Author, Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase

Guest Author LAYTON GREEN showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash June 8, 2013 1 Comment

I am always happy when an author comes back to visit because it means that he has been busy on another book. Which in turns, means another book to add to our list. So without further ado, Mr. Layton Green!!! Welcome back!!!!!

LAYTON GREEN

Layton Green is the author of the Dominic Grey series. Please visit him at at www.laytongreen.com for additional information on Layton, his works, and more. You might find him in the corner of a dark and smoky café in Bogotá, researching the next Dominic Grey novel.

Connect with Layton at these sites:

Q&A with Layton Green

On Writing and Reading:
-Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
A: For sure. I believe all writers draw (or are at least inspired by) personal experience, and I am always on the lookout for interesting current events. I try to infuse each Dominic Grey novel with at least one timely current event or issue (such as the Zimbabwean political situation for The Summoner, the scientific search for eternal life with The Egyptian, and the conflux of social media and demagogues in The Diabolist).

-Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
A: Good question, and it depends. Usually I start at the beginning, create a rough outline, and fill it in as I write. Sometimes, however, an ending does present itself earlier.

-Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
A: I had idiosyncrasies before I became a serious writer. Now I write every day in the mornings for at least a few hours, and more during the day as my schedule permits. I used to write at night, but it’s tough with a family.

-Is writing your full time job? If not, may I ask what you do by day?
A: I’m also an attorney.

-Who are some of your favorite authors?
A: Dan Simmons, James Lee Burke, Dennis Lehane, Michael Gruber, Herman Hesse, Murakami, Roger Zelazny, Ray Bradbury, China Mieville, Martin Amis, and many more. There’re a lot of seriously talented authors out there.

-What are you reading now?
A: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite novels of all time.

-Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us a little about it?
A: I am working on the next Dominic Grey novel. I can’t say much, except that it involves an esoteric and highly intriguing cult, and that Grey will be going south of the border . . . way south.

Fun questions:
-Your novel will be a movie. Who would you cast?
Great question – assuming Spielberg buys my novel and we have unlimited choice (‘natch), I’d go for Christian Bale as Grey. I’m having trouble casting Viktor. I’ve tossed around Liam Neeson, Javier Bardem (with heel implants) and Donald Sutherland. Any thoughts??

-Would you rather read or watch TV/movie?
A: Read.

-Favorite food?
A: Baby back ribs. Or sushi. Or a dry-aged ribeye. Or great pizza.

-Favorite beverage?
A: Zaya rum, one ice cube, pinch of lime.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this gripping thriller, the bizarre murder of a Satanic priest in San Francisco draws Dominic Grey and Viktor Radek, private investigators of cults, to the scene. Witnesses claim a robed figure, seemingly able to appear and disappear at will, set fire to the priest. When the leader of another Satanic cult in Paris dies under similar circumstances, the case only grows stranger… and more dangerous.

Convinced that a charismatic New Age prophet is behind the murders, the investigators undergo a perilous journey into the world of the occult as they try to penetrate the prophet’s inner circle. From the catacombs of Paris to London’s nefarious East End, from the haunted walls of York to a monastic fortress in the Sicilian wilderness, the case plunges Viktor and Grey into a vortex of black magic, ancient heresies, and the dark corners of their own pasts.

The Diabolist is a chilling novel that not only pulsates with action and suspense, but also mines a trove of fascinating historical, philosophical, and paranormal research to probe some of our closest held beliefs. From the opening pages to the astonishing conclusion, this latest installment in one of today’s most original new thriller series is not to be missed.

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 388 pages
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (June 4, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611099846
ISBN-13: 978-1611099843

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO AUTHOR, LAYTON GREEN,
I HAVE ONE (1) SIGNED COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. and CANADA RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 22nd 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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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.

Giveaway, Winners

And the winner is…….

CMash June 7, 2013 2 Comments

**……of Mom At Last by Sharon Simons**

5 Tony L Smoaks Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

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.

Giveaway, Winners

And the winner is………

CMash June 6, 2013 2 Comments

**……… of Blind Curves by Linda Crill**

22 Diane Margolis-Baum Leave a Blog Post Comment

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

Giveaway, Winners

And the winners are………..

CMash June 5, 2013 2 Comments

**….of A Certain Summer by Patricia Beard**

20 Wayne Lecoy Follow @CherylMash on Twitte

29 Anita Yancey Tweet about the Giveaway

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

06/06 ADDENDUM: Due to one of the winners having won this title in another giveaway, a new winner has been chosen. She is:

17 Gloria Walshver Follow @CherylMash on Twitter

An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Giveaway, Guest Author, Showcase, The Cadence Group, The Cadence Group

Guest Author DEANNA BRANN showcase & giveaway ENDED

CMash June 4, 2013 7 Comments

We have all heard stories about the mother-in-law, daughter-in-law dynamics. Not all are favorable. And as some of you know, my youngest son is getting married in November, which means, I officially will add that title to my name. So when Rebecca, from The Cadence Group emailed me about today’s guest, I responded immediately. I do have to say that my husband and I are blessed, our future daughter-in-law, Jess, is beautiful both inside and out. We already consider her our “own” daughter. Please help me in welcoming Dr. Deanna Brann.

DR. DEANNA BRANN

Deanna Brann, Ph.D., is a leading expert in the field of mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationships. She has more than 25 years experience as a clinical psychotherapist and ran her own private practice for more than 18 years. Based in Knoxville, TN, Dr. Brann is a sought after speaker, author and seminar leader. She is the two-time author of Reluctantly Related: Secrets To Getting Along With Your Mother-in-Law or Daughter-in-Law and Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law Say the Darndest Things.

Connect with Dr.. Brann at these sites:

GUEST POST

Five Reasons Why You Struggle with Your In-Laws

Put a group of women together, bring up the subject of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and you can almost hear the electricity start to crackle in the air. Whether they can’t stand one another, don’t “get” one another, or just feel at a loss about how to deal with one another, one thing is certain—women who struggle with this relationship have a story to tell:

“She did it again! No matter what I say, she completely ignores me and does whatever she wants, whenever she wants.”

“My son and I used to be so close until he married her. Now he barely speaks to me!”

“Why does she have to be so intrusive, so controlling?”

“She won’t let me see my grandchildren!”

The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is surely one of the most confusing and difficult relationships one can experience—no matter what side of it you’re on. You don’t yet feel like family, and you aren’t really friends, but you’re definitely more than casual acquaintances. To get a handle on how to approach this tricky relationship, it helps to understand these five reasons why it’s such a struggle in the first place:

The artificial element: Let’s face it, you didn’t choose to be in each other’s lives. You and your in-law are thrown together because you both love this one man—your husband or your son. Even though you don’t really know each other as individuals, you have to create a relationship (rather quickly, I might add) because you are now “family.”
Different stages, different emotional places: You and your in-law are at different stages in your lives. The mother-in-law has already made a home and life of her own. And the daughter-in-law is just getting started on these aspects of her life (and understandably wants to do it her way). The two of you are also in different emotional places. So much of what a mother-in-law focuses on is based on what she’s learned in her past experiences, while a daughter-in-law is focusing more on the future that she wants to create.

Personal history and carry-on baggage: Each of you came into this relationship with your own history and emotional baggage, so each of you has different personal issues. Those issues greatly impact how you perceive and react to what the other says and does.

Perception is reality (or is it?): Because of these different issues, each of you also has her own perception of reality. So what one sees as a helpful, positive suggestion or offer, the other may well see as clear evidence of meddling and controlling (or vice versa). It’s the same situation seen through differently tinted glasses.

There’s reacting, and then there’s reacting! Just as your perception can be skewed, so can your reaction to what you see. When your in-law reacts to something you said or did, that reaction is based on her perception, which is likely to be very different from yours. If her perception is off, you can easily think her reaction is coming out of left field, even if it makes perfect sense to her.

