Book Tour: My Year as a Clown (Robert Steven Williams)

How does a man really feel after the break-up of a 20-year marriage?

 

 Title: My Year As A Clown

 Author: Robert Steven Williams

 Publisher: Against the Grain Press

 Publish Date: December 26, 2012

 

        Buy My Year As a Clown:

Amazon
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With MY YEAR AS A CLOWN, Robert Steven Williams introduces us to Chuck Morgan, a new kind of male hero—imperfect and uncertain—fumbling his way forward in the aftermath of the abrupt collapse of his 20-year marriage.

 

Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get laid. But as the emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by being suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex.

With My Year As a Clown, Robert Steven Williams will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper, Lolly Winston, and Tom Perrotta, delivering painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.

Just Announced: Robert Steven Williams is the recipient of the Silver Medal for popular fiction in the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards for My Year as a Clown.

 

 

abookandalattee’s Review:

            My Year As A Clown is an honest portrayal of both heartbreak and healing. When Chuck finds his wife’s betrayal I really felt his pain. Yet through the humor, humility and honesty, Williams was able to lead us into the depths of an emotional male. All of the doubts, insecurities, and even the fears have all been revealed. I enjoyed the true honesty of My Year As A Clown and highly recommend Williams novel to anyone that needs a pick me up or even words of encouragement.

abookandalattee’s Rating:

            abookandalattee gives My Year As A Clown 4 Stars

About Robert Steven Williams

Robert Steven Williams is an author, singer-songwriter, and musician. His debut novel, My Year as a Clown (Against the Grain Press), was released in January 2013.

 

As a writer, Williams was a finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and was awarded a Squaw Valley Writers Community Thayer Scholarship. He attended Bread Loaf, Sewanee and the Squaw Valley Writers’ Conferences, and worked closely with the esteemed fiction writer, Barry Hannah. His short fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, The Orange Coast Review, and the anthology Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume II. Additionally, he was the executive producer of the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios CBGB Comic series, nominated in 2011 for a Harvey Award for Best Anthology. Robert’s work has also appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine, Billboard, USA Today and LetterPress, a newsletter for writers. He is also co-author of the best-selling business book, The World’s Largest Market.

 

As a musician, Williams studied songwriting with Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and other top country writers. In 2005, he released the critically acclaimed CD “I Am Not My Job,” featuring Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel, Wayne Shorter) and Sloan Wainwright.

 

Robert’s Website: http://www.robertstevenwilliams.com/
Robert on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-Steven-Williams/151139431616038
Robert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSWwriter
Robert on Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111002605881778815727/posts
Robert on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/robertstevenw/
Robert on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rocknovel

 

Book Tour: The Story of Sassy Sweetwater (Vera Jane Cook)

Finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards for 2012! Won the Eric Hoffer Award for Sassy Sweetwater for 2013 – Honorable Mention Best ebook Fiction! 

Book Title: The Story of Sassy Sweetwater

Author: Vera Jane Cook

Release Date: January 20, 2012

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Category: Southern fiction, Contemporary fiction, Women’s Fiction

Tour Date: July, 2013

Available in: eBook, 289 Pages

 

Synopsis:

After thirteen years on the run Violet McLaughlin returns to Carter’s Crossing, South Carolina, in 1962, with her young daughter, Sassy. The Crossing is right outside of Beaufort and the turmoil of the Civil Rights movement will forever leave its scars on the young and impressionable girl. As Sassy stands before the imposing white farmhouse for the first time, with no knowledge of her history but that the McLaughlin’s are her kin, Sassy begins a journey that will tear her apart before it heals her. Growing up among secrets that will forever damage her relationship with her mother, she attempts to make sense of her past. But will her passion for art and her love for Thomas Tierney be enough to sustain her future? Will the puzzles she must solve to discover who she is be worth the journey?

 

About Vera Jane Cook:

Vera Jane Cook, writer of Award Winning Women’s Fiction, is the author of The Story of Sassy Sweetwater, Lies a River Deep, Where the Wildflowers Grow, Dancing Backward in Paradise and Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem.

Jane, as she is known to family and friends, was born in New York City and grew up amid the eccentricity of her southern and glamorous mother on the Upper West and Upper East Side of Manhattan.

An only child, Jane turned to reading novels at an early age and was deeply influenced by an eclectic group of authors. Some of her favorite authors today are Nelson DeMille, Calib Carr, Wally Lamb, Anne Rice, Sue Monk Kidd, Anita Shreve, Jodi Picoult, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Her favorite novels are too long to list but include The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Cheri and The Last of Cheri, The Picture of Dorian Grey, Wuthering Heights, Look at Me, Dogs of Babel, The Bluest Eye, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Body Surfing, Lolita, The Brothers Karamazov, She’s Come Undone, Tale of Two Cities, etc., etc., etc.,

The Story of Sassy Sweetwater is a finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards for 2012. Her first novel, Dancing Backward in Paradise won the Eric Hoffer Award for publishing excellence and the Indie Excellence Award for notable new fiction, 2007. The Story of Sassy Sweetwater and Dancing Backward in Paradise received five stars from ForeWord Clarion Reviews. The Story of Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem is her first paranormal novel.

 

The author works by day for an education publishing company as an account manager and lives on the Upper West side of Manhattan with her long term partner, her Pomeranian, Daisy, her Basenji/Chihuahua mix, Roxie, her Chihuahua, Peanut and her two pussy cats, Sassy and Sweetie Pie.

Vera Jane Cook’s Website: http://www.verajanecook.com/

Vera Jane Cook on Twitter: https://twitter.com/verajanecook
Vera Jane Cook on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vera.j.cook

Buy The Story of Sassy Sweetwater:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

 

 

Release Event: The Hopfield Tales (Mike Evers)

 

Book Title: The Hopfield Tales

Author:  Mike Evers

Release Date: June 17th

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Historical

Publisher:  GMTA Publishing, LLC

Presented by:  As You Wish Tours

 

BLURB

There's always more to a town than meets the eye. You just need to scratch the surface.  The quiet town of Hopfield is no exception. There are everyday people doing everyday things - just like where you live. But history has a way of coming back to find us. And the voices of the past can change our lives forever. 

Three fabulous fables for your delectation and delight:

The Spirit Archer

Campaign of the Gods

Mark of the Legion

 

BACKGROUND INFO

The Hopfield Tales is a trilogy of three novellas.  Each story is set in a town in present day Yorkshire and involves people who have encounters with characters from English history and legend.  The tales include the final, as yet unpublished story, Mark of the Legion.

The blurb for the unreleased novella, Mark of the Legion:

Bentham Cawley enjoys and quiet and humdrum life as a monk at the Brotherhood of the Resurrection in Hopfield, Yorkshire.  But this is all about to change - when he unwillingly embarks on the monastery's new friendship programme and meets remarkable octogenarian Ernest Teale.

Just how does Ernest know so much about the past, and how is he connected to the legendary but doomed Roman Ninth Legion? 

Some secrets wait centuries to be unlocked...

Review samples for The Spirit Archer and Campaign of the Gods:

"This is a novella that is entertaining, informative and imaginative. It's a wonderful story that put a smile on my face."  (The Spirit Archer; Ann Werner, Amazon)

"This is a good fun read which I really enjoyed. I particularly liked the way the scenes cut back to the gods and their fated board game and the effect that had on our world of 'Midgard'. A great, light-hearted bit of fun."  (Campaign of the Gods; Ignite, Amazon)

The voices of the past can change our lives forever…

 

EXCERPT

From The Spirit Archer:

According to the map, he was now in the middle of Priory Wood, right next to where the grave should have been – except there was no sign of it. About him was the mixed warbling of birdsong and the rustling sound of a breeze blowing through the tree tops. In the distance he could make out the hum of traffic on the busy road. Nice place, he thought – apart from the cars. Where the hell was the grave? Looking around, Jamie noticed a trail heading through a thick cluster of trees and made his way along it. And then he found it.  It was huge.  It was over 12-feet tall and was constructed out of bricks and had tall pillars on the corners.  Between the pillars, high, wrought iron railings had been set up to protect the grave, and the effect was altogether grand. On further inspection, Jamie noticed that it had fallen into disrepair and two of the pillars were missing.  It was still very impressive nonetheless. 

     The thoughts filled Jamie’s mind: what on earth was Robin Hood’s grave doing here, and why did so few people know about it? Talk about a secret!  Feeling elated at finding it, Jamie walked around it and began searching for inscriptions or words indicating the identity of the deceased.  There didn’t seem to be much on the outside, and peering through the railings, Jamie caught sight of the grave stone. It was blackened with age and flecked with moss. Jamie squinted - he could just make out the inscription written on it:

Here underneath dis laitl stean
Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
Ne'er archir ver a hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im robin heud
Sick utlawz as his as iz men
Vil England nivr si agen

Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247

     Jamie photographed the words on his mobile phone’s camera, before stepping back to take more pictures of the whole grave. This will surprise a few people, he thought.  Jamie looked around, and spotting one of the pillars lying on the ground nearby went over and sat on it.  After checking through the photos on his phone, Jamie could feel the warm fingers of spring sunshine coming through the trees. Ah, what a lovely spot, he thought, and wondered what could have given Jock and Angus the heebie-jeebies. There certainly wasn’t anything creepy about the place.  Jamie stood up and, for a laugh, began talking to the grave:

“Rise up, Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and summon your Merry Men!” he commanded, regally.

“Tis’ now the time to protect the poor and unwary – CARPE DIEM, MIGHTY ROBIN HOOD!” he proclaimed, grandly.  The words echoed through the woods, startling some birds in the trees nearby.

 

 

AUTHOR BIO

Mike often taps out stuff on his keyboard in the fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal genres: a habit which his wife finds fairly amusing - and sometimes a little bit strange.

So far he has published two novellas - The Spirit Archer and Campaign of the Gods - with GMTA Publishing. Along with Mark of the Legion, the novellas are due to be published as The Hopfield Tales in summer 2013.

Mike's debut novel, The Chaosifier, is also available on Amazon, where it is ambushing unsuspecting fans of contemporary fantasy with its general mischief and mayhem.

Mike's educational background is in History, International Conflict Analysis and Education. He is qualified as a teacher in ESOL and Adult Literacy, and lives and works in West Yorkshire. He's married to a long-suffering wife, Joanne, and they have a young son called Joseph.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Amazon Author

Goodreads

Barnes & Noble

BOOK LINKS

Amazon Kindle – The Hopfield Tales

Amazon Paperback – The Hopfield Tales

B&N – The Hopfield Tales

Smashwords – The Hopfield Tales

Amazon – The Spirit Archer

Amazon – Campaign of the Gods

Amazon – The Chaosifier

B&N

Smashwords

Trailer – Campaign of the Gods

Trailer – The Chaosifier

 



Cover Reveal: Forces of Nature (Elizabeth Sharp)

Natural Selection by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

Average, plain-bodied Amelia Hoffman has resigned herself to a life of mediocrity, unable to escape the shadows cast by her all-too-perfect siblings. Worse, her feelings for her brother’s best friend are getting stronger.

Everything changes after the brutal murder of her close friend. Suddenly, Amelia’s life is transformed and she is thrust into a wondrous and frightening new world of myths and legends. As she explores this new world hidden within the layers of her own, secrets are revealed. When her body miraculously changes overnight,  Amelia is forced to hide in her home for her own protection. But as danger circles closer, Amelia has to figure out who is committing the ruthless homicides.

Otherwise, she could be next. 

Second Nature by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

Nothing seems right in Amelia’s new life. On the run with new names, her family has finally settled into a lavish life in North Carolina. Her relationship with Nate is strained almost to its breaking point, and she has no friends. As Nate pulls further away, a handsome stranger sweeps into her life.

Then evil comes for her again.

After her brother is kidnapped, they discover someone is draining demons for a deadly new drug that turns its users into mindless zombies. The drug ravages up and down the east coast, and all humanity is in danger. To make matters worse, an old enemy is back for revenge. With the help of her family and friends, Amelia must deal with her past.

Or they won’t have a future.

Better Nature by Elizabeth Sharp

Goodreads | Amazon

No matter how she tries to deny it, Amelia Hoffman has a destiny. An evil plot threatens to destroy humanity and the future lies in her hands. To make things even more difficult, she is distracted by college, family squabbles and trying to decide between two men she loves.

But destiny won’t be ignored for long.

When an explosion tears through the Library that houses the entire history of the Otherworld, Amelia is thrust into action. She has to fight through the tension tearing the Otherworld apart to rally an army. As the danger grows, Amelia must rise to fulfill the prophecy.

Or the whole world could fall. 

Author Bio:

Elizabeth has a near crippling Facebook addiction, dwarfed only by her need for Dr. Pepper. A self-proclaimed techno geek, she loves cell phones, computers, tablets and all things technological. The internet has to be the greatest invention since the wheel, in her opinion. She lives in a quiet subdivision with her husband, one-year-old son, three cats, and far too many electronics. It’s quite possible she has some raccoon in her DNA, because she loves glitter and anything that sparkles. She enjoys making jewelry and costumes. Halloween is her favorite holiday since it’s the one day of the year that you can be whatever you want. But her first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in her head would make her feel schizophrenic.

Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Book Tour: Fateful Eyes (Panos Nomikos)

Fateful Eyes is a story about a life spent searching for love, accomplishments, and true fulfillment, within the world upheavals that, unfortunately, characterize the beginning of the new millennium. In his own life, Panos Nomikos (the author) has traveled in many continents, has been acquainted with many different people from different cultures, and he has also humbly attempted to comprehend the dizzying pace of events that are unfolding in such a frenetic tempo around us.

Panos aspires to share those experiences by narrating the story of “Peter”, a cosmopolitan who is traveling around the world at several exotic places, trying to solve a great puzzle, trying to locate a mysterious lady who came from his distant, youthful, and lustful past, and upset his life and his relationship with his affectionate lover. All the while, she is trying to fend-off by the threat posed by that mysterious rival in his heart.

Yet, the puzzle itself is not the essence of this novel. The puzzle is only a “pretext” to justify the exposure of Peter’s tortuous and twisted path in life, as well as to narrate the lives of everyone around him, as they all become unwittingly entangled into the rolling thunder of the world’s current upheavals, terrorism, wars, and economic crises. Like a modern Odyssey, the real essence of this novel is Peter’s long and tormenting journey towards his destination, towards the completion of his mission. Notwithstanding the mystery, the problems, and the upheavals, this story also celebrates love, affection, optimism, and the enthralling beauty of marvelous life.

Solve the puzzle and win a journey…

Read “Fateful Eyes”, try to guess the solution of the puzzle (that will be finally revealed in the forthcoming 2^nd volume) and win a trip for two persons, for one week, all expenses paid, to the beautiful country that is the final destination of the protagonist in this story, and also win books and other prizes. Contribute your ideas at http://panosnomikos.wordpress.com/about or by email to pnomikos@ath.forthnet.gr

 

Author Bio

 

 

I am Panos Nomikos and I was born in 1961 in Athens, Greece, this beautiful country that has become lately the epicenter of the raging global financial crisis. During my carefree, youthful years, I roamed the idyllic islands of my home country having fun on the golden beaches under the sun with my friends and lovers. Later on, I studied for a Ph.D. in the UK and I started a career in Information Technology in the maritime sector, roaming again across the world on intercontinental business trips in faraway places in Asia, Europe and America. In the course of my career I have authored numerous essays and articles in professional publications.

I maintain a blog at http://panosnomikos.wordpress.com to write about my favorite themes related to my beautiful home country, Greece, its position within the world-wide socioeconomic transformations, and its current upheaval in the midst of the worst financial crisis that we are experiencing here. I am especially writing to talk about ordinary Greeks, those living within the country, but also those who live and distinguish themselves around the world, trying to understand their vivid pulse and their feelings of belonging to the world-wide Greek diaspora.

Fateful Eyes can be found on Amazon www.amazon.com/author/panosnomikos in paperback or e-book formats. You can also follow Panos Nomikos here:

Blog: http://panosnomikos.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/panosnomikos

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/panosnomikos

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/panosnomikos

 

 

 

Review 11: Stripped (Brooklyn Skye)

Book Title: Stripped

Author: Brooklyn Skye

Released: May 14th 2013

Purchase: Amazon

 

And if you haven’t yet check out all the Book Tour information of Stripped here.

 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

“I like you.” His voice is low and soft, which I don’t deserve. I look away, down the rutted parking lot.

“Don’t... waste those words on me.”

He touches my cheek. “You just need someone to show you.”

“No.” I ease back again. “I don’t. So please, Torrin, stop trying to swoop in and save me. I don’t need saving.”

College freshman Quinn Montgomery will do anything to avoid the mistake her sister made—killing herself over a boy. But when she is forced into nude modeling at a local college to support her family after a bankruptcy, she begins to crack, just enough to let Torrin, the university’s top varsity oarsman, see that the real Quinn is not as feisty and unapproachable as she wants everyone to think. But letting someone in comes at a steep cost and, it turns out, Torrin is connected to Quinn’s family in more ways than she could ever imagine.

 

Overall:

I really enjoyed Stripped and would definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a good love story but without all the crazy sexual exchanges that go on. Basically Stripped is about a young woman who’s going through some extremely difficult life challenges, while at the same time trying to figure out who she really is and what she truly wants. Stripped is one of those books that quite a few people can generally relate to even though their circumstances may be a little different, but it’s what shaped Quinn.

The one part that stood out to me the most was the fact that this love story wasn’t just sex and a few dates. Quinn and Torrin started out with friendship which blossomed into love and so on.

Heart wrenching, witty and overall a wonderful love story.

abookandalattee’s rating:

abookandalattee gives Stripped 5 Stars!!!

 

 

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