Book of the Week Finding Pluck

This Week's Post goes to Peter Difatta's Finding Pluck

It is 1995 in North Carolina and high-school student Taylor Hanes is struggling to escape his small-minded dying textile town. He finds his ticket out by lying on the application in order to get a full-ride scholarship to a state university. His actions generate unexpected consequences from his family and his hometown, but worse yet, he awakens the wrath of the scholarship’s long dead benefactor.

In his new life in college he must still contend with the hauntings, but his new girlfriend, a professed witch, and a group of friends ban together to help him unravel the reasons the spirit is restless.

The narrative deftly moves between the present and when the benefactor attended college in 1927, the pinnacle of the Jazz age and a period of great change and moral conflict. As the friends dig deeper, the story draws parallels in the lives of the characters. This is a coming-of-age novel unlike any other with an unusual twist.

Peter is in the middle of a free e-book giveaway. Today is your last chance to get your copy for free! 

Make Sure to Show him some love and Check Out His Book ! 

Cormoran Strike

The Cormoran Strike Series is my favorite Crime/Murder/Mystery Series out there. Written by Robert Galbraith, these novels pull you into the fast paced life of ex-Military Policeman Cormoran Stike. He is a hard but somehow relate-able man whose past experiences have trained him to be the perfect PI. 

Robert pulls you in with a seemly simple job for Cormoran that grows into a web of mystery that keeps the pages turning. 

I highly recommend you go out and get a copy for yourself. You will not be disappointed 

When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.

Strike is a war veteran – wounded both physically and psychologically – and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s complex world, the darker things get – and the closer he gets to terrible danger . . .

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, she just thinks he has gone off by himself for a few days – as he has done before – and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine’s disappearance than his wife realises. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published it would ruin lives – so there are a lot of people who might want to silence him.

And when Quine is found brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before…

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg. Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible- and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is notthe perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

Author's Corner with Quentin Wallace

Welcome back to Author’s Corner!

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Quentin Wallace who’s has self-published multiple books including “Tales from the Dark Distance” and “The Game Warden of Black Swamp”

Thank You Quentin for being a part of this!!!

My first question, why do you write?

I have stories inside that need to be told. I enjoy reading so much that I feel as though I should share my stories in case I can bring that same enjoyment to others.

When did you decide to become a writer, and what was that process like?

I have had a desire to write almost since I could read. It’s a long, difficult process, but basically you just have to write. You learn to write by writing, there’s really no other way to do it.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I’d love to be a full time writer. I’d like to make millions and have movies made from my work etc, but really Id be happy just to be able to write full time even at a modest level.

Tell us, what have you written so far?

I have 2 Weird Western novels, Brackett Hollister: The Werewolf Pack and the sequel, Outlaw Voodoo. I have a horror novel as well, The Game Warden of Black Swamp. I have also written several short stories and novellas in Amazon’s Kindle Worlds program including Wayward Pines, John Rain, Silo Saga, GI Joe, Vampire Diaries and more.

Where can my readers buy or see them?

Everything is available on Amazon.

What genre are your books and what draws you to this genre?

I write in several genres, but mostly Horror and Adventure. I’ve loved horror since I was a child. Something about the genre just speaks to me.

Do you take any time for research?

Yes, research is necessary for all writers at some point.

So Quentin, what are you working on at the minute?

A horror novel. This will be straight horror rather than the adventure/horror I’ve mostly done before.

Do you mind telling my readers a bit about it?

It’s the darkest thing I’ve written and also the most graphic. I’m trying to push my boundaries on this one.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

Part time for now.

Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Not really, but I do try to put in around an hour of writing. That can be 2,000 words on some days, or 500 on others depending on what’s being written on that day.

Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

I always write at night.

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand?

Computer.

Tell us where do your ideas come from?

Everywhere, they can come from a dream, from a conversation I overheard, from a memory I have. Other books and movies can also give me ideas.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

That’s a bit of trick question. It depends, but I write shorter novels so I can usually get one completed in six months from start to publishing. But really, it depends.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors. Which writers inspire you?
Yes I read constantly. Stephen King is my all time favorite. I also like many indie authors. Michael Benavidez, Justin Bienvenue, Philip Morgan, Sarah Brocious, Oak Anderson, Ashe Armstrong,Perry Lake, Sarah Noffke, Lily Author and many others. They are all inspirational. These are indy writers who are doing just what I did, taking the plunge. Haven’t heard of them? You will. For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books? I lean more towards traditional books, but I’m starting to like ebooks more as well. What book/s are you reading at present? Dead Sea by Tim Curran, A Choir of Ill Children by Tom Piccrilli, and Does The Noise in my Head Bother you by Steven Tyler.

What do you do to get book reviews?

I do free promotions on my books and also from time to time will do a R2R program.

How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?

Not great, but not terrible either.

Do you have a strategy for finding reviewers?

Not really. If you write it, they will come.

What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?

I personally think way too much emphasis is given to reviews in general. They are mostly subjective. What one person hates, another will love, and vice versa. I suppose as long as people are reading it and taking the time to write a review, the writer should be happy.

Why self-publishing?

It’s just easier than trying to fight for a book contract. If a publisher was interested, I’d definitely consider it.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Never give up. Read as much as possible, and write as much as possible.

Where do you see your publishing going in the future?

Hopefully the sky’s the limit!

And my Last Question, How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: ​https://www.goodreads.com/quentinwallace
Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8386538.Quentin_Wallace/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Quentin-Wallace-Author/1533530733536906
Click Here for my Amazon Author Page

Make sure to show him some Love


-Andrea

Book of the Week "Twice as Fatal"

This weeks pick belongs to "Twice as Fatal" by R.Weir 

Twice the business, twice the danger and Twice as Fatal. PI Jarvis Mann has two cases he is working, making his professional and personal life twice as difficult.

Ray Malone is a promising college football star whose career is derailed by injuries. When he disappears, close friend Jarvis is recruited by Ray’s father to locate him. After tracking him down a video is sent of Ray with the warning of it going public, threatening his career and those that love him.

Case two has landlord Kate Tanner hiring Jarvis to gather evidence against her cheating, thieving husband so she can divorce him. As Jarvis investigates he learns of the husband’s connection to a powerful man, with a dangerously perverted agenda that crosses into Kate’s life with deadly consequences.

Across the Rocky Mountain Front Range Jarvis tries to balance both cases, each dragging him deeper into different sleazy underworlds, jeopardizing him, his clients and their families. With danger and death all around him, he somehow must rescue everyone before this fatal business claims the lives of all involved, his life and the one he is growing to love.

Make sure you Check Out his work! On Amazon

Showing Emotion #2 FEAR

FEAR- TO BE AFRAID OF, TO EXPECT THREAT OR DANGER.

PHYSICAL SIGNALS:
Face turning ashen, white, pallid
Hair lifting on the nape and arms
Body order, cold sweats
Clammy hands
Tendons standing out in the neck, a visible pulse
Rapid Blinking
Tight Shoulders
Leg muscles tightening
Lowering a voice to a whisper
Shaking uncontrollably

INTERNAL SENSATIONS:
An inability to speak
Shakiness in the limbs
Holding back a scream or cry
Chest pains
A stomach that feels rock hard
Heart Racing
Dizziness

MENTAL REACTIONS:
Wanting to flee or hide
Flawed reasoning
Jumping to a course of action without thinking thing through
A skewed sense of time.

CUES OF ACUTE OR LONG-TERM FEAR:
Insomnia
Heart giving out
Panic attacks, phobias
Depression
Exhaustion
Substance abuse

From The Emotion Thesaurus, A Writer’s Guide To Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

Author's Corner with "R.F.G. Cameron"

Hey Everyone!


Today in Authors Corner I have the pleasure of interviewing R.F.G. Cameron who is the Author of “Regeneration” Series

Thank You R.FG. Cameron for being a part of my Author’s Corner!

Time for the Interview!!!!!

Always my 1st question, Why do you write?

A: I write because it's about the one way for me to get new dreams. As a kid I wasn't that afraid of the dark because I'd imagine a storyline to go to sleep, and eventually began visualizing them as I fell asleep.

When was the deciding moment for you to become a writer?


A: I wrote a few stories back when I was 12, and received such underwhelming support from family that I didn't get serious about writing again until I was about 35.


What are your ambitions for your writing career?

A: My main ambition is for my daughter(s) to read my work once they're grown, or at least old enough to read books rather than chewing them up. If I'm lucky they'll be able to get handle on the reality parents aren't just minions, we also have lives and imaginations.

Is this full-time or part-time for you?

A: It's definitely a part-time gig at present.

How is your day structured, do you have a special time to write?

A: As a stay-at-home parent with a precocious 21-month-old tiny demon princess (the size of a three-year-old), I write or edit when She takes a nap and there's nothing else pressing to do.

Where do your ideas come from?

A: I could tell you, but even I'm not always certain. Some days I just wake up with a big "What if..." scenario to be worked out.

Since this book is part of a series do you mind telling us a little about it?
A: I have two books released that are part of a four story series, though each is basically a stand-alone set in one reality. I'll be working on editing the zeroth (a.k.a. prequel) within a couple months, and I'm waiting on the cover art as well. The last installment is almost finished. The illustration was inspired by one of the characters in the book I'm editing for release, as I find time.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

A: A series takes time and dedication, but shouldn't be of the cliffhanger type. Readers like to get used to a fictional reality, they like to read about new characters and their lives, and if done well a series can keep readers asking for more.

How much research do you do?

A: I spend a lot of time on research, and the Wife has asked me a few times who is more important, her or the fictional characters who keep insisting on having their stories told.

Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors.

A: I read when I have a chance, which isn't easy with a tiny demon running the house. Among my favorites; Andre Norton, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Zeena Henderson, Fred Saberhagen, and the list could go on for a page.

Which writers inspire you?

A: Every writer who tells a story well inspires me.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

A: I'll write down a few details on an idea, and when I get back to it I'll see where the characters lead me.

As a writer how do you think you’ve evolved creatively as?

A: I no longer try to pound out 60,000 to 70,000 words in two or three weeks like a demented gibbon with a mission. After going back and wondering what I was thinking in various parts, it's easier to take my time.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

The hardest thing about writing would be getting through all the different storylines I have backlogged.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

A: I suppose it would be wrapping things up; knowing when to say it's done.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

A: The easiest thing for me would be visualizing the world or reality I'm writing about.

Give us a small insight into your main characters, what do they do that is so special?

A: I think my main characters, while having different natures and personalities, all fit under the label survivors. They all refuse to give up, whether they're fighting for their own survival, fighting for someone who depends upon them, or fighting to reset balances in a world where civilization has gone wrong.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

A: If you don't feel driven to write, and write the best story you can, don't do it. Writing isn't about making money or getting famous; it's about telling stories that leave people wanting to read more of your work. It's also about having to sleep on the couch at times if you're married or have a significant other in your life.

Last Question, How can readers discover more about you and you work?


A: The links below will lead people to my work, and in the case of GoodReads I do blog once in a while. I have a policy that I will send free e-copy if I'm contacted, and that is especially true for former or current service personnel.


Website: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphinge
Blog: Goodreads only at present
Twitter: @SphingeCameron
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/R.F.G.-Cameron/e/B00DDZJOT2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7470703.R_F_G_Cameron



Make sure to show him some love and check out his work!



-Andrea

Writing Prompt

Here is a writing prompt for you all to enjoy. 

Write about a couple that cannot decide on which house to buy. They have three choices, 1st is near the beach which is great during the summer and spring, close to the shops and the schools are great and well funded, but during the winter the house becomes drafty, and the area is like an icebox. The 2nd is a top floor penthouse in the middle of the city near the all of the stores and the school are good but traffic seems like it happens 24/7 and public transportation is not always reliable . The 3rd is a house in the country with the best school but no close stores, and not near any family.