Thursday, March 31, 2011

Blow 'em away on April Fool's Day! Buy a Copy of Mama's Comfort Food by Rhett DeVane


The gang from Chattahoochee returns for another humorous,
heartfelt tale of love, courage and the love of family and friends.

When Joe and Evelyn Fletcher's deluded daughter returns home,
the family and community hunker down to help her through the fight for her life.

In the South, food equals love and comfort, and the cast of Mama's Comfort Food serve up heaping helpings of both.

A note from Rhett:

For some reason, this date has been pivotal in my life. I hope this year to make it as pivotal for women who are battling breast cancer.

My new novel Mama's Comfort Food is available online with Amazon as both a print and Kindle version.

This book holds a special place in my heart. It's about love, forgiveness, courage and the bond between a mother and daughter. It's also about overcoming breast cancer.

I have pledged a percentage of royalties to A Woman's Place, here in my city of Tallahassee. This amazing group of people provides support and encouragement for breast cancer patients in our area. First, local baby steps. Then, hopefully, to a more national outreach from one author to women (and men) everywhere.

If you were here, I'd invite you to the book launch. We could hug and share a few southern snacks, and I'd sign a book for you. Since you aren't, I invite you to help me blow Amazon away on April 1st. You will get a funny and touching southern story--one I have worked very hard on--and I will turn around and shift money to help breast cancer patients. How many times can you honestly say you know for certain that what you touch goes out to do good for others? Here's your chance. I will make it happen.

Please, do share this with your friends. If you are like me, you have loved ones who have received the shocking diagnosis, and sadly, many of us have lost friends and relatives to the dreaded disease. Help me strike back. I am one small southern voice (actually, I do have a pretty big mouth, in person) and I don't have the push of a huge New York publisher. My small independent publisher is wonderful, though, so I am fortunate.

I believe in the power of people. I see how networks of friends can change the world.

Mama's Comfort Food by Rhett DeVane

Blow 'em away on April Fool's Day!

Here are the links to the Amazon pages. See, wasn't that easy?

Mama's Comfort Food (Kindle version)

Mama's Comfort Food (print version)

My best to all of you.

Rhett DeVane

http://www.rhettdevane.com/

Rhett is a friend of mine. I've loved everything by her that I've read, and the two previous books featuring the gang from Chattahoochee have a special place on my bookshelf. I hope you'll consider purchasing a copy of Mama's Comfort Food on Friday, April 1st. I plan to purchase a copy in memory of my mother, Dorothy Jean (Fontaine) Gevry, who lost her battle with cancer on December 18, 1982. She was only 47. I also hope to honor my friend Lorrie, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She is on the road to recovery, and I hope and pray she remains cancer free for many years to come.

Giveaway Winners!



Congratulations goes out to Michelle V., winner of a e-Copy of The Homecoming of Reece Flynn by Mallary Mitchell. For those of you who would still like to own a copy, it is now on sale from White Rose Publishing for under $3.

We would also like to congratulate Karen K., winner of a copy of Kite by Bill Shears. The paperback is available at Amazon.com if you would like to purchase a copy.

I'll be contacting the winners shortly. Thanks to all who participated. Don't forget about our other giveaways. You can enter to win an e-Copy of The Widow's Ransom by Mallary Mitchell or a paperback of Born Under a Lucky Moon by Dana Precious. Links to these posts are in the sidebar.

Look for more giveaways coming soon!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Pump Up Your Book! Announces April ‘11 Authors on Virtual Book Tours

Join a talented and diverse group of 27 authors who are touring with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Tours during the month of April 2011.

Follow these authors as they travel the blogosphere from April 4th through April 29th to discuss their books. You’ll find everything from historical novels to thrillers, from children’s books to YA novels, and from travel journals to motivational books, and more!

Several authors are continuing their March tours into April. John Ames, Barbara Barnett, Laurel Dewey, Megan van Eyck, Emily Sue Harvey, Sheila Hendrix, Tom McLaughlin, Elle Newark, Emma K. Piers, Hayley Rose, Kath Russell, and Laina Turner-Molaski return with their books in a variety of genres.

Christopher Hoare returns to Pump Up with his new release, the high fantasy novel, “Rast”. Josi Kirkpatrick and Judi Moreo are returning for their fifth tours to respectively promote “Blackberry Crumble” and “Life Choices” Pursuing Your Passion.” Suspense thriller author, James LePore is promoting two books this month: “A World I Never Made” and “Blood of My Brother.”

Also on tour in April are Ethan Cross, Ron Fritsch, Susan Kronick, and Hans Lindor. Sean McCartney promotes his MG/YA novel, “The Treasure Hunters Club: Secrets of the Magical Medallions,” while Bill Myers talks about his supernatural/suspense/Christian novel, “The Face of God.”

Nancy Stewart will be discussing “One Pelican at a Time,” a current Amazon Hot New Release in the children’s books category. This is the first US children's book to address the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of April 20, 2010. Also on tour are Azuka Thomson, Nell Walton, Terri Wolffe, and Tim Vandehay & Annie Greer.

Visit Pump Up Your Book! on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_nak_9bPAQ to view a video trailer introducing our authors on tour in April.

