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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Wednesday 11 July 2018

Resistance - Cockiest Red Planet Trilogy (Book 1) spotlight, Review and #Giveaway

Resistance
Cockiest Red Planet Trilogy Book 1
by A.S. McGowan
Genre: SF
 

What would you do if the laws allowed anyone with money to trademark an everyday word? Or the copyrighting of a name, so no one could ever use that name again?

Over a hundred years ago, Earth was dying. A few rich men and women banned together to create a kingdom on Mars. They hand picked the people who would join them in this new kingdom. Then they brought their arrogant beliefs and made them laws. The Trademark Commission was established to allow anyone who could afford it, the ability to trademark any common word. The laws stated that once a word was trademarked no one could speak that word again. The Naming Commission ensures that all names are copyrighted and no one uses another person's copyrighted name. Fines and even prison time are given to those who violate the trademark and copyright laws.


Kathryn 5.0 was pregnant with her first child when the word 'baby' is trademarked. Forced to refer to her baby as "little human" she is tired of the 100 year old laws. Reaching out to friends, she works to create a resistance. Together they fight against the trademark and copyright laws. Battle lines are drawn and it is family against family. Those who resist the laws are branded "Bullies" while those who support the ancient laws wave the "Victim" banner.


**Only .99 cents!!**


There are quite a lot of 'spoof' books out there in response to 'Cockygate' and I reckon most of them are written with the proverbial 'tongue in cheek' This has a serious side to it though. I enjoyed the story, which highlights what might happen if the copyrighting of words was taken to extremes. It's not only the situation that causes problems for the main character though, it's the way she feels she has to rebel against it, which causes friction between her and her husband. I was surprised when I reached the end - not so much by the ending itself but because I was waiting to find out what was going to happen to Kathryn 5 and her baby and felt a bit disappointed that it ended so soon - but apparently this is just the first of a trilogy, so I'm looking forward to reading more. If you like a quirky, short read, which also makes one think and question how far bureaucracy should be allowed to impact upon the lives of ordinary people, you will enjoy this one!


I am a wife and mother, who lives in a small Southeast Missouri town. I
am the author of the Centaur Agency series. Currently I am working on
book 3 in the series The Making of a Centaur which will publish in
July 2017. I also have plans for a vampire trilogy that I am working
on. I will be publishing the trilogy after I finish the 4 book Centaur Agency series. From there I also am working on a Werewolf series. So much planned with a little bit for everyone. 


Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!



For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 7 July 2018

#Sunday Snippets, #Weekend Warriors, 'Dancing With Fate' - '...Myrddin crept closer and a twig cracked underfoot.'


Hello fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Welcome to  my Weekend Warriors post. I'm continuing this week with another snippet from my fantasy novella, Dancing With Fate. Thank you to everyone who's been following my snippets so far. 

I apologise for not visiting as many of my fellow Weekend Warriors as I should have last week - somehow the time just got away from me and the week disappeared!  I'll try to do better this weekend.


Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above, there's something for all tastes.

Last time:
Terpsichore, muse of dance, is dancing near a waterfall in 5th century Wales, unaware that she is being observed. (Read last week's snippet HERE)

 (As usual, some creative editing of punctuation and slight variation from published version to comply with  8-10 sentence rule)


SNIPPET


Myrddin watched, enthralled, he'd never known anyone to dance as she did. The way she swivelled her hips had him mesmerized. Her voice was soft and clear, with a haunting quality, it reminded him of the musical bells of Maes Gwyddno, the civilization that now lay drowned beneath the sea. At times of danger, if one listened hard enough, one could hear the bells ringing from beneath the waves. Moreover, it may have been a trick of the light, but she seemed to radiate a soft glow, pure and shimmering. He shook his head in disbelief, he must be imagining it. He'd eaten nothing since dawn, this was surely a vision brought on by weakness from hunger.

Myrddin crept closer and a twig cracked underfoot. Before he could take cover, the beautiful dancer stood motionless. Her eyes, green as the depths of the ocean, looked directly into his. 
BLURB
DANCING WITH FATE
When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. 
 Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 


From one minute past midnight Pacific time on July 1 until After 11:59pm Pacific time on July 31 DANCING WITH FATE will be on sale for ONLY 99c  so if you have been enjoying the snippets and would like to read the whole novella at the bargain price of 99c go to:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53249 You will see the full price but will be only be charged 99c at the checkout. (You do need to register but it's fairly painless and doesn't cost you anything!)  Please note, This offer isn't available at Amazon, or any other retailer, it's a Smashwords special promotion.









For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join


Tuesday 3 July 2018

Heart Healer - by Leslie Bowes

Happy Independence Day to all my American friends and followers!

It's always a pleasure to welcome a fellow Wild Rose Press author to my Blog.

Leslie Bowes has recently released her time travel romance 'Heart Healer' and  I asked her what inspired her to write the book, and also to tell us a little bit about herself.:

               "Heart Healer started out as a historical romance called Rose Hill but it did not get published. So I stared on a contemporary romance called A Second Change At Love.  When I was in middle of writing, I noticed something was amiss. So, I pulled out Rose Hill again and put parts of Rose Hill and A Second Chance at Love together and it became Heart Healer.

I was born and raised in southern Maryland. When I was thirteen I moved to Summerville, South Caroline where I fell in love with the Low country culture and history. South Caroline was my inspiration for my book Heart Healer. Recently I moved to central Va and now I am enjoying the beauty and history of this area. The rolling hills and pastoral views will surely inspire ideas for future stories."
Buy now on Amazon

That's fascinating, Leslie, sounds like we're both country lovers. Now let's find out a little more about 'Heart Healer'.


BLURB:
Catherine Andrews is an English woman living in the 1800's. Her father sells her to Blake Von-Clyer to be his wife to pay off debts owed to Mr. Von-Clyer. Catherine soon finds out Blake is a cruel and horrible man.

On their wedding night, to escape his cruelty, she throws herself into the river. Death is better than marriage to a beast.

Christopher King is living in 2014 doing his best to raise his young son Ryan after his wife left him. One night, Christopher finds a woman in the river unconscious and barely breathing. She is also wearing old fashioned clothes. Christopher does everything in his power to help the young women. When Catherine regains consciousness, she finds herself in a strange and unbelievable situation. Terrified, she does her best to keep her guard up against Christopher. But as she gets to know him, she can't help but fall for the man who saved her life. When Catherine's dangerous past comes back to haunt her, it has Catherine and Christopher fighting for each other and their love.

Excerpt 
“That’s true, but I don’t need a servant. I need a wife.”

Catherine dropped the spoon as her whole body shook. What was her father planning to do? Hard work? A wife? What was going on? She was not her father’s slave to trade as he wished. She was his daughter. Too nervous to turn around, Catherine prayed that she heard wrong.

“What did you say?” her father asked, shocked.

“You heard me.” Mr. Von-Clyer laughed. “You had no problem selling her to me as a servant Mr. Andrews, but now that I want her for my wife your conscience haunts you. What’s the difference? Either way your debt to me is paid.”

“Catherine, get over here now!” her father yelled drunkenly. The longer she stared at the vein in her father’s neck; she realized that she was making him angrier than Catherine had ever seen before.

She slowly walked over to the table and stood in front of her father. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched him drink his last bit of wine.

“You will be Mr. Von-Clyer’s wife to pay off my debt.”

“What debt?” Catherine asked angrily.

“Catherine, do not speak unless you are spoken to,” her father snarled.

“What debt?” Catherine yelled.

Her father jumped up from his chair with an angry shout, bumping the table, but James jumped in front of him.

“You cannot treat Catherine like that, Father. She is your daughter and my sister, not your slave!” James yelled.
Catherine’s father was having none of that. He lunged for James, but Catherine got in between them before her father could do anything. She knelt in front of James and wiped his tears. All the while she prayed for strength.

“Thank you, James, but I need you to go to your room.”

“But, Catherine—”

“No buts. Go to your room and stay there until I come for you.”

As soon as James was in his room, Catherine’s father grabbed her arms and shook her hard.

“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again, Catherine! Do you understand me?”

“Yes, sir,” Catherine whispered, scared for her life.

“Good. Now go with Mr. Von-Clyer and pay off your debt.”

“Father, I beg of you. Tell me what my debt is?”


















For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Sunday 1 July 2018

#Sunday Snippets, #Weekend Warriors, 'Dancing With Fate' - Someone's watching...


Hello fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Welcome to  my Weekend Warriors post. I'm continuing this week with another snippet from my fantasy novella, Dancing With Fate. Thank you to everyone who's been following my snippets so far. Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above and also below this post, there's something for all tastes.

Last time:
Terpsichore, muse of dance, is dancing near a waterfall in 5th century Wales, unaware that she is being observed. (Read last week's snippet HERE)

 (As usual, some creative editing of punctuation and slight variation from published version to comply with 10 sentence rule)


SNIPPET

She was the loveliest woman Myrddin had ever seen. Spellbound, he watched her step from the falls, he should have turned away but he found it impossible not to watch her as she dried herself. When she started to dance, he was captivated by her grace and the eloquence of her movements. She seemed unconcerned about her nakedness. Not that she had anything to be ashamed of; such exquisite beauty should not be covered. Long, dark red-brown hair fell like a veil of silk to below her knees. Her skin was smooth and flawless; her breasts firm and high, full but not heavy, above a tiny waist.

Her rounded hips undulated sensuously in time to her singing, while her upper body remained perfectly still, apart from the expressive movements of her arms. Her legs were slim and very long and she moved on tiptoe, her small feet scarcely seeming to touch the ground. Between her fingers, she held a long piece of silky material, which she swirled around her, until it seemed almost like a living thing.
BLURB
DANCING WITH FATE
When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. 
 Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 


From one minute past midnight Pacific time on July 1 until After 11:59pm Pacific time on July 31 DANCING WITH FATE will be on sale for ONLY 99c  so if you have been enjoying the snippets and would like to read the whole novella at the bargain price of 99c go to:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53249 You will see the full price but will be charged 99c at the checkout. (You do need to register but it's fairly painless and doesn't cost you anything!)  Please note, This offer isn't available at Amazon, or any other retailer, it's a Smashwords special promotion.
Don't forget to visit the talented authors who are also taking part in 'Sunday Snippets'











For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.  http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 30 June 2018

Cataclysm - Book Tour and Giveaway


Cataclysm: Survival in a Barren World
by Robert F. Lundrigan

Genre: SF Fantasy
The story is told from two points of view. The Clark family finds
themselves seemingly alone on a barren planet while an alien named
Pzx is in charge of the fleet looking for a home. She is under orders
but would prefer to communicate with other beings. This is a tale of
the struggles of both of them as they seek to survive in a barren world.

Robert F. Lundrigan is a certified member of APICS and former Manager of Materials at General Electric. A native of Massachusetts, he
graduated from Lowell Institute in Mechanical Engineering and later
attended technical and creative writing workshops at Harvard. He has
helped several companies as a consultant to improve profits by using
the theory of constraints, with great success. Bob has written
numerous articles for professional journals, this is his second novel.
Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!




For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! http://madmimi.com/signups/196357/join

Saturday 23 June 2018

#Sunday Snippets, #Weekend Warriors, 'Dancing With Fate' - Terpsichore dances ...

Hi fellow  Snippeteers and readers.  Welcome to  my Weekend Warriors post. I'm continuing this week with another snippet from my fantasy novella, Dancing With Fate. Thank you to everyone who's been following my snippets so far. Don't forget to visit the other authors at the link above and also below this post, there's something for all tastes.

Last time:
Terpsichore, muse of dance, has completed her mission in 5th Century Wales. (or so she thinks. She decides to bathe in a waterfall before she leaves.

 (As usual, some creative editing of punctuation and slight variation from published version to comply with 10 sentence rule)



SNIPPET

At last, she stepped out onto the grass that fringed the pool and looked skyward. How long had she been bathing -- Helios was already on his homeward journey, although his light still warmed the air and he had not yet painted the sky in its twilight hues.

Shaking her arms free of the silvery drops of water, the muse then squeezed the wetness from her long hair, of which she was inordinately proud. Of all her womanly attributes, she loved her hair the best. It was so fine and silky; it took hardly any time to dry. She spread her arms and let the warm air vanquish the last of the moisture from her skin. Oh, this land was fair, she raised her arm in salute to Helios, knowing he could see whatever his warmth touched.

Terpsichore twirled around on tiptoe, bending back her head and taking in the craggy mountaintops, the trees full-leafed and swaying slightly in the warm breeze. On an impulse, she began to dance, she conjured up a silky himation between her fingers and swirled it above her head as she moved to the accompaniment of her own voice. So involved was she in her dancing she failed to realize she was no longer alone.
BLURB
DANCING WITH FATE
When Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, is assigned to revisit the land of Wales, her task seems simple enough. She is unaware there is a hidden agenda. Before she can return to Olympus her path crosses that of the mysterious Myrddin, and her heart is lost. But Myrddin is promised to another. His mind is set on the dangerous task that lies before him, and the woman he has sworn to save. Nevertheless, he cannot deny the growing attraction between him and the beautiful stranger he meets along the way. 
 Terpsichore and Myrddin face a deadly force that threatens to part them forever. Is she destined to lose the only man she has ever truly loved? Is there nothing she can do to save him? Finally, when all seems lost, in desperation she finds herself DANCING WITH FATE. 



Don't forget to visit the talented authors who are also taking part in 'Sunday Snippets'










For insider news and subscriber-only info, subscribe to my occasional Newsletter. I promise not to spam and your in-box will only see an email from me every 3 or 4 months or so - unless of course I have something really Newsworthy to share! I also promise that I never have and never willl share your information or email address with anyone or any organisation.