I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE PHYSICS OF GRIEF by Mickey J. Corrigan Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Seymour, a down-and-out former teacher and semi-alcoholic who is haunted by the death of his girlfriend, tells the story of how he lifted himself out of grief and apathy. The catalyst is a mystery man – Raymond C. Dasher – who enters Seymour’s life via a chance encounter and persuades him to accept a job as a professional griever. A series of adventures follow, some macabre, some sinister, some extremely funny, as Seymour encounters an improbably diverse but highly credible set of characters united only by the fact that all are interacting in some way with death. Most complex is Milton Lasker, a former mobster whose relationship with Seymour is ambivalent, to say the least – even his overtures of help are terrifying. But then there’s Yvonne, who reminds Seymour what it’s like to feel alive. The Physics of Grief is a unique, quirky crime novel presenting the upside of funerals and a hopeful look at second chances – and at death.
AUTHOR BIO:
Originally from Boston, Mickey J. Corrigan hides out in the lush ruins of South Florida to write pulp fiction, literary crime, and psychological thrillers. Her stories have been called “delightful pulp,” “oh so compulsive,” “dark and gritty,” and “bizarre but believable.”
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the CURSES OF SCALE by S.D. Reeves Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Sixteen-year-old Niena wants nothing more than to attend an elite bardic college, but when the dragon that shattered the empire awakens again she finds herself on the run, through the fey realm of Fairhome, to the city where she was born. On her trail are her army veteran grandfather, thrown into a commander’s role he doesn’t want, the lord of the fairies, trying to steer her to his own ends, and the husband she won’t meet for fifteen years. If she kills the dragon, she’ll save everyone she holds dear. But if she kills the dragon, she’s cursed instead to become it.
Curses of Scale is the 2018 First Place Winner of Red City Review’s Young Adult Category, and an Official Selection of the 2018 New Apple Literary Awards. It also has the distinction of being a finalist in the following awards:
Chanticleer’s Ozma Fantasy Award
Readers’ Favorite General Fantasy
Wishing Shelf Young Adult
“★★★★ Curses of Scale is a coming of age tale with a lot to say about life and taking charge of one’s destiny in the search for independence. ” -Reader’s Favorite
“★★★★★ Curses of Scale is a Pandora’s box of world-building elements, and Reeves shows great skill at parceling out the pieces of lore and mystery that today’s fantasy readers crave. Readers will be sure to enjoy this crafty, utterly transportive novel.”
– Red City Review
AUTHOR BIO:
Stephen Reeves was born in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama. He currently resides in Switzerland with an undetermined number of cats greater than zero, and a propensity for nonsense. On those cold nights where the wind steams off snowbanks, he is known to write award-winning fantasy novels. And curse his wife’s cold feet.
Right off the top I would say the Hobbit. I remember first reading this book at the age of five, and I have loved it ever since. It would be a decade later until I found out there were other books by Tolkien.
After that we cross several years, an ocean, and a lot of bad wardrobe decisions to bring us to the second Earthsea book, the Tombs of Atuan. The nuance Ursula K Le Guin’s writing is just sublime. This is a staple of the coming-of-age fantasy dramas.
Crossing genres instead of continents gives us number three, Post Captain, the second book the Aubrey-Maturin series of series books by Patrick O’Brian, the series that Master and Commander the Far side of the World is based. This shelf-structural-integrity threatening series is responsible for my love of tall ships, and all the models carved out of solid blocks of wood (I never do anything the easy way) what threaten all table-top real estate in our house.
Naturally, there was going to be at least one classic in this set. Mostly, this one was impressed on me early. Partly because the author is from Alabama, and partly because it is just damned good. I am talking about Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, of course.
Back into fantasy now. Erin Morgenstern’s Night Circus is amazing. Plus, this book helped keep me on track; that third person-present tense books can be mainstream.
Last, we come full circle. You remember those other Tolkien books I mentioned? Well, they are back. It is hard to separate them out, but of those I would say I love the Fellowship of the Ring the most.
This was a surprisingly tough list to put together, but it was fun, and I hope it also tells you a little something about me and my writing as well!
It is my pleasure to be a part of the book tour for Against My Better Judgement by B.T Polcari. Thank you to Sara Slattery at YA Bound Book Tours for inviting me to participate.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Against My Better Judgement
Author: B.T Polcari
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Young Adult Fiction, New Adult Fiction
Publisher: the Wild Rose Press
Release Date: September 16, 2020
BLURB:
When freshman year at the University of Alabama draws to a close, Sara Donovan finds herself grappling with the same old question—listen to her head or follow her heart. What she ends up doing is purchasing an Egyptian souvenir funerary mask, and after a mysterious phone call, she’s certain a ring of antiquities smugglers are operating in Tuscaloosa.
With finals never far from her mind and her return to ‘Bama hanging in the balance, she should be studying. Instead she launches her own investigation to prove her mask is indeed a stolen artifact, and not a cheap trinket. When it comes time to snoop, Sara is more than ready, or at least she was until a hot new teaching assistant moves in next door.
Suddenly she learns things are never as they seem. Ever.
SHORT BLURB:
Sara is a freshman in college who thinks cell phones are disposable, snap decisions are brilliant, and that “snooping” is a rude term for being observant. Tie that with an over-active imagination and Sara often finds herself in a pickle. Character cast also includes a hot TA, a feisty best friend, and an octogenarian who can pump iron. Think of this as a cleaner version of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, but replace Rex the Gerbil with Mauzzy the Dachshund, and 1990s Trenton, New Jersey with 2010s Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Ever wonder what retired business executives do after they have put in years of effort for society and decide it is time to hang up their hat? Perhaps strolling along the country club’s fairway, or lounging on a 50-foot yacht?
Alas, B. T. Polcari is unlike your typical retired executive. Empty nester and Scarlett Knights alum, Polcari is still learning the meaning of “retired” while feverishly typing away on the next new book idea, smashing the fuzz off the little green tennis ball, or blasting bowling pins for a perfect game. Yes there is a boat, but not one that comes with its own crew; this retiree prefers to bustle along a serene lake in a quaint single seat Sunfish sailboat.
Perhaps the only time BTP can be found in a quiet moment is while enjoying the morning company of two family dachshunds over a newspaper and cup of coffee. B. T. Polcari currently resides in Chattanooga, TN and is thrilled to be fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a published author.
SHORT BIO:
After a long career as a business executive, B.T. Polcari tried to retire. Spoiler alert: he’s really bad at retirement. Bowling, tennis, and sailing can only keep you busy for so long, so B.T. is now pursuing his childhood dream of becoming a published author.
I replaced the mask in the void, bolted the tire back in place, and activated the alarm. With a quick glance over each shoulder, I hustled back into the cottage. That was a great snap decision to hide it this morning before leaving for the gym. Normally, my snap decisions are not the best. Things were on the upswing. Although now I had a smuggling ring after me.
Stained Fashion Wear excerpt
With the sudden onslaught of authority blasting my senses, I jolted upward and fell into the rack of cute blouses. My hand lost its grip on the huge cup. The other hand instinctively shot out to catch the falling soda, at the same time ejecting my phone deep into clothes-rack oblivion. An unhealthy, protracted clatter indicated the landing didn’t go too well. I caught my balance halfway into the colorful summer collection of what appeared to be very fun tops. At least I saved the soda from making me the proud owner of a complete summer collection of stained fashion wear.
I nonchalantly edged my body around, fighting off multiple tendrils of fabric clutching and grabbing at my head and shoulders. I popped my head out of the blouses, and after clearing disheveled hair from my eyes, was confronted with the no-nonsense visage of—a mall cop. On a motorized two-wheeled scooter.
From within my inner sanctum of the clothes rack, I laid on him all the cool innocence and southern sweetness I could muster. “No, but thank you for asking. Everything is okay, officer.”
It’s Time to Go excerpt
I waited another ten seconds, straining to hear anything that would give away the intruder’s location.
Still nothing.
I forged ahead, the snail’s pace turning my ankles into jelly.
One more step to go.
I stopped and crouched up against the inside wall of the staircase. Just earsplitting silence. Gathering myself, I summoned whatever semblance of courage remained in my trembling body.
A second later, my brain issued the command. Okay—it’s go time.
I lunged up toward the last stair, propelling myself into the loft.
At least that was the plan.
My leading foot caught the lip of the top stair, sending me crashing down. The pepper spray sailed across the room as the elbow of my outstretched arm slammed into the wood floor. I didn’t hear the dispenser hit anything, so either the killer caught it, or it landed in the pile of clean clothes on the floor. Either way, not good. Worse yet, the raised bat fell backward, its barrel cracking me on the back of the head before bouncing and rolling down the stairs.
Disarmed and face down, I lay sprawled between the top step and the floor of the room. Before the killer could react, I scrambled to my feet and hit the light switch.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE CONNECTION by Dana Claire Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: THE CONNECTION (The Blood-Light Trilogy #1)
Beatrice Walker thought she lived in a normal world—that is until she learned she’s a living hostel for an alien energy source, and apparently the answer to preventing extinction.
Bea has no memory of her last moments with her mother. The week they’d gone missing is a complete mystery. Suddenly moved back to her hometown with her father, Bea has rekindled her friendship with her two best friends—and seems to have caught the attention of an arrogant, yet gorgeous boy named Cash Kingston. But there’s more to Cash than his annoying attitude and good looks. Cash isn’t human, and he’s now in charge of protecting Bea from those who know what she keeps safe inside her: the energy source that once belonged to his murdered girlfriend.
Tensions mount as Bea learns her energy source must be paired with the one Cash holds to protect both their planets from an imminent threat. But what Bea doesn’t realize is there’s more to her than being human a host, that her feelings for Cash are not just a prophetic plan that will save their planets, and that the fate of everything lies in her choices.
AUTHOR BIO:
When author Dana Claire had several poems published as an elementary school student, she was hooked and writing became her passion. A shared dream of hers and her mother’s, she promised her dying mother that she would become a published author and that dream has been realized with The Connection.
Dana believes that a good story is made through strong character development; when readers become attached to the characters’ emotional state and are invested in their objectives. She believes that the beauty of reading is that one can live a hundred lives within the stories of books. Her own stories come to her in her dreams, and she wakes up with book ideas.
Dana’s family is very supportive of her writing and the creativity and sentiment driving it. Enjoying bicoastal living between Los Angeles and New York, Dana says she “lives the best romance in the world being married to the most amazing man she could ever ask for.” The Connection was her debut YA novel, the first volume in the Blood-Light trilogy. The Reclaimed Kingdom is her second novel.
Top 5 favorite scenes from THE CONNECTION and why.
The Connection
When Cash and Bea meet for the first time by their lockers.
The why is easy. She’s immediately attracted to him and also super scared and he’s pissed. He realizes for the first time his dead girlfriends’ source is inside this human.
When Cash enters Robert’s home without knocking and is leaned up against the doorway.
I like the way he surprised everyone in this scene showing the two worlds starting to merge.
The jog scene between Cash and Bea.
It’s the first time we see them interact alone and so much happens. They get attacked, Bea shows strength for wanting to protect Cash even if he’s a pain, and there’s a death scene.
When Darla tells Grouper that Cash is Beatrice’s boyfriend.
I’m a big Darla fan so I love when she starts telling Grouper he has the situation mistaken when if fact it’s her that has the situation mistaken.
The end when Bea get’s her memory back.
I knew I was always going to bring Seraphina back for book 2 but I love that the story doesn’t tell you until the last line. Seraphina is the alpha and omega.
It is my pleasure to be a part of the book tour for Too Young to Die in the Garden of Syn by Michael Seidelman. Thank you to Sara Slattery at YA Bound Book Tours for inviting me to participate.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Too Young to Die in the Garden of Syn (Garden of Syn #3) By: Michael Seidelman YA Fantasy Release date: March 30th Publisher: Chewed Pencil Press
SUMMARY:
The stakes could not be higher in the epic conclusion of The Garden of Syn trilogy.
Synthia (Syn) Wade discovered a secret world known as the Garden, where illness and death do not exist. Because of the tragic events that occurred in the Garden, Syn vowed never to return, even as cystic fibrosis threatened her young life. But when Syn faces the ultimate betrayal and a malicious adversary closes in, she is forced to escape her world and reluctantly return to the Garden.
However, her ruthless foe is not easily thwarted. Flanked by a deadly army, this dark force manipulates its way into the Garden with the goal of ultimate destruction. Facing great adversity, Syn must risk her life to protect the Garden and all those living within its borders.
Will Syn save the Garden and those she holds dear from the storm cloud of evil? Or will she discover that no one is Too Young to Die in the Garden of Syn?
AUTHOR BIO:
When Michael Seidelman was growing up, his passions were reading, watching movies, enjoying nature and creative writing. Not much has changed since then.
Working in Online Marketing for over ten years, Michael felt it was time to pursue his passion and began writing The Garden of Syn trilogy.
Michael is excited about the upcoming release of the third and final book in The Garden of Syn series and beyond the trilogy, he has more books in the works that he can’t wait to share with the world!
Michael was born in Vancouver, BC Canada where he continues to reside.
Jill Piscitello 