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Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

This week’s question:
Do you read the ending before you start a book? Do you ever skip ahead to read the ending?

My response:
Two words…never, ever!  In the many years that I have been a reader, I can honestly say, not once have I skipped to the end.

For me, reading is for pure enjoyment and entertainment.   I would much rather read a book, creating my own imagery, than watching a movie.   I have never understood why a reader would “check out” the ending.  I feel that it defeats the purpose of pleasure reading.

Do you read the ending of a book first?  And if so, doesn’t it ruin the whole experience of reading?  Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

November is being hosted by Edgy Inspirational Romance

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.”
(I am an IndieBound Affliate)

Shop Indie Bookstores

If you have followed my blog over these past few years, then you know that I am addicted to Reading Challenges!!

Even though, for the past couple of months, I haven’t done much reading due to being busy with tours for Partners In Crime Tours and Providence Book Promotions, I did complete some of the many challenges that I signed on for in 2012.   I do miss my quality reading time and hope that I will get back into my routine soon.

I am going to try,  yes TRY, to only sign up for those challenges that I have participated in and completed in the past.  And a couple that I still haven’t completed but figure some day I will, like the 100+ book challenge.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been getting emails from A Novel Challenge, notifying me of Challenges that have been posted and I have decided on some that I will be signing up for.  There are others, that I’m hoping will be hosted again, and will add those to my list.  But for now, here are the ones I will be signing up for today.

What about you?  Are you a Reading Challenge addict?  Which ones do you plan to participate in for 2013?

As bloggers we are all on timetables to read books, get reviews posted, host giveaways, etc. But we also travel around to other blogs and see books we would just like to read because of their recommendation or the cover or title catches our interest. The Meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” adds more books to my Wish List and To-Be-Read pile every week.

This reading challenge is hosted by Escape with Dollycas Into A Good Book. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

The 2013 Ebook Challenge. Encouraging readers to expand past just physical books to embrace ebooks in all forms, whether on Kindle, Kobo, computer, or any other reader.

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013.
2. Anyone can join, you don’t need to be a blogger. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc.).
3. Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4. You can plan your books in advance or as you read them.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2013, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

1. Floppy disk – 5 ebooks
2. CD – 10 ebooks
3. DVD – 25 ebooks
4. Memory stick – 50 ebooks
5. Hard drive – 75 ebooks
6. Server – 100 ebooks
7. Human brain – 150 ebooks

This reading challenge is hosted by Workaday Reads. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

 What’s your reading goal for 2013? If it’s to read more books, then this is the reading challenge for you! There have been almost 400 readers who wanted to outdo themselves so far. Are you up for the challenge?

Reading Challenge Details:

• Runs January 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013 (books read prior to 1/1/2013 do not count towards the challenge). You can join at anytime.Sign up on The Book Vixen’s blog.
• The goal is to outdo yourself by reading more books in 2013 than you did in 2012. See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you. You can move up a level as often as you’d like but no moving down.
• Books can be any format (bound, ebook, audio).
• Novellas that are at least 100 pages in length, as well as full-length novels, will count for this reading challenge.
• Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
• Grab the reading challenge button and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads or LibraryThing.

This reading challenge is hosted by The Book Vixen. For more information and to sign-up, please see this post.

….of Barefoot In The Rain by Roxanne St. Claire

8 Linda Kish Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

21 Kristy Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.  More giveaways to come!

It’s getting cold here in New England!  Time to get cozy!  Cozy mystery that is!!   Stephen from First Rule Publicity has given me the opportunity to introduce today’s author, Ms. Abigail Keam!!!

ABIGAIL KEAM

Abigail Keam is an award-winning author who writes the Josiah Reynolds mystery series about a beekeeper turned sleuth.

Death By A HoneyBee won the 2010 Gold Medal Award for Women’s Lit from Reader’s Favorite and was a Finalist of the USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books of 2011. Death By Drowning won the 2011 Gold Medal Award for Best Mystery Sleuth and also was placed on the USA BOOK NEWS-Best Books of 2011.

Ms. Keam is also an award-winning beekeeper who lives on theKentucky Riverin a metal house with her husband and various critters.
Connect with the author at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

GUEST POST

HOW SHOULD MYSTERY AUTHORS WRITE?

To tell an individual the proper procedure to write a novel is like telling a human the correct way to make love.  There is no correct way.  It is just what feels natural and good.

Some authors write twenty pages a day while others plod out one.

Some authors write every day.  Others write when the mood hits them.  Just go with your gut feeling.  Do what’s right for you.

Break The Rules

 Introduce New Characters

I do things like introduce new characters in the last chapter of the book.  A big no-no.  The reason I can justify this is that I don’t look at each book in my Josiah Reynolds mystery series as stand-alones, but rather a continuation of the story line.  Only the mystery in each book is complete, but Josiah Reynolds’ life continues from book to book.

Keep The Fat Out

Another thing I do is keep my stories short.  It is best to leave the stage with the audience wanting more.  Don’t overwrite or your readers will tire of your work.

Add A Little Hot Sauce

If you are writing a series, turn things upside down in your novels.  Do the unexpected with your characters.  Be careful though.  Changing too much like killing off a favorite character can cause a backlash among your readers.  Just sprinkle hot sauce rather than pour it on.

Don’t Always Solve The Mystery

When writing a series, you must keep the reader interested.  In other words, keep them on their toes.  I don’t always solve the murders in my stories or I turn the murder upside down in another book – whom the reader thought to be the murderer in one book turns out to be the wrong person in another book as I double-back on the plot.

Why?

Because even a beloved mystery series can become stale if the same formula is used in every novel.  I have seen this with Sue Grafton’s books.  I love Sue Grafton and her shamus, Kinsey Milhone and think the Alphabet series is fabulous, but I have started noticing that fan are tiring by reading unflattering reviews on Amazon.  That never used to happen.

I think Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime, was able to avoid such unkind criticism because each of her books and series was so different.  Ten Little Indians is so different from a book like The Mirror Crack’d.

So keep your stories fresh.

Flaws And Your Sleuth

Your sleuth, regardless if he/she is a professional or amateur, should have a flaw or a conflict his/her nature in order to have depth.  The only sleuth that is sweet/good and gets away with it book after book is Nancy Drew.

Sleuths that enjoy a long publishing life are those who keep the reader intrigued such as Sherlock Homes.  Why is he still so fascinating to us?  Because we love his intellect and his rudeness.  Also we are curious about his mysterious sexuality.  Is Sherlock heterosexual, homosexual or just bored with sex?  Does he want to “canoodle” with Watson?

Miss Marple?  Well, she is a busy-body – sort of the Mary Worth of death.  Oh dear.  You don’t know who Mary Worth is?  Look her up.  Miss Marple is always watching or listening to private conversations.  That would put any neighbor on edge.

Kinsey Milhone is a loner, unable to commit.  She reminds me of a skittish cat.  Kinsey also prides herself on lying.  Still Kinsey is a fascinating shamus and a person who I would like to know personally.

My sleuth, Josiah Reynolds, has serious health problems and is prone to complaining.  She sometimes uses bad judgment.   She is fat and middle-aged, but that is what my readers love about her.  She comes off the pages as a real person.

I have given you just a few tips.  Some may even be useful.  Good luck with your writing and I hope to read your books in the future.
Abigail Keam is the author of “Death By A HoneyBee” and “Death By Drowning”.  Both books were listed as Finalists on the USA BOOK NEWS “Best Book List 2011”.  “Death By Bourbon” is her new book.   www.abigailkeam.com

ABOUT THE BOOK

Life takes a dramatic turn for Josiah when she witnesses a death at an engagement party for guess who . . . Matt.  Matt?  Yes Matt.

Charming socialite Addison DeWitt falls into a fit after taking a sip of bourbon.  That would be upsetting enough but Josiah is sure it is murder. However, no one will believe her except for Lady Elsmere and Meriah Caldwell, the famous mystery writer.  The three of them conspire to bring the murderer to justice.  It turns out that the suspect is always three steps ahead of them.

To make matters worse, Josiah’s daughter, Asa, decides to move to London, Franklin leaves town and Jake starts singing a different turn.  Josiah doubts her ability to meet the future alone.  Maybe it’s time to sell the Butterfly and move to Florida with the rest of the old folks.

REVIEWS:
“Abigail Keam writes with vision and understanding. Her tale is fresh and original…after all…what could beekeeping and murder have in common? Readers will have no trouble being drawn into this charming mystery. Keam leaves the reader yearning for more. DEATH BY DROWNING is an excellent second effort by Ms. Keam. Characters and action are well wrought, and the plot sizzles.”
Midwest Book Review, Shelley Glodowski, Senior Reviewer, July 8th 2011

“Ms. Keam’s writing is more like lyrical prose, leaving the readers wanting to know more of Josiah’s life and clamoring for the next book. This can be read as a stand-alone book, but I highly recommend reading the first book – DEATH BY A HONEYBEE.” BOBBI’S BOOK NOOK, JULY 30TH, 2011
Amazon Purchase links: PB    EBook

THANKS TO AUTHOR ABIGAIL KEAM, I HAVE ONE (1) SIGNED
COPY OF THIS BOOK. U.S. AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY.
AND TWO (2) EBOOK EDITIONS (.mobi or ePub). OPEN TO ALL.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO THE
CMASH READS GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

Tour Wide Giveaway!
A tour wide giveaway is being offered, which features a grand prize of a set of all four of Abigail’s books, signed, plus 3 8oz honeys from Abigail’s very own been hives!  2 signed copies of Death By Bourbon have been made available for a pair of runner-up prizes.
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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.

TO SAY THANK YOU!!!

THERE WILL BE 3 WINNERS

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*NO P.O. BOXES*

When Samantha, from JKS Communications, contacted me about the novel written by today’s guest and reading the synopsis, I knew I wanted to share the details with you.  So I ask, please help in  giving a warm welcome to Mr. Tony Hubbard!

TONY HUBBARD

Tony Hubbard grew up like most boys in Massachusetts during the 1980’s, wanting to emulate basketball star Larry Bird and one day play for the Boston Celtics. Quickly realizing that a future as a professional athlete was something he would not achieve, he did the next best thing – became a sportswriter. As a long-time sportswriter, Tony covered high school, collegiate and professional sports, most notably covering the death of Boston Celtics’ star Reggie Lewis for The Patriot Ledger.

Growing up and reading the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, he one day aspired to publish a novel in the horror genre as his ‘writing heroes’ were famous for. After many years away from writing, leaving his professional writing career behind to make a move into the production and advertising side of the publishing business, Tony makes a return with his debut novel. Eighteen years in the making, A Demon Lies Within, releases November 2012 from Two Harbors Press.

A follower of Greek Mythology, he sees himself in the same vein as the Greek God Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, parties/festivals, madness and merriment. Dionysus not only represents the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficial influences. According to Tony, we should strive to be like Dionysus.

Massachusetts born and bred, Tony has lived all across the state throughout his life. Today he is settled in Dracut with his wife and son.

Follow Tony:

  @TonyHub      A Demon Lies Within    Tony Hubbard

GUEST POST

Now that my debut novel A Demon Lies Within is completed, published and reaching the masses, having achieved the goal of publishing a novel I feel is akin to a professional sports team reaching the playoffs. Having your novel published and making the playoffs are HUGE accomplishments in their respective ways and not to be viewed lightly. Though, once that goal has been achieved your focus needs to be towards the next set of goals.

Once a professional sports team reaches their sports’ respective postseason the ultimate goal for them becomes crystal clear – win the championship.

While there isn’t a championship trophy for me to strive for with this book, what then becomes my goal(s) for A Demon Lies Within?

I’ve come up with three goals I am striving for. Reaching any one of them would be like winning a playoff game. Reaching all three would be getting the championship trophy.

The goals are:

1. To sell 5,000 (print and eBooks combined) copies of A Demon Lies Within.
2. To appear in a segment on the FOX25 morning news in Boston for a 1-on-1 interview to promote my book and discuss the advancement of self publishing as part of the accepted ‘norm’ for the publishing community.
3. In writing the lead female character of Katelyn McMurray, I used actress Amy Adams as inspiration and had her in mind the entire time I was writing the novel. This goal would be to have Ms. Adams read a copy of A Demon Lies Within.

While I admit these are lofty goals, are long-shot goals really any different than a team having 20-1 odds of winning a championship? Though a long shot, there’s always a CHANCE it could happen.

There’s an old adage in sports that essentially says, ‘You just have to reach the playoffs because once there anything can happen’. Now that my book is published I’ve gotten to the playoffs and it has afforded me the chance to sell a high number of books, appear on a TV news show, or have a famous Hollywood actress read my novel.

I would be ecstatic if I reached any one of three goals, though I have to admit the one I’m favoring slightly above all others is having Amy Adams read my book

As I sat down to start the letter I would include with the ‘Demon merchandise care package’ I was going to send Ms. Adams (which included an autographed copy of my book, an autographed 12X18 poster of the cover along with bookmarks and business cards) the following thoughts came to mind:

I felt like Linus, the Peanuts character as he was writing his letter to The Great Pumpkin, wanting to have the most sincere pumpkin patch possible so The Great Pumpkin would appear. I wanted to write the most sincere letter possible to Ms. Adams so she would not only read just the letter but read my book as well.

The other thought I had was to include one of Will Ferrell’s lines from the movie Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Ms. Adams was in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby with Ferrell and played the role of his assistant so there is a connection there.

Upon meeting Veronica Corningstone for the first time, Burgundy tells her, “I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.” I thought that would be a great line to include in the letter as part of introducing myself, provide a laugh within the context of essentially begging her to read my book and have it fit within the criteria of writing the ‘most sincerest’ letter possible.

Whether or not Ms. Adams reads my book or I am able to reach either one or both of my other goals is unclear at this point. If none of them were to happen, it’s not such a big loss. I’ve already secured a great achievement in my life; I finished writing and published the novel I never thought or imagined would ever be finished. But why couldn’t one, two or all of them happen?

As I hold a printed copy of A Demon Lies Within in my hand it serves as the perfect example for anything’s possible.

I look forward to the day I receive Ms. Adams’ thoughts on A Demon Lies Within. I bet she’ll love it.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The powers of hell that lie within are very real…
 
Following his murder, Andrew McMurray finds himself transported to the depths of hell. There he is indoctrinated as an apprentice to a demon master, Sonneillon. Exposing Andrew to the dark reaches of his evil powers, Sonneillon demonstrates a demons’ ability to posses, torment and control the thoughts and actions of the living. Andrew’s ultimate goal following his apprenticeship? Revenge on his wife, Katelyn and young son, Joshua, both of whom he holds responsible for his murder.

As Katelyn rebuilds her life, following her husbands’ death, she meets Michael Gordon, a recent escapee from Corporate America, who has his own troubled, tragic past. As their relationship grows, they realize they share something more than their burgeoning love for one another — the powers of hell have deeply impacted their pasts. Evil continues to insinuate itself into the pair’s lives, bringing with it haunting and unspeakable horrors.

Andrew’s plan of revenge begins to materialize once he inhabits Joshua, having him act out in often violent and disturbing ways. With possession of Joshua’s mind and body complete, will hell’s ultimate evil goals come to pass, or can the local priest of a small Maine town exorcize Father from Son? At stake, doom-laden repercussions for all involved…and perhaps the world as a whole.

Book Details:
Paperback, $15.95
ISBN: 978-1-938690-35-8
Horror Fiction, 403 pages
Two Harbors Press, Nov. 13, 2012

THANKS TO JKS COMMUNICATIONS, I HAVE ONE (1)
COPY TO GIVE AWAY. U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.