Given all these challenges, you may well feel that your in-law relationship is certainly doomed, but trust me—there is hope! As you understand these factors and their impact on the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, you will gain a greater understanding of the situation. And then you’ll be much better equipped to sidestep the land mines along the way.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Change your struggling in-law relationship today! Through humor, compassion and focus, I’ll show you how, step-by-step. In my book, Reluctantly Related I give you the understanding and the tools to make positive, lasting changes in your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law relationship. You don’t have to feel powerless or hopeless in your relationship!
· Learn the secrets to making change possible.
· Learn practical yet effective tools and skills that build your confidence and empower you with both your in-law and others.
· Learn how to transform your relationship without having to confront your in-law.

There has never been such an entertaining yet helpful resource on the specific problems between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Reluctantly Related provides unique, straightforward help to any “MIL/DIL challenged” family, and should be required reading for newlyweds and their mothers!

BOOK DETAILS:

ISBN-13: 9780988810006
Publisher: New Shelves Publishing Services
Publication date: 2/25/2013
Pages: 186

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO REBECCA AT THE CADENCE GROUP,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JUNE 18th 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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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.

Mailbox Monday, Meme, Monday Memes

Mailbox Monday

CMash June 3, 2013 1 Comment

June is being hosted by Bellezza @ Dolce Bellezza

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound affiliate)

Tuesday: Reluctantly Related by Deanna Brann, Ph.D. from The Cadence Group

Guest Author, Partners In Crime Tours, Partners In Crime Tours, Showcase

Guest Author JOHN LANSING showcase & giveaway

CMash June 2, 2013 4 Comments

Today I have the pleasure and distinct honor to introduce you to today’s guest as he begins his VBT with Partners In Crime Tours. I ask for your help in welcoming Mr. John Lansing to CMash Reads. Welcome John Lansing!!!

JOHN LANSING

John Lansing started his career as an actor in New York City. He spent a year at the Royale Theatre playing the lead in the Broadway production of “Grease.” He then landed a co-starring role in George Lucas’ “More American Graffiti,” and guest starred on numerous television shows. During his fifteen year writing career, Lansing wrote and produced “Walker Texas Ranger,” co-wrote two CBS Movies of the Week, and he also co-executive produced the ABC series “Scoundrels.” John’s first book was “Good Cop Bad Money,” a true crime tome with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. “The Devil’s Necktie” is his first novel.
Connect with John at these sites:

John will be appearing, today, on Suspense Blog Talk Radio, 10am PST/1pm EST. Tune in here.

Q&A with John Lansing

Many thanks to Cheryl Masciarelli for hosting me on her blog.

Do you draw from personal experiences and/or current events?
I borrow liberally from my personal experience, the local news, books, magazines, things I overheard in a diner or bar, and occasionally, my own creative juices.

I’m a big proponent of writing what you know. That’s why my retired Inspector, Jack Bertolino, moved from NYC, to Marina del Rey, California. I can bring a sense of realism to his environment and surroundings because it’s the move I made, and the Marina is where I live.

Do you start with the conclusion and plot in reverse or start from the beginning and see where the story line brings you?
When my partner and I wrote a television episode or MOW, or feature film, we always had a concise outline in hand. You needed a strong map because there were times writing network television that you had to knock out a script in a week. There wasn’t time for changes, because of production constraints.

The Devil’s Necktie is my first novel. And for the first time in my career, I was flying without a net. No outline. I started with a simple premise – one night of passion for retired Inspector Jack Bertolino sends him on a deadly collision course with his past – and I let it fly.

I ultimately had a powerful beginning in mind that would propel me forward, and that informed what had to occur by the end of the book. But for the life of me, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get there. It was a total exercise in trust. Not for the faint of heart. Your readers can tell me if it worked out.

Your routine when writing? Any idiosyncrasies?
When I’m knee deep in a first draft it’s a 24/7 experience. It’s impossible for me to shut if off at the end of the day. I go to bed trying to problem solve and wake up in the middle of the night worrying it, and jump out of bed in the morning with the answer, or least an approach that might lead me to the answer.

Then I sit down at the computer for an hour or two, walk the dog, eat some breakfast, and get back in the trenches, reworking my first ideas of the day. Then it’s off into unchartered territory.

I just keep cranking it out the same way, every day, until I’m finished. I’m very goal oriented and can’t really relax until, “I have written.”

Is writing your full time job?
Yes it is. I’m very fortunate to be able to dedicate myself to my projects on a full time basis. I spent many years working in television to be able to afford myself that luxury.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
It’s a lengthy list, but here goes. Walter Mosley, Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, Robert Crais, John Sandford, Lee Child, T. Jefferson Parker, Susan Grafton, and James Lee Burke, in no particular order. If these men and women are releasing a book, I pre-order it for downloading on my Kindle.

What are you reading now?
I just finished John Sandfords, “Silken Prey, Dennis Lehane’s, “Live by Night and Ian Rankins, “Standing in Another Man’s grave. I’m a few chapters into Harlan Coben’s, “Six Years” and enjoying the read.

Are you working on your next novel? Can you tell us about it?
I’ve spent the past nine months completing a first draft of my next book in the Jack Bertolino series. It’s entitled, “Working the Negative.”

Jack Bertolino grew up on a Staten Island where there were more wise guys than good guys. His neighborhood was populated with “made men,” and friends of the Mafia. He cut all ties with the dark side when he entered law enforcement and thought he’d left his past securely behind when he moved out to California.

But now that he’s retired, Jack finds himself owing a favor to a local mob boss who may have saved his son’s life.

It’s a matter of honor for Jack, and a request he just can’t refuse.

Fun Questions:
Your novel will be a movie, who would you cast?
Jon Hamm is Jack Bertolino. Penelope Cruz is Mia.

Would you rather read, or watch TV/Movie?
Read a great book.

Favorite food?
Italian.

Favorite beverage?
Eighteen-year-old Macallan.

Thank you John for stopping by today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Retired Inspector Jack Bertolino had strict rules when dealing with confidential informants. But Mia had the kind of beauty that could make a grown man contemplate leaving his wife, his job, and his kids. After a passionate night together, Mia is found murdered, and Jack is the lead suspect. Facing threats from the LAPD, the 18th Street Angels, and a Columbian drug cartel, Jack delves deeper into the seedy world of drug dealers and Murderers. Jack is torn between fearing for his life and seeking revenge for his slain lover… either way the body count will rise.

READ AN EXCERPT

Jack Bertolino stood on the balcony of his loft in Marina del Rey, tending a dry-aged New York steak on his prized possession, a top-of-the-line Weber gas grill. He didn’t miss winter, not one little bit. Here he was manning the barbecue in his new uniform, a black T-shirt and jeans, while his cousins were chasing heart attacks shoveling snow off their Staten Island driveways. That image never ceased to put a smile on his face. That and the salty ocean breeze that floated in over the marina.

Jack nursed a glass of cabernet and watched the long line of bright white FedEx trucks return home from their final deliveries and park in neat rows in the lot next to his building. It sure beat the sight of patrol cars jammed onto the sidewalk in front of a precinct house.

Early evening was Jack’s favorite time of day. The sun was just starting to paint the clouds a muted orange. From his fourth-floor vantage point, Jack could see a string of jumbo jets in the distance, silently making their final approach to LAX. Stacked eight planes deep, their slim silver bodies glinted in the setting sun. For the first time in Jack Bertolino’s life, he felt at ease.

His cell phone chirped, snapping him out of his reverie. He tossed some Japanese eggplant onto the grill, closed the lid, and checked his cell phone screen for the name of the caller.

“Hello.”

“How’s my Italian stallion?”

“Mia . . . ,” he said instantly, his tone neutral, giving away nothing. “All the planets are aligned, Jack. It’s time for you to man up and make an honest woman out of me.”

Jack couldn’t help but smile. Mia’s throaty voice and light Colombian accent had the power to make a grown man weep. More important, it could make a bad man give up his secrets. He hadn’t really been surprised when he received her text. He knew it was only a matter of time. Payback’s a bitch.

“What can I do for you, Mia?”

“It’s what I can do for you, papi. My lips . . . they’re still magic.”

“I love it when you talk dirty.”

“Only for love or money.”

Although Jack was enjoying the back and forth, he was no longer in the business. “Why are you calling, Mia?”

Mia dropped her act as well. “We need to talk.”

“It’s not a good time,” Jack said as he opened the lid of the grill and pressed his fork against the steak, checking for doneness.

“Face-to-face, Jack.”

“I’m not in New York.”

“That’s why I’m in Los Angeles.”

Jack didn’t reply right away. He did a quick analysis of how Mia could know he was living in L.A., what kind of trouble she might be in, what kind of blowback he was going to suffer just from having this conversation. He came to the instantaneous conclusion that however this new wrinkle in his life played out, it would definitely have an impact on his newly found state of bliss.

Mia answered some of his unspoken questions. “I’m still connected, Jack, and you’re still on the radar screen. There are certain people—who will remain nameless, because I’m not on your payroll anymore—who are not convinced you’re out of the game.”

“I’m happily retired,” Jack fired back, wondering if his response sounded forced, wondering why he cared.

“And happily divorced?”

Jack didn’t respond. His private life was none of Mia’s business. He had strict rules when dealing with confidential informants, a line in the But Mia had the kind of beauty that could make a man contemplate leaving his wife, his job, and his kids. Jack had never taken the bait, but had to admit he’d been tempted.

Mia was one of the best CIs in the business, and she and Jack had done groundbreaking work together.

With the help of Mia and DEA agent Kenny Ortega, Jack and the team of NYPD narco-rangers he headed up had put away a heavy hitter in the cocaine trade. Manuel Alvarez was the head of a Colombian drug cell that had been importing a thousand keys of coke into Florida on a weekly basis, and the poison was dripping into New York City. Jack and his group had put away a major cartel scumbag, and Mia had gotten rich. The feds had a financial equation in place when dealing with CIs. The greater the quantity of drugs an informant was responsible for delivering, the more money it was worth to the United States government. They were happy to give to get. Mia did very well for herself at great personal risk. Informants had a short shelf life. Once a major domo got busted, the cartels worked very hard to discover where the “sickness” had come from. If your name ended up on the short list, you turned up dead.

Jack had made a promise to Mia that if things ever got too hot to handle, he would do whatever he could to help her out of the jam.

Mia was turning in her chit. “Meet with me in an hour, after I get settled in.”

“I’m about to have dinner, Mia.”

“Vista Haven Road, 3468. You owe me, Jack.”

“It was a two-way street,” he reminded her.

“And I don’t want it turning into a dead end.”

Jack was about to protest, but she clicked off. He turned back to his grill, but now he was unsettled. Mia had always been a cool customer, but there was an edge of panic in her voice. Jack let out an irritated groan. He shut off the grill with a hard snap. He wouldn’t be able to eat anyway until he found out what the hell was wrong.

BOOK DETAILS:

Genre: Crime/Thriller
Published by Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 12/31/12
Number of Pages: 295
ISBN: 1451698348

PURCHASE LINKS:

Watch the trailer:

GIVEAWAY: BIG NEWS

Mr. Lansing is giving away one kindle for this tour. Complete Rafflecopter form below.

If you’d like to join in on an upcoming tour just stop by our sites and sign up today!

Follow the Tour:

Don’t forget – We’re hosting giveaways at each stop of this tour. Mr. Lansing is giving away copies of his book and a kindle!

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS JULY 31st, 2013

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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.