Kate's Blog

Movie Marathon Challenge

2012-02-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

I believe in giving one’s self a free day where you do nothing but laze about. Do you ever give yourself a day like that? I once spent a whole month like that. Didn’t sit well with me. Started to get crazy not doing anything for very long, so I came up with a challenge that I want to share with all of you. Try it out when you give yourself a lazy day.

I call this challenge the Movie Marathon Challenge. Of course, this is not just any challenge. There’s a twist. Here’s how it works:

You pick out a movie…let’s say Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Once you’re done watching this movie, you have to pick the next movie based on one of the lead actors in the previous movie. Since Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, you can go one of two ways.

Let’s say you went with Angelina Jolie (note hint of a bias here). The next movie you have to watch has to star her. So, for the second movie, I pick The Tourist, which has Johnny Depp in it. This then leads me to my third movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl starring Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom…

I’m guessing you get how it goes by now.

Basically, you keep going until you run out of movies to connect using the lead actors or you fall asleep. Either way, it’s a challenge. You can even mix it up a little and have someone pick out the first movie for you and then you work your way from there.

Like I said, it’s a day to be lazy.

Grab your favorite snacks. Worry about chores and going to the gym and work the next day. Try out the challenge; you never know what movie it’ll lead you to watch.

Alarm Clock

2012-02-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

Some people wake up to a buzzer. Some wake up to the radio. I wake up to this:

‘Til Death News

2012-02-03T03:04:00.000-08:00

So, it’s time to reveal the secret I’ve been keeping since January. Oh, gosh, you don’t know how hard it was. I had to tell some people because if I’d kept it to myself, I would have exploded and my poor mother would have had to clean up bits of myself from the floor and walls, maybe even the ceiling. Okay, I took that imagery too far.

Anyway, this morning when I opened my inbox, a special attachment had arrived:

What is this, you might ask?

Well, it’s a picture of two copies of the contract for a three book deal with Entangled Publishing that I signed, sealed, and delivered for another one of my babies.

Everyone, it is my pleasure to announce that ‘Til Death has found a home. And as a special bonus, her unborn twins go along with her.

You can’t believe how hard it was to keep it a secret. It was even harder than when I was keeping Taste finding a home a secret. As you may remember, much baking happened then. I’m happy to report, this time, no baking happened. The first pass edits for Taste has kept my nerves busy enough that the oven was given its much needed rest.

I have so much more to share with you, but that’s another secret I need to keep to myself for now. Those of you who already know what it is, please zip up. *laughs* Love you all for putting up with my insanity.

So, while waiting, please head on over to The Illuminari Society and sample the first three chapters because like with Taste, they will be taken down soon enough.

Twitter post: #Happiness is being able to share good news.

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend. And as always, please check back here for more news regarding my writing and whatever else I’ve been up to. You are always welcome with open arms.

Editing. Edits. Edit.

2012-01-31T03:36:00.000-08:00

I love waking up in the morning because I get to open my inbox and discover new things inside. The benefit of living in the tropics is that I sleep through everyone else’s day. Well, by everyone, I mean those of you in the US. Not sure about Europe and Australia. Anyway, when I opened my email today, I found one from my editor for Taste.

Drum roll please…

My first pass edits have arrived.

Oh my!

I will not be ashamed to admit that I was nervous. It was time to roll up my sleeves and get dirty. It was time to take my baby apart and put her back together again. Who knew writing would be such gory work? I feel like Frankenstein half the time when it comes to cannibalizing manuscripts and putting scenes together screaming “It’s alive!” at the very end.

I’m not new to editorial notes. When I used to have an agent, he’d send me notes on how to improve my manuscript before we submit. This time around isn’t any different, but it feels more real now. Before, I was just preparing Taste for submission. Now, I’m preparing her for publication. Adds more pressure. But, I say, bring on the pressure! I work my best with it looming above me like an anvil about to fall.

So, here goes my process. I print out the notes, read them through, and take the day to ruminate on ideas. Then I read the notes through again and create a plan of attack.

I start out nervous because I don’t know what the notes will contain, but once I’m finish reading and ideas start piling in, I get excited. Having notes, no matter how daunting they may seem, actually helps you focus on what you need to do. There’s nothing harder than editing blind, and I guess that’s how we all start when our babies haven’t found homes yet.

Now, as I’m writing this post, I feel exhilarated. I can’t wait for tomorrow so I can get cracking.

Why not start today? You might ask.

Well, the answer to that is simple. If I start today, I won’t stop until I’m dead. In short, if I don’t hold myself back, I’ll get obsessive, and when that happens, I lose chunks of time I can’t recall no matter how hard I try. Happened to me when I was writing my very first novel in high school. I didn’t leave my room for a week. I barely remember getting any sleep. Worse, I produced crap work because of it. Delaying gratification by starting tomorrow gives me a form of discipline over myself. It gives me comfort to know I can stop myself from pushing too hard or else I lose sight of the bigger picture.

Guillotine 01-26-12

2012-01-29T18:52:00.000-08:00

Source

Chapter 6

The Interim

The day felt longer than usual for Zander when he finally walked through the threshold of his house late into the night. Nate and Adam stopped pestering him about showing the footage, finally accepting it as a new episode. They moved on to speculations about Pope. Even if he hadn’t seen her after the encounter in the bathroom, it was like she was in the editing room with them from the way Nate and Adam kept talking about her. They peppered him with questions like who was she, what were her capabilities, could she really perform an Exorcism. All the answers were “I don’t know” until Zander got fed up and snapped at them that if they wanted to know more about her then they should hunt down the Pres and ask. That shut them up for about two seconds. Realizing Zander was in a fouler mood than when he’d arrived that morning, Nate and Adam kept to themselves. Not that Zander minded being left alone. He was actually relieved for it.

“Kara,” he called out. He closed the front door behind him and removed his cap, allowing his scalp to finally breathe. He wasn’t used to wearing any sort of head gear, only choosing a cap on bad hair days that not even generous amounts of gel could fix.

In the foyer, he caught his reflection in the mirror as he dropped his keys on the wooden bowl he used for that purpose. The containment symbol was still there. He was so busy that he’d forgotten he had it.

His doubts of Bishop returning in time to perform the Exorcism resurfaced. Maybe he should take a chance on Pope?

The moment the thought occurred to him, he dismissed it, shaking his head.

“What’s got you all shaken up?” Kara glided down the stairs, more specter than solid today. At the bottom step, she stopped short and gawked. “Where did you get that?” She pointed, unashamed.

Zander instinctively covered the mark with his hand. Realizing what he had done, he dropped his hand and crumpled the cap he held in his other hand.

“Something definitely followed me home from work,” he said.

“You’re possessed?” Kara hissed then clucked like a mother hen, hovering around Zander.

He waved her off. “It’s fine. The containment symbol can hold whatever it is back until Bishop comes back.”

He moved to the kitchen to start dinner only to remember he had nothing in the fridge to make dinner with. He quickly turned around and collided with Kara. Technically, she passed through him. Goose bumps rose all over Zander’s body. He hated the sudden electricity that zinged inside him every time a paranormal entity touched him. It came with the job, but it still gave him the creeps. He shook off the feeling of eerie and stomped back to the front door.

“Where are you going?” Kara asked, at his heels like a dog. “You just got home. And from the looks of it, you need to lie down.”

“Just grabbing some groceries. I forgot to restock.” He grabbed his keys, patted his pockets for his wallet and cell phone, and jammed the cap back on.

“Why not just order pizza? You’re gone half the time anyway to have anything in the fridge.”

Zander cocked an eyebrow at her.

Kara sighed. “Alright, alright. You like to cook. Go.” She shooed him away with both her hands.

“I’ll be back in half an hour.” He pointed at her. “No boys while I’m away.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and vanished.

Zander shook his head. He loved teasing Kara. It may seem cruel, but he couldn’t help himself. He promised to apologize later by buying her a couple of batteries to drain.

He locked the door behind him and froze on the porch. The lights of his car were on and all the doors including the trunk were open. He rushed down the front steps and slammed all the doors and the trunk closed. The demon in him must have been stronger than he thought. Manifestations of a possession like items going missing or things being moved or opened usually happened well into the process, not the day after.

Zander got into the driver seat and stared at the steering wheel, just as he did that morning. Things were progressing too rapidly for his taste. But, then again, it could have been a fluke. He shut the door and started the car.

Ten minutes later, he entered the local grocery store. Its glass doors parted for him followed by a gust from the air curtain. He hated air curtains. Why they were needed was beyond him. He checked the digital clock by one wall. Half past nine. He still needed to pack for their next job in the morning. Maybe Kara was right about ordering out instead. But on the job, it was always fast food and the occasional diner. The only time he could have a home-cooked meal was when he was home.

He grabbed a basket from a stack and strolled through the aisles. Maybe pasta, he thought. Or meatballs. He went through the list of what he could cook on the fly. Nothing too complicated, and nothing that required too many pots and pans. He’d have to clean up everything afterward. It might mean not sleeping a wink if he made too much of a mess. He always had to make sure he left the house clean or his OCD wouldn’t let him concentrate on the job.

His phone vibrated in his pocket as he moved to the frozen foods section. He reached into his front pocket and pulled it out. Adam’s goofy expression flashed on the screen. Zander had to suppress a groan. He tapped the screen and waited.

“Hello? Hello?” Adam said. “Z, you there man? Hello? Hello?”

Annoyed that Adam would just keep saying hello if he didn’t say anything, Zander sighed. “What’s up?”

“Where are you right now?”

“Buying groceries.” He picked up a carton of milk and read the expiration date. He would be on the job for a week. The best before said two weeks.

A pause. “You’re aware that we’re leaving tomorrow for a job, right?”

He put the carton back and walked away. He didn’t need milk for now. “Yes, Adam,” he said exasperatedly. “I was there at the staff meeting, remember?”

“Right.”

The thing Zander loved about Adam, no matter how annoyed you sounded at him, he still had a smile in his voice. He was that kind of guy. “What do you want, Adam?”

“Nate told me to remind you to set your alarm.”

Zander rolled his eyes. “Tell him I don’t need a babysitter.” He ended the call.

An elderly woman pushed a cart into the canned food aisle. Zander watched her disappear between selves taller than her hunched frame. It didn’t surprise him that someone, who must live alone, would prefer to wonder around a grocery store at night. His grumbling stomach reminded him why he was there. He opted for his fail safe food of choice: spaghetti and meatballs.

He quickly assembled his needed ingredients: pasta, ground meat, bread crumbs, tomato sauce (the bottled kind since he had no time to make some from scratch), onions, garlic, organic eggs, and several condiments. On his way to the counter, he double checked the contents of his basket. He grabbed a pack of batteries for Kara at the last second. Satisfied he had everything, he smiled at the sleepy high school grad that had the misfortune of getting the late shift.

“Paper or plastic?” he droned. Zander half expected him to yawn from the way he blinked lazily.

“Paper,” Zander said. He heaved the basket onto the conveyor belt and let the clerk ring up his purchase. “You see that old lady?”

The clerk paused in swiping the jar of tomato sauce through. “Dude, I don’t know what your on, but you’re the only one who’s come in since I started my shift half an hour ago.”

The blood in Zander’s body froze. It wasn’t everyday that he encounter a ghost at his local grocery story. He scanned the aisles and they did seem devoid of humans, let alone a grandma pushing around a cart.

“That will be 25.56,” the clerk said, snapping Zander back to the now.

He fished out his wallet from his back pocket and paid. Then he balanced a paper bag in each hand and thanked the guy, who had since returned to his catatonic state.

Arriving home by ten, Zander set about his cooking while Kara floated around, being no help at all. He boiled water for the pasta, chopped the garlic and onions, mixed them in with the ground meat and bread crumbs, cracked an egg, added a pinch of salt. He washed his hands, dumped the pasta into the boiling water and added olive oil to another pan for the meat balls.

“I love watching you cook,” Kara said from her perch on the counter. “It’s like a ballet, only you’re in jeans instead of tights.”

“Of course you’d want to see me in tights,” Zander said while he formed the meatballs with his hands.

“With those chicken legs, no thanks.” Kara lifted her nose in the air.

“And to think I went out of my way to buy you batteries.”

Her eyes lit up. “Batteries! You bought me batteries!” She floated to his shoulder. “Where, where?”

Zander set the meatballs he formed on the hot pan and pouted at Kara. “You called me chicken legs. How can I recover from that?”

Kara bobbed like a dribbled basket ball. “You have the nicest, longest legs in the whole wide world. Not chicken legs at all. That kid in that vampire movie can’t compare.”

He had to smile at that. He knew how much Kara loved those vampire movies. She practically threatened to go full poltergeist on him if he didn’t get her the DVDs. Saying the kid who played the werewolf in those movies couldn’t compare to him was the closest she would get to an apology.

“They’re in the bag.” Zander tilted his head toward the paper bag he’d left on the table.

Kara zipped and squealed when she peered in. She couldn’t really remove the batteries from the bag, but she didn’t need to. In seconds, Zander knew they were drained, judging from the bliss etched all over her face.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!” She clung from his neck from behind like a monkey while he worked.

Zander shook off the goose bumps as he fished out the meatballs from the pan and added the tomato sauce. A pinch more of salt and pepper then he let it simmer. It was insane how much he enjoyed the domesticity of the situation. Being in his kitchen, inhaling the aroma of tomato sauce and cooked meat, couldn’t compare to anything. He’d cook every night if he could, but the show kept him on the road more days than he was home. He was about to strain the pasta when a crash had Kara shrieking.

“What happened?” He turned off the stove before heading for the living room.

Kara floated over a picture frame that had fallen from the mantel. “I didn’t do it. I swear.”

The guilt on her face was proof enough that she had nothing to do with the fallen frame. Giving the mantle a quick glance, Zander knew which frame had fallen before he picked it up. He flipped it over and frowned. It was a picture of him, Nate, and Adam during their first successful investigation. The epicenter of the break was concentrated on his chest and spread out in lines that mimicked spider’s legs, like someone had taken a shot at him.

“That’s creepy,” Kara said from behind him.

“It’s just a coincidence,” he said over his shoulder. “I must have placed it too close to the edge. Even the slightest breeze could knock it over.”

“Right. Keep telling yourself that.” Kara floated up and through the ceiling.

Zander followed her with his gaze. “You’re not joining me for dinner?”

“Already ate.”

A pang of loneliness pinched Zander. Just a little one. It was quickly replaced by uncertainty as he stared at the cracked glass again. He swallowed and sent a silent prayer asking for fortitude. He had a feeling he’d need it.

Celebration

2012-01-27T00:47:00.000-08:00

Writing a novel is by no means an easy task. It’s fun. It’s full of challenges. It sometimes entails sleepless nights thinking of character arcs and plot lines. It’s scary. It’s a crazy salad peppered with doubts, personal or otherwise. To those who find writing a novel easy, I envy you. But writing a novel isn’t what I’m here to discuss in this blog post.

Today, it’s all about celebrations. And I want to share the happiness with you.

I have three things to celebrate about.

First, I’ve finished writing Suicide Whisperers five days before my deadline at the end of the month. I started it January 1, 2012. As promised, I wrote a chapter or two a day until I reached the end yesterday at chapter 27. It’s a liberating feeling because it means I can move on to the editing process, which I have learned to love. It’s in the editing where I can really look at the clay I have kneaded for days and days. I can finally mold it to the kind of story it wants to be. Now, the real work begins. But I’ve decided to put off editing ‘til the beginning of February. A few days away from the material helps to give me fresh eyes when I dive in again. I hope to have an excerpt for all of you come third week of February. After my critique partners have taken a knife to my latest baby. One down, five more to go.

The second cause for celebration involves my side project Guillotine. I already have five chapters up and will be posting chapter six soon. A new friend I’ve met by chance at the beginning of this year asked if I’d ever considered writing for a comic book. I told him I couldn’t draw to save my life, so I never considered putting a comic together. Although, I’ve always wanted to. He told me that all I needed was a comic script. So, I gave him the link to Guillotine. He liked it and said let’s make it into a comic. He sent me sample comic scripts, I did a little research, and set out to convert chapter one into a script. It’s actually so much fun. I finished it last night, and after a few edits this morning, I sent it off to my friend. Let’s hope I did it right. I really want to see what Guillotine as a comic looks like. Lesson: don’t run away from an opportunity.

The third thing I’m celebrating is still a secret, but not for long. I can’t tell you yet. Just bear with me a little bit more. You don’t have to wait long.

I want to leave you with this image. From afar it’s a portrait of Don Quixote, but when you look closer, the painting actually contains the different images and symbols found in Cervantes’s book. The image reminds me that nothing is always as it seems. Look past the surface and you’ll find the treasure hidden beneath.

Source

P.S.

I have taken to Twitter to share what happiness is to me. For example: Happiness is a good book. I hope that you can also share what happiness is to you by using the #Happiness. There are so many things trending on Twitter, not all of them good. Someone even killed Cher on Twitter today. I hope that just by sharing what happiness is for you and me, we can spread the appreciation of the little things and affect some positive change in any way, shape, or form.

Have a great weekend!

Bridge Of Light

2012-01-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

Are you feeling beaten? Is the day just hard to get through? Do you feel like you can't hold on anymore? Or that your hope is crumbling? Don't give up. Just listen:

I dedicate this to you.

Dreaming

2012-01-24T02:24:00.000-08:00

I went to sleep one night. Had a dream. And never woke up…

In that dream, I was a writer. I had written several books and endeavored to find each one of them a good home.

The first to find her place, as you all know by now, is Taste. She is currently residing on the moon along with the other books of Crescent Moon Press. It’s a wonderful home where I expect her to grow into the beautiful book she was born to be.

And because Taste is with Crescent Moon Press, I find myself in the company of supportive authors who are never afraid to help one another. And as this dream continues, I find myself officially on the author list. Here’s the proof:

Taste also has a page of her own:

Here you will find the blurb and further information about her, along with the Playlist. Hop on over when you have the time. It’s surreal.

Another part of the dream involves putting together the book trailer.

I leave that in the capable hands of Zyn and Mei and Noey. I’ve already seen the draft of the storyboard. Gave me goosebumps. And as a bonus, Mei drew this:

It’s a preliminary sketch I already absolutely love.

This dream has so many facets. So many long corridors to go through. So many doors to open. I have much more to share, but as of now, I must continue dreaming to see what else unfolds.

Come. Dream with me.

Guillotine 01-21-12

2012-01-21T17:01:00.000-08:00

Chapter 5

The Mark

In a stare down, no one won against Zander. He had a technique of keeping his eyes open longer than anyone else. He’d let his vision focus on the irises of his opponent then he’d let his mind go blank. That way, he doesn’t notice his eyes drying out, which was usually why someone blinked during a staring contest. That was way neither Adam nor Nate played the blinking game with him during their down time at investigations. But there was something about staring at the new Exorcist that had Zander breaking eye contact first. Her pale gaze looked through him, bared his rancid soul for all the world to see. He felt buck-naked in that office filled with his colleagues. He had to stop from cupping himself out of misplaced modesty, it felt so real. Not very many people intimidated Zander, with the exception of the Pres, but this chick made him shrink inside himself. She managed to creep him out and annoy him in equal measure. And to make matters worse, she might not even be older than he was.

Yup, definitely annoying!

The Pres went straight for Zander and took his hand in a firm handshake, breaking the girl’s spell. “Good ratings last weekend, Z. Very good. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our viewers this week,” he said.

“I think we have our most compelling footage yet, sir,” he said.

“How many times do I have to remind you to just call me Logan?” The Pres grinned.

Zander let go of Logan’s hand and pumped his fist. It had gone numb from Logan’s grip. “Until you stop being the president, sir.”

Normally, a comment like that would have gotten someone else fired for insubordination. The gasps from the newer members of the staff proved Zander had stepped out of line. But Logan took it in stride. He was, at the root of it all, a paranormal investigator, just like Zander. If there was someone who understood Zander well, it would be him.

The president of the network stepped back to address the crowd gathered. “Everyone, as you might have already heard, Bishop is currently away on official business.”

“It’s news to me,” Nate mumbled to Zander, which got him an elbow to the stomach. He had the good grace to take it without flinching when a lesser guy—namely Adam—would have doubled over and groaned.

“So, to fill in for him here,” Logan didn’t miss a beat, ignoring the antics of his lead investigators, “is this wonderful young lady.” He motioned for the Goth chick in the cassock forward and she took one step, gracing him with a tight smile. It was clear to Zander she didn’t appreciate being called a young lady. He already five percent liked her for that. The other ninety-five percent, on the other hand, was still to be determined. “She graduated at the top of her class and was personally hand-picked by Bishop himself to act as his stand in here at IPA.” She blushed at the praise, suddenly finding the floor very fascinating. “Everyone,” Logan continued. “Please welcome Pope to the Institute of Paranormal Activity. I already know she will be an asset to this team.”

