Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Book Tour & Guest Post: Malketh and the Undead, by Dave Maruszewski

 


I'm delighted to be a part of the Marketh and the Undead by Dave Maruszewski book tour, hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dave will be giving away a $25 gift card at the end of the tour.

Please help me welcome Dave!

Guest Post: Why I write the way I do
by Dave Maruszewski

Once, a very good artist and teacher said to me, “Don’t put every detail into your painting. If you do, the people will have no way of let themselves into it.” Even though I used quotes, this is a bit of a paraphrase. Nonetheless, what he meant was that if I put in too much detail in my painting, viewers won’t be able to use their imagination to “fill in the blanks.”

The above concept is a method I have kept in a lot of my creative endeavors. It is also what I employ in my Raven, Romda and Ravai series. In these books, you’ll see scant description of the three characters appearance. Furthermore, I practice this pretty much for every personality in the books. I want you, the reader, to make a picture of each person that is specific to you.

When I talk about a sunset, I don’t want to describe it perfectly to you with wonderful style. Instead, I want to take you back to a sunset you remember and have you put it into my book. This is part of my goal to create a little bit of interaction with the reader.

Another reason that I do this is to engage readers who are less apt to love reading. These types of readers see fiction as a static, impersonal way of presenting material and not a beautiful, expressive way that book-lovers have discovered since written stories were invented.

My style can be scary. I may turn off the traditional reader. Even more intimidating, this may gain me low scores with the professional critic, who evaluates books based on traditional methods. After all, I’d like to sell books and make a small living from it. However, what if I don’t choose this way? Who will reach these youth?

We are seeing a decline in reading, and I don’t see it coming back up to levels it was at before. Maybe, it isn’t important to start all children on the classical methods of writing. They are living different times than when reading was a major form of entertainment, not necessarily used for enrichment. They may need different approaches to writing as much as they need different genres. And why not? So, they aren’t ready for Shakespeare or Milton as quickly. If they learn to read, they will learn to read more. Then, let’s see where it takes us.


Raven, Romda and Ravai: Malketh and the Undead,
Author: Dave Maruszewski
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

BLURB:

Raven, Romda and Ravai are settling into their new knightly duties well. With the Dark Beast defeated, their normal tasks almost seem mundane.

Amidst the boredom, Ravai asks, “Why does no one talk about villains from the past?”

Romda reasons, “What would be the point?”

There is a point. Even though villains may have been defeated in the past, they may still be around, waiting in the background ready to resurface once again.

Malketh has returned to the kingdom, but something is different about him this time. He is back with an entire army … an entire army of undead soldiers.

Praise

“Whether you want to read this aloud to your little one or let them explore this magical world on their own, parents can rest assured that this second installment in the Raven, Romda, and Ravai series will be a playful, whimsical addition to their bookshelves.” –The Book Review Directory

“… the squires are appealing characters, as is their comical banter.” - Blue Ink Review

A great story for the fantasy loving youth, this adventure will appeal to those who like action and humor in an easy reading environment.

Read it today!



Peek between the pages

They keep going until they hear a large rumble. A small mass of rocks fall to the ground. The three look up and see a gigantic figurine of a man holding a giant emerald. Romda puts her lantern up to the emerald, and the light refracts and bounces off the many faces such that the whole room is lit. This brings relief to the three.

Unfortunately, they notice something else. When the room comes up from the dark, Raven, Romda and Ravai notice all these eyes staring at them. The undead are here. The three are surrounded.

Perplexed, Raven, Romda and Ravai freeze. They are scared. However, the entire horde of undead does not approach them. What is wrong with them? What do they want?

At last, the undead begin to slowly stir. They begin to walk slowly. At first they seem to move in random directions. Then, a pattern to their motion becomes apparent. They move about, revealing an opening in their numbers in the shape of a small circle. That opening reveals a hooded figure. The hooded figure says…


Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the author:

Dave Maruszewski is blessed with a great family. He was originally inspired to write stories by his wife and son.

He strives to develop stories with sound moral values that will be enlightening as well as entertaining to youths and adults. The Raven, Romda and Ravai books are targeted especially for children who shy away from reading. His stories are created from an accumulation of experience from careers/backgrounds as a physicist, engineer, teacher, artist, video game designer and software developer.

In between writing stories and running his own company, Digital Tumult (DigitalTumult.com), Dave enjoys video games, watching internet videos and hanging out with his family.

Book ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ NetGalleyAmazon



Friday, March 31, 2023

Book Blitz: The Stained Sea by Paul Carver Williams

I am so excited that THE STAINED SEA by Paul Carver Williams is available now and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a copy of the book courtesy of  Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, check out the giveaway info below.

 

About The Book:

Title: THE STAINED SEA (Omen Book 1)

Author: Paul Carver Williams

Pub. Date: March 31, 2023

Publisher: Paul Carver Williams

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 279

Find it: Goodreadshttps://books2read.com/THE-STAINED-SEA 

In the wake of a lost messiah, an oppressed religious sect known as ‘the singers of Oros’ are targeted by those in power. A lone singer calling himself Runo works tirelessly to revive the faith of his people by any means necessary. Even if it leads to bloody experiments, and cold-hearted manipulation. A young slave named Cai is called on by a philosopher to aid in a catalogue of the wealthiest families in Grecuria, starting with the owner of the library where he works. On his journey he must confront a past that isn’t his own. Lastly, Sailing on a sky ship surrounded by merchants, Mele Amahki was given passage to begin a new life. However, everything changes when their pink sky turns blue, and they find themselves in a new, unexpected world where things are much the same as back home, except her people do not exist. She finds herself thrust into positions of power, entirely unsure of what is best for her crew. Knowledge, religion, power, and blood run through the veins of the Grecurian islands. But through three headstrong individuals, the veins will be cut, and darkness will stain the sea.

 

Excerpt:

“Something has already happened to Akamai. And what— we’re to trust this, this Lili Mele in his place?”

Mele bristled, but tempered herself with a glance to Akamai, finding his eyes staring dead into hers. To her surprise, he tapped his lips. A gesture on a list he wrote. It meant she was allowed to speak freely. Mele burst from her seat and pressed her hands into the table. “Lili Mele? I am not the one who sold myself to the council of nobles in exchange for a good word with the emperor. Don’t fool yourself, Lili Takaahae, this is not the world we used to live in, and I am the most valuable asset you sniveling council of cowards has. What choice is there but to wait for now? Min needs the energy when he returns. I’d imagine tracing the edge of the land has drained his stores far lower than any of ours. Now I’m begging to return to our plans for when the search parties return. My brain has been decaying with every syllable that exits your mouth.”

 

 

About Paul Carver Williams:

An LGBTQ, Black-Latino young adult with an eclectic taste in music, Paul Williams has struggled with his identity, eventually leading to mental illness. However, with support from his siblings, he gained new confidence to express his inner emotions through art and writing. At age seventeen, he published his first book. In 2018, along with his friend, Icesis Street, Paul won the technology Student Association (TSA) 1st place State award for Children's storybooks. He is now working endlessly to carve a place for himself among the creative professionals and pave the way for other talented ‘students’ of art and literature.

In his newest book, Shadow of Hades, Williams reveals themes of grief, often what we commonly associate with death. He hopes readers are moved to examine their lives on a smaller scale, feel invited to empathize with all aspects of the world and see the magical playground that is our shared universe. The world seemed uniquely grim at the time Williams wrote Shadow of Hades, and that darkness is nuanced in the characters, however, he still provides a glimmer of hope to the readers for a world that desperately needs it and that we should all keep close to our hearts. 

Website |  https://instabio.cc/20520NQozji

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE STAINED SEA, US Only.

Ends February May 6th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Chatting with author Ginny Frost



I'm thrilled to welcome Ginny Frost to my blog, and to spotlight her latest book, Artist. Discover the inspiration behind the book, learn about the author, and read an excerpt of this exciting new book.

Please help me welcome, Ginny! 


What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve wanted to write this book for a long time. I went on a writer’s retreat where I was shamed for being a romance author. The experience left me a little bitter, like my character, Lexi. The idea sat idle until I became involved with a wonderful group of authors. The Mortar & Pestle series seemed a great place to finally tell Lexi’s story. I’d also like to mention I live near Yaddo, an artist’s retreat in Saratoga Springs, New York. The grounds are beautiful and supremely inspiring.


What are you reading?

I’m a voracious reader of audiobooks. I usually read over 150 books a year but only two or three on paper. Listening to a story lets me get work done around the house, exercise, and cross stitch. (I cross stitch quite a bit.) Every year I complete a reading challenge and blog the books. It’s a great way to read something new or unexpected.


Can you tell us something about yourself?

I love story. I’ve been writing, either on paper or in my head since I was eleven. Apparently, I was writing fan-fiction before it was a thing. I rewrote The Outsiders, Lord of the Rings, and Star Wars in my head for years. I always added a romantic element. As an adult, a good friend urged me to write down my original romances and work toward getting published. Twelve years later, here I am with nine books and hundreds of ideas for more.


About the book:

Artist
Author: Ginny Frost
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Heat level: Closed door

Stuck at a retreat with her ex, Lexi is torn between reviving her art and rekindling an old romance.

Blurb

Lexi Pintari is stuck in a dead-end cubicle job that is slowly killing her. She tucked away her passion for art when the love of her life ghosted her after college. Witnessing her lack of motivation, Lexi’s best friend drags her to an art retreat for much-needed reflection and inspiration. Though knowing her ex-boyfriend is an artist-in-residence there, Lexi agrees to go. Unfortunately, her metal-goth style and enthusiasm for graphic comics clash with the pastel-scarf-wearing, tea-sipping participants, making her ex the least of her problems.

Cole MacDougall is blocked. His rise to the top of the modern art scene is crushed by a missing muse. He is desperate to paint again, but the canvas remains blank. Due to the shortage of patronage revenue, he is forced to put up with the groupie-students. Until he sees a woman standing out like a sore thumb in ripped jeans and a leather jacket. Lexi. Hope blooms that he can renew his passion through her.

For two weeks, Lexi and Cole work together, discovering what they’ve lost professionally and personally. Will a magical Mortar & Pestle show them how to connect the broken lines and seal their destiny?




About the author: Ginny Frost is a hybrid author with two novels from The Wild Rose Press and four indie titles. She writes contemporary romance with a sexy, funny kick. In her downtime, she plays clerk at the local library—the perfect job to feed her reading addiction. She lives in upstate NY with her very own kindhearted ogre, their two smart and sassy daughters, and an evil cat named Flash.

Connect with Ginny



 

Monday, March 27, 2023

Chatting with author Darlene Fredette

 


I'm delighted to welcome Darlene Fredette back to my blog. Today, we'll learn her favorite comfort food and the inspiration behind her newest book, Trickster. Plus, she shared and excerpt and has an exciting giveaway you won't want to miss. 

Please help me to welcome, Darlene!


Hi, Darlene. Can you tell us what inspired you to write Trickster?

Jade Parsons, the heroine in Trickster, had cameo appearances in two other books in my Redford Falls series. She was supposed to get her own story a while back, but other characters kept butting in line. I was asked to join a group of six other authors to chat about writing and publishing. Someone brought up the idea of writing a series together about a magical mortar and pestle. I immediately thought of Jade and knew this would be her moment to shine.


How exciting! I love when characters from one book show up in there own books! Tell us, what are you reading?

I read and review books for my magazine, so I always have a book open. I finished a mystery suspense and just started a contemporary. My go-to reads are romance and I like a variety of romance categories such as contemporary, mystery, fantasy, paranormal, and western.


One last question. What is your favorite comfort food?

I had to answer this question because when I’m feeling under the weather, I always say “I’m having my comfort food to make me feel better.” I love rice and my favourite way to prepare it is mixed with soya sauce and chicken. Then cover it with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Yum!

Thanks, Darlene, for taking the time to answer my questions!

Now, lets learn about Trickster!

About the book

Trickster
Author: Darlene Fredette
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Romance
Heat level: Clean/Sweet

Tagline: Can she heal the trickster before he breaks her heart?

Blurb:

Working for a top modeling agency is Jade Parsons’s dream job until her boss suffers a heart attack, and his son temporarily fills his position. Eric’s push-pull approach fuels her frustration. While anticipating the troublemaker’s imminent departure, Jade’s destiny is revealed through a magical mortar and pestle, leaving her heart tormented by whispers of a different fate.

World-renowned photographer Eric Martini returns home to restore his relationship with his estranged father, but wounds from the past haunt him. Enchanted by his father’s feisty assistant, he masks his heart and refuses to give in to desire. Convinced his destined future is already written in the stars—and doesn’t include Jade, Eric’s only choice is to walk away.

Will Jade and Eric find the courage to trust the mythical and smokey signs before their paths are severed forever?

Read it today!
Free on KU




Peek between the pages

Two weeks ago, Eric had aired his family’s dirty laundry. Probably unintentional on his part, but he revealed the reason behind his frustration toward his father, and Jade gave her unwelcomed input.

Today she exposed her secret, which felt exhilarating. “I only wanted you to understand you have to let go of the past to be present in the future.”

“And I’m trying. My father and I are on a good path to rebuilding our relationship and for that, I thank you. You forced me to see the error of my ways. I’m sorry for taking out my problems on you. You didn’t deserve my grouchy moods. I was rude and obnoxious.” He raised a brow. “Can you forgive me? Can we start over?”

Smiling, she squinted. “Who are you?”

He strode forward and held out a hand. “I’m Eric Martini. Nice to meet you.”

“No.” Jade pointed a finger. “You, sir, are a trickster.”

“Excuse me?”

“A trickster is someone who has many sides. Disruptive and helpful, troublemaker and hero. I know the man in the office. But I don’t know the man standing in front of me.” She clasped his hand, and a flurry of tingles surged the length of her arm. Warmth flushed her cheeks. Without thinking, she leaned up on her toes and kissed Eric’s cheek. “Thank you for being my hero today.”


Exciting news & Giveaway!

Trickster is currently on sale for 0.99 and is also available on KU.

 

But wait! There’s more! I’m giving away a free PDF copy of The Mortar and Pestle Preview. This preview document is similar to the free prequel offered in Book Funnel, but the preview has tons of additional fun stuff – more graphics, book teasers, an inside look at how the series came to life, and much more! To get this free preview, pop over to my author website http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/ and send me a note using the Contact Form on the left sidebar. No rafflecopter, no contest, and no drawing of names. Just send me a note through the secure Contact Form. It’s that easy!




About the author (bio):

Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. Retired from a career as Director of Administration and Marketing, she now has eleven published contemporary romance books and is an artist at heart. When she isn’t researching her next book or having a pencil, paintbrush, or a cup of hot chocolate in her hand, she’s with her husband, daughter, and one-hundred-pound yellow Labrador.

 

Social media links:

WebsiteBlogAmazon Author Page CAAmazon Author Page USFacebook Page

Instagram



Friday, March 24, 2023

Book Tour & Review: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the JULIA AND THE SHARK by Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Tom de Freston Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway! 

About The Book:

Title: JULIA AND THE SHARK

Author: Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Tom de Freston (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: March 28, 2023

Publisher: Union Square Kids

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 224

Find it: Goodreads

"Deep beautiful, and true--a classic from cover to cover."
--#1 New York Times bestselling author Eoin Colfer


There are more secrets in the ocean than in the sky...
 
Ten-year-old Julia loves the mysteries of the ocean and marine biology, just like her scientist mother. Her family is spending the summer on a remote island where her mom is searching for the elusive Greenland shark, a creature that might be older than the trees, and so rare that it’s only been seen a few times.  
 
But the ocean is reluctant to give up its secrets, and Julia tries not to worry as her mother returns disappointed at the end of each day.  
 
Determined to prove that the shark is real, Julia sets off on a quest to find it herself, armed with a set of coordinates, a compass, and her trusty rain jacket.
 
She soon realizes that there are some journeys you shouldn’t go on alone. As Julia comes face to face with the dark and wondrous truths of the sea, she finds the strength to leave the shark in the depths and kick up towards the light.  
 
Through a unique blend of poetic prose and stunning illustrations, Julia and the Shark tells an unforgettable story full of dark depths and starry skies, courage and hope. 

This lyrical, deeply moving middle grade novel about one family’s fierce love and resilience is perfect for starting conversations about mental health and how it’s okay to not be okay.


My thoughts: 

Julia and the Shark is a lovely book that explores the emotions of a nine-year-old girl as she navigates the emotions of those around her. It’s a powerful, touching book with beautiful illustrations.

There are trigger warnings for this MG book: depression, over dose, bullying.

Thanks to the author and publisher for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

Kiran and Tom
About Kiran Millwood Hargrave:

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a poet, playwright, and author. Her books for children and young adults include the bestselling The Girl of Ink & Stars, The Island at the End of Everything, The Way Past Winter, and A Secret of Birds & Bone (2020). The Deathless Girls was her first YA novel. Her debut novel for adults is The Mercies (February 2020).

Between them, her children's books have won numerous awards including Children's Book of the Year at the British Book Awards, the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Historical Association Young Quills Award, and the Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year. They have been shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize, the Little Rebels Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Best Story Award, Costa Children's Book Prize, and Foyles' Children's Book of the Year, amongst others.

The Mercies debuted at number one of the The Times bestseller list, is a Sunday Time bestseller, and was selected for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. It is listed for the prestigious Prix Femina in France, and was called 'unquestionably the book of the 2018 London Book Fair' by The Bookseller.

Kiran lives in Oxford with her husband, the artist Tom de Freston, and their rescue cat, Luna.

Website | Twitter | FacebookInstagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Tom de Freston:

Tom de Freston is an artist based in Oxford with his wife, Kiran Millwood Hargrave. His practice is dedicated to the construction of multimedia worlds, combining paintings, film and performance into immersive visceral narratives.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of JULIA AND THE SHARK, US Only.

Ends April 4th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/20/2023

YA Books Central

Excerpt

3/21/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

3/22/2023

onemused

IG Post

3/23/2023

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Review

3/24/2023

@bookish_cherie

IG Review

Week Two:

3/27/2023

popthebutterfly

Review/IG Post

3/28/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

3/29/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

3/30/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

3/31/2023

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post