#SaturdaySpotlight is on Clare Revell & Convergence!

Good Morning and Welcome!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was heading to Bandera this weekend for Cowboy Mardi Gras but that the spotlight would still go on and so it is!

My guest today, fellow Pelican Book Group author, Clare Revell is no stranger to our blog. She has shared treasures with us and been in the spotlight several times. But today, Clare is sharing with us her brand new novel, Convergence so please give her a huge Welcome Back Clare!

Even as a teenager Yvetta Graham had vivid dreams. Ones she couldn't tell from reality. Only now she's almost thirty and beyond such things.

Only the new store manager is a dead ringer for the man from those dreams. Who is John Smyth? What is his reason for coming to Headley Cross? Is he really a time traveller?

As dreams and reality converge Yvetta is in a fight for both her sanity and soul.

Extract:

Someone was following her. The steps were light, but audible on the large grey flagstones that lined the floor of the castle. It couldn’t be Blaize. He’d had to go out, fulfil his duty as sheriff and deal with something in the village.

Yvetta didn’t mind being alone. After all, as Blaize kept pointing out, with the amount of servants he had, she’d never be truly alone. What she objected to was being followed. She spun around, determined to have a go at whoever it was, but there was no one there. Shaking her head, she turned back to face the other way and crashed straight into a tall, black figure standing there.

I’m sorry. I didn’t see you,‛ she began.

The figure turned. The faceless, nameless one moved towards her. ‚Etta.‛

She screamed.

Terror filled her. She backed away. Her feet tangled in her floor length skirt, and she reached out, struggling to regain her balance.

Her outstretched palm caught the flame of the torch on the wall.

Pain seared as she fell.

Her arms flailed, legs kicked as she tumbled endlessly down, down, down.

****

Yvetta glanced at the clock as she stood in the kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil. Three AM; or stupid o’clock as she preferred to call it. She couldn’t think, the music running through her mind made thought impossible. Her hands shook as she tossed a teabag into her favourite mug. Her hand hurt. She glanced down and ran her fingers over the vivid red mark across the palm. She winced. If she didn’t know better she’d say she’d burnt it while she slept, but she wouldn’t tell anyone it was happening again.

It was far safer not to.

The nightmare still floated on the corners of Yvetta’s mind. She hadn’t thought about him for years, never mind dreamed about him anymore—until tonight. But nothing had changed—not even the dream injuries transferring to reality. Music, dancing, the castle, and him.

Blaize—her Dancing Boy had grown to be a man. He was tall; easily over six feet now, but he’d towered over her even in her teens. He was a few years older than her, no more than five, but that hadn’t mattered. His piercing gaze had shot straight through her, almost as if he could see her innermost thoughts, which on reflection, maybe he did because he always knew what she was thinking; and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing, either.

Sometimes he wore his long, blond hair spiked up, sometimes it flowed loosely across his shoulders, but tonight it had been tied back with a simple, black velvet ribbon.

He was slimly built, but with an athletic body encased in fawn, old fashioned breeches, dark brown knee length boots, and a navy blue frock coat, with gold buttons. He cut a dashing figure. His white shirt had a bunch of lace at his chin—like the highwaymen had in story books, but Blaize wasn’t a scoundrel or cad—he was one of the nicest people she knew. He was always accompanied by a monkey, a tiny, ugly thing with a penchant for wearing clothes.

How long had it been since he’d crossed her mind? Blaize that was, not the monkey. She’d been seventeen, so almost half a lifetime, since she’d last seen him. Why now?

WOW Clare, you sure know how to hook 'em and reel 'em in! GREAT excerpt!

CLARE REVELL is a British author. She lives in a small town just outside Reading, England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, their three children, and unfriendly mini-panther, aka Tilly the black cat. Clare is half English and half Welsh, which makes watching rugby interesting at times as it doesn’t matter who wins.You can find her at Website, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Pintrest

Instagram, Amazon UK, Amazon.com, Pelican Book Group, Bookbub and Goodreads

Convergence can be purchased at Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N, and Pelican Book Group.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly and leave a comment to be entered into my monthly gift card giveaway!

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Erin Lorence and Dove Strong!

Good Morning!

It always my pleasure to bring to your attention a new author, especially a fellow Pelican Book Group author so please welcome Erin Lorence with her book, Dove Strong (#1 in the Dove Strong trilogy) to our spotlight!

Erin Lorence lives in Bonney Lake, Washington with her husband, Brian, and their two daughters, Brooke and Savannah. Her lifelong love of reading, her gratitude to God, and her enjoyment of hiking in Central Oregon all inspired her to write the Dove Strong Trilogy.

Find out more by visiting Erin's Website and Blog or connecting with her on Facebook.

Dove Strong loves God. She loves standing chin up, fists clenched when facing Satan’s attacks. But there’s one thing she doesn’t love—other people. So when this spiritually-gifted, antisocial teenager is chosen to join other believers in a trek across Satan’s territory, rattlesnakes and evil-intentioned Heathen aren’t her biggest challenges. But failure isn’t an option. In a month, the Christian Councils will decide the Reclaim, a vote on whether there’ll be a war between Christ’s and Satan’s followers to take back America. It is up to Dove, God’s messenger for peace, to reach her Council in time. Because if she doesn’t, things could get bloody.

Excerpt:

My eyes lit on a few things I recognized. Things I knew from the junk piles back home—a chair with small wheels. Bunches of cardboard boxes on a table, one bright yellow with a picture of food on it. Things with snaky wires. Pictures. But so many I couldn’t name. What were their purposes?

I rubbed at the rush of goose bumps beneath my sleeves. December air. I glanced at Melody for her reaction to this unnatural, cluttered home.

Her dark orbs lost focus, her skin bloodless under its sunburn. Before I could move, she hit the fuzzy ground in what sounded like a painful flop.

“Oh no.” Jezebel rounded on her brother with a smack to his middle. “You killed her.”

Smack. Smack. Her hands rained against his skin. He dodged the next set and knelt next to Melody’s body.

I got in his way. “Don’t touch her.”

His outstretched hands whipped back. “What...I didn’t...”

“Get water.”

“Right.” He leaped to his feet. Then swung around. “To drink? Or dump on her?”

His sister flew to a nearby wall the color of tree sap and threw open a door. “In the shower! Put her in the shower!”

She disappeared into the space beyond, and a blast of light sprang from its rectangular opening. “I’ve seen this before on TV. Trust me. This is what you do.”

The sound of rain pounded down from inside the house. Indoor rain showers? Suspicious. But what was I supposed to do with this Brae girl if she died on me?

I dragged her dead weight forward...and almost dropped her.

What was this place?

A humongous, solid basin dominated the floor. Water drops poured into it from high up in the wall. Vapor clouds rose from the basin.

I shuddered. Everything in this room radiated the whiteness of new baby teeth. Creepy.

“Here.” Wolfe held out a clear jar of water.

I couldn’t hold Melody while pouring water into her mouth, so I lowered her to the floor. Her head lolled against the white wall.

Most of the liquid ran down her chin and neck, but a little must’ve made it into her mouth. She choked. Then coughed. Swallowed. And cracked open her eyes.

I shoved the empty jar at Wolfe.

“Rain?” Melody tried to focus on me.

“See? She wants to go in the shower.”

I shook my head at Jezebel.

“It’s raining.” Melody fingered the wet fur of her collar.

“No way.” I stayed firm. “You don’t want the indoor shower.”

I watched her mouth tug up at the corners.

“Yes. Please? No danger.”

~~

Wow, what an excellent excerpt! Thanks for sharing Erin. If you enjoyed the spotlight friends, get your copy of Dove Strong at Amazon (Kindle) and watch for book 2, Fanatic Surviving to be featured in our spotlight next month!

Until I see you again, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Matt Mikalatos

Good Morning Friends!

Whew! I finally feel as though I'm catching up after my Alaska vacation (8/12-21) and subsequent move into a new place. But enough about me...

Last month I introduced you to Tyndale author, Matt Mikalatos when he shared treasures with us. Please welcome Matt back as he shares some thoughts with us.

Take it away, Matt.....

It’s common in stories with teenagers to have them be brooding, angry creatures who hate each other and the world. I was thinking about this the other day while I was barbecuing in my back yard. 

