and personal with R.Linda, as well as sneak peeks, awesome giveaways and exclusive content in her reader groups on:

*Cover Reveal* Fighting to Save Us by Sarah Stevens

Title: Fighting to Save Us
Author: Sarah Stevens
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Melissa Gill
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR
Blurb:
Bren
One call. One word. And the life I envisioned crumbles around me.
I was happy, living life to the fullest. Then I get the news that changes my life, destroys my plans. As I prepare for the fight of my life, I wonder if I will ever find the happiness I deserve?
No one knows my secret. Not even Max. I want him to be the one, I need his arms to hold me, to tell me it’s all going to be alright. But I do the only thing I know, I push him away, to save him.
Max
One touch. One kiss. I knew I had to protect her at all costs.
Running from a past that haunts me, my duty has lead me to her. She’s a glimpse of the life I could have, a taste of hope, after the life I’ve lost.
But everything isn’t always as it seems. Bren’s keeping secrets and I fear they could do more damage than any rivalry ever could. She needs me to save her, she just doesn’t know it yet.
Two hearts. One life. Fighting for love.
Sarah Stevens is a New Adult Romance author.
Sarah started writing her first novel The Night He Saved Me in her free time while being a stay-at-home mom. Then one day, it started to flow, and she was writing "The End" in a matter of two months.
When she isn't writing, she is enjoying the southern life with her husband, three kids, a Saint Bernard—who is still adjusting to the southern summers and Bruno a rescue dog. She can't go a day without her coffee in the morning—and a few more cups during the day and her late nights writing.
She enjoys reading Contemporary or New Adult Romance and going to the pool or beach as much as she can. She loves all things Disney and collects Disney mugs to drink her beloved coffee in.
Author Links:

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

*Book Tour & Giveaway* Gravedigger by Ceeree Fields-GUEST POST


Gravedigger
The Rayburn Mysteries Book 1
by Ceeree Fields
Genre: Romantic Suspense

There's no time for love as the Gravedigger's taken his next victim. 


Josephine 'Jo' Rayburn has no luck with love. Between the demands of her job as a homicide detective, finding the perfect yarn for her knitting projects, and her nosy family, she doesn't have time to find her happily ever after, nor does she really believe it exists. Until she's assigned to the Gravedigger task force where she meets Rhysian 'Rhys' Harrison, the sexy coroner's assistant.

Rhys Harrison thought he'd found love with the perfect woman. But when his parents' deaths forced him to choose between his fiancée and caring for his brother, he chose his brother. His only regret: the medical degree he's abandoned to work in the coroner's office. 

When the Gravedigger leaves his latest victim at the gates of a cemetery, Rhys and Jo are thrown together. Her prickly personality interests him, but it's her deeply hidden romantic side that captivates him.

After one of the task force members is shot, Rhys's fear of losing Jo threatens to rip them apart. Can she convince him that love is worth having no matter the risk? Or will he play it safe, leaving before his heart becomes too attached?








CeeRee Fields currently lives in Groningen, the Netherlands with her husband and cat. Since she was born in Alabama and moved to the Netherlands, Dutch is not her first language which gets her into mischief in various stores around town when she tries to speak it.

She loves writing, building worlds that her characters can explore and break if they feel the need.

 Action, adventure and love are her favorite things. And when stuff gets blown up who says the guy is 

the only one who gets to do it?



GUEST POST
What is something unique/quirky about you?
Oh, Lord we'll need a whole month of blogs for this. Let's see. I don't consider myself unique, just average, but gosh do I have a lot of quirks. =D But so do others so again... average.

Let's start with my love of gaming. I love games and am willing to try any of them at least once. Card games, board games (though I hate Monopoly because I played it daily at my grandmother's house as that was the only board game she had), gaming station games, games that use your imagination like Snake and I-Spy, and computer games.

I even met my husband on a game we've been playing for almost fourteen years.

I'm also addicted to books. I LOVE a good story, heck I LOVE a bad story if the world building or characters are fun. I've been reading by myself since I was eight/nine when my grandmother gave me Kabumpo in Oz. It was the best story ever with moving countries and gnomes turned into giants wearing the Emerald City as a hat. That in turn led me to the entire Mrs. Pollifax series which led to David Eddings and moved along from there. If I'm on vacation, I can read a book a day. I don't get tired, don't get bored unless the world building or the characters throw me off then I might swap out books and come back. Otherwise, leave me in a corner with my ebook and I'm golden.

Tell us something really interesting that's happened to you.
Probably the biggest thing people find interesting is I moved from a small town in Alabama to the Netherlands to marry and live with my husband. I've also, taken the equivalency test for Dutch (Staatsexamen I) series in order to become a dual citizen of the Netherlands and America. And that test is not easy, especially, the speaking portion as you're in a room with 20 other people, everyone has headsets on with built in microphones. And your neighbor is probably taking a TOTALLY different Staatsexam/test than you are. So you listen and have to respond to either what is said or what you see on the computer while your neighbor and 20 others are doing the same and you have to do it within a set time frame in almost perfect Dutch. Almost perfect as you need a score of at least 400 out of 500 to pass. I passed that section with a 401, while the writing, reading comprehension and listening were all well above 400.

I will share a secret... Dutch grammar is NOTHING like American English grammar which I'm sure drives my editor nuts. Probably drives my critique partners nuts too, now that I think about it.

What are some of your pet peeves?
My biggest pet peeve is when I'm gaming with a group and one of them needs a bathroom break.

Now, I don't mind if they need the break, however, my issue comes in when they take the dang headset into the toilet and chatter while they're doing their business. Do NOT do this when I'm on the headset. I hang up immediately. I don't care if we've paused the game halfway into a dungeon. I won't get back on the chat at all. I just won't. I'll do the same thing when someone calls me and are on the phone in the bathroom, because ew... just ew.

Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Birmingham, Alabama in the Roebuck/Woodlawn/East Lake area. The hospital isn't there anymore, but I still hear stories.

I grew up in Birmingham until I was about seven/eight. My family and I used to go to Cascade Plunge which is also not active anymore, but OMG the pool was HUGE olympic size with these three diving boards, a baby pool attached to the big pool and around the entire thing were lounge chairs, refreshment stands. It was amazing. I've never seen anything like it since.

https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Cascade_Plunge

After eight my mom remarried and we moved out to Cropwell, Alabama and lived on Logan Martin Lake where my parents still live for those who know the area they live near Harmon's Island. It's gorgeous as they live in a sort of inlet so where their pier is located, not many boats can drive past as there's a sandbar before you hit our pier. It was hilarious when we'd get boaters who didn't know the area stuck on the sandbar because they'd drive like mad through the inlet and swing around our way. Our dad would have to wade out and help free them.

If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
I live like I'm always going to die since we never know when that will happen. So everyday is a fun adventure from chattering with shop owners to teasing the nieces and nephews and checking in with my online friends. I make sure to tell my hubby I love him even when I'm angry, it might come out in a snarl, but I said it so it counts. And I tell my mom to 'Have a cow' because in Dutch to say 'I love you' is 'Ik hou van jouw/je' and my mom heard 'Have a cow' from it, so we roll with it.

As you can see I try to always find the positives, there's enough negatives floating around.

Who is your hero and why?
I have no idea how to respond to this as I don't really have a 'hero' per se. I have a husband who's amazing and rescues me from online trolls along with our group of online friends.

But if I had to choose someone I look up to... that would probably be the cast of Star Trek and Star Trek:TNG as both of these groups had strong female leads, pushed the boundaries of acceptance and always tried to handle things peacefully until the gloves needed to come off.

Otherwise, it'd be my family. They're quirky, loud and total rebels and I learn a heck of a lot from them.

What kind of world ruler would you be?
I'd totally kick rear as my group, from mine and my husband's online gaming friends, would say. We've led a social group within the game for going almost thirteen years now. I think what makes a strong leader is loyalty, consistency, and knowing when someone is just having an absolute horrible day and acting out. Then confronting them about it in a separate conversation. We've had explosions within the clan chat, we've had other clans attack us, or our members, verbally and we've been trolled on forums for some of our thoughts.

However, even in the thickest fight the four hundred members of our group constantly pop on to help, if one of us is being bullied. Whether we have what's called a froob-busting event. This is when high level players are doing the bullying, the members of our group, that can, will go to the place it's happening at and intervene. Sometimes it's not pretty. Sometimes the bully is having a bad day and is taking it out on our member. Usually between our core members we can calm the waters and get the other guy to apologize, or if it turns out it's one of our members... get him/her to apologize. There have been one or two instances where the bully is just that... someone who just has to make everyone miserable because he thinks it's funny.

Those we handle much differently and usually with a lot of force in that, again depending on the resource or area our clan member is in we might need 20-30 people. Then we spread out and literally take all the resources the bully's trying to get until he either changes to a different server/world or leaves the game altogether.

I'm not sure if I answered the question, but that's how I'd rule the world. And yes, we do have alliances with other clans in the game the same as each country in the world have alliances/agreements with other countries. It's just beneficial in my opinion.

What are you passionate about these days?
Writing and gaming.

Mostly writing. I love writing. I love creating worlds and then thinking... huh, how can my character break this and which character would do it with some attitude?

Gravedigger, that's my current release, is set in Birmingham, Alabama and even though it's a Romantic Suspense set in present day, I still have the characters break things. Totally my imagination at work, but I like action.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
Read and game and sometimes watch a movie.

How to find time to write as a parent?

Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Quiet. In person I'm quiet. I like to sit and watch people interact, it fascinates me. What the different cultures do compared to how I was raised, I like seeing the differences and finding the similarities that connect us. My husband on the other hand is a talker. He loves to interact and chat, so we balance each other well in that respect. There are times when I'll talk quite a bit, but for the most part I love to sit in a corner and take notes on body language, idioms and so on.

Fun. I'm willing to try anything once. I've bungee jumped and I'm terrified of heights. I've parasailed even though the theme music to jaws played in my head the entire time. I love playing with the kids, we'll do various versions of Let's Dance and when we hear the songs in public we end up doing the dance steps from the video game. Which is hilarious.

I'm friendly. When I'm in town, while my husband teaches, I do the shopping. In the Netherlands, they have shops you buy different things at so for instance to find the specific vitamins I need to take I have to go to a vitamin shop (that's not what it's called, but essentially that's what it is), for a larger selection on bath products I go to shop that reminds me of the old Big 'B's not sure if anyone will remember those stores... lol. And for groceries we go to anywhere between 2-4 shops depending on what we're buying. So for a lot of it, I walk with a backpack and get the small things. As I do this I talk to people, my Dutch is decent. I studied for two years, so I can communicate, however when I get flustered I'll literally translate English into Dutch. So instead of saying schoonmoeder for mother-in-law I've said moeder in de wet several times which literally means mother-in-law as wet means law.

Dependable. I try to always do what I say I'm going to, sometimes life interferes but for the most part I'm there.

Imaginative. When I'm doing chores around the house I can get lost in my head easily. It's why I don't cook, there've been many a times when I'll get a story in my head and forget to flip the hamburgers or set the dishtowel too close to the gas burner. Luckily, my husband's a chef so I do the cutting, cleaning and fetching and he does the heavy lifting.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer when I wrote my first story. I finished it at seventeen and then spent the next year trying to get it published. It didn't work out back then, this was the early nineties and none of the publishers wanted a strong female character.

Do you have a favorite movie?
I have movies I gravitate towards, the Lethal Weapons series are among my favorites. Demolition Man I broke three VHS tapes re-watching it. And A Christmas Story, I'll watch it over and over without blinking an eye, my little sister loves this one as well.

Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
Any of them. I write them as a movie that plays in my head. I can see the characters move and interact, I can see them spring into action or their facial expressions when they're snarky. The majority of mine are action/adventure with romance so there's shooting, fights, death, more fights and drama as the villain is unmasked.

What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I'm not sure I understand this question as life is my journey. I take bits and pieces that I've experienced and sprinkle them throughout the story. It's why Gravedigger, my latest release, is set in Birmingham, Alabama. I know that are, I know the hole in the wall Chinese restaurant with the absolute best food. I know the Harbert Center, I used to meet my mom there for lunch.

It's also why I set my futuristic series in America. It's a VERY different America, but I left some landmarks scattered through it so readers can imagine where the Mutant Free Zone city of Icaria is, near Norfolk where the Lonely Sailor statue is. There are a few other 'Easter Eggs' to be found in the books as well.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

I've no idea, but it'd be purple and maybe have some bright pink polka dots as a warning. Aren't things you warn kids about brightly colored? =D


Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!




*Book Tour & Giveaway* Dark Karma by Laura Simmons-GUEST POST


Dark Karma
by Laura Simmons
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

A remarkable tale of vengeance, time travel, and dark magic . . .

What would you do if you woke up one morning and your life was inexplicably changed in the worst way imaginable?

Banished by his enemy into a hellish alternate dimension, Luke Decker fights to understand why his world has suddenly changed, and why is he on trial for the murder of his beloved Nina?  What he doesn’t know is she’s not dead.  Nina watches him vanish into thin air and is completely bereft, struggling to find out how and why he disappeared.  Using all of her psychic talents and traversing the astral realm, she frantically searches for him to no avail.  She owns a secret item which holds the key to his salvation, but will she figure it out before he’s condemned to live the rest of his life in a realm of darkness?

**Can easily be read as a standalone!**

**On sale for .99 cents!!**

**Get the other standalone books for only .99 cents each!!**

                        Tough Karma: A Race Against Time                  Little Bits of Karma
                                 **On sale for .99 cents!!**                  **On sale for .99 cents!!**
                                       Add to Goodreads                                  Add to Goodreads
                                         Amazon * B&N                                        Amazon * B&N



I enjoy reading books on psychic phenomena and all things metaphysical. Most of my life I've been fascinated with astral travel, dreams, the ability to see the future, and reincarnation. 


I've wanted to write a book since I was a child, it was the first thing I can ever remember saying I wanted to do when I grow up. I love creating worlds in my mind and writing about them. My best days are when my characters decide to have lively conversations. They have developed a habit of giving me their best ideas and plot twists while I'm driving and can't write them down! All of my books can be read as stand alone stories. The characters carry over into the following stories with the major ones becoming a supporting cast and the previous supporting cast taking front and center to tell their particular story. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to look at my books.



GUEST POST
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
My first book focused on reincarnation, the second one focused on that same concept plus unusual psychic talents and a deranged villain. I wanted to use all of those concepts in Dark Karma, but take it to another level. The concept of traveling to other dimensions of reality intrigues me, and I thought it would be a wonderful element to include in this story. The main characters, Nina and Luke, are supporting characters in Tough Karma so it was easy to write for them. I’m just a channel for my characters, they work through me to tell their tales. I have to give them all of the kudos.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The plot twists given to me by two of the supporting characters. I had been struggling with a particular section and mulling over several scenarios to move it forward. I was driving to work one morning and thinking about that particular character when the new twist entered my mind, and it was so off the wall from anything I would have dreamed up that I didn’t accept it right away. I pondered it for a few days and decided to try writing to it. Once I started writing it came through loud and clear. The other twist comes much later in the book. That one was surprising too, but not off the charts. It made me laugh out loud and shake my head. It’s not a funny scene but it was great fun to write.


What is your favorite part of this book and why?
If I told you, it would be a spoiler. I’ll provide a tiny hint for those who decide to read the story: DK. I love the vengeance and fight scenes along with the ending.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!