To Find A Killer Guest Post

A Natural State Murder Mystery, Book 1

 

Murder Mystery

Date Published: 10-04-2024

 

 

When Atlanta Detective Tammy Sharp's past collides with her present, it's a wild ride of bullets, broken hearts, and chilling mysteries.

In her hometown of Pocahontas, Arkansas, she faces not just her ex, Jace Eubanks, but also a dangerous killer on the prowl.

With murders old and new intertwining, Tammy faces a choice: team up with her ex or let justice slip away.

As the clock ticks down to a sinister ultimatum, will Tammy outsmart the sociopath or fall prey to a deadly game of cat and mouse?

 

 Guest Post

Top 5 Author Tools I Love

When I began my writing journey, I sought out tools on the internet to create my book covers. I hesitated to invest in professional design services without knowing how things would turn out. However, since then, I have found many resources that have significantly contributed to my growth as an author and increased my productivity. I am excited to share my top five favorite resources with you in this post.

Atticus has been a real game-changer for me. It's my favorite word processor and book formatting software. Even though I use Microsoft Word to write my novels, once my editor is done, I upload the updated novel to Atticus, and it formats everything perfectly. There are several options to change your text to quotes, messages, and more! I make sure there are no extra spaces at the end of sentences so they don't look wonky.

Atticus only costs $147 for unlimited books and ebooks, a one-time purchase for a lifetime. With $147, you'll get the current version of Atticus and all future updates.

Plus, there's no subscription, so you won't risk losing access to your work.

Check it out here.

Book Brush is my top choice for designing book covers and other graphics. It's more cost-effective than hiring a graphic designer and much more straightforward than creating designs from scratch. The best part about Book Brush is that a free option allows you to test it out before committing to a paid plan. I highly recommend exploring this invaluable resource for authors. You can discover how Book Brush can benefit you here.

I rely on Canva daily. Sometimes, I put together graphics and book covers on Canva and then use them in Book Brush to finalize the design. I cannot stress enough how seamlessly Book Brush and Canva work together. While there is a free option, I strongly recommend trying out their paid option here.

If you're running contests, KingSumo is an invaluable tool. It has significantly streamlined my processes for managing entries, selecting winners, and collecting email addresses for my mailing list. They currently offer a free option and a lifetime plan for $49. Check it out here.

Once you have your giveaway lined out, use Mailerlite to send a newsletter. The free option has provided ample features to keep my community engaged. KingSumo and Mailerlite work seamlessly together to help you expand your reach as an author. Set up a Mailerlite account here.

I hope you have a fulfilling and successful writing journey!

For more information about me, visit my website, www.theleahjournal.com.

About the Author

Leah Brewer writes all kinds of things.

Sometimes, she writes Christian Fiction (Seeds of Faith Series). Other times it’s Historical Fiction (Petunia 1949). Right now, it’s all about murder. The first novel in her Natural State Murder Mystery series, To Find a Killer, is set to release this October.

In 2019, after an Ovarian Cancer diagnosis, Leah decided to pursue her passion for writing. Being cancer-free, she now revels in her life as an author.

With an extensive 28-year career that encompasses diverse leadership roles in a Fortune 500 company, Leah brings an authentic perspective to her storytelling.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook: @writingleahbrewer

Twitter: @leahlbrewerr

Goodreads

Instagram: @writingleahbrewer

Purchase Today

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Shakespeare's Conspirator #SilverDaggerBookTours

 

 Did a shunned Jewish woman of color write many of Shakespeare’s plays?

A young woman seals a secret pact with Shakespeare bringing her plays into the world but the acclaim to him, yet she embeds subtle clues pointing to her authorship and imperiling her life.

Shakespeare’s Conspirator

The Woman, The Writer, The Clues

by Steve Weitzenkorn

Genre: Historical Fiction  

 Brimming with intrigue, SHAKESPEARE'S CONSPIRATOR shatters beliefs about the world's greatest playwright. Did he really write the thirty-seven plays credited to him?

It's 1587. Shakespeare is struggling to launch his career. Finally he persuades James Burbage, a theater owner, to stage Henry VI. He's the same proprietor who refused to look at Amelia Bassano's comedic script. Infuriated after being blocked at every turn, she reluctantly seals a secret pact with Shakespeare.

So begins a fiery relationship that triggers suspicions, plots to expose them, and grave dangers.Craving recognition and ways to break through, Amelia pursues illicit relationships with Elizabethan luminaries while becoming a controversial advocate for women.

Scandals and complications follow as her life takes dreadful turns. When Shakespeare pressures her to write a soul-tormenting script, she fears being exposed as a hidden Jew, a felony in Elizabethan England. Undeterred, she embeds hints to her authorship and true identity in Shakespeare's plays. But not everyone is deceived.

In this captivating story, the web of secrets and trail of clues reveals a perilous and cloaked Shakespearean world.

REVIEWERS HAVE CALLED SHAKESPEARE’S CONSPIRATOR: 

“A STUNNING ACHIEVEMENT.”

“A MUST READ ON THE TRUE AUTHORSHIP OF SOME OF SHAKESPEARE’S GREATEST WORK.”

“AN HISTORICAL WHO-WROTE-IT,” “ENTHRALLING,” “LOVINGLY RESEARCHED.“

“A TRIBUTE TO A STRONG AND CREATIVE JEWISH WOMAN.”

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

SHAKESPEARE’S CONSPIRATOR

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 9

Will settled back down and nodded his goblet toward her. “How is your play about the two sets of twins?”

Emilia believed he already knew the answer. She cleared her throat. “Using your phrase, I’m calling it A Comedy of Errors, but…” Her lips turned downward as she continued. “I’ve gone to every theater owner, but none will look at it.”

Tears welled in Emilia’s eyes, and she dabbed them with a linen handkerchief.

“Do they say why?” asked Will.

“Some do, some don’t. One claimed a play by a woman wouldn’t attract audiences, which is curious since there’s never been one. But there’s also an unstated reason.”

“Which is?”

Emilia stared through the rain-streaked window and gathered her courage to admit the truth. “I’m not well thought of among theater people. I shan’t go into details but my reputation has been sullied.”

“I won’t inquire, but I’ve heard rumors…about another playwright.”

Emilia swallowed hard, relieved he didn’t mention names. She didn’t wish to talk about Marlowe. An awkward silence filled the space between them. Yet she could tell Will’s mind was working furiously.

“What are you thinking?”

He coughed, making a dismissive wave. “It’s nothing.”

“Will, say it. You can be blunt.”

“I’m searching for the right words so I don’t offend you.”

Emilia took another sip of ale. “I’ll be more offended if you don’t tell me.”

Will still hesitated and spoke as if he chose his words carefully. “There are certain barriers that aren’t coming down. That means if you want your play performed, you’ll need to make a reluctant choice.”

“Will, what are you saying?”

Will shifted in his chair, grimacing as if struggling to broach his idea with her. “Emilia, I’ll be plain. I doubt men’s attitudes toward women will change. They’re deeply implanted. So—and this was the mad thought that occurred to me—why not use a man’s name as the author? Then your script would receive due consideration.”

Emilia recoiled at the artifice. “You’re suggesting I use a male alias like Emil Bassano or some other contrived appellation?”

“It could work.”

“It might, but if every woman did, we’d never be recognized for notable work. Our genders should not matter.”

Will shrunk back in his seat, looking pained. “Everything you say is true, bringing me to the point I wished to make earlier, which would solve those practical problems but create other risks.”

Emilia planted her elbows on the table. “And that is?”

“To get Burbage’s true reaction, what if, with your assent, I showed him your script without any name on it? If he responds favorably, then we’ll discuss our next moves.”

Emilia saw the value of that approach. “That’s an intriguing idea. But if he likes it, then what?”

“It will depend on his reaction,” said Will.

Emilia fidgeted with uncertainty, reluctant to lose control over her work. “I have little to lose, I suppose.”

“Emilia, it’s worth trying. Can you bring the script here tomorrow?”

Emilia paused, assessing Will. She believed him to be sincere and fair-minded. He wasn’t sinister like Marlowe, who would have a concealed motive. I’ll trust him and see. Only then will I know. “I’ll bring it, but I’ll need it back.”

***

Emilia paced the streets near the Horn waiting for Will. Her leather chopines had rubbed her ankles sore. The two-inch wooden soles and heels were caked with crud from stepping off curbs into sloppy, potholed roads. Horses and carriages splattered mud on her black skirt. But Emilia thought only about Will’s meeting with Burbage, paying little attention to where she walked. She passed the Horn again and saw Will approaching from the opposite direction, looking downcast.

“Burbage wants A Comedy of Errors,” he announced matter-of-factly.

Something’s wrong, Emilia sensed. Why isn’t he pleased?

“Let’s talk inside,” suggested Will.

They found a window table that two laborers had vacated. Will ordered ale for them both.

“Will, don’t keep me in suspense.”

“Burbage likes the novel theme and plot. He thinks it will draw sizeable audiences...”

Will’s tone is flat, devoid of emotion. Something’s not right. “Does he know who penned it?”

Will hung his head and put his fist to his mouth.

“What is it, Will?”

“Burbage assumed I wrote it. He said I should be confident enough to say so.”

Oh no! Is Will stealing my work? “What did you say?”

“I didn’t correct him.”

Emilia jumped to her feet, folding her arms across her chest. I didn’t expect treachery! “I trusted you! You didn’t tell the truth?”

Descriptive Paragraphs:

England, 1587: A young William Shakespeare persuades a theater owner to stage Henry VI­––the same one that refuses to look at Emilia Bassano's play because she’s a women. Blocked at every turn, she reluctantly agrees to let Shakespeare submit her scripts under his name, but at what cost? 

Emilia’s plays propel Shakespeare’s success, which sparks envy and suspicion from a fledgling playwright after he detects clues embedded in the scripts that point to her authorship. She faces threats and grave dangers as a biracial, half-Jewish woman believed to be abetting Shakespeare’s deception. In contrast to the belittlement and injustices women face, she portrays their strengths, intelligence, and savvy through her characters, storylines, and poetry.

Emilia Bassano Lanyer is most accomplished writer you’ve never heard of. Until now.

Waldemar Haffkine: The Man Who Saved Millions of Lives but the World Forgot

Steve Weitzenkorn

At the end of the 19^th century and the early years of the 20^th century, Waldemar Haffkine, a zoologist and microbiologist, developed the vaccines that inoculated millions of people all over the world against cholera and the bubonic plague. His large human trials took place in British-controlled India. His reputation, once maliciously destroyed, is now being resurrected by Paul Twivy, a British strategist, advertising executive, and author. Perhaps, Waldemar Mortimer Haffkin will receive the posthumous credit and recognition he has long been due.

In Paris, Haffkine developed his cholera vaccine and tested it first on guinea pigs, rabbits, and pigeons. Then he risked his own life by injecting himself with attenuated cholera. He was feverish for several days before he fully recovered. Next, he inoculated three Russian friends and other volunteers with the same result.

Then he travelled to India, a country teeming with cholera, to test his vaccine more widely. His British colleagues belittled his work, unable to believe that cholera could be prevented through the injection of a cholera microbe. To prove that it could, Haffkine vaccinated over a hundred villagers in a remote area. Only those who did not receive the injection died of the disease.

 Wellcome Images

When the bubonic plague spread from China to British Hong Kong and then to Bombay. The British government downplayed its seriousness until it swept through the dense slums with a mortality rate double that of cholera. Heffkine was summoned to help. Inside a tiny lab and with a few untrained helpers, he began working on the world's first plague vaccine.

After much experimentation, Haffkine successfully inoculated rabbits against an attack of the plague. Then, again, he inoculated himself. He recovered from a bad fever after a few days. When the plague tore through a Bombay prison, Heffkine inoculated 147 of 319 prisoners. None of the vaccinated prisoners died while several in the control group did.

British doctors grew envious of Heffkine’s success for three reasons. Heffkine was proving them wrong. He wasn’t a medical doctor. And he was Jewish. So, what did they do? They went to extraordinary efforts to discredit and ruin him.

Heffkine was known for being precise and methodical. When nineteen people he vaccinated died of tetanus in 1902, the skeptical doctors jumped on it, accusing him of injecting them with dirty needles. The real cause, as the doctors who accused him knew at the time, came from an assistant’s neglect to sterilize a vail stopper that had fallen onto the ground. But they buried that fact and falsified evidence. Why? Antisemitism coupled with jealousy is the leading theory.

The British doctors didn’t stop with an accusation. They had Heffkine tried by a British Raj court, which did their bidding. The three judges had been influenced and prejudiced against Heffkine. They wanted him to fail. Paul Twivy writes that this travesty of justice “deserves to be one of the most famous mistrials in history.”

Afterward, Heffkine returned to Britain. However, by this time he had successfully inoculated over 42,000 people.

Joseph Lister (1827-1912), a leading scientist known as the “father of modern surgery,” called Heffkine “a saviour of humanity brought down by racist doctors within the British Raj.” But his praise and recognition of Heffkine was dutifully ignored.

In 1930, Haffkine died alone in Switzerland. While honored in India, where the Heffkine Institute in Mumbai is named for him, he was largely forgotten in the west.

Paul Twivy said: “There is no doubt that we would not have survived pandemics without Haffkine, even though he’s not known. He developed vaccines against two of the biggest killers ever. He is literally the most important scientist in terms of the number of lives he saved. But he is almost invisible outside of microbiology. A lot of scientists don’t even know his name. He’s been eliminated from history.”

Waldemar Haffkine has been lost in the sweep of history despite all his contributions. Hopefully his accomplishments and dedication to saving lives will now be recognized.

 I write historical fiction that challenges assumptions and provides fresh insights into the events of prior centuries, legendary figures, and people overlooked in the sweep of time. My first novel, Shakespeare’s Conspirator, has been optioned by a celebrity-owned production company in LA. It imagines the life of Emilia Bassano Lanyer, a real woman who may have written several plays attributed to Shakespeare. I’ve also written a prequel and sequel that delves in to the Shakespeare authorship mystery. With any luck, all may be coming to a screen near you.

My writing journey began as I was winding down my career as an organizational behavior consultant and co-authored a book on teamwork and leadership. As an avid reader, I became intrigued by curious fact patterns inconsistent with commonly-held beliefs, that I, like many others, assumed were true. When I realized the logic of those assumptions did not always hold up to close scrutiny, and experts had dug trenches around their own theories, I launched into my own research. Fascinating stories emerged and my imagination took over.

Since most people don’t read academic material, I reasoned that a compelling way to convey the evidence and challenge beliefs was to depict real and fictional characters dropping the bread crumbs, or following them, in reality-based historical fiction. In my novels, characters uncover and discuss clues through intriguing plots that track with historical chronologies—allowing readers to form their own conclusions.

My most recent published novel delves into the Spanish Inquisition, the trauma it created, and the life-changing decisions it triggered. Two other historical novels are in the pipeline. In one, the protagonist discovers her family’s hidden past while alternate chapters track her ancestor’s journey over hundreds of years.

I have also co-authored two non-fiction books: The Catalyst Effect: 12 Skills to Boost Your Impact and Elevate Team Performance and Find-Fulfill-Flourish about discovering one’s purpose.

I have a dry sense of humor along with a Ph.D. in Human Learning and Organizational Behavior. I’ve been honored with the William C. Byham Award for Innovation and Excellence in Training Technology and the Henkel Award for Global HR Excellence. I have served on the boards of nonprofit organizations and as president of two. I enjoy mentoring, teaching, presenting, volunteering, and learning in any way possible.

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$30 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Big Comb Over Guest Post #GoddessFish

 

THE BIG COMB OVER

J.P. Rieger

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Family satire; Farce; Magical realism

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Three nephews and three eccentric uncles.

---------

It’s 2050 and Robbie Elders has all but forgotten about his oddball, religious fanatic uncle, tim tim. He’s taken up the latest fad, genealogical research based solely on DNA. But Robbie’s “inconclusive” DNA results are unsettling. He crashes back to his childhood, back to his world of comic books and tim tim.

“I opt for posh and London” declares Lady Florence Stour. It’s 2019 and time for a Royal Wedding. Robbie’s uncle, Stef, is engaged to Lady Florence, a distant member of the British royal family. Stef’s Baltimore clan have been invited, but Robbie’s mom and dad can’t attend. They’ve entrusted Robbie and big brother, Doyle, to their mom’s two eccentric brothers, uncles Roy and Roland. Roy, a weathered waterman with a severe Baltimore accent, lives for Maryland blue crabs. Roland, a mildly hypochondriacal actor, lives to survive the Karens he unavoidably encounters. And then there’s Desales, Roy’s smart aleck, teenage son. He lives to prank. They’ve descended upon London. What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile, tim tim has been coaching Robbie on “the mission.” A silly religious fantasy according to Robbie’s atheist parents and the therapists. Or perhaps not? Things are not always as they appear in The Big Comb Over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 

He was thinking that the man’s accent could be Irish. But more Cockney, almost. Odd. He saw the man thrust his hand forward.

“Name’s Roy.” He shook Roy’s hand, earnestly.

“Name’s Dixon. Pleasure to meet you.” He glanced over at Roy’s suit. “Nice couture! A refreshing play on seersucker! ‘Maison Dixon’ is mine. Curious to hear about yours!”

Roy felt a bit confused. He had already introduced himself. He figured maybe those white things were hearing aids. And he had a crazy name. “Ya said yours is Mason Dixon?”

“Yes!”

“Like your Mason-Dixon line?”

“Well, thank you, Roy! Which particular line do you favor?”

Roy felt confused again. “Favor? Well, I was thinkin’ of the long one? The old one?”

Bertram nodded, knowingly. Nice to know the “Smart Man” line was still revered. Teddy had been encouraging him to drop it. “Yes, Smart Man, a long and successful line.”

Roy nodded. “Why, thanks, Mr. Dixon. But I would reckon everbody ’roun here’s heard of it. Don’t take too much brains. Historical, like.”

“Brilliant! Thanks, Roy. That’s my job. To keep those lines out in the public’s mind.”

Roy scratched at his rusty beard stubble. “So, like, ya do surveys, still? Ta mark the lines?”

“Well, certainly. But those are a little old school. We don’t always attach a survey to each line we produce. We get things done more with social media. Influencers, mainly. Good judges of the zeitgeist.”

Roy was thinking that surveyors setting lines without surveys didn’t sound very safe. And he wasn’t sure about the rest. “Ya done anything here in Bawlmer? Any new ones?” Roy had been shopping at that new supermarket in Middle River. He wanted to make sure the building was safe. He was hoping Mr. Dixon’s company was not involved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guest Post

Where Do Ideas Come From?

J.P. Rieger © 2024

I am very much in awe of fantasy and sci fi writers. Creating fantastic “other worlds” wholly through the imagination truly impresses me. I lack the kind of wild imagination required of those genres. I’m more of a “write what you know” person. Unfortunately, I’m a dull guy. Sky diving, bungee jumping and hang gliding are not my thing. Traveling across the globe with only a backpack? Not happening. I lead a pleasant, ordinary life, carefully curated through routine. I derive my ideas through the commonplace. I enjoy writing situations and settings that everyone experiences, but perhaps I push the envelope a little on those.

What could be less exciting than an acoustic barrier wall along a highway? In The Big Comb Over, character Chris Waxley, an actor with a travel agency side hustle, describes his latest “specialty” gig. He mentions how he had to pivot away from “covered bridge” and “old railroad” destinations because those travel fields had become overcrowded. While driving, he happened to notice that many homes located along Baltimore’s Beltway have acoustic sound barrier walls to provide relief from the incessant noise. He noticed that, every so often, a door had been placed in the barrier wall. So, he cornered the market by creating a specialty tour of homes having acoustic sound barriers with the doors. That way he could demonstrate the “before and after” to his enthusiastic travel groups. “You know, you listen first with the door open. At peak times the noise is unbelievable. But once you close that door, there is an immediate calm. Much more peaceful. Very Zen. And like I said, the naturally occurring flora and fauna are quite amazing. Besides the plants, there were things like rodents and birds nesting near the doors. Some right on the walls above the doors. You could tell because of all the droppings.” 

Likewise trips to the supermarket are prime fodder. Comb Over protagonist Roland, whose small sized shopping cart overflows due to his many impulse acquisitions, is confronted by a helpful Karen who chastises him for not using a larger cart. 

Parking lots are also a personal favorite. Comb Over hero tim tim is edged out of a parking space on a crowded lot by a bullying SUV. Roland is honked and given the finger by a presumed stranger as he exits the supermarket lot. Roland is later chastised by his apartment manager for parking his car in a reserved space without the necessary placard.

And, sometimes I dream of plot ideas. Chris Waxley describes to Roland a dream he had about a brunch. I had dreamt the scene the night before and worked it into the dialogue because of its utter ridiculousness.

I enjoy taking walks around the neighborhood and often come up with ideas just by letting my mind wander. Sure, there are very few James Bond style scenes produced by those walks, but probably over half of each book I’ve written is based on something I pondered during a walk.

So, if you are like me and about as exciting as brown toast, don’t despair! Take a nice walk or a good nap. Grasp the commonplace. And write yourself a book!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

J. Paul (J.P.) Rieger is a born and bred Baltimorean and mostly retired Maryland attorney. As such, he’s well acquainted with the quirkiness and charm of Baltimore’s unique citizens. He’s author of Clonk!, a police farce set in Baltimore and published in 2023 by Apprentice House Press (Loyola University-Baltimore). He’s also author of The Case Files of Roderick Misely, Consultant, a mystery novel featuring a wannabe lawyer anti-hero. The Big Comb Over, a slipstream comedy of manners featuring three nephews and their three eccentric uncles, is Paul’s third novel. Paul is married and lives in Towson, Maryland. 

Website: http://www.jpaulrieger.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

A randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card - a Rafflecopter giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beautiful One Guest Post #GoddessFish

 

BEAUTIFUL ONE

Mary Cope

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Young Adult Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Transformation, empowerment, love and music come together in the book, Beautiful One. 

Elizabeth Ryan is a beautiful, shy, naïve high school senior. Having never dated she meets the boy of her dreams, Aidan Mitchell. Despite his history of womanizing Liz is drawn to him. Soon Liz becomes the envy of all the girls on campus, when they become a couple and her dream boyfriend sweeps her off her feet and into the dating world that is all too new and strange for her. When other guys start to take notice of Liz, Aidan is troubled with fits of jealousy.

Elizabeth then meets the ruggedly handsome, Spencer Hayes and they quickly bond over their passion for music. Liz begins to struggle with the feelings that spark between them. In the end Elizabeth finds herself torn between helping Aidan overcome his jealousy and anger and giving into what her heart truly wants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 

“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.

“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.

I was still surprised to see him, so I just nodded.

Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”

In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.

Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”

“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.

“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”

Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.

My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Guest Post

Advice for new writers.

As a writer myself, I understand the challenges that come with beginning a new writing journey. Whether you're just starting to explore your writing passion or you're already deep into your first project, here are some pieces of advice that have helped me. 

Firstly, embrace who you are as a writer. Your voice, perspective, and experiences are unlike anyone else's, and that's your greatest asset. Don't try to imitate others or fit into a mold. Your authenticity is what will captivate your readers and make your work stand out.

Secondly, read as much as you can. Reading not only brings joy but also benefits you as a writer. It exposes you to different styles, genres, and techniques, sparking your imagination and enriching your writing. Pay attention to how authors structure their stories, develop their characters, and evoke emotions. 

Like any skill, writing improves with practice. Set aside time each day to write, even if it's just a few minutes. The more you write, the more you'll learn about your strengths and weaknesses, and the better your writing will become.

Don't be afraid to revise and edit your work. Your first draft is just a draft. Be open to feedback from others but also trust your instincts. You know your story better than anyone else.

Connect with other writers. Writing can be solitary, but having a support system can make a big difference. Join writing groups, attend workshops, or participate in online forums. Surrounding yourself with other writers can be motivating and inspiring.

Rejection is part of the process. Every writer faces rejection. Instead of letting it discourage you, use it as motivation to improve. Even successful writers faced rejection early in their careers.

Believe in yourself and your work. Self-doubt is common, but you have a unique voice and a story that only you can tell. Trust in your ability to bring that story to life. 

Writing is a process with ups and downs, challenges, and triumphs. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep believing in yourself. You have a story to tell, so, tell it!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mary Cope is a passionate romance writer known for her ability to craft characters that feel undeniably real. Drawing inspiration from both her personal experience and vivid imagination, Mary’s words resonate with readers. A romantic at heart, Mary believes true intimacy is what love is all about. 

Website: https://www.marycopeauthor.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marycope_author?igshid=MjEwN2IyYWYwYw==

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryCope_Author

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557161136038

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

A randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kissing Asphalt Audiobook Review #GoddessFish

 

KISSING ASPHALT

Delicia Niami

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Memoir

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Resilience isn’t inherited. It’s a hard-fought skill forged by our ability to pick up the broken pieces of our past and remake them into something new.

Meet four-year-old Delicia, a poor but carefree child who is about to have her world shattered. Along with her seven-year-old brother Nile, she is kidnapped from her Los Angeles home by her estranged father and taken to Iraq, a foreign world she has never known. This is just the beginning of a string of traumas, hardships, and assaults Delicia will endure throughout her tumultuous childhood.

Now an adult living back in California, Delicia Niami bravely recounts how she survived the unimaginable in her debut memoir. Kissing Asphalt, the first in her memoir trilogy, ResilientAF, grapples with the power of resilience, acceptance, and self-love. She revisits her terrifying past with vulnerability, compassion, and the honesty of a true survivor. Hold hands with Delicia as she faces her childhood scars and learns how to confront her fears, accept her true value and identity, and embrace her unique gifts. It’s a multi-decade roller coaster ride that is the beginning of her liberation, propelling her to live an inspired life and embrace her full human potential—a human potential she knows lives inside everyone, no matter what life has thrown at us.

For anyone who has struggled with childhood trauma, Delicia’s unflinching journey through darkness and back to light will resonate. She has decided to share her story publicly in hopes that it will serve as a guide to the many who have suffered in silence and continue to struggle against the daunting weight imposed by childhood trauma.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 

The minute our father, Hazim, got us onto Iraqi soil, my mother lost all her parental rights. One moment, we were happy kids playing on the lawn of our San Fernando Valley home, and in the blink of an eye, we were ripped away and taken to a country we knew nothing about. Everything was new. New culture, new rules, new language—no mother, no mother, no mother!

I think my brother understood better than I did the consequences of being in Baghdad, but he was being strong for me. He had to protect his little four-year-old sister from knowing the reality of the situation. We had been kidnapped by our father and taken to another country far, far from home.

Guest Post

What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

The entire process was quite hard actually. I began my writing journey in 2019, just after a workshop with Bessel Van der kolk, author of The Body Keeps The Score. Shortly thereafter, as we all know, COVID hit. Between dredging up daunting memories of my past, combing through old photos and the binder that I acquired from my mother after she was killed; showing every piece of paper, document, receipt phone call, message that was exchanged between my mother and father in my mother's attempt to get us back from Baghdad.

All of this culminated as I wrote during COVID, sitting alone, quarantining while severely sick with Crohn's Disease. My colon ruptured on August 5, 2020 and I was rushed to the ER. They had me on the operating table within 3 minutes, that is how emergent it was.

Amidst all that, I realized while I was writing that my life wasn't as great as I'd made it out to be in my mind. I have a knack for finding joy, even in the most dismal of things...that is why I say resilience is my superpower because I actually didn't see that I was being abused. Because you don't know what you don't know and it was my distributor that pointed out that I needed the word "abuse" in my subtitle and that had me perplexed for quite some time. That is until I read and re-read my book over and over again. 

At one point while I sat on my couch and wrote in solitude, I broke down and cried out to the sky HOW?! HOW?! How did I survive my childhood? This hit me like nothing ever had before. After writing and re-writing and editing and re-editing things become clearer.

The absolute hardest thing during the writing process was realizing that the man I looked up to as a father figure, who I idolized, and whom also was my molestor didn’t view me the same. I realized after almost forty years that this man that I put on a pedestal, and protected from harms way by not telling a soul what he was doing to me, was merely grooming me. I was just a toy to him. This was a crushing blow to my spirt and my psyche on so many levels. That was absolutely the most difficult thing of my entire writing process.

I had several aha moments while I wrote this book, most were not easy. I knew I had to work through them to come out the other side, which is exactly what my books are about. That we are all ResilientAF and that we can all make it through anything if we do the work, there is always light and joy to be found.

Free use image from Pixabay

Ornery Owl's Review

Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Why do some people who grew up in deprived and difficult circumstances succumb to despair while others overcome their past problems and thrive? This memoir may not provide a clear-cut answer to that question, but it paints a portrait of an individual who excelled despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her life.

Delicia Niami and her older brother Nile were the children of an American mother and an Iraqi father. When Delicia was four and Nile was seven, their father kidnapped them, taking them to Iraq for two years. Over time, Delicia came to realize how little her father valued her. Although Delicia's mother cared about her children, she had serious problems of her own. She became involved with men who abused Delicia and Nile, and she was sometimes abusive herself.

Delicia was bullied at school and spent much of her life seeking love and acceptance that she did not find at home. This search led to her being molested by predatory older men and taken advantage of in other ways.

In this memoir, Delicia tells the story of how she learned to accept herself despite life's difficulties. The book is written in a casual, conversational style. The author breaks down complex topics in ways that are easy for the average person to understand.

The overarching theme of the book is acceptance, specifically self-acceptance. Through her own story, the author illustrates the concept that everyone deserves respectful treatment. Even if others have treated one unkindly, one can cultivate positive beliefs to nourish self-respect.

Even if the day comes when every child is born into a family that truly embraces and provides well for them, stories like this will always be relevant. Growing up in poverty and experiencing trauma has profound effects that remain throughout a person's life.

I really enjoyed listening to Delicia's story. I appreciated that she didn't sugarcoat the tough parts of her life. Glossing over the uncomfortable aspects would have lessened the book's impact.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs and appreciates an author who doesn't hold back on telling uncomfortable truths. Because it discusses issues such as physical and sexual abuse, it is not appropriate for young or more sensitive readers. However, it can help those who have endured such things feel less alone. I would gladly add it to my top ten favorite books of the year. 

I commend the author on completing and publishing her memoir. I've been trying to write one for ten years and only have multiple aborted attempts to show for it.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Delicia Niami is an acclaimed memoirist and LGBTQ+ advocate, whose raw and edgy storytelling has touched the hearts of readers worldwide. Residing in Santa Cruz and an alumna of UCSC, Delicia draws inspiration from her own journey of resilience and empowerment. Through her memoirs, she fearlessly addresses topics such as sexual abuse, trauma recovery, and the importance of self-compassion. Delicia's work not only sheds light on difficult experiences but also empowers others to find their voices and embrace their own resilience. Her passion for advocacy shines through in her writing, making her a powerful voice for change and healing in today's world.

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/delicianiami_author/

https://www.facebook.com/ResilientAFMemoir

https://www.facebook.com/kissingasphalt

https://www.instagram.com/resilientaf_memoir/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4CuQnSSu4FD0nXrbsZgcG8

Audible: https://a.co/d/ayPVeKl

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Kissing_Asphalt_The_Courageous_True_Story_of_One_C?id=AQAAAEASC2hLaM&hl=en_GB&gl=HK

Libro: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781647047788-kissing-asphalt

Audiobooks Now: https://www.audiobooksnow.com/audiobook/kissing-asphalt/9622777/

Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kissing-asphalt-delicia-niami/1144013799

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/kissing-asphalt-the-courageous-true-story-of-one/id1737042425

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

The author will award a randomly drawn winner a signed special edition copy of the book. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dark Court Guest Post #GoddessFish

 

THE DARK COURT

Vyvyan Evans

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Science Fiction

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A genre-blending dystopian, sci-fi mystery-thriller that will make you think about communication in a whole new way.

Five years after the Great Language Outage, lang-laws have been repealed, but world affairs have only gotten worse. The new automation agenda has resulted in a social caste system based on IQ. Manual employment is a thing of the past, and the lowest soc-ed class, the Unskills, are forced into permanent unemployment.

In a world on the brink of civil war, a deadly insomnia pandemic threatens to kill billions. Lilith King, Interpol’s most celebrated detective, is assigned to the case.

Together with a sleep specialist, Dr. Kace Westwood, Lilith must figure out who or what is behind this new threat. Could the pandemic be the result of the upskilling vagus chips being offered to the lowest soc-ed class? Or are language chips being hacked? And what of the viral conspiracy theories by the mysterious Dark Court, sweeping the globe? Lilith must work every possible angle, and quickly: she is running out of time!

While attempting to stop a vast conspiracy on an intergalactic scale, Lilith also faces shocking revelations about her origin, coming to terms with her own destiny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 

But just then, twenty meters in front of me, a small group of Dark Court cultists emerged, out from a side corridor. I grimaced—this only meant trouble. There were four of them, this time with cappa hoods covering their heads, obscuring their faces from sec-cam and LS orb identification by NYPD droids. They were no doubt trying to imitate their beloved, so-called adjudicators, the self-appointed, anonymous leaders of this vile cult of violence and misinformation. The cultists were dressed in black from head to toe, including leather pants and tunics. They even wore black, tactical Kevlar gloves.

The cultists spotted me. “Let’s get her, boys,” said one voice. Then I heard raucous laughter.

They moved toward me, cutting off my route to the UN employee East River entrance. And as they approached, they pulled out neural shock sticks, sheathed in cases worn around their belts. Of course, just my luck. The long, thin devices were illegal, and for good reason. If applied for more than a few seconds, they could result in permanent brain damage or even death. I steeled myself—this was the only way through.

As I neared, the group appeared surprised I was still heading toward them—not the response they expected. I would never run away again, not since that night in the Black Forest, twenty years ago. Sure, I had been through Interpol’s basic combat training, back in the day. For what that was worth. But since the Black Forest, I had taken self-defense training to insane levels, obsessive as always. You could say I had elevated it to the status of a dark art.

Guest Post

Background to Unilanguage: They who control language control everything

The Dark Court is book #2 in the Songs of the Sage science fiction book series. The books predict a near-future when language is no longer learned, but streamed to neural implants in people’s head, streamed from internet in space. The book explores the dystopian consequences of this.

In a future era of language-as-commodity, it is inevitable that whether a language lives or dies would be based on economics. In other words, those languages with little demand on streaming services would cease to exist.

As language would be stored entirely on servers, language would, in effect, be controlled by the big tech companies that lease it back to human populations that have undergone language chipping.

The Songs of the Sage books imagine a system where language is controlled by a body based in California, called Unilanguage. This is modelled on the very system in place for vetting new emojis, which are controlled and approved by Unicode (also based in California, controlled by just a few of the world’s leading tech firms).

One consequence would be that as languages fall out of demand, there would be little incentive for big tech firms to continue to store them, tying up valuable server space. And as populations undergo the process of having language chips implanted in their brains, native speakers would cease to exist. Hence, lesser-used languages would simply die out—a consequence of lack of demand, which is simple economics at work. If there is no demand, it doesn’t pay. Hence, providers stop offering it.

The books imagine a future in which there are just 250 surviving languages (compared to around 7,000 today).

National governments would, inevitably, try to preserve cultural unity, while ensuring subscriptions are affordable for the poorest citizens. Hence, the Songs of the Sage books posit a situation in which (most) states require all public security systems (referred to as VirDas—short for Virtual Digital Assistants) to run on a single state language. For context, VirDas are the mechanisms for processing voice commands, and hence the main security portals for accessing everything from grocery stores to offices, from vehicles to homes.

As an example, the national state language in France, on which all public VirDas would run, would be French. In the US, it would likely be English. In practice, this would mean that in France, say, it would be sufficient to only need to pay for a single language streaming package. And to gain entry to a supermarket, for instance, the language user would identify at the store entrance, using voice commands, by speaking into the VirDa. Incidentally, this technology would also mean that stores and supermarkets are fully automated (no need for human clerks or cashiers). Label sensor fusion tech, already being trialled, would mean that a shopper’s groceries can be located with each individual shopper, who would use their voice command authorization to pay for their purchase at self-checkout, prior to being “allowed” to leave the store.

Of course, there are multiple consequences of all this for language. Regional accents and dialects, being non-standard, would require more expensive streaming subscriptions—this entails that regional accents would become status symbols. The working classes would be, in effect, priced out of their own local language varieties.

The range and variety of human language would be erased at a stroke. This, self-evidently, has implications for identity, ethnicity, and so on. It also has consequences for who controls language, and how new words are coined, or come to fall out of use. These would become decisions for big tech and government, not individual speakers of languages.

Given all this, The Dark Court, along with the other books in the series, serve as a warning: when we lose language we all lose.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Dr. Vyvyan Evans is a native of Chester, England. He holds a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., and is a Professor of Linguistics. He has published numerous acclaimed popular science and technical books on language and linguistics. His popular science essays and articles have appeared in numerous venues including 'The Guardian', 'Psychology Today', 'New York Post', 'New Scientist', 'Newsweek' and 'The New Republic'. His award-winning writing focuses, in one way or another, on the nature of language and mind, the impact of technology on language, and the future of communication. His science fiction work explores the status of language and digital communication technology as potential weapons of mass destruction.

Book website (including ‘Buy’ links): http://www.songs-of-the-sage.com

Author website: https://www.vyvevans.net/

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@vyvevans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VyvEvans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vyvyan.Evans.Author

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nephilim_publishing/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Vyvyan Evans will award a randomly drawn winner paperback copies of both book 1 and book 2 of the series 

a Rafflecopter giveaway