Polite applause broke out. The loudest of which came from Adam, who even whistled. He was never one to hide his enthusiasm, which reminded Zander of his youngest brother. Nate frowned, but clapped anyway. Zander remained motionless, studying the girl. How could she have been hand-picked by Bishop? He couldn’t believe it.

And just as he stared at her, she returned it blow for blow. At least she was fearless, Zander thought. Another five percent of liking there. A weaker girl would have been fawning over him by now. Drooling at the very least. He was sure his reputation had reached the academy.

But the real test of what she could do would be on an actual job. Could she handle an Exorcism without blinking twice?

“Alright,” Logan announced, “back to work, everyone.”

The crowd dispersed amidst murmurs. Nate and Adam made an about-face, but before they could take a step toward the editing room, Logan stopped them.

“Zander, Nate, Adam, wait please.”

Nate and Adam flanked Zander, who by now had crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze remained on Pope, wishing he could access what she was capable of without needing to bring her out into the field. The last thing he wanted was for an Exorcism to go wrong. Lives depended on the ability for an Exorcist to cleanse the environment being haunted. One mistake could make things worse for those living there. It could even invite more unwanted activity. Many investigators have suffered for the mistakes of an unskilled Exorcist. It was like the spirits knew who was at fault for bringing in the fool who wanted to send them away. Hell wasn’t a fiery place. It was having an entity attach itself to you. Zander resisted the urge to touch his forehead. It had gotten hot all of a sudden.

“Pope, let me introduce our best paranormal investigation team,” Logan said. “From your right to left. Adam, the equipment tech, Zander the team leader and host of Paranormal Investigations, and Nate, producer, camera man, you-name-it-all-around guy.”

“Basically, I get the jobs these two wimps are afraid of doing,” Nate said, hiking a thumb at Zander and Nate and giving Pope a wink.

She didn’t shy away. Instead, she grinned and nodded at each of them. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, gentlemen. I look forward to working together with your team.”

Zander couldn’t stop the snort of derision even if he’d wanted to. It took all of them by surprise, including himself. Adam was slack-jawed. Nate shook his head. Logan narrowed his eyes at Zander, who’d dropped his gaze, but not before he caught a corner of Pope’s grin twitch.

“I trust there won’t be any problems, boys.” Logan pierced all of them with a-world-of-hurt-will-come-for-mistakes stare.

Zander coughed into a fist, which suspiciously sounded like a cuss, and said, “Welcome, Pope.” Then he focused on the Pres. “Logan, it’s going to be a long day for us. We have footage to edit and narration to write and dub if we want that episode ready for the end of the week.”

The Pres nodded his assent. Zander quickly turned around and practically sprinted toward the editing room. Adam and Nate were hot on his heels.

“What happened back there?” Adam asked with the kind of wonder of someone who’d just seen an alien.

“You know Z doesn’t play nice with the new kids,” Nate teased. “His OCD doesn’t let him.” He opened the door to the editing room and motioned for them to proceed.

Adam walked through first, cracking his knuckles and rotation his bawled head to work out the kinks. Zander stopped in his tracks and stared at the farthest wall of the room. The cap he wore absorbed the sweat that dampened his forehead. He wished he could say the same for his hands. They shook.

“Z, something wrong? You look out of it, man.”

Nate’s remark knocked him out of his stare. His vision had begun to tunnel. He looked at Nate and managed to say, “Go on ahead and start. I just need to use the bathroom.”

The worried expression of Nate’s face made Zander nervous. He twisted to the left and hurried to the communal bathroom. He pushed against the swing door and thanked God the place was empty. All the stall doors were open and no one stood by the urinals. He stumbled to the nearest sink, trembling. With shaking hands, he pushed the tap handle up. Cold water whooshed out of the faucet, drowning out his suddenly too loud heartbeat.

He stared at his ghostly reflection in the mirror. A spot of red lifted on the front of his cap. He reached up and removed it just as someone walked in. He turned to look at who it was and sucked in a breath.

“How long have you been possessed?” asked Pope. She leaned against the back of the door, acting as a stopper in case someone else decided to come in.

“None of your business,” Zander barked. He felt the need to stand his ground, even if it was his ego dictating the action and not his common sense.

“Oh, I’d say it’s my business all right. Better not drip all over your shirt.”

Zander touched his forehead with clammy fingers and came away with blood on the tips. He faced the sink again and slashed cold water on his already cold face. He gasped at the icy contact. Normally, it would be refreshing, but considering the circumstances, he had to use all his willpower not to sink into a panic attack.

“The bleeding will stop, but the wound won’t heal until your Exorcised,” Pope said as if she was suggesting a different color shirt for him to wear.

Zander’s breathing became shallow and labored. “Are you volunteering for the job?”

“I don’t see any other Exorcists available, do you?”

“Bishop—”

“Oh, don’t be a baby.” She grimaced. “I may look young, but that doesn’t mean I’m inexperienced. I can have that thing out of you in under an hour.” She drew a symbol in the air and chanted the way Exorcists did—a mix of Latin and a language far older. The symbol, a circle with an arrow pointing up, floated toward Zander and attached itself to his forehead. “That’s a containment seal,” she said.

“I know what it is.” Zander touched the symbol that now covered the three scratch marks.

“Then you also know that it won’t last long.” Pope pushed away from the door. “You don’t trust me, I get that. I saw it in your eyes the moment I stepped out of that elevator. But you’ll have to learn to tolerate me if you want that demon in you exorcised. Bishop isn’t returning for a while, so you’re stuck with me, pretty boy.” She pulled at the door and stepped out without a glance back.

Zander yanked hard on the towel dispenser for three sheets and scrubbed his face dry until his skin was an irritated shade of pink. He balled up the paper towels and threw them into the trash like a professional baller—swish, all net. Damn if Pope wasn’t right, but he wouldn’t admit to it if it killed him. The containment symbol had him feeling better in seconds, but he was far from out of the woods this time.

According to his research, it would take a while before the demon took full hold of him and switch him to full Linda Blair mode. Projectile vomit and body contortions would be the least of his worries. Three to five weeks at most before things got worse. By then, Bishop would be back. He had to be back.

Zander took one last look at the containment symbol and jabbed the cap back on. Seems like he wouldn’t need any hair gel for a while. He considered make up to cover the marks and the symbol, but only for a second. No make up.

He closed the tap and left the bathroom just as a group of fact checkers walked in. Why did girls always have to go to the bathroom in groups? Zander spared them a tight smile before returning to the editing room.

~Read Chapter 6~

Writing Cave

2012-01-20T04:05:00.000-08:00

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Every writer needs a Writing Cave. A place dedicated to writing alone. A special place where the writer can bring her guard down and let the story flow without over-thinking things. A place comfortable enough that the writer forgets she is seated and typing away on a keyboard.

A Writing Cave doesn’t need to be lavish. And it certainly doesn’t have to be secluded. It doesn’t even have to be an actual cave, but hey, if you can find yourself an actual cave where your writing flows like water from a fountain, then be my guest. Bring lots of food and water, and make sure you tell someone before you leave so that they can have the Pinesol handy when you get back to douse you with. It can get ripe inside the cave after a while.

Some writers really do need seclusion to write. A cabin up in the mountains or woods or woods in the mountains. Sometimes it’s by a lake or it’s surrounded by hillsides. I envy writers who can go out alone and write. I find that when I’m all alone, I tend to worry about being all alone. Sounds seem louder. The silence looms like a reader over my shoulder. Maybe one day I’ll be accustomed to a kind of seclusion somewhere…unless it drives me nuts and I become the crazy lady who hordes. I usually prefer to stay home most of the time—having done my partying in high school (but that’s another story)—provided you air me out at least once a week for a movie, I’m happy.

There are writers who can tune out anything without the aid of earphones and sit down and write anywhere. These are the nomadic writers who don’t have a set cave they need to be in to produce something. I wish to be one these writers. If I’m not comfortable about certain location, I usually can’t write anything. And if I do get to write, I delete it anyway because I know it wasn’t any good.

At the moment, my writing cave is a coffee shop at the local promenade near the mountains where I live. And when I say mountains, don’t imagine Colorado. My mountains aren’t as glamorous. But one day, I dream of writing somewhere near the Rockies. Oh, and Ireland! I dream of renting a house there for a month and just write. Maybe I might even meet a handsome bartender who happens to have the last name of Gallagher. If this sounds like a Nora Roberts plot to you, you’re not far off. I suggest you read this series. One of the best set of romance novels you can get your hands on. What’s the title? I leave it up to you sleuths to find out.

I digress.

As you have already noticed, a Writing Cave can be anywhere. It can even be a place in your own mind, but that might be scary because you might never get out. I suggest finding an “actual” place. As long as you can sit down and write, and this is the place you go back to time and time again, you have found your Writing Cave.

Where do you write?

Jane by Design

2012-01-19T01:35:00.000-08:00

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If you’ve been a long time reader of my blog, or happen to catch my countless posts about my TV watching exploits, you’ll now that I love watching TV. Mind you, not hours on end, although I have been known to have late-into-the-night marathons of seasons upon seasons of shows, which the result of is a cold the next day. I’m no longer young enough to withstand continuous late nights. Okay, I felt my age there a little. Anyway, this is another one of those posts where watching TV is a major factor.

January marks the beginning of premiers. And one of the new ones I’m falling in love with is Jane by Design. It combines two things I really like: teens living a double life and fashion. As I’ve mentioned in one of my previous posts, Jane by Design reminds me a little of The Devil Wears Prada in terms of you have a girl working for a ball buster and manages to make it through whatever impossible task she is given.

The show follows Jane, a high school student who loves design. By some mix up with her internship, she ends up as the assistant of one of the top fashion buyers in the industry, who also happens to be very difficult to work with. The show has a Cinderella quality to it. In high school, Jane is a virtual nobody, but as the assistant to Gray, she’s someone promising in the fashion industry.

Three episodes in and I’m hooked.

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My favorite character would have to be Billy. Everyone needs a best friend like him. The tension between him and Jane is wonderful to watch. It gives the viewers hope that one day they might get together, but I don’t think that will ever happen because it will mess up their dynamic and Jane loses her trusty sidekick. He’s always there to help her since he’s the only one who knows the double life Jane lives. Sometimes he steals the show, which is weird since Jane is supposed to be the lead.

I can’t wait to see what happens next for Jane. They’ve already introduced potential love interests, but nothing’s happening there yet. Although, the episode with Nick in it did make me giggle like…there’s no image for what I giggled like. And for a woman my age, it was bordering on creepy, so I won’t saddle you with that picture.

The storyline is simple, but it’s endearing. There aren’t that many feel good shows with dramatic elements on TV. I look forward to seeing what the writers and producers have in store. Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with watching something predictable. Jane by Design is perfect fashion eye candy filled with promising characters. We’ll leave the conspiracies to shows like Alcatraz.

Writing and Coffee Shops

2012-01-18T02:44:00.000-08:00

There’s something about leaving the house and going to a coffee shop to write.

Firstly, writing at home is filled with potential distractions. At least, that’s what I’ve noticed for myself. There’s the TV. There’s the internet. There’s a pile of laundry needing to go into the machine. Now, I know I can multitask and juggle, but I decided to actually leave the house to give my writing my full attention. Oh, and I go to a coffee shop that purposely doesn’t have WiFi. I know, right? A coffee shop without WiFi? How archaic! But, yes, no WiFi means no distractions. My writing gets jealous when I don’t give it my undivided attention.

Secondly, the atmosphere of a coffee shop allows me to concentrate. Granted, I have my earphones on, blasting the soundtrack appropriate for what I’m currently writing, but still. I’m not really a coffee drinker. I just love how relaxing the smell of freshly brewed coffee is. Plus, the more people hanging around, the better I manage tuning them out. Weird, but true.

Thirdly…okay, I’m stopping counting the reasons why. I just wanted to make a point.

I’ve discovered that many of the writers I know prefer writing in coffee shops, too. I can write anywhere—well, except my house unless I’m super focused—but there’s something about being in a coffee shop. The one I go to has great wooden chairs that never get uncomfortable even at the four hour mark of sitting down and typing away. And they have these tables at perfect height, so I’m sitting up straight and not straining anything. Don’t even get me started on the lighting. It’s the kind I love the most: soft yellow. My eyes love it since they’re particularly sensitive to harsh lighting. The yellow overhead acts as a perfect balance for the white of the computer screen. I end up forgetting I’m staring at a white sheet I need to fill up. It’s one of my phobias, you know. A white, empty sheet, taunting me. GaH!

Okay, enough scaring myself.

When I was writing Impulse, I managed to complete the whole manuscript at home, even with my mother vacuuming in the background, but this year seems totally different. I feel like I need to get away. Like to an office, when I still had one. It was a place I went to. Writing is by far not work for me, but I love going to the coffee shop with the idea that I will be spending a few hours there writing and nothing else. It’s like a date with someone you love. You go to a place where most likely no one knows you, so even in a sea of people you have some privacy. That’s me and my writing. We get to spend some quality time in a coffee shop that we can’t seem to have at home.

But maybe, when I get my groove back and I can fully concentrate, I might not need to leave the house. Right now, that’s not looking possible, so out of the house I go.

Day 18 = Chapter 21.

Review Request: King of Paine by Larry Kahn

2012-01-17T03:13:00.000-08:00

A sexy, fast-paced suspense novel for all of you today. Please read the blurb, and if you're interested in reviewing King of Paine, leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Larry can send you a copy right away. Happy Reading!

A desperate patient. A rumored cure. How far would you go to find the fountain of youth?

King of Paine is filled with characters who grapple with a range of intriguing end-of-life issues while everything they care about is at stake. The story follows two investigations, Special Agent Frank Paine's pursuit of a stalker committing a series of kinky Internet crimes and a reporter tracking the disappearance of wealthy senior citizens across the nation. Both paths lead to a hidden enclave where a brilliant biochemist harbors a deadly secret. Somebody is going to die there, and it may be Frank Paine's soulmate. Or him.

"Larry Kahn has managed to create a cast of unforgettable characters, throwing in a bit of sex and misadventure, while infusing it with legal, moral, and ethical dilemmas. To say that I thought the King of Paine was brilliantly written would be an understatement. I sat down to read the book in the morning and was unable to put it down until I read the very last page!" -The Write To Make A Living

"The writing is perfect...Plus, that plot? Holy hell! I never could have seen the twists and turns coming." -Owl Tell You About It

"...a roller coaster ride of who done it, oops, no they didn't. But it's not just that, the story makes you think and ask yourself some really important questions." -Forbidden Reviews

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Couple Alert: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

2012-01-16T02:41:00.000-08:00

Awards Season is upon us, boys and girls, and with that comes the red carpet. I love watching who’s wearing what during these award shows. The dresses are spectacular. And who doesn’t melt at seeing handsome men in dashing suits? Seriously. It’s the night they dress up to the teeth. I’ve already mentioned in one of my posts that I love sparkly, shiny things. What’s more sparkly and shiny than stars on the red carpet? So, for this post, I focus on the Golden Globes.

Did you see Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt on the carpet? They were the best looking couple out there. Here’s the proof:

Personally, Angelina Jolie can do no wrong for me. She especially looked stunning tonight, opting for a red lip, cat's eyes, and having her hair pulled away from her face. She usually has her hair down, but tonight, with the dress she was wearing, I believe she made the right choice to keep her hair slicked back. Statuesque.

I love how elegant her fashion choices are. Again, she blew me away with that asymmetric dress by Atelier Versace. That red fold across the chest matched by her lips and clutch? I could stare and stare and stare. No one could have pulled off that dress better than she did. The way it fit her body? Superb. And what better accessory to have than Brad Pitt in a Tom Ford tux? Even with the cane. All in all, I give this match up a 10/10!

When they got together, all was right in the world. And every time they step out on the red carpet, it’s a joy to see. Many blogs and internet sites are already named them the best dressed couple at the Globes. I wholeheartedly agree. I’m biased, of course. But you can’t refute the evidence. Just stare at their picture together a little longer. I certainly will.

Have a Mani/Pedi Party

2012-01-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

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It’s only the beginning of the year and you’re feeling stressed or blue? Well, according to Today’s Talk, a great way to beat the blues or shove away stress is to have a party. In this case, have a mani/pedi party with your girls.

I got some writing done today, and because I finished a chapter and started another, I told myself I was in need of a little “me time” with a manicure and pedicure. Having great looking nails boosts confidence; at least, in my experience. I always love seeing newly manicured fingernails.

So, get your finger-and-toe pampering kit and call your girlfriends over. If you don’t have a mani/pedi kit, make sure to invite someone who does. *wink*

Also, ask the girls to bring their favorite shade of nail polish.

While waiting for your friends to arrive, stick some popcorn into the microwave. We’re still trying to shed those mashed-potato pounds we’ve gained over the holidays. But if you really want to make this a guilty pleasure mani/pedi party, bring out the snacks. Alcohol optional, but not unnecessary.

When everyone has arrived, have them take out their favorite polish and stick the bottle into a hat/bowl/sack/whatever you have that can be used as a choosing pot. Then you can choose between two things: sounds or movies. If you prefer sounds, put together a fun playlist that keeps the party mood upbeat. Remember, we’re relieving stress and getting over the blues. If you want movies, then choose your favorite ones. I would personally pick fun romantic comedies. You know…something you can swoon over.

Once everyone is gathered, get the party started. Make everyone pick out a bottle of polish from the pot and that’s what they’ll have to wear. Give your nails their much needed pampering. Hang out with your best friends. Giggle over cute boys. You’re never too old to giggle over cute boys. Here’s my default cute boy:

At the end of the day, you had fun. That’s the most important thing. You were able to share the moment with your friends and walk away with great looking nails. :-)

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Release: Perigee Moon by Tara Fuller

2012-01-14T18:27:00.000-08:00

My writing sister is celebrating a Book Birthday today! So, while I'm at the edge of my seat keeping an eye on the Broncos game, I wanted to share this birthday with you.

The Kindle edition of Perigee Moon is out now!

Genre: Young Adult/ Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

After a horrific fire claims the life of her mother, seventeen year old Rowan Bliss finds herself in the miniscule town of Ipswich, Massachusetts. It’s here that she meets Alex, a deliciously mysterious boy who holds the key to unlocking her family’s dark secret.

As Rowan falls helplessly over the edge for Alex, the secrets that he insists on keeping refuse to be contained, and the truth that she uncovers challenges everything she has ever believed. Alex is a witch. And now he’s awakened something within her she never even knew existed. But out of all of this, the one thing Rowan won’t accept is the fact that Alex is destined to die.

Now Rowan must unearth the buried power she harbors within to escape a deadly prophecy, defy the very laws of time, and prevent the hands of fate from taking yet another person she loves.

GRAB YOUR COPY: http://www.amazon.com/Perigee-Moon-ebook/dp/B006X4GNQ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1326588566&sr=8-2

Cover Reveal: A Stiff Kiss by Avery Olive

2012-01-14T03:31:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud to share with everyone the cover of A Stiff Kiss from my fellow author from Crescent Moon Press Avery Olive. Check it out:

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves.

But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's arms, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up?

With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.

For the latest news on A Stiff Kiss and more about Avery, please visit her website: http://averyolive.blogspot.com/

Review Request: Days of Vengeance by Tim Kizer

2012-01-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

I have a paranormal horror to add a little more chill to your nights. Read the blurb. If you're interested in reviewing Days of Vengeance, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Tim can send you a copy immediately. Happy Reading!

With the last six years of his life wiped out of his memory, Frank begins to suspect he may have murdered his wife Kelly, who went missing three days before the car crash that caused his amnesia. While struggling to remember his wife and the events surrounding her disappearance, Frank is shocked to find out that Kelly's family has the same suspicions as he does.

As his memories trickle back to him, Frank is still unable to figure out why he has slaughtered his wife. Things take a darker turn when the in-laws give him to understand that they will stop at nothing to make him remember what he has done to their beloved sister.

Frank's search for answers becomes a fight for survival after he rediscovers that his wife's relatives are a clique of bloodthirsty serial kidnappers serving a mysterious one-legged man.

However, the question still remains: Why are these people so hell-bent on getting hold of Kelly's dead body?

His options are limited: he either finds his wife--dead or alive--or dies. In his race against time Frank has all the clues to the puzzle, he just has to remember them before it’s too late.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Fashion Find: Silver Cat's Ears Ring

2012-01-11T18:57:00.000-08:00

I'm totally in love with Jane By Design. It's a new series that reminds me a little of The Devil Wears Prada. I'll write more about it in my next post. What I want to share with you is the idea watching the show gave me. I love to shop, and like any girl, I love cute, shiny, sparkly things. So, as often as I can, I will post about my Fashion Finds. When I love something, I just have to share it with the rest of the world.