Pump Up Your Book is a virtual book tour agency for authors who want quality service at an affordable price. More information can be found on their website at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/.


Contact Information:

Dorothy Thompson
Founder of Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tours
P.O. Box 643
Chincoteague, Virginia 23336
Email: thewriterslife@yahoo.com

Friday, March 25, 2011

Pump Up Your Book! March 2011 Facebook Party Tonight!


Pump Up Your Book will be hosting the March 2011 Authors on Tour on Friday March 25, 2011 at 9 - 11 p.m. (eastern time - adjust to your time zone). Tell your book friends that not only will this give them an opportunity to chat with their favorite authors there will be a huge giveaway at the end of the chat!


Here's how it will work:

The party will kick off at our Facebook Party Page with a 2 hour chat in which all authors will get a certain time slot to answer questions. All time slots will be listed on the party page so that you'll know who is going to be up next. After the party, everyone is invited back here to find out who has won our fabulous prizes with directions on how to claim them. Easy peasy!

What you must do before the chat if you're going to attend:

1. In order to participate in the chat, you must "like" our Facebook Fan Page at www.facebook.com/pumpupyourbook.

2. Sign up before the chat so we have time to approve you which will be the second step.

3. Once you're approved, head on over to the Facebook Party page at http://www.facebook.com/thewriterslife#!/note.php?note_id=10150097454282449 and leave a comment so we know you made it in.

Note: If you wait to sign up too late, you might not get in because once the party starts, it will be nearly impossible to get back into email to see if anyone needs getting in, so do this early please.

What to do when the chat ends:

Once the chat is over, head back over here to find out if you have won a prize. All prizes and winners will be announced in the body of this blog post. If you are a winner, you have 72 hours to contact me at thewriterslife(at)yahoo(dot)com to claim your prize. If we do not hear from you during that time, we will find another winner.

Rules & Regulations Recap:
  1. If an author does not show up, prizes will still be awarded.
  2. If you do not claim your prize within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen.
  3. You must participate in the chat in order to become eligible to win a prize.
  4. Leaving comments on this page does not make you eligible to win a prize. You must participate in the Facebook chat.
  5. Pump Up Your Book is not responsible for lost or damaged prizes.
  6. We will be using Random.org to determine winners and will be posted on this blog after the Facebook chat.
  7. This contest is in no way affiliated with Facebook and is promoted solely by Pump Up Your Book.
Our March 2011 Authors on Tour who are participating in the chat/giveaway includes:



Caitlin RotherCaitlin Rother is the author of true crime books Dead Reckoning, Body Parts, Twisted Triangle, and Poisoned Love, and the thriller, Naked Addiction. She is also the co-author of My Life, Deleted and Where Hope Begins, soon to be re-released as Deadly Devotion. She is now working on The Makings of a Monster, the story of the rape and murder of beloved teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. Rother, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist, worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for nineteen years before deciding to write books full-time. She is the founder of the San Diego Writing Women blog, and her work has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has appeared as a crime expert on E! Entertainment, the Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, Greta Van Susteren's "On the Record," and America at Night." She also teaches journalism, narrative non-fiction and creative writing at UCSD Extension in San Diego. She is now working on The Makings of a Monster, the story of how John Gardner grew from a caring troubled boy into an angry man who couldn't control his compulsions to rape and murder beloved teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois." You can visit her website at http://www.caitlinrother.com/

Caitlin will be giving away a paperback copy of her true crime novel, Dead Reckoning!

John AmesJohn Ames has a master's degree in English from the University of Florida, where he was a Ford Fellow. After graduation, he built a rustic house and lived for several years on the edge of a spiritual community located near Gainesville, Florida. John's search for enlightenment ended when he decided that he was too far from a movie theater. He moved inside the Gainesville city limits and taught English and film for thirty years at Santa Fe College. He has produced and acted in numerous short films and videos, including the cable TV series the "Tub Interviews," wherein all the interviewees were required to be in a bathtub. For ten years he reviewed movies for PBS radio station WUFT. He has appeared as a standup comedian and has designed and marketed Florida-themed lamps. He coauthored Second Serve: The Rene Richards Story (Stein and Day, 1983) and its sequel No Way Rene: The Second Half of My Notorious Life (Simon & Schuster, 2007), and Speaking of Florida (University Presses of Florida, 1993). His recent book is a coming-of-age novel titled Adventures in Nowhere. You can visit his website at http://www.johnamesauthor.com/.

John will be giving away a paperback copy of his coming of age novel, Adventures in Nowhere!

Megan van EyckMegan van Eyck lives near Seattle, Washington with her husband and children. Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress is her first memoir. You can visit Megan's website at http://www.widowedmistress.com/.

Megan will be giving away a copy of her memoir, Memoirs of a Widowed Mistress!

Allan LeveroneAllan Leverone is a three-time Derringer Award Finalist whose short fiction has been featured in Needle: A Magazine of Noir, Shroud Magazine, Twisted Dreams, Mysterical-E and many other venues, both print and online.

His debut thriller, titled FINAL VECTOR, is available February 2011 from Medallion Press.

For details, please visit http://www.allanleverone.com/ or his blog at http://www.allanleverone.blogspot.com/.

Allan is giving away an e-copy of his thriller, Final Vector, and 6 e-copies of Postcards from the Apocalypse!




Barbara BarnettBarbara Barnett is Co-Executive Editor of Blogcritics, an Internet magazine of pop culture, politics and more owned by Technorati Media. Always a pop-culture geek, Barbara was raised on a steady diet of TV (and TV dinners), but she always found her way to TV's antiheroes and misunderstood champions, whether on TV, in the movies or in literature. Barnett's regular column, "Welcome to the End of the Thought Process: An Introspective Look at House, M.D." features insightful episode commentaries and interviews with the House cast and creative team. It is the place for intelligent discussion of the hit television series starring Hugh Laurie. Barbara has had an eclectic career. With an undergraduate degree in biology and minors in chemistry and English, she pursued a PhD in Public Policy Analysis after spending a few years working in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Her first professional writing gig was with a food industry trade magazine, and although it wasn't exactly like writing for The New Yorker, it completely hooked her on the profession of writing. She also writes lots of other things, including technology (from a non-geek perspective), the movies, politics and all things Jewish. Based in the north shore suburbs of Chicago, Barnett is married with two brilliant children and a dog. Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, M.D. is her first (commercial) book. She hopes it's not her last. Visit Barbara's website at http://www.barbarabarnett.com/.

Barbara will be giving away a copy her television nonfiction, Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide of House M.D.!




Hayley RoseHayley Rose grew up in the beach side town of Pacific Palisades , California, to a family of visual artists. In the early 1990's she traveled the U.S. with her band Crush Violet. In 1994, after a family reunion, she was inspired to write a children's book. Looking for a cute and catchy name for a main character, she kept hearing “first in, first out”. Hence, the name Fifo was born. Hayley's mother would often ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up, so Hayley decided to start her series of "Fifo" books with that very question. Her first book, Fifo "When I Grow Up" was published in 2002. Her love of travel inspired her second book in the Fifo series, Fifo "50 States", published in 2010. Along with writing children's books, Hayley has been working in entertainment business management for the past 15 years, specializing in concert touring. She has worked with many "A list" musicians including Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and Candlebox just to name a few. Hayley hopes to one day soon release an album of children's songs. She is a currently member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, and resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can visit her website at http://www.fifothebear.com/.

Hayley will be giving away one copy of her children's book 'Fifo: 50 States' and one copy of 'Fifo: When I Grow Up'!

Kristina McMorrisKristina McMorris lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Her foray into fiction began in the fall of 2006 as a result of interviewing her grandmother for the biographical section of a self-published cookbook intended as a holiday gift for the family. Inspired by her grandparents' wartime courtship, Kristina penned her first novel, a WWII love story titled Letters from Home. This award-winning debut is scheduled for release in trade paperback from Kensington Books (2-22-11; U.S.) and Avon/HarperCollins (5-5-11; U.K.). The condensed book rights have been sold to Reader's Digest, and the film rights are represented by the prestigious Creative Artists Agency of Los Angeles. Prior to her literary career, Kristina acted in numerous independent films and major motion pictures. She began hosting an Emmy-award winning television show at age nine, and most recently served as the six-year host of the WB's weekly program Weddings Portland Style. Adding to her diverse resume, McMorris is a professional emcee, literary workshop presenter, and former owner of a wedding/event planning business. Her previous writing background includes being a contributing writer for Portland Bride & Groom magazine and ten years of directing public relations for an international conglomerate. A portion of Kristina's sales proceeds from Letters from Home will benefit United Through Reading®, a nonprofit organization that video records deployed U.S. military personnel reading bedtime stories for their children. She is currently working on her next novel. You can visit her website at http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/.

Kristina will be giving away a copy of her women's fiction, Letters From Home!

F.M. MeredithF.M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, is the author of nearly thirty published novels. Her latest in the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, from Oak Tree Press, is Angel Lost. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Internet chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com/ and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/. You can like Marilyn on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marilyn-Meredith/276444167416.

F.M. will be giving away a copy of her mystery/crime, Angel Lost!




Cynthia KocialskiCynthia Kocialski is the founder of three companies - two fabless semiconductor and one software company. In the past 15 years, she has been involved in dozens of start-ups and has served on various advisory boards. These companies have collectively returned billions of dollars to investors. Cynthia has worked with established companies to bring start-up techniques and technologies to corporations desiring to process improvement and efficiency. Prior to her work in the start-up community, Cynthia has held a wide range of technical, marketing, and management positions at major corporations. At IBM, Cynthia began with financial software to facilitate the tracking of sales and inventory for international operations. She later moved into development and engineering management working of scientific workstations. Finally, Cynthia transitioned into technical marketing and strategic planning role for graphics and digital video components for personal computers. At Matrox, Cynthia was the general manager, overseeing the R&D area of digital video and image processing product lines, Cynthia graduated of the University of Rochester with bachelor's degrees in mathematics and applied statistics. She also has graduate degrees from the University of Virginia in both electrical engineering and systems engineering. She also writes the popular Start-up Entrepreneurs' Blog and has written many articles on emerging technologies. Her latest book is Start Up from the Ground Up: Practical Insights for Entrepreneurs. You can visit her website at http://www.cynthiakocialski.com/.

Cynthia will be giving away 10 paperback copies of her startup business book, Startup from the Ground Up!

LainaLaina Turner-Molaski is a businesswoman, mom, author, Professor, and a major supporter of shopping. She has an undying love for shoes and coffee, which is why she created her main character and alter-ego Presley Thurman. With a lot of letters after her name and a ton of student loan debt, she is always working to pay the bills. While she enjoys her day job, her passion is writing, and she uses a lot of company time writing her fiction or working on her social website for women, Chiczofrenic.com. She is hoping to sell her book before she gets fired from her day job for goofing off. Laina is currently living in Indiana, with her family, and is always writing something, whether it's blogs, articles, business journals and books or ideas for her next novel. She is continuously doing what she loves which is writing or drinking coffee. You can visit her website at http://www.lainaturner.com./

Laina will be giving away a paperback copy of her novel, Stilettos & Scoundrels AND a copy of The MS Project: Orange is the New Pink!

Pump Up Your Book will be giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate!!!!

More prizes to be announced!

If you have any questions, you may leave your question below or email me at thewriterslife(at)yahoo(dot)com

See you at the party!!!!

Book Review: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

An emotional, breathtaking story awaits you in The Paris Wife: A Novel by Paula McLain.

It is post-World War I, and a young Ernest Hemingway meets Hadley Richardson in Chicago. Hadley and Ernest are immediately taken with each other, and despite the warnings from her friend, Kate, a whirlwind romance ensues.

The married couple sets sail for Paris in December of 1921, soon meeting the likes of Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and others who help Ernest with his blossoming writing career.

The hard-drinking and fast-living cafe life does not mix well with the traditional values of family and monogomy. Hadley soon becomes jealous of Ernest's attraction to other women, while he struggles with self-doubt. Perhaps Paris will be too much for both of them.

I knew very little of Ernest Hemingway's life, not even enough to know the difference between the fact and fiction of this book without reading the author's website. I knew, however, that Hemingway was a great and complicated writer, who had commited suicide.

Paula McLain writes an eloquent story of Hadley and Ernest's courtship and marriage. Told from Hadley's point of view, McLain paints the picture of Paris in the 1920's so well that the reader feels she is sitting right alongside the Hemingways and their friends in the fancy cafes where they drank too much and shared too much.

This book read slow for me, but not because of any problem with the way it was written. Hemingway was an intense and troubled person, living a fast-life while attempting to carve out a writing career. To believe any story where he plays a character can be anything less than intensely emotional, is an error. While this might sound odd, The Paris Wife was emotionally draining for me. I found I had to put it down and not touch it for a couple of days at a time, just so I could recharge. I couldn't even read anything instead of it.

The ending brought with it a sense of sadness, but also a sigh of relief. I didn't want to leave the Hemingways behind, but I needed to read something lighter, easier. That McLain could write a novel that left me feeling this way, is dumbfounding. The book has left me with a desire to study Hemingway's works and the many books cited by the author that she used as source material.

I highly recommend The Paris Wife by Paula McLain, and look forward to more books from this author.


Title:  The Paris Wife
Author:  Paula McLain
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN-10: 0345521307
ISBN-13: 978-0345521309
SRP:  $25.00

Also available in a Kindle edition and as an audiobook.



Random House paid me to promote The Paris Wife through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. The fee did not include a review. I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Book Review: Love You More by Lisa Gardner

Love You More by Lisa Gardner is a gripping psychological thriller that is a must read for fans of this genre.

Detective D.D. Warren is in the midst of coping with her own life crisis when she gets a call that turns into one of those "Oh, shit" moments.

Arriving at the home of Massachusetts State Trooper Tessa Leoni, D.D. discovers Brian Leoni in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor, and a bruised Tessa talking with law enforcement officials. It all looks like an open and shut case of spousal abuse that turned deadly. Problem is that six-year-old Sophie Leoni is missing, and Tessa isn't talking.

Racing against time, D.D. must figure out exactly what happened that night in the Leoni house, in the hopes of finding Sophie alive. Paired up with her ex-partner and former lover, Bobby Dodge, the two uncover clues that leave them with more questions than answers. And still the same question remains: How far would one woman go to save someone she loves?

Lisa Gardner toured with Pump Up Your Book last summer with Live to Tell, the fourth book in this series. I didn't have the time to read it, but after all the great reviews the book received, I was kicking myself. When I heard Lisa was coming back to promote her latest D.D. Warren novel, I knew I had to read it. I am so glad I did.

While part of me almost wishes the book was told entirely from D.D. Warren's point of view, the other part of me realizes that having the book flow back and forth between D.D.'s and Tessa's points of view is what made this reading experience so thrilling. I kept turning the pages, thinking I had finally figured it out and was just waiting for D.D. to catch up, but by the next chapter I realized I didn't know anything at all--except that the more I learned, the less I knew.

Gardner has blended a riveting plot with a host of complex characters, tossed in a complicated mystery to solve, and come up with a winner. It didn't take me long to plow through this one, because I simply couldn't put it down. An added plus for me is that the book is set in Boston, so some of the setting was familiar.


I'm eager to go back and read the other four books in this series:

Live to Tell (Book 4)
The Neighbor (Book 3)
Hide (Book 2)
Alone (Book 1)

If you are looking for a masterfully written psychological thriller, look no further than Love You More by Lisa Gardner!

Title:  Love You More
Author:  Lisa Gardner
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN-10: 0553807250
ISBN-13: 978-0553807257
SRP:  $26.00

Also available in a Kindle edition and as an audiobook.



I was paid by Random House to promote Love You More with a virtual book tour. That fee did not include a review. I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for providing my opinion.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Guest Blogger: Multiple Sclerosis Gets on My Nerves by Dr. Laina Turner- Molaski

Today's special guest is Dr. Laina Turner-Molaski, author of The MS Project: Orange is the New Pink.

A collection of stories of people afflicted by MS or who have loved ones afflicted, this book is meant to be informational regarding the disease as experienced by real people and to showcase the amazing strength people find when facing adversity.

The MS Project has a companion iPhone app also being released March 14th, 2011.

 Multiple Sclerosis Gets on My Nerves by Dr. Laina Turner- Molaski

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that comes in many different looks and styles, which not only makes it difficult to diagnose but to treat. Some people with MS experience pain, some like my mother never have any pain. The disease tends to affect women more than men and no clear cause is known.

My mother was diagnosed with MS when I was in junior high, so I spent many years watching her deal with the affects of the disease. She was never one to bring attention to herself or be an advocate for things. She was rather introverted, so she was never involved in any MS awareness or fund raising things. As I got older, not being an introvert, I decided I wanted to be more involved and to do my part in creating more awareness. I knew that Susan G. Komen started from grass roots and look at the amazing things they have grown to be able to do. In my mind, even if my efforts just make one more person aware of what MS is and bring just a tiny bit more attention to the disease, then I have succeeded.

The MS Project is my effort to make a difference, no matter how small. By bringing people together who have MS or who care about the cause, I feel the effort will become even stronger.


Dr. Laina Turner-Molaski is a Faculty Chair with Capella University. She is also an author of both fiction and non-fiction and is a business consultant.


Laina’s mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1985. After her passing in 2000, Laina became committed to bringing more awareness to the disease.


You can reach Dr. Turner-Molaski through the website The MS Project at http://www.themsproject.com/.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Giveaway: The Widow's Ransom by Mallary Mitchell

He took a hostage, but got a wife.

Desperate to keep the bank from taking his land, River Kirby kidnaps widow, Abigail Hoff, with the intent to hold her for ransom.

Abigail has other ideas--a mutually beneficial plan that will save River's farm and allow her to remain in Kansas...River will pose as her husband.
(Pages 260) Sensual

Print ISBN: 1-60154-838-9

Read an excerpt!


She squinted at the sudden glare of sunlight.

Her gaze traveled up the barrel of the pistol to the burning coal black eyes of the gunman. The staccato drumming in her chest told her to scream, but the scream never vocalized, instead her lips parted in a welcoming smile. She knew those haunted eyes.

The man took one look at her face and groaned. “What are you doing here?”

River’s long hair had been braided and pulled back, but the black eyes over the bandanna were unmistakable.

She put a hand to her chest. “Me? What are you doing? I thought you were joking about robbing a stage, Ri...”

He put a gloved finger to her lips with a caress. “Uh-uh, no names.”

All through their exchange Mrs. Hazelwood shrieked like a banshee behind her.

“Put the gun away. You’re scaring her.” Abby tilted her head and gave him a faint pleading smile.

River’s eyes narrowed. “I’m robbing this stage. I really don’t think your request is possible.” He shook his head. Almost scolding he said, “I thought you were going home. I thought you’d be safe. How are you going to protect yourself? What if someone...”

She raised her brows. “Robbed my stage?”

“You know this man? You knew he was robbing this stage, and you said nothing?” Mr. Hazelwood accused.

“I hardly thought he was serious. And certainly didn’t know he’d pick this one.”

“Then you’re an accomplice.” The man rudely pointed his finger at her.

“Just because I happen to know the perpetrator does not mean I am part and parcel to this stick up!"

Read the reviews!

"The Widow's Ransom is a frontier love story that hums with energy as the hero and heroine skate close to the edge of the law while they come to recognize their self-worth and work with all their might to reach their happy-ever-after. Mallary Mitchell tugs the reader into the story and captivates with a delightful writing style that keeps emotions sizzling."

--Long and Short Reviews

"Ms. Mitchell captivated this reader with her storyline. I wanted to read constantly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a sweet, poignant romance."

--The Romance Studio

Would you like to win a copy of The Widow's Ransom? Follow the rules of the contest below.


1) You must be a follower or subscriber of The Book Connection to win.

2) For your first entry, leave a comment with a valid email address. You can't win if you don't provide an email address.

3) One additional entry if you friend me on Facebook. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're friending me.

4) One additional entry if you follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're a follower.

5) You must be 18 or older and reside in the U.S. or Canada to be eligible to win.


Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The book will be shipped directly to the winner by the author. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged goods. 

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Book Review: Lessons from Stanley the Cat by Dr. Jennifer Freed

One little book, that is packed with a mountain of helpful advice is what you'll discover in Lessons from Stanley the Cat: Nine Lives of Everyday Wisdom by Dr. Jennifer Freed.

In this loving tribute to her cat, Stanley, Dr. Freed shares the tidbits of  wisdom she learned from her feline companion. The book is broken down into four sections: You and Yourself, You and Others, Love and Lust, and Healthy Habits.

Simple in nature, these nuggets of wisdom are easy to remember. You could write down your favorites and stick them on your computer monitor at your home or office whenever you need a pick me up. From pursuing your goals to ridding yourself of the rats in your life, from showing people love to enjoying your sexuality, and from finding pleasure in the moment to forgiving easily, each page offers helpful advice that can make your life better.

The accompanying illustrations by Tone Gillerstedt are wonderful. Some are sweet and some are silly, but they all capture the essence of the book and the messages it shares.

Now, I'm off to take some of Stanley's advice:

"Sleep well and rest often. A good nature depends on good sleep."


Title: Lessons from Stanley the Cat
Author: Dr. Jennifer Freed
Publisher: Perigee Trade 
ISBN-10: 0399536159
ISBN-13: 978-0399536151
SRP:  $12.95

Also available in a Kindle edition.


I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation of any kind.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Giveaway: Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel by Dana Precious

Born Under a Lucky Moon: A Novel is the tale of two very important (but distant) years in the lives of Jeannie Thompson and her (embarrassing, crazy) colorful family members to whom “things” just seem to happen. From the Great Lakes of Michigan to Los Angeles and back again, it is a story of surprise marriages, a renegade granny, a sprinkler system cursed by the gods, and myriad other factors Jeannie blames for her full-tilt, out-of-control existence. But it’s also about good surprises—like an unexpected proposal that might just open Jeannie’s eyes to her real place among the people she loves most in the world . . . the same ones she ran far away from to begin with.

I've read numerous reviews of Born Under a Lucky Moon, and all of them have sung the book's praises. I was excited when the publicist contacted me and asked me to review it. While I haven't read the book yet, I received a second copy to give away to one of my readers.

Here's what some people are saying about Born Under a Lucky Moon:

"This is a feel-good, amazing read...I highly recommend it."

--Luanne Stevenson, Blogcritics reviewer

"An incredible book that I have no doubt you’ll absolutely love!"

--ChickLitReviews.com

"I can wholeheartedly recommend Born Under a Lucky Moon to anyone looking for a fictional story about families, and why we love them even if they are always getting themselves into sticky situations."

--The Book Chick

Read more reviews and learn more about author Dana Precious at http://bornunderaluckymoon.com/

How can you win a copy of this great book? Follow the rules below:

1) You must be a follower or subscriber of The Book Connection to win.


2) For your first entry, leave a comment with a valid email address. You can't win if you don't provide an email address.

3) One additional entry if you friend me on Facebook. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're friending me.

4) One additional entry if you follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're a follower.

5) Two additional entries if you like the Born Under a Lucky Moon page on Facebook.

6) Two additional entries if you follow Dana Precious on Twitter.

7) You must be 18 or older to be eligible to win and a resident of the United States or Canada.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The winner will be notified by email and have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Your free book will be shipped via the USPS. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Interview with Barbara Barnett, Author of Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House M. D.

Joining us today is Barbara Barnett, Co-Executive Editor of Blogcritics, an Internet magazine of pop culture, politics and more owned by Technorati Media. Always a pop-culture geek, Barbara was raised on a steady diet of TV (and TV dinners), but she always found her way to TV’s antiheroes and misunderstood champions, whether on TV, in the movies or in literature.


Barnett’s regular column, “Welcome to the End of the Thought Process: An Introspective Look at House, M.D.” features insightful episode commentaries and interviews with the House cast and creative team. It is the place for intelligent discussion of the hit television series starring Hugh Laurie.


Barbara has had an eclectic career. With an undergraduate degree in biology and minors in chemistry and English, she pursued a PhD in Public Policy Analysis after spending a few years working in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Her first professional writing gig was with a food industry trade magazine, and although it wasn’t exactly like writing for The New Yorker, it completely hooked her on the profession of writing.


She also writes lots of other things, including technology (from a non-geek perspective), the movies, politics and all things Jewish. Based in the north shore suburbs of Chicago, Barnett is married with two brilliant children and a dog. Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, M.D. is her first (commercial) book. She hopes it’s not her last.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Barbara. It's a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have a favorite tagline I like to use to sign my writing: “I’ve had an eclectic career because my right brain doesn’t know what my left brain wants to do.” It’s always been a battle between my analytical/rational self and my creative self. My educational career is equally diverse: I have degrees in Biology and Chemistry, but with minors in English and History. My graduate work was in political science. So I’ve been all over the place—and one of the nice things about writing is that I can go in any direction my muse takes me, which satisfies both sides of my somewhat ambidextrous brain.

When did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing since I was about 8 or 9 years old. Poems first and then short stories and then more poems. And then things got more diverse.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

That depends on deadlines. I work all day, so I try to sneak in a bit (mostly editing) during the day. I write from the time I get home at 8 PM until about midnight usually. When I was finishing the book, I took a week off and wrote from 5 AM till 1 AM for the entire week. Likewise, when there’s an article I know my readers are waiting for, I’ll write till 1 or 2 in the morning to get it done.

What is this book about?

Chasing Zebras is an intelligent look at one of television’s most popular shows.

Medical students are taught that when they hear hoofbeats, they should think horses, not zebras, but Dr. House’s unique talent of diagnosing unusual illnesses has made House, M.D. one of the most popular and fascinating series on television. Chasing Zebras: The Unofficial Guide to House, M.D. takes fans deep into the heart of the show’s central character and his world, examining the way this medical Sherlock Holmes’s colleagues and patients reflect him and each other; how the music, settings, and even the humor enhance our understanding of the series’ narrative; what the show says about modern medicine, ethics, and religion; and much more. Complete with an episode-by-episode guide and quotes from my Blogcritics interviews with cast members, producers, and writers, Chasing Zebras is an intelligent look at one of television's most popular shows.



What inspired you to write it?

I wanted to dig deeper into House, M.D. than the constraints of a blog would allow. The show lends itself to a deeper analysis than most, so I tried to do that.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband is wonderfully indulgent and supportive. During the year I spent writing the book, he lived with a messy house and on pita and hummus. He let me read the manuscript to him, giving me feedback and editing suggestions along the way. I could not have done the book without his support. I also have a wonderful supporter and friend in an Australian woman named Mary Dagmar Davies. She’s a retired TV writer/director and has pushed and cajoled me the whole way. She’s been a great believer in the work.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I am repped by the wonderful Katharine Sands of Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency in New York.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

The road was pretty smooth. It’s a very long book (430 pages), so I was concerned that my publisher (ECW Press) would want big cuts; they did not for which I’m very grateful. The entire process was as smooth as it could be from my end. Everything from content to copyediting and proofreading went very well.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Chasing Zebras is available from all online booksellers (Powells, Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon, etc) worldwide. It’s also widely available at brick and mortar booksellers (chain and independents) in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Australia.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

Readers can find out more about the book at my wordpress blog: http://barbarabarnett.wordpress.com/. They can read my Blogcritics blog at http://blogcritics.org/writers/barbara-barnett

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Hiring a publicist, which was incredibly expensive but I think worth it.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Be persistent in your writing and be patient. Be a fearless copyeditor of your own work. Read it aloud—to yourself or someone else. And don’t be afraid to lose pages (or chapters) of your manuscript if it means a better book.

What is up next for you?

Like most writers, I have three novels on my computer. I’m actually about halfway through the most promising. I also have a new non-fiction book in the proposal stage. It’s with my agent, but we haven’t started pitching it yet.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Thanks for spending time with us today, Barbara. We wish you continued success.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Book Review: The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure

I believe every fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder, whether that person is a fan of the books, the TV shows and movies, or both, has a Laura story: the moment when she discovered Laura, connected with her, and how it changed her life. Wendy McClure shares her story with readers in The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie.

A senior editor for Albert Whitman & Company, McClure brings the reader through her journey as an adult of rediscovering these beloved classics from her childhood.

A year after the death of her mother, McClure's eye catches the yellow spine of Little House in the Big Woods in her apartment. She picks the book off the shelf and begins reading. Her boyfriend, Chris, brings home a new set of the Little House books and together they read, explore "Laura World," and embark on a trip by car to visit the many Laura Ingalls Wilder homesites across America.

The Wilder Life is both touching and irreverent. The author's lifelong obsession leads her on this terrific journey into a world that is familiar, yet, altogether new. From tracking down a "crock and dash" churn so she can make butter like Caroline Ingalls, to wading in Plum Creek; from purchasing numerous sunbonnets, to meeting girls competing in the Laura-Nellie Look Alike Contest at the Wilder Pageant in Walnut Grove, MN; and from a surprise during her trip to De Smet, SD, to the meaning found in a visit to the Wilder farm in New York, readers will enjoy following McClure's travels.

This is the kind of book that you have to consider as a whole. There are moments when it feels like McClure is poking fun at the whole "bonnethead" obsession and some of the people she meets along the way. She occasionally uses words that were not made for family TV back in the 70's. She also has her own vision of what faith meant to the Ingalls family versus how it was portrayed on television in Little House on the Prairie and the 2005 mini-series of the same name.

But when you take those moments and blend them into the entire narrative, you come up with a funny, engaging, and moving look into the impact Wilder's books had on McClure's life, and how Wilder's legacy continues to touch the lives of people everywhere. I am thrilled to have The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure as part of my Laura Ingalls Wilder book collection.


Title:  The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie
Author:  Wendy McClure
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover (April 14, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1594487804
ISBN-13: 978-1594487804
SRP:  $25.95 (Hardcover)

Will also be available in a Kindle edition and as an audio book.

This review first appeared at my Laura Ingalls Wilder blog, Laura's Little Houses.

I received a free copy of this book from the author's publicist in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation of any kind.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Interview with Bill Shears, Author of Kite (Giveaway)

Joining us today is Bill Shears, author of KITE. We'll talk to Bill about this book, his writing, and what's up next.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Bill. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I work with computers and I'm married with three kids. Though I read all kinds of books, I've been a fan of science fiction since grabbing a paperback edition of The War of the Worlds from a Bookmobile at about age 10. I also remember which book I read right after that, The Time Machine.

Where did you grow up?

Philadelphia.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

Summers at the shore in Wildwood NJ.

When did you begin writing?

First stab at a novel was in the early 80s. But I remember school assignments that were well-received.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I find a clear mind and post-dream state waiting for me when I wake up early in the morning. Never thought I'd be an early riser but now I get up at about 5 am, settle in and then get a good hour of writing in before the chaos of the day begins.

What is this book about?

Kite is about a working-stiff aboard the utility ship, Kite, the flagship of the Earth Orbit Maintenance department's fleet. His job is to cleanse the space around Earth of debris that comes along with the tourism and other commercial activity that's commonplace up there, although in the time of the book there is a recession. His name is Mason Dash and he has a highly customized and beautiful companion, a virtual personality named Sheila. On the last day of his three-month shift he spots some movement on an abandoned space station where there should be none. He decides to investigate, suspecting foul play. Meanwhile Sheila embarks on her own adventure, and finds a touch of romance, in the Kite computer system, which is undergoing a kind of digital power struggle. Amidst all of this, humankind's first unearthly visitor happens to make an appearance. He goes by the name of Troy and he's none too pleased with what he finds. The world's fate hangs in the balance with only Dash, Sheila and the humble maintenance ship Kite standing between Earth and destruction.

What inspired you to write it?

By the turn of the millennium and beyond, every country with a space program had been blasting junk up there without regard to who would clean it up. Eventually this pile of trash will get big enough to get in the way. If Earth is our home, then in the cosmic scale of things Earth's orbit is like the front stoop. Imagine if every trip out of your house on the way to work you dropped sharp objects on the steps. Eventually it will become too dangerous to leave the house. If humans ever want to spread out to the rest of the solar system, and not just send robotic probes, we'll have to sweep the stoop.

Back when I first conceived of the idea for a story about it (Who knows really how these things happen?) the issue of space debris was not nearly as prominent as it is now. At least once a week these days you see news about the problem. The International Space Station has had to dodge some and they considered evacuating because of it. Plus the idea that space would someday be a work-a-day place always intrigued me, so the story of a working stiff in orbit was a natural.

Who is your favorite author?

Alive: Neal Stephenson

Dead: Robert Heinlein

Very dead: Edgar Allan Poe

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Here are the links:

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/KITE-Bill-Shears/dp/1601459327/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253931974&sr=1-2

Barnes & Noble

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Kite/Bill-Shears/e/9781601459329/?itm=6&USRI=kite

Books a Million

http://booksamillion.com/books/4294.html

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

The main site URL is

http://www.infinitybound.com/

The Kite page, with synopsis and a two-chapter excerpt, is here:

http://kite.infinitybound.com/

What is up next for you?

Soon to be released ebook, a paranormal mystery called The Doppelgänger Song. And a high-pedigree science fiction film project for a small outfit is in the scripting phase. Still under wraps but I'll let you know when there's news.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Just thank you, and best of luck to you and your readers.

Are you intrigued? I sure hope so, because you have a chance to win a copy of Kite for yourself. Here's how:



1) You must be a follower or subscriber of The Book Connection to win.


2) For your first entry, leave a comment with a valid email address. You can't win if you don't provide an email address.


3) One additional entry if you friend me on Facebook. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're friending me.

4) One additional entry if you follow me on Twitter. Leave a comment with your profile link to show you're a follower.

5) Two additional entries if you like the Kite page on Facebook.

6) You must be 18 or older and reside in the U.S. or Canada to be eligible to win.

Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday, March 27, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The author will ship direct to the winner. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Mama's Comfort Food from Southern Fiction Author Rhett DeVane

The gang from Chattahoochee returns for another humorous, heartfelt tale of love, courage and the love of family and friends.

When Joe and Evelyn Fletcher's deluded daughter returns home, the family and community hunker down to help her through the fight for her life.

In the South, food equals love and comfort, and the cast of Mama's Comfort Food serve up heaping helpings of both.

AVAILABLE AT AMAZON AND IN A KINDLE EDITION!

Rhett DeVane has been writing since she was old enough to hold one of those big fat pencils. The author's mother testifies that Rhett has always made up stories. Before her mother passed away at ninety-one, she gave her daughter this advice : "Don't ever give up on your writing. It will take you places you never dreamed possible."


Rhett has made a living as a dental hygienist for over thirty years. Her patients, after all these years, are friends, family. They were truly as excited about her first published novel as the author. Rhett thinks they were just plain-out relieved. After all, when you are a captive audience and the speaker has little sharp tools in your mouth, you listen to every word she says. They flocked to Rhett's first signing and continue to support her writing.


Rhett comes from a long line of humorists and storytellers, their familial roots embedded in Alabama, Georgia, and North Florida. Parents, siblings, cousins--none could ever resist a good joke. Laughter, love, and support flow easily in the DeVane clan; a perfect garden for a budding Southern writer. A good disposition proved beneficial for anyone marrying into the family, too!


Rhett is originally from Chattahoochee, a small town in the Florida panhandle. After college, she moved to Tallahassee, the warm and friendly southern city she now calls home. She is working on a series of Southern adult fiction novels and middle-grade chapter books.

Visit Rhett online at www.rhettdevane.com/

You can read my reviews of the other two books in this series by clicking here and here. The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate and Up the Devil's Belly were my first southern fiction reads. I've been hooked ever since.