THERE’S A FINE LINE BETWEEN INNOCENCE AND GUILT. AN EVEN FINER LINE BETWEEN JUSTICE AND REVENGE.
Data scientist Laura prefers the company of her books to the real world – let alone that cesspit online. But when her best friend Emily becomes the victim of horrific cyberbullying, she makes it her all-engulfing mission to track down the worst culprits. Petite corporate financier Suki is about to outshine the stupid boys at her firm: she’s leading the acquisition of Edinburgh’s most exciting start-up. If only she could get its brilliant, but distracted, co-founder Laura to engage. Event planner Claire is left to salvage the start-up's annual conference after her colleague Emily fails to return to work. She’s determined to get a promotion out of it, but her boss isn’t playing ball. As the women's paths intertwine, the insidious discrimination they each face comes to light. Emboldened by Emily’s tragic experience, they join forces to plot the downfall of all those who've wronged them. But with emotions running high, will the punishments fit the crimes? A pacy suspense fiction with its feet firmly in the #MeToo era. 9 to 5 meets Suits with a dash of Black Mirror. |
Author Q&A
Tell us a bit about yourself, how did you become a writer?
I’m not what I call a yearning writer: someone who’ve known since childhood they wanted to write; always carry notebooks; probably has a drawer full of stories. I came to it quite late – call it a midlife crisis.
Though I’ve always had a way with words, which has served me well in my work, it wasn’t until I was 46 that I decided to have a go at writing fiction. It followed a period in which I saw on Facebook a number of school and university friends publishing books and I wondered: how hard can it be?
Turns out it’s hard.
I announced to the world I’d write a book during 2017 and I did: that’s how ‘In Servitude’ came about.
What was the last book you read that made a real impact on you?
‘The Lion Tamer Who Lost’ by Louise Beech because it’s such a gorgeous emotional journey, with such vivid settings.
Who were the biggest influences on you growing up that led you to be a writer?
The idea of sitting down and creating something with words must have come from home. Next to his main job as a diplomat, my father was a writer, in that he wrote a humorous column for the Dutch newspaper for decades, and my mother used to write pieces for a Dutch feminist magazine.
I know most people would quote literary influences, but I’m embarrassed to admit I was never much of a reader. I went to a French school and my recollection is that they would force feed me ‘Madame Bovary’ every year and I hated it. I had a period aged 14 of reading all the Victor Hugo and Marcel Pagnol novels. Like every brooding teenager I got into poetry a bit, which for me was Rimbaud.
Tell us what inspired you to write Stay Mad, Sweetheart.
I’ve worked in a lot of different corporate environments in my 25-year career. I recognised that despite a lot of legislative progress, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, in many ways nothing much has changed: women are still facing different treatment at work, in both the little things and the big things.
Even more intriguing to me is that there is a huge range of differences of opinion among women on what’s okay, what can be shrugged off, and what crosses the line. I wanted to capture that.
Stay Mad Sweetheart is a thoroughly modern homage to some of the female empowering films made in the late 80s/early 90s, like 9-to-5, Working Girl and The First Wives Club. But I didn’t want it to be a comedy, to not downplay the harm that can be done.
Stay Mad, Sweetheart is not a crime thriller in the traditional sense, and yet the experiences endured by your central characters are certainly criminal. Do you think people will see this as a crime story?
I hope so! If nothing else because I love being part of the crime writing community. They welcomed me with ‘In Servitude’ and are the nicest bunch of people.
I’ve made sure the novel included many of the expected tropes of crime fiction: victim(s) of crime(s), an amateur sleuth, forensic technology, vigilante justice, reflections on right and wrong. So from a tick list point of view, it ought to fit.
However, I suspect opinions will differ; and I’d love for people to have the debate. I want people to explore they grey areas of when harassment or discrimination tips into being a crime. And to consider how police resources can be attributed to these sorts of crimes vs the violent (sexual) assaults and murders that are the mainstay of crime fiction.
This is your second novel. How did writing this one compare to the first?
I hadn’t done much by way of preparation for ‘In Servitude’ other than take the James Patterson Masterclass, because that was a pacy, short-chapter style I wanted to emulate. For my second book, I looked into the structure of books, the shape of storylines. ‘Stay Mad, Sweetheart’ was plotted using the ‘Save the Cat’ methodology which worked a treat and no structural edits were required. (cf: ‘Save the Cat Writes a Novel’ by Jessica Brody.)
