Book Spotlight: To Sleep...Perchance To Die

Book Details:

Book Title: To Sleep...Perchance to Die by Donald R. Grippo
Category: Adult fiction, 232 pages
Genre: medical thriller / murder mystery
Publisher: Turn the Page Publishing
Published: June 2013 Hardcover, June 2014 Softcover
Available in: Print and e-book (mobi for Kindle & ePub)
Will send books: Internationally
Tour dates:  May 12 to June 20, 2014
Content Rating: R

About the book:

Tangled lives, tainted love, and a Shakespearean twist lead to deception, betrayal, and murder. In this sexy, psychological thriller, Eurasian beauty Mai Faca plots to marry Jake Warden, a successful oral surgeon forbidden to her because of family honor. In an unheard-of scheme, fellow surgeon, Bret Manley, falls victim to Mai's seduction as she and Jake play a cruel trick to be together. Jake acts with surgical precision to clear the path to Mai's happiness, threatening lives including his own. In a wake of turmoil and destruction, Bret's uncle and well-known criminal attorney Hubie Santos attempts to find out if a surgeon would use his knowledge to kill.

About the author:

Donald R. Grippo, DDS practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery in northeastern Connecticut for more than thirty years. On a daily basis, he encountered patient's fear of undergoing oral surgery and associated anesthesia. To help allay such fear he wrote A Guide to the Guy or Gal Who Takes Your Teeth Out, a series of short stories dealing with the treatment of typical oral surgical problems. His resume includes working as a dentist at the Tennessee State Prison outside of Nashville and as a guard at the Hartford State Jail on Syms Street in Hartford.



Connect with the author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book:

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo Chapters

For a schedule of stops on Donald's Blog Tour, go to iReadBookTours

Featured author: Victoria Warren Jackson

Untraditional Love In The Dark is a romance novel by Victoria Warren Jackson. I'm happy to be part of her blog tour today with Pump Up Your Book.

About the book:

Samantha wants to have it all. She has a successful business, a wonderful family, and a one-of-a kind best friend. The only thing missing is a man who loves her. On the rebound, and in search of love, Samantha marries Isaiah. He is a dream come true until his secret turns the marriage into a nightmare. Will Samantha survive after she tries to end it all?

Other books by Victoria Jackson

Not Just Us
Can You Feel Me?: Intimate Poetry

Interview with Victoria Warren Jackson

Victoria, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I started writing was I was a young girl. I was an avid reader. I wanted to put try out writing my own material. I was in elementary school when I wrote a short story but never finished the ending. I then went on to write poetry in high school, which my English Teacher included in a poetry book.

How do you get to know your characters?

I do an outline to develop my characters. I daydream about my characters. I even dream about my characters until they come to life.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I enjoyed writing about Samantha the most because I could relate to her desire to be loved.

What would your main character say about you?

My main character would describe me as a caring person.

With which of your characters would you most like to be stuck in a bookstore?


I would like to be stuck in a bookstore with Isaiah. I would ask him many questions about his secret life.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

My favorite scene in the book is when Samantha finally catches Isaiah in the act. She can no longer deny her suspensions.

What song would you pick to go with your book?

"My Funny Valentine" by Chaka Khan.

Who are your favorite authors?


Maya Angelou, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Stephen King, and Jackie Collins.

Do you have a routine for writing?

I only like to write early in the morning or late at night. I prefer it to be dark and quiet.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I prefer to write at home.

Where’s home for you?

Florida

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Bible.

Pretend you’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

Extra cheese pizza.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Watch Lifetime Movie Network.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I received all rejection letters from the big publishing houses. I was not going to let it ruin my dreams.

Are you happy with your decision to self-publish?

I am happy I decided to self-publish. If I had not self-published my books, they would still be in my file cabinet. I started by purchasing the book by Dan Poynter. I followed all of his suggestions. I then contacted Kimberla Lawson Roby who gave me some advice. I met with local authors. I did lots of Internet research. I made many phone calls asking for help. It was not easy. Some days were very discouraging.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I am an extreme couponer for fun. I love the challenge. It gets very intense.

What are you working on now?

A fiction novel.

About the author:

Victoria has been an educator for sixteen years and began writing her first novel while teaching middle grade students. Victoria soon realized that writing is therapy and continues to write daily. She is the author of three books, Can You Feel Me? Intimate Poetry, Not Just Us, and Untraditional Love In The Dark.

Victoria is passionate about helping children become their best. She remains busy writing, teaching full-time, and volunteering in her community.

Victoria currently lives in Florida.

Connect with Victoria:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Featured Author: David K. Hayward

VirtualBookworm.com brings David K. Hayward

 here today to talk about his non-fiction book, A Young Man in the Wild Blue Yonder, Thoughts of a B-25 pilot in World War II.

About the book:

David Hayward, a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps, takes the reader through his adventures and challenges as a young man serving his country in World War II. Would he “wash out” of flying school? Would he survive the dangers and fears of flying 53 combat missions as pilot of a B-25 medium bomber in the China-Burma-India theater of operations?

You will experience the thrill of his solo flight; the frightening day when a Japanese fighter plane flew alongside; an awesome flight over the highest mountains of Tibet, searching for an enemy transmitter luring friendly cargo planes off course; attacking enemy supply lines along the east coast of China; and the sorrow of losing close friends.

David Hayward tells of serving also at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, DC, transporting VIPs (very important persons) on their inspection tours, and as courier to Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall. The reader will join Hayward in developing a veterans association and gathering at annual reunions, and making six return trips to China to relive the pleasant and the sorrowful.

The story is illustrated with 119 images and conveys thoughts and concerns of David Hayward through his most unusual experience.

Interview with David Hayward

David, I believe this book is a memoir of sorts. How long have you been writing, and how did you start?
   
Since 1987, when I became Secretary-Treasurer of the 22nd Bomb Squadron Association, a group of World War II veterans. I started writing a newsletter which led to additional publications.

What inspired you to write this book?

My associates convinced me that the material should be made available for my family and the public to enjoy. I welcomed the opportunity to gather together all relevant material I had written over the years and consolidating it into a single book.

How long did it take you to write it?

Four months from the time I began gathering information until the book appeared on amazon.com. That was from September to December 2013.

That's fast! What do you hope readers will get from this book?

A feeling for what it was like to witness our country’s entry into war and my subsequent experiences as I progressed along the way. That covered all forms of emotion from fear to relief, from failure to accomplishment, from sorrow to joy and from boyhood naivete to maturity. The book also contains valuable history of the air force squadron and its times.

How did you come up with the title, A Young Man in the Wild Blue Yonder?    

The Air Force Song’s opening line is “Off we go, into the wild blue yonder.”

I think you're retired now, but do you have another job outside of writing?    

I am retired, but my time is spent principally as Secretary-Treasurer of the 22nd Bomb Squadron Association.

Give us the elevator speech for A Young Man in the Wild Blue Yonder?    

David Hayward describes excitement, fear and adventure as pilot of a B-25 medium bomber in World War II, through pilot training, combat in India, Burma and China, and reassignment in Washington, DC, serving leaders in the war effort. He tells of reunions and revisiting China after the war.

How did you come up with your cover art?     

The photo of me sitting in the pilot’s seat of a B-25 was taken at our air base in India in 1943.

Tell us about your favorite scene or chapter in the book. 

The first chapter tells of my first combat mission, where we encountered a large formation of Japanese airplanes. Our airplane, the slowest in the formation, was left behind as a straggler. A Japanese fighter plane flew alongside, scared the dickens out of us, and finally flew away.

What song would you pick to go with your book? 

The Air Force Song.

Who are your favorite authors?

Somerset Maugham, Clive Cussler, Ken Follett, and Nelson DeMille.

What was your favorite childhood book? 

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

Clive Cussler, The Devil’s Gate. Hardcover.


Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?

In the morning and afternoon.

Where do you prefer to do your writing?

In my office at home.



Name one thing you couldn’t live without.

My loyal wife.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Bible.

Where’s home for you? 

Huntington Beach, California.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

Clive Cussler's The Devil’s Gate and The Storm. Bill O’Reilly's Killing Jesus.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Live theater.

What are you working on now?

A second book: WWII DIARY: Stories by the Airmen of the 22nd Bomb Squadron of World War II.

About the author:

David Hayward had a passion for flying. When World War II came along he knew what to do. After attending Pasadena Junior College in California, he took flight training in the U.S. Army Air Corps and won his wings and commission as second lieutenant. David flew 53 combat missions as pilot of a B-25 medium bomber in the 22nd Bomb Squadron in the China-Burma-India theater of war and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.

In 1949 David earned a Bachelor degree in mechanical engineering at Caltech in Pasadena, and, later, a Master degree in petroleum engineering from University of Southern California. He worked for Texaco as a petroleum engineer, developing and producing oil fields in California. In 1951 he married Jeanne Thompson. They produced three fine sons, Gary, Eric and Kirk.

The 22nd Bomb Squadron veterans formed an association and held annual reunions. David served as secretary-treasurer and newsletter publisher, collecting stories and events for the book Eagles, Bulldogs & Tigers and five additional publications.

David returned to China six times with veterans’ groups. At age 91, he assembled this book, bringing together material from his previous sources. David lives with his wife of 62 years in Huntington Beach, California.

Connect with David:
Website | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Featured Author: Kenneth G. Bennett

EXODUS 2022, by Kenneth G. Bennett, will be released May 20, 2014. Get to know Kenneth and his book with the following interview and book excerpt. Click on the book title to pre-order the book.

About the book:

Joe Stanton is in agony. Out of his mind over the death of his young daughter.

Unable to contain his grief, Joe loses control in public, screaming his daughter’s name and causing a huge scene at a hotel on San Juan Island in Washington State. Thing is, Joe Stanton doesn’t have a daughter. Never did. And when the authorities arrive they blame the 28-year-old’s outburst on drugs.

What they don’t yet know is that others up and down the Pacific coast-—from the Bering Sea to the Puget Sound—-are suffering identical, always fatal mental breakdowns.

With the help of his girlfriend Joe struggles to unravel the meaning of the hallucination destroying his mind. As the couple begins to perceive its significance—-and Joe’s role in a looming global calamity—-they must also outwit a billionaire weapons contractor bent on exploiting Joe’s newfound understanding of the cosmos, and outlast the time bomb ticking in Joe’s brain.

Other books by Kenneth G. Bennett:

The Gaia Wars

The Battle for Cascadia

Interview with Kenneth G. Bennett

Kenneth, EXODUS 2022 is your third published book. How long have you been writing, and how did you start? 

I started writing stories at age 6 and have been a professional advertising copywriter most of my adult life.

What’s the story behind the title of your book? 

The book is about a vast relocation that occurs in the year 2022. A migration from Planet Earth that humans are utterly unaware of—-until it’s too late. The title EXODUS 2022 seemed to fit.

How did you create the plot for EXODUS 2022? 

I like to start with an idea and let the story unfold organically by jumping in and moving forward on blind faith—on the strength of the initial idea. It’s a scary process, but much more exhilarating and satisfying to me than trying to map everything out ahead of time.

How do you get to know your characters?

I like to let them develop slowly, along with the book itself. My characters start out flat and one-dimensional and grow and develop as the story develops. I’m not big on fully designing characters (or plot) up front.

Are you like any of your characters?

Like the lead character, Joe Stanton, I love nature and the wilderness and try to get into the backcountry as often as I can.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I have a sunny breakfast nook in my house with coffee close at hand. That’s my favorite place to write.

Where’s home for you?

Bainbridge Island, Washington. An island in the Puget Sound.

Lucky you! It's beautiful up there. If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Hobbit.

Let's pretend you’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving? 

Anything made by my wife. She’s the most amazing chef.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A small, local bookstore that also serves great coffee. The big difference being the great coffee.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it? 

The Bainbridge Island Public Library is fantastic, with a very friendly, helpful staff.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Disappear into the wilderness with a great traveling companion or two.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?  

“The written word is new. People have listened to stories for millennia. Your voice is the voice of the storyteller around the campfire. Our writing is an imitation of an audible experience.” --Lee Child

Excerpt from Exodus 2022

Ella awoke after a time and lay there, thinking about the first time she and Joe had really talked: in the meadow in the wilderness, under the stars.

She’d found him charming and handsome. Gentle and rugged and sexy. He was a great listener, and, as she’d discovered on her first visit to St. Anthony’s—a great speaker. She’d found his homily that morning brilliant, relevant, and deeply touching.

They dated. Their romance flourished, and within a few weeks she was madly, passionately in love.

Aside from the instant and powerful physical attraction they shared, she found it incredibly easy to talk with him. About anything.

She knew that he was intuitive. Sometimes it seemed that he could read her mind. Even before she told him, he’d been aware, somehow, of a secret she carried and divulged to almost no one. It hurt still to think about it, and most of the time she left it alone, acknowledging the awful event without really examining it. Without reliving it.
Now, though, lying there next to Joe, the memory of the thing unfurled in her mind, unbidden, and she let it flow.

To read another excerpt from the book, click here.

About the author:

Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the young adult novels, The Gaia Wars and Battle For Cascadia, and the new sci-fi thriller, EXODUS 2022. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys mysteries, science fiction, action adventure stories and, most especially, novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son and two hyperactive Australian Shepherds.

The Gaia Wars series was optioned for film by Identity Films, LA in 2012, and both Gaia and Battle have been featured as Top 100 Bestsellers in Teen Literature and Fiction on Amazon. Kirkus Reviews called The Gaia Wars “A solid first entry of a promising, imaginative new young-adult fantasy series featuring a well-crafted character.”

About the author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | LibraryThing | Shelfari

Buy the book:
Amazon 

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Featured Author: Tammy L. Grace

Tammy L. Grace is on tour with CLP Blog Tours for her women's fiction novel, Finding Home: A Hometown Harbor Novel. I'm happy to share my interview with her and an excerpt from the book.

About the book:

Finding Home is a coming of age novel, but for a middle-aged woman devastated by past heartaches and loss, who flees to a small island expecting a change of scenery and discovers much more.

Shattered by her husband's infidelities after twenty-five years of marriage, Sam Collins is plagued by constant fear and loneliness, reliving the tragic death of her parents and the betrayal by the man she loved. She leaves Seattle seeking relief from the relentless darkness that has swallowed her. With only her dog for companionship, she sets out to live in her vacation home on San Juan Island.



In her search for a carpenter, she meets the handsome and very available, Jeff Cooper.  Sam's not looking for romance, but can't deny the attraction to the retired firefighter, turned handyman. While working together and eating her pies, Jeff finds himself falling for her.



The past she wrestles to let go of comes hurtling back when she least expects it. In an effort to help a struggling young man, she is forced to confront the anguish she is desperate to escape. While torn between love and friendship, she must face her fears and choose between the life she's known and a chance for a family and home she's been longing for all her life.

Interview with Tammy Grace

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I found I enjoyed writing in middle school and started writing articles for the local newspaper throughout junior high. Life moved on and while involved in my career, I was in a class and asked to think about what I would truly enjoy doing if I could do anything.  It didn’t take me long to blurt out “write novels.”  So when I retired almost two years ago, I decided to make it a reality.

What’s the story behind the title Finding Home?

Naming a book is difficult. The story is about a woman (Sam) who has to start over and is searching for a place (home, life, family). I like short titles, so brainstormed a number of single words that described the book, once it was done. I came up with a whole page of words and liked the sound and feel of Finding Home.

It’s the first book in the series; the second was released in April and is titled Home Blooms. I like the idea of a common thread in the titles used for a series, so I am including the word “home” in all of them.

How do you get to know your characters?

I conduct interviews with my characters and also write down their physical attributes. I keep a list of characteristics of each and it’s something I’ve found useful, since I sometimes forget how old someone is or the color of a character’s eyes. I also tend to “cast” my characters and keep that image in my head.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?

I enjoyed writing Sam the most. She’s a woman who appears to have it all, but is left hollow inside from losing her parents at a young age and the betrayal of her husband.  She’s wealthy and accomplished, but suffering. I enjoyed describing her journey and allowing some of her flaws to be exposed, while dealing her a couple more blows to test her resolve.

She is strong and capable, but finds herself in a situation where her vulnerabilities are apparent and she has to learn the power of trust and forgiveness.

Are any of your characters inspired by real people?

Yes. Zoe is the faithful golden retriever of my main character, Sam. Zoe is actually my golden retriever. She is portrayed as she is in real life—-a wonderful friend and companion.

Are you like any of your characters?

I think there are bits of me in some of the characters, most notably, Sam. I can be a perfectionist; I love making lists, and am very organized. I enjoy baking and used my own favorite recipes when I described many of the pies she made. I also have a weakness for ice cream, especially Rocky Road.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

My favorite scene is in Chapter Eighteen of Finding Home. Sam and Jeff go on a kayaking trip and spend the day together. Sam’s finally beginning to let Jeff into her life.

Who are your favorite authors? 

I love to read and usually read hundreds of books a year, but I’ll narrow it down to the few I snap up as soon as they release a new title. Lee Child and David Baldacci are two I can’t live without. I also enjoy Kristin Hannah, Maeve Binchy, and Nicholas Sparks.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

I’m reading The Target, by David Baldacci in an e-book format (first eight chapters) and Blossom Street Brides, by Debbie Macomber in hardback.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I’m a morning person, so tend to do most of my writing in the morning. I have an office in my home and that’s where I write. I usually listen to iHeartRadio while I’m tapping away on my keyboard. For editing, I like to print out the material and usually sit in a comfy recliner armed with colored Sharpie markers.

Where’s home for you?

I live in my hometown in rural northern Nevada.

Neil Gaiman said, “Picking five favorite books is like picking five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” So…what are your five favorite books and your five body parts you’d most like not to lose?

It’s hard to choose, but here are five of my top favorites:
Little Women, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Chronicles of Narnia, Les Miserables, The Bible
And, for body parts: brain, heart, eyes, limbs, skin (but I’d prefer to keep all of them).

You’re leaving your country for a year. What’s the last meal (or food) you would want to have before leaving?

A bacon cheeseburger and ice cream for dessert.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

A library.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?

I love libraries. My friends have teased me for years about going on vacation and ending up in a library. If I had to pick one, I’d pick the New York Public Library. I love the architecture and feeling of history. It’s a gorgeous building, and if I lived there, I’d spend all my free time visiting.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?

Bake and read.

You and I would get along famously! Why did you decide to self-publish?

I self-published Finding Home, after months of research and an initial desire to be published by a traditional publisher. I attended a conference last fall and learned as much as I could about both methods, and after my own research and talking with other authors, I decided self-publishing was a good fit for me. It gives the author all the control (and all of the responsibility).  I’m not very patient and with the traditional route, patience is a must. All in all, it was a good experience, and I’m excited to do it again. Working with Amazon has been very easy, and I would recommend their publishing solutions.

What’s your favorite candy bar?

Wow, I love chocolate so this is hard. I’d have to pick the Milky Way Midnight.

What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

A Week in Winter, by Maeve Binchy; The Hit, by David Baldacci, and Girl Missing, by Tess Gerritsen.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a detective novel set in Nashville and also the third book in the Hometown Harbor series.

Excerpt from Finding Home

“How long were you married?”

“Twenty-five years, last summer. We were married after graduation. He finished law school and I got my MBA and ran the company. We lived in my parents’ home.”

“I hope he didn’t take advantage of you in the divorce, with him being a lawyer. I don’t trust lawyers much,” said the woman, with distaste.

“No. Actually, when we were married Marty made sure the company and the house would always be mine. He wanted my grandparents to know he wasn’t looking for money. My parents were very successful.”  She paused. “I still can’t believe I’m here now. I thought things were fine, but I found out he’d been cheating on me...for years. I’m just glad my grandparents are gone, so they didn’t have to witness Marty’s betrayal. They would have been devastated.”

The woman’s eyes widened, “That’s a dreadful surprise.”

“Yes, it was. I’ve always been a workaholic and had worked to expand the company, opening offices around the world. I received an offer for it, and after talking with Marty, decided to sell. He seemed so excited about the prospect of an early retirement. We were both approaching fifty and would have the means to work less and play more,” smiled Sam.

The woman smiled back. “I think you’re a strong and capable woman. You can still have fun and start your new adventure.”

“That’s what I finally decided. I need to get away from the constant reminders and start fresh. I spent summers here as a child and since I have a lovely home here, it made sense.”

The woman rubbed her hands together and pulled her coat closer. “I wish you the best and I hope you find everything you’re looking for. I’m afraid I’ve got to move inside out of the cold.”  She stopped to pet Zoe and turned to go through the deck doors.

“Have a wonderful visit with your family. Thanks for chatting with me.”  Sam waved as the woman toddled away.

Sam laughed to herself. She hadn’t wanted to engage in conversation, but in truth it had helped her to talk about it. The smooth motion of the ferry was soothing and the slowness generated more memories. She smiled thinking of the family house with its Italian inspired villa-like architecture. Her mother and father had purchased it after their business success and it had been a substitute for them after they died.

She felt herself growing weepy thinking she was leaving the only home she had known. Lately though, it hadn’t seemed like home and wasn’t offering her the comfort it once had, which was why Sam found herself on a ferry today, resolved to start a new life. Sam didn’t sell the house in Shoreline; she wanted to have the security of being able to go back to it. But for now, the pain of realizing her family home had been a love nest for Marty’s trysts left her hurt and angry.

The sun was still peeking through the clouds as the ferry crawled towards Friday Harbor. She gave Zoe a drink from a bottle of water, dug a treat from her pocket, and the dog settled in to nap for the rest of the ride. Sam mulled over the past, not believing her life could be so different than she had planned.

Sam had traveled the world for business, without Marty. She was the consummate professional, accomplished and capable. She never relied on him, but as she inched toward the island it all seemed overwhelming and she thought she might have made a huge mistake. She knew she could never forget his infidelities, but maybe she should have stayed in her own house and made the best of it. It was all too confusing and Sam had never been so unsure. Her usual confidence and self-esteem had been eaten away during the past year. The absence of her parents had left a deep scar in Sam’s heart and she missed them more than ever today. She longed to hear her mom reassure her and feel her dad’s strong hug.

European river cruises, white sand beaches, Australian adventures, and castles of Ireland that once beckoned from the brochures on her nightstand, were now only dreams that had been torn apart by the man she had loved and trusted. Instead of exotic travel, her future held a quaint island where she hoped the fond recollections of the past would wrap around her like a cozy blanket.

For almost a year she had been suffering and plunging deeper into her own dark thoughts. She had lost over twenty pounds and forced herself to eat, when she remembered. She knew she needed something fresh to focus on and the prospect of a new business venture and warm memories drew her to Friday Harbor.

Her musings were interrupted when the ferry captain made the announcement to instruct passengers to report back to their vehicles for arrival in Friday Harbor. "That's us, Zoe. Let's go," Sam said, as she took hold of Zoe's leash and headed downstairs.

As she guided Zoe between the narrow vehicle paths, she spotted the vivid green sticker proclaiming her golden retriever was smarter than any fifth grader. She reached the SUV, loaded Zoe, and after squeezing through the sliver of space the door allowed without smacking the car next to her, rested in the driver’s seat. Cars around her were starting and her lane began to creep forward, exiting the ferry.

As the metal planks of the ferry apron thumped under the weight of her car, she admired the charming shops and buildings neighboring the harbor, looking as if washed in colors from a box of artist pastels. She glanced up at a sign posted on the corner. It read, Welcome to Friday Harbor—Your Hometown Harbor. She could only hope it would prove true.
"Well, girl, here we go. Let's go see our new house and get settled," Sam said, as she drove off the landing onto Front Street, determined not to let the weight of lost dreams crush her.

About the author:

Born and raised in Nevada, Tammy L. Grace loved reading at a young age. With the help of her middle school teacher, she discovered the joy of writing. After spending a career in local and state government service, she retired and finally has the time to dedicate to writing. 

When Tammy isn't working on ideas for a novel, she's spending time with family and friends or supporting her addiction to books and chocolate. She and her husband have one grown son and a spoiled golden retriever.

Connect with Tammy:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

#SampleSunday

People have mixed opinions on whether Twitter is a successful way to market your book. Some authors swear by it, some despise it, and others are indifferent. The other day, I saw a post on Facebook suggesting authors post excerpts of their books and use the Twitter hashtag #samplesunday to promote the post. Readers can search #samplesunday on Twitter to find new books to read. And of course, they can tweet and retweet about your #samplesunday too. So I thought I'd try it. I'm starting #samplesunday on A Blue Million Books with some shameless self-promotion--an excerpt from my book, Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction. If you're an author and would like to post an excerpt here for #samplesunday, just email me at amy@amymetz.com. I think #samplesundays could be a lot of fun.

About the book:

When Tess Tremaine starts a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple Junction, curiosity leads her to look into a seventy-five-year-old murder. Suddenly she’s learning the foreign language of southern speak, resisting her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright, and dealing with more mayhem than she can handle.

A bank robbery, murder, and family tragedy from the 1930s are pieces of the mystery that Tess attempts to solve. As she gets close to the truth, she encounters danger, mystery, a lot of southern charm, and a new temptation for which she’s not sure she’s ready.

A Sample of Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction

Present day

Tess froze when she saw two huge dogs bolting toward them.  Then she screamed.  "JAAAACK!"

"Car, Mary T, CAR!"

Tess turned too fast and her right foot bobbled on her sandal. Only I could fall off a one-inch heel. She wobbled and then righted herself, and the heavy purse fell off her shoulder. Jack came up behind her, grabbing her purse and her arm. "Come on, Grace." He pushed her into the car. She scrambled over the console and into the passenger seat, and he followed, practically sitting on top of her so he could close the door tightly. With both of them safely in the car, the dogs stood barking ferociously just a foot away, as Tess and Jack cowered inside.

The front door opened, and a huge man stepped out onto the porch, pushing mirrored sunglasses over his eyes. He had a confederate flag do-rag on his head, and a cigarette poking out of his lips underneath a pencil-thin mustache.  A gray wife beater shirt revealed tattoos on each bulging bicep, and his torn denim jeans were tucked into black biker boots. He stood with his hands on his hips and a menacing look on his face.

"Good gravy, he could be the Mr. July for a biker dude calendar," Tess said, slack-jawed and wide-eyed.

The dogs continued their protective stance and enthusiastic greeting.

The man took the cigarette from his lips and hollered, "Cain't you folks read?  Sign says no trespassin'." He paused for a beat, then added, "That means you."

Tess opened the car window two inches, and called out, "Are you Crate Marshall?"

"Folks call me Tank." He took a deep drag of his cigarette. "State your bidness."

"My name's Tess Tremaine, and this is Jackson Wright. We'd like to talk to you for a few minutes about your family history, if that's all right."

"What fer?" he called out guardedly, over the barking dogs.

Jack opened his door and stood with it as a shield.  The dogs moved forward slightly, but kept their distance, emitting a low growl. "I'm writing a book on some events in Goose Pimple Junction's history.  I'd like to talk to you about your grandfather; hear his side of the story on the bank robbery of '32."

Tank stood on the bottom step of the porch, staring at them for a full minute, smoking his cigarette.  He finished it, dropped it to the ground, and stomped it out with his booted foot. Jack turned to get back in the car.

"Foghorn! Leghorn! Freeze!" The dogs stopped growling and sat down, tongues hanging out as they panted.

Tess and Jack weren't sure what to do.  Finally, Tank said, "Well come on, if you're comin'. I ain't got all day."

They got out of the car and slowly walked past the dogs, with Tess saying, "Nice doggies."  The dogs didn't move an inch. Once Tess and Jack reached the porch, Tank held the door open for them. As they went into the house, he called to the dogs.

"Thaw!" The dogs ran back to the barn.

The inside of Tank's house was not what Tess expected. The furniture and décor suggested a 1950's housewife lived here. The sofa was pea green under a plastic couch cover. A worn out but clean brown recliner with a doily draped at the top sat between the couch and the fireplace. An antique oak rocking chair with a cane seat sat opposite the recliner. A framed rose painting hung over the fireplace, and old family pictures decorated the walls. It looked like Tank had literally moved in and not changed a thing. The only signs of Tank's presence in the house were the smell of cigarettes, the haze of smoke hanging in the air, and the gun magazines sitting on a long pine coffee table in front of the couch.
Tess had second thoughts about going in as she looked through the cloud of smoke, which hung thick in the room. Jack pushed gently on the small of her back, and she reluctantly moved forward. She resisted the urge to wave her hand in front of her face to dispel the cigarette smoke.

Tess and Jack sat on the couch, and Tank took the recliner. Now that they were up close, Tess could see the tattoos more clearly. His right arm featured a Goth chick, with long, flowing hair and voluptuous breasts spilling out of a skin-tight leather vest; she was wielding a large sword. The left side displayed a tattoo of, aptly enough, a tank.

"What's this 'bout a book?"  Tank pulled out another cigarette from the pack.

"I write mystery novels, and I'm interested in writing about the bank robbery, for which I believe your grandfather was pardoned." 

Tank put the cigarette between his lips, and Jack added, "I'm interested in learning more about the death of John Hobb, too."

Tank lit his cigarette with his Zippo lighter, then snapped the lid shut with the flip of his wrist.  "Zat right?" He removed his sunglasses, placed them on the coffee table, and rubbed one eye.  "Sounds like you already know a good deal about it."

"We were wondering if your grandfather ever talked about the robbery or Mr. Hobb's murder," Tess explained.

"Huh. Yeah, he talked about the robbery. Felt real bad about it, matter a fact. He'd get drunk and start moanin' and groanin' 'bout how he'd brought shame to the family, and so on and so forth. And Grandma would always say the same thing ever time. I can hear her now sayin', 'Jest cut your shamer off and feed it to the chickens.'"

"Your shamer off?"  Tess echoed.

"You ain't from round here, are ya?  Basically, she meant that guilt isn't helpful. What's done is done and ya have to move on."

"What about the money?"  Jack asked.

"What about it?"

"What happened to it?"

"He never came out and said as much, but I kinda think he had to use most of it to grease the governor's palms. Whatever else was left, he probably spent over at Humdinger's."

"Any idea how much his cut was?"

"Negative."

"Do you know what happened to the other men who were involved in the bank robbery?" Tess asked.

"Yeah, I think Rod Pierce died about five years later. And Junior ended up gettin' caught for another job he pulled. I think he spent most a his life rottin' in a cell."

"What about a fourth man?"

"What about him?" 

"Did your grandfather ever talk about a fourth man being involved? John Hobb or someone else?"

"Negative. I wouldn't know anything about that."

Jack cleared his throat and asked the sixty-four thousand dollar question. "What about John Hobb's murder?"

"Sounds like you know more 'n me."

"Who do you think killed him? Did your grandfather ever talk about that?"

Tank ran his hand over his stubbly cheeks and wide nose. His eyes grew dark. "Can't hep ya."

Cautiously, Jack said, "Is that...because you don't want to...or because you don't know?"

"What difference does it make? I ain't answerin'."

Jack got his wallet from his back pocket, pulled a hundred dollar bill out, and placed it on the coffee table.

Tank stared at it for a few silent moments. Tess couldn't tell what he was thinking. His eyes went coldly from the bill to Jack. Jack reached out to take it back, but Tank gave in.

"Shoot. Hold on a damn minute." He took several drags from his cigarette, then put it out in a bean bag ashtray on a small table to his left. "I heard my granddaddy talk about it once.  He was there, but another man did it. I ain't sayin' who the other man was. I ain't no rat. Any other questions?"

"Do you know why he was killed?"

"Negative."

Tess looked at Jack, and he raised his eyebrows, as if to say, 'It's up to you.'

"Would you mind telling us where you were last night around eleven o'clock?" she asked.

"Why?" 

"Just humor me. Please." She flashed a sweet smile at him.

"Didja hear the one 'bout the duck who went into a bar?"

"I'm not talking about that kind of humor...Mr...Tank."

"Tell me what you're accusin' me of first."

"I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm just asking."

"I was home," he answered reluctantly.

"Anyone with you?" Jack asked.

"Negative."

"Okay, Tank. We'll be on our way. Thank you for your time. If anything should come to mind, will you give me a call?" Jack handed him his card.

"Will do. But it won't."

They walked to the door, and Tess turned around to look at Tank. "Do you by any chance know Willy Clayton?"

"Dudn't everbody?" he snorted.

"Have you seen him lately?"

"Seen him. Ain't talked to him. He was over to Humdinger's the other night."

"Was he with anybody?"

Tank snorted. "Yeah, he was with Peaches McGee." He chuckled and scratched his head. "She's what you might call a loose woman. She--"

"Okay, thank you again, Tank," Tess said quickly, opening the door. It's definitely time to go.

They headed for the car, with chickens squawking and scurrying out of their way. Just as they reached the car, Tank called out from the porch steps. "Watch out or you'll plow up snakes."

They got in the car, and Tess started the ignition. "Any idea what he meant by that?"

"Yeah, I've heard that expression a time or two. He means to be careful what you do or you'll stir up trouble for yourself."

"Do you think it was a veiled threat?"

"I don't know. He didn't really strike me as an evil person. Tough as nails, rough as a corn cob, and he's got about as much class as a guest on the Jerry Springer Show, but I don't peg him as violent."

"Why do you suppose he didn't want to say where he was last night?"

"Pride.  You put him on the defensive, and he didn't want to be there."

"Well, thanks for going with me. It wasn't a complete waste of time, was it?"

"Not at all. We learned Brick Lynch was definitely one of the bank robbers, as well as, at the very least, a participant in the murder, and we learned this state has had some very crooked politicians once or twice. Not that it's any surprise."

"Do you think he was telling the truth about the money? That his grandfather spent it on hush money and booze?"

"Assuming he had to bribe a governor to beat the robbery sentence and a judge to beat the murder charge, yeah, I think it's possible."

"But you don't think he's to blame for the break-ins or for hanging around my house last night?"

"Nope. I think his hesitancy to talk is out of loyalty to his grandfather, plus his natural surly nature."

"Well, if he's not the perp, then who is? Who else would care about some stupid old key that goes to a stupid old trunk that has nothing in it but stupid old keepsakes?"

"Tess, I wish I knew. But whoever it is, he's getting bolder."

She glanced over at him and saw him smiling at her. "What? Why are you smiling?"

"Did you just say 'perp'?"

About the author

Amy Metz is the author of Murder & Mayhem In Goose Pimple Junction. She is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two sons. When not actively engaged in writing, enjoying her family, or working on her blog, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky and is currently working on the second and third books in her mystery series.

Connect with Amy:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Featured Author: David Brady

Four years ago, David Brady was viciously assaulted by a twenty-one-year-old man with severe mental illness, resulting in traumatic brain damage. He lost eighty percent of his memory and was forced to put his successful TV production company on hiatus while he sought out a solution to this horrific situation.

That got him wondering, "how many other middle aged, or 'baby boomers,' get blindsided
by a life altering event like this?"

Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace will tell you how David was able to turn his life around, overcome adversity, find peace of mind and prosperity in this book.

I'm happy to have David here today to tell us more about it.

About the book:

On January 4th 2010, I had stopped by a woman's home to speak to her twenty-one-year-old son, at her request. It turns out he was suffering from severe mental illness. Without warning, he punched me so hard I flew through the air, landed on my back and then found him on top of me with my arms pinned under his legs while he drove about six or seven rage filled punches into my head sending my skull smashing into the solid hard-wood kitchen floor. The result of that incident: I have brain damage that has dramatically impacted every aspect of my life; impaired my ability to do the work I've done all of my career as a writer/producer/director on 130 prime time television episodes and 4 feature films and left me wondering, how do I overcome these challenges? As a result, I got to thinking, "how many other people, especially those who are either middle aged, or those of us who are 'baby boomers,' get blindsided by some event that they didn't see coming?" In this book, I tell you how I was able to overcome this adversity, find peace of mind and prosperity as a mature person.

Interview with David Brady

David, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?

I have been a film and television writer for over twenty-five years with over sixty award-winning scripts produced. I wrote my first non-fiction book three years ago.

In 1979, I was in graduate school and made my first film, Alcohol, Drugs and the Young. I was originally going to be an Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  Then I met a young man in Vancouver, and we became business partners, and the first film that he directed after I became a shareholder in his company was nominated for an Academy Award in 1980. 

What inspired you to write this book?

Four years ago January 4, 2010 a mother asked me to speak to her twenty-one-year-old son.  She believed he had a “small” alcohol or drug problem. It turned out he was severely mentally ill. When I sat down to talk to him, he proceeded to punch me so hard I flew through the air and landed on the floor on my back where he managed to pin me down and drive seven rage-filled blows into my skull on a hardwood floor with my arms pinned under his legs. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and worked out two to three hours a day trying to control the voices in his head according to a letter he wrote me after the assault. I was diagnosed with a concussion and ended up in a very dark place after the assault and found myself in dire need of medical and spiritual help. 

Wow. That's horrendous. How long did it take you to write this book?

Six months.

What do you hope readers will get from Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace?

That regardless of what happens to us in life, whether you are middle-aged or a Baby Boomer, you are not alone. There is help out there, and in my case it was based on both traditional medicine and spiritual principles. The spiritual principles will apply whether you are a Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or a Muslim or any other faith, for that matter.  They are based on the same principles that the late great Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich created in his concept of the Master Mind or Divine Mind of Intelligence Behind the Universe, or God for those who are inclined to that belief. When two or more are gathered and we ask for help we can get it. I used the 8 Steps of the Master Mind created by the late Jack Boland, a Unity Minister.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

I was meditating. 

Do you have another job outside of writing?

Writer/Producer/Director/key note speaker and currently on the faculty of Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia, teaching introductory screenwriting. 

How would you tweet about this book?

Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace is a compelling, dramatic story of one man’s journey reclaiming his life after a brutal assault and near death experience.

Why did you decide to write this book?

After the assault, and after I started to work on myself, I was sitting in my writing office at my country home in Ontario when, in a moment of clarity, I thought, “How many other people get blind-sided by some life altering event they didn’t see coming?” 

I started to look and ask, “Is there a manual or guide book to help you survive the loss of business, a spouse or life partner? Ironically, at the same time the woman I’d been seeing also informed me she didn’t want to get married or live with me – and that just devastated me. I kept thinking, “It’s always darkest before the bottom really falls out.”  I have a twisted sense of humor.

I started to broaden my search to see what is out there to help one deal with the loss of your occupation, financial crisis or the fall-out of a family or life long friendship? 
I couldn’t find anything specifically dealing with middle-aged people (I had lost $5.2 million dollars at age 35 and came back from that – and that was what the genesis of my first book, Get Me To The Temple of Serenity … And Step On It!  There was absolutely nothing out there for Baby Boomers of this nature.  

How did you come up with your cover art?

My good friend Dennis Kastner, who is himself retired, took up photography and took a picture of me at his home, which was near my house in Eastern Ontario near Prince Edward County. And young Anthony Wallace, who worked for me, created the layout with my corporate colors for my production company.

Tell us about your favorite scene or chapter in the book.

Chapter One: I had some tremendous feedback from some friends, and to establish who I was I took a trip back in time and found a picture of myself on my first motorcycle, a BSA 650 which I had as a 16-year-old. I reflected on my teenage years and how when I would pull up to a young lady's house in the very nice neighborhoods I grew up in Toronto and their mother would come out and say, “David, my daughter is not going out with you on that motorcycle.” As a teenager I was a tad wild and when I “drank” I was filled with false courage and I’d say to the mother, “What are you doing, want to come for a ride?” It worked once. Hello Mrs. Robinson. I am very grateful to say I stopped drinking when I was 22 years old and have never touched a drop since, which is why my life did go so well in so many ways. But I hadn’t revisited those days in a very long time. Too long. 

What song would you pick to go with your book?

"Sultans of Swing."

I was a drummer and producer of Rock & Roll when I was young, and I would like to give you the links to a series that I wrote and produced just before we needed to shut the company down. But I so respect what Mark Knopfler has done, and it is the “essence of his music and energy” that inspire me.

I knew most of the people in this series who you will be shocked to see came out of Toronto. 

Yonge Street - Toronto Rock & Roll Stories
Password for all the videos is: yonge
Episode #1
Episode #2
Episode #3

Fantastic! Who are your favorite authors?

Ernest Hemmingway, Wayne Dyer, Arthur Koestler, Catherine Ponder, Joseph Campbell, Thomas Merton, Thomas Cahill, Pierre Tiehard de Chardin, and Gregory Bateson.

What was your favorite childhood book?

Tom Sawyer. 

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?

Ancient Secrets of Success, Tulshi Sen, Maximum Bob, Elmore Leonard, John Barleycorn, Jack London, all paperbacks.


Do you have a routine for writing? Do you work better at night, in the afternoon, or in the morning?

I write every morning and have for 30 years.

Where do you prefer to do your writing?

I’m now in Vancouver, and I sit in my apartment looking over the Pacific Ocean, Stanley Park, and the mountains on Vancouver Island.



Sounds wonderful. Name one thing you couldn’t live without. (It can’t be your phone!)

My sense of humour. (I keep correcting my Canadian spelling, but I’m not going to on this one as it is very different than American humour.)

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?

The Dictionary.

Neil Gaiman said, “Picking five favorite books is like picking five body parts you'd most like not to lose.” So…what are your five favorite books and your five body parts you’d most like not to lose?

Catcher in The Rye
The Sun Also Rises
Ghosts in the Machine
Man and His Symbols
Life After Death
My Brain
My Eyes
My Ears
My Mouth
My Penis (as it’s what I use all my other body parts for, to have some fun with – or at least I still hope I will someday). 

Now, for the record, you cannot ask the above question of any thinking man and not have him revert to some form of chronic infantile omnipotence – especially with my track record of always wanting to have fun and watch folks get a tad uncomfortable. I hope you take it in the spirit it was written.

Of course! What meal or particular food would you want if you were leaving the country for an extended period of time?

Prime Rib.

Would you rather work in a library or a bookstore?

Bookstore.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

Another ticket.
 
Name five people with whom you would pick to be stranded in a bookstore.

Daniel Day Lewis, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Hillary Clinton, and Meg Whitman.

Where would your dream office be?

Arcata, California.

Where’s home for you?

I have two at the moment. Sandhurst, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?

A paraphrase of Hunter S Thompson:
"The film and television business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

Excellent. What three books have you read recently and would recommend?

The Success Principles, Jack Canfield
What was I Thinking, Pamela Bendall
Mystics and Zen Masters, Thomas Merton

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love going to movies. I love sailing. I love walking on the sea wall in West Vancouver, I love live music, reading, watching Netflix, road trips, riding motorcycles, speaking, teaching.

Do you ever sleep? Kidding. What are you working on now?

I am at page 36 of a treatment for a theatrical documentary titled Children First – which will be a film to help bring about an end to child abuse in North America. 

We are actually in the process of working on converting Yonge Street, which I’ve sent you, into a new theatrical documentary, as we only used about 40% of what we shot. We are going to re-title it (tentative and not signed so it can’t be published) Robbie Robertson’s Rock & Roll Stories. 

I am really focusing on keynote speaking. 

About the author:

Award-winning film and television writer, producer and director David Brady’s work is best known in Canada, but no stranger to U.S. and European audiences. He was also an award-winning professor at Ryerson University in Toronto and is currently on the Faculty of Motion Picture Arts at Capilano University in North Vancouver British Columbia. David holds an MFA from York University in Toronto. He did his original undergraduate and work at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Colombia. Brady also taught film production and screen writing at York University in Toronto and is an acclaimed and powerful public speaker and lecturer.

In his new dramatic and compelling book, Aging With Dignity, Living with Grace he chronicles his life-altering and potential near-death experience of being viciously assaulted by a young man with mental illness. David had gone to talk to this bright and highly educated young man at the request of his mother. The result was a traumatic brain injury that would have left others permanently incapacitated and disabled. However, Brady is no quitter, and in this gripping and honest account of his harrowing experience, he will take you, the reader, through the stages and the steps he had to take to overcome his serious handicap and find peace of mind, prosperity and real happiness.

Brady’s film and television projects have won numerous Canadian, American and International awards including One Academy Award Nomination for his late business partner's production of Nails, as Best Theatrical Documentary, seven Genie Awards (Canadian Academy Awards) and two Golden Globe nominations, including Best Foreign Film and Best Actor for The Grey Fox, starring Richard Farnsworth and presented by Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios and released through United Artists Classics. His recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation production of Yellowstone Super Volcano, which will air on Smithsonian Channel in the USA in 2014 and was the CBC’s highest-rated Doc Zone for 2013. He also had two recent productions in Canada that were in the top three rated for the network and will soon be available in the US. His Yonge Street, Toronto Rock & Roll Stories just won a Gemini Award, and he also produced one of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 2011 highest rated “Doc Zones,” The Gangster Next Door. In addition to these award-winning and critically-acclaimed shows, he has produced over 130 prime time comedies, dramas, and documentaries, including The Pagan Christ and The Gangster Next Door, which both aired in the United States recently. His Discovery Channel Production of Around The World with Tippi was nominated at the prestigious Banff Television Festival as the Best Family Series in the world. He was also one of the executive producers of his good friend Alan Sack's Disney Channel Production of You Wish, which was nominated for the Humanitis Award in Los Angeles.

Connect with David:

Website | Author website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes &amp Noble