Hollywood Daze

First Chapter Review of Tinsel Town Riff by Shelly Fromme

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 21:38:00 +0000

About Tinsel Town Riff

Tinseltown Riff centers on Ben Prine, a thirty-something Hollywood screenwriter who, on a Labor Day weekend, finds himself in desperate straits. Latching on to a dubious last-minute opportunity, he unwittingly embarks on a collision course with a Montana tracker connected with a Vegas mob; an odyssey which culminates in a showdown on an abandoned Western movie set.

Buy Tinseltown Riff:
Amazon
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Book Depository
Sunbury Press

First Chapter Summary

In the opening chapter we are introduced to Ben Prine, a screenwriter in his 30’s who is down and out on his luck of making it as a writer in Hollywood. Faced with the uncertainty of where his new writing gig and paycheck will be coming from and when his big break will happen, he also has to deal with the news that his Aunt June is selling her home. She shares this new with him as she’s running out the door to her next realty appointment. Actually, it’s his home also, where she raised him from the age of three when his mother walked away from him and never looked back. She’s telling him to clear his stuff out and make something of himself. But, Ben doesn’t have time to think about losing the only home he’s ever know. He has a premonition or a feeling that his luck is about to turn. He can feel it as sure as the Santa Ana winds that are blowing across the valley, the desert winds that without fail arrive every year in September.

My Thoughts

This novel immediately intrigued me because it’s set in my hometown of Hollywood and Los Angeles, California. It was evident that the character of Ben Prine was just like all the other wanna be’s in Hollywood, waiting for their big break. I see them all the time on Hollywood Boulevard just hoping to be discovered and it’s even referenced in movies, “Welcome to Hollywood, what’s your dream.” Ben’s dream is to become a writer in Hollywood. Ben’s character is intriguing enough to keep you reading into Chapter Two and beyond. You will feel compelled to find out what Ben feels, where his luck or charm or talent might take him next and you want him to succeed in Hollywood. He’s a good guy who just need a break.

The author states that there is a love story brewing. Seemingly impossible at first, I grant you. After all, how in the world can a down-and-out screenwriter and a girl driving a clunky Chevy pickup down from Salinas ever meet? Let alone become involved in any way?

I recommend picking up your own copy of Tinseltown Riff by Shelly Frome. I’m sure whatever the Santa Ana winds are blowing in will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Kim and Kanye and the Story Behind the Baby Name

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:22:00 +0000

Kim and Kanye announce there's a story behind the baby name of North West, their baby daughter. Really, there's a story behind vacations and living in the house from hell, but a name like North West, how could there be a story behind that? People are always naming their children after Hollywood actors, and other names. Recently, a woman in another country named her twins boys, George Bush and Barack Obama. I guess naming your child after a direction is no different than naming them after a season, Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn or months of the year, April, June, July, (Julio or Julia).

In Hollywood, I guess anything is possible. The last story I watched about a direction was the movie, North by NorthWest starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. North by Northwest is a tale of mistaken identity, with an innocent man pursued across the United States by agents of a mysterious organization who want to stop his interference in their plans to smuggle out microfilm containing government secrets.

I wonder if baby North West has a case of mistaken identity? Then again she'll have a great social media presence when she grows up, imagine facebook and twitter names, North by North West.

Only in Hollywood, only in Hollywood.

Jennifer Lopez is Memorialized in Cement

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 06:49:00 +0000

Singer, actress and American Idol Judge, Jennifer Lopez receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, today, June 20th. It was the 2500th star added to the Walk of Fame.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame started in 1953 as pink stars embedded in the sidewalk on Hollywood Blvd. It was created as a way to maintain the glamour and excitement that is the movie capital of the world.

Kim and Kanye Pick a Name or a Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 05:22:00 +0000


What's Your Baby Name

OMG! Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have finally revealed their baby's name to the general public. Wait for it; her name is North West. Is that a name or direction? Maybe, that's one better than baby, Blue Ivy from the singer Beyonce.

Kanye and Kim have you never heard Johnny Cash's song, Sue? This is where the Man in Black sings about fighting his entire life because of the name that his father gave him. That name was Sue and it kept him alive, because he had to fight. He sings, when I have a son, I'm going to name him Bill or George, anything but Sue.

Will Kanye and Kim name their future children, South East, North East, South West?

If you haven't heard the song, the lyrics are below.

"A Boy Named Sue"
Sung by Johnny Cash

My daddy left home when I was three
And he didn't leave much to ma and me
Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze.
Now, I don't blame him cause he run and hid
But the meanest thing that he ever did
Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue."

Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke
And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk,
It seems I had to fight my whole life through.
Some gal would giggle and I'd get red
And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head,
I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue."

Well, I grew up quick and I grew up mean,
My fist got hard and my wits got keen,
I'd roam from town to town to hide my shame.
But I made a vow to the moon and stars
That I'd search the honky-tonks and bars
And kill that man who gave me that awful name.

Well, it was Gatlinburg in mid-July
And I just hit town and my throat was dry,
I thought I'd stop and have myself a brew.
At an old saloon on a street of mud,
There at a table, dealing stud,
Sat the dirty, mangy dog that named me "Sue."

Well, I knew that snake was my own sweet dad
From a worn-out picture that my mother'd had,
And I knew that scar on his cheek and his evil eye.
He was big and bent and gray and old,
And I looked at him and my blood ran cold
And I said: "My name is 'Sue!' How do you do!
Now your gonna die!!"

Well, I hit him hard right between the eyes
And he went down, but to my surprise,
He come up with a knife and cut off a piece of my ear.
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a' gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.

I tell ya, I've fought tougher men
But I really can't remember when,
He kicked like a mule and he bit like a crocodile.
I heard him laugh and then I heard him cuss,
He went for his gun and I pulled mine first,
He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile.

And he said: "Son, this world is rough
And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough
And I knew I wouldn't be there to help ya along.
So I give ya that name and I said goodbye
I knew you'd have to get tough or die
And it's the name that helped to make you strong."

He said: "Now you just fought one hell of a fight
And I know you hate me, and you got the right
To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do.
But ya ought to thank me, before I die,
For the gravel in ya guts and the spit in ya eye
Cause I'm the son-of-a-bitch that named you "Sue.'"

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun
And I called him my pa, and he called me his son,
And I came away with a different point of view.
And I think about him, now and then,
Every time I try and every time I win,
And if I ever have a son, I think I'm gonna name him
Bill or George! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!

Jackie Robinson Influences Character in Young Adult Novel Voices of the Locusts

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Although Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play Major League Baseball, he was so much more than the man who broke the MLB color barrier. He was a role model for millions of African-Americans, including 16-year-old DannyWashington, a character in Ron Hutchison’s period novel Voices of theLocusts.

Danny idolizes the Brooklyn Dodger second baseman, and explains his passionate relationship with Robinson early in the story. Discussing his teacher’s seething racism—the bigoted teacher has openly mocked Danny in class—Danny tells two friends: “Dad says when people start calling me names to turn the other cheek,” Danny says. “To be non-violent like Jackie Robinson.”

Jack O’Brien, the story’s protagonist, reminds Danny of the pledge he has taken when the racist teacher ridicules Danny during a class discussion of major U.S. historical events:

“Mr. Washington, can you tell the class what great historical events have been shaped by Negroes?” Mr. Azember walks to the window and looks out, his back to the class. “No hurry.

Take your time.”

A painful silence falls over the classroom. No one breathes or clears their throat or squirms in their seat. Only the relentless ticking of the clock on the wall breaks the agonizing hush. As if to accentuate the torment of the moment, Mr. Azember begins to hum a little tune.

Jack glances over at Danny. Grim lines of anger have frozen his friend’s face into ugliness. “Remember Jackie Robinson,” Jack whispers. “Turn the other cheek.”

Born to a family of sharecroppers, Jackie Robinson was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending the racial segregation that had relegated black players to the Negro leagues for six decades. In addition to his cultural impact, Robinson had an exceptional baseball career.

Although Robinson was berated by both fans and teammates alike, he never lost his composure—he always managed to turn the other cheek, a lesson that served Danny Washington well.

About Voices of the Locusts

Voices of the Locusts

Sixteen-year old Jack O’Brien has never known the bittersweet stint of love, and romance is the farthest thing from his mind as he and his family arrives at a remote U.S. Air Force outpost in Japan where Jack’s father is base commander. The year is 1948. Jack’s life changes after a chance encounter with Fujiko Kobaysi, a beautiful and enchanting 17-year-old Japanese girl. Jack is immediately smitten.

Fujiko’s traditional parents are overly protective and monitor her every move, and Jack and Fujiko meet secretly at her garden, located some distance from her village. There is a good reason why Fujiko’s parents are so protective and Jack is devastated when Fujiko tells him that her parents have promised her in marriage to an older man, a practice common throughout Asia at the time. The marriage is only a months away. Jack devises a cunning plan, one that will overshadow her arranged marriage and bring Fujiko and him together.

Playing against a backdrop of swirling post-War social change, Voices of the Locusts tells the story of three families – one black, one white, one Asian. Told in Jack’s voice in vivid and sometimes haunting detail, Jack and Fujiko are frustrated in their romantic quest by story characters coming to terms (often violently) with the emotional scars of World War II.

Voices of the Locusts Book Excerpt

A flutter of panic races through my body. It is instantly replaced by a sweep of joy, and a strange, unnatural lucidity overcomes me.

Fujiko and I hesitate for what seems a small eternity, our eyes locked in a moment of mutual understanding. Finally, I lean in toward Fujiko and she leans in toward me. Our eyes close and our mouths touch in a whisper-soft kiss, a brief, gentle brush of lips.

I pull back slowly, my heart racing, my head alive with all manner of strange, warm images. This must all be a dream. A wonderful, glorious dream. I don’t want to ever wake up.

About Ron Hutchison

Author Ron Hutchison

Ron Hutchison began writing fiction full time after a long career in journalism and public relations. Voices of the Locusts is his fourth novel. A multi-genre author, Hutchison’s choice of novels to write is determined not by genre, but by the weight of the story. Hutchison graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist at newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. He was employed by a Fortune 100 company as a public relations executive, and later operated his own public relations agency. Hutchison attended high school in Japan, and much of his Voices of the Locusts is based on personal experience. Hutchison lives in Joplin, Missouri.

Princess April Morning Glory Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:45:00 +0000

“Princess April Morning Glory is a moral and inspirational story with a very special message, exquisitely and artistically illustrated in the spirit of the Fairbanks legacy.” - Vera Fairbanks


Princess April Morning Glory

If I only had one word to describe this book, it would be Elegant, but thankfully, I am not limited in my words. Princess April Morning Glory is truly a fairy tale from the golden age of Hollywood. Imagine the possibilities in a children’s story when the characters must go three good deeds in order to make it home again.

P – is for the adorable character of Princess April. It also features a plump fairy who is good and fair.

R - -is for rich in storytelling details

I - is for the splendid imagination that goes into this very cute story

N - is for never wanting the story to end

C – is for the Crystal Castle, the place where the fairy baby grows up. It just sounds elegant.

E is for the enchanted forest. Every children’s story should have an enchanted forest, but that’s what makes this story unique.

S is for the sweetness in the story

S is for the shadowed forest and lonely fields where the wicked Fairy Misery lives

A is for Princess April, the amazing character that goes through a lot of challenges to . . .

P the pussy-cat that might know the way back to Fairyland and the tiny black and white puppy who had lost its mother.

R is for the dark dungeon room where the wicked Fairy sent Princess April. Will the Princess find a way out?

I is for into the sky where the humming-bird flew because he was being chased by . . .

L is for the large book that the Wizard that opened to page 501 and . . .

M for moral values taught in the story that children can understand and can act upon in their own life and for the Fairy Misery

O is for the Owl that opened one sleepy eye and said he didn’t know the way to. . .

R is for the rewarding time I had reading this delightful tale. I can hardly wait to read it my six-year old niece. She loves princess stories.

N is for ‘nchanted forest, where Princess April finds comfort and friendship in the company of .

I is for the inspirational story with a very special message and illustrations that are beautiful

N is for the main narrative that is focused around the brave and courageous Princess April who must first transcent darkness and evil before she can realize her full potential.

G is for the golden hair of the little Princess that is brushed with a golden comb and of course, this fairy tale emerges from the golden age of Hollywood

G good deeds – the character must perform three good deeds in order to make it home again

L is for the lullabye that the birds sing

O is for the wise Old Owl

R rich in storytelling

Y why not purchase your copy today of Princess April Morning Glory

I received a free copy of Princess April Morning Glory and this did not influence my review in any way. This is a delightful story that children of all ages will enjoy reading and parents or grandparents will enjoy reading it to them. It is a timeless story from the golden age of Hollywood and from one of Hollywood’s first acting families.

ABOUT LETITIA FAIRBANKS

Letitia Fairbanks, the niece of Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford, lived a life guided by artistic passions. In 1939, wanting to commemorate her late uncle, Letitia began work on Princess April Morning-Glory, allowing a creative outlet for combining her lifelong loves: painting, writing, and illustration.

Holding firm to her artistic identify, Letitia gravitated toward portraiture, landscapes, and still-lifes. She was also a biographer, co-authoring Douglas Fairbanks: The Fourth Musketeer, with Ralph Hancock. Her marriage to Hal Smoot in 1966 marked the beginning of a particularly joyful and creative period. Needle points and annual Christmas cards, which featured a painting from the previous year, not to mention her role as a wife, mother, step-mother and grandmother brought her much fulfillment. After a life rich in artistic accomplishment, Letitia passed away in September of 1992.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

Wayne Hatford Channels Rudolph Valentino, Icon of the Silent Screen

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:18:00 +0000


Going For Excelsior Book Tour

From one of the greatest lovers the world has ever known, a few observations about love:

“Though others this have said, ‘tis indeed true, love is the glue whose purpose, among other things, is to fill in what we might perceive of as empty space, creating a coherent whole ~ be it micro or macro. Love binds us to each other as well as to the dimensions we inhabit. In essence, it’s our reason for being ~ THE reason why everything IS. So all-encompassing are its perspectives that for all practical purposes love is unfathomable. Having neither sides nor bottom, it cannot be plumbed.” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Yes, Rudy was/is an icon of love, a ‘silent’ screen star that left this world at a relatively young age. So what is he doing talking about Seniors? Of course, you have to first suspend your disbelief that this kind of communication is even possible! But it is, and I am not the first person to channel Rudolph Valentino nor will I be the last. He’s always had a lot to say, and a little matter like death is not going to change that fact!

The Senior experience, which is currently part and parcel of my own personal reality, is the genesis for our second collaboration, Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood. What is it about? How best to navigate our ‘Golden Years,’ safely, smartly, and creatively. GFE is a practical self-help/personal growth tool for Seniors, a blueprint for active living ~ how to embrace where you’re at in your life, find hidden gems, turn up the voltage! Most of us will have the opportunity to be a Senior, for greater or lesser periods of time. Why not have a good handle on it before you arrive at that age bracket, and/or fully embrace and enjoy it if you are already there?

One of the most noteworthy aspects of this book, I think, is its thoughtful examination of phenomena that are often associated with Seniors, such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s. They are scourges, to be sure, provoking concerns that are constantly being fueled by the media. But what if there is a bigger picture view of why these conditions occur? Offered in the spirit of love, here is an excerpt from Going for Excelsior that addresses Alzheimer’s, examining its import and genesis. Rudolph Valentino, speaking through me:

“Sometimes oldsters have to use every trick in the book to solve their karmic riddles. Alzheimer’s provides its clients with a rest from daily drudgery, so that they can begin the diffusing process, the decrease in specificity that some souls need to experience prior to transition. It is a phenomenon that appears to lessen one’s mental acumen yet it does not. Alzheimer’s is a fooler, a rabbit-warren wherein the patient hides from the vagaries of the tangible world. Never fear, a lot of work is going on while anyone is in this state, sort of analogous to being alive while at the same time appearing somewhat deadened. To the onlooker, it is a very curious condition, heart-breaking too, especially if you are one of their loved ones and they yours. Again, never fear; they can still feel love and even project it, though usually in rather off-handed ways.

What are they doing? Exploring their inner realms, in other words, day-dreaming, which does not correspond to what most people agree on as reality. So, they listen to their own drummers (that perhaps is the most apt metaphor) and dance to their own tune. Have compassion for them but don’t dismay. Alzheimer’s per se is not a bad thing. It’s one of many devices the soul uses to further its own work. There is awareness among Alzheimer’s patients, though for the most part we, as observers, cannot discern it. They are aware but they are aware of different things than the rest of us, we who think in an unfettered way and can breathe freely, without any sort of restriction or supervision. They, too, advance. Alzheimer’s is not a step backwards nor is it karmic punishment. Karma is involved only in the sense that for Alzheimer’s patients it may be more complex, so much so that they need to focus on their innards to an even greater degree than most other people and again, that is what they are doing, shining a light on the inside, conducting research, making connections, self-circuiting. I would also say arcing and sparking, plugging in, being constantly engaged in their own worlds. They are re-wiring themselves prior to being re-born. Death for them is even more of a re-birth than it is for those who know not of this supposed malady.”

People often get angry when they perceive someone dropping out. Alzheimer’s patients chose to drop out, true, but they did it in good stead and for many a valid reason. Again, have compassion and send them a loving thought. In a way, they are caught in the in- between, a living death ~ not bad, just what is. The bounty we can harvest from our inner gardens never ceases to amaze. Think of an Alzheimer’s ward as just another stage or film set where drama ensues. That is all it is.”

Going for excelsior blog Tour Information:

About the Author:

Wayne Hatford, B.A. in French and Spanish, M.A. in International Administration, is a teacher, writer, editor and author dedicated to bridging the gap between the physical and non-physical worlds. To that end, he channeled a friend, Janice Horn ~ “Letters from Janice: Correspondence with the Astral Plane” and, more recently, the spirit essence of Rudolph Valentino ~ “Valentino Speaks: The Wisdom of Rudolph Valentino” and “Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood,” all of which are available via Amazon.com. Each of these works explores the “Other Side” while offering insight and practical suggestions on how best to make the most of this one.

A life-long student of metaphysics and transformation, Wayne has both taught in public school and been a personal property appraiser. Wayne Hatford now resides in Santa Rosa, California where he and the Valentino essence continue their collaboration.
His latest book is Going for Excelsior: Thriving in Seniorhood.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

About the Book:

What if you were as savvy as you could possibly be in matters of aging and, therefore, really soar, breeze through the final chapters of your life with flying colors? The ’senior’ experience, through only the most constructive and creative of lenses! Going for Excelsior” offers practical suggestions for successfully negotiating Seniorhood, a blueprint for active living ~ how to embrace where you’re at in your life, find hidden gems, turn up the voltage. Thriving in Seniorhood is about going beyond what’s expected or being directed at you by the host society and this book provides the reader with the tools and understandings to accomplish that goal. Conundrums solved. The sting removed from such phenomena as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Myths about Seniors debunked. These are only a few of the benefits that can be derived from reading this book which, hopefully, will serve to stretch your consciousness, something that’s rather elastic to begin with ~ in every stage of life.
‘Seniorhood’ ~ Where people often like to perceive us, once we have attained a certain age. Also, where we can choose to thrive, with clarity of purpose ~ and by design!
“Like all those who currently inhabit a body, you, too, are getting ready for Excelsior. Especially allow the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and beyond of your ages to be magical in this regard, for you to be way-showers, preparing yourselves mentally, physically and spiritually for the next phase. There always is a next phase, by the way, and we are always getting ready for it. You are part of a grand design as am I. There is no other option!” ~ Rudolph Valentino

Purchase Link:

AMAZON

Book Excerpt:

Now, let’s return to the more common definition of Excelsior, the loose packing material that is most associated with the shipping of fine art or antiques. It can come from many sources and, as a result, may have lots of different ‘looks.’ Metaphysically-speaking, however, Excelsior is a container for the soul and, being somewhat porous, allows for entry and exit, not only of the soul itself, but also of vibrations, both ours and those of other people. It might be easier to think of Excelsior as skin, that living, breathing, largest organ of the body whose properties model those of the Veil. Yes, once again our skin is a version of the Veil, that curtain of energy that separates the dimensions and whose function also is, under certain circumstances, to allow energy to pass through it. Our skin shields us from danger, yet it also allows us to shine our Light. Have you ever heard someone say that so and so’s skin was translucent? All of our skins are translucent. We shine, projecting the inner spark that is soul to the outer world while, at the same time, receiving Light from others, those we encounter in our daily lives. This is how we determine who to interact with, by what our impressions are of their Light. If, for example, we feel inundated or limited by their presence, it’s a sign that we ought to move on. So it’s about the quality of Light of each soul, which is the determining factor. This does not mean, however, that some souls have inferior Light. Rather, it simply signals that their frequencies are very different from ours and, as a consequence, are experienced as jarring. The converse could also be true ~ that we, too, might upset the applecart because our vibrations are not all that harmonious with theirs.

The following is perhaps a heady idea but, I think, very apropos. In lots of new age books, individual souls have often been referred to as Light workers. Indeed, that is exactly what we are, always putting on a show for our fellow travelers, those who happen to be in the body at the same moment as we. The skin, or Excelsior, monitors this so-called Light show, mostly on auto-pilot, but sometimes with the greatest of attention on our parts. What is it that throws the switch or adjusts the rheostat? A combination of factors, including, but not limited to, our own free will, emotional state of being and current degree of alignment. If we’re in sync with ourselves and our environment ~ in the flow, of course we glow. The soul is electric, like a dynamo or atom, independently functioning forever, and one of its modalities is to shed Light. That’s right, a soul cannot die, what we all know inside. It’s only the body that is capable of carrying out that task.

If you will, take a moment to focus on the porous nature of the skin. Not only does the soul make one definitive entrance and exit per physical body, but also countless others that are far more casual, such as each time we fall asleep or wake up. Yes, our soul or consciousness goes off to play in the Astral, in the so-called dream world when we sleep while remaining tethered to the physical body. It’s only when we die that the connection is broken and the soul can no longer re-enter the body. Some of you are more aware of the phenomenon of constantly leaving the body to dream than others. In the state we call half-sleep, people often sense their consciousness either floating close to the body or re-entering it with a thud when they suddenly awake. The skin, or Excelsior, breathes too, though in a more subtle way, in and out, mimicking the work of the lungs. Interesting that it’s the lungs, heart and skin that are the last bastions of movement before the body becomes inert, what we label as dead. At the very instant the first two stop working, the skin is poised to exhale the soul, ready to perform its final function.

Think of the skin that covers our bodies as millions of tiny mirrors, fractals with dampers that can be opened and closed at will. Yes, that is what we do when we emit Light, reflect it through the pores of our skin, and they are also the pathway for the Light of others to reach us. We are like solar panels then, forever in the process of reflecting and absorbing. What an exquisite landscape we wear! Who knew that packing material had such beauty, form, and function?

Going for Excelsior Tour Page:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/01/20/pump-up-your-book-presents-going-for-excelsior-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Dream Cast of Characters - The Greeks of Beaubien Street

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:37:00 +0000

Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up in a Greek household in Greektown, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted in the traditions started by her grandparents, while dealing with crime in the city. She has an uncanny intuition, inherited from her grandmother that she secretly uses to help solve the homicide cases she is assigned to and an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, things that further separate her from the world. Her story winds around tales of her family and the drama all big families generate, while she investigates a murder so despicable that even the most hardened homicide detective is sickened by the details.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family balancing acceptance in American society with old country traditions, while holding on to archaic beliefs. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

Jill Zannos – A thirty-something Detroit homicide detective living in Greektown, Jill grew up with her father and grandparents in the apartment above the family grocery store. Jill has no girlfriends and a medical school drop-out boyfriend Alex. She’s also a mystic with a strong sense of ESP. Mila Kunis is a good match for Jill.


Mila Kunis as Jill Zannos

Albert Wong – Jill’s homicide detective partner, Albert is Chinese. He lives with his lifetime partner Roger, and has a close relationship with this grandmother, Nana Wong.Byung-hun Lee would be perfect for the role of Albert.


Nana Wong Byung-hun as Albert Wong

Gus Zannos – Jill’s grocery store operator father, Gus also prepares the food served in his deli. He’s been a widower for almost thirty years. Robin Williams would bring the pathos and sometimes comedic persona to Gus.


Robin Williams as Gus Zannos

Alex Kazmerek – A morgue assistant and former ER physician, Alex is an alcoholic and struggling artist who’s been Jill’s companion since high school. Gerard Butler might be a tad old for the role, but he’s hunky and would look good in a morgue uniform.

Gretchen Parker – A murder victim we meet in the first chapter, Gretchen is the sheltered twenty-six year old who was too trusting and without any common sense for her own good. Michelle Williams is a good match for Gretchen.

The greeks of beaubien street Tour Information:

About the Author:


Author Suzanne Jenkins

Suzanne Jenkins is the author of the Pam of Babylon Series. The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a new series about a Greek homicide detective who grew up above the family grocery store in Greektown, Detroit. Jenkins has fond memories of growing up in a Greek American household in the suburbs of Detroit. She currently lives in the west Michigan lakeshore area with her husband, two dogs and two sheep.

Visit her website at www.suzannejenkins.net.
Visit her blog at www.2sheepinthecity.com.

About the Book:

Nestled below the skyline of Detroit you’ll find Greektown, a few short blocks of colorful bliss, warm people and Greek food. In spite of growing up immersed in the safety of her family and their rich culture, Jill Zannos doesn’t fit in. A Detroit homicide detective, she manages to keep one foot planted firmly in the traditions started by her grandparents, while the other navigates the most devastated neighborhoods in the city she can’t help but love. She is a no nonsense workaholic with no girlfriends, an odd boyfriend who refuses to grow up, and an uncanny intuition, inherited from her mystic grandmother, that acts as her secret weapon to crime solving success. Her story winds around tales of her family and their secret laden history, while she investigates the most despicable murder of her career.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street is a modern tale of a family grounded in old world, sometimes archaic,

tradition, as they seek acceptance in American society. They could be any nationality, but they are Greek.

The Greeks of Beaubien Street Tour information

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The Golden Age of Standup by John Knoerle

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0000

John Knoerle: Hollywood Daze has asked me to reminisce a bit about my time as a struggling comic in LA in the late 70s, the Golden Age of Standup. I had tasted some success as part of a four-man comedy troupe in Santa Barbara, The DeLuxe Radio Theatre. I wagered that our peculiar brand of off-beat, satirical humor would go over in the big town as well.

Not so much. But my timing was excellent because I got to witness firsthand the meteoric rise of the Big Three – Jay Leno, Dave Letterman and Robin Williams.

Jay Leno was the first one I got to share a stage with. It was 1978, at the dear departed Westwood Comedy Store, a branch office of the main Comedy Store in Hollywood. The room that weekday night was half-empty and dead. Everyone bombed, myself included.

Then the emcee introduced a guy with a big chin who looked about sixteen years old. And the room snapped to attention.

Jay Leno in 1978 was precisely the Jay Leno you know today – brash, quick and bursting with confidence and East Coast attitude. He killed.

I only remember one line. Jay riffed off the men’s room, which had the newfangled hand dryers. “Anybody use those things? I seen guys in six-hundred dollar suits wiping their hands on their lapels.”

Not the funniest joke of all time, but the way Jay told it, it worked like crazy. I watched him with a mix of envy and amazement. The guy was younger than I was. How in the hell had he progressed so far, so fast?

I got a glimpse of his fascination with vintage cars a little later. I was out in the parking lot commiserating with my fellow comics when we saw Jay drive off in an old car. Not a fancy buffed-out Fleetwood or Packard like he drives now. It was the car that Ralph Nader wrote about in “Unsafe at Any Speed.” A 1962 Chevrolet Corvair.

I have no idea if this is true but the scuttlebutt at the time was that Jay was living in it.

Dave Letterman was the coolest of the Big Three. Leno would work the room like an alderman on election eve, slapping backs and pressing flesh. Robin Williams would run up and down the room and occasionally bounce off the ceiling. But Letterman would hang back, wrinkle his brow sardonically and make the audience come to him. It helped that he was wicked funny.

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About the Author:


Author John Knoerle

John Knoerle began his creative endeavors in the early 70s as a member of the DeLuxe Radio Theatre, a comedy troupe in Santa Barbara. He then moved to LA and did stand-up comedy, opening for the likes of Jay Leno and Robin Williams.

Knoerle wrote the screenplay Quiet Fire, which starred Karen Black, and the stage play The He-Man Woman Hater’s Club, an LA Time’s Critic’s Choice. He also worked as a staff writer for Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.

Knoerle moved to Chicago in 1996 with his wife Judie. His first novel, “Crystal Meth Cowboys,” was optioned by Fox TV. His second novel, “The Violin Player,” won the Mayhaven Award for Fiction.

John Knoerle’s novel, A Pure Double Cross, was the first volume of a late 40s spy trilogy featuring former OSS agent Hal Schroeder. The second volume, A Despicable Profession, was published in 2010. Knoerle’s latest book, The Proxy Assassin, Book Three of the American Spy Trilogy, has just been released.
Visit his website at www.JohnKnoerle.com.

About the Book:

October, 1948. Former OSS agent Hal Schroeder gets invited to Washington D.C. by Frank Wisner, who heads the CIA’s new covert ops division. Hal is whisked off to Wisner’s Maryland shore retreat and introduced to a brace of Romanian royals, including the scarily beautiful Princess Stela Varadja, a direct descendant of Vlad Tepes Draculea.

Then Frank Wisner pops the question. Would Hal consider parachuting into a remote mountain camp to meet with the leader of a group of Romanian anti-Communist guerillas?

“I had already survived two previous suicide missions and a third did not appeal. But I told Frank Wisner I would need a few days to think it over. I had some sightseeing to do.”

As it turns out Hal Schroeder gets to do a lot more sightseeing than he bargained for. A journey that brings the American Spy Trilogy to a surprising, and emotional, conclusion.

The Proxy Assassin Tour Page:

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A Christmas Kindness Book Blast

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who has only one request for Santa, Robert is confused over what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift? Inspiration Behind A Christmas Kindness

How is it that children have the ability to reach out and help others in ways adults don't always think to do? One year, our oldest daughter--then only eight--went door-to-door in our neighborhood collecting money for Toys for Tots. Coordinated by the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve, this program collects new, unwrapped toys each year and distributes them as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in our communities. This summer, my girls ran a lemonade stand so they could bring money to a local animal shelter. Why don't I think of doing such things? I guess it's easier to write a check and send it in the mail. But what effort is involved in that? My children make it personal, and much more meaningful, by giving something of themselves.

With A Christmas Kindness, I hope to capture the generosity of a child's heart--the way they look at the world as a place of endless opportunities to make a difference.

May you be blessed this holiday season. Cheryl Malandrinos, writing as C. C. Gevry, is a children’s author and editor. She is a member of SCBWI. A Christmas Kindness is her first book with 4RV Publishing. Visit her online at http://ccgevry.com.

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Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour. If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, then after they visit your blog, they are directed to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries. This promotion will run from December 17th - December 21st. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email, and announced on December 24th. Each blogger who participates is eligible to enter and win. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour. What a great way to not only win these fabulous prizes, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

A Christmas Kindness Book Blast Schedule

Monday, December 17th

Carpinello’s Writing Pages

Celtic Connexions

WV Stitcher

Seasons of Opportunities

The Busy Mom’s Daily

The Book Connection

The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

George Beddingfield

Margay Leah Justice

The Story of a Writer

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From Hometown to Hollywood – H. Raven Rose on Screenwriting

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:52:00 +0000

There is no doubt that a behind-the-scenes look at screenwriting in Hollywood is glitter-dusted. Hollywood is known as Tinsel Town for a reason. Creative endeavors here, among the über beautiful and talented, is a sparkley, happy-making experience.

However, what may not be obvious to outsiders is that people here work especially hard. Filmmaking often involves long days. A 12+ hour shooting day is normal. Crews in the industry start early and stay late. Realistically, a theme for professionals who work in or aspire to work in Hollywood is magnificent obsession. "The Show must go on." That means doing "whatever it takes," to quote Tony Robbins, to get the job done.

For a scribe, that can mean endless rewrites, or seriously early and late hours, day after day, or working weekends or holidays. It may mean checking your ego at the door. This is a highly collaborative industry. There is a negative and false gestalt perspective of executives and studios, which floats around conferences for writers, and elsewhere, including an obnoxious perception that executives and studios are cold-hearted business people who don't know sh*t about creativity or story. That has not been my experience. The producers, and other executives, that I've worked with, have had highly developed understanding of story structure and have been passionate and talented.

As a screenwriter and ghostwriter, like other industry jobs, a person is likely to see or interact in some capacity with celebrities. The thing about fame and celebrity is that, at the core, a person is a Soul in a human body. However glamorously they are perceived, they are expressing themselves as an art and vocation. Whether they love or hate acting, whether they perceive it as their life’s purpose, or something that they fell into (rare in my experience), most actors take their vocation very seriously. The most successful performers are unusually gifted human beings.

This industry isn't about fame or fortune, though it brings that to certain people. The entertainment industry is about manifesting a dream, a creative vision and genius into reality, in order to craft something of entertainment, financial and imaginative value.

The best perk from entertainment industry involvement is creating with other exceptionally talented people. As a highly collaborative writer, it isn't unusual for me to be hired to write with one or more other people; it is terrific fun to conceptualize stories, and go through that creative process, with other people who are accessing their creative genius. It is wildly exciting to brainstorm and create in that kind of fluid creative group dynamic. Of course it is also terrific to work from home, a coffee shop or elsewhere on the planet, take meetings (I find them highly energizing), write and conceptualize, attend screenings, and collaborate with others and see silver screen dreams manifest.


From Hometown to Hollywood

I read a book every day as a child and always knew that I would be a writer. I grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Blairsville, GA in a small town. Much of my success in working with people in the industry, I believe, stems from not having ego about the work. I am grateful for the opportunity to write and create for a living. I am grateful to collaborate in community with others. I’m not attached to my own opinions; I am open to learn and be receptive to the artistic input of others. In the industry, being receptive to story feedback is known as “taking good notes.” I’m very comfortable with my own unique sparkle, my personality, as a result of doing and continuing to do inner work. It makes me good in a room (a phrase coined by Stephanie Palmer, a pitch coach and former industry executive). Having grown up on a farm, taught the value of hard work as a child (in a family of six children), I get a near spiritual satisfaction from working hard.

Follow Moi!

Yada, Yada, Yada

H. bleeds ink. She lives in La La land and is a screenwriter, author, freelance writer, creative coach, award-winning speaker and workshop facilitator. She received her Bachelor of Liberal Studies, a self-designed study in screenwriting, from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA. Visit her Amazon author page HERE.

Hollywood Daze Spotlights Falstaff’s Big Gamble

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Award-winning author Hank Quense writes humorous fantasy and sci-fi stories. His motto is fantasy and sci-fi stories told with humor and satire. He has over forty published short stories and a number of nonfiction articles. On occasion, he also writes an article on fiction writing or book marketing but says that writing nonfiction is like work while writing fiction is fun. He refuses to write serious genre fiction saying there is enough of that on the front page of any daily newspaper and on the evening TV news. Hank lives in Bergenfield, NJ with his wife Pat. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Hank’s previous works include Zaftan Enterprises, Zaftan Miscreants and Tales From Gundarland, a collection of fantasy stories. Readers Favorite awarded the book a medal and EPIC designated it a finalist in its 2011 competition. His Fool’s Gold is a retelling of the ancient Rhinegold myth and Tunnel Vision is a collection of twenty previously published short stories. Build a Better Story is a book of advice for fiction writers.

He has a number of links where you can follow his work and his occasional rants:

Hank’s Blog:http://hank-quense.com/wp

Strange Worlds website:http://strangeworldsonline.com

Follow him on twitter: http://twitter.com/hanque99

Facebook fan pages: https://www.facebook.com/StrangeWorldsOnline

About Falstaff’s Big Gamble

This novel is Shakespeare's Worst Nightmare.
It takes two of the Bard's most famous plays, Hamlet and Othello, and recasts them in Gundarland. There, Hamlet becomes a dwarf and Othello a dark elf and Iago and his wife, Emilia, are trolls.
If that isn't bad enough, these two tragedies are now comedies with Falstaff, Shakespeare's most popular rogue, thrown in as a bonus.
Both Hamlet and Othello are plagued by the scheming Falstaff, who embezzles money from Othello. After Hamlet becomes king (with help from Falstaff) the rogue becomes the dark nemesis behind throne.

Falstaff’s Big Gamble Book Excerpt

Hamlet, Crown Prince of Denmarko, paced the castle battlements late on a clear, cool spring night. He walked with hands clasped behind his back and head down. He had a thin nose with brown hair and eyes. His scrawny build and clean-shaven face gave him the appearance of a starving waif.

He paused, gazed at the multitudinous stars, sighed and continued his pacing. A breeze brought the smells of the harbor: salt water and rotting fish guts. At last, he stopped, thrust one hand to the sky and declaimed, "To bee or not to bee?" He stroked his chin. "Whether 'tis nobler to buy honey from the peasant farmer in the market and thus provide him sustenance and income to support his brood of brats, possibly keeping him from rebelling over high taxes . . . or to grow my own honey thus, gaining coins to assert my independence from my noble family and the sordid court? Hmm."

He paced some more, still troubled by his vexing question. Nothing less than his future depended upon the answer. Because his uncle, and now stepfather, Clodio, had usurped his right to rule the kingdom, he needed a profession and an income.

"Do you always talk to yourself?" a voice said from the shadows.

"Who . . . who goes there?" Hamlet's head snapped from one side to another while his hand grasped the hilt of his dagger.

"'Tis I, the ghost of your father. I bring a message for your ears alone."

Hamlet goggled at the specter who materialized in the shadows of a doorway. "You're not my father's ghost. My father was a dwarf and you're the ghost of an elf. You're an impostor and a dead one to boot."

"Hey, your father is busy and he asked me to fill in."

"Busy? In the underworld? What's he doing?" Hamlet clutched his red tunic and tugged downward as if to hide his shaking hands.

"He met a good-lookin' ghost of a female dwarf and he's wooin her."

"Dead not a month, and he forsakes his wife, my mother?

"You gotta understand. Life on this side — no pun intended — is pretty borin'. When you gotta a chance to do somethin' interestin', you gotta go with it."

Hamlet ran a hand over his face. Why me? he thought. "What's the message?"

"His death was no accident. It was murder most foul. Here is his exact message. 'But know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy Father's life, now wears his crown.’” The ghost paused then added, "Did your father always talk funny like that?"

"Murdered? By whom?"

"Didn't you listen? The message tells you who whacked him. Your father wants you to send this guy over here so he can talk to him. He doesn't wanna wait until the guy croaks from natural causes."

Hamlet watched in awe as the ghostly figure evaporated. A few seconds later, it popped back into sight. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Your father says, 'Thy mother the queen is to know naught of this nocturnal visit.’" The ghost disappeared.

His father's murder shocked him. And the murderer had married his mother immediately afterward. Did the world have no morals?

He recalled his first thoughts when he'd heard of his father's death. How he admired the perseverance and tenacity his father must have had to commit suicide by suffocating himself with a pillow. Now all that admiration was wasted; the old dwarf had had help.

What to do? He needed to make decisions about bee farming and now he had to avenge his father. Was there no end to the demands on a prince's time? He said to the stars, "To bee-keep or to avenge? That is the question."

About The Strange Worlds of Hank Quense

Hank Quense has written about the Strange Worlds that he has developed as a background to many of the books he has written. One of these worlds is called Gundarland, a planet inhabited by humans and fantasy creatures. The second is Zaftan 31B, home world of the alien race known as Zaftans. The books contain information on culture, races, religion, politics and other topics. His latest book in this series is Zaftan Enterprises.

From National Television to Books: How my favorite television catch phrase, ‘Sparkelicious’ became the title of my new novel

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000


Sparkelicious Book Tour

Most of you will probably know me from television, cooking with Bobby Flay on The Food Network or as a prime time host for ShopNBC and Shop At Home, presenting Sparkelicious jewelry on your tube in your living rooms. However, by day, I’ve been busy cranking out novels on my laptop for the last fifteen years.

In 2005, when I moved to Minnesota for my hosting gig for ShopNBC, I found the freezing cold winters difficult to deal with, so my writing became my only escape and I found that it was the only thing that I wanted to do. It was in my blood. I was obsessed, writing about five to eight hours a day before I went live on TV. My passion for writing had been my little secret for so many years but now I’m happy to say that Sparkelicious has finally been born after three years of dedication and hard work. The Minnesota winters have finally served me well!

The story is set in my charming hometown of Greenville, S.C. and my spiritual home of Los Angeles -- fashion designer Laney Montgomery at a crossroads in her life on the heels of turning 40. On a much-needed vacation back home to South Carolina to visit her family, Laney realizes that her family is in disarray but while trying to fix them, Laney learns that her own marriage is in serious trouble back in California and her fashion business is on the verge of collapse. The affections of a handsome younger man don’t help matters either as Laney must fix everyone else before she can find true happiness for herself.

My love for writing began as teenager. To me, it was a natural progression; first poetry, then original country/pop songs, which I performed with my band in Los Angeles and Nashville, and then short stories. I soon found myself immersed in writing novels. While in college at The University of South Carolina, where I majored in Fashion Merchandising, I published an award-winning book of poetry called A Winning Heart, which led to me becoming the youngest nominee for Poet Laureate of South Carolina. Also, while living in L.A. and working as a talent agent by day for Wilhelmina Models and singing at night, I wrote a parental guide called Calling All Kids, for parents who were interested in getting their children into modeling and acting in Hollywood. It sold in several children’s magazines and bookstores.

SPARKELICIOUS is my first novel. It was inspired by one of my trip’s back home to South Carolina. After moving away to New York and then L.A. after college graduation, I returned after several years to discover the sleepy little Southern town of Greenville was now vibrant and alive. I also found that I’d missed so many family events and still hadn’t come to term with my father’s death. He died in 2000 from cancer and this particular trip home was closure for me. I had also missed the Southern charm and humor of the South. When you read my book, you’ll find my fictional characters to be colorful and real. And, after living in L.A. for so many years, I had to relive my life there, so I decided to capture the glamour of Hollywood. My novel showcases several famous locales and venues in my old stomping ground. And of course, Sparkelicious hits on the touchy subject of age and turning 40, which most women find devastating, especially in Hollywood. However, I decided to explore ageism in a positive and uplifting light through Laney Montgomery’s character, who finds that it’s never too late to fall in love with your true passion and your true love. I think that life can be, truly, Sparkelicious!

Sparkelicious is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle. Also, on iPads everywhere, and Barnes and Noble, Nook, Baker and Taylor and more.

Contact Chardonnay Press

SPARKELICIOUS, on the Chardonnay Press imprint, is available in paperback on Amazon.com for $15.95 and $4.99 in all eBook formats.

Contact: info@chardonnaypress.com

www.chardonnaypress.com, http://www.libbyfloyd.com

About the Author:

Author Libby Floyd

Libby Floyd has been a national on-air television personality for over 15 years with appearances on ShopNBC, Shop-At-Home and The Food Network. She was the youngest ever nominee for the prestigious position of Poet Laureate of South Carolina following the release of her poetry book A Winning Heart. Libby is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and was a contestant in the Miss America and Miss USA programs.
Her latest book is the contemporary romance, Sparkelicious.
Visit Libby on the web at www.LibbyFloyd.com.
Connect with her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/libbyfloyd.
Friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/libby.floyd.31.
Pick up your copy of the deliciously wicked Sparkelicious at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sparkelicious-Libby-Floyd/dp/0985847638/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345126752&sr=1-2.
Purchase your copy of Sparkelicious at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/sparkelicious?keyword=sparkelicious&store=ebook.

About the Book:
Laney Montgomery is living the dream – a successful L.A. fashion designer, a fabulous home in the Hollywood Hills and happily married to an English film director. But on a trip back home to South Carolina, she finds herself in the middle of a family crisis, which she’s determined to fix. However, the affections of a handsome, younger man creates havoc in her personal life. With her marriage in serious trouble back in California, Laney is faced with losing it all but maybe that’s the only way for her to find true happiness.

The Contemporary Fairytale

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000


The Coop Book Tour

As children, we all grew up wrapped in the world of the fairytale. Its magic was simple, encapsulating all who dipped into the opening paragraphs. Snow White, Cinderella, Hansel and Grettel; they were and still are the staple tales passed down from parent to child, but these tales are evolving.

Hollywood has embraced this genre and stripped it back to its roots. In today’s movies, we see themes reminiscent of the fairytales darker beginnings, stories harking back to the days the Grimm brothers sought them out and captured them in time. These are not for children, there is no guarantee of happy ever after, no definite true love; they are gritty, disturbingly dark and more than ever, broaching on reality. Could it be that our contemporary take on the fairytale is dragging it kicking and screaming further into darkness?

This new found fascination is rolling in and with it bringing a tidal wave of adult interest. Then what for other fictional tales, novels on the fringe of the fairytale genre, are they going to find their place at last? Is this their moment? My debut novel The Coop sits close to this blurry line, how it got there I do not know. Perhaps it has something to do with my adolescent fascination with the original Grimms collection and the ink stain it left on my subconscious, or my inability to see our world for what it apparently is but whatever the reason, it was far from intentional. I wrote a story that grew as the words filled the page, it became what it wanted and that was not pigeonhole perfect. But looking around me now, I see a change and I like it, after all, no-one ever said that fairytales were for children. The Coop certainly isn’t.

About the Author:

Rebecca Reid was withdrawn from school due to illness at fourteen. Being limited in the things she was able to do, she wrote all the time − poetry, stories, feelings, thoughts. At 16 she had her own page in the local weekly newspaper, the Bangor Spectator, in which she covered anything and everything: fashion, beauty, film, teen issues etc. At 17 she became a model, doing catwalk, photographic work, and TV. In 2008 she graduated in English from Queens University, Belfast, and she was awarded an Arts Council writing grant in 2009. Married in 2007, she lives in N. Ireland with her husband and their three daughters. The Coop is her first novel, and part of the Thickets Wood Trilogy.
Follow Rebecca on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thicketswood
Visit Rebecca Reid on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccareid.thicketswood
Pick up your copy of The Coop at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009BBGY0E

About the Book:

A psychological thriller about the destruction of innocence.
Enter The Coop, a dark and mysteriously misleading psychological thriller.
A girl, apparently imprisoned in a room, is the thread of mystery running parallel to the tale of Thatchbury village.
Meet Howard and Lilly. They take you on a journey through Thatchbury where Mathew, the child from the coop, shoots Jodie Tiding, and so unravels the history of his loveless raising, her innocence and the dramatic events leading them to disaster.
The Coop is a darkly compelling vision of the layers of consciousness. Although conceived as the first novel in a trilogy, The Coop stands alone as a brilliant individual work of fiction.

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Dream Casting for The Healing Crystal Triology

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 07:00:00 +0000

by Michele Poague

Each of us has a different definition of handsome or beautiful, witty or wistful. When I read: chiseled jaw, dark eyes, and wavy hair, I may visualize Tom Selleck while you might imagine Tom Cruise.

While a good actor can play any part, what truly brings a character to life for me can be as simple as the tilt of a head, a certain sparkle in the eye or a unique vocal accent.

One of the things I enjoy most about reading is picturing the characters as I meet them. To that end, each of the actors shown below has several of the visual traits I would ascribe to four of the main characters in The Healing Crystal Trilogy: Kairma, Kinter, Collin, and Naturi. I would consider any combination of these fine actors to be a dream cast.

For the tough, white-haired Kairma with the pale blue eyes I might choose
Dakota Fanning, Amanda Seyfried, Heyden Panettiere, or Gemma Ward.

Kinter, the beautiful chestnut-haired little sister, might be played by
Selena Gomez, Leah Lewis, Constance Owl, or Victoria Justice.

Collin has dimples and a quick smile. He’s playful like Freddie Highmore, Landon Liboiron, Zac Efron, or Logan Lerman.

Naturi is older than the other three. Easily the most handsome man in Survin, his dark eyes, prominent check bones, and serious demeanor would come to life through someone like Michael Hudson, Ben Barns, Paul Wesley, or Pierre Boulanger.

The above examples give you glimpses of the people I see when writing about their lives. Who do you see when you read my books? I would love to hear your thoughts! Visit and comment at all the usual places:

website: michelepoague.com

blog: michelepoague.info

youtube: michelepoaguechannel

facebook: healingcrystaltrilogy

twitter: @HCTSciFiNovels

goodreads: michelepoague

Dream Cast for A Matter of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:00:00 +0000


A Matter of Time

About Matter of Time
What is your destiny?
This question haunts 20-year-old Jamie Collins. A junior at Santa Clara University in 1986, Jamie has friends, a professor who mentors him, and a promising future as a writer.

Then the dreams begin – nightmarish visions that transport him back to a time and place fifty years before he was born: Titanic’s maiden voyage in 1912! Less than a week before the 74th anniversary of its sinking, Jamie discovers that his fate is inexplicably linked to that of the famous vessel. Somehow, the two timelines are overlapping, and when Titanic dies this time, Jamie will die along with it.
The dreams reveal something evil stalking the ill-fated ship, something that expedites the collision which sinks her. Jamie realizes that the only way to stop this evil and prevent his own death may be to prevent Titanic from sinking in the first place.

But how? How can he stop that ship from sinking in 1912 when he hadn’t even been born yet? And even if he can stop it – should he? What will be the effect on history if he succeeds? Jamie’s quest to fulfill his destiny ties friendsand family together in ways he could never have imagined.

A Matter of Time is an emotionally charged voyage into the value of friendship, the power of love, the impact of evil, and the vagaries of Fate.

Dream Cast of Characters

Jamie Collins – is a twenty year old junior English major at Santa Clara University; aspiring writer; at odds with his father who he feels has never understood him; he has a strong mentoring relationship with Dr. Denton, his chief writing professor; insecure about his looks and insecure within social situations; tends to live a lot in his own imagination as he conjures stories to write; he feels that true love is something that will likely elude him forever, but confesses he may be too in love with the ideal of love to recognize the real thing; tends to second-guess his own decisions; honorable and loyal and dependable – a man of his word.

Actor: Ezra Miller


Actor Ezra Miller

Dan is Jamie’s 18-year old roommate; freshman; tall, very handsome and athletic; rows for the crew team; babe magnet; funny and flippant personality; seldom gets too serious about anything; his strength of character is tested because of Jamie’s circumstances, and he proves to be loyal and dependable and the best friend Jamie has ever had; Jamie’s journey helps him grow up in ways he never could have imagined.

Actor: Liam Hemsworth


Actor Liam Hensworth

Maggie

Dan’s sister; a junior history major; beautiful and fun-loving; enjoys having a good time; initially attracted to Jamie’s friend, Jay and they date awhile, but Jamie is the one she really wants and her change of heart creates a rift between Jamie and Jay; honest and decent and loyal, Maggie tires her best to help Jamie and make things right between them because she’s in love with him.

Actress: Emma Stone

Actress Emma Stone

Kate

27-year-old widow Jamie meets aboard Titanic; smart, insightful, beautiful, nobody’s fool, very independent, especially for 1912; she’d love to go to college; married at 16, but husband died shortly after their son was born; she’s been raising David on her own and has refused to remarry just because her parents feel scandalized; determined not to remarry until she falls in love again; despite Jamie’s being younger, Kate instantly falls for him, and vice versa.

Actress: Keira Knightly

Jay

Junior at Santa Clara; very cynical and condescending towards everyone and everything; makes a joke about anything; never takes anyone or anything seriously, a trait he acquired from his mother; very insecure about his looks, his abilities, his intellect; Jamie’s friend at the beginning, Jay fails to be helpful when Jamie’s troubles begin and later breaks from Jamie altogether over Maggie.

Actor: Keir Gilchrist

Kevin

Jamie’s friend; junior physics major; shares Jamie’s love of fantasy and science fiction; very pragmatic and logical; looks for a scientific explanation for every occurrence, even Jamie’s feeling that there is another person living inside of him; Jamie’s journey forces Kevin to confront the reality that not everything can be explained through a physics equation.

Actor: Tom Felton

Dr. Denton

In his fifties; Jamie’s writing professor and mentor; very shy and buttoned-down; seldom makes eye contact when he teaches or converses; expert on literature and writing; never married – socially inept; emotionally stunted; keeps people at a distance, but recognizes Jamie as that one student in every teacher’s life who has true talent and has the desire to learn all that’s necessary to enhance histalent; against his better judgment, Denton allows himself to be drawn into Jamie’s situation on a personal level, and he grows emotionally as a result.

Actor: Liam Neeson

John and Amanda Collins

Jamie’s estranged parents; separated and living apart.

John is emotionally guarded and has created a rather large gulf between himself and his son – they don’t connect or understand one another; he has never encouraged Jamie’s writing aspirations because they aren’t practical and because he doesn’t understand where such desires even came from; loves his son, but doesn’t know how to show it.

Amanda is more emotional; has always encouraged Jamie’s imagination and writing aspirations as he was growing up; loves her son deeply, but doesn’t know how to help him; still loves John even though they live apart.

Jamie’s journey will ultimately help bring them back together.

Actors: Dennis Quaid and Elizabeth Shue

Captain Ewen

Captain of the fishing trawler Jamie hires to take him and Dan out into the Atlantic Ocean; middle-aged, Scottish descent; closed down emotionally due to a personal tragedy involving his family; more than anyone else, he understands Jamie’s desire to discover his destiny; despite not comprehending Jamie’s situation, he agrees to help the boy because Jamie reminds him of himself at that age; in the end,through Jamie’s ordeal, Ewen comes to a better understandingof himself, and even of his own son whom he’d never appreciated before.

Actor: Gary Sinise

David

Kate’s 10-year-old son; rambunctious; smart; very outgoing; takes an immediate liking to Jamie and sees the young man as perfect father material.

Actor: Jared Gilmore

About the Author:
Michael Bowler grew up in San Rafael, California. He attended St. Raphael’s School and Marin Catholic High School before attending Santa Clara University. Titanic and her tragic fate fascinated him for as far back as he can remember. He has a vast collection of artwork, memorabilia and virtually every book ever written about the disaster.
He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara and got a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University. He partnered with two friends as producer, writer, and/or director on several films, most notably “Fatal Images,” “Dead Girls,” “Hell Spa” (later re-edited and titled “Club Dead”), “Things” and “Things II.”
He has written a number of unproduced screenplays and is currently working on other novels he has outlined. He’s been teaching high school in Hawthorne, California for over twenty years.
He has also been a volunteer Big Brother to seven different boys over 28 years with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles for 27 years. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California, something that is sorely lacking in this state.
His first novel, A Boy and His Dragon, was originally written in the 1980’s before fantasy stories enjoyed a major renaissance, and has remained unpublished to this day. It is intended as the first of a trilogy.
A Matter of Time, his second novel, was originally written in the 1980’s and completed in the mid-1990’s as time permitted.
You can visit Michael on the web at www.michaeljbowler.webs.com.
Follow Michael Bowler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/BradleyWallaceM
Friend Michael Bowler at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1377702356
Pick up a paperback copy of Michael Bowler’s A MATTER OF TIME at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/A-Matter-Time-Michael-Bowler/dp/143278711X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344430749&sr=8-1&keywords=michael+bowler
Download your electronic copy of Michael Bowler’s A MATTER OF TIME at Amazon Kindle Store: http://www.amazon.com/A-Matter-of-Time-ebook/dp/B007GOAC9C/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1344430749&sr=8-1
Purchase your paperback copy of Michael Bowler’s A MATTER OF TIME at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-time-michael-bowler/1109296752
Pick up a copy of Michael Bowler’s A MATTER OF TIME at Outskirts Press: http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=9781432787110
http://www.amazon.com/A-Matter-Time-Michael-Bowler/dp/143278711X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333825240&sr=8-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-time-michael-bowler/1109296752?ean=9781432787110&itm=1&usri=michael+bowler+a+matter+of+time

Hollywood and the IRA

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:02:00 +0000


The IRA on Film And Television

by Mark Connelly

The Irish Republican Army has fascinated Hollywood, beginning with John Ford’s 1935 classic The Informer. A secret “outlawed” organization for most of its history, the IRA has rarely consisted of more than a few hundred active members. Dedicated to ending British rule in Northern Ireland, the IRA has no global agenda.

An IRA victory would not create a haven for international terrorists, destabilize NATO,

disrupt world markets, or endanger British security. Other revolutionary organizations have inflicted more harm, espouse more ominous ideologies, and pose greater threats to international stability. Yet none of these militant forces has captivated moviemakers like the Irish Republican Army. Major American stars – Richard Gere, Brad Pitt, James Cagney, and Robert Mitchum – have portrayed IRA figures. IRA characters and plots have been featured in popular television shows, including Columbo, Hawaii-Five-O, Law and Order, and Boardwalk Empire.

The IRA presents both opportunities and challenges to filmmakers who generally try to appeal to the widest possible audience. The IRA continually appears in headlines, generating public interest and debate. As an underground organization, it provides screenwriters and directors with stories of intrigue, espionage, betrayal, suspense, and violence. Directors of action films and thrillers can capitalize on car bombs, spies, secret missions, assassinations, kidnappings, and rescues. The organization’s well-known bombing campaigns allow writers to explore ethical debates about the use of terror to achieve political ends and the suspension of civil liberties in the name of national security. The IRA presents filmmakers with a variety of dramatic events that lend themselves to visual expression—ticking time bombs, courtroom debates, demonstrations, car chases, interrogations, and jail breaks.

Hollywood filmmakers, however, have to overcome several obstacles. To most Americans, Ireland is the Emerald Isle of shamrocks, castles, and leprechauns populated by charming, childlike people given to poetry, drink, and dance. It is hard for many to reconcile these stereotypes with the portrayal of the Irish as ruthless terrorists. Similarly, England is commonly thought of as a peaceful, tidy, hyper-civilized society where rush hour commuters politely “queue up” for double-decker buses and police officers maintain order without guns. American audiences have a difficult time seeing the English, often ridiculed as effete aristocrats, as being capable of the brutality they easily accept in a Southern sheriff from their own country.

The IRA also presents a challenge to filmmakers who wish to avoid offending British and Irish audiences. Many IRA movies skirt controversy by being explicitly not about the IRA. Early films do not mention the IRA, referring vaguely to “the organization” while giving visual clues – the IRA’s trademark trench coats or portraits of Republican heroes – to lead audiences to make unstated associations. Later films such as Patriot Games, Ronin, and Blown Away point out that the terrorists belong to a “fringe” or “splinter group” often at odds with the “official” IRA. By ascribing violence to lone wolves and rogues, these films seek to exploit public fascination with the IRA without endorsing or condemning it. Avoiding politics, however, creates a political statement. By blaming terrorism on malcontents and dissidents, these films grant the IRA a sense of moderate legitimacy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Philadelphia, Mark Connelly completed a masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he received a Ph.D in English. His books include The Diminished Self: Orwell and the Loss of Freedom, Orwell and Gissing, Deadly Closets: The Fiction of Charles Jackson, and several college textbooks. He currently teaches literature and film in Milwaukee, where he is the Vice-President of the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center of Wisconsin.
His latest book is The IRA on Film and Television.

You can visit his website at www.theiraonfilmandtelevision.com.
To get your paperback copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly, visit Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/The-IRA-Film-Television-History/dp/0786447362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340018217&sr=8-1&keywords=the+ira+on+film+and+television.

To get your ebook copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly, visit Amazon Kindle Store at
http://www.amazon.com/The-IRA-Film-Television-ebook/dp/B0084FA030/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1340018217&sr=8-3&keywords=the+ira+on+film+and+television.

Pick up your copy of THE IRA ON FILM AND TELEVISION by Mark Connelly at Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ira-on-film-and-television-mark-connelly/1110783855?ean=9780786447367

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Irish Republican Army (IRA) has for decades pursued the goal of unifying its homeland into a single sovereign nation, ending British rule in Northern Ireland. On film, the IRA has appeared in mainstream motion pictures such as The Quiet Man, action films like Blown Away, political dramas, dark comedies, and even a spaghetti Western, A Fistful of Dynamite. The IRA has been explored by major directors from three countries, including John Ford (The Informer), John Frankenheimer (Ronin), Carol Reed (Odd Man Out), David Lean (Ryan’s Daughter), Neil Jordan (Michael Collins), and Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father). IRA characters have been portrayed by international stars, such as Victor McLaglen, James Cagney, Anthony Hopkins, James Mason, Richard Gere, and Brad Pitt. Films about the Irish Republican Army range from realistic docudramas like Paul Greengrass’ Bloody Sunday, shot with handheld cameras and natural lighting to create the sensation of watching 1972 newsreel footage, to Joseph Merhi’s action farce Riot in which a British superhero battles IRA bikers in the streets of Los Angeles during a race riot.

Whether portrayed as a heroic patriot, ruthless terrorist, or troubled anti-hero, the Irish rebel has emerged as a universally recognized cinematic archetype. Over eighty motion pictures include IRA references, and IRA characters have appeared in iconic American television series such as Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, and Law and Order.

This illustrated history analyzes film depictions of the IRA from the 1916 Easter Rising to the peace process of the 1990s. Topics include America’s role in creating both the IRA and its cinematic image, the organization’s brief association with the Nazis, the changing depiction of women in IRA films, and critical reception of IRA films in Ireland, Britain, and the United States.

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The Cowboy and the Vampire a Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 02:03:00 +0000


Blood and Whiskey Book Tour

Blood and Whiskey is the second book in A Cowboy and Vampire Mystery/Thriller Series. It is a love story between Tucker, the cowboy who grew up in Montana and Lizzie, the hot-shot reporter who lives in New York.

Tucker and Lizzie met in book one, The Cowboy and The Vampire when Lizzie wrote a story on Tucker and his lifestyle, titled The Last Cowboy. Even with their long distance romance if there ever was a heaven on earth than Tucker and Lizzie have found it, but they must deal with the consequences of Lizzie becoming a newly turned Vampire and her chosen destiny to be the Queen of the vampires.

The battle between the rivaling factions has ended, but there are uncertain times ahead in the war between good and evil. It all rests on Lizzie as the chosen Queen to turn her first human into a vampire. With these successes, she can instill peace between the vampire clans and protect the human race from distinction at the hands of the vampires.

Blood and Whiskey is a fast-paced read with lots of action, conflict, deep emotions and a desire to have it all. This thriller takes you on a race across the continent going back and forth between New York City, Wyoming, Oregon and New Mexico. Authors Clarks Hays and Kathleen McFall have created a series that it different from other vampire books. The main character Lizzie is truly a woman of today’s society. She is not the submissive vampire willing to be the student of an old-fashioned controlling male. Lizzie is a hot-shot reporter, and like most chosen fantasy stories she is not in favor of being Queen of the Vampires if it means giving up her human life with all its ups and downs and countless hardships. Lizzie also refuses to give up living as a mortal and her love for Tucker, her cowboy fiancé.

Tucker is your traditional cowboy in spirit and gusto. Tucker defends his country, his lifestyle and Lizzie while looking down the barrel of a rifle. His love for Lizzie and his willingness to fight to the death to save her makes him your traditional hero. Tucker fights and loves with just as much desire as Lizzie has to save the different races. Each is committed to their fights and their committed fight to each other. As a reader, you also find yourself fighting and cheering for them.

The Cowboy and Vampire Mystery/Thriller Series is an attention grabber with the brilliantly designed shiny cover where a beautiful woman with sensuous bright red lips appears very sexy yet dangerous as some blood trickles down the corner of her mouth. Red colors in the title make this cover vibrant and eye-catching. These books had me reading and enjoying each page and never wanting the story to end. I enjoyed how the authors blended today’s society and characters with the lore of the vampire story in a way that keep the characters fresh and real. All the characters are very well rounded, there is a depth to them and there are no lose ends and questions as to their nature. They also put a real spin on the Bible and the creation stories and did a fantastic job blending vampire lore and human spirit. These books can be enjoyed separately, but if you want a romantic love story then I highly recommend both books, The Cowboy and The Vampire, Book One in the series and Blood and Whiskey, Book Two and enjoy the love story from the beginning.

From the book, The Cowboy and the Vampire here is a list of characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Tucker: A hard-luck cowboy from Wyoming whose love Lizzie Vaughn draws him into a web of Vampire intrigue.

Lizzie: Hot-shot reporter, unwilling Queen of the Vampires, and host to the ancient Vampire legacy of the uncreation.

Julius: Leader of one faction of Vampires and a shrewd strategist in the war between good and evil.

Elita: Julius’ right-hand woman and lover. A beautifly, powerful, and ancient Vampire descended from Eden’s serpent.

Lazarus: The only Vampire powerful enough to challenge Julius.

Dad: Tucker’s father and the voice of reason as events begin take on supernatural aspects.

Lenny: Sole member of the Lone Pine militia and eccentric weapons specialist.

Rex: Tucker’s sensitive and loyal dog. From his perspective, Vampires smell bad , but seem to be good sandwich makers.

About the Authors:

Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing.

Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing.

Learn more at http://cowboyandvampire.com/ and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire

Visit McFall and Hay’s Website at: http://pumpjackpress.com

Dream Cast of Characters for the Novel Latitudes A Story of Coming Home

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:00:00 +0000


Latitudes A Story of Coming Home

About Latitudes: A Story of Coming Home

LATITUDES – A story of one boy overcoming dysfuntion, dislocation and distance…
When Father and Mother, a highflying young American lawyer and his party-hard bride, fall prey to the self-destructive lure of alcohol and sexual liberation, Will and his sisters pay the price in divorce and kidnappings that take them back and forth between the rain forest hideaways of coastal Latin America and the placid suburbs of Long Island. Will identifies with the oppressed workers laboring in his father’s fast food restaurant and longs for American freedom. Father remarries the daughter of a local aristocrat, and Will is sent off to the hothouse world of a New England boarding school.

Swimming in a sea of Fair Isle sweaters and LL Bean boots, Will discovers a core of resilience in himself that allows him to survive, thrive, and ultimately embrace the flawed and varied worlds he inhabits. Will reconnects with his Mother, sinking into a New York City world of Irish bars and one night stands he cannot save her from. With a little help from friends, and a high school Shakespeare class taught by the school’s closeted gay athletic trainer, Will begins to see the possibility of finding his true path. Latitudes charts the birth pangs of a quest for self and soul — from a tropical childhood to a coming of age on the road.

You can purchase the book in kindle or book format at Amazon.

Will Kogan is the oldest son of Duncan and Margaret Kogan, Will is a sensitive, adventurous boy who learns that adults don't have the answers, but neither do children. In the end, the answers lie ahead, on the road. This character would be played by Kodi Simit-McPhee.


Actor Kodi Simit-McPhee

Duncan Kogan is an international lawyer and ambitious businessman who starts a chain of hamburger restaurants and remarries into an aristocratic Latin family. His children are everything to him. This character would be played by Gary Sinise.


Actor Gary Sinise

Margaret Kogan is a troubled, passionate woman. Abused as a child, she rebels against her father's strict Irish Catholicism, marries a Jewish law student and moves with him to South America. Later she takes her children and escapes to remake her life in New York City, struggling with alcohol and her dependency on men. This character would be played by Zooey Deschanel.

About Anthony Caplan

Anthony Caplan is an independent writer, teacher and homesteader in northern New England. He has worked at various times as a shrimp fisherman, environmental activist, journalist, taxi-driver, builder, window-washer, and telemarketer. Currently, Caplan is working on restoring a 150 year old farmstead where he and his family tend sheep and chickens, grow most of their own vegetables, and have started a small apple orchard from scratch.

Dream Cast of Characters for Dark Side of Valor

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:12:00 +0000


Dark Side of Valor

About the Book:

Child advocate Lelia Freeman saves children for a living. As the director of ChildSafe Shelters, she ventures to abandoned squats and crackhouses to rescue teens from the hellish streets of Los Angeles. When she is summoned to Washington to serve on a committee that aids the children of a war-torn African nation, Lelia is kidnapped and becomes a political pawn in a sinister conspiracy. Oceans away from everything she knows, she must trust a mercenary to save her life, or die in the clutches of a psychopath.

Hunting, combat and staying alive are Elijah Dune’s specialties. Vengeance is his passion. Haunted by past demons, he’s travels to the Motherland to collect a debt. A debt that demands one payment. Death.

Caught in the crosshairs of a madman, Lelia and Elijah must survive the jungles of Zaire and the horrors of their pasts to be forever consumed by the DARK SIDE OF VALOR.

Dream Cast of Actors for Dark Side of Valor

I’ve always envisioned Dark Side of Valor as a movie. Even before I typed a scene, I sat still, closed my eyes and watched the characters act out the plot in my mind’s eye then I’d tape record what I was seeing. Once Dark Side of Valor comes to the big screen, (gotta have faith) this 5 year labor of love would need an all-star cast to bring it to life. Here are my thoughts on who should play the characters of Dark Side of Valor.

Lelia Freeman: A tough, street-smart champion for the most vulnerable victims, she’s imprisoned by the ghosts of her past. - The best actress to portray Lelia is Thandie Newton. Her characterizations are flawless. From a homeless single mom, to a sinister specter, from a runaway slave to The Secretary of State, each of her portrayals is incredible.


Actor Thandie Newton

Elijah Dune: A mercenary with a haunting secret. - The best actor to portray Elijah is Jeffery Wright. He’s brilliant and one of the most underrated geniuses in Hollywood and Broadway. Whatever role he takes on, he morphs into that persona seamlessly.


Jeffrey Wright

Ma Ella: The matriarch of Cornerstone Baptist Church, she is Lelia’s saving grace. - The best actress to portray Ma Ella is Cicely Tyson, of course. An acting legend, she is what I envisioned when I dreamt of Ma Ella.


Cicely Tyson

Zeek: The vilest of predators, he can change his persona to fit any devious circumstance. - The actor best suited for this role is Terrence Howard. He’s an incredible talent and he can portray a very good bad guy.

Thero: A soulless henchman, to cross him could be fatal. - Two words sum up this character; Lester Speight. I went to high school with Lester. Besides his wonderful acting talent, his height and size match Thero’s characteristics perfectly.

Marcellus Dupree: Elijah’s cousin and comrade. He’s a charming mercenary with a passion for justice. - When I envision this Creole charmer, Tyrese Gibson comes to mind. When he acts out an emotionally volatile scene, you can feel the character’s rage, but when he smiles, the sun dims. He’s the perfect choice to play Marcellus.

President Marwain Boll Deng: A cunning contradiction. To the world, he’s a hero. To his people, he’s a monster. - I’ve see Idris Elba masterfully portray very calm, sedate characters and very volatile, explosive characters. President Deng’s character embodies both, which makes Idris the perfect choice.

Seeing Dark Side of Valor on the big screen or as a made for TV movie would be a dream come true. Literally. The story has played on the screens of my mind hundreds of times and soon, I pray, will play on a big screen or television near you.

Author Alicia Singleton

About the Author:

Born and raised in Philadelphia, the Howard University graduate embraced the written word at an early age. She credits this to her loving, older sister whom, while they were youngsters, made the author eat lotion on a regular basis. Realizing the need to sound-out the ingredients on the lotion label, Alicia stopped the lotion-eating practice, but continued to read the labels of the concoctions her sister brought for her to try. This early necessity to read flowered to a passion; hence, a writer was born.The award winning author resides in Maryland with her wonderful husband and son. Still an avid reader, label or otherwise, Alicia is hard at work completing her next suspense novel.Her latest book is the suspense novel, Dark Side of Valor.

Visit Alicia’s website at www.aliciasingleton.com.

eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies Kindle Fire Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

Tina Haveman is the founder and CEO of eXtasy Books and Devine Destinies. Tina was born in Europe, left there at age eight, then traveled to several countries with her parents, to finally settle in Australia for many years. She immigrated to Canada in 1973 where she has lived since. After raising a family of five as a single mother, she finally found time to concentrate on her writing. In 2000 she started her own publishing house with a partner but became too busy with eXtasy and Devine to continue her involvement and withdrew to focus entirely on eXtasy and Devine. Tina devotes all her time to her publishing house and authors and is grateful for the success her company is experiencing. “After many years of struggling to keep my head above water while raising five children on my own, I have much to be thankful for,” said Tina. “While the company affords me a comfortable living now and I have quite a staff aboard, I thoroughly enjoy what I do and won’t stop until someone up above tells me it’s time.”

About eXtasy Books

eXtasy Books first opened its doors December 2002 with a small website that was soon revamped into a more business like site. Within a matter of months, eXtasy outgrew that website and had to build another site to accommodate its growing catalog. Since then, the site has been revamped a number of times. Our imprint, Devine Destinies, started in 2008 to accommodate mainstream, YA, inspirational and children's books.

Since eXtasy’s birth, it has seen several upheavals, but with hard work, a loyal staff and a loyal stable of authors, eXtasy managed to survive them, along with the depression that hit our countries hard.

This past years has seen tremendous growth at eXtasy and we have moved our website to our own dedicated server to accommodate its growing readership.

We publish a wide variety of stories ranging from short stories to full books, pricing kept reasonable to accommodate our readers. Prices range from 1.59 to 5.99.

eXtasy Books has always been and is a devout supporter of e-books and e-readers. There are so many print books destroyed every year, it’s unbelievable. Go Green, is our motto. Save our forests! With so many new e-readers on the market, think about the ease of taking books along when traveling, getting rid of dust collecting books in your house, thereby making more room, being able to read a book on your phone or handheld while going to and from work on a bus or train. Think about the many books you can store on your computer. And think about the books you can hide from nosy relatives or children…

We have an attractive reward program in place. Receive 5 dollars on first sign up for an account that can be applied if you spend 20 or more dollars. For every purchase you receive 10% of your total in rewards. These rewards can be saved or you can use them when you come back to buy more books. We're always looking for new ways to make our site a great shopping experience. Come and visit us at http://www.extasybooks.com and/or http://www.devinedestinies.com

Follow eXtasy at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/extasybooks.

Follow eXtasy at Twitter at ttps://twitter.com/#!/eXtasyBooks.

Follow Devine Destinies at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DevineDestinies.

Follow Devine Destinies at Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/DevineDestinies.

~ ~ ~ KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Pump Up Your Book and eXtasy Books are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

Here's how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form throughout the tour. The Kindle Fire promotion will run from June 1 - August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 1, 2012. Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.

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Death Certificate of Natalie Wood Amended

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:40:00 +0000


Natalie Wood in the 1960's

The coroner’s office amends the death certificate of Natalie Wood from accidental drowning to drowning and other undetermined factors. Does this change anything in the premature death of Natalie Wood a little over 30 years ago? Was there any evidence to suggest that it was anything other than an accidental drowning? Did anyone really think that Robert Wagner or Christopher Walken had anything to do with her dying, even though the coroner's office reports that the two of them had been arguing? Would that make them capable of killing Natalie?

Natalie Wood was an American film and television actor best known for her screen roles in Miracle on 34th Street, Splendor in the Grass, Rebel without a Cause, and West Side Story. She was nominated for three academy awards in her lifetime.

Wood’s death on Thanksgiving Weekend, November 29, 1981 left many questions unanswered; what was she doing in the water, how did she drown, was someone responsible. These questions will always shroud her death in mystery, but maybe now she can rest in peace at least for another thirty years.

Dream Cast of Actors for A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Sam Jenkins, the retired New York detective who became a police chief in the small Smoky Mountain city of Prospect, Tennessee: Mark Harmon. It’s tough finding a sixty-year-old actor still good-looking enough to attract the ladies. And Mark does a good job with police work on his series, NCIS. I assume he could put on a slight New York accent and portray the sharpest real cop around.


Mark Harmon

Kate Jenkins, Sam’s wife of many years: Patricia Richardson. I loved the way she played Tim Allen’s wife on HOME IMPROVEMENT. Like Kate, she’s attractive, smart and always ready with a clever remark. But she’ll have to let a little gray hair show.


Patricia Richardson

Special Agent Ralph Oliveri: Michael Imperioli. I needed the quintessential Italian-American cop for this ex-New Yorker. Imperioli is a fine actor who does all the right facial expressions at the right time.


Michael Imperioli

Rachel Williamson: Sasha Alexander has all the right stuff to play the beautiful news anchor at WNXX TV in Knoxville and friend of Chief Sam Jenkins. And I’ve been in love with her for years. But if Sasha wants the job, she’ll have to go back to her natural dark brown hair.


Sasha Alexander

Sgt. Bettye Lambert. This book is littered with pretty and smart women and Bettye is a top example. I’d like to see Canadian actress, Jessica Steen play her—she’s got the perfect look for a hot female cop.

Bridget Dwyer. Where do you find a thirty-five-year-old beautiful redhead with an Irish accent that could melt the Mendenhall Glacier? How about MAD MEN’s Christina Hendricks and hope she can do the accent, but really not care.

Sgt. Stanley Rose: Henry Simmons. Stan is a big, tough, and smart street cop. Henry was impressive and realistic as Det. Baldwin Jones on NYPD BLUE.

ABOUT A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT

A stipulation of the Patriot Act gave Chief Sam Jenkins an easy job; investigate all the civilians working for the Prospect Police Department. But what looked like a routine chore to the gritty ex-New York detective, turned into a nightmare. Preliminary inquiries reveal a middle-aged employee didn’t exist prior to 1975.

Murray McGuire spent the second half of his life repairing office equipment for the small city of Prospect, Tennessee, but the police can’t find a trace of the first half.

After uncovering nothing but dead ends during the background investigation and frustrations running at flood level, Jenkins finds his subject lying face down in a Smoky Mountain creek bed—murdered assassination-style.

By calling in favors from old friends and new acquaintances, the chief enlists help from a local FBI agent, a deputy director of the CIA, British intelligence services, and the Irish Garda to learn the man’s real identity and uncover the trail of an international killer seeking revenge in the Great Smoky Mountains.

ABOUT WAYNE ZURL

Wayne Zurl grew up on Long Island and retired after twenty years with the Suffolk County Police Department, one of the largest municipal law enforcement agencies in New York and the nation. For thirteen of those years he served as a section commander supervising investigators. He is a graduate of SUNY, Empire State College and served on active duty in the US Army during the Vietnam War and later in the reserves. Zurl left New York to live in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with his wife, Barbara.

Twelve (12) of his Sam Jenkins mysteries have been produced as audio books and simultaneously published as eBooks. His first full-length novel, A NEW PROSPECT, was named best mystery at the 2011 Indie Book Awards. A new novel, A LEPRECHAUN’S LAMENT, is on the coming soon list at Iconic Publishing and will be available in print and eBook in April 2012.

For more information on Wayne’s Sam Jenkins mystery series see www.waynezurlbooks.net. You can read excerpts, reviews and endorsements, interviews, coming events, and even see photos of the area where the stories take place.

An Artist’s Life for Me

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

By Lindy S. Hudis

While in the process of promoting my latest book, “Crashers”, I thought I would speak a little bit about my “aspiring actress” past. Now, I was just an aspiring actress, mind you. I had tiny bit parts here and there. I was a dancing bimbo on Married With Children, and a nosey reporter on the daytime drama Sunset Beach. It was as interesting journey, being an actress wanna-be in Los Angeles, and yes, I have written a book about that, too. However, I will talk about that on my next blog tour – when promoting that book.

It was an exciting yet heartbreaking time, but it was also a time of self discovery. I discovered that I am much better suited behind the scenes, like writing. My husband, a Hollywood stuntman, and I have started our own production company, Impact Motion Pictures. We are in the process of producing out own scripts and projects. So far, so good. We have several horror projects that we are bringing to life – myself being a horror fan! Another interesting journey.

Living in Los Angeles, California is an adventure to say the least. The wild and crazy city has inspired all of my literary works, because of the sheer drama and power of such a huge metropolis. “Crashers” was inspired by all of the shenanigans that go on across the hectic and intimidating Los Angeles freeways.

This is what inspired my story. I was in a minor fender bender several years ago. One of the parties involved decided to pretend that she was seriously injured and decided to sue all the drivers involved. It was a very minor accident, no injuries or damage at all. Anyway, I was so mortified that somebody would actually try to pull this kind of a scam that I decided to channel all of that anger into a story. There are dishonest people out there that are ready and willing to do anything for money, people need to be very careful.

So, I have discovered on this journey called life that I need to have that creative artistic expression, or my soul will just wither away. I think all creative people need that. So, in any capacity, I feel very confident that an artistic life – and one full of inspiration – is the one for me. Please visit my at www.CrashersBook.com

Lindy S.Hudis is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama. She is a former actress, having appeared on such television shows as “Sunset Beach” and “Married with Children”. Her romantic murder mystery, Weekends, is currently available from Lachesis Press. She is also a filmmaker, her independent short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival. She is co-owner of an independent production company called Impact Motion Pictures. She and her husband Steve, a Hollywood stuntman, have just completed the screenplay adaptation of Charmaine Hammond’s best selling book, “On Toby’s Terms.” She lives in California with her family.

Visit Lindy on the web at www.crashersbook.com.
To get your paperback copy of CRASHERS: A TALE OF CAPPERS AND HAMMERS by Lindy S. Hudis at Amazon:
To get your ebook copy of CRASHERS: A TALE OF CAPPERS AND HAMMERS by Lindy S. Hudis in the Kindle Store:
Visit Lindy S. Hudis’ publisher’s page: http://www.bettieyoungsbooks.com/authors/LindyHudis/index.htm
Like Lindy S. Hudis on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=736712042
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Like Lindy S. Hudis at LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=17714000&trk=tab_pro
Visit Lindy S. Hudis film production company: http://www.impactmotionpictures.com/

DREAM CAST OF ACTORS FOR “LAST OF THE SEALS”

noreply@blogger.com (Rebecca ) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:00:00 +0000

The year is 1957 in San Francisco. Sam Slater is a lifetime minor league baseball player for the San Francisco Seals. The Seals have just one more season left as San Francisco is about to become a major league city. The Giants are coming to town in 1958 and the Seals will be displaced. Sam has come to the end of his baseball career and is going to join the private detective agency of his best friend. When his friend is brutally murdered, Sam must go it alone and try to find out why. Along the way he is swept off of his feet by a beautiful Elvis-obsessed TWA stewardess named Amelia Ryan. Sam and Amelia try to unravel the mystery together. Sam’s best friend, Jimmy inadvertently saw something he shouldn’t have. Sam and Amelia have pictures in their possession that have crime families in San Francisco and Chicago very worried. Then a young woman Sam has been searching for is found dead on the beach. Suddenly, Sam and Amelia find themselves in danger. On dark and foggy San Francisco nights, trouble is lurking just around the next corner.

Sam Slater - Sam is the male protagonist in the “Last of the Seals.” Sam is a San Francisco Seals baseball player as the story begins. He is at the end of his career in baseball and is beginning his career as a private investigator. Sam is a tough guy and was a war hero in World War II fighting on D Day and at the Battle of the Bulge. The best actor to play Sam would be Jon Hamm. He could portray a man who is admired by men and is attractive to women

Amelia Ryan - Amelia is the main female character in the “Last of the Seals”. She is a TWA stewardess and has fallen head-over-heels in love with Sam. Amelia has helped Sam unravel some mysteries and has shown a real knack as a PI. Amelia is 25 years old, blonde hair and big blue eyes. She is often told that she looks like Grace Kelly.

I think Evan Rachel Wood would be perfect to play Amelia. She’s beautiful yet can be tough when she needs to be.

Vince Marino - Vince is a seasoned San Francisco Police Detective and Sam’s best friend. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in San Francisco and is known for his gravelly voice and tough demeanor.

Bruce Campbell, who stars in the TV series “Burn Notice” as Sam, would be a great Vince. He certainly could be an intimidating, hard-boiled detective.

Bette Steele - Bette is the missing young socialite that Sam and Amelia are trying to find. Bette is eventually murdered and found on the beach one foggy night. Bette is trying to start her own life and escape her overbearing parents.

Kristen Bell would be a good Bette Steele. She is attractive, young but fragile.

Jimmy Jankow - Jimmy Jankow was Sam’s best friend. They met in England while preparing for the invasion on D Day. Jimmy and Sam were planning to become business partners until Jimmy is suddenly murdered. Jimmy was like a big brother to Sam and would be seen in a lot of flashbacks.

I love Simon Baker who was in the Mentalist series and in movies such as “The Devil Wears Prada.” He is perfect as a blonde pretty boy who can be a tough guy.

Santo “Fat Joey” Zito - “Fat Joey” is a mob hit man who is threatening Sam and Amelia, who are in possession of pictures that Zito wants. He will do anything to get them.

Why not get the very best. You want scary? You want an intimidating guy? James Gandolfini from The Sopranos

John and Kathleen Ryan - John and Kathleen are Amelia’s parents and preside over a large Irish Catholic family in their San Francisco home.

Brendan Gleeson, a great middle aged Irish actor, would be a good fit as John and

Blythe Danner would be good as the doting mother who is concerned about Amelia’s decision to delay marriage and children, so she can be a stewardess.

About the Author:

Greg Messel has written four novels and three unpublished memoirs. He published his premiere novel “Sunbreaks” in 2009, followed by “Expiation” in 2010 and “The Illusion of Certainty” in 2011. “Last of the Seals” is the first in a series of mysteries which are set in 1957 San Francisco. The second book in the series “Deadly Plunge’ will be published around Christmas of 2012. Greg grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and has had a newspaper career as a columnist, sportswriter and news editor. He won a Wyoming Press Association Award as a columnist while working for a daily newspaper in Wyoming. Greg also spent many years in the corporate world as a Financial Manager. He now devotes his energies to writing at his home in Edmonds, Washington on the Puget Sound just north of Seattle, where he lives with his wife, Carol.

To get your paperback copy of LAST OF THE SEALS by Greg Messel: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Seals-Greg-Messel/dp/0985485906/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1339973921&sr=1-1

To get your e-copy of LAST OF THE SEAL by Greg Messel at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-of-the-Seals-ebook/dp/B0083WCHOO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1339973921&sr=1-1To view all books by Greg Messel: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Greg%20Messel

To learn more about Greg, go to his website: www.gregmessel.com

Visit Greg Messel on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gregmessel

Like Greg Messel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.messel