So, here's today's Fashion Find:

A Cat's Ears ring! Who would have thunk? It's quirky and terribly cute. Perfect for cat lovers. And if you into the canine persuasion, this is still something you can add to your daily fashion choices. When you're feeling whimsical, put this ring on to complete your outfit for the day. It's also perfect for making subtle fashion statements. And the most perfect thing of all? It's less than $1.

So, do you like today's Fashion Find? Click on the link below to see where you can buy it.

Heart Psalm

2012-01-10T18:17:00.000-08:00

Review Request: The Sleepyland Slide by David Lasaine

2012-01-10T00:27:00.000-08:00

I think we have something to share with the little ones today. Read the blurb and ask for a copy now. If you're interested, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that David can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

A stormy night awakens a young child to call for his daddy. Daddy, who is the storyteller and book reader takes his sons on an imaginary magical journey along the Sleepyland Slide. Along the way they meet Mr. Man in the Moon, Ms. Cow, hear of a Gizeeblegizaable...and that is not all! From the perch they can see Sleepyland. Can you imagine a volcano that spews candy and caramel, a river of hot fudge, a jelly bean road, ice-cream mountains, fish that wear bathing suits...and Twistyneckspringswallows bouncing across the landscape? How about a Fregmellian Frog dancing on a log playing a honky tog...on his Saxophone? The Sleepyland Slide has steps that flash colors as they are touched, doors and windows that lead to other places, and markings of letters and symbols used by all civilizations since the beginning of time. There is no doubt this adventure excites a young child's' imagination. Experience the fun of reading to your child(ren) this story full of silly and whimsical action such as when Daddy is being tickled by a Gizeeblegizaable with it's large purple feet and his children see him laughing out of control. Have your child draw their favorite parts and see what kind of pictures they create. Share this story with them and create a memory that will last a lifetime.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

The Vampire Diaries and the Art of Cliffhangers

2012-01-07T02:06:00.000-08:00

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Did you catch the latest episode of The Vampire Diaries this week? All I can say is: Daemon, my heart is yours! And whatever major artery you so choose.

I’m not kidding.

If there was a vampire you’d want falling hopelessly in love with you, it’s Daemon. Happy New Year to you, Elena! The ending of the episode? I won’t spoil it unless you haven’t seen what I’m writing about. But, seriously, if you haven’t watched the episode yet, stop reading this post and go watch.

Meanwhile, I want to segue into writing techniques. I need to work off some of the buzz the ending of this week’s episode gave me.

I’ve mentioned before that I watch TV because it teaches me something about writing. Sounds oxymoronic, I know. But there are specific shows I die to watch on a weekly basis not only for the compelling story lines, but also for the lessons in creating scenes they teach me. TV allows a writer to envision a scene. How compact it can be. The detail put into it. And the dialogue and body language of the characters. Putting all these together, especially when beginning and ending a scene can make for effective writing.

I’ve sighted the Sons of Anarchy when it comes to creating multidimensional characters. Ones you love to hate and hate to love. Today, I want to focus on The Vampire Diaries and the art of writing cliffhangers.

When I read a good book, what really gets me turning pages is a cliffhanger at the end of each chapter. There are even writers who have several cliffhangers in a single chapter. That’s what I call effective story telling. If you can have one for each and every chapter, I believe you’ll have a very compelling if not breathless novel. Of course, ending on a cliffhanger can be difficult because you need to know when exactly to end a chapter so that your readers will say “I need to know more!” and then turn that page. This is the beginning of their sleepless night, turning page after page in the quest to know what happens next.

The writers of The Vampire Diaries have writing cliffhangers just right. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll know what I’m writing about. Each episode is ended in such a way that will keep you wanting more, if not wondering why you have to wait a whole week for your next installment. It’s like a drug, I tell you.

If you’re not a fan, you can actually take any episode from any of the three seasons and you’ll still see what I mean. Each episode is like a chapter in a book. It’s ended either on an action about to take place or a revelation or something utterly shocking. Each of these can be used to force a reader into needing to know what happens next.

Sometimes, when writing a chapter, you know exactly where it ends. It feels right. But ask yourself, will the reader want to continue reading or will she call it a night and put your book down for the next day?

For example, you’re character is about to make an important decision in a chapter. Instead of ending your chapter with the decision being made, why not end it at the moment where he or she is about to make said decision. Let’s say jumping off a cliff. You can end the chapter just as she reaches the edge.

Or what if your character is about the confess something to another character. A great way to end the chapter is by cutting the confession. Maybe something significant happens that pushes the actual confession to a later chapter. Or he’s just about to say it and you cut the chapter there. So you have your readers holding their breath, but they can’t exhale until they read the next chapter, then you start the whole cliffhanger all over again.

I may go on and on about what you can do, but in the end, writing your novel is in your hands. I just love sharing what works for me. In this case, cliffhangers. Something to consider when writing a chapter. And a great way to learn is by watching The Vampire Diaries. The writers on that show…I swear, they are wicked awesome!

So, let’s talk about the ending to this week’s episode…

Review Request: The Marx Brothers Meet Robin Hood by Dan Castell

2012-01-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

We have an awesome short story in store, dear readers. Check out the blurb. If you want to read and review The Marx Brothers Meet Robin Hood, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Dan can send you a copy for review right away. Happy Reading!

In this rollicking short story, Groucho finds himself captured by none other than Robin Hood.

Listen, Rob,” he says, “there's something I've always wanted to ask you.”
“What's that?”
“Don't those tights give you a rash in the summer?”

Soon Groucho finds himself in the front lines of the desperate war between Robin Hood’s men and the king’s army of Nottingham. There’s Little John and Friar Tuck and much woodland derring-do involving swords, arrows, and roast boar. And the fun really begins when Chico sets his sights on winning Maid Marion away from Robin Hood.

In these deadly woods, will Groucho find a way out, or get an arrow to the forehead?

Part of the larger “Marx Brothers Meet…” series, this story will appear in the short story collection, The Marx Brothers Meet God 2: Lost Tales of the Lost Boys in Paradise. Other mind-bending titles are in the pipeline, including the novel that started the whole cockamamie collection, The Marx Brothers Meet God, due in 2012.

Short story. Available in e-book formats: .mobi, .epub., pdf

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Reading while Writing Ban

2012-01-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

January marks the beginning of my writing year with a work in progress born from the manuscript I’d written at the beginning of 2011. Yes, the one you read about in my 2011 in Review post. In my post explaining why I didn’t participate during NaNo last year, I challenged myself to write six novels this year. I know how crazy that sounds, but I’m sure there are many writers out there capable of this feat. I’ll certainly try to accomplish this goal. Six novels mean a novel every other mouth. And I calculated it this way: the writing months will be January, March, May, July, September, and November. The months after every writing month will be spent editing and preparing for the next novel to be written and devouring as many novels as I can (the last point I will explain shortly).

I’d say I’m off to a good start. I drove myself to my favorite coffee shop and, amidst the rush of so many people, managed to bang out two chapters. This means I’m already ahead of schedule. I promised I wouldn’t worry about the story too much, letting my character take me where he wants to go. Plus, the kinks can always be worked out during editing. As long as the story makes itself on the page, I have something to work with. I find that writing a chapter or two a day every day for a whole month is a formula that works with me. I have no time to procrastinate and definitely no chance to worry about plotting. When I wrote Impulse, I tested out this formula for the first time last year in June. Let’s see if I can keep it up this year for six alternating months.

Besides this formula, I’ve discovered another thing that worked for me while I’m writing: not reading anything during my stay in the writing cave. I know I’ve said before that reading is a great way to learn how to write, but I’ve realized reading while you’re creating your own story has the tendency to influence your writing. Not that you’re copying the story, but maybe the style of writing rubs off on you or the narrative or the way a character acts. There are so many influences that can subconsciously make in onto your pages without you intending them to be there. So, I’ve put off reading anything this January, or at least until I finish writing my latest WIP. With the rate I’m going, I might be finished before the month is over, but I don’t want to count my chapters before they are written. Anything can happen. Delays have the tendency to pop up when I least expect them. But I will try to stick to my schedule as much as possible.

Of course, this ban on reading doesn’t last into the editing phase. While editing, I start reading again. It’s a good way to unwind. It also allows me to take a step away from the work as a writer and look at it critically as an editor. Very different hats these two. They often fight and have hissy fits, but they get along when they need to. I call one Jekyll and the other Hyde. You decided which is which. *smiles*

Review Request: Enemy in Blue by Derek Blass

2012-01-02T17:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a book where you're not exactly sure who's good and who's bad. Read the blurb, and if you want to review this novel, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Derek can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

The streets aren't safe when your enemy wears a blue uniform and a gold badge.

What if the good guys weren't good? What if a cop went rogue and killed an innocent man? What if it was all caught on video and the cop would do anything to cover it up? Try to keep up with the action as Cruz Marquez, a young attorney, gets drawn into an action-packed journey to preserve the evidence--all while defending against the raw force of Sergeant Shaver, his enemy in blue.

"The plot is as gripping as it is chilling. The story flows smoothly, and each chapter ends with the perfect amount of suspense to keep you wanting more. A fantastic and exciting read, as I could not put the book down." -B.Burton

"A great first thriller for this young author. I would compare this story to John Grisham's book of "The Innocent Man." It is that captivating and more." -M. Bautista

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There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

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Thank you!

2011 in Review

2011-12-31T03:44:00.001-08:00

As I sit here and think of how quickly 2011 came to a close—albeit we still have a few hours left—I reminisce on what happened to me and my writing this year. Come, sit by the fire, and let me share with you a couple of this year’s highlights and insights.

I started 2011 filled with hope and determination. I had an agent who believed in my work and I was preparing my manuscript for submission to a list of editors belonging to pretty big publishing houses. I was confident and happy. I thought to myself, this is it. My agent will send out my manuscript and gain an offer from a publishing house. At the time, I was naïve to think you needed an agent to get published. I thought it was part of the step program. Write a novel. Edit it to kingdom come. Share it with your critique partners. Edit it again. Query. Get an agent. Get published. These are the steps, and I believed I needed to take every one of them to get to where I needed to be with my writing career.

As one rejection after another came in, I told myself it was part of the process. Hey, J.K. Rowling was rejected by twelve publishers before one said “Yes, we’ll take a chance.” Like many writers who faced rejection, I sought comfort from the countless success stories out there. I kept reminding myself I needed to stay patient. So, to distract myself, I began writing another novel. Inspiration actually hit while I was watching Deathly Hallows Part 1, oddly enough. Like every time I start a new project, I was excited. I was writing furiously. Little did I know, this novel would change my life for the better. I shall elaborate shortly.

The agent I was with at the time believed in having two rounds when it came to submitting novels to editors. There would be a first round with five editors and a second round with another five. I knew this was a solid plan. If the first round didn’t work out, we would move on to the second round after editing the manuscript. When all five editors rejected my manuscript, I got a call from my agent. We talked about our options. There was only one problem with the novel: Voice. At the time, I was at a loss as to how to approach editing because voice is a subjective aspect of writing. So, I decided not to go into the second round (much to the dismay of my mother). This was around the end of May.

During this phone call, I described another novel to my agent that I’d been hesitant to write because I didn’t think there was a market for it. But my agent was actually excited. He said he could sell the novel right then and there if he had it already. Of course, I’d only written about a chapter of it. I told him I’d finish writing the novel I’d started at the beginning of the year first then begin the new project in June. I actually gave myself one month to write this novel and two weeks to edit it. Ambitious. But I was determined.

So, upon finishing the first novel, I’d sent it to my agent excitedly and while he was reading it, I turned my attention to writing this new novel. I girded my loins and told myself I would write a chapter a day, so by the end of the month, I would have thirty chapters. In actuality, there were some days when I managed two chapters, which was a totally awesome feeling. I held my own NaNo, but in June. As motivation, I had Post-Its stuck above my laptop with phrases like “Follow your instincts,” “Trust your gut,” and “Do something different.” And on my pen holder, I had an index card with the words “Show the story” stuck to it. These were the things I looked at when I felt my resolve to finish the novel waver. Even on days when the novel I was writing scared me because it was something totally darker than anything I’d tackled before, I kept on writing.

By July, I’d finished the novel, took two weeks to edit it, and sent it out to my agent and critique partner. Hitting send on that new manuscript changed everything. First, my critique partner really loved the manuscript. Second, my agent judged my manuscript before even reading it yet. That marked the beginning of the end for our relationship. Remember the manuscript I was writing at the beginning of the year that I had previously sent him? Well, that’s where his judgment came from. That manuscript was total crap, or at least, that’s how I would condense the content of a very lengthy email he’d sent me. I’d asked if he’d already read the new manuscript I’d sent him, the one I was working on in June. He said no, thinking that because I only wrote it in a month that it wouldn’t be any good. That was the straw that broke my back.

The end of July saw me breaking my relationship with my agent. And like any break up, I was devastated. But instead of wallowing inside my sorrow, I turned that broken-hearted energy into action. With the help of my critique partner, we’d put together three new query letters. One for each manuscript I had. Around this time, I’d had four completed novels. The one I’d written at the beginning of the year was shelved because I realized it needed more work before it saw the light of day again.

August saw me querying again. I thought to myself, why am I in this situation again? Why did I take a step back after taking all those steps forward? I call these months: dark times. My hope dwindled a little, I will not be afraid to admit this. But, through the help and support of my family and friends, my determination remained firm. And because of their positive thoughts, I received the largest number of requests for partials and fulls I’d ever garnered since I started a year before. It renewed my hope. It was liberating to some extent because these requests said I was on the right path. But, of course, inside I still hurt.

The balm to the ache came in the form of an email from my former agent. He’d said that after reading my latest manuscript, it was my strongest writing so far. I showed this email to my critique partners and they told me we would show him. And like many break ups, I was primed for revenge. But I immediately pushed those thoughts aside and continued on my path. I didn’t have the time to focus on the negative when there were so many good things in life, like all those requests.

September and October had me enduring rejection after rejection. And during this time, I’d come to the decision that if nothing happened by the end of this year, I would self-publish. I gave myself that ultimatum.

Galvanized, I slowly prepared myself for the ins and outs of self-publishing. I made a list of the things I needed to learn: making book covers, book trailers, marketing the book, where to publish the book, etc. While I was reading everything I could about self-publishing, I was also submitting my manuscripts (remember, there were three) to smaller publishing houses. Basically, I was open to any and every option in front of me, and I wasn’t afraid to explore them all before my deadline. And to make ends meet, I’d decided to freelance my editing and proofreading skills. While I was waiting for feedback from my submissions, I wanted to help other authors get their manuscripts ready. Thankfully, there were those willing to take a chance on whatever help I had to offer.

Come the end of November, my life changed once again. TASTE had found a home. I received an email from Crescent Moon Press, and after informing everyone who had the manuscript about the offer, I’d made my decision to sign. A whole month before my deadline, I was getting published. I was on my way, and without an agent. And I couldn’t feel happier. Crescent Moon Press, I believe, is the right place for Taste.

It’s funny how life works sometimes. You start off having preconceived notions about a certain path you want to take and you forget that to get to your destination you don’t necessarily need to continue on the path you’re on. Like the great Robert Frost once wrote: Two roads diverge in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler, long I stood, and looked down one as far as I could to where it bent in the undergrowth.

At the end of Road Not Taken, it basically says that no matter which road you take, the destination is the same. And because of everything that happened to me this year, I’m happy to say I have emerged a better person. I still have much to learn, but I’m optimistic about my outlook no matter what happens. From the ashes of a devastating break up, I rise up knowing more than when I’d first started. And that is something I can’t be more thankful for.

So, as 2011 draws to a close:

I look onward to new possibilities.
To making new friends.
To keeping old ones.
To solidifying old relationships.
To creating new relationships.
To surrounding myself with loved ones.
To forgiving those who have hurt me and my loved ones.
To being kinder.
To being more patient.
To being more loving.
To discovering new things.
To rediscovering old things.
To finally being comfortable in my own skin.
To loving unconditionally.
To appreciating blue skies more.
To smiling more.
To laughing more.
To judging less.
To never be afraid of making mistakes.
To take a step back before making decisions.
To see the bigger picture.
To be more humble.

To remember that just because the path changes it doesn't mean the destination isn’t the same.

And to continue to do what I love: to share the stories of the characters in my head with the rest of the world. Or else, they’d get annoying and scary and stage a mass protest for not listening to them. Which might land me in the loony bin. So, in the interest of keeping my sanity intact, I resolve to write and write and write some more.

If I only had one goal, it would be to write and to keep writing until my very last breath leaves my lungs. If the fast ending year has taught me one thing, it’s that time is too short. No matter how much we wish for an extra hour in every day, it’s a mere sixty minutes. What would you do with those extra 3600 seconds if you could have them?

*smiles* I know my answer.

And if asked if I knew the manuscript I wrote at the beginning of this year would change everything, would I have still written it? Would I have sent it to my agent?

Yes. And yes.

Today, that manuscript has actually evolved into a totally different story. One that I will put together this January. I’m already five chapters deep. And I believe it’s so much better this time around.

I know this post has run a little long, and thank you for sticking with my soliloquy. I want to end with this:

May your new year be fruitful.
May it be filled with love.
May it bring you continued health.
May it grant your wishes, fulfill your dreams.

And may we all look at the New Year and scream: 2012, here I come!

Review Request: Angel Evolution by David Estes

2011-12-30T02:09:00.000-08:00

Doesn't the book up for review today have a great cover? Read the blurb. If you feel like you want to review Angel Evolution, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that David can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

Angel Evolution- the first book in the young adult fantasy trilogy: The Evolution Trilogy... When Taylor meets Gabriel at college, she is in awe of the subtle glow that surrounds him. No one else, not even her best friend, seems to notice. Something about him scares her. Is all as it appears? While Taylor struggles for answers, she finds herself in the middle of a century old war centered on one miraculous revelation: evolution.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

PERIGEE MOON by Tara Fuller

2011-12-28T18:02:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take this time to introduce a fellow Crescent Moon Press author. Her novel, a YA Paranormal Romance, is being released this January. Tara is awesome. Check out the blurb of her novel and the book trailer. Perigee Moon is definitely going into my To Be Read list. I hope you'll add it to yours as well.

Release Date: January 2012
Genre: Young Adult/ Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

After a horrific fire claims the life of her mother, seventeen year old Rowan Bliss finds herself in the miniscule town of Ipswich, Massachusetts. It’s here that she meets Alex, a deliciously mysterious boy who holds the key to unlocking her family’s dark secret.

As Rowan falls helplessly over the edge for Alex, the secrets that he insists on keeping refuse to be contained, and the truth that she uncovers challenges everything she has ever believed. Alex is a witch. And now he’s awakened something within her she never even knew existed. But out of all of this, the one thing Rowan won’t accept is the fact that Alex is destined to die.

Now Rowan must unearth the buried power she harbors within to escape a deadly prophecy, defy the very laws of time, and prevent the hands of fate from taking yet another person she loves.

About the Author:

Tara Fuller writes novels. Some about grim reapers. Some about witches. All of course are delightfully full of teen angst and kissing. Tara grew up in a one stop light town in Oklahoma where once upon a time she stayed up with a flash light reading RL Stine novles and only dreamed of becoming a writer. She has a slight obsession with music and a shameless addiction for zombie fiction, Mystery Science Theater, and black and white mochas. Tara no longer lives in a one stop light town. Now she lives with her family in a slightly larger town in North Carolina where they have at least three stoplights.

You can visit and follower her here:

Blog: http://tarafullerbooks.wordpress.com
Stalk Me: http://twitter.com/#!/Tara25Fuller
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tara25fuller

Review Request: The Corridors of the Dead by Jonathan D Allen

2011-12-27T02:43:00.000-08:00

Sounds like an interesting novel we have today, folks. To grab a copy for review, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Jonathan can contact you right away. Read the blurb and see what I mean. Happy Reading!

One Can Always Alter Their Destiny….

Long ago, a mysterious being known as The Lost Aetelia crafted an elaborate series of Watchtowers, along with their resident guardians, the Aetelia, to watch over the Universe. In time, they sent a select group of their own to Earth, tasked with watching over the fledging human race. This group used humanity to challenge the established structure of the Universe. A bitter war ensued, and these rebels, who had come to be known as Watchers, disappeared from history.

The time of the Aetelia – now known as angels – is returning. After a fateful night of violence, Artist Matty DiCamillo finds herself drawn into this world by a mysterious savior, who becomes a driving force in Matty’s new life.

Both driven by and fighting the words of prophecy that lay out her destiny, Matty, her lover Kristy, and her best friend Daniel, follow this mysterious savior on a journey from Northern California to Las Vegas on a path that crosses through the boundaries of time and space.

As Matty struggles to understand her destiny, she discovers that her savior may not be what she seems, and that even the denizens of this twilight world have no idea what lurks behind the stage dressing of reality. Matty finds herself not only racing to rescue the woman she loves, but learning that she herself could be the cause of the Universe’s day of reckoning.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Shoes, oh shoes

2011-12-25T23:28:00.000-08:00

I was surfing the Net one day and stumbled upon this website:

As I was browsing around the online apparel store, I made my way to the shoe section and never looked back. I was mesmerized by the sheer number of selections and was totally blown away by the prices.

Now, normally, I stay away from purchasing anything online because I like walking into a store and trying things on. But when I saw a certain pair of wedges, I thought to myself: Would you like to come home with me, little one?

So, without thinking about it much--I mean, the wedges cost $12--I made the purchase. And I eagerly awaited for them to arrive. One week later, here they are:

I was concerned they wouldn't fit even if I know I'm a size 38. But after trying them on, they fit like they were made for me! So here they are on my feet:

I can't wait to pair them with an outfit and take them for a spin.

Like anything I love, I thought I'd share wholesale-dress.net here with all of you. So, if you're looking for shoe heaven, click on the link below. I'm happy I made the purchase and will do so again in the future.

P.S.

They have clothes, accessories, and all manner of apparel too. :-)

Holiday Book Haul

2011-12-24T22:18:00.001-08:00

Season's Greetings

2011-12-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

Proofreading and Editing

2011-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

I've recently started a Proofreading and Editing service and I would like to help you and your novel in any way I can. I believe in maintaining the integrity of the written word and enhancing the style of the author. If you want to know more about my qualifications, you can visit my Hire Me page. And if you're interested in contacting me or if you have any questions about my service, please don't hesitate to ask in the comments section of this post or send me an email at kateva11(at)yahoo(dot)com(dot)ph

Here are some testimonials from the authors I've worked with so far:

"Thank you so much for your help with Dashing... I love all the suggestions you made and think they will make the story stronger. I especially like the "man flesh" part, lol!"

-- T.M. Souders, Author of Dashing Through the Snow

"Kate Evangelista did an amazing job proofreading my publication proofs. Though others had proofread the manuscript prior to submitting to the publisher, Kate found many mistakes that everyone else missed. She was fast and economical. Recommend her highly."

-- Mike P, Author of In the Darkness

"I don't know that I could have asked for a better proof reader than Kate Evangelista! She was prompt, professional and pleasant to work with. It made me feel good to see she was excited to work on my manuscript and while all the red marks made me cringe at first, there wasn't a bad suggestion or correction in the bunch. She polished and shined my novel, making it into something I was secure to move ahead and publish. No doubt I will be using her for future projects!"

--MB, Author of Near Death

Thank you so much for your time and Happy Holidays!

Review Request: The Gods Among Us by D.C. Belton

2011-12-19T17:33:00.000-08:00

Hi, folks! We have another outstanding book up for review. Read the blurb. If you feel that you want to read and review this book, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Dave can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

Pallas is a friendless teen from a backwater village on a forgotten shore. Born a slave like everyone around her, people hate her clothes, her parents… especially her strange name. Pallas doesn’t believe in the gods except to blame them for drowning her mother. But she’s forced to shelve her moody cynicism when she accidentally rescues an obnoxious cat. Suddenly caught in a celestial war, Pallas must do the unthinkable – champion the very goddess she hates. Masquerading as a mythic princess, she convinces everyone she’s a child of Atlantis. Jealousy hounds her at every turn as she battles dangerous fanatics, a boorish prince, and a stunningly beautiful princess. Yet nothing can save her from certain doom, when the Volcano god reaches out to slay her. For how can a mortal fight a god?

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

My world.

2011-12-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Review Request: Lust on the Rocks by Dianne Venetta

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

I think we have a hot and steamy one on our hands today, folks! Read the blurb to see what I mean. And if you want to review Lust on the Rocks, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Dianne can contact you right away. Grab your copy now! Happy reading!

She has what he needs, and he won't stop until he gets it. Trouble is, what begins as a matter of death, becomes a matter of life.

# # #

One case away from partnership, Samantha Rawlings is forced to share her high-profile case with a sexy younger man, whose eyes are on a different prize. In the best interests of her client, Sam opens the door to his strategy. Turns out, a little too far...

Victor Marin has ulterior motives. The defendant in her case holds the key to his revenge, and his last chance for justice. But as he chases old demons, he uncovers a powerful woman with no inhibitions, one he wants to possess for himself. But decidedly single, Sam wants no part.

Until Vic walks away.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

2011-12-12T00:40:00.001-08:00

Review Request: The Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers

2011-12-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

Hallu, everyone! I have another review request for all of you. This time, it's from author Lee Chambers.

Will Aaron Stevens survive the night of the Pineville Heist? Seventeen year old Aaron stumbles into the aftermath of a five million dollar bank heist gone wrong. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron partially catches the murder of one of the robbers. In the chaos he sneaks away with the money and heads straight for the closest place of safety, his high school. Terrified, Aaron tells his shocking tale to Amanda Becker, his drama teacher, but it doesn?t take long for one of the psychotic robbers to show up. In the locked down school the pair are relentlessly pursued in a quest to get the money back and wipe out the evidence. The Pineville Heist, based on the award-winning screenplay by Lee Chambers and Todd Gordon, "is a young adult thriller with a slick plot, believable characters, and a breakneck pace that will no doubt appeal to adults as much as teens," noted Walleye Magazine's Amy Jones. "An enthusiatic five stars!" Follow movie and book news at www.pinevilleheist.com.

Lee needs at least five more people above the 27 already posted. After reading the blurb and you find yourself interested, please leave your name and email address at the comments section and Lee will send you a copy. Happy Reading!

This just in: Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater) in the Twilight Saga has officially signed on to play Aaron Stevens in the Pineville Heist movie when it shoots in 2012.

The News

2011-12-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

Readers, it's time to share what I've been keeping inside for so long. Seriously, I don't know how I held on to this little life-changing tidbit. Actually, to be completely honest, I've told several people already, but I haven't made any official announcements until today. So, before we get into it, I would like to offer you some munchies. I've been doing a serious amount of baking of late just to keep my nerves in check. Lots and lots of baking. So I offer you several choices:

Cherry Cupcakes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Buttermilk Biscuits

So, grab a virtual snack and gather around. I'm about to share the news.

No, I'm not pregnant. Charlie Hunnam and I aren't at that stage of our relationship yet. He doesn't even know I exist. Sigh.

Anyway, my news involves another baby, come from the creative places within me. Years of growing pains and pimping has paid off. She has found a home.

Yes, folks, TASTE is to be published by none other than Crescent Moon Press. They have taken my baby out of the rain and offered her shelter. She is now plunging into the moonlight.

I've heard from my editor and edits are on their way. I can't wait to start making TASTE as beautiful as she can be for her debut--the date of which, has yet to be announced.

So, while you're munching on your baked goodies, please head on over to The Coffee Bar and indulge in the first three chapters. They will be taken down soon, so this is your chance to sneak a peek before then. And while you're there, share the love by following.

Thank you so much for your continued support and stay tuned for more updates. I can't wait to share this next stage with all of you.

Sincerely,
Kate

Review Request: Curbchek by Zach Fortier

2011-12-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

We have a cop drama today, everyone! Please read the blurb below. And if you feel that you want to review Curbchek, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Zach can contact you about your review copy right away. Grab your copy now. Happy Reading!

Curbchek is the story of a damaged cop, Zach Fortier. Fortier worked in the police department for the city where he grew up. One foot in the world of the cops, courts and legal system. The other in the world of gangs, drugs, thugs and street violence. Where the laws and rules are made by the strongest, the schemers and the most brutal. Read about the transformation of Fortier from a green rookie to a damaged paranoid veteran seeing danger in every situation. Follow along as as he walks this tight rope. Trying to make difference, breaking the laws he promised to enforce. This is a story of law and order uncensored.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Another New Testimonial

2011-12-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

It takes a great deal of trust having someone read your work. And it takes a great deal of courage to ask for help. I love to write. And just as much, I love proofreading and editing. This is why I've decided to freelance my proofreading and editing skills. Here's another testimonial from one of my clients:

"I don't know that I could have asked for a better proof reader than Kate Evangelista! She was prompt, professional and pleasant to work with. It made me feel good to see she was excited to work on my manuscript and while all the red marks made me cringe at first, there wasn't a bad suggestion or correction in the bunch. She polished and shined my novel, making it into something I was secure to move ahead and publish. No doubt I will be using her for future projects!"

--MB, Author of Near Death

MB was awesome to work with. I loved reading her work. She had me laughing and wanting to be friends with her characters. So, MB, thank you so much for trusting me with your work and for not giving up no matter how many red marks there were.

For those who want help proofreading or editing their labors of love, you can visit my Hire Me page by clicking on the tab above. I would be happy to help in any way I can.

Guillotine 12-05-11

2011-12-05T03:14:00.000-08:00

Chapter 4

The Exorcist

Zander endured three hours of nonstop editing; two of which was spent ignoring his team’s many protestations. Nate insisted the footage was too intense for viewers to watch. He warned that the audience had never seen a possession so deep before. Zander or one of them usually had some control over themselves and managed to get out of it when something tried to take over. He reminded Zander of the times the Net buzzed because one of them was possessed. This time, it was definitely different. Too real. Too in your face. Unapologetic in any way. Nate talked and talked until he started repeating himself, which succeeded in grating at Zander’s nerves. Adam, on the other hand, was freaked out—enough said. He was a simple boy. He didn’t want the world—particularly his seven brothers—witnessing him practically peeing his pants in fear. He kept grumbling about having his ass handed to him come Thanksgiving. But that was his usual excuse for anything, and Zander never listened.

By the third hour, Zander had reached his limit of their whining. It took a snap to shut up and a reminder that he was the leader of their team. Ultimately, it was his call. Nate and Adam shared another concerned look, which they’d been doing way too much in the span of a few hours. Zander was beginning to suspect a deep bromance blossoming between the two. He wanted to yell at them to get a room, but he knew Adam and Nate were only concerned for his wellbeing. They were thinking of his reputation as an investigator.

The team experienced their share of criticism. Skeptics believed Paranormal Investigations was all a sham, a scripted reality show like all the others. The footage at Miller House looked staged, even to Zander’s trained eye, but he wanted the world, especially those who believed, to see the dangers that came with their job. Already there were too many idiots risking their lives “investigating” the existence of the paranormal. Some of them went to places Zander and his team hadn’t cleansed yet, which meant the possibility of amateurs getting possessed was very high. He didn’t want anyone going through what he had experienced. And he had a feeling, the scratches on his forehead and the dream he couldn’t remember weren’t the last of what he’d brought home from Miller House. It was one of the reasons why he joined IPA in the first place. And why he’d stayed single for so long. He’d dated a girl once who couldn’t handle the shit that followed him home. She fled into the night and never looked back. Since then, Zander knew what he had to do: protect the innocent, allowing them a glimpse into the paranormal without altering their lives. More than anything, Zander wanted to educate, to open the minds of the public that the things going bump in the night were as real as they were and could actually cause them great harm.

Halfway through their third hour, Adam stepped out for a bathroom break when Nate opened his mouth to speak again.

Zander was splicing together Adam’s cam shots and lifted a hand, saying “If what’s about to come out of your mouth has to do with convincing me not to show the footage, zip it. You’re better off trying to brainwash me into dating a dude. I’ve made up my mind.”

Nate leaned his elbows on the console and rested his chin within the cup of his hands. “The network wouldn’t mind showing a marathon again, you know. It’s not like we need the ratings. Holding steady every week and increasing by the month.”

Zander heaved a deep breath, sitting back to stare at a screen shot of his face before Adam had dropped his camera. His features were unrecognizable, like he wore a Japanese demon mask Samurai warriors used to wear into battle to intimidate their opponents on the field. He grimaced. “It’s fine. We’ll just add a viewer discretion disclaimer at the beginning of the show.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.” Nate squeezed Zander’s shoulder. “You’re my bro, I’d do anything you ask. I just don’t want you looking so vulnerable in front of our audience, Z. We’ve cultivated a reputation of fearlessness for a reason.”

“Tell that to Adam.”

Nate barked a sad laugh. “He’s special.”

Zander tore his gaze from an expression that would haunt his dreams for the rest of his days to face his best friend. “Nate, you have to trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what? Why are you so against this?” Zander was near the end of this patience. He couldn’t understand why Nate wouldn’t let it go. This was the first time his second was so adamant about not showing footage. Normally, Nate would bitch and moan, and Zander would humor him for about an hour, but at the end of the day, Nate still followed his call without question.

Something akin to a mix of concern and deep sadness entered Nate’s brown eyes. “When I was calling out to you that night, and you weren’t responding, my heart stopped. I literally felt it stop beating for a second.”

“Jeez.” Zander frowned. “You’re not going to start crying, are you?”

Nate punched him hard in the arm. “Let me finish, man.” Tears brimmed. “Shit!” He covered his eyes with a forearm, rubbing furiously.

Uncomfortable, Zander reached out and rested a hand on Nate’s shaking shoulder, praying Adam wouldn’t choose this moment to walk in on them. The last thing he needed was the big guy teasing the both of them for being too chummy. “Come on, bro, pull yourself together.”

Nate looked up, red-eyed and angry. “I was so worried, Z! Seriously! I thought you weren’t coming back to us…that you’ve reached your limit and was finally possessed by something too powerful for you to resist. Scared can’t even describe the feeling.” He rubbed the last of his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt. “Then when you turned around and I fell to the ground, you know what I was thinking?”

Zander waited, not removing his hand from Nate’s shoulder. Something told him his friend was hanging on to his composure by his teeth and the physical contact between them was what tethered him to the present.

Nate sniffed, his nose turning as red as his eyes. “I was thinking of what I would say to your mother if you didn’t survive that night. Damn it, man! Don’t ever do that to me again. I swear, the next time, I’ll slap you silly just to get you back. Believe me, I will. Let’s see if you’d want to show that footage.”

“Oh, I believe you.”

“You have time to joke about this?” Nate shrugged off Zander’s hand.

Zander let a smirk spread across his face. Whatever mushiness that had passed through Nate in that moment was gone, replaced by righteous indignation. He loved his teammates, but he wouldn’t be caught dead admitting it to them. He appreciated Nate’s concern. He’d feel the same way if it were Nate or Adam going through what was happening to him. But how Nate felt wasn’t enough to bend his will. The footage will air. No one short of the network president could stop him, and he was about to say so when Adam burst into the editing room short of breath.

“Guys!” He panted like he’d sprinted from the restroom. “You have to see what’s going on outside. Come quick!” Like a child unable to wait for his parents to reach the Christmas tree before opening presents, Adam disappeared through the door again, prompting Zander and Nate to follow.

The tall, bald boy may be the more excitable member of their team, but when he said something was up, Zander and Nate were inclined to believe him. One thing about Adam, he never cried wolf. Whatever got Adam excited was definitely worth checking out.

Nate and Zander were met with a wall of their colleagues blocking the entrance to the Paranormal Investigations office. Adam towered over all of them, which was why he remained at the back of the group. He didn’t feel the need to elbow his way to the front the way Zander and Nate did.

“What’s up?” Zander asked Morgan, who’d position himself closest to the glass doors.

His assistant spoke without taking his eyes away from the elevator doors. “The Pres is bringing in the newest Exorcist.”

Zander sucked in a sharp breath. He stared at Morgan in abject disbelief.

“What happened to Bishop?” Nate asked the question Zander couldn’t find the wits to form on his own.

Something big must be up for a new Exorcist to be replacing Bishop. It didn’t feel right to Zander. The old priest was like a father to him. He’d taught Zander everything he knew about the art of cleansing and keeping spirits at bay. Going on another investigation without Bishop was unacceptable. He would do anything short of killing someone to get Bishop back. Morgan’s reply to Nate’s question pulled him away from formulating a plan.

“From what I heard, Bishop got recalled to the Diocese because of a case he’d handled when he was younger that’s still open. It’s all hush, hush. I don’t know any more than that.”

Zander cleared his throat, finally finding his voice. “And where’d you get your information from?”

Morgan shrugged. “Barbie.”

“The Pres’s secretary?” Zander flicked Morgan behind the ear. The young boy squealed and covered his stinging ear. “She’s ten years older than you, kid. What were you thinking?”

“It’s not like that.” Morgan rubbed his ear. “God! All I can hear is ringing. I think you’ve damaged my ear, Z!”

Nate slapped Morgan’s hand away from his red ear. “Don’t be such a baby. And stop hanging around Barbie. Am I making myself clear?”

“Or what?” Morgan challenged.

Before Nate could threaten the boy with bodily harm, the elevator dinged and its doors opened. Everyone at the office breathed in, causing a hush to greet the network president as he stepped out of the elevator. Despite the salt and pepper of his hair, he looked no older than his mid-thirties. The coal lounge suit was perfectly tailored to his body. The indigo tie complemented the deep, piercing blue of his eyes. Zander had only spoken to the Pres a handful of times, but during every one of them, he’d left feeling awe and respect for the man. Logan Winters was said to be the first paranormal investigator for IPA. In fact, he was one of the founders of the institute. He’d been given the presidency of the channel when he’d retired from investigating not only because of his dashing good looks. He was the best man for the job. He could be the face of the channel while still handle the grittier aspect of ridding the world of the paranormal. His aura alone was enough to intimidate even Zander, who considered himself possessing steal cojones. Logan was a hero to all investigators after him.

A glimmer of red was what distracted Zander enough to notice the person who’d followed the Pres from the elevator. The black cassock she wore, even with its sharp lines, wasn’t enough to hide the curves of her body. Exorcists from the fairer sex weren’t unheard off. Bishop told Zander once about a legendary Exorcist who’d been a woman. The one with the Pres was a tiny thing, standing 5’3” at most by Zander’s estimation. And that blood red pixie hair cut wasn’t doing anything to disguise the fact that she was a she. But what reason would she have to hide herself? The stiletto boots she wore certainly exposed her femininity. A large Gothic cross hung from a chain around her neck. And Zander counted five piercings on one ear while leaving the other bare. Her lips matched her hair and dark liner brought out the paleness of her eyes. He’d never seen anything like her. Well, maybe except in graphic novels. She seemed to float rather than walk, so light were her steps. The marble didn’t even click from the contact her heels made.

“I’d wipe that droop off your face, if I were you,” Nate whispered into Zander’s ear.

Zander lifted a hand and shoved Nate’s face away from his. Again with the personal space violation. His second should have known better. His claustrophobia was already acting up because of the press of bodies behind him. Everyone wanted to get a good look at the new Exorcist. She barely looked old enough to leave high school, let alone be fully fledged.

Great, that was all Zander needed right now: an inexperienced chick. If he was really possessed by a demonic entity, he needed Bishop, not some wet behind the ears girl who had a penchant for anything Goth. And as if reading his thoughts, she locked gazes with him. Zander’s heart sputtered like a dying engine before revving up again.

~Read Chapter 5~

New Testimonial

2011-12-04T06:48:00.000-08:00

As you all know by now, I've decided to go into freelance editing and proofreading. For those who want to know the details, you can click on the Hire Me tab at the top of this page. I would love to help you with your work.

Slowly but surely, I've been working with authors. And it's an honor to help with their work in any capacity they'd need me for. So, on that note, I'd like to share with all of you a new testimonial from one of my clients. Here it is:

Kate Evangelista did an amazing job proofreading my publication proofs. Though others had proofread the manuscript prior to submitting to the publisher, Kate found many mistakes that everyone else missed. She was fast and economical. Recommend her highly.

Mike P
West River, MD

I enjoyed reading his work. And I'm grateful for the chance to help out. So, Mike, thank you contacting me and letting me read In the Darkness. Best wishes on all your writing endeavors. It was a pleasure working with you. :-)

Why I write:

2011-12-03T21:01:00.001-08:00

Review Request: Tom's Wife by Alana Cash

2011-12-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

We have something different today, folks. Read the blurb. If you're interested in reviewing Tom's Wife, please make sure to leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Alana can contact you right away about your review copy. Happy Reading!

Set on a farm in Arkansas during the Great Depression, TOM'S WIFE immerses the reader into a simple way of life – and a woman’s place in it – that is long gone. Told from Annie’s point of view, the story shows what friendship, honor, and love means in a man’s world.

Annie Huckaby is almost resigned to life with Tom, who is hard-working but volatile and abusive with her. Tom works at a coal mine during the week, leaving Annie to take care of the house and their infant son while Tom’s Native-American friend Jim takes care of the farm. Twila visits every day and helps Annie make a little money of her own selling eggs to the café on the highway. And there’s church on Sunday. Annie is not always alone, but still, she’s lonely…until one afternoon, a peddler named Jake Stern wanders onto the porch wearing a clean white shirt, selling notions and tenderness. After that, everything on the farm belongs to Tom, except Annie's heart.

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The Art of Character Development and Sons of Anarchy

2011-11-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

Character development is a tricky thing all writers have to face during the process of creation. We may say we know our characters well, down to what they may be listening to while getting dressed in the morning, but have we really developed said character within the folds of the plot? I struggle with character development. Sometimes, I believe I know my character a certain way and then when I start writing a scene, my character does something totally different from what I had in mind. Note, I may have used the word “struggle,” but I don’t mean it in a negative sense. It’s good to struggle with developing a character because it allows you to explore different sides of a story. Without a character, we don’t have much of a story. Or, at least, that’s how I choose to see it. When I read a book or watch a show, it’s the characters and the way the story is told that keeps me interested.

I’ve heard about Sons of Anarchy for a long time now. I must admit to not paying it any attention until recently: four seasons, to be exact. What made me start watching the show now? Not having anything else to watch for almost a week. No Vampire Diaries. No Secret Circle. No Pan Am. No Once Upon a Time. The list is very long. And once the episodes stop, I go into a really bad case of TV withdrawal. I get restless. I start pacing. So, I asked myself: what can I watch in the meantime? From the titles I’ve mentioned, you might think that Sons of Anarchy is the last thing I would choose. But, as a girl who likes anything with an engine, I said: why not? I started with the first episode of season one on a Thursday and started mainlining the whole series for the rest of the weekend. Seriously, a season a day. Yes, I have no life. But as the biker drama took a fierce hold of me and refused to let go, I learned something: the art of character development.

When you watch Sons of Anarchy, you can’t help but sympathize and fall in love with the members of the club. You know they deal guns (which is illegal) and the law is after them for it, but something happens in you while watching where you start routing for the club versus the justice system. You actually want them to get away with it. That’s what I call excellent character development. When the line between good and bad blurs and you’re not quite sure who’s the hero and who’s the villain it’s an example of masterful writing.

Let’s take the character of Jax. He is the vice president of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original). Smart. Strong-willed. Compassionate. Stubborn. And complicated. He can even be cruel and cold-blooded when he needs to be. Basically, Jax gets things done, for the club and for those he loves. Notice, I mentioned compassionate and cold-blooded together. How is this possible? That’s character development, right there. It’s not necessarily about showing who the character is, but more like dropping him into any situation and seeing what he does. For example, Jax can go from dealing with a rival motorcycle gang where he acts tough to coming home for the night and cooing at his baby boy, and it’s believable. You believe that Jax can hassle a rival gang and be a loving father to an infant. He begins to feel real. You stop suspending your disbelief and actually accept every decision the character makes. This is what great character development does to the audience.

Now that I’ve finally caught up and am waiting for the rest of the episodes to air, I’m hanging on a ledge. The last episode was a total cliffhanger, so you must forgive my little divergence. I’m a visual learner. Demonstrate something, and I can usually do it afterwards, which is why I watch TV. I know it sounds like such a slacker life, and I promise, I do air myself out once in a while, but watching shows teaches me how to write. I learn how to put scenes together, how to end a chapter where the reader will flip to the next page because he or she can’t wait to see what happens next, and how to develop a character so complex that you would forgive him anything because he’s touched your life in a way most real people don’t.

I may not be making sense at this point. And I may be writing this purely as a fan sucked into the world of SAMCRO. But, I also know I’ve learned something because of this series. I wish someday I get to a point in my writing where I can blur the line between good and bad and show readers characters they will love to hate and hate to love.

So, I leave you with two questions: Just because a guy does something bad, does that make him a villain? And if a bad guy does something good, can he be a hero?

Certainly something to ponder while getting to know the characters in your head. If Sons of Anarchy taught me one thing, it would be: no one is inherently good or totally bad. The situations we find ourselves in and the decisions we make while in said situations is what develops character.

Now, if you will excuse me, I think I’ll start from season one all over again.

Review Request: Silverbirch by Rob Kaay

2011-11-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

The blurb is short, but it's certainly curious. Read it and see what I mean. Then, if you want to review Silverbirch, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Rob can send you a copy right away. Happy Reading!

By eating an extremely rare mushroom that has a red lightning bolt image naturally built-in to its black-gilled underbelly, Nudge discovers he can create a tear in the fabric of the night sky that will allow his soul to legally leave Earth and enter Silverbirch.

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Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

The Magic of Books

2011-11-26T06:05:00.001-08:00

Review Request: The Imaginings by Paul D. Dail

2011-11-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

It seems like we have a supernatural thriller today. Check out the blurb! If you feel you're courageous enough to read and review this book, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Paul can contact you right away. Prepare to be freaked out! Happy Reading!

“never disregard your imaginings”

Three years after his brother Peter’s suicide, David Blithe is still haunted by this cryptic message scrawled on a piece of newspaper in his brother’s apartment. Now he is being pursued by the same supernatural being that drove Peter to his death.

When David collapses in the Montana cabin of Dr. Robert Marrick and his family, he must decide whether or not to surrender his soul to save the life of Dr. Marrick’s teenage daughter, Jeannie.

The Imaginings takes the reader into a world where the questions of “right” and “wrong” aren’t so easily defined, locking David and Jeannie in battle with an evil that threatens not only their lives but ultimately all of humanity.

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There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Thankful for...

2011-11-23T19:24:00.000-08:00

This is the time of year we give thanks. It's the little things that really matter. The small moments like a flower blooming, the December winds arriving, the sky looking bluer than it ever does throughout the year. I want to stop and take this moment to be thankful.

I'm thankful for the love and support of my family. There are many times more than I could count when I hadn't been the daughter they expected me to be. Sometimes, those expectations weighed so heavily on my shoulders that I rebelled. But I realized, in my darkest hour, during a time when I was the worst version of myself, my family never gave up on me and the person I could become.

I'm thankful for friendship. I'm thankful the handful of people I'm lucky to call friends continued to believe in me when I ran very close to losing all my personal belief. When self-doubt crept in, they reminded me of the important things. Their personal strength and inner light kept my head above water.

I'm thankful for fellow writers. They teach me everyday through the written word how creative a person can be. How marvelous the human mind is. The world of publishing may be changing, but one thing remains the same, the drive to tell stories.

I'm thankful for the readers. For those who were excited about Taste even before it has found a home. I humbly ask that you wait just a little longer. Soon all that waiting will pay off. Thank you for hanging out here in the meantime and commenting on my little pieces of web publishing.

Most of all, I'm thankful for each and every day given to me to keep doing what I love. I write not only because I can't imagine myself being happy doing anything else. I write because there are too many characters in my head that want to share their lives with all of you. I tried not writing once, and it felt like a limb had been amputated. It haunted me, begged me to keep going. So, here I am.

What are you most thankful for?

Review Request: After Isaactown by Ward Jones

2011-11-21T17:33:00.000-08:00

Here's another interesting novel up for review. As always, please read the blurb.If you find yourself curious and wanting to review this book, then leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Ward can contact you immediately. Happy Reading!

How life’s most unexpected events can change even the closest of relationships.

Norm Armstein, a successful but lonely executive, has long been devoted to his sister-in-law. Bev is married to Norm’s brother, and for years has been the prisoner of a small town and his brother’s neglect.

But when Norm mistakes a stranger for her during a children’s play practice, he is charmed to the point of infatuation. Charmed by someone new, that is. Forgotten is Bev, whom Norm has always cherished — and secretly pined for.

The stranger is Harriet Anderson, a Shakespearean scholar who teaches at a Brooklyn college. As beautiful as she is kind, she weakens Norm’s oldest and strongest devotions: to Bev, and to his career.

Faced with affectionate prospects for the first time in his life, Norm now must choose. And in the process, discover in his fifth decade of life who he is.

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Guillotine 11-19-11

2011-11-19T04:03:00.000-08:00

Chapter 3

The Footage

Adam ran a hand over his shaved head, creating a sandpaper-on-wood sound. “Dude,” he said, dragging out the word like a labored exhale. His eyes were larger than the pepperonis he liked on his pizza.

Nate was quicker to react. He got off his ass and rushed to inspect Zander’s forehead. Along with Zander and Adam, he’d seen it all. Nothing surprised Nate anymore, which was why he was methodical in his approach.

“When did the marks manifest?”

“I don’t know.” Zander had to suppress the urge to step back. Nate all up on his face was violating his sense of personal boundaries. “My guess is when I woke up this morning?”

“You don’t sound so sure.” Nate traced the scratches without touching Zander’s brow. “What the hell happened when you went home last night? I knew we shouldn’t have let you go alone.”

Zander jammed this cap back on and approached the table they used for meetings in the editing room. He pulled out a chair and sat back until it was balanced on its back legs. Nate returned to the editing chair he’d vacated beside a still dumbfounded Adam. Their team always edited whatever footage they’d collected during investigations alone. None of the other TV techs touched the raw videos. None of them would have it any other way. And they’d proven themselves enough times that the higher ups didn’t pester them about it. Results and ratings, that’s all network execs cared about, and Paranormal Investigations provided both.

“All I remember,” Zander began when the silence in the room turned oppressive. He steepled his fingers behind his head and searched for answers along the soundproof piping lining the ceiling. He contemplated telling them about Kara briefly before discarding the idea. He wasn’t ready to share her existence with the team. They’d definitely send the Exorcist to get rid of her, and he couldn’t allow that, not until he had found out how he could help her. “I don’t really remember anything. I came home drained. I couldn’t even make it to bed, so I crashed on the couch. Then I woke up, my forehead burned, and when I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I saw what I just showed you.” He paused. “Oh, and I remember dreaming about red eyes. If that makes any sense.”

Adam and Nate exchanged a concerned look before Nate said, “Do you remember anything from the investigation?”

Zander scratched an eyebrow with the tip of his thumb. “That’s the other thing, what the hell happened to me inside Miller House? I can’t put anything together. I remember the interviews we conducted. And I remember the start of the investigation, but after that…nothing.”

“You serious, dude?” Adam whistled under his breath. “You have no idea what happened to you?” He shared another loaded look with Nate.

Zander slammed the chair down on all four legs. “Will you two stop looking at each other like you know something I don’t and just spill? I’m the one with demon marks on my freakin’ forehead!”

Nate raised both hands in supplication. “Chill, man, just chill.” He leaned forward until his elbows touched his knees and entwined his fingers. “It looks like something followed you home from the investigation.”

“No shit, genius,” Zander barked. He shook his head in dismay. “Why do the demons have to follow me home all the time?”

“Hey, don’t hog all the drama, man.” Nate sat back. “You know you’re not the only one dealing with shit following you home. Tina and I have problems with poltergeists, remember? That vase was handed down from her great grandmother. Not even superglue could save the thing. And Adam keeps hearing EVPs at his house.”

“Yeah, bro, and it’s always little kids for some reason,” Adam chimed in.

Zander was incredulous. “Really? A poltergeist and EVPs? That’s the best you’ve got?” He stood up and threw the chair across the room. It bounced of the wall with a deep thud. “I have a freaking demon in my house!” He pointed at his forehead. “You tell me you’ve got it worse than I do right now. And in case you didn’t get it the last time: I. Don’t. Remember. A. Thing. From. The. Investigation!”

Nate and Adam stared at him, speechless.

Zander glanced at the chair and gave in to scratching his head over the cap he wore. He walked to the chair, picked it up, and returned it to the table before sitting down again. He rubbed his face with both hands. The fatigue he’d felt the night before catching up with him again. He hadn’t fully shaken it off yet. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just freaking out here. This has never happened to me before. You guys obviously know something since you were there with me, and I’m sure you’ve already seen some of the footage, so spill. What happened at the investigation that has this thing following me home and scratching my forehead?”

Adam swiveled his chair to face the console and cued up a video feed on one of the screens. “This is the beginning of the investigation. We’d just finished activating all our static night vision cameras.”

Zander watched himself from the cam Nate held. Adam stood to the left of him by a staircase that led to the second floor of Miller House. His face looked white as a sheet, but that was only because of the night vision they used. Everything else was in various shades of green and black. And like other investigations, Zander had begun provoking the spirits within the house. He shouted challenges for the entities to do their worst, to show themselves, to throw things, the usual dialogue to get the energies rising to a level that allowed the paranormal to manifest. Adam joined in by hitting record on his digital recorder and asking questions so he could capture some EVPs.

The team moved toward the kitchen where poltergeist activity was said to be most prevalent. Nate took over the provoking while Zander led the way. He focused on the LCD of his camera because everything else was pitch black. He’d slammed into countless doorframes and cut himself on many a rusty nail because he couldn’t see more than what his LCD showed him. They couldn’t investigate with the lights on because most manifestations were seen better in the dark as mist figures.

“I remember this part,” Zander said.

Without waiting for Zander’s instructions, Adam fast-forwarded until he got to the part where Zander was about to make his way down to the basement via the kitchen. “This is where things started to get weird,” he said under his breath.

“Right there.” Nate pointed at the screen. “See that?”

Zander couldn’t breath. A ball of light unlike anything he’d ever seen in his years of investigating the paranormal entered the back of his head. The orb looked like it had eyes. Red eyes.

“What the hell is that?” Zander whispered, covering his mouth.

“First, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Nate. “And I’ve seen many things in this business. I’d say that’s what followed you home.”

“It started getting freaky after that, man.” Adam hit the fast forward button again and when he stopped, it was during Zander’s session in the basement.

Adam and Nate had left him there to collect EVPs of a woman who supposedly committed suicide by hanging herself from the beams. He’d hit record on his digital recorder, and five minutes into the session, Zander just stopped talking and stared into space. The static night vision camera filming the whole thing went in and out of focus and then the picture got fuzzy like a TV antenna being adjusted to catch a signal. When the picture cleared, Zander was no longer in the basement.

“Where’d I go?” he asked no one in particular.

“That’s the thing, bro.” Adam rubbed his head, this time with both hands. “You never left the basement.”

“What?” Zander looked from Adam’s face to the screen showing an empty folding chair.

Nate continued what Adam was supposed to say. “When Adam and I returned an hour later, we found you at the farthest corner of the basement,” an uncertain pause, as if he debated whether to spill what he knew or run away, “you were facing the wall.”

“What?” It was all Zander could say. All his brain would allow him to say. He couldn’t make sense of what Nate and Adam were telling him.

Nate turned to the console and pressed play. A second screen showed video taken from Adam’s camera. He was the first one to enter the basement. He called for Zander, and getting no response, he panned the camera around the room. When he noticed a figure at the corner of the basement, he screamed. Nate seemed to grab Adam by the shoulder because the camera looked like it was yanked to the side. Telling Adam to calm down, Nate approached the corner, his own camera in his hands.

As Zander watched, his face grew paler and paler. He had absolutely no recollection of what he was seeing unfold on the screen.

Adam managed to steady his breathing and stop his cursing long enough to focus his camera on Nate, who was still approaching the figure standing in the corner of the room. At about a foot from the figure, Nate stopped, saying Zander’s name. He didn’t respond.

Zander could make out the gothic cross design on the back of the shirt he wore that night. He was standing directly in front of a juncture where two walls met, right beside the boiler. He had his back to Adam and Nate, in his right hand his digital recorder, the red light still on, which indicated it was still recording.

Nate hit pause on the video and queued up a sound bite. “This is what was captured on your recorder.”

A guttural groan followed by the words: You are mine, Z.

Cold sweat trailed its way down Zander’s spine. It was a class A EVP, meaning the words were clear as crystal and audible to the human ear without audio enhancement of any kind. Usually, they’d have to enhance the audio or increase the volume and play it over and over again to make out any EVPs their digital recorders had captured.

Nate played the video again and Zander couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.

Adam was asking Nate what was the matter with Zander just as Nate reached out to touch Zander’s shoulder. In a split second, Zander turned around, dropping the recorder. He surprised Nate enough to stumble back. Adam focused on Zander’s eyes while asking if he was alright. Zander didn’t respond. The picture started to shake, Adam’s grip on the cam faltering. He asked Zander once again if he was alright, backing away as he did so. The menacing gleam in Zander’s eyes was enough to force the toughest of men to back away, let alone an eighteen-year-old boy who was the most skittish of the three of them.

Nate regained his wits and called for Zander, but it was no good. Zander wasn’t responding to either of them. He walked toward Adam until the other boy backed into a beam and dropped his camera. It showed Zander’s boots climbing the basement stairs. A door slammed five seconds later.

Eyes wide, Zander swallowed. “What the hell…” He couldn’t complete the sentence. He’d seen himself possessed during investigations before, but never like this. Never had he lost total control of himself and looked like someone ready to kill those in his team.

Nate stopped the video and faced Zander. “We found you passed out by the front door after that.”

“The investigation?” Zander croaked out.

“Ended shortly after that.”

“You were out cold, man.” Adam shook his head. “We called for the Exorcist to come in. You woke up shortly after the house was cleansed. You don’t remember that either?”

Zander buried his head in his hands. “I’m so screwed.”

~Read Chapter 4~

Review Request: Wyndano's Cloak by A.R. Silverberry

2011-11-18T02:39:00.000-08:00

We have an award winner on our hands, folks! I think this one's a very exciting book. Please read the blurb, and if you want to review Wyndano's Cloak, leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Peter can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

Jen has settled into a peaceful life when a terrifying event awakens old fears—of being homeless and alone, of a danger horrible enough to destroy her family and shatter her world forever.

She is certain that Naryfel, a shadowy figure from her past, has returned and is concentrating the full force of her hate on Jen's family. But how will she strike? A knife in the dark? An attack from her legions? Or with the dark arts and twisted creatures she commands with sinister cunning.

Wyndano's Cloak may be Jen's only hope. If she can only trust that she has what it takes to use it . . .

An award-winning fantasy of loyalty, betrayal, and the yearning of the spirit.

Read an excerpt! http://www.arsilverberry.com/wyndanos_cloak_excerpt.htm

“. . . Constant suspense . . . impossible to put down. You're going to be very tired in the morning.” Feathered Quill Review

DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF WYNDANO'S CLOAK!

Gold Medal Winner 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards, in Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction

Gold Medal Winner 2010 Readers Favorite Awards in Preteen Fiction

Winner, 2010 Books and Authors Books of the Year Award, in Fantasy/Fairy Tale Fiction

Silver Medal Winner 2011 Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book, Children’s/Young Adult

Finalist, ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards, Juvenile Fiction

2011 Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice Award in Young Adult/Children

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Introducing Eika

2011-11-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce everyone to my Kimi Doll. Here is a little about her story:

The Kimmidoll® brand was conceived following a long standing passion with elegant decorative gift and homeware items inspired by Eastern culture. The traditional Japanese Kokeshi dolls are a perfect example of this simplistic Eastern beauty.

Kokeshi dolls have been a Japanese cultural institution for over two centuries. Giving and receiving Kokeshi dolls dates back to the Edo period (1603-1867) in Japan. Kokeshi dolls were handcrafted by woodwork artisans of the time known as Kijiya, (which means woodworker in Japanese) to be given away as tokens of love and friendship. Kokeshi dolls were given as gifts to newborn children as a lucky charm to bestow good wishes for a healthy child.

It is this philosophy of bestowing luck and good fortune upon friends and family that is behind the creation of the Kimmidoll® brand. Kimmidolls are contemporary collectable dolls combining a fusion of traditional and modern creative sensibility.

The Kimmidoll® brand is already a global success, now well known in over 50 countries worldwide including Australia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Kimmidoll® is a family of contemporary doll characters, each lovingly designed and representing one of “Life’s True Values”. As a beautiful collectable or as a home decorative item these gorgeous dolls will bless all the important moments in your life.

The beauty of the Kimmidoll® range lies in the gorgeous inspirational values that each doll expresses. While they look individual, there is one philosophy that all the Kimmidolls share, and that is about celebrating important values in life’s journey such as kindness, happiness, joy and respect. The Kimmidoll® range allows you to celebrate these values with your friends and family. Each gorgeous kimmidoll comes with its own collector’s card.

Kimmidolls are “charming” friends that will inspire you throughout life’s journey.

With that said, I relinquish this blog post to Eika...

Hello, my name is Eika

'Successful'

My spirit is persistent and positive.

With your drive, persistence and unwavering belief in what you set your mind to do, no obstacle is too great, and no failure can waver your firm resolve. May your strong and positive spirit bring you all the success you seek.

Because of the above description, Eika hangs on a ring outside my bag. I keep her with me or close by at all times, and she has proven to bring me success wherever I go.

If you want to know more about Kimi Dolls, you can visit this their website.

As white as snow...

2011-11-16T02:26:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or are there one, two, many Snow White movies coming out next year? Now, you might think I'm sounding a tad bitchy here. But on the contrary, I can't be happier. One is an action packed drama and the other is a comedy with a little action thrown in for good measure. What I love the most about these two movies? They've given Snow White a spin. She's more warrior than damsel in distress now. Here are the two trailers. What do you think?

Snow White and the Huntsman

Mirror Mirror

Review Request: The Quiet Road by Annie Frame

2011-11-14T20:58:00.000-08:00

I think we have another spine-tingler on our hands. It's a pleasure to welcome back Annie Frame to our Review Requests. Read the blurb, and if you want a sleepless night, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Annie can contact you about your review copy right away. Happy Reading!

The author takes the reader on a journey into the mind of another. Murder, mystery and suspense surround an aging police chief as he battles to solve a number of horrific murders. His real world begins to dissolve as facts start to present themselves and there is little he can do to stop fate delivering itself.

You will love, hate, and weep for those on The Quiet Road......and if you don't believe the in the Devil, you probably will at the end of this sinister tale.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

News...sort of

2011-11-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

I have NEWS!

Unfortunately, I can't share it with all of you yet.

So, for now, I've been baking again.

Have a cupcake.

Review Request: Frightened Boy by Scott Kelly

2011-11-10T17:52:00.000-08:00

I think we have an intriguing one today, folks! Check out the blurb. And if you want to meet the boy and find out why he's frightened, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Scott can contact you right away. Happy Reading!

Havoc has been cried and the hounds of war are loose in Banlo Bay, the last metropolis in America. You’re either a mouth or a mouthful, and young Clark Horton survives with caution, diving in dumpsters and drinking from drains.

He was doing pretty well at it. At least, until he attracted the ire of Escher, the Red King. The madman is the leader of a gang of existential terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying Banlo Bay. Clark must choose a side - order or chaos. The fate of civilization is left in his hands, and a life of constant cataclysm has left him wondering which side is truly best.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Guillotine 11-10-11

2011-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Chapter 2

The Paranormal

Zander sat inside his car the next morning staring at the key in the ignition. He couldn’t bring himself to start the car and drive the thirty minutes it would take to get to work. He was already late. Nate and Adam must be in the editing room by now, yet Zander felt no urgency. It was unlike him to be late for anything, always being the first to arrive at an investigation. What had happened when he’d woken up in a cold sweat still bothered him. All he remembered from the nightmare were red eyes and the heavy sense of foreboding that wouldn’t go away. He called to Kara, but she wasn’t there. She normally came out at night, so it didn’t surprise him that she was unresponsive, but he wanted someone to tell him everything was fine, that he was fine. Then his forehead burned. It hurt enough to make him fall off the couch.

Wincing, he reached up and rubbed at the burning sensation. When he pulled his hand away, there was no blood. That was a good sign at least, he thought as he picked himself off the floor. His legs wouldn’t work properly, muscles stiff and rickety from having been on a lumpy couch all night—another rescue. A case of pins and needles assailed his arms as well. He cursed with every step, hating not sleeping in his bed.

Zander and his team lived most of their lives on the road. He’d seen the inside of countless hotel rooms and slept in many a strange bed. Sometimes, he even had to endure sleeping in the car with Adam, who farted like a cow, while Nate drove all night so they could all make it to their next investigation. So, when he was home, nothing could separate him from his beloved bed. Well, last night was the exception to the rule. What the hell happened to him? He felt like a freight train had dragged his body a hundred miles before the conductor noticed he’d run over someone.

Zander ran his hands through his hair as he climbed the stairs toward his other pride and joy: his master bathroom. He yawned, stretched—getting most of the kinks out—and flipped on the light switch. He’d converted one of the spare rooms on the second floor into a bathroom that would make most grown men weep. It took the contractors two months to build. It had a Jacuzzi instead of a bathtub, a shower closet with a state of the art showerhead which had ten different settings (his personal favorite was rainfall), and an illusion sink made to look like it was floating. The tiles were imported from Spain and his toilet from Japan had more buttons on it than his universal remote. No other bathroom could compete, which made being away from home always uncomfortable on the first day of any trip.

He ambled to the sink and froze. With shaking fingers, he lifted up the hair that had fallen over his forehead. Three very red, very angry scratch marks ran down the middle of his brow. The mocking of the trinity. Whatever had followed him home last night was definitely demonic. No other spirit could muster up enough power to cause bodily harm like this.

“Aww shit, not again.” Zander leaned forward to get a better look at the marks. That explained the burning sensation. But what the freaking hell was going on here? He couldn’t remember anything after he’d stumbled onto the couch last night—no matter how hard he tried to piece events together.

In an effort to calm himself, Zander took a quick shower and cleaned up his bathroom before dressing in a black sweater and jeans. He jammed a baseball cap on his head to hide the marks and hurried to his kitchen for a quick bite. Opening the door of his stainless steal refrigerator, he scanned the meager contents within. Being away two to three weeks out of every month didn’t exactly afford him time to shop. He reached for the milk carton, took one whiff, and threw the offensive thing in the trash. The orange juice seemed fine after a test sip, so he pulled it out along with a couple of eggs. He searched the counter for the bread he’d bought, but it was nowhere in sight. Shrugging, he took one last gulp of orange juice before dumping the bottle in the trash as well. The eggs he returned to the fridge. What were scrambled eggs without toast? He’d have to grab a bite at work instead.

Unable to shake the unease that followed him around since he’d opened his eyes, Zander sat in his car, unmoving. It was his Super Freak ringtone that jerked him out of his stupor. He fished out his phone from his pants pocket and plugged it into the hands free jack on the dash. Nate’s picture filled the screen. Buckling himself in and starting the car, Zander debated whether to answer the call as he pulled out of his driveway. At the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of white behind one of the second floor windows, but when he looked up to make sure, it was gone. When he couldn’t take listening to Super Freak anymore, Zander tapped the screen and waited.

“You’re late,” Nate said.

“What else is new?” Zander turned the corner at the end of his street toward the freeway on ramp. He prayed he’d hit traffic and be forced to delay the inevitable. He didn’t know how he was going to explain the three scratches on his forehead.

A pregnant pause, then “Not like you, man.”

“Rough night.”

“You mean to tell me you went out partying after our investigation? That’s hardly what I’d call professional, bro.”

Just because Nate had a girlfriend to go home too, it didn’t mean he could lord it over all of them. But Zander chose to ignore his friend’s judgmental tone. He had other things to worry about.

“I wish,” he said simply. “Look, I’m on the freeway now, and it looks like I just missed rush hour. I’ll be there in twenty.”

“What happened?”

Zander had to smile at that. Nate wasn’t one to mince words. They knew each other too well to dick around. “Better that I show you when I get in.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.” Nate breathed into the receiver. “It’s Octavia Island all over again, isn’t it?”

“Not even close.”

“Allen’s Restaurant and Bar?”

“You’re not going to like how it looks, bro. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Another pause followed by Adam’s voice in the background announcing he’d brought coffee. “Shut up, bro! Can’t you see I’m on the phone?”

“Is that Z?” Adam asked. His voice held a hint of an echo, which meant he was far away from where Nate stood. “Why’s he late?”

“Something happened,” Nate said.

“Oh, bro, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m still on the phone,” Zander interjected.

Nate mustn’t have heard him because he said, “He said he’d show us when he gets in. He’s on the road now.”

“Can you tell him to grab me pierogis from Faustino’s on the way into the city?”

“Nate!” Zander barked.

“Oh sorry, man, forgot you were still on the line.” A muffled argument ensued on the other line then Nate said, “Catch you later. And forget about Adam’s pierogi. Just come in so we can see what you have to show us.” Then he hung up.

Zander had to stop himself from rubbing his forehead in consternation. The marks still hurt. He loved Nate and Adam like brothers, and he’d definitely bury a body for them, but sometimes, they were annoying as hell. Stepping on the gas, he decided there was no use running away from telling his team about what had happened last night; at least, what he remembered of it anyway. Maybe they could help him piece it together.

Light traffic and a quick parking job later, Zander walked into the lobby of the Institute for Paranormal Activity, or IPA for short. The heavy thumps his boots made bounced off the marble floors, walls, and high ceiling. It was like he’d entered a cavern, the lobby was so big.

Their building was located downtown, and to the masses, it was known as the Haunted Channel Headquarters, a cable network that featured anything paranormal all day every day. Any show involving vampires, werewolves, witches, fairies, you name it, aired on the Haunted Channel, along with several reality TV shows like the one Zander hosted; aptly titled Paranormal Investigations. All of it was a front for IPA, an organization whose sole objective was to rid the world of any paranormal activity. Zander always thought it ironic that he hosted a show about proving the existence of ghosts only to eradicate them when the cameras stopped recording. As he saw it, he was the modern and cooler equivalent of the Ghost Busters, even if Adam reminded him of Slimer most of the time.

He neared the front desk manned by a leggy brunette named Tina. The Haunted Channel logo of a ghost silhouette hung on the wall behind her. She lifted a finger to forestall anything Zander was about to say and answered the phone. “Haunted Channel Headquarters, how may I direct your call?” She paused to listen. “Please hold.” After connecting the call, she put down the phone and looked up at Zander with a beaming smile. “Good morning, Z. You’re late.”

Zander lifted his hand to scratch his head only to remember he wore a cap. He dropped his hand and said, “I’d been getting that a lot today.”

“What? Ran out of gel for your hair?” Tina’s demeanor changed faster than lightning flash. She scowled at him now.

“What’s gotten into you today?” Zander rested his forearms on top of Tina’s desk.

She grudgingly handed him several pink slips of paper. “Here are your messages.”

He took the stack from her with a confused scowl. “Shouldn’t Morgan be handling these? Did he forget that he’s my assistant again?”

“How should I know?”

“Tina,” Zander put on his most winning smile, the one Nate liked to refer to as his on camera face, “what’s the matter? I have a feeling there’s something you’re not telling me.”

Tina crossed her arms, which served to plump up her breasts further. “What happened to you calling me, huh?”

The smile on Zander’s face froze as he backed away slowly.

“Zander! You get back here!” Tina almost jumped the counter from the way she bent forward. “We’re not done!”

He shimmied to his right and ran for the security gates leading to the elevators. He fished out his ID, fed it to the scanner, and gave Bernie the security guard an apologetic grin.

“You have to stop dating the staff, Z,” Bernie admonished.

The elevator doors parted with a ding and Zander slid in like he was stealing second base. Those exiting had to dodge or be run over. Several people gave him disparaging looks, but before anyone could comment, Zander punched the security code that would take him to the Paranormal Investigations floor near the top of the fifty-story building. The closing doors blocked out Tina’s mounting histrionics.

Alone in the quickly climbing cab, Zander sighed. He reminded himself never to enter through the lobby again. One date…and that was before the Miller House investigation. How could he expect to remember to call Tina when he couldn’t even remember everything that had happened to him in the last week?

One thing Zander did know when the doors parted again, the video taken from Miller House would explain everything. He strode out of the elevator with a newly awakened sense of urgency. If he was going to get to the bottom of the three scratches on his forehead and what had followed him home, then he needed to get to the editing room and scan every second of footage they had. And surely, Adam and Nate knew something. They just had to.

Zander ignored the greetings of the rest of the Paranormal Investigations crew. He’d apologize for being a diva later. He hurried to the end of a dimly lit hallway and yanked open the door. Adam and Nate sat in front of a large control panel with monitors and editing equipment. In unison, they turned their heads to regard Zander with curious expressions.

Without waiting for them to speak, Zander removed his cap and brushed back his hair.

~Read Chapter 3~

Opportunity

2011-11-08T19:41:00.001-08:00

Who likes books? Who likes money?

Novel Publicity is now recruiting for 5 gigantic blog tours during the Christmas holidays. Reading the books is completely optional. You can win enormous cash prizes just for copy-pasting prewritten excerpts, interviews, and guest posts. That's right, it's super easy!

The Prizes

A total of $3,500 in cash prizes (1 $500 prize, 20 $100, 20 $50 prizes)
3 Kindle Fires
35 autographed paperback books (5 of each book)
free eBook copies for anyone who wants to offer a review as part of this tour

Sign-up

Does this sound like something you'd like to participate in? If so, you can sign up for 1 tour or you can sign up for all 5! We make it easy by giving you everything you need to participate and offering huge prizes! There are several different ways to win for each tour.

Visit www.novelpublicity.com/whirlwind-recruitment to sign-up if you'd like to participate in one or all of these tours.

Now here's some more info for you...

More Info + Meet the Books

The Traffic-Breaker: Each of the 5 tours offers the chance to win $100 simply by getting the most votes in our online poll.*This prize is available for all 5 tours.

The Best Original Entry: You don't have to read the books to compete for any of the prizes--except for this one. Whichever blogger writes the most unique and creative post as part of each book's tour will will the $100 prize. 2 $100 prizes are up for the Gaia Wars and Scorpio Rising tours, because each of these books are touring with their sequel. *This prize is available for all 5 tours.

The Random Commenter: Encourage your blog readers to comment on your blog and visit other host blogs to leave a comment of your own. One random commenter will win a $100 prize, simple as that. *This prize is available for the following tours: Scorpio Rising, Gaia Wars, In Leah's Wake, and Farsighted.

The Blogger with the Most Comments: Do your blog readers love you? Get them to comment on your post. If you get the most, you win $100! *This prize is only available for the Farsighted tour.

Sharing Contests on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+: These are the easiest to win of all the prizes and each tour is hosting these contests on at least 2 of 3 of these networks. For Facebook and Google+, you'll simply have to click share on a promotional post. For Twitter, you'll have to retweet a promotional blurb with a designated hashtag. Each of these contests are rapid fire, and the winners are chosen at random within 24 hours. *These prizes are available for all 5 tours.

Special Contests from each Author: Each author is hard at work creating a special contest as part of his or her tour. You could win more cash (up to $500 per prize) or a coveted Kindle Fire. More info about these awards will be coming at the start of each tour. *These prizes are available for all 5 tours.

Bloggers are welcome to compete in all of the awards listed above, and we hope that you will!

Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark

Tour Dates: November 28 through December 2

Genre: Women's Fiction/ Chick Lit

Hook: What happens when a #1 news team becomes the top story instead of reporting it?

Prizes: 3 $100 prizes, 5 $50 prizes, 5 autographed paperback copies

Read the Summary on Amazon

The Gaia Wars by Kenneth Bennett

*plus its sequel Battle for Cascadia (not yet released)

Tour Dates: December 5 through 9

Genre: Young Adult

Hook: DEADLY SECRETS have been buried in the Cascade mountain wilderness for centuries. Hidden. Out of sight and out of mind. Until today…

Prizes: 5 $100 prizes, 3 $50 prizes, Kindle Fire, 10 autographed paperback copies

Read the Summary on Amazon

In Leah's Wake by Terri Giuliano Long

Tour Dates: December 12 through 16

Genre: Literary Fiction

Hook: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore.

Prizes: 1 $500 prize, 3 $100 prizes, 2 $50 prizes, 5 autographed paperback copies

Read the Summary on Amazon

Scorpio Rising by Monique Domovitch

*plus its sequel The Sting of the Scorpio

Tour Dates: December 19 through 23

Genre: Drama

Hook: If the cost of love was the loss of success, which would you choose?

Prizes: 4 $100 prizes, 3 $50 prizes, 2 Kindle Fires, 10 autographed paperback copies

Read the Summary on Amazon

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Tour Dates: December 26 through 30

Genre: Young Adult

Hook: Alex may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.

Prizes: 5 $100 prizes, 5 $50 prizes, 5 autographed paperback copies

Read the Summary on Amazon

What are you waiting for?!

Visit www.novelpublicity.com/whirlwind-recruitment to sign-up if you'd like to participate in one or all of these tours.

If you plan to compete for the best blog entry award for any of the tours (which will require reading the book), please send an email to emlyn@novelpublicity.com to request a free eCopy of the book you'd like to review. Please complete sign-up before requesting any book copies. Thank you!

Guillotine 11-7-11

2011-11-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

Chapter 1

The Haunted

Zander slumped backward into one of the four rickety chairs surrounding an old square table he’d rescued from an alley dumpster two years ago. It sat at the center of his darkened, yet spotless, kitchen. He couldn’t be bothered to flick on the light switch when he had entered his home through the back door. The moonless night matched the inkiness hugging him. He wondered for a second what time it was. He’d been missing a chunk of his memory, most of the events in his head a blur, no matter how much inventory he took of it.

The week’s assignment had been the most grueling yet. He couldn’t recall an instance since he’d begun his job as a Paranormal Investigator where he’d been this tired. It was the kind of fatigue that reached inside and wouldn’t let go no matter how much he rested. It seeped into his bones.

His usually meticulously styled hair fell limp over his creased forehead. He couldn’t get the events of that week, as hazy as they were, out of his head. The house looked like any other house he and his team entered, hunting for the paranormal. Its history told of devil worshippers and human sacrifice that reached back a hundred years, but what was new? He’d seen worse as far as backgrounds of a possible haunting was concerned. He’d had his share of demonic possessions and scratches on different parts of his body. But the Miller House was different somehow.

Investigating usually had him pumped, ready for anything, but there was something about this week that didn’t sit right with him. He’d mentioned it to his fellow investigators, but they’d brushed it off as him needing a vacation. Adam and Nathan were always the more happy-go-lucky ones in the group. Zander had mischief in his blood too, but sometimes, like right now, the darkness around him couldn’t compete with the void that slowly grew within him, like something truly sinister had attached itself to him and wouldn’t let go.

With an effort that stole more of his waning strength, Zander lifted his hands until they hovered just above his face. Even in the darkness, he could see them shaking. He dropped his hands and slumped lower into his seat until the tips of his fingers touched the mopped linoleum floor. He closed his eyes and let his chin fall to his chest. He didn’t know if he could make it up the flight of steps that led to his bedroom on the second floor of his house. But if he didn’t pick himself up, he’d definitely end up sleeping in the kitchen. One thing he hated more than clowns was stiff muscles.

He’d made up his mind to muster up the strength to stand when goosebumps rose on his arms. He opened his eyes and watched his breath puff out on each exhale. The temperature had dropped dramatically. Keeping his calm, he crossed his arms and braced himself.

Behind Zander, a white mist formed. First a foggy silhouette that slowly materialized into a full spectral form. The figure floated toward Zander and wrapped her pale arms around his neck. She planted a blue-lipped kiss on his cheek and the cascade of her opaque hair tumbled over his shoulders. Her simple white summer dress rippled over her lithe body like she had an imaginary fan blowing air around her at all times.

“You look like crap, Z,” she whispered into his ear. “What’s gotten into you?”

Zander shivered and said, “Nothing more than the usual, I’d say.”

The specter leaned the side of her head on his and tsked. “No snarky comeback? You must be sick or something. I don’t like it.”

“You think so?” Zander considered what she’d said. He lifted a hand to his forehead and felt his temperature. His skin felt clammy, as it always was whenever his visitor was around. “You could say it’s been a rough week. I think something followed me home again. I hate it when that happens.”

“I don’t feel anything unusual right now.” The girl scanned the kitchen. “Are you sure?”

“We’ll find out soon enough.” Zander shook his head. “These nasty bastards never wait long to make their presence known.”

“Demonic or something milder?”

“Kara,” Zander raised an eyebrow she couldn’t see from where she floated behind him, “does anything mild ever follow me home?”

“I followed you home.” She pouted.

“Case in point.”

Kara stepped back and smacked Zander upside his head. The impact of her spiritual energy manifested as a sudden headache. He doubled over and groaned, kneading his temples with his fingertips.

“Damn it, Kara!” He shut his eyes to keep his world from spinning any faster than it already was. “I don’t have time for your temper tantrums. I’m too tired to cleanse myself as it is. Don’t add to my misery, please.”

“You started it.” Kara stood her ground, which meant raising the temperature in the kitchen even higher. Her strength grew when she got stubborn, but never enough to send potentially harmful objects flying. She wasn’t poltergeist material, and Zander was thankful for that little mercy. He could imagine the state his house would be in every time he’d ticked her off. His OCD tendencies wouldn’t be able to cope.

“Don’t make me call the Exorcist on you,” Zander threatened through clenched teeth. The chill in the room dissipated, along with his headache. He sat up and sighed. “Thank you.”

“Just because I like you, Z, doesn’t mean you have the right to be a jerk to me,” Kara said. Her voice took on a tremulous quality that always stabbed at Zander’s heart. He was defenseless against her tears more than he was against her spiritual attacks. She was a vengeful spirit, but certainly not demonic. He had no right to lump her along with the malevolence he sometimes came up against during his investigations.

Like caffeine in his veins, her sadness woke him up enough to get up and face her. She looked utterly beautiful for a ghost. In his line of work, ghosts, spirits, specters, apparitions, or whatever you’d like to call entities that were not of this world, hardly manifested as clearly as Kara did. Usually, Zander would be lucky to encounter a shadow figure or a mist during his outings with Adam and Nathan. There was something different about Kara, and he had yet to figure out what it was. He came home one day from an investigation to find her in his room, waiting. He managed to ignore her for a week until she had realized that he could see her. When that happened, it was the end of his peace and quiet. He’d always wanted a pet, but he didn’t think he’d have to put up with a whiny one. At least he didn’t have to feed her.

Zander met her ghostly gaze, an eternal nothingness behind her colorless eyes, and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Kara. I truly am. You know I don’t mean half the things that come out of my mouth. I provoke, that’s who I am. You have every right to be mad at me. This is certainly not an environment I want to expose you to all the time. Feel free to leave if you want.”

She grinned. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Zander Billings.”

Zander returned her expression with a smirk of his own. “Was worth a try.”

He moved past her toward the stairs. At the bottom step, he stopped and regarded the ten or so steps he had to climb to reach the three-hundred-thread-count sheets waiting for him in his bedroom. Kara materialized beside him and followed his gaze with her own.

“What are we looking at?” she asked in a soft whisper.

Most people wouldn’t hear Kara’s words since she spoke at a higher frequency that most human ears had no idea how to tap into. But Zander’s countless years of listening to electronic voice phenomena, or EVPs as they called them, allowed him to tune into Kara’s speech within the white noise. Sometimes, like now, she drained his energy just by standing by his side. But, then again, he’d already come home nearly empty. What was an ounce more of energy lost?

Zander made a mental note to remove his gear from inside his car when he woke up the next morning. He’d completely forgotten to unload them. He might even need a jumpstart since he thought he’d left his headlights on. He crossed his fingers it wasn’t the case. It would supremely suck having to call Nathan just to help him restart his car. He’d never hear the end of it. The great Zander needing someone’s help; the very idea of it made him wince.

“I don’t think I can make it up there,” he said in response to Kara’s question.

“You’re really that tired?” Kara faced him. “You’re really scaring me, Z.”

He gave her a wink before taking a step up. He wobbled and grabbed the banister before completely losing his balance. Kara squeaked, reaching both hands out in an attempt to catch him even if he would literally slip through her fingers if he’d fallen. She may be a fully corporeal spirit, but she didn’t have enough power to actually be of much help if something did happen.

“God, Z!”

“See, that wasn’t so bad.” Zander tightened his grip on the wooden railing of his staircase. “Now if I can only repeat it ten more times, I’d be home free.”

Kara disappeared from behind Zander only to reappear a couple of steps above him. Her black-polished toenails never touched the ground. She wore worry on her face like a veil. “Come on, Z. You know I can’t help you if you fall down these stairs and break your neck. Please.” She pointed at the living room only meters away.

The couch was certainly a better alternative to the rickety chair. But it wasn’t his massive bed with special pillows that molded to the contours of your head. If Zander had one guilty pleasure, it was his bed. He’d used a large chunk of his first paycheck to buy the thing. Coming from a large family, he didn’t have the luxury of having his own place, let alone his own bed, until he had officially become an investigator. When he’d moved in, the first thing he did was take a nap in every room, no matter how devoid of furniture the house had been at the time. He relished the independence. It was one of the perks of the job, despite the many setbacks like having a demon follow you home and make your life a living hell. Zander never understood that phrase until he’d lived it. He’d never believed in ghosts until he came face to face with one. It was that experience that led him to become what he was now.

Taking one last look up at the stairs, which was currently blocked by Kara, Zander let out a long and weighty breath before he stepped down and hobbled into his living room. He fell face down on the couch and barely felt Kara positioning a throw pillow underneath his cheek. How she’d done so escaped him. Where was she getting the energy from? He had none left to spare. In seconds, he surrendered himself to unconsciousness.

The dream came as swiftly as sleep did.

A dark entity with red eyes hovered over Zander’s prone body. “You think you’ve seen the last of me,” it said in a gravelly voice. “You think just because you’ve left that place that you’re free of me?”

Zander, asleep, couldn’t respond. His consciousness merely observed what was happening from a corner of the room. He willed himself to wake up, but nothing happened. Panic engulfed him like a powerful wave from a turbulent sea.

The entity laughed, harsh and chilling. It was like it fed on Zander’s mounting fear. Awake he could handle whatever demonic presence invaded his home. But asleep, he was completely helpless. The demon might as well possess him. At least then, when managed to wake up, he could call for the Exorcist. But until that happened, he was defenseless. And he hated every second of it.

He knew signing up to be an investigator had its risks, but never did Zander ever feel his life was in any danger. Not until this particular entity arrived. If there was a time he needed to wake up, it was right now.

As if responding to his thoughts, the demon said, “Oh, you’d want me to enter you, wouldn’t you? Well, you’re not getting away from me. You’ve taunted me long enough. Now, it’s my turn.” It tapped a clawed finger at the center of Zander’s forehead. “It’s not going to be that easy for you, child. And it never will for as long as I exist. I will follow you everywhere you go. There will be no place you can hide from me.” It laughed again, and this time, it sounded like the end of the world.

~Read Chapter 2~

Review Request: Five Dances with Death by Austin Briggs

2011-11-07T17:27:00.000-08:00

I always love a book that involves the Aztecs. Read the blurb below and if you believe that you can dance with death, then please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Austin can send you a copy right away. Happy Reading!

In the days before the Conquistadors, Angry Wasp is fighting to keep his family and his small Aztec nation alive.

Slavers have kidnapped his daughter. His wife has turned to powerful sorcery. His people have challenged Montezuma's dominance and now face extinction. And the Spaniards have begun their march inland.

Now Wasp must rely on his military prowess, wit and even dark magic to regain his family and protect the independence of his nation, as he begins a desperate journey that will forever change the fate of the Aztec people.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Why I'm not NaNo-ing this Month

2011-11-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

Before I explain my decision not to participate during NaNo this month, I want to pass around a plate of Chocolate Mint Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles.

Cupcakes for everyone!

Now, why am I not writing this month? Simple answer, my To Be Read pile.

I was supposed to write Off the Chain, a contemporary YA romance, this month. But as the days to NaNo dwindled, I began to realize I have way too many balls in the air already. So, I've decided to finish reading all the book in my TBR pile by the end of the year. This way, I get a fresh start next year. Why do I need a fresh start? Besides the insane ups and downs this year has dealt me? I plan to make next year a writing year. Yup, you've read it right. I want to challenge myself by writing at least six books. One every other month. Why every other month? Well, after writing, I do need to edit and decompress before starting another novel.

There, I've gotten my secret off my chest. Not NaNo-ing this year. Reading instead. And baking. Lots and lots of baking.

Besides leaving you all with cupcakes, I want to show you the NaNo cover Tirz so graciously created for Off the Chain. Please visit her awesome site A Clever Whatever after you read this post. Totally worth it. :-)

Review Request: The Tourist by Jack Everett and David Coles

2011-11-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today's Review Request comes from a dear friend of mine. Please take the time to read the blurb. If you're interested in reviewing this novel, please leave your name and email address in the comments section for that Jack can contact you right away.

Robert Cleghorn was a good soldier, so good that he was first selected to join the Special Forces and following a head injury, was recruited by the CIA. A second head injury hospitalized him and psychiatrists rebuilt his memories from what they could recover.

He escapes from the hospital where he was a virtual prisoner and goes to find the love of his life: his brother’s wife and a typically English rose. Always on a knife-edge, Robert quarrels with and kills his sibling.

Finding his brother was about to go to England, Robert assumes the other’s identity and heads for the UK. Blithely unaware that the memories of his beloved are artificial. Unaware of the mayhem about to erupt and the very astute English copper soon to be seeking him and unaware, too, of the Americans dogging his footsteps, Robert soldiers on. The fun is about to start.

The British copper has a love interest awakened by his new sergeant, a shot pet dog and two bosses who change like the weather.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

Review Request: Through the Third Eye by Lynn Boston

2011-11-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Care for a thriller today? Well, read the blurb. If you're curious enough to review Through the Third Eye, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Lynn can email you right away. Happy Reading!

In this fast-moving thriller, Clay Barton and Shali Faisal are seeking ancient documents hidden since the beginning of recorded time--documents that could forever change the course of human history. They use secret, archived CIA parapsychology techniques for past life regression that Clay discovered while working at the Stanford Research Institute. Together, they must make contact with present-day people whose historically famous past-lives are tied to the writings.

They finally locate their treasure trove of ancient knowledge, but not before a harrowing journey that takes them around the world. Along the way, their one-time affair of the past pokes into their professional treasure hunting relationship. But eventually they come to understand the reason these writings have been hidden and protected for millennia: the knowledge contained within could change the world as we know it.

They realize that now is the time in history to reveal the secrets, but a dangerous and unknown force is trying to stop their efforts. This thought-provoking thriller will challenge many accepted paradigms and will make the reader rethink the world around us.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

The Superstition Game: Hallowe'en

2011-10-31T02:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Hallowe'en, everybody!

I thought it appropriate for today's game to give you some superstitions connected to Hallowe'en.

Hallowe'en is a festival, celebrated on October 31, when ghosts roam abroad and witches traditionally hold their sabbaths. Originally, a pagan festival of the dead, Hallowe'en marked the end of the Celtic year. It was said that the sun itself entered the gates of Hell on this date, providing an opportunity for evil spirits to slip out and menace the Earth for forty-eight hours -- hence the ominous associations of the modern version of the festival. Attempts to Christianize the festival by making it the eve of All Hallow's Day or All Saints' Day, when Christian saints and martyrs are commemorated, have failed to obliterate its essentially pagan character, emphasized by the now ubiquitous imagery of broomstick-riding witches and grotesque masks fashioned from hollowed-out pumpkins which are meant to scare away demons.

Hallowe'en is the one time of the year when the supernatural holds sway over the Earth, and numerous superstitions are associated with it. These range from protective rituals to keep evil spirits at bay to means of divining what the future has in store. One of the most widely held notions connected with the festival is the blood-chilling idea that on this date the souls of the dead make their way back to their earthly homes to warm themselves at their old firesides. In many quarters, it is thought dangerous to attempt to hinder the dead from returning in this way, and Hallowe'en is generally considered a time when extra care should be taken not to linger in churchyards or do anything that might offend the fairies or other malicious spirits.

If a person is walking down a road, for instance, and hears someone walking close behind, it is important that they do not look back (it is likely to be Death himself, and looking into his face will hasten the living person's own demise). It is also risky to look at one's own shadow in the moonlight and most inadvisable to go on a hunting expedition on Hallowe'en, as one may accidentally wound a wondering spirit. Children born on Hallowe'en will, however, enjoy lifelong protection against evil spirits and will also be endowed with the gift of second sight. In rural areas, farmers may circle their fields with lighted torches in the belief that doing so will safeguard the following year's harvest, or else drive their livestock between branches of rowan to keep them safe from evil influences.

Most surviving Hallowe'en superstitions concern the business of foretelling the future, in particular, getting a glimpse of a future partner. According to Welsh tradition, anyone going to a crossroads on Hallowe'en and listening carefully to the wind may learn what the next year has in store and, when the church clock strikes midnight, will hear a list of the names of those who are to die in the locality over the next twelve months.

Several of the most widely known Hallowe'en divination rituals relate to apples. Superstition suggests that, if a girl stands before a mirror while eating an apple and combing her hair at midnight on Hallowe'en, her future husband's image will be reflected in the glass over her left shoulder. A variant dictates that she must cut the apple into nine pieces, each of which must be stuck on the point of a knife and held over the left shoulder. Moreover, if she peels an apple in one long piece, and then tosses the peel over her left shoulder or into a bowl of water, she will be able to read the first initial of her future partner's name in the shape assumed by the discarded peel. Alternatively, the peel is hung on a nail by the front door and the initials of the first man to enter will be the same as those of the unknown lover.

Hallowe'en is also the occasion on which groups of unmarried boys and girls twirl apples on strings over a fire, the order in which the apples fall off the strings indicates the order in which they will be married (the owner of the last apple to drop will remain unmarried). Yet another Hallowe'en custom is the game of ducking apples: without using their hands, children attempt to take bites out of apples floating in a bowl of water or suspended on a string. Superstition has it that they are fated to marry the owner of the apple they manage to bite. Alternatively, the winner of the game takes their apple to bed and sleeps with it under their pillow so as to get a vision of a future spouse in their dreams.

Other customs involve blindfolded girls pulling up cabbages and examining the shape of the root to make conclusions about a future spouse, throwing nuts into the fire to see if they jump (if they do, a lover will prove unfaithful), sprinkling letters cut out of a newspaper on to some water to see what name they form (that of a future lover) and inviting a blindfolded person to place their left hand on one of three dishes, one filled with clean water, another with foul water, and the last empty. If the clean water is chosen, the person's future partner will be attractive and desirable; if the foul water is selected, he or she will already have been married; if the empty dish is chosen, there will be no partner at all.

Some girls may be tempted to follow the ritual of eating a salted herring before retiring for the night: the resulting thirst will summon up the sympathetic spirit of a future partner who will come with a drink of water. More complicated is the ancient procedure in which a person dips their sleeve in a stream at a point where land belonging to three people meets, and then goes home and hangs the sleeve in front of the fire: during the night, the spirit of a future spouse will materialize and turn the sleeve to allow the other side to dry.

Why is it, most superstitions have something to do with finding "the one"? I don't know, but it's just something I've noticed while playing this game. I hope that you enjoyed yourself while reading these posts and learned something new. I end this game with this video:

Review Request: Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

2011-10-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today, I have the honor of presenting to all of you a debut YA paranormal from my awesome friend Emlyn Chand. She's the one I win all those traffic-breaker polls for. Anyway, if you want to review her novel, please make sure to leave your name and email address in the comments section so that she can contact you about your review copy right away. Happy Reading!

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he’s blind. Just when he thinks he’ll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

In this enthralling debut novel, Emlyn Chand creates a world in which friendship, perseverance, and a handful of psychic powers come together to fight against what appears to be the inevitable and all-too dangerous future. This is a book you won’t want to put down—even after you finish it!

Note from the Author:

Farsighted is available as an eBook now, but the paperback doesn't release until November 24th (the author's birthday, yay), which means that the review copies will be provided in Kindle, Nook, or PDF formats only--just thought I should make that clear. Thank you, Kate. Thank you, everybody!

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

Thank you!

The Superstition Game: Cars

2011-10-30T01:07:00.000-07:00

Folks, Halloween is tomorrow for the islands, so I can already smell the candy. Having a little get together at my place. You're all invited!

But before I start baking and cooking my nuts off, I want to continue with the game. Today, it's all about cars. Yes, cars! This suggestion is from Sophie over at Life Between Pages. She's awesome, so make sure to visit her by clicking on the link. Let's begin...

Despite the relatively brief history of motorized transport, the car has already attracted to itself a considerable body of mythology. Green cars are widely held to be unlucky and many drivers talk of 'jinxed' vehicles in which they have had numerous accidents (though others will protest that even talking about such mishaps is likely to provoke misfortune). Congratulating oneself on a trouble-free motoring record is also unwise, as this is simply tempting fate. Particularly suspect are cars bought on the thirteenth of the month or otherwise carrying number plates that in some way ad up to the number thirteen.

Stretches of road can be haunted, just as houses can. Drivers on a remote stretch of road in south-west England, for instance, have described a spectral pair of hairy hands materializing alongside their own on the steering wheel and attempting to force the vehicle off the road. Other motorists have picked up spectral hitchhikers and have otherwise been terrorized by ghostly pedestrians suddenly materializing immediately in front of the car. To guard against such dangers, and also against more mundane risks, many drivers carry lucky St. Christopher key chains or other charms such as lucky dice, and will transfer these accessories from their old car to their new one in order to preserve their luck. Virtually every driver, meanwhile, will support the contention that washing the car is certain to bring on rain.

A rather involved superstition recorded in the US claims that a girl may employ the 'magic' of cars to hasten the moment when she meets her true love. First, she must wait in the same spot until ten red cars have passed, then she must spot a red-haired girl in a purple dress and finally a man in a green tie: the next male who happens along is destined to become her husband.

Well, that sounds like something interesting for all single women out there. Please sit somewhere and wait to see if all this happens. Send me your wedding invite if it does. But before you go out and test this superstition, watch this video:

Review Request: The Moon Coin by Richard Due

2011-10-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

We have a beautifully illustrated book up for review today, folks. Please read the blurb and if you want to review The Moon Coin, leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Richard can contact you right away for your copy. Happy Reading!

For Lily and Jasper Winter, the Moon Realm began with a single secret bedtime tale. As the children grew older, Uncle Ebb enthralled them with thrilling tales of the Dragondain riding horse-sized, catlike Rinn; mysterious tales of peerin-wielding lunamancers manipulating the magic that lies just beneath the surface of reality; exciting tales of flying dragons, swimming merfolk, stomping giants, and troublesome faeries. But as the magic of their childhood faded, so too did the tales. Eventually, they were just . . . good stories.

Or were they?

Now, nine years after it all began, Uncle Ebb is missing.

Lily and Jasper search for clues, but their uncle’s mansion is full of distractions. A Tesla generator thrums in the basement. Prismatic electrimals flit around walls resembling underwater reefs. Then a most unexpected friend comes to their aid, leading them to a hidden room where they find a mysterious coin—the moon coin. Before the night is out, Lily is transported to the real Moon Realm. But the moons are in trouble. The Rinn of Barreth are under siege, and the lunamancers of Dain are beset by the very dragons they once loved. Most horrifying of all, the moon Darwyth has fallen to a villain named Wrengfoul, whose creeping evil now threatens to overshadow all the Realm.

Are Lily and Jasper too late to save the Moon Realm, or will they have enough time to write an ending of their own?

Featuring twenty-two stunning full-color illustrations by Carolyn Arcabascio. Volume One of the young adult fantasy adventure series The Moon Realm.

Want more books to review? Just check back here at Reads, Reviews, Recommends.

There's no limit to the books you can get from the authors willing to offer them up for review.

Please leave a tip on your way out by following me on Twitter or "liking" me on Facebook, or if you already have, I hope that you encourage your friends and followers to do the same.

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First Editing Job: Dashing Through the Snow by T.M. Souders

2011-10-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

When I first decided to start freelance editing and proofreading, I was nervous. I thought to myself, will it work? Will writers trust me enough with their pride and joy? Like any budding entrepreneur, I needed my first client. So, I eagerly anticipated his or her arrival. Much nail biting occurred.

A week after launching my Hire Me page, I received an email from T.M. Souders. My first client! *happy dance* We exchanged emails and I quickly began editing the story she entrusted me with. Here is the fruit of that labor:

Wynn Murphy has been in love with Zane Anders since the day she laid eyes on him. But just when she begins to hope their casual relationship might turn into something more, a misunderstanding pushes her away.

At first sight, charming and handsome, ad executive, Zane Anders has been secretly infatuated with bake shop cutie, Wynn Murphy. This Christmas, he's determined to tell her.

Join Wynn and Zane in this delightful holiday novelette as Zane goes dashing through the snow in an effort to capture Wynn's heart.

I really enjoyed reading Dashing Through the Snow. And I believe you will enjoy this holiday story too. It was a pleasure to be a part of its editorial formation.

T.M., thank you so much for giving me a chance. I couldn't have asked for a better first client.

So, folks, head on over to this link and purchase your copy of Dashing Through the Snow today! It's a story you'll definitely swoon over.

The Superstition Game: Moon

2011-10-26T19:52:00.000-07:00

We have an awesome suggestion for the game today. It comes from Renee at Renee Rearden Blog. She wanted superstitions about the moon. There's a lot since the moon is a very important part of superstition culture. But before that, I would like to introduce two things.

First is Boyd, my ceramic pumpkin. I even lit a candle in him and everything. Say hello to Boyd, folks.

And the second one is this:

It's called Ooey-Gooey Peanut Butter-Chocolate Brownies. They are easy to make. Yummy as heck. And the perfect treat for any Halloween Party. In fact, I'm baking a new batch for Monday. Excited!

Now, on to the game...

As might be expected, the moon occupies a prominent place in the superstition of the entire Western world. While the sun represents the life essence and the more positive aspects of existence, the moon, ruler of the tides and other elemental forces, is generally taken to symbolize darker, more mysterious and often negative influences. The reverence that ancient moon worshipers felt for the moon is reflected in the mix of feelings that most people still have for the Earth's nearest neighbor in space, even in an age where science has revealed much about the moon's real nature.

Perhaps the oldest and widest known of the superstitions connected with the moon is that those who gaze too long at the full moon risk becoming 'lunatic,' that is, mad, and will henceforth be subject to attacks of insanity whenever the moon is full. The moon's disorienting influence is also to be seen in the erratic behavior of animals at certain times in the lunar cycle and may be linked, according to many authorities, with the human female menstruation cycle.

Primitive awe of the moon and its strange wonders has never quite died away and it continues to be treated by the more superstitious with the utmost respect. In various ancient cultures, for instance, young girls in particular were warned against sleeping in the moonlight, lest they become 'moonstruck' and beget monsters, and even today, children may be instructed to chant 'I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me' to ward off ill luck should the moonlight come into their room. To be on the safe side, many adults will greet the new moon with a respectful bow or curtsey (in which case, they believe they will be granted a wish). Witches and other sorcerers, meanwhile, have long been credited with the power to 'draw down the moon,' attracting its malevolent power to use for their own nefarious ends.

Many ancient calendars depended on the lunar phases, and there have been many attempts to determine from the moon's cycle the optimum times to begin various enterprises. Broadly speaking, the waxing of a new moon is a time when lovers may divine what the future has in store for them, when new projects may be safely begun, and when journeys may be best undertaken. Farmers -- despite any real evidence to support them -- will choose if possible to do their planting and sowing when the moon is waxing (though such plants as runner beans, which grow anti-clockwise, are sown on the wane) and this is also the best time for weddings, childbirth, and convalescence. Livestock slaughtered when the moon is waxing will give better meat.

Bowing to the new moon and turning over any silver coins in one's pocket will guarantee a doubling in the amount by the end of the next cycle. If in company, the first person to see the new moon should kiss one of his or her companions without delay: they may then expect a gift in the near future. It is important, however, that the new moon should not be seen for the first time through glass or through the branches of a tree, as this is a bad omen (similarly if it is first seen to the left side of the observer). Ideally, it should be sighted in the open air via a glance over the right shoulder (in which case a wish may be made).

It is highly inadvisable to be caught pointing at the new moon, as this offends 'the man on the moon' (an obscure mythical figure allegedly banished to the moon for gathering sticks on the Sabbath) and is an invitation to dire misfortune; if done nine times, the person concerned will be barred from entry into Heaven. Moreover, no one should consent to surgery when the moon is full, and any death that occurs during the new moon will be followed by three further mortalities. There is a general agreement, however, that no person can actually die while the moon is rising.

Lovers are advised that the first new moon of the year, if approached in the right way, may reward them with visions of future partners. Generally speaking, the moon must be addressed with respect and the following rhyme recited:

All hail to thee moon, all hail to thee,

I prethee kind moon, reveal to me,

Him/Her who is my life partner to be.

If all goes well, the lover will see his or her future partner in their dreams -- or may even wake to find a single hair from the other's head tucked in between their big toe and its neighbor. The number of moons a lover sees when gazing at the moon through a new silk handkerchief or when examining their reflection in water or in a mirror indicates how many years (or months) must pass before his or her marriage.

A waning moon exerts a generally baneful influence and is a particularly bad time for births and weddings. Anything cut in this period will not grow again, including hair and fingernails, though it is apparently a good time to move house, let blood, pick fruit, cut down trees, and stuff feather mattresses. Worst of all is the period between cycles, when there is no moon at all: children born during this time will come to nothing, as an ancient English proverb warns -- 'No moon, no man.'

The period immediately following a new moon is the most significant. One ancient English tradition advises on the character of each of the ten days immediately following:

Day One: Ideal for births and new projects, but bad for those who fall ill.

Day Two: Ideal for business matters, sea voyages, and sowing seeds.

Day Three: An inauspicious day for most undertakings.

Day Four: Ideal for construction projects and for the birth of politicians.

Day Five: Ideal for conception and the model for the month's weather.

Day Six: Ideal for hunting and fishing.

Day Seven: The most propitious day for new lovers to meet.

Day Eight: The worst day to fall ill, as the illness may prove fatal.

Day Nine: A day to avoid moonlight on the face, lest insanity follow.

Day Ten: A day for the birth of restless souls.

Should two lunar months fall within the same calendar month, extremely bad weather is sure to follow and may extend to flooding and other natural catastrophes. If this happens in May, it will rain 'for a year and a day.' Other weather predictions connected within the lunar cycle include the notion that new moons that fall at the weekend will be followed by bad luck and foul weather. If the 'horns' of the new moon point upwards, good weather is in the offing; if they point down, it will be wet. A halo around the moon at any time in the cycle is a warning of rain to come. A full moon that falls on Christmas Day, meanwhile, is lamented by farmers as a prophecy of a poor harvest in the year ahead.

In folk medicine, a superstition from the north of England recommends blowing on one's warts in the light of the full moon to cure them, while many regions boast the tradition of 'washing' hands affected by warts in a shiny metal basinful of moon's rays while reciting:

I wash my hands in this thy dish,

O man in the moon, do grant my wish,

And come and take this away.

Thank goodness! Now I finally have a cure for my warty hands. And boy was that long. I told you there's a lot of stuff about the moon. If you do decide to test any of these things out, please report back here and let me know how it goes. For now, I leave you with this moon rap:

Review Request: Wedlocked: A Novel by Bonnie Trachtenberg

2011-10-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

I think we have an exciting romance on our hands today, folks! If you want to be swept off your feet, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Bonnie can contact you about your copy of Wedlocked as soon as possible. Happy Reading!

Thirty-six-year old Rebecca Ross has finally tied the knot…
and it may be the biggest mistake of her life.

On what should be the happiest day of her life, Rebecca Ross is panic stricken. Rebecca has just wed Craig Jacobs, but she realizes she put more thought into choosing her florist than she did in choosing the man she’s just pledged to love for the rest of her life.

Before Craig, Rebecca, a talented Long Island girl, dreamed of following in her grandmother’s footsteps with an acting career. Unfortunately, she was cut down to size by years of disappointment, and by her first love—a Hollywood director. She returned to Long Island a lost and broken woman, and ended up in the last place she ever wanted: her old bedroom at her parents’ house.

But Rebecca’s mother, an overzealous convert to Judaism, has a long held dream too: marry off her three daughters to Jewish men. So no one is more thrilled than her when Rebecca meets and marries bon vivant Craig Jacobs, the man who has won over the whole family. Too bad they’re all about to discover that underneath his charismatic shell, this Prince Charming is anything but!

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Author Interview: Emlyn Chand

2011-10-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

Reads, Reviews, Recommends is proud to host author Emlyn Chand for the first leg of her Farsighted book tour.

About the Book:

Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

The Interview:

Welcome, Em, to Reads, Reviews, Recommends. You're certainly not a stranger to this blog. I've already interviewed you on blogging, and now, I'm very proud to have you over again, and this time, it's for your upcoming YA paranormal release Farsighted. We have much to talk about today, so I want to start by asking you why you've decided to self-publish Farsighted when you already have an agent?

Great question, Kate. I actually sat down to blog about this but instead of coming up with a succint answer, I wrote this giant analogy comparing self-published authors to Salem witches. How much further off-topic can you get? :-P

So anyway, let me explain that decision. About a year ago, I thought the only way to be a writer was to land an agent and get a traditional publishing contract, which is what a lot of aspiring writers think. Then in December of last year, I started my blog and, more importantly, became addicted to Twitter. Within a couple of weeks, I amassed a pretty large following. Just like that. A few months in, I realized I had a unique gift for social media and launched my book marketing business, Novel Publicity. One month after that, my business made enough to sustain me, and I was able to quit my lackluster day job. Since then, I've only been getting better at managing social media and using it to promote my clients' books and my own blog.

My star client, Terri Giuliano Long, reached 10,000 copies sold on her self-published manuscript because of all the work we put into marketing it. Success like this is practically unheard of, indie or not. What this showed me is that the publishing industry is not only changing - it's changed. I'm not really sure there is any benefit to being traditionally published anymore, especially if you're an author who has the know-how and financial/time resources to A) professionally edit your books, B) get a stellar cover designed, and C) market your work.

With all of that in mind, it didn't really make sense for me to seek traditional publication for Farsighted. I don't want to discount traditional publishing altogether, so I still will try to publish through my agent down the road. But, a condition of my signing with him was that I get the Farsighted series as my own. Who knows, I may never need to go traditional. I <3 the indie world dearly!

The world of publishing is changing everyday, but you have to admit that there are still writers out there who are hesitant about entering into indie publishing. You have the support of Novel Publicity backing your marketing push for Farsighted. For those who might not have the resources, what advise can you give them? Where can they start in terms of building a web presence?

That is the million dollar question and one I'm constantly trying to answer on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. One post in particular covers my best attempt at an answer, "Indie authors can succeed." It's a two-part post with a breakdown of what authors can and should do to get their books ready for publication and promote them before and after the fact. First you need to write the best book you can, then package it in a way that will appeal to readers making absolute sure it's professionally edited and has a compelling cover, start building a web presence through social media and create a site that represents you and your brand, learn more about your target audience and interact with them as much as possible, enter writing contests, sponsor reading contests, collaborate with other authors, diversify your efforts, be creative. And most importantly, never give up and don't lose yourself in the process. Sounds simple, right? ;-)

It does sound simple. But sometimes the processes can be daunting. I guess, taking things one step as a time helps. You mentioned branding in your previous answer. I believe that branding yourself is important in succeeding when publishing. So, what do you believe is your brand and how is it connected to Farsighted?

Well, in marketing your book, you’re really marketing yourself as an author. You need to make it clear to the reader what type of writer you are and what they can expect from you. Don’t send mixed signals or try to embody two competing concepts at once. If you look over my website, you should readily notice that I write for a young adult audience. I’ve designed the entire site around that; my blog style is also light and casual, like my fiction.

YA has evolved as a genre in recent years. It doesn't necessarily cater to teens anymore. More and more adults pick up YA novels. So, tell us a little about the genesis of Farsighted and why it would appeal to both young and young at heart readers?

Everything started with a single image—my face in these tacky oversized sunglasses reflecting out at me from the car’s side mirror. I was daydreaming while my husband drove us across Michigan for my sister’s wedding. Something about my image really struck me in an almost horrific way. I felt the glasses made me look blind but found it so weird that there was still a clear image within them; it seemed so contradictory. At the time, my book club was reading The Odyssey, which features the blind Theban prophet, Tieresias. I started thinking about what it would be like to have non-visual visions of the future and began forming a modern Tieresias in my mind. Lo and behold, Alex Kosmitoras was born.

I think the cross-demographic appeal of the Young Adult genre has to do with the relatability of the themes explored. Everyone who made it through teendom remembers that desperate desire to find themselves and to find friends who intrinsically understand them. Even when taking a situation so other-worldly—a blind psychic on a quest to prevent a murder—there is still so much the reader can relate to when considering how Alex views his situation and how he deals with it. This factor of relatability is also what makes books like Twilight, Hunger Games, and Harry Potter so haunting—how can a time and a place so unlike our own seem so familiar? It’s something about the genre. Something special.

I agree with you there, Em! Even if we're taken into the forests of Forks or the arena created by the Capital or Hogwarts, the themes and teen issues that are prevalent in these novels resonate among readers, young and old. So, tell us a little more about Alex. What are his motivations within Farsighted?

I think readers will identify with Alex and his desire to be accepted but to also remain independent. In high school, he’s the person on the periphery—always different, which is both a challenge and a mark of pride. He’s shaped by his own way of looking at the world too—his blindness. Of course, Alex has always been blind; he’s always known the world to be a certain way. But not everyone in the book understands that, and they have trouble talking about it with him. Alex has a tendency to overcompensate. He knows who he is and what he’s capable of, and he wants the world to know it too, so sometimes he overdoes things a bit. His primary motivation is to figure out how he can save Simmi—the first friend he’s made in a long time. He has to grapple with his powers and learn how to use them to accomplish this goal, but it’s not easy.

Alex is blind. That seems to be what makes his character different from other protagonists. There aren't many YA novels that feature a main character with a disability. Was it hard to write from the perspective of a blind person? What kind of research did you do to make sure that the novel would be authentic in terms of Alex's blindness?

Writing a blind character was hard, but I think writing any character is hard. It’s such a daunting task to create a-whole-nother person! It was especially challenging to write Alex’s story in first person point-of-view, because I couldn’t describe anything visually. Sometimes I would slip and add in a non-verbal gesture here or there—my beta readers loved finding those and nailing me on ‘em (thank you, beta readers). On the whole, I think this experience made me a much better writer. I had to create an entire world without my dominant sense. This meant I had to slow down and truly think about how a line of dialogue was being delivered, or how a quilted bedspread felt to the touch, or what a specific person’s skin smells like. It got easier as I went along. And, yes, you better believe I did research. I read books and online articles about how blind students go about their days. Early on, you’ll see how Alex’s school experience differs from what yours or mine might’ve been like—but it’s really more similar than it is different.

Let's shift gears a little and talk about marketing. What are your plans when it comes to marketing Farsighted?

Oh my gosh, I’m going crazy on this marketing campaign. I’m putting everything I’ve got into it—and remember, I own a book marketing company, so I’ve got a lot! I started with making a live action book trailer that embodied the book and will hopefully be a great advertisement (I really like it). I also worked with our graphic designer to create a cover and interior design for the novel that is visually interesting all around – no boring back cover and spine for Farsighted, oh no. I’ve been recruiting early reviewers from Novel Publicity’s blog tour program and from prominent YA blogs across the web. I plan to have between 100 and 200 reviewers cover Farsighted during its first month. I’m hiring three outside blog tour companies to run supplemental tours and get even more coverage. I’m doing advertising on key websites like Kindle Nation and Parajunkee. I’m also doing Pay-per-Click advertising on GoodReads, YouTube, and Facebook. I’m networking with other authors to plan cross-promotional activities, and then there’s my mainstay: social media.

Wow! I would say that you have a total media blitz in your hands. But if we were to think in terms of marketing 101, how would you simplify the process for those who might not have the funds or the support of a business? What are the things indie authors can do when marketing their own novel?

This is a question I intend to blog about with a great deal of transparency. As I go along, I will post updates as to what I’m doing and how it’s working. My story will either serve to empower or warn others who might want to go indie—depends on what happens with Farsighted. I already blog tons of social media advice on the Novel Publicity Free Advice Blog, and social media is a great place to start for authors whether or not they have any semblance of a workable budget. Another strategy that costs nothing is contacting bloggers, especially if you can find ones who are willing to review eBooks. Yes, both of these things will take tons and tons of time, but they’re so worth it!

As in everything that we do, especially us writers, everything does take time. Em, you're not just a writer. You are also a business woman, one who is conquering the social media world one social networking site at a time. What made you decide to start Novel Publicity beside just concentrating on your writing?

Novel Publicity almost happened by accident. I started writing blog-style content a couple of years back when I was recruited by the local paper as a “book expert” because of the large classics book group I run (almost 400 members now). They let me write about books, liked my stuff, and made me the lead columnist. After a year-and-a-half of that, I discovered WordPress and Twitter. Both utilities felt like they were just made for me! I decided to combine the two as a way of getting more interaction in the twittersphere and more content for my blog – and thus the twitterview was born (you can read all about twitterviews here). I ask you, what author doesn’t love free and highly visible promo? I don’t know of any! And thus, the twitterview took off hard and fast. Other writers began to look to me as a social media expert, and I began blogging how-to advice. One day I decided to learn more about monetizing my blog and saw that one way to make money was to sell products or services. I got the idea for helping authors with social media marketing and within one month, I launched Novel Publicity. A month after that, I was making more money with NP than I did with my day job, so I quit and became a full-time publicist. I work about 100 hours per week, but I just love what I do. My whole life is books—what could be better?

You're absolutely right, what could be better? On that note, let’s bring this interview to a close. As a writer and as a business woman, what are your final words for our dear readers?

Never give up on your dreams; you have them for a reason.

I just love that! Thank you so much for answering my hard hitting questions, Em. It was a pleasure having you visit my little slice of the Net. And dear readers, if you want a copy of Farsighted for review, make sure to stop by on October 31 for the official Review Request to be posted. It's certainly a great treat to have in your plastic pumpkin!

Blog Tour Notes

THE BOOK: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday).

THE CASH PRIZES: Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that.

THE GIVEAWAYS: Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.

THE AUTHOR: Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!

The Superstition Game: Socks

2011-10-22T18:06:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Halloween is just around the corner? I thought we just started October, and now it's almost over. Which is why I need to get on with the rest of the game. Today, we get to know a little more about socks. Yes, socks. Just like underwear, there are superstitions connected with what we put on our feet. This suggestion is from Heidi at Pages of Gold. So, thanks Heidi for your awesomeness!

Let's get started...

Just as shoes are a focus for various superstitions, so too are socks (or in former times, stockings). Most people agree that the right shoe should go on first but that the left sock should be first to go on, a contradiction of the usual prejudice against the left side. It is also lucky to find that one has put a sock on inside out or to discover that one has put on an unmatching pair (in which case the wearer should leave them as they are to enjoy the full benefit). Should the wearer thrust his toes into the heel of the sock when putting it on, it signifies the imminent arrival of an important letter.

Once on, socks that descend to the ankle for no apparent reason are a sign that a lover is thinking of the person concerned. At the end of the day, those who are prone to nightmares should pin their socks on a cross to the end of the bed to get an undisturbed night's rest. According to another old superstition, sleeping with a (left) sock or stocking around the neck will cure a sore throat and will also give a sleeper dreams of future marriage partners.

Well, there you have it. So, if there's any of you suffering from a sore throat, you may want to wrap a sock around your neck tonight. If it works, check back here and let me know. And because I love finding these videos, here's one about New Socks by NewSocksRock. Enjoy!

Life Story

2011-10-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Conception

Birth

Growth

Death

Grave

The Superstition Game: Spoons

2011-10-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today's post comes from Rusalka at caminando caminando. Teaspoon was the suggestion, so in the interest of compromise, this post will be about spoons since they are in the same family. Let the game begin.

Like other items of cutlery, spoons are associated with a variety of superstitious beliefs. Just as dropping a spoon on the floor is held to be a sign that a baby or child is about to call at the house, the dropping of a large spoon on the table is said to give warning of the imminent arrival of a large group of visitors. Should the bowl of a dropped spoon lie uppermost, a welcome surprise is in the offing, but if it lies bowl downwards, someone is due for a disappointment. Extending the connection between babies and spoons is the Scottish tradition that particular significance may be placed upon the hand with which a baby first picks up a spoon. If it is the right hand, the child may expect a bright and happy future, but bad luck will permanently attend one who uses the left hand.

Other miscellaneous superstitions concerning spoons include the notion that it is unlucky to stir food with the left hand and also unlucky for anyone to pour from a spoon 'back-handed'. More optimistic is the idea that the discovery of two spoons on the same saucer indicates a wedding in the family -- or that someone is about to give birth to twins. The Welsh, of course, have a long tradition of lovers presenting each other with wooden spoons, the carving of which communicates various coded messages from one to the other, while brides much further afield are often given wooden spoons for luck. In other circumstances, however, receiving the 'wooden spoon' is a metaphor for coming last in a competition, often sporting in nature.

So, anyone of you about to enter a race with someone, make sure to give them a wooden spoon. And just to keep things interesting, here's a video from Salad Fingers about spoons. Enjoy:

Review Request: The Next Thing I Knew by John Corwin

2011-10-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Today's novel is from the Corwinator! Email buddy and awesome ninja assassin critique partner. It's my pleasure to present to you The Next Thing I Knew. Read the blurb, and I promise, you'll want to review this book. So, leave your name and email address in the comments section so that John can send you a review copy as soon as possible. Happy Reading!

When Lucy Morgan drops dead along with everyone else on Earth she refuses to take death lying down even if, technically, her corpse is.

She drags her ghostly social life back from the grave and enlists her friends to figure out the rules of the afterlife. More importantly, they want to discover who or what killed everyone and why the heck anyone would do such a mean thing.

But what they discover changes everything. And if they can't figure out how to put their newfound ghostly powers to work, humanity will be extinct for good.

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You can hire me now!

2011-10-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Check out my Hire Me page by clicking on the pages bar above. I would love to help you with all your writing needs.

Review Request: Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K. Tyler

2011-10-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

We have a really interesting novel up for review, today! Read the blurb and see what I mean. And if you want to review it, please leave your name and email address in the comments section so that Pavarti can contact you about your review copy. Happy Reading!

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

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