Friday, September 28, 2012

Book Signing!!!!!!!

Mark your Calenders!!! Book Signing with Wendy Corsi Staub, on October 6th at 4pm. She will be at The Book Nook in Dunkirk NY. Her new Series, book 1 Nightwatcher, book 2 Sleepwalker!!! If you are close to Dunkirk stop on over I'm sure she would love to see you there!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Thursday First---

 How to Wash A Cat by Rebecca M. Hale 
yay to Rebecca for a fun series!!!!!!

 Its First in the Cats and Curios Series . How can you not love a book about cat's especailly the one on the cover! Adorable!

Read an Excerpt

Introduction

I followed a trail of paw prints, clumped up litter, and splattered flecks of soap up the stairs and down the hall to my bedroom. Sticky wet spots covered the floors, the walls, a roll top desk, a wicker laundry basket, and a half dozen scattered books. A miserable wet lump of fur huddled in the middle of my bed.
"This is for your own good," I said, stealthily creeping towards him as I clutched the corners of a large beach towel. The lump glared back at me incredulously.
"We're almost done. We can't turn back now," I argued, slowly moving closer to the corner of the bed. The lump continued to stare at me suspiciously.
I glanced down at my arms and legs, grimly surveying the map of fresh scratches. Sighing, I gripped the towel and moved into position. The quivering lump dug his claws into the bedspread, anticipating my next move.
I lunged forward, the towel unfolding as my arms spread wide. My target tried to jump out of the way, but the billowing beach towel swallowed him whole. I felt a twinge of guilt as the sheet came down over his disappointed face; then I carried my struggling wet fugitive back downstairs to the kitchen sink
The day had begun with a sense of foreboding, filled with apprehension of the task that lay ahead of me. Yawning in a reluctant gulp of crisp spring air, I wiggled my toes to rouse the two slumbering cats entwined at the foot of the bed-a mass of white fur tinged with peachy, buff-colored highlights.
One of them stood up, her back arching in a full body stretch before her slender figure leapt nimbly to the floor. Isabella issued a commanding look in my direction and sauntered out of the bedroom.
I swung myfeet down to the hardwood floor, unearthing the second of my feline foot warmers. The more portly of the pair, he hit the ground beside the bed with a squawking grunt and waddled sleepily across the room to his inclined scratching post.
I splashed a basin full of cold water on my face and plodded slowly down the flight of stairs to the kitchen. Isabella greeted me with an impatient chirp and looked pointedly at her empty food bowl. Her imperious gaze followed me through the dark kitchen as I groped for the light switch and stumbled towards the coffee machine. Together, we watched as the first promising drops of brew began to plink into the glass receptacle. Isabella sat down on the floor in front of me, her wand of a tail waving back and forth, while I siphoned off the first precious ounces of the dark, steaming liquid. Coffee in hand, I dribbled a cup of dry cat food into the small white bowls on the floor underneath the kitchen table.
Upstairs, heavy feet padded towards the litter box, creaking the floorboards above my head. Seconds later, the unmistakable sounds of spastic, frenzied digging shook the ceiling, snowing the kitchen table with a light covering of dust. Isabella and I listened as the litter box-a shiny, red contraption complete with a covered hood-began to rock to a lively mambo beat. Thousands of sandy particles pattered against its plastic walls as the commotion above us increased in intensity.
I ran a caffeine-coated tongue over my top lip, waiting for the inevitable culmination of the boisterous goings-on inside the bouncing red igloo. Isabella trilled expectantly as a violent eruption launched the energetic digger out of the litter box and propelled him down the stairs. His fluffy, white blur careened around the corner and skidded through the entrance to the kitchen. He was covered from head to toe with a fine dusting of cat litter.
I greeted him casually. "Good morning, Rupert."
He blinked innocently up at me, grains of litter scattering from his furry eyebrows to the kitchen floor.
As a species, cats are generally known for their cleanliness. For Rupert, however, that objective couldn't quite compete with his love of litter box dancing. Despite his best efforts to remove it, stray pieces of litter clung to his white coat like persistent black fleas.
I had put this off as long as possible. A rank, unpleasant odor had begun to follow him around. It was time to give him a bath.
Biting down on my bottom lip, I strolled over to the sink and pulled out a couple of worn beach towels from a nearby drawer.
"Nothing special going on here," I said breezily, discreetly reaching my hand up to the shelf that held the cat shampoo.
My fingers flailed about in an unexpected vacuum. I risked an obvious glance to the empty shelf, and then down to the smug, satisfied cat sitting on the kitchen floor, munching on his breakfast. He paused, sensing my stare, and beamed triumphantly up at me.
Twenty minutes later, I finally found the shampoo bottle- shoved into a crevice between the refrigerator and the wall, alongside several toy mice and a bouncing ball. Rupert monitored my search from a series of defensive positions in the hallway, under the table, and behind the kitchen curtains. He crept commando style through the kitchen, sliding across the floor on his furry, round belly, eying me warily as I gripped the bottle around its neck and tapped it on the palm of my hand.
"Clever," I said, tapping furiously.
Rupert flashed me an impish grin and slowly began to back away. I reached out to grab him, but caught only air as he spun around and raced down the stairs that led to the first floor. That pudgy, white fur ball could be amazingly fast when motivated. The chase was on.
Rupert's long, feathery tail popped up, bouncing like a pogo stick as he hopped down the steps. He rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, spinning out as his claws scrambled on the slick wood floor. I dashed down after him, and, seconds later, stood in the middle of the open room that spanned the commercial, street level of the building. Pivoting slowly, I scanned my dusty surroundings for a hint to his hiding spot.
I was standing in the middle of my Uncle Oscar's antique shop, the Green Vase. At least, I still thought of it as Uncle Oscar's. I had recently inherited his antique business along with the three-story building it occupied.
Rupert's fuzzy, white reflection in the storefront glass revealed his location, hunched behind the edge of the adjacent counter that housed my uncle's antique cash register. I didn't want him to know that he had been discovered, so I continued the pretext of looking under cracked display cases and behind dusty bookshelves, gradually making my way over to the front door. I saw him tense up as I drew nearer.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Author Spotlight

Today is Wednesday and that means Author Spotlight...

          MAGGIE SEFTON!!!!! YAY!!!!


 


Maggie Sefton was born and raised in northern Virginia, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English literature and journalism. Maggie has worked in several careers over the years, from a CPA to a real estate broker in the Rocky Mountain West. However, none of those endeavors could compare with the satisfaction and challenge of creating worlds on paper. She is the mother of four grown daughters, currently scattered around the globe. Author of the nationally bestselling Knitting Mysteries, she resides in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with two very demanding dogs.

She is the wonderful author of The Knitting Mysteries, the Realtor Series and  her newest Mystery Deadly Politics!

If you havent read any of her books , you are missing out on some amazing reads! Pick them up today, you will fall in love with them as I have!

WAY TO GO MAGGIE!!!!!

Book of Paul excerpt, day 3 book blog tour

Hey everyone stop on by and leave a comment for Richard. It has been a wonderful 3 days getting to know him and this book. There is still time to get the book as well as enter the contest too!





Please enjoy this excerpt from The Book of Paul, a nail-biting supernatural thriller by Richard Long. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.

Monsters: An excerpt from The Book of Paul by Richard Long

You tell your children not to be afraid. You tell them everything will be all right. You tell them Mommy and Daddy will always be there. You tell them lies.

Paul looked out the filthy window and watched the little girl playing in the filthier street below. Hopscotch. He didn’t think kids played hopscotch anymore. Not in this neighborhood. Hip-hopscotch, maybe.
“Hhmph! What do you think about that?”

Paul watched the little black girl toss her pebble or cigarette butt or whatever it was to square number five, then expertly hop, hop, hop her way safely to the square and back. She was dressed in a clean, fresh, red-gingham dress with matching red bows in her neatly braided pigtails. She looked so fresh and clean and happy that he wondered what she was doing on this shithole street.

The girl was playing all by herself. Hop, hop, hop. Hop, hop, hop. She was completely absorbed in her hopping and scotching and Paul was equally absorbed watching every skip and shuffle. No one walked by and only a single taxi ruffled the otherworldly calm.

Paul leaned closer, his keen ears straining to pick up the faint sound of her shiny leather shoes scraping against the grimy concrete. He focused even more intently and heard the even fainter lilt of her soft voice. Was she singing? He pressed his ear against the glass and listened. Sure enough, she was singing. Paul smiled and closed his eyes and let the sound pour into his ear like a rich, fragrant wine.
“One, two, buckle my shoe. Three, four, shut the door…”

He listened with his eyes closed. Her soft sweet voice rose higher and higher until…the singing suddenly stopped. Paul’s eyes snapped open. The girl was gone. He craned his neck quickly to the left and saw her being pulled roughly down the street. The puller was a large, light-skinned black man, tugging on her hand/arm every two seconds like he was dragging a dog by its leash. At first, he guessed that the man was her father, a commodity as rare in this part of town as a fresh-scrubbed girl playing hopscotch. Then he wondered if he wasn’t her father after all. Maybe he was one of those kinds of men, one of those monsters that would take a sweet, pure thing to a dark, dirty place and…
And do whatever a monster like that wanted to do.

aul pressed his face against the glass and caught a last fleeting glance of the big brown man and the tiny red-checkered girl. He watched the way he yanked on her arm, how he shook his finger, how he stooped down to slap her face and finally concluded that he was indeed her one and only Daddy dear. Who else would dare to act that way in public?
“Kids!” Paul huffed. “The kids these days!”

He laughed loud enough to rattle the windows. Then his face hardened by degrees as he pictured the yanking daddy and the formerly happy girl. Hmmm, maybe he was one of those prowling monsters after all. Paul shuddered at the thought of what a man like that would do. He imagined the scene unfolding step by step, grunting as the vision became more and more precise. “Hhmph!” he snorted after a particularly gruesome imagining. “What kind of a bug could get inside your brain and make you do a thing like that?”

“Monsters! Monsters!” he shouted, rambling back into the wasteland of his labyrinthine apartments, twisting and turning through the maze of lightless hallways as if being led by a seeing-eye dog. He walked and turned and walked some more, comforted as always by the darkness. Finally, he came to a halt and pushed hard against a wall.

His hidden sanctuary opened like Ali Baba’s cave, glowing with the treasures it contained. He stepped inside and saw the figure resting (well, not exactly resting) between the flickering candles. At the sound of his footsteps, the body on the altar twitched frantically. Paul moved closer, rubbing a smooth fingertip across the wet, trembling skin and raised it to his lips. It tasted like fear. He gazed down at the man, his eyes moving slowly from his ashen face to the rusty nails holding him so firmly in place. The warm, dark blood shining on the wooden altar made him think about the red-gingham bunny again.

“Monsters,” he said, more softly this time, wishing he weren’t so busy. As much as he would enjoy it, there simply wasn’t enough time to clean up this mess, prepare for his guests and track her down. Well, not her, precisely. Her angry tugging dad. Not that Paul had any trouble killing little girls, you understand. It just wasn’t his thing. Given a choice, he would much rather kill her father. And make her watch.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Book of Paul 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 a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.

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 The Book of Paul for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About The Book of Paul:  A cross-genre thriller that combines the brooding horror of Silence of the Lambs with the biting humor of Pulp Fiction.  Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


About the author: 
Richard Long is the author of The Book of Paul and the forthcoming young-adult fantasy series The Dream Palace.  He lives in Manhattan with his wonderful wife, two amazing children and wicked black cat, Merlin. Visit Richard on his websiteTwitterFacebook, or GoodReads.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Sleepwalker by Wendy Cosri Staub

The wait is over Sleepwalker is released today!

Overview

Ten years after the catastrophe, a great fallen city has risen again. Ten years after, a horror begins anew . . . or never truly ended.
The nightmare of 9/11 is a distant but still painful memory for Allison Taylor MacKenna—now married to Mack and living in a quiet Westchester suburb. She has moved on with her life ten years after barely escaping death at the hands of New York’s Nightwatcher serial killer. The monster is dead, having recently committed suicide in his prison cell, but something is terribly wrong. Mack has started sleepwalking, with no recollection of where his nighttime excursions are taking him. And here, north of the city, more women are being savagely murdered, their bodies bearing the Nightwatcher’s unmistakable signature.
Suddenly Allison must confront a devastating truth: her life is in jeopardy once again . . . and quite possibly from the man she trusts and loves.

If you haven't read this series , this is book 2 , book one is called Nightwatcher. Check it out they are really good!

James Patterson's Newest Book

Released yesterday Sept 24th 2012

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson


James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family . . . and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another.

On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things:
1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone--maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?

Book Of Paul- Guest Post

Please enjoy this guest post by Richard Long, author of the nail-biting supernatural thriller, The Book of Paul. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.






                 The Tarot -  A Guest Post by Richard Long


Laura gave me my first tarot deck. It was a Crowley. A lot of people get creeped out by Crowley decks, much as they would have been creeped out by Crowley, I imagine. He called himself  ‘The Great Beast.’ To me, he seemed more like a big joke.
“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law!”
Stop it, you’re killing me.

                                                  ***
You just read the opening lines of The Bone King, a prequel to The Book of Paul.  They happen to be true. Laura gave me my first deck. I still have it and use it. In fact, I’ll be using it shortly to provide Skype tarot readings for two lucky winners of my Whirlwind Blog Tour. I’m looking forward to the readings. The winners? I suppose that depends on which cards come up.

Actually, I don’t give scary tarot readings, I just write about scary tarot readings. People have enough fear and stress in their lives without me throwing more gas on the flames. Besides, the three scariest trump cards–The Hanged Man, Death and The Tower–can all be interpreted in very unscary ways. Most of the time.

William, the narrator of The Book of Paul, lives in the East Village/Alphabet City of New York in the years before gentrification made it a much less fun and frightening place. He makes a living doing tarot and numerology readings, same as the author did at the time. Like me, he is also a collector, but that’s where the similarities end. He collects ancient occult codices, some covered in human skin. He collects other things that are even more…disturbing.

The mythology of The Book of Paul is based largely on my very unique (so unique you’ll never see it anywhere else) interpretation of the twenty-two trump cards of the tarot.  As William endeavors to unravel Paul’s nefarious intentions, he discovers an arrangement of the trumps that reveals the true story being told. In the following excerpt from one of William’s journal entries, Paul congratulates William on his discovery (which is not revealed, so no spoiler alert!) and rewards his efforts with a very special gift to add to his collection, and the promise of an even greater prize.

A fabulous tarot reading from Richard Long? A Kindle Fire?

No, William isn’t as lucky as three of you wonderful readers.

He’s about to have his very first look at The Book of Paul, a gift that comes with a very hefty price tag.

                                              ***

"You’ve done exceptionally well here,” Paul said, “but you’re never gonna get to the bottom of this no matter how many of those old books you poke your nose into.”

“And that’s because…”

“For starters, those writings were deliberately intended to disguise the truth in countless metaphors and scrambled codes to keep the idiots at bay. They’ve been translated, and re-translated back into the original demotic, Coptic or Greek countless times, every scribe adding his own pontifical touch in his glorious interpretation. Of the more accurate writings, there’s more missing from the tracts than what remains, as you’ve seen in the Drivel of Mary. You’ve about as much luck hitting pay dirt in those dustbins as those literalist born-agains have of seeing the Rapture. However, I have a gift for you that should prove far more enlightening, if you apply yourself with half the dedication of these research efforts.”

He reached deeply into his pocket and told me to close my eyes. “Don’t go using yer second sight and spoil the surprise.” I nodded and felt him place a large rectangular object in my left hand. “Okay, open ’em.”
It was a tarot deck. Older than any I’d seen. The paintings were incredibly detailed and absolutely exquisite. I turned them over one by one, The Hero, The Herald, The Oracle—all the trumps labeled with Paul’s titles. “These are amazing!” I said, awed and yes, flattered by his incredible gift. I had a hard time spitting it out, but I managed to say, “Thank you.”

“You’ve earned it,” he grunted, taking the cards back before I had a chance to look at the rest of them, setting the cards down gently on the table. “But don’t stay up too late gazing at them. This deck can be quite…entrancing.”

“Is there something else I should know about it?” I asked apprehensively.

“Indeed, there is. Get a good night’s sleep and meet me in the chapel tomorrow. I’m bumping you up to the advanced class, so make sure your eyes are bright and your head is clear. You’ve earned a little taste of the Gospel according to Paul.”



As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Book of Paul 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 a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.

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 The Book of Paul for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About The Book of Paul:  A cross-genre thriller that combines the brooding horror of Silence of the Lambs with the biting humor of Pulp Fiction.  Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


About the author: 
Richard Long is the author of The Book of Paul and the forthcoming young-adult fantasy series The Dream Palace.  He lives in Manhattan with his wonderful wife, two amazing children and wicked black cat, Merlin. Visit Richard on his websiteTwitterFacebook, or GoodReads.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Book of Paul Tour

Please enjoy this interview with Richard Long, author of the nail-biting supernatural thriller, The Book of Paul. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.




1. Tell us about the spark of inspiration that eventually grew into The Book of Paul.

The initial inspiration for The Book of Paul came when I wrote the first line of the first chapter called Exercises: “He practiced smiling.”  I wanted to explore a character who had been so damaged by childhood trauma that he could no longer feel compassion, joy, affection, and had, accordingly, committed all kinds of horrible acts. I wondered if such a person could ever regain his emotional capacity and be redeemed by love.

2. What was the research process like for this book (which can at times deal with some pretty heady and—frankly—grotesque goings-on)? Any horror stories to share?

There are many aspects to the story, so the research was really extensive. I love doing the research almost as much as the writing, so it’s a joy for me to read and learn so many new things. The creation mythology literally goes back to square one and builds from there, tracing the history of Hermetic and Gnostic philosophy, alchemy, druidism and pagan mythology–particularly Egyptian, Greek and Celtic traditions. There’s also a strong science fiction element involving quantum physics, artificial intelligence, life extension and what’s known as The Singularity. Other lines of exploration involved Irish genealogy and what I call the pain culture: tattoos, elaborate piercings and body modifications.
I made some gruesome discoveries along the way. The most disturbing was the Extreme Body Modification website I stumbled upon, which is one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever seen. I first saw it in the early days of the Internet, which is pretty amazing in itself. I checked recently and it’s still there, though I didn’t have the stomach to peek inside again. I’m actually as squeamish as some of my readers about certain things, which is probably why the horror comes across so vividly. If something scares the hell out of me, it’s easy for me to convey that fear and revulsion.

3. Tell us about Paul. Who is he and what is his book about?

The Book is a 4th century codex, the only one of it’s kind. How and why it was made and what it contains is one of the central mysteries of the series, so I’m not going to spill those beans. Paul is every bit as mysterious. When he is first introduced you might think he’s a serial killer involved with the occult in some way. As the story progresses you discover some really unexpected things about him. One thing is clear from the outset – he is one very nasty piece of work. I’ve always felt that any horror novel or thriller is only as good as the villain. I definitely aimed for the fences with Paul.

4. There is a strong tarot undercurrent to this novel. The protagonist even makes his living by reading the cards. Why did you decide to work it into The Book of Paul, and how does it surface throughout the course of the story?

I actually did tarot and numerology readings when I lived in the East Village many years ago. The tarot led me to a lot of dark occult explorations, which are mirrored in William’s journey. I was lucky enough to pull out of that nosedive and hop over to the Buddhist side of the fence. William is not so fortunate. The reader gets drawn into William’s world through his first person narration as he talks about becoming a collector of ancient occult manuscripts, which leads him to the tarot. Then he gradually reveals more through his journal entries, which contain the meat of the mythology and all the Hermetic and Gnostic lore. Finally, he discovers that the tarot is actually related to an apocalyptic prophecy, which Paul is determined to fulfill by any means necessary, which is very bad news for Billy.

5. At almost 500 pages, this is not a short novel. From start to finish, how long did it take you to write, revise, and ready for publication?

I’ve written over 2,000 pages for The Book of Paul and the series. The first draft of this volume was close to a thousand pages long. I cut out eight characters and their storylines in the second draft, which netted my first agent. She wanted a lower page count, so many of the narrator’s interior musings were cut. Those were actually some of my favorite sections. Then I moved to another agent and he wanted more of the mythology put back in, so it grew close to this size. After six months he hadn’t sold it, so I got sick of the whole process, wrote it the way I wanted, and published it.

6. The concept of synchronicity plays heavily in this novel. What attracts you to it, and has it proven a heavy influence in your own life?

I’ve always been a spiritual seeker. I was raised as a Catholic, but the nuns effectively beat those beliefs out of me quickly. Even as a kid, I couldn’t accept the idea of God as the big guy in the sky with the white beard. Science and mythology and my own imagination showed me all kind of possibilities. I first noticed synchronicity when the number eleven kept showing up for me all over the place–addresses, hotel rooms, etc. Someone suggested I get a book on numerology and I discovered that eleven was my “name number” and also a power number. I started noticing all kinds of things after that, coincidences that were just too weird to brush away. Then I read some Jung, and when I got into quantum physics that sealed the deal. Synchronicity for me now is the manifestation of interconnectedness in the universe. There is nothing you can perceive that isn’t connected to you. As the Buddhists say, “no separate self.”

7. Paul is… scary (we’ll leave it at that). How were you able to effectively become this deranged character, and how did you hang on to your own humanity after the fact?

I would imagine it’s much the same as when Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter. He was very disdainful of method actors who got all caught up in identifying with their characters. There’s a famous story about Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman on the set of Marathon Man. Hoffman was a method actor and he stayed up all night before their torture scene together and Olivier said something like, “Why don’t you try acting, dear boy?”
That being said, I’m not immune to being disturbed by these things. When I wrote the traumatic scenes of him and Martin–well, I cried when I wrote them and they stayed with me for days. So maybe the method is working for me too.
Paul is great to write because it’s like letting my Id out of a cage. I get to play out my most evil imaginings and nobody gets hurt. I also had to find Paul’s humanity to make him really interesting for me. I didn’t want him to be some cartoon monster. Paul is also in a lot of pain; he was traumatized as a boy and his life was changed forever. By the end of the story you get to see many other sides of him. And of course, there’s a lot more to come.

8. Irish mythology is woven into The Book of Paul, and at one point, Paul even makes a sarcastic quip about the luck of the Irish. Why Irish, and how all does its culture influence the story?

When I’m writing, I go into a daydream state where I imagine the character and what he or she looks like and where they are and what they’re doing. No outline usually. I sit back and watch and listen. If it’s great the way I imagine it, then writing the dialog is like taking dictation. When I wrote the first chapters with Paul, I was surprised because I kept hearing him speak with an Irish brogue, but his accent went in and out – sometimes really thick, sometimes a little lilt, sometimes no accent at all. So I’m thinking, what’s that about?
I come from Irish American stock, but my parents told me absolutely nothing about their parents other than to say they were cruel. So that’s the starting point with Paul. He’s the ultimate bad dad. The more I explored Paul, the deeper it led me into Celtic mythology, Irish genealogy and history. I suppose I’m trying to find the missing links of my own heritage. My grandmother was born in Ireland, so I have dual citizenship, even though I haven’t been there yet. I’m thinking I’ll go next year when I’m writing the third sequel.

9. The Book of Paul is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and in that way, it can be difficult to classify. So tell us, who is your target audience for this novel?

Given the fact that there are some rough episodes in the story, you might think that the so-called target audience would be men who are into horror, thrills and mayhem. But women actually seem to be my biggest, or at least, my most vocal fans. I’ve been getting some really enthusiastic reviews from men, but even more so from women, who surprisingly seem less squeamish than some of the male reviewers.
The Book of Paul doesn’t fit into any neat, tidy genre. It’s very complex and like you say, unlike anything I’ve read before either. There’s a Pulp Fiction element to it, with quirky characters in a seedy environment. There’s a major religious/mythological mystery for the Dan Brown crowd. It’s very funny, but incredibly poignant. It’s very disturbing, but there are lots of fast-paced action scenes. There’s romance and kinky sex. Something for everybody.

10. Why did you decide to self-publish The Book of Paul, and how has the journey been so far?

Read above. The traditional publishing industry in general is like a boxer on the ropes in the tenth round. For fiction it’s even worse. Add first-time novelist to the list and sprinkle on an unclassifiable genre for a little seasoning. I had two agents who were well known and successful, and very enthusiastic about the book. But the editors they reached wouldn’t take a chance on it. I could have kept trying, but frankly, I ran out of patience.
How has it been so far? The book is out in the world and it’s just the way I wanted it. I have complete control over everything I do, including the cover art, which is also exactly how I want it. The marketing is a lot of hard work, particularly the social marketing, which I had never done before. But that’s turned out to be a lot of fun too. I’m meeting so many great people–other authors and readers–and getting such a strong response on the book that it feels like a vindication. See? I told you so. Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Book of Paul 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 a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.
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 The Book of Paul for just 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity
  3. Visit today’s featured social media event
About The Book of Paul:  A cross-genre thriller that combines the brooding horror of Silence of the Lambs with the biting humor of Pulp Fiction.  Get it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

About the author: 

Richard Long is the author of The Book of Paul and the forthcoming young-adult fantasy series The Dream Palace.  He lives in Manhattan with his wonderful wife, two amazing children and wicked black cat, Merlin. Visit Richard on his websiteTwitterFacebook, or Goodreads.


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Friday, September 21, 2012

Book Signing!!!!

                        EXTRA EXTRA!!!!!  This Just in !!!

Wendy Cosri Staub will be in Dunkirk NY!  At The Book Nook for the
signing of her new series!  First book NIGHTWATCHER, second book which comes out on Sept 25, 2012 SLEEPWALKER!!!  

When you ask? She will be there October 6th, 2012 at 4pm! 

She is an amazing author and her new series will have you on the edge wanting more!!

So come on everyone, grab your camera and her two books and head on to The Book Nook!

You can always purchase her books there!!! You won't want to miss this!!!!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Thursday 1st

Hey everyone, It's Thursday and that means Thursday First is here again! Today our First is

The Long Quiche Goodbye, by Avery Aames

This is a Great Series. You all should read it , if you haven't already!!!



Over View of the book:

Welcome to the grand opening of Fromagerie Bessette. Or as it's more commonly known by the residents of small- town Providence, Ohio-the Cheese Shop. Proprietor Charlotte Bessette has prepared a delightful sampling of bold Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, delicious tortes of Stilton and Mascarpone, and a taste of Sauvignon Blanc-but someone else has decided to make a little crime of passion the piece de resistance. Right outside the shop Charlotte finds a body, the victim stabbed to death with one of her prized olive-wood handled knives.

Way to go Aavery on a Fantastic First!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Author Spotlight-- JULIE HYZY

On Wednesday I will be posting Author Spotlights.. And today we are Spotlighting ...

             JULIE HYZY!!!! 

Anthony and Barry award-winning author Julie Hyzy writes both the White House Chef Mysteries and the Manor House Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. A native Chicagoan, she thoroughly enjoys researching her books, especially when traveling to exciting new places is involved. 

She is the amazing author of books such as :

White House Chef Mysteries

State of the Onion
Hail to the Cheif
Eggsecutive Orders
Buffalo West Wing
Affairs of Steak

and coming Dec 31st to the series
Fonduing Fathers

Her other series is A Manor House series

Grace Under Pressure
Grace Interrupted
Grace Among Theives

She is one of the AMAZING COZY CHICKS  and is also on Facbook as well.

I encourage you to go out and pick up these books , SHe is a Delight and you will fall in love with the characters immediatly.

Find out more about Julie Hyzy at her website www.juliehyzy.com 

I hope you will take the time and get her books you will not be disappointed!!!!!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Book Release Tuesday!

Hey Everyone it is book release Tuesday! CONGRATULATIONS to all these Authors!!!!

Hiss and Hers by M.C Beaton
Seconds Away by Harlan Coben
Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Lucky Stuff by Sharon Fiffer
Beautiful Lies by Clare Clark
Sever Clear by Stuart Woods
The Chocolate Money by Ashley Prentice Norton
The Cutting Season by Attice Locke
Jane: The Woman who Loved Tarzan by Robin Maxwell

Did I miss any? Let me know I will add them !

Monday, September 17, 2012

Reading Monday!!

Something new I am starting here at my blog, Reading Monday!! What I want to know is....

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU ALL READING TODAY!!!!

Leave me a comment and let me know, I will tell you mine if you tell me yours!!!!!!


Chatting with Blake Powers

Today we are chatting with Blake Powers about his ebook A Different View.
Stop by and meet Blake today. Have a question or a comment for him feel free to post it here!



Tell us alittle about yourself?

That's a loaded question, and one I'm never quite sure how to answer.  In terms of origins, I'm from Georgia where the best part of my childhood was spent in NE Georgia, though we lived in Macon.  I'm a good American mutt, though Scot/Irish tends to dominate, and have links back to royalty down to preachers and playboys.  My passion in life is communication:  writing, photography, and videography and I've been very fortunate to find it.  WIthin that, I am very passionate about wolves, military, and Cooking with the Troops, and have been finding ways to link all three.
 
How did you come up with the Hero/heroine in this book?
 
Easy -- I went and lived with them.  The heroes and heroines are those who serve, and I was fortunate enough to be able to go and live with them for a time in Iraq.  My job there was not to tell their story, but to find ways to let them tell their stories themselves.  The news gives a very narrow, and often distorted to the point of unreality, view of the troops and what they do.  My book focused not on the things that could make the news, but on elements of day-to-day life that don't make the news.  It captures vignettes of what the 99 percent of the time that is routine, even boredom.  In that way, it helps provide a fuller and more accurate picture of life in a combat zone.
 
What are you working on now?
 
I'm working on some follow-up books, and on going to spend time in Afghanistan to do much the same thing there. 
 
If you were writing abook about your life right now what would the title be and why?
 
I Could Never Be So Lucky Again.  Jimmy Doolittle claimed the title first, but it applies to my life in so many ways.  For all the trials and tribulations, I've been incredibly lucky to be alive and to do the things I've gotten to do.
 
Who are some of your favorite authors?
 
That is always a hard one for me, as there are a number of them.  There are authors that have influenced me in life and as a writer:  WInston Churchill, Cordwainer Smith, Mary Stewart, Robert A. Heinlein, Robert Burns, Robert Browning, e.e. cummings, the unknown authors of the Mabinogian, Matsuo Basho, Roger Zelazny, J.R.R. Tolkien, Rudyard Kipling, and James Herriot among others.  There are the authors I enjoy reading (and learning from in some cases) today including David Weber, John Ringo, Jane Lindskold, Michael Z. Williamson, Larry Bond, Tom Kratman, and a few others I enjoy just to escape.
 
Meet the Author
 
 

Award winning writer, photographer, and raconteur C. Blake Powers has more than 25 years experience in communications. An early adopter of new and social media, he is a contributing author at Blackfive milblog (http://www.blackfive.net/main) and has done two embeds in Iraq with Army and Marine units. In addition, he served a photographic internship at Playboy; is a licensed private pilot who has undergone Air Force physiological training; and, earned military expert ratings with M-16 and issue pistol. Past experience includes working as a contract employee at the U. S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Center and for NASA. His print material has appeared in publications including the Chicago Sun-Times, Military History magazine, and SpaceWorld magazine.




Sunday, September 16, 2012

First in a New Series!

Overview

EASY BAKE COVEN
Katie Lightfoot's tired of loafing around as the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery. So when her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben open a bakery in Savannah's quaint downtown district and ask Katie to join them, she enthusiastically agrees.
While working at the Honeybee Bakery—named after Lucy's cat—Katie notices that her aunt is adding mysterious herbs to her recipes. Turns out these herbal enhancements aren't just tasty—Aunt Lucy is a witch and her recipes are actually spells!
When a curmudgeonly customer is murdered outside the Honeybee Bakery, Uncle Ben becomes the prime suspect. With the help of handsome journalist Steve Dawes, charming firefighter Declan McCarthy, and a few spells, Katie and Aunt Lucy stir up some toil and trouble to clear Ben's name and find the real killer..

My Review,

Katie moves to Savannah to work at the Honeybee which is owned by her Aunt Lucy and Uncle Ben. Things are busy as there are just a few days until the Grand opening of The Honeybee.And they want everything to be perfect for that day.

When Mavis Templeton is found dead on the day of The Honeybees opening.with a little witchcraft, will they find out who killed Mavis before it is to late?  The only suspect is uncle Ben sice he was descibed as the killer,  but is there someone else and will they find out in time. Lucy and the ladies have some work to do if they plan to prove that Uncle Ben is innocent. Using their spells will be the only way of proving it too.

Bailey Cates pulls you in from the very first page and you instantly fall in love with Katie and Lucy and the Ladies of the spell bookclub and also Mungo, Lucy's dog who is also her Familiar.

Pick up this book today for a Brilliant First in a new series read.

The next one in the series comes out in December and you wont want to miss it!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Spend the Day with Judy Alter

Good Morning Judy, thank you for stopping by today! Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us!

Tell us about your self.

If someone asks me what I’ve accomplished with my life, I have my answer ready—listed by priority. I am the mother of four wonderful grown children, who I mostly raised as a single parent, and I am the grandmother of seven. I’m proud of my family and they are the world to me.
Almost as important, I’m the author of nine novels for adults—ranging from western historical romance to cozy mystery—and about the same number for young adults, along with forty or so nonfiction books for readers from fourth to sixth grade, a cookbook, a nonfiction study of Texas author Elmer Kelton, countless articles and book reviews. In other words, I’m a writer—have been since I was ten years old (and that’s a long time ago).
And last but not least, I was the director of a small academic press for twenty years (and editor almost ten years before that). It was work that I loved, and it went hand in glove with my writing career. I worked with wonderful authors, met a few famous ones, and had a great time.
Beyond that I live in Fort Worth, Texas, with my hyperactive 15-mouth Bordoodle, go to church regularly, love my 1922 house and its garden. I’m a happy camper.

What kind of research did you have to do for this book?

 Research for Trouble in a Big Box was sort of on the spot. Like the two previous Kelly O’Connell Mysteries, it’s set in the inner city neighborhood right next to mine, and I’m familiar with streets, houses, and restaurants. Still, I drove around a lot getting streets set in my mind, spotting houses that appealed. I did some research on the title business, zoning restrictions, historic preservation, etc., much of it by talking to people I know with a special interest in those fields. For the first Kelly O’Connell Mystery, Skeleton in a Dead Space, I did a lot of research on Craftsman architecture because it plays a big part in the series.

what is the best and worst thing about writing? 

 Sometimes I feel like Mark Twain: I like having written. Writing can be the hardest part of being a writer, when the words don’t come easily and the plot seems awkward and hopeless. But other days I can bat out 2,000 words and feel pretty proud of myself. I love re-reading and thinking, “Hey, that’s not so bad after all.” And I love holding my books, knowing that my work is in print. And, yes, I enjoy that local spotlight that shines on me. Plus I continue to meet a lot of interesting people because of my writing, although sometimes mostly on Facebook and email.

What book are you reading right now and why did you chose it?

Right now, I’m reading Nancy Martin’s No Way to Kill a Lady because I’ve read all the Blackbird sisters mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed them. I read mostly cozy mysteries because I enjoy them and because I learn from the writing of others.



Judy Alter
check out Judy's blog at  www.judys-stew.blogspot.com
Kelly O'Connell Mysteries: Skeleton in a Dead Space
No Neighborhood for Old Women
Trouble in a Big Box

Thank you for visiting today Judy,, look forward to reading your book and getting to know you.

Leave a comment for Judy here today!


 

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Murder Your Darlings by J.J Murphy


One morning legendary wit Dorothy Parker discovers someone under Manhattan's famed Algonquin Round Table. A little early for a passed out drunk, isn't it? But he's not dead drunk, just dead. When a charming writer from Mississippi named Billy Faulkner becomes a suspect in the murder, Dorothy decides to dabble in a little detective work, enlisting her literary cohorts.
It's up to the Algonquins to outwit the true culprit-preferably before cocktail hour-and before the clever killer turns the tables on them.


Leave a comment if you have read this book! No Spoilers please! Tell us if you liked it and recommend it!!!

Thursday's First

Every Thursday I will be posting a First in a New Series post! To Feature some AMAZING  authors that have brought us WONDERFUL book series!!! 

So stay tuned for my next post! You wont want to miss this first!!!!!!

Monday, September 10, 2012

died with a bow by grace carroll

Died with a Bow by Grace Carroll
Sept 4th, 2011

Overview

April in San Francisco may be all about layers, but it also marks one year since the stylish Rita Jewell began working at Dolce’s, an upscale boutique catering to the city’s trendy socialites. And while it may seem like a glamorous world, someone’s about to get ugly…

Things have been less than pretty for Rita lately. There’s her lackluster love life. Then Dolce hires a new salesgirl. Fast-talking fashionista Vienna Fairchild is young, confident, and horribly entitled. She’s rearranged the store and relegates Rita to answering her phone—and the men are ringing for Vienna as though it were going out of style. Lucky for Rita, Dolce has tickets to a charity bachelor auction—but what to wear?

While Rita opts for something simple, Vienna stuns the crowd in a breathtaking black dress with a pink bow on the back. Rita is even more stunned when she sees Vienna in that same dress the following day—dead on the sales floor of Dolce’s. With Rita’s fingerprints all over the scene and a believable motive, she’s going to need to find some clues and throw together the perfect outfit that says: “I’m innocent.”


My Review:

When new girl Vienna starts working at Dolce's and becomes a close friend of Dolce's the owner, Rita becomes a little jealous. Dolce's time is spent with Vienna and Rita feels like that should be her not Vienna, So when Vienna is Killed at the Bachelor charity Auction all eyes and evidence points to Rita. Especially since she was the one who found Vienna and her prints were all over the murder scene.

Rita has to prove that she is innocent and to do that she has to find Vienna's killer before she becomes the next victim. But where to start? And how does she get Detective Wall to believe her? She starts her own investigating. But is she to late , will she go to jail for something she didnt do. Get a copy of the book today and find out.

It was a great read, you will not be disappointed in this book!

Friday, September 7, 2012

Spend the Morning with Vicki Delany

More Than Sorrow by Vicki Delany September 4th 2012


Good Morning Vicki, thank you for being here with us today! Im looking forward to your new book!





Tell us a little about yourself.

Thanks very much for having me, Shelley.  My name is Vicki Delany and I am the author of twelve (so far) novels of mystery and suspense. I write several different types of books, series and well as standalones.  I live in Canada, and all of my books are set primarily in Canada.  I’m published by Poisoned Pen Press and by Dundurn Press.  My newest book is titled MORE THAN SORROW, and it is a standalone, a contemporary thriller with a historical background.

What kind of Research do you do for your books?


It depends on the type of book.  I write the Klondike Gold Rush books (Gold Digger, Gold Fever, Gold Mountain) set in Dawson City, Yukon in 1898 and those require a lot of research.  Fortunately there was a great deal written about the gold rush at the time, there are plenty of history books, and a plethora of fabulous photographs. For MORE THAN SORROW, which has a background of the Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, I counted on history books.  I live in Prince Edward County, a Loyalist area, so my local library was a good source.  For the Constable Molly Smith books (In the Shadow of the Glacier, Among the Departed), which are about contemporary police officers, I’ve made friends in the police who answer my questions, I’ve been on ride-alongs, been to observe in-service training.  In MORE THAN SORROW, the story is set on a small-scale vegetable farm, so I found a farmer who showed me around and answered all my questions.



What are you working on now? 

More than Sorrow is being released this week, and I’ve just finished the sixth Constable Molly Smith book, A Cold White Sun.



What are the first 5 books in your to be read pile? 

September is looking to be a great month for new books.  I’m excited about reading The Fallen One by the Canadian Writer Rick Blechta. Rick’s a musician and this book is about an opera singer.  Also, Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson, which is the first Inspector Banks book in a few years.  I like the John Cardinal books by Giles Blunt, and he has a new one titled Until the Night.  At Bouchercon next month, I’m on a panel with several great authors, and I’m looking forward to reading Amanda Kyle Williams’s book The Stranger in the Room. And lastly, if I have to choose only five, there’s The Face of the Enemy, the first in a new series from Beverle Graves Myers and Joanne Dobson.

thank you so much for coming to visit today! Hey everyone if you have a question or comment for Vicki leave it her! We are waiting to hear from you! Lets show her some love !!!!!!!


Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.  Her popular Constable Molly Smith series (including In the Shadow of the Glacier and Among the Departed) have been optioned for TV by Brightlight Pictures.  She also writes standalone novels of psychological suspense, as well as a light-hearted historical series, (Gold Digger, Gold Mountain), set in the raucous heyday of the Klondike Gold Rush.  

Vicki’s newest book is More than Sorrow, a standalone novel published by Poisoned Pen Press.  In a starred review, Library Journal called the book, “a splendid Gothic thriller.”

Having taken early retirement from her job as a systems analyst in the high-pressure financial world, Vicki is settling down to the rural life in bucolic, Prince Edward County, Ontario where she rarely wears a watch.

Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/vicki.delany, and twitter: @vickidelany. She blogs about the writing life at One Woman Crime Wave (http://klondikeandtrafalgar.blogspot.com) 


 


 
 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Spend the day with Lucy Burdette


Lets welcome Lucy Burdette, the author of Death In Four Courses just released on Sept. 4th.

Got your coffee or tea? Well go on and join us!
Good Morning Lucy, So excited to have you here with us this morning!


Tell us a little about yourself.

Well, that's a big question! I'm a psychologist, writer, fanatic reader, foodie, animal-lover, family woman...and I'm sure there are more adjectives I'm not remembering. Writing as Lucy Burdette, I'm thrilled to be celebrating the publication of my tenth mystery, DEATH IN FOUR COURSES (9/4)!

What was your inspiration for this series?

My husband and I have been lucky enough to spend some winters in Key West, FL. What a fascinating town, chock full of interesting characters, gorgeous scenery, great food, and astonishing contrasts. It makes a perfect setting for a mystery series. For DEATH IN FOUR COURSES, the second book in Hayley Snow's food critic series, I was lucky enough to attend the Key West Literary Seminar's session on food writing a couple of years ago. So the book is set at a fictional food writing conference--all hell breaks loose when Hayley finds the keynote speaker floating face down in a dipping pool.


What are you working on next for this series?

I am almost finished with the third book in the series, called TOPPED CHEF. It features a reality TV cooking show for which Hayley fills in as a judge.


How did your Heroine come about in this series?


I've written two other mystery series as Roberta Isleib, the golf lovers mysteries starring Cassie Burdette, and the advice column mysteries, featuring psychologist Rebecca Butterman. Both of those characters were more serious and driven. Hayley is young and enthusiastic and a little bit lost. But once she falls in love with Key West, she'll do anything it takes to stay on the island. Although I shared the love of psychology with Dr. Butterman, and the golf with Cassie Burdette, it's an awful lot of fun to write about Hayley--and food! And it's already been fun to see her grow...


What book has most influenced your life and why?(if you can share the why?)


Oh that's a hard one. What comes to mind first is GONE WITH THE WIND. I can remember bringing it to class and hiding it in a textbook because I couldn't WAIT to see what happened. I loved the characters so much--I hope I can replicate in some small way in my books the kind of connection that Margaret Mitchell was able to make with her readers.




Meet the Author

Clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib, AKA Lucy Burdette, has had eight previous mysteries published. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. Her story “The Itinerary,” under the Roberta Isleib name, was selected for inclusion in The Rich and the Dead, an MWA anthology edited by Nelson DeMille. She is a past president of Sisters in Crime. 



Stop by and leave a message for Lucy everyone! She is an amazing author, come get to know her here!





Thank you so much Lucy for stopping by to chat with us. I am so looking forward to this book and many more to come!














First in Series- Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross

Happy Monday! This week's First in Series is Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross Released on August 22, 2000. Seri...