Pages

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

KD Emerson - WOW Wednesday & Special Birthday Wish


Yes, it's that time again and I have an extra special treat for you today on WOW Wednesday. I'm spotlighting author K.D. Emerson. Not only is she a fantastic YA author, she is my publisher. The woman who took a chance on my debut short story, and trilogy.

We'll chat with her and get a closer look at her book, Digitus 233, soon. First I'd like to share that today is her birthday!


Happy Birthday, K.D.!
I love your sweet heart. A heart that speaks softly, and with gentle love to all. Your kindness is like an Artesian well - there seems no end to the flow. May God continue to bless your life in ways you could never dream of, and may you continue to grown in His love.






Today is your day to dance lightly with life,
sing wild songs of adventure,
invite rainbows and butterflies out to play,
soar your spirit, and unfurl your joy.
~Jonathan Lockwood Huie






~~~
Would you like to know more about the woman behind the book? She's fascinating, to be sure.

I first met K.D. Emerson on Facebook. She and I had mutual friends, which led to my 'friending' her. I have to be honest, she surprised me. The one thing that stood out in my mind about her was the consistency of her sincerity, because one seldom runs across people who are sincere in all their dealings with others - every day of their life.

Since that time I have discovered that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to K.D. Emerson. Today, just for fun I would like to expose some of the weird and wacky things I discovered about her. I am posting this pop quiz to see if any of you can guess the three things on this list that K.D. Emerson has NOT done in her life. I’m sure you will agree the things left on the list equal a pretty interesting life.

Here is a list of possible facts about K.D. Emerson. What three things are false?
  1. Ridden a wild horse 
  2. Ridden an unicycle 
  3. Worked at a bank 
  4. Worked at a carnival 
  5. Got expelled from school a week before high school graduation 
  6. Never got expelled from school 
  7. Sold her first story at age eight 
  8. Was in a moving traffic accident with a truck that had no driver 
  9. Won a dance contest in high school 
  10. Lived at the top of a mountain with a pack of wolves 
  11. Her first published work was three lines long 
  12. Received a 5 star review from her ex-husband after they were divorced 
  13. Loves cotton candy 
  14. Acted in and directed live theatre 
  15. Tore the finger board off a grand piano while performing on stage 

We asked K.D. Emerson if she could go back in time to when she was seven years old, what wisdom or advice would she pass on to herself?

Don’t you dare put that pen down! No matter what anyone says, no matter how impractical it might seem, don’t put the pen down because when you get older there will be people that love your style and your writing will make a difference in their lives.

What is your favorite genre to read on a rainy day?
No matter the weather or the genre, three important aspects must be present. 1. It can be a romance, thriller, fantasy or sci-fi, but the author has to make me believe it’s possible. 2. The plot must be intriguing and tightly written. And 3. The characters have to be three-dimensional. No card-board cut-outs for this girl.

What brings you the deepest sense of happiness?
Knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life. I have an ability to feel deep joy when I watch others succeed.

What is the meaning of life?
To leave the earth a better place for having been here

While we've got you cornered here, we'd like to hear more about the book. 
From the horse's mouth, so to speak. 


What is a short synopsis for Digitus 233?
A group of teens are caught in a web of deceit. Will they break free of the world’s controlling power or are they doomed to die trying?

One thing I have been dying to ask, why did you end Digitus 233 with such a horrifying cliff hanger? It made me want to scream! I sat and thought about possibilities for a long time after finishing the novel.
Well, you just hit the answer to your own question right on the head. I wanted my readers to scream out and then I wanted them to use their own imagination to come up with their own possible ending. In book two I will share my conclusion with them and then we can compare how close we came in to having the same resolution.

My favorite character from Digitus 233 is ______. How did you come up with that character?
All my characters are created from the dark corners of my mind with a little snippet of their personality inspired by a real person. So no matter whom your favorite character is in one of my books you will know there is someone real hidden in there somewhere. It’s up to the reader to figure out what that snippet is.

We'll untie and turn you loose after this one, Miss Emerson. Then, you can get back to work on the second book. We are all dying to find out what is happening to the teens.


You are the owner of Master Koda Select Publishing, LLC. Is it the first business you have ever owned?
*Laughter* Nooo. I was just a kid of six or seven when I first ventured into the land of entrepreneurial adventures. I was always hunting around for something to sell. One summer it was candy out of the back of a little red wagon (my venture into door to door sales), one summer it was a carnival in my back yard, one summer I gathered all the neighborhood kids and made them memorize lines and dress in ridiculous costumes and we charged all the adults to suffer through our off-off-off-Broadway plays. The one on-going business I had was selling my stories on the playground at school, so I guess I was an indie publisher way back before it was popular.
~~~


Now that we've let Miss Emerson go, we'll have a look at what readers think about Digitus 233

Although, it is a YA novel, I've read Digitus 233 and found it engaging, enlightening and thought provoking. It's filled with adventures, and fast-paced enough to draw in and hold the attention of the video game crowd. The good news is, this is only the first novel in Miss Emerson's Digitus Series. Oh yes, there are more coming. I, for one, can't wait to see what Zeph and the rest of them get up to in the next installment. ~Me
Available at Amazon

~What Readers are saying ~
  • This book has a fascinating storyline and great characters with hidden talents. When I got to the end, I kept trying to flip to the next page before I realized it was a cliffhanger. No! I MUST know what happens next! ~ Laurie Boris 
  • Looking for fantastic characters and a breath-holding, heart-pounding, hair-raising edge of your seat good time? Then look no further, Digitus 233 has it all ~ Maria 
  • This knocked The Hunger Games right out of the running for me (and that's one of my favorites!) ~ Dominique 
  • This sort of tale-spinning takes TALENT! All I've gotta say is this: KD - you'd better get the sequel written pretty darn quickly...!! ~ Liberty 
  • Digitus 233 is an excellent example of an author whose characters look and sound real, and whose behaviour - while not always exemplary - rings true to me ~ Lynette 
  • If you're a teacher, this is a book that is sure to capture the interest of your entire class! If you're a parent with a reluctant reader, I'd definitely suggest downloading this book to get him/her interested in reading! ~ Anne 
~~~


Author Bio and links:

K.D. Emerson loves writing thought provoking and action filled stories that bring her readers back for more.

Although her writings deal with the evils of the world, she dishes out healthy doses of laughter and fun along the way.

K.D. spends her free time wrangling wild horses, rafting down the Amazon, hang gliding on a toothpick and when she's awake you will find her working on her next adventure or assisting other authors in creating their dreams.








Before she ran out of here earlier, K.D. Emerson wanted to say a little something to her readers.

K.D. Emerson has this to say to her readers.
Thanks to all the readers of my work and for your precious input. I don’t think you realize how much it means to me. Each one of you has given me a gift with your kind words. May God bless you in every step you take and may your life be filled with that glorious peace that passes all understanding.

Would you like to connect with K.D. Emerson? It's as easy as clicking on any of the links below. She's always happy to make new friends.


~~~


I hope you've enjoyed our visit with K.D. Emerson. I know I've talked her up a bit here, but every word is true. She is an amazing woman. Don't take my word for it, go ahead and connect with her on social media and find out for yourself.

Thanks for visiting the desk today.


.



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

WOW Wednesday - T.M. Novak and 'Lilly'

It's WOW Wednesday again. At the desk today, we visit with another Master Koda Select Publishing author, T.M. Novak. She is the author of The Abduction of Lilly Waters, a psychological thriller with a surprise ending that sneaks up on the reader before they realize what's happening. If you haven't read it, now is the perfect time to grab a copy for the weekend.

~~~

The Abduction of Lilly Waters by T.M. Novak

 Beth had never anticipated her life would end up like it did. The last beating she received at the hands of her boyfriend threw her over the edge. She had to escape him, so she fled taking her daughter Lilly with her. She didn’t know where she’d go, but she didn’t care. All she could manage to think about was her unborn child and her daughter Lilly.

The frequent stops the mother and daughter had to make were uneventful until Beth pulled into a Diner in Moore, Oklahoma where her daughter Lilly was taken by unseen hands.

Detective’s Daniel Prescott and Frank Martinez head the investigation trying relentlessly to solve the case before it’s too late. These days, when children are taken it’s a unified frenzy to find them. In this case, every lead turns up empty and every turn they take reveals a clue they couldn’t have anticipated. The detectives aren’t quite sure where to turn or who to trust; even the mother herself is a prime suspect.

The Abduction of Lilly Waters is a fast paced child abduction thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat in anticipation until the end where you’ll discover the deepest and darkest secret waiting.


“Detective Frank Martinez scanned the scene. He was looking for something more, something 
that would spiral the case in the right direction. As of that moment, nothing seemed right.  
There were no leads, just the words of a pregnant woman that didn’t add up, 
some witnesses that didn’t see a damn thing, and broken glass. 
He felt sure the mother was hiding something, and he was determined to figure out what.”

~~~
Who is the lovely T.M. Novak? Let's find out!
Tammy was born in Waterbury, Connecticut eight minutes before her twin brother. She comes from a large family with seven brothers and sisters, and eleven nieces and nephews so far. She grew up in Southern California and currently lives in Prescott, Arizona. 

Tammy married her high school sweet heart Gary in 1994 and they have four sons’ together. She received her teaching degree from Northern Arizona University in 2010 and is currently a teacher in Mayer, Arizona. 

The Abduction of Lilly Waters is her debut novel and there are several other works in progress; she has a Y.A. series in the works called Butterfly Lake, and a children’s book series called, The Big Green Dinosaur which will be published under Tammy Moore. Her sister Latisha Wood is expected to illustrate them for her. 

The things that inspire Tammy the most are family and she always keeps her family at the forefront of her thoughts. She gets her story ideas from her dreams and her children where she takes a simple moment and turns it into a world all its own.


Follow this link to purchase a copy of The Abduction of Lilly Waters.
~~~
It's easy to connect with Tammy. She enjoys hearing from her readers. 
Drop her a note today at one of the links below.

~~~









Wednesday, October 16, 2013

WOW Wednesday - Vickie Johnstone Visits the Desk


It's WOW Wednesday again. It's hard to believe another week has  already come and gone. Where does the time go?

We are lucky to have Vickie Johnstone with us at the desk today. She has written something a little (okay, a lot) different this go round. I do so love to read an author who steps out into different genres. And, with her new release, I Dream of Zombies, Vickie has certainly done that! You might say she has dived head first into a new genre with this horror tale.

If you are a lover of horror stories, this vivid story will not let you down. Wipe out of your mind all the zombie tales you've seen on late night television and read in countless novels and horror magazines, because this story is well thought out, well written and will leave you wondering when her next horror tale will be released. So, without further ado, I introduce to you, Vickie Johnstone's newest book.

~~~

A zombie novel set in London over six weeks in 2013, with a strong female lead character.

Did I mention the book cover? It's, to die for...

It starts with a dream and then the nightmare takes over.

It all begins on a summer’s day with the media reporting with some hilarity that people are dreaming of the dead coming to life, but those who have dreamt them are convinced they are a warning of things to come. Marla takes it all with a pinch of salt until she experiences the nightmares herself. Cue paranoia and disbelief until reality shows its new face.

All over London there are incidences of people becoming sick and aggressive. As the attacks mount, the media is forced to take the matter seriously, but what is causing it? Is it a virus, and is it natural or man-made, and is the government responsible?

Marla, her sister, Ellen, and friend Tommy find themselves fighting for their survival as their sense of reality is smashed. Will the army and police maintain control or will the country find itself in lockdown, isolated from the outside world?



And as an extra special treat, here's an excerpt from 'I Dream of Zombies'.

"A sickening sense of dread ravages him as fear drifts over the surface of his skin like fingers, icy cold and unrelenting. He turns again and sprints towards the exit, his pace becoming increasingly slower as if something is pushing him back. Yet still he finds himself in the exact same position, his feet rooted to the spot, his arms sweeping, useless. His hair blows in the breath that the creature now turns on him, sickening in its putrid scent of death and putrefaction. There is not a word he can think of to describe this thing in front of him. Fear creeps, regardless. Twisting, crawling, the maggots swarm across its bloodied face as it opens its mouth wider. Something rips. The yawn seems to swallow him whole into this darkness of despair as a jagged, ripping pain overwhelms him; the sharp teeth chafing, gnawing at his neck, seeking to pierce the jugular vein within. From far off in the distance comes the ripple of laughter."


You can purchase the book at Amazon in the UK and US.

AmazonUS     AmazonUK 
~~~



Hi, I live in London and have a thing about fluffy cats. I work as a freelance layout sub-editor on business magazines and editor/proofreader on books. I love reading, writing, films, the sea, art, animals, nature, rock music, Milky Bar and travelling. I have self-published 14 books.


I also edit indie books for a living, so you might see other books alongside mine in the UK bookshop when you do a search. The only ones I've written bear the author's name of Vickie Johnstone or V Johnstone. I edited the others.






Vickie Johnstone has an impressive list of titles on Amazon. 

Titles published in 2011:
  • Kaleidoscope (March) - 119 poems, divided by chapter themes;
  • Travelling Light - a free book of 38 poems;
  • Kiwi in Cat City - the first in a series about a magical cat and her human pals (April);
  • Kiwi and the Missing Magic (June);
  • Kiwi and the Living Nightmare (October).
Titles published in 2012:
  • Day of the Living Pizza - a comedy horror for ages 10 up (May)
  • Life's Rhythms - a collection of 316 haiku (June)
  • 3 Heads and a Tail - a romantic comedy with walkies, written for NaNoWriMo (June)
  • Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle (August)
  • Day of the Pesky Shadow - book 2 in the Smarts & Dewdrop Mysteries series (October)
  • Kiwi in the Realm of Ra (November)
  • Kiwi's Christmas Tail (December)
Titles published in 2013:
  • The Sea Inside - Cerulean Songs, book 1
  • I Dream of Zombies - book 1
The Kiwi books have illustrations by Nikki McBroom.

Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle was a finalist in the children's books category of the National Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013.


Connecting with Vickie is as easy as clicking the links below.



Blog 


Facebook Author Page

Facebook  Kiwi in Cat City

Facebook  Kaleidoscope Poetry

Facebook  Vickie Johnstone Editing

~~~

Thank y'all for dropping in today. I hope you've enjoyed learning a little more about Vickie Johnstone and her books. Feel free to leave a comment for her below. And, if you read I Dream of Zombies, don't forget to jump on over to Amazon and leave a review. Even a couple of sentences can make an authors day. 


.





Wednesday, October 9, 2013

WOW Wednesday with a Twist


WOW Wednesday is a little different here at the desk today. I'm actually the spotlighted author. Since it is my blog and I'm able to shine that light on my books any time I'd like, I thought I'd compile a post of the other authors - and the brilliant Rebbekah White - involved in WOW Wednesday. 

Rather than linking to their posts about my short story, Ziggy ReturnsI pulled from their Amazon 
author pages and websites. I haven't seen all the posts yet, but the ones I've seen are 
creative, fun and just downright wonderful. 

I love my Master Koda family. They're the cream of the crop!

I've linked the names below. Just click to learn all about each one.

~~~

Arlene ONeil
"Writing is what lights me up," states Arlene R. O'Neil. "Being a visual writer, I love seeing my work come to life: to take the reader with me on a journey word by word: to touch a reader whether through laughter or tears." Her current book, "Broken Spokes," refers to broken bones, broken bike, and broken spirit. It speaks to the reader of determination, of survival, of inspiration.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Mrs. O'Neil moved to South Carolina to work on her second novel, which will relate the roller coaster life of being the parent of a Soldier on active duty. O'Neil says, "My son, SGT Tanner O'Neil, is a member of the United States Army and the joy, pride, and love of my life. After five tours of duty to active war zones, I feel the need to share my experience with other parents in hope of lessening their fears." SGT O'Neil recently returned from his 5th combat tour.

Currently Arlene lives with her two Labradors, Holly and Bruno, and her adorable pet goats, Paxton, JaeJay, Rupert, Patches, and Frosty. "These amazing characters have helped me through some incredibly difficult times and I love them dearly."

Aside from writing, supporting her son while deployed, and caring for her animals, Arlene lives on 3 ½ acres of land that she and her beloved animals enjoy.


Brenda Perlin
Brenda Perlin is an independent adult contemporary fiction author. Brenda evokes emotional responses in her readers by using a provocatively unique writing style. Her latest book, Home Wrecker, captures the soul-wrenching conflicts of a personal struggle for emotional fulfillment.

Ever since Brenda was a child she has been fascinated with writing. She draws her biggest inspiration from Judy Blume. This sparked a passion in Brenda to pursue personal expression through writing. Once she was old enough to go to coffee shops alone, Brenda recalls losing herself in the world of writing, all while documenting her ideas on paper napkins.

"There is really no creative process, I just write," - Brenda Perlin


DeEtte Beckstead
DeEtte started writing in 2007 after her son challenged her to try NaNoWriMo. The manuscript sat untouched with several others until January 2012 when her good friend encouraged her to seek publication. The Christmas Visitors is her first short story, and Victory is her first novel.

DeEtte spent much of her childhood playing piano, reading, or making up stories. She was active in Girl Scouting, which gave her a wide variety of experiences. While in college, she was on the University of Utah Synchronized Swim team, and taught winter camping and survival for Girl Scouts.

DeEtte lives in New England where she writes full time and works on the editing team of Master Koda Select Publishing. DeEtte's other interests include swimming, crocheting, reading, dog rescue, and her many grandchildren.


G. Mitchell Baker
Remember to be careful when you visit the barn. Sidestepping may be necessary!

G. Mitchell Baker traditionally publishes novels in genres of contemporary fiction, paranormal mystery, bio-social science fiction, and young adult fiction. Having worked with no less than four publishers, Baker considers it a privilege to continue his partnership with the exclusive small-press, Master Koda Select Publishing. Until recently, Baker lived between the southwest United States and western Canada drawing his experience to write from a diverse career practicing law, having lived in many places, and, while maintaining a broad range of interests in sport that include having played baseball at national championship levels and competing high levels in more than one discipline of Karate. Baker now enjoys cycling and writing novels and writing feature length movie screenplays about all matter he finds may be of original interest.


Jane Carroll Cowart
And here's Bertha...errr, I mean, Jane!

Jane Carroll, Author of Bertha-Size Your Life! and Becoming Bertha, is a Life Coach, Registered Nurse, Reiki Master, Mother, Grandmother, and long-time student of life. She has seen the focus of her over 30 year nursing career change from illness to wellness to wholeness, a philosophy that permeates everything she does.

While she enjoys all aspects of her life, writing is her passion and she is currently working on Bertha's latest adventures.

When life hands you an ostrich...make a boa ~ Bertha


Jerrid Edgington
Jerrid Edgington is a Paramedic at Le Flore County EMS in Poteau, Oklahoma. He has been in EMS for 17 years with 15 years of that as a Paramedic. He has worked in four different states in EMS. He has worked in big inner city as well as the rural settings. Jerrid has aspired to write a book and recently published his first book, Racing the Reaper, which is the first book in the series. The second book, Racing the Reaper-Resuscitation, is set to release in early September.

You can visit www.jerridedgington.com for up to date information on future book releases.


John Augustine
A man of many talents, which you will get a taste of when checking out his website, and a relatively new member in the Master Koda Select Publishing family, John is open and friendly. He shares his time and connects with other members just like an 'old timer' in our ever-growing Master Koda family.


KR Hughes
Hughes is an English major from Texas. She enjoys writing with her co-author T.L. Burns. 'Fateful Night' is the first novel in the What She Knew trilogy. 'Darkest Day' is the second book. They are both published by Master Koda Select Publishing

Hughes enjoys working with budding writers and tutoring English.

Find other works by this author in the Historical Romance section, pen name is Kymber Lee, 'Treasured Love' is a fun romp written in Regency England in 1811. Lee (Hughes) wrote this novel for her grandmother who is a huge supporter of her work. Lee's second Regency, 'Lord Tristan's True Love' is now available on Kindle.


K.D. Emerson
Miss Emerson is not only my publisher, she is a fabulous author. 'Digitus 233' is the first installment in her Digitus Series. It is a suspense-filled teen/YA thriller. I'm not a YA fan, necessarily, but I read this book and am biting at the bit for the next one.

When Zeph, the adventurous son of a millionaire hid in the cargo hold of the Learjet carrying his brother Zander to camp he had no idea there was anything dark or ominous going on. That was until he watched Zander ejected from the plane onto a barren arctic island and Zeph, trapped on the plane, found himself headed for South America. Will he be able to expose the truth behind Digitus, the world's dominant corporation, or will they succeed in their sinister plan to control his brother and destroy the world?
This is more than an action packed book series; it's a wakeup call to the world. Will we allow ourselves to go blindly into slavery or will we stand up and fight for freedom and our basic human rights before it's too late?


Linda Bolton
Alexandra Daniels is a forty-something, hard-working mom, wife and employee. Her life has been plodding along at a snails pace and she’s longing for excitement. She wins a trip to her favorite talk show in New York, the Veronica Becker Show, and it just so happens the actor of her dreams is a guest, Derek Dunbar! Is Alex’s life about to change?

Derek Dunbar is Scottish, an actor and a hunk! Every woman in America drools after him. He has his pick of women but stinks at relationships. At forty, is he longing for a more meaningful relationship? Does he even know how to have one? Is he willing to make the effort or will it just be too complicated?


Rebbekah White
Advantage Marketing For You
Cost Conscious Pricing Without Losing Value!
Advantage Marketing For You is committed to excellence!

Rebbekah White, owner of Advantage Marketing For You, strives to make all her clients excited about their wordpress blog customization, and cares about each one of her clients and their projects as if it were her own.

Rebbekah will lead you step by step from purchasing your domain name, to webhosting, to the exact layout you have envisioned for your website all the while listening to YOU the BUSINESS OWNER.


S. L. Wallace
S.L. Wallace is a teacher and life long writer who is a descendant of the famous William Wallace. Like him, she believes in freedom and independence. Unlike him, she fights her battles with the pen, most recently taking a political stand against recent changes in government at both local and state levels.


S.E. Myers
I am an author. It's what I do. It's what I want to do. It's not the only thing that I do, but, it's what I want to be when I grow up.

Stephanie was born in San Antonio, Texas and spent most of her youth in Germany. She joined the military and traveled the world...somewhat. She lived in Japan, spent time in India, and currently resides in Sacramento, California.

She is surrounded by her close friends, family, and animals. She lives with her oldest daughter (Illeana), youngest daughter (Kathryn), Punky & Snoopy (their Chorky's), and their cat (Miss Kitty). She misses her son, Gavin, terribly. He currently lives in Georgia.

Stephanie has written for many years. She started writing songs at the age of ten. Her writing progressed into short stories, poetry, screenplays, and more recently, her novel Dark Revelation.

While Dark Revelation is of the YA genre, her other WIP's (Works in Progress) are more adult in nature - and no - not that kind of adult


TL Burns
As my co-author puts it "I am the foremost researcher and historical guru for our trilogy "What She Knew." "Fateful Night" is book one and was released May of 2013. She and I have finished book two, "Darkest Day," and are currently working on book three. You can learn more about them at our website www.kandtproductions.com.

I am originally from California (desert region, with mountains), spent nearly 20 years in the panhandle of Texas (again, desert region only without the mountains), moved to Atlanta, GA (trees and flowers everywhere) and have recently moved back to the desert. I miss living in the post card of Atlanta, but I don't miss the humidity.

I've been married for 32 years! Woo Hoo! And, to the same man!! That's an accomplishment, and not because of our present times. If you knew my hubby, then you'd know why. LOL! No, all joking aside, he's a great guy and my biggest supporter! He always believes in my writing, even if I doubt at times.

We have two grown sons; both of them are perfect in every way, except for the parts that take after their dad, lol!! One serves our country in the Army, is married to a beautiful woman and has three beautiful children. Our other son is in College, he has one degree in Modern Languages and is pursuing his Engineering degree. Needless to say, we are so very proud of the wonderful young men our sons have turned out to be. We also have one pupple (puppy/people) living at home with us, Digby. Now, he really is perfect in every way!


Tammy Novak
T.M. Novak was born in Waterbury, Connecticut eight minutes before her twin brother. She comes from a large family with seven brothers and sisters, and eleven nieces and nephews so far. She grew up in Southern California and currently lives in Prescott, Arizona.

Tammy married her high school sweet heart Gary in 1994 and they have four sons' together. She received her teaching degree from Northern Arizona University in 2010 and is currently a teacher in Mayer, Arizona.
The Abduction of Lilly Waters is her debut novel and there are several other works in progress; she has a Y.A. series in the works called Butterfly Lake, and a children's book series called, The Big Green Dinosaur which will be published under Tammy Moore. Her sister Latisha Wood is expected to illustrate them for her.
The things that inspire Tammy the most are family and she always keeps her family at the forefront of her thoughts. She gets her story ideas from her dreams and her children where she takes a simple moment and turns it into a world all its own.


Vickie Johnstone
Hi, I live in London and have a thing about fluffy cats. I work as a freelance layout sub-editor on business magazines and editor/proofreader on books. I love reading, writing, films, the sea, art, animals, nature, rock music, Milky Bar and travelling. I have self-published 13 books.

Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle was a finalist in the children's books category of the National Indie Excellence Book Awards 2013.

Titles published in 2011:
Kaleidoscope (March) - 119 poems, divided by chapter themes;
Travelling Light - a free book of 38 poems;
Kiwi in Cat City - the first in a series about a magical cat and her human pals (April);
Kiwi and the Missing Magic (June);
Kiwi and the Living Nightmare (October).

Titles published in 2012:
Day of the Living Pizza - a comedy horror for ages 10 up (May);
Life's Rhythms - a collection of 316 haiku (June);
3 Heads and a Tail - a romantic comedy with walkies, written for NaNoWriMo (June);
Kiwi and the Serpent of the Isle (August);
Day of the Pesky Shadow - book 2 in the Smarts & Dewdrop Mysteries series (October);
Kiwi in the Realm of Ra (November), and
Kiwi's Christmas Tail (December).

Titles published in 2013:
The Sea Inside - Cerulean Songs, book 1.


Wendy and Charles Siefken
Wendy Siefken (1966-Present) Currently working full time from home on writing stories and now a virtual assistant to those in need of an extra pair of hands online. Wendy lives on a farm with her family and enjoys reading, gardening and other activities with her family and friends. This is our first publication with many more to follow. This all started as a school project for her youngest son and business partner, Charles Siefken, that has grown into a desire to be published.

The book is a journey into the fantasy realm of what if's. Zombies took over the world? What if werewolves were real? what if dragons were really not from earth but from another planet? I hope you enjoy this YA book. This book is ideal for a young reader who you may not want reading a book with a lot of blood and gore. This book doesn't have that. It has a story without all the graphics of a battle. I hope you take a look and enjoy!



~~~

I hope you'll take the time to click on their links and check out their books. We are a diverse group of authors so, there's something for almost every reader in this lot. I'm honored to be associated with each and every person on this list. There are many more great authors in the Master Koda family who I've not mentioned here. They can be found milling around in the Master Koda Facebook Group stirring up trouble - err, I mean, sharing with, and learning from, each other.

~~~



.





Saturday, October 5, 2013

Brenda Perlin and The Brooklyn Chronicles


Brenda Perlin is at it again! The Brooklyn Chronicles, the second book in the Home Wrecker series is set for release on 11 October. There's going to be a fabulous book launch party to celebrate the new book. Come one, come all and join the fun on Facebook, 11 October at 1:00 pm (PST) where you'll enjoy games, win prizes, meet the author and make new friends. In the days leading up to the event, Brenda will be giving away eBooks at random so watch for her posts on the event page at Facebook! If you haven't read the first book, Home Wrecker Chronicles, now is a good time to pick up a copy.

As always, I'm pleased to have Brenda here at the desk. Let's find out more about Brooklyn and Bo, shall we?


~~~

“Brooklyn and Bo, each unhappily married to others, 
must decide whether to stay with their spouses or give up everything for their love.”



Brooklyn Rosen had high moral principles and was raised properly. Married for over fifteen years, those standards went out the window along with her fidelity when she met Bo. After becoming a self-proclaimed “Home Wrecker” Brooklyn left behind her marital home, along with the damage caused by her emotional wrecking ball. But the whispered remarks followed. In “Home Wrecker: The Brooklyn Chronicles” we learn what shaped Brooklyn, the trials of an unhappy marriage and a deep abiding love that would not be denied. We meet a troubled, spiteful wife, who does not want to become an “ex”. Will Brooklyn and Bo survive, or will all be lost to a bitter woman?


“I knew the sort of girl that went after married men and that was something I would have judged harshly, in the past.

Truth be told, I really thought this man’s marriage was over. I knew it had been on the rocks for a long time but by the time we were talking, I thought the only thing that was holding up his divorce was a signed settlement. I never felt like I was stealing someone else’s husband and yet my story became one that could have been seen on an episode of Jerry Springer or Cheaters.”

~~~

HOME WRECKER IS BACK! A Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Struggle to Keep New-found Happiness October 11, 2013. Ladera Ranch, California: Brenda Perlin is back with Home Wrecker II: The Brooklyn Chronicles, published by Master Koda Select Publishing. This Contemporary Romance is set to continue the story of Home Wrecker I: Home Wrecker Chronicles in September of 2013. The reader will experience an emotional roller-coaster ride as the writer divulges the sad and dark times of Brooklyn, all the while provoking deep thought while re-living her memories through the reading experience. Home Wrecker: The Brooklyn Chronicles provides a look into the heart and mind of a woman who cheated on her marriage and the reasons why it happened. It is honest. It is real. It is the story of what made Brooklyn the woman she is today, the decisions made that put her on the path she walks today, and it does it with an openness and honesty not found in many such stories. The book is well written and grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention until the very end.” – Crystal Schall, The Book Rack

Home Wrecker II: The Brooklyn Chronicles puts the reader on a journey through the eyes of the main character, Brooklyn Rosen. Her story, at times, is excruciatingly honest and evokes one’s own self-reflection throughout the reading experience. However, through the devastation and tribulations, the reader will also gain an insight to the inspiring strength of the heroine as she struggles toward personal happiness.

And here's the wonderful thought provoking trailer Brenda created for the book.


Brenda Perlin's publisher, Master Koda Select Publishing, is a small, but high quality, publisher of ebooks and paperbacks. The company takes pride in its authors by implementing aggressive marketing initiatives. Master Koda Select Publishing selects only a few authors per year to ensure they are receiving the attention they deserve. For further inquiries and additional information, please contact: Kim Mutch Emerson http://masterkodaselectpublishing.com 


Brenda Perlin enjoys hearing from readers and fans. You can get in touch with her through the links below.

Or, you can leave a comment here at the blog. She'll be dropping by to read & respond to your comments.





~~~

.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

WOW Wednesday Author Spotlight - Linda Bolton


This isn't Linda Bolton's first visit to the desk. No, she visited us not too long ago, here. Today, we get another look at her debut novel, Take 2. A look that includes another excerpt. Why is Linda dropping by for a second time? Because it's Wow Wednesday at Master Koda Select Publishing and I have the honor of spotlighting Miss Linda, that's why. Why not get right to Take 2, yes? 


~~~

Alexandra Daniels is forty-something and hard-working in and out of her home . Her life has been plodding along at a snails pace and she’s longing for excitement. She wins a trip to her favorite talk show in New York, the Veronica Becker Show, and it just so happens the actor of her dreams is a guest, Derek Dunbar! Is Alex’s life about to change?


Derek Dunbar is Scottish, an actor and a hunk! Every woman in America drools after him. He has his pick of women but stinks at relationships. At forty, is he longing for a more meaningful relationship? Does he even know how to have one? Is he willing to make the effort or will it just be too complicated?



You'll find Take 2 available in, both, eBook and Paperback.

~~~



Here's a bit from Linda's book:


Go”, “Two minutes”, was hollered out. Alex felt nervous even though most of the men at the speed-dating meeting didn’t appear her type. The fact that they wouldn’t find her their type bothered her most.
Hi, my name is Rick. I work at a comic book store” was all Alex heard. He had shoulder length hair, a beard and his shirt was wrinkled.  “Your turn”.

Hi, I’m Alex. A widow. Customer service rep. My daughter just got married.”  She was on auto-pilot. She repeated the same thing with every guy. “Tell me more about yourself,” was her next line so she wouldn’t have to really participate. And they did.

Why did she agree to do this? Kathleen was crazy. She actually looked like she was having fun.

Go! Two minutes.”

And it repeated, this time with a manager of Burger King. Ugh! These men were so boring. It’s no wonder they couldn’t find dates. “I love reading and watching science fiction. I have the complete set of Star Wars collectables.”

This was pure torture. Kathleen owed her. Having her eyebrows waxed was better than this.

Go! Two minutes”.

This one had a real job. “I work at a bank.”

Oh, what do you do?” Alex was a bit intrigued.

Oh, I meant to say I worked a bank. Until I went to jail for embezzling. I have served my time and am looking for work right now. I’m on probation for five years,” Mitchell said with a smile.

Isn’t that a felony?” Alex couldn’t believe she was having this conversation.

Yeah, I’ll get a job soon. I’m staying with my mom right now. She has plenty of room and doesn’t mind if I bring the ladies by,” he managed with a wink.

Go! Two minutes”.

Thank God it was almost over! Alex was never going to repeat this experience. As her last speed-date babbled on about his inability to wear corrective shoes, Alex watched Kathleen laugh and chat away with hers. Kathleen looked like she really enjoyed doing this. Alex was in awe–and misery.
When it was finally over Alex and Kathleen headed to the bar for a drink to compare notes.

This was too much fun! These guys are a riot! I think I may meet the ex-con for drinks later!” Kathleen giggled at the thought of her possible date.

Are you insane?” Alex couldn’t believe her ears.

Did you not have fun Alex?” Kathleen looked genuinely surprised.

Kathleen, I realize your fun and my fun are two totally different things. You know I would do anything for you but NEVER ask me to do this again! It was pure torture!” Alex didn’t mean to come across so agitated but she just couldn’t help it.


Kathleen looked a bit hurt but after her first margarita she was understanding and agreed to take her sister next time. Alex couldn’t wait to get home, take a long shower and crawl into bed. Suddenly, being alone sounded wonderful.

~~~


The author, herself. Look at that smile - isn't she the sweetest thing?




Take 2 is Linda Bolton’s first novel is available on Amazon. She is currently working on her second book to be released summer 2013. When she’s not writing, Linda is a GiGi, playing with her new granddaughter Z, and working full-time. While working on a future projects Linda can be found:






On Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lindaboltonauthor

On Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/#!/lindalou42 

Her romance blog at http://www.lindabolton.blogspot.com

On Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6875749.Linda_Bolton



Thanks for dropping by again, Linda.

Feel free to leave a comment for Linda Bolton following this post. She loves to hear from her readers.

~~~
.