Today we welcome YA author Emerald Barnes back on the blog with a great guest post and info on her new release.

In The Chosen, Myka has to face the fact that she’s been chosen for a position she never knew existed nor wanted. Finding herself face to face with the future laid out before her, Myka realizes that just because she was chosen, doesn’t mean everything is all sunshine and rainbows. She’s torn between following her heart or loyalty.

Hi! I’m Emerald Barnes, author of young adult fiction and a follow your heart enthusiast, and I want to talk to you today about both of these things.

In my writing, I try and write realistic fiction, even though it may be in an unrealistic setting. Take my Knight’s Academy series for instance. Yes, there are vampires and werewolves, and although there are these paranormal aspects, the characters are very much realistic and deal with some realistic problems.

In book three, the latest release, Myka, my main character, is struggling between being loyal to her pack and grandmother’s wishes or following her heart.

I very much am a “follow your heart” girl, so I have this message inside my books about how it’s important to follow your heart. Don’t get me wrong. These books are just super fun books to read without an overarching message, if that’s what you like, but I also know that to those reading, I also want this message to get across.

I have always been a shy person, but from the start, my family has always supported my dreams, specifically my dream to write, and I just want to share that love and support. I want people to know that following your dreams, following your heart is okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! And I can do that in my writing. And if you follow me at on any of my social media sites, you’ll see that I do share inspirational things when I’m not failing at being witty. Even my Entertaining Angels series is very uplifting.

Since I write in the YA genre, I feel like this is an important message for teens too. How many of us needed to know that it was okay to follow our hearts and dreams when we were kids? *raises both hands* I see that, I understand that. Even in my *coughs* thirties, I see the importance of helping others learn how to follow their dreams.

I won’t say it’s easy. Following your dreams never is, but it’s also very important to continue to pursue them. Why? Because, can you imagine lying on your death bed and thinking, “Man, I wish I had done this when I had the chance.”? I can’t. I don’t want to. I want to know that I did everything I could to follow my heart, and in doing so, I know that it will be the most fulfilling thing. Even if I fail! Don’t give up. Myka doesn’t, and though there are still struggles, she knows she made the right decision.

What are some of your dreams? Have they died? Are you still pursuing them?
Today, I just want you to determine in your heart to never give up. You have someone cheering for you. *cheers and applauds* I don’t care if you’re twelve or ninety-nine. You’ve got this!
 
The Chosen Blurb:
 
Still reeling from her grandmother’s death, Myka William’s has been chosen to rule her pack, but she isn’t sure she wants the job. It comes with an unwanted fiancé and vampires who are still hunting them down. Running away has always been her go-to answer, but Myka’s finally found what she’s been looking for—home. Running is no longer an option.
As the last female alpha in her pack, Myka isn’t allowed to follow her heart, and she has to fight a battle between her heart and head. Will Myka be able to have the happy ending she so desperately wants?
Along with help from vampires, hybrids, and werewolves she can trust, Myka must learn how to find a way out of her engagement, get the pack to take her seriously, and save her pack from the vicious vampires who want to use them for unspeakable things.
 
 
Tagline:
Being the chosen one isn’t as easy as it seems.
 
 
Bio:
Emerald Barnes resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. She’s an auntie, a youth leader, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person. God is number One in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor. She’s addicted to tv, and she has a thing for superheroes. When she’s not working, she’s binge-watching TV shows or trying (and failing) to be witty on social media.
 
Website: www.emeraldbarnes.us
Blog: ebarnes23.wordpress.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/emeraldbarnes
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fanpageforemeraldbarnes
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emeraldbarnes
Street Team: www.facebook.com/groups/emeraldbarnesstreetteam
Fan Team: www.facebook.com/groups/emeraldbarnesfans
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/emeraldbarnes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/emerald_barnes
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emeraldbarnes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Barnes/e/B004PL38QS
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/emerald-barnes
 
Knight’s Academy Series (Amazon)
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073PB8NQS/

Afraid of All the Things: Tornadoes, Cancer, Adoption, and Other Stuff You Need the Gospel For by Scarlet Hiltibidal

       Do you worry a lot? Were you also a fearful kid? Then this is the book for you. Scarlet Hiltibidal  has written a book that not only lets you know you’re not alone in your fears, but shares scriptures and thoughts to try and replace those fearful thoughts.  She shows you how to reframe those fears by going to the Bible and reading the scriptures dealing with fears.