I have two teenaged daughters, and while they certainly have moments where they are upset, angry, or broody, I don’t think it’s any more often than my nine-year-old or, for that matter, their 40-something parents. In fact, when I look at my kids I can’t help but notice that their main motivation in life seems to be to do the right thing. Sure, they miss cues and are lacking life experience in certain areas, but the fact is whether it’s at school or in extra-curricular activities, at home or in the culture at large, my kids want to do the right thing, and they want good things for the people around them. They want their friends to be well and cared for. They’re typically kind to strangers. 

Sure, I understand that might not make for compelling fiction a lot of times, which may be part of the reason we end up with snarky, angry characters in so many novels. Personally, I get a little tired of the cranky, overwrought teens in some YA books.

In my novel, The Crescent Stone, I wanted something different. In this book, the teen characters are passionate about doing the right thing, and taking care of each other. When Madeline Oliver faints in chemistry class, her friend Jason Wu jumps into action to help her. No complaints, no eye rolling, no hesitation. 

When Madeline is promised a healing of her terminal illness in exchange for a year of service in a fantasy land, Jason says he’s going with her to keep her safe, no arguments. When Madeline discovers injustice in the fantasy world, she sets out to fix it, regardless of the cost. 

Throughout the book the teen characters work for justice, are kind to each other, are generous in their relationships, and show loyalty and love for each other. They don’t only love their boyfriends or girlfriends, they love their friends, too, and with a deep commitment to friendship. 


That’s something we could use a lot more in this world, and it was, frankly, a relief to write a book where the strength of teen friendships is put front and center as a virtue, not a conflict. 

You are so right, Matt! We need to focus on the positive and the good our teenagers do and are capable of instead of their bad or negative behavior! 

About Matt:  Matt Mikalatos writes books (surprise!). In the past, Matt worked as a high school teacher and a comic book clerk, but currently focuses on nonprofit work devoted to helping people love one another despite their differences. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, three daughters, two unicorns, a gryphon, a dragon, and three brine shrimp. 

His latest book, The Crescent Stone can be purchased at Amazon and Tyndale.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Matt Mikalatos

Good Morning!

It is with great pleasure I bring to you another new-to-me Tyndale author as Matt Mikalatos shares something he treasures with us. So please give him a great, big WELCOME!

This may seem a strange sort of treasure, but there it is: my hammock. My wife bought me that hammock when I graduated from seminary. (You may notice evidence of other treasures in the balloons behind it . . . our youngest daughter just had a birthday!)
Every summer day I have a tradition. I spend at least a half-hour in my hammock. It could be reading a book, or hanging out with my wife, or talking to the kids. On special occasions there might be a nap. On the worst days there could be wasps involved and a great deal of swatting and nervous shouts.

The core of the treasure, though, is this: my family wholeheartedly supports this tradition. They come to spend time with me on the hammock, but they don't come to ask for work to get done, or for me to fix problems. The hammock is a place for our family where any one of us can get away for a momentary break from whatever pressing business happens to be going on elsewhere in the household.

One of the things I love about this tradition and this hammock is that it returns me to the world refreshed and more appreciative of the other things going on in our lives. My family loves it too. For Father’s Day last year, they bought me another hammock that’s easier to take with us places, and a third hammock small enough to throw in a backpack for trips to the park or for when we’re traveling.

I hope you have a space like this, where you can get away (even without leaving) and enjoy a few moments of rest and relief. Most often, I use this space for my summer reading . . . nothing from work, just escapist books that I most enjoy, with no guilt or acknowledgment of pressing deadlines.

If you’re looking for a book for your treasured hammock time, I hope you’ll consider The Crescent Stone, a fantasy novel I wrote that is specifically designed to be the sort of entertaining summer read I most enjoy when I’m hanging (yes, I had to use this pun at least once) in the back yard.

Matt Mikalatos writes books (surprise!). In the past, Matt worked as a high school teacher and a comic book clerk, but currently focuses on nonprofit work devoted to helping people love one another despite their differences. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, three daughters, two unicorns, a gryphon, a dragon, and three brine shrimp. Find out more by visiting his Website.

His latest book, The Crescent Stone can be purchased at Amazon and Tyndale.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight: Deliverance by Katie Clark!

Good Morning Friends,

Last month I introduced you to Katie Clark with her book, Vanquished (book 1 in her YA Dystopian "Enslaved" series). Well today Katie returns with book 2, Deliverance!

Hana is Greater. It’s a future she never envisioned for herself, but she’s not about to ignore the opportunity she’s been given--the opportunity to find answers about her Mom, Jamie, and Fischer. This could be an opportunity to tell others the truth about God and uncover the secrets the Great Supreme has been keeping from their small, struggling nation.

When Hana’s search brings her to the mysterious prison she’s only heard of in rumors, the desire to get inside drives her to dig deeper for answers, but what she uncovers may be bigger than them all.

Can she save herself and the others before the Great Supreme realizes what she's doing, or will she give up everyone she loves in her quest for the truth?

Excerpt: I take a shaky breath and step toward the bed and dressing closet. I only have one bag of clothes. It will never fill up the closet.

But when I open the door I gasp. Clothes line the inside, clothes similar to the ones Sindy wore. Torn pants, grungy tops, and unraveling scarves. Oddly enough, they don’t seem old. They have tags on them.

At least I won’t stand out at dinner, or anywhere else in the city.

My bag makes a thud when it hits the bottom of the closet. I only want one thing from it—Mom’s perfume. I don’t remember the last time she wore it, but I can remember her by its scent. I unscrew the lid and bring it to my nose. Memories pulse through me. A hospital room. Sunken cheeks. Weary eyes.

The nightstand has a drawer and I shove the perfume inside. Next time I will remember happy things.

The door to the bathroom is on the other side of the closet. It whooshes open when I step close and I peek inside.

It's huge! A tub big enough to lie in sits in one corner, and a mirror with lights around it hangs above the sink. The bathroom at home is barely big enough for two people to squeeze in side by side and the shower doesn’t have enough room to turn around in. This bathroom could fit four people or more.

I gaze at the tub, wondering what the hot water allowance is here. How would it feel to float in a tub of warm water?

Deliverance can be purchased at Pelican Book Group  Amazon   Barnes and Noble 

KATIE CLARK started reading fantastical stories in grade school and her love for books never died. Today she reads in all genres; her only requirement is an awesome story! She writes young adult speculative fiction, including her upcoming YA supernatural, Shadowed Eden. 

You can connect with her at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Hope you enjoyed this week's spotlight, Friends!

Check back next week for another Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time...take care & God Bless!

PamT

Saturday Spotlight: Janalyn Voigt & Wayfarer

Good Morning Friends!

Today it is my pleasure to bring my fellow PBG author back with book 2 in her Tales of Faeraven series, WayFarer!

Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Tales of Faeraven, her epic fantasy series beginning with DawnSinger, carries the reader into a land only imagined in dreams.

Janalyn is represented by Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary. Her memberships include ACFW and NCWA. When she's not writing, Janalyn loves to discover worlds of adventure in the great outdoors.

Author Site for Janalyn Voigt: (author journals, travel journals, guest journals, and book news) 

Site for Writers: Live Write Breathe (teaching articles plus free How to Edit PDF)

Trouble stirs between nations and rebellion threatens Faeraven. 

When Kai returns with the supposed DawnKing, Lof Shraen Elcon cannot trust that the Elder youth truly is the prophesied deliverer. Driven to prove himself, Elcon banishes the boy and embarks on a peace-keeping campaign into the Elder lands, where he falls in love with an Elder princess betrothed to another. 

Sometimes the deliverance of a nation comes only through the humility of one. 

Declaring his love would shame the nations, but Elcon is torn. As war approaches, Elcon's choices lead him on a journey of discovery that will either settle the lands or leave them mired in conflict. Can his kingdom ever be united, or will the consequences of his decisions forever tear asunder the fabric of Faeraven?

WayFarer is available at Amazon in Print and for Kindle, at Barnes and Noble, at Pelican Book Group and ChristianBook.com!

Well Friends, I hope you enjoyed this spotlight. Stay tuned Tuesday for more Egg-cerpt Exchange fun, Thursday thoughts and of course another Saturday Spotlight!

Until later...take care and God Bless!

PamT

Virtual Blog Tour - Janalyn Voigt!

Hi Friends!

I, along with Kathy Carlton Willis Communications, is pleased to bring to you Janalyn Voigt with her book, Dawn Singer! Janalyn is a fellow Pelican Book Group author and I do believe this is her debut novel! So without much further ado....

Janalyn Voigt’s epic fantasy trilogy, Tales of Faeraven, starting withDawnSinger, is published by Harbourlight Books. Janalyn also writes in the western romance genre. She is represented by Barbara Scott of Wordserve Literary. Her nonfiction publication credits include Focus on the Family, Scripture Press (now David C. Cook) and Pentecostal Evangel. She serves as a literary judge for several national contests and is an active book reviewer. Her memberships include ACFW and NCWA. Janalyn lives in a quiet corner of the Pacific Northwest, where she discovers worlds of adventure in the great outdoors. 

 

CREATING WORLDS OF BEAUTY AND DANGER

Website: http://janalynvoigt.com  Blog: http://janalynvoigt.com/blog

Paradoxical Truths Revealed

 A new speculative fiction story releases this summer that captures several paradoxical truths, including: freedom comes through sacrifice – AND – victory comes through surrender. allegorical fantasy readers will be spellbound by the incredible imagery and symbolism throughout DawnSinger, authored by Janalyn Voigt. Some of the key points in the book include:

 

Freedom through sacrifice. When the willful but reverent main character, Shae, learns her secret identity, she has to decide whether to accept her true calling. Although it may cost her everything, the salvation of a nation hangs in the balance. Shae represents the church. We each must lay down our will and our lives to bring freedom to others.

 

Overcoming prejudice with unity. In DawnSinger, the clash is not over color of skin but between classes of being. Elderland was already inhabited by the Elder nation when the Kindren entered it from another world through a gate that closed behind them. The Elder accepted the Kindren's occupation of Elderland because they didn't want to live in the areas where they settled—areas within reach of garns (goblenesque creatures) and welkes (giant birds of prey). DawnSinger opens as an unknown enemy stirs strife between Kindren and Elder in an attempt to divide and conquer Elderland. As a result, the alliance of Faeraven, a group of Kindren kingdoms ruled by a widowed High Queen, begins to fall apart. This story arc, which spans three novels, is based in large part on Voigt’s father's experiences of prejudice as a half-breed Native American.     

 

Serving rather than ruling. As the High Queen's health fails, Kai, the hero of DawnSinger, must choose whether to reign and rule in his homeland or to continue in service to the new High King at her death. Kai's decision inspires Shae to make her own.

 

Conquering fear by not letting it consume you. In Pilaer Hold, an ancient place of defeat for the Kindren, wraiths rush toward Kai and Shae's other protectors. They draw their swords, but the more wraiths they dispatch, the more arise. They learn that to defeat fear, something else is needed.

The High Queen is dying... At the royal summons, Shae mounts a wingabeast and soars through the air to the high hold of Faeraven, where all is not as it seems. Visions warn her of danger, and a dark soul touches hers in the night. When she encounters an attractive but disturbing musician, her wayward heart awakens. But then there is Kai, a guardian of Faeraven and of Shae. Secrets bind him to her, and her safety lies at the center of every decision he makes. On a desperate journey fraught with peril and the unknown, they battle warlike garns, waevens, ferocious raptors, and the wraiths of their own regrets. Yet, they must endure the campaign long enough to release the DawnKing—and the salvation he offers—into a divided land. To prevail, each must learn that sometimes victory comes only through surrender.

Dawn Singer is available in Ebook & Print! Also @ Amazon.com and other online outlets.

As with all KCWC blog tours there is a grand prize drawing for a $25 Starbucks gift card and an autographed copy of Dawn Singer!

I've read this book and let me tell you, this is some amazing writing! I'm not much on fantasy and can't even imagine creating whole new worlds but this book grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. I read it in one day - forgetting all other things I had to do....the setting, descriptions and poetic prose kept me turning pages and I can hardly wait for the second book in the trilogy!

Well friends I certainly hope you enjoy this Virtual Book Tour. Stay tuned for our next Saturday Spotlight this weekend!

Until later...take care & be blessed!