|
I would like to introduce you to Peggy McAloon. Peggy is a fellow author who writes fantasy books for children ages 9 - 18. Please welcome her as she tells us more about her books and what inspired her to write them. Don't forget to enter the giveaway below as well!  I want to thank Melanie D. Snitker for giving me the opportunity to reach out to you and tell you a little about my new release, “Missing”. This is the second book in the “Lessons from Fiori” series about Elle Burton, a young girl from Wisconsin, who is chosen to be a guide to the winged creatures from the dimension of Fiori. These winged creatures protect Earth’s children. They breathe the first breath of life into a newborn child and stay with the child until their eighth birthday.  Elle is the child I always wanted to be. I grew up in a small agricultural town in the Midwest during the 1950’s. It was a time when anything was possible. We were racing to put a man on the moon. Walt Disney was changing our world, and incredible fantasy books were being published that could ignite a child’s imagination. Life should have been so perfect, but there is a dark secret in the lives of so many children. The abuse I suffered at home simply made me a perfect target for the bullies at school.  Wilson Memorial Library became my escape. I checked out numerous books each week and disappeared into incredible new worlds, while pretending to be the protagonist in each new book I opened. When I read the last pages of the final book for the week, I would close my eyes and pretend to be a young girl assisted by winged creatures (much like fairies, but who acted more like guardian angels) to help kids who were much like me. That is how Elle Burton was born. It has been my dream to write a delightful series to inspire kids to have a kind heart and to empower them to find help if they were in trouble or to help others in need. You will delight in the dimension of Fiori as you fly over the huge fields of flowers on the back of Pegasus. You will be astounded at the difference kindness can make in the lives of the kids in the books and find yourself rooting for the class bully to become a better person. Giveaway I have told Melanie that I will personally sign and mail off three copies of the newly released book, “Missing” to her readers. To enter, comment below on your favorite fantasy book as a child. Your name will then go into a drawing to receive one of the three free books. Good luck, and may Elle bring hope to the children in your life!
0 Comments
 Join us for the Summertime Romance Giveaway! I've teamed up with three fellow authors to offer you the opportunity to win four contemporary romance novels. Write Me Home by Crystal Walton  He lives by his heart. She lives by her plans. Until an unseen enemy and a growing attraction threaten control of both. Returning to his hometown in the Catskills is the last thing firefighter Ethan DeLuca's ready for. He'd rather leave memories where they belong--buried under ashes. But if he doesn't step up to take care of Nonna, who will? Working at the camp down the road seems like the perfect solution. Until his feisty redheaded boss ends up being one fire he has no idea how to put out. Cassidy McAdams is on a mission. Get the camp Grandpa left her ready to sell, turn enough profit to bail Mom's business out of foreclosure, and hightail it back to her life in New York City. With unexpected complications mounting, she can't afford any distractions. Especially a ridiculously charming one who's eager to rescue her at every turn. It'd be easier on them both to hide behind professional boundaries. But when unexplained attacks on the camp ignite a connection between them they can't ignore, running away is no longer an option. If you like emotional romances mixed with humor, depth, and characters who come alive on the page, then you'll love Crystal Walton's moving story of love and forgiveness. Safe In His Arms by Melanie D. Snitker  When a beautiful woman walks into his diner asking for a job, Joel Ash can't bring himself to say no. The more he gets to know Anna, the more he's convinced she's hiding something. Intrigued and drawn to protect her, he prays he can ensure her safety and guard her heart. Even if it means risking his own in the process. Anna Henderson is on the run. In a new town, she wants nothing more than to trust Joel and the family offering her a fresh beginning. She's secured vital evidence that could put her obsessive ex behind bars and out of her life. But without the ability to access it, she'll always be looking over her shoulder. Worried her past will catch up with her, can Anna ever feel safe in Joel's arms? Hope in Every Raindrop by Wesley Banks  “Small towns have big stories.” That was a lesson Katie’s father taught her years ago. A lesson she’s taken to heart. And right now, Katie is desperate for a big story. Reeling from the recent loss of her father and with her agent breathing down her neck for the next book, the twenty-one-year-old writer picks a spot on the map and finds herself bound for a middle-of-nowhere town called Bishopville, South Carolina. Taking a chance on the words of a local grocer, Katie stumbles upon a rare breed of dogs raised by the town doctor and his nephew Kyle. The only problem? Kyle isn’t interested in telling stories—especially not to a big-city girl who can’t seem to sit still. In an attempt to win him over as the clock winds down, Katie finds herself immersed in Kyle’s world, doing everything but writing. When inspiration finally strikes, Katie is faced with an unforeseen catastrophe and a truth she can no longer ignore. While she has come to love the dogs, the real story may be about Kyle Walker. Love at the 20-Yard Line by Shanna Hatfield  He's about to fumble his chance at love...
Brody Jackson lives and breathes football. As a wide receiver for a popular arena team, he's determined to make it back to the NFL. Cocky and confident, he doesn't have the time or energy to be bothered with a serious relationship until he's blindsided by a sweet, naive girl who breaks through his defenses. He has to decide if he'll let go of his dreams or fumble his chance to win Haven's heart. Haven Haggarty is woefully inept when it comes to men and matters of the heart. Successful in her job as an image consultant with an up-and-coming company, she wishes she could enjoy as much triumph in her dating efforts. When she falls hard for a handsome wide receiver, Haven realizes she needs to tackle her fears or miss the opportunity to experience once-in-a-lifetime love.  Our son, X, is ten-years-old. He's a sweet boy who loves to give his family hugs. He's very protective of his little sister (S is 5-years-old) and always makes sure she's being taken care of. He normally doesn't like to be interrupted if he's focusing on something. But S can almost always ask him to help her reach something or set something up, and he rarely hesitates. X has an amazing memory. The boy knows exactly where each and every movie is on our DVD shelf. He remembers the toys and songs he learned when he was two and where he was in the house at the time. He enjoys helping me bake and cook. He likes to play outside, watch campfires in the backyard, and his favorite thing to do is swim. X also has autism. There are a variety of strengths and challenges that autism has brought into our lives. One of the more fascinating things is how he approaches his hobbies.  As a Baby When X was a baby, he had a lot of toys he enjoyed. Most were ones he could spin, move back and forth, or put in some kind of an order. He crawled at a developmentally-appropriate time. But he had no desire to pull up or walk. When he was 10.5 months, we bought him this activity table. Do you see the alphabet printed on the bowl in the middle? As soon as he spotted the letters from a seated position, he pulled himself up for the first time. He was walking within a week or so after that. He often touched each letter in order with a single finger. This was the beginning of his love of all things letters, numbers, and colors. He could order the alphabet correctly at the age of two, could accurately count to five at that point, and put anything with colors in the same color order.  Hobbies Changed with Age X's hobbies changed through the years. He went through a period of time where he loved everything related to marbles or ball mazes. He'd spend literally two hours sending marbles down the chutes, watching to see where the paths took them. He became interested in instruments. All instruments were great, but drums have become a favorite. We bought him his first junior drum set a little over two years ago and he's practically worn it out. Have you seen the Animusic videos? Their most famous one, Pipe Dream, uses marbles to create music as they fall onto drums and different surfaces. X has set it up to where he drops marbles on different parts of his drum set to see what kinds of sounds they'd make.  Drums, Drums, Drums Of all his hobbies, drums seem to be a long-term one. He's watched YouTube videos on how to properly set up his drum set. And the boy has some serious rhythm. He tells us he wants to take drum lessons someday and when we ask what he wants to be when he grows up, he tells us "A drummer." Not just any drummer, though. He wants to be a drummer with the band TFK. He's created drums out of Legos, plastic dishes, and just about anything else . He's also managed to collect drum sets ranging from electronic drums to miniature versions.  The Newest Hobby When X received a LOGO Board Game as a gift from his uncle, aunt, and cousins, we had no idea he'd like it so much. He's always been fascinated with business logos, and this fueled that interest. In the last year, he's saved his allowance and bought other versions of the game. These versions include The LOGO Board Game Second Edition, The LOGO Party Game, and both the travel and regular LOGO Board Game Drumond Edition. He knows every card in those games. And each of them were bought for a reason. For example, The LOGO Board Game Drumond Edition is the only he has that includes the Shell Station logo. There are way more LOGO Board Game versions out there than we knew. He has two more on his list to collect. He's planning on getting The LOGO Board Game Billionaire next month. And he's been searching for the German edition because it includes new logos in it (the Jumbo red elephant logo, specifically), and plans to get it in July. We've got to hand it to him. When he has a hobby, he goes all in.  I've heard a lot of people refer to those with autism as having obsessions. And I can see where they might come to that conclusion. Don't get me wrong, they can have obsessions just like the rest of us. But most of the time, I think it's a matter of having a hobby and then putting all of their energy into learning everything they can about it.
That's exactly how X approaches his hobbies. I admire that about him. That's how someone eventually becomes an expert in their field: By focusing, learning all they can, and not giving up. So he can continue to collect his LOGO Board Games and I'll happily listen to how excited he is to get the Billionaire edition next month (I'm certain he's told me all about it at least a dozen times this evening). I enjoy looking at the Shell Station or the Walkers card and talk about how neat it is, and compare the difference between it and other cards. Because this is what's important to him right now and he cares enough to share his interests with us. Guess what? We located the German edition on eBay and ordered it tonight (it may take a month or more to get here). It may be his hobby, but come on! The game is coming directly from Germany. You've got to admit, that's pretty cool. Releasing a new book into the world is one of my favorite things about being an author. After months of writing, editing, and even more editing, I finally get to share the polished result with all of you. Today, Safe In His Arms is officially available on Kindle and in paperback!  Safe In His Arms is the first book in my new Life Unexpected series. The series centers around Chess, Brooke, and Joel. All three of them aged out of foster care and had no family to rely on. Rather than set out on their own, they decided to stick together, forming friendships that have survived many challenges through the years. About Safe In His Arms: When a beautiful woman walks into his diner asking for a job, Joel Ash can't bring himself to say no. The more he gets to know Anna, the more he's convinced she's hiding something. Intrigued and drawn to protect her, he prays he can ensure her safety and guard her heart. Even if it means risking his own in the process. Anna Henderson is on the run. In a new town, she wants nothing more than to trust Joel and the family offering her a fresh beginning. She's secured vital evidence that could put her obsessive ex behind bars and out of her life. But without the ability to access it, she'll always be looking over her shoulder. Worried her past will catch up with her, can Anna ever feel safe in Joel's arms? Available on: Amazon  Don't forget to stop by the release party on Facebook this afternoon! With four fantastic guest authors, giveaways, and a lot of fun, you won't want to miss it!
My family was on vacation the first week of May. We had a great time! We took the kids to the Dallas World Aquarium, spent a few days at Great Wolf Lodge, and later visited our local zoo. I think we're still all trying to get back to normal again after having such a wonderful time together! I took a lot of pictures of some of the amazing animals we saw. I thought I'd share a few of them with you all. Thanks for looking! :-)  The Facebook Party to celebrate the release of Safe In His Arms is fast approaching! Invite your friends to join the party and you'll be entered for a chance to win a $15.00 Amazon gift card! For all the details, check out this post. The more friends you invite and tell me about, the more chances you'll have to win. While we may have a week and a half left until the party officially begins, we're still having lots of fun over there! Stop by to join us as we talk about our favorite 50's music and more! I hope to see YOU at the party! 
Please join me in welcoming author Annie Douglass Lima to my blog today as she tells us about her new novel. Keep reading to find out about The Gladiator and the Guard, read an excerpt, and then enter for your chance to win an Amazon gift card!
I'm excited to announce that my young adult action and adventure novel, The Gladiator and the Guard, is now available for purchase! This is the second book in the Krillonian Chronicles, sequel to The Collar and the Cavvarach.
First Things First: a Little Information about Book 1:
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"), a 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.
Click here to order The Collar and the Cavvarach from Amazon
for
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?
Click here to order The Gladiator and the Guard in Kindle format from Amazon
for
Click here to order The Gladiator and the Guardfrom Smashwords (for Nook or in other digital formats) for  Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published twelve books (two YA action and adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, and five anthologies of her students’ poetry). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
Connect with the Author Online:
Email: [email protected]
Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnieDouglassLima LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn Google Plus: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus
Now, enter to win an Amazon gift card or a free digital copy of The Collar and the Cavvarach!
|
ACFW Member
 
Archives
July 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed