Category: guest blogs

A GRIPPING YOUNG ADULT ADVENTURE! by Annie Douglass Lima #freeonamazon

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo1 Comment
A GRIPPING YOUNG ADULT ADVENTURE!
 

About the Story:

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?


What is the Collar for, and What is a Cavvarach?

The story is set in a world very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Any slave attempting to escape faces the dilemma of how and where to illegally get their collar removed (a crime punishable by enslavement for the remover).  

Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), an unsharpened weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.

More About the Story


Set in a world alarmingly like our own, The Collar and the Cavvarach is the story of fourteen-year-old Bensin, a slave, whose status is made obvious to everyone by the steel collar locked around his neck. A martial artist who competes to win money for his owner, Bensin fights in tournaments with a cavvarach. But his greatest battle is the struggle to protect his little sister from the horrors of legalized slavery in a world where slaves have few rights. Desperate to keep her safe, Bensin struggles to find a means – legal or otherwise – to arrange for her freedom.

(For a fun introduction to the story’s setting and its culture, including an explanation of how cavvara shil works, click here.) 


Sound Like a Book you Might Enjoy? 


Click the play button below to listen to the first 15 minutes of the story as narrated by Joseph Baltz.

Click here to go to the audiobook on Audible.
Click here to go to the audiobook on Amazon.
(Either way, try listening to the free sample to see what you think!)


Like to Read Along While You Listen? 


The Collar and the Cavvarach ebook is available for FREE from July 14-18. Grab your copy now!

 

Enter the Giveaway to Win a Bundle of Action and Adventure eBooks!
*click the text link below to fill out the rafflecopter:
About the Author
 

Annie Douglass Lima considers herself fortunate to have traveled in twenty different countries and lived in four of them. A fifth-grade teacher in her “other” life, she loves reading to her students and sparking their imaginations. Her books include science fiction, fantasy, YA action and adventure novels, a puppet script, anthologies of her students’ poetry, Bible verse coloring and activity books, and a fantasy-themed cookbook. When she isn’t teaching or writing, Annie can often be found sipping spiced chai or pomegranate green tea in exotic locations, some of which exist in this world.

 
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/anniedouglasslima
LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn
Bloglovin: https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/letters-from-annie-douglass-lima-6275229
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/annie-douglass-lima
Sign up for author updates and receive a free ebook: http://bit.ly/LimaUpdates

Quick Note and update

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo

 

I have moved my blogging home. I’m now (back) over at Blogspot: http://julismapsroom.blogspot.com where I find I’m babbling more often…:) About just about anything that comes to mind. So, if you’d like to keep up on all my er, notes and latest releases, I have subscription links at the bottom of the blog. They look like this:

followforms

If you are following me on bloglovin’ you’re probably good. If you aren’t then do go look for those (*at the bottom of the blog!). *sigh* Meanwhile, I hope y’all have a good weekend and good luck in the giveaway, (if you try for it)!

Mary Morgan–Dragon Knight’s Shield blog tour & #giveaway

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo6 Comments

I’m pleased to have best selling author Mary Morgan here today. She’s just released her latest paranormal romance novel, Dragon Knight’s Shield, and though she takes her characters to Scotland, they are devoted to our favorites here: dragons and our beloved Tuatha dé Danann. 🙂 I think my readers here will enjoy her work. Read on for a little about Dragon Knight’s Shield, and a giveaway.

 

Mary Morgan Q&A

 

 

How did you first come to write paranormal romance? What drew you to the genre?

I’ve always had a fascination with mythology, especially Irish and Scottish. In addition, my love for a good fairytale. Growing up with an overactive imagination, I would constantly weave my own stories within my mind. Therefore, it made sense that I would be drawn to write what I truly love.

 

This series includes something we’re very fond of here: The Tuatha dé Danaan. Can you tell us how you first discovered their myths? What’s your favorite, if you have one? J And how do they work into Dragon Knight’s Shield?

I’ve been reading and listening to the tales of the Tuatha dé Danann for decades. They’ve always been a favorite when reading about the invasions of Ireland. Perhaps it’s in my DNA—my Irish heritage. I have many favorites, but here are a few: The Legend of Cu Chulainn, The Red Branch, and The Children of Lir.

My own twist: The Dragon Knights were created by the Tuatha dé Danaan. They were the protectors of the last remaining dragon belonging to the tribe of the Goddess Danu.

 

What else can you tell us about your new release, Dragon Knight’s Shield?

As the oldest, Angus MacKay suffers greatly over the death of sister, Margaret. It was his brother’s sword that killed her, and as a result, Angus bears the burden of failure—for not controlling his clan. Yet, even on his journey, Angus showed me he still was a leader. Oh, he tried to discard the mantle of leadership, but it never really left him. Of course, he needed a strong woman to stand by his side, and Deirdre Flanagan was the perfect warrior woman for him.

It’s the fourth book in my series and the longest. Bringing together all four MacKay brothers took some time. They all had something to say, including their wives.

There are twists and turns, a birth, and a surprise revelation. One I hope my readers will embrace.

 

 

By what authors would you say you are influenced?

I’m not influenced, but in awe of their storytelling. One that stands out: Marion Zimmer Bradley.

 

Now that Dragon Knight’s Shield is out, what can curious fans expect from you next?

I’m working on the fifth and final Dragon Knight’s story, who was revealed in Dragon Knight’s Shield. I’m hoping to have it out in late summer. Also, I’m working on a Christmas novella with one of the characters from the series. It’s a surprise!

 

If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

Archaeology or History professor.

 

What authors are you currently reading and keeping an eye on?

Currently, I’m reading “Agincourt” by Bernard Cornwell, and “I’ll Know It When I See It” by Alice Carey. I tend to read fiction and non-fiction at the same time.

 

Where can my readers learn more about you?

I love making new friends, Juli! Here are a few of my favorite places:

WEBSITE http://www.marymorganauthor.com

BLOG http://www.marymorganromancewriter.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

I love hearing feedback about my stories, and I always take the time to answer your questions. It’s been an incredible journey, but I wouldn’t be here without so many embracing the Dragon Knights!

 

51d4GfCyRcLDragon Knight’s Shield
Order of the Dragon Knights
Book Four
Mary Morgan

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Date of Publication: January 8, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5092-0542-4

Number of pages: 407
Word Count: 99,950

Cover Artist: Debbie Taylor

Book Description:

Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him.

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight.

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes?

 

Excerpt:

Excerpt One:

His look was predatory, lustful, inviting, and she took a step backward. Words failed her as she took another step back.

He arched a brow and his smile became seductive. “Do I frighten ye?”

“No!” she lied. Like hell you do! You’re as gorgeous as sin standing there, and I want to rip your clothes from your body.

Pushing off from the wall, he stepped into the room and silently closed the door behind him, his eyes never leaving hers. His hair hung in soft waves past his shoulders, and her fingers itched to twine within them. Her body ached in places so deep—longing for even the slightest touch.

“Are ye unwell, my lady?”

The burr of his voice so low—so sexy, she could only stare at him until his words resonated in her mind. “No,” she replied softly, feeling the flames of desire heat not only her face, but also her entire body.

This time when he took another step closer, Deirdre didn’t back away. Now he stood so close she could feel the warmth of his breath across her face—a mix of wine and pure male.

She watched mesmerized as he reached for a lock of her hair, twining it around his finger. “So verra soft.”

Deirdre couldn’t breathe, as he let the curl unravel and cupped her face in his hands. “Ye confuse me. Ye torment me in my dreams,” he whispered against her cheek, sending a wave of pleasure down her spine.

Without thought, she groaned and leaned into him—his beard grazing her cheek. She no longer battled her mind for the man. “Kiss me, Angus.”

Excerpt Two:

“God’s teeth, woman,” hissed Angus taking a glance around and noticing that everyone else had survived. He stormed to where she was standing and grabbed her arm. “What were ye thinking taking up a sword and fighting? Ye could have been killed.”

“You could have been killed. You required my help.”

She started to mumble, and Angus found it difficult to follow the flow of words. Narrowing his eyes, he understood her to be English. However, this did not explain her outlandish clothing. A woman should never be allowed to wear trews, he thought, as he took in her form.

“What? Never seen a woman before?” Her voice wavered. “Do I have to fight with you, too?”

He looked down into the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen. “Nae.”

“No, you’ve never seen a woman, or no, you don’t want to fight? Because I’m a bit concerned by your grip on my arm and the way you’re leering at me.”

Angus swallowed. “My pardons.” Releasing her, he took a step back. “Are ye hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’ll have bruises from the fight to brag about come evening, but I’m fine.”

Seeing Egan riding toward Gunn, Angus nodded to him. “Best we leave and go into the trees. There may be more of the enemy.”

“Umm, excuse me? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation? And shouldn’t we call the police?” Waving her hand about, she added, “Why are you fighting with swords? And how did you manipulate the fire?”

He glared at her. “For the love of Danu, cease your chatter and come with me. I do not understand your words, and we waste time being out in the open.” Bending to retrieve his dirk, he was stunned when he glanced back to see the fool lass walking in the opposite direction.

“By the hounds,” he hissed. In two strides, he stood blocking her path. “Did ye not hear me?”

Her eyes blazed with fury when she spoke. “I heard you just fine. I’m going to find a policeman and report this incident. Now, if you’ll move aside, I can go get us some help.”

“Ye are not going anywhere, but to those trees. I dinnae ken what all ye are babbling, but ’tis madness we linger any longer in the clearing.” His patience had snapped and grabbing her arm, he was unprepared for the blow she landed against his jaw. “God’s blood, woman!”

“You grab me again and next time I won’t use my fist.” Her tone, this time, brittle.

Angus took a step closer, daring her to challenge him again. “And what would ye use?”

With one swift move, she flashed the dirk up between them, mere inches from his face. “This—slicing through your artery.”

He leaned to the side, feeling the coolness of the blade against his skin. “Like the one I hold at your side?” He saw her jaw clench, but not before he noticed the slight tremor. “’Tis good to ken one’s place, nae?”

 

“You’re a rude barbarian,” she hissed.

Dragon Knight’s Shield is available at Amazon, All Romance books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, The Wild Rose Press

 

Author Mary MorganAbout the Author:

Bestselling paranormal romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Elk Grove, California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. She spent far too much time daydreaming and was told quite often to remove her head from the clouds. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling. Writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

Visit Mary’s website at http://www.marymorganauthor.com where you’ll find links to all of her books, blog, and pictures of her travels.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mary.morgan.564

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

Tour giveaway

1 prize pack featuring- Signed print copy of Dragon Knight’s Shield, $25 Amazon gift card and swag.

 

Click here to enter the giveaway:a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tuesday Kilts–I mean, Celts

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo

Happy Tuesday? It is Tuesday, right?

Image

Okay, okay, girls. Stop looking under the kilts. 😉  We all know what’s under there.  Or do we? I don’t know about wearing a heavy tweed skirt in summer, do you? (Okay, so it’s sweltering here). The weather makes everything just a wee bit uncomfy, doesn’t it? Nonetheless, I am writing (or #amwriting for those of you on Twitter!) and spoke with author Beth Trissel recently about my new release–about the ever-popular topic of men Kilts ;). Interested to learn a little? Then you can see the post here.

And check out Beth’s books while you’re there. They are fantastic! 🙂

Author spotlight-Michael S. Fedison

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo3 Comments

Hello, everyone! I’m still working on that getting back to normal thing. In the meantime, I’ve a guest for your reading pleasure. For lovers of SF and YA , Mr. Michael S. Fedison is here to talk about his new release, The Eye-Dancers. Michael, you have the podium, sir!

I want to thank Juli for giving me this great opportunity to post on her website!  I really appreciate it!

Late last year, I published a Young Adult sci-fi/fantasy e-book called The Eye-Dancers.  This was a novel I felt I was meant to write.  The four main characters are inspired by friends I knew growing up, and the themes in the story—the challenges, joys, and struggles of adolescence; the bonds of friendship; the mysteries of what we term “reality”; the concepts of quantum physics and parallel worlds; and an exploration into the oneness of all existence—are all things that resonate on a deep level for me.

I had a lot of fun writing The Eye-Dancers, and it is my hope that it takes readers of all ages on a wild and imaginative ride.

Here is a brief overview of the story . . .

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eye_dancers_lowres_copyMitchell Brant is not your typical seventh grader.  He is a compulsive liar, who adamantly defends his lies, no matter how outlandish they are.  When he is tormented by a recurring nightmare of what he has come to call “the ghost girl,” he is certain that no one will believe him. Three nights in a row, he has dreamed of this “ghost girl” and her blue eyes that expand and swirl when he gazes into them.  He is sure she is not of this earth, and that she is trying to draw him in to her world—wherever that may be—through the hypnotic power of her eyes.

Desperate to tell someone about his dreams, he decides to confide in Joe Marma, his best friend. To Mitchell’s surprise, Joe believes him; because he, too, has been having the same dreams—three nights in a row.  They soon discover that their friend, Ryan Swinton, is also haunted by the “ghost girl.”  What does it all mean?  Who, or what, is this girl?  And will she indeed transport them to her world the next time they fall asleep and dream?

Banding together, and convincing their classmate Marc Kuslanski to stand watch as they sleep, the three boys, along with Marc, are unwillingly thrust into an empty blue void.  When they awake, they find themselves in a world that seems much like their own, and yet very different at the same time.  The layout of the streets, the contours of the land, the feel of the place is familiar, almost like a replica of their town on earth.  Yet the differences are puzzling.  Old-fashioned cars that resemble 1950s designs; currency they’ve never seen before; an absence of PCs and cell phones.  Even the spelling of words is slightly off.  They wonder if this is all an extension of their dreams—or if it is actually real.

To solve the mystery, they need to work together, as a team.  Joe, a natural leader and take-charge person, is short, with a chip on his shoulder, eager to think with his fists instead of his head.  Ryan is the class clown, always wanting to elicit a laugh, but unable to make a decision on his own, preferring to go along with the group.  Marc is a science whiz, and looks at the world through a rigid lens of rationality and logic.  He continually tries to view their situation through scientific reason.  This naturally collides with Mitchell’s storytelling and less logical, more intuitive nature.

Marc suggests they are in a parallel world, a variant of their hometown in a different universe, and the mystery deepens when they spot a poster of a kidnapped girl nailed to a telephone poll.  They realize with astonishment that the picture is of their “ghost girl,” who is, evidently, not a ghost at all, but a seven-year-old girl named Monica Tisdale who has been missing for several days.  It all adds up, though the conclusions strain belief.  This kidnapped girl has somehow managed to pull them into her world, in a parallel universe, because she needs their help.

Marc rejects this explanation, and attempts to find a way back home based on the principles of quantum mechanics.  But Mitchell, Joe, and Ryan understand—the only way to return home is to rescue Monica Tisdale from her kidnappers.  Questions remain.  Why were they chosen, from a different universe, to come to her aid?  If she has such great powers, why wasn’t she able to communicate with people from her own world through the vehicle of dreams?  The answers are elusive—for the boys and even for Monica Tisdale herself.  They were chosen.  That’s all that really matters.

Throughout their experience in Monica’s world, each of the boys must confront not only the dangers of the situation, but also himself.  Mitchell learns that he doesn’t need to puff himself up through lies to be heard and appreciated; Joe discovers that fighting isn’t always the way to solve one’s problems; Ryan realizes he has what it takes to stand up and be decisive when he needs to; and Marc comes to understand that science and logic and theories cannot always solve all of life’s mysteries.  There are some things that can never be fully explained or comprehended.

Finally, they learn that everything is connected.  Events and people that seem so far away, a universe away, are, in actuality, much closer to us than we ever dared to think.

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For much more information on The Eye-Dancers, including where it is sold, please visit www.eyedancers.wordpress.com.

Please check out The Eye-Dancers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Eye-Dancers/213004492164436.

And please follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/msfedison27.

Thanks so much for reading!

Thanks for being with us, Michael and best of luck with The Eye-Dancers! Folks, if you’d like to check his book out it is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Kobo.

Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva

Published on by Juli D. Revezzo

The Jeep Diva

I was interviewed this week over at Vanessa the Jeep Diva’s the fantastic place–and her lovely assistant Crazy Granny reviewed House of Cards. House of Cards review

Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva.

I hope you’ll stop by!

via Author Interview: Juli D Revezzo – The Jeep Diva | The Jeep Diva.