Giveaway: Star Scout Rising: First Trail by Gary Darby

"From the last frontier, Space. A must-have, out of this world adventure! StarScout Rising: First Trail by Gary Darby is a thoughtful, awe-inspiring, and spine-tingling Sci-Fi mystery that follows a young man named Del Baldura during his quest for knowledge, truth, and discovery in the distant future of human and alien kind. This story has it all superb background, surprises, mystery, love, futuristic technological possibilities, bizarre life forms, and a hero trying to make sense of his duty and loyalty, his current leadership responsibilities, and his search for truth about part of his and his family's history. Volume One of a three volume set, Darby hits a grand-slam with this first novel. Smart and thought provoking. Volume Two due out in 2011."

Read the reviews!

"Darby has a talent for description, and his characters came to my mind clearly. I could easily picture them as they interacted with one another. I like the intrigue of the first book...."

--From the Other Side of the Mirror

" an incredibly fun book that reads like a “summer blockbuster"...”

--DesignZ by DeDe

"Gary Darby has the ability to make worlds come alive and battles spark to life..."

--Debbie's Inkspectations

Enter for your chance to win a copy of Star Scout Rising: First Trail by Gary Darby.

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 follow Gary Darby's blog at http://starscoutrising.blogspot.com/. Leave a comment stating you are now his follower.

6) Three additional entries if you blog about this contest. Leave a link to your post here.

7) 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 24, 2011. Winner will be selected out of all entrants who followed the rules governing this contest. The book will be shipped media mail through the USPS. The Book Connection is not responsible for lost or damaged goods.

Book Spotlight: Keeping it Simple! by Jayne M. DeRouin

Many people use the spring season to tidy their homes and organize their closets, but when was the last time you decluttered your life?

Full-time wife and mother Jayne DeRouin says keeping life simple is essential to effective living. In her new book, “Keeping it Simple!: Keys to Living an Uncomplicated Life”, DeRouin reveals how she has managed to “keep it simple” despite facing adversity in her own hectic life. She demonstrates how focusing on life’s positive aspects and trusting their instincts can guide readers through any hurdles in life.

DeRouin provides readers with useful tips, like having a garage sale to rid themselves of emotional clutter or learning to say no to activities that cause needlessly harmful emotions. She also suggests focusing on physical health to gain emotional health, welcoming moments of reflection and using your spirituality as your personal GPS system. According to DeRouin, seeking long-term happiness rather than immediate endorphin highs is the best way to live a clutter-free life.

Read an excerpt!

There are no coincidences in life.

Everything happens for a reason.

You have this book for a reason. Maybe you picked it up because you felt something drew you in, but you weren’t quite sure what it was. Maybe you chose this book because you heard the inner voice of your soul speaking to you and you acted on its wisdom, without hesitation, trusting your instincts and using your free will to make a choice that you may have thought unusual in the past. Maybe you received it as a gift, from someone very special in your life because they felt it would be something you would enjoy reading. Maybe this book will validate for you how you feel about life and now you will know there is someone else out there who thinks like you and it will encourage you to continue doing things just the way you are. Or maybe, it will help you make some change in your life that you have sensed you needed to make but weren’t quite sure how. No matter what the circumstance is, or your reason for reading it, this book is now in your hands, what you decide to do is completely up to you.

Keeping It Simple! is a compilation of divine principles, providing a spiritual philosophy and approach to life unlike anything else you have ever read before. The stories you read, the personal stories I share and the messages revealed come from my heart and soul. Like a good cookbook, with tips and tricks to aide you in your cooking, “Keeping It Simple!” is an inspirational guide that can support you during your spiritual journey. The principles and techniques discussed are meant to provide you with a way to draw parallels to your own life, and through the personal stories I share, help you start to throw away the old way of thinking and plug into your own spiritual creativity.

Read the reviews!

"A must read for every caregiver or anyone who thinks the world has gotten the best of them."

~ Editor-in-Chief, Caring Years Magazine

"I encourage everyone to read Jayne's book; truly inspirational; it will ignite the light within!"

~ Kerri D.

“There is a down to earth, everydayness to the writing of Keeping It Simple! that allows the reader to make a direct connection. The beauty of this book is that it is not professorial or theological. It is like having a dialogue with the author. It is easy to sit down with it and read it comfortably.”

~ Bill C.

PURCHASE A COPY OF KEEPING IT SIMPLE! AT AMAZON!

Jayne DeRouin is a busy wife and mother, as well as an incurable optimist who knows the secret to achieving a balanced life. Over the years, she realized almost any obstacle life threw her way could be overcome by trusting deeply in herself. Eager to pass on what she’s learned, Jayne shares her life-tested advice in her new book, where she offers practical tips and insights for decluttering your life.


DeRouin didn’t always know she would be a writer. As a young woman, she considered being a hairdresser and even aspired to be a celebrity stylist, but after a brief time as a cosmetic consultant, DeRouin decided to study business administration. She worked as a banker for 18 years before becoming a full-time homemaker when her son was born. An active member of her church choir, she enjoys volunteering for her son’s school, where she serves on the parent-teacher organization. She also maintains a motivational blog on her website and helps her husband run his business. DeRouin lives in Cranston, R.I., with her husband, David, and their son, John. For more information about DeRouin or Keeping it Simple!, please visit www.jaynederouin.com.  

Author Interview: Abel Keogh, Author of The Third

Joining us today is Abel Keogh, author of The Third. He is also the author of the memoir Room for Two as well as numerous short stories and poems. For nearly a decade he has worked as a professional copywriter and composed hundreds of print and online pieces of marketing collateral for technology, real estate, health care, and education organizations—including several Fortune 500 companies. Abel and his wife, Julianna, are the parents of three boys and a girl.

Thanks for joining us today, Abel. It's great to have you with us. Where did you grow up?

A small farm in Ogden, Utah.

When did you begin writing?

I wrote my first “book” when I was eight years old. I asked my parents for a three-ring binder with lined paper for my eighth birthday. I sat down and over the course of the next few days wrote my first novel. It was ten pages long. My mom saved it and gave it to me when I was older.

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

I do most of my writing after my kids are in bed. Most nights I’ll fall asleep writing. Sometimes I’ll get up early on weekends or holidays and try to squeeze in a few extra hours if I can. I’d love to be able to spend 40-50 hours a week writing, but until I can support my family by doing so, that’s not an option.

What is this book about?

The Third is a look at a “green” future where couples are limited to no more than two children. A woman named Teya becomes pregnant with a third child. She and her husband, Ransom, are then forced to hide from the Census Bureau Sentinels while they search for a replacement credit. It’s a story about love, hope, and what one couple will do to save their family. At its core, The Third is about freedom and oppression and what rights we’re willing to give up in order to “save the planet.”

What inspired you to write it?

I always wanted to write a story that looked at “green” future. I had several other ideas for the story before I settled on overpopulation and the two-child limit as a starting point. I can’t remember what one event or moment that made me want to write it. It’s been a subject I wanted to explore for a long time.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Mona, Taya’s sister-in-law. I like the way her character came together. She doesn’t have any kids of her own but adores her sister’s children. At the same time she’s the director of the Census Bureau and the one tasked with enforcing the population laws. She’s the one who’s really caught in the middle between her love for her sister and her desire to enforce the population laws.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My wife, Julianna. If she didn’t give me time to write, The Third, Room for Two, or books that I’m working on now would never exist. I dedicated The Third to her for this very reason.

Who is your favorite author?

The economist and philosopher Thomas Sowell. He doesn’t write fiction but his ideas found in his economic and social philosophy books have had a profound influence on The Third and other novels I’m writing.

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

It was a bumpy ride. The Third was scheduled to be published in 2010 by a different publisher but they were ultimately unable to take it to press. Thankfully, Cedar Fort expressed interest in it. They’ve been great to work with. The lesson in all this for aspiring writers is that the road to publication is never a smooth ride. As long as you have a good story and can write, your book will eventually find a home somewhere.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The Third can be purchased online at Amazon.com or bn.com. It should be available in bookstores as well. Since the official release date isn’t until April 8, I’m not sure what stores will stock it. Those who want signed copies can order them through my website.

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

Yes, you can find it at http://www.abelkeogh.com/.  You can read or download the first chapter of The Third or learn more about my other books and works in progress.

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

The best promotional activities I did with my first book was getting in front of book clubs, classrooms, and other writing groups and talk to them about the themes or subjects in the book they wanted to discuss. Once you become a real person and not just someone who has a book on the shelves people are much more interested in your work. They’re the ones that really get the word-of-mouth advertising going.

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

Keep writing. The more you write the better you’ll get. Don’t let rejections stop you from writing. So long as you keep at it, your book will eventually find a home.

What is up next for you?

I’m finishing up the sequel to The Third as well working on a YA novel. I’ll also have darker, gloomy story I’ve been working on and off for a year but since it’s for more of a niche audience, it’s not at the top of my Writing-To-Do list. It’s my goal to have two of these three projects completed and out to publishers by the end of the year.

Thanks for spending time with us today, Abel. We wish you great success.

THE THIRD VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

April 18th – David West

http://www.david-j-west.blogspot.com/

April 18th LT Elliot

http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com/

April 19th - Guest Blog - Marcie Turner

http://2readornot2read-loves2read.blogspot.com/

April 21st - Heather Gardner

http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/

April 23rd – Elizabeth Mueller

http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/

April 26th—Kristin Centorcelli

http://www.mybookishways.com/

April 28th—Elana Johnson

http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/

May 3rd – Wendy Hines

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

May 9th— Mindy Oja

http://www.readingforsanity.blogspot.com/

May 11th – Rachelle Christensen

http://www.rachellewrites.blogspot.com/

May 13th – Cheryl Malandrinos – blurb and interview, with review later

http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/

May 14th – Sheila Staley

http://whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com/

May 16th – Kathy Habel

http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/

May 19th – Sharon Chance

http://sharonsgardenofbookreviews.blogspot.com/

May 25th— Tristi Pinkston

http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

May 31st— Missie Burson

http://www.theunreadreader.com/

Look for reviews coming from these sites too!

Amber Argyle Smith

http://amberargyle.blogspot.com/

Heidi Durant

http://ldwmagazine.com/

Bob McCarty

BobMcCarty.com

Susan Jensen

http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/

Tara Lassin

http://www.tamingthebookshelf.com/

Elizabeth Jones

http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/

Greg Tidwell

http://blog.omphalosbookreviews.com/ 

Guest Blogger: If the Voices in My Head Could Talk to One Another....by Ginger Simpson, Author of Odessa

Today's guest blogger is Ginger Simpson, author of Odessa.

When the wagon carrying Odessa Clay and her father overturns, he is killed. She is left alone in the middle of the desert to try to find her way to kin in Phoenix. Hot, dry and scared, Odessa is near death when Zach Johnson finds her. Squinting up into his tanned and handsome face, she imagines she’s died and gone to heaven.

Would-be-outlaw, Zach comes across an unconscious woman alone in the middle of nowhere. Where did she come from? She appears young, but the curves beneath the dusty gingham say otherwise. He didn’t plan to become someone’s hero, but he cannot leave her helpless and stranded.

Will the promise of Odessa’s sweet lips lure Zach from the secret mission that has his gut twisted into a knot? His father’s ranch isn’t the only thing at stake—now it’s his heart, too.

Read an excerpt!

After slipping the sheet music beneath the mattress, Odessa stripped down to her undergarments, hung her dress on the bedpost and crawled between the covers. She stifled a giggle. Zach would be surprised when she gave him the news of her plans, but she’d have to wait and pretend she found the job during the daytime. Believing she’d put something over on him brought a feeling of satisfaction. A smug grin tugged at her lips.

Fatigue from the long day embraced her. She plumped her pillow and pulled the blanket up beneath her chin. Releasing a relaxing sigh, she closed her eyes.

“You’ve been gone quite a while. Gonna tell me where you’ve been?” Zach’s deep voice cut the silence, startling her.

“Ah…I thought you were asleep.” “I’m sure you did.” He sat up, letting his blanket fall to his waist.

Distracted by moonlight from the window highlighting his bared chest and muscled arms, her alibi drifted right out of her mind.  

Read the reviews!

"Ginger Simpson's latest novel, Odessa, is the story of a brave, young woman who loses her father in a tragic accident while searching for her aunt, but finds true love in the process. Simpson brilliantly uses humor, lovable characters, and detailed description to transport the reader back to the Old West. When Zach, a would be outlaw under duress, meets Odessa in the desert and saves her life, little does he know that he would be in for the adventure of his life. After a short time together, there is nothing he wouldn't do to keep the pretty little spitfire safe. And, keeping Odessa safe, could be quite trying especially when the little spitfire is determined to risk her life to return the favor! With much determination and a spirit only found in the courageous pioneer women of the time, Odessa fulfills her dreams. This story is a delightful read. So, hold on tight to your horse, for you will experience the ride of your life!"

– Peer Review by Maggie Dove

 
If the Voices in My Head Could Talk to One Another...
by Ginger Simpson
 
I wonder now at people condemned to asylums because they insisted they had voices in their heads. Could they have been authors? Especially, 'pantsers' and don't do any plotting?

I never had voices in my head before I started writing...now I have more than I can handle in this lifetime...all screaming their ideas at me and wanting me to tell their story. I find myself so confused at times, I don't know which one to listen to, so I just don't write. I've tried revising my style to plotting, but I just can't do it. I need my characters to lead me, but when they're all shouting...

Here's a typical day in my life, from the perspective of me and my 'crew.'

Odessa: "It's been days since you've typed a word of my story. Here I am, all goosebumpy over the fellow who found me in the middle of the desert, I'm dying to kiss him, and you've just left me hanging. Get on with it,would you? Odessa should be a first priority."

Carrie: "Whoa, hold on Dessie. Wait your turn. Ginger started First Degree Innocence long before your silly tale. You just jumped in and interrupted her with the ploy about your pa being trapped under a wagon or some such nonsense. Your urgency is a kiss? Really. I'm stuck in prison for something I didn't do, some ballsy chick called Jet is after me to help her set up a friend by planting a shiv, and all you can worry about is when you're gonna get kissed. Give me a break."

Meagan: "Shut up, both of you. I gave Ginger the idea for a story that just might qualify for the Harlequin Undone series, even though she's not so great with steamy love scenes. *whispering* Don't tell anyone, but I think she's a prude at times.*back to yelling* The story requirement is only 15,000 words, so if you'll just take a seat and hold your tongues, maybe she can get creative and finish the damn thing. Crap...this just in. She shared the story with some cronies of hers and they tell her it's not hot enough. Now she's got this crazy idea to just make it an historical novella, called Tender Return. Geez, and I gave up my virginity for this?"

Clarence: "Good God, is bickering all you women ever do? I have murder cases to solve and lives to save. Sort of makes your silly little plot lines look weak, don't you think? I think The Locket should take precedence. Right now, I've only had two deaths and I'm working on the cases, but unless Ginger gets her butt in gear and pushes on with the story, I'll never find out who gets the necklace next, or where the darned thing came from. So stop your yammering so she can listen to me!"

Faith: *sniffing* "What about me? I'm still waiting for her to start In Search of Joshua. How am I ever going to find happiness if all you keep taking cuts?"

Clarence: "Taking cuts, my ass. You already have a book published with you as the heroine. Give someone else a chance. Geez, talk about greedy."

Faith: "Well, it's not just me that's anxious. The people who read the first book...at the least a couple of reviewers, didn't care much for the ending because I didn't connect with Joshua. I have to find him."

Carrie: "Take a chill pill, Faith. Try living behind bars and worrying your cellmate is going to snuff you out during the night and then come talk to me. I wish I knew if I was going to survive this story or not. I'm not getting any younger, ya know."

Joy: "Hey...don't forget me. I know she only typed a paragraph of my story, but I have a wonderful one to tell...and with a twist none of you have come up with. I think she's stalling on mine because she just can't get kinky. But, I intend to keep yelling in her ear until she finishes Joy's Revelation."

Odessa: Revelation, smevelation. It's late. We all have a gripe, but we'd better shut up so Miss EPPIE nominee can get some sleep or she'll never finish anything. At least we know she must have some talent. *laughing*. Good night guys. Talk to you tomorrow."

Clarence: "Okay, goodnight. But I get first crack at her in the morning. It's only fair because lives are involved."
Faith: "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Whoever screams the loudest... Goodnight everyone...you too John Boy

*group giggles*

Yes...that was a day in my head a few years ago. I'm happy to report that everything except "In Search of Joshua" has been finished and is either published or awaiting release. Wow...walk a mile in my shoes and then wonder why you aren't in a straight jacket somewhere.

Thanks to Cheryl for letting me share her blog today. If you want information on my books, you can find them all at http://www.gingersimpson.com/.

Retired from her big girl job, Ginger Simpson hoped to devote more time to writing, but caught up in the every day world of promotions, emails and chatting, she’s decided that one book a year might just be her norm. She spends some of her free time with husband, Kelly, and always finds time for Spencer, the love of her life. Her grandson, diagnosed with Autism, has shown her that with determination, all things are possible. Look how long it took Grandma Moses to find fame.

Visit Ginger online at:

http://www.gingersimpson.com/


http://mizging.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/mizging

http://www.twitters.com/mizging

Author Interview: John Ames, Author of Adventures in Nowhere

Joining us today is John Ames, author of the coming of age novel, Adventures in Nowhere. John has a master’s degree in English from the University of Florida, where he was a Ford Fellow. 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.  Adventures in Nowhere is his latest release.

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



I was raised in Tampa under difficult circumstances and felt greatly relieved when I went away to college, entering the University of Florida to train as an actor. A season of summer stock convinced me that a lot of theater people are crazy, so I changed my major to English, eventually graduating with a master’s degree. Shortly thereafter, I built a rustic house and lived for several years on the edge of a spiritual community located near Gainesville, Florida. My search for enlightenment ended when I decided that I was too far from a movie theater. I moved back to civilization and taught English and film for thirty years at Santa Fe College in Gainesville. Along the way, I 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. I appeared as a standup comedian in several venues. I also designed a line of Florida-themed lamps which were sold in galleries in Gainesville and St. Augustine, Florida. For ten years I reviewed movies for PBS radio station WUFT. I also coauthored Second Serve: The Renée Richards Story (Stein and Day, 1983) and its sequel No Way Renée: The Second Half of My Notorious Life (Simon & Schuster, 2007), and Speaking of Florida (University Presses of Florida, 1993).


When did you begin writing?


As soon as the sisters at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Tampa suggested that I was good at it. In the second grade, the teacher asked each of the students to write something about where he or she lived, all of which would be included in a little mimeographed one-issue paper. I dreaded this because I was ashamed of the house I lived in and of the family pressures I was under. But I took a breath and wrote about living in a house with a forest beyond the backyard and about the creek running through the forest leading to the Hillsborough River. I added a few details about my dog, and to my amazement, the teacher liked it well enough to choose my story as one of the few to be illustrated, in my case, some stick trees. After the paper was passed out, some of my fellow students expressed envy at my situation. I couldn’t imagine anyone envying me, but I realized that writing about a situation could place things in a new light. I am still doing it.


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


For me, anything important has to be written in the morning. That’s when I have my greatest energy. I usually start about 9 AM and go on for up to four hours before I need to rest. I think the morning thing is fairly common among writers. In the afternoon, a lot of them drink, but I do home improvement projects.

What is this book about?


Adventures in Nowhere is about a thoughtful ten-year-old boy who is who is facing tough problems. Danny Ryan’s father is dangerous and overpowering, probably bipolar, one sister is seriously ill, the other is on the verge of an emotional meltdown, and his mother is too overwhelmed to be of help. The Ryan family is stuffed into three-room house where they can’t get away from one another. Ironically, the house is located in a beautiful spot that would be an ideal playground if his home life was not so pressure-filled. During the course of the novel, Danny meets a series of eccentric characters who draw him into an adventure that leads Danny to an odd triumph. Though he sometimes doubts his sanity along the way, Danny eventually comes to realize that the ugliness in life is balanced by great beauty.


What inspired you to write it?


My upbringing formed the basis for Adventures in Nowhere. I experienced a troubled home life, just like Danny, and like him I lived in a beautiful area of woods and creeks. Only a few blocks from my house was the Hillsborough


Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?


Amazon, for one. It is always a kick for me to visit the Amazon Adventures in Nowhere page, which contains some nice reviews from people who have bought the book. It is also available at Books-a-Million, Borders, Indiebound, and Powell’s. It can also be gotten through local independent bookstores.


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


My website is johnamesauthor.com , which I put together using an unusual approach. In addition to the conventional items like my biography and an excerpt from the book, the site gives a lot of information about the setting of the novel, the Hillsborough River and the community of Sulphur Springs, both of which are crucial to the plot and interesting in their own right. When I knew the river and the springs in the 1950s, the river was undeveloped past a certain point and Sulphur Springs was still interesting though definitely on a downward spiral. Most of the town was bulldozed in the early 1980s to make room for a dog track parking lot. The big spring that fed the swimming area is now polluted from storm water runoff and is unfit for bathing. I wanted to chronicle the place as I knew it before it is lost to living memory. My site helps readers understand what the novel is about by exploring the real Nowhere. Visitors to johnamesauthor.com will find pictures of the river and of Sulphur Springs, starting in the early 1900s and going right through to the present, though the emphasis is on images from Danny’s era. There’s even a video of a SCUBA dive into the big spring in Sulphur Springs.


What is up next for you?


Taking a deep breath. I suppose I will start another novel once the flurry of activity surrounding the publication of Adventures in Nowhere is over.

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

Book Spotlight: Rock Bound by Rochelle Weber

Jake saved Annie’s life. Now slaves on that God-forsaken rock, the Moon, how will they survive?

The future is a dangerous place for dreamers and idealists.

When a dictator takes over the United States, Annie Peterson attends a protest in Washington, DC, with Paul, her husband and soul mate. US troops fire into the crowd killing Paul. Jake Johnsrud, a virtual stranger, risks his life to save Annie’s. They are among the survivors who are sentenced to slavery on the Moon for their “crimes.”

Jake is forced to mine, while Annie is sentenced as a doxy to "service" the men. Jake fights increasing feelings of anger and jealousy as Annie struggles to perform her job, while she resists her increasing attraction to him. Along with their fellow inmates, they fight to survive on the lunar "rock" that is their prison.

Read an excerpt!
 
Noon, July 4, 2051

Washington, DC

The protesters pushed against each other, trying to hold their signs up high above the crowd. The smell of sweat hung in the muggy July air, as Paul, Annie, and Crystal struggled to find a place to spread their blankets near the Lincoln Memorial. The passion of the crowd’s chant rang across the Mall.

“Restore the Constitution! Restore free elections!”

The Mall was so crowded they could barely breathe. Paul went in search of drinks and was gone over an hour. The first speaker mounted the podium.

“Can you believe they’re charging five credits a bottle for water and seven for pop?” he asked, as he handed the women their drinks.

“Now don’t you wish we’d brought the cooler from the car?” Annie asked.

“I know, and you’ll never let me live it down,” Paul lamented. His warm, brown eyes smiled at her.

“Well, if water’s five credits, how much’ll a sandwich be?” Crystal asked.

“I already checked. Burgers’re fifteen credits and fries’re another five,” Paul replied, as he settled on the blanket between the two women.

“It’s a seller’s market. They’ll charge all the traffic will bear,” said a man sitting on the grass next to them. “I’m Jake Johnsrud.” The man’s bright blue eyes twinkled momentarily when his gaze met Annie’s.

Annie smiled at him. “This is my husband, Paul, our friend Crystal Petrie, and I’m Annie Peterson. Why don’t you join us on our blanket?”

“Thanks,” he said.

“Nice to meet you, Jake,” Annie replied. “Scrunch over there, Honey.” She patting the blanket next to her as she moved closer to Paul in the middle to make room for the tall, raw-boned man.

“Well, the price of pop isn’t our only worry,” Paul said. “There are troops surrounding the Mall. I think we can pretty much count on being arrested.”

“Then we’ll all be arrested together, just like my great-grandparents in Chicago.” Annie linked her arm through Paul’s and sang slightly off key, “If you’ve been to jail for justice, let me shake your hand.”

Folk songs by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary had been staples in the Swanson household when she was growing up. Her great-grandmother had sung her to sleep with “Puff the Magic Dragon” and had sung along in the car as she listened to the group’s re-mastered files. And now, a century later, the music had been rediscovered. By the end of the day, it would be banned.

They stood up to listen to the speakers.

Annie followed Crystal’s gaze to the soldiers. She didn’t believe what she saw, and tried to process the sight of them raising their weapons. Crystal dropped her sign and yelled, “The bastards’re firing on us!”

Paul’s head lolled forward, the charred hole still smoking, and Annie fell to the ground trying to cradle him. She sobbed, crying “No! No! No!” Crystal’s arms were around her, as she sat on the ground, clutching her dead husband. People were trying to run but there was nowhere to go. Annie felt Jake fall atop her and Crystal. Oh, my God! He’s dead, too!

“Stay still,” he said. “We’re liable to get trampled.”

Annie felt the weight lift all too soon, as Jake was roughly pulled to his feet by a soldier, who separated him from the women. They handcuffed Annie with a plastic tie-up, and dragged her away from Paul’s body toward an Army truck.

“Nooooooooooo!” she screamed. “Paul!”

They threw her in back of the truck, and Crystal landed next to her. She scooted closer to Annie.

“Cry it out, Sweetie,” Crystal said. Annie leaned her head on the other woman’s shoulder and sobbed.

Purchase Rock Bound at:

Create Space Buy Link: https://www.createspace.com/3559316


Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43292

Rochelle Weber is a Navy veteran and holds a BA in Communications from Columbia College in Chicago with an emphasis on creative writing.  Her non-fiction article, “Bulimia,” was featured in Hair Trigger 9 & 10, the acclaimed Columbia College student anthology.  Her first novel, Rock Bound, is available now at Create Space and Smashwords.  The sequel, Rock Crazy will be released by MuseItUp Publishing in October, 2011.  She edits the Marketing for Romance Writers Newsletter.  Rochelle lives in Volo, Ilinois, with her elder daughter and granddaughter.  Her younger daughter lives in Paris, Illinois, and has a son and two daughters.  Each daughter has a wonderful man in her life with two girls of his own for a total of four step-granddaughters.  Three cats and a rabbit allow the humans space in their home.

Visit Rochelle online at www.rochelleweber.com. You can find her blogs at http://rochelleweber.blogspot.com/ and http://rochellesreviews.blogspot.com/. She is also on Facebook and Twitter at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1067356188  and http://twitter.com/#!/RochelleWeber. 

Giveaway Winners!

Congratulations go out to Wanda, who won a copy of Born Under a Lucky Moon by Dana Precious. I'll email her tomorrow. She'll have 72 hours to respond with her mailing address. If I don't hear from her within that time frame I'll select a new winner.

Our congratulations also go out to shanaelyse, winner of an eCopy of The Widow's Ransom by Mallary Mitchell.

Thanks to all who participated. Look for more giveaways coming soon!