Thursday Memes (2 of 2)

CMash March 17, 2011 5 Comments

animated graphic - HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY CLOVER

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

This week’s question:

The news has been horrifying and addictive this week, with catastrophe piled on catastrophe, to a degree that–if I had read this in a book or seen it in a movie–I’d be protesting that it was just too unlikely, too farfetched.

But, topics for novels get ripped from the headlines all the time. Or real-life events remind you of fiction (whether “believable” or not) that you’ve read but never expected to see. Or real life comes up with an event so unbelievable that it stretches you sense of reality.
Hmm … I can’t quite come up with an outright question to ask, but thinking about the theory of fiction and how it can affect and be affected by real world events can act as a buffer between the horrific events on the news and having to actually face that horror. So … what happens when the line between fiction and reality becomes all-too slim? Discuss!
My answer:
I touched upon this very subject in one of my Saturday memes. A couple of years ago I read The Left Behind Series, which was written in the late 90s by 2 Pastors, a fictional story based on The Revelations of The Bible. It is a series of 13 books, a series that I could not put down and read in a matter of a few weeks. Due to my religious beliefs, what is happening and has been happening in real life, does not surprise me. All of this was in those books along with a lot of other incidents that have happened. And again, you have to remember, these books were based on The Bible and written in the late 90s. Whenever asked what is your “favorite book/series”, my answer has always been The Left Behind Series.

Hosted by Lori from Dollycas’s Thoughts

From Lori’s site:
It struck me recently how much time I spend on this computer every day, blogging, chatting or playing games on Facebook, emailing friends and relatives, making cards and calendars, etc. etc. etc.
We depend on each other for book reviews, giveaways, encouragement, friendship, but how well do we really know each other?
So that is what this meme is all about, getting to know each other.

1. What is your family background regarding nationality?

100% Italian

2. Have you ever eaten corned beef and cabbage, the traditionally meal of St. Patrick’s Day or drank green colored beer?

Yes

3. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many cities in the U.S. and around the world, are there any celebrations happening near you?

Probably but not sure.

Guest Author

Guest Author and Giveaway Mr. Ethan Cross

CMash March 16, 2011 3 Comments

For those of you that have been contacted by an author, you know it is both a humbling but exhilarating experience when that author asks to spend some time visiting on your blog, meeting your visitors, talking about their latest book. Well that is the case today. Mr. Cross contacted me via a publisher that I have worked with and asked if I would consider introducing him to all of you. After reading the synopsis of the book and the reviews it is already getting, the answer was Yes!!. So, please help me, along with all the great visitors that will stop by throughout the day, welcome Mr. Ethan Cross to the CMash blog.

ABOUT ETHAN CROSS

When a fireman or a policeman would come visit his school, most of his classmates’ heads would swim with aspirations of growing up and catching bad guys or saving someone from a blazing inferno. When these moments came for Ethan Cross, however, his dreams weren’t to someday be a cop or put out fires; he just wanted to write about it.

And his dream of telling stories on a grand scale has come to fruition with the release of his new book, The Shepherd.
Ethan Cross is the pen name of a thriller author living and writing in Illinois with his wife, two daughters, and two Shih Tzus
Visit at http://www.ethancross.com/the-shepherd-thriller-novel/

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis:

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante’s beautiful daughter -a woman with whom he’s quickly falling in love- Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

Welcome to the world of The Shepherd
My novel, The Shepherd, is the first book in a series of thrillers that I believe would be greatly enjoyed by fans of authors such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Thomas Harris, Lee Child, and Jeffery Deaver. This introductory book of the series is a stand-alone novel, but provides the reader with an opening into the world of The Shepherd Organization.
Watch for my review in the coming weeks!

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY 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.

Giveaway

GIVEAWAY GALORE ENTRY PAGE "THE SHEPHERD" ENDED

CMash March 16, 2011 9 Comments

MARCH 16th TO MARCH 30th, 2011

THE SHEPHERD

by ETHAN CROSS

SYNOPSIS (provided from author):

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante’s beautiful daughter -a woman with whom he’s quickly falling in love- Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

Welcome to the world of The Shepherd
My novel, The Shepherd, is the first book in a series of thrillers that I believe would be greatly enjoyed by fans of authors such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Thomas Harris, Lee Child, and Jeffery Deaver. This introductory book of the series is a stand-alone novel, but provides the reader with an opening into the world of The Shepherd Organization.

****GIVEAWAY GALORE****

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS
AUTHOR, MR. ETHAN CROSS

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE FOLLOWING:

GRANDPRIZE – One Entry into the Ethan Cross Beta Reader Program:

In this program, the winner would receive advance copies of future Ethan Cross novels and other stories. This would include upcoming Ethan Cross novels such as The Cleansing and The Darkness Never Sleeps (titles subject to change). They also have access to Ethan and may even be given the opportunity to give opinions that could help shape the future of upcoming Ethan Cross books. This winner will also receive a personal letter from Ethan Cross and a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

SECOND PRIZE – Two Winners

will receive an autographed and personalized original manuscript page from The Shepherd that includes the author’s handwritten notes and corrections. This winner will also receive a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

THIRD PRIZE – 5 Winners

will receive a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. These limited edition signing plates are specially designed glossy postcards personalized and autographed by Ethan Cross just for you. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*

AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN

*LEAVE COMMENT: YOUR THOUGHTS

REGARDING VIGILANTES?*

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU GRAB MY BUTTON AND
PLACE IT ON YOUR BLOG’S SIDEBAR.

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.

*U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

*GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 30th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND WILL
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,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts 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 responsiblefor 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.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash March 16, 2011 7 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Guest Author

Guest Author and Giveaway Mr. Ethan Cross

CMash March 16, 2011 2 Comments

For those of you that have been contacted by an author, you know it is both a humbling but exhilarating experience when that author asks to spend some time visiting on your blog, meeting your visitors, talking about their latest book. Well that is the case today. Mr. Cross contacted me via a publisher that I have worked with and asked if I would consider introducing him to all of you. After reading the synopsis of the book and the reviews it is already getting, the answer was Yes!!. So, please help me, along with all the great visitors that will stop by throughout the day, welcome Mr. Ethan Cross to the CMash blog.

ABOUT ETHAN CROSS

When a fireman or a policeman would come visit his school, most of his classmates’ heads would swim with aspirations of growing up and catching bad guys or saving someone from a blazing inferno. When these moments came for Ethan Cross, however, his dreams weren’t to someday be a cop or put out fires; he just wanted to write about it.

And his dream of telling stories on a grand scale has come to fruition with the release of his new book, The Shepherd.
Ethan Cross is the pen name of a thriller author living and writing in Illinois with his wife, two daughters, and two Shih Tzus
Visit at http://www.ethancross.com/the-shepherd-thriller-novel/

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis:

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante’s beautiful daughter -a woman with whom he’s quickly falling in love- Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

Welcome to the world of The Shepherd
My novel, The Shepherd, is the first book in a series of thrillers that I believe would be greatly enjoyed by fans of authors such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Thomas Harris, Lee Child, and Jeffery Deaver. This introductory book of the series is a stand-alone novel, but provides the reader with an opening into the world of The Shepherd Organization.
Watch for my review in the coming weeks!

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO

THE GIVEAWAY 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.

Giveaway

GIVEAWAY GALORE ENTRY PAGE "THE SHEPHERD" ENDED

CMash March 16, 2011 9 Comments

MARCH 16th TO MARCH 30th, 2011

THE SHEPHERD

by ETHAN CROSS

SYNOPSIS (provided from author):

Marcus Williams and Francis Ackerman Jr. both have a talent for hurting people. Marcus, a former New York City homicide detective, uses his abilities to protect others, while Ackerman uses his gifts to inflict pain and suffering. When both men become unwilling pawns in a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of our government, Marcus finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse trapped between a twisted psychopath and a vigilante with seemingly unlimited resources. Aided by a rogue FBI agent and the vigilante’s beautiful daughter -a woman with whom he’s quickly falling in love- Marcus must expose the deadly political conspiracy and confront his past while hunting down one of the most cunning and ruthless killers in the world.

Welcome to the world of The Shepherd
My novel, The Shepherd, is the first book in a series of thrillers that I believe would be greatly enjoyed by fans of authors such as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, David Morrell, Thomas Harris, Lee Child, and Jeffery Deaver. This introductory book of the series is a stand-alone novel, but provides the reader with an opening into the world of The Shepherd Organization.

****GIVEAWAY GALORE****

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS
AUTHOR, MR. ETHAN CROSS

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN.

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN THE FOLLOWING:

GRANDPRIZE – One Entry into the Ethan Cross Beta Reader Program:

In this program, the winner would receive advance copies of future Ethan Cross novels and other stories. This would include upcoming Ethan Cross novels such as The Cleansing and The Darkness Never Sleeps (titles subject to change). They also have access to Ethan and may even be given the opportunity to give opinions that could help shape the future of upcoming Ethan Cross books. This winner will also receive a personal letter from Ethan Cross and a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

SECOND PRIZE – Two Winners

will receive an autographed and personalized original manuscript page from The Shepherd that includes the author’s handwritten notes and corrections. This winner will also receive a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

THIRD PRIZE – 5 Winners

will receive a Limited Edition Signing Plate for The Shepherd. These limited edition signing plates are specially designed glossy postcards personalized and autographed by Ethan Cross just for you. Entries would also need to include who they would like the items autographed to as well as the personal info such as address and name.

*ALL COMMENTS TO BE SEPARATE*

AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

SO THAT I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN

*LEAVE COMMENT: YOUR THOUGHTS

REGARDING VIGILANTES?*

*EXTRA ENTRIES*

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU PUBLICLY FOLLOW THIS
BLOG (IF NOT, GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT ON RIGHT SIDE).

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

*LEAVE SEPARATE COMMENT IF YOU GRAB MY BUTTON AND
PLACE IT ON YOUR BLOG’S SIDEBAR.

*REMEMBER TO INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR ALL ENTRIES.

*U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY*
*NO P.O. BOXES*

*GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 30th AT 6PM EST*
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG
AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND WILL
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,
agent and/or author. This blog hosts 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 responsiblefor 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.

W.W.W. Wednesdays

W.W.W. Wednesday

CMash March 16, 2011 7 Comments

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Winners

And the winners are…………..

CMash March 15, 2011 4 Comments

…………for THE BETRAYAL by Sheila Hendrix

FIRST AND SECOND PLACE WINNERS

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

8 20

Timestamp: 2011-03-15 23:20:05 UTC

Misha said… 8 Thanks for the contest! I am a GFC Follower

clenna said… 20 I follow The Dark circle.

THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH PLACE WINNERS

Here are your random numbers:

3 14 12

Timestamp: 2011-03-15 23:27:39 UTC

Tore said… 3 I am a follower. Tore923@aol.com

Melanie L said… 14 Once when I took a vacation to North Carolina I went on a tour through a cave.
gautami tripathy said… 12 I do follow you via google reader!

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