Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER:

I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
Readers, Please research and use wisdom before buying

Thursday, June 30, 2016

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest Post by Christine Lindsay

Good Morning and Welcome to the last Thursday Thoughts of June 2016!

Our guest today is no stranger to the blog. She was spotlighted in April and shared treasures with us in May. Today she shares some thoughts with us on personalities....


Personalities, Two Sides to the Coin -- by Christine Lindsay

Personality traits have always fascinated me. How does our early life mold our personality? How much of it is inherited? What aspects of personality affect people’s choices of work,exploits or lack of exploits.

Have you ever noticed that there is a good side and a down side to our personality traits?

I love doing tests such as the Myers’ Briggs, and on one test I found myself as a Protagonist under the heading for Diplomats. They describe this personality as:

Everything you do ripples outward and affects everyone. Your posture can shine your heart or transmit anxiety. Your breath can radiate love or muddy the room in depression. Your glance can awaken joy. Your words can inspire freedom. Your every act can open hearts and minds.

My goodness, how very flattering. This all comes in handy when I write and do the occasional speaking. The down side however, is I can also lock myself away for hours on end with my laptop. I tend to be a workaholic, and prefer my solitude a bit too much.

Enough of me.

While developing the characters for Sofi’s Bridge, I wanted to know the good side and the bad side to the personality traits of a doctor. On the site Medoholic I found certain personality traits that are predominant in medical students.

The traits of a doctor who will go beyond himself to save others. But what’s the possible downside? In the Supporter Personality tests doctors and nurses are referred to as “Supporters” with the passion to be saviors.

So, what’s happens when a healthy individual with the personality traits to make a good doctor finds himself in a personal situation that twists his passion for saving others into circumstances that will destroy him?

·         Have you ever stopped in the middle of helping your kids or a friend out of a jam, and thought, “maybe it would be better if they took their lumps and learned from their situation?”

This particular truth inspired my latest historical romance Sofi’s Bridge. The hero and the heroine in this book are both savior personality types, and put aside their own welfare to “fix” the lives of their respective siblings. In Sofi’s Bridge, both Sofi Andersson and Dr. Neil Galloway must learn the same lesson that I had to learn in my life—that we cannot save the ones we love. Only God can do that.

**********

Wow, learn something new every day! Great info Christine, thanks for sharing.

Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.

Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming. Her newest release Sofi’s Bridge also features a dashing Irish hero.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.

Please drop by Christine’s website www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, and  Goodreads

 Read all the first chapters of Christine Lindsay’s novels for Free on her website, click HERE and go to Christine’s Books.

Hope you enjoyed Christine's thoughts as much as I did. Drop by weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and Tuesday Treasures.

Until next time...take care and God Bless!
PamT

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

#TuesdayTreasures: Guest post by Ryan Clemons

Good Morning Friends,

It is always a pleasure to have guest authors share something they treasure with us, especially a new author and doubly so when it's a new Pelican Book Group OR Bayou Writers Group author!

Today's guest is new to me and to Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana...the group I co-founded back in 2002.



Ryan Clemons resides in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and a concentration in Public Relations from McNeese State University. Ryan had the opportunity to intern with University Image, a marketing firm at McNeese State University. She also had the privilege to work for three forms of media: Television: KPLC News: News Content Specialist, Print: The American Press, Account Executive Radio: KZWA 104.9, Radio Personality.

Ryan is currently president of 3RP Productions, a nonprofit organization committed to changing lives by touring different cities and hosting the "It's Over" Revival. She's also serves as the Executive Director of Pink Life, a non-profit organization that assists mothers who are in need of diapers and wipes free of charge. In her spare time, Ryan speaks at youth organizations, non-profit organizations, women's conferences and seminars about her journey. She is dedicated to changing this generation by encouraging and inspiring others.

Ryan's Links:
Facebook: Ryan E Clemons
Facebook: Ryan E Clemons- Author
Periscope: Ryan Clemons 

Now that we've met Ryan, let's see what she treasures....

I treasure my college class ring, because it's a constant reminder of my will power and determination. In college I was a single mom working three part-time jobs. I made the decision to put myself through college, so I applied for a position at McNeese in administration. I also worked part-time in security, and I was a waitress for a privately owned catering company. 

Over the course of three years, my life was consistently about college and Tyler. I was my my biggest motivator, and I had to push forward. During that period I learned to managed it all because I was determined to make it. It seemed as if I was going crazy at times, averaging four hours of sleep, but I had a goal to reach. I knew because of my current status as a single mom I had to try harder, study harder. Being a student in class was more of a challenge to to me than anything else. I couldn't afford to waste time lagging behind my classes because I wanted to pass and graduate.

When I look at my ring it's a symbol of my strength and it proves I am capable! 
****************

Boy to many of us understand, agree and treasure our class rings also Ryan! Thanks for sharing.

Ryan's debut novel, Victorious: The Journey of a Single Mom and Her Faith, can be purchased at Amazon

Ryan will be returning to share some thoughts with us and we'll spotlight her book at a later date, so be sure and visit weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

Saturday, June 25, 2016

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Karen McCullough & Wired for Murder!

Hello and Welcome to the last Saturday Spotlight in June!

Yeah, I know...this year is flying by way too fast. I agree. Alas, the show must go on so without much further ado I'm pleased to welcome today's guest, Karen McCullough back to our blog with  her novel, Wired for Murder....

Karen McCullough is the author of a dozen published novels and novellas in the mystery, romantic suspense, and fantasy genres as well. She has won numerous awards, including an Eppie Award for fantasy, and has also been a four-time Eppie finalist, and a finalist in the Daphne, Prism, Dream Realm, Rising Star, Lories, Scarlett Letter, and Vixen Awards contests. Her short fiction has appeared in several anthologies and numerous small press publications in the mystery, fantasy, science fiction, and romance genres. She has three children, six grandchildren (plus one on the way) and lives in Greensboro, NC, with her husband of many years.



Most of the time, Heather McNeil loves her job as assistant to the director of the Washington DC Market Show Center. Because she’s a good listener and even better at solving problems, her boss assigns her to handle a lot of the day to day issues that arise during the shows, exhibits, and conferences being held there.

The Business Technology Exposition at the Market Center is set to open with a major new product announcement from one of the biggest companies in the computer electronics business. Before that event, though, the president of industry-leader MegaComp has a very public argument with a man who accuses the company of stealing the concept for a technical process from him. The announcement goes off without a hitch. But when the accuser returns a phone call from Heather, she becomes an unwilling audience to his murder and later finds his body in a private section of an exhibitor’s booth.

Heather is more than happy to leave the investigation to the police, but she’s the person everyone talks to and she soon learns more than she wanted to know about the victim and all the people who really didn’t like him very much.

Excerpt: 
Ninety-nine days out of a hundred I love my job as assistant to the director of the Washington D.C. Commerce and Market Center. That particular Monday morning, however, I had a hard time remembering why. Setup day before the start of the Washington, D.C. BizTech Show had already staked its claim as the one in the current hundred that made me want to re-examine my career choice.
Whatever my title might indicate, I spend most of my time as liaison between the exhibitors and the director, being general troubleshooter and flak-catcher. That part of the job I usually don’t mind so much. I’m good at listening and staying calm and finding ways to make things better. I keep my head when everyone around me is losing theirs. In general, anyway. But dealing with a list of problems growing faster than I could possibly handle them set my nerves on edge.
On the plus side, the exhibition starting the next day meant I had to be down on the show floor rather than at my desk dealing with the mountain of paperwork that filled my inbox, the gazillion phone messages, and an email box that beeped and glared at me, sulking because I’d neglected it for so long. Of course that just delayed tackling the mess, which would only grow bigger and be even harder to face later.
On the down side, by ten-thirty in the morning I already had a full day’s worth of aggravations to deal with. Plus, setting up for a trade show creates a huge, headache-inducing racket. Several hundred booths being assembled at the same time in an echoing, cavernous space could make an aircraft carrier sound peaceful by comparison. Metal clanged against metal as structures were put together and pieces whacked into place, voices called back and forth, boxes were ripped open, hand trucks squealed on constant rushes back and forth from the loading dock, and footsteps tromped relentlessly.
The buzz of an electric screwdriver rasped my nerves again while my temples throbbed in time to the pounding of a hammer on steel joints. One of the rental bucketlifts chirped a grating counterpoint to the banging as it backed up.
My throbbing head demanded a couple of ibuprofens before I tackled the next item on the list. I headed for the elevator to go back upstairs, but no such luck. A pair of men approached at a run, their eyes focused on me. I sighed and waited. I didn’t recognize them, but their intent gaze said they knew who I was. Next crisis, I thought.
“Miss McNeill?” The man in the lead stopped and huffed in a sharp breath. “I think you might want to do something. A couple of guys are…”
“What?”
“Fighting,” the second one, older and a bit pudgy, said. His face was red and pulled into a worried frown.
“Really more of an argument,” the first one elaborated. “A loud one.”
Great.



You can purchase Wired for Murder at Amazon.

Check out Karen't previous visits here, here and here!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll return weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT



Thursday, June 23, 2016

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest post by Fred R. Eichelman & a #Giveaway!

Good Morning!

It is always a pleasure to open this feature with some thoughts from a New-to-Me author and today's guest is just that!

Carolyn Eichelman, is the photographer ©2015
Dr. Fred Eichelman is a retired Virginia public school teacher whose career spanned four decades. He is a graduate of Bridgewater College, with a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia and a Doctor of Social Studies Education degree awarded by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dr. Eichelman is the author of three history and government textbooks and a science fiction novel, Valerie in Giantland. He has written for several print magazines and has served as a book and film reviewer. He is on the board of directors for Point North † Outreach Ministries and editor of its publication, Point NorthTidings.

Connect with Fred on Facebook!


Now let's see what Fred has for us to think about.....

Recently we heard a pastor challenge his congregation with a question. “What is it to have a mission as a Christian?” He went on to mention that the term is used rather loosely; even a fast-food place will say they have a mission to serve the best burgers. It got us to thinking that while we do think we have a mission in life, what does that really mean? It is supposed to represent our vision, but that vision should be aligned with God's Vision for it to be valid.

We may think our mission should be family. Or to be outstanding in our life's work. It may mean being a good friend. It can also involve what we do for our church. All these are noble goals, but are they our real mission in life?

If our vision is to be God's, it must stress God's Word and evangelism. What we do and what we say should be a witness to our faith. When there is an opportunity to witness our faith by action or word, do we take advantage of the opportunity?

We have a great deal left to do in understanding and sharing God's Vision. That mission was given us by Jesus Christ in The Great Commission.

-Fred R. Eichelman, Ed.D.


Thanks Fred, definitely something to consider.

Frank's latest project is Faith, Family, Film: A Teacher's Trek


Discover a hidden, heartwarming side of Hollywood and politics you never knew existed.

Faith, Family, Film: A Teacher’s Trek describes the worlds of entertainment, literature, and politics as experienced by the author during his lifetime. Dr. Eichelman reveals how films and television programs influenced his growing up, his teaching career, and his Christian ministry by reflecting upon the beautiful souls who throughout their storied careers have touched numerous lives, not just his own. His anecdotes feature such personalities as John Wayne, Roy Rogers, Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Stewart, Rhonda Fleming, Ronald Reagan, Andy Griffith, several Star Trek cast members, and many more celebrities well into the twenty-first century. The introduction by actress, producer, and motivational speaker Nancy Stafford promises that Dr. Eichelman will take you “where no man has gone before,” a promise that he delivers upon in charming, “come in and set a spell” Southern storyteller fashion.

BUY & TBR LINKS 

NOTE – The Kindle Edition Will Be Free Worldwide During This Tour


EXCERPT 
One night there was a late phone call from Doc Jones. “Al, Ann, I need a favor. I am taking care of too many sick animals right now, and I have a man here with a pair of dogs he brought from Germany. Rex and Regina. Never seen anything like them. Regina is about to deliver; could you two come over here?”

Of course my parents agreed.

To their surprise they found the dog owner to be Pulitzer Prize–winning author Louis Bromfield. His home was originally in Mansfield, Ohio, but he also had a home in Hollywood, California, and until recently one in Paris, where he had lived a few years. My parents were very familiar with Bromfield, as his books were widely read, and two were made into successful films, The Rains Came and Mrs. Parkington. Bromfield had recently been in Germany and had seen a new breed, Boxers. Boxers were the result of the interbreeding of Bullmastiffs and English Bulldogs and were considered perfect working dogs.

At that time Adolph Hitler was taking control of the German government, and Bromfield knew that if he didn’t bring these dogs to America quickly, he might not get another opportunity.

Al and Ann were happy to help out, and Louis Bromfield was especially pleased that my mother had read several of his books and was a fan. It was a perfect delivery of puppies and he thanked them profusely. Then Bromfield said, “Take your pick of the puppies.” Surprised as they were, they did not hesitate, and four weeks later a female puppy was delivered to their home. 

GIVEAWAY PRIZES     
US ONLY: 1 autographed copy of Faith, Family, Film
INTERNATIONAL: 5 digital autographed photographs of one or more celebrities (5 winners)

Hope you enjoyed today's thoughts and good luck if you enter the Rafflecopter giveaway
and I hope to see you Saturday for our Spotlight on Karen McCoullough. Remember to check out Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight each week!

Until next time, take care and God Bless!
PamT

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

#TuesdayTreasures: New Release by Toni V. Sweeney

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Treasures!

As an author, a new release is always something to treasure. From the moment of creation, to completion then contract, the entire process is a thrill. Then comes the promotion part. Many authors are intimidated or overwhelmed by the advertising aspect of writing. Some enjoy this aspect of their career just as much as the writing.

As a reader, the discovery of a new author or a favorite author's new release is something we anticipate.

Either way, new releases are treasured.

That's why I'm pleased to bring you my new author friend, Toni V Sweeney's new release, THE SUNDAY MAN (Book 5: Liam, in the McCoy Family Saga.)

Like his uncle Padraig, Liam McCoyh is the black sheep of the McColy family’s third generation.  Unlike his uncle, he has no intention to change. Being the owner of some questionable businesses suits him just fine.

Unfortunately Liam never fully recovered from the shoot-out saving his cousin’s life, and if he doesn’t change his way of living soon…he may not be living much longer.


When his father demands he return to Ireland, Liam has to again become the gentleman he was raised to be. A devastating rainstorm and a spirited Irish lass will definitely change the way he thinks about a lot of things.

Excerpt: 

He couldn’t believe it. Liam clutched the letter, his fingers crushing it into a ruined ball as he stared at the ceiling. Everything blurred and he realized his eyes were filled with tears.

“Are you all right?” Siobhan gave him a few moments alone to read his letter before she came in.

He didn’t answer, simply shook his head and looked away, blinking rapidly.

“Liam? What’s happened? What did the note say?” She reached for it.

“That’s none of your business.” He jerked it away, holding it so she couldn’t touch it.

“I think it is.” She didn’t attempt to take the letter again, however. “You’re upset, and if that affects your recovery…”

“Just leave me alone,” he interrupted.  He didn’t tell her he was more angry than hurt, that he, Liam McCoy, who’d always been so careful not to form any emotional  attachments, had finally found someone he could really care for…and she’d tossed him aside. He was too sharp to be captured…and now, the one woman to whom he’d told he might love if she wished it, had jilted him, because of something he couldn’t control, because he was ill. I’m this way because of you. I left your bed and rode into the rain and that’s why you’ve deserted me?

Injured masculine pride stung.

**************

Wow...sounds intriguing doesn't it? You might know we get in on the 5th book in a series, right? LOL!

Anyway you can purchase The Sunday Man directly from the Publisher, or at Amazon.  It is also available in the UK, France and Germany (I think).

Hope you enjoyed today's treasure!


Until next time...take care and God Bless.
PamT




Saturday, June 18, 2016

#SaturdaySpotlight is on MJ Schiller & her FREE book!

Good Morning!

Today's spotlight guest is not a total stranger to our blog. MJ Schiller has shared some thoughts as well as treasures with us. But today we're spotlighting her new book which is FREE through today!

Sir Darius Lee is a Knight of the High Order.
But when Darius discovers a stranger in his room in the middle of the night, and the intruder turns out to be a beautiful woman, he begins to question how he is meant to live his life.

Princess Megan of Bethyea is being held captive.

But when two knights help her to escape and bring her back to her home planet, she finds the home she knew no longer exists.

When The Council of Twelve questions Darius about his relationship with Maggie, she tries to flee from The Academy of the High Order to prevent him from losing his knighthood.


Will Darius and Orion find Maggie before she leaves Albion? And if they do, how can they face the decision of The Council? And what about the feelings Orion has developed for the princess?

Excerpt ~
Orion had blown it again. He reviewed his actions to determine where things had gone astray.

He’d been sleeping restlessly. A loud THUMP in the co-living quarters alerted him and his eyes flew open. He threw back his covers and was out of the bed in a flash. His sword was in his hands as he crossed to the threshold of his doorway in two long strides. Hoping to gain the advantage of surprise, he leapt through the doorway, his laser-sword held aloft. In seconds, he took in the situation. His master sat on the couch talking to a figure in a guard’s uniform. At first he didn’t get a good view because the stranger was partially blocked by Darius’s broad back, but when the guard jumped off the couch he saw it was a girl, close to his own age. She scurried away like a frightened animal, her long hair flying behind her. Wide eyes shined as she glanced behind at her pursuers. She was out the door in a matter of seconds.

It was painfully evident his master had the situation well in hand and wasn’t in any sort of danger. He chided himself for his rash actions.

This was only his second mission with his master and he wanted so badly to get things right. He‘d been thrilled when Darius Lee had chosen him to be his novice. The man was known throughout The Academy as good and wise, an exemplary Knight, whose fighting skills were legendary. Darius had advanced well beyond other Knights his age and was said to be more level-headed than most. Orion knew he could learn a lot from Darius. In the short time they had been together they had already grown quite close.

Orion’s peers had teased him about his admiration for his mentor, saying it verged on idolatry. He did feel a bond with Darius. Perhaps because he’d never formed relationships with an adult male before. Maybe he did allow himself to look at the Knight as a father figure. Who could blame him when he’d never had a father to call his own? He knew he was lucky to be here with Darius. The world outside The Academy could be intimidating, but with him in charge, Orion believed the two could take on the world and all other comers.

But tonight it was clear he had failed.

When would he learn to think before jumping?

Leap into the Knight can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo & I-tunes ... BUT MJ is offering a FREE 3-copy to anyone who requests one! Simply email her at: mjschillerauthor@gmail.com and she will gift you a copy through Amazon!


And....if you enjoyed LEAP INTO THE KNIGHT, you may want to follow the further adventures of Orion, Darius, and Princess Megan in Book Two-LADY OF THE KNIGHT, and Book Three-A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER!

M.J. Schiller is a lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance.

She is the mother of a twenty-year-old and three eighteen-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon. 

Connect MJ at the following places...












Hope you enjoy today's spotlight! Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time....take care and God Bless.
PamT

Thursday, June 16, 2016

#ThursdayThoughts: Guest post by Katherine Fleet

Good Morning from soggy Panama City Beach, Florida!

Florida is known as the 'sunshine' state...well today it's a bit soggy out there. It rained, actually stormed last night and now the Gulf waters are a deep, roiling green and the wind is saturated with moisture. Should burn off later and we'll be scorching later but this morning it's really nice out.

Today we welcome Katherine Fleet back to our blog to share some thoughts with us....


Hi! I’m Katherine Fleet, debut author of the YA Contemporary, The Secret to Letting Go. Thanks so much to Pam for sharing my Thursday Thoughts today!

My novel is set in a fictional town on the Gulf Coast of Florida during that magical summer after high school graduation when the whole world is out there waiting for you. It’s the story of two teens – Clover, a mysterious girl who shows up in town lost in her secrets and fears, and Daniel, a boy who’s drawn into her troubled world despite his better judgment. Life keeps throwing them together, but their secrets keep them apart. Ultimately, it’s a story about living through tragedy and learning to forgive your self.

The tagline for my book is “One summer can change anything.” Since my story is set over one summer and the lives of Clover and Daniel are transformed during this period, the tag line made sense. But it called to me for another reason. As a teenager and young adult, I remember feeling that there was nothing more exciting than the idea of an entire summer ahead. As I finished those last days of school in June, summer felt like a promise of something great on the horizon.

I remember what my room felt like with the windows open and that warm, summer breeze lifting the lace curtains. I remember the sound of lawnmowers and the smell of fresh cut grass. Growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, summer was the only time of year where you could count on some warm, sunny days, but even then, hot days were rare. I used to sunbathe on my back porch lying on a blanket. This was before we knew about ozone layers and skin cancer. When the sun ducked behind a cloud, I’d wrap the ends of the blanket around me, so I wouldn’t freeze! I spent a lot of time walking the trails in the city, daydreaming about stories that I’d only get the nerve to try writing years later. But mostly, I remember the feeling of freedom, and I remember it like it was yesterday.

I now have three kids, two of which are teenagers. They are reaching the end of the school year and my oldest son is graduating! Sometimes I wonder how they will remember their summers. We live in the Caribbean, and for us, summer is travel time. We normally return to Canada and visit family and friends. We’ve also travelled throughout Europe and the US. I wonder which feelings and sensations will stand out to them decades from now.

I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite memories of summers past?

Thanks again to Pam for hosting me and thanks for reading.  J


Thank you, Katherine for sharing your story with us!

Katherine writes Young/New Adult fiction. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at her Website (be sure and sign up for her newsletter!)Also be sure to like/follow/etc Katherine on TwitterFacebookInstagram and Good Reads. She was our Saturday Spotlight guest last month so be sure and check that out.

The Secret to Letting go can be found at Amazon, B&NITunesKoboAmazon UKAmazon CA and directly from the publisher.

Hope you enjoyed today's thoughts. Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time....take care and God Bless.
PamT