Sunday, 29 November 2015

Christmas Lites V

Good Morning,
The long wait is finally over! This years Christmas Lites is released. I can't believe this is book five, it doesn't feel like five years has gone by. For those who don't know what this book series is about, it is a group of authors that come together and each write a holiday story. Then Amy Eye (editor and compiler) brings all the works together. She and the cover designer do not see a dime towards their work towards Christmas Lites just like the authors who submit their works. Every dime goes towards the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). This year my story involves Riley from Beneath the Scars :) 



Here is the list of authors that are part of Christmas Lites V
Frank Smith
Ian Jedlica
Rachel Reese 
Ja Clement
Tricia Kristufek
Annabelle Kristufek 
Douglas Wynne
Monica La Porta
Phil Cantrill
Tiffany Michelle Brown 
Stacy Garrett
Sean Pothier
JB Lynn 
Anita Stewart
DT Dyllin
Ottilie Weber
Angela Yuriko Smith
JG Faherty
William Gent
Brandon Eye 

Amy Eye
Vered Ehsani
Alana Lorens



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Saturday, 21 November 2015

Power of Love

Hello!
I am lucky enough to be taking part BFI Love Fest this year. I appreciate being part of it and I get to talk about one of my favorite things to write about, love. All of my stories have some bases of love because everyone can relate on some level, boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, siblings-siblings, friends-friends, parent-child, boyfriend-boyfriend, girlfriend-girlfriend, and many more.

I love watching movies like 'Shakespeare in Love', 'A Walk to Remember', and 'A Princess Bride'. 'Shakespeare in Love' is a fictional spin on how Shakespeare wrote one of his plays. In a true Shakespeare fashion it does have its ups and downs, but the emotion could cause strong emotions and turn a whole world upside down. Those are just three movies that come to mind, but I think 'A Princess Bride' is one of the best examples of power of love. It is a tale of two peasants that grow to love each other, but don't ever say so. However, the two are torn apart. The two are given obstacles and are even tortured. Then the only thing that can save our young hero is true love. This is a movie that is full of action and humor as well, a must love classic for everyone.

I can remember watching 'A Princess Bride' as a child and eventually I hope that to read the book as well. Now this isn't to say there are books that don't show the true power of love. 'Wildflower Hill' discusses the power of love between mother and daughter, then a granddaughter as she picks up the pieces of her life. In the adult novel 'Lover Eternal' I nearly teared up. This book is definitely a 18+ kind of book, but it talks about a vampire who is cursed who falls for a human who had been through years of cancer treatments. For obvious reasons they could not be together, and this is not. My favorite when I was in fifth grade was 'The Two Princesses of Bamarre'. It is about two sisters, one is more shy than the other. The bolder of the two gets sick and the other sister goes on a journey that is dangerous and involves dragons in search for the cure. The love for her sister (and later a boy) helps her find her strength against everything she is up against to save the one she loves. Of course if you go on my goodreads you could see the books upon books of that contain love and while I am writing it is hard to think of specific ones to choose without rambling (well too much...).

Now I might be a little bias with the next paragraph will talk about some of my works on the topic. 'End of the Line' is a story about the end of the world, but the power of their feelings between siblings, friends, and eventually girlfriend-boyfriend they fight a chaos world. Asteroids had destroyed everything, but they stick together to live. 'Family Ties', a Abby goes missing and her friend knows in his gut that she is alive even as the cops lose faith. 'Beneath the Scars' is about Riley who is covered in head to toe scars from serving overseas, but when he meets Eponine he is forced to see a world outside of his apartment. Eponine dropped out of college and works a job she hates to make sure that she has a roof over not only her head, but her ten year old sister's to keep a social worker off their backs. 'Project US', Nick and Rachel are thrown into a marriage at sixteen and together to find a way to get their lives back to normal. Nick starts to have doubts, but will do anything to make Rachel happy. 'Shadows from the Past' is a novella (that is on sale for free) deals with what will the power of love free a person from in the paranormal sense.

Love is a strong thing to experience, read, watch, and write about. It is all around us and will surprise us in ways we could never expect.

The BFI Love Fest is going on for another day, please check out all the videos, chats, and authors that are involved!
Site
Twitter - Where it is taking place.
Authors
my interview

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Not Enough ~ Mia Hoddell

Hello Everyone!
I can not wait to read this, it is one of the ebooks that I have in my pile to read soon. I have off next week and I plan on using every spare moment that I can! Check out this contemporary new adult novel.




Not Enough
by Mia Hoddell

Genre: Upper YA/NA Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 16th 2015

Pages: 324

Blurb
Neve Colvin isn’t good enough. As an introvert, her life is a never-ending list of labels and criticism. Pressures to change come from everyone—including the one person she thought would love her unconditionally … her mother. All Neve wants is acceptance, but surrounded by extroverts it’s a wish that’s nearly impossible to fulfil.

For Neve there’s only one solution: anyone disapproving must go. Even if it means only one person will remain.

That person is her lifelong friend Blake Reynolds. He’s seen the fights with her mum, the breakdowns caused by attacks on her personality, and the battles for acceptance. Each time she is left shattered and questioning who she is, he’s the one to collect the pieces of her broken heart. Shielding her from the cruelty is his only concern. But how can he protect her when Neve is concealing a secret so dark?

Blake thinks he knows everything about her, and with their relationship developing, he assumes Neve trusts him fully. However, there is one memory Neve is too ashamed of to share. Revealing it will test Blake’s loyalty beyond what she could ever ask, and Blake is the only friend she can’t afford to lose. He’s the one person capable of dragging her from the darkness plaguing her, but with pressures to conform increasing, even Blake may not be enough to pull her back this time.




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What reviewers are saying:

"From the dedication at the beginning up to the end this was both a thought provoking and an emotional read for me and I loved it!" - Sandra @ JeanzBookReadNReview

"This story tugged at my heartstrings, played on my every emotion. It was a beautifully written story of how an introverted young girl blossoms into a beautiful young woman." - Keren Hughes, Author of Nothing Like The First Time

"A heartbreaking read that sometimes had me close to tears." - Susan @ Ladies Living in Bookland

"Heartbreaking. Powerful. Real ... I literally lived the pages, not read them ... It's so well and beautifully written, it is more than just another YA novel." - Cristina @ Crazy Beautiful 