How did publishing your first novel change your writing practices?
If I’m honest, it was a little bit of a surprise that I wanted to write another one: I’d written my first one on a bit of a whim. When the response from readers came in, I was a little thrown by the fact I’d written a real book, one that people loved reading. And that gets a little addictive – enough to make up for the hard parts of writing.
For both books, I was able to take time in between work projects to write. Whereas I would be happy with 1000 words a day with my first book, I needed to speed up for the second and started using dictation part of the time (primarily for dialogue). My target went up to 2000+.
Stay Mad, Sweetheart is set in Edinburgh. How important is the setting of your books in telling the story?
Setting is a very important contributor to the credibility of a story. There’s also a big element of “write what you know”. I lived in Edinburgh for 13 years and have been in Glasgow for 5 so I didn’t have to do any research.
‘In Servitude’ is a story with gangsters set in Glasgow, in keeping with that city’s reputation. It would have been harder to set a story of a data science start-up in there, whereas it fits perfectly in the start-up and Artificial Intelligence ecosystem that exist in Edinburgh (which I am involved with through my work).
I thought it was a nice touch that my imaginary company, Empisoft, is located in the office of real world SkyScanner – one of Edinburgh’s most successful home-grown start-ups.
It could also have been set in Silicon Valley, of course, but that microcosm is so different to most people’s perception of ‘real life’, that it would have lost the poignancy of the everyday sexism experienced by the vast majority of women.
What did you edit out of this book?
Nothing! Because my books are very plot-driven, my first draft is focused 100% on the story and subsequent editing consists of adding layers of foreshadowing, character building, emotion and colour. So more words, rather than fewer.
It helps that I outline in great detail. I’d hate the idea of having to cut scenes – such a waste of effort.
I’m not what I call a yearning writer: someone who’ve known since childhood they wanted to write; always carry notebooks; probably has a drawer full of stories. I came to it quite late – call it a midlife crisis.
Though I’ve always had a way with words, which has served me well in my work, it wasn’t until I was 46 that I decided to have a go at writing fiction. It followed a period in which I saw on Facebook a number of school and university friends publishing books and I wondered: how hard can it be?
Turns out it’s hard.
I announced to the world I’d write a book during 2017 and I did: that’s how ‘In Servitude’ came about.
What was the last book you read that made a real impact on you?
‘The Lion Tamer Who Lost’ by Louise Beech because it’s such a gorgeous emotional journey, with such vivid settings.
Who were the biggest influences on you growing up that led you to be a writer?
The idea of sitting down and creating something with words must have come from home. Next to his main job as a diplomat, my father was a writer, in that he wrote a humorous column for the Dutch newspaper for decades, and my mother used to write pieces for a Dutch feminist magazine.
I know most people would quote literary influences, but I’m embarrassed to admit I was never much of a reader. I went to a French school and my recollection is that they would force feed me ‘Madame Bovary’ every year and I hated it. I had a period aged 14 of reading all the Victor Hugo and Marcel Pagnol novels. Like every brooding teenager I got into poetry a bit, which for me was Rimbaud.
Tell us what inspired you to write Stay Mad, Sweetheart.
I’ve worked in a lot of different corporate environments in my 25-year career. I recognised that despite a lot of legislative progress, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, in many ways nothing much has changed: women are still facing different treatment at work, in both the little things and the big things.
Even more intriguing to me is that there is a huge range of differences of opinion among women on what’s okay, what can be shrugged off, and what crosses the line. I wanted to capture that.
Stay Mad Sweetheart is a thoroughly modern homage to some of the female empowering films made in the late 80s/early 90s, like 9-to-5, Working Girl and The First Wives Club. But I didn’t want it to be a comedy, to not downplay the harm that can be done.
Stay Mad, Sweetheart is not a crime thriller in the traditional sense, and yet the experiences endured by your central characters are certainly criminal. Do you think people will see this as a crime story?
I hope so! If nothing else because I love being part of the crime writing community. They welcomed me with ‘In Servitude’ and are the nicest bunch of people.
I’ve made sure the novel included many of the expected tropes of crime fiction: victim(s) of crime(s), an amateur sleuth, forensic technology, vigilante justice, reflections on right and wrong. So from a tick list point of view, it ought to fit.
However, I suspect opinions will differ; and I’d love for people to have the debate. I want people to explore they grey areas of when harassment or discrimination tips into being a crime. And to consider how police resources can be attributed to these sorts of crimes vs the violent (sexual) assaults and murders that are the mainstay of crime fiction.
This is your second novel. How did writing this one compare to the first?
I hadn’t done much by way of preparation for ‘In Servitude’ other than take the James Patterson Masterclass, because that was a pacy, short-chapter style I wanted to emulate. For my second book, I looked into the structure of books, the shape of storylines. ‘Stay Mad, Sweetheart’ was plotted using the ‘Save the Cat’ methodology which worked a treat and no structural edits were required. (cf: ‘Save the Cat Writes a Novel’ by Jessica Brody.)
How did publishing your first novel change your writing practices?
If I’m honest, it was a little bit of a surprise that I wanted to write another one: I’d written my first one on a bit of a whim. When the response from readers came in, I was a little thrown by the fact I’d written a real book, one that people loved reading. And that gets a little addictive – enough to make up for the hard parts of writing.
For both books, I was able to take time in between work projects to write. Whereas I would be happy with 1000 words a day with my first book, I needed to speed up for the second and started using dictation part of the time (primarily for dialogue). My target went up to 2000+.
Stay Mad, Sweetheart is set in Edinburgh. How important is the setting of your books in telling the story?
Setting is a very important contributor to the credibility of a story. There’s also a big element of “write what you know”. I lived in Edinburgh for 13 years and have been in Glasgow for 5 so I didn’t have to do any research.
‘In Servitude’ is a story with gangsters set in Glasgow, in keeping with that city’s reputation. It would have been harder to set a story of a data science start-up in there, whereas it fits perfectly in the start-up and Artificial Intelligence ecosystem that exist in Edinburgh (which I am involved with through my work).
I thought it was a nice touch that my imaginary company, Empisoft, is located in the office of real world SkyScanner – one of Edinburgh’s most successful home-grown start-ups.
It could also have been set in Silicon Valley, of course, but that microcosm is so different to most people’s perception of ‘real life’, that it would have lost the poignancy of the everyday sexism experienced by the vast majority of women.
What did you edit out of this book?
Nothing! Because my books are very plot-driven, my first draft is focused 100% on the story and subsequent editing consists of adding layers of foreshadowing, character building, emotion and colour. So more words, rather than fewer.
It helps that I outline in great detail. I’d hate the idea of having to cut scenes – such a waste of effort.
About The Author: Heleen KistHeleen Kist has been fondled, patronised and ordered to smile by random men. So she wrote ‘Stay Mad, Sweetheart’, a feminist tale of revenge. Whilst her professional knowledge of technology start-ups fed the novel’s setting, its theme of harassment and workplace discrimination required no research: it is familiar to all women.
Heleen was chosen as an up and coming new author at Bloody Scotland 2018. Her first novel, ‘In Servitude’ won the silver medal for Best European Fiction at the Independent Publishers Book Awards in the USA and was shortlisted for The Selfies awarded at London Book Fair. A Dutch strategy consultant living in Glasgow and married to a Scotsman, she’s raising their son to be a good man and their daughter to kick ass. |
A BIG THANK YOU to our friends at Red Dog Press for putting this blog tour together!
You can visit their website here:
You can visit their website here:
By day, Ava Goode is in the insurance game, getting her work done and being a model employee. But
by night, she retreats to her secret world where she Dominates those that seek to submit to her. This private world gets turned upside down the moment she meets Gabriel Burton; a man who is not only successful, but works for her father—and dating men in her father’s office is a big no-no. But, it’s hard to resist your deepest desires, especially when they kneel before you and kiss your feet, like a good boy. |
Violet believes that Joseph belongs to another woman. Worse than that, a friend.
Pretty much every partner Violet had ever loved had abandoned her. She found herself at a time in her life when she had all but given up looking for true love. Then she met Joseph, it was a game-changer, she fell for his rugged good looks instantly. There were just two snags, the first he didn’t seem to notice she existed. The second he belonged to her friend. Would Violet risk her friendship over a man? If she broke that friendship, would it destroy her relationship with her closest companions forever? Can Violet risk putting her heart on the line again? If she had the night of uncontrolled passion, that she so desperately craved. Would Joseph abandon her, like lovers in the past have? Or will Joseph be her salvation? Joseph is the third novel in the Risking Love series. These novels chart a group of friends through life and love. This collection of steamy stories will make you laugh, cry, and make your heart race. |
Emma Praught has everything a woman could wish for: a house, a husband, and a teen
daughter who she wouldn’t trade for the world. But when she receives that fateful call, everything falls apart. Her husband is dead. The life she knew is over. And before she has a chance to make sense of it all, death threats roll in and so does a man from her past. One she never expected to see again. Devon Matthews, in the stupidity of his youth, broke the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Something he has never gotten over. Now he has a chance to make it up to her by protecting them. And maybe, just maybe, she’ll find it in her heart to forgive him. If he can keep her alive, that is. Will they make it through this unscathed, or will Emma’s stubborn nature make it difficult for them both? One way or another, he’s not giving her up this time. |
Get these hot titles and more from BVS right here:
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See my review of Lyneta's book here:
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"A triumph...
Lyneta Smith takes us along on her journey through childhood. Through sexual abuse and countless disappointments as well as neglect. Then at the end she comes out in triumph as she finds her way toward religion which helps her through it all and enriches her life for the better." - The Reading Mermaid
YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!
Get your copy here:
★★★★★★★★ CURTAIN CALL ★★★★★★★★
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"A triumph...
Lyneta Smith takes us along on her journey through childhood. Through sexual abuse and countless disappointments as well as neglect. Then at the end she comes out in triumph as she finds her way toward religion which helps her through it all and enriches her life for the better." - The Reading Mermaid
YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!
Get your copy here:
In Servitude
Published: August 23rd, 2018
Genre: Psychological/ Thriller/ Suspense
DO YOU OWE YOUR FAMILY YOUR LIFE?
Grace thought her sister led a charmed existence.
She was wrong.
Now she has to pay the price.
When Grace’s beloved sister Glory dies in a car crash, her carefully planned life spirals out of control. She discovers Glory had been manipulated into illegal activities at her trendy vegan café. What’s
worse, Grace finds herself an unwitting accomplice now forced to take over her sister’s shady dealings.
Determined to keep her fingers clean and protect those Glory left behind, Grace plots to escape the clutches of Glasgow’s criminal underworld. But her moral certainty is challenged when more family
secrets emerge and her sister’s past intentions remain unclear.
Grace grows convinced Glory was murdered. But why won’t anyone listen?
Seeking justice, she finds betrayal…
Published: August 23rd, 2018
Genre: Psychological/ Thriller/ Suspense
DO YOU OWE YOUR FAMILY YOUR LIFE?
Grace thought her sister led a charmed existence.
She was wrong.
Now she has to pay the price.
When Grace’s beloved sister Glory dies in a car crash, her carefully planned life spirals out of control. She discovers Glory had been manipulated into illegal activities at her trendy vegan café. What’s
worse, Grace finds herself an unwitting accomplice now forced to take over her sister’s shady dealings.
Determined to keep her fingers clean and protect those Glory left behind, Grace plots to escape the clutches of Glasgow’s criminal underworld. But her moral certainty is challenged when more family
secrets emerge and her sister’s past intentions remain unclear.
Grace grows convinced Glory was murdered. But why won’t anyone listen?
Seeking justice, she finds betrayal…
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Read my review of Heleen's book here:
About the Author
Heleen Kist is a Dutch businesswoman who lived all over the world while growing up and for her career. Then she fell in love with a Scotsman and his country, and now writes about its (sometimes scary) people from her garden office in Glasgow.
She was selected as an ‘up and coming new writer’ and awarded a Spotlight at Bloody Scotland 2018, the International crime writing festival.
Her debut psychological suspense novel ‘In Servitude’ was inspired by Heleen’s expertise in small business finance mixed with her friend’s courageous idea to open a vegan cafe in a city renowned for its dubious diet. She is currently working on her next book, which will be dark women’s fiction.
She was selected as an ‘up and coming new writer’ and awarded a Spotlight at Bloody Scotland 2018, the International crime writing festival.
Her debut psychological suspense novel ‘In Servitude’ was inspired by Heleen’s expertise in small business finance mixed with her friend’s courageous idea to open a vegan cafe in a city renowned for its dubious diet. She is currently working on her next book, which will be dark women’s fiction.
Praise for Nancy Bilyeau's Fiction:
"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal."
—Review of The Crown published in Oprah, which made the book a pick of the month.
"English history buffs and mystery fans alike will revel in Nancy Bilyeau's richly detailed sequel to The Crown."
--Parade magazine review of The Chalice
"The story in The Tapestry is fiction, but it is a sheer joy to have Henry’s court recreated with an eye to the reality of its venality, rather than the trendy Wolf Hall airbrushing of its violence and rapacity. The tone is always modern and light, but with none of the clumsy thigh-slapping faux period language. Bilyeau’s writing is effortless, vivid, gripping and poignant, bringing Tudor England to life with sparkling zest. If you want to see the Reformation from the side of the English people rather than the self-serving court, it is tough to do better than this trilogy."
—Review of The Tapestry by Dominic Selwood, published in The Catholic Herald
"As always, Bilyeau has done her historical homework, bringing the drama, and details of Henry VIII’s court to life. You’re basically watching the rise and fall of Catherine Howard, Thomas Cromwell, Walter Hungerford and Thomas Culpepper through Joanna’s eyes. Her private moments with the king were among my favorites in this book. This a true historical thriller. It’s a Tudor novel full of suspense, intrigue, brutality, and death. It’s a well researched page turner. If you’re looking for an exciting historical read, this will be on your list."
—Review of The Tapestry by Sandra Alvarez for Medievalists.net
“Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books and transports us back to the dangerous world of Tudor England. Vivid characters and gripping plots are at the heart of this wonderful trilogy. Warmly recommended!”
—Alison Weir, author of The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I and many bestsellers
"Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling... In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans."
—Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches
"Bilyeau deftly weaves extensive historical detail throughout, but the real draw of this suspenseful novel is its juicy blend of lust, murder, conspiracy, and betrayal."
—Review of The Crown published in Oprah, which made the book a pick of the month.
"English history buffs and mystery fans alike will revel in Nancy Bilyeau's richly detailed sequel to The Crown."
--Parade magazine review of The Chalice
"The story in The Tapestry is fiction, but it is a sheer joy to have Henry’s court recreated with an eye to the reality of its venality, rather than the trendy Wolf Hall airbrushing of its violence and rapacity. The tone is always modern and light, but with none of the clumsy thigh-slapping faux period language. Bilyeau’s writing is effortless, vivid, gripping and poignant, bringing Tudor England to life with sparkling zest. If you want to see the Reformation from the side of the English people rather than the self-serving court, it is tough to do better than this trilogy."
—Review of The Tapestry by Dominic Selwood, published in The Catholic Herald
"As always, Bilyeau has done her historical homework, bringing the drama, and details of Henry VIII’s court to life. You’re basically watching the rise and fall of Catherine Howard, Thomas Cromwell, Walter Hungerford and Thomas Culpepper through Joanna’s eyes. Her private moments with the king were among my favorites in this book. This a true historical thriller. It’s a Tudor novel full of suspense, intrigue, brutality, and death. It’s a well researched page turner. If you’re looking for an exciting historical read, this will be on your list."
—Review of The Tapestry by Sandra Alvarez for Medievalists.net
“Nancy Bilyeau's passion for history infuses her books and transports us back to the dangerous world of Tudor England. Vivid characters and gripping plots are at the heart of this wonderful trilogy. Warmly recommended!”
—Alison Weir, author of The Marriage Game: A Novel of Queen Elizabeth I and many bestsellers
"Nancy Bilyeau's polished, inventive debut has all the ingredients of the best historical fiction: a broad cast of characters, well-imagined settings, and vivid story-telling... In Joanna Stafford, Bilyeau has given us a memorable character who is prepared to risk her life to save what she most values, while Stafford's desperate search for a lost religious relic will satisfy even the most ardent mystery fans."
—Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches
See my review of The Blue here:
Get your copy here:
Review and Excerpt Tour for MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE by LJ Evans!
We are so excited that MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE by LJ Evans is finally here. As the last and final installment in her My Life As An Album series inspired by music and romance., we just know you’ll love Lonnie and Wynn’s story. Keep scrolling to read an exclusive excerpt and don’t miss a chance to win the WHOLE My Life As An Album series in print…and signed!
Title: My Life as a Mixtape
Author: LJ Evans
Release Date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Self-published
Series: My Life as an Album #4
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Page Count: 410
Format: Print and digital
Print ISBN: B07HLRFZ26
Digital ISBN: 978-1723958847
Synopsis:
From award winning author, LJ Evans, comes the last story in the MY LIFE AS AN ALBUM SERIES, inspired by music and romance.
LONNIE
I came to Tennessee to help a friend.
And now, I’m stuck.
By the Southern charm,
By the sweet tea and
By a tall, red-headed "Strawberry Shortcake."
And when my world crumbles apart,
Wynn is there to help me pick up the pieces.
To show me the way.
WYNN
My life was a huge disappointment.
My marriage,
My job,
Everything slipped away.
Coming home seemed like the final failure.
But then I meet him,
Lonnie Brennan, the sexy bass player,
Who adds laughter to my life.
And now, I realize that I can
Change my tune,
Sing a new song.
MY LIFE AS A MIXTAPE Excerpt
Copyright © 2018 LJ Evans
“Okay. But being twenty-five,” she emphasized her age like I should have known it. “And already having a divorce under your belt doesn’t bode well for any future endeavors.”
I turned back to the sky because looking at her was harder than I could have ever expected.
“One mistake doesn’t make you a failure,” I replied automatically but truthfully.
She didn’t respond, and we just laid there watching the stars wink into existence in a way I never got to see in L.A. Here in this part of Tennessee, they were out nightly. And here at the lake, they were stunning. Like her, glimmering...shiny...heart wrenching.
“Look at it this way,” I told her. “Now you get to have a whole bunch more firsts.”
“What?” she asked. I could feel her looking at me now, and I risked turning my head to meet her eyes. They were so pale that it was hard to see them in the darkness that had settled over us as the sun disappeared.
“You know. First time getting drunk...after the divorce. Well, hell, you already did that.” She smiled weakly, and I continued. “How about first date...after the divorce? First kiss...after the divorce. First time making love...after the divorce. It’s like you get a whole shitload of do-overs now but with more experience than you had when you did those things the first time. You can do them better than you did them as a kid.”
She held her breath at my words and stared at me.
Then she leaned slightly forward and kissed my cheek. Her lips hit my skin and filled me with a scent of berries and lake and I had to clench my fingers into my fist to prevent myself from pulling her all the way to me and devouring all of her, not just those sweet, full lips.
“Thank you,” she breathed out as she settled back on the dock and stared at the night.
“For what?”
“For trying to make me feel better. For reminding me that there’s more to life than this moment.”
But as soon as she said it, I was struck with a longing I don’t normally have. A longing to have this particular moment last forever. Because laying on the dock in the dusk with this beautiful creature might be something I could do three hundred and sixty-five days a year. And that was definitely not in any of my plans.
Enter to win a complete, signed set of the My Life as an Album series! Plus, nine will win an eBook copy of their choice from the series!
New to the My Life as an Album series? Start from the very beginning!
Read my review of LJ's book here:
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Enter to win a complete, signed set of the My Life as an Album series! Plus, nine will win an eBook copy of their choice from the series!
About LJ Evans:
Award winning author, LJ Evans, lives in the California Central Valley with her husband, daughter, and the three terrors called cats. She's been writing, almost as a compulsion, since she was a little girl and will often pull the car over to write when a song lyric strikes her. While she currently spends her days teaching 1st grade in a local public school, she spends her free time reading and writing, as well as binge watching original shows like The Crown, Victoria, and Stranger Things.
If you ask her the one thing she won’t do, it’s pretty much anything that involves dirt—sports, gardening, or otherwise. But she loves to write about all of those things, and her first published heroine was pretty much involved with dirt on a daily basis. Which is exactly what LJ loves about fiction novels—the characters can be everything you’re not and still make their way into your heart
Award winning author, LJ Evans, lives in the California Central Valley with her husband, daughter, and the three terrors called cats. She's been writing, almost as a compulsion, since she was a little girl and will often pull the car over to write when a song lyric strikes her. While she currently spends her days teaching 1st grade in a local public school, she spends her free time reading and writing, as well as binge watching original shows like The Crown, Victoria, and Stranger Things.
If you ask her the one thing she won’t do, it’s pretty much anything that involves dirt—sports, gardening, or otherwise. But she loves to write about all of those things, and her first published heroine was pretty much involved with dirt on a daily basis. Which is exactly what LJ loves about fiction novels—the characters can be everything you’re not and still make their way into your heart
#NaNoWriMo
To sign up, or for more info click here:
The Nanny Song by Misty Mount Blog Tour
October 29th - November 2nd
I'm so very excited to announce the Blog Tour of one of my favorite authors Misty Mount! This will be put on for her excellent book "The Nanny Song". The tour will be happening from October 29th - November 2nd. This will be a blast guys. Come stop by and show some love!
To learn more about Misty or to see her other books, visit her Spotlight Section in the "MY AUTHORS" tab above.
The Nanny Song
Publication Date: May 10th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Suspense/ Romance
Publisher: Willow River Press
Mallory Riscoe is no stranger to dysfunction. Despite her tumultuous childhood, at twenty-two, she has established herself as a fully functional, self-made woman. However the safe, mundane life she has created for herself is quickly turned upside-down when she's falsely accused of theft and promptly fired.
Meanwhile, a dismal pall hangs over the Colt residence. Since the death of his wife, Brendan Colt has struggled to care for his children; Kason and Meela. Each is lost in their own deep grief, but there is more to this family than meets the eye.
Two worlds collide when Mallory accepts the job as nanny to the Colt children. Mallory begins to feel a connection, a whisper of trust between them, that could mean there is still hope for everyone involved to heal. But when an unspeakable secret is uncovered that bond, and possibly Mallory's life itself is now at risk. Can Mallory unlock the mystery intertwined in this chaotic family or will all hope of closure be lost forever?
Excerpt:
A chilly breeze had picked up and it whispered all around her. She was hardly aware of the frigid temperature penetrating her thin pajamas as she stared at Brendan’s form in the darkened cemetery. His shadowy outline was so stoic and somber that Mallory had to fight against her desire to walk in alongside the man and place a comforting arm around his shoulders.
To learn more about Misty or to see her other books, visit her Spotlight Section in the "MY AUTHORS" tab above.
The Nanny Song
Publication Date: May 10th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/ Suspense/ Romance
Publisher: Willow River Press
Mallory Riscoe is no stranger to dysfunction. Despite her tumultuous childhood, at twenty-two, she has established herself as a fully functional, self-made woman. However the safe, mundane life she has created for herself is quickly turned upside-down when she's falsely accused of theft and promptly fired.
Meanwhile, a dismal pall hangs over the Colt residence. Since the death of his wife, Brendan Colt has struggled to care for his children; Kason and Meela. Each is lost in their own deep grief, but there is more to this family than meets the eye.
Two worlds collide when Mallory accepts the job as nanny to the Colt children. Mallory begins to feel a connection, a whisper of trust between them, that could mean there is still hope for everyone involved to heal. But when an unspeakable secret is uncovered that bond, and possibly Mallory's life itself is now at risk. Can Mallory unlock the mystery intertwined in this chaotic family or will all hope of closure be lost forever?
Excerpt:
A chilly breeze had picked up and it whispered all around her. She was hardly aware of the frigid temperature penetrating her thin pajamas as she stared at Brendan’s form in the darkened cemetery. His shadowy outline was so stoic and somber that Mallory had to fight against her desire to walk in alongside the man and place a comforting arm around his shoulders.
Check out my review of The Nanny Song here:
Get your eCopy here:
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Get your print copy here:
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About the Author
Misty Mount has written since age five and was first published at fourteen. By day she's a caregiver, wife, and mother to a young son but during the quiet hours of night she becomes a novelist. "I read because my grandmother showed me how to immerse myself in books for recreation, relaxation or even as a coping skill. I write because my head is filled with daydreams and I like to choose the endings."
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMistyMountOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mistyamount @MistyAMount
Tag: #TheNannySong
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15569092.Misty_Mount
Misty Mount has written since age five and was first published at fourteen. By day she's a caregiver, wife, and mother to a young son but during the quiet hours of night she becomes a novelist. "I read because my grandmother showed me how to immerse myself in books for recreation, relaxation or even as a coping skill. I write because my head is filled with daydreams and I like to choose the endings."
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMistyMountOfficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mistyamount @MistyAMount
Tag: #TheNannySong
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15569092.Misty_Mount
Check out more from our fabulous host Reads and Reels here:
Giving gifts is not just for Christmas anymore folks! It's time to break out those scary-good books and wrap them up in spider webs to gift to the people you love. All Hallows Read is a great way to show your love of books and appreciation for fellow book lovers. So light up someone's Halloween and gift them a nice creepy book to read.
Here's Neil Gaimen to explain more:
Here's Neil Gaimen to explain more:
For more information on how to take part click here:
Introducing a New Author!!!
Browse Michael's Artwork Here:
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My name is Michael Wydock. I am 30 years old and from Charlottesville, Virginia. My hobbies include drawing, playing video games and watching movies. My inspirations come from movies and video games. But mostly, my originality has allowed me to create a new universe of imagination. Fantasy and horror exists in my universe as one.
Michael is a upcoming author with talent in more areas than one. And I'm giving you all a chance to read his fine works before they're published! Check out Michael's unedited/unpublished works below. Read Michael's Unpublished works here:
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Do You Believe In The Book Faries???
Click on the Link Below to View Their Website
Have you heard? Jimmy Fallon has announced the first ever Tonight Show's Summer Reading Month!
What's the best part about this? We get to choose the book!!!
Cast your vote for one of the 5 books Jimmy has chosen/ The winning book will be read together throughout the month of July.
It's a giant, nation wide buddy read!!! We all know how much I <3 buddy reads!
Check out the link below to decide on your pick and vote in the poll at the bottom of the page by noon on Thursday, June 28th. Check back after Jimmy's announcement on the show on Friday, June 29th to find out which book will be the official Tonight Show Summer Read!
Don't wait, VOTE NOW!!!
What's the best part about this? We get to choose the book!!!
Cast your vote for one of the 5 books Jimmy has chosen/ The winning book will be read together throughout the month of July.
It's a giant, nation wide buddy read!!! We all know how much I <3 buddy reads!
Check out the link below to decide on your pick and vote in the poll at the bottom of the page by noon on Thursday, June 28th. Check back after Jimmy's announcement on the show on Friday, June 29th to find out which book will be the official Tonight Show Summer Read!
Don't wait, VOTE NOW!!!
Announcing the combo of Reese Witherspoon and Audible! Yup, you read correctly, Reese has her very own Book Club! Isn't tht so exciting? LOL I personally love when well-known people do things to try to better society. It makes me even hapier when I find out that well-known people I like are READERS!!! Am I right?
And let's talk about audiobooks for a second... they are just great! Here's why:
HANDS FREE!!!
You can do almost anything while listening to an audiobook. They are just great!
So is this subscription worth $15 per month? Perhaps you'll have to find out for yourself. I mean, what have you got to lose? It's Reese Witherspoon!!!!!
And let's talk about audiobooks for a second... they are just great! Here's why:
HANDS FREE!!!
You can do almost anything while listening to an audiobook. They are just great!
So is this subscription worth $15 per month? Perhaps you'll have to find out for yourself. I mean, what have you got to lose? It's Reese Witherspoon!!!!!
Check out more info here:
The Great American Read is an amazing program put on by PBS and hosted by Meredith Vieira to help America find it's top choice(s) in literature. Genres of ALL kinds are being voted for in this epic search to find our most read and most beloved.
We've narrowed it down to 100 great books but there can only be 1 Great American Read!
We've narrowed it down to 100 great books but there can only be 1 Great American Read!
For more information, or to CAST YOUR VOTE, check out PBS's website for The Great American Read here: