Sheila's Guests and Reviews

I just heard there's another White Forest Book out there. I read books one and two - Brigitta of the White Forest , and The Ruins of Noe - a while ago, so know Narine of Noe will be a good read. (Click on the names to read my reviews.) Here's some information about it: ABOUT THE BOOK Narine of Noe (Faerie Tales from the White Forest Book Four) Narine of Noe should have had her whole life to train to take her father’s place as High Sage. But when a mysterious force falls from the skies, sending the world into elemental chaos and her father into mortal danger, the fate of every living creature lands on her shoulders . . . including that of the Eternal Dragon. Without the Dragon it is impossible to regain the Balance of All Things. An elaborate plan to save the world must be hatched, and Narine is forced to take charge in a world gone mad. Before the White Forest was born, before the Great World Cry, the story that started it all. . .   Praise for Narine of Noe and ...

There's a facebook party going on today to celebrate the release of Kaitlyn's Tale by Christine Amsden. Why not join in and find out more about a scarily grown-up paranormal world, just slightly set aside from our own, with stories perfectly designed for all the mothers of Harry Potter fans. https://www.facebook.com/ events/249660888702652/ For my reviews of books in the Cassie Scot series (where Kaitlyn is a side-character) please click on the links below: Cassie Scot paranormal detective Secrets and Lies Mind Games Stolen Dreams And find Kaitlyn's tale on Barnes and Noble at  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kaitlins-tale-christine-amsden/1123803275?ean=2940158158919 or on Amazon at  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FPQMF5G/ Or to find out more, and read sample chapters, go to  http://www.christineamsden.com Everyone has secrets, and even the walls might not be what they seem in Christine Amsden’s novel, Kaitlyn’s Tale. But some people have bigger secret...

Today I get to sneak in on a round table chat with Karin Thomas. Chatting and discovering new things about our favorite authors is an activity we all enjoy. All we need is a cup of coffee, maybe a cappuccino and tune into the Round Table Chat to discover the latest news about an author says Annamaria, who's providing the table. Appearing on the Round Table Chat is Karina Thomas, introducing her latest romance One Last Chapter. To indulge in this latest news, grab your favorite drink and join Annamaria Bazzi on the Round Table Chat. I'm pouring myself a nice cold coffee, since the weather has warmed up considerably here. Please find your own drink, and enjoy...  A Chat with K. S. Thomas

All roads lead to Rome, or so I'm told. But perhaps they lead to different Romes, to imagined destinations where all is revealed. The thought had me wondering if all novels somehow incorporate roads, or paths at least. Though the first one I read last week has a whole long list of very real roads, criss-crossing the States and leading, inevitably, home. Asphalt Asylum by Steve Theme chronicles a hitchhiking trip from Washington to Florida and back, and is probably memoir rather than novel - which means it really shouldn't be my sort of thing, but I loved it. The author lyrically recreates the scenery for the readers, then invites us into the lives of some fascinating drivers, ranging from generous to scary. It's the kindness of strangers (and sometimes, maybe, their prayers) that protects him, and the loser wins and finds himself. A very cool narrative, best enjoyed with some well-balanced, full-flavored three-star coffee. Cast A Road Before Me by Brandilyn Collins is...

Start at the beginning, work through the middle, and finish up at the end - that's the way to do it, isn't it? Whatever "it" may be. But do stories really have to start at the beginning? I've heard a lot of writing coaches suggest we start with the middle - find out where the story's going then we'll know where it began; but of course, for the reader the story still starts at that newly and beautifully rediscovered beginning. There are others who insist the published tale should start in the middle of the action, revealing the past when things calm down, then heading for the future - got to grab those readers, right from the start you see. Then there are books that start at the end, or nearly the end, jumping to "six months earlier" or three hours or three days. TV shows do it to. They drive my sons crazy. And then there are series, beautifully developed, convincing and cool. The reader loves the characters or the world, and just wants a...

Today I'm delighted to be part of the Southern Haunts 3 virtual book tour. If you haven't read books one and two , they're highly recommended - great collections of great scary (and southern) tales. (Click on the links for my reviews.) But here on my blog today, I have author Melissa Robinson telling where she found the... Inspiration for Docta Bones by Melissa Robinson             Inspiration for “Docta Bones” hit, as you can imagine, on a cold winter day. Sitting in front of the Mississippi River,  I was discussing local legends with my fellow author, Alexander S. Brown. Out of all the legends we had talked about, this one stuck in my mind. The depravity of a man sacrificing his own daughter in a dark ritual held a certain allure for me. I typically write about monsters, but the chance to write about a real life human monster was one I could not pass up. Listening to Mr. Brown explain the legend made the wheels...

Georgia L. Jones' Remnants of Life Series Virtual Tour! Today I'm delighted to welcome Georgia L. Jones to my blog. She's the author of the intriguing Remnants of Life series, and she's touring the internet with books one and two, Legends of Darkness, and Witches. Pull up a chair, fill your mug with rich dark coffee, and then read what she has to say about how this series "began to creep into [her] mind." Over to you Georgia, and welcome to my blog: I’m currently working on the final book in the trilogy of Remnants of Life as well as several other projects.  The first book in the series, Legends of Darkness, launched on March 17, 2012; the second, Witches, launched on December 1, 2012.  Legends of Darkness began to creep into my mind about a year before I put any of it on paper.  I have always been an avid reader.  I love Greek Mythology and anything fantasy like.  Of course, I’m also a believer that all fiction is a type of fantasy, but that...

Bob Freeman's Cairnwood Manor Series Virtual Tour Today I'm delighted to welcome author Bob Freeman to my blog to answer just a few questions about his Cairnwood Manor Series of books. I really enjoyed the first book, Shadows over Somerset (click to read my review), so I'm delighted to find there's another, and even more delighted to get to ask the author some questions. So, find yourself a good strong cup of coffee, sit down and enjoy. Hi Bob, and welcome to my blog. Since I grew up in Britain and enjoyed many vacations in Scotland, I have to ask you, Indiana and Scotland? What do they have in common? Well, for starters, both are near and dear to my heart. I am a Hoosier, born and bred, but I've felt a kinship to Scotland since I was a child. Strike out away from urban centers, into the rural countryside of both, and I believe you'll find Scots and Hoosiers kindred spirits, hardworking, salt of the earth folk who are connected to the land bene...

Have you read any of the Cassie Scot series? Christine Amsden has created a nicely different world of magic, just parallel to our own, where magic users hide their skills, but make great politicians and thieves, and where vampires and werewolves aren't quite what we've been let to believe. Enter Kaitlyn... and thank you Christine for letting me be part of your cover reveal! Kaitlin Mayer is on the run from the father of her baby – a vampire who wants her to join him in deadly eternity. Terrified for her young son, she seeks sanctuary with the Hunters Guild. Yet they have their own plans for her son, and her hopes of safety are soon shattered. When she runs into Matthew Blair, an old nemesis with an agenda of his own, she dares to hope for a new escape. But Matthew is a telepath, and Kaitlin's past is full of dark secrets she never intended to reveal. This novel is a Companion to the Cassie Scot Series, a cool standalone tale, and a great introduction to Cassie...