Sleigh Read Tour 2012 Guest Post Stop-Mari Farthing

Greetings beautiful readers, today I’m welcoming Mari Farthing to my blog for a Guest Post. She is the author of Midnight Troll in the SOMETHING WICKED: SHORT STORIES anthology. Sit back and grab a drink from the bar.

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Buzz Books Sleigh Read

I love winter. I love when the air gets that snow smell in it, when you just know that it's going to happen sooner rather than later. Cold weather moves my blood, rejuvenates me. I grew up in the northern state of Wisconsin and I've always loved winter. But there's nothing like a still, cold night to make you feel alone … but not quite alone … maybe alone but … watched? Those still winter nights, when the wind isn't blowing and the stars are shining bright because the cold just seems to amplify them, it's easy to feel like there's some strange crackle in the air, something a little creepy perhaps, just out of reach.

Like, you know when you're a homeless teenager and your whole family has been murdered by trolls (yes, trolls) and you've found out that you're part of a family who has a long history of hunting trolls (yes, hunting trolls) and you think you might have finally found someplace safe but you're starting to second guess yourself?

No? You've never felt that? Well, Rainey has. She's the troll hunter at the center of the story, MIDNIGHT TROLL, found in the Buzz Books SOMETHING WICKED anthology. After spending time on the street trying to avoid trouble, trouble lands at Rainey's feet. However, she also finds allies in Lauren and Dexter, who help her to realize her destiny as a troll hunter--and help her to find her family's true fate.

I know what you're thinking: why trolls? Well, I say why not? How many trolls have you read about that don't live under a bridge or something? I think trolls are truly an underserved supernatural species, and it was time for them to have their day. They're not really the heroes of the story, so I'm not entirely sure that the trolls would share the same opinion, but any publicity is good publicity, right? And I think the trolls are pretty excited about the publicity as they've been ignored and oppressed for far too long.

A MIDNIGHT TROLL excerpt:

It was dark--really dark--on that street. I chose the car for that reason, thinking I could rest undetected, but being trapped never occurred to me. My skin crawled, just like it had all those nights in the doorways, just like it did in my dreams and I had that creepy feeling like something was watching me, something was not right.

SQWAK! The door I rested against just moments before ripped open and a thick voice yelled "Where is she!?" It sounded like the speaker was yelling through a mouthful of pudding. Gross. Whoever that pudding mouth was, he was looking for me. My heart began to thud.

"No!" another voice yelled. I felt the car rumble as it shook, more struggling and the sound of something loud skidding across the ground. I reached down when it thunked against my shoe and found a heavy length of chain. It would have to serve as my protection.

Rainey learned a lot about staying safe and during this holiday season, she likes to keep a low profile. She stocks up on books, snacks and plenty of water (you've got to stay hydrated and healthy if you're going to keep moving). And in celebration of winter and stocking up on books and reading, BUZZ BOOKS USA is sponsoring SLEIGH READ, where for a limited time you have the opportunity to purchase a Buzz title for yourself (including the afore-mentioned SOMETHING WICKED, perhaps) and then get a FREE second title to keep for yourself or gift to a friend. Just click [http://buzzbooksusa.com/contests] for all the details.

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Bio from Mari’s Amazon Page

Mari Hestekin is the pen name of editor Mari Farthing. She is a long-time lover of words and is thrilled to make her fiction debut with the short story "Midnight Troll" in the YA "Something Wicked" anthology (October 2012, Buzz Books).

When not writing stories that may or may not involve trolls, she spends her time editing stories, books and her children's school work. Mari is also a local parenting magazine editor. In her spare time she cooks, knits, runs and contributes to various and sundry blogs about things which matter to her, including (but not limited to) books, music, writing, editing, parenting, pop culture and general absurdity.

Mari lives, writes, edits and dances with impunity with her husband and two children, who supply no shortage of drama from which to pull stories.

FIRST TIME: THE LEGEND OF GARISON FITCH BOOK BLAST

GREETINGS FELLOW BOOKWORMS!!!

WELCOME TO THE FIRST TIME: THE LEGEND OF GARISON FITCH BOOK BLAST

First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

"What if history didn't happen that way ... the first time?"

Garison Fitch was one of the most revered scientists in the Soviet Americas until he left fame behind to work on a secret project in his log cabin in the mountains of Marx.

But something went wrong. Instead of traveling interdimentionally, Garison has traveled through time ... twice.

Now, he's in something called "The United States of America" and a woman he's never met before is calling herself his wife. It it a hoax? Or, has he somehow changed history?

If so, can he return the world to what he believes is "normal", or must he live in this strange world he created?

Purchase

Kindle * Nook * Smashwords

Praise:

"Sam continues to weave his magic as a storyteller. I always find myself anxious to find out what will happen next and what kind of twist will befall the adventurers. It helps to be familiar with the places that the heroines go, which adds to the story."

~Labdaddy, Texas

"I've had a few very unproductive but enjoyable days thanks to Samuel Ben White. If you haven't read Sam's books you have been missing a treat. These were funny, suspenseful, spiritual and kept you turning the pages."

~Karen S.

"Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your books. I have a Kindle and I have purchased all of the Garison Fitch novels. I am in Saudi Arabia and your books have really helped take me away from here."

~Scott, Saudi Arabia

Also Part of the Series:

Saving Time

Two years ago Garison Fitch traveled through time and rewrote history. An accident in the eighteenth century created a whole new world, and even gave Garison a wife he had never met before. Now, he’s got a daughter and he’s coming to enjoy this world he created. Until he’s attacked by men masquerading as Indians, and a funeral procession from out of the past enlists his help, and a tree grows from sappling to full-grown in a matter of minutes, threatening his daughter’s very life. Time itself is unraveling and Garison’s trips through time seem to be the cause. Garison must go back in time once again and keep himself from making the original trip that started the problem. But he can’t use his time machine to go back. How does one sew up a rip in time?

Lost Time

Jason Kerrigan and Brownwyn Dalmouth are pilots with the Republic of Texas Army Air Corps. A world war is going on and bombs have just brought an end to Crockett Air Field in south Texas. Jason and Bronwyn, though, are called away from the battle to be test pilots for a new aircraft that-they're told-will bring the war to an end. The experimental craft lives up to expectations in early tests, but then it lands them somewhere it never should have sent them. Another place? Another time? Another dimension? Somehow, they've taken a trip to the future and changed the past. Or did they? The answer to their change of reality may be known to a Justice of the Peace in Colorado named Garison Fitch. To figure it out, though, Garison may have to team up with his least favorite person: Bat Garrett.

Purchase

Kindle * Nook * Smashwords

Author Samuel Ben White

Samuel Ben White (“Sam” to his friends) is the author of the national newspaper comic strip “Tuttle’s” (found at www.tuttles.net) and the on-line comic book “Burt & the I.L.S.” (found at www.destinyhelix.com). He is married and has two sons. He serves his community as both a minister at a small church and a chaplain with hospice. In addition to his time travel stories, Sam has also written and published detective novels, a western, three fantasy novels and four works of Christian fiction.

Links

Twitter * Facebook * Website

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Sam then you can leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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A DEMON LIES WITHIN BLOG TOUR

Today, I’m welcoming Tony Hubbard, author of The Demon Lies Within about his thoughts on the horror genre.

Grab a bean bag chair and get a beverage from the bar and enjoy Tony’s guest post.

The powers of hell that lie within are very real…
Following his murder, Andrew McMurray finds himself transported to the depths of hell. There he is indoctrinated as an apprentice to a demon master, Sonneillon. Exposing Andrew to the dark reaches of his evil powers, Sonneillon demonstrates a demons’ ability to posses, torment and control the thoughts and actions of the living. Andrew’s ultimate goal following his apprenticeship? Revenge on his wife, Katelyn and young son, Joshua, both of whom he holds responsible for his murder.
As Katelyn rebuilds her life, following her husbands’ death, she meets Michael Gordon, a recent escapee from Corporate America, who has his own troubled, tragic past. As their relationship grows, they realize they share something more than their burgeoning love for one another — the powers of hell have deeply impacted their pasts. Evil continues to insinuate itself into the pair's lives, bringing with it haunting and unspeakable horrors.
Andrew's plan of revenge begins to materialize once he inhabits Joshua, having him act out in often violent and disturbing ways. With possession of Joshua’s mind and body complete, will hell's ultimate evil goals come to pass, or can the local priest of a small Maine town exorcize Father from Son? At stake, doom-laden repercussions for all involved…and perhaps the world as a whole.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

The Demon Lies Within

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GUEST POST BY TONY HUBBARD

A Demon Lies Within tells the story of a nine-year-old boy named Joshua McMurray who is possessed by the demon spirit of his deceased father, Andrew, who uses his powers of possession to extract his revenge on the world he left behind.

Now that my debut novel is officially released, one of the questions I get most frequently from readers is ‘How did you come up with such a shocking and dark premise?’

Horror fiction is a genre that I’ve always enjoyed and been fascinated with from an early age. I remember in middle school and high school writing research papers on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. In college I took a Horror Fiction Writing class where we reviewed the works of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker and Edgar Allan Poe.

As a result, I try to find things that occur in life everyday and try to put an evil twist or spin to them. For example, a person sitting at a bar working on a crossword puzzle, or someone watching a silent movie, can be pretty sinister if you let your imagination take you down that path.

When the idea of writing a novel entered my mind of all of the different topics I could write about, especially having a novel focused on sports or athletes as I was a sports writer at the time, the premise I came up with was that the story would center on a possessed, pre-teen boy named Joshua.

While the details of the story went through several different iterations through the years, the original premise of having the story center around a pre-teen boy named Joshua who would become possessed never changed.

The added bonus of such a ‘dark premise’ of human possession was that I had a built in struggle/conflict between good and evil with Heaven and Hell.

The dark element is something that I’ve enjoyed researching. When getting ready to write the first draft I spent time reading Dante’s Inferno, learning about the stories of all the different levels of Hell, which played a role later on in my story. I also spent a lot of time learning about demons and the real existence of Sonneillon, the demon of hatred.

There is a section of the book where Sonneillon tells his new apprentice, Andrew, all about his past and how he became the demon of hatred. The story he tells regarding the possession of Sister Louise Capreau and Father Louis Gaufridi is factual. After researching and reading about that ordeal I knew I had a character for Andrew’s master. The way that he is incorporated into the story and what he teaches Andrew is based in fiction.

The dark premise isn’t limited to only the pages between the front and back cover. I strongly believe that the image of a Demon face on the book cover has gone a long way in contributing the image of a ‘dark’ novel.

Through incorporating my own personal interest in the Horror genre with all of these various ‘dark’ elements my hope is that the shocking and dark premise I’ve based my novel around makes for a book that readers will enjoy.

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Tony Hubbard grew up like most boys in Massachusetts during the 1980’s, wanting to emulate basketball star Larry Bird and one day play for the Boston Celtics. Quickly realizing that a future as a professional athlete was something he would not achieve, he did the next best thing – became a sportswriter. As a long-time sportswriter, Tony covered high school, collegiate and professional sports, most notably covering the death of Boston Celtics’ star Reggie Lewis for The Patriot Ledger.
Growing up and reading the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, he one day aspired to publish a novel in the horror genre as his ‘writing heroes’ were famous for. After many years away from writing, leaving his professional writing career behind to make a move into the production and advertising side of the publishing business, Tony makes a return with his debut novel. Eighteen years in the making, A Demon Lies Within, releases November 2012 from Two Harbors Press.
A follower of Greek Mythology, he sees himself in the same vein as the Greek God Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, parties/festivals, madness and merriment. Dionysus not only represents the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficial influences. According to Tony, we should strive to be like Dionysus.
Massachusetts born and bred, Tony has lived all across the state throughout his life. Today he is settled in Dracut with his wife and son.

FIND TONY ON THE WEB

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A DEMON LIES WITHIN FACEBOOK PAGE

TONY ON TWITTER

ONE MOMENT IN TIME BLOG TOUR

Today, I’m welcoming Glenn Snyder to my blog for a guest post about Dreams and Inspirations brought to you by

VIRTUAL AUTHOR BOOK TOURS

INFO SHARED FROM VIRTUAL AUTHOR BOOK TOURS ONE MOMENT IN TIME TOUR PAGE

TOUR PAGE

Publisher: Bear Moose Press, February 23, 2012
Category: Literary Fiction, Political, Suspense/Thriller
Tour Dates: November, 2012
Available in: Print, 270 pages

On a stormy November evening, Jack Barrett had plans to treat his best friend Travis to a night of fine dining and jazz. As they neared their destination, a truck ran a red light, plowing through Jack’s car, and changing his life forever. Jack found a new outlook on life, and took on adventures that made him one of the world’s most admired people. With each step, Jack grew as a person and a leader; piecing together a family from different corners of the world, while risking himself and his family to save others. Jack’s impact on the world was like no other, but in the end, when the lights and the cameras were gone, Jack was about to die, or was he? Prepare yourself for a surprising ending that questions the very nature between life and death, reality and dream.

Praise for One Moment In Time:

“This was a fun and entertaining book to read. Snyder did a great job bringing his characters to life through a storyline that keeps you captively enthralled.  Can’t miss read. Highly recommend!”- Hornet, Amazon Reviewer

“Exciting and Imaginative, One Moment in Time is a creative view of global politics through the eyes of Jack Barrett, a character we not only like, but can relate to. Jack’s journey takes us through laughter and sadness, suspense and joy, only to be blown away by a surprise ending. A quick and fun read that everyone will enjoy.”- Moose, Amazon Reviewer

“Fun and Inspirational – Highly Recommended: One Moment in Time is a great read that is full of adventures and sub-plots that keep the story moving. It’s very inspiring and gives the reader a sense of what the world could be with leaders who are more intrested in what’s right than their own personal power. This story takes a unique approach with a shocking ending that makes it a must read.”- Antler, Barnes and Noble Reviewer

“A must read for all!  One Moment in Time is a quick and uplifting story that will make you laugh and cry. Glenn Snyder’s portrayal of how one person can impact the world provides inspiration for today’s times.”- Seymore,  Barnes and Noble Reviewer

” I laughed, I (almost) cried. Great story, even though I hated to think/find out that the one moment in time had other options besides the one I had been pulling for throughout most of the book. The truth can hurt. I loved the way that Jack was easy to pull for, easy to love. His life seemed an example of “good things happen to good people” instead of the good die young.  I enjoyed the way Snyder painted such vivid pictures of Jack’s surroundings; the storm and the accident were dramatic – almost as if in slow motion.”- Monica L. Austin, Amazon Reviewer

“If you’re looking for an easy summer read, One Moment in Time IS your book!!!  I found a bit of everything in this story – it was warm, exciting, funny, and inspirational.  Reading this book reminded me of how one person can truly make a difference – whether in another’s life or in the lives of many. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a good story that does have a shocking end.”- Theodora, Goodreads Reviewer

“I got One Moment in Time by winning a Goodreads contest. The book started quickly and hooked me right away. I won’t post a spoiler here but will say the author does a good job by the end of the book making the reader contemplate how his actions in life effect those around him. Every action you take in life has an impact on those around you. A “ripple in the water” if you will. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.”- Lisa Welsh, Goodreads Reviewer

” One Moment in Time takes us to interesting places with well developed characters. The description of foreign locations is authentic and we never expect the surprise ending.  It’s a fast reading book, written with great imagination.”- Ellen Ann, Smashwords Reviewer

GLENN SNYDER IS OFFERING A SPECIAL PROMO BUY ON HIS BOOK

For copies of One Moment in Time:
Paperback: $2 off when purchased through www.OneMomentInTimeNovel.com - coupon code WL5W3K6Y
E-book (any format): 25% off when purchased through Smashwords (www.smashwords.com/books/view/62532) - coupon code WQ79X

BOOK BUY LINKS

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords
Sony Reader Store

Purchase the Paperback at:
Amazon

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One Moment in Time– Dreams & Inspiration

Writing a novel had been a dream of mine for years, but it wasn’t until I graduated MBA school that I took my first steps towards writing. I was working full-time while earning my MBA, so when I graduated, I felt like I was used to a significant amount of work outside of my regular career that I could put in the effort a novel required.

I started writing in January 2002, and the book I began writing was awful. I realized I had plot and character issues when I was only thirty pages into the story. That night, I had a dream. It was one of those dreams that you remember every detail after you wake up. The dream gave me the storyline and the twist that became One Moment in Time.

My excitement grew, and I couldn’t wait to get home from work to start writing. The words began to flow, but then I realized I needed to do significant research to make the story realistic. The first section that I wrote was in Mexico. In May 2002, I spent seven days in the city of Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ka), Mexico and one day in Mexico City. Being in Oaxaca was inspiring. The story took on new life, and I wrote for hours in between my interviews and sightseeing. I visited several orphanages and even interviewed the U.S. Consulate, who was not very helpful or friendly, so I included his personality in the story. Each person I met and each place I went helped inspire and shape one of my favorite parts of the book. By the time the week was over, I had written a significant portion of the story.

Later that fall, I went to Italy. I tried to see Italy through the eyes of Jack Barrett, and experienced many of the same things he did in the book. In fact, Jack’s first date with Maggy was identical to the second night I spent in Milan, with the exception that I was with my friend George, who isn’t as nice to look at as Maggy. After Milan, I went to Venice, and had virtually the same experiences as Jack, except I didn’t jump into one of the canals. I spent another two weeks in Italy, visiting the Dolomites, Cinque Terra, Sienna, Florence, Sorrento, and Rome. I wish I could have included more from my trip to Italy, but the story was about Jack, not the wonders of Italy.

My research also took me to Pacific Grove, a small coastal town nestled between Monterey and Carmel, California. Pacific Grove has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. This was the location for Jack’s wedding, and I actually was able to sit at Lover’s Leap Park and watch a wedding while writing about Jack’s wedding. I couldn’t ask for a more timely inspiration.

I also spent a week in the Sonoma Town Square. This has become a favorite place for my wife and I to go on weekends, and a great place to sit outside and write.

It took me two and a half years to finish the first draft. Another four years and four drafts later, my book was finally ready to publish. Unfortunately for me, I started shopping One Moment in Time to agents in the fall of 2008, which of course was the same time as the country’s economic collapse. I spent almost two years talking with agents. I had wonderful feedback from several agents about the writing and storyline, but in the end, they said they couldn’t sell the book to big publishing houses, because no one knew who I was. Several agents recommended that I self publish and here I am.

I’ve received very positive feedback, as I tried to write a fun and uplifting story. If you choose to read One Moment in Time, please let me know what you think. You can contact me at my website,www.OneMomentInTimeNovel.com. While there, you can also see pictures I took throughout my travels and some of the sights and people that helped inspire the story.

Thank you for your time and interest.

Sincerely,

Glenn Snyder

Glenn Snyder grew up in Marin County, a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. After graduating from UCLA, Glenn worked as a finance professional. In 2001, Glenn earned his MBA from the University of San Francisco.  Shortly after his MBA, Glenn pursued two of his dreams, teaching and writing, while still working full time. For five years, Glenn taught Finance at San Francisco State University, while he also wrote the first draft of One Moment in Time. In May of 2011, Glenn published his first novel, One Moment in Time. Glenn is currently a Finance Director and is working on his second

FIND GLENN SNYDER ON THE WEB:

GLENN ON FACEBOOK
GLENN ON TWITTER

GLENN'S WEBSITE

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JOIN THE REST OF THE TOUR !!

Tour Schedule:
So Many Precious Books  Nov 1 Giveaway & Feature
Books & More Books Nov 1 Review
Over Cups of Coffee Nov 5 Review
Over Cups of Coffee Nov 5 Giveaway
She Treads Softly Nov 6 Review
Books & More Books Nov 6 Giveaway & Interview
Book Lover’s Library Nov 7 Review
Book Lover’s Library  Nov 8 Giveaway & Guest Post
JoyStory Nov 12 Review
Sweeps4Bloggers Nov 13 Review & Giveaway
Minding Spot Nov 14 Review & Giveaway
JA Beard’s Unnecessary Musings  Nov 14  Interview
Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews Nov 15 Review
Ordinary Girlz Book Reviews Nov 15 Interview
Minnesota Girl in LA Nov 16 Review
I’d Rather Be Reading At the Beach Nov 19 Review
Minnesota Girl in LA  Nov 19 Giveaway & Interview
Dr. Bill’s Book Bazaar Nov 20 Review
Book Lover Stop Nov 21 Review
Eclectic Books & Movies Nov 22 Review
Eclectic Books & Movies Nov 23 Interview
Darkest Addictions Nov 26 Review & Giveaway
Peaceful Wishing Nov 26 Review (Postponed)
Earth’s Book Nook Nov 27  Guest Post
Mary’s Cup of Tea Nov 28 Review & Giveaway
The Top Shelf  Nov 30 Review & Giveaway

VINSON’S CHRISTMAS & OTHER ODDITIES BOOK BLAST AND PROMO

Greetings fellow bookworms, today I have William Vinson joining me for a guest post about the Ten Secretly Horrifying Christmas Traditions. While you are here, take a look at his buy links and his social media links.

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Ten Secretly Horrifying Christmas Traditions

10- Fruitcake

A treat that was once rare and difficult to produce in centuries past is now commonplace and almost universally despised. Because it is awful. Beware those who actually like it, or claim to. And yet, there it is... darkening Christmas tables alongside vast panoply of far superior offerings. Because tradition, that's why.   

 

9- It's A Wonderful Life

Drink driving, a car crash, suicide threats, insurance fraud, a stripper/pickpocket, and banking fraud. Christmas!

 

8- Leaving milk and cookies out for Santa

The rendering of offerings to an unbidden interloper that judges you from afar and is equally likely to leave objects symbolizing your moral unworthiness as he is gifts. A fairly mixed message for children, who are encouraged to celebrate signs that a stranger was in their house while they slept.

7- Eggnog

The beverage version of fruitcake. If it's so good, why don't stores carry it year round? It only serves to help seasonal drinkers dress up their binge drinking in festive garb.

6- Sexy Santa/Mrs. Claus/Elf costumes.

Why? Because costume manufacturers feel they can, that's why.

5- Christmas Gorging

A key lynchpin in the American weight loss/gain shame cycle. Because they have no shame, gyms now all universally advertise in January... letting us know that we're all slobs who should lose the weight we put on over the holidays.

4- Half-Hearted Hanukkah Acknowledgments

That's right, just rub it in. It's fairly common knowledge that Hanukkah is a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, but it's proximity to Christmas transmogrified it into Christmas's Jewish friend. Waspy housewives across the nation take special care to let their Jewish acquaintances know that they remember they have their own things going on. And without Hanukkah, conservative pundits would have nothing to invisibly reference when they complain about the war on Christmas.

3- A Christmas Story

I appreciate that this film is much beloved. As well it should be, for truly it was a kind of salve for the irritation caused by the effervescent sanctity of the Christmas season.

But in the decades since the films 1983 release, the Christmas season has absorbed it. Now a movie that once was a signal-jamming retort has become a part of the cultural Christmas canon. Played on network television, stripped of what little vulgarity and risqué content it contained, the film is analogous to medical care provided to a torture victim; it only serves to allow us to absorb even more seasonal punishment.

2- Black Friday

A shopping orgy that always results in at least one death. God bless us, everyone.

1- A Christmas Carol

A depressed plutocrat becomes wildly manic after horrific hallucinations. Let’s be honest: if this thing wasn't in the public domain, hack writers would have to plagiarize something else for their Christmas episodes and specials. Redeeming feature: It gave us Scrooged:

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Author Bio:

WILLIAM J. VINSON is a character of dubious origins, unusual vocations and regrettable pursuits. His other writings have even less purpose then this treatise, unless kindling is required. He has been overly educated, having received a B.A. and M.B.A. for no Earthly reasons.

FIND WILLIAM J VINSON ON THE WEB

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TWITTER

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FACEBOOK

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Back Cover Text:

The ancient tales and distant origins of Christmas and its traditions have long been of very little interest to the right thinking. This book seeks to arm the know-it-all, the boor, the acid-tempered and other social miscreants with information designed to harass the sensibilities of the more balanced celebrants of Christmas.

Early scorn for Vinson’s Christmas: And Other Oddities…

“A work of utter madness.” - The London Chronicle

“An inelegant assortment of claptrap, poppycock, balderdash and rubbish with the aftertaste of an ill-stored cod.” - Lloyd’s Illustrated Newspaper

“Repellent tripe of the first order… a tome so vile as to shame Gutenberg himself.” - The Hull Packet

Purchase Links:

Amazon Print Version:

http://www.amazon.com/Vinsons-Christmas-And-Other-Oddities/dp/0982708475/

Amazon Kindle Version:

http://www.amazon.com/Vinsons-Christmas-Other-Oddities-ebook/dp/B009CD585S/

Purchase the eBook from the Apple iTunes store:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/vinsons-christmas-other-oddities.../id561813218?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Google Play Store eBook:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/William_Vinson_Vinson_s_Christmas_and_Other_Odditi?id=Y33hyQDSnaQC&feature=null-William+Vinson#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDMwMiwiYm9vay1ZMzNoeVFEU25hUUMiXQ..

Barnes & Noble Print and eBook:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vinsons-christmas-and-other-oddities-william-vinson/1112708592

SHADOW MAN BLOG TOUR 11/20/12 to 12/20/12

Today I’m one of the hosts of Shadow Man Blog  Tour. I’m giving over my blog to Tara Fox Hall with a guest post about the spirit of animal rescue. This blog tour is presented by

PAGE TURNERS BOOK TOURS

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In the spirit of this blogsite, I would like to share a true story from my past of animal rescue. I often find that animals that need my help cross my path. Not all of them are furred and cuddly. —Tara Fox Hall J

BREATH

One morning in late fall, I was hurrying out the door, swearing to myself because I was going to be late. As I was walking quickly to my garage, I happened to look down and see a snake. It was a small female red racer, about 7 inches long. The first hard frost had occurred overnight, and it looked like the weather had caught her unawares. She seemed to be frozen solid with her mouth hanging open. I assumed because she was laying right across the path that one of the cats—most likely Kesteral or Cavity—had left her there for me to find, in a misguided yet tender effort to teach me to hunt.

It may be surprising to hear—or not so surprising if you’re a fan of my Lash series—that I have a soft spot for snakes. I don't mean rattlesnakes, or 10 ft. boa constrictors, of course; I mean snakes of the smaller, non-threatening persuasion. Garden snakes, corn snakes, ring-necked snakes, and red racers never want to bother anyone, and try to get out of your way as soon as they know you're coming. Even when I've held some that were agitated, I've never had one strike at me. So I make an effort to keep all my small local snakes as safe as can be, including rescuing them from my cats.

Sadly, this one was past my help. I carried my work stuff to my car. Leaving it there, I went back and picked up the snake, prepared to take her out to leave in the field for scavengers. But when I picked her up, I discovered she wasn't frozen solid. More amazing, after holding her for 30 seconds in my gloved hands, I thought I saw her move. Anxious for a miracle, I took off my gloves and held her, willing my heat to bring her back to life. But she didn’t stir. Worried my hands weren’t warm enough, I breathed on her. After a minute of being enveloped in my warm breath, the "dead" snake started to revive. First her mouth closed, then her tongue slowly flicked out and in. Finally, she begun to feebly move. I held her another minute, sharing my warmth. By that minute’s end, you wouldn't have known that she'd almost died.

I took her to the side of the garage, and let her slip underneath through a hole in the gravel, hoping she would find a ball of snakes to twine up with to keep warm. Being almost winter, there wasn't much more I could do.

I never saw her again, but I like remembering the experience, the startling feeling of her coming back to life in my hands. It felt a little like magic. And in a way it was, that a human shared her breath and warmth with a snake to save its life . . . and counted herself the more fortunate party.

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Blurb:

A renegade vampire begins amassing a flock of true believers, threatening America’s vampire hierarchy. Weresnake Lash partners with old enemy Danial and new allies Burl and Spiderboy to track down and annihilate them. Betrayed and left for dead, Lash reemerges the victor, edging ever upward in the Assassin’s Ranking, and catching the eye of the sultry nightclub singer Cassandra Nile. Drawn into drugs by Cassie, Lash begins to doubt himself, yearning to leave his life of violence, even as enemies close in from every side.

Excerpt:

History speaks of the months after the Crash of 1929 as desolate, and hopeless. I’m sure that was true for many. But I wasn’t unhappy, even though my days seemed to have lost their color, and my nights blurred one into another until I sometimes lost track of the date. My problem was that now that things had calmed down, some of the horror of my life had caught up to me, hurting me in the one place I wasn’t defensible: my dreams.

I had often dreamed of Giselle after her death, and of my other slain sisters. Those dreams had lessened in the years that had passed. Now they seemed to come back with a vengeance, and they brought friends.

I awoke screaming most nights, with one of Abraham’s guards pounding on my door, asking if I was okay. I was reluctant to go to an alchemist to ask for any help sleeping. I had to be ready in case of attack, either on my vampire boss, Abraham or on my sister Sam and her children, not to mention myself. I couldn’t be off in dreamland with big-bosomed women and still be of any use.

Fortunately, I was able to function fine with only about four hours sleep, which was what I usually got when the nightmares were said and done. I learned to control my cries with help of a book Abraham got me, so I didn’t have someone pounding on my door most nights. But I could do nothing about the dreams. It got so fucking bad that I would dread going to sleep and would find any excuse to put it off, until I was so tired my tail would have been dragging if I were in snake form.

There was something good about being awake in the early morning hours: Abraham and I were becoming friends. We had been together for almost ten years now. I was his first weresnake friend; he told me himself. I was probably the first weresnake he’d given the time of day to, though he never was rude enough to say something like that to me. It wasn’t out of fear, but rather because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings. He alone seemed to get how I felt, being snake in a world that hated snakes. It was hard not to like him just for that. Not to say he wasn’t hard with me, or even terrible, when he felt he had to be. But he was almost a gentler version of my father, and I admired him greatly.

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Links:

Website: www.tarafoxhall.com

Email: tarafoxhall@gmail.com

Tara's Blog:

 http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5286654.Tara_Fox_Hall/blog

Tara's Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Fox-Hall/151813374904903

Twitter:

 https://twitter.com/#!/TerrorFoxHall

Amazon Webpage:

http://www.amazon.com/Tara-Fox-Hall/e/B005YPAA4W

For info on my recently published series books Lash: Shadow Man click here:

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Man-Lash-ebook/dp/B009UHDZHY

Bio:

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chain sawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

ADVENTURES OF TILDA PINKERTON BLOG TOUR

HELLO FELLOW BOOKWORMS, ANOTHER BLOG TOUR STOP COMING YOUR WAY FROM THE FINE FOLKS AT

TODAY I’M WELCOMING ANGELA SHELTON, AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES OF TILDA PINKERTON TO MY BLOG WITH HER TAKE ON MAGICAL HATS

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CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER FOR THE AMAZON BUY LINK

 

Why Magical Hats?

Writing about magical hats for me was a huge joy since hats are a big part of my life.

Hats summon creativity and fun. I collect hats just like my beloved heroine Tilda Pinkerton makes them - in abundance.

I first started my collection while hitting thrift stores during the many, many, many cross-country trips with my mother. We were not rich. I was raised going to thrift stores and garage sales. Yard sale-ing was a lifestyle more than a weekend pastime.

Whenever we arrived at a yard sale or a new thrift store I made a b-line for the hats. Usually they were placed high up on shelves above clothes racks or adorned the heads of the rare mannequin. Though some people would feel insecure about taking apart a display and trying on a piece of it, I had no problem whipping a hat off of a plastic lady and putting it on my head.

I wore hats when they were not fashionable, when they did not necessarily match what I was wearing, and I wore them for head decoration more than warmth. I continued that tradition into adulthood and will probably wear a Fascinator as an old lady, when I finally get up the gumption to dye my hair royal blue.

Hats to me are expressions of who you are and who you’d like to be. They allow us to show off and hide at the same time. That’s why I gave Tilda Pinkerton the most amazing hat including a fish tank complete with a fish that speaks French. If you’re going to go bold – why not go big!

 

What Are You Insecure About?

I also wrote a powerful reason for why Tilda Pinkerton wears her hat in the first place. She is hiding something. Much like many of us hide our insecurities behind make-up, hair-dos, fashion, or whatever makes us feel better about ourselves, Tilda hides behind her hat.

But Tilda, very much like many of us, happens to be hiding something that is beyond beautiful and extremely powerful. In fact, the thing she is most insecure about happens to be what saves the galaxy.

Wear More Hats

I hope The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton inspires young and old readers alike to be themselves fully.

I also hope that maybe, just maybe, as you read and share the book (it would make a fantastic holiday gift!) that you wear more hats and in turn inspire others to wear more hats too – just for the fun of it!

Thank you for being yourself – fully! And of course, thank you for reading!

Angela Shelton
author of The Adventures of Tilda Pinkerton

Links

http://tildapinkerton.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tildapinkerton

http://magicalhatshop.com/

http://angelashelton.com/

GENESIS QUEEN COVER REVEAL

Hello campers, today I’m posting a new feature. A cover reveal of Genesis Queen, Book  3 of the Road to Hell series by Gracen Miller!

So without further ado, here is the cover for Genesis Queen!!

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Genesis Queen Blurb (book 3 Road to Hell series):

Victory is hollow when fate maneuvers one as a pawn.

Madison’s mission is complete. Nix is rescued from Hell and her son safe from his dark destiny. But in the safe harbor of Nix’s love, her demonic husband warns of a murderous plot. Can she trust that it’s the truth and not another scheme to claim her for Hell’s throne?

Sometimes internal struggles can house our biggest demons.

With allies divided and prophecy heralding defeat, Madison gambles on Micah’s tenuous honor to keep their son protected. Torn between her heart’s desires and her dark requirements, Madison worries her hellish fate cannot be avoided. When betrayal comes from an unlikely direction, all their futures may be damned. In the darkest hour of Madison’s life, an undeniable providence will transpire. Who can she trust? And how far will she fall to defeat her foes?

Amid the rubble of defeat will Hell’s Genesis Queen dawn?

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Previous books in the Road to Hell Series:

"Pandora's Box"

Book 1 in ROAD TO HELL series

(MUST BE READ BEFORE READING HELL’S PHOENIX)

BUY LINKS

Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Print - Amazon / Print – Barnes & Noble

Praise for Pandora’s Box

“Gracen Miller has definitely added spice and intrigue in to a genre that can somewhat be monotonous with the same story lines about demons, angels, succubi, and other paranormal creatures.”

~ Kathryn Grimes, Tsk Tsk What to Read

"Hell's Phoenix"

Book 2 in ROAD TO HELL series

BUY LINKS

Decadent Publishing / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Print – Amazon / Print – Barnes & Noble

Praise for Hell’s Phoenix

“It blows J.R. Ward out of the water!”

~ Dawn Hagan, I Love Books

About the Author

Gracen is a small town girl who was transplanted to the big city almost ten years ago. She describes herself as a hopeless daydreamer masquerading as a “normal” person in Southern society. When not writing, she’s a full-time basketball/football/guitar mom for her two sons and a devoted wife to her real-life hero-husband. She’s addicted to writing, paranormal romance novels and movies, Alabama football and coffee…addictions are not necessarily in order of priority. She is convinced coffee is nectar from the gods and blending coffee and writing generates the perfect creative merger. Many of her stories are spawned from these coffee highs. To learn more about Gracen and her writing or to leave her a comment, visit her website at www.gracen-miller.com.

Where you can stalk me—not really!—but I would love to meet and interact with you:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracen.miller

Road to Hell series FB Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Road-to-Hell-series/112564408814796?ref=ts

Website: www.gracen-miller.com

Blog: http://madisonroadtohell.blogspot.com/

My Publisher: www.decadentpublishing.com

THE LADY ASTRONOMER BLOG TOUR-NOVEMBER 1ST THROUGH 15TH

Today, I’m hosting Katy O’Dowd, author of the The Lady Astronomer for a TOP TEN THANKFUL LIST. Please pull up a chair and enjoy the view and grab a beverage from the bar.

There is a great giveaway going on at the BLOG TOUR PAGE so stop by and enter to win!!!

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Thanks Heather for having me over to your blog!

Top 10 List Of Things To Be Thankful For – As A Writer

I’m thankful for books. Without them I really doubt I would be writing now.

I’m thankful for movies, music and TV shows. For the same reason.

I’m thankful for the fact that my brain comes up with some crazy stuff that enables me to sit down and create things. Not so thankful that it also provides rather a lot of procrastination. And can sometimes feel like a truculent child, ‘I don’t want to do it mom!’

I’m thankful for all of the writers I have met – mostly online, some in person. It is really brilliant to communicate with people you can be yourself with, and who won’t look at you funny when you tell them what you are working on.

I’m thankful for the school year. Which means that I get to snatch some writing time in peace without the kids around.

I’m thankful for tea and chocolate. They keep me going.

I’m thankful for the times when it rains. I find it very soothing while I’m writing.

I’m thankful for the fact that I’m so organised. Some would call it anal. But it means that all of my research, plotting and planning is done in advance.

I’m thankful for my cats. They keep me company while I write.

I’m thankful for many more things, like my wonderful publishers, Untold Press, who are a complete joy to work with. The opportunities and chances I have been given. The hard work that is so worth it in the end. I’m also thankful for Heather for coming up with such a great topic. It really made me think about writing and how much I love it.

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The blurb:

Lucretia's life as an astronomer is quickly turned on its head by her eldest brother when he is commanded by the king to build the grandest telescope in the land. Her nights spent on rooftops gazing at the stars are replaced by adventure as the family move to be nearer the king. In a race to build the Forty-foot telescope on time, misfortunes take their toll. The lady astronomer finds court life to be more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Can she find the strength inside to overcome the obstacles threatening her destiny? Only the stars will tell.

You can purchase The Lady Astronomer on

Amazon USA and Amazon UK.

AMAZON-USA

AMAZON-UK

A few facts:

I wrote The Lady Astronomer for my eldest son – he was jealous that I had used my younger son’s name in something else I was writing.

I work with an Astronomer on books that require his expert knowledge – the idea for The Lady Astronomer came to me while reading another book that he recommended I read.

The Lady Astronomer is inspired by the life of Caroline Herschel (1750-1848). She suffered from both Smallpox and Typhus, was a milliner, soprano, her brother William’s Assistant – he discovered Uranus, then known as George’s Star for the King who funded the build of the ‘Great Forty-Foot’ telescope – and most importantly, perhaps, became the first woman in recorded history to discover a comet. Not to mention the first woman in the UK to receive a working wage, from the King if you don’t mind.

Publisher:

The Lady Astronomer was published by Untold Press www.untoldpress.com on 26^th September 2012. It is currently available as an eBook, and will be out as a paperback later on in the year.

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AUTHOR BIO

Katy is an arts and entertainment journalist and has worked for Time Out, Associated Newspapers and Comic Relief and her articles have appeared in The Times (London), Metro (London) and many other arts and entertainment publications, paper and online.

She reviews for the Historical Novels Review and the British Fantasy Society, is a commissioning editor at Pendragon Press and is co-editor of the Nasty Snips II Project for that press.

Alongside writing with her Dad under the pen-name Derry O’Dowd, whose first book ‘The Scarlet Ribbon’ was chosen to launch the History Press Ireland’s fiction line, she writes under her own name.

‘The Lady Astronomer’, a YA Steampunk novel, is out with Untold Press now. She is currently writing a Steampunk adult series because writing for tweens and teens is damnably hard work.

FIND KATY ON THE WEB

KATY O'DOWD BLOG

TWITTER

 KATY ON FACEBOOK

EMAIL CONTACT:

katy@pictureandword.com

ALCHEMYSTIC BY ANTON STROUT REVIEW

Today, I’m glad to post my review of ALCHEMYSTIC by Anton Strout. I’ve read all his books and love his quirky characters and always look forward to his new offerings to the literary world. So without further ado, here is my review of ALCHEMYSTIC.

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ALCHEMYSTIC

By ANTON STROUT

BUY HERE NOW ON AMAZON

This was a public library copy.

Amazon Blurb:

AN OLD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY...

Alexandra Belarus is a struggling artist living in New York City, even though her family is rich in real estate, including a towering Gothic Gramercy Park building built by her great-great-grandfather. But the truth of her bloodline is revealed when she is attacked on the street and saved by an inhumanly powerful winged figure. A figure who knows the Belarus name... Lexi's great-great-grandfather was a Spellmason--an artisan who could work magic on stone. But in his day, dark forces conspired against him and his, so he left a spell of protection on his family. Now that Lexi is in danger, the spell has awoken her ancestor's most trusted and fearsome creation: a gargoyle named Stanis. Lexi and Stanis are equally surprised to find themselves bound to each other. But as they learn to work together, they realize that only united can they save the city they both love...

My favorite character:

It would have to be Alexandra (Lexi). She is a struggling artist who has the facets of humanity that I love. Some of these include intelligence, creativity, moral compass, and spirituality.

My thoughts:

The premise of the book is like nothing I’ve ever read. I like the thought of gargoyle as a real life protector and the elements of alchemy has always fascinated me. To see it brought to life in a book is awesome. This book is a mixture of action speckled with humor and compassion. If you enjoy the ancient art of alchemy, this is a good reading choice for you. There is also the allusion to romantic elements which I enjoyed as well.

Some of my favorite Stanis quotes:

“If living forever at the cost of all others is your only goal, then there is no hope for you.”

“What your great-great-grandfather did for me, he did out of kindness. He could not stand what had happened to me. He instilled that kindness within me, making me the grotesque you see before you. That was his gift to me.”

My rating:

5 FAIRIES

This is a heartfelt look into the human nature that is intertwined with magical elements. Metaphysics, romance, humanity, compassion, action, and humor all meshed into a wonderful masterpiece of writing splendor.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

This biography is from Anton’s Amazon Author Page.

Fantasy author Anton Strout was born in the Berkshire Hills mere miles from writing heavyweights Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville and currently lives in the haunted corn maze that is New Jersey (where nothing paranormal ever really happens, he assures you).

He is the author of the Simon Canderous urban fantasy series and Alchemystic, book one of the upcoming Spellmason Chronicles for Ace Books, a division of Penguin Group (USA). Anton is also the author of many short tales published in anthologies by DAW Books.

The Once & Future Podcast is his latest project, where he endeavors as Curator of Content to bring authors and readers together through a weekly news show format.

He has been a featured author guest of honor, speaker and workshop leader at San Diego Comic-Con, Gencon, New York Comic-Con, the Brooklyn Book Festival and many other conventions.

In his scant spare time, his is a writer, a sometimes actor, sometimes musician, occasional RPGer, and the world’s most casual and controller smashing video gamer. He currently works in the exciting world of publishing and yes, it is as glamorous as it sounds.

 

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Find ANTON STOUT on the Web

WEBSITE: http://www.antonstrout.com/

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/anton.strout

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/antonstrout

FIRST TO FIND BLOG TOUR 10-30-12 TO 11-20-12

Hello everyone!!! I apologize in advance for not getting this post up sooner but I’m posting now!!!! Today I’m turning over the blog to Morgan Talbot, author of First to Find for a great blog post!! Grab something to drink from the virtual bar and pull up a bean bag chair and enjoy!!! At the end of the post, fill out the Rafflecopter form for a great giveaway!!!

HOSTED BY RED ADEPT PUBLISHING

FIND THE REST OF THE TOUR INFORMATION HERE

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Color Outside the Lines

The clothes make the man. That’s what they say, isn’t it? There aren’t too many men who got made by being naked, either—oh, no, honey, that’s an entirely different post. I’m talking fashion here, and not the sort that struts itself down the catwalk, draped across the skeletons of giraffes. I’m talking alteration fashion.
I grew up with a mother who can sew just about anything. She taught me the basics, and then the intermediates. I haven’t sewn an entire item of clothing from scratch in awhile, but you plop a pattern in front of me, all crinkly brown, with more layers than an onion and just as thin as its skin, and I’ll dress you in the most fabulous ribbon-pocket jodhpurs you’ve ever seen.
Pockets made of ribbons, yes, the wire-sided Christmas sort sewn together to make translucent, glittery fabric and backed with gauze. Such pockets are awesome. And so are arm-warmers, and glitterified shoes, and fuchsia top hats. Sticking to the pattern is boring. Creation is one thing—in fact, it is by definition the first thing—but after that, alteration is the goddess of personal expression.
The spirit of alteration is a restless one, born from dissatisfaction with the Now, the What. It does not seek to reject what is, or to replace it with a new creation. It wishes only to bend the corner of reality, to slip its feet inside for warmth while its head floats in the stars of possibility. Its hybrid existence is never fully accepted, but that is the price of self-actualization on the fringe.
One of my two main characters, Bindi, embraces her own less-than-mainstream existence as well as her fashion creativity. You couldn’t keep her quiet if you tried, and if you did manage to duct tape her mouth, her outfit would take over. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to this book series, but I freely confess that it’s dominated mostly by things Bindi would own, make, or bash someone over the head in order to steal.
True, the fringe can be a dangerous, lonely place. But it makes a fabulous accessory.

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First to Find
Written by Morgan C. Talbot
Death is the hardest puzzle to solve.
Margarita Williams escaped death at a young age, but its shadow has followed her all her life.
Now, amidst the chaos of a new Australian roommate and mysterious, menacing neighbors,
Death has set the puzzlemaker a puzzle of her own: someone is killing her fellow geocachers,
one by one.
And if she doesn’t stop the murderer before he strikes again, Death will finally collect the soul
that got away.

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BOOK BUY LINKS

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009V4LABY
Amazon Paper: http://www.amazon.com/First-Find-Book-One-Caching/dp/1480022039
OmniLit: https://www.omnilit.com/product-firsttofind-980821-243.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/247957

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ABOUT MORGAN:

Morgan is an outdoorsy girl with a deep and abiding
love for the natural sciences. Her degrees involve
English and jujitsu. She enjoys hiking, camping, and
wandering in the woods looking for the trail to the
car, but there isn’t enough chocolate on the planet to
bribe her into rock climbing.
When she’s not writing, she can be found making
puzzles, getting lost on the way to geocaches,
reading stories to her children, or taking far too
many pictures of the same tree or rock.
She lives in Eastern Washington with her family.

FIND MORGAN ON THE WEB

BLOG: http://morganctalbot.blogspot.com/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/MorganCTalbot
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MorganCTalbot
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Morgan-C.-Talbot

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