Author Interview – Deidre D Havrelock @deidrehavrelock

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Just getting finished…getting the editing done, seeing the book series take shape. With The Testimony series, I enjoy hearing people get excited to share their own testimonies with friends and family members. That’s rewarding.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be?

I Robot, that was a good book. I’d like to live in a world with robots and all those robot logic problems. I’d like to travel in space, too.

What is your dream cast for your book?

For my memoir Saving Mary: The Possession, hee-hee! …I’d want William Shatner to play my dad! And I’d want Shirley MacLaine to play the overbearing spiritual leader who kicks me out of meditation group for having bad karma. I think she’d enjoy that character.

What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?

I read all sorts of gothic romances. That’s about all I read. Looking back, I was obviously obsessed with being saved. That’s why my spiritual memoir is called Saving Mary: The Possession (and also because Mary Magdalene is the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.) When you read The Testimony series, I think it’s important to remember that Jesus took demons seriously—he dealt with them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in Bible studies and when a demon pops up in the Bible the people at the study wonder if Jesus is just being metaphorical.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Finish your book. Keep working. Enjoy the process. Cry a little.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Christian Living

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with Deidre Havrelock on Twitter

Website www.deidrehavrelock.com

Pegasus by Marilyn Holdsworth @m_holdsworth

* * *

The door to the café slammed behind Buddy. A couple of truckers were seated at rustic wooden tables. At the far end was a counter with rickety stools in front of it and a few shelves behind lined with dusty whiskey bottles scattered among smudgy glasses. He quickly scanned the dingy room. Behind the bar, with her back to him, was the girl, just as he’d imagined her: tight little jeans, tight little T-shirt, and long, frizzy, bleached hair. It didn’t take long for him to see that her old man wasn’t around. Maybe gone for good; who knows? he thought. Who cares? Better for me, either way.

After a couple of beers and a few laughs with Tammy, he’d have to head out in a hurry. He eyed his watch. Already it was dusk, and soon it would be dark; then he’d really have to make up the time if he was going to go for that bonus. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up into Tammy’s vacant brown eyes and suggestive grin. “How you doin’, cowboy? Need anything more?” The invitation was more than Buddy could refuse. He pushed back his chair and followed her to the end of the room, through the back door, and across the yard to a little house in the rear.

* * *

Buy Now @ Amazon Kindle

Genre - Adventure / Romance

Rating - Adult

Connect with Marilyn Holdsworth on GoodReads

#Free - The Alpha Choice by M.D. Hall

The Alpha Choice by M.D. Hall

Amazon Kindle US

Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – PG13

5 (5 reviews)

Free until 4 December 2013

Three thousand years ago, the Vespoid Khitine are about to learn they must live with the disappointment of trade negotiations collapsing - or at least most of them will have to live with it - Chindara has other things to occupy her mind.
Their erstwhile partners to be, the Te, have their own plans. This is merely one more conquest, hardly different to scores that have gone before, Well, that isn't quite right; it's the first time they have had their actions halted by the appearance of a tiny electric blue light, a Custodian. Never have they watched, helplessly, as two of their battle cruisers blinked out of existence, before receiving a polite, but firm warning: attempts to circumvent the, hitherto unheard of, Accords will result in their complete destruction.
Twenty-one years ago, in the Gallsor system, the warning all but forgotten, Commander Jaron makes a choice that will have unimaginable consequences, the least of which follows his return to Te'ath, when the Supreme Council are prompted - on the urging of the most dangerous of the three heads of the covert Agency, Garnoth - to sanction a plan circumventing the Accords. The target? Telluria (Earth).
Garnoth's most able protégé, Tala, is tasked with leading the expedition, the success of which is dependent upon the Tellurian, Hugo Black (a Boston corporate attorney) heading up a multinational corporation, TeCorp.
Only two people can disrupt Garnoth's plan: Gorn, a twenty-one year old Te'an prodigy, whose brilliance is matched by his self-doubt and social ineptitude. He is recruited, when particularly vulnerable, to the cause of the Te'an rebellion by the single minded Narol. Gorn will betray his best, his only friend and, if he succeeds in his 'mission,' condemn his people to almost certain destruction. While taxing his mind over the choices to be made, he is completely unaware he has been marked for assassination.
The second potential fly in the Te'an ointment is history lecturer, Jonathon (Jon) Tyler and his recently acquired, rebellious young companion, Emily. Spirited from his bed, in the dead of night, he meets the physical embodiment of the electric blue light; a woman, whose beauty reminds him of a classical statue, an impression heightened by a cold and humourless aspect enhanced, in turn, by her inhuman electric blue eyes, completely electric blue eyes. Jon is told that an Artefact exists - a sentient, artificial life form, which may, or may not choose to help - and his job is to bring it to the attention of those who speak for Earth. How difficult could that be?
He is allowed to glimpse the consequences of converging forces, far beyond the danger posed by the Te'an threat, and guesses this to be the real reason for Custodian interest in his planet. For now, he has no choice but to act as a Custodian pawn in an opening gambit, on a board only just beginning to take shape, and where all the pieces have yet to arrive.

Laila Ibrahim – “Are we rich?”

When my older daughter was 8 or so she asked me, “Are we rich?”  At the time she was flipping through an American Girl Doll catalogue considering how to spend her birthday money when the question popped out.

My reply: “You are shopping for a dog for you doll!  Yes, we are rich.  You have never once wondered if you would go to bed hungry because we did not have any food in the house.  We have a nice home that keeps us warm and dry throughout the year.  You have clothes, you go to school and you receive many of toys and cash on your birthday.  We have plenty of money for everything we need, and for many things that we want.  Yes, we are rich.”

As Unitarian Universalists it was important to Rinda and I that our kids understand how privileged they are.  My wife and I wanted them to be grateful for the most important things in life:  clean water, an abundance of food, trusting relationships, and good health.  We hoped to teach them to put the ups and downs of their lives in context and know to be grateful just for the chance to be alive.

Most nights before dinner we hold hands and bend our heads as one of us says these words, “Dear God, Thank you for this food and for all that went into brining it to our table.”  Though we take turns speaking, I am almost always the one who initiates saying grace.  To be honest, I feel intrusive and demanding when I bring it up.  Just before I mention it I wonder if it is worth interrupting everyone for this ritual that is important to me.  I have to push past my own doubts and my family’s actual or perceived resistance to insist upon this nightly ritual.  But during the prayer, with my eyes closed and a warm hand holding mine, in the moment when I actually feel grace, I never doubt.  Taking the time for gratitude, for remembering that we are wealthy enough, is always worth it.

In 1837, Lisbeth Wainwright is born to the white mistress of a sprawling Virginia plantation. Seconds later, she is delivered into the arms of her black wet nurse, Mattie. For a field hand like Mattie, her transfer to the big house is supposed to be considered an honor—except that the move tears Mattie away from her beloved grandfather and her infant son, Samuel. But Mattie is a slave, with no say in the matter, and so she devotes herself to her master’s daughter, though she longs to be raising her own child. Growing up under Mattie’s tender care, little Lisbeth adopts the woman’s deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring.

As the years pass, Lisbeth is drawn slowly back into her white parents’ world and begins to learn the ins and outs of life for a high-born young lady. Still she retains her connection to Mattie, befriending Samuel and drifting comfortably between the two worlds. She accepts her parents’ assertion that their slaves depend upon them for guidance and protection, yet that notion becomes more and more difficult to believe as she gains awareness of the inequality of life in the big house versus the slave quarters. When, on the threshold of her society wedding to debonair Edward Cunningham, Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Just twenty-one years old, she is forced to choose between what is socially acceptable and what is right, a decision that will change her life forever.

This compelling historical novel chronicles young Lisbeth Wainwright’s coming-of-age during one of the most difficult chapters of American history. Lisbeth’s powerful bond with Mattie makes her loss of innocence in the face of society’s ugly secrets all the more heartbreaking, and yet it is the courage she learns from her stand in mother that enables Lisbeth to blaze a new path for herself. Yellow Crocus offers moving proof of how the greatest social change often blooms forth from small personal acts of love.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Historical Fiction

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author and the book

Connect with Laila Ibrahim on Facebook

Accountability Leadership by Di Worrall @DiWorrall

CHAPTER 1

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LEADERS

As a leader, how can you influence more of your people to step up to the plate, see opportunities, and take ownership, rather than get by with minimal effort?

When you observe your superstars, you see how effectively they engage in their work. How can you get more of your people to be like them?

Increasing staff engagement may seem simple in concept, but it’s not so simple in its practical application. This chapter reveals what you can do as a leader to help your staff work better and feel more engaged and satisfied with work. You do this by creating conditions of accountability. In the long run, they’ll thank you for it.

I believe that the vast majority of working people crave opportunities to find renewed enthusiasm and energy in their jobs. Most employees – those who are neither stars nor problem hires – respond well to challenges and stretch goals with the right leadership.

Which begs the question: How do you reach the hearts and minds of the people working for you and ignite their enthusiasm and energy so they bring their best to work each day?

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Business, Leadership, Workplace Behaviour, Human Resources, Executive Coaching

Rating – PG

More details about the author & the book

Connect with Di Worrall on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.diworrall.com.au/

#AmReading - Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason @LynetteEason

Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason

Amazon

Samantha Cash is the FBI's secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and she never stops until the case is closed. When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help local chief Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with that. There's her faith--in God and herself. And then there's the fact that she looks exactly like his late wife.
As they get close to an answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an interest in Connor's 16-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting way too protective. Can't a girl just have some fun?
Too Close to Home ratchets up the suspense with each page, and will have readers cheering for the characters they love as justice is served and love grows even in the face of danger. Read this one with the lights on!

Author Interview - Demelza Carlton @DemelzaCarlton

Tell us a bit about your family.
I’m married to a wonderful man and we have a seven-year-old daughter who thinks mermaids are silly.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I rarely get them. I started writing Ocean’s Gift because a fun story crept into my head and wouldn’t let go until I’d written it down. I had a reasonable job and publishing started as an experiment – one that’s been a lot of fun so far. I don’t doubt myself…but I do celebrate every time I sell a copy of one of my books, because that’s one more person I get to share my story with.
What scares you the most?
Losing the people I love. I’ve been skydiving, I’ve swum with sharks, I’ve cuddled snakes and patted tigers, I’ve even stood on stage and spoken confidently to thousands of people  – but my worst nightmares all involve something horrible happening to my daughter.
What’s your greatest character strength?
Stubborn optimism. On a particularly tough day at work, one of my work colleagues accused me of being Pollyanna, with unicorns, rainbows and sunshine. I just laughed and said that even the worst work day was an excuse for a glass of really good wine afterwards. It’ll get better and I will get my sunshine and rainbows…or there’ll be some really foul language until I do.
Why do you write?
To get the characters and their stories out of my head. Having a lonely fisherman trying to seduce a mermaid in your head is hellishly distracting to normal life, so I did my utmost to write down Joe Fisher’s story so he’d leave me alone. I’ve published two books in his series, but he hasn’t left yet, though he has invited a whole party of other people into my head without my permission. Maybe one day…
What book genre of books do you adore?
I prefer science fiction best – yet I’ve never really written any. I live walking distance from a library with the largest science fiction collection in the Southern Hemisphere – and I’ve read a fair whack of it so far.
What book should everybody read at least once?
One they enjoy so much they want to read again.
Is there any books you really don’t enjoy?
Erotica. It’s not that I feel there’s anything wrong with the genre – it’s just that I don’t like reading other people’s sex scenes. I don’t want to know where he put his bits in relation to her bits. I’m more into practice than theory, so I tend to skip over detailed sex scenes in books – especially when roosters (cocks) are described as throbbing.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I grew up in Perth, Western Australia and I live here still, though I’ve travelled through a fair bit of Australia and Asia. All my books are set in locations I’ve visited – so if there’s a tropical island, I can tell you exactly what’s living on the beach that can nip your foot or what’s worth eating nearby. But I won’t put it in the story unless it’s necessary to the plot.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere. The day I first got the idea for Ocean’s Gift, I asked my daughter what she thought of mermaids. Her response was, “Mermaids are silly, because humans don’t have tails.” From that one comment, an entire twisted plot evolved.

Mermaids don’t fall in love with humans. For centuries it has been so…
But Sirena is different. She lost her first love to sharks and a storm, cursing the islands that stole him from her.
Times have changed and she must swim ashore once more, to the islands she once cursed.
Gone are the boats powered by sail and steam - jet boats with GPS are now the order of the day.
Enter Joe, the deckhand on the Dolphin. A handy man to have around when the lights go out. He’ll fix your generator and have the lights back on in no time, no worries.
But can he seduce a siren?
Or will she swim away before he can uncover her secret?
A book about lobsters, beer and boobs, on some cursed islands off the coast of Western Australia. At least, that’s how Joe tells it.
For Sirena, it’s a very different story.

A tiny taste of what’s in store:

The boat was almost full of water now, I realised in panic, as I groped for a bucket to start bailing. Throwing bucket after bucket overboard, I couldn’t tell if I was making any difference to the water level in the boat.
One moment I was holding the bucket, about to scoop up more water, the next I was flying through the air. Immersed in cold, black water, I couldn’t see the surface. I struggled, kicking in the direction I thought was up, and hit a rock. I jerked back reflexively and my head cleared the water. I gulped a huge lungful of air and grabbed for the rock. I had to hold on ’til daylight.
Another big wave broke. I tried to keep hold of the slimy rock, but I was pushed out of reach, drifting in the current. I tried to kick my legs, but I wasn’t sure if I did. I couldn’t feel my feet and the numbness was creeping up my legs.
I could hear the breakers on the outer reef, louder than they were from shore. I could feel the spray on my face. A wave washed over me and I was under the water again.
I thought I could feel someone beside me, rolling me over so my face was at the surface, pulling my body through the water.
All I could hear was an unearthly singing, high and sad, like some kind of suicidal dolphin. I could say I blacked out, but everything was already so black I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.
I checked out of Hotel Consciousness. At least I got to dream of Vanessa naked.

Ocean’s Gift series

This is the first book in Demelza Carlton’s Ocean’s Gift series, which currently includes:

Ocean’s Gift (Book 1)
Ocean’s Infiltrator (Book 2)
Water and Fire

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Australian sea adventure,contemporary urban fantasy,paranormal romance

Rating – PG 13

More details about  the author and the book

Connect with Demelza Carlton on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://www.demelzacarlton.com/