Wednesday, June 27, 2012

My New Bio

Some writers like the non-personal bios with just the facts. Writer lives in Texas with husband and two dogs. Well I decided I wanted to do something different. I put a new bio on my Amazon author page. Click HERE to read it and let me know what you think.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Moa – Interview



Moa – Interview


Please enjoy this interview with Tricia Stewart Shiu, author of the paranormal YA novel with a literary bent Moa. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $6000 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, 5 autographed copies of Moa, and 5 autographed copies of its sequel, Statue of Ku.

1. The Moa Book series has a metaphysical theme. Do you have any expertise in this area?
I am an energetic intuitive and have a talent for creating powerful healing essential oil blends and gem elixirs. The unearthing of these talents occurred as I embarked on a metaphysical journey, which included studies in mediumship, pagan and Huna rituals as well as an energy healing technique called “Crystalline Consciousness Technique.” I also studied a variety of shamanic clearing methods and healing rituals.
2. You get pretty heavy into the metaphysical. Are you, in fact, a witch?
Like, Hillary, I question who I am on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. For centuries, women have been persecuted and even killed for being labeled a witch. I have studied many forms of healing rituals and magic and discovered that I have talents for using essential oils and crystals for the highest good. Others, who have witnessed the results of my practices, have called me many things: healer, shaman, and yes, witch. I choose not to accept any of these names but to embrace all of them as one growing changing name—wishealer or heshitch—to coin a phrase…or maybe not. As I discover more talents, gifts and unique parts to myself, this unusual word is sure to undergo a metamorphosis and may grow to the size of Moa’s real, and quite lengthy, Hawaiian name.
3. What are your favorite books and how have they touched you as a reader?
Albert Einstein said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” The books/stories that touch me most echo the theme of humanity and self discovery and include a sense of adventure and wonder. Ray Bradbury’s short story, Frost and Fire is a shocking, but tender story about a boy’s journey into a world where people only live eight days. James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man inspired me to unleash my inner censor and allow my truth to shine though my writing. If I could wish anything for those who read my books, it would be the gift of self acceptance and self acknowledgement.
4. How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?
Good question. I went back into my notes and discovered that it took me exactly three months and ten days to write Moa from beginning to end. That seems to be my average writing speed, three months. My aunt Rebecca Gummere is my editor extraordinaire. We have developed a comfortable and productive working rhythm that balances creativity and structure and brings such joy and enrichment to the work.
5. Who designs the covers for your books?
The brilliant and talented Sydney Shiu took the cover photos when she was six during a trip to Hawaii. Scott Torrance brought his years of experience in photographic art and design to the layouts.
6. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The time between stories is the most challenging for me. When I am inside a story and writing I am filled with peace and joy. When I finish and have to leave that world, I mourn the loss of this comforting place–the same is true when I finish reading a great book. Nevertheless, I believe that this sadness brings with it a great opportunity and depth of creativity and I wouldn’t change a thing about the process.
7. Any take-away message you want readers to grasp?
Each of us has at least one divine gift to remember. The moment we wake up and retrieve the memory of who we are and what we are here to do, that’s when the adventure begins.
8. When did you first consider yourself an author?
I was in middle school and read James Joyce’s Portrait of an Artist for the first time. About an hour later, I was overcome by an urge to write, an impulse I readily indulged. Time stood still, I still can’t quite remember what happened during that frenzied period of first creation. All I remember is coming to with pages upon pages filled with words in front of me. It felt incredible to express myself so freely. I’ve never looked back.
9. Did you start out writing novels?
No. I started out writing short stories when I was young. Then when I began acting, I wrote one-woman shows and plays, eventually combining my efforts of performance and writing in a piece called Doing Lunch which made it’s way into a short film trilogy directed by Hal Trussel. That film won “Best Dramatic Short” at the Houston Film Festival.
10. What was your main source of inspiration for the Moa book series?
When I was five, I was visited by a vision. I’ll never forget it, I was running down the stairs and the entity, a girl with dark hair, stopped me in my tracks. The spirit said that I would go through a deeply challenging time in my life, but would resurface, later in life, with unimaginable joy and fulfillment. That vision stayed with me. In middle school, I would sit quietly at my desk adding up the years to figure out exactly when my life would turn around.
And then I forgot. I got busy, my work and the stress of family life took over and I was completely overwhelmed and in desperate need of a vacation. My husband, daughter and I decided to go to Hawaii.
When the plane landed in Honolulu, I remember feeling the difference in the atmosphere as I disembarked. The air made me somehow, remember that there was a part of me that knew…something…what was it?
Never mind, I was in Hawaii it was time to see the sights! So, I sped off to see Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and then headed home for an afternoon nap before an evening luau. As I drifted toward sleep, I heard my name being called. In my mind’s eye, I saw a beautiful young woman with dark hair, who said her name was Moaahuulikkiaaakea’o Haanaapeekuluueehuehakipuunahe’e—Moa for short.
And then I remembered.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Moa and Statue of Ku eBook editions have both been dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing either of these fantastic books at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $600 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of each book.
All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!
To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copies of Moa and Statue of Ku for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About Moa: Eighteen-year-old, Hillary, anticipates adventure as she embarks for trip to Honolulu, but gets more than she bargained for when Moa, an ancient Hawaiian spirit, pays her an unexpected visit. Get it on Amazon.
About Statue of Ku:  The second book in the Moa Book Series, “The Statue of Ku” follows Hillary and Moa as they jet to Egypt on the Prince’s private plane to reclaim Moa’s family heirloom, the inimitable statue of Ku. Get it on Amazon.
About the author: Tricia Stewart Shiu combines her addiction to the written word with her avid interest in the healing arts and all things metaphysical in her novels Moa and Statue of Ku and looks forward to finding new ways to unite her two loves. Visit Tricia on her websiteTwitterFacebook, or GoodReads.

Friday, June 22, 2012


Author K.L. Brady has stopped by today for the Soul Of The Band Blog Tour with a guest post!
Ten Things that Inspire Me
  1. God. My spirituality is what gives me the air to breathe and the strength to endure life’s challenges. All things are possible through Him.
  2. Peace and stillness. My mind gets so clear when things are truly quiet. But not just my environment, my mind. It’s hard to quiet the mind when you have so many ideas and the voices of so many characters running through it.
  3. Watching biographies. I love to watch stories about how people started from nothing and found success through hard work. Shows like Unsung, Behind the Music, and movies like Ray and Never Say Never are truly inspiring to me. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of time and hard work.
  4. Water. I’m an Aquarian so the water is almost an extension of who I am. I love sitting near lakes or beaches. The sound of the ebb and flow really gets my creative juices flowing.
  5. My son. His energy gives me energy. He is truly the light of my life and a constant reminder of why I work so incredibly hard to ensure he has the best life I can give him.
  6. Light. I purchased a home with a million large windows because the sun truly energizes me. In the winter, I experience major doldrums and it’s hard to find motivation. I love three seasons of the year because of the sun.
  7. Love. When I’m in love, ideas flow from places I never knew existed. There’s something about that happy energy that releases creativity in me.
  8. My family. Seeing how much we’ve come through over the years and endured, everything from cancer to job losses. We’re survivors and knowing that no matter what happens, all things will work out for the greater good is very inspiring.
  9. My mistakes. Seems strange to say that your mistakes inspire you but mine do. I’m not the sum of my mistakes. I’m the sum of the mistakes I’ve overcome and conquered. They inspire be a better person, and drive me to become a better writer.
  10. Last but not least, my fans. No, I don’t have a millions of them as do many authors but the ones I do have really give me the energy and drive to continue on with my writing. So many days I’ve felt down, wondering if I’m successful enough or good enough, and then I’ll get a note from a fan saying they loved my book, couldn’t put it down. Those words of encouragement erase all doubt and remind me of why and for whom I write. At the end of the day…it’s for them
  Author Links: www.authorklbrady.com www.cheapindieauthor.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/karlab27 www.facebook.com/KL-Brady www.facebook.com/KarlaB27  

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: Welcome to the spotlight, Lindsay Anne!

Ramblings of a Mad Southern Woman: Welcome to the spotlight, Lindsay Anne!: It is my honor and privilege to bring to my readers today the incredible author, Lindsay Anne Kendal. Lindsay holds a spot near and d...

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Black Words-White Pages: Review of I Am Wolf (The Children of Nox #1)

Black Words-White Pages: I Am Wolf (The Children of Nox #1) by Joann Buchan...: Angel, hero, monster, devil--we all become what we really are. I Am Wolf --The journey of a boy about to become a man who inherits his ...

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Zombie Candy Review

Zombie Candy (Annie Ogden Mystery 2)Zombie Candy by Frederick Lee Brooke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story starts off with a well defined character in Candace who has major insecurity issues about the weight she has gained since leaving college. She is married to Larry, a zombie movie freak who is a sex addict. The hilarious scene with the black bra is one I'll never forget.It's obvious right from the start that the two of them are having serious issues in their marriage.

Enter her best friend who recently returned from Iraq, Annie. She has taken a class to become a PI. After being asked to spy on Larry, Annie reluctantly takes her first case, "The Case of the Zombie Movie Freak". Annie has a secret of her own and fears it will impede not only the case, but her friendship as well.

After all the evidence is gathered, it forces Candace to make some changes in her life. Candace takes control in a way that most women in this situation would love to entertain.

Larry is duped into a trip to Italy where the revenge plays out. The people of the town, most related to Candace, assist her in this twisted plan that lands Larry in jail.

Frederick Brooke serves up the word zombie as both a metaphor of the life Candace lives and the animalistic instincts Larry can't help but follow. Through out the story, there are bits and pieces of old "LIVING DEAD" movies mentioned and yes, even an explanation is given as to why Larry loves them so much. Here is the shadowing to the events that transpire later in the novel.

You’ve got your survivors. The survivors have to get somewhere that they’ve heard is safe. There’s lots of fighting, but it’s always a handful of people killing hundreds of zombies. Do you like watching people shoot each other over and over?”

“I like how they band together to survive. I like imagining how most of the world would be destroyed. Don’t you think it could happen?”

Brooke, Frederick Lee. Zombie Candy (Annie Ogden Mystery 2) (Kindle Locations 3049-3052).

Imagine if zombies were real. Candace gives him just that. I can't imagine being able to pull of the ultimate revenge in such fashion. The truth is, if Karma allowed me to put something together like this for a couple people who will go unnamed, I wouldn't hesitate to follow through.

Everyone should purchase this book, especially if you have a friend who has dealt with a lying, cheating spouse and needs a good laugh and a little vengeful inspiration.

For those who are die hard "Walking Dead" fans, (much like myself)they will not be disappointed in reliving some of their favorite old walker movies. This is one of the most unique uses of a zombie metaphor I have read in a long time.

View all my reviews

Please enjoy this interview with Frederick Lee Brooke, author of the genre-bending mystery Zombie Candy. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.  
 1. What was the inspiration behind your novel, Zombie Candy? There was a famous golfer whose wife chased him out of the house with a golf club in the middle of the night a couple of years ago. It was funny that she attacked her husband with his own weapon of choice. I got to thinking what must be going through a woman's mind in that situation? I thought it would be interesting to explore the thought processes of a woman who discovers that her husband is a serial cheater. After the denial comes anger, but there is also a phase of grief. There's guilt. Maybe she blames herself, rightly or wrongly. Candace oscillates between wanting revenge and wanting her husband back, and as the novel winds up she makes discoveries about herself that I thought a woman in her situation would be likely to make.
 2. Do you think Zombie Candy will appeal to true zombie fans? What's a true zombie fan? I don't want to give anything away, but any active zombie fan who participates in zombie walks, goes to festivals, etc. will love Zombie Candy. That being said, this is a book that has elements of mystery, horror and romance all in one. It had quite a few early readers, fans of all different genres, and the consensus is that it really works.
 3. The book contains some of Candace's favorite recipes. Why? I confess, I love to cook, and it's such an important part of my life, it just felt natural to have Candace want to share her recipes. We are all vulnerable to being attacked through our taste buds. I like reading about cooking, and I love watching cooking shows on TV. I feel like I'm learning something and tasting it at the same time. It felt right for this to be really important for Candace. At the same time, her husband Larry is so incredibly lacking in appreciation of her talents, not just the cooking itself, but organizing complex meals and directing the preparation of them by her class of twelve people. These are amazing skills, and Larry is blind to them. I thought marriages are sometimes like that, where people get to a point where they are totally ignorant of what their partner is great at.
 4. There is a no-cilantro label on the back cover of the book. What is the significance of it? Candace is a gourmet cook, and her cheating husband Larry insists on covering all his food with cilantro. This is one of those minor points of contention in a marriage that flares up and becomes important, like a trigger. I thought it was funny. And it seems a lot of people really do have strong feelings about cilantro, either for or against. When I was searching for a good graphic I came across pages on the internet like ihatecilantro.com and facebook.com/i-hate-cilantro.  
5. After starting out in Chicago, why did you decide to set the story in Tuscany? I've been fortunate enough to travel to Italy forty or fifty times in my life, sometimes for a two-week vacation, sometimes just for a very short trip. I absolutely love it there, from the food to the language to the beauty of the countryside and the architecture. In Zombie Candy, Candace realizes at a certain point that she has to get Larry out of his comfort zone. This is a guy who travelled all over the country every week for his work, and cheated on Candace with waitresses, flight attendants, whoever. He can adapt just about anywhere. But in Tuscany Larry discovers two things: 1) it's not so easy to find a willing waitress or flight attendant to spend the night with him; and 2) there are zombies here.
6. How would you describe the way you work as a writer?
I guess I'm a bit of a chameleon, able to adapt pretty well to circumstances around me. My wife and I have three boys and they are not quiet. I can do most revision with significant background noise and interruptions. Only when I'm writing a first draft or doing some serious planning work do I need peace and quiet. Then I'll often take a walk in the forest anyway. It helps a lot to be adaptable. If I had to put off writing every time someone asked me to cook dinner or help them with their homework, my book would never have been finished. For me, being able to jump right back in has been the key to being able to finish big projects.  
7. Did you always want to be a writer? I was an early reader and this led to curiosity about writing stories. My sister and I wrote stories during long car trips. In high school and then in college I dreamed of writing novels, but I only started writing short stories after graduating from college. That writing phase lasted about five years, and I learned a lot about writing, but life got in the way, with marriage and job and career and kids. Only when my kids were halfway grown and my career reached a certain level of success did I find a way to return to writing. Now I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream.
 8. What process do you go through to define your characters? I start with an image of them as basically good or basically evil, and put them into a context or a situation, and then just basically make sure there is plenty of conflict. My characters are never perfectly white or black. I think we're drawn to weaknesses. We want to watch them mess up, and see how they'll extricate themselves. Of course, sometimes all my planning goes out the window. It's a cliche to say that characters surprise you with their actions, but they do. They're defined by what they do and what they say. I did some acting in high school and have always loved the theater, and knowing what it means to be in character helps me be in character when I'm writing dialogue. My books are fairly dialogue-driven. What the characters say reveals what they are thinking and feeling.
 9. What writing advice did you receive that was most beneficial to you? I had to learn to love conflict. The conflict is the story. The conflict shows the true colors of your characters. I grew up in the suburbs in a family where we avoided conflict at all costs. We talked like diplomats. So embracing conflict has been something I had to learn.  
10. You're an indie author. Any thoughts on the divide between independent publishing and traditional publishing? I think the market will sort itself out, but it's going to take time. Good books will find their way into readers' hands somehow, whether in printed or electronic form. We need our stories every day. We can't live without stories. For me personally, independent publishing has been the perfect solution. I found an excellent editor who professionally edited my manuscript. I like the idea that I can control the timing of the publication of my books. If my first book, Doing Max Vinyl, had been traditionally published in April 2011 instead of the way I did it, it probably would have hit the remainder tables by Thanksgiving, and it would be out of print now. I think Zombie Candy might spark some interest in Doing Max Vinyl, so it's a benefit to readers as well as to me that it continues to be available, rather than going out of print and being forgotten. E-books are clearly here to stay, because the consumers (readers) and providers (authors) are the big winners. The only losers are the bookstores, publishing companies, agents and others who refuse to adapt.  
As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. Visit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

BLOG HOP

Please enjoy this guest post by Frederick Lee Brooke, author of the genre-bending mystery Zombie Candy. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.  

What Dad and I saw in Italy by Frederick Lee Brooke

  I was on the train yesterday returning from Rome back to Basel, where I live, and I mentioned Monte Chianti to my seatmate. We were on the Red Arrow, the Italian bullet train, which cruises at 180 mph and covers the distance from Rome to Milan in just under three hours. Rossana is a banker who was travelling to Milan on business; in her hand was a paperback mystery in English. That's how we started talking. She sort of nodded and looked to the heavens and tried out the name: "Monte Chianti, hmmm. Nice." I like Italy so much I decided that the action in Zombie Candy, my latest mystery, should move to a fictional town in Tuscany called Monte Chianti in the second half. The action starts in Chicago, and moves to Tuscany. But this trip wasn't really research for Zombie Candy; for me, more of a victory lap. Plus Dad wanted to see Rome once in his life, so off we went on the train. On the way to Rome we spent three days in Como, in Northern Italy. We did not see Giorgio (that's what the locals call George Clooney) but we did see some beautiful lake vistas. In the picture below we are coming down the side of the mountain in a cog railway. Sure hope the brakes hold on this thing! I learned Italian at a language school. I also married an Italian speaker, but don't ever try and learn a language from the person you're married to. You have enough to argue about without her correcting your grammar. My wife's English is better than my Italian anyway, but she likes it when I make the effort. While in Rome Dad and I visited the Trevi Fountain. If you throw in a coin, legend has it that you'll come back to Rome one day. I threw in a pocketful, just to be sure. Then we hit the Colosseum. The ancient brick dividing walls in the floor of the amphitheater kept the animals penned in before they were sent in to the ring to fight. How can this thing still be standing, after two thousand years? This is what was left of our rental car after ... no wait, just kidding! This mess was parked right outside our hotel, not far from the Vatican. The hotel desk clerk told us a moped caught on fire next to the unfortunate Mercedes. I didn't believe him -- do you? We took an all-day excursion to the island of Capri, off Naples. This involved a long, cramped bus ride and a transfer to a ferryboat, but let me tell you, the views were worth it. Just look at the color of the Mediterranean, from halfway up the mountain. And here is a picture looking up at the branches of a mature maritime pine tree. I couldn't resist. It was a great trip. Dad and I had some nice talks, we did a lot of walking, we ate like kings, and we saw some beautiful places. I hope that Trevi Fountain legend really works, and we'll go back to Rome again soon.   As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. Visit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Zombie Candy Excerpt

Please enjoy this excerpt from Zombie Candy, a genre-bending mystery by Frederick Lee Brooke. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.   They sit at long tables under grape arbors. Heavy bunches of grapes hang from the vines. An eight-piece dance band in white tuxes and black bow ties plays tunes from every decade. Heavy silver dessert forks and coffee spoons rest untouched on the linen tablecloth. She can’t eat another bite. All the glasses, at least, she has used: white wine, red wine, water. A light breeze comes up. It feels heavenly on her face. With nightfall, the heat has gone out of the air. The heat must be trapped in these old stone walls — the walls of the farmhouse, the walls surrounding the vineyard. The aroma of fresh herbs floats from a nearby garden, rosemary, and mint, she thinks as she watches people dancing. The bride, her beautiful white dress with the daring silk bodice; the groom’s parents, a man with close-cropped gray hair and a red rose in his lapel, and his wife in a shimmering blue dress that looks specially made by an Italian designer. She keeps one eye on the young man in the navy suit with the green silk tie. He looks like something Michelangelo might have sculpted, then breathed life into. This young man knows everyone here, and has danced every dance for the last hour. But he’s dancing with both older and younger women, probably cousins, friends, the mothers of cousins and friends. She has no idea who he is. She feels outclassed in her red silk dress from Bloomingdale’s. She had worn the same dress at a wedding in June in Chicago. No one here has ever seen it. If there are any more weddings this fall, she will just have to go shopping in Siena or even Florence, that’s all there is to it. “May I have this dance?” Like a vision, Michelangelo man stands beside her. Has somebody cast a magic spell here? How did he sneak up on her like that? She didn’t even notice the song had ended. Or that another one had started. “I’m not much of a dancer.” “We’ll see.” He tugs her hand. “Really, you don’t have to.” He obviously feels a duty to make sure every woman in the place gets at least one dance. “Of course I don’t have to. I’ve danced with all the women I was obligated to dance with. Now I want to dance with you.” She doesn’t need more arm-twisting than this. He leads her to the dance floor. The band is playing a quiet song from the 1940s, she thinks, something familiar. Grape arbors surround the dance floor and fill the air with sweet perfume. He turns and puts one hand around her waist. “My name is Giancarlo,” he says, switching to Italian. “Candace,” she says. “I’ve been here for three weeks. I can’t believe I’m at this beautiful wedding.” “Your Italian is marvelous.” Your lips are marvelous, she thinks. Your curly hair, the color of black coffee, and your handsome chiseled face are marvelous too. But you can’t say such things to a man you’ve never met before. Not in Tuscany. At least not before the end of the first dance. He glides around the floor, leading her with slight shifts in his weight, slight pressure with his hands. Her feet know where to go, just as her mouth knows how to form the words. “We don’t have weddings like this in Chicago. The food ... the music ... the grapes.” “My uncle’s house is nice,” Giancarlo agrees. “But I am sorry for Lucia. She has married a playboy. I do not think they will be happy.” “They certainly look happy.” Giancarlo makes a face. “I should not talk about the details. I know him. I’ve known him all my life, and he will never change. I tried to talk to my cousin, but she is in love and blind. What can we do?” Giancarlo’s smile, Candace realizes, has a hypnotizing effect. Thank God a fast dance is starting, the Bee Gees. He makes no attempt to bring her back to the table, merely releases his hold on her waist. “You are a beautiful dancer,” he says when the Bee Gees song ends. The band takes a break. Everyone is leaving the dance floor. Her heart sinks. Somehow she has managed to cling to him for two dances, something no woman before her had managed. Now he will bring her back to her table, his duty done. He will go back to his people. “Thank you for the lovely dances.” “Come, let’s get some fresh air. I’ll show you around,” Giancarlo says. And the really amazing thing is he doesn’t let go of her hand.   As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. Visit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
  1. Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. Visit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Zombie Candy Giveaway!!

Interview with Kymberlee Burks-Miller

Today I get to introduce you to one of Indie's up and coming writer who is taking the paranormal world by storm, Kymberlee Burks-Miller. She is the author of Compulsion, and several novella's that are all a prelude to the wonderful story of a witch coven.


About the Book: Harvest Moon, A Moon Coven Series Novella

Seventeen year old Lochlan Moon had been groomed his entire life to accept the torch that would eventually be handed to him. He put his heart and soul into mastering a craft passed down through the generations of his ancestral bloodline, Moon Magick. 

Between his father's savage murder by something preternatural, and his vanishing classmates, doubts that he'd kept buried began to resurface. Someone or something is on a monstrous killing spree in his home town of Hampstead.

Lochlan's future within the family's circle teeters on a deadly precipice.

Will any of the witches survive to harness the magick within after this Harvest Moon?
  
Do you have a favorite character?

Right now, I would have to say that my favorite character is still Lilyann. She has grown so much through out the series, and I feel as though I've grown with her. However, the reader only catches a small glimpse of her in Harvest Moon. But, Compulsion's special edition is being released later this month with NEVER before read material and I hope that a whole new audience is introduced to her.



What do you hope readers will get out of your books?

A few hours of entertainment, and characters that the fans can love and relate to.



About the Author:
I'm basically a simple person with simple needs and ambitions...I live on coffee, and anyone that knows me is aware that I need copious amounts before I speak to ANYONE! LOL And, I want to take over the world using


What/Who inspires you?
The list is huge! But always my mom.


What are the hardest aspects of writing?
For me personally, it's time. When the story wants to pour out and you're in the middle of helping your ten year old with homework...that's the hardest thing.


What are the easiest/best aspects of writing?
Developing a story concept, and characters is very easy for me. I love to see them as three dimensional as possible. I like to know little crazy things about my characters, like are they a nail biter, diva, tom-boy?

Who is your writing hero? 
My favorite author of all time, and started this journey is L.J. Smith. In a time where she could absolutely change her style and her beliefs yet she remains true to herself.


About the future, what's next for you?
I'm just continuing to let the wind take me where it will. I'm hoping that might include a trip to Ireland, and I'm positive that there will be lots of writing!


Can you give us one outrageous goal for the future?
Erm...I would like to have LJ Smith take a picture of her holding one of my books. I think that after that I could die happy! LOL

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?
Just never give up on your dreams! If it's important to you, keep at it...




Randomness:
Sweet or salty? 
Salty, I am in love with UTZ Salt and Vinegar potato chips, LOL!

Beach, plains or mountains? 
Mountains

Online, letters or in person? 
Online

Ebook or print? 
That's really hard, but I prefer print:)


Thank you, Joann for hosting me on your blog! And thank you to J's followers for checking me out:)



Don't forget to check out all of Kymberlee's work. She will take you on a fun adventure where you will fall in love with the Moon Coven and want to know more about!! :) 

 
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