Featured Author: Barbara Jean Coast

Tour Page Here: http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/great-escapes-virtual-book-tours/upcoming-tours/death-beauty-queen-barbara-jean-coast/

About the book: 

It’s the 1950’s in Santa Lucia, California, and the height of the social season.  Time for the new Miss Santa Lucia, Nora Burbank, to display her loveliness at a high society fashion show produced by the city’s own fashionistas--Margot and Daphne, owners of Poppy Cove, the most elegant and “in” little dress shop in the county.
 
Nora steals the show in her designer gown and custom-made necklace created by local jeweler Isaac Mendelson, and used on the sly by his apprentice son-in-law, Efrem Goldberg. At the conclusion of the show, the young queen is allowed to keep her dress and a replica of the necklace for her own. But Monday morning, Efrem arrives in a panic at Poppy Cove to beg Margot and Daphne’s assistance in tracking down the real necklace, which he believes was inadvertently switched for the replica backstage. The girls get involved in Efrem’s dilemma and try to help him before Isaac’s any the wiser. But before that can happen, Miss Santa Lucia is found dead in her bed and the necklace is missing.
 
Who killed Nora Burbank? Is it someone jealous of her new royal position and all of its perks?  Or did she just happen to be in the way when a thief attempted to steal her diamond-studded necklace? Did Nora have the real or the fake necklace, and how much did the thief and murderer know about it? But, of course, before the girls can find the killer, they’ll have to create several beautiful ensembles, calm numerous irate clients, and flirt with their ever-so-attentive boyfriends, before solving this mystery. 

STRANGLED BY SILK   http://www.amazon.com/Strangled-Silk-Poppy-Cove-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B00B8YKKBG/
DEATH OF A BEAUTY QUEEN   http://www.amazon.com/Death-Beauty-Queen-Poppy-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00LBDLZ8Q/

Interview with Barbara Jean Coast:

First of all, I have to acknowledge that Barbara Jean Coast is the pseudonym for not one but two writers: Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom are with me today.

Barbara--or Andrea and Heather--what’s the story behind the title of your book?
We took the title Death of a Beauty Queen as it appeared in the Santa Lucia Times (our fictional town’s newspaper), announcing Nora Burbank’s murder. It seemed to have a good punch when we came up with it, so it stuck.

Tell us about your series. Is this book a standalone, or do readers need to read the series in order?
Poppy Cove Mysteries are cozy novels set in the fictional town of Santa Lucia, loosely based on Santa Barbara in the late 50′s, early 60′s and revolves around the glamorous comings and goings of the social set of the town, with a little murder and mayhem thrown in for good measure. Well, we all know I love murder and mayhem! Death of a Beauty Queen is the follow-up to Strangled by Silk in the series.

Each book does tell a complete story, but it probably is best to read them in order as the characters will evolve and change over time.

What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned?
Tell your stories and connect with others. When opportunities comes, say yes! Be grateful and follow the signs along the way, because they’re always there if you are willing to see them.

What do you love about where you live?

We live in Kelowna, BC, Canada. It’s about four hours inland from Vancouver in the Okanagan Valley. It’s naturally beautiful and abundant with four distinct seasons, and many creative and supportive people.


What makes you happy?
Andrea: Connecting with our readers, hearing from them that they can relate to our stories. I also really love my life – it’s full of great people and plenty of laughter and love.

Heather: Playing with our alter ego, Barbara Jean Coast is such fun! When we may get nervous and neurotic at times, we think, “What would Barbara Jean do?” and remember her fearless and fun attitude, and it pulls us through our worries to new results.

How did you create the plot for this book?
We were watching Gentlemen Prefer Blondes specifically the scene where Marilyn Monroe was wearing that beautiful fuchsia strapless dress and signing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” We started discussing whether or not the necklace in the movie was real or fake and then moved on to talking about costume jewelry – the quality of paste pieces - and it evolved from there, involving both Miss Santa Lucia and the Poppy Cove Fashion Show.

