Today I’m pleased to host Ju Ephraime and her new release
Month: May 2015
Celebrating the Summer Holidays-Open Book Blog Hop
Do you like to read? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the MMB Open Book Blog Hop each Wednesday and they will tell all. Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.
This week’s question:
How do you celebrate your summer holidays? Who do you celebrate with? Share your rituals, foods, customs and fun.
If you’ve hopped over here from Traci Wooden-Carlisle’s blog, welcome and thanks for coming! I hoped you took the time to check out here books while you were there. If not, here’s a link to her Amazon page. Traci on Amazon
Now for this week’s question:
How do you celebrate your summer holidays? Who do you celebrate with? Share your rituals, foods, customs and fun.
I had to really think about this question because we don’t have what most people consider a tradition for our summer holidays. For a long time, my husband had a job that required him to work while everyone else celebrated. So I’d spend my days cleaning house, gardening, or working on whatever craft project was my current obsession.
But that’s changed now. With the kids grown and my husband no longer in that job, we have a lot more freedom to do whatever we feel like when we wake up on a holiday morning. Since we like to avoid crowds, we can hop into the Jeep and take off down the road with little or no planning, and go exploring down some side ride on a whim, without even consulting a map. And frequently, that’s what we do.
We do take our maps with us, so that when we hit a fork in the road, we have some idea where we might end up. We don’t always take the road less traveled, because sometimes what we hope to find along the way of the more traveled one is what we’re looking for. It’s amazing the beauty that exists in out-of-the way places.
So here’s some pictures I hope you’ll enjoy of the wild places in the Unites States. Yes, they still exist if you’re willing to take a chance on a back road in hopes of stumbling across them.
By the way, I should mention that these pictures were taken by my husband. He’s got a great eye for capturing what we see on our trips.
So what’s our tradition? Find a new road to explore, a new place to spend time in, a new adventure and maybe make some new friends on the way.
Before I leave you with one last shot, don’t forget to head over to Stevie Turner’s blog and see what her traditions are. You can find her at Stevie Turner. Don’t forget to check out her books while you’re there.
Who Would I Write a Book About – Open Book Blog
I had the good luck to have a number of exceptional teachers in high school. One of those, Sister Joan Chittister, went on to become the prioress of the order of nuns that taught at the school. I always knew she was special and unique, but until I started writing this piece, I didn’t realize how well-known she’s become.
When I was in high school, nuns were transition from their traditional garb to wearing either a more modern version or street clothes. I don’t remember her ever wearing the full version as in the picture above, I mostly remember her in street clothes.The next picture could have been taken straight from my yearbook.
She’s gone on become a voice for justice, especially for women and children. She’s published over 50 books. She’s been published in numerous publications, everything from the National Catholic Reporter to the Huffington Post. She’s won numerous awards and has her own website Sister Joan Chittister. I never expected that!
So although she’s already had books written about her, I’d like to write another one. In fact, since she’s still alive, I’d love to interview her. Her philosophies are not what you’d expect from a stereotypical nun. I feel honored to have known her.
To find out who Stephany Tullis would write about, head over to her blog at Stephanytullis.com/blog. And don’t forget to check out her books while you’re there.Stephany’s books.
What would you do if you were immortal?
Do you like to read? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the MMB Open Book Blog Hop each Wednesday and they will tell all. Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.
If you could be immortal for one day, what would you be and why?
But what would I do if for one day, no matter what I happened, I knew I’d survive?
I’d start with bridge jumping. Yes, my mother asked me if everyone else jumped off a bridge, would I? For once I’d get to answer yes.In fact, I’d do it even if no one else did,
Guest Author: Sharleen Scott
wounded family? While faced with the challenge of his mother’s escalating
Alzheimer’s disease, Logan McKinnon discovers secret journals that leave him
questioning everything he knows about his family. With no one to ask, Logan
must find a man mentioned in the journals to discover a truth he may not want
to know.
cabinets by 9:00 p.m. and still hadn’t located the insurance policies. Thinking
there could be more files in the closets, he poked around until he found a
locked box marked Personal in the top of the guest room closet. It was heavy
and locked. He didn’t find a key, but rather than give up, he jimmied it open
with a screwdriver. Hoping to find file folders, he was disappointed when the
contents were books and notebooks, all numbered and dated.
a white book marked Number One. He opened it to the first page and was stunned
by what he found. The first entry, with its childish scrawl and misspelled
words, made him smile.
Mama says girls like to rite stuff so she gave you to me. I hope we can be
frends and I can tell you my secrets. Love, Lois
today. I dumped mud on his head. Daddy spanked me. It hurt. Big brothers are
icky, and I hate him. Don’t tell anyone. Love, Lois
as he read his mother’s diary. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn’t stop. The
entries were short but telling of Lois’ early life, and he found himself
engrossed. Hours passed as he read the entries detailing her fights with her
older brother, Larry, stories of her cat named Puffpuff, a dog named Hunter
though he was gun shy to the point of terror, and he sniffled when he read
about the day she stopped hating Larry.
I’m sad. When Mama told me, I ran to the barn and cried until my stomach hurt.
Puffpuff tried to make me feel better but it didn’t help. Larry found me and I
yelled at him to leave me alone. He said he was sad, too, and wanted to cry
with me where no one would see him. Boys aren’t supposed to cry. He held my
hand and we cried together. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone he cried. I think
Larry is an okay brother after all, but don’t tell anyone I said that. Love,
Lois
box and closed the lid. He stared at it, debating if he should return it to the
closet where it belonged and leave it alone. His curiosity won, and he shoved
the box in a corner and covered it with a blanket. The late hour caught up with
him, and he stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed. Blissful sleep came
quickly.
’s disease. Sharleen lives in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Brett, two college kids, and two spoiled cats.
Helping Fellow Authors- Weekly Blog Hop
Do you like to read? Wouldn’t you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the MMB Open Book Blog Hop each Wednesday and they will tell all. Every week we’ll answer questions and after you’ve enjoyed the blog on this site we’ll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.
If you’re coming here from Christine Ardigo’s blog, welcome! Have you checked out her books yet? Her Amazon page is here.
This week we’re giving back with advice for fellow authors. I’m talking about my experience with a website for book advertising, RobinReads.
I’ve not had much luck with paid advertising, and as a result. I’m always shy about doing it. My last book launch, I hired a company to arrange a blog tour for me. They warned me up front they wouldn’t guarantee sales, I should look at it as a way to get my name out there. It was good they made the statement, because I didn’t see a jump in sales on any day I was featured on a blog stop.
But I’ve been hearing good things about RobinReads in various groups I’m a part of, and decided to give it a try. The cost was withing my budget, and I wanted to see if it would increase sales.
First off, it was incredibly easy to sign up. Their criteria for accepting a book is posted and easy to understand. Here’s what the sign-up page says is their criteria for a listing:
Guest Author- J.M. Maurer
Today I’m pleased to Welcome J.M. Maurer and her books
To enter, simply visit her website and sign up for her newsletter. Be
sure to drop her a quick hello.
Winters does what she does best—bury herself in patient care within
the walls of the neuro intensive care unit, keeping herself busy to
escape the dark sadness that controls her life. But the day she sees
Matthew Moi, the intriguing man seated at her new patient’s
bedside, her shattered heart begins to frantically beat once again.
mesmerizing gaze upon her, trying to distract her with his humorous
and playful banter, she does her best to ignore him. Somehow he
already knows a great deal about her, breaking down Jessica’s
barriers and awakening her soul, drawing her out of the darkness and
into his arms.
her painful past resurfaces, revealing truths that threaten her
future, Jessica struggles through her issues and fights to stay on a
healing path . . . seeking
love.
Links:
US: bit.ly/SeekingLove
UK: bit.ly/SeekingLoveUK
CA: bit.ly/SeekingLoveCA
bit.ly/SeekingLoveiBks
& Noble: bit.ly/SeekingLoveBN
bit.ly/SLKobo
bit.ly/SeekingLoveSW
Romance: bit.ly/SeekingLoveARe
surviving a bitter divorce and emerging from a darkness that became
all too familiar, Jessica finds herself on top of the world, her
soulful awakening allowing her to feel again, trust again, and even
love again. Her painful past, however, is relentless, both physically
and emotionally, bombarding her daily and not allowing her to
overcome the lingering demons that ultimately control her life.
Matthew lovingly guides her toward a healthy future, his own secrets
become known, threatening to destroy the trusting relationship that
had quickly grown between them. But despite what life throws her way,
Jessica pledges to put the past in the past, accepting that events
are often out of her control. She fights for a future with the man
who drew her out of the darkness, steering her onto a healing path
. . . seeking redemption.
Links:
US: bit.ly/amznSkR
UK: bit.ly/SkRamznUK
CA: bit.ly/SkRamznCA
& Noble: bit.ly/SkReBN
bit.ly/SkRiBks
bit.ly/SkRKobo
bit.ly/SkRSW
flipped the light switch to what she called my office and
stood just inside the door, her soft features and gentle smile
inviting me in. I shivered, poised one step away, with a strange yet
familiar emotion rushing through me—an awareness that the instant I
entered, my life would be forever changed. Again.
thought making me feel railroaded and agitated, yet oddly aroused and
enchanted too. Unsure how to deal with such conflicting emotions, I
moved forward, looking to Grandma O for answers as I walked through.
mahogany desk in the far corner and in front of an expansive bank of
floor-to-ceiling windows. I ran my fingertips along the colorful wall
of psychology books and periodicals as I walked along, passing a
leather couch on my way to the desk, my desk, and paused in
front of an empty nook within the bookcase.
spruce it up, make it mine. I had to think about that, my anxiety
making it difficult to ponder the issue, my restlessness preventing
me from staying in one place.
blinds, the world outside just as complicated as the one I had chosen
to live in.
pulling me out of my thoughts. “It’s obvious you have a natural
gift for research and writing.”
hands on a copy.
Sedation in the ICU: Patient Accounts of Their Dreams, Their Pain,
Their Fears; I hadn’t published it. As it was, after countless
hours revisiting old charts and conducting hundreds of interviews,
I’d never been more nervous or scared the instant it was pulled
from my tight grip to be placed into the hands of someone who would
actually read it. There was no way I’d ever publish it, opening
myself up to a world filled with critics.
Marienetti. The sexual fantasies accounted for and described within
your research were fascinating, probably more so than Dr. Marienetti
could digest. We’re baffled as to why you chose not to publish. The
results, Jess, are far reaching, from ICUs to dentists’ offices.
You have a special gift; embrace it.”
drinking in the room.
great things here.” She patted my arm, her grandmotherly smile
telling me it would all be okay. “I’m next door if you need
anything.”
heard that advice before—from Matthew. I sighed and looked down
upon the desk, the one I knew would take me a while to start calling
my own.
sure if I liked it or not.
the Author:
with her family in Chicago. She makes it a point to never work on a
full moon and cringes when a coworker uses the “Q” word—never,
ever say, “It’s a quiet day today,” at her day job.
for being overly superstitious, she can usually be found scraping at
the remnants of a Nutella container, screaming at a hockey game, or
putting pen to paper, allowing the “real” crazy voices in her
head to come alive. And after all this, it’s no wonder she’s an
incurable romantic and loves escaping the rat race of life to immerse
herself inside the world of a really good romance book . . .
because, after all, what’s better than a happily-ever-after?
J.M. Maurer Here:
http://jmmaurer.com
https://www.facebook.com/JMMaurerAuthor
https://twitter.com/JMMaurer1
bit.ly/GoodreadsJMMaurer
Author Page: bit.ly/AmznJMMaurer
conclusion
to the captivating romantic trilogy where love came easy, forgiveness
came with time, but healing from devastating loss proved daunting.
Together, Jessica and Matthew pursue an extraordinary future . . .
seeking
hope.