Mike Hartner on Heeding James Crofter's Instructions for I, James @MHartnerAuthor #AmWriting #HistFic

Why Writing is a Form of Personal Therapy

Every day has stresses. The kid’s not feeling well, the bills need paid, the doctor’s appointments need taken, yada, yada, yada,… Every life has its stressors.

For me, sitting in my office, or on my bed, and pouring out my innermost thoughts onto a Word document is Therapy.

I get to concentrate on things that are not my normal life. In the case of The Eternity Series, I was able to start by concentrating on Walter Crofter and his life. Walter was the inspiration for I,Walter and would pour out his life a little at a time so that I could write it down.

Toward the end, James Crofter jumped up and started to instruct me on his life adventure.

Both of these books have been written during late evenings, early mornings, and quiet times during the day. As a parent, many people know that quiet times are few and far between. These are the times when the house is quiet, and when the to-do list can be put off for a few more hours. These are the quiet times when sitting in the hot tub, or the recreation room, or the meeting room with the lights off and nobody else around, can lead to new chapters and more research on the life of the next main character.

Writing is resting. It’s the chance to envelop myself in a world where my role is transcription, and I’m listening to the life and death decisions, rather than making them. Writing is the therapy that lowers the blood pressure that stimulates the mind, and brings a smile to the face.

James Crofter was ripped from his family at age 11. 
Within a year the prince was a pauper in a foreign land. 
Is nature stronger than nurture? And even if it is, can James find the happiness he so richly desires? 

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Genre - Historical Fiction, Romance

Rating – PG

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#Excerpt from NAKED TRUTH : Saving Liam @DPDenman #LGBT #AmReading #Contemporary

It was non-stop at Spark, the only male strip club in Vancouver. Liam strode into the side of the building reserved for their female customers so he could mingle with the people he spent all his time entertaining. Gay men packed the other side, doing the same thing the women did. They drank, hooted and shouted at each other over the music. He left those customers to the dancers who could walk through the crowd without having a panic attack.

He made it about three steps into the tangle of bodies before the girl in black found him. He was right. The dark motif continued all the way to her feet broken up by patches of pale skin. A leather sleeveless crop top left her torso exposed. A pleated mini skirt rode low on slender hips obscuring half a star-shaped tattoo on her stomach. He didn’t have time to see the rest before she pressed against him, an arm draped around his neck.

“Hi.” She smiled inches away, her skin warm against his.

“Hi. What’s your name?” He asked, too startled to think of anything else to say.

“Kandi with a ‘k’.”

“Nice name. I’m Damon.”

“I know. I asked. They said you do private dances.”

“That’s right and I bet you’d like one wouldn’t you?” He wrapped an arm loosely around her waist because standing there with his hands at his sides made him feel like an idiot.

“A lot. How private are they?”

“Not that private.”

“Can we do one that is?” She dragged a finger down his chest.

“Sorry. It’s the VIP room or nothing.”

“Fine.” She sighed and slid from him. “Show me.”

He took her hand and led her through the crowd to the far side of the building and down a narrow hall to a quieter, less flashy room. A padded bench flowed in waves along the walls creating shallow booths. It gave the illusion of minimal privacy where there wasn't any, certainly not with the dome cameras in the ceiling.

Kandi walked to a spot at the far end of the room and flopped onto the seat, sliding down until he thought she would slip onto the floor. She stopped with her ass at the edge of the plush fabric and crossed long legs covered in knee-high black boots to flash him a slice of pale cheek.

He toed off his shoes and moved to the music that flowed into the room at a reduced volume. Her gaze traveled his body following the progression of his zipper in silence before he pushed his jeans down his hips. They were all the same. Very few women wanted conversation. They wanted to watch. He didn’t mind. Being gawked at was the job. So were wrestling matches with the ones who wanted a grope to go with the show.

He ran hands along his body caressing himself in an imitation of what he knew Kandi wanted to do to him, ghosting fingers across the pouch at the front of his thong. If she was like most women, she wanted to grab his ass at least as much as his dick, but he made it a point never to simulate that. He didn't want to encourage them to take another gouge out of his ass with those manicured claws they wore even if Justin was happy to kiss his wounds at the end of the night.

Buried lies never die.

Liam has a new career, a new condo, a newfound sense of control and none of it is quite right. Shadows drift behind the bright sparkle of his life; things he's determined to ignore until a shocking revelation makes it impossible. With the help of Justin and a new friend, Liam must face the life he's buried.

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Genre - Contemporary Gay Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://www.dpdenman.com

#Prosperity & Democracies - GLIMPSES OF HEAVEN ON EARTH by John E. Wade II #AmReading

From the chapter on prosperity, by co-author John E. Wade II:

“In the long term I am quite optimistic that humankind will learn how, individually and collectively, to prosper. Unfortunately, most developed nations have debts and obligations that have gotten beyond prudent levels for a healthy world economy. Our world leaders and their electorates must come to terms with this enormous obstacle to our future. We can and we must address this huge problem in a kind and wise manner. Once this onerous debt is properly alleviated, nations and individuals can move forward toward sustainable prosperity.”

From the chapter on democracies, by co-author John E. Wade II:

“A world full of stable, robust, prosperous democracies would be a world of permanent peace. Democracies almost never make war on each other; so, if democracies were the only form of government on earth—and they were stable, robust and prosperous—humankind’s age-old dream of world peace would be assured. Globalization, with its intricate and intense connections, helps to guarantee the peaceful planet that humankind has always sought.”

Editor and author John E. Wade II has compiled a spiritual guide of invaluable insight for finding peace and meaning in life while making the world a better place for all. Along with co-authors Charlotte Livingston Piotrowski, Daniel Agatino, Michael Nagler, and Martin Rutte, this collection of enlightening essays and inspirational quotes from renowned thinkers and leaders throughout history provides the intellectual tools needed to live a more harmonious life.

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Genre - Inspirational

Rating – G

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"In My Cell" #Excerpt from LUCIFER & THE INDIGO KIDS by @Lord_Ra_Krishna #AmReading #Poetry

In My Cell

Sitting in my cell / meditating, half dreaming...
See a picture on the wall / black girl in bikini

And we’re both looking happy / we embrace and we smile

As I got my eyes closed smoking on a black and mild...

Better yet / a cigarette
I wish I had one now

Meditate a little harder...
Then I crack another smile...

Cause I'm back on the beach
Sun shining on my face…

Ask me what did I learn?
Most of all / appreciate

Every moment... every second...
Every thought... every breath...

While they’re killing all the prophets / I'm the last one left...

With a wrist full of beads
And a neck full of crystals...

And the city that I'm from busting Shots with their pistols…

But I'm sitting in my cell / and my soul's in outer space

As I astral project / sun kissing on my face…

Now I'm back on the beach
With my son and my daughter

And my son thinks’ he's God
So he’s walking on the water…

And my daughter thinks’ she God
Cause that's what daddy told her...

And they both think that they could save the world when they get older....

As I'm sitting in my cell,
My body's there but I'm not in it

Tell my babies "Not to worry"
I'll be home in a minute

"This “new age” book of poetry reflects the diverse views and philosophies of it’s author Ra Krishna EL. It’s an intimate, humorous and thought provoking group of poems intended to evoke strong emotion. To quote the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, this style of poetry can be called “Zukunfts poesie“ which translates into “Poetry of the future”, where truly original ideas are presented thru poetry. Also known as post Nietzschean poetry.

It’s subjects include society, pop culture, love, religious dogma, God and the new age of Aquarius. This book was written and published during the false incarceration of its author in Chicago’s notorious Cook County Jail, the largest jail in the country."

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Genre - Poetry, Philosophy

Rating – PG-13

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@MarcADiGiacomo on Retirement & Inspiration for "IN A SMALL TOWN" #Thriller #Suspense #TBR

What inspired me to write In A Small Town?

I always believed I had a book somewhere within my warped brain. Its one thing to have that feeling about yourself but to actually write that book is a story within itself. How do you motivate one’s self to follow through on a conceptualized idea? For me, I have three small children. Only my oldest will remember the late night/early morning calls from the police department notifying me of the latest crime to occur within our boundaries. He would watch his father leave with bright, wide opened eyes fully believing I would return as soon as I could. Truth be told; it was very difficult to leave him, but I had a job to do, a responsibility to others I was sworn to uphold.

When I retired from the police department after a string of back injuries and surgery, I needed to set a new course for myself. My back injury makes it difficult for me sometimes but it was just another challenge I needed to overcome. What started off as a memoir of a small town cop’s career quickly grew legs and became an organized crime thriller. I had a very unique police career working for such a small town; I wanted to emphasize to others even though I worked for a small town, big crime still happens and needs to be solved.

The encouragement I received from my oldest son was all I needed. His face upon seeing In A Small Town, was a priceless memory I will never forget. He’s only eleven, and will not be reading any of my books for quite some time, but his praise and reassurances have motivated me to write more. So, I write for my kids, and one day, when they read my books, they will know a little piece of their father is alive and well within those pages.

The shotgun blast catches Detective Matthew Longo by surprise. His world unravels into a nightmare that seemingly won't end. Murder, rapes, pedophiles, the small town of Hutchville, N.Y. is changing. It is up to him to make a difference.

While partner Donny Mello is in Italy attending a funeral for a family member who is connected, to say the least, a beautiful F.B.I. agent waits to question him about his family business. Can Matt keep from answering the Agent’s questions? More importantly, can he hide a potentially career-ending secret from his community, his brother, and most especially Agent Cynthia Shyler?

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Genre - Thriller

Rating – R

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The small town of Hutchville, New York is turned upside down. No longer is it the quaint, sleepy, suburb of New York City. Detective Matt Longo is back on the job and embroiled in his latest nightmare. Further complicating matters is the revelation of his partner’s corruption and organized crime ties; Donny Mello has left a bitter trail of lies and deceit. With his kid brother and newly promoted Detective Franny Longo by his side, will Matt be able to put his past behind him?

Special Agent Cynthia Shyler, (F.B.I.) has been reassigned due to her meeting with Matt Longo. Will this move complicate their relationship? Or will a new stranger in town spin a web that entangles the entire Hutchville Police Department, especially our most seasoned detective, Matt Longo?

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – R

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@TheSMBoyce Judging Books by Covers & Amazon Top 100 #WriteTip #AmWriting #Fantasy

Heyo! I’m S. M. Boyce, author of Lichgates, and I’m here to talk about book covers and why it’s important to have a professional one for your book!

So let’s start with a story.

You’re scrolling through Amazon’s top 100 and something catches your eye. It stands out from all the others–a book with a great cover. You click on the thumbnail to bring up a larger image and then you continue to read the blurb and then, once that stellar book description hooks you, you click “Buy now.”

This story is a common one, especially in our fast-paced world where little holds my attention for longer than a few seconds.

You know the old adage: don’t judge a book by its cover. That’s nice and all, but people do it anyway. The cover—the colors, the text, the image, the artwork as a whole—grabs my attention and makes me pause long enough to look deeper.

Okay, one more story.

Let’s say you’re visiting a friend in a new town and you want to do some clothes shopping. You see a strip mall and park in the lot. As you look at the exterior of the shops, you see one that has a gorgeous sign, bright lights, and a door with “Welcome!” painted on it in green script.

Next to that, you see another shop that has a broken sign, flaky two-year-old stickers on the window glass, and a door with multiple pieces of paper taped to it indicating rules and regulations of the shop.

Which shop would you rather go into?

Even though both shops may have the same exact shirt, or the same pair of jeans, you will most likely find yourself visiting the shop that seems more colorful and professional. In fact, this shop might even have higher prices or it may have lower quality clothing, but it was the one that grabbed your attention. You may hate the shopkeeper and walk out in disgust in five minutes, but its appearance made you give it a chance.

A chance is all an author needs to win over a new fan. That’s why you must have a cover that pulls the reader closer to the blurb and the ultimate buy. It gives you as the author a fighting chance among all those other books in the same genre. A cover is the welcome sign for readers.

So let’s open the floor, shall we? What are some of your favorite covers? Why do you like them?

“The writing is flawless. The kingdoms and surrounding landscapes breathtaking. The Grimoire is a piece of imaginative genius that bedazzles from the moment Kara falls into the land of Ourea. – Nikki Jefford, author of the Spellbound Trilogy

Spring 2013 Rankings

#6 Kindle Store | #1 Science Fiction & Fantasy | #1 Epic Fantasy | #1 Sword & Sorcery | #1 Teens

Now an international Amazon bestseller. Fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Eragon will enjoy this contemporary remix of the classic epic fantasy genre.

—————-

Kara Magari is about to discover a beautiful world full of terrifying things: Ourea.

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With nothing to do, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power. Discovered by Ourea’s royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict – a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

—————-

Novels in the Grimoire Saga:

Lichgates (#1)

Treason (#2)

Heritage (#3) – Available Fall 2013

Illusion (#4) – Available Fall 2014

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Fantasy

Rating – PG13

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Kat de Falla on on Writing, Nancy Drew & William Shakespeare @KatDeFalla #AmReading #Fantasy

What scares you the most? Smug people
 
What makes you happiest? Lying in my soulmate’s arms.

What’s your greatest character strength? I’m defiant.

What’s your weakest character trait? I’m a clutz.

Why do you write? I can’t not…haha.

What books did you love growing up? Nancy Drew!

Who is your favorite author? William Shakespeare

What book genre of books do you adore? Fantasy

What book should everybody read at least once? Tao Te Ching

Is there any books you really don’t enjoy? Historical!

For years, Calise Rowe has been able to sense unusual energy from people, making her believe she is different. Pulled into an ancient war raging for centuries between demon hunters and seers, she's about to find out she's right.

Her search for the truth leads her to Lucas Rojas, a seer of angels and demons who walk the earth shrouded from normal human eyes. He's hidden his gift for years and refuses to endanger Calise by sharing it with her.

In the sultry Costa Rican Jungles, their worlds collide. As their passion and desire ignite, so does the ancient war between demons and seers. Will their combined efforts be enough to save themselves and the entire human world, or will their new found love be their downfall?

**Download free music for The Seer's Lover at http://www.bayafaya.com/

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Genre - Dark Fantasy

Rating – R

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