Doubleday, Guest Author, Providence Book Promotions, Showcase

Guest Author Carlin Flora

CMash January 14, 2013 1 Comment

Friends!!! We all have and need them in our lives! We share our lives with them, laugh and cry, depend on and are there for them, some are real, others virtual but can grow to become part of our daily lives. They are called by many names, buddies, pals, BFFs, etc.. Today my friend, Joe, from Doubleday is stopping by, to introduce us to someone who knows all about friends and has written a book on these important people in our lives as she begins her VT with Providence Book Promotions. So without further ado, please help me in giving Ms. Carlin Flora a warm and friendly welcome to CMash Reads. Everyone, Ms. Carlin Flora!!

CARLIN FLORA

Carlin Flora was on the staff of Psychology Today for eight years, most recently as features editor. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia University School of Journalism and has written for Discover, Glamour, Women’s Health, and Men’s Health, among others. She has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Fox News, and 20/20. She lives in Queens, New York.
Visit Ms. Flora at her website and/or the following sites:

Follow her tour here for reviews and more chances to win a copy of FRIENDFLUENCE.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Discover the unexpected ways friends influence our personalities, choices, emotions, and even physical health in this fun and compelling examination of friendship, based on the latest scientific research and ever-relatable anecdotes.

Why is dinner with friends often more laughter filled and less fraught than a meal with family? Although some say it’s because we choose our friends, it’s also because we expect less of them than we do of relatives. While we’re busy scrutinizing our romantic relationships and family dramas, our friends are quietly but strongly influencing everything from the articles we read to our weight fluctuations, from our sex lives to our overall happiness levels.

Evolutionary psychologists have long theorized that friendship has roots in our early dependence on others for survival. These days, we still cherish friends but tend to undervalue their role in our lives. However, the skills one needs to make good friends are among the very skills that lead to success in life, and scientific research has recently exploded with insights about the meaningful and enduring ways friendships influence us. With people marrying later—and often not at all—and more families having just one child, these relationships may be gaining in importance. The evidence even suggests that at times friends have a greater hand in our development and well-being than do our romantic partners and relatives.

Friends see each other through the process of growing up, shape each other’s interests and outlooks, and, painful though it may be, expose each other’s rough edges. Childhood and adolescence, in particular, are marked by the need to create distance between oneself and one’s parents while forging a unique identity within a group of peers, but friends continue to influence us, in ways big and small, straight through old age.

Perpetually busy parents who turn to friends—for intellectual stimulation, emotional support, and a good dose of merriment—find a perfect outlet to relieve the pressures of raising children. In the office setting, talking to a friend for just a few minutes can temporarily boost one’s memory. While we romanticize the idea of the lone genius, friendship often spurs creativity in the arts and sciences. And in recent studies, having close friends was found to reduce a person’s risk of death from breast cancer and coronary disease, while having a spouse was not.

Friendfluence surveys online-only pals, friend breakups, the power of social networks, envy, peer pressure, the dark side of amicable ties, and many other varieties of friendship. Told with warmth, scientific rigor, and a dash of humor, Friendfluence not only illuminates and interprets the science but draws on clinical psychology and philosophy to help readers evaluate and navigate their own important friendships.
Watch for my review in the near future.

Watch the video:

BOOK DETAILS:
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher: Doubleday
Pub Date: 1/15/13
Pages: 288
ISBN 0385535430
ISBN13: 9780385535434
PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO JOE AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AT DOUBLEDAY,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY OF FRIENDFLUENCE TO GIVE AWAY
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTRY PAGE

DISCLAIMER
I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me,
in exchange for my honest review.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Guest Author, Partners In Crime Tours, Showcase

Guest Author David Carnoy

CMash January 12, 2013 1 Comment

Are you like me, during these cold and long days of winter, whereas you want to get warm and comfy and read a good book? Well, if so, here’s a book to read. Author, David Carnoy, is stopping by to visit, as he starts his VT with Partners In Crime Tours. Please help me in welcoming David to CMash Reads!!!!

DAVID CARNOY

While David Carnoy lives in New York City with his wife and children, his novels take place in Silicon Valley, where he grew up and went to high school (Palo Alto). His debut novel, Knife Music (2010), was a Top-10 bestseller on the Kindle and also a bestseller on the Nook. More medical thriller than high-tech thriller, to research the novel Carnoy spent a lot of time talking with doctors, visiting trauma centers, and trailed a surgeon at a hospital in Northern California to help create the book’s protagonist, Dr. Ted Cogan.
The Big Exit (2012) isn’t a sequel to Knife Music per se. However, a few of the characters from Knife Music figure prominently in the story. His second novel has more of a high-tech slant and reflects Carnoy’s experiences as an executive editor at CNET.com, where he currently works and is trying resolve his obsession with consumer electronics products. He went to college at Wesleyan University and has an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University.
Visit David at his website here or these other sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

By the acclaimed author of the remarkable debut novel, Knife Music, The Big Exit is a suspenseful crime novel that keeps the surprises coming right up to the end. Richie Forman is freshly out of prison. By night, he makes a living impersonating Frank Sinatra in San Francisco’s lounges and corporate parties. But then his ex-best friend—the man who stole his fiancée while he was in prison—is found hacked to death in his garage, and Richie is the prime suspect. In a murder mystery with the twists and turns of a microchip, Carnoy weaves his characters like a master. He has written an authentic, unputdownable thriller that is sure to chill and delight.
Purchase links: AMAZON link Barnes & Noble link

Read an excerpt:

1/THE PERFECT CANDIDATEA month before Beth Hill made her 911 call, the job posted on Craigslist.

Case assistant. Exoneration Foundation.

He’d been looking for weeks, but this was the first listing that really jumped out at him, truly suited him, and that he thought he had a shot at.

“Candidates must have strong analytic skills, attention to detail, commitment to social justice,” the ad read. “Interest in criminal justice issues, collegial and collaborative work style are a must, candidates should be skilled in writing and presenting information clearly and succinctly and dealing with emotionally charged situations professionally.”

Check, check, and check.

So there he was ten days later sitting on a worn black leather sofa, wearing a navy pinstripe suit that he’d picked up at a thrift shop. It hung off him a little loosely. He’d walked from his apartment. He was downtown, in SoMa—South of Market—on Third Street, in a small, cheerless reception area that didn’t look so different from the waiting areas of the state and city agencies he’d been obliged to visit in recent months.

The Exoneration Foundation.

He’d known about the place before he saw the ad. Some called it the “court of last resort,” but the foundation preferred a different, less dramatic description. It was a nonprofit, pro-bono legal clinic that represented prisoners whose wrongful convictions might be over- turned through biological evidence, the kind that was overlooked, misinterpreted, or botched in one way or another.

The founder was an attorney named Marty Lowenstein, a preeminent DNA expert. To prison inmates he was simply known as the DNA Dude. That’s what they called him. “Get the DNA Dude on it,” was their mantra for every guy who claimed he was actually innocent. “Dial that mofo up. He’ll get your actual ass off.” Fucking idiots. No one believed it.

Marty Lowenstein was a do-gooder. An actual one. The poor, the forgotten, the innocent schmuck on death row, the royally screwed were his meat. The irony was that he owed his reputation to representing a handful of rich pricks in high-profile cases that got big spreads in Vanity Fair. Those people you didn’t always exonerate. You got them off. You created reasonable doubt. But you didn’t get to walk a guy out of prison after twenty-two years for a crime the evidence clearly showed he didn’t commit and maybe even someone else had copped to in the meantime. That was exoneration. Lowenstein got off on it.

Richie Forman looked around. His suit fit right in. There was something a decade or two passé about the décor, a little off, a little tired. The furniture had obviously once served in another office, probably a corporate law firm.

Smack at ten, the receptionist, a young black woman with straightened hair, said the case director was coming out, she’d see him now. That got his heart going. You’re going to crush this, he thought. This one’s yours.

A moment later, a heavyset Hispanic woman with a pleasant face came out and greeted him. Her name was Lourdes Hinojosa, and after she shook his hand, she walked him back to her office. She looked fairly young, early forties, but she had a pair of reading glasses on a chain around her neck that made her look older, especially when she put them on to scan his résumé.

He sat there anxiously watching her. As she read, she nodded a couple of times but made no comment. The silence made him nervous. He crossed, then uncrossed his legs. Finally, she took off her glasses and looked at him with a renewed intensity.

“Richard—”

“Rick,” he said. “You can call me Rick.”

“Okay, sorry. Rick. I see you were in marketing at a dot-com.”

“Yes.”

“I suppose you’re looking for a more noble calling. You understand,

though, that the case assistant position is an entry-level position.”

She obviously had seen his type before—or at least the type she thought he was.

“Yes, I know. But—”

“We get a lot of people applying for this who are right out of college, including schools back East,” she said, referencing his résumé. “You’ll be doing a lot of grunt work. When was the last time you did grunt work?”

He almost said “yesterday,” but he held his tongue. He was prepared for this, the not-so-subtle age discrimination. He looked good for thirty- seven—but not that good.

“You might want to look again, Ms. Hinojosa. I was in marketing—but a long time ago.”

She put her glasses back on and looked at the sheet.

“Oh,” she said, reading the dates more carefully. “Wow. Seven years.”

She looked at him again. “What have you been doing since then?”

“Time,” he said.

Her eyes opened wide.

“Out in gold country,” he added. “Mule Creek.”

“You’ve been in prison?”

“Yes.”

He noticed her eyes zeroing in on the long scar on the right upper side of his forehead. He could have hidden the blemish better, but he kept his dark hair slicked back and parted to the other side—the left. The style was a little short to be a true pompadour, but it was longer on top and had some wave to it. She’d noticed the scar when he was in the outer office but probably thought it was some sort of athletic injury.

Now it seemed to take on new meaning for her.

“If you don’t mind my asking, what did you do?”

“Technically speaking, in the eyes of the court, I was responsible for the death of a twenty-four-year-old woman. Felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.”

“Oh.”

“But there were extenuating circumstances.”

He reached in his bag and pulled out a small sheaf of papers that he’d stapled together. They were mostly news clips, but he also had a couple reference letters thrown in at the end, both of them from the owners of restaurants where he’d worked recently.

He handed the packet to her. “In the interest of full disclosure, I thought you should have this.”

She leafed through the clips, starting with the San Francisco Chronicle piece that would forever label the post-bachelor party accident the “Bachelor Disaster,” then moved on to the San Jose Mercury News’s similarly provocative headline, TRADING PLACES, with the subhead, “Bachelor Party Boy Says He Wasn’t Behind Wheel, Friend Switched Seats After Accident.” There were pieces from the local papers, too, covering the trial and subsequent civil lawsuit.

“I vaguely remember this,” she murmured, her eyes betraying conflicting emotions: she seemed partly empathetic, partly perturbed.

“As you might imagine,” he said, “I feel uniquely qualified for the position. How many recent college graduates do you know who can say they have a corporate background and the kind of personal experience I have with this foundation’s potential clients?”

She didn’t seem to know quite how to respond. Perhaps she expected him to smile after he made his declaration, inject it with a little humor, but he didn’t. He said it with a straight face, deadly serious.

For good measure, he added: “I also have a keen understanding of what it’s like to be in a place where you don’t think you should be.”

She looked at his scar again. Then, touching the side of her forehead in the same spot, she asked:

“Did you get that in prison?”

“Yes.” He pointed to a smaller scar just under his left eyebrow. “This one, too. But on the basketball court.”

Before he was sent away, he’d been in decent shape. He ran twice a week and played some pickup games at the Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto. In the joint, though, he’d gotten ripped. He was putting up close to three hundred on the bench, which, for a guy his size— five-eleven, one seventy-five—was serious. And since getting out, he’d mostly kept up his workout regimen. The fact that he could wear the Boss suit, a size fifty, was a testament to that. Before he went up, he was two sizes smaller.

“I had six bad months behind bars, Ms. Hinojosa,” he said. “The rest wasn’t cake. But it was manageable. I helped some guys. I wrote some of the letters you probably received at one time or another. I have, as your ad says, an understanding of criminal justice issues.”

She nodded.

“And you also understand that the starting salary for the job is twenty- seven thousand dollars?”

“That’s better than I thought.”

“How much were you making before you went to prison?”

“In a good year, counting stock and bonus, multiply by ten.”

Now he did smile. And she did, too.

“Long gone,” he said. “Whatever wasn’t taken up in legal fees went to the accident victims’ families.”

Seeing her confusion, he quickly added: “A second woman was injured. Her roommate.”

“Not your fault, though. You were innocent?”

“I didn’t say that. There were extenuating circumstances.”

With that, she looked at his résumé again.

“Well, Mr. Forman,” she said. “You certainly meet the qualifications. But ultimately, I have to run this past a few other people. We have two case coordinators, one of whom isn’t here today, and a second case assistant who you’d share an office with.”

“I’ll tell you what,” he said. “I’ll volunteer for a couple of weeks. You keep interviewing all the recent college grads you want. You’re not going to find anybody more grateful to do grunt work. In that folder, I’ve included my parole officer’s info, as well as the manager at a restaurant in Sacramento where I worked. I encourage you to talk to them.”

She considered his request.

“We wouldn’t be able to pay you.”

“That’s okay. I work nights. I have an income.”

“What do you do?”

“I sing. Mostly at parties. Corporate gatherings. Sometimes at the wax museum at Fisherman’s Wharf. Did a Bar Mitzvah last week.”

“What do you sing?”

“Sinatra.”

“What else?”

“Just Sinatra.”

She raised an eyebrow, not quite believing him.

“I’m a Sinatra impersonator.”

She laughed, and then looked down at his résumé again, stalling.

“Ms. Hinojosa,” he went on, “you know damn well how hard it is for a guy like me to get a corporate job, even a low-paying one. Eventually, I want to start my own company. But today I’m just looking to get back in the game somewhere. If I have to start from the bottom, I at least want to do it at a place like this, where I’m personally invested in the mission.”

She stared at him for a moment

before her mouth gradually broke into a smile. “I suppose you’d be willing to start Monday.”

“Or now,” he said.

“Monday’s okay.”

He stood up and shook her hand. The interview was over. He’d crushed it.

“Monday it is then,” he said.

Follow David’s tour here where you can enter to win a copy of The Big Exit

Guest Author, Showcase, Tribute Books

Guest Author Ken Dalton and Giveaway

CMash January 11, 2013 1 Comment

Our friend Nicole from Tribute Books is back to visit and today she has another author that she would like to introduce us to. So without further ado, Mr. Ken Dalton!!

KEN DALTON

Ken Dalton was born in 1938 at Hollywood Hospital. He grew up with his parents, his older sister, Pat, and younger brother, Richard in Los Angeles. The year 1938 informs the quick reader that Ken’s older than a lot of people, but younger than some.

In a turn of bad luck, the dreaded Polio virus found Ken.

At the end of World War ll, Ken’s family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a year where he learned how to live through snow blizzards, avoid walking through the large pile of coal in the basement, and how to survive life as an Army Officer’s brat on a base called Fort Warren.

By the age of sixteen, after eleven years of operations, therapy, and braces, Ken’s luck changed dramatically when he met the girl of his dreams at a party. A few years later they married, produced three wonderful children, and settled into a happy life in Southern California.

In 1966, Ken, who worked as a technician for Pacific Bell, and his family left Southern California for the green hills of Sonoma County where they bought a home in Sebastopol surrounded with apple trees. A few years later, Ken and Arlene built a new home on three and a half acres. They raised cows, pigs, and learned how to build outstanding fences. While their children grew, they hosted two exchange students, Eva Reimers from Sweden, and Tanja Wuttke from Germany, both of whom are still loved members of the Dalton clan. Also during those years, Ken was promoted to management at Pacific Bell. He eventually ended up responsible for all the central offices, sixty-three, in an area that covered five counties.

In 1977, Ken, Arlene, Bob Wiltermood, and his wife Norma, designed, built, and operated a 2000 case winery named Pommeraie Vineyards. They produced award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. However, after Bob died, the winery was sold. Ken and Arlene moved to a hilltop in Healdsburg.

With the winery gone, and time on their hands, Ken and Arlene started to perform with the Camp Rose Players. Twenty years and forty productions later, both are still acting and singing.

Life was good. All Ken had to do was learn some lines and bow when the audience applauded.

Then, ten years ago, Ken started to write. His first article was published in Golf Illustrated in August 1996. More golf articles followed in national and regional magazines including Golf Magazine and Fairways and Greens.

After a two-year stint on the County Grand Jury, Ken felt the need to begin his first novel.

Now, after a decade of struggle to learn the craft of writing, Ken has become the publishing world’s latest overnight sensation.
Visit Mr. Dalton at his website, Facebook and GoodReads.

GUEST POST

CM: From what and/or where did you decide on this particular plot? Personal experiences?
How much and what type of research did you have to do for this novel?
Where do the plots for my mysteries come from? To be honest, plots are everywhere. What I have learned to do is recognize the obvious.

KD: Before I penned The Tartan Shroud, my wife and I flew to Scotland for an extended visit.

The first time I walked down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, I recalled Yogi Berra famous quote, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” I felt as if I had been there before. Most of the people passing me on the sidewalk had red hair and freckles, on their arms and faces. As the only kid in my family with red hair and freckles, you cannot imagine how it felt to discover there was a place in this world where I was a member of the majority.

But I was in Scotland to research a new location for my latest Pinky and Bear adventure, so after absorbing the local color of Edinburgh, we traveled to Pitlochry in the midlands.

While playing a round of golf at the Pitlochry Golf Club, (I didn’t say location research was all work) I crossed a wee burn (that’s a little creek to American’s) and the murder scene of The Tartan Shroud popped into my head. From that point on, my golf game suffered because the part of my brain that should have been concentrating on my swing was spinning through potential plot twists and turns.

A couple of days later, I spotted the dam that created Loch Faskally and the second puzzle piece of the plot fit into place.

Before we left Pitlochry and drove north into the highlands, we toured Blair Castle. While I wandered through the opulent rooms and confined corridors, the concluding chapters came into focus.

Now I had my plot, but I knew that I would need assistance from someone in Scotland who could guide me through the troubled waters of Scottish police procedures, and Scottish law. I found that man in Sergeant William MacFarlane. After some correspondence via snail mail, Willie took me under his wing, answered every question, and he even made suggestions in some sections of the manuscript where I had a problem concerning the proper police title.

So there you have it. That is how I developed the plot for The Tartan Shroud. All I had to do was wander through Scotland and recognize the obvious—from the Royal Mile in Edinburgh—to a golf course in Pitlochry—to the impressive Blair Castle, home of the Duke of Atholl.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A bulldozer unearths a young girl’s body on a golf course in Scotland but for some reason, Fergus Murray, the top crime officer in Tayside seems unwilling to pursue the case. Fergus contacts Willow Stone, his American cousin and pleads for help. Willow, Pinky’s favorite ex-wife, calls in all her chips and convinces Pinky, Bear, Flo, and Ettamae to go to the small Scottish town of Pitlochry to help her cousin find the killer. Along the way the American’s come across a forester with a wonky eye—haggis—the occasional bad weather spring day—various Scottish policeman all named McSomething—mutton pie—a near new, sixty-year-old Austin Taxi—a bathroom that could double for a freezer—the nearly indecipherable Scottish accent—many glasses of whiskey and beer—ancient records—a broadsword—and a real Duke! Ride with Bear, Flo, and Henry during their final mad dash across Scotland to try to stop the murderer before he kills again inside the hallowed halls of Blair Castle.
Purchase Links: Amazon PB Digital B&N PB

AUTHOR, KEN DALTON, IS HOSTING A GIVEAWAY FOR
TEN (10) LUCKY WINNERS. ENDS FEB 1st. U.S. ONLY ENTER BELOW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcement, Events, Guest Author, Showcase, The Hachette Book Group

Book to Movie Theater…Do you have your ticket?

CMash January 10, 2013 Leave a Comment

When Marissa from Grand Central Publishing/The Hachette Book Group emailed me, I knew this was BIG!! Not only BIG, but HUGE and that you would want to know about it. So without further ado……….drum roll please………………

No. 1 New York Times Best-Selling Author Nicholas Sparks Discusses Upcoming Film Safe Haven in Live Cinema Fan EventNCM^® Fathom Events and Relativity Media Present One-Night Event with Oscar^®-Nominated Director Lasse Hallström, Stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough and Author in Select Cinemas Nationwide on Thursday, Jan 17, 2013

Centennial, Colo. – Dec. 20, 2012 – Unveiling a sneak peek into one of the most anticipated film adaptations of 2013, NCM^® Fathom Events and Relativity Media present “A Night with Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven: Filmmakers, Author and Stars Bring the Book to Life,” broadcast live to select cinemas nationwide on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT and tape delayed at 7:00 p.m. MT / 8:00 p.m. PT/Alaska and Hawaii. This special one-night event, broadcast live from LA Castle Studios in Burbank, Calif., will feature the No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Nicholas Sparks in a live discussion and Q&A session with fans about the cinematic adaptation of his best-selling novel, Safe Haven. Moderated by Extra TV host Maria Menounos and featuring appearances from the film’s stars Josh Duhamel (Transformers, Life as We Know It) and Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages, Footloose) as well as Oscar^®-nominated director Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules), producers Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga) and Wyck Godfrey (The Twilight Saga), fans will be treated to exclusive clips and behind-the-scenes footage of the eagerly- awaited film.

Tickets for “A Night with Nicholas Sparks’ Safe Haven: Filmmakers, Author and Stars Bring the Book to Life” are available now at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the NCM Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change). The event will be broadcast to more than 500 select movie theaters across the country through NCM’s exclusive Digital Broadcast Network.

“This event promises to be an exciting new way to connect with fans around the country – a first for me and the talented creative team behind Safe Haven,” said Sparks. “I can’t wait to talk about the unique collaboration with Josh and Julianne, who transformed the characters in my book into living people whose loves and losses will come to life soon on the big screen. It’s been a privileged experience working with Lasse, Marty and Wyck on this film and now my readers will have a chance to share in that experience as well.”

Safe Haven will be distributed by Relativity Media in theaters nationwide on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013. When a mysterious young woman (Hough) arrives in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight-knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex (Duhamel), a widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude on her new life that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving romantic thriller. The film is directed by Oscar®-nominated Lasse Hallström, based on the novel by Sparks from a screenplay by Dana Stevens and Gage Lansky and also stars Cobie Smulders (The Avengers) and David Lyons (J.J. Abram’s Revolution). Bowen, Godfrey, Sparks and Relativity’s CEO Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter)served as producers.

“Nicholas Sparks’ books always translate so well to the big screen, including such hits as The Notebook, Dear John, The Last Song – among many others,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “Fans will get a look at how these bestsellers are transformed into blockbusters before Safe Haven hits theaters in February with this special event which features the film’s Oscar®-nominated director and the film’s stars.”

For more information, please check out the Safe Haven movie Facebook and Twitter.

And for more information regarding tickets and the movie, click here.

NICHOLAS SPARKS

Nicholas Sparks is the author of 16 books. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and children.
You can visit the author’s web site at www. nicholassparks.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

THANKS TO MARISSA, FROM GCP/THE HACHETTE BOOK GROUP,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY OF THIS BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.
U.S RESIDENTS ONLY

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY PAGE

Book Review, Guest Author, WOW, WOW Tours

Guest Author Kate Van Raden and Review “Dancing at the Shame Prom”

CMash January 8, 2013 1 Comment

Dancing at the Shame Prom edited by Amy Ferris & Hollye Dexter
Published by Seal Press
Publication Date: September 11, 2012
ISBN-10: 1580054161
ISBN-13: 978-1580054164
Pages: 264
Review Copy from: WOW!
Edition: TPB
My Rating: 4

Synopsis:

Shame is a powerful thing. It can weigh on your heart and mind, diminish your sense of self-worth, and impact the way you live in the world. But what happens when you share that secret burden?

Amy Ferris, Hollye Dexter, and the writers they brought together are all ready to let go of shame. In Dancing at the Shame Prom, twenty-six extraordinary women—Lyena Strelkoff, Teresa Stack, Monica Holloway, Nina Burleigh, Amy Friedman, Meredith Resnick, Victoria Zackheim, and more—take the plunge and say “yes” to sharing their stories. These brave writers, journalists, musicians, artists, directors, and activists have offered up their most funny, sad, poignant, miraculous, life-changing, and jaw-dropping secrets for you to gawk at, empathize with, and learn from—in the hopes that they will inspire others to do the same. Letting go feels good!

Freeing, provocative, and audacious, Dancing at the Shame Prom is about flaunting the secrets that have made you feel small so that you can stand up straight, let the shame go, and finally—decisively—move on with your life.

My Thoughts and Opinion:

Last month, on Dec. 12, 2012, I posted a spotlight for both the editors and of this book, which you can see it here. Today I am reviewing the book and showcasing one (1) of twenty-seven (27) courageous female authors.

Dancing at the Shame Promcan be either a very quick read or one that can be picked up, read and reread as it contains twenty-seven (27) stories from twenty-seven brave women who tell of their life’s struggles, trauma, shame and their ability to cope and recover. As a female, I could relate to the majority of the essays that entails parenting, marriage, body image, relationships, guilt, etc. and the ability to hide all that from the outside world, and even, sometimes ourselves. Women who share their darkest secrets in the hopes to help others.

A very poignant, touching, thought provoking and empathetic read. Highly recommend!!

One of the authors, Kate Van Raden, relates the shame she endured with her battle with an eating disorder, and to this day, still has struggles but has come a long way from where she was. She was kind enough to write a guest post detailing her trials and tribulations.

KATE VAN RADEN

GUEST POST

Starting Over

By Kate Van Raden

When I thought I was at my lowest point with my eating disorder, I was struggling to finish a Bachelor of Arts, and staying off campus in a bed and breakfast for weeks at a time. The next time I thought I was at my lowest point, I wasn’t speaking to my family as they began to have concerns about my modeling and weight. They saw me fading away before them and becoming someone else; suddenly making choices that were not in accordance with my character. I pulled away from anyone who might notice I was changing. I stepped away from old friendships, surrounded myself with new people. Finally, I decided to move to NY. As I was already modeling, that was an easy guise, but that didn’t last long. Several months after relocating, I retired, as I couldn’t imagine going in front of anyone feeling such despair about my body. No matter how I worked and worked, I couldn’t break a certain weight. No matter how little I ate, I couldn’t get any smaller. The obsession became a madness. I chose to work around the clock to keep my mind occupied. I thought I could out run hunger, out run food, out run eating…I had several dear friends to whom I credit my life during that time. But the last low, the one that stuck, was standing in an E.R. with my parents, hearing that my heart wasn’t strong enough to go home. I had no choice but to return to Oregon for treatment.

Those first weeks in a hospital bed I cried every time they brought the food and every time they checked to see if I finished it. I cried when they woke me up at 4 a.m. every morning to draw blood. I cried when they stuck heart pads on my skin in case my heart stopped while I was sleeping. I cried every time they changed them. I cried when the nurse washed me in the shower and when we talked about plans. I wrote in a journal and kept lists of everything I had worked for in my life and everything I had given up. I couldn’t have a conversation with anyone except my parents, and the humiliation of explaining myself to any friend or family member, seemed worse than death. So I made them promise no one would know I was home. I knew if people found out, they would want to see me, they would want to talk and try to say helpful things, and I would want to die. They promised.

As I lay in the hospital worrying about my heart and aching for my ‘normal life’ (ahem, back in h*ll) I came to the conclusion that I had given myself every chance to try that life. I had given myself more than a generous amount of time to ‘make better choices’ or change my behavior. I realized that there was no possible outcome of success on the path I had been on. Well, that forced me to admit to myself and to everyone else that I had given life my best try and ultimately failed. I have said this before, I know, but I felt that I had failed at being thin AND I had failed at being well. I had to accept that I would need love and support, change and growth and education and mountains of will, and more than anything…time. Each phase of my journey has had its own colors, but the first one was all about humility. I asked myself “Are you more afraid of the pain of trying to be healthy, than you are the torture you have been living with?”, and honestly, even in the depths of anorexia, I knew the answer was a “NO”. There are times when that “no” is louder or quieter, but I know that I want my life. I want to love my family and friends; to celebrate joy with them. Even when I couldn’t feel the benefits, I knew that the only way I ever would was to keep giving any effort I had to fighting for my life back. My family and a small handful of others have been essential to my progress. If I hadn’t been able to trust in them and be vulnerable with them, I wouldn’t have been able to make as much progress as I have. Having a few people around you that you can trust and lean on can be lifesaving; even just one. I continue to push myself to grow in areas I am uncomfortable. I seek education anywhere I can get it. If there are new books or treatments or medications or therapies, I’ll try them. I want to give myself a 100% chance at a great life, and for me, that means a self-awareness of how or when I am sabotaging my own chances. For so many of us, it is a question of pride; or perhaps more appropriately named: shame. That is the main reason I decided to participate in The Shame Prom project. I wanted to be a part of something that helped free other people from the tethers of pride, and loosened their shame burden a bit.

Starting over is very hard for some, and a welcome blessing for others. Whether you tremble at the door, or rush forth in excitement, surrounding yourself with people who you can share emotional intimacy along your journey can make all the difference. I would say to anyone who is facing the prospects of starting over: Don’t keep waking up every day to a life that’s wearing you thin. Keep your hands out grasping at whatever’s there. Keep your hands out grasping for hope, and eventually, you will grasp something worth holding on to. Don’t stop grasping, don’t stop trying, and don’t give up.

REVIEW DISCLAIMER
This blog was founded on the premise to write honest reviews, to the
best of my ability, no matter who from, where from and/or how the book
was obtained, and will continue to do so, even if it is through PICT or PBP.

(2013 Challenges: JFF, In A Name, Count The Ways, First Reads, FreeReads, 52 in 52, Outdo Yourself, Read-A-Latte)

Guest Author, Showcase, Tribute Books

Guest Author Frank Nappi

CMash January 7, 2013 1 Comment

I will admit I am not a big sports fan but have been surrounded by die hard sports fans with my husband and 2 sons. Before becoming empty nesters, our house saw many get togethers with my sons’ friends to watch games on TV. And having 2 sons with different “favorite” teams, it was also quite a loud house lol. So when Nicole from Tribute Books emailed me, how could I say NO, my sons would never forgive me. I ask that you help me give Mr. Frank Nappi are warm welcome to our group!

FRANK NAPPI

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, “Echoes From The Infantry,” received national attention, including MWSA’s silver medal for outstanding fiction for 2006. His follow-up novel, “The Legend of Mickey Tussler,” garnered rave reviews as well, including a screenplay adaptation (“A Mile in His Shoes”) of the touching story which aired nationwide in September of 2011 and was released on DVD in January of 2012. Frank continues to produce quality work, including “The Legend of Mickey Tussler: Sophomore Campaign,” the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story, and he is presently at work on a third installment of the unique series, as well as his first mystery /thriller entitled “Nobody Has To Know.” Frank lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony and continues to support organizations such as Autism Speaks, Best Buddies, and Challenger Baseball.
Visit Mr. Nappi at his website, Facebook, Twitter and GoodReads.

GUEST POST

Teaching on a Tight-Rope

Teaching my novel to my own students is an experience I shall never forget – thrilling yes, but only in a manner tantamount to a dream where I am walking a tight-rope stretched precariously across a ravine filled with rapacious creatures, all without the comfort of a safety net. Or perhaps clothing. Or both.

Gasp.

Not too long ago, both the English Director and the Superintendent of the school district where I teach English and Creative Writing recognized the value of my students reading my novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, in class. All of us acknowledged the unique nature of such an endeavor and proceeded with alacrity. “Your students will benefit from ‘asking the author’ about the creation of plot, characters, writer’s craft, etc.” my supervisor said. “And be given immediate, first-hand feedback. It is priceless.” The superintendent was equally ebullient. “Frank, this is a wonderful opportunity for both you and your students,” he gushed. “They get the privilege of hearing you speak about the creation of the story they are reading and analyzing it and you will be able to ascertain valuable insights into my own story as seen through the eyes of some hesitant yet inquisitive minds in return.” Hearing their spirited sentiments buoyed my own zeal. Yes, this would be a blast – an extreme alteration of the traditional classroom milieu – the pinnacle of an English teacher’s customary practice. What could possibly be more fulfilling?

Cue the tight-rope.

The first wave of trepidation came by way of a diffident, slight girl who occupied the very first seat in front of me.

“But what if we don’t like the book,” she asked in tremulous tones. “We don’t want to insult you Mr. Nappi with what we say?” I was able to ameliorate her concerns easily enough. I simply explained that we would spend some time analyzing my book in class, similar to the way we had done Huckleberry Finn, Ethan Frome, and The Great Gatsby. In an attempt to further assuage her angst, I shared that I had spoken to students from other school districts who read the book and although much of what we talked about was of the critical variety, I was still emotionally in tact and no students who voiced displeasure of any kind suffered any form of malediction. She was satisfied, but I was unmoored; the report of the shot she had fired resonated in my ears like the clashing of cymbals. What if they really don’t like it? I thought. Then what? My apprehension burgeoned exponentially and I felt the need to flee but alas, it was too late; I was in too far.

The rope was already stretched, and I had taken those first few steps. I could not bear to look down.

So I inched along warily with both arms stretched out and discovered, much to my delight, that the experience was indeed everything that those who had conceived the idea said it would be. There were some dissenters of course, those who invoked the teenage mantra of “why do we have to read anyway?” and a handful of others politely suggested that I failed to capture their interest. Truth be told, it hurt a little. Most of my students, however, were thoroughly engaged and genuinely intrigued by the process by which an idea becomes a novel. They asked provocative questions and offered insightful comments about the characters and the thematic issues explored in the novel. It was beautiful; these young readers were provided with a window into the world of the creative arts and they peered in, learning many of the intricacies germane to creative writing. And if that were not enough, teaching what I had written years before made me fall in love all over again with my characters and the circumstances in which I placed them.

I was halfway across the ravine with nary a wiggle….but then the rope began to sway.

One of my students suggested that they write reviews of the book for me as a culminating activity. These reviews ranged from high praise to tepid interest to outright disdain. Again, the more pejorative ones stung a bit, but I was grateful nevertheless for their candor, insight and observations.

I was struggling a bit now but still had my footing.

It was only after some of my students had posted their reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads, that I felt my knees begin to slacken and my feet give way. The less favorable assessments stung more in print and I learned that someone with ill intent suggested that I was “compensating” students for positive reviews, even though those posted represented a fairly mixed lot. I found myself under siege, my character and integrity impugned unjustifiably. I also found myself questioning my decision making abilities; why did I agree to let my students read my book in class? It exposed me in ways that no teacher should ever be.

I made it to the other side of the ravine, but I was hanging by my hands.

Some weeks later, I received several emails from both students and parents, thanking me for being “brave” enough to teach my novel. Suddenly I felt better. Maybe I could do it again, I mused, with another one of my novels. Not a bad idea I suppose, except for the nature of my latest – a mystery/thriller called Nobody Has To Know, the dark and somewhat daring story of Cameron Baldridge, a popular high school teacher whose relationship with one of his students leads him down an unfortunate and self-destructive path.

Hmmm. I may have to pass this time. That’s one tight-rope that could easily become a noose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Legend of Mickey Tussler Book Summary:
In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.
Purchase links: Amazon PB Digital B&N PB Digital IndieBound

Book Details:
Prices/Formats: $12.95 paperback, $12.95 ebook
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781616086589
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release: April 1, 2012

THANKS TO AUTHOR, FRANK NAPPI, AND TRIBUTE BOOKS, I HAVE
TWO (2) BOOKS, THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER and
SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, TO GIVEAWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.
ADDENDUM
I do not have any affiliation with Amazon.com or
Barnes & Noble. I am an IndieBound affliate.
I am providing link(s) solely for visitors
that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

Author, Giveaway, Tribute Books

ENTRY PAGE “THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER” and “SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN” by Frank Nappi ENDED

CMash January 7, 2013 9 Comments

JANUARY 7th to JANUARY 21st, 2013

THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER

and SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN

by FRANK NAPPI

SYNOPSIS:

The Legend of Mickey Tussler Book Summary:

In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.

Sophomore Campaign Book Summary:
It’s 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

THANKS TO AUTHOR, FRANK NAPPI,

I HAVE ONE ( 1 ) COPY OF EACH BOOK

TO GIVE AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER.
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.

*USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW
IN ORDER TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GIVEAWAY*
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL

ADDRESS IN THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM
SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN
*LEAVE COMMENT: WHAT IS YOUR

FAVORITE BASEBALL TEAM?*

*U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*

*NO P.O. BOXES*

**HONOR SYSTEM**
ONE WINNING BOOK PER HOUSEHOLD
PLEASE NOTIFY ME IF YOU HAVE
WON THIS BOOK FROM ANOTHER
SITE, SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY
HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN
AND READ THIS BOOK.
THANK YOU.

*GIVEAWAY ENDS JANUARY 21st AT 6PM EST*

WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RAFFLECOPTER AND NOTIFIED
VIA EMAIL AND WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO RESPOND
OR ANOTHER NAME WILL BE CHOSEN

DISCLAIMER / RULES

Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners via publisher,
the giveaway on behalf of the
above. I received a copy of this book, at no charge to me, in
exchange for my honest review. No items that I receive are
ever sold…they are kept by me, or given to family and/or friends.

I am not responsible for lost or damaged books that are shipped
from agents. I reserve the right to disqualify/delete any entries
if rules of giveaway are not followed

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Guest Author, Providence Book Promotions, Showcase, The Story Plant

Guest Author Steven Manchester

CMash January 6, 2013 1 Comment

I am honored, not only to have today’s guest stop by and talk about his lastest novel, but also to kick off his virtual tour with Providence Book Promotions. I read his debut novel, Twelve Months, through The Story Plant’s Spread The Word Initiative, which I am a member of and the novel blew me away. And today I have the distinct pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Steven Manchester!!

STEVEN MANCHESTER

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller TWELVE MONTHS and PRESSED PENNIES, THE UNEXPECTED STORM: The Gulf War Legacy, and JACOB EVANS, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly N ews. Recently, three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.
Visit Steven at his website or these other sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, GOODNIGHT, BRIAN is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.
Read my review here.

Book Details
PUBLISHED BY: The Story Plant
PUBLICATION DATE: January 8, 2013
ISBN: 978-1611880618
GENRE: Fiction
# OF PAGES: 308

Purchase links:

Read an excerpt:

Enough time had passed for the shock of Brian’s condition to wear off. Joan had stumbled beyond the grieving process and had given up negotiating with God. She was now at a place called rage. Mama sat with her daughter at the kitchen table, trying to help her make sense of it all. “Maybe Brian’s a test from God?” Mama suggested.“Why would God test a little baby who’s never done a thing wrong? Why would He test an innocent child?” Joan snapped back.

Mama shook her head. “I didn’t say God was testing Brian,” she said evenly. There was a thoughtful pause. “Maybe He’s testing everyone around Brian?”

“I don’t want to hear that!” Joan roared. “My son will never be able to enjoy the life of other people who don’t…”

Mama slapped her hand on the Formica table, stopping Joan in mid-sentence and turning her face into that of a seven-year-old girl’s. “Not another negative word, do you hear me?” she yelled back, quickly grabbing her daughter’s hands and holding them tightly. “Positive, Joan – everything must be positive! Negative calls for negative and positive brings forth positive. Brian’s already facing some unfair challenges. We have to be positive, Joan. We just have to be!”

Joan wiped her eyes. “But what if the doctor’s right, Ma?” she muttered in a tortured voice. “What
if…”

Without letting Joan’s hands go, Mama took a deep breath and started in on her own tirade. “The doctors don’t know what the hell they’re talking about! I had a grandmother who lived her whole life as a brittle diabetic, but she ate anything she wanted. She died three days before her eighty-fifth birthday. Your grandfather supposedly had cirrhosis of the liver, but lived with his bottle for forty more years until old age took him. They don’t know beans! Besides, we need to have faith in a higher source.” She pulled her crucifix away from her neck and kissed it. “You have to believe, Joan. Before any of the healing can take place, you have to believe that it will.” She nodded and lowered her tone. “Only God knows how… and that’s enough.”

Joan placed her face in her hands and began to cry. She was now completely removed from her rage and safely returned to the stage of grief. “I’m…just… so…scared,” she stuttered, sobbing.

Mama stroked her hair. “Don’t you worry, love. They say that children are raised by a village.” She nodded her gray, curly head. “I think it’s about time we had a village meeting.”