Are either one of you like any of your characters?
Andrea: Maybe I’m a bit like Loretta: her snoopy nosiness and a curiosity for news. Also a bit like Daphne, sporty and seeking fun.

Heather: I’d say I’ve got a bit of Margot in my make-up. I can be quite reserved and live in my head, contemplating, mulling over before outwardly producing results.

Who are your favorite authors?
Andrea:  There are so many! Currently Tracy Chevalier, Louise Erdich, Alexander McCall Smith, Barbara Gowdy, Donna Andrews, Leslie Meiers, Jeri Westerson.

Heather: It so hard to narrow down. Let’s see – Whitney Otto, Susan Gregg Gilmore, Fanny Flagg, Alice Hoffman, Carola Dunn, Rhys Bowen, Susan Wittig Albert.

We both could go on and on . . .

I hear you. That really was an unfair question to ask! What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)?
Andrea: Kindle: Deathbed And Breakfast By Bart J. Gilbertson

Paperback: Oscar And Lucinda By Peter Carey

Hardcover: Blood Lance By Jeri Westerson

Heather: Kindle: Bingoed By Patricia Rockwell

Paperback: Gunpowder Plot By Carola Dunn

Hardcover: Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots By Jessica Soffer

Do you have a routine for writing?
Yes, and actually we’re in the middle of re-organizing our time, devoting more hours to our craft. We start in the morning by going through our correspondence, then writing throughout the day. Every few days we change the focus to marketing to keep up. That’s been the most interesting challenge. When we first started out, we were just writing, but now that we have a couple of books out, we need to fit in promoting as well. It’s great fun, but quite the juggling act.

I totally agree. Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
We have a writing room set up and generally work there. Every now and then when we’re plotting, we’ll go out to a library or café and take up a table as we scheme away for hours. Generally, we don’t work much in the evenings – we need to refuel those creative tanks with entertainment or at least entertaining friends and/or family!

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
Our local library system! The Okanagan Regional Library runs beyond the length of the valley and has over 25 branches, an extensive catalogue and a decent budget. As writers, they have been very encouraging to us, welcoming us to do readings and events, as well as carrying our books. As patrons, we love to do library crawls and gather books from various branches like magpies.  We get such a kick when we see so many of our fellow author friends’ books on the shelves.

What would your dream office look like?
We’re planning that right now. It would be so good to have a room dedicated to writing where we can leave everything out. Ideally, we’d like to have space for about three different tasks: writing; Andrea likes to do collage; and Heather to have sewing space.  We’ve got a whiteboard for plots and ideas, but we’re thinking one big full wall size would be neat that we could just scrawl all the points and ideas on in free form. We also need some more book cases and storage units to keep track of our research materials on 50’s/60’s vintage design.

Are you happy with your decision to publish with Cozy Cat Press?
We’re very happy with Cozy Cat Press – our little group sees it as the little engine that can! Patricia Rockwell, owner and founder, is always there, guiding us all when we need it and every single author does something in their own way to help promote the label. We’re a close group, and we feel honored to be in such a supportive and talented bunch.

What are you working on now?
We’re working on the third novel in the Poppy Cove mystery series. It digs up the past of one of our major characters and makes the others question about how they feel about it and themselves. We’re really enjoying it. We also have plans for at least two other series and are currently laying the groundwork to start a new series, set locally in modern time, as well as carrying on Poppy Cove.

About the authors:

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events, and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. Death of a Beauty Queen is her second novel in the Poppy Cove mystery series. 

Connect with the authors:
Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook: Barbara Jean Coast  |  Facebook: Poppy Cove Mysteries  |  Twitter  | Pinterest  |  Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  iTunes  |  Smashwords  

Featured Author: Alexander McCabe

About the book:

It is said that the course of true love never runs smooth - even for us men. Yet it has never been easier to find love than in this modern digital era where the mighty computer has all but rendered Cupid redundant. Love is now to be found, quite literally, at your fingertips. Although love also seems to have changed with the times. This new love is deceitful and manipulative, cunning and untrustworthy. Love has gotten ugly. Thankfully, not all the answers to life’s mysteries are to be found in the computer and Cupid - battered and bruised as he may be - proves that he still has some game and a few tricks up his sleeve . . .

Interview with Alexander McCabe

Alexander, how long have you been writing, and how did you start?
Actually, I can be rather specific about when I started writing. It was September 2013 as my wife got a job in Saskatchewan, Canada. As I am Scottish, I have no legal right to work and so began to write whilst my visa was being processed. It is a long and laborious process and, 18 months or so later, we are still waiting and I am still not allowed to work. So, I have kept up the writing to preserve my sanity, what’s left of it!

I started writing articles for the local paper and the book sort of developed from there.

What’s the story behind the title Greater Expectations?
The real story behind the book was that of a chance meeting I had with a war veteran. His story is spread over 2 chapters within Greater Expectations, although there wasn’t enough of a story in itself so the rest just sort of grew around it.

Do you have another job outside of writing?
No, not at the moment although I expect to start working again once my visa is eventually granted. However, like almost every author, I would love to write full-time.

How did you create the plot for this book?
I didn’t so much create the plot as let it unfold. Having never written a novel before, I watched interviews with other successful authors but quickly determined that it is a very unique process. So, I wrote for myself and just let my imagination run riot and was pleasantly surprised with the result. I wrote the first draft of Greater Expectations in 3 months and it was an amazing sense of accomplishment.

What would your main character say about you?
I would hope that he would say only nice things and, if not, then I could only hope he would follow my mother’s advice - “If you have nothing nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”.

Good advice. Are any of your characters inspired by real people? 
They all are to some extent. In actual fact, the character “Mike Taylor” is very real, so much so that I used his real name. He is a fantastic friend and a very funny man. He read the book and we are still great friends, so I guess he was pleased with my portrayal.

It is funny though that, on occasion, I have had friends and family call me and say they recognize a character in the book. As I am now writing the sequel, I always tell them that they are correct and they better be nice to me or else they will end up in the next book! There is a certain devilment that lives in me. . . 

Is your book based on real events?
Practically every story within the book is real, although in most cases, exaggerated for comic effect. I would stress that not all of these events happened to me personally but rather were friends stories passed onto me.

Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
The final scene was quite special for me as it drew everything together without being too obvious. It was also a natural conclusion for this book whilst setting up a sequel.

What song would you pick to go with your book?
I actually named a couple of songs within the book and so would have to pick one of them. That being the case, it would be “She” by Elvis Costello.

Who are your favorite authors?
As a law graduate, it will come as no surprise that John Grisham is a favorite of mine. I also really enjoy some of Jeffrey Archer’s earlier works. Dan Brown’s books are quite intriguing, and Steig Larsson. Such a sad loss, I finished his Millennium Trilogy in 5 days and would loved to have read what he would have done next.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?
As the main character is Scottish, then I suppose, being true to the role, Gerard Butler would be the most obvious choice. He, like myself, also graduated from the University of Glasgow, so it’s hardly surprising that he would top my list.


Do you have a routine for writing?
I do but it is completely chaotic! I need to let my ideas stew and build until they are, quite literally, bursting out of me, and then I hammer them onto the page as quickly as I can. This “routine” has seen me go for weeks at a time without writing a single word and then suddenly waking up at 2am and 3 chapters are written within a few hours. It is wonderfully illogical, completely irrational, yet fantastically liberating.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
Oh how I wish I had a cool and enigmatic answer for this but, in reality, it is generally in my own living room where I need complete solitude and total silence to let my imagination flow.

In actual fact, it is in exactly these circumstances that I am writing these answers now!

Where’s home for you?
This is a rather complicated question and one that has multiple answers. Scotland is a huge part of me although I currently live in Toronto, Canada. However, having lived on 3 continents in the past 4 years, I can safely say that “home” is where the heart is. For me, that is wherever my wife and son are.

If you could only keep one book, what would it be?
Predictably and unashamedly, it would be the book that I wrote - Greater Expectations. Although this may seem like complete vanity on my part, it actually could not be further from the truth. It had long been an ambition of mine to write a book and so this represents the culmination of hard work, determination, focus but, perhaps most importantly, the realization of a dream. There is so much of myself invested within it that no other book will ever be as close to my heart as this.

For these reasons, it is not so much a book to me but the realization of a dream.

What would your dream office look like?
It would be housed in an old home in the countryside and have high wooden bookshelves on three walls. The door would be set somewhere within them and would disappear when it was closed. A wooden ladder would be on runners to ensure complete access to every title. There would be a floor to ceiling bay window on the final wall that overlooks a small loch and rolling hills in the background. A purpose-built desk and comfortable chair would allow me to work here and enjoy this magnificent view when needing a distraction and time to quietly contemplate.

A small log burning fireplace on the side wall provides that warm smoky aroma. Two worn couches facing each other and a coffee table atop a plush rug in the center would complete the room.

As you can no doubt tell, I haven’t given this much thought.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I like to believe Paulo Coelho when he says in The Alchemist:
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Thank you so much for having me. For those that may be interested, the prelude for my second book can be seen on my website.
Have a great day everyone!

Excerpt from Greater Expectations

When first I met my now estranged wife during our Master’s year at university, I was seeing someone else too. In the main, this defines me as a “bastard,” although I preferred to think of myself as a “player.” Indeed, I would argue that it falls under the guise of “sowing wild oats.” That’s the phrase that makes the practice somehow acceptable, and mothers the world over tell their sons that this is what they need to do before they settle down. The rite of passage into manhood, as it were. At least, it’s what my mother told me. Women may argue this point - sorry, women will argue this point - but then they become mothers.

Naturally, they just don’t want those “wild oats” sown with their own daughters.

However, it is a fallacy to think that we men are completely heartless. I realised that I actually liked the girl that I eventually married, so quickly ended all contact with the third party. In actual fact, she was a girl that I had been seeing first but only by a matter of a few weeks. I got the usual tirade of “bastard” texts, emails, and drunken voicemails. “I thought you were different” being the obligatory phrase that she just had to use during every one of these “opportunities.” In one particular instance, during which she also branded me a “coward,” I foolishly responded. I explained to her that I was merely being cruel to be kind as it was blatantly obvious to me that we had no future together. Furthermore, after everything that had been said and done – more on her part now than mine - she would surely realise and accept that there was no going back as any trust and respect that had been built was now completely shattered.

I got the following reply:

“See, I knew you were different. That was lovely, you thinking of me and my feelings and us and our future. Why can’t we make this work? We can, you just have to trust yourself to trust me. Call me.”

It took another six weeks of ignoring and blocking her before she finally gave up. We had only been dating, if it could ever have been called that, for three weeks.

It takes true courage and bravery to finish any relationship. As my marital separation was only a week old, I understood that there may be some element of hope that we could fix it and move on. Yet I knew there was no way I could, or would, allow myself to stoop to such a level of indignity. My sense of pride has taken a pounding and is undoubtedly battered and bruised, but it is still there, standing tall and intact, however weakly. It is also getting stronger with every passing day.

All thanks to “Hope.”

“Hope” is a very strange feeling that displaces others such as “confidence,” “faith,” and “trust,” and one that I have naturally gravitated towards my entire life. We are old friends, hope and I. Never have I dared to have “confidence” in my academic or sporting abilities, rather I always “hoped” that I would perform at my best as necessitated in any particular circumstance. When things had gone better than I had even dared “hope,” then I defaulted to the notion that is was merely my “good luck,” and vice versa. “Luck” has always provided me an excuse for all of life’s highs and lows and everything in between. Now I wanted to change all that. Now I wanted to control my existence.

Now I wanted to stir the stagnant pool that is my life proactively to feel like I am living again.

So that may well explain why I am now sat in only my boxer shorts in front of my computer, as the rain batters the window behind my curtains, and trying to focus on completing an online dating profile that includes a “personal statement” section. Apparently, its purpose is to allow me to describe myself in as broadly generic terms as possible in order to seem “normal” and “average” - and so maximising my appeal - whilst also trying to ensure that I am unique enough as to stand out. The logic of the concept is irrefutable and yet fantastically ridiculous.

It is also proving so challenging to the point of being quite impossible.

As a truck driver, I work most weekends and so this job commitment removes the more conventional ways of meeting women. Using a dating site makes far more sense in this new age of technology as it allows for an immediate connection without the need to wait for the weekend, or the demand of a decent chat up line. It cuts to the chase, so to speak. The site has posted a statistic that states over 28% of couples now “meet” online, so I am still happily in the minority. However, it is utterly galling to me that I should ever try to be “normal” or “average” to anyone as I have never considered myself as such.

It seems to me to be morally fraudulent.

Online dating. It really is quite an absurd concept yet totally in concert with the modern era where people are too busy with work and life to take the time and make the effort for actually dating. Yet where is the romance of it? You will never hear a love song that refers to such sites. Can you imagine Rod Stewart singing “The Algorithm of my Heart” or some such like?

No? Me neither.

About the author:

After graduating with a couple of useless degrees in law, Alexander McCabe left his Scottish homeland and wandered nomadically around the globe to experience the rich diversity of culture that the world has to offer. For the moment, it is Toronto's turn to provide a suitable abode for him and the wife that he picked up along the way. . .

Website  |  Facebook  | Twitter 

Get Greater Expectations FREE during the tour!

Featured Author: Cheryl Matthynssens

About the book:

Bloodmines is Book #3 in the Groundbreaking series The Blue Dragon's Geas, which begins with Outcast (Book #1) and moves on to The Blackguard.

Alador discovers that there is more to his geas and the bloodstone than he had ever imagined. As its true nature is revealed, he alone must figure out how to complete the geas. His first task is to obtain the support of the one dragon that he and Henrick know how to find. But... how does one garner support from a dragon you have previously shot?

Follow Alador as he sets out to gain the support of the dragon, dodge Lerdenian politics and his scheming uncle, at the same time as he attempts to come to terms with the continued ripples that one large bloodstone has brought into his life.


Interview with Cheryl Matthynssens

Cheryl, what’s the story behind the title Bloodmines? 
Man has always harvested what he wanted from the world even at the cost of destruction of natural beauty, an ecosystem, or a species. In this case, moral man is hunting dragons to leech the magic from them. A dragon's blood has magical properties and thus the bloodmines were created. A place where dragons are held captive and their blood is drained regularly. A place the hero, Alador, plans to destroy.

Tell us about your series. Is this book a standalone, or do readers need to read the series in order?
The first book, Outcast, is more of a world building tale. You could read The Blackguard and be fairly secure without Outcast, though some of the cultural and backstory for Alador would be lost. However, Bloodmines really needs The Blackguard to be read first as the two go hand in hand.

What do you love about where you live? 
I live in the Okanogan Valley of Washington state. I love that we have four seasons here. I grew up on the West Coast of Washington close to a temperate rain forest. I was used to two seasons: rain and construction. 

Now I love in this rugged High Mountain desert, and it is so beautiful and was the inspiration for the Daezun lands.

Have you been in any natural disasters? 
Yes,  When I loved on the coast, we had to evacuate more than once because of storms coming off of the Ocean. When I was a child, we lived fifty feet from the winter high tide line. The two actual disasters that stand out really were significant. The first was a New Year's Eve storm. The road home was closed and the police routed us another way. It flooded as we were crossing and we had water coming in our car. Fortunately, my husband knew to keep the motor at a certain speed to keep it from sucking water into the engine.  Three of my children were in the car. It's a scary memory. When we got home, the hill behind our house had collapsed and filled our garage and back yard with three feet of mud.

The other disaster was an earthquake. We lived two miles from the epicenter. I can't even describe how it felt. It was more like an explosion than an earthquake due to how close we were.

What’s one thing that you wish you knew as a teenager that you know now?
I wish I had known that at the end of the day, other people's opinions really don't matter. If they are not part of my big picture, then they can like, hate or gossip all they want. I used to put far too much stock in what other people thought of me.

Do you have another job outside of writing? 
Yes, I do contract speaking or teaching engagements. I am totally comfortable in front of a group of people. I mostly teach a cognitive behavior curriculum which I have total belief in for people who struggle making the same life error choices over and over.

What’s one of your favorite quotes? 
Well, I don't know where it came from but I use it all the time. 
“It is what it is,
It was what it was,
It is not my today!”

How did you create the plot for this book? 
Well, the first book started out just wanting to tell a story about a victim of bullying that was not the typical rise out of the ashes and become a hero. Sometimes bad things happen when people are bullied. After that, it sort of took on a life of it's own. Bloodmines needed to show Alador coming into his power. One thing that did help with this plot is that I put out to my readers a question of what they wanted to see. I used many of these ideas as they worked with the things I knew would come out the other side.

What would your main character, Alador, say about you?  
Alador would say that I was creative, flexible, and probably a bit cruel. The poor boy has had a bit of a hard time with having to grow up quickly and his brothers seem to have this habit of punching him in the face. He is not your typical all-powerful hero, even though he keeps plaguing me to give him a break.

Are you like any of your characters?
I actually really like Jon and Sordith. Jon's flat, matter-of-fact manner makes me smile every time I write a conversation with him. The other is Sordith. I had originally created him to be an antogonist, but the more I played around with his character, wrote some lines for him, the more I realized I didn't want him on Luthian's side. He took on this life that really makes me want to write his story when I am done with this series.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (e-book/paperback/hardcover)? 
I am currently working my way through the Myrddin's Heir Series by Robin Chambers. He has a unique style that I love and definitely has put a spin on urban fantasy that I would have never considered. I am  on book 4 right now and still loving every chapter. I also am learning things for my own writing as his style of prose has elements I want to be able to emulate.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing? 
I think hands down it was from my father. My father is a western reader and was really apprehensive about reading my first book as he is not into dragons and magic in his reading. However, being his daughter, he agreed to take a plunge and read Outcast. He called me two days later and this is what he said: “I finished your book. You are on restriction until book two is done.” It may seem strange to most, but that was one of the highest compliments my father has ever given me. It makes me smile every time I think of it. Of course, having a reviewer post that my story is “epic” always makes me smile.

What’s one pet peeve you have when you read? 
I hate it when I am really into a story and the build up is perfect throughout the book.  Then suddenly the protagonist solves all the problems with their magic without much of a struggle in a single chapter. I hate it when characters have no problems winning that climatic battle. I want them to win, but at least take a blow or two.

Why did you decide to self-publish? 
Honestly? Fear. I was afraid of that gatekeeper that publishing houses have and the rejection letter they could send. One person's opinion would decide if I was worth reading. By going the route I did, if my work was not liked by actual readers then I knew I could just fade back out silently. To be honest, Outcast's negative reviews were heart-breaking at first. However, I have left it in its original form so I could learn. I do not see the same negative comments in books 2 or 3. Now that I have learned what I can from Outcast's feedback, I am going back and re-editing it.

Other books by Cheryl Matthynssens

Outcast
The Blackguard

Children's Dragon Books:


How the Dragons Got Their Colors

Not an Egg!

Once Upon a...Wait!

About the author:

I am Cheryl and go by Cheri. I am a . . . never mind my age . . . older woman with grand-kids. However, my heart is forever young and I hope I never grow up. I was born in Upland, California. I have four wonderful children and four beautiful grandchildren. I started adult life as a mother. I went back to school and got my teaching degree. Between teaching positions, I ended up working in a prison on the coast of Washington State. This led to gaining credentials and a license to be an addictions counselor. This unique combination has allowed me to interview hundreds of personalities over my career. I love the uniqueness of human beings and work hard to make sure I build this into my characters. I want each major character to have a form and manner that makes them unique from the rest. 

I recently received a diagnosis of cancer. No worries, not stopping my writing, but it did slow me down a bit until I got into the routine of chemotherapy. On September 25, 2014, I took a leap of faith and left my career as a counselor to take care of myself for awhile and to write full time. 

I have been an avid reader of all things fantasy and science fiction. I have been a GM for dungeons and dragons for 25 years. Yes, I played when the original books came paperback in a little red box. And now . . . I have dated myself!

I love the fantasy world because it taps into the creative mind. I have always been one who could visualize what I read and so fantasy became a colorful escape to lands of mystical beasts, fantastic quests and where the hero really does save the day. Since becoming a more mature reader and writer, I have found writing can be an avenue to learning and teaching while still enjoying that creative mind-scape. I have worked in a world where the hero doesn't always win and sometimes beloved characters fall and don't get back up. 

From these experiences of reading, role playing and writing, the world of Vesta came to life. Vesta has it's own map, weather and history. It is filled with its own races, beasts and unique attributes. Because I have developed my own world, I found I was not limited by Tolkien views of elves and dragons. I could expand on the magic of dragons and mystic powers. Many artists, writers and other role players have contributed to make Vesta what it is when I finally put pen to paper. Welcome . . . and I hope you enjoy my unique world of fantasy novels and children's books.

Connect with Cheryl:
Website  |  Blog   |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads 

Cover Reveal: A Dish Best Served Cold

About the book:

The national bestselling author of The Wedding Soup Murder returns to the Jersey Shore where a killer is stirring up trouble during a hurricane . . .



At the Casa Lido, the end of summer means a party, and hit whodunit writer Victoria “Vic” Rienzi and her family are cooking like crazy for the restaurant’s seventieth anniversary celebration. As they chop onions and garlic, old family friend Pete Petrocelli stops by, saying he knows something that would make for a good mystery novel. Curious, Vic asks Nonna to elaborate on Pete’s claim and learns of a relative who mysteriously disappeared back in Italy . . .

The night of the party brings a crowd—and a full throttle hurricane. When the storm finally passes, everyone thinks they’re in the clear—until the first casualty is found, and it’s Pete. Remembering his visit, Vic isn’t certain Pete’s death was an accident and decides to dig deeper into his story. What she finds is meatier than Nonna’s sauce . . .

Excerpt from: Starting From Lost

About the book:

Love is a risk. If you lose it all, would you dare to risk it twice?

Hannah Rogers is lost: cynical, insecure, and withdrawn. Skeletons forged through a bad breakup that should have been a marriage proposal. Now four years later, Hannah follows her dead-end job to the big city where her only hope is to survive the next eight months as her flirtatious boss’s personal assistant. The last thing her predictable life needs is to collide with the boy responsible for breaking her heart, or the twist of fate that sends a sexy new neighbor to awaken feelings she’s long since put to bed.

Alex Sorrento doesn’t have any room in his life for another pet project. He’s already put aside his career and his personal dreams to follow his half-sister Mackenzie to the big city. Lost in the guilt over the events that nearly took her life, he feels he owes her that much. When Mackenzie befriends the new girl on the third floor, Alex finds himself defenseless against the sizzling chemistry between them and the sadness in her eyes. Can he protect Hannah from her ex without losing his heart?

In this turbulent journey about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love, some second chances aren’t worth taking, but others have their own rewards.

Excerpt from Starting From Lost

She leapt off the top step, the finish line in sight, and lunged for her door. Her fleeting feeling of being victorious was quickly stifled as she felt strong arms encircle her waist. What little air she’d hung onto was knocked from her lungs as she collided against a hard, warm body.

Alex had turned so it was his back that hit her door, and hers safely cushioned against him. His arms locked more firmly around her waist as he held her against him. She could feel his rapid heartbeat, maybe not an athlete after all, she mused, and carefree laughter —her own — filled the silent hallway. Closing her eyes on it, she let her head fall back to rest against his shoulder, and tried to catch her breath.

“I win,” he whispered, his lips all but against her neck. The sudden warmth that spread through her had nothing to do with the enthusiastic run and everything to do with the hard male she was molded to. Everything tingled, and she tried to turn her face towards his, but caught the sound of the front door opening and closing.

“Mackenzie,” she said, and tried to wiggle out of his embrace.

She ceased her futile attempts as the door parallel to them opened. Unaware that Alex’s light hold had tightened to keep her from falling, she stared at her neighbor for the first time. Her mouth opened, shut, and opened again, but her voice wouldn’t work. Maybe she was dreaming, or unconscious, the tiny panicked voice in her head tried to grasp some kind of logic. Was it screaming she heard? Was she screaming?

“Hannah?” The familiar voice found a way through the rushing in her ears, and it cut straight to her heart.

Jake! Oh, no.

About the author:

S.K. Wills grew up with reading in her blood; a favorite pastime passed down thanks to her two beautiful grandmas. Wanting to inspire others, like good books inspire her, she added “write a romance novel” to her bucket list, and ultimately, checked it off. Writing makes her soul happy, and since she's now hooked on story-crafting, she's decided to stick with it for as long as it will have her. S.K. lives in Southeastern Michigan, and juggles expertly (or so she thinks!) also being a passionate marketer and entrepreneur helping other authors reach their writing dreams. She fuels her insatiable dream-chasing with what some would consider an unhealthy amount of coffee, and she wouldn’t have her crazy busy life any other way.

To learn more, visit her at:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

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Spotlight on: Amanda Aksel

 

The Commitment Test

(The Marin Test Series: Book Two)

Release Date: February 4^th, 2015

Publisher: Elephantine Publishing

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/16b162T 

About the book: 

When a Valentine’s Day proposal doesn’t come with an engagement ring, Marin Johns begins to wonder if she and James will ever get married. As her closest friends begin to move forward with their lives, she refuses to be left behind.   Hope is restored as she devises a plan to get James down on one knee by becoming the ideal mate. Everything seems to fall into place until her college boyfriend resurfaces after a decade with his own ideas about their future. Will Marin be forced to choose between the man of her dreams and the diamond ring she’s always dreamed of? 

About Amanda Aksel

Amanda Aksel is an author with an affinity for love. Becoming a couples therapist was her “backup” career, and after completing her BA in Psychology she was on her way to solving love’s most complicated quandaries one couple at a time. Now she plans to solve love’s most complicated quandaries one novel at a time.

Connect with Amanda:
Website  |   Facebook  |   Twitter   

 

Cover Reveal: Jayded

About the book:

Maxine Daniels was made an offer that she couldn’t refuse. She couldn’t think of a better time — after breaking things off with her fiancé — to change cities and merge her company with Saunders Literary Agency. At thirty-three, she isn’t getting any younger, so it’s time to start fresh and leave her past behind.

What she doesn’t anticipate is the diversion that lies ahead. Kyle Saunders is a catastrophic tsunami that enters her life and consumes her world in just a matter of minutes. Everything about him is telling her no, but her heart and the heat between her legs is screaming yes. He was never a factor in her divine plan—nor was she in his.

Kyle is the cliché bachelor; he is a twenty-four-year-old charismatic chick magnet who refuses to settle down. He’s dead set on living the carefree single life — that is — until Max comes strolling in. Then all his ridiculous rules fall to the wayside. Who knew that just one hello could alter their lives forever?

About the author:

Shevaun DeLucia, author of the Eternal Mixture series, lives in upstate New York with her husband, four children, and two dogs. As a stay-at-home mom while her children were young, she fell in love with reading. She indulged in the small moments that took her away from the reality of her loud, rambunctious household, bringing her into a world of fantasy. When reading wasn’t enough to satisfy her, she turned to writing, determined to create the perfect ending of her own.

Photographer/ Graphic Designer of Book Cover
George Parulski
Visit him East Way Photography  | Facebook