Friday 28 June 2019

Great Summer Reads Day 20






My name is Robyn Echols. Zina Abbott is the pen I use for my historical novels. I’m a member of Women Writing the West and Western Writers of America. I currently live with my husband in California’s central valley near the “Gateway to Yosemite.”

I love to read, quilt, work with digital images on my photo editing program, and work on my own family history.

I am a blogger. In addition to my own blog, I blog for several group blogs including the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog, which I started and administer.





The daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, Diantha Ames was raised and educated to be a lady. Surviving the Civil War as a child, her family, in a desperate, but ultimately unsuccessful bid to save the property of both her father and her uncle, arranges a marriage between her and her first cousin. Although not a love match, she and Eugene were amiable. As information about her husband comes to light after his death in the Gold King Mine disaster that took so many lives in Wildcat Ridge, she is left with her husband’s hotel and postmaster position to fill—and a lot of questions.

With Diantha’s former laundress gone, she hires Hilaina Dowd, whose family hails from the mountains of Appalachia. Hilaina loyally stays with her mother who wishes to live out her life in Wildcat Ridge and be buried next to her husband who died in the mine disaster.

Henry “Hank” Cauley is branded a failure after refusing to be part of his father’s Salt Lake City brick-making business and then losing his stationary and book store business. To bury him far away, his brother and conniving sister-on-law use their political influence with the territorial Congressional representative to award him the postmaster position in Wildcat Ridge. He arrives in town to take over the position starting the first of September only to discover the postmistress, Diantha, knows nothing about the change, and is not relieved she no longer is obligated to fill this position originally awarded to her deceased husband. Finding himself surrounded by those loyal to the soft-spoken, Southern lady, is he destined to also be a failure in Wildcat Ridge?

Buckley “Buck” Kramer, wrangler on the Grassy Fork Ranch in Colorado, has not been totally satisfied with his lot ever since the trip he took to Wildcat Ridge earlier in the summer with his boss and best friend now he sees the happiness of family life the two men enjoy after they brought back wives. When two trail-worn young brothers stumble onto the ranch looking for a meal and permanent jobs, but are told with winter coming on there is only room for one, Buck insists on leaving in order to keep the brothers together. Is Buck really dissatisfied with his job on the ranch, or is this an excuse to return to Wildcat Ridge and the woman he has not been able to get out of his mind?
  
Diantha, Book 14, is a stand-alone novel. However, you might enjoy it best by reading all the books in the series, The Widows of Wildcat Ridge. Also, my other book in the series, Nissa, Book 3, was written to be a duet with Diantha—a series within a series. You might also enjoy reading Nissa if you have not already done so.



  
~ Universal Amazon Link
  


Top Ten List:

10 Fun Facts About Myself

1.  I’m not a fun person—I tend to be serious.
2.  I’ll go to an organizational meeting with a speaker or class before I’ll go to a social party.
3.  I’m analytical and sometimes suffer from “analysis paralysis.”
4.  I like to quilt rather than sew garments because l like doing the math to create new block designs.
5.  The other fun part of quilting for me is to put together colors and fabric patterns I don’t think will look good together – but in the end, they do!
6.  I like photography, but I’m not a professional. Thank goodness for digital cameras and photo-editing programs.
7.  I love to create digital memes, banners and blog post headers.
8.  I belong to my county genealogical society.
9.  My idea of camping is staying in a fifth wheel or a trailer—with internet access.

10.  I’d rather be reading.





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Thursday 27 June 2019

Great Summer Reads Day 19






Britney Mills was born in Utah but parts of her heart lie in Boston, Washington D.C. and Germany. Her love of writing began with the third grade book her teacher assigned her to write and she spent hours hidden behind her mother's couch writing pages and pages about knights and castles. Now she writes about romance. Go figure.

When she's not mothering her 4 small children, writing or reading, she's probably out playing a sport, going on a hike, or binge watching a murder mystery series. The way to her heart is through homemade chocolate chip cookies and five minutes peace.







