Different, Not Damaged by Andy Peloquin

Different,
Not Damaged

by
Andy Peloquin

Genre:
Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Strength
from Weakness

Disability
becomes Power

Some
call them disabilities, but for others they are gifts:

- A
voiceless child painting visions of death.

- A killer with a
deadly message plagued by a burden of guilt.

- A priestess
divinely empowered to absorb others' pain.

- A soldier fighting
for courage in the face of fear.

- A broken warrior-priest on a
mission of vengeance.

- A thief desperate to escape the burden of
his memories.

Betrayed by mind or body, these people struggle to
survive in a grim world that takes no pity on the weak. Yet they will
discover that they are simply different, not damaged.

This
collection of dark fantasy short stories will keep you turning the
page as you experience life through the eyes of the
differently-abled.

Pick up this uniquely heart-wrenching
book today because you want to feel what it means to live with a
disability.

What
Readers Are Saying:

This
collection of stories keeps you engrossed right through to the end. -
S.S.

These
stories about people trying to overcome, or at least come to terms
with, the hardships of their lives. Worth the read! - T.E.

This
is one of those books that leaves you wanting more. - S.S

Goodreads
* Amazon

I
am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my
palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the
darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes,
villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a
book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend
hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the
pages of fantasy novels.

Fantasy
provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane
problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It
transcends age, gender, religion,race, or lifestyle--it is our way of
believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and
discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand
new way. Fiction at its very best!

Website
* Facebook *
Twitter * Google+
* Amazon
* Goodreads

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!

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Audio Tour Tarnished Legacy by Ann Gimpel

Tarnished Legacy: 

Soul Dance 

Book 2

Ann Gimpel

Narrated by Gregory Salinas

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Series: Soul Dance, Book 2

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date: 06-26-17

Publisher: Ann Gimpel Books, LLC

Tarnished Beginnings

Egypt is a haven for magic-wielders of all kinds. Vampires hold court, staying one step ahead of the priests who want them dead. Gypsy caravans roam the Nile, plying their wares.

Tairin Jabari was born in a caravan and has always believed she's Romani. Why wouldn't she? Her mother and father never suggested otherwise. The Rom have harsh rules. When Tairin's first shift catches her unaware at 13, her father disappears, and the elders move with deadly speed to punish her mother for mating outside the blood.

Hurt, lost, confused, and fearing for her own life, Tairin runs away, leaving her mother's smoking funeral pyre behind. With her survival on the line every single day, she and her wolf face hard choices.

Tarnished Legacy

Half Romani, Tairin's no stranger to hiding her mixed blood from gypsy caravans. What she can't hide is her perpetual youth, courtesy of her shifter heritage. She's overstayed her welcome where she is, but Germany is at war, and travel has become impossible for everyone targeted by the Reich.

Elliott's clairvoyance is strong. Seer for all the caravans in Germany, he catches Tairin eavesdropping outside their leader's wagon. He should turn her in, but he can't bring himself to do that. Instead, he interrogates her. Her magic is different, but he can't figure out quite what she is.

Any association between Romani and shifters is forbidden. Tairin should leave right now, tonight - before he discovers what she is and destroys her.

©2017 Ann Gimpel Books, LLC

Listen to a Sample

Audible

About the Author:

Ann Gimpel is a mountaineer at heart. Recently retired from a long career as a psychologist, she remembers many hours at her desk where her body may have been stuck inside four walls, but her soul was planning yet one more trip to the backcountry. Around the turn of the last century (that would be 2000, not 1900!), she managed to finagle moving to the Eastern Sierra, a mecca for those in love with the mountains. It was during long backcountry treks that Ann’s writing evolved. Unlike some who see the backcountry as an excuse to drag friends and relatives along, Ann prefers solitude. Stories always ran around in her head on those journeys, sometimes as a hedge against abject terror when challenging conditions made her fear for her life, sometimes for company. Eventually, she returned from a trip and sat down at the computer. Three months later, a five hundred page novel emerged. Oh, it wasn’t very good, but it was a beginning. And, she learned a lot between writing that novel and its sequel.

Around that time, a friend of hers suggested she try her hand at short stories. It didn’t take long before that first story found its way into print and they’ve been accepted pretty regularly since then. One of Ann’s passions has always been ecology, so her tales often have a green twist.

In addition to writing, Ann enjoys wilderness photography. She lugs pounds of camera equipment in her backpack to distant locales every year. A standing joke is that over ten percent of her pack weight is camera gear which means someone else has to carry the food! That someone is her husband. They’ve shared a life together for a very long time. Children, grandchildren and three wolf hybrids round out their family.

Find Ann At:

www.anngimpel.com

http://anngimpel.blogspot.com

http://www.amazon.com/author/anngimpel

http://www.facebook.com/anngimpel.author

https://twitter.com/anngimpel

Home Coming by Charles Lansford and Irene Nickerson

Title: Home Coming

Author: Charles Lansford and Irene Nickerson

Publisher: XLibrisUS

Genre: Coming of Age

Format: Ebook

Homecoming is that surreal feeling that a soldier has when he has returned home. For our heroes, each is facing new challenges, hopes, and fears. Ti is worried about what the shape-shifter major told him. He wonders what other secrets might be hiding in the shadows and what dangers they might hold for his family. Beary and Crew have returned home to build a new warship to face the growing threat to the Bearilian Federation. It is one that is pointed directly at his family like a dagger to his throat. Angelina and Octavious have discovered that old enemies have joined in the vendetta against their family. Old secrets may surface. Old threats may appear. All the pieces are now in place. It has been a month since everyone has returned.

Monday, November 20

Mythical Books

Review From Here



Tuesday, November 21

A Title Wave

Inkslinger's Opus



Wednesday, November 22

Indie Wish List

All Inclusive Retort



Thursday, November 23

A Taste of My Mind

Literal Exposure



Friday, November 24

The Zen Reader

Bent Over Bookwords



Monday, November 27

The Dark Phantom

Voodoo Princess



Tuesday, November 28

The Writer's Life

Harmonious Publicity



Wednesday, November 29

The Literary Nook

A Book Lover



Thursday, November 30

As the Pages Turn

From Paperback to Leatherbound



Friday, December 1

I'm Shelf-ish

Lover of Literature

Title: The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland

Author: Michael Eging and Steve Arnold

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Format: Ebook

The Dark Ages—a time of great turmoil and the collision of empires! 


As the Frank kingdom prepares for war, Roland, young heir to the Breton March, has been relegated to guard duty until a foreign emissary entrusts him with vital word of a new threat to the kingdom. Now Roland must embark on a risky journey to save all he loves from swift destruction. 


And yet while facing down merciless enemies, he must also reveal the hand of a murderer who even now stalks the halls of power and threatens to pull apart a kingdom reborn under the greatest of medieval kings, the remarkable Charlemagne. 


For Roland to become the champion his kingdom needs, he must survive war, intrigue and betrayal. The Silver Horn Echoes pays homage to "La Chanson de Roland" by revisiting an age of intrigue and honor, and a fateful decision in the shadows of a lonely mountain pass—Roncevaux!

Michael Eging is co-author of Annwyn’s Blood, as well as a screenwriter and partner at Filibuster Filmworks. He and his wife have five children and live in Virginia. Steve Arnold lives in Ohio with his wife and kids. Besides co-authoring Annwyn’s Blood, he has corroborated on everything from short stories to screenplays for Filibuster Filmworks.

Monday, November 20

The Writer's Life

I'm Shelf-ish



Tuesday, November 21

Mythical Books

Inkslinger's Opus



Wednesday, November 22

T's Stuff

Bent Over Bookwords



Thursday, November 23

As the Pages Turn

The Revolving Bookshelf



Friday, November 24

Indie Wish List

Voodoo Princess



Monday, November 27

Literal Exposure

The Literary Nook



Tuesday, November 28

A Title Wave

Write and Take Flight



Wednesday, November 29

The Dark Phantom

The Zen Reader



Thursday, November 30

All Inclusive Retort

Lover of Literature



Friday, December 1

Review From Here

A Taste of My Mind

Body of Evidence Blitz

Thriller Suspense

Date Published: March 2017

“Ask him if he didn’t intend to kill Noah when he went to the bar with that loaded gun, just what did he intend to do? It could be important, so you need to ask him and to get an answer.”

Richard Dandridge has left a big city Manhattan law firm to open up his own small private practice in his hometown of Rochester, NY. He is eking out a meager living representing small clients, but he is content to play golf and no longer be part of the scandals and notoriety of the big city law firms. Now, however, he has been thrown back into the big leagues by a huge local murder case. Lieutenant Vincent Trapp has shot and killed businessman Noah Arietta at the Foundry Café, in front of witnesses. There is no question that Trapp has done the murder and he certainly had motive, as Arietta had violently raped and beaten Trapp’s wife Paige. Lieutenant Trapp has requested that Richard Dandridge represent him.

Richard debates about taking the case—defending a guilty person can be professional suicide. But if he wins, the rewards would be huge. He will position himself as the top defense lawyer in Monroe County, and he will also have the personal satisfaction of defeating prosecutor Randall Walker, who has beaten Richard in his run for District Attorney. However, this case sure looks like a loser. Even the rape is in question: a rape kit performed on Paige is negative for sperm, although the woman clearly has been beaten.

Richard is therefore drawn to the case because of the positive effects a win would have on his career and the future of his firm. He meets with Trapp, who confirms the known facts: the death of Arietta was not accidental or a suicide and Trapp caused it, in front of witnesses. The Lieutenant meets all the qualifications for felony first degree murder. Against his better judgment and going with a gut feeling, Richard agrees to represent Trapp. Richard knows that he needs to design a case around the known facts, as damning as they are. He knows that Trapp is well-to-do, a decorated serviceman, and has never been in trouble before. Richard therefore sees the act committed by Trapp as completely out of character, even though the man has a clear jealous streak when it comes to his beautiful wife. The thought keeps coming back to him: Trapp must have been out of his mind to do this crime.

Richard realizes that this is a distinct possibility, and also the basis for a valid defense strategy—Trapp had acted while in a dissociative state psychiatrists referred to as the “irresistible impulse.” Now it is up to Richard to craft the compelling body of evidence that points so clearly to first degree murder into a case for a man so shaken and traumatized by the brutal attack on his wife that he unwittingly killed her attacker while in a dissociative state. Richard must use all his knowledge of the law to convince a jury that the Lieutenant was temporarily insane when he fired five bullets into Noah Arietta. It’s a defense recognized by the State of New York, but the odds of pulling it off are huge. Richard not only has to get an acquittal for a guilty man using an insanity defense, but he also has to successfully prosecute a dead man for rape.

About the Author

I began writing at the age of twenty because it was good therapy for me as a mother of an achondroplastic dwarf, at a time when there was not much knowledge or a support group.  To hone my skills I completed the University of Washington Certificate course, Introduction on Fiction Writing in September of 2001.  I attended a seminar on Writing Techniques and Styles, and another entitled How to Become a Successful Editor.  In 2016 and 2017 I participated in the James Paterson online courses for screen play and fiction writing.  As an avid reader, I organized a local Book Club here in Irondequoit...  I was presented in, “Two Thousand Notable American Women, Third Illustrated Edition”, prepared by the American Biographical Institute and published in 1991.  I was highlighted in an article by About Time Magazine in their Career Profile section in August, 1982.  Then shortly after the article appeared I was on the air for an interview at a Syracuse Cable Station in a 30 minute segment entitled “Successful Black Women in New York State” and taped another 30 minute segment for a program entitled “Spotlight On You”.  I appeared on WOKR-TV, “Shades Of Gray Program, where I was interviewed for Outstanding Achievement Recognition.  This took place in 1990. I was interviewed for an article on the front page of the Irondequoit Post for my fiction book released in 2000 and entitled Til Death Do Us Part?  I appearances on RNews (now known as YNN) in Rochester New York for my fiction book, and a nonfiction book entitled Who Says I’m Small in 2006, also promoted at the LPA (Little People of America) in Orlando Florida and Erie Pennsylvania in 2008.  I opened my home base computer business, J. Tischendorf Services (originally J. Saxton Services) in 1984 and Pageant Perfect Production in 1990.  I placed in the top 10 of the Mrs. New York State/America Beauty Pageant in 1983 and did freelance modeling for department stores.  I did photogenic modeling for Eastman Kodak Company’s Phototech Division and modeled for the Gannett Newspapers 1983 Annual Report and the United Way Annual Report.  I even participated in the special number drawing event for the New York State Lottery.  I continued to build this experience by commentating high school fashion shows.

In 2010, Tate Publishing released by non-fiction book, “The Madman, The Marathoner”.  Today I have several manuscripts, some of which I have entered in the Amazon book contest, and others that I continue to work on.

For the past several years I have participated in Author’s Night at Barnes & Noble which has kept my face in the public eye.  When it comes to wanting to be published and write, I am the real deal!

Contact Links

Facebook

Promo Link

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N 

IndieBound

Lulu

Virtual Book Tour: Monsterland by Michael Okon

Monsterland

by Michael Okon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Horror (Monsters)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.

Wyatt Baldwin's senior year is not going well. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An ongoing debate with his best friends Melvin and Howard Drucker over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can interact with vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT 2

What were the interlopers doing here? Billy thought furiously. This was their territory. The humans didn’t belong in the swamp. The moon continued its trip to the heavens, the familiar agony beginning in his chest. Billy fought the demons churning within his body, feeling the pain of metamorphosis. He curled inward, hunching his shoulders, the curse of his nature making his spine pull until his tendons and muscles tore from their human positions to transform into something wicked. A howl erupted from his throat, followed by another, and then another. Grabbing handfuls of dirt, he tried to fight the awful change, but, as the sun dipped to its fiery death, the moon took control of his life, and the unnatural force tore through his unwilling body. Reason fled; his heart raced. Falling on his hands and knees, he let loose a keening cry as his face elongated, his body changing into a canine, fangs filling his mouth. He raced in a circle in a demented dance, knowing his fellow pack members did the same thing. Slowing, he regulated his labored breathing, forcing the icy calmness he needed to keep some semblance of reason. He peered through the dense brush. Lights from the search party bobbed in the distance. The odor, the stench of humanity, filled the clearing.

He turned, digging furiously on the ground, throwing dirt on the flames, hiding their existence. It was no good. Discovery would ruin everything. No one could live with their kind. Humans brought disease, humans brought anger, humans brought hatred. They were there; he could smell them, see their clumsy bodies invading his home. “They’ve found us,” he growled in the special language they used. “Run!” he barked as he turned to his pack, watching his friends’ naked skin transform until it was covered with the same silvered fur. They cried out in unison at the pain, howling with the injustice, and then ran in fear from the interlopers threatening their habitat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Michael Okon is the award-winning and best-selling author & screenwriter formerly known as Michael Phillip Cash. His originally self-published book Monsterland was picked up in a two-book publishing deal by WordFire Press. Michael is happily married and writes full-time on the North Shore of Long Island with his two screaming monsters in the background.

For more information, details and updates, visit:

http://www.michaelokon.com

https://www.facebook.com/iammichaelokon

https://twitter.com/IAmMichaelOkon

Email Michael at MichaelOkonBooks@gmail.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Monsterland-Michael-Okon-ebook/dp/B0751F3B3S/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monsterland-michael-okon/1126998959

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/monsterland-1

INTERVIEW with Michael Okon

Have you ever had an imaginary friend?

Yes, he’s sitting next to me right now.

Do you have any phobias?

Flying. I HATE flying. I’m a total control freak (with certain things), and when I’m in the air 37,000 feet with two guys I’ve never met before, taking me to my destination in a hunk of metal going 500 mph…well, it makes me a tad uneasy. I hate it.

Do you listen to music when you're writing?

No, I listen to music when I’m driving. I’ve been making music mix tapes and playlists since I’m 15 years old – around the time I started to really be serious about writing. Every season, there is a new playlist. I also create a new playlist for every book I’m writing. I will probably do this the rest of my life.

Do you ever read your stories out loud?

After the story is completely finished, I read it aloud to my wife, my son, my brother and mom.

Tell us about your main character and who inspired him/her.

The last couple years of high school have not been fun for Wyatt Baldwin. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An on-going debate with his best friends Howard Drucker and Melvin over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.

  But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can rock out with vampires at Vampire Village, be chased by actual werewolves on the Werewolf River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

One randomly drawn commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN GC (international giveaway), five randomly drawn winners will win a size large Monsterland T-shirt (US only).

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Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats by Carla Rehse

Pink
Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats

by
Carla Rehse

Genre:
YA Urban Fantasy

Witches
must bond with humans in order to produce children—and once the
bond is made, it cannot easily be broken.

Imagine
seventeen-year-old Gracie Mason’s surprise when she accidentally
bonds with a witch named Asher. Sure, he’s cute, but that’s
beside the point. She’s not gonna settle for a guy just because
she’s magically bound to him.

To
dissolve the bond, Gracie must seek out another witch to perform a
magical rite. However, matters become considerably more complicated
when witches begin turning up dead. Wanting nothing more than to get
on with her life, Gracie must now team up with her new witchy friend
and wade deeper into a complex world of enchantment and
intrigue.

Pink
Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats is an enthralling story of magic,
mystery, and murder—and each new twist will draw you further under
its spell.

Add
to Goodreads

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* B&N

Although
not a native Texan, Carla prides herself on having mastered the
correct usage of “y’all” and “bless your heart.”

Carla
is owned by a persnickety kitty, who rules the computer keyboard and
only allows Carla to write when demands for cat treats are met.

Website
* Twitter * Goodreads
* Amazon

Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway