BOOK TOUR: Kings or Pawns: Kings (Book 1) by J.J. Sherwood

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Book Details:

Book Title:  Kings or Pawns: The Kings (Book I) by J.J. Sherwood
Category:  Adult fiction, 373 pages
Genre:  Fantasy
Publisher:  Silver Helm Publishing
Release date:  October 2015
Available for review in:  Print, ebook (mobi for Kindle), ePub, PDF
Will send print books:  USA & Canada
Tour dates:  Jan 4 to 29, 2016
Content Rating:  R - Language & violence.  No explicit sex scenes (i.e., pornographic)




Book Description:  

J.J. Sherwood’s debut novel KINGS OR PAWNS: THE KINGS, BOOK 1 is the first in a high fantasy epic series sure to please fans of both the science fiction and fantasy genres.

The year is 8994 P.E., and the city of Elvorium is corrupted—rotted to the core by the machinations of depraved politicians. With his father dead and the country facing a rebellion, Price Hairem becomes the king of the elven world of Sevrigel in one of its most turbulent points in history.

Young and daring, Hairem is determined to eradicate the corruption festering in Elvorium’s self-serving and all-powerful council, which thwarts his best intentions at every turn. But Hairem’s problems are far more sinister¬—and deadly—than merely political. The loyal members of the council are being savagely murdered by an assassin loosed within the city—an assassin whose brutality knows no bounds. Outside of the city, the Lord Saebellus wages a vicious rebellion against the capital. He has been thwarted thus far by the brilliant General Jikun, and Hairem is certain that the general can crush Saebellus.

But instead of continuing the campaign against the warlord, the council orders Jikun’s army to be split, sending him on a mission that furthers only their own wealth and power. Jikun knows that the council’s demands will leave Elvorium vulnerable to an attack from the formidable warlord. Although Saebellus has been recently defeated, he is far from vanquished. As corruption and death threaten to tear the city apart from within, the rebel Saebellus seizes the opportunity to lay siege to Sevrigel’s eastern capital and unleash his most powerful weapon yet: a demonic beast that neither weapon nor magic can kill. With the elven world crumbling around him, Hairem is grasping for his own power to fight against the forces that threaten Sevrigel.

Will Hairem overcome the council’s scheming and duplicity? Can General Jikun defeat the warlord Saebellus? Will this be the war that finally brings Sevrigel to its knees? KINGS OR PAWNS offers action, intrigue, mystery, and suspense—a thrilling story that will leave readers hungry for the sequel, Heroes or Thieves, to be published in February 2016.

Meet the author:   

J.J. Sherwood lives in Ohio with her husband and four near-identical cats. KINGS OR PAWNS is J.J.’s widely anticipated debut novel, and is the first book of The Kings quartet. The series is set in the high fantasy world of Aersadore, home to hundreds of characters who all clamor for J.J.’s attention. To learn more about the trials and tribulations of General Jikun and King Hairem, visit StepsofPower.com. J.J. Sherwood will be at the tenth Fandom Fest Comic Con in Louisville, Kentucky this coming August 7th-9th. 

​Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook

Author Interview for T's Stuff:

1. Where did you get the inspiration for Kings or Pawns?

I’ve been world-building for this series for close to twenty-years and there are so many factors in my life that have led to the creation of this series—moving, college classes, roleplaying, linguistics, etc…! It would be impossible for me to select any one thing.

2. Who was the hardest character to write about? Who was the easiest?

The hardest character to write was actually one of the primary point-of-view characters and, as it turns out with readers, the most popular: General Jikun Taemrin. He refused to co-operate through the first several drafts of the novel and it was only in the final editing stages that he finally opened up.

The easiest character was the mute servant girl, Alvena. She wasn’t even supposed to have a point-of-view, and yet she was so delightful, I let her have her way.

3. How long have your been writing?

I have been writing since kindergarten. And working on this particular series since I was 7.

4. Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do before or while you write?

Nope! I just like to sit on the couch where it is quiet, usually in a bathrobe, and write! With my four cats.

5. Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?

Yes, but it is rarely because I don’t know where to go with the story, but rather because the words refuse to form themselves into coherent sentences. Hahaha. I usually just force myself to write horrible sentences until my rebelling mind breaks.

6. Will there be a sequel to Kings or Pawns?

Yes, Heroes or Thieves. I’m looking at publishing sometime between February and May of next year.

7. If there is one thing you want your readers to remember about you, what would it be?

I am fearless in the fantasy genre—I like to work outside the box and yet keep a healthy dose of realism involved to make the fantastical believable!

Giveaway:​

For those scheduled to do a giveaway (or who now wish to host one) I have created a Rafflecopter giveaway.

Prizes: ​

Win 1 of 20 copies of Kings or Pawns

- print or ebook (mobi or ePub) (USA & Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Book Blast for Jump Cut Libby Fischer Hellmann

Jump Cut

by Libby Fischer Hellmann

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GENRE: Mystery

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BLURB:

Hired to produce a candyfloss profile of Chicago-based aviation giant, Delcroft, Ellie is dismayed when company VP Charlotte Hollander, the architect of a new anti-drone system for Delcroft, trashes the production and cancels the project. Ellie believes Hollander was spooked by shots of a specific man in the video footage. But when Ellie arranges to meet the man to find out why, he’s killed by a subway train.In the confusion, she finds a seemingly abandoned pack of cigarettes with a flash drive inside that belonged to the now dead man.

Ellie has the drive’s contents decrypted, but before long she discovers she’s under surveillance and thrown into the middle of a situation filled with drones, hacking, and Chinese spies that put her life and those she loves in mortal danger.

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Excerpt:

The sun winked off the frozen surface of Lake Michigan the next morning as I drove south to McCormick Place. During one of the most brutal Chicago winters in decades, the smudge of purple clouds tinged with pink and gold hinted that the fury of winter might—just might—have peaked. I parked in the overpriced lot, bought half a dozen cups of overpriced coffee, and carried them into the massive exhibit hall.

The crew was setting up lights and shades, and Mac was behind the camera framing shots. MacArthur J. Kendall III owns a production studio in Northbrook. He started out shooting sweet sixteens, bar mitzvahs, and weddings, but parlayed that into corporate videos. We’ve worked together for nearly twenty years, from the days of two-inch video, to one-inch, three-quarter, and now digital.

Mac’s name, salt-and-pepper hair, button-down shirts, and penny loafers scream WASP, but the nasty scar running down his left cheek saves him from total Episcopalian infamy. He tells people he was attacked by a Mexican drug lord and made me swear never to reveal it was from a car accident.

I went up to him. “What do you need me to do?”

“You have the shot list?”

I nodded and pulled it out of the canvas bag that doubles as my purse. We went over it. He gestured to the main area of the Delcroft booth, which featured a large projection screen with the company logo on both sides, and about twenty chairs arranged theater-style.

“What time’s the first presentation?”

Teresa Basso Gold, our client contact, had told us to be prepared for a series of short remarks by Delcroft executives touting the company’s latest innovations.

I checked my watch. Barely six thirty. “The doors don’t open until nine, and Teresa said not to expect anyone until ten. But you can get some establishing shots, if you want.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Mac said and strolled over to confer with the crew.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Libby Fischer Hellmann left a career in broadcast news in Washington, DC and moved to Chicago 35 years ago, where she, naturally, began to write gritty crime fiction. Twelve novels and twenty short stories later, she claims they’ll take her out of the Windy City feet first. She has been nominated for many awards in the mystery and crime writing community and has even won a few. *

With the addition of Jump Cut in 2016, her novels include the now five-volume Ellie Foreman series, which she describes as a cross between “Desperate Housewives” and “24;” the hard-boiled 4-volume Georgia Davis PI series, and three stand-alone historical thrillers that Libby calls her “Revolution Trilogy.” Her latest release, The Incidental Spy, is a historical novella set during the early years of the Manhattan Project at the U of Chicago. Her short stories have been published in a dozen anthologies, the Saturday Evening Post, and Ed Gorman’s “25 Criminally Good Short Stories” collection.

More at http://libbyhellmann.com.

* She has been a finalist twice for the Anthony, twice for Foreword Magazines Book of the Year, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Daphne and has won the Lovey multiple times.

http://www.libbyhellmann.com/

Author of Compulsively Readable Thrillers

The Incidental Spy, Sept. 2015: http://www.amazon.com/Incidental-Spy-Libby-Fischer-Hellmann/dp/1938733843/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439437050&sr=1-1&keywords=the+incidental+spy+hellmann

Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorlibbyfischerhellmann

Twitter: http://twitter.com/libbyhellmann

Google+: google.com:+libbyhellmann

BUY LINK:

http://www.amazon.com/Jump-Cut-Ellie-Foreman-Mystery/dp/1464205191/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1444748309&sr=8-1&keywords=Jump+Cut%2C+hellmann

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

 Libby will be awarding a $50 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mei Tei Style Baby Sling Carrier from Cozitot

We have had a couple of baby sling carriers, but this is the most beautiful one we have had. I just love the stitching on it. I also love the fact that it has very comfortable padded shoulder/chest straps. The straps are very long and work great on large and small adults. The sling seems to be very comfortable for baby, there was no fussing or excessive wiggling as if he was uncomfortable. This sling is very lightweight but yet very sturdy materials. The sheet of directions is step by step with pictures, some of the best directions I have seen on any product in a long time.  The directions show how to wear both on your front and back. This sling is machine washable and stain resistant. I love the fact that it can hold babies up to 35 pounds, comfortably for both baby and adult.

 I received this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Check it out on Amazon

BOOK TOUR: At the Sharp End of Lightning by N.R. Bates

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Book Details:

Book Title:  At the Sharp End of Lightning by NR Bates
Category:  YA fiction, 444 pages
Genre:  Fantasy / magic realism / sci fi 
Publisher:  NR Bates Publishing
Release date:  October 2015
Available for review in:  Print, ebook, mobi file (for Kindle), gifted Kindle copy, ePub, PDF
Will send books:  USA & Canada
Tour dates: Jan 4 to 29, 2016
Content Rating: PG-13 (There is one f-word, but no other profanities, sex, violence)

Book Description:

AT THE SHARP END OF LIGHTNING. The interwoven fantastical tale of family, of loss and sacrifice, of unexpected gifts and coping with disability and new abilities set against the backdrop of climate change occurring across parallel worlds. In Oceanlight, Yalara Narika, a winged Sea Sprite, searches for her lover over immense seas only to find catastrophe and realization that her world is in turmoil.

Meanwhile in the safe suburban normality of North Wales, Einion Morgan Alban, a restless youth afflicted by a disease of the blood, is nearly murdered by a man in a white suit. Yalara and Einion must discover the causes of their near-deaths and their as yet unrevealed connections as they both face upheaval to their lives and their worlds.

Meet the author:  

​NR Bates was born in London, grew up in Wales, and lived in Canada and Bermuda. He shares his life with his wife and his house with seven cats, one dog and the subtropical wildlife of lizards, wolf spiders and ant colonies that seek out a better life indoors.

He is an oceanographer and scientist, and has published more than one hundred and thirty scientific papers on ocean chemistry, climate change and ocean acidification. He is a Senior Scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and Professor of Ocean Biogeochemistry at the University of Southampton, UK.

​His novels focus on epic fantasy and magic realism, and inspired by his deep love of the ocean and environmental sciences. He has also recently published a small book of short-stories set in Paris, entitled “The Fall of Icarus (The Elevator, The Fall of Icarus, and The Girl)”.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook

Guest post by N.R. Bates, author of At The Sharp End of Lightning

Curiosity by N.R. Bates

My novel “At the Sharp End of Lightning” is the first of a book series that explores the issue of real climate and environmental change affecting our planet while using the literary device of fantasy and magic realism. In early researching for the book series and subsequently, during the practical aspects of actually writing and revision of manuscripts, and latterly, I have often pondered the relationship between art and science, and their similarities and differences. As a practicing scientist, all my research work is aimed at trying to understand how the ocean works, and the interrelatedness of its biology, chemistry and physics. This scientific approach always follows the scientific method—it combines systematic observation, measurements and experimentation to formulate, test and refine hypotheses and as a means to investigate phenomena, acquire new information, and modify existing knowledge. For me, the practice of art reflects an incredibly diverse approach to the creation of sensorial artifacts—visual, touch, auditory—that express their creator’s imagination, aesthetics and technical skills.

What similarities are there between science and art?

As a scientist, my reporting of investigations of how the ocean works in the form of scientific papers always follow a very constrained and refined approach—a scientific paper typically contains a title, an introduction to and rationale for the science reported in the paper, the methods of observation, testing and experimentation used in the study, a discussion of results and findings, and a discussion of how the study contribute new understanding or a refinement of knowledge, for example. As with all scientific papers, it typically references the legacy of understanding and findings previously reported by others, and as such, builds upon the foundations of many scientists who have come before. Scientific papers might seem arcane and full of language difficult to understand—but this simply reflects a use of terminology or words that are not commonly used outside of science. It just needs time and practice to understand the actual meaning contained within. As it requires practice to read Beowulf in Old English or Scots vernacular used by Rabbie Burns or contemporary writers such as Irvine Welsh—once acquired, wonders are revealed.

As a writer, one starts with a blank page, and gradually, with time, a literary work hopefully transpires. Writing fiction has much freedom, unlike scientific writing which has to abide by the scientific method. But like a scientific paper, there is an underlying form and approach—diverse as it might be—to the work of fiction, and the craft of writing. There are narrative arcs, point-of-views, and character construction as examples, that all underpin the work. The other common underpinning is the published legacy of the writing of previous authors that deeply imbue all subsequent works of fiction. There is no reference or citation list included as afterword in most novels, but investigate the work and the influences, the legacy and the continuum of literary pursuits over time are contained within. In a sense, writers continually modify our knowledge and understanding of who we are, just as scientists continually refine their understanding of the how things are.

What is another common similarity between science and art for me? It’s a personal view, but it comes down to one thing—curiosity. As a scientist, I am highly curious about how the observable world works and functions. As a writer, I am highly curious about how the world works and the myriad wonderful diversity of individuals and societies. Curiosity. It drives me to be a scientist and a writer of fiction. They are expressed differently, but they both share this commonality—to find out about how we as humans and the broader Universe work!

Giveaway:​

Prizes: ​

Win 1 of 5 print copies of At the Sharp End of Lightning

- one winner will also receive a $30 Amazon gift card (open to USA & Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blitz for The Reaper Series Box Set by Lisa Medley

Reap and Repent

The Reaper Series

Book 1

Lisa Medley

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Big Cedar

Date of Publication: March 3, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9908856-2-7

ASIN: B00TJFIOFK

Number of pages: 328

Word Count: 84k

Cover Artist: Sweet and Spicy Designs

Book Description:

They see death. Can they share a life?

Ruth Scott can read the energy of every person she meets. Then she meets Deacon Walker. She can see his ice-blue eyes, his black hair, and his gorgeous face. But this beautiful stranger has no aura.

Deacon is just as unsettled by Ruth—and, having spent more than two hundred years ushering souls to Purgatory, Deacon is seldom shocked by anything. As he helps Ruth to understand her true nature, she awakens desires that he decided long ago a Reaper can’t afford.

A demon invasion forces Deacon to confront the darkness in his own past even as he fights to save the human souls he’s charged to protect. When he’s taken captive, his first concern is for Ruth. But Ruth just might be able to save herself—and the Reaper she can’t live without—if she can learn to wield her newfound powers.

Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Reap and Redeem                  

The Reaper Series

Book 2

Lisa Medley

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Big Cedar

Date of Publication: March 10, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9908856-4-1

ASIN: B00UKBZO7S

Number of pages: 326

Word Count: 80k

Cover Artist: Sweet and Spicy Designs

Book Description:

He’s a reaper who has given up on saving souls. Will a dying woman be his salvation?

After a century of enslavement to pure evil, Kylen Larson is finally free. But he’s long past caring. The only woman he ever loved is dead, and he’s tormented by memories of the horrors his demon parasite forced him to commit. Now, he lives for nothing more than hunting down the infernal creatures invading Meridian, Arkansas, and destroying them.

Olivia Evans is in the final stages of cancer when Kylen accidentally saves her from demonic possession. When he rescues this innocent soul, Kylen rediscovers his mission—and his heart. All he wants is to help Olivia stay alive. He’ll just have to fight off an invasion from Hell first…

Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Reap and Reveal 

The Reaper Series

Book 3

Lisa Medley

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Big Cedar

Date of Publication: April 5, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-9908856-6-5

ASIN: B00VB4VFJY

Number of pages: 302

Word Count: 78k

Cover Artist: Sweet and Spicy Designs

Book Description:

By day he saves lives in the city he loves. Can he save souls too?

Nate is an EMT, a witch and a newly inducted member of the Reaper Authority Force. What he's not is a reaper. With unexplained abilities, his true nature lies somewhere in between the angels, demons and reapers he finds himself involved with. When he's paired with the reaper Maeve, he struggles to find his place in the rising war to save the souls of Meridian and the world.

Maeve has tried to hide her reaper handicap--her toxic reaper energy--from her colleagues. But when she's possessed by a fallen angel and forced to poach souls for Hell, her greatest weakness might be the only thing that saves her.

Nate uses his growing powers and his innate magic to find Maeve. He'll do whatever it takes to save her, revealing more than he ever imagined in the process.

Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

About the Author:

Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them, because monsters need love too.

She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig.

She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.

http://lisa-medley.com

https://www.facebook.com/lisamedleyauthor

https://twitter.com/lisamedley

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7824406.Lisa_Medley

https://plus.google.com/u/1/+LisaMedley/posts

Briskbars Vegan Energy Snack Bars, 0.88oz Bars, 4 Count

These brisk snack bars are actually good for you. They give you a energy pick up, and also can calm a sweet tooth. They were way to strong flavored for me, but my Daughter flipped for them. She wants more. The flavor is very strong to me of a dark chocolate almost coffee like flavor. I personally am not into dark chocolate, coffee, or coconut, all 3 of which my Daughter loves.
 I do love that these are all natural and plant based energy. There is so many problems with the fake energy stuff like the drinks and all, I love that these are vegan, no GMO, no Gluten. Pretty much anyone with allergies could eat these. The bars are small but it does hit the spot.

 I received this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Check it out on Amazon

iFlly Mini Flyer Flying Ball

 We had a blast with this flying ball even the neighbors came out to watch it fly. This has a proximity sensor built in so it jumps up and over things, it flies around things, and actually runs a good long time. Size wise it is in between a golf ball and a tennis ball. It has a red. green, and blue light inside, they glows very brightly. When it does crash, you have to turn it off and back on to reset it, which I think is god because it is not tearing up the wings when lands in a bush or whatever. To catch it you kind of have to sneak up on it so the proximity sensor doesn't send it up and around you. If you slap at it, it knocks it out of kilter and goes kind of nuts in huge circles, really fast, until it crashes. The kids and adults both had fun chasing it around. There is no remote with this like a drone, but it was tons of fun if not more fun.
  There were no instructions, and i did take a minute or 2 to figure out. There is a tiny yellow slide button net to the charging port, that is the power. After you turn it on make sure you have a good hold on the ball itself. It take a couple of seconds for the blades to start to turn but when they do they whip, so make sure fingers are out of the way. It does come with a USB charging cable, it can be plugged into a wall charger or any USB port charger.

 I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Check it out on Amazon