Excerpt


 “What areyou doing?” I manage to get out around my laughs. She tenses at my words and then tilts her head back to fix me with a glare, her eyes blazing with irritation.
“I’m sleeping in the bath like I said I would. Why, what did you think I was doing? Teaching myself to swim?”
“I know what you’re doing. I think that’s obvious. What I meant was why are you doing this?” I step into the room and move in front of her so she doesn’t have to crane her neck to see me.
“You know why.”
“You’re not sleeping in here, Stripes.”
“Watch me.”
I cross my arms. There’s no way I’m going back to bed and allowing her to sleep in a bath. The only problem is that it’s hard to maintain a frustrated expression when everything about the situation is so damn funny. “Be back in a second.”
She mumbles something that sounds like “I’m not going anywhere” to my back as I rush out of the bathroom. Rummaging in my drawer, I find what I’m looking for then I’m back in the room with Neve in seconds.
Before she can react, I have a camera in front of me.
“Smile,” I tease, only it causes her glower to darken. Three lines appear on her forehead as her face screws up.
“Delete that now.”
“Nope. Get out of the bath and I might let you.”
“I’m not getting out. I told you I’m sleeping here.”
“Why all the drama? We’ve slept in the same bed for ages now. It’s not a big deal.” She rolls over, showing me her back, and ignores me. “Stripes, get out of the bath.”
“Night, Blake.”
If she thinks I’m going to give up that easy, she’s got another surprise coming. She should know by now that I don’t give up and people don’t say no to me. I put the camera on the counter by the sink, needing both of my hands.
Carefully, so as not to reveal my intentions, I lean over the bath and line up my hands. With one swift motion, I grip her tightly, heaving her out of the tub and throwing her over my shoulder as she screams, “Put me down, Blake!”
“I told you, you’re not sleeping in a bath. Now shut up and stop hitting my back.” My light and jovial words only serve to make her flail around even more. I manage to pin her legs, but I’m powerless to do anything to stop her hands pounding against my back. It’s not enough to hurt, that’s not her intention, but the squirming is becoming increasingly frustrating.
When I reach the bed, I drag her back over my shoulder and dump her on the mattress. She bounces, not able to hide the laughter on her face while she stares at me and hiccups. This is how I like to see her, carefree and happy. It’s rare nowadays that I catch a glimpse of Neve when she’s truly happy, but in this moment there isn’t a strained muscle in her body. It’s natural, and I can’t stop myself from watching her. I’m still amazed that I’m the one who can bring out her joy and it baffles me that she’s allowed herself to be mine.
We remain gazing at each other with ridiculous grins for a minute. When I’m sure she isn’t going to run, I move around to my of the bed side. Her head follows me, and when I go to climb in beside her, she rolls over. She throws her arms and legs out wide, taking up the entire mattress.
You’re in the bath then.” She points at the door with the hand furthest away from me, a devilish twinkle in her eyes. It takes me a while to respond. The sight of her body stretched out in her skimpy pyjamas makes my throat dry, and I have to consciously remind myself to swallow. My gaze focuses on her pale skin, which is exposed by her shirt riding up and the top of her shorts lowering as a result of her actions.
“I don’t think so.” My voice comes out more breathless than I expect as I watch her spread out in front of me.
“Well, you’re not sleeping in here with me.”
“My bed, my rules.” I place one knee on the mattress and climb on. My arms support most of my weight so my body is directly above hers. “So, I can either sleep on the left … or on top of you.” My voice drops into a murmur and she gulps, her lips parting as I hover over her. “Take your pick, Stripes.” 


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About the Author

#1 Amazon bestselling author Mia Hoddell lives in the UK with her family and two cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything romantic, and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of the morning.

Mia has written over ten titles including her Seasons of Change series, the Chequered Flag series, the Elemental Killers series, and her standalone novels False Finder and Not Enough.


Her favourite genres are contemporary romance or romantic suspense, and with an ever growing list of ideas she is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination generates them. She also designs book covers on her website M Designs.

You can follow Mia on:

Or sign up to her newsletter for the chance to receive ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content first.

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Saturday, 7 November 2015

Footsteps in the Alley ~ Released

Hello!
So yesterday was an eventful day. Work, was well I'm convinced there is a full moon or something, but that isn't what I wanted to talk about. Yesterday I got the letter saying congrats that I was back in the master program! I took seven classes to get my special education certificate, but to get my masters I needed an additional five classes. Before I could take those five classes I got a teaching job in Virginia. So after three semesters off I will be back in the virtual classroom to finish my masters in Special Education. I'm excited yet, a little nervous for the thesis part. I love writing fiction, creating characters, but non-fiction writing takes me a little longer and depending on the teacher they really don't like that I add a little color to the writing. Plus, I'm hoping my grammar skills has improved since then, it's something I've been working on over the years. From January 2016 through May 2017 I will be working and in school at the same time, needless to say my writing might be a little more spaced out, but I'm trying to get a lot done now before hand!

Getting things done now brings me to the title of this post. Footsteps in the Alley was released yesterday! It is the third installment of my novella series Mistakes which is a werewolf series. There will be one more novella than a novel. It is a little unconventional, but things are how they are. I didn't want to stretch out a story and have it drag, but the adventure continues in Footsteps in the Alley. I already have them mapped out.

Footsteps in the Alley is a little different than the other two. It is paranormal and yet, has a fairy tale retold in it as well. I hope that you enjoy it.




Footsteps in the Alley
Mistakes #3
Children are taught to fear what may lurk in the dark. All Nathan wanted was a night away from boredom. However, when he got out of the theater he got a night he wasn't expecting. A night that leaves him running for his life.

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Shadows from the Past is free for a limited time. If you haven't started the series here's you're chance.
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Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Satan in the form of a duck, c.1635



From Thomas Gage’s New Survey of the West-Indies (1648, 1677 edition used here), chapter 20, p. 379 ff .

Gage, born into a Surrey recusant family c.1603, educated at St Omer and Valladolid, disowned by his father when he became a Dominican rather than a Jesuit, travelled to the Philippines in 1625, embarking by being hidden in barrel of dry biscuit (for English friars were designated for missions to England). He was in various parts of the Spanish New World until 1637; accruing plenty of money. On his voyage home, pirates took £8,000 in coin and jewels off him. Finally back in England, he converted to the Church of England 1642, and informed against Catholic priests, sending three to the gallows. As the ODNB life says, his The English-American his Travail by Sea and Land, or, A New Survey of the West Indias (1648) was “the first book by an English writer—in fact, the first book not by a Habsburg subject—portraying daily life in Spanish America. He died in 1656.
Gage seems to have been very much in conflict about his church, his mission, and his aims in life. His account of his travels is very vivid, whether describing earthquakes or being infested with jiggers in the soles of your feet. But when it came to a witchcraft matter, he sounds very much to have responded as a true Dominican, in an inquisitorial fashion:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


In Pinola [Gage acted as priest for two towns, Mixco and Pinola in Guatemala, c.1635]  there were some who were much given to Witchcraft, and by the power of the Devil did act strange things; amongst the rest there was one old woman named Martha de Carillo, who had been by some of the Town formerly accused for bewitching many; but the Spanish Justices quitted her, finding no sure evidence against her; with this she grew worse and worse, and did much harm; when I was there, two or three died, withering away, declaring at their death that this Carillo had killed them, and that they saw her often about their beds, threatning them with a frowning and angry look. 

The Indians for fear of her durst not complain against her, nor meddle with her; whereupon I sent word unto Don Juan de Guzman the Lord of that Town, that if he took not order with her, she would destroy his Town. He hearing of it, got for me a Commission from the Bishop and another Officer of the Inquisition to make diligent and private inquiry after her life and actions, which I did, and found among the Indians many and grievous complaints against her, most of the Town affirming that certainly she was a notorious witch, and that before her former accusation she was wont whithersoever she went about the Town to go with a Duck following her, which when she came to the Church would stay at the door till she came out again, and then would return home with her, which Duck they imagined was her beloved Devil and familiar Spirit, for that they had often set dogs at her and they would not meddle with her, but rather run away from her. This Duck never appeared more with her, since she was formerly accused before the Justice, which was thought to be her policy, that she might be no more suspected thereby. 

This old woman was a widow, and of the poorest of the Town in outward shew, and yet she had always store of Money, which none could tell which way she might come by it. Whilst I was thus taking privy information against her (it being the Time of Lent, when all the Town came to Confession) she among the rest came to the Church to confess her sins, and brought me the best present and offering of all the Town; for whereas a Riall is Common, she brought me four, and besides, a Turky, Eggs, Fish, and a little bottle of hony. She thought thereby to get with me a better opinion than I had of her from the whole Town. I accepted of her great offering, and heard her Confession, which was of nothing but trifles, which could scarce be judged sinful actions. 

I examined her very close of what was the common judgment of all the Indians, and especially of those who dying, had declared to my self at their death that she had bewitched them, and before their sickness had threatned them, and in their sickness appeared threatning them with death about their beds, none but they themselves seeing her To which she replyed weeping that she was wronged. I asked her, how she being a poor widow without any sons to help her, without any means of livelyhood had so much mony as to give me more than the richest of the Town; how she came by that Fish, Turkey, and Hony, having none of this of her own about her house? to which she replyed,that God loved her and gave her all these things, and that with her mony she bought the rest. I asked her of whom? She answered that out of the Town she had them. 

I persuaded her to much repentance, and to forsake the Devil and all fellowship with him; but her words and answers were of a Saintly and holy Woman; and she earnestly desired me to give her the Communion with the rest that were to receive the next day. Which I told her I durst not do, using Christs words, Give not the childrens bread unto dogs, nor cast your pearls unto swine; and it would be a great scandal to give the Communion unto her, who was suspected generally, and had been accused for a Witch. This she took very ill, telling me that she had many years received the Communion, and now in her old age it grieved her to be deprived of it, her tears were many, yet I could not be moved with them, but resolutely denied her the Communion, and so dismissed her. 

At noon when I had done my work in the Church, I bad my servants go to gather up the offerings, and gave order to have the fish dressed for my dinner which she had brought, but no sooner was it carried into the Kitchen, when the Cook looking on it found it full of Maggots, and stinking; so that I was forced to hurl it away; with that I began to suspect my old Witch, and went to look on her hony, and pouring it out into a dish, I found it full of worms; her eggs I could not know from others, there being near a hundred offered that day, but after as I used them, we found some rotten, some with dead chickens in them; the next morning the Turkey was found dead; As for her four Rials, I could not perceive whether she had bewitched them out of my pocket, for that I had put them with many other, which that day had been given given me, yet as far as I could I called to memory who and what had been given me, and in my judgment and reckoning I verily thought that I missed four Rials; 

At Night when my servants the Indians were gone to bed, I sat up late in my chamber betaking my self to my books and study, for I was the next morning to make an exhortation to those that received the Communion. After I had studied a while, it being between ten and eleven of the clock; on a sudden the chief door in the hall (where in a lower room was my chamber, and the servants, and three other doors) flew open, and I heard one come in, and for a while walk about; then was another door opened which went into a little room, where my saddles were laid; with this I thought it might be the Black-Moor Miguel Dalva, who would often come late to my house to lodge there, especially since my fear of Montenegro, and I conjectured that he was laying up his saddle, I called unto him by his name two or three times, from within my chamber, but no answer was made, but suddenly another door that went out to a Garden flew also open, wherewith I began within to fear, my joynts trembled, my hair stood up, I would have called out to the servants, and my voice was as it were stopped with the sudden affrightment; 

I began to think of the Witch, and put my trust in God against her and encouraged my self and voice, calling out to the servants, and knocking with a Cane at my door within that they might hear me, for I durst not open it and go out; with the noise that I made the servants awaked, and came out to my chamber door; then I opened it, and asked them if they had not heard some body in the hall, and all the doors opened, they said they were asleep, and heard nothing, only one boy said he heard all, and related unto me the same that I had heard; I took my candle then in my hand and went out with them into the hall to view the doors, and I found them all shut, as the servants said they had left them. 

Then I perceived that the Witch would have affrighted me, but had no power to do me any harm; I made two of the servants lie in my chamber, and went to bed; in the morning early I sent for my Fiscal the Clerk of the Church, and told him what had happen'd that night, he smiled upon me, and told me it was the Widdow Carillo, who had often played such tricks in the Town with those that had offended her, and therefore he had the night before come unto me from her, desiring me to give her the Communion, lest she should do me some hurt, which I denied unto him, as I had done to her self; the Clerk bad me be of good cheer, for he knew she had no power over me to do me any hurt. After the Communion that day, some of the chief Indians came unto me, and told me that old Carillo had boasted that she would play me some trick or other, because I would not give her the Communion. But I, to rid the Town of such a Limb of Satan, sent her to Guatemala, with all the evidences and witnesses which I had found against her, unto the president and Bishop, who commanded her to be put in Prison, where she died within two months.