WELCOME MIKE BOND

MIKE BOND

Bestselling author, international energy expert, environmental and political activist and foreign correspondent, Mike Bond has lived and worked in over thirty countries on six continents.
Connect with Mike Bond at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a beautiful journalist drowns mysteriously off Waikiki, former Special
Forces veteran Pono Hawkins, now a well-known Hawaii surfer and international
surfing correspondent, quickly gets embroiled in trying to solve her death. What he
learns soon targets him for murder or life in prison as a cabal of powerful
corporations, foreign killers and crooked politicians focuses the blame on him.

Haunted by memories of Afghanistan, and determined to protect the Hawaii he
loves from dirty politics tied to huge destructive energy developments, Pono turns
to Special Forces buddies and his own skills to fight his deadly enemies, trying to
both save himself and track down her killers.

More than an eco-thriller, this fast-moving story shares the author’s inside
knowledge of the egregious scams of industrial wind power and its catastrophic
ecological and social impacts, and how oil companies and investment banks under
the guise of “green” energy are trying to co-opt the environmental movement.

Alive with the sights, sounds and history of Hawaii, Saving Paradise is also a rich
portrait of what Pono calls “the seamy side of paradise”, and a relentless thriller of
politics, lies, manhunts and remorseless murder.

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 302 pages
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
Publication Date: November 20, 2012
ISBN-10: 1627040013
ISBN-13: 978-1627040013

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO LIZ AT MEDIA MUSCLE/THE BOOK TRIB,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 3rd AT 6PM EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

Hosted by Michelle @ Seasons of Reading

I’m signed up!!  Want to join me?  Details below.

I have been in a MAJOR reading slump since the beginning of the year.  I mean MAJOR.  I have read only 9 books this year!!!  That is awful!!  I only remember once, in all the many years of reading, that this has happened where it lasted this long.

I signed on for the Spring Read-A-Thon, thinking it would help, and nothing.  I think, during that one, I read for a total of 2-3 hours in a week.  So going to give it another try!!

Here are the details for this coming week’s read-a-thon:

It’s time to sign up for the High Summer Read-a-Thon! I hope you will join me this month for the week of July 22. We will start on Monday, 7/22 at 12:00am CST and finish on Sunday, 7/28 at 11:59pm CST (adjust times according to your time zone). Read what you like during the week. I’ve decided it’s not about quantity, but quality (although those who rock the quantity…I salute you!). So, if you have kids and want to read children’s books, go for it! As always, this is a week long read-a-thon, but you can join in and read whenever it’s convenient for you. It’s all about being laid back and getting some reading done.

I will not be hosting any mini-challenges, as we learned from my last few read-a-thons, focusing on the reading rocks. However, if anyone else would like to host a mini-challenge (or giveaway), you are more than welcome…just let me know. If you know someone who would like to donate a prize, or authors, if you would like to promote your book through the read-a-thon, please contact me via the tab at the top of the blog. We will also have a few scheduled Twitter chats again. I will announce the times in the starting line post. Our Twitter hashtag is #HSreadathon

You do not have to have a blog. You can sign up using your Goodreads, Twitter, or Facebook accounts.

If you are planning on joining me (I hope so), please sign up in the linky below. You don’t have to do a post now, but if you would like to help me spread the word, that would be great. Don’t forget that this is just the sign-up linky. There will be a starting line sign-in and wrap-up linkies during the read-a-thon and doing both is required to be eligible for the giveaway (s). I will also be adding a mid-week check-in post, but you are not required to link up for the giveaway (s). Just if you want us to check out your progress. You can sign in at the starting line any time during the week up until Friday night at midnight CST.

…..of Undone by Shannon Richard

CONGRATULATIONS!!

An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS ANNOUNCE

THE WINNERS OF THE 2013 THRILLER AWARDS

CONGRATULATIONS!!

ANNE RICE WINS 2013 THRILLERMASTER AWARD 

The ballots are in and votes have been counted. The International Thriller Writers (ITW) is proud to announce the most thrilling authors of 2013. The winners of this year’s ITW Thriller Awards are:

2013 THRILLERMASTER AWARD: Anne Rice, one of America’s most beloved and celebrated authors, has 31 written novels, including The Vampire Chronicles, Songs of the Seraphim and the new Wolf Gift Chronicles. She has sold nearly 100 million books.

Presented by R.L. Stine, 2011 ThrillerMaster

2012 SILVER BULLET AWARD: Steve Berry, The New York Timesand internationally bestselling author of The King’s Deception, The Jefferson Key, The Columbus Affair and nine more novels, Berry was honored for his philanthropic work on behalf of fellow writers and historic preservation.

Presented by Brad Meltzer, 2009 Silver Bullet Award

BEST HARD COVER NOVEL

Brian Freeman – SPILLED BLOOD (Silver Oak)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Sean Doolittle – LAKE COUNTRY (Bantam)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

Matthew Quirk – THE 500 (Reagan Arthur Books)

BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL NOVEL

CJ Lyons – BLIND FAITH (Minotaur Books)

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

Dan Krokos – FALSE MEMORY (Hyperion Books CH)

BEST SHORT STORY

John Rector – LOST THINGS (Thomas & Mercer)

There’s only one event where you can find New York Times best-selling authors lurking around every single corner, literary agents actually appearing in broad daylight and fans openly plotting and conspiring with the most feared and revered names of the thriller genre. Please join us next year from July 9-12, 2014 for ThrillerFest IX, the International Thriller Writers’ ninth annual celebration of all things Thriller is the largest event of its kind in the world.  The highlight of the festival will be the gala ITW Thriller Awards Banquet during which a fresh batch of authors will be announced as the chosen heroes of suspense.www.thrillerfest.com

WELCOME E.Z. FRIEDEL

E.Z. FRIEDEL

E.Z. Friedel is a novelist and surgeon. His first novel, The Cutting Room, based on his medical experiences in Spanish Harlem, was published by Bantam. It sold out its first printing of 50,000 copies and was optioned three times to NBC. He lives in Atlantic Beach, N.Y., and has done 20 years of research for his second novel, MARILYN’S RED DIARY.
Connect with E.Z. Friedel at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Based on shocking new information, a fictional account of what might have happened to the iconic and troubled star is revealed in MARILYN’S RED DIARY (Sand Shack LLC; June 1, 2013). Incorporating the people who tried to protect her, and those that may have killed her, this shocking and scandalous story is told by Marilyn herself as she recounts the events of the day—and the steamy, sexual encounters of the night—confiding in her diary all the details of her dirty little secrets about the famous and

powerful. At the time of her death, the diary, if discovered, with its explicit insider knowledge of covert activities, would have brought down the U.S. government, the Kennedys, and the CIA.

MARILYN’S RED DIARY is at times funny, scandalous and sad, but always brutally honest. Marilyn Monroe is caught between intellectual giants—her awkward, award-winning playwright husband, Arthur, and her dashing politician boyfriend, Jack. Then along comes Jack’s fiery brother, Bobby. The world’s dream girl relates her intimate adventures in this touching portrait of a hard-working, extremely bright woman, trapped in her own sensuality and, tragically born far ahead of her time.

BOOK DETAILS:

Publisher: Sand Shack LLC
Publication date: June 1, 2013
Number of Pages: 367
ISBN: 978-0-9888907-0-1

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO LIZ AT MEDIA MUSCLE,
I HAVE TWO (2) COPIES TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS AUGUST 1st AT 6PM EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM

WELCOME MICHELLE MUCKLEY

MICHELLE MUCKLEY

I was born in the town of Warwick in 1981. It is a small historical town in the heart of England, and Ι was the fifth child born into a family of boys. I developed a huge interest in the written world from a young age, and with more than a little help from Roald Dahl found quite the taste for anything gross and gory. Book club at primary school only proved to increase my love of escaping into the world of a book.

Whilst six years at secondary school did little to quell the romantic notion of one day sitting in my mountain cabin and smoking a celebratory cigarette as the first novel was born, somewhere within those six years the dream of becoming a writer got put on hold. The question of who actually manages to make a living out of being writer was persistently posed in my over-active mind. Who manages to pull that off? Not many, according to most people. Perhaps it was because science was deemed a safer career path, or perhaps it was because they let me chop up hearts, but I found myself spending more and more time in the biology lab and eventually the university applications were completed and the next twelve years employment were set; science, hearts, but yet sadly no more dissections.  Still, resting quietly in the background were those long and lingering desires to once again rediscover the old aspirations to write.

About six years ago, with the smouldering embers of a childhood dream sparking uncomfortably underfoot there was what can only be called an epiphany. Who is it that actually becomes a writer? Is it the people who live in New York? Is it the girl whose aunt works for Harper Collins or S&S, or another beast of a publishing house? It is those people, yes. But it’s not just those people. It’s the people who write.  And I wasn’t doing any of that, with the exception of a few dogeared post-it notes hanging around in pockets and drawes with half baked ideas scribbled on them.  Whilst this may sound simplistic, it was the revelation I needed to sit down and type Chapter One. The first book, The Loss of Deference was no
longer just a fantasy and slowly became a workable manuscript. It was then sent out in eagerness before it was properly edited and therefore it was duly returned, and rightly so I collected a nice set of rejection letters.  At this point I had never even heard the concept of a self published author, or indie author.

Six years later, having uprooted from England to settle on the southern Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, the dream to be a writer and to publish thriller books that were once deemed nothing more than pipe dreams are now a reality. I am still working as a part time scientist, but I am also writing daily. When I am not sat at the computer typing about the darker side of life, you will find me hiking in the mountains, drinking frappe at the beach, or talking to myself in the kitchen in the style of an American celebrity chef. Just think Ina Garten.
Connect with Michelle at these sites:

Q&A WITH MICHELLE

On Writing and Reading:

-Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
I would say that every book is a combination of both.  Invariably the things that happen around me on a daily basis are a significant influence on the work that I produce, but every book that I have written has at least some reference to personal events.  Perhaps this is not quite in a literal sense, but there is a big part of ‘Michelle’ in my characters, even to the point of some of the characters mannerisms.

-Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
I always start from the beginning.  For Escaping Life, I wasn’t even sure exactly how it was going to end whilst I was writing the penultimate chapter.  I couldn’t decide if people lived or died, and in the end I just kept writing and went with whatever seemed right at the time.  I can’t imagine coming up with a conclusion and then trying to decide what needed to happen in the past in order for it to seem realistic.

The only time I work backwards is during the second draft, once I have established the themes I want to highlight, and need to make sure that the timeline is consistent

-Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
Generally no.  But there are a few things I like.  I like a good cup of tea, milk and one sugar, and preferably PG tips!  But as long as it’s quiet, I’m happy.  I have tried many times to listen to music whilst I write, but so far I haven’t succeeded.

-Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?
Writing is my half time job.  By profession and qualification I am a scientist.  I worked for many years in the UK health service in a hospital.  I loved it.  But now I live in Cyprus and my husband and I have a cardiology clinic.  In the mornings I write and in the afternoons I see patients.

-Who are some of your favourite authors?
Stephen King was my favourite author growing up.  I can still remember the first time I picked up one of his books and saw his photograph on the back.  The owner of the book told me he was a crazy guy, that he wrote about scary things, and that the book probably wasn’t for me.  I had read Gerald’s Game within a week and had decided that one day I hope people said the same things about me.  I was nine.  It was the first time I decided that I would be a writer.  I admire Louis de Bernieres, and love how easy it is to get lost in the world that he creates.  Khaled Hosseini is also remarkable and a fantastic story teller.  I enjoy many authors, but recently discovered Gillian Flynn and am hooked.  I am anxious to read Dark Places!

-What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn.  Currently Paul Pilkington’s The One You Love.  I have had it on my Kindle for a while, but had got into a ‘real book’ habit so it has been waiting for me to read it.  I am enjoying it.

-Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?
No, I am in the middle of the weird weeks when I am not writing.  My attentions are with the next release, Identity X, which is coming out in September and all of my efforts are focussed on getting the release right.  So I am working on blog posts and marketing.  It feels strange not to be working on something and I am keen to get started.  There is an idea in my head, that I know is not quite resolved yet, but I am nearly there.

Fun questions:

-Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?
OK, let’s say that Paramount pick up Identity X and we are looking for a cast.  A great actor for Ben Stone would be Bradley Cooper.  He’s a looker, I admit that, but he is also a big talent. He looks like a good guy, and he is, but there is something that simmers underneath the surface in his roles that just make you think that there is something a little bit darker lurking there.  That’s what I want on screen for Ben Stone.

-Would you rather read or watch TV/movie?
Depends.  I’d always rather read than watch TV (the only exception The food channel or a Friends rerun – they just never get old).  I would trade a movie for a good book, but I would wonder if I missed out and end up staying up to watch it once I had finished reading.

-Favourite food?
I’ll eat any food except mushrooms, but my favourite is Italian.  I am married to a Greek, and I am thankful that he isn’t Italian because I would be at least 15 kilo’s heavier by now.

-Favourite beverage?
In the day, tea.  At night, Amaretto over lots of crushed ice.  Or a Mojito.

Thank you for stopping by CMash Reads and spending time with us.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After arriving at his laboratory to find that it has disappeared, he is sucked into a world of conspiracy and betrayal. The Agency wants NEMREC and will do anything to get it, believing it to be the most powerful scientific discovery in decades. But it wasn’t just NEMREC that they wanted. The Agency wanted Ben dead, but somehow he survived. His best friend, his wife, and Ami, the beautiful scientist who he has fallen for at work all offer to help him, but each has a different version of the truth. They all have their own agenda, only one of them wants what he wants, and in a world where you are already dead, how is it that you are supposed to survive?

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 affiliate. I am providing link(s) solely for visitors that may be interested in purchasing this Book/EBook.

…….of From This Moment On by Bella Andre

CONGRATULATIONS!!

An email has been sent and the winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.   Thank you to all that entered.

WELCOME DESTINY ALLISON

 

DESTINY ALLISON

Destiny Allison is an award winning sculptor, businesswoman, and community builder, although writing was her first love. As her passion for the written word evolves, Allison is writing what she loves. Pipe Dreams is her fiction debut and other fictional works are soon to follow.

Last year, she published Shaping Destiny: A quest for meaning in art and life and it recently took first place honors in the non-fiction/memoir category in the 2013 LuckyCinda Publishing Global Book Contest. In it, Allison reveals the truth that life is art and it is a book Allison felt she had to write. She lives in Santa Fe, NM with her husband and dogs, alternately missing and celebrating her three grown sons.
Connect with Destiny at these sites:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Beneath the park bench, a young girl cries for help, her voice a cold hand on Vanessa’s throat.  “Please,” the girl whispers, a  tear trickling down her battered face. Vanessa glances at the empty square. A piece of trash tumbles. A bird settles in a tree. Then there is silence — no voice, no wind, no movement. It’s as if the world is waiting. The naked girl is desperate, but compassion for the Fallen is never forgiven.

Vanessa’s hesitation is her undoing. Unbeknownst to her, Lewis is still haunted by her thick, auburn hair, serious eyes, and mocking laughter. She is the symbol of all he hates and her interaction with the girl is just what he needs to gain control of the virus. Originally developed to save mankind from itself, the virus can be used to create a slave race. When it is released, Lewis will have his revenge.

As his plan unfolds, Vanessa is forced to flee.  Escaping through the sewer, she finds love, heartbreak, and the red beam of a gun sight dancing on the slick, black wall.  In the deep dark of the foul pipe, she also discovers she has been betrayed. That’s when she learns Texas is real.

Pipe Dreams is a dystopian novel set in the near future. If gene splicing could merge Margaret Atwood and Suzanne Collins, the resulting author might write this book.

READ AN EXCERPT

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Destiny/Allison (June 2, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0615823742
ISBN-13: 978-0615823744

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO RENEE AT WOW!,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
PRINT-OPEN TO U.S. and CANADA RESIDENTS or EBOOK-OPEN TO ALL

FILL OUT- RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 30th AT 6PM EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
USING THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM