#FirstLineFriday #GiveawayContest #FreeDownloads

February 21, 2020February 21, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 18 Comments

Welcome once again to #FirstLineFriday, a little quiz designed to help us appreciate some of the best opening lines in literary history. From the classics of long ago to the latest best-sellers, everything is fair game.

As always, the rules are simple:

Be one of the first five people to email me before the game ends at 4:00pm, with the title and authorof the correct book.
Do not reply here on the blog.Email only: marciameara16@gmail.com
Honor System applies. No Googling, please.
Submissions end at 4:00 P.M. EST, or when I receive 5 correct answers, whichever comes first.
Winners who live in the U.S.may request a free download of any one of my books for themselves, or for someone of their choice. OR, if they’ve read all of the offered books, they may request a free download of my next publication.
Winners who live elsewhere may request a PDF file of the same books, since, sadly, Amazon won’t let me gift you from the site.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! (Hopefully, this one will be a bit easier for many of you.) Here’s today’s opening line:

“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.”

Remember, email answers only, please. Thanks! And now off I go to await your guesses.

Review: Finding Hunter by @MarciaMeara #TuesdayBookShare

February 18, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 8 Comments

Since I didn’t have anyone scheduled for the afternoon #ShareAReviewDay slot, I decided to reblog this wonderful review of Finding Hunter from Joan Hall. Hope you’ll check it out and pass it along. Hunter Painter could use the love! 😀 Thanks so much, and thank you to Joan for such a super review! 🙂 ❤

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday – Speak Flapper – Slang of the 1920s by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

February 18, 2020February 18, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 45 Comments

It’s Tuesday again, folks, and time to welcome our guest of the day, Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene. Teagan is sharing a review of her book, Speak Flapper – Slang of the 1920s, and I know you’ll enjoy reading about this one. I’ve always been fascinated with the decade, myself, and I have this book coming up very soon on my Kindle. Really looking forward to reading it. In the meantime, please help Teagan get the word out by sharing this review far and wide. Thanks! (And by the way–how perfect is this wonderful cover? Exactly right, if you ask me.)

REVIEW:

Ms Fiza Pathan
An entertaining & informative book
Reviewed in India on February 3, 2020
Format: Kindle Edition, Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book. Author Teagan Geneviene’s book ‘Speak Flapper’ is entertaining, informative & a good introductory book to the words & talk of America in the 1920s. I loved all the ‘Jazz Age’ words in the book. The book was really enjoyable & a fast read.

I loved the history notes & 1920s trivia mentioned in the book; they gave me a lot of perspective about USA in that decade of the 20^th century. I loved the reference to James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ & many other trivia that made me realize the origins of so many words related to the Jazz era. I also realized that I unknowingly use so many Flapper words & phrases which all originated during this era. Some of these words are Baloney, Big Cheese, Clam, Crashing Party, Get it, All wet, Old fruit, Mrs. Grundy, Jalopy, Hitch, Killjoy & so many other words.

All this is penned beautifully by talented author Teagan Geneviene. This book certainly gets 5 stars from me. Kudos to her on a job well done! I look forward to reading more fiction & non-fiction books by her in the near future.

BLURB:

Speak Flapper – Slang of the 1920s is a dictionary of slang from the Roaring Twenties. I collected these terms while researching my various fictional stories set in the 1920s. I am a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club (#RRBC_Community) and this book is part of their catalog. Speak Flapper debuted an Amazon #1 New Release in its category.

The book is intended for entertainment purposes. It is also peppered with history and trivia about the era. You might use it in preparing for a 1920s costume party, or for a gathering to watch a favorite movie or TV show set in the Roaring Twenties. Or use it for the simple personal fun of speaking flapper!

You’re the cat’s pajamas!

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Buy Kindle Speak Flapper HERE
Buy Print Speak Flapper HERE

Author Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene’s work is colored by her experiences from living in the southern states and the southwest (of the USA). Teagan most often writes in the fantasy genre, but she also writes cozy 1920s mysteries, steampunk, and what she calls Twilight Zone-ish stories. Whether it’s a 1920s mystery, a steampunk adventure, or an urban fantasy, her stories have a strong element of whimsy.

Her talents also include book covers and promotional images. She makes all of her own. Teagan is currently exploring the idea of offering that service to others.

All of the books by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene are available at her Amazon Author Page.

Amazon Author Page

You can reach Teagan on Social Media Here:

Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
LinkedIn

#BookReview – A BOY NAMED RABBIT by Marcia Meara

February 17, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 24 Comments

Even though it’s not #ShareAReviewDay here on The Write Stuff, I can’t resist sharing Deborah Jay’s review of A Boy Named Rabbit with you this morning. It simply made my morning, and after the events of last week, I really needed some warm fuzzies! I’m always so happy when readers fall for this little boy who’s such a joy to write. Please check out what Debby has to say, and then pass it along if you would. Thanks so much, and a million heartfelt thank-yous to Debby, too. 🙂 ❤

deborahjay

My first review of the year was for book #1 in Marcia Meara’s WAKE-ROBIN RIDGE series, and I’m moving right along with my review for book #2, A BOY NAMED RABBIT. I read all four back-to-back, so I will get around to reviewing the others shortly.

A Boy Named Rabbit by Marcia Meara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sarah and Mac survived a terrifying encounter with a vengeful ghost in book #1 of this series, ending up happy and settled together, but nothing could have prepared them for the way their world is turned topsy-turvy in book #2 by the arrival of an elusive figure on their land. Quite what – or who – is the wild, half-starved boy Sarah sees near the grave of Mac’s son?
Meara has created a truly unique character in Rabbit – a child raised in complete isolation from the modern world. The only…

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Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – 9th to 15th February 2020 – Food, Music, Guest, New book releases, Book Reviews and Laughter.

February 16, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 4 Comments

Once again, Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog’s Weekly Round-Up post is jam packed full of goodies. Funny videos, news about fellow writers, all sorts of great stuff. Check it out, and don’t forget to pass it along. Thanks, and thanks to Sally for assembling this weekly post. I really look forward to these! 🙂 ❤

#FirstLineFriday Submissions Are Now Closed! Here’s the Answer to Our Quiz.

February 14, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 19 Comments

I had a feeling this one was going to stump a lot of people, but as I promised, this is a book I’d bet that every single one of you has at least heard of. For some reason, it appealed to my wicked sense of humor to use a line from a very well-known book, but which would probably fool all of us, me included. I was willing to be wrong and give away some downloads today, but alas. I called it correctly. Sorry to say we have no winners.

So with that in mind, are you ready to find out which very famous book none of us can recognize from the opening line? Okay. Here goes.

“You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings.” is the opening line from Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus written by English author Mary Shelley though first published anonymously in 1818. Her name did not appear until the second edition published in Paris in 1821.

Frankenstein is infused with elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement. Brian Aldiss has argued that it should be considered the first true science fiction story because, in contrast to previous stories with fantastical elements resembling those of later science fiction, the central character “makes a deliberate decision” and “turns to modern experiments in the laboratory” to achieve fantastic results. It has had a considerable influence in literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories, films and plays.

Since the novel’s publication, the name “Frankenstein” has often been used to refer to the monster itself. In the novel, Frankenstein’s creation is identified by words such as creature, monster, fiend, and wretch, but it is the monster’s creator who is correctly identified as Victor Frankenstein.

There are many editions of this book available on Amazon, but I chose to use the one featuring what most of us think of when we discuss the book or, more likely, one of the many film adaptations. No one can forget Boris Karloff as Frankenstein’s monster, I’m sure.

AMAZON BLURB:

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley about the young student of science Victor Frankenstein, who creates a grotesque but sentient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty.

Shelley had travelled through Europe in 1814, journeying along the river Rhine in Germany with a stop in Gernsheim which is just 17 km (10 mi) away from Frankenstein Castle, where two centuries before an alchemist was engaged in experiments. Later, she travelled in the region of Geneva (Switzerland)—where much of the story takes place—and the topics of galvanism and other similar occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her lover and future husband, Percy Shelley. Mary, Percy, Lord Byron, and John Polidori decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for days, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made; her dream later evolved into the story within the novel.

BUY Frankenstein HERE

And that’s it for this week, folks. (See? I told you this was a book familiar to all of us. I’ve even read it. More than once, back in my misspent youth. But be darned if I recognized that opening line.) Next week, I promise to go easier on you! Hope you’ll join me then for another #FirstLineFriday.

#FirstLineFriday #GiveawayContest #FreeDownloads

February 14, 2020February 9, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 22 Comments

Sometimes it takes a while to get here, but sooner or later, it’s Friday again, and time for another #FirstLineFriday quiz. Today, I’ve picked an opening line which amuses me, and I’m going to enjoy seeing how many of you recognize it. Let’s play!

As always, the rules are simple:

Be one of the first five people to email me before the game ends at 4:00pm, with the title and authorof the correct book.
Do not reply here on the blog.Email only: marciameara16@gmail.com
Honor System applies. No Googling, please.
Submissions end at 4:00 P.M. EST, or when I receive 5 correct answers, whichever comes first.
Winners who live in the U.S.may request a free download of any one of my books for themselves, or for someone of their choice. OR, if they’ve read all of the offered books, they may request a free download of my next publication.
Winners who live elsewheremay request a PDF file of the same books, since, sadly, Amazon won’t let me gift you from the site.

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for! Here’s today’s opening line:

“You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings.”

There you have it. Remember, email answers only, please. Thanks! And now off I go to await your guesses.

#SpringtimeTea #DeBaryHall – Reminder

February 13, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 3 Comments

Just a quick reminder for those of you the central Florida area. If you are planning to attend the springtime tea at DeBary Hall (11:00am, Saturday Feb 22), you need to contact the hall right away to make reservations. They have to know how many lunches to order from the caterers.

Hope to see you there for a yummy lunch, custom teas, a reading & Q&A session with me, and a signed book of your choice, all included in the $25 cost. But don’t wait. The formal parlor area only seats about 20 folks, so don’t miss out.

Call 386-668-3840 and reserve your spot today!

Hope to see you there!

How to Avoid Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village

February 13, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 19 Comments

Nicholas Rossis just shared one of the funniest things I’ve ever read, so of course, I had to pass it along to you guys, in honor of ThorsDaySmiles. Maybe it’s just my twisted sense of humor, but I could not stop laughing as I read, and I definitely needed a good laugh today. (More on that later.) Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and will also share far and wide. (I suspect most of us can use a good laugh by the time ThorsDay rolls around. 😀 )

Nicholas C. Rossis

We’ve been watching a lot of Midsommer Murders and the likes with Electra over the years. From which we have concluded that few places are as dangerous as quaint English villages. Now, a hilarious article by Maureen Johnson on Crime Reads, explains just how dangerous they really are – and what you can do to avoid meeting a grisly death.

If you enjoy it as much as I did, you may want to check out its writer, Maureen Johnson. Maureen is the author of the Truly Devious mystery series, which culminates with The Hand on the Wall (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins; January 21, 2020). Visit her online, on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Stay away from the village fete, do you understand?

It’s happened. You’ve finally taken that dream trip to England. You have seen Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Hyde Park. You rode in a…

View original post 1,033 more words

#ShareAReviewDay Tuesday -Simple by Anita Dawes

February 11, 2020February 9, 2020 / Marcia Meara / 43 Comments

Please help me welcome Anita Dawes back to The Write Stuff this afternoon. Anita is sharing a lovely review of her novel Simple. I’m sure you’ll enjoy checking it out and will also be happy to pass it along to your favorite social media sites. Thanks so much, and thanks for being here, Anita!

REVIEW:

D. W. Peach
5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting page-turner!
Verified Purchase

This story was a riveting page-turner that I was unable to put down and couldn’t wait to get back to when I did. The tale takes place in the backwoods hill country of the Eastern US where life unfolds according to different rules than it does in town. The law has no influence, relationships are frequently brutal, and survival requires living by one’s instincts.

The main character, Leanne, grows up in a cabin with her grandmother and extended family where a “meanness” comes out in violence and cruelty. She and her mentally disabled uncle, Simple, are burdened with kind hearts and eventually, their defiant choices put them in mortal danger of their own family.

Part of what makes the book so engrossing is its utter unpredictability. The tension is on a knife’s edge at all times. The family is explosive, and Leanne, though only fourteen, survives by her wits, knowing full well the nature of her adversaries. All of the characters are thoroughly believable and so real that I’m staying far away from any place where I might run into their like. Honestly, it’s a bit chilling.

Dawe’s prose reflects the colloquial dialog and lack of education among the hill-folk, and yet it flows smoothly and is effortless to read. Each character’s voice is distinct and consistent. There is no gratuitous sex or violence, although these elements are frequently present as ways in which the family’s goals, anger, and revenge are carried out. The details regarding hill-life lend credibility to the story and increase immersion.

Despite the brutality, ultimately this is a read about the power of kindness and love, and finding one’s way home. This book is one of my favorites this year. Definitely high on my recommendation list.

BLURB:

SHADES OF DELIVERANCE MEETS THE WALTONS…
Simple’s life is a painful nightmare.

He is one huge bear of a man, but with the heart and mind of an innocent child. He suffers terrible abuse from his vicious and uncaring backwoods family.

Together with his half-sister Leanne, they are hunted like wild animals and suffer the terror of nearly being burned alive as they try to escape.

Will they ever discover the joy of freedom?

Buy Simple HERE

Author Anita Dawes

Hi, my name is Anita and although I am over 70, I am by no means a ‘silver surfer’. I have been writing fiction for a while now but never been picked up by the mainstream publishers. They all loved what I wrote, but said it was hard to slot them into a category! It came tantalizingly close with Bad Moon, but no cigar, as they say.

When I retired, and with the help of my sister-in-law Jaye, I decided to dust off some of my manuscripts and try to achieve the impossible.

I am a paper and pencil girl. You could chain me to a computer for years and nothing would happen! Jaye is managing to cope with it, but then she has much more patience than I do. (She is as stubborn as a mule, which helps!)

They say you are never too old to learn, but in my case never is another word for infinity!

You can find Anita on Social Media here:

Email: jenanita01@btinternet.com
Website/blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Author Page
Pinterest
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