Virtual Book Tour: Timeslayers by Colin Sephton

 Good morning, everyone! Please welcome author Colin Sephton to Full Moon Dreaming today! He is here to talk to us about his new release, Timeslayers. Colin will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on his tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

TIMESLAYERS

Colin Sephton

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GENRE:  Steampunk Adventure Mystery

 

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BLURB:

 

In a Steampunk Oxford, Ignatius and Indigo are both agents for the Union Jacks, a secret organisation. The role of the Union is to protect the British Empire, which is at the height of its powers, and help in its technological advances. They have discovered the existence of the mystical Book of Consciousness written by the creator of the cosmos, the genderless Omnisoul. The book is the history of everything that is, that has been and that will be. The agents are aided by Skye, who accidentally calls forth seven merciless immortals called the Charon.

 

Known as the Beautiful and the Damned, the Charon are the Infernal Dukes of Hell, created to carry out the will of the Omnisoul. But they are tired of their immortality and want to end their existence. Elsewhere, the sorcerer Ragnar of Roc has conjured a hole in spacetime, allowing the draconic Elder God Calabi Ya to re-enter the cosmos from the Ghost Worlds. He is as old as the Omnisoul and wants the book to learn his destiny. The two Union Jacks leave Oxford and are taken on a journey across the cosmos in the great ship Taraka, which sails through space and time. Ignatius and Indigo are mere pawns in the cosmic ocean of fate, carried to fabled places, witness to bloody massacres, and half-willing conspirators in the Charon’s plot to thwart the Omnisoul’s plan and defeat the protectors of the Well at the Centre of Time.

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

Glancing around cautiously, Ignatius could see that nobody else in the library had moved, gestured or even looked. He looked back at the book he was reading. He had to concentrate on the unfamiliar text to translate with any accuracy. Its author, Enoch Slipnot, had an unsteady hand, and the inks was faded in places. As he read the next section, his right hand began to tingle, a slight burning sensation.

 

It came through the Land of the Duranki. Those trained in the art of Al Kimiya brought forth sentient life, the fiery whirlwind that passes like lightning through the fiery clouds, believing they could master this Unholy Great One.

 

I have read of the great horrors the Unholy One brought forth, seeking the emerald tablet thought to have been hidden in the library of the Mystorium by the Order of the Ti-Botta. If this great red shadow should discover the sword of great power, he will wreak destruction on a cosmic scale and the whole cosmos shall tremble at his feet. The great runesword has been forged with an edge keen enough that it may even cut through the aether. Only a being in harmony with the cosmos can make use of such a weapon and with the Great Book, Turiya and the power of the Charon, summoned by the High Priest, stop the Unholy One.

 

I am unswerving in my task as the last remaining warrior-priest of the Charon – the Dragon- slayers of the Ecclesiarchy…

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Colin was born in Coventry and worked in the automotive industry for over twenty years before becoming an Engineering teacher. Obtaining his first library card at the age of thirteen, he became an avid reader of Fantasy and the mysteries of the Universe. He has an inbuilt curiosity for lost knowledge and ancient texts that may help to unlock the secrets of consciousness and the universe. Living in Oxford for many years, he has now moved back to his home county of Warwickshire where he enjoys creating and working with his wife on their garden in which he writes and entertains their two grandsons. He has always been an artist and writer and is inspired by the worlds created by Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, with the artwork of Frank Frazetta.

 

Amazon Buy Link: amazon.com/Timeslayers-Colin-Sephton/dp/196230809X/ref=sr_1_1

Publisher Author Page: https://cinnabarmoth.com/colin-sephton/

Website: https://sephtonart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timeslayers/

 

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1/ If I was marooned on a small island it would have to be with David Bowie. Think of the fabulous and interesting conversations you could have about his life, songs and creativity. The item I would bring would be my Classic iPod. It may be old school, but it has nearly 18,000 songs on it, it doesn’t need any wifi to operate and the battery lasts for well over a week!

2/ The musical that would probably best exemplify my life, extremely loosely, would be Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat. And of course I would be Joseph! This is because I love colour. I am an artist so like a splash of colour in my life. Most men’s clothing is all so boring, navy blue, grey, brown and black!

3/ A smear of orange was all that coloured the grey London sky. The mist had started to roll in off the Thames and Ignatius knew he had limited time as the Martian saucer streaked through the clouds to descend and terrorise the locals, to terrorise the Empire. Climbing to the top of the traffic lights he stood defiant, a grimace on his pale face, his hammer in one hand and his steam canon in the other. Timing would be everything.

5/ When I start a story I start with a character. I will usually have this person or bring, Timeslayers is a fantasy book, fully formed in my head so I know exactly what they look like and what powers they may have. I find this easier as I am a very visual person and an artist. I might even have a scene or an idea for a scene kicking around in my head, and I will then write this down. Sometimes this will be handwritten in horrifically poor handwriting in one of the many notebooks I have. It’s usually difficult to read as my hand struggles to keep pace with the idea playing out in my head. I will then look for a place to use this and type it up and refine it.

8/ My historical crush is a great admiration and fascination for Leonardo da Vinci. Such a genius and an all-round scientist, architect, engineer and artist. His powers of observation were remarkable, to the point that he knew something about the human heart that modern science has only just discovered recently. I would also like to know if his assistant actually got to fly using his design for an aeroplane!

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Wednesday Briefs: Dracula #15 (4.4)

 Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Avram is appalled at what he sees when he enters the church. Now it is imperative that they get away. See what's happening in this week's chapter of Dracula. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Dracula #15 (4.4)

Avram was appalled by the sight that met his eyes upon entering the church. He’d come to awareness, after being punched by the rude server, to find Gunther hovering over him, desperately trying to wake him. He told Avram that they had to hurry, that Dracula was in imminent danger of being discovered. God knew what the man might do if cornered. Luckily, no one knew where he actually was, and were hopefully looking for him in all the wrong places, but Avram knew precisely where he was. He and Gunther retrieved his horse from the stable and rode like hell to the church, hoping they would have some time before the villagers—Bogdan in particular—figured out what was actually going on and where it was happening.

Unfortunately, as he was quick to realize, Bogdan had already discovered the location of his wife and her lover—to his detriment.

Dracula’s previously pristine suit was stained with crimson blotches. Blood had splattered across his face and hair as though thrown there. Avram couldn’t help but think of the infamous Countess Bathory, who was said to bathe in the blood of her young victims. He knew Dracula was not prone to such behavior, but it was also fairly obvious that he was responsible for the death of the blacksmith.

Avram had feared that such a day as this might come, although he’d foolishly hoped that it wouldn’t. He’d done his best to keep his master under control, at least when they were close to home, and he thought he’d accomplished his task fairly well. He’d been less successful when they traveled abroad. Even so, no suspicion had ever fallen upon them. Thank goodness for superstitious but clueless people who wouldn’t know a strigoi unless it bit them.

Leaving Dracula to his thoughts, he approached the pew where the dead woman lay, removing his hat out of respect. “Shalom,” he murmured. God knows she’d found little peace in her lifetime. Sleeping with Dracula had hopefully brought her at least a little happiness, although it had ultimately brought about her death.

He glanced apprehensively at her neck, just to be sure in his own mind that Nico had not contributed to her death in his own way. He spied what might have been two small puncture wounds, but they were clearly not recent. So Dracula had been doing what he promised not to do. Big surprise there. The blood-stained bodice was a dead giveaway as to her actual cause of death. Dracul had said her husband did that and he believed him. He had no doubt Dracula had mirrored her death by using the same weapon when he could have easily torn the fool apart with his hands.

He reached down and gently closed her eyes.  “Give me your jacket,” he said to the vampire. Gunther stood beside him, murmuring what was undoubtedly a prayer in soft tones.

“Why?”

“Because I need it.”

Dracula grumbled as he rose to his feet, kicking Bogdan’s corpse rather maliciously as he did so. Not that the blacksmith felt anything. He was beyond that now. He brushed off his breeches before handing his coat to Avram, who laid it tenderly over Doina. Seeing this, Dracula made no further objections, although he did give Gunther a look that was not particularly friendly.

“Tell me how you propose we should leave this place since you had the lack of foresight to sell my carriage and most of my beautiful horses.”

Avram held up one hand in protest of Dracula’s complaint. “That was a financial necessity and you know it, so quit your kvetching. As to how we will go, I don’t know, I’m still thinking about that. But in the meantime, I need you to go to go the castle and bring back the trunk.” Avram was not one to leave things to chance. The trunk he referred to contained items he had set aside against the day they might have to make a hasty exit from Bistritz. It contained what money he’d been able to hide before Dracula spent it as well as enough clothing for each of them to get by until they could acquire more. He knew his employer would not be happy at this, but he would have to learn to live with it. He also knew Dracula had admirers that would be more than happy to clothe him (and unclothe him). He himself would manage somehow. He’d also hidden a few pieces of jewelry that the vampire had not noticed were missing…yet. These could be sold if needs dictated. And of course the manuscripts he’d recently finished that were ready to be turned over to the publisher. Luckily, he could continue to write wherever they went as long as he had the means to acquire writing materials. Those books would come in handy, since they would most definitely be in need of funds if they were to travel for any length of time. He had no reason to suppose they could return to Bistritz anytime soon.

“Why me?” Dracula managed to sound angry and petulant at the same time.

Avram arched his brows even as he gave him his most withering look. “You want to wait here for me to ride all the way up to the castle? And then what? Levitate the trunk down here? In the meantime, while you are waiting for me to return, do you want to give them a chance to figure out where you are? Nico, we don’t have time for this. Please.”

Dracula scowled, but Avram knew he would do what was best for them. He shot Gunther a warning look before he could either comment or giggle—neither was a smart option.

“Besides, you’re much stronger than I am and you know it.” Appealing to his vanity couldn’t hurt, he had a huge ego.

“Very well,” Dracula groused. And then he was gone.

 to be continued

Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

 

 

Virtual Book Tour: Dr Z and Matty Take Telegraph by Art Rosenschein

 Good morning, everyone!  Please welcome author Ari Rosenschein to Full Moon Dreaming today. Ari is here to tell us about his new release, Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph. Ari will be giving a signed paperback copy of his book (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on his tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

DR. Z AND MATTY TAKE TELEGRAPH

Ari Rosenschein

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GENRE:  Young Adult

 

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BLURB:

 

It’s the late ’90s—the final days before smartphones and the internet changed the teenage landscape forever. Zack and his mother have moved from Tempe to Berkeley for a fresh start, leaving behind Zack’s father after a painful divorce. A natural athlete, Zack makes the water polo team which equals social acceptance at his new school. Yet he’s more drawn to Matthias, a rebellious skater on the fringes, who introduces him to punk rock, record stores, and the legendary Telegraph Avenue.

 

As their friendship intensifies, Matthias’s behavior reminds Zack of his absent dad, driving a wedge between him and his mother. Complicating matters is Zaylee, a senior who boosts Zack’s confidence but makes him question his new buddy, Matthias. Faced with all these changes, Zack learns that when life gets messy, he might have to become his own best friend.

 

Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph is about how a friendship can challenge who we are, how we fit in, and where we’re going.

 

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EXCERPT:

  

My eyes catch the main event: Matthias, shirtless again, owning every inch of the bowl. No matter how little I know about skateboarding mechanics, it’s obvious the dude’s form is immaculate. I stand transfixed as he slides smoothly down one side of the bowl and up the other, like a weight on a pendulum, his head peering back over his shoulder, carefree. After gaining momentum, he hoists his lithe body over the top and holds perfectly still, one hand on his board, the other gripping the lip of the bowl. It’s dazzling.

 

As soon as he breaks the pose, a small crowd erupts. “Sick handplant, Matthias,” yells a kid in a yellow Carhart jacket.

 

Everything looks straight out of a movie. Skaters in shirts with blocky logos give each other high fives. Younger kids sit on the sidelines, boards glued to their hands, watching the action but not ready to dive in.

 

When we read On the Road during freshman year, Dad taught me a term that stuck with me: subculture. I’ve got no desire to ride a skateboard. But this vibe? I want to be a part of it. I’m swept up on a wave of California freedom.

 

Danny shoves an elbow into my belly. “Matthias is a monster skater, right?”

 

“Never seen skating like that,” I say. “Except on TV or in a movie.”

 

“Exactly.”

 

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Ari Rosenschein is a Seattle-based author who grew up in the Bay Area. Books and records were a source of childhood solace, leading Ari to a teaching career and decades of writing, recording, and performing music. Along the way, he earned a Grammy shortlist spot, landed film and TV placements, and co-wrote the 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year.

 

In his writing, Ari combines these twin passions. Coasting, his debut short story collection, was praised by Newfound Journal as “introducing us to new West Coast archetypes who follow the tradition of California Dreaming into the 21st century.” Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph (Fire & Ice YA) is his first young adult novel.

 

Website: https://arirosenschein.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arirosenschein

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arirosenschein/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arirosenschein

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYQKNBKQ

 

Ari Rosenschein is a Seattle-based author who grew up in the Bay Area. Books and records were a source of childhood solace, leading Ari to a teaching career and decades of writing, recording, and performing music. Along the way, he earned a Grammy shortlist spot, landed film and TV placements, and co-wrote the 2006 John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year.

 

In his writing, Ari combines these twin passions. Coasting, his debut short story collection, was praised by Newfound Journal as “introducing us to new West Coast archetypes who follow the tradition of California Dreaming into the 21st century.” Dr. Z and Matty Take Telegraph (Fire & Ice YA) is his first young adult novel.

 

Website: https://arirosenschein.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arirosenschein

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arirosenschein/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arirosenschein

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYQKNBKQ

 

 

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Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life—and which character in that musical are you?

Anyone who knows me now is aware that I’m not a massive musical aficionado. However, in my youth, I was a fan of classics like West Side Story, Into the Woods, Bye Bye Birdie, and Les Misérables. My dad turned me onto all kinds of musicals, even a few obscure ones, like the rock opera Blondel by Tim Rice and Stephen Oliver. I wouldn’t say that Blondel exemplifies my life, but I certainly relate to the troubadour seeking musical stardom.

When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

I tend to begin everything with characters; that’s just how I write. I meet these people on the page, and in exploring their personalities and circumstances, my words grow into stories. Sometimes, those stories grow into books. I'm still getting the hang of that process. But certainly, I consider myself a character-based writer. I’m learning to outline my plots to get them in order and to create a satisfying story arc.

If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

Well, this is one of those questions where one can flatter oneself and risk coming off as conceited by choosing someone too glamorous. I suppose the first question is what stage of life I’m at in the bulk of this imaginary movie. If I pick roughly my current age, I think Jesse Eisenberg would be good. The actor would have to be Jewish, and while I’m a bit taller, I think Eisenberg possesses a neurotic energy that is in line with my own.

Do you have a historical crush, and if so, who is it?

I’m going to go with Joan of Arc on this one. Her bravery and tragic end make her an endlessly compelling historical character. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos portrayed her in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure as the coolest medieval rock and roller imaginable, with an impossibly perfect hairdo. “Welcome aboard, Miss Joan of Arc.” Plus, there’s a Leonard Cohen song named after her.

Is there a story that you’d like to tell, but you think the world isn’t ready to receive it?

At one time, I would have said that a story about my teenage experiences selling The Mercury News over the phone would have been a commercial non-starter. However, in recent years, Sorry to Bother You and the HBO documentary series Telemarketers have proven that phone solicitation may be more compelling a topic than I thought. Spoiler alert: I was utterly horrible at the job, so a memoir about that experience might be amusing. Who knows? Its time may come yet.

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Virtual Book Tour: Kissing Kin by Karen Hulene Bartell

 Good morning, everyone! Please welcome author Karen Hulene Bartell to Full Moon Dreaming today! She is here to talk about her new release, Kissing Kin. Karen will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

KISSING KIN

by Karen Hulene Bartell

 

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GENRE:  Paranormal Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Maeve Jackson is starting over after a broken engagement—and mustering out of the Army. No job and no prospects, she spins out on black ice and totals her car.

 

When struggling vintner Luke Kaylor stops to help, they discover they’re distantly related. On a shoestring budget to convert his vineyard into a winery, he makes her a deal: prune grapevines in exchange for room and board.

 

But forgotten diaries and a haunted cabin kickstart a five-generational mystery with ancestors that have bones to pick. As carnal urges propel them into each other’s arms, they wonder: Is their attraction physical…or metaphysical?

 

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EXCERPT:

 

“Mind if I camp out ’til the roads clear?”

 

“Under the circumstances?” The clerk shook his head. “Not a problem.”

 

“Thanks.” He started toward the sitting room and nearly bumped into Maeve, leaning against the wall. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

 

“You didn’t.” She tossed her chin. “I was cat-napping.”

 

“Right.” He compared her guarded veneer to her sleeping-beauty persona. Which is closer to her true self?

 

“Couldn’t help overhearing.” Gesturing toward the clerk with her chin, she grimaced. “I’m responsible for you being out tonight--”

 

“No.” He shook his head. “This is just a freak storm.”

 

“You don’t have to sleep in a chair.” She took a deep breath and gave a quick, tight-lipped smile. “My room has two queen beds, and you’re welcome to one of ’em.”

 

Unsure of the extent of her invitation, he did a double take.

 

“Just so we understand each other, this is a bunk, a place to sack out. Period. Amen.” She spoke in a low-pitched, no-nonsense voice. “Nothing more, so don’t get any--”

 

“Got it.” He covered his disappointment with a laugh. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine dozing by the fire.”

 

“Hey, I’ve bivouacked with soldiers in Afghanistan. We do what’s necessary under extenuating circumstances.” Shrugging, she glanced at the door. “And this blizzard qualifies.” Her face relaxed into a smile.

 

Her offer tempting, he compared sitting up all night to stretching out in a bed. Then he glimpsed the clerk.

 

“If you’re worried about my reputation, don’t be.” She laughed, the sound like sleigh bells tinkling on a crisp, wintry night.

 

What is it about her that conjures thoughts of other times--other eras?

 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Author of the Trans-Pecos and Sacred Emblem series, Karen is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life, who writes multicultural, offbeat love stories. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved often, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Texas Piney Woods with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

 

Connect with Karen:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/karenbartell

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HuleneKaren

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/karenhulenebartell/   

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/611950.Karen_Hulene_Bartell  

Website: http://www.KarenHuleneBartell.com/ 

Email: info@KarenHuleneBartell.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karenhulenebartell 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenhulenebartell/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-hulene-bartell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhulenebartell/ 

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Trans-Pecos-Karen-Hulene-Bartell-ebook/dp/B0CRJ6P13V/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

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How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

 

Paranormal creatures and cryptids fascinate me. Each legend or local myth is so unique to its geographical area that the stories seem to write themselves. Perhaps my writing is different because of how intensely these supernatural characters seize my imagination.

 

What is your favorite meal?

 

I’m a foodie, so asking me what’s my favorite meal is a tricky question. However, if a menu is combined with a holiday--for instance, Thanksgiving--that fusion transcends mere ingredients to edible (and cherished) memories. With that synthesis in mind, I’d say my favorite meal consists of smoked turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, a medley of root veggies, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

 

Where did you get the idea for Kissing Kin?

 

The idea for Kissing Kin first came to me during 2020 because of the striking similarities between Covid and the Spanish Flu of 1918, but publishers convinced me no one wanted to read about pandemics. Time passed.

Then I noticed a handmade cookbook my grandmother had constructed during the depression. It’s made of two cardboard flaps reinforced at the edges with duct tape and held together by two metal ring binders. That book inspired me. (I used some of its recipes in Kissing Kin, for instance, Simple Sponge Cake, Mother’s Soft Gingerbread, and…the treatment of chicken lice with nicotine-sulfate.)

The general tone of the cookbook, which was meant as a Christmas present during the 1930s, was chatty. It read more like a diary than a book of recipes, and it motivated me to begin writing Kissing Kin.

 

Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

 

If my published offered to fly me anywhere in the world to do research, I would choose Ireland. Why? For a decade, I’ve had an idea for a book set in Ireland, but I haven’t had to opportunity to fly there. I’m a writer that has to research in person. Because the web and libraries only take me so far, I need to walk the streets to “own” the locale. I need to talk to the residents about their experiences--usually paranormal. I need to eat the local fare, breathe the fresh or stale or smoggy air, and drink the water before I can create a story.

Why Ireland? I’ve visited England, Scotland, and Wales, but somehow missed the emerald isle. For a decade, I’ve had an idea for a book about Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid, the original goddess of the Tuatha dé Danann, but I’ve yet to make the journey to Ireland or author the book.

 

Describe your writing space.

 

One of the ginger twins is spread out on my Queen Anne desk, shedding cat hair over the keyboard as I type. That’s okay. He’s my “mews,” one of four, actually, who inspires my imagination.

A quarter of a century ago, I sanded and stained my wooden Queen Anne desk--although, over the years, the cats have scratched its surface to shreds. On top of the desk is my reading list, a stone coaster from my husband, engraved with “I will always love you,” and a myriad of yellow notes to self.

A water bottle sits at my left, and a coffee cup sits at my right.

Armed with my “mews,” surrounded by reminders of love, and bolstered with caffeine, I’m ready to write!

 

 

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Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 16 by Yusei Matsui

 

Assassination Classroom, Vol 16      

Author: Ysei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 6, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Once upon a time there was a very skilled assassin who went by the name of the Grim Reaper. But he was not always an assassin, so how did he become one? Born into a world of poverty and violence, he grew up the best that he could. The biggest lesson he learned was that “people die if they are killed”. And so he became an assassin. He was charming and intelligent… and deadly. After his thousandth kill, they began to call him the Grim Reaper.  He was invincible…

Until his unexpected betrayal and capture, which put him into the care and custody of a mad scientist, Chief Kotaro Yanigasawa. And then the experiments began. Yanigasawa was researching the use of antimatter as a substitute for fossil fuel or nuclear power. But his experimentation on animals was limited by their size and biology, which is why he found the Grim Reaper to be ideal for his purpose. Someone no one wouild ever miss or mourn the loss of.

Yanigasawa had an assistant, who was quirky but kind. She was assigned to keep an eye on the Reaper. Her name was Aguri Yukimura, and by day she taught at a junior high school. The Grim Reaper observed how poorly she was treated by the crazy doctor, and when he discovered what their relationship was, he was highly incensed. But there was little he could do about it. However, he was learning more and more about the changes that were taking place inside of him, and to his body, and the powers he was gaining. And so he bided his time.

The Grim Reaper and Aguri talked a great deal, about anything and everything, and she did her best to shield him, but when her fiancé saw what was happening, he retaliated, and the worst thing happened. Which was when Koro Sensei vowed to fulfill her dying wish, and demanded to teach the class she could no longer teach, and when the Fate of the world lay with him, even though it was not his fault or his choice.

Now that the students know the truth, can they still go through with their mission?

Even though I’ve read the manga before and watched the anime, this is one of the hardest volumes to read. Breaks my heart every time to witness what was done to Koro Sensei. How he turned from a handsome, charming man to what he became through no fault of his own. And yes, it made me cry. Can the students really save him? They say hope springs eternal in the human breast. Guess we’ll have to wait and see if hopes and dreams can come true.

Virtual Book Tour: Weston's Lady by Bobbi Smith

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome back author Bobbi Smith to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here today to tell us about her new release, Weston's Lady. Bobbi will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

WESTON'S LADY

Bobbi Smith

 

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GENRE:  Historical Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

Come One! Come All!

To Weston’s Wild West Texas Stampede

 

There were Cowboys and Indians, trick riding, thrills and excitement for everyone. And if Liberty Jones had anything to say about it, she would be a part of the show, too. She had demonstrated her expertise with a gun by shooting a playing card out of Reed Weston’s hand at thirty paces, but the arrogant owner of the stampede wouldn’t even give her a chance.

 

Disguising herself as a boy, Libby wrangled herself a job with the show, and before she knew it Reed was firing at her—in front of an audience. It seemed an emotional showdown was inevitable whenever they came together, but Libby had set her sights on Reed’s heart and she vowed she would prove her love was every bit as true as her aim.

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

“Libby, if you’re unhappy, how will you convince the audience that you’re enjoying what you’re doing in the show? Tell me what’s wrong. Let me help you.”

 

Libby stared up at Reed, mesmerized by the emotion she saw in his expression. Were the tenderness and concern there real? She would have to trust him—but the realization stopped her cold.

 

Reed took a step closer. She looked so beautiful. She was like no other woman he’d ever met. True, she had deceived him by hiring on as a boy, but he understood now. Desperation had been driving her. There was something in her past terrible enough to frighten her into running away, and he wanted to save her from it. Reed felt an overwhelming need to take her in his arms. He knew he would protect her with his very life.

 

“Libby—” He reached out to her and drew her to him.

 

Libby wanted to believe Reed was a good and honorable man. As he enfolded her in his strong, warm embrace, she found herself wanting to lean against him and be safe.

 

His lips sought hers then, and she gasped at the contact so sweet and so powerful. His kiss was heavenly, and she gave herself over to the full pleasure of his touch. When he parted her lips and tasted her more deeply, she groaned in excitement. Desire coursed through her, and she clung to him, thrilling at his nearness.

 

Reed marveled at how perfectly she fit against him. It seemed as if they were made for each other. 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After working as a department manager for Famous-Barr, and briefly as a clerk at a bookstore,

Bobbi Smith gave up on career security and began writing. She sold her first book to Zebra in

1982. Since then, Bobbi has written over 40 books and several short stories. To date, there are

more than five million of her novels in print. She has been awarded the prestigious Romantic

Times Storyteller of the Year Award and two Career Achievement Awards. Her books have

appeared on numerous bestseller lists. When she's not working on her novels, she is frequently a guest speaker for writers' groups. Bobbi is mother of two sons and resides in St. Charles, Missouri with her husband and three dogs.

 

Website: https://bobbismithauthor.com

 

Read on Kindle Unlimited:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Westons-Lady-Bobbi-Smith-ebook/dp/B00FAY1R3U/ref=sr_1_1

 

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