TICK-TOCK and MUSIC BOXES REVIEWS

Quote for the week: I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” 
― Dr. Seuss

I just finished reading the latest anthology from the IWSG. A new one will be coming out next year. Have you entered? 

Below are my thoughts about TICK TOCK

Enjoy!

TICK TOCK

A STITCH IN CRIME

 An Insecure Writer’s Support Group

Anthology

Are you in the mood for some good mysteries? Do ghosts hang around you? Have you ever been accused of committing a crime? Do you sometimes wish you could go back in time and change the past? I could go on and on, but if you can answer any of these questions with a “yes” then you’ll likely want to learn more. So, get a copy of TICK TOCK  A STITCH IN CRIME, an Insecure Writer’s Support Group Anthology, and meet some very interesting characters. If you dare.

In this anthology, you’ll find stories by Jemi Fraser, C. Lee McKenzie, Mary Aalgaard, and Christine Clemetson. Also, S. R. Betler, Tara Tyler, Yolanda Renee, and J. R. Ferguson have contributed their work. Rebecca M. Douglass, C. D. Gallant-King, and Gwen Gardner’s stories are included, as well.

So, turn on the lights. You don’t want to read this Anthology in the dark.Get in a comfy chair and enjoy visiting each story and meeting interesting people. Oh, be sure to lock your doors and windows, too.

Happy Reading!

Can be found at:

AMAZON 

and other places.

Wait! We're not finished yet. Here's a peek at a book that will be out March 5, 2019, from Dancing Lemur Press. You don't want to miss this one. Here are my thoughts. Another gorgeous cover.

MUSIC BOXES

By Tonja Drecker

Music boxes are lovely. One can picture a ballerina twirling and spinning on her toes to a beautiful tune. It’s enchanting. Many girls aspire to being ballerinas, even though it’s a lot of work and no guarantee they’ll succeed. In Author Tonja Drecker’s new novel MUSIC BOXES, Lindsey McKay’s dream is to be a star like the ballerina in her music box. Things look promising for a while. Lindsey and her family move from Nebraska to Manhattan to give her the opportunity. Madame Destinee says she is talented and will be a star. But weird things start happening, and her dreams are threatened.

Tonja Drecker has woven a fascinating tale of mystery and suspense. I cheered throughout the story for Lindsey to succeed in her quest to be the best. She’s a likable character, willing to work to reach her goal. Then, when things start falling apart, she learns what the important things in her life are.

This is a story that will touch the hearts of young and old. Young readers who are striving to reach their own dreams. Older readers who remember their dreams. MUSIC BOXES would make a great addition to school libraries and public libraries, as well as your own library. Recommended.  Release date March 5, 2019.

###

Available for pre-order at:

AMAZON

and other places.

Have a great week!

BUBBA AND SQUIRT'S BIG DIG TO CHINA

What a great way to start a new week. I'm excited to host Sherry Ellis on her book tour for her latest novel, BUBBA AND SQUIRT'S BIG DIG TO CHINA. Welcome, Sherry.




Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China (+ Giveaway)

It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Sherry Ellis’ BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.

The author is offering a tour-wide international giveaway featuring five
autographed copies of her book. More information on the giveaway is listed
below.

BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA

by Sherry Ellis

◊
Genre: Juvenile Fiction

◊ Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press

◊ Print & eBooks

◊ Paperback: 94 pages

◊
Grades 3-5

Squirt doesn't believe Bubba can dig a hole to China. But when the hole swallows them, the kids find themselves in Xi'an, China, surrounded by Terracotta Warriors.

          It gets worse when the ghost of the first emperor of China appears. He tells them they can't go home until they find his missing pi. The kids don't know where to begin until they meet a girl and her grandmother who promise to help find the pendant.

          Soon they realize they are being followed. And they are no closer to finding the missing pi. Will Bubba and Squirt ever make it back home?

BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA available at:

* Amazon
US  * Amazon
UK *  Amazon
CA *  Barnes
and Noble * BAM
* iTunes
* Kobo

Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the
violin, viola, and piano.

When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household
chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Sherry, her husband, and their two children live in Atlanta, Georgia. 

For more on Sherry and her writing, you can connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, her blog, her website and her Amazon Author Page.

This tour-wide giveaway is for five (5) autographed copies of BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA. The giveaway is open internationally.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.
If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Sherry on her month-long tour HERE.
You never know what you might find out.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for an excerpt from this exciting story.

CHAPTER 1 BUBBA: I HAD AN ACCIDENT…IN A HOLE

We were going to die.

The ground rushed by as we fell to the center of the Earth. And it was all because of a shovel. The stupid magic shovel.

Do you want to know how it started? You do? Okay. Let me back up. It was like this...

“Wait! You said I could go first!”

Sorry for the interruption. This is my little brother, Bubba. And yes, I did say he could go first. “Okay, big guy. You’re up. But don’t take all day!”

            Sisters! So, like Squirt said, I’m Bubba. And guess what? I dug a big hole to China. For real! And Squirt didn’t think I could.

“You can’t dig a hole to China,” she said.

“Can too.”

“Cannot.”

“Can too.”

“Bubba,” she said, all brainy-like, “this is Mariemont, Ohio. China is on the other side of the world.”

“So?” Squirt was getting on my last nerve.

“So, you’d have to dig through more than seven thousand miles of dirt and super-hot molten rock to get there.”

“You think you know everything,” I said to Miss Smarty Pants.

“I’m in sixth grade, and you’re only in fourth.”

Whoopty doo. Two stinking years older. Who did she think she was? A rocket scientist? It didn’t matter if we lived a bazillion miles away in a little town in the Midwest United States. I knew I could do it. And I was going to prove it. I stuck my tongue out and gave her the biggest, slobberyist raspberry I could. Then I grabbed my shovel and left her in the dust.

I ran across our back yard all the way to the woods. I didn’t stop until I got to the big tree. Mama called it the sick more tree, but it didn’t look sick to me. It was big and tall, and it had lots of leaves. Except its bark was all splotchy. So maybe that was why it was sick. But I thought it looked cool.

Miss Smarty Pants chased me to the sick more tree. When I turned around, there she was, all huffy puffy. Sweat beads dripped down her face. She wiped them off and pushed back a few strands of stringy, brown hair.

###

Oh, wow! I have to read what happens. And that poor sick more tree. Love it. My book is on its way. 

Thank you for visiting with us today, Sherry. 

Happy Reading!

###

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP OCTOBER

Welcome to the first Wednesday in October which means it's Insecure Writer's Support Group.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Awesome Ninja Alex J. Cavanaugh is the founder of The Insecure Writer's Support Group.

His awesome co-hosts for the October 3 posting of the IWSG are Dolorah @ Book Lover,Christopher D. Votey, Tanya Miranda, and Chemist Ken!

Visit them and say Thank You for co-hosting.

Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. Remember, the question is optional!!!

Question for October 3 is How do major life events affect your writing?  Has writing ever helped you through something?

My answer: 

Events in my life do affect my writing. What is happening determines whether I can write or not. When something serious, like an illness or death or bad news from family or friends occurs, I sometimes cannot write. My mind is too much on the situation, especially when it is life changing for my family and /or me. However, when my baby son and my baby granddaughter went to heaven, many years apart, I wrote a poem for each one, sharing my love for each of them. Not for publication, but to help me face their loss.

When good things happen in my life or my family, I'm inspired to write because I'm happy and want to share my happiness with a story that will be happy too.

I love it when a story comes from major events in my life. For instance, I was inspired to write my MG novel STAR OF THE TEAM when I attended basketball games that my granddaughter played in. The girls were so competitive and serious about their games that I had to write their story. Family can be inspiring, just watch them.

And if I'm feeling sad, sitting down to write can help perk me up. Escaping into another world, another time and place is better than a dose of medicine, at least for me.

How about you?

Happy Writing.

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY-MAYBE

Quote for the week: 

Welcome Monday.  We haven't had an animal story for awhile, so I know you're just waiting for one. If not, you may stop reading here. You've met my cats many times. 

But now, quite by surprise, I'm fostering a dog. 

His is a sad story. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed this stray dog down by my gate. I was pretty sure I knew how he got there, but tried to ignore him, hoping he'd go away. No such luck. For three days he stayed by the gate, waiting for his family to come back for him. Finally, I had to feed him. Couldn't let him starve. He loved cat food. That was all I had. And, he followed me back to the house. So, I put him in the yard and have been debating ever since what to do with him. Oh, after a couple of days I did buy some dog food. He really didn't care.

Anyhow, he has never bothered the cats, but I kept them in the house, just in case.  And I decided to call the humane society and have them pick him up. They don't pick up and I had no way to take him to the shelter. He's a young dog but weighs almost as much as me, I imagine. So I thought I'd call our city shelter, but then, he looked at me with  those sad, sad eyes. His tail wagged back and forth faster than windshield wipers. So, yes, he's still with me. I'm trying to teach him to sit because he jumps on me when I go outside. I still may call someone to come get him. Undecided.

Patches is traumatized. Tiger is cool. But the dog doesn't like my son's dog, which could be a problem.

I'm asking for God's guidance, because I know what happens to a majority of animals taken to the shelters. The lucky ones are adopted. The others...

Anyhow, he's eating like a horse, my grocery budget is overdrawn, and he keeps looking at me with those sad, sad eyes.

Have a happy week!

THE SEER'S FATE REVIEW

Hey! It's Friday. Where did the week go? Remember the novella I mentioned earlier in the week? Of course. Here's my review. Enjoy. Have a super weekend.

THE SEER’S FATE

A Novella by Christine Amsden

What if you could see into the future? The good that would happen and also the bad? What if you had a gift of charisma where people did whatever you wanted them to? Sounds good? Well, perhaps. Perhaps not.

In Author Christine Amsden’s novella, THE SEER’S FATE, we meet Danielle, a seer who sees the future. Imagine telling a kid at school that you see her death in only a few months. That would not make for very many friends. And in her life is a boy named Adam, whose charisma results with most everyone liking him. The future Danielle sees for Adam and her is not a pleasant one, but she still loves him, even though she knows what happens.  

THE SEER’S FATE is the author’s first novella. I hope it won’t be her last because I enjoyed meeting Danielle and Adam and watching them face almost impossible situations. Living a magical life sounds exciting. There are downsides though. Danielle, even with her special abilities, is a girl who cares about others and tries to help whenever she can. She’s also confused about young men, like most teens are. Adam  has family problems to deal with, along with his feelings for Danielle. 

THE SEER’S FATE is a magical tale of love and hope, family and friends, trust and betrayal, disappointment and joy. Christine Amsden has done a beautiful job with characters that are so real I wanted to hug them and help them with each challenge they faced. I’ve enjoyed reading the author’s novels and look forward to more novellas from her. Recommended.

Buy Here

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble coming soon

Happy Reading!

HALLOWEEN RIDE, A GREGORY GREEN ADVENTURE

Welcome. I'm so happy you stopped by today. We have a special treat for you.  Enjoy.

QUESTION: If the witch’s broom

could bring you anywhere in the world, where would you want it take you?

Gregory Green: Since the broom is magical, I wonder if it

could bring me under the sea so I can breathe. I’d be able to see mermaids,

sharks, whales, and all kinds of sea creatures. And then, way out in the ocean,

it could land me on a real pirate ship. Maybe even the Black Pearl with Captain

Jack Sparrow! He’s the reason why I dressed up as a pirate this year for

Halloween.

Sammy the Teddy Bear: The

moon! I have friends who live there. Actually, I have friends everywhere.

*whispers* Friends that Gregory doesn’t even know about. That’s just one of my

many secrets. *winks* My moon friends come to visit me when they can, but they

always say I need to come up there to see their home, and boy do I want to.

They also make the best cheese. Yum!

Elaine Kaye, Author: I would love the broom to take me to

Oahu, Hawaii because I lived there in the late '60s for about ten years. It

would be neat to see how things have changed since then. And, of course, I’d

love to make several trips to Waikiki Beach. 

When I was younger, I would go to beach

every weekend to tan on the white sands and stare out at the endless ocean. I’d

like to do that again. Now, if the broom could take me back in time, I’d like

to see Elvis play at the Honolulu International Center Arena for his world

tour. I saw that performance, and it’s my greatest memory from Hawaii.

Now, it’s

your turn! Where would you want to go on the witch’s broom?

NEW RELEASE:

BLURB: One Halloween night,

Gregory and his teddy bear Sammy go trick-or-treating, hoping for lots and lots

of candy. But Sammy is scared of everything and is constantly asking, “What’s

that?” Gregory gets annoyed until one of those things turns out to be a flying

broomstick. And this broom wants them to go for a ride. Where will it take

them? 

*Story picture book Ages 4-8.

EBOOK 99 CENTS:

Amazon

/ Nook

/ Kobo

Print:

Amazon

ALSO

ON SALE FOR 99 CENTS!

Pea

Soup Disaster:

 Amazon / Nook / Kobo

Doctor

Mom:

 Amazon / Nook / Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Elaine Kaye is the

author of A Gregory Green Adventure

series. She first created Gregory Green after her son, who loved her homemade

pea soup.

Kaye

has worked as a library assistant and teacher's assistant in elementary schools

in the Sunshine State. She currently lives in Florida, but she has called

Michigan; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Okinawa, Japan home.

She

is a grandmother of three boys.

Website / Goodreads

/ Amazon / Instagram / Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Enter here to

win a signed paperback copy of Pea Soup Disaster, a hand-stitched bookmark, and

a pea pod key chain! 

Open to all from September 16,

2018 – October 1

, 2018!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

<

THE SEER'S FATE BY CHRISTINE AMSDEN

Quote for the week: “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” 
― Dr. Seuss

Thank you for visiting today. I'm so happy to share Author Christine Amsden's latest book,THE SEER'S FATE, a novella, with you. Review coming soon. Enjoy your visit.

The Seer’s Fate

A novella by: Christine Amsden

She can see the future, but she can’t escape it…

Danielle Hastings has lived countless possible futures, and getting involved with Adam Scot always ends in heartbreak. The gift of foresight has led her to one solid conclusion: avoid Adam at all costs. But when she sees a tornado tearing through downtown Eagle Rock – and Adam helping her save dozens of lives – she knows she has no choice.

Adam lives a charmed life; thanks to his powerful gift of charisma, everyone has a hard time saying no to him. Everyone, that is, except Danielle. Adam is determined to break through her shell…until he finds out the real reason she’s avoiding him. But by the time he realizes there’s no hope for a future for them, he’s in too deep to back out.

It seems there’s only one question the fates haven’t already answered: Will he break her heart, or will she break his?

Buy Links

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble coming soon

Ebook Release: September 25, 2018

The Cassie Scot Series

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective (Cassie Scot Book One)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble

·Audible.com

Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot Book Two)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble

·Audible

Mind Games (Cassie Scot Book 3)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noblet

·Audible

Stolen Dreams (Cassie Scot Book 4)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble

·Audible

Madison's Song (Cassie Scot Book 5)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble

·Audible

Kaitlin’s Tale (Cassie Scot Book 6)

·Amazon

·Barnes and Noble

·Audible

About the Author

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, which scars the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. In addition to being a writer, she's a mom and freelance editor.
Social Media Links:

· Website

· Newsletter

· Blog

· Facebook

· Twitter

· Goodreads

· Google+