      I wasn’t sure what to expect when starting it. I worried I might even find myself anxious while reading it, but instead I found myself feeling calmer while reading it. My copy currently has a lot of highlights in it from my gel highlighter. I read section one in one sitting because it was hard to put down.

             On a side note, if you like the tone of the humor in my books, then you’ll enjoy the humor in this book as well.

          I’d highly recommend this for anyone who deals with fears and anxiety. I have already recommended it to a few people because it’s one of those books that you start emailing your friends about.

​I received this book from BH Publishing and Lifeway in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm excited to have my friend, Christopher Joseph share his new book today. It's set in Detroit, Michigan and sounds amazing! Check out the interview with him!


Tell us about your book:

Well, will share my summary!  Zeke’s Kitchen, a well known Detroit, Michigan east side Soul Food restaurant has been devastated by the closing of nearby automobile plants that have fueled it’s eatery for decades.

The Woods family have owned and operated Zeke’s since the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s. Since the passing of Ezekiel S. Woods Sr. his beloved and devoted wife Mrs. Tyla Woods, known simply as ‘Mama’ has run the historic business.

Collapsing in front of her youngest daughter Silvia forces the estranged adult Woods children to unite for their mother and the fate of the struggling famed restaurant. 

Pompous and arrogant lawyer oldest son Ezekiel Woods Jr., successful advertising exec and flamboyant oldest daughter Maureen Woods, missing in action and troubled youngest son Kevin Woods aka Kwame and mousy, withdrawn, college student Silvia along with their extended family and friends are reunited to face their demons and face the challenges that change begets their family. 

 What inspired you to write this book:

I love good stories.  I have hundreds of other stories in various states of completion.  Zeke's is my 2nd published novel after Road Kill 'Pathfinder' Pt. 1.  I wanted to show the world my diversity as an author and not be stuck in one genre.  My next manuscript I'm currently working on is a sci-fi.  I have as many different screenplays finished as well. 

Zeke's started as an overview of family dynamics especially in the Urban black community.  Everybody has a family in some state of being.  Could be a tight nit family, always together, holidays are packed tight, everyone looks out for each other.  Some families are estranged, people are by themselves, no communication, people lose track of each other.  Many are dysfunctional, plagued with arguments, money issues, affairs, drug issues, deceitfulness.  Some are utter horrific.  Even if one can't place a blood member anywhere nearby, they did at one time have a mother, a father.  Our network of friends and co-workers can be our family.  Essentially surrounding the core family in Zeke's is a diverse group of workers and friends from all backgrounds that essentially is the culture of the USA.    This network of people can be vast, or can be small.  Your family always stays in your heart, the good the bad and the ugly.  I wanted to tap into that.  

Who are some of your favorite authors:

Virginia Hamilton, Alex Hailey, Nathan McCall, Kevin Powell, Katrina Kittle.

What book by another author do you wish you had written:

The Autobiography of Malcolm X... I mean, who would pass on a chance to kick it with and learn from the violate and influential legend?  

Are their any particular songs that inspired your writing as you worked on this book:

Absolutely!   Music is one of my deepest passions just as writing.  Several chapters in this book I quote influential songs while giving proper honor to the artists.  I quote everyone from Prince, A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Roy Ayers, Grand Puba, Eryn Allen Kane, and Louis Armstrong.  The story being set in Detroit, Michigan, I pay tribute to many of the cities superstars such as the late J. Dilla, Royce The 5'9, Slum Village, Dwele, Elzhi, Oddisee, E. Dubb Da Gawd, Black Milk and a host of others.  Eminem's 'Food stamps' lyrics in particular influenced the entire chapter 'Government Cheese' which is a turning point in the story.  Also 'Flapjacks' was inspired by Dwele's song of the same name.  The chapter 'Styles upon Styles' mixes a beginning and ending arch that is book ended by the great Roy Ayers masterpiece 'Everybody loves the Sunshine' along with artists that sampled Sunshine, such as the Mary J. Blige 'My Life' and Brand Nubian's 'Wake UP."  'Styles upon Styles' title itself is derived from the late great Phife Dawg.   

Who is your favorite character in the book and why:

Freddy Styles.  He's a real OG.  70 + and still making things happen!  Hopefully I can be like him one day.    

Why is it called Eat@Zeke's and you included recipes in the book?

 One of the quintessential black family business are restaurants!  Black folks love to eat good food and many love to cook.  It is ingrained in a way of lifestyle.  Soul Food being a staple of the urban community.  In this generation, healthy eating is essential to quality life as well as having a stable family support network.  Our people valued taste and quantity of food over nutritional values for so long.  Possibly stems from the PTSD of our ancestors in slavery or segregation for centuries and not having adequate bounty of food.  Our fathers and grandfathers wanted to feast well the spoils of freedom.  Least they worry about their heart and arteries.  Many men have fallen to this foolishness. The backdrop of Zeke's builds on our ancestry of the passing down of the family business, the legacy of the American Soul Food, the migration of blacks from predominantly small farming communities to urban industrial cores, then the eventual shut down of these lucrative industry jobs and the eventual fall-out of these once thriving cities.  Detroit was a prime example of this circle of life.  A decayed city with idle factories and vanished residents who have long fled, abandoned homes, failing schools, neighborhoods plagued by violence and exploitation of the remaining few.  Alcohol, cigarettes, guns, fried chicken and lottery stands woo the fallen sheep left with nothing.  Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Flint, Dayton, they are all the same.  Detroit is the big D, while down south on I-75 Dayton is the little D.  The pipeline of the drug highway.  It's all the same.  

Gentrification, the tech boom, reemerging cities and those exploiting the fallen are addressed in Zeke's as a backdrop to the families peril.   The cry for 'Eat at Zeke's' is a metaphor, essentially used the same as 'Stay Woke' or 'Black Lives Matter' or the 'Me2' movement.  Let's build on and consume goodness, for we all must eat healthy to survive, strengthen our bodies, our spirits, our minds.  Strengthen our communities with positivism. 

"Zeke" itself was influenced by my late father's nick name.  The man loved to eat!  

The recipes are a nice addition!  The story revolves around food right?  I believe I picked some nice healthy ones, sans the dreaded Chicken Gizzards and maybe that yummy pie!  The wine was a throwback to my late grandmother Ella, who harvested her own grapes and made her own.  Too bad I was too young to enjoy.  Wish I could find her recipe!    

What else influenced the setting of Detroit:

The awesome history and people of the city!   The 'Nain Rouge' is a Detroit urban legendary who curses those that see it and is blamed for many of the cities woes.  He wrecks havoc on the Woods family as well as in the primary battle ground of Cass Town.  

I honor Detroit's John George of Blight Busters, who is a legend right now building back whole neighborhoods by leading teams of volunteers to attack urban blight one hood at a time.  Other cities need to adapt his manifesto to battle urban decay!  

Also mentioned is filmmaker Pleze Moore of Related Filmworks, a good friend of mine and Detroit legend in music, film and sports.    

Name drop Detroit Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, the awesome Shinola Watches and the abandoned Boblo Amusement park!  

Dayton and Detroit have a long history of collaboration and Eat@Zeke's is continuing in that honor.  The Lil D makes a few appearances!  ​

Find out more about Christopher here: about.me/christopher.j88

​Get the book here: 
www.amazon.com/Eat-Zekes-Christopher-Cjx-Joseph-ebook/dp/B07LFQ276C

Remember God by Annie F. Downs
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                This book was so hard to put down. Many Christian writers try to be vulnerable, but sometimes they try too hard to connect with a reader and it can come across forced. However, Annie Downs lets you into her world in a very real and authentic way. She shares her questions, her journey, uncertainties, and fears with the reader. When she begins to have issues after her book doesn’t get on a certain list, she shares how she handled it and how she went looking for God in all of it. She talks about playing computer games and staying in bed, as well as finding herself counting down the hours and minutes until she can get back to her hotel room bed while out on a speaking engagement. This is the kind of thing that many people face in their lives, but don’t share and it helps to see how Downs deals with her feelings.

                Downs lets you into her world when things aren’t going well or things aren’t happening in a way where it’s wrapped up all neatly in a bow. It’s refreshing to have an authentic voice sharing what happens when you’re in a storm and have questions are waiting on an answer. She writes about being in the “wilderness” and trusting God through it. This book feels like reading memoirs or a journal kind of like Gail Godwin’s diaries. It really pulls you in and makes you feel what she’s going through and, in turn, it provides ways to help you in going through what you are dealing with.

                Readers who enjoy Downs’ books will love this one and anyone looking for an authentic voice will love it as well. I read a lot of Christian non-fiction and this was my first book I’ve read by Downs, but she’s definitely made a fan here.

I received this book from BH Publishing and Lifeway in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's my book birthday! I get so many messages about how this book has helped the tweens and teens who read it and how it got them to open up to their moms and grandmothers about things that were on their minds. The book is also free on Kindle Unlimited.

Things seem to be going well in Landry Albright’s world—she’s getting invited to be on local talk shows to talk about her modeling career, her best friends have her back, and her boyfriend Vladi has becoming someone she can truly count on…and then everything changes.

Suddenly it seems like most of the girls in school are into hanging out at a new teen dance club, while Landry just wants to spend her weekends playing video games and baking cup-cakes at sleepovers. Then, Yasmin McCarty, the most popular girl in school, starts to come between Landry’s friendship with her best friend Ashanti. Things take a turn when Yasmin tells Vladi that Landry is interested in another boy. Can Landry get her relationships with Ashanti and Vladi back or will she be left behind?
#YA #Bullies #FamilyValues #LifeLessons

Book Three- http://amzn.to/1Sk7g6E
Book Two- http://amzn.to/1Ok6bYH
Book One- http://amzn.to/1J4WMVU

​I'm excited to share with you that Can Dreams Come True is now available as an audio book! You can find it on Audible, Amazon, and itunes. It's such a dream to get to have another audio book. I can't wait for the sequel to come out and I will be sharing the blurb for book two soon. 

Find the audio book here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Cecily/dp/B07MJ7RS8B

Audible: www.audible.com/pd/Can-Dreams-Come-True-Audiobook/B07MJ7QCX2?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-139158&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_139158_pd_us

itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/audiobook/can-dreams-come-true-cecily-taylor-series-book-1-unabridged/id1448949249

Moment ‘Til Midnight by Brent Crowe

The book is set into chapters based on each hour after Paul finds out there will be an execution. The author imagines what might be going on in the mind of Paul as each hour ticks by. He even paints a picture for the reader of what it was like in the jail with the loss of light as the hours go by and the cold stones.

Although the author is dealing with what Paul might be reflecting on, the author also puts in modern examples to make a point to the reader. He talks about finding one’s purpose and gives ways one can do that to find God’s purpose for each one of us and how we can know when we find it. He talks about how we can see if we’re representing the name of Jesus in whatever you do. Crowe also focuses on developing the heavenly mindset.

This is a very introspective book that makes you think deeply about your own place in the world and if you’re doing enough to fulfill your purpose and if you’re living God’s perfect will for your life. I was expecting it to be more of a historical fiction feel, but this has more of a Christian non-fiction/self-help feel and would be a great edition in any library for people looking to dig deeper.
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I received this book from BH Publishing and Lifeway in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.