March Madness: March 29th Author Teresa Geering "Eye of Erasmus" & "Shasta Summer"

 March Madness for  March 29th Welcomes Author Teresa Geering. 

Two wonderful books to be won.  "The Eye of Erasmus" & "Shasta Summer"

BIO

Teresa Geering was born and raised in the seaside town of Hasting Sussex on the south coast of England. She started to write stories initially in her youth for amusement, but began to write seriously about five years ago.

Whilst sitting in her garden one evening at the height of summer sipping wine, she watched a spider spinning a web. From there Shasta Summer and The Eye of Erasmus were born.

Whilst interviewing an online publisher - Night Publishing on how they

evolved, Teresa was both shocked and delighted to hear that they had been head hunting her for publication of her books. After a long and stony road of rejections she said no twice, thinking it was a con but finally agreed.

The rest as they say …… is history.

Teresa’s books are now sold on the English markets and internationally. Shasta Summer recently reached the dizzy heights of #8 on Amazon’s Romance and Time Travel. She currently holds the #1 slot on Goodreads in The Best Romance and Time Travel.

                            ~~ooOoo~~

Back cover...

'The Eye of Erasmus' is the first of a series of four inter-related fables about time and fate, told in Teresa Geering's characteristic hypnotic prose.


It tells of Erasmus, a baby born during a thunder storm, who is clearly destined to be special, with his flashing black eyes and haughty ways, until he finds love.


The trouble is that the girl literally ‘of his dreams’ hasn't actually been born yet.


No problem …… Oh, but there is ……. Danger lurks ……..


"'The Eye of Erasmus' is a tale gently and beautifully told. Like the Harry Potter novels, it is a book that readers of all ages will enjoy. It is definitely a book that I will read again and again," George Polley, author of 'The Old Man & The Monkey' and 'Grandfather and the Raven'.

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, mythological, left me wanting more, July 21, 2010

By 

Tiffany A. Harkleroad "Tiffanys Bookshelf" (Kittanning PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Erasmus is a powerful man. Born during a storm, as he grows up he realizes he has extraordinary powers. He determines he can travel through time, and goes into the future to meet the love of his life, Shasta. Erasmus and Shasta were born on the same date, at the same time, many years apart. They fall deeply in love, and marry. But all the while, Hesper, the begger boy Shasta takes into her home, shows disdain for Erasmus. Who is Hesper, really, and who is he to challenge Erasmus the Omnipotent?


Reading this book was an unusual experience for me. The book is written unlike most modern fiction, where the goal is to create a personal bond between reader and character. Instead, The Eye of Erasmus reads like an ancient myth, slightly removed from the reader because it is sacred, scriptural almost. I loved that aspect of the book, it gave me a feeling of enlightenment and awe.


The book uses language that allows the reader to determine the place and time setting, which I think is fantastic. This allows every reader to paint their own version of Erasmus and Shasta, which in turn does allow the reader to have a personal investment in the story. This story has a quiet, solemn power about it, and I felt myself pushing through drowsiness to read on late into the evening. There was no way I was going to sleep without knowing what was to happen.


The book is written in such a way that I think it will appeal to a large variety of readers. There are some fantasy and supernatural elements to the story, so those fans will enjoy. There is romance, so those readers will love it as well. As because of the mythos involved in the story, I believe it will greatly appeal to classical literature fans, historical fans, mythology fans, and readers who enjoy classic storytelling elements in writing.


To me, this feels like the kind of story that can be passed on for many generations. The fact that there are 2 future installments planned for Erasmus' story leaves me breathless with anticipation.

Shasta Summer

Book Description...

'Shasta Summer' is an entrancing addition to Teresa Geering's romance / fantasy series 'Erasmus, Shasta & Merlin' in which the cunning and resourceful Erasmus continues his devilish attempts to secure the beautiful and enchanting Shasta as his own, while she and Merlin renew their enduring love for each other, impeded by the unfortunate fact that a spell from a previous century has transformed Merlin into a cat.


