Book Blast & Giveaway - The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night: A Short Story by Gregory Pakis

The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night

A Short Story

by

Gregory Pakis

Crime fiction / Travel

Publixher: G & G Publishing

Publication Date: August 1, 2024

Page count: 19 pages

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SYNOPSIS:

Hookers and hawkers.
Mosques and mosquitos.
Paul has had enough of Southeast Asia.
He's only here ‘cos it's cheap.
He's on the run from police after leaving Australia.
No, that place wasn't much better either.
Well, it was when he was young.
When his life was full of promise. An up-and-coming boxer. And he had friends. And fun.
Then a bit of bad luck later and he found himself on the run in outback Australia. Paranoid. Hiding from shadows. The heat. The dust. The sweat.

Next stop, Southeast Asia.

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Cigarette in mouth, Paul stood on the hotel balcony and stared nervously out into the hot Cambodian night. He hated Asia. He didn’t know why so many loved it. Of course deep down he knew - cheap holidays. But to Paul, Asia was hell - hot, dangerous and always just a bit of bad luck away from some sort of disaster.

Not much could be seen from his balcony. His hotel was down a small street off the main road that led to the tourist centre of Siem Riep. He could see people drifting down the main road, mostly tourists clutching dollar beers. Directly across from him was the construction site of a new hotel.

Paul took another drag from his cigarette, grabbed his beer off the balcony railing and walked back into the hotel room. He looked at his boots next to his duffel bag. He was sick of those stinky boots. He looked at the grime on the duffel bag. That grime was from India. Indian grime was unique. Black. Oily. Nowhere else that he had been in Asia left that kind of grime. It came mostly off the train floors. As he stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray, he remembered what his feet looked like in thongs at the end of those long train trips - black.

 

REVIEW:

4 stars!

A young drifter reflects on his past and anxiously awaits his future. 

The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night by Gregorg Pakis is a compelling short story of a young drifter, quickly approaching middle-age and who has been hiding out in his Siem Reap, Cambodia, hotel room to hopefully to fly under the radar of the local authorities and INTERPOL. Having fled his hometown of Melbourne, Australia, just ahead of the police, who have an interest in him for mostly petty offenses, he traveled to India and eventually other Asian cities seeking cheap living conditions and easy marks for his penny ante thefts and robberies. With a lot of time on his hands, he reflects on his past and while he clearly recalls his life as taking advantage of opportunities to profit from others, he fails to dredge up any remorse for taking the low road.

 

The author’s writing is compelling and easy reading; I was absolutely drawn into Paul’s version of self-reflection. The descriptions of the places he traveled, and his experiences were absorbing and evocative. I would welcome a longer book with more of this character’s trainwreck of a life story. 

I recommend THE LONELY AUSTRALIAN OF THE ASIAN NIGHT to readers of crime fiction, travel tales, and literary fiction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Gregory Pakis is an Australian author, film-maker, actor and wacky vlogger. He has written the short story, The Lonely Australian of the Asian Night; the soon to be released horror-suspense novellas, The Regressor and He., and Memoir of a Suburban Hoe-Bo, which is partly an account of when he lived out of a van for ten years in Melbourne.

Gregory Pakis is also the writer / director of the feature films, The Garth Method (2005) and The Joe Manifesto (2013), which have won national and international awards and been distributed through Accent Entertainment, Label, Vanguard Cinema.

Gregory's more informal video projects are the feature documentaries, Garth Goes Hitch-Hiking (2007) and Garth Lives in a Van (2011) which have screened at film festivals in Australia.

More recently, he has created the comedy series, suBURPieS and his Wacky Vlog which can found on his socials.

Gregory has been featured in articles in newspapers, The Age, The Herald Sun, Beat Magazine, Inpress, FILMINK, and the Neos Kosmos. He has been interviewed on radio by the ABC, 3RRR, SYN FM, 3CR.

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Book Review: Alexander Finds a Home (Alexander's Adventures, #1) by Vicky Ann Meier; illustrated by Mentari

Alexander Finds a Home by Vicky Ann Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This cute picture book promotes embracing being your own unique YOU!

Alexander Finds a Home is the first book in a new children’s picture book series by author Vicky Ann Meier and illustrated by Mentari. It features Alexander, a young kitten, and his two siblings, who go to a cat shelter to find their forever home. All the kittens at the shelter are different from one another: various colors, long fur or short fur, large and small. One by one, each kitten is picked by a visitor to the shelter to come to live with them at their home, except Alexander. Each prospective owner has some features or characteristics they are looking for in the new pet: a specific color or gender or even whether they have a sibling they can adopt as well. But one day, a girl comes in, and in her eyes, Alexander is exactly the kitten she’s looking for.

The story is upbeat, and the kittens are optimistic about going to the shelter. Alexander does get a bit anxious when he begins to think he may not ever get selected, but the happy ending comes quickly. The narrative is simple and easy to follow, so even younger children can enjoy this one. The illustrations are clean, clear, and adorable. I am delighted to see this is a planned series of Alexander’s further adventures.

I recommend ALEXANDER FINDS A HOME for young children and lovers of picture books featuring kittens.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.


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Book Review: Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Ernesto Joel Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratus; Illustrated by Dana Sanmar

Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Ernesto Joel Vega Rosales
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A delightful introduction to the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego, and her annual veneration.

Las Mañanitas is a wonderful children’s picture book that explains the story of the appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the religious observations (and the title of the book) that occur in December. It introduces and gives the background circumstances of Juan Diego, the first Catholic saint born in the "New World."

The story is told from the viewpoint of a regular family with children participating in the events for the first time, and it is delightful, straightforward, and colorfully illustrated. Grandpa recounts the inspirational and historical tale while Grandma prepares the traditional costumes her young grandchildren will wear during the celebration. Best of all, the book provides the entire story in realistic but simple dialogue in both Spanish and English, side by side or one above the other on the page. Language students could use the book for a simple and interesting reading comprehension exercise and a glimpse into this cultural aspect of Catholicism in Mexico and other Latin American countries or communities.

I recommend LAS MAÑANITAS: THE BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION OF OUR LADY OF GUADELUPE to young children and their families, especially those interested in Our Lady and the Saints.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.


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Book Review - Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nunez

Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nunez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

They were assigned the toughest tasks and outperformed the rest!

Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War is the amazingly clear and well-presented history of this special group of brave and patriotic fighting men, whom most people have never heard of before. Organized and celebrated for over 100 years ago, the infantry regiment’s incredible and spotless record was besmirched during their long service in the Korean War. Only in recent years were they exonerated.

The 65th was a segregated all-Puerto Rican infantry regiment in the United States Army with a ferocious reputation. Many of the soldiers spoke Spanish, creating a communication problem with some of their English-only officers. There even existed a lot of prejudice against these men by their white officers. However, in the years the 65th fought in Korea, they were given some of the toughest, nastiest, and most hopeless assignments, and they still produced numerous examples of outstanding personal and regimental heroism. Still, near the end of the war, when the 65th was at the limits of its trained personnel and resources, they were tasked with the impossible and, perhaps, the ill-planned, and some of the men had had enough.

As the author mentions, the Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War,” probably because it followed closely behind two world wars and preceded Vietnam. The study of this conflict barely got a mention in any U.S. history course I ever took, and I would go so far as to say most people’s knowledge of the Korean War is whatever they gleaned from the television show M*A*S*H.

The author’s writing style is easy to read, and the storytelling and research are compelling. While the book targets a young adult audience, I think even older readers will find it fascinating reading. I know I did.

I recommend MEN OF THE 65TH: THE BORINQUENEERS OF THE KOREAN WAR to non-fiction readers interested in this little-known part of history.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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Book Review - A Priest, A Rabbi, and a Baptist Minister: The Murders at Windy Meadows by Janet A. Brown

A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Baptist Minister: The Murders at Windy Meadows by Janet Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three clerical detectives use their special talents to solve a thrilling murder mystery set in a senior living facility!

A Priest, A Rabbi, and a Baptist Minister: The Murders at Windy Meadows is a suspenseful and uniquely fun new mystery by author Janet A. Brown, and the title reveals the intriguing premise. The three clerical sleuths do their best to assist the lead detective in gathering clues at a senior living facility that is the scene of a brutal murder.

Father Brendan O’Clery’s favorite niece, Detective Maureen McNeely, is the first-time lead on the investigation of the murder of a well-liked female staff member at the Windy Meadows senior living facility, where her own grandmother, and Brendan’s mother, is a resident. One of the only female detectives in the department, Maureen’s investigation is being hampered by her misogynistic division captain, who is withholding the necessary manpower and resources needed to do the job. Uncle Brendan, with a background in military intelligence prior to coming to the religious life, is volunteered by his older brother, the diocese’s archbishop, to lend Maureen a hand, at least with corralling their cantankerous and interfering 80-year-old mother. He seeks out the assistance of his two closest friends, Rabbi Ezra Lieberman and Pastor Langdon Boothe, as they, too, have contacts among the Windy Meadows residents. They know the residents would be more forthcoming talking to them than to the police about what they may have seen or heard at the time of the murder.

Brendan, Ezra, and Langdon, despite their different faiths, have a nice camaraderie and work well together under Maureen’s direction. I enjoyed that each faced a special struggle at Windy Meadows: Brendan – his mother, Langdon – an overly flirtatious former member of his church, and the widowed Ezra – an unexpected crush on the attractive niece of former members of his temple. I enjoyed how they played their differences off against each other and their teasing, but they still played to their strengths when they could.

The chilling opening with the horrific assault on Jocelyn Whittier had my heart in my throat and set the tone for subsequent acts of violence. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, mainly Brendan’s but also that of the vicious killer. There were many residents at Windy Meadows in the vicinity of the crime at the time of the murder, so there are numerous possible witnesses to process. Clues to the identity of the killer are slow to come to light, but Maureen, Brendan, and his friends do the best with what they have. There are hints throughout that point to the resolution, so sharp-eyed armchair detectives may be able to develop a successful theory before the investigation comes to a close. Still, ruling out the red herrings and navigating the surprising twists in the plot will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seats.

I recommend A PRIEST, A RABBI, AND A BAPTIST MINISTER: THE MURDERS AT WINDY MEADOWS to readers of mysteries and thrillers, especially fans of more mature protagonists or sleuths from religious vocations.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.

View all my reviews

Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: In the Pale Light by Westley Smith

IN THE PALE LIGHT

by Westley Smith

August 12 - September 6, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

When Clay Graham and his family are found slain in the parking lot of his struggling business, the police suspect Clay's troublemaker brother, Terry. Terry claims he was drunk the night of the murders and passed out at home. With little evidence against Terry to make an arrest, the case soon goes cold.

Shunned from the community, harassed by the locals who believe he's a murderer, and suffering from an undiagnosed illness, Terry lives alone on his farm, punishing himself for his past indiscretions.

Then Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Henry Miller, who has ties to the town and the Graham murders, shows up with newly discovered evidence that kick-starts the case all over again.

Now, before his illness kills him, Terry sets out, battling against small-town secrets and old grudges, racing against time to stay one step ahead of both the State Police and his own impending death, to finally find out what really happened to his family and hopefully prove himself and innocent man --if he is one.

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thriller
Published by: Watertower Hill Publishing
Publication Date: August 13, 2024
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Watertower Hill Publishing

Read an excerpt:

December 25th, 2015

The emergency lights from the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department Ford Interceptor flashed across the snow when it pulled into the Graham Video store parking lot. The sheet of white should have been untouched by tires at 6:45 a.m., and the snow-covered green Jetta, sitting in the far left-hand corner of the parking lot should not have been there. Two different sets of tire tracks cut through the pristine snow. One set belonged to the Jetta. The other set made a large circle in the snow before making its way back toward Main Street.

The officer brought the SUV to a stop about five feet from the Jetta; its headlights bathed the car in the frigid darkness. Unable to see past the Jetta’s frosted snow-covered windows, a building sense of unease began to crawl over him, tightening the flesh to his bones.

The officer’s shift had been easy that night. He had not responded to any emergency calls, nor had he had to pull anyone over. A Christmas miracle itself. But all that had changed fifteen minutes ago while he was patrolling Broke Run Road, when Sheriff Will Daniel’s voice came over the radio.

“Call just came in. We got a report of shots fired at the Graham Video store. Caller says they saw a man running across the parking lot, carrying what appeared to be a shotgun. The suspect reportedly got into the passenger side of a blue sedan before it took off with two others inside. Need you to check it out,” Daniel had said.

Why the hell is the sheriff in at this hour? the officer had wondered. Shouldn’t Susan be on the call desk? And what’s going on at the Graham Video store?

Now on scene, with the first cracks of gray sky beginning to materialize through the night horizon, he radioed back into the station.

“I’m at the Graham Video store. I’ve located a V-dub Jetta. It’s an early 2000s model. No sign of anyone else, including the reported blue sedan. Though there are two sets of tire tracks in the snow, indicating another vehicle was present.” He glanced at the video store’s entrance. There were no broken windows and no ajar door to indicate a robbery had occurred. The place appeared buttoned up tight. “No signs of a break-in, Sheriff. Getting out to inspect the vehicle.”

“Ten-four,” Sheriff Daniel’s voice came back over the line. “Proceed with caution.”

Again, the officer thought it was strange that the sheriff was in at that hour, and on Christmas morning. Where was Susan Green? She usually worked the overnight shift; she should still have been at the station, working the dispatch desk. Still, the officer knew, she could have gone home for any number of reasons—the holiday, the storm, or maybe a family member had fallen –ill—and the sheriff had filled in for her. Pushing the thought from his mind, the officer returned to the pressing matter at hand.

Stay focused. Stay sharp.

Stepping from the SUV, the blowing snow and driving wind bit at the officer’s exposed skin, penetrated his clothes. Zipping his jacket up to his chin, he started toward the car, trudging through the shin-deep snow.

As he neared the Jetta, pelted with snow and ice so hard it stung, he noticed a set of footprints leading away from the passenger-side door toward the second set of tire tracks before vanishing. The tracks were nearly filled in with fresh powder, but it was unmistakable what they were. He assumed this was where the person had gotten into the second car—an old blue sedan. Looking back to the Jetta, he saw something smeared along the top of the passenger-side door. Whatever it was had frozen to a hard, ruby-colored substance.

He eased in for a closer look.

lood!

Frozen blood.

A strange tightness gripped the base of the officer’s neck as if Death had wrapped a cold, boney hand around him and begun to squeeze. His heart rate quickened. He placed his right hand on his sidearm and identified himself.

“This is the Hickory Falls Sheriff’s Department. If there’s anyone inside the vehicle, would you please step out?”

There was no reply. The car was dead still. The only sound across the parking lot was the howling wind and the ice pebbles hitting the closest metal lamp post.

Not wanting to disturb what he believed to be blood on the passenger-side door, the officer lumbered through the deepening snow, around the front of the Jetta, to the driver’s side. Reaching down, he took hold of the handle and pulled.

The driver’s side door was locked.

He took a deep breath of cold air, sending what felt like ice daggers into his lungs as he tried to steel himself for what he might find inside. His teeth began to chatter, and an internal shudder tremored in his core and quickly expanded to the rest of his body.

“I’m asking anyone inside to identify themselves and step out.” He waited, but when no one replied, he said, “If you do not comply, I will be forced to inspect the vehicle. Last warning.”

Silence.

No movement came from within. The car's stillness bothered him—like it was dead. But that was impossible. Cars could not be deceased like humans or animals. So why was he getting the dreaded feeling that death emanated from it?

Placing his gloved hand on the window, he brushed the light dusting of snow away and bent down to look inside.

The officer recoiled at what he saw or who he saw staring back at him. His feet slipped out from under him, and he went down onto his backside, hard. Snow kicked up when he hit the ground, and for a moment he was cocooned in falling white powder, protected from what he had seen.

But when the snow settled, the officer was again gazing at the driver’s-side door of the Jetta. There, he saw a man’s pale face pressed against the glass, the muscles twisted and tightened in agony. His eyes were open and locked directly on the officer with a vacant, lifeless stare, pleading with him, even in death, to save him.

Too late. I’m too late to save you.

The officer shot to his feet; snow fell off his uniform in large patchy clumps. And though the temperature was in the teens, he felt sweat break out across his back and forehead.

Moving gingerly toward the Jetta again, the officer realized he knew the dead man looking back at him.

Clay Graham—the owner of the Graham Video store.

He removed his Maglite from his belt and turned it on. Bending, he shone the beam through the ice-crusted driver’s-side window and began to scan the car's interior.

That’s when he saw them.

He pressed a gloved hand over his lips, suppressing the scream that wanted to leap from his throat at the horrific sight of carnage and death inside the Jetta.

It wasn’t just Clay Graham dead inside the car but also his wife, Claire, and their teenage daughter, Sidney.

***

Excerpt from In the Pale Light by Westley Smith. Copyright 2024 by Westley Smith. Reproduced with permission from Westley Smith. All rights reserved.

 

 

Review:

5 stars!

Thrilling twists and turns make this book a truly riveting story!

In The Pale Light by Westley Smith is an intriguing and ingenious new crime thriller that hooked me from the very opening. With its complex, morally gray, but sympathetic characters and many twists and turns, this book is one of my favorites of the year.

Terry Graham had led an uneasy life, seething with an anger that often landed him in trouble. But the murders of his younger brother and his wife and daughter put him firmly and absolutely in the crosshairs of the residents of his small Pennsylvanian hometown of Hickory Falls. Already a pariah as the driver in the car accident that took the life of the beloved daughter of the local pastor, when the murders go unsolved, the town’s rancor and suspicions only grow. Years pass, and the initial investigators from the state either pass away or retire. When their replacements show up on his doorstep to go back over his alibi for the time of the murders, indicating he’s still the only person of interest, Terry decides to take matters into his own hands to clear his name once and for all before the unknown illness which has been plaguing him for months sounds his death knell. Terry follows the clues he discovers, reconnecting with those from his past: people he thought were his friends. He knows in his heart his time is running out, and he goes straight for the jugular with some of these people. Their meetings are often raw and violent, but Terry doggedly pursues the truth of what happened that night.

Trooper Henry Miller with the Pennsylvania State Police Major Crimes Team was previously a deputy in Hickory Falls and caught the initial call for the Graham family murders, so he feels a responsibility to solve the nine-year-old case. He and his partner, Ross, suspect Terry Graham committed the murders going in but are still open-minded enough to be convinced otherwise if the evidence can be found. As they retrace the steps of the previous investigators, they are unaware that Terry is actually steps ahead of them, asking questions on his own. A divorced father, Miller must also deal with a troublesome situation for his daughter Luna and his ex-wife’s insistence that he take some questionable actions on her behalf.

The plot is solid, exciting, and filled with twists and turns as Terry, Miller, and his partner give old statements another look. As Terry closes in on who he thinks are the killers, someone hiding in the shadows is watching and takes deadly measures to stop him from uncovering the answers he’s seeking.

I recommend IN THE PALE LIGHT to readers of mysteries, thrillers, and crime fiction.

Author Bio:

Westley Smith had his first short story, Off to War, published when he was just sixteen.

He is, more recently, the author of two horror novels, Along Came the Tricksters and All Hallows Eve, as well as the thriller Some Kind of Truth. His short fiction has been published in various magazines and websites. Wes lives with his wife and two dogs in the beautiful woodlands of southern Pennsylvania--the perfect place to hide a body.

Catch Up With Westley Smith:
WestleySmithBooks.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @wssmith100
Instagram - @wsmithbooks
Facebook - @westleysmith100

 

 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Roots Beneath Us by Joey Jones

The Roots Beneath Us
Joey Jones
Publication date: August 17, 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Fate brought them together. Their pasts tried to tear them apart.

Leaving behind a career filled with danger and secrets, Piper Luck arrives in Duck, North Carolina, on her fortieth birthday, determined to build a new life. Starting with The Roots Beneath Us, a local course her friend and father figure swore would transform her, she embarks on a new journey. However, on the first day of class, only one other person shows up—a shy, guarded man.

Like Piper, Boone Winters just moved to the Outer Banks at the suggestion of his now deceased mentor and boss, who promised Boone a job when he arrived if he worked up the courage to leave an abusive relationship. The job: Build a luxurious oceanfront home. However, there are contingencies. He must attend The Roots Beneath Us program, have an accountability partner, and live alone.

With no other course participants, Piper becomes Boone’s accountability partner. Together, they work through the course by facing their fears, setting goals, overcoming obstacles . . . and forging an unlikely friendship that evolves into something deeper. Nonetheless, when their previous lives resurface and threaten the tentative roots they’ve planted, they must each courageously confront their past demons once and for all in order to claim their future.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

It surprised Piper when Boone’s skin touched hers. She wondered if he meant to be so close. Part of her liked it. Lying here with him felt comfortable even though she hadn’t been romantically attracted. Something about Boone seemed different than any other man she met. She felt safe in his presence.

For a moment, Boone froze. He knew he should probably move his arm before it became awkward, but all he could do was stare through the trees at the stars even though he wanted to turn and look at Piper.

Piper considered scooting over an inch to create space, but then as the moonlight filtered and the stars twinkled through the silhouette of hundreds of tree branches, she decided she was okay with Boone’s arm being pressed against hers. A couple of his fingers settled on hers delicately like a fallen leaf on the summer grass.

“Boone, this is lovely,” she admitted.

Boone began to breathe again although he didn’t know what to say. “It is,” he finally uttered.

“You were right about this view. I think I could lie here all night.”

Neither of them spoke a word for the longest time. They simply basked in the ambiance surrounding their lives at the present moment.

Eventually Piper broke the silence. “Sometimes I try to count the stars.”

Boone smiled in the dark. “That sounds fun.”

“You’re fun, Boone,” Piper stated, wrapping her pinky around one of his fingers. She turned and looked at him. “You deserve this freedom.”

Boone didn’t know precisely what freedom she meant, but he felt as free as the owls in the trees. The way her pinky wrapped around his finger made him more alive than he ever remembered. “Thanks,” he responded, slowly turning his head to meet Piper’s gaze. The clarity of her charming brown eyes surprised him, and once again he experienced that previous connection.

Piper studied Boone’s green eyes. “No matter what happens, you never ever have to go back to her.”

“I know,” Boone replied, trying his hardest to believe it. Suddenly he wanted to kiss Piper’s lips but couldn’t. He could write that on his journey list a thousand times but doubted he ever would, and right now he couldn’t muster up the courage. Baby steps, he heard someone on his shoulder say.

Piper considered rolling onto Boone and kissing him gently. She doubted he would make the first move. Almost any other guy would have already jumped on top of her but not Boone Winters. He was scared and scarred but also a gentleman. This man had been taken advantage of so many times he understood the danger in crossing boundaries. She understood his delicacy and wanted to treat him with the respect he deserved, realizing most of the women he encountered probably jumped on top of him.

Piper and Boone didn’t say much more the rest of the waking night. They just let things be. Mostly they stared at the stars. Their bodies didn’t move, not even their fingers, slightly intertwined like many of the branches above.

It shocked Piper when Boone dozed off to sleep, but it made her glad to know he felt comfortable. She knew she needed to leave but hated to wake him, so she kept gazing at the stars and listening to the ocean, imagining he would wake up soon.

As Piper listened to the steady rhythm of the rise and fall of Boone’s breath, the owls hooted, the sky glowed, and before she realized it, her eyelids collapsed, and sleep captured her body.

The moon moved across the North Carolina sky. The branches slowly danced to the breeze blowing off the Atlantic Ocean. The critters went on about their night. Everything seemed completely peaceful, and then something unexpected happened.

Author Bio:

The writing style of Joey Jones has been described as a mixture of Nicholas Sparks, Richard Paul Evans, and James Patterson. USA Today Bestselling Author Jeff Gunhus compared Jones’ work to Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Evans, and Sparks. National Bestselling Author Kristy Woodson Harvey described Joey Jones’ writing as “lyrical” and proclaims “he effortlessly pulls readers into the souls of his characters.”

The ratings and reviews of Jones’ novels A BRIDGE APART (2015), LOSING LONDON (2016), A FIELD OF FIREFLIES (2018), and THE DATE NIGHT JAR (2019) reflect the comparison to the aforementioned New York Times bestselling authors.

Joey Jones fell in love with creative writing at a young age and decided in his early twenties that he wanted to write a book. His debut novel A BRIDGE APART is a suspenseful love story that was years in the making as he tinkered with the story off and on while working full-time in the marketing field. In February 2016, Jones became a full-time novelist and published his second novel LOSING LONDON later that year. Three of Jones’ novels have earned 4.8 out of 5.0 Amazon stars.

In his spare time, Joey enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, working out, reading, and writing inspirational quotes. His favorite meal is a New York Style Pizza with sweet tea. He won the 8th-grade spelling bee at his school, but if you ask him how many students participated, he might say, “Such minor details are not important!” He currently lives in North Carolina with his family.

Joey Jones earned a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College where he graduated with honors (2006). He was the owner of a full-service advertising agency and taught business and marketing courses as an adjunct college instructor.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Son of the Siren by Kristina Elyse Butke

Son of the Siren

Kristina Elyse Butke

Publication date: July 2, 2024

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

SYNOPSIS:

Sometimes love is a curse, a twisted, unnatural obsession.

Such is the dark magic of a siren’s song, the power of which half-siren Lirien witnesses for himself as he watches his mother sing his father, the King of Ardeth, into the sea. In a fruitless attempt to reverse his father’s fate, Lirien sings the siren song himself, not knowing its true power is seduction. Instead, he ensnares his stepmother, the Queen, with its hypnotic melody.

When Lirien refuses her desperate advances, she turns to forbidden magic to force her love on him. But wishing upon a havoc stone is an invitation to chaos. The queen’s own son and daughters, Lirien’s beloved siblings, are whisked away and transformed into animals. They flee the kingdom, and Lirien chases after them, his beautiful voice also gone.

Through elven mountains, fae forests, and siren waters, Lirien will stop at nothing to find and save his family. Threats come at him from all sides, but there are allies, too—Kitra, a shapeshifting fae fox who vows vengeance on the Queen for killing her brother, and Brandegil, an elf who can awaken the sacred sword Alibrandr to help break the spell on the children.

Together, they’ll bring the stars raining down from the heavens if that’s what it takes to save Lirien’s family, but there’s still the matter of breaking the spell on the Queen. And Lirien’s own deadly curse haunts him should he stray too long from the sea.

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—

EXCERPT:

On the night of his twentieth birthday, Lirien was dreaming he was a golden bird with long, lustrous plumage, when a wordless song invaded his sleep. A woman’s voice, rich and beautiful, floated upon the warm summer breeze through the open balconette window, but it wasn’t until he felt the gentle brush of her breath against his ear that Lirien opened his eyes.

He was alone in the darkness of his room, but the song caressed him with silky fingers. A tingling warmth traveled his skin before it settled down as a hot knot in his stomach. He felt something like a tug at his waist, pulling him forward.

He didn’t remember standing or walking. He was in his bed, and then he was on the beach with the hulking silhouette of the castle and cliffs rising behind him. He thought he was dreaming again, until the cold water washed over his bare feet and, at last, the dreamlike haze within him dissolved.

The singing continued.

The light from the large, snow-white moon cast a strong glow upon the sand, which sparkled as though the stars had fallen and taken root there. Beside him, a mound of red velvet bedclothing had been tossed carelessly aside at the water’s edge. Lirien recognized the clothes and the figure in the sea before him, a man slowly stumbling forward against the crashing waves.

The knot in his stomach tightened. “Father! What are you doing?”

The man was already waist deep and Lirien ran in after him, sloshing through with difficulty as his father journeyed farther and farther out.

“Stop! Come back!”

Somehow, over the waves and the breeze, his words reached his father. Now treading water, he turned to Lirien, but too late.

The singing stopped. Long, lithe arms, silvery blue and covered in a smattering of scales, shot up from the water and encircled his father, dragging him below.

In desperation, Lirien dove under, blindly swimming ahead as frantic thoughts pummeled him and the sea floor disappeared underneath him. You knew someday she would come; you’ve known all along. It’s her, and she’s here for you both. Without ever seeing her before in his entire twenty years, he knew instinctively who she was.

A woman’s voice echoing inside his head brought a flash of pain. Get away!

Her eyes, two luminous orbs— large, bright, and orange like sunset, orange like Lirien’s own —flooded his vision. She was less than an inch from his face. He was so startled he opened his mouth and took in water, and choking, he rose to the surface. And then she was on him, seizing him tightly underneath his shoulders and staring at him intently.

Her hair, of darkest sapphire, another trait Lirien had inherited, was matted against her gleaming skin. Everything about her was longer, larger. She towered over him easily, and her fiery gaze was so intense he could hardly return it. And her face… he would never be able to describe how lovely and terrible it was, or the feeling that came over him when he saw the parts of her that were also his own.

“Let me go.” His voice, a gentle baritone, came out flimsy and trembling.

Do not follow. She turned to swim away from him. You will not see me again.

Lirien didn’t know what else to do. He called her by the only name he knew.

“Mother.”

She stopped.

“Don’t take him. Please.”

A wistful look spread across her face as she gazed into the water. I loved him. I did. But I cannot help what I am. She met his eyes. And because I love you, you cannot follow.

She dove, a flash of her leg skimming the surface of the water, only to change to feathery finned, kaleidoscopic tail as she disappeared below.

Unable to make sense of his mother’s words or what he was seeing, Lirien ignored her command and dove deep. The water was too dark for him to see, but he imagined the hulking form of his father sinking into the bitter abyss. He pushed on despite the pain in his lungs and the pressure of the cold, dark ocean.

He wasn’t sure what happened or when he lost consciousness, but when he opened his eyes, it was daylight on the beach. He was sprawled out on his back, his wet nightshirt offering no protection from the sand that scratched his skin.

He struggled upright as his stepmother rushed to his side, clutching his father’s abandoned robe to her chest. Several of her guardsmen were scattered along the shoreline, searching the water.

“Lirien!”

He flinched. Queen Aurinda rarely said his name, and the sharpness of it startled him. She sounded all at once livid and frightened. “What did you see? What happened?”

He couldn’t answer her without his own angry tears falling. “King Neven is gone.”

Author Bio:

Kristina Elyse Butke writes fantasy filled with magic, dark curses, and true love. Her time living abroad in Wales and Japan inspires her writing through the fantastical settings and creatures she creates. She has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and when she isn't writing, she indulges herself with reading manga and webtoons, watching anime, and cosplaying. She also enjoys spending time in forests, the more whimsical, the better.

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Dark Walker series by Shelly Campbell

DARK WALKER SERIES

by

Shelly Campbell

Speculative Fiction / Horror / Dark Sci-fi

Publisher: Eerie River Publishing

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SYNOPSES:

When we were children, they told us monsters weren't real. They were dead wrong.

 

It’s just a closet door with a skeleton key, but when David opens it, he unlocks a gateway to a sinister world that’s bent on destroying everything and everyone he loves. Some doors are better left closed.

 

Embark on a thrilling journey with the Dark Walker Series, and be transported into an interdimensional tale of monsters, lies and self-discovery. Where the terror of darkness is real and the line between ally and enemy is as thin as a blade.

CLICK TO PURCHASE!

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PRAISE FOR GULF:

 

"Equal parts coming of age story and otherworldly horror, Gulf probes the depths of loneliness, loss of identity and childhood trauma. It is a true treat for fans of the genre and had me clutched in its razor-clawed hands from the first word to the last.” 

-C.M. Forest author of Infested

Book One:

Seventeen-year-old David is fading from his world, like a Polaroid picture in reverse. He longs to feel connected to something bigger.
 
When his brothers discover the new extension at the rental cottage comes with a locked door, David finds the key first. Expecting to claim a bedroom, he opens a dimensional gateway instead, exploring abandoned versions of his world in different timelines, 1960s muscle cars alternating with crumbling cottages.
 
Except now the dimensional bridge won’t close, and something hungry claws the door at night. David scours for clues to break the bridge, but each trip to the other side makes him fade more on his. Even if he succeeds, he risks severing his connection to his own world, and dying on the wrong side, forgotten.

Book Two:

There are doors that open to other worlds, but it’s no fairytale on the other side.

 

I thought otherworldly monsters bent on devouring my whole world starting with my family trumped everything. Turns out, I was wrong. My world's only one of thousands facing annihilation from the maneaters that tried to eat me alive. Charlie saved me, rolled into my life on a motorcycle, and rescued me.

 

Problem is, I’m the Embassy’s property now. They’re the interdimensional agency tasked with stemming the flow of ravenous aliens into our universe, but they seem more interested in studying me. I crashed a gateway in a way they’ve never seen. The Embassy wants to replicate that. I think they want to use me as a war weapon.

 

If I don’t convince Charlie to help me escape, I’ll be an Embassy science experiment for the rest of my short life, or worse, eternally trapped in the dark hell that fills the spaces between worlds.

READ AN EXCERPT:

Something that sounds like a dog scrabbling across hardwood jolts me awake. I focus on a low wooden ceiling and struggle to place my surroundings. My legs tingle under a heavy weight, and when I push away what I assume is a blanket, the dictionary slides off my knees and falls to the floor with a thud. The busy scratching intensifies, reminds me of mice running through our hollow walls back home, or cockroaches.

 

That sounds bigger than cockroaches. I frown.“Shit!” I whisper, scrambling to the edge of the loft, and blinking into the darkness below.

 

James is standing in front of the couch. A wedge of pale moonlight from the kitchen window ribbons across his back, and his shoulders shudder. He’s shivering. A moving shadow ahead of him catches my gaze. It’s a black hand extending under the door, elongated fingers splayed, claws scrabbling for purchase on the worn planks as it reaches for James’s ankle.

 

“James!” I yelp.

 

He shuffles closer to the five-panel, oblivious to my call, but the maneater hears it and rattles the door violently.

 

“James, stop!” I plunge down the ladder and my feet hit the floor so hard my ankles twinge. Spinning, I grip the couch as I round it, grasping for my brother’s shoulder. I miss, barely raking his back as he shuffles ahead with his hand reaching for the crystal doorknob glinting in the moonlight. “James!”

 

The black questing hand snags around his ankle and yanks hard.

 

James’s chin snaps against his chest as the rest of him rag-dolls backward. A thick smack reverberates through the floor as his head ricochets off hardwood.

 

I scream and jump over him.

 

The claw twists James’s foot sideways and jerks back, mashing my brother’s heel against the bottom of the shuddering door, deaf to his waking, harrowing wail.

 

Blood trickles down his foot.

GUEST POST:

Please welcome Shelly Campbell, the author of the Dark Walker series to the blog today.

In the course of writing our books, there is always a fascinating piece of research that we stumble on and it may, or may not make it into our stories. Really good research should, of course, never be intrusive so here is your opportunity to let that little piece of trivia or major research point have its moment in the sun. For your post, it would be wonderful if you could share a “Fun Fact”.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest. What a fantastic topic! What writer hasn’t lost hours—or days—going down a rabbit hole of research that started with one niggling question? And once you get excited about it, you want to share everything you’ve learned! But fiction isn’t a university dissertation. Your readers don’t want an encyclopaedia—well, maybe a couple of them do—the rest, they came to be entertained, so it’s our job as writers to use our research to paint subtle strokes that reinforce our world-building, not info-dumps that drag our audience out of the story.

For Breach, book 2 of the Dark Walker series, my Achilles heel of research was time travel, specifically, time distortion caused by near light-speed travel. I’m not well-studied on the topic. Not. At. All. It felt really intimidating for me to tackle a book that involved time travel aspects when I didn’t know a lot about the subject. I was certain I would confuse myself knotting up timelines. Time travel itself is a confusing beast.

Quite simply, I didn’t think I was smart enough to tackle the subject with any sort of authority. I’m still not. But Lord, did I go down a rabbit hole, folks.

I read articles on Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and time dilation—the phenomenon where if someone is standing still and, relative to them, someone else is moving at near light speed, time passes noticeably slower for the person going fast, relative to the person who’s not moving.

My main character David finds out that his universe is a tree that has tens-of-thousands of branching dimensions. When the big bang happened, dimensions accelerated away from the trunk and, compared to it, they’re moving away from it at near light speed. A few seconds in a dimension really high up the tree translates to much longer down in the trunk. Society has figured out how to hop between dimensional twigs using bridges, but they experience time dilation because of the differences in relative speed between their departure and arrival worlds.

Incidentally, the movie Interstellar does a great—if greatly exaggerated—job of showing the effects of time dilation effect caused by a nearby black hole.

I went so far as to find an online time dilation calculator and figure out what speed each dimension in David’s universe is moving at, and how much time dilation travellers would experience coming back from those worlds down to the trunk.

I even sketched out a rough little branching chart.

When Cory and David have a chat about time dilation, and he jots down a visual to explain it, I’ve included my illustration in the book. The acceleration of the worlds and the extent of time dilation my characters experience when they bridge worlds was all based on that time dilation formula calculator.

But readers don’t need to know all that when they’re deep into the story of Breach. They just need a short conversation between characters as to why time is all messed up, and maybe a little chart (because it was fun to draw). They just need the science to feel sound.

Did my research do that? Did it actually make my story better? I suppose that’s for my audience to decide. It did help me puzzle out some of the dilemmas I put David into, and it was fun. Sometimes we research for the pure fun of it, to satisfy a curiosity itch. Even if it doesn’t make it into your story, it still feeds your imagination, right? And that’s the most important part. Keep feeding those imaginations!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

At a young age, Shelly Campbell wanted to be an air show pilot or a pirate, possibly a dragon and definitely a writer and artist. She’s piloted a Cessna 172 through spins and stalls, and sailed up the east coast on a tall ship barque—mostly without projectile vomiting. In the end, Shelly found writing and drawing dragons to be so much easier on the stomach. Shelly writes speculative fiction ranging from grimdark fantasy, to sci-fi and horror. She’d love to hear from you.

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Book Review: Thank You, Night by Dan McCauley; illustrated by Jo Loring-Fisher

Thank You, Night by Dan McCauley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful and restful, perfect for before bedtime.

Thank You, Night is a lovely new children’s picture book by author Dan McCauley and artist Jo Loring-Fisher, and it would be the perfect wind down at the end of the day. At the close of the day, a young boy is unable to slip away from the thoughts and feelings of his day. But as he takes his customary evening walk with his father, the calm, loveliness of the night and his awareness of the natural world around him eases his mind and body to finally welcome sleep. The illustrations are captivating in their colors and execution, drawing your imagination in with the soothing text that accompanies them. I loved the gentle descriptions of the breeze tapping the boy on the shoulder and the muted background images that completed each scene. I recommend THANK YOU, NIGHT for young listeners and their older readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.

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Virtual Book Tour & Giveaway: Reflections of Michael Trilogy by L.J. Ambrosio

REFLECTIONS OF MICHAEL

by

L.J. Ambrosio

Literary Fiction / Coming of Age

Publisher: Film Valor

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SYNOPSES:

A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.

”Twists and turns further pull the reader into Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity. “Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.”

-- R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com.

“This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” 

-- Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks

Michael's story continues from A Reservoir Man (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

CLICK BELOW TO PURCHASE THE TRILOGY!

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READ AN EXCERPT:

Excerpt from Reflections on the Boulevard
 
 

“How long will the trip last? I thought I would be in Transcendental amazement by now.”

 

Michael was a little shocked. “Ron, we have only been driving for 2 hours.”

 

Michael explained to him that they would drive US 80 until they reached the borders of Nebraska and Wyoming, so he had to settle in. The corn fields were right down the road. Passing the corn fields, Ron observed how peaceful everything was. Michael suggested they pull over and park the car for a while.

 

While just sitting in the car, Ron saw two figures in the field, a man, and a woman. They suddenly disappeared among the corn and, from above, you could see the corn stalks shake violently. Ron chuckled.

 

“Oh God, looks like those people are doing it! It almost looks like he is doing it to the corn stalk!”

 

Michael tried to change the subject, “Look at those birds” he said, quickly. Ron was still caught up in his imagination. A few moments passed as Michael tried to rest his eyes and prepare for the next stretch of road. Suddenly he heard Ron crinkling a wrapper to a candy bar, which jarred him back to the moment. Michael sat listening to Ron crunch; he nearly threw it out the window.

 

“Can you not chew so loud, Ron?”

 

“Sorry. I love these things.”

 

A moment passed; the corn stalks were calm now. 

INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR:

Author L.J. Ambrosio was very kind to sit down and answer a couple of questions I had after I had read the REFLECTIONS OF MICHAEL Trilogy and participated in the book tours for each of his book launches. To Louis: Thank you so very much.

You have mentioned in previous interviews that the books in the trilogy are based on your life experiences. With that in mind ...

Were any of the characters more representative of you than someone you knew? I wondered if the main characters were representative of you at different points in your life?

Michael has very close links to my life, but there is Louie, the dreamer, the partisan, very much my instincts. As for Ron – the emotional. I feel Ron's pan every day in my thoughts of the past. Lily is like all the women in my life. They cared for me and protected me from those reservoir men. Lily encompasses beauty both in and outside. I can never thank all the great women/girls in my life. All of them tender. As Louie cuddled with Lily in the bookstore during the riots – that security so many ladies gave me. They are all me, and I hope you find something of them in yourself.

 

Your books feature a lot of travel, so where are some of your favorites or more memorable places to travel?

Paris, but America in the west is magnificent. Grand Canyon desert, Yosemite, Grand Tetons. I love America and all its beauty, but Paris holds the number one spot.

Were there any scenes in your books that were cathartic or therapeutic for you to finally write down and tell someone about - perhaps that you hadn't ever shared previously?

Throughout the entire three books, I can go from chapter to chapter pointing to moments and the people who tried to use me, and who did use me. I took lessons from them – that is life. I learned you have to keep walking and emotionally touching those around you as you go on. Don't obsess about the reservoir men. Just walk on in your purity, whatever purity means to you.

Now that the trilogy is done, do you have plans to write more?

I need to rest. I almost died and was in a semi-coma. I want to see the face of god again. I want to touch the dew on the leaf again. I want to sit in the forest or on the beach just thinking of whatever comes to my mind. To hug my dog, to watch all the birds I feed, and the blind homeless cat we feed and love every night.

Maybe I will continue the relationship and growth in one more book of Ron and Louie surrounded by Michael's memory.

I want to revisit Rhonda at the banks of Walden Pond and say goodbye as the dragonflies take her soul. I still miss the fourteen dogs I had who passed on and who I loved so much. I remember their smiles, their barks, and their cuddles when the storms approached. Animals are our cousins. They understand us if we love them. We don't even kill bugs in the house; we just chase them outside.

Having published three books now, did you encounter any surprises in the process of becoming a published author?

I can spell and write. Even though I have my terminal degree, I was never able to write in college, but I explain very well.

Thank you for these questions. They made me feel great. I have to say I love life and pity the reservoir men. I love to get up in the morning, always at 7 AM and look for the adventure.

And I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Best wishes!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

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The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a print copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly chosen winners.

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