The Bookworm Society

The Stone | By David P. Welden

Mrs. BookFreak — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:37:43 +0000

The discussion of mankind’s origin always brings on hotly debated topics stemming from three schools of thought- there is the scientific view of the big bang theory, or the religious view that God created mankind or there is theory that mankind was created by those of alien origin. To date humans are still seeking irrefutable proof of our beginnings.

The premise that human life originated on earth via the mechanisms of alien astronauts can be a compelling topic of interest and debate, especially when presented with seemingly viable evidence. One book that aptly visits the topic of man’s possible alien origin is the book – The Stone by author David P. Welden. Author David P. Welden is not a scientist but is an Ufoligist with many years of experience and a great deal of information on the subject of the Anunnaki and contact between humans and Anunnaki visitors. The Anunnaki are known as ancient astronauts and have been repeatedly mentioned as the central characters in the creation of man and the history of mankind.

The Stone is a well written and interesting compilation of evidence of UFO sightings, documented alien abductions, contact between humans and aliens, the genetics of humans and the relationship to creation of humans through alien technology. The author also delves into the archaeological aspect of tracing man’s Anunnaki entwined beginnings by discussing and exploring the archaeological evidence documented by noted author Zecharia Sitchin. Mr. Welden has also been on seven exploratory expeditions with Mr. Sitchin.

By the end of the book it is clear to the reader that there are many points where aliens or Anunnaki and mankind have crossed paths throughout man’s history and Mr. Welden proposes his own conclusions gleaned from his many years of investigation, research and scrutiny of pertinent information. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the topic of man’s origins as it is an engaging read that is well written and the documented evidence is presented in a clear and comprehensible manner.

Awakening Consciousness – A Women’s Guide l By Robin Marvel

Mrs. BookFreak — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:56:22 +0000

Daily life for women in particular, can be extremely challenging. Sometimes life will erupt into a stress filled and hectic melee giving a woman little time for self – let alone dealing with her spirituality. Between family, work, managing a home and just being herself a woman certainly needs to be able to stay spiritually balanced, spiritually aware, focused and confident. When seeking guidance in spiritual matters there are some great written resources that can help and some that will confuse.

One of the better self help guides to becoming spiritually balanced and aware is Awakening Consciousness – A Women’s Guide by author Robin Marvel. Robin Marvel has also written other books as a part of this series, Awakening Consciousness Guide for Girls and Awakening Consciousness Guide for Boys.

Awakening Consciousness is a well put together book; it is a pleasure to read and captures the reader’s interest immediately. The reader is not overwhelmed with lots of spiritual buzz words and vague theories. Also, this book is written with learning in mind as it contains exercises that are also simple to do and with a few tries will obtain results.

Not only intensely informativeAwakening Consciousness also gives detailed information on the various tenets of spirituality but it is also a workbook fraught with spirituality exercises with memo areas for the reader to take personal notes to keep track of daily results. Women of all spiritual levels can use this book as a guide to opening her spiritual side or for enhancing and or reinforcing spiritual awareness techniques. Also included with the material in the book is a series of relevant positive reinforcement statements which really do help to bolster the building self esteem process. Reading this book will change the way you approach life and the obstacles it can throw at you.

This book is an insightful and helpful guide for helping any woman find her way back to her calm, peaceful and balanced spiritual state. I enthusiastically recommend this book to the curious, the novice or the highly advanced spiritual woman seeking to travel the road to her spiritual freedom or improve her spiritual journey in life.

Reviewer’s Final Rating

****~ (4/5)

{ HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY TOUR + GUEST AUTHOR POST } Hello 2012. Goodbye World!

Guest-Author — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:41:56 +0000

Announcing the Farsighted Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Farsighted eBook edition is just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including lots of Amazon gift cards (up to $100 in amount) and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 30th, so you don’t miss out.

Hello 2012. Goodbye World!

A Guest Post by Emlyn Chand

The New Year is upon us. And if the Mayans were right, so is the apocalypse. Oh, man… Just when Earth was getting good.

Well if I’m going to go by flame, flood, meteoric collision, or zombie uprising, I think it’s best to be prepared. No, not with a flame retardant unitard or a well-equipped cross bow, but with mental resolution—with a calm acceptance of humanity’s plight.

Consider this a combo suicide note/ Dear John letter to the world. I might as well get a few final words in (just in case those Mayans knew what they were talking about). Pfffhew, here goes…

Dear World,

I wish I didn’t have to write this letter. We’ve been together some twenty-seven years, and that’s a long time. Sure, we’ve had our clashes. You’ve sent a fair share of inclement weather my way. Remember that thunder storm when the tree almost broke through the window of my apartment? I was so scared. That was totally not cool on your part. And tornados? I mean what’s that about. Control your temper!

But I know I’ve hurt you too. I’ve been frivolous with your resources and have sometimes even—gasp—littered. I bought a V6 when I could’ve bought a hybrid. In fact, I think my carbon footprint is a size 12 at least—and that’s a size you have to special order at the shoe store. Yeah, I’m not saying I’m perfect. We all do things we regret, but Earth, you know I love you, right? That’s why it’s so difficult saying what I have to say…

We can’t be together anymore. I’ve heard talk of a major problem. They say you’re going to die a horrific death, and since I count on you for protection, I’m gonna die too. I’d like to say we’ll be together in the next world, but do planets go to Heaven? I can’t say for certain, so I think I should say goodbye instead.

We’ve had a good run, you and I. And I never regret having loved you. How I wish I could save us both, but who am I to interfere with an ancient prophecy?

I’ll miss the way you spill light through my closed blinds in the early morning, gently telling me it’s time to start my day. And I’ll remember fondly the way the ground smells after a restorative rain shower—the way the pitter patter on my skin prickles like teensy weensy fingers giving me a massage, the way the earthworms come out of the ground and dance on the pavement. The songs of birds in the morning are my favorite; they always sound so happy. I wish I understood the lyrics to their upbeat symphony so that I could join in with them. And ice cream? I’ll give you credit for that, because the cows are yours, the vanilla bean is yours, the sugar is yours. The taste is magnificent! To never feel that icy sensation arouse my taste buds again is such a great shame.

I’m tearing up now just thinking about all our good times together. I hope you’ll remember me with the same fondness. No matter what happens, I will ALWAYS love you.

Now it’s time to say goodbye. Go out with a smile,

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Farsighted: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Farsighted is the winner of the 2011 Dragonfly eBook Awards. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of Farsighted for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!
DOUBLE BONUS: If I receive more comments than any other blogger, *I* win $100.

…We can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.

Vote for The Bookworm Society!

Please click the image to vote for The Bookworm Society! Find the voting box, then find our name, enter your email and then cast your vote! Thank you so much for supporting The Bookworm Society!

The Featured Events include:

Monday, a guest blog on Novel Publicity! Emlyn kicks off the tour on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog by discussing her brightly burning passion for books in a guest post entitled “My journey through the pages and toward a life-long love of reading.” One commenter will win an autographed copy of Farsighted. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. The winners will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a fun read to round out your holiday break? The paranormal YA hit Farsighted is just 99 cents! http://ow.ly/81Dt1 #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Stay Farsighted book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs. Two chances to win with just one click! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Farsighted book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of Farsighted is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Are you ready for some more fun? Take a picture of yourself with your copy of Farsighted either in paperback or on an eReading device, then post it to Emlyn Chand’s Facebook page or email a copy to author@emlynchand.com. You just way win one of three Amazon gift cards! A $100 prize will go to the photo with the most interesting setting (so put your holiday travel time to work for you). Another $50 will go the funniest photo, and one more prize of $50 will go the scariest photo—this is a paranormal YA book after all. An autographed copy of Farsighted will go to one randomly selected entrant. For more details about this contest, please visit www.emlynchand.com.

{ HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY TOUR + GUEST AUTHOR POST } Deciding to Become a Writer was a Natural Extension of Falling in Love

Guest-Author — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:10:42 +0000

Announcing the Scorpio Rising Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Scorpio Rising eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including 2 Kindle Fires, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 23rd, so you don’t miss out.

Deciding to Become a Writer was a Natural Extension of Falling in Love

People often ask me what attracted me to the life of a writer, and I have to say it was a natural extension of falling in love…with books, which I have been for as long as I can remember.

I remember my mother taking me to the public library when I was as young as four years old. That was when she introduced me to Madeline, the little schoolgirl. As teenager, I discovered Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames, and then Harlequin books. And then I really fell in love for the first time. I was in England where my friends introduced me to a book by Wilbur Smith.

I think I hadn’t read ten pages of his book–can’t remember the title anymore–when I knew this was it. I could spend the rest of my life in bed with this writer’s books.

Over the next few years, Wilbur Smith’s books made me discover Africa, where I met animals I’d never heard of, and villains the likes of which I hope to never meet. I was swept into his stories of love and passion and greed; stories from which I never wanted to walk away. I devoured book after book of his, until, of course, the inevitable happened. I caught up with every last one of his books and was facing a long void until his next book hit the stands. And I, fickle reader that I am, had an affair with a few other authors, and then it happened again. I read Dominic Dunne. And wham. I was in love again.

With Dominic Dunne’s books, I spent time with the truly rich and the truly manipulative. How can anyone forget books like The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, or An Inconvenient Woman, or A Season in Purgatory? Once I discovered them, I was hooked. Forgive me Dominic, for I betrayed you too when I discovered my next big love, Nelson De Mille.

De Mille is a master of sharp, snappy talk, and he makes all those words come out of the mouth of a sexy good cop with a bad attitude–John Corey. Now here’s the funny part. I don’t really know what John Corey looks like, except that he has scars on his chest from some bullet wounds.

I also know that John Corey is almost as fickle when it comes to love as I am when it comes to favorite authors. He seems to fall in love with a different woman in almost every one of his adventures. That is, until he met and married Kate. But who knows, so far she’s only been around for a couple of novels. For all I know she’ll be dropped off, maybe even killed in the next book, and then sexy John will be available again and I can go on dreaming.

Now here’s something you might not know about me. I’m married, and—get this—my husband doesn’t mind my little dalliances with all these authors…as long as I don’t meet them in person that is.

And why am I blabbing about all these loves of mine? Because, every time I start a new project, I hope with all my heart, that I infuse my novel with enough passion and ambition and greed that when you, dear reader, read my work, you will fall—perhaps just a little bit—in love with my characters. And I promise to love you right back, even knowing that I will never be able to write fast enough to keep your from someday leaving me for some other writer.

C’est la vie!
Monique

About the Author: Monique Domovitch began writing at the age of fifty-five. Two years later, she has two self-published novels—her Scorpio Series—and a three-book deal with Penguin, for books she has written under the name of Carol Ann Martin. Never seen without her laptop, Monique and her husband travel the world and divide the rest of their time between their homes in British Columbia and California. Monique loves to hear from readers! Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Scorpio Rising: Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes. Alex Ivanov is the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves. Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser. Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About The Sting of The Scorpio: In Scorpio Rising, Monique Domovitch presented a compelling tale filled with colorful characters and the manipulation of power, ambition, and greed. Now she gives us its spellbinding sequel, The Sting of the Scorpio, where Alexander Ivanov returns to New York with his new bride, Brigitte. The real estate industry is ripe with opportunity. Blessed with irresistible charm, ambition, and the single-minded obsession to succeed, Alex plots and manipulates his way to almost mystical success. Everything he touches turns to gold, but it’s never enough. When a hostile takeover bid leaves him struggling to save his beloved company, he suspects those closest to him of plotting his downfall. Brigitte, the beautiful redhead who abandoned her country and her career to become his wife, feels alone. In return, Alex has betrayed her time and again, each indiscretion cutting deeper into her soul. Brigitte’s son, David yearns to be an artist, but Alex’s plans leave no room for such frivolous goals. He grooms a reluctant David to become the heir apparent until a devastating tragedy attracts the attention of another young man. The Sting of the Scorpio is a rich tale of a man at the mercy of his own greed and a woman bound by her need for love. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of Scorpio Rising for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

…We can win too!

Vote for The Bookworm Society!

Please click the image to vote for The Bookworm Society! Find the voting box, then find our name, enter your email and then cast your vote! Thank you so much for supporting The Bookworm Society!

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of Scorpio Rising or its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a read that’s full of love, drama, and betrayal? Scorpio Rising has been reduced to 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA2s #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Scorpio Rising book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Scorpio Rising book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a Kindle Fire! Two are up for grabs! Visit Monique’s website to leave a comment on any of her posts and sign-up for her author newsletter. One person will win for each method, so be sure to do both.

Snowball in Hell | By Josh Lanyon

Rebecca Perlow — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:05:34 +0000

Snowball in Hell by Josh Lanyon is the story of Lt. Mathew Spain, an LAPD detective assigned to investigate the murder of petroleum heir Philip Arlen. Also investigating the murder is Nathan Doyle, a reporter for the Tribune-Herald and former Arlen acquaintance who may have had good reason to want the man dead.

Plot
It’s 1943 and the world is at war. Journalist Nathan Doyle has just returned home from North Africa–still recovering from wounds received in the Western Desert Campaign–when he’s asked to cover the murder of a society blackmailer.

Lt. Matthew Spain of the LAPD homicide squad hates the holidays since the death of his beloved wife a few months earlier, and this year isn’t looking much cheerier what with the threat of attack by the Japanese and a high-profile homicide investigation. Matt likes Nathan; maybe too much.

If only he didn’t suspect that Nathan had every reason to commit murder.

Impressions
The story takes place in the early 1940s and Lanyon’s story is an excellent homage of that period of detective fiction. The opening of the story — the body of Philip Arlen being pulled out of the Brea Tar Pits — reads like a great pulp novel, film noir in electronic ink. Lanyon’s references to that era — mentions of the war, clothing — are subtle and effective. I never felt like any of those details had just been dropped in later to remind the reader of where they were.

BUY SNOWBALL IN HELL

KINDLE

Like all good mysteries, the case is front and center in the narrative, with character development and the romantic chemistry between Spain and Doyle building at a gentle pace in the background.

Matt and Nathan are good men, both former soldiers who were wounded and sent home. They’re relatable and immensely likable. Lanyon highlights their differences well — Matt has recently lost his wife to cancer but is still able to function well in his job, essentially conducting a major murder investigation on his own without any help from his distracted and fumbling partner.

Nathan still has nightmares about the war and has contemplated suicide on more than one occasion. Nathan takes a lot of risks in his reporting as well as his private life and his recklessness complements Matt’s stability.

The mystery succeeds, too! With so much of our mass media entertainment devoted to a few police procedurals story arcs, it’s hard to find new ways to surprise readers but Lanyon manages to do just that — by overloading the narrative with people who would have more than enough motive to dump Philip Arlen in a tar pit and weaving in just enough clues and suspense to keep things interesting.

All in all this was a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read and it made me want to check out more of Lanyon’s work.

Reviewer’s Final Rating

***** (5/5)

Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life | By Nora T. Gedgaudas

Mrs. BookFreak — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:13:38 +0000

Most people today are generally unhealthy – our current eating habits, lifestyles and daily stress levels all come together to make us into human time bombs waiting to explode from a disease or ailment.

In our daily lives we are constantly bombarded by toxins, either through the foods that we eat, which are laden with chemicals or through our living environment in which toxins can be found from everything to the soap you wash with, to the cell phone that you talk on daily.

With all the miracle cures and diets available on the current market, why are people now dying younger and faster than ever? Why did our pre-historic ancestors live so long? What should we be doing differently in order to lead a healthier and longer life?

One particular book seems to contain the answers to humanity’s health and longevity issues; and that is the book Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life, authored by Nora T. Gedgaudas CNS, CNT.

About
Nora T. Gedgaudas is a certified nutritional therapist and also has a private practice in the neuro-feedback field; she is also very active in the nutrition and health community. It is by virtue of her professional career and expertise in the field of nutrition that she has authored such a well written, thoroughly researched, and comprehensive, health and nutrition book.

In Primal body, Primal Mind, Ms. Gedgaudas discusses in depth the plight of current human dietary habits, regimes dietary requirements and compares them to our Paleolithic ancestors. Our Paleolithic ancestors led stronger, healthier lives by eating a diet high in fats, animal proteins and higher in caloric intake.

Also their diet consisted of pesticide free, chemical free raw and cooked vegetation. But this book is not just a comparison; it is a demonstration of why many of us are not optimally healthy. Ms. Gedgaudas posits that the current human health plight is due to following currently prescribed medical and nutrition dogma about our dietary requirements.

BUY PRIMAL BODY, PRIMAL MIND

KINDLE

PRINT

Ms. Gedgaudas concisely establishes how and why we must change our approach to current dietary standards and re-direct our thinking and habits in order to live as healthy and as long as our Paleolithic ancestors.

Impressions
I found this book to be an insightful, entertaining and very informative compendium of health and nutrition facts.

This book should become as standard in homes as the bible, for it contains very important life enhancing advice that is easy to comprehend and follow. By offering detailed health regimes, recipes and viable health strategies this book is a powerful tool for a person’s healthy survival in this life.

The nutrition advice dispensed in this book is a guide to a better life for anyone willing to make the changes. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in enhancing the current state of their health.

Reviewer’s Final Rating

****~ (4/5)

{ HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY TOUR + GUEST AUTHOR POST } What’s the Story, Morning Glory? The Importance of Music and how it Inspired In Leah’s Wake

Guest-Author — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:03:47 +0000

Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah’s Wake eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including Amazon gift cards of up to $500 in amount and 5 autographed copies of the book. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 16th, so you don’t miss out.

What’s the Story, Morning Glory?

The Importance of Music and how it Inspired In Leah’s Wake
Although I find it too distracting to listen to music while I write, inspiration for my stories often arises from music. While I was writing In Leah’s Wake, songs brought me into the emotional state necessary to write difficult scenes. Songs set a mood, which helped me envision places, and songs helped me to identify and shape the book’s themes.

The novel opens with Zoe and Will listening to the Van Morrison song “Tupelo Honey,” a sweet love song that gives their relationship context by suggesting happier, better days. “Showdown at Big Sky,” which Will puts on the stereo next, foreshadows the problems on the horizon, and “Face in the Crowd” speaks to the profound loneliness Will feels as he waits up for Leah that night, imaging all the unthinkable horrors that might have befallen his daughter.

Later in the book, the song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” from Evita, gave me a glimpse into Zoe’s fractured emotional state—remorse compelled by abiding love—as she drives home, wondering what to expect next from her rebellious teenage daughter: “I still need your love after all that I’ve done . . . I love you and I hope you love me . . .” “Stardog Champion” from Stardog Champion by Mother Love Bone, suggests power, so appropriate to the post-fight euphoria felt by Todd and Lupo after a showdown with Will.

Often, songs transport me to a place. Listening to Miles Davis one evening brought me, in my mind, to the coffeehouse Zoe visits with the policeman, Jerry Johnson. Music also helps me to clarify themes. One night, on our way home from dinner, my husband, Dave, played the Bruce Springsteen album Greetings From Asbury Park. The song “Growin’ Up” struck a nerve and I insisted on listening to it over and over. I saw Leah, a good kid, just trying to grow up and make her way in the world.

I heard “Champagne Super Nova,” from the Oasis CD What’s the Story? Morning Glory, when I stepped out of the shower one morning. Our house was wired for sound and Dave was playing the new CD he’d just bought. As with “Growin’ Up,” I insisted that he replay the song, and then replay it again. The pivotal scene, where Justine asks Leah for a cigarette and Leah allows her little sister to smoke, blossomed as I listened to the music.

As I wrote, music came to play a defining role in the book, and I would often search for the right music after writing a scene. The Liszt piano solo “Hungarian Rhapsodies” mirrors Zoe’s frenzied mind as she drives home from her motivational workshop, the day after Leah shows up drunk at 3:00 a.m., after a wild party. The same happened with “Paranoid Android,” from Okay Computer by Radiohead, “I’m On Fire,” from the Bruce Springsteen album Born in the USA, “Stardog Champion,” from Stardog Champion by Mother Love Bone, “I Loves You Porgy” from Porgy and Bess, and “Misguided Angel,” from The Trinity Session by the Cowboy Junkies.

Without music, In Leah’s Wake would be a very different – and for me, the writer, much less compelling book.

For those of you who, like me, find inspiration in music, here’s the soundtrack. Enjoy!

Soundtrack from In Leah’s Wake

“Growin’ Up,” Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, Bruce Springsteen, Sony Records, 1972
“Tupelo Honey,” Tupelo Honey, Van Morrison, Polydor/Pgd, 1971
“Showdown At Big Sky,” Robbie Robertson, Robbie Robertson, Universal Int’l, 1987
“A Face In The Crowd,” Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty , MCA, 1989
“John Barleycorn,” John Barleycorn Must Die, Traffic, Island Records, 1970
“Not A Pretty Girl,” Not a Pretty Girl, Ani DiFranco, Righteous Babe, 1995
Hungarian Rhapsodies, Franz Liszt, Leslie Howard solo piano, Hyperion, 1999
“Testify,” The Battle of Los Angeles, Rage Against The Machine, Sony Records, 1999
“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” Evita (Music From The Motion Picture), Madonna, Warner Bros./WEA, 1996
“The Ride of the Valkyries,” Wagner Without Words, Conducted by George Szell, Performed by the Cleveland Orchestra, Sony Records, 1991
“Chase The Blues Away,” Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology, Tim Buckley, Elektra/ WEZ, 1966
“Champagne Supernova,” (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis, Sony, 1995
“The Candy Shop,” The Massacre, Fifty Cent, Aftermath, 2005
“Vital Transformation,” Inner Mounting Flame, The Mahavishnu Orchestra Jazz, Sony 1971
“Strawberry Fields Forever,” Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles, Capitol Records, 1967
“Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5,” Mozart: The Five Violin Concertos by Itzhak Perlman violin, Weiner Philharmoniker and James Levine, Deutsche Grammophon, 1995
“Surrey With The Fringe on Top,” Steamin, Mile Davis, Prestige, 1956
“Come As You Are,” Nevermind, Nirvana, Geffen Records, 1991
“Paranoid Android,” Okay Computer, Radiohead, Capitol Records, 1997
“I’m On Fire,” Born in The USA, Bruce Springsteen, Sony, 1984
“Stardog Champion,” Stardog Champion, Mother Love Bone, Mercury/Universal, 1992
“I Loves You, Porgy,” The Melody At Night With You, Keith Jarrett, EMC Records, 1900
“Hasta Siempre, Witchi-Tai-To, Jan Garbarek and Bobo Stenson Quartet, EMC, 1973 Records
“As The Years Go Passing By,” Born Under a Bad Sign, Albert King, Stax, 1967
“Misguided Angel,” The Trinity Session, Cowboy Junkies, RCA Records, 1988
“Davidian,” Burn My Eyes, Machine Head, Roadrunner Records, 1994
“Here I Am, Lord,” Wonder, Love, and Praise, Daniel Schutte, New Dawn Music, 1981

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

…We can win too!

Vote for The Bookworm Society!

Click the image below to vote.

The Featured Events include:

Monday, Radio Interview with Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We interviewed Terri on our radio show Sunday night and have embedded the full podcast and blogged about its highlights. Give it a listen and then leave a comment on the blog post. This is a great chance to get to know more about this inspiring and friendly author. One commenter will win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: In Leah’s Wake has taken the publishing world by storm. Get the book for just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7WP5H #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the In Leah’s Wake book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a $500 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Terri’s most recent blog post. Yup, you read that correctly—$500! How easy is that? An autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake is also up for grabs.

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About In Leah’ Wake: The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. While her parents fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. What happens when love just isn’t enough? Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Terri Giuliano Long grew up in the company of stories both of her own making and as written by others. Books offer her a zest for life’s highs and comfort in its lows. She’s all-too-happy to share this love with others as a novelist and a writing teacher at Boston College. She was grateful and thrilled beyond words when her award-winning debut literary novel, In Leah’s Wake, hit the Barnes and Noble and Amazon bestseller lists in August. She owes a lot of wonderful people – big time! – for any success she’s enjoyed! Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Praying for Strength | By Larry Michael Dredla

Manar منار — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:55:24 +0000

Praying for Strength is a memoir of Larry Michael Dredla, an Ex Suicidal, Alcoholic, Drug Addict who overcame his addictions and became a teacher.

The Plot
How does drug addiction start? How does it feel? And how can one overcome it? The author, Larry, tries to give some answers to questions about drug and alcohol addiction by presenting his journey as a high school teacher who battled for many years all kind of addictions.

Larry details how he became addicted to drugs, from marijuana to cocaine, and how it all starts by the bad influence of friends. He then shows the extent of the damages caused by addiction on his life as a son, a friend and a high school student. He describes how he reached the decision of committing suicide and what he learnt from his failed attempt.

Larry then relates how he regained faith in God and how He helped him through little miracles that opened his eyes and gave him the determination not only to win his battle against addiction, but to finish his studies, become a high school teacher and help teenagers with their problems.

The book is the documented Larry’s twelve step program. The faith in God and the amends to the people hurt the most by the addiction is present throughout the healing journey.

Impressions
The author addresses his book to young people who may feel, at some point or another, pressured or tempted to take drugs. He also gives a lot of advice to parents, teachers and coaches on how to spot the danger of addiction and how to deal with young addicts.

The book is written in a very light style and is easily read. It gives an insight on how faith and prayers can help one overcome their strongest addictions and get their life back.

BUY PRAYING FOR STRENGTH

KINDLE

PRINT

Favorite Quotes

“Why Praying for Strength?” you might ask; because in the end, sometimes faith is all you have left, and praying for strength is what I did every day.”

“Rehab is the last straw; the bottom of the barrel; the last ditch eﬀort to cling to your sanity.”

“To this day I can say one thing for certain . . . I prayed for strength. . . and God made me strong.”

Reviewer’s Final Rating

***½~ (3.5/5)

The Scar | By China Miéville

Lanna Anderson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:42:07 +0000

The Scar is a fantastical naval extravaganza featuring a floating city of pirates on a quest for the ultimate power. Set in the richly imagined world of Bas-Lag, where magic and science combine, The Scar is one of Miéville’s New Crobuzon stories, referencing the events of Perdido Street Station.

Plot
When she is hunted by the militia, translator and linguist Bellis Coldwine is forced to leave her beloved home of New Crobuzon. When her ship is taken by pirates, she is taken to the floating city Armada.

Tanner Sack is on the same ship as Bellis, but a prisoner below. Remade in New Crobuzon’s punishment factories to have tentacles sprouting from his chest, Tanner is overjoyed to be given a new lease on life by the Armadans.

Fighting mosquito people, vampires, weapons of possibility, betrayal and pride, both Bellis and Tanner become involved in Armada’s scheme to locate a mysterious source of power in a distant ocean – a place where the world was broken, known as the Scar.

Impressions
Miéville’s world-building is unrivaled in modern genre fiction. Bas-Lag is both an utterly compelling, fantastic, yet ultimately absorbing and believable environment.

The fantasy-quest plot is twisted in Miéville’s hands. Generally in fantasy, a crazy quest to save the world is presented to a main character. That character is reluctant, then grows into a hero and completes a totally outlandish mission that usually involves some sort of noble self-sacrifice.

This is not what happens in The Scar. Protagonist Bellis Coldwine is clearly unhappy to be part of this quest and never accepts it. In fact, she does everything in her power to thwart it. Although I didn’t actually like Bellis Coldwine (she is shown up every time by the wholly sympathetic Tanner Sack), I enjoyed reading about her. I liked that she kept true to her prickly self. The fact that she had irritating traits – such as her consistent disdain for everything new in her world – was an inspired push against the general goodness of the usual fantasy protagonist.

BUY THE SCAR

KINDLE

PRINT

The quest itself is also a perverted take on the typical fantasy. It’s about sheer greed for power. No saving the world, no saving family and friends. Just power. A pleasant change of perspective.

Miéville peoples his book with a slew of incredible characters and races. The idea of the Remade – people who are punished for crimes by having their bodies remade, with exaggerated features or animal or machinery components – is horrifying. My eyes were glued to the page. The grindylow (an amazing name for a race) are the archetypal boogeymen. The mosquito people (their previous empire was the Malarial Queendom – another great name) are both frightening and pitiful. The Ghosthead Empire made me long for a prequel to The Scar so I could learn more.

I also liked how Miéville mixes magic and science in a wholly believable manner. The use of magic (thaumaturgy) mixed with a steampunk technology is key to the plot and give a very dark feel to the world.

I had very few quibbles with this book. The swearing (“Godspit” and “by Jabber”) was off-putting. However, swearing can be a notoriously difficult issue – see Battlestar Galactica’s “fracking”. The curses did reflect Bas-Lag history.

Overall, this is a wonderful read and would serve any reader well as an introduction to Miéville’s lovely and original mind and style.

Favorite Scene
A naval battle that has everything a naval battle should.

Favorite Quote
“‘Bellis checked it out on her own ticket, an act of trust that she performed without thinking and that touched him deeply.’ Through a brief description of a single act, Miéville grew Bellis from a cold character to one with more depth and a little bit more warmth.”

Reviewer’s Final Rating

***** (5.0/5)

{ HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY TOUR + GUEST AUTHOR POST } How a NASA Scientist’s Theory Inspired a Paranormal Thriller

Guest-Author — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:00:18 +0000

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of The Gaia Wars eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.

What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle Fire, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 9th, so you don’t miss out.

How a NASA Scientist’s Theory Inspired a Paranormal Thriller

THE GAIA WARS is fiction, but it was inspired—at least in part—by The Gaia Hypothesis. This hypothesis, proposed by NASA scientist James Lovelock, states that the Earth—the entire Earth—is a living thing. A vast, “super-organism.”

I read an article about Lovelock’s theory a few years back and thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard.

The Earth is alive. Think about it. If Lovelock’s correct, the Earth isn’t simply a chunk of interstellar rock hosting a collection of random ecosystems; it’s a cohesive entity. An organism. A being. I daydreamed about this idea, mulled it over; wondered how it might be incorporated into a novel. And in my imagination, I took the theory to the next level: What if the Earth is not simply alive, I asked, but also sentient?

I did some reading, and discovered that a lot of so-called primitive cultures believed this very thing. Understood it in their bones. Our ancestors were in tune with the planet in ways that we’ve forgotten. They could feel her heartbeat. Interpret her rhythms. They created Earth Goddesses to worship and celebrate.

Gaia (pron. guy-uh) is one of the principal deities of the Greek Pantheon. Other cultures used other names: the Tibetan people called the deity Chomolungma—Goddess Mother of the World. The Sumerians knew her as Ninhursaga. To Mesoamerican peoples she was Tlazolteotl.

A fictitious Pacific Northwest culture called the Denelai is at the center of THE GAIA WARS. As readers learn, the ancient Denelai people believed in the Earth goddess so profoundly that she would sometimes appear to them in human form.

At the start of the novel, troubled 13-year-old Warren Wilkes unearths a treasure deep in the Cascade Mountains while fleeing the law, learns about the Denelai and Gaia’s periodic visits, and finds that on one such occasion in 1550 AD, the tribe was attacked and the Earth Goddess wounded. The Indians were slaughtered and Gaia lost her memory and vanished into the wild.

As Warren soon discovers, Gaia is still alive and still trapped in human form. What’s more, the beast that attacked the Indian village 500 years earlier is on it’s way back with an army bred specifically to capture Gaia, unlock her secrets, and seize control of the planet. Warren must fight or see his whole world destroyed.

Readers seem to like the idea of a paranormal thriller with a thinking, feeling Earth at its heart. The feedback has been tremendous. Humbling. Yesterday (November 24, Thanksgiving Day) THE GAIA WARS rose to #17 on Amazon’s list of Top 100 Best Sellers in Children’s Action & Adventure. The Second Book of The Gaia Wars, BATTLE FOR CASCADIA, (just released) is also doing well. A huge thank you to all the wonderful readers giving these books a try!

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About The Gaia Wars: DEADLY SECRETS have been buried in the Cascade mountain wilderness for centuries. Hidden. Out of sight and out of mind. Until today… Warren Wilkes, age 13, doesn’t like what a greedy housing developer has done to his peaceful mountain community, so he vandalizes the developer’s property, flees into the wild, and stumbles upon an ancient human skeleton revealed by torrential rain. More than old bones have been exposed, however, and the curious artifact Warren finds makes him question his own identity, and his connection to an ancient terror. A terror destined to rise again and annihilate all that Warren loves. He must fight or see his whole world destroyed. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About Battle for Cascadia: When Warren Wilkes, age 13, stumbles upon a mysterious relic deep in the Cascade Mountains, wonder reigns. Brimming with secrets and sentient energy, the relic leads Warren to a fantastic chamber, and to shocking revelations about his identity. Now wonder has turned to dread. A forgotten terror—a demon that knows Warren better than he knows himself—has risen again and is assembling an army; gathering power with a singularly evil goal in mind: to capture and enslave the wild spirit of the Earth itself. As war erupts and the planet slips into chaos, Warren embraces his destiny and finds help where he least expects it. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the Author: Kenneth G. Bennett is the author of the Young Adult novels The Gaia Wars and Battle for Cascadia (the second book of The Gaia Wars), as well as the forthcoming Exodus 2018, a paranormal thriller set in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. A wilderness enthusiast who loves backpacking, skiing and kayaking, Ken enjoys novels that explore the relationship between humans and the wild. He lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son. Visit him on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

To Win the Prizes:

Purchase your copy of The Gaia Wars for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
BONUS: If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

…We can win too!

Vote for The Bookworm Society!

Click the image below to vote.

The Featured Events include:

Tuesday, Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet: Looking for a YA read that’s full of adventure & intrigue? Check out The Gaia Wars. Reduced to just 99 cents http://ow.ly/7ywpZ #whirlwind

Wednesday, Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

Thursday, Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see The Gaia Wars book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Friday, special contest on the author’s site! Win a Kindle Fire or a $100 Amazon gift card, simply by leaving a comment on Kenneth’s most recent blog post. How easy is that? Autographed copies of The Gaia Wars and its recently released sequel, Battle for Cascadia, are also up for grabs.

Reviewer’s Final Rating

***** (5/5)