Written in seductive and mesmerising prose which gives it the feel of an authentic time-honoured fable, 'Shasta Summer' continues the tradition of the much-acclaimed 'The Eye of Erasmus' which records another such attempt by Erasmus when he espies Shasta across the centuries in a vision.


The books in the series can be read and enjoyed in any order and by readers of any age from six to ninety-six.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypnotic, September 14, 2011

By 

Tiffany A. Harkleroad "Tiffanys Bookshelf" (Kittanning PA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Summer seems to be a normal little girl by all accounts. That is, until her parents take her to visit her Aunt May in the village of Shasta. It quickly becomes apparent that Summer is actually the second coming of Shasta herself, the village's namesake. She is returning to be reunited with her long lost love, Merlin, who has been placed under a spell. In order to try to obtain eternal happiness, the lovers travel back in time to Shasta's original arrival at the village, and try to rewrite history. But it seems the nefarious Erasmus has other plans for the two.

Once again, Geering writes a book that feels like mythology of long ago. There is a sort of timeless beauty to the book, with no real references to modernity or pop culture, that will make it endearing for years to come. The writing in the book is soft and dreamy, floating from past to present. At times, the two stories, both past and present, seem so similar, the reader may get the feeling of deja vu. This helps lift the filmy veil between the two time periods.

I really enjoyed the character of Shasta, and watching Summer become Shasta. The inclusion of faeries and various magical elements make this seem like a fairytale for adults. The story has a hypnotic quality that urges the reader to continue at any cost (including sleep). The reader certainly feels transported to another time and place.

In order to fully appreciate the book, readers must have the ability to suspend disbelief. This is a romantic fantasy, dealing with elements of time travel, reincarnation, and magic. Readers need to be aware of this and fully comfortable with these subjects in order to fully appreciate the book.

This is the second book of a trilogy, the first being the Eye of Erasmus, but this is actually a prequel. It makes me want to go back and re-read the first book, and makes me long for the third book, to see the full picture of this tale. And rarely do I comment on book covers, because they often change, but the cover for this book is simply gorgeous. That alone is enough to hook the reader, the gorgeous story is an added bonus.

 Erasmus Shasta and Merlin The Movies:http://relaxatnight.blogspot.com/2011/10/20-second-movie-pitch-erasmus-shasta.html

Shasta Summer

Amazon.com:

http://amzn.com/B0054RWUKW

Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0054RWUKW

 

Eye of Erasmus

Amazon.com:

http://amzn.com/B003VS0DR8

Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003VS0DR8

Video Trailer Music:

http://www.jaiya.ca/firedance/cds/invocation.htm 

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning this book!

PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host..."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

More at:
http://tgeering.blogspot.com

March Madness: March 25th Welcomes Bill Kirton author of "The Sparrow Conundrum" & "Unsafe Acts"

March Madness for March 25th Welcomes Author BILL KIRTON  with two books to win "The Sparrow Conundrum" and "Unsafe Acts."

Author Bio: 
I’m never sure whether or why readers want to know stuff about the writer. The main thing is to enjoy the books and, if that happens, it doesn’t matter whether I’m a 98 year old man with a penchant for growing cauliflowers or an evangelically-inclined teenage mother of twins.

 For the record though, I was born in Plymouth but have lived most of my life in Aberdeen, Scotland. I taught French at Aberdeen University but I’ve always been a writer. In the early days it was radio plays for the BBC, then skits and songs which I performed with my wife at the Edinburgh Festival fringe. I’ve always written short stories but started writing novels in the late 80s. Unsafe Acts is the fifth in my Jack Carston series so, technically, I’m a crime writer. In turn, that means when I write a historical novel such as The Figurehead or a spoof such as The Sparrow Conundrum, readers are taken by surprise. Some don’t like that; others, thankfully, are more forgiving. The thing is, I like to try different genres. If you want to know more about my books, there’s plenty on my website (www.bill-kirton.co.uk) and in my blog (http://livingwritingandotherstuff.blogspot.com/).

 Unsafe Acts
An offshore platform in the turbulent North Sea is a dangerous place…

…there’s the isolation, the machinery and the constant battle with the whims of nature. For Ally Baxter, a safety officer on Falcon Alpha, those whims take a deadly turn. When his workmates decide he’s gay, an evening ashore turns ugly as they indulge in some drunken queer-bashing. Later his body is found along the route the group followed.

For DCI Jack Carston, the case seems simple enough until a second murder is discovered. This time it’s the prostitute Ally always visited—a young mother with a baby son. Complications mount as Carston, in addition to his investigations, has to deal with an inexperienced officer under his command and a disciplinary charge brought against Carston himself by a vindictive superior officer.

The obstacles keep piling up, but more is to come when he finds evidence of a plot to wreck the platform itself.

Links:

USA: http://amzn.to/wQXCja

UK: http://amzn.to/zsOJKC

 The Sparrow Conundrum

Winner of the Humor category in the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards.

Chris Machin isn’t his name, not to the bottom feeders in Aberdeen squabbling over North Sea oil and gas contracts. Chris has a code name, and when his garden explodes The Sparrow takes flight, plunging the power struggle into chaos and violence.

A sociopathic cop and an interfering ex-girlfriend don’t exactly make for clarity of thinking, not when the one fancies a bit of violence to add spice to an arrest. The ex adds other, more interesting dimensions to Chris’ already complicated life.

The bodies pile up—some whole, some in fragments—and two wrestlers join the fray. A road trip seems just the solution, but then so do Inverness, a fishing trawler and a Russian factory ship as the players face … The Sparrow Conundrum.

Review

... combines the elements of the Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe with The Biederbecke Affair and throws in Happer from Local Hero for good measure. It is killingly funny, and for those who love farce—from Scapin to Noises Off—this is utterly brilliant, divine, and classic, and couldn’t be bettered.

M.M. Bennetts, author of May 1812 and Of Honest Fame

Links

Amazon USA: http://amzn.to/AbdxuZ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/AuckFa

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/vsXRvp

B&N: http://bit.ly/zCJ1qr

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning these books!

PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host Soooz Burke under her pen name of Stacey Danson.."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

Please leave an email or link address where you can be notified if you should win the prize draw.

March Madness: March24th...Author Sheila Mary Taylor. "Pinpont" & "Count To Ten"

March Madness for March 24th Welcomes Author 'Sheila Mary Taylor'

SHEILA MARY TAYLOR

Sheila Mary Taylor was born in Cape Town into a highly intellectual family, but felt inhibited by the fact that she did not have a degree in English, a qualification she mistakenly thought was necessary to emulate her Scottish mother and father in becoming a published author. So she was a very late starter, only galvanised into wielding her creative pen when she heard the horrific diagnosis that her youngest son had teenage bone cancer. The scribbles she produced during this dramatic time were not well enough honed to be published, but with her pen at last triggered, and now realising that writing was what she had always wanted to do, she had four romances published and only then did she polish those earlier scribblings. These were published in 1999 as ‘Fly With a Miracle’ – a dramatic memoir of how her son Andrew fought against the cancer that threatened his life and his dream to become a pilot.  Another romance followed, and Sheila then embarked on a work of love – to resurrect and edit her mother’s three unpublished novels and have them published by Penguin, for which Dora Taylor received the South African Literary Posthumous Award in 2009. With these successes under her belt Sheila returned to her own writing. Pinpoint – a psychological legal crime thriller - was published by Night Publishing in April 2011, followed in December 2011 by a re-written, revised and updated edition of ‘Fly With a Miracle’, with the title of ‘Count to Ten’. She is now working on her new novel – ‘Entangled’.

***

PINPOINT  -  by Sheila Mary Taylor

A lawyer, a murderer and a policeman – caught in a tangled web of love, loss, terror and intrigue

When criminal lawyer Julia Grant interviews Sam Smith who has been charged with a vicious murder, she feels a strange connection to him.
Has she met him before? Does he hold a key to her lost childhood memories?
He feels a connection too. “Julia, you are the only one who can help me,” he pleads.
Is it the same connection? Does he know something she cannot recall?

When he is duly convicted despite her best efforts, he suddenly turns on her in the courtroom and threatens that one day he will make sure to wreak his revenge on her.
But why?
What has she ever done to him?

And then, on his way to prison, he escapes . . .

*

Review on Amazon.com

5.0 out of 5 stars "Pinpoint" -- an extraordinary novel by an a remarkable new writer, May 7, 2011

By 

G. Polley "blogger and writer" (Sapporo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pinpoint (Paperback)

Strangeways Prison, Manchester, England (September 1994). "I've represented many murderers and am often surprised at how normal they appear. But this one is different. As he walks into the interview room he stops dead. His mouth drops open. His eyes bulge. His elbows clamp to his sides as though a knife has plunged into his back. And he looks straight at me unlike most who bow their heads until I say something to make them feel at east, and who look past me when they tell me their stories. Not this one."

Sam Smith is the name of this psychopathic killer, or is it? Could he be ...? "There's an almost imperceptible smile on his face. That smile. And those eyes. I grip the desk. I can't breathe. My skin turns cold, clammy. My fingers tingle. A fragment of long forgotten memory skitters through my head then vanishes ..." Who is he? No, it can't be ... but can it? Is he?

So begins this haunting, magnificently written tale of murder, intrigue, mystery, childhood sexual abuse, loss, survival and love. Solicitor Julia Grant's job is to defend this psychopathic killer of young women. And she must find out who he really is because she is haunted. A widow with a six year old daughter, she has a busy, complicated life. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Moxon is there to help her. But she has to go it alone.

Pinpoint is one wonderful book, Julia Grant is one of the most memorable characters I've encountered, and Sheila Mary Taylor is one fine writer. I'm sure we'll be enjoying her books for many years to come. She has the kind of story-telling talent that not only has wide appeal; it lasts, like a good Agatha Christie tale. Even the title "Pinpoint" is shrouded in mystery.

This one is a clear five star book.

*

COUNT TO TEN by Sheila Mary Taylor

Few things worse can happen to a mother than for her child to be diagnosed with cancer.

It started as a pain. It became an irritation. It grew to be a lump. Ultimately it threatened Andrew's life.

At the very least, his leg would have to be amputated, and how would that affect his life, even if he survived to live it?

'Count to Ten' is the true story of how Andrew and his family coped with the days, weeks, months and years that followed his diagnosis, of the reliefs, the triumphs, the relapses and the outright screaming panics.

It is also a testament to the technological advances in the treatment of cancer and to the doctors who apply it with care, expertise and wisdom.

It is so easy to love your children. It is so hard to hang onto hope, especially onto their hope - the hope they need to carry on.

Review from Amazon.com

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting and inspirational true story, January 24, 2012

By 

Mrs. G. J. Metcalfe "helygen" (Wales, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Count To Ten (Kindle Edition)

I found "Count to Ten" a riveting and emotional read. From the beginning, Sheila Taylor paints a deliciously vivid and colourful picture of life in Africa, and her travels to London and Menorca. These exotic descriptions give a real sense of an idyllic and carefree life, amplifying with stark contrast her powerful and heart-rending account of the development of Andrew's illness and his subsequent treatments.

There were times when I held my breath, filled with compassion for this mother and her son, anticipating each stage of his gruelling battle against the most dreaded of diseases. Despite its subject, which one would normally expect to be maudlin and depressing, this is an uplifting story that is told with a simple honesty that's quite breathtaking.

I'm so full of admiration for Andrew, and everyone involved in the trials he faced. It was quite a humbling experience to read what they all endured, and I thank the author for sharing it with us.

Pinpoint:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pinpoint-ebook/dp/B004UST5Q8

http://www.amazon.com/Pinpoint-ebook/dp/B004UST5Q8

Count to Ten:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Count-To-Ten-ebook/dp/B006GQXR4I

http://www.amazon.com/Count-To-Ten-ebook/dp/B006GQXR4I/

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning this book!
PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host Soooz Burke under her pen name of Stacey Danson.."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

March Madness: March 22nd Barbara Morton. "Mrs Jones"

 


March Madness for March 22nd Welcomes  Author Barbara Morton 

BARBARA MORTON...MARCH 22nd
 
BA Morton writes Crime thrillers, 
Romance and Historical Fiction.
She shares her rural Northumberland home with 
her family and a collection of animals.
Mrs Jones is the first book to feature 
Detective Tommy Connell.
 
Review by writer, Kristen Gleeson
 
"Mrs. Jones is a 
pacey thriller that was hugely enjoyable with enough twists to satisfy anyone 
looking for a great escape on a rainy weekend. Mrs. Jones, a young English 
woman in trouble, is understandably appealing to Connell, the hardbitten New 
York detective, who's had his own troubles. We follow Connell's attempts to 
protect Mrs. Jones from the various people that are after her and, like Mrs. 
Jones, we can fall under Connell's spell. We cheer as he bends the rules and 
understand that his imperfections only make him more human. Both characters are 
compelling and strong and contribute to a strong and interesting plot."
 

A British girl with a secret.
A New York cop with a past.
And a mob that wants revenge


In the slickest, sneakiest twistiest-turniest hard-boiled crime noir novel to come out in a long time, ruggedly pragmatic but honest cop Detective Tommy Connell picks up an English girl, Mrs Jones, who claims to be the witness to a murder, and promptly falls in love with her.


Well, Mrs Jones, whoever she is, must be very attractive because an awful lot of people seem to want to get their hands on her if they can prise her from Connell's determined grasp, including some prominent representatives of organised crime and the Feds.


Detective Connell definitely has his work cut out here if he wants to end up with the body of Mrs Jones, dead or alive, that's for sure.


All-in-all it's probably safe to say he hasn't a clue what is going on. It is probably equally safe to guess that Mrs Jones does.


Not that 'safe' is quite the right word to use here or, there again, maybe it is.


(The next in the series, 'Molly Brown', will be released during 2012).

---

Links http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Jones-ebook/dp/B006OEVRBM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329171647&sr=1-1  

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Jones-B-Morton/dp/1468116886/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1329171647&sr=1-1  

http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Jones-ebook/dp/B006OEVRBM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top 

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning this book!
PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host Soooz Burke under her pen name of Stacey Danson.."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

Don't forget to leave an email address where your book can be sent should you be the lucky winner .

March Madness: March 20th Author Jessica Degarmo "Six Weeks"

 

 March Madness for March 20th Welcomes Author Jessica Degarmo.

Jessica L. Degarmo is a wife, mother, insurance agent, recent college graduate and the lead singer of the classic rock band Department 24. She enjoys reading, writing, singing and hanging out with her family. She is the author of five novels and is currently working on several other projects.

Featured Book..."SIX WEEKS"

 

SIX WEEKS FOR LIFE OR DEATH ......

In 'Six Weeks', Jessica L. Degarmo departs from the style of her very successful Romance novels - 'Hooking Up', 'The Storm Within', 'Decisions' and 'How To Meet A Guy In The Supermarket' - to examine every teenage girl's nightmare: that she is pregnant and not certain she's ready for a child.

It is a life and death decision – not her life, but her decision - and despite the opinions of those around her, she is on her own.

In a world of gray, one thing is black and white. Six weeks is her deadline to decide.

Maybe you have been there, in which case you will understand.

Here's the review I'd like posted:

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One to read - not in Six Weeks... right now!, September 2, 2011

By 

David Makinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Six Weeks (Kindle Edition)

I think this is an excellent book. 'Six Weeks' deals with one of life's hardest dilemmas - an unplanned pregnancy. The author, Jessica Degarmo cleverly takes the reader through the whole gambit of emotions and choices without once moralising on behalf of the reader - something that would have been very easy to do, inadvertently or otherwise. The story is enhanced by the harsh domestic backdrop of the protangonist, Imogene and her younger sister, Sadie. The use of the first person works exceptionally well in this expertly written and compelling story. If you haven't read 'Six Weeks' yet, I highly recommend that you do. 

http://www.amazon.com/Six-Weeks-ebook/dp/B0061YCQN8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Six-Weeks-ebook/dp/B0061YCQN8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329192315&sr=8-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/six-weeks-jessica-l-degarmo/1104867562

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning this book!

PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host Soooz Burke under her pen name of Stacey Danson.."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

March Madness: Welcomes Ruth Barrett Author of "Base Spirits"

 March Madness for MARCH 16th Welcomes Author 

 Ruth Barrett "Base Spirits."

Bio:

Ruth Barrett was born in Pointe Claire, Quebec, and now makes her home in Stratford, Ontario. Between then and now, she studied English Literature at Trent University and the University of Leeds, and classical acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Ruth pursued an acting career in Toronto where her love of the stage saw her perform in everything from Shakespeare to sketch comedy, eventually settling into voice-over work. Transforming herself into a writer has provided a rewarding new way for her to explore character and spin tales. Ruth has published numerous short stories in various anthologies and periodicals, and she formed her own Spirited Words Book Co. in Summer 2011. 'Base Spirits' is her first novel. Look for a batch of short stories coming up soon!

Back Cover Blurb:

‘Murder has took this chamber with full hands

And will ne’er out as long as the house stands.’

~A Yorkshire Tragedy, Act I, Sc. v

In 1605, Sir Walter Calverley’s murderous rampage leaves a family shattered. The killer suffers a torturous execution… but is it truly the end? A noble Yorkshire house stands forever tarnished by blood and possessed by anguished spirits.

Some crimes are so horrific, they reverberate through the centuries. 

As an unhappy modern couple vacation in the guesthouse at Calverley Old Hall, playwright Clara, and her scholar husband, Scott, unwittingly awaken a dark history. Clara is trapped and forced back in time to bear witness to a family’s bloody saga. Overtaken by the malevolent echoes, Scott is pushed over the edge from possessive husband to wholly possessed…

Inspired by a true-life drama in Shakespeare’s day, this is itself a play within a play: a supernatural thriller with a historical core. 

Only one player can survive.

 5 star Amazon review

An engrossing first novel from Ruth Barrett, November 16, 2011

By 

Stephen Ayres

This review is from: Base Spirits (Kindle Edition)

By grounding Base Spirits in actual past events, Ruth Barrett lends her story a credibility which permeates through the centuries and into the modern day telling of an already troubled relationships' final days. It's this mix of fact and fiction which Barrett expertly intertwines to create an imaginative, engaging story. The reader is compelled to not simply observe from afar, but to take this terrifying, supernatural journey along with Clara Ravenscroft and Scott Atkinson - the married couple at the centre of the story - as they unwittingly explore the darkest depths of the human condition.

Her obvious love and understanding of Shakespearean times adds yet another layer of authenticity to Barrett's narrative, transporting the reader from the opening passages and holding us in her grasp through the centuries and back again. Like the historical events which reverberate so horrifically into the lives of Clara and Scott, Base Spirits stays with the reader long after the final pages are consumed and the bedside light extinguished, lingering in the dark, just on the edge of our senses. Base Spirits is an excellent read and achievement, marking a highly promising start to this exciting new authors' arrival on the literary landscape.

Amazon Kindle e-book link: 

http://www.amazon.com/Base-Spirits-ebook/dp/B005L38G8E

Link for paperback version:

https://www.createspace.com/3462705

Please remember you MUST leave a comment on this post to have a chance at winning this book!

PLUS...Join this blog and be in the running to win not one but TWO books written by your host Soooz under her pen name of Stacey Danson..."Empty Chairs" and "Faint Echoes of Laughter"

Please make certain you leave a link or an email where you can be notified of your win.

March madness: March 10th Kristen Stone" Edge of Extinction"

March Madness for March 10th welcomes Author Kristen Stone:"Edge of Extinction"

Kristen Stone is a mother of one daughter and grandmother to three lovely children aged from 15 years to 2 years (roughly speaking).  She lives in the Midlands of England with her very supportive and hard working husband.

Kristen has wanted to be an author from the age of 14, but was put off trying when told by her careers teacher ‘You can’t just be a writer.’  So she has drifted from one clerical job to another, not really having any real interest in what she is doing, apart from mastering the latest word processing package as each emerged.

Kristen works best in the evening and as most office jobs require an early start she finally made the decision to ‘go for it’.  After several attempts at getting an agent she has knuckled down to work and now her first book has been published by Night Publishing, who specialize is publishing struggling new authors.

Kristen also provides an editing service.  For full details visit her website :  www.kristen-stone-the-writer.com

Blurb

Why were his people dying?  This is the question Kianda Mala needed to answer.  Considered a god because  he has a tail, accepted as a leader, Kianda emerges from the jungle to confront the modern world.

What he finds is a world beyond his comprehension where his people are deemed worthless and big business rules.

Links

http://www.amazon.com/Edge-of-Extinction-ebook/dp/B005EZ3JLI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311942084&sr=1-1

http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=edge+of+extinction

Review

What I felt mostly after I had read Edge of Extinction was that it is so important that we stand up for the weaker groups on our globe - in this case - an Indian tribe in the Amazon. It is good when fiction books are dedicated to such a cause. I felt outrage at the lot the native inhabitants suffered at the hands of capitalists, who polluted their river by exploiting a mine upstream and making all the people of the tribe fall ill. I think that in fact fiction is a powerful tool in educating people, because we can identify better with the emotions and tribulations that the main characters have to face than when it is served as a real-life account and thus misses this emotional layer that can be so brilliantly tapped into by means of fiction but then only in the hands of someone as skilled as Kristen Stone, of course.

I liked the book because the story is built up excellently and I admire the way Kristen Stone has handled the first person narrative to describe the world through the eyes of an Indian man. There can hardly be a bigger difference between her English upbringing and this main character but she takes us through the book from within his mind in a consistent and clever way. 
The setting, both in the jungle and in the miners' village, is described in a precise and vivid way. At times I felt the book was written by a clinical observer with the sharpest of vision. Every detail of this - often quite imaginative story - is elaborated. 
I also enjoyed the descriptions of all the rituals in the tribe, really stunning research or imagination? 
Last but not least, this book is very well-written and immaculately edited, which makes it a delight to read. 
But no book is perfect and it is almost impossible to keep looking through the eyes of a "primitive" at Western society and not miss something here and there. So I would doubt the main character Kianda Mala would have called latex gloves by their proper name the first time he sees the doctor wear them or name a Jeep when being confronted with a car for the very first time. But these two things were the only ones that struck me as odd in the complete picture of perfect "innocence" with regard to western civilisation.

What made the book original for me was the type of story, fictional but almost palpably real. It keeps surprising me that Ms Stone has such an immense imagination and weaves this story so elegantly and seemingly effortlessly. The book is a great delight and a good educator. The images still stay with me after finishing reading it yesterday. Well done!

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