I’m visiting with Cathy and friends this morning, over on Between the Lines, with a new excerpt from The Emissary 2. Hope you’ll check it out and pass the word along. My thanks to Cathy for inviting me over, and to you guys for passing the word along. 🙂 ❤
Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – New book on the shelves – The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody by Marcia Meara
Lovely to have The Emissary 2 added to the bookshelves over on Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Blog Magazine. Thanks a million to Sally for being such a generous supporter of writers everywhere, and I hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and help her spread the word. (She ROCKS, you know.) 🙂 ❤
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#ReleaseDayNews – The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody Is Now Available!
The past year has been one of writing in fits and starts and changing books in mid-stream. It was the first time I’ve set aside one draft to start another, and the first year in which I have only finished one book. So far. But today, I’m very happy to say that The Emisssary 2: To Love Somebody is now available for download on Amazon.
How It All Came About:
After I published my second Riverbend novel, Finding Hunter, I began receiving a lot of questions about Gabe Angelino, a trucker who played a pivotal role in the story. It appears Willow wasn’t the only one who thought he might be a real angel instead of just a good man. At every local event, someone invariably asked me about that mysterious trucker, so I decided I better do something about it. But what?
I considered the idea for a while, then the lightbulb went off! Maybe a standalone novella would be a way to tell Gabe’s story without falling too far behind on my series. The first questions I needed to answer were the ones everyone kept asking me—was Gabe Angelino really an angel? Or was he just a nice guy?
Hmmm. I pondered. I drank many cups of Earl Grey and pondered longer. After an hour or two of this, I knew exactly what I wanted to do:
- Was Gabe an angel? No.
- Was he just a nice guy? No.
- Was his name even Gabe Angelino? No.
Gabe was going to be something different. Unique. And hopefully, someone who would both make people smile and speak to their hearts. Thus began the what-ifs: Continue reading
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#ShareAReviewDay – Children of the Mist by Hywela Lyn
This afternoon, Hywela Lyn is back with a review of her second book in the Destiny Trilogy, Children of the Mist. I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading this one, and will pass it along to the Immediate World, via social media. Thanks so much!
REVIEW:
Orchid – Long and Short Reviews
5 Stars and ‘Best Book’
A viral plague decimates the people of Earth Colony Niflheim. First their telepathic powers disappear cutting them off from the rest of the planet, then death takes them from their loved ones.
The elders call representatives from all the settlements to gather at Gladsheim. Their aim is to send a telepathic message to the stars to the only person who can help.
Vidarh arrives at Gladsheim as the representative from Sleipnir. The manner in which he arrives startles the people of Gladsheim, especially Tamarith. Vidarh takes an instant liking to Tamarith but realizes she is far above him in ability and station. He knows he has no chance to win her affection when he finds out Tamarith is in love with someone else.
In the depths of space Jess receives the telepathic message from Niflheim. She and Dahl head for Niflheim in their ship Quest. Due to past help received from the Nifls they are only too pleased to offer their assistance. Samples of the disease are collected for them to take offplanet to the Phidians in the hope a cure for the virus can be found.
Everything goes to plan until Jess and Dahl try to leave the planet. They are forced to return to Gladsheim where the Nifls have discovered sinister undertones to the sickness. Strangers on Niflheim are causing death and destruction to the telepaths way of life. The technology and knowledge of Jess and Dahl combined with the telepathic and kinetic ability of Vidahr and Tamarith are needed to save the planet. But is there enough time?
This book is wonderful! There are few books that hold my interest to the point where I can’t bear to put it down, but Children of the Mist is most certainly at the top of this list. The attraction between Tamarith and Vidarh is beautifully written. The involvement of telepathy would appear to make it easier for them to share their feelings, but this isn’t the case. If anything telepathy makes it harder as they hide their minds from one another. This puts their lives in danger more than once. Continue reading
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#ShareAReviewDay – Mourning Dove by Claire Fullerton
This morning, please help me welcome author Claire Fullerton who is sharing a lovely review of her novel, Mourning Dove. I think you’ll really enjoy this one! Be sure to let Claire know your thoughts in the comments section, and remember to share this on your social media. (We’ll happily do the same for you when you need us to.) 🙂 Thanks!
REVIEW:
Review by Sally G. Cronin of Smorgasbord.
By S. G. Cronin on 29 June 2018
I am not sure that anyone who is not born into the opulent, and long cultivated upper echelons of Southern culture, would be able to slip into its charming, but strictly adhered to rules of engagement easily. Especially when you are on the cusp of your teen years and brought up in the very different environment. As are Millie aged ten and her brother Finlay, who is eighteen months older.
“We had Minnesota accents, we were white as the driven snow, and we both had a painfully difficult time deciphering the Southern accent, which operates at lightening speed, and doesn’t feel the need for enunciation. Instead, it trips along the lines of implication.”
Posey comes from an affluent Southern family and was brought up in a sprawling stucco French Chateau which she left having met a charismatic and rich Yankee. Her marriage is over, and the wealth that she is accustomed to is gone; and she has little choice but to return to her family home in Memphis. She slips right back into society where she left off, as she takes over the running of the house, and with four years until an income will be available from her inherited trust fund, other means must be found.
The intricacies of the society that the two children find themselves inserted into, has little relation to the outside world. Steeped in tradition, long forged alliances, eccentricities and acceptable behaviour, stretching back through many generations. Little has changed, and that is the way it is orchestrated to remain. Clearly defined roles for males and females are perpetuated in the schooling that prepares the young to continue the status quo into the future, and non-conformity is frowned upon. You will fit in or face exclusion.
I was provided with an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is about the relationship between a brother and sister and is written from Millie’s perspective, now 36 years old, as she revisits their childhood and teenage years. She is looking for answers and clues as to where her relationship with Finlay, which had been so solid and close, began to disconnect. Without a doubt for me one of elements that is crucial to this, is their mother, and Claire Fullerton has done a masterful job in creating her self-absorbed but somehow vulnerable character.
“My mother did not walk into a room, she sashayed, borne from the swivel of her twenty-four inch waist. Her name was Posey, and although there was a lot more to her that she ever let on, to all appearances, the name suited her perfectly.” Continue reading
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#HurricaneMichael and a Few Thoughts on Gratitude
Mexico Beach (Ground Zero) Before Hurricane Michael
(Those are homes and business, packed this tightly for about 7 miles)
I promised one last update on Hurricane Michael’s devastating path through the Florida panhandle, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Some of you across the Atlantic felt Michael’s last, dying winds, too, and hopefully survived with no serious damage. But today, I want to share a few pictures of exactly what we are dealing with here in Florida, because I think images explain the situation far better than words do. Please send your thoughts and prayers to these people who have lost everything, including in some cases, their lives.
After Michael (Shot is lined up as a continuation of the left image)
This is what the area looks like now. The rectangles on the ground everywhere you look are all that’s left of hundreds of homes. Entire neighborhoods gone. In most cases, there isn’t anything left to sort through for belongings. It’s all been blown (or washed) blocks and blocks away! For as far as you can see.
Most homes are gone completely. Here’s an entire block that has been leveled.
But even the homes that are still somewhat in place will likely be condemned. (These pictured here were occupied dwellings, that have been blown off their pilings & had the siding ripped off, as well.
This larger house was lifted off the foundations and left atilt.
In other cases, while neighboring house sustained serious damage to roofs and walls, the house in the middle was lifted right off its pilings altogether and deposited blocks away! Continue reading
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Still Alive and Kicking, Here! #HurricaneMichael
Photos of Hurricane Michael Destruction
(Not here in central Florida)
Just wanted to touch base with you guys and let you know Hurricane Michael spared my area of Central FLorida of all but one outer band of storm. That one penetrated 100 miles into the peninsula to dump some torrential rains and gusty winds on us here in the Sanford area. It was over in an hour, though the day was dark and gloomy from dawn to dusk.
Sadly, the panhandle region of the state did not get off so lightly. Catagory 4 Michael came roaring ashore with 155mph winds exactly where they predicted it would, and damage assessment is underway. I’ve seen images of entire roofs torn right off homes, leaving the house completely open on top, like a dollhouse, and there have already been two deaths reported.
The good news is that, unlike Hurricane Florence which hung out for DAYS, Michael was in a big hurry to get elsewhere. Had it paused over Apalachicola/Panama City for very long, the destruction would have been unimagineable. It tore through Georgia still at Catagory 3 strength, and is now crossing South Carolina as a tropical storm. (That’s still a dangerous storm with winds up to 75mph and lots of rain.)
It looks like it will exit close to the North Carolina/Virginia border and move into the Atlantic, pointed in the general direction of Ireland, I believe. Whether it will die out mid-ocean or make the crossing remains to be seen. I’m voting for DEATH to Hurricane Michael! It’s caused enough misery!
Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers, both for me and my family, and for those in the path of this terrible storm. Knowing there were friends around the world sending positive thoughts this way kept me buoyed throughout the long hours of tracking the storm’s progress. I love each and every one of you! ❤ ❤ ❤
A few more photos of the kind of damage left behind. I’m sure there will be more and more photos appearing over the next few days, but these will give you an idea.
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#HurricaneMichael
A Recent Trajectory Map of Hurricane Michael
(This has already been updated to indicate possible
hurricane strength winds the entire way to the Atlantic)
For those who aren’t following this story, Hurricane Michael, currently a Category 4 storm and feared to become a Category 5, charged up the Gulf of Mexico yesterday and is just a couple of hours away from slamming into the panhandle/big bend region of Florida. It is being called the worst storm to hit the area in over 100 years, and is a monster, over 200 miles wide! The panhandle is going to take a terrible beating and those who have ignored the evactuation orders have put their lives at risk.
Those of us in central Florida–I’m 100 miles from the coast, just above the “E” in Wed on the map–can expect heavy rains and winds as the day progresses, and likely loss of power. A storm surge of more than 14′ is predicted in panhandle region, and continues to one degree or another along MOST of the Gulf coast of Florida. There will be flooding in those areas.
Michael is moving fast, which is good in that it isn’t likely to stall over land like Florence did, dumping an ocean of water into rivers and lakes. The downside of moving that fast is that it may not lose any strength as it moves across the states in jeopardy. The current windspeeds are 145 mph, and it is predicted to sweep through all of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and into Virginia! Since this includes my daughter’s area, I’m praying that making landfall DOES cause those winds to drop, but it’s anybody’s guess.
Please keep the people in Hurricane Michael’s path in your thoughts and prayers. In many ways, this is a far worse storm than Hurricane Florence was, and tremendous loss of property (and possibly life) is likely to occur.
If I disappear for a day or two, it will likely be due to power outages, but I’ll report in when I can.
Okay, that’s my bad news for the day. As you were, folks! Hope most of you will have a good day, and will remember to count your blessings if you are safely out of Michael’s path!
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#ShareAReviewDay – Out of Time by Jaye Marie
Please help me welcome this afternoon’s guest, Jaye Marie, witha review of her book, Out of Time. I know you’ll enjoy this one, and will help Jaye get the word out by sharing everywhere on your social media. Thanks!
REVIEW:
Janet Gogerty
4.0 out of 5 starsIn the mind of a killer.
21 September 2018
I hadn’t read the previous novel about Kate, so knew nothing about her, but Kate knows nothing about herself either when she wakes up. This is a thriller with no heroes, the Snowman is desperate to help her and it seems at last he can, but it is not to be. If this was a television thriller the Snowman would save the day, but the story becomes more complex. We follow the killer’s thoughts as well as the other main characters, an advantage of books over screens. The reader will never sympathise, but we might comprehend what’s going on in Jack’s mind. Michael is another character who we think might save the day, but he is a mix of flaws and must face up to the grief he has caused the woman he loved and the other woman who loves him. This is not a novel for the faint hearted; what starts as a mystery of unconnected murders is also the story of those unfotunate enough to be in the path of a killer or know his intended victim. We know from the news that bizarre killings can occur when a murderer becomes obsessed and this murderer is obsessed with Kate.
BLURB:
Kate wakes up in hospital, unable to speak or move.
Her brain has shut down, refusing to acknowledge the horror of what happened to her.
With the help of Detective Snow, Kate will gradually put her life back together, only to discover her nightmare is far from being over.
A nightmare that must become worse before it can get better.
Haunted by his own demons, will the Snowman manage to catch the twisted killer before he gets to Kate?
Evil lurks in this story as people die, but amidst the tears and heartache, a lost love struggles to survive…
BUY Out of Time HERE
Author Jaye Marie
My name is Jaye Marie, the ‘oily rag’ of the establishment https://jenanita01.com and usually, I prefer to stay in the background.
Since we decided to publish our books ourselves, most of my other interests have had to take a back seat, and as I am not half as clever as I want to be, they may well have to leave the country for a while. Well, some of them can but not all. I have a Bonsai collection that demands my attention in the growing season, or they will die, so no ignoring them! (It is a bit like having children…)
I always prefer to be busy, although I did think that now I am 74, I might be able to relax a bit more. I don’t think that will happen, far too much going on and I’m too nosey. I have to be doing or looking or trying something new. I make plans in my head, knowing that I am probably wasting my time, but I just can’t help it.
For someone who loathes computers, I think I have learnt an awful lot. Not that much really, when you consider how much I still don’t know. But as long as there is life in this old body, I will keep on trying, and you never know, our books might just be a little famous one day!
It won’t be for the lack of trying, believe me!
Reach Jaye Marie on Social Media below:
Jaye’s email jayemarie01@btinternet.com
Website/blog https://jenanita01.com
Facebook https://anita.dawes.37
Twitter https://twitter.com/jaydawes2
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8638857.Jaye_Marie
Author Page https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jaye-Marie/e/B00O2ZUFOK/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/anitajaydawes
Bloglovin https://www.bloglovin.com/v2/own_profile
Amazon Buy Link for Out of Time
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#ShareAReviewDay – Starquest Book 1 by Hywela Lyn
This morning, please help me welcome Hywela Lyn to The Write Stuff. She is sharing a review of her Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel Starquest, Book 1, and I know you’ll enjoy reading it, then sharing far and wide. Thanks!
REVIEW:
Review by Snapdragon – Long And Short Reviews
4-1/2 stars
A love that will carry the heroine across the galaxy; a challenge that will threaten her life. Starquest by Hywela Lyn leaps into the deep end of galaxy right from the start, as the Jaii-onboard-computer announces a calamity that is but moments away. The navigational corrections are not enough, the starship’s drive is compromised; prepare to abandon ship…
Starquest kicks off with a literal bang, and you will feel your heart thumping at the race to abandon ship. The heroine, Jestine Darnell, is setting off on a desperate quest and does not quite know why. Her personal trajectory is impossible to predict, as she soon finds herself in the hands of telepaths – who are telepaths and more. Unsought friendships emerge, but can she trust them? And can that sort of reliance (no matter how good a navigator she is) come to matter among a large starship crew? It doesn’t help that she has to start off with a lie, then wonders if they can see through it.
The Destiny’s crew find her competent, but they have reservations. Kerry and Jon acknowledge her competence, and you will find yourself hoping against hope that they will give her the benefit of the doubt. It is a troubled time; from the Union’s stranglehold on Earth, to the dangerous Grakk spies lurking all over the universe. Even as we hope for her to be accepted, you will feel a thread of doubt yourself. In an amazing way, Lyn will make you identify – even if just a little bit – with almost every character.
Some emotions, like a somewhat shared sense of longing, are common among these people that cannot help but remember, a little sadly, the Earth home they left, long ago. What seems like a minor emotion – a loneliness or regret, becomes surprisingly evocative in this tale.
Ms. Lyn does a great job making surprise characters, like Jaii and other ships’ computers, seem ordinary. And, it’s refreshing that various characters share a sense of pride and enthusiasm in their ships’ capabilities.
Dialogue tends to be to the point and believable. Events become more and more unpredictable as the story moves forward. The backdrop is a universe – a beautifully envisioned universe. It seems rare to find a story with a science fiction bent so beautifully described. Read a little slice:
“… watching the rapidly unfolding vista of stars, like shimmering jewels in the black velvet backcloth that was deep space. There was something about the sheer immensity of the Universe that made her feel very insignificant and, at the same time, very tranquil.”
The lovely, lovely descriptions never slow the action, but manage still to convey emotion and carry the narration forward. This is an incredibly original tale, and – for all the science fiction trappings – is truly a classic quest for love, and the romance, which at first seems very much at the periphery, will become not only a primary motivation, but the chief joy of the tale. Adventure may be the main motif, but the heartwarming side will be a surprising bonus.
BLURB:
When Jestine Darnell is rescued from her sabotaged starship by the crew of the Destiny her only objective is to complete her mission and keep her promise to save a world from slavery. Love is the last thing on her mind. However, she has not counted on losing her heart to Kerry Marchant the ship’s second in command, who makes his distrust of her painfully obvious, despite the chemistry between them. The completion of her mission has consequences that neither of them could have foreseen.
Enter Dahll Tarron, who becomes involved in a long and dangerous quest to find the Destiny. Fates become intertwined, perils shared, culminating in the realization that sometimes love may be so close that there is a danger it will not be recognized until it is too late…
BUY Starquest Book 1 HERE and HERE
Author Hywela Lyn
Hywela Lyn lives in a small village in England, with her long suffering husband Dave, although her heart remains in her native rural Wales, which inspired so much of her writing.
Although most her writing tends to be futuristic, the worlds she creates are usually untainted by crowded cities and technology, embracing the beauty and wildness of nature. Her characters often have to fight the elements and the terrain itself. Her heroines are strong and courageous, while never losing their femininity. a worthy match for the handsome hero. However difficult the journey, love will always win in the end.
Her first novel, Starquest a futuristic romance released by the Wild Rose Press was followed by a second book featuring some of the same characters, entitled Children Of The Mist. A third novel Beloved Enemy continues what has now become a series known as The Destiny Trilogy. Each book is complete and can be read as a ‘stand alone’, although best read in order.
She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association (UK) and Chiltern Writers, her local writing group.
A keen animal lover, she has ‘mare with attitude, called Flying T’pau,a ‘feral’ stable cat, Dusty, and a rescued terrier, Choccy, who manages to twist her round his little paw. When she is not writing, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors with the horses and dog – or just eating chocolate!
Reach Hywela Lyn on Social Media below:
Email: HywelaLyn@HywelaLyn.co.uk
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hywela-Lyn/e/B002BMBXH4/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Amazon US: amazon.com/Hywela-Lyn/e/B002BMBXH4/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Blog: https://hywelalyn.blogspot.com
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/pg/HywelaLynAuthor/https://www.facebook.com/pg/HywelaLynAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hywela_Lyn
Website: https://www.hywelalyn.co.uk
Newsletter signup: http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join
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