Review: “Beyond the Hidden Sky (Star Trails Tetralogy Book 1)” by Marcha Fox

“Beyond the Hidden Sky (Star Trails Tetralogy Book 1)” by Marcha Fox is an excellent Science Fiction Novel. Adults will enjoy the scientific and concise description of technology, while younger readers will love the young characters, robots and many other entertaining ingredients. The book has great charm and is easy to read for most parts, but very thought-through and complex in others. Knowing the author as the accomplished writer of concise Astrology books, the competence and easy use of technology and science in this book comes as no surprise. Suspense, dramatic curve and fun parts are well balanced to make for a promising and highly recomended start in this 4-parter. This first volume of the Star Trails Tetralogy, a science fiction series for teens and young adults, begins with a familiar scene, a heated conflict between two siblings. Creena Brightstar is 14, her brother, Dirck, 17 and neither has any clue how their latest altercation will change not only their lives but that of their entire family forever. The story begins with the Brightstar family uncomfortably crammed into a small cabin on a starship immigrating to Cyraria where their father has a prestigious assignment as the planet’s chief terralogist. However, in a desperate attempt for some alone time following their latest argument Creena accidentally sets in motion a chain of events that will not only separate her farther from Dirck than she ever imagined but scatter her entire family throughout the galaxy, each to face harrowing situations the likes of which they’ve never seen. Or was it an accident? With their father’s abilities in high demand, certain power-hungry individuals will stop at nothing to achieve domination, including exploiting the situation in devious and potentially deadly ways. Creena and Dirck soon discover that their comfortable homeworld has left them woefully unprepared for the intrigue, danger, chaos and adventure they encounter, not only in this volume but in the three that follow. Choices, even seemingly small, insignificant ones, can have tremendous consequences as each character discovers in this fast-moving space adventure.

Watch out for my Interview with Marcha on ChristophFischerBooks tomorrow!

Social Media & Internet Author Contacts Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Marcha-Fox/e/B0074RV16O/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6481953.Marcha_A_Fox
Author Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/marchafoxauthor
Author Website:  http://www.StarTrailsSaga.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/startrailsIV
Blog Page: http://marcha2014.wordpress.com/
Tumblr:  http://startrailsiv.tumblr.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/marcha-fox/86/440/326/
Google+:  google.com/+MarchaFoxAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kallioperisingp/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsgOqTmtMFutwU3lt4RByQ
Bublish Author Page:  https://www.bublish.com/author/view/3111
Visit Cyraria in Realm Explorers: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com/2015/02/realm-explorers-part-xxxv-visit-cyraria.html

BUY LINKS Beyond the Hidden Sky
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Hidden-Star-Trails-Tetralogy-ebook/dp/B005JQNN2M/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-the-hidden-sky-marcha-a-fox/1112260474
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/509500
Kobo Link: http:/store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/beyond-the-hidden-sky
Create Space (Print copy): https://www.createspace.com/3911767  

Book Bubble Excerpts
Excerpt 1: Consequences Can Bite  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/2861/
Excerpt 2: Decisions, Decisions  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/3131/
Excerpt 3: Thinking Like a Robot  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4599/
Excerpt 4: A Terrifying Alien World  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4632

A Dark of Endless Days
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Endless-Days-Trails-Tetralogy-ebook/dp/B007X5V1TE/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-dark-of-endless-days-marcha-fox/1112742769
Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/511336
Kobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-dark-of-endless-days
Create Space (Print copy): https://www.createspace.com/3937890  

Book Bubble
Excerpts Excerpt 1:  Listen to your inner voice:  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/2735
Excerpt 2:  UFO Lands at Hill AFB:  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/3228
Excerpt 3:  How does it work?  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/3754
Excerpt 4:  Mingling with Earthlings:  https://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4741  

A Psilent Place Below
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Psilent-Place-Below-Trails-Tetralogy-ebook/dp/B0082CW8QC/
Barnes & Noble Link:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-psilent-place-below-marcha-fox/1120000574
Smashwords: https:/www.smashwords.com/books/view/511348
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-psilent-place-below
Create Space: (Print copy): https://www.createspace.com/3991023  

Book Bubble Excerpts
Book Bubble 1: The World of Psi:  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/2752
Book Bubble 2: Thoughts Become Things: http://www.bublish.com/bubble/view/3589/ Book Bubble 3: A Quieter Hero: http://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4698/  

Refractions of Frozen Time
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Refractions-Frozen-Time-Trails-Tetralogy-ebook/dp/B00RWKN6MA/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/512160
Create Space:  https://www.createspace.com/5055000  

Book Bubble Excerpts
The Fickle Finger of Fate  http://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4602/
Commandos Raid the Caverns http:/www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4666/
The Heart of the Scorpion: http://www.bublish.com/bubble/stream/4730/  

Star Trails Compendium (Includes terms and definitions as well as background information on Cyraria) http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trails-Compendium-Definitions-Description-ebook/dp/B00HFEWWF0/

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“At Odds with Destiny” – Feature: “Broken Angel” by S.W. Vaughn

As I’ve mentioned before, my book “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” is part of this boxed set,  At Odds with Destiny, released March 3 and including ten full-length novels. 

I have had review posts about and interviews with P.C. Zick, Uvi Poznansky, Amalie Jahn, Brandt Legg, Aaron Paul Lazar, Suzanne Jenkins and Janet Morris.

Today I want to introduce another author / book in the Box Set: 

Broken Angel by S.W. Vaughn

To rescue his kidnapped sister, Gabriel is forced to join a crime syndicate, where he discovers a dark underside to the city that few have ever seen. Yet the game can’t be won by their rules. He’ll have to make his own.

An influential crime boss with an appetite for power…

A sadistic enforcer whose tongue is as sharp as his needles…

And an innocent man who is forced to join their twisted games.

How far would you go to save someone you love? Gabriel Morgan discovers there are no limits when he’s plunged into the massive underground gang network known as the Organization. Renamed Angel by the crime boss who’s holding him captive, his task is to earn ten million dollars through bloodshed and violence–or watch his beloved sister die.

BROKEN ANGEL is a powerful suspense thriller, packed with action and edge-of-your-seat tension–from chilling start to shocking, jaw-dropping finale.

Here os a 5 star review from Amazon: 

Broken Angel, by SW Vaughn, breathes with an insistent life of its own, pulling readers along through the dark underworld of barbaric fight clubs and prostitution.

The story unfolds as twenty-two year old Gabriel Morgan, destitute and starving, discovers a lead to his missing sister’s whereabouts deep in the seedy underbelly of Manhattan. For two years, Gabe scoured the city in search of his sibling, driven by memories of their traumatic childhood and praying to rescue Lillith from the ring of prostitution into which she’s been ensnared.

Slade, cold-hearted leader of an underground street fighting society, has been waiting for the unsuspecting Gabriel. Lillith dangles like a spider’s prey in his web, luring Gabe into Slade’s trap.

Beneath the glamour and glitz of Fifth Avenue pulses a world fraught with greed, violence, and cruelty. Captured, tortured and held in a secret complex beneath Fifth Avenue, Gabe is chained to a wall in his own private dungeon, where he discovers his fate. Terms for release: ten million dollars. Broke and desperate, Gabe is forced to fight for Slade in exchange for his sister’s freedom.

Training is brutal and comes with a price. Jenner, slithering and sadistic, delights in torturing Gabriel, calling him his “angel.” The name sticks. Slade bills Angel as his newest weapon; sure that he’ll make millions in the no-holds-barred events.

Angel grows stronger and more resilient as the months pass under Jenner’s vicious tutelage. Jenner tattoos an elaborate set of wings on Angel’s back, driving him into a pain-induced coma. After an excruciating recovery, fight follows fight as Angel strikes blows for freedom. He wins the first, the second, and the third event. He’s good – and discovers a disturbing affinity to the blood sport. Befriended by Akuma, an exotic and lithe fighter, Angel welcomes the brief moments of companionship as he works his way through the human cockfights.

Vaughn has created a fascinating, yet disturbed world. The tight writing flows effortlessly and propels the reader forward, mesmerized and horrified, to the startling ending. Readers must be forewarned, they will likely read late into the night, unable to abandon Angel in his plight, and will beg for the release of Devil’s Honor, the second book in the series.

AT ODDS WITH DESTINY http://BookShow.me/B00SHYGG7C/

SW Vaughn’s website

http://housephoenix.wordpress.com

twitter username

SWVaughn

About this author 

Am I a stereotype if I say I drink a lot of coffee and I have a lot of cats? Because I do, actually…

I write books. I also write web copy, ghost content, product descriptions, whitepapers, and other random things for my Super Seekrit Day Job.

I hate snow. Just thought I’d throw that out there, too.

Let in the dog and let out the cat, for this box holds dangers of the most rarefied kind!

New Historical Novel “In Search of a Revolution” available for pre-order

Slightly ahead of schedule, my next novel is already available for pre-order on Amazon. “In Search of A Revolution” is a return to historical fiction for me and boy did I miss it. The book will be delivered to your Kindle by March 26th. If you cannot wait, I have mobi and pdf Advance Review Copies. Alternatively, you can have a taste of my historical fiction in “At Odds With Destiny“, a discounted multi-author set of ten novels for $0.99, which includes “The Luck of the Weissensteiners”. The Box set will be out on March 03rd and is also available for pre-order. 

Here is the blurb for “In Search of A Revolution“:

In 1918 young Zacharias Nielsen boards a ship in Copenhagen to join the Red Guards in the Finnish Civil War.Encouraged by an idolised teacher with communist leanings, he follows the call for help from his Nordic Comrades, despite his privileged background.    

His best friend, Ansgar, has opposing political ideals to Zacharias but, for his own personal reasons, finds himself soon stuck in the Scandinavian North with Zacharias and Raisa, a Finnish nurse who helps them in their new life. 

Through the years that follow the brotherly war the trio see the political landscape in Finland and Europe change as Communists and Fascists try to make their mark and attempt to change the world order.  

Our heroes must find their own personal and ideological place in these turbulent times as friendship, honour, idealism and love triangles bring out some personal truths. 
 

The book spans almost thirty years of history and the various Finnish conflicts: Civil War, Winter War, Continuation War and the Lapland War. Watch the political and personal self discovery of characters in search of their own revolution.

 

 

PDF and MOBI files are available as Advance Review Copies. The Book is available for Pre-order and will be released on March 26th

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT ODDS WITH DESTINY BOX SET http://BookShow.me/B00SHYGG7C/

Each one of the novels in this boxed set is outside the box. Open it at your own risk!

Bestselling, critically acclaimed, and notoriously creative authors from across the book continuum join forces to bring you At Odds with Destiny, everything you’ve wanted in a boxed set but thought you’d never find: full-length novels brimming with myth, fantasy, mystery, history, romance, drama, originality, heroism, and suspense. Finding themselves at odds with destiny, the characters in these stories fight to shape their future and define who they are. Come follow them in their amazing journeys.

AT ODDS WITH DESTINY http://BookShow.me/B00SHYGG7C/

Rise to Power by Uvi Poznansky

Notorious for his contradictions, David is seen by others as a gifted court entertainer or a traitor leading a gang of felons. How does he see himself? Can he control his destiny and strike a balance between ambition and longing for purity?

Double Forté by Aaron Paul Lazar

In the deep cold of winter, threats erupt from the dark woods, spinning events out of hand—and Gus, tormented by the unexplained death of his wife, braces for the fight of his life.

The Luck of the Weissensteiners by Christoph Fischer

In WW2 Eastern Europe, two families—one Jewish, one Catholic—fight for survival amidst deception, fear, distrust and betrayal. In the entangled web of political, religious and familial loyalties, can love endure?

Outview by Brandt Legg

Nate embarks on a breathless quest to save his brother and unravel the mystery of their father’s death. His desperate flight takes a stunning turn when mystics reveal an extraordinary destiny to him.

Among the Shrouded by Amalie Jahn

An ancient prophesy foretells the birth of seven psychics destine to change the world… Among the Shrouded follows Mia, Thomas and Kate, three unsuspecting strangers whose lives intertwine to reveal the significance of their gifts and the greater purpose of their collective lives.

Pam of Babylon by Suzanne Jenkins

After Jack dies, his wife Pam discovers secrets and lies. Is she destined to succumb to vengefulness against his two lovers, or will she find a different way forward?

Broken Angel by S.W. Vaughn

To rescue his kidnapped sister, Gabriel is forced to join a crime syndicate, where he discovers a dark underside to the city that few have ever seen. Yet the game can’t be won by their rules. He’ll have to make his own.

Tempus by Janet Morris

Woe betide the soul who dares too much! Ride with Tempus and his Sacred Band of Stepsons cavalry into myth, legend, and adventure like no other.

Native Lands by P.C. Zick

When their environment is torn apart by a battle for power and control of the last of the Florida frontier, a tribe of native Floridians thought to be extinct rise up to halt the destruction of the natural world they treasure.

Dream Student by James DiBenedetto

Everything was going according to plan, until the night when college junior Sara Barnes started seeing other people’s dreams. Is she the only one witnessing the secrets of a serial killer?

CHRISTOPH FISCHER

Short Biography:

Christoph Fischer was born in Germany, near the Austrian border, as the son of a Sudeten-German father and a Bavarian mother. Not a full local in the eyes and ears of his peers he developed an ambiguous sense of belonging and home in Bavaria. He moved to Hamburg in pursuit of his studies and to lead a life of literary indulgence. After a few years he moved on to the UK where he now lives in a small hamlet, not far from Bath.  He and his partner have three Labradoodles to complete their family.

Christoph worked for the British Film Institute, in Libraries, Museums and for an airline. ‘The Luck of The Weissensteiners’ was published in November 2012; ‘Sebastian’ in May 2013 and The Black Eagle Inn in October 2013. “Time To Let Go” , his first contemporary work was published in May 2014, and “Conditions” in October 2014. His medical thriller “The Healer” was released in January 2015.

He has written several other novels which are in the later stages of editing and finalisation.

Website: http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/

Blog: https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6590171.Christoph_Fischer

Amazon: http://ow.ly/BtveY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFFBooks

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/christophffisch/

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106213860775307052243

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=241333846

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterChristophFischer?ref=hl

Interview with author and indie supporter Sarah Jane Butfield

How did you come to writing?

Although I have always enjoyed writing I came to being a self published author by accident. I had a long held dream of writing a romantic fiction novel. As this was a bucket list item I took a course in creative writing to upskill to be able to maybe one day achieve my dream. I haven’t written a romance novel yet, but I have inadvertently self published three travel memoirs.

How did you come up with your stories?

My three travel memoirs to date are based on my personal experiences in Australia and France. My new series of guides for new and aspiring authors are based on my personal experiences in the business of self publishing so the honest answer is I find my stories from my daily life.

Who would you cast to play you and your family if your books were made into a movie or television series? 

My children have debated and joked about this question ever since I published Glass Half Full. They seem to think that Robson Green or Daniel Craig would be best suited to play my action man husband Nigel. They have varying opinions on who would take my role ranging from Meryl Streep to Helen Baxendale.

What is your main reason for writing?

I came to writing as a career somewhat by accident after 28 years as a nurse. I have always nurtured the dream of writing a book, taking the old adage that everyone has a book in them to heart, however I always imagined it would be a romance novel and not memoirs that sprung up from a period of adversity whilst pursuing a dream life downunder!

I’ve only read one of the books so far. What is the idea behind your series?

Books 1-3  in the Sarah Jane Travel Memoir series are travel memoirs formulated from my journals written during our time spent living and working in Australia and France.

What are the best and the worst aspects of writing?

The more writing I do the more I love it, but I have a sense of dread as I near completion of a project as the dreaded formatting looms. This is my least favourite part of the process for me, especially preparing for paperback publication

How do you balance marketing one book and writing the next?

I love marketing but I am acutely aware that time management in relation to marketing and writing activities is key. I am a bit geeky in that I plan my day and allocate slots of time for social media, writing and general marketing activities, which is essential when you have a busy home life to juggle as well. Having said that, I am not always successful in keeping to my plan as I can be distracted by a good book!

What do you do when you don’t write? 

I am a new first time grandma so any available time is spent with my grandson Shane who is now 13 weeks old.

Tell us one odd thing about you and one really mundane thing.

Odd – I have been known to go out in my slippers by mistake and my kids delight in not telling me until we are in the supermarket.

Mundane – I find clearing up after cooking the dullest task ever, luckily as I am often criticised for my poor stacking of the dishwasher I am banned now from touching it which means I escape the clearing up most days.

What else would you like us to know about yourself and your books?

I am really enjoying helping some aspiring and debut authors at the moment and although relatively new to self publishing myself if I can help any of them by sharing the knowledge I have learned and had shared with me then it will all be worthwhile. The networking aspect of being a published author is awesome and the fact that so many people give of themselves to help others inspires me to reciprocate in any small ways that I can.

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books? 

I have a few people I use now for different purposes.  I have achieved this mix after some bad experiences. I use Brenda Donovan and Martin Papworth and 6 of the Rukia tweet team as beta readers.

My husband Nigel is in charge of quality control, he has a critical eye for design and detail, from book layout to the book cover pixel quality. He doesn’t pull any punches when advising me of his suggestions for revisions.

How have you found the experience of self-publishing? What were your highs and lows?

I love being self-published, especially when you consider that I didn’t know or understand what was involved in the process until September 2013. It is a continual learning curve and an exciting journey during which I am relishing every step. I am making a great network of friends and colleagues in writer, reader and blogger groups and forums. I enjoy learning new skills and get a great deal of satisfaction from sharing my acquired knowledge, ideas, hints and tips with debut authors in the hope that some of the challenges I faced can be avoided by new or aspiring authors.

What do you like best about writing? What’s your least favourite thing? 

Best – I love finishing a project and pressing the publish button!

Least  favourite – waiting for the first beta reader feedback incase the book is dreadful.

What is your advice to new writers?

Enjoy yourself, write freely and network with people who have a passion for writing.

Who are your favourite independent writers?

I really enjoy Tom Winton’s books. In the field of memoirs the debut book from Richard Klein, ‘Lost Samba’ is outstanding and I also have great respect for the work of Gerry McCullough who writes in multi-genre’s expertly

Who are your favourite authors?

Lisa Genova, Jules Verne and Bill Bryson

What is your favourite book? 

Left neglected by Lisa Genova

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I am currently reading Fred’s Diary 1981 by Robert Fear ebook format.

What makes you laugh?

Only fools and horses I like simple humour!

What (not who) would you like to take to a lonely island?

My notebook and pen, I cannot survive without it!

Who would you like to invite for dinner?

Dalai Lama

Hot or cold?

Hot
Salty or sweet?

Sweet 
What would your friends say are your best and your oddest quality?

Best quality is my patience.

Oddest they will tell you is that I cannot remember the punchline or tell jokes

What would you chose as those qualities?

I think my best quality is my commitment to my family, I defend then to the end and support them in everything that they aspire to achieve.

My oddest is probably my ‘wombling’. I find odd things when out walking or shopping and always think that I will make something or use them in some way, but often never get round to it.
Tell us about your other books?

Aside from my travel memoirs I have also been documenting my writing journey and I am publishing it as a series of guidebooks to help and inspire new or aspiring authors. I also have found from my beta reader feedback that some avid readers of self published authors are curious as to the processes and experiences that we go through and as such they think the guides may be of interested to this reader group.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

For Glass Half Full – ‘Don’t stop me now’ by Queen

For Two Dogs and A Suitcase – London Calling written by David Croft ( theme tune to Allo Allo television series)

For Our Frugal Summer in Charente – The theme tune to The Good Life television series.

How do you handle criticism of your work?

Although when you first hear or read it criticism can appear hurtful and harsh, it is important to take a step back and assess the criticism for any areas of potential improvement. That said, when the criticism is personal and targeted at my family or our relationships/decisions it is harder to remain objective about.

I also wanted to let you know that the Rukia author team are starting a free daily newsletter to allow authors to advertise promo’s, events, new releases etc., for free. We are currently spreading the word for a start date on 1st March.  We have a reader advocate spreading the word to reader groups and book clubs so that they can receive it as a resource to access news and discounted books.

Here is the link: 

Authors – Have you signed up to #RPBP News to use this FREE book promotion and marketing tool? 
Readers – Have you signed up to receive news from your favourite indie authors and great deals on free and discounted books?http://eepurl.com/bcAAGH

Glass Half Full Book links

Nook – bit.ly/BNd2d
Apple – http://bit.ly/ituneGHF
Kobo – http://bit.ly/koboghf
Smashwords – http://bit.ly/1pxf3xB
Kindle – http://bit.ly/ghf38

Subscribe to my newsletter for updates, competitions and sneak previews – http://eepurl.com/0IuML

Sarah Jane’s blog and website:

http://sarahjanebutfield.wix.com/sarahjanebutfield
http://sarahjanebutfield-glass-half-full.blogspot.co.uk/

Follow Sarah Jane on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SarahJanewrites
Stop by and say hello to Sarah Jane here on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahJaneButfield
https://www.facebook.com/Twodogsandasuitcase

https://www.facebook.com/OurFrugalSummerinCharente

Support and networking for authors provided by Sarah Jane:

http://www.rukiapublishing.com/

https://www.facebook.com/RukiaPublishing

https://www.facebook.com/promotingauthors

Bravo Julianne Moore! #alzheimers’ speech

Tags

Alzheimer

I’m very happy that Julianne Moore won her Oscar. It was long overdue.

I’m also happy that, in her acceptance speech, she mentioned that it is important that Alzheimer’s patients are being seen and given a voice.

 

Avoiding the issue and pretending that it isn’t happening prevents early diagnosis and vital early treatment. Talking about the disease more openly will help raise wider awareness and hopefully result in increased research funding. It will also help the patients and their families to show them that they are not alone.
All these points were made by Julianne – what a gracious gesture during her moment of glory.

Money needs to go into research to tackle the illness that affects an ever growing number of people. And for that we need said awareness  so that politicians and financers pick up on the subject. Films and media can help to do that.

It was exactly that what motivated me in writing my novel about Alzheimers, TIME TO LET GO.
I’ve struggled for a long time after I had written the book, wondering  if I could put it out there. Some friends told me they wouldn’t be able to read it because it might be too close to their own situations.
Are writers allowed to be explicit about something that can be felt as embarrassing? Can we peek into someone’s life and suffering? How far can we go in our endeavour to educate and illustrate intimate family situations? Where is the line of hurting someone’s dignity?

It’s a very difficult line to draw. I hope I have shown just enough of how bad things can get in my book to raise awareness of what families are going through, without going too far. I’m dying now to see STILL ALICE now and see how they handled that issue.

Please go and see the film and talk about it. Maybe someone will hear you and go to the Doctor. Early diagnosis is vital. Hearing more people talk about it also important to break down the feelings of isolation that sufferers and their friends may feel.

There is a lot of information out there, on the Internet and via helplines and organisations, but not everyone is comfortable using them.

Alzheimer.org is one and for the UK I recommend http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Go and spread the word!

“At Odds with Destiny”- Feature: “Pam of Babylon” by Suzanne Jenkins

As I’ve mentioned a few times by now, my book “The Luck of the Weissensteiners” is part of this boxed set,  At Odds with Destiny, released March 3 and including ten full-length novels. 

I have had review posts about and interviews with P.C. Zick, Uvi Poznansky, Amalie Jahn, Brandt Legg, Aaron Paul Lazar and Janet Morris. Today I want to introduce  another author / book in the Box Set: 

I have had review posts about and interviews with P.C. Zick, Uvi Poznansky, Amalie Jahn, Brandt Legg and Janet Morris. Today I want to introduce another author / book in the Box Set: 

“Pam of Babylon” by Suzanne Jenkins

After Jack dies, his wife Pam discovers secrets and lies. Is she destined to succumb to vengefulness against his two lovers, or will she find a different way forward?

Warning readers! Mature content.

Deemed “an intriguing first novel” by Kirkus Reviews, this poignant tale follows Pam, a beautiful Long Island housewife who learns of her husband’s dark secrets only after his sudden death

Her seemingly perfect life is shattered when her husband dies of a heart attack and she comes face to face with his lies and infidelities.

This poignant, affecting drama follows a courageous widow who confronts the horror of a destructive marriage when the people her husband left behind come to share their painful stories.

Here os a 5 star review from Amazon: 

When a book starts from a seemingly perfect place for the character, you know he is not going to stay there long… So when Jack Smith is looking at the face of Sandra, his mistress, thinking “I am the luckiest man alive,” his luck is at its end. Not only would Marie, his wife’s sister, find out about his affair, but he would to live long enough to try to handle the scandal with Pam, his meek, trusting wife.

While he is cheating on her, Pam waits excitedly for his return. “She had the week to prepare for his homecoming… she tried to make it an oasis for him.” Despite her trust in Jack, she knows intuitively that things between them are not quite right. “There was a tiny, itsy bit of doubt, a niggling worry, an insecurity in the back of her mind. He was disconnected from her.”

When she gets a call from the hospital that Jack has died from a heart attack, Pam goes to pieces and then, gradually, reassembles them, finding a new strength in herself. She now learns the truth about him and a few of the women with whom he betrayed her. Sandra, too, goes through grief: “Her life had changed overnight.”

This book is about looking forward to restart life already, even in the presence of death. It is about healing, part of which comes from forgiveness. I know this sounds strange to some readers, who find Pam’s behavior ’too unreal.” Apparently it is easier and perhaps more natural for many of us to succumb to vengefulness. At the same time, this is exactly why this book is so fascinating. It offers a different possibility, a more hopeful one. “There was something about cleaning up, washing everything, that spoke of new beginnings.”

The author, Suzanne Jenkins, stated that she wrote the character as the opposite of herself. “I am at the opposite end of the spectrum of reactions….I wouldn’t be forgiving and embracing.” Yet I feel that by the end of the story Pam inhabits her to such a degree that her words come straight from the heart, gut, and mind.

Five stars.

AT ODDS WITH DESTINY http://BookShow.me/B00SHYGG7C/

Suzanne Jenkins lives at the west Michigan lakeshore. She is the author of Pam of Babylon and the series; Don’t You Forget About Me,Dream Lover, Prayers for the Dying, Family Dynamics and The Tao of Pam. The Greeks of Beaubien Street,and The Princess of Greektown from the Greektown Stories, Alice’s Summertime Adventure, The Savant of Chelsea and Someone Like You.
https://www.facebook.com/suzannejenki…
Twitter @suzannejenkins3 (less)

Let in the dog and let out the cat, for this box holds dangers of the most rarefied kind!

“Apocalypse Weird: Immunity” by E. E. Giorgi – Launch Party and Review

The big Apocalypse Weird launch  

Five Apocalypse Weird books to read and collect from Wonderment Media

Wonderment Media is publishing FIVE books, all set in the Apocalypse Weird world, from five incredible authors. Immunity by E.E. Giorgi is already out. E. E. Giorgi is no stranger to this blog. I’m a big fan.

There is also Facebook party on Monday (day of posting!) and all reviewers are eligible to win awesome prizes. There will be additional giveaways for everyone, read my post about it here. (E.E. Giorgi’s, not my post btw)

Here is my review of the book:

“Apocalypse Weird: “Immunity” by E.E. Giorgi was given to me as Advance Review Copy in exchange for a review. Having read other work by the author I was more than happy to accept this honour.
“Immunity” is another powerful and fascinating thriller by this scientifically knowledgable and entertaining writer. The story starts strongly with a very dramatic scene and then introduces the plot of a viral outbreak that turns the infected into psychopaths.
While the action and the suspense manage to keep up throughout the plot, there is – as in Giorgi’s previous novels – a very intelligent core subject about genetics that provides stimulating food for thought.
I’m very interested in the topic and was amazed at the clever concept behind this gripping story.
The book reads easily and is hard to put down.
In a genre where much is repetition this book easily stands out for originality and a serious foundation in science. Convincing characters and great action add to the book’s credit. For fans of medical thrillers a must and highly recommended to everyone else.

Find Immunity on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Link to my previous post and interview with E.E. Giorgi 

 

“Ordinary people have a story to tell” – The Luck of the Weissensteiners: “Interesting WWII perspective”

Here are the highlights of the latest reviews for my historical novel THE LUCK OF THE WEISSENSTEINERS:5.0 out of 5 stars I’m not a history buff but enjoyed the details incorporated into the book., February 19, 2015By Terri martin     Verified Purchase While the story started slow, it didn’t take long for me to be pulled into the lives portrayed in the story.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ordinary people have a story to tell., February 19, 2015

By

Kathy Waters – 

 

Verified Purchase

For years authors concentrated their efforts in writing about the big events and people of history, totally ignoring the millions of people who were affected by decisions made out of their controller. These people have their own stories to tell and are as important in the grand scheme of life as the decision makers. There are a lot more ordinary people than there are people at the top. Without all those at the bottom, the top people would not exist. This book does a very good job of painting a picture of some of these ordinary people and how they survived the chaos of WWII in a part of the world of which one rarely reads. It portrays the resilience of the human nature.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, February 19, 2015

By

L. Wallace (AZ) –  

 

Verified Purchase

Just finished this novel and just loved it! It was wonderfully written in third party form. This was my first book with a setting in Europe during the Hitler period. The build up of the characters, locations and the history kept me intrigued.

5.0 out of 5 stars nice, February 18, 2015

By

Al Stafford – 

Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

Great book. Very interesting. Easy to read

4.0 out of 5 stars Lucky pick…, February 17, 2015

By

martha marie pinkerton 

Verified Purchase

What a fine and well written story of the trials of WW11 Slovakian Jews and the ever hopeful Weissensteiners.
Readers of Historical Fiction will enjoy this fine read and look for more from an author ti be watched.

4.0 out of 5 stars Book 1, February 16, 2015

By

azsue40 – See all my reviews

 

Verified Purchase 

An enjoyable read from the era of WWII and the ongoing struggle of a Jewish family as they outwit the force of Hitler and his soldiers.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting WWII perspective, February 16, 2015

By

Karen – 

Verified Purchase

This book just pulled me in although sometimes the reading got a bit tedious. Very interesting in that it exposes the reader to perspectives of individual people who were forced to endure intolerable conditions where they had little or no control. The interactions and human frailties and strengths were fascinating. Politics, voting and staying engaged in your country’s ruling class’s actions as painful as that may be at times is vital to freedom. Today, so many take it for granted.

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly absorbing., February 15, 2015

By

Wussyboy (Surrey) – 

As a typical first-generation exile child from WWII (my Hungarian mother was an exile and so was my Polish father), I came to this book with considerable interest. And learnt a lot. Mr Fischer has done a remarkable job in reconstructing a turbulent period of history – from 1932 to 1945 – of which little first-hand experience remains. It almost feels like the ‘lucky’ Weissensteiners, whose luck owes as much to their innate optimism and naivete than to mere happenstance, are a real family, so well researched is this excellent and highly readable book. As honest and ever-resourceful weaver Jonah (‘one lucky Schmuck’) and his daughters Greta and Wilma reel from one near calamity to the next, all the way from the Ukraine to Slovakia to Germany, and struggle to survive the Jew-hating pograms aimed at their kind, the reader is drawn into an open-mouthed astonishment at how, for one short decade, bigotry and racism ruled the Western world and managed to destroy so much of it. Fischer’s skill is that we really care for the characters, flawed though some of them (like Johanna and the Countess) are, and manages to skirt the thin line between high drama and pithy pathos so effectively. I remember my mother telling me of the day she returned from church to her home in Budapest, only to find it flattened by American chain bombs. ‘Well,’ she remarked stoically to a friend, ‘that’s life!’ This is the tone and the beauty of this book. There are no frills or pretensions here. In a world gone mad, where people changed religion in order to survive, and where families lost everything overnight, shrugged, and just carried on, this is exactly how it must have been.

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Perspective, February 15, 2015

By

Ruth L Christy  

Verified Purchase

It’s amazing how bigotry and disdain for human differences follow from generation to the next, yet no civilization ever seems to learn the lessons of history. This story is sad, provocative and told from perspectives that are often lost to the pages of history. Then again maybe that’s why lessons are never learned.

The Luck of the Weissensteiners (Three Nations Trilogy Book 1) 

In the sleepy town of Bratislava in 1933 a romantic girl falls for a bookseller from Berlin. Greta Weissensteiner, daughter of a Jewish weaver, slowly settles in with the Winkelmeier clan just as the developments in Germany start to make waves in Europe and re-draws the visible and invisible borders. The political climate in the multifaceted cultural jigsaw puzzle of disintegrating Czechoslovakia becomes more complex and affects relations between the couple and the families. The story follows them through the war with its predictable and also its unexpected turns and events and the equally hard times after.
But this is no ordinary romance; in fact it is not a romance at all, but a powerful, often sad, Holocaust story. What makes The Luck of the Weissensteiners so extraordinary is the chance to consider the many different people who were never in concentration camps, never in the military, yet who nonetheless had their own indelible Holocaust experiences. This is a wide-ranging, historically accurate exploration of the connections between social location, personal integrity and, as the title says, luck.

On Amazon:  http://smarturl.it/Weissensteiners

AT ODDS WITH DESTINY http://BookShow.me/B00SHYGG7C/

Review: “Jonathan’s Locket” by Lorraine Carey

I’ve been noticing Lorraine Carey om Twitter and Facebook for some time. I finally caught up with her and some of her books. (I am also posting an interview with Lorraine on ChristophFischerBooks.com tomorrow) 

“Jonathan’s Locket” by Lorraine Carey is a beautiful cross between historical fiction and fantasy, connecting the story of an orphan in 1794 and another boy, 200 years later.
The location of Grand Cayman inspires stories of early explorers, shipping adventures, pirates and treasures but Carey brings a little more substance to the story by showing the hardship for a little boy who just wants to know who his mother is, and stows himself away in one of the ships to find out.
While Jonathan’s story is heart wrenching, Brandon brings fun and the sense of adventure into the novel; he and the ‘mystical sea turtle’. A great ghost story with two wonderful teenage characters from different centuries this is a lovely story, seemingly aimed at a younger audience but very appealing to this rather matured reader.
Very enjoyable.

Orphaned Jonathan Palmer is a fifteen year old stowaway aboard the doomed ship The Convert which was part of the fleet that crashed into the reef on Grand Cayman in 1794. This famous shipwreck was known as the Wreck of the Ten Sails. Jonathan was not lucky enough to survive the wreck along with eight other seamen. Problem was, no one ever knew he was even on board.
Two centuries later strange sightings have been reported of ghost ships, screams and eerie lights off the east end of Grand Cayman. Brandon Wallace, a troubled teen seems to acquire a strange affliction and begins to have bizarre encounters from the sea where he befriends a mystical sea turtle who holds the secrets to the mysterious sightings as he plunges into the world of the paranormal . Here he is compelled to embark on a dangerous journey, risking his life to uncover the dark secret of Jonathan’s death. This task proves to be even more dangerous when one of Brandon’s closest friends has other plans for him.

Jonathan’s Locket:

http://amzn.to/1o3FRab   Amazon

http://bit.ly/1xCr0FI     Smashwords

bit.ly/1r51Qvq              Barnes & Noble

Here is an interview with the lovely Lorraine

 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StorySpirit4U?ref=hl

Twitter https://twitter.com/StorySpirit4U

My website www.lorrainecarey.com  Blog is also on my site.

Linkedin  http://linkd.in/X2jOFq

Google+https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LorraineCarey/posts

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4965585.Lorraine_Carey

Amazon Page

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00ELQBUHQ

Blog

http://www.adele-angelic-lights.blogspot.com

Buy Links for her other Books.

Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn:

http://amzn.to/1mMYjBb Amazon

http://bit.ly/1tbEAks   Smashwords

http://bit.ly/1A3FznG    Barnes & Noble

Out of the Ashes, A Dean Banks Adventure:

http://amzn.to/1hxtziI Amazon

The Last Vestal Virgin:

amzn.to/1ro6v9W    Amazon

bit.ly/15LZ4q5          Smashwords

bit.ly/1yDYXax       Barnes & Noble

Losing Ground:

http://amzn.to/1x7AEAM

Amazon

http://bit.ly/13o3Bxx   Barnes & Noble

Beloved Sacrifice:

http://amzn.to/1sKfV70  Amazon

http://bit.ly/1C9YmPK    iTunes

Twitter Tips

Here are the links to three useful blog posts and articles about twitter. 

First up an article on how activity on twitter might help your presence in the google search engines:
http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2015/02/16/twitter-announces-deal-with-google/

“We struggle every day as authors to get the word out about what we do. It’s important to be firing on all cylinders. The agreement between Google and Twitter might help us in that endeavor. So, if you aren’t active on Twitter, maybe now is the time to reconsider. It will take a few months before the effect is noticed on Google, as the best estimate of the functionality taking place is sometime in the first half of the year. Happy tweeting!”

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241789

Secondly: Tips on how and when to tweet http://services4authors.com/2014/07/25/7-must-do-tactics-for-promotional-tweets/

We all know that Twitter should only be used for self promotion for about one in ten of the Tweets you send out. But that still means you can send the occasional Tweet, as long as you have given value to your followers in your other Tweets, either linking to something they might be interested in, replying to Tweets you have received or ReTweeting.

When it comes to the moment you can Tweet something promotional there’s some important things you can do to ensure you get the desired response, and don’t annoy your followers.

http://services4authors.com/2014/07/25/7-must-do-tactics-for-promotional-tweets/

 And another tip: Use https://analytics.twitter.com to see how people inetract and respond to your tweets – it’s free

Last but not least an Entrepreneur.com article with tips for your tweeting content and habits http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241789

“Most entrepreneurs aren’t experts on Twitter, but all entrepreneurs can improve their engagement with a few minor adjustments. The following are seven ways to set your Twitter feed on fire”

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241789