I'm so excited to have my friend and self-help author, Kat OM, on the blog today with her new book. Kat's social media posts are always thoughtful and uplifting and I had to take this little bit out of a recent message she sent me because it just sums her up so well, "I'm hoping my blogs will help some people out there. Just as your books have. Try to help be the light." First, check out this blurb from her book, Resilient Love. Then read our interview below and see the special offer she has for my readers! "Relationships can be the source of our greatest joy and our greatest pain. When we are left feeling devastated after a break-up, or when you can't seem to keep yourself away from that guy who really is not good for you? Then this book is for you. The book are the lessons Karen learned through her journey working with the help of her life coach and her spiritual teacher and author Gabby Bernstein. When Karen first met Gabby Bernstein, she was looking for a new soulmate after her divorce, but what she found was so much more. Resilient Love is comprised of those lessons." "Your worth is not something you fight for with someone else; it's something you already own." "A partner who is secure with himself will always honor and support your greatness. Love should be the easiest part of the relationship." Kat was nice enough to do an interview with me. Read on to learn more about her work and her gift for you. Tell us about your work! Hi Krysten! Thank you for inviting me on your blog! As a self-help author, I may be slightly different from your usual authors, so I am excited to be here! In addition to being an author, I am also a spiritual mindset resilience coach, a merch designer, and a very new blogger. I blogged a little in the past, but I wasn't able to blog often because I was working on my book, "Resilient Love: Turn Your Wounds into Your Wings." It's a book about healing after the end of a relationship. But it's also the book I wish I would have read before I even started dating someone. I learned so many things at the end of my marriage that I wish I had known when we first met. Maybe it would have saved me from marrying someone where we were clearly not right for one another. But, I am grateful for our friendship today." I always try to be respectful of him in my writing. Now that the book has launched, I am looking forward to blogging more often. If we have a winter like the last one during quarantine, I would like to help people by giving them simple mindfulness tools if they are experiencing mild anxiety, mild depression, or even boredom; to help them get through those cold, dreary, grey days. Learning these simple tools and putting them into practice was life-changing for me. What was your favorite book when you were growing up? I loved "Charlotte's Web" by EB White, and the "Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe," by C.S. Lewis. Still one of the best classic fantasy books ever written. Pure magic. And "Are You There God? It's Me Margret" by Judy Blume. What is your favorite book as an adult? I read mostly non-fiction these days. However, I belonged to a book club when I was married living in Milwaukee, WI. What I loved most about being in a book club was that it introduced me to so many new books I otherwise probably would have never read. I'm not much of a science fiction reader, but one of my favorite book club books was the sci-fi book "Kafka on the Shore" by Haruki Murakami, which led me to read "Wind up Bird Chronicles," also by Murakami. I love the way he writes. It's like poetry. It made me realize how we should take more chances in what we read. You never know what you will find. I also loved "Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger and "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safer. I read both books before the movies and prefer the book versions. I always reread my favorite books. Do you reread books, and if so, which one(s) have you read over again? Being in the personal growth industry, I read mostly non-fiction now to see what new ways of looking at life people are sharing. I do reread so my favorite books by Gabby Bernstein. (That's how we met was through one of Gabby Bernstein's courses). I also love and reread a lot of books by Brene Brown, and “Untethered Soul” by Michael Singer. As for non-fiction, I haven't reread a lot of non-fiction books, I confess, I mostly reach for something new by the author or look for a similar book within the that genre. But I know what you mean, when a book is so good, you don’t want it to end, so you reread it. Who are some of your favorite authors? Pretty much the same as my favorite books, Gabby Bernstein, Brene Brown, plus Elizabeth Gilbert, Tara Brach, and Tosha Silver. I really enjoyed Alicia Key's new autobiography, "More Myself." As for non-fiction, fun, chick lit, I’ve really enjoyed reading Jennifer Weiner, Meg Cabot, and Sophie Kinsella. Drama, Cormac McCarthy author of The Road, same as Murakami, I love the way he writes, like poetry. A lot of creatives (artists, writers, musicians) have talked about how the pandemic has impacted their creativity. How has it been for you? I think it made me more creative. There was so much time to sit and think, “What do I want to create today?” But I'm talking big right now after the fact. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was very nervous when we first went into lockdown here in New York City. We were the first and the worst in the U.S. We didn't know what to expect? I took time out for a lot of self-care. As I worked my way through my anxieties, I put it into blogging a few article. As the pandemic continued, it allowed me to sit still and figure out what I wanted to do next? I decided to start an inspirational t-shirt merch line! Which I absolutely love! It's so much fun doing it! It's really allowed me to bring out another side of my creative self. I say, "Thank God" for YouTube videos. I wouldn't be able to do so much of what I do without YouTube. It's an endless resource of how-to and inspiration. What are you working on now? I was doing research on blogging and went down the YouTube rabbit hole. It went exactly like this, on Monday, I was launching some new merch designs on Instagram. On Tuesday, I was researching blogging; by Wednesday, I started rebuilding my website. One thing leads to another. I wasn't that in love with my current site, so I started looking for a web designer to build a new site, so my new blog had somewhere beautiful live. I worked on some special take-aways for my new site, my free "Self-Love 911 Toolkit" ebook. So come check out the new site at www.KatOMLife.com and you can download a free ebook. My gift to you, and you can check out the new blog while you’re there! It’s been so much fun sharing this with you all! And if any of your reader’s have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email at katomlife@gmail.com. I hope we meet again! Much love to you and your reader’s Krysten! xo Find Kat over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kat.om.life_resilient.love/?hl=en Pick up the book here: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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If you like my young adult Cecily Taylor Series, then you might enjoy author Liwen Y. Ho's Edenvale Arts Academy Series that deals with music as well. I wanted to have her on today to tell you a little about the series and to share an excerpt from the latest book, Ten Things I Like About You: A Sweet YA Romance (Edenvale Arts Academy Book 5)
Edenvale Arts Academy Series by Liwen Y. Ho The Edenvale Arts Academy series was hugely inspired by my love of the arts, specifically music. I’m also a big fan of all things YA, so I thought, why not pair these two interests together? All five of the books take place at a performing arts high school in the Bay Area (where I live) and feature five couples who major in the areas of drama, voice, guitar, graphic design, and visual art. These teens also go through the ups and downs of growing up, with the typical angst you expect from YA, but also with the sweetness of new love. I wrote this series with my own pre-teen and teen in mind, so readers can rest assured that these stories are all clean and wholesome (but still swoony!). Book five, Ten Things I Like About You, stars Nolan and Mimi, next door neighbors who have been best friends since they were three. These two characters have a special place in my heart because they made cameos in the four books before theirs and waited patiently for their turn to come. They’re also both half Chinese, so I was able to include parts of my culture in this story (that includes food!). I adore this couple and their journey to becoming more than friends, and hope you do, too! Here’s an excerpt from Ten Things I Like About You: Twisting the plastic rod, I watched as the blinds parted and sunlight streamed in. After a second, Nolan’s window came into view… and so did Nolan. Holy guacamole. My mouth fell wide open. There stood Nolan with his back to me, wearing a pair of white and black striped boxers. Only a pair of boxers. It wasn’t like I’d never seen him without a shirt on. But this was the first time since his huge growth spurt. The muscles along his back flexed as he pulled a black T-shirt over his head. If I thought he was hot before, he was officially on fire now. And so was I. My cheeks burned the longer I stared. I was so embarrassed, thinking about what Nolan would do if he turned around and found me gawking. A loud gasp escaped my lips. What in the world was I doing? Was I really checking out my best friend?! Purchase the book here: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites What's it like to date a pop star? Excerpt from In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety12/15/2020 
“Must be nice to have a hot pop star text you. Do you think he will contact you again?” Lila asked.
If he doesn’t, then I’ll die and probably never leave my room again. “I hope he does. I’d be seriously bummed if I—” Get phone dumped, get blocked online, see he’s dating someone else. “Don’t hear from him again,” I said. “Does anyone else know he was the reason Zach got so mad at you when he walked in on Andrew trying to kiss you at the video premiere?” “No, Zach didn’t tell anyone. I feel like it’d be weird if I told people that’s what happened. Like they wouldn’t believe me and think I was making it up to get attention,” I said. “Yeah, I already heard a few people saying stuff.” My stomach dropped. “Like what?” “Huh? Oh…nothing major.” She gripped the steering wheel. “It’s impossible to find a spot on the street on a weekend.” I pressed her again, and she shrugged. “There’s a couple comments on his social media pages.” Pulling out my phone, I went to the video’s link online and the first comment that came up was: NoOneAndrewFan: Why did they pick HER out of all the girls in the world? CaliGirlTwo: They couldn’t find any better than that chick? Holidate008: She’s like if the word “plain,” was a person. MusicIsLife: I think the point is that she’s not supposed to be hot, you guys Holidate008: I think she’s supposed to be the opposite of that other girl in the video. CaliGirlTwo: Obviously Andrew has a jealous girlfriend and told him to find blah girls to be in his video. SleepAllDayz: I bet Andrew’s managers don’t want his fans to be jealous of any of the girls they cast in his videos. Mission accomplished. Meghynn: Seriously, I’ve seen cuter girls walking down my street and I live out in the sticks. KellyKellz: I bet the other actress said they couldn’t cast another hot girl. Meghynn: Andrew obviously didn’t do the casting for this one. Holidateforever: Wow! Seems like no one has anything nice to say, all you guys want to do is trash people. if you don't like what Andrew’s doing in his video... then bye! TeenaRoger: Guys, Andrew would hate all these negative vibes! If you don’t have anything good to say about his work then don't follow his page, don't listen to his music, and DON’T bother commenting. Holidateforever: I think she’s pretty. Jealousy isn’t cute, you guys. “Oh crap. I didn’t even think to look at the comments before now. I guess it was so surreal to think I was actually in a music video that it didn’t even occur to me to go on and see what people were saying,” I said as my face burned with embarrassment. “Has everyone at school seen these?” “Don’t worry about it. People suck and if it makes you feel any better, a lot of people at school aren’t even talking about it because they don’t want you to get all stuck up,” she said. That was supposed to make me feel better? “I was barely in the video. Why is everyone attacking me for a five second spot?” I asked trying to keep myself from crying. “It sucks. I wish Andrew was here and he could just wrap you in a blanket and make you a cup of tea,” Lila said. I laughed despite the fact I was trying not to throw up on myself. “Yup, like the perfect boyfriend.” Want to read the rest? Find it here. It's free with Kindle Unlimited:
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Looking for a holiday romance to read? Check this book out!
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promottions. Cherry Christensen will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Read an Excerpt “I’m not sure about this color,” Naomi, the preacher’s wife, informed Hannah. “I look like a wad of pink chewing gum.” “No you don’t.” Hannah tied a brown snowflake scarf around the woman’s neck. The color brought out the richness of her dark eyes. “Lovely.” Heavy footsteps sounded on the wooden floor behind them. Turning, she spotted Jasper coming their way. “I’ll be right with you.” “Take your time,” he said. “Hmmm. I was wondering if you’d run into him yet,” Naomi said, backing into the changing area. “I’ll take the sweater and the scarf,” she announced. “Pastor Amos will do a double take when he sees you at the candlelight Christmas Eve service.” She laughed, envisioning the older man letting out a low whistle for his wife. Married forty years, they still managed to maintain an endearing fondness for each other. “Speaking of the service, you’re planning to help us decorate the church, right?” “I wouldn’t miss it,” Hannah said, strolling over to a small table where Jasper was thumbing through a stack of woolen socks. “See anything you like?” He lifted his gaze. “As a matter of fact, I do.” Hannah’s chest tightened while he held her stare. Swallowing hard, she noticed how his eyes sparkled like water when the sun danced across the waves. And how the color of his skin resembled the sand dunes. About the Author: 
A confirmed night owl, Cherry wholeheartedly agrees with whoever said, “I could be a morning person, if morning happened around noon.” It’s no surprise then she prefers to write in the evening. She’s a bit of a pantser writer, meaning she dreams up stories without using an outline, so every day is an exciting adventure as she waits to see where the characters lead her next! A lifelong avid reader, Cherry turned to writing as a creative outlet. Drawing partly from her own experiences, and partly from her wild imagination, she weaves romantic tales with a smidgen of religion and a hint of mystery. Cherry’s first novel, The Fearful Heart, debuted in 2014, and she has never looked back. She continues to grow as an author, learning more about the writing craft with each book. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherry-Christensen-Author-1427146804175227 BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cherry-christensen Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9872402.Cherry_Christensen Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cfyfechristense/_saved/ Author's Note: Secret Angel is regularly priced at $0.99. It’s the first book in my Secret Series. Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081JCH37D a Rafflecopter giveaway Across the Miles: Poems of Fantasy, Faith, and Fun by Annie Douglass Lima
Watch a violinist spin stars and snowflakes into existence and wake dragons. Step into a bookstore full of dusty treasures, and wander through a graveyard for poems that died before their birth. Join a solitary star treading the measures of its stately dance above a rainbow like a stream of dripping jewels. Then mourn with the alien who crash-landed on Earth and can’t get home - but be careful to avoid the deadly shadow creatures slinking through the darkness.
Grab your copy of this volume of poetry now and embark on an unforgettable journey across the miles!
Read on to sample two of the poems in Across the Miles! Monopoly (a Pantoum)
A pantoum consists of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of one stanza become the first and third lines of the next stanza. It works well to describe noisy places or repetitive thoughts or conversations. “Monopoly’s such a fun game.” “So now how much more do I owe you?” “Did you pay as much as you claim?” “The rules are right here, let me show you.” “So now how much more do I owe you?” “You’re not getting Boardwalk from me!” “The rules are right here, let me show you.” “It’s ‘Get out of Jail for Free’.” “You’re not getting Boardwalk from me!” “Will all you guys please be more quiet?” “It’s ‘Get out of Jail for Free’.” “You landed on mine, don’t deny it.” “Will all you guys please be more quiet?” “I can’t hear a word that you say.” “You landed on mine, don’t deny it.” “Just pass me the dice, then I’ll play.” “I can’t hear a word that you say.” “Are Reading and Short Line for sale?” “Just pass me the dice, then I’ll play.” “So how do I get out of jail?” “Are Reading and Short Line for sale?” “She owes you nine hundred for rent.” “So how do I get out of jail?” “You know how much money I’ve spent?” “She owes you nine hundred for rent.” “Aha, he’s advancing my way now!” “You know how much money I’ve spent?” “You landed on Baltic, so pay now.” “Aha, he’s advancing my way now.” “Did she roll a three or a four?” “You landed on Baltic, so pay now.” “I don’t want to play anymore.” “Did she roll a three or a four?” “You owe me two hundred and twenty.” “I don’t want to play anymore.” “Don’t buy more hotels – you’ve got plenty!” “You owe me two hundred and twenty.” “Did you pay as much as you claim?” “Don’t buy more hotels – you’ve got plenty!” “Monopoly’s such a fun game.” Flu For best effect, read this poem aloud with a stuffy nose and hoarse voice. I’ve decided I hate the flu – I really do! The soreness and aching, the temp’rature taking which tries to make me a believer that I’ve only got a fever of 99.2 but I’m pretty sure that thermometer’s a liar ’cause it feels way higher and I think I may slowly be going insane ’cause my cough’s such a pain with its racking and its hacking while all of the drugs that I take are in vain and my head and my chest are both tight and congest- ed, and I’m faced with issues like running out of tissues (’cause my drippy nose never stops) and having to bring cough drops everywhere I go and my eyes getting runny – and NO! It’s not funny! ’cause I don’t like being in pain and congested and woozy And inconvenienced and fevered and fluzy. Want to enjoy nearly a hundred more poems like this? Click here to download your copy of Across the Miles for just $2.99 (that's only about three cents per poem!). Or gift a paperback copy to a poetry-loving friend or family member for Christmas!
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Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
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 I'm excited to announce that I'm relaunching my young adult Star Series in 2021! I'm looking forward to sharing Hadley Daniels' journey with you next year. I can't wait to share my new covers with fans of the Star Series! You can stay up to date with all my book releases by signing up for my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/3guHZH4 Check out these Black Friday book sales!  Looking for sweet and clean romances under $5? Find them here: storyoriginapp.com/bundles/3f90e85e-2dce-11eb-9a96-f7d0226854e8?bundleLinkId=3iwONm4  Or pick up a multiple of genres for under a dollar here: sale.perrykirkpatrick.com/ Happy reading! Stay safe!  ABOUT THE SERIES Dive into a fantasy world hidden among our own – a dark world full of vampires, witches, werewolves, fae, shifters, ghosts and mermaids. Co-authored by two established fantasy authors, Jacqueline Silvester and N J Simmonds, the Blood Web Chronicles series is perfect for fans of Crescent City, True Blood and Veronica Mars. Saskia de la Cruz is a Verity Witch – her only magic being that she can tell the truth from a lie. As an investigative reporter for The Blood Web Chronicle, the biggest news outlet on the paranormal dark Blood Web, Saskia spends her days cracking twisted para cases hoping that someday, some case, will bring her closer to finding her missing sister. Each book centers on a different European city, and a different paranormal crime, and are supported by a prequel novella set in LA and a Christmas special in Lapland. With vibrant characters, page-turning suspense and steamy romance, this new series has been dubbed by early readers as “a fun crime-solving sexual adventure across Europe.” The series is classified as 18+ due to adult content. Book 1 in the series, ‘Vampires in Moscow’ (along with the prequel novella ‘Sirens of Los Angeles’) is available now. Order the books today at: https://www.amazon.com/Caedis-Knight/e/B08CC66WXP/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1 AUTHOR BIO Caedis Knight is the paranormal romance pen name of two established fantasy authors Jacqueline Silvester and N J Simmonds. They joined forces in 2019 when they saw that readers were looking for steamy paranormal stories with more diversity, more sass, and set outside of the US. In 2020 they launched their first series BLOOD WEB CHRONICLES, with book 1 VAMPIRES OF MOSCOW and the prequel novella SIRENS OF LOS ANGELES released 15 October 2020. The series comprises of six books and two novellas, most of which are set in Europe. “N J Simmonds and I have lived all around the world and speak six languages fluently between us,” explains Jacqueline Silvester. “We wanted to bring our experiences of living in big cities such as London, Berlin, Moscow, Paris and Barcelona to our stories. It was important that we reflected the true grit of urban life in our paranormal adventures.” “We also wanted to create a diverse and unique series,” adds N J Simmonds. “We enjoy being inventive with our paranormal characters and adding a bit humour – we write the kind of books fans of TV series True Blood and The Boys would enjoy.” Jacqueline Silvester is the author of the Wunderkids trilogy, and has worked as a screenwriter and producer on multiple cartoon series. She is a professional script-doctor and script consultant, specialising in animation, concepts, and TV bibles. N J Simmonds is the author of fantasy trilogy The Indigo Chronicles (BHC Press) and also writes comics for Big Bang! Manga. She began her career in glossy magazines and is now a CIM qualified marketing consultant, lecturer and public speaker. Both authors are proud of managing the full BLOOD WEB CHRONICLES experience themselves. The book covers and film trailer were designed by Jacqueline Silvester and this website and logo created by N J Simmonds. Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaedisKnight  I have a new article on Finding Writing Inspiration When You’re Stuck at Home with Women Writers, Women's Books here: booksbywomen.org/finding-writing-inspiration-when-youre-stuck-at-home/  Today's guest is author Mindy McGinnis, who is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us. She is is the author of Not a Drop to Drink and its companion, In a Handful of Dust, as well as This Darkness Mine, The Female of the Species, Given to the Sea, Heroine, and the Edgar Award–winning novel A Madness So Discreet. Find more info here at: www.mindymcginnis.com/ Tell us about your work. I write very gritty, intense novels for teens. I’m not scared to tackle the difficult questions, and often do so in a way that invites discussion. As a result, my books are often a love / hate situation for a lot of readers, and I’m fine with that. They’re both strong emotions, at least! What was your favorite book when you were growing up? Hard to say. I liked to collect series and often felt the need to re-read from the beginning if a new title in a series came out. So I read voraciously but I always returned to the Bunnicula series! What is your favorite book now as an adult? The Stand, by Stephen King is a perennial favorite for me. I always reread my favorite books. Do you reread books and if so, which one(s) have you read over again? The Stand, for sure. Also all of the Outlander books. Other than those, I’m not much of a re-reader. Who are some of your favorite authors? Stephen King, Matt Haig, Val McDermid, Diana Galadon, Colleen McCullough – these are all authors I can depend on. A lot of creatives (artists, writers, musicians) have talked about how the pandemic has impacted their creativity. How has it been for you? It’s been okay, honestly. I worked from home before, so things didn’t change drastically for me. I actually started working out more intensely than before, because I knew the possibility for my anxiety and depression to spike was there. I’ve always been able to count on exercise to pull me out of ruts, so if anything the pandemic has made me healthier. What is your writing schedule like? I don’t write every day, but when I am actively working on a project I aim to write 1000 words a day, or 5000 in a week. If Thursday rolls around and I’m clocking a 0 word count, the next few days are going to hurt. What are you working on now? Not actively writing anything new. I’ve finishing up edits on my 2022 release, The Last Laugh, which is the second in a Poe-inspired duology. You can find Mindy and all her social media pages here: : https://www.mindymcginnis.com/ Mindy's upcoming release, The Initial Insult, releases February 23, 2021. Read about it here: Welcome to Amontillado, Ohio, where your last name is worth more than money, and secrets can be kept… for a price. Tress Montor knows that her family used to mean something—until she didn’t have a family anymore. When her parents disappeared seven years ago while driving her best friend home, Tress lost everything. She might still be a Montor, but the entire town shuns her now that she lives with her drunken, one-eyed grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo,” – a wild animal attraction. Felicity Turnado has it all – looks, money, and a secret that she’s kept hidden. She knows that one misstep could send her tumbling from the top of the social ladder, and she’s worked hard to make everyone forget that she was with the Montors the night they disappeared. Felicity has buried what she knows so deeply that she can’t even remember what it is… only that she can’t look at Tress without having a panic attack. Tress has a plan. A Halloween costume party at an abandoned house provides the ideal situation for Tress to pry the truth from Felicity – brick by brick – as she slowly seals her former best friend into a coal chute. With a drunken party above them, and a loose panther on the prowl, Tress will have her answers – or settle for revenge. Pre-order the book here: www.mindymcginnis.com/initial-insult  |
AuthorAuthor of the Landry's True Colors Series, the Cecily Taylor Series, the Star Series, and Dating the It Guy. Archives
January 2021
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