A self-made billionaire, his real estate agent and three weeks to find the right property.
Jackson Walker hasn't had the best family life. Growing up in the foster system in Australia, it wasn’t until he met his college football coach that he understood what a normal family looked like. When he gets the call that Coach has passed away, he returns to California for the funeral and to find a place to honor the man. 

Hailey Montgomery threw herself into real estate soon after breaking up with her boyfriend nearly five years ago. She’s been working to build a name for herself and when the chance to make partner at her firm becomes available, she jumps at the chance. But the only way to achieve that distinction is to find a commercial property for the guy she’s nicknamed ‘Golden Boy’ from all the stories her father told about him. 

As spending time together brings them closer, the trust between them is called into question. Can they work through what’s happened in their individual pasts to create a relationship that will last?


  
~ Universal Amazon Link
   


Q&A With the Author:

1.  What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read, play outside with my kids, travel.

2. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to write with music that has singing, but I have to edit with classical music

3. Do you have any suggestions to help budding authors become better writers? If so, what are they?
Read, A LOT. Read craft books, read in your genre, join a writing Facebook group and learn from them.

4. Where do you get information and ideas for your books?
Ideas come in everyday life. I'll have an idea pop up for a story and then I do some research. For the International Billionaire Club series, I've used Youtube a lot to learn about the different countries.

5. What do you think makes a good story?
One that makes it hard to put down.

6. Tell us about your favorite summer vacation? Or what do you like to do in the summer?
It's been a few years since we've been able to go camping but those are some fun times. S'mores, tin foil dinners, hiking. Those are my favorites in the summer!





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Wednesday 26 June 2019

Great Summer Reads Day 18




TJ Amberson hails from the Pacific Northwest. With a love of writing in several genres, TJ strives to provide well-written, age-appropriate, & original novels for tweens, teens, and new adults.














  
~ Facebook ~ Website ~
  





Dark times are upon the land of Nereth. Centuries have passed since the rightful heir to the throne was banished. The people are losing hope in ancient legend, which foretells of one who will rise up, overthrow the evil king and queen, and restore peace. Like all others in Nereth, Edlyn has suffered greatly. Orphaned as a child, Edlyn grew up as the serf of a drunken lord. Now a spirited seventeen-year-old, Edlyn works to buy her freedom while fighting off the unwanted advances of Sheriff Hurst. One morning, Edlyn discovers a young man hiding in the stable. He is fleeing from Sheriff Hurst and inflicted with a sword wound that will surely be fatal without her help. In a split-second decision, Edlyn conceals the young man from Sheriff Hurst and begins nursing him back to health. As the young man's strength returns, Edlyn learns that his name is Maddock, and she is stunned to find that he has come from the mysterious land to the north. Maddock soon comes to Edlyn's aid, rescuing her from Sheriff Hurst. Suddenly declared outlaws, both Edlyn and Maddock must escape for their lives to enchanted Ravenshire Forest and then the desolate mountains beyond. As their adventure unfolds, Edlyn and Maddock discover that their meeting may have been more than chance, for their lives prove bound by a fate that neither of them could possibly have imagined.



  
~ Universal Amazon Link
  



Q&A With the Author:

Question 1) What do you like to do when you're not writing? When I'm not writing, I enjoy working in my garden, bike riding, taking walks on a sunny day, star gazing with my telescope, and traveling whenever I can.

Question 2) What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I would say an interesting writing quirk of mine is that I'm much more productive at certain times of the day, particularly right after waking up or in the late evening.

Question 3) Do you have any suggestions to help budding authors become better writers? If so, what are they? For budding writers, my advice on how to improve is to simply keep writing! Just like any skill or talent, you get better the more that you do it!

Question 4) Where do you get information and ideas for your books? I glean information or ideas for my books from just about anywhere - including random ideas popping into my head, online research, dreams, my educational background, witnessing something humorous or inspiring - ideas come from all around!

Question 5) What do you think makes a good story? I don't know if there's a way to articulate perfectly what makes a good story, but I would include on the list: characters that we can care about, a story that intrigues us, storytelling that makes us feel emotion, and a conclusion that satisfies.


Question 6) Tell us about your favorite summer vacation? Or what do you like to do in the summer? Summertime is all about being outside and enjoying sunshine! That can be anything from big to small, including a boat ride, traveling, or a peaceful evening enjoying dinner out on the patio.





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Tuesday 25 June 2019

Great Summer Reads Day 17






I grew up in Southeast Missouri; home of the Throwed Rolls, high cotton, and the St. Louis Cardinals. I have a little family consisting of son, daughter, son-in-law and a little Pi. Other than my children (and grandchild), my passion is writing. My current project is The Three Crowns Series. Sweet Tea is the first book in this seven-novel series which published October 15, 2013.

Besides reading and writing, I enjoy singing. I love music period. Music is in our family. Whether it be the bluegrass from the Ozarks that my Grandpa Sutton use to play on his banjo or fiddle, or the smooth, family harmony in which I am fortunate enough to sing with my Dad and Brother. But you can give me some kickin' AC/DC too! I like it all!

I work full-time as an Administrative Assistant. Every free moment is dedicated to my family and my current project, The Three Crowns, a seven-novel paranormal romance series.




It all starts with a Queen and a Plan.

The Three Crowns is a New Adult/Paranormal Romance series. There are seven books to complete the series, with a novella. This series has your modern day vampires dealing with the Old World Laws creating a struggle for ultimate power in the Night World.



THE THREE CROWNS SERIES SYNOPSIS

The Three Crowns series is about a normal girl whose life is more than what she will allow herself to imagine. It is the journey of her accepting that everything is not black and white, and our logic of what we understand does not mean something does exist. Throughout the story she is protected, loved, groomed and pushed to her limits to prepare her for what lies ahead of her. She is tested in all areas of her humanity which will someday bring her to know the person she is destined to be. The human nature of love is a tangled web of emotions for she feels the love of two men who are continually being taken away from her for the sake of their positions in the future as well.




Top Ten List:


1) I'm a MiMi!
2) I'm a cancer survivor
3) I LOVE all kinds of music
4) I sing with my brother and dad every Sunday
5) I'm writing a story in my head all the time
6) My celebrity crush would be Dwayne Johnson
7) I think maybe Arya Stark and Gendry will take the Iron Throne  
8) My favorite classic book - Pride and Prejudice
9) I love the beach
10) I'm a flip flop/barefoot kinda girl





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Monday 24 June 2019

Great Summer Reads Day 16



I’m a retired high school English teacher. A devourer of books growing up, my profession introduced me to writings and authors from times long past. 

Through my studies and teaching, I fell in love with the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. 

Now, I hope to inspire young readers and those Young-at-Heart to read more through my Tales and Legends for Reluctant Readers set in these worlds.





 If they fail...

She could die over 3300 years from home!


Tackle the elements & evil of Ancient Egypt...
A history-changing battle & Time Travel Thriller...


Fifteen-year-old Rosa doesn't see dead people...
She hears them & talks to them.

When she agrees to help King Tut's ghost find his lost queen & clear his family's name, she doesn't count on falling for him.

She & Tut must also outwit an evil pharaoh determined to stop them...
Even if it means one of them must die.

Get it today and see who triumphs.


2015 IAN Book of the Year Finalist YA
2015 CAL Book Award Finalist YA Fiction
2014 Literary Classics Seal of Approval
2015 Readers' Favorite Finalist YA
2014 Literary Classics Silver Medal for PreTeen/Tween




Snippet:

‘Touch me, Roosa. You will see I’m real enough.’

Touch him? Is he as crazy as I am? Okay, so I’m going to touch him, just for my own peace of mind.

I reach out my hand, fingers extended, trying to reach him but not move from the wall. A crooked smile appears on his face. He takes a couple of steps forward, reaches out and touches me.

Lightning heat shoots out from him, races up my arm, switches direction and dives into my stomach. I snatch my hand back and grab my belly with both hands. The burning sensation knocks my knees out from under me. I slump to the floor, still leaning on the wall. The room spins, and my head swims. Tears mixed with stars blur my vision so there is no focusing. Not enough air in here; my chest tightens as if the lungs inside are ready to explode.





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