Ten Things Most People Don’t Know about Me by Intensia – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 16, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Intensia will be awarding a $10 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Ten Things Most People Don’t Know about Me

1. I have always been a sensitive, thoughtful person. As a kid, I was convinced that the blue ice cream flavor they called “Smurfs” was actually made from those little creatures. I would cry every time I saw it. I was probably the only unhappy kid in a store usually filled with joy.

2. Even if music is my vocation, silence is something very precious to me. It is not stagnation but regeneration, respect, serenity, effortless understanding and intimacy instead.

3. I am a plant-based person and have been for a long time. Even when I was little, I would refuse to eat animals, and growing up I tried to reduce this kind of things from my diet whenever I could. I do not miss anything. Quite the opposite. It is very satisfying to create new recipes and tasty ways to veganize dishes. If done consciously, it is good for the environment, the belly and other beings too.

4. To me, art is made to inspire, connect, unite, and entertain. I create for the resonance of souls, not primarily for the ego. That is also why I do not appear personally in the visuals related to my music. It allows me to focus on the message, the vibe, and the emotions I would like to evoke. There is no need to put my face forward or place myself into roles for music videos. I trust that my fans will remember me and recognize my style anyway.

5. Besides being a singer, songwriter, award-winning author and music artist, I am also an award-winning vocal coach and an officially recognized vocational teacher for singers and songwriters in Germany. My boutique flagship label and publisher, Intensia Music International, is dedicated to releasing my art and supporting upcoming artists in developing their professional skills and craft online. This might be the one and only music label that nurtures control and strategic personal alignment through education, instead of signing people.

6. Intensia is my legally recognized stage name. In Germany, the European Community country where I live, it can be officially acknowledged and registered in personal documents under certain artistic criteria. My inner voice whispered it to me a long time ago. It means an intense intention, in tension. I like it so much, and it describes me so well that I sometimes forget I was ever called something else. That given name belongs more to the person I had to be in order to become who I truly am. Some artists build stage personas for themselves. For me, it is the other way around. Intensia is who I really am, both as artist and human being.

7. I do not drink any coffee or alcohol. Both make no difference to me in terms of happiness or energy, but they do when it comes to nature and wellbeing.

8. Unless the restock of a certain treat is on its way, I will not eat the last one of that kind I still have at home.

9. I love collecting blank planners and notebooks. They are full of potential! I also design and curate my own lines. One is a thoughtful surprise for music lovers, singers, and songwriters. The other is an exclusive merchandise line available until the next song drops. You can find these affordable gift ideas and useful creations online on Amazon.

10. Although I do really care about a good sleep routine, I like to linger a little longer in bed in the morning. Even when I’m awake and ready to start, it just feels so cozy. Three alarms are barely enough to get me out of bed. I even have a “last call” reminder alarm for my final alarm.

Thanks so much for being here. The journey continues on Substack, where you are invited to join me as I share how the poetic excerpts from my award-winning book Words to Think. Or to Sing. come to life, one track at a time.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite songs really began?

Not with the words, not with the melody, but with a feeling.

Becoming a vision, becoming lines, becoming a complete piece of sonorous truth meant to be shared to unite people who resonate with it.

A mystical, fascinating process you can now be part of.

INTENSIA, a new heartfelt, poetic singer songwriter likely to belong with your favorite pop music companions, is turning the traditional release model upside down, inviting you to look into her soul and mind before anyone else.

Be among the first to witness this spark before her distinctive voice echoes through the world. This unique approach offers an unprecedented glimpse into evolving art, so you can feel and enjoy the essence of her songs before they are even complete.

Dive into this curated collection of lyric excerpts and emotional snapshots from pop songs in progress. Each piece stands on its own as a modern, poetic message, paired with brief reflections about the meaning or emotions behind the words.

It is more than something to read. It is a space to pause, reflect, and connect, with room for your thoughts and reflections too. Write what moves you, what you feel, what you dream. This book and its songs to be are meant to accompany you wherever you go.

For even more space to express yourself, the companion notebook PLACE TO THINK. OR TO WRITE. (ISBN 978-3-911445-02-3) is available as a dedicated space.

WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING. out 26 June 2025 on Amazon. Paperback (ISBN 978-3-911445-00-9), eBook (ISBN 978-3-911445-01-6).

Join INTENSIA’s free Intense Inside Club at www.intensia.music and discover this special music developing experience as it unfolds, where connection begins as songs come to life.

Enjoy an Excerpt

S T A I R C A S E

I saw red while you held my hand
on that hill in a castle of sand
being nice, coming out of the blue
you were losing me, undeniably true
I was just another trophy for your shelf
overloaded by the further rusty twelve

Dissociating from this charming place
you are a mess inside, I know it’s the case
this romance had better leave no trace
but at sunset we sat here on the staircase

About the Author From Munich’s vibrant core, Intensia is sparking a poetic, tuneful movement with a unique glimpse into her evolving pop songs-to-be book, “WORDS TO THINK. OR TO SING.”. It combines lyric snippets with heartfelt reflections, inviting readers to discover her art in progress in a new and unexpected way.

INTENSIA’s story began in childhood with a simple radio cassette recorder, a portal to a mesmerizing world where her voice became a powerful way to explore emotions and transform them into melodies.

Her lyrics delve into self-reflection, personal growth, relationships, and empowerment. Themes that reflect the vision of her boutique flagship label, Intensia Music International, which is also dedicated to inspiring others to explore their creative side.

With a high art, down-to-earth attitude, INTENSIA stands for emotional pop tunes that feel like after a meaningful conversation with a good friend. Step into her world at www.intensia.music and you will find a new sonorous companion for life.

Website | Music Label | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Find reflections, impulses, and progress on the lyric excerpts from the book as they turn into cinematic, emotional pop songs to stream and experience: Substack

Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Other Tagged With: , , ,

Five Must-Haves in the Cozy Mystery Genre by Kirsten Weiss – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 12, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kirsten Weiss will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Five Must-Haves in the Cozy Mystery Genre

If you’re a cozy mystery fan (or writer), you know the genre delivers something special: a comforting escape wrapped around a clever puzzle. Cozy mysteries aren’t about gritty realism or high-stakes thrillers—they’re gentle, witty, satisfying reads that leave you feeling good when the final page is turned. But what exactly makes a story qualify as a great cozy mystery? Over years of reading and writing in the genre (including my Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series), I’ve boiled it down to these five essential must-haves. These elements show up in the best cozy mysteries time and again, creating that signature “cozy” feel readers crave.

  1. An Amateur Sleuth Readers Can Root For:
    Every cozy mystery needs a relatable protagonist who’s not a professional detective. She’s usually a woman (though not always) with a day job that conveniently gives her access to gossip and clues—think bakers, librarians, museum curators, or innkeepers. In my series, Maddie Kosloski runs a quirky paranormal museum in wine-country San Benedetto, stumbling into murders while managing cursed exhibits. She’s smart, stubborn, a little flawed, and deeply human—making her easy to root for. The best cozy mysteries let readers see themselves in the sleuth: ordinary people using wits, intuition, and community to solve crimes.
  2. A Charming, Contained Setting That Feels Like Home:
    Cozy mysteries thrive in picturesque, small-town or village environments where everyone knows everyone (and their secrets). Though recently, these mysteries are starting to move into contained urban neighborhoods (think Murders in the Building). With quaint streets, local shops, vineyards, or historic buildings, the setting becomes a character in its own right. My fictional San Benedetto, inspired by Lodi, California, offers wine-country charm with historic downtowns, Delta breezes, and tight-knit neighborhoods. This contained world keeps suspects limited and stakes personal, amplifying that cozy, escapist bubble readers love.
  3. No Graphic Violence, Gore, Explicit Sex, or Heavy Profanity:
    This is the golden rule of cozy mysteries. Crimes happen “off the page”—the murder might be discovered, but readers don’t witness graphic details. The focus stays on the puzzle, not the brutality. In my Paranormal Museum series, the emphasis is on clues, motives, and resolution, not blood. This “clean” approach makes cozy mysteries perfect comfort reads—ideal for curling up with tea without nightmares.
  4. A Clever, Fair-Play Puzzle with Red Herrings:
    Cozy mysteries are all about the whodunit. The plot must be logical, with clues scattered fairly so readers can solve it alongside the sleuth. Red herrings (false leads) add fun misdirection, but the reveal should feel earned and satisfying. In A Deathly Display, suspects include shadowy curators and jealous collectors, with clues hidden in exhibits and conversations—classic cozy mystery structure that rewards attentive readers.
  5. An Uplifting Resolution and Themes of Justice/Hope:
    Cozy mysteries end positively: the killer is caught, order restored, and characters grow. Themes of second chances, friendship, and good triumphing gently are key. The villain often faces consequences that feel fair, not vengeful. This “feel-good” payoff is why readers return—cozy mysteries reassure us that puzzles (and life) can resolve happily.

Ultimately, cozy is a feeling, and a cozy mystery is a promise of a certain reader experience. Together, these five must-haves create cozy magic: comfort, cleverness, and connection. They keep the genre accessible and addictive while allowing for creativity (like my light paranormal twists).

Speaking of cozy mysteries, my latest, A Deathly Display (book 11 in the Paranormal Museum series), hits all these notes: Maddie solves a museum murder with art-world intrigue, subtle haunts, humor, and heart. If you’re craving a cozy mystery with a whisper of the paranormal, grab it now!

What’s your favorite cozy mystery must-have? The amateur sleuth, the setting, or something else? Drop a comment—I love hearing from fellow cozy mystery fans!

Happy reading,
Kirsten Weiss

A killer stalks her sister.
A mysterious painting holds the key.
Can Maddie unravel the mystery before Melanie meets a deadly fate?

When Maddie and Herb attend a curation class at the upscale Domus Vinea museum, the mood turns darker than a gothic portrait after Maddie’s opera-singing sister, Melanie, discovers the museum director’s body. Now, with a cunning killer targeting Melanie next, Maddie must act fast.

Racing against time, Maddie and friends investigate a gallery of suspects, including a dashing vintner with a haunted painting that may hide a deadly secret. If Maddie can’t crack the case, and fast, her sister’s life could end in one fatal stroke.

A Deathly Display, the latest in the Paranormal Museum series, blends quirky sleuthing, small-town chills, and paranormal thrills with a dash of humor. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries!

Grab A Deathly Display and start reading this hilarious whodunit!

For readers who crave a cozy mystery about a woman finding belonging through small-town wine-country sleuthing and the gentle absurdity of everyday hauntings. Perfect if you like breezy pacing, light supernatural quirks, and warm humor over gritty tension—think vintage charm, quirky neighbors, and just-enough chills to keep pages turning without losing sleep. Book 11 in the series.

Enjoy an Excerpt

There are a few things in life you can be sure of. Death. Taxes. And divas being divas.

“Why?” Melanie sobbed. “Why is this happening to meeeee?”

I jogged to the fallen man and knelt beside him in the courtyard. Pressing a finger to his neck, I tried to find a pulse.

“Another body,” my sister hiccupped. “Why here?”

I sat back on my heel. The dead man faced the pristine marble fountain. And he was definitely dead. Though his skin was still warm, his eyes stared, as blank as the nearby statue of Hermes.

Yanking my phone from the rear pocket of my khakis, I called 9-1-1. The scent of orange blossoms billowed in the warm night air, but now the odor seemed sickening.

My mother appeared at my side. “Oh, my God. That’s—” She gripped my shoulder, her nails digging in. Just as suddenly, she released me and edged the toe of her low camel-colored shoes away from the pooling blood.

“I just f-found him there.” Melanie pointed.

“And it’s a terrible shock,” my mother said in a low voice. “Now, we need to pull ourselves together.” She looped one arm around Melanie’s hourglass waist.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“Murder, I think,” I said. “My sister found a dead man. His head is—” I swallowed and looked away. “There’s a lot of blood. We’re at the Domus Vinea Museum, in the smaller courtyard.”

“Are you in danger?” the operator asked.

“No. There’s a reception going on here. There are lots of people…” I glanced toward the opening to the courtyard. Guests had begun to gather, staring, in its arched entrance.

“Why does this always happen?” Melanie wailed. “First Sicily and now this. Am I cursed?”

“No, no,” my mother murmured, touching the squash blossom necklace beneath the collar of her denim shirt. “It’s just bad luck.”

“Help is on the way,” the dispatcher said. “Is the man you found breathing?”

“No. He’s dead.” I knew dead, and I knew what came after for the people left behind.

About the Author: Kirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries, and now a Tarot guidebook that’s a work of experimental fiction. Her heroes and heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.

Kirsten is best known for her Wits’ End, Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, and Tea & Tarot cozy mystery books. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…

Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum on X

Buy the book at Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Google Books, Kobo, or your favorite online venue

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

Background of the Book by Victoria Weisfeld – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 10, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Victoria Weisfeld will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Background of the Book

Mysteries and thrillers are what I write. They’re considered a genre, of course, but as Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell said, “Every good story has a mystery in it.” It’s the unknown outcome—will the hero succeed, will the woman find happiness, who is the real enemy?—that keeps us turning pages. It’s the desire to find out “what happens next?” I like to ground the mysteries in my stories in aspects of real life that I’ve experienced, though fortunately, I haven’t experienced everything I write about!

She Knew Too Much, my new thriller, is set in Italy, mostly in Rome. Yes, I’ve been there several times, exploring the city with my husband and on my own. It’s certainly one of my favorite places, so was fun to “revisit” it by writing about it. My main character is a travel writer and blogger. I engage in both those activities, so writing about them feels natural to me. When she’s attacked, she spends a few days in the hospital—and for that I drew on an episode in which my husband’s horseback riding accident led to two weeks in an Arizona hospital. Those experiences and many, many more end up woven together (dressed in new garments, as it were) in the novel.

In addition, I do a lot of research, because I love doing it. A lot of it is very specific or situational, like how long would it take to walk from x to y? And some is deep background. I stumbled on Douglas Preston’s The Monster of Florence about a northern Italian serial killer and the botched prosecutions of various suspects. This was very helpful in understanding how the Italian justice system works and how it differs from ours. I used Word Reference to help with translations and that site’s forums to interact with Italian speakers about slang and idioms.

I am an only child, so I never had a brother who was important to me, like Genie’s brother Robbie is so important to her. But I certainly have observed many siblings and how they interact. Also key to the novel, I’ve observed how people who must work together have to set aside personal feelings for the good of the project.

When people say, “It must be liberating to write fiction. You can just make it up!” I know they’ve never tried to write any. At least not the way I do. I work hard to stay grounded in a core of truth, a bedrock of shared understanding, so that I can connect with my readers. Once they trust me, I can stretch things a bit.

You might be thinking that science fiction and fantasy are two genres where the “shared understanding” idea doesn’t apply. But I believe it still does. My favorite contemporary science fiction writer is Neal Stephenson, and his science is impeccable. With that solid base, his characters can do . . . anything! Fantasy writers put people in unfamiliar worlds, with supernatural powers, but with familiar motivations and interactions: they’re on a quest, they’re fighting enemies, they’re seeking love or power. While we might not resonate with how they look or their unusual abilities, we can understand what they’re all about.

This is probably an oversimplification, but I believe it’s generally the case that people like stories and characters they can relate to. That was one of the joys of writing She Knew Too Much. I related not only to the main character, but to a good number of the diverse supporting cast, as well.

I hope your readers take the opportunity to read She Knew Too Much. I think they will find it a fast-moving story with touches of romance, humor, and a big dose of humanity. I welcome their responses. Thank you for inviting me to share these few words about its creation.

Travel writer Genie Clarke arrives in Rome seeking inspiration, but her trip turns deadly when she overhears two mafia operatives discussing a secret “Project.” Before she can escape, she’s attacked and left for dead. Awakening in a hospital-alive but hunted-Genie finds the police unwilling to believe her. Only Detective Leo Angelini takes her seriously, uncovering ties between her assault, a murdered woman, and a powerful criminal network.

With the threat escalating, Leo moves Genie into hiding, where she becomes both key witness and prime target. Cut off from safety and unsure who to trust, Genie must outthink the conspirators determined to silence her.

From Rome’s bright piazzas to its shadowed alleys, she faces a terrifying fight for survival-and an unexpected connection with the detective risking everything to protect her. She Knew Too Much is a lean, suspenseful psychological thriller about fear, courage, and the price of knowing too much.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I crossed the one-way traffic to reach the Piazza del Popolo’s spacious central rectangle. People ambled toward one or another of the half-dozen streets that converged on the Piazza or to the steps leading up to the Villa Borghese Gardens, where I’d spent the afternoon. I was aiming for the Via del Babuino, street of the Baboon, which got its name from a particularly hideous sculpture. In a few blocks, that street ended at the Piazza di Spagna and the always-crowded Spanish Steps, a half block from my hotel.

On the far side, I again negotiated the circling rush of traffic and chanced a look behind. What the hell? The spiky-haired blond had crossed the first stream of traffic. Now he jostled through the crowd, coming straight my way. He was tracking me, and he didn’t care if I knew it.
I was in trouble. And, if I didn’t want to believe my eyes, the hair on the back of my neck confirmed it. I picked up my pace, walking as fast as I could in my flimsy sandals.

Dozens of times I’d traveled the few blocks connecting the two piazzas. Now this familiar street radiated hostility, and the stones of the Sunday-shuttered buildings reflected no warmth. Surely something, some business, would be open. I sped past my favorite stationery store, the gallery whose owner I’d interviewed. Shut tight as oysters.

Why hadn’t I asked someone near the piazza for help? Could I have made myself understood? Would they have agreed to get involved? I shook my head in frustration.

About the Author: Vicki Weisfeld is a Midwesterner (Go Blue!) transplanted to New Jersey. Her short stories have appeared in leading mystery magazines, including Ellery Queen, Sherlock Holmes, and Black Cat. Find her work also in a variety of anthologies: Busted: Arresting Stories from the Beat, Seascapes: Best New England Crime Stories, Murder Among Friends, Passport to Murder, The Best Laid Plans, Quoth the Raven, and Sherlock Holmes in the Realms of Edgar Allan Poe. She’s a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, which awarded “Breadcrumbs” a best short story Derringer in 2017, and the Public Safety Writers Association, which gave a similar award to “Who They Are Now” in 2020. She’s a reviewer of New Jersey theater for TheFrontRowCenter.com and crime/mystery/thriller fiction for the UK website, crimefictionlover.com.

Website | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads

Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

By Chance by D. Taylor – Spotlight and Giveaway

March 4, 2026 By 3 Comments

This stop is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. D. Taylor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Charlotte Douglas has spent far too long trying to stitch her life back together after a single betrayal shattered her place in the community that once adored her. With every polite nod and measured smile, she shoulders the same whispered story: she is not the young lady she ought to be — and certainly not the kind any respectable man would escort into a ballroom.

Then a flat tire on a warm afternoon brings Elias Navarro to her gate.

A hardworking mechanic with steady hands and a restless heart, Elias has lived safely, sensibly, and without surprise. Until Charlotte. With her quiet fire, careful poise, and eyes that dare him to look closer, she becomes the first woman in years to make him want more than the life he knows.

What begins as a returned plate and a shared cup of coffee becomes something neither expected: late-afternoon walks, borrowed laughter, the charge of almost-kisses, and the slow, undeniable pull toward something tender.

But Charlotte’s past is a room full of watching eyes—and the Winter Soirée is coming.

When Charlotte hesitates to invite Elias, terrified he will judge the truth she’s never said aloud, he mistakes her quiet fear for rejection. And when cruel words at the ball turn her reputation into spectacle, Elias steps into the fray without hesitation—proving himself steady, fierce, and nothing like the man who once broke her heart.

What follows is a reckoning of truths:
her fear of being unworthy,
his fear of not belonging in her world,
and the choice they must face—
whether love found by chance can become love fought for on purpose.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Charlotte shouldn’t have taken the car—not with the sun already dipping low behind the rooftops, not with rush hour thickening, and certainly not in that dress.

By morning, the dread had rotted into something uglier. Louder. She couldn’t sit with it anymore.

So she took her father’s automobile keys and drove—south past the quiet boulevards and polished shopfronts her mother preferred, into a stretch of narrow blocks where everyone knew your name and no one asked questions. An hour later, she left with her long curls on the floor and tight ringlets pinned close to her scalp, neck bare, shame and freedom crawling the same path down her spine. The gold flapper dress shimmered when she moved—too beaded, too clingy, and entirely deliberate.

If they were going to whisper, let them whisper for something new.

The light shifted—amber, then rose-gold. She should have turned back.

She didn’t.

A delivery truck pulled too wide at the corner. She swerved—too fast, too sharp—and the front tire struck something jagged. The pop split the air, sharp and final. The car shuddered, then sagged, boneless as a broken doll.

Charlotte’s hands clung to the wheel. Her chest cinched. Heat pressed behind her eyes.

“Oh, isn’t this the bee’s knees,” she said thinly. “Just grand.”

She stumbled out, skirt snagging, heel catching, dignity unraveling by degrees. One look at the tire and the world tipped.

Then a voice—low, steady.

“You alright, miss?”

She startled, spine lifting as if she could will herself composed. A man stood nearby—tall, broad-shouldered, sleeves rolled, eyes warm and unguarded. He looked at her like the street had gone quiet.

And she didn’t look away.

“I wish I could say I was,” she said softly. “But I’m afraid I’ve made rather a mess of things.”

About the Author: D. Taylor is a passionate storyteller with a love for multicultural romance, adventure, and historical fiction. She independently wrote and toured with her novel Allied Hearts, a compelling romance that explores love, identity, and the strength of human connection.

Beyond writing, D. Taylor is a devoted wife of 18 years and a loving mother who cherishes time with her children. She finds joy in cooking, creating delicious meals that bring her family together. When she’s not writing or in the kitchen, she enjoys researching history, discovering new cultures, and embracing the ever-changing world of storytelling.

D. Taylor believes that every story has the power to transport, transform, and inspire. Her work celebrates strong heroines, captivating heroes, and the resilience of love in all its forms.
Find out more and get bonus book material or join my mailing list @dtaylorwrites

Website | Amazon Author Page | Facebook

Buy the book on Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: , , ,

Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes by Tim Hunniecutt – Spotlight

March 4, 2026 By Leave a Comment

In Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes, Tim Hunniecutt examines how early love can define a lifetime. One story unfolds through a single unforgettable summer; the other traces a young man’s gradual awakening to emotional responsibility.

Some Love Lasts

Along Florida’s shoreline, fourteen-year-old Madi anticipates solitude and familiar routines. Instead, she meets Matthew, the older neighbor whose swimmer’s build and lifeguard courage draw attention. Though admired by many, it is his recognition of Madi that alters her quiet expectations.

Their bond grows steadily as the heat of summer rises. What begins as curiosity evolves into something intense and lasting. When a hurricane strikes, Matthew steps into danger during a rescue that forever shapes Madi’s understanding of devotion. Years later, they meet again in college, carrying with them memories of a season that defined their first understanding of love.

Getting to Yes

Nineteen-year-old Chris moves through early adulthood searching for something genuine. Through a series of relationships, he confronts attraction, confusion, and the desire for deeper connection. Told in his voice, the story blends humor and introspection as he reflects on women who leave lasting impressions.

Each experience offers insight into vulnerability and expectation. As he grows more self-aware, he begins to recognize what he has been missing. When he meets Chloe, the connection feels immediate and distinct. The story explores innocence, heartbreak, and the resilience of hope as Chris navigates the path toward meaningful love.

Enjoy an Excerpt from Some Love Lasts

Though it was still early morning, warm humidity saturated the air. Billowing white clouds with dark spots drifted across the sky. The foaming waves gently crashed on the sand. Tiny sandpipers darted in and out. Seagulls squawked while circling.

Her eight-year-old sister edged into the water until it covered her feet. “It’s really warm.”

Madi joined her, and Roe grasped her hand firmly as they ventured farther until it reached their chests. Madi crouched and helped her sister float. “Yeah, it’s so warm, like being in a bathtub.”

She allowed her sister to do what she wanted as they were the only ones on the beach. Grandpa sat on one of the chairs, watching them from the shore. Her sister practiced swimming while Madi held her hat.

Roe tried to ride the waves as they broke, but they barely rippled, and she moved little if at all. She stood upright. “I’m bored.”

Madi put her hat on. “What do you want to do?”

“I’m going to hunt for seashells.” Roe scooted around in ankle-deep water, digging her toes into the sand to locate them.

Grandpa shouted, “I’ll be back to fetch you girls for lunch.” Madi waved goodbye, but Roe ignored him and continued to hunt for shells.

Madi suggested, “Let’s go read some.”

Roe pouted. “I don’t want to read yet. Can I keep looking for shells?”

“Sure, but stay on the beach. Don’t go into the water.”

“Okay.”

Madi sat and opened her book, dutifully checking on Roe before becoming absorbed in the story. The book she read enthralled her, and she failed to check on her sister until she finished the chapter.

When she did, however, she did not see Roe.

Alarmed, she stood.

No sign of her on the beach.

She looked at the Gulf and was shocked to find Roe hanging onto a man swimming toward the shore. Madi dashed forward, still wearing her hat and sunglasses, but she tripped and her hands smacked hard into the sand. Jumping up, she scrambled to the water as he carried Roe through the mild waves. It was the same guy she had seen swimming next door.

The tall young man put Roe down and smiled. “She got in too deep, and the tide began pulling her out. She isn’t a good enough swimmer to handle the deeper water. She’s okay. She’s a good floater and held on tight while I brought her back.”

Madi reached Roe and gripped her in a hug. She choked out her words. “What were you thinking? I told you to stay near the edge!”

About the Author:
Tim Hunniecutt has loved words since childhood, writing poems and stories for family and friends from an early age. Lifeguards have played a meaningful role in his life, from the rescue of his younger brother to several of his own children who later worked as lifeguards. He studied psychology and English at Florida State University, where the emotional spark for this story began after he fell in love during his first summer home from school. He now lives in Lithia, Florida, with that same girl, now his wife, and enjoys traveling, escape games, ballroom dancing with her, and time with his grandchildren.

Visit Tim at his website and on Facebook.

Buy Some Love Lasts and Getting to Yes on Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: ,

Where Do Ideas Come From? by GG Calpo – Guest Blog and Giveaway

March 2, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. GG Calpo will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Coming up with an idea for a storyline is easy. Inspiration is everywhere. You find it in news headlines, overheard conversations of strangers, text messages, social media rabbit holes, your pet’s antics, your neighbor’s griping, a personal memento you thought lost but found in the most unlikely place, stories you’ve read, shows you’ve watched…I can go on and on and on.

The real challenge is putting together the pieces your imagination has come up with. And turning these pieces upside down, right side up, and inside out. Because storytelling is giving the reader that extra emotional punch they didn’t even know they wanted. It’s not just delivering on the premise but in making it resonate with the reader. For cozy mysteries, that means offering not only a whodunit but raising the emotional stakes so the mystery stops being about what happened and becomes about what it meant.

And for a writer to do that, they have to keep asking themselves why their characters act the way they do. There is always more than one choice for any action. Why did they choose that one—and what does that choice reveal about their fear, flaw, or desire? Answering this question allows a writer to go deeper into the character, becoming more creative with the character and making the character relatable, thus drawing the reader in.

Ideas are cheaper by the dozen. It’s what you do with them that makes you a writer. Because emotional honesty is what transforms a fleeting spark into a story readers truly remember.

What does Meg, a retired kindergarten teacher, do when the killer of her husband and only child still walks free a year after dirt had covered their graves? Go rogue, of course!

When the detective responsible for Meg’s nightmares takes over the murder investigation of her former student, Meg hunts the killer down with help from her friends. Their cozy lunches at Sweet Buns Café turn into tactical meetings while these retired grade school teachers get themselves in trouble better suited to those in their twenties. And to put the icing on their cream scones, someone is after Meg. Is it the killer? Or has Meg uncovered secrets better left buried with her loved ones?

Enjoy an Excerpt

The day was beautiful, with clear skies and a mild snap in the air. It was cold yet warm with the right amount of heat from the sun, making it the perfect spring day. Motorboats and sailboats dipped in and out of the water, out by Poet’s Bay. And at the edge of the harbor were the fishermen, alone or in groups of two or three, a rod in their hands and their tackle boxes opened beside them. We rounded the corner, almost done with our walk, when we saw mothers dragging their children away and fathers covering the eyes of the children in their arms. Pushing against the stream of parents scrambling away were others whose eyes were fixed on the man by the harbor’s edge. A man on whose fishing line dangled a catch with, what I thought were, red fins and a red tail swaying lazily around the hook.

Red? In the salt waters of Poet’s Bay? As I stood there trying to figure out what I was seeing, Barbara shoved her way into the crowd. I followed, my curiosity getting the better of me. Murmurs of “Good morning” and “Good to see you, Mrs. B” trailed behind me, changing to “You sure you want to see this, Mrs. B?” and “I wouldn’t go any further if I were you, Mrs. B.” We fetched up to the front and looked down on the ground before us while the fisherman beside us puked his guts out.

It wasn’t a fish he had caught.

Instead, on the ground was a hand. Just a hand. Nothing else.

About the Author A retired CPA and lawyer, GG Calpo now writes cozy mysteries and urban fantasies. She blends her experiences as a Filipino American immigrant with the everyday stories of life around her. She spends her time reading, crocheting blankets and sweaters for her five grandchildren, watching mystery TV shows and taking long walks in her neighborhood. She resides in Central New Jersey, with her husband and two corgis, Whiskey and Nugget.

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Fate vs. Free Will in the Iona Stones World by Margaret Izard – Guest Post and Giveaway

February 26, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Margaret Izard will be awarding a Stone of Destiny Swag Box to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fate vs. Free Will in the Iona Stones World

From the first book in the Iona Stones series, prophecy shaped the edges of the world. The Stones carried purpose. The guardians carried oaths. The maidens carried power they did not fully understand. Fate moved like a current beneath every choice.

But in Stone of Destiny, that current surged stronger than ever.

The central question sharpened to a blade’s edge: Are we bound to prophecy, or do we fight it?

Ceallach embodied duty. His life revolved around oath and protection. He did not approach the Gathering as a man seeking personal happiness; he approached it as a warrior sworn to defend ancient magic. Every step he took aligned with responsibility. He measured risk through the lens of what safeguarded the Stones—not what soothed his heart.

Kat moved in the opposite direction.

She carried loss. She carried longing. She carried the stubborn refusal to surrender the people she loved to fate’s decree. Where Ceallach honored prophecy, Kat challenged it. She questioned why destiny demanded sacrifice. She refused to stand quietly when magic dictated terms she did not accept.

That tension drove the heart of the story.

I never wanted destiny in this world to feel like a cage. Prophecy did not strip characters of agency. Instead, it pressed them into moments of decision. The Stones did not force Kat to love Ceallach. They did not command Ceallach to step away from her. They placed them in circumstances where every choice carried weight.

Free will emerged in how they responded.

Ceallach could have hidden behind duty and shut his heart. Kat could have protected herself and avoided the risk of loving a Fae warrior bound by ancient vows. Neither path would have broken prophecy outright—but both would have bent it into something smaller.

Instead, they chose to stand inside the storm.

That choice mattered more than the prophecy itself.

In Stone of Destiny, fate functioned as pressure rather than prison. It revealed character. It exposed fear. It demanded courage. When Kat faced the possibility of losing both her brother and the man she loved, she did not bow to inevitability. She acted. When Ceallach realized love might complicate his oath, he did not retreat into silence. He confronted what devotion truly required.

Destiny, in the Iona Stones world, did not remove choice. It tested it.

And in that testing, love either fractured—or proved strong enough to shape fate in return.

Bound by destiny, torn by fate—their love stood unbroken, victorious over all.

Kat MacArthur still feels the loss of her brother to another time. Seeking solace, she stumbles upon Ceallach, a Fae warrior, she’s had feelings for ever since she met him. The emotion grows stronger whenever they are together. Yet he warns her to stay away from the upcoming gathering for the Iona Stones. Kat refuses—she needs to be there to help her family and Ceallach.

Ceallach is torn between duty, magic, and the ache for mortal love. His Fae soul is sworn to protect the Iona Stones during the Gathering, but his heart is lost to Kat. With the prophecy looming, he cannot promise her forever—no matter how much he longs to. The maiden of the Iona Stones now faces sacrifice, and he fears if his beloved gets too close, he cannot save her.

When dark forces rise to take the Iona Stones along with their powers, Ceallach is forced into an impossible decision—to defy destiny or surrender to love?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Still wearing a grin, he strode forward with confidence, and a sensuality Kat had not forgotten. The man still took her breath away with one look. Ceallach arrived before her, a smile playing on his lips. As his eyes swept across her face, the expression faltered. His brows knitted together in a frown, shadowing the sudden tension in his gaze. Reaching with his finger, he lifted a tear from her cheek, gripped his fist hard, and when opened, a small, clear teardrop-shaped gemstone sat in his palm.

“Dry yer tears, sweet Kat. Yer face is much prettier without them.” He took her hand and, with his other placed the gemstone in her palm. “When ye hold the gem, yer tears will fade, and happy thoughts shall fill yer heart.” When the stone touched her skin, her mind cleared, and a sense of ease washed over her.

Ceallach released her hand and strode past her to the doors.

Kat turned, calling after him. “Wait, why are ye here?”

The attractive Fae stopped and turned. “Dagda sent me. I’ve come to meet with the guardian of the stones. All the stones have returned. The gathering and battle of good vs evil is upon us. The gods have called, and we must answer.”

He opened the heavy oak doors without effort and strode through. The doors weight closed them, leaving Kat in the shadows again. She blinked, almost not believing her eyes and the truth before her. Her secret love had just casually strolled back into her life. Gripping the gem, he’d shaped from her tears, warmth washed over her. Ceallach was here. A smile crossed her face.

Ceallach was here.

About the Author: Margaret Izard is an award-winning author of historical fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her latest awards are 2024 Reader’s Favorite Honorable Mention for Stone of Love and 2024 Spring BookFest Silver Award for the same title. She spent her early years through college to adulthood dedicated to dance, theater, and performing. Over the years, she developed a love for great storytelling in different mediums. She does not waste a good story, be it movement, the spoken, or the written word. She discovered historical romance novels in middle school, which combined her desire for romance, drama, and fantasy. She writes exciting plot lines, steamy love scenes and always falls for a strong male with a soft heart. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and adult triplets.

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Ikona by M.D. Dixon – Spotlight

February 25, 2026 By Leave a Comment

The boundaries between individual lives and the flow of time become increasingly porous within the pages of M.D. Dixon’s IKONA. This story observes the intersection of four disparate paths, each pulled toward a central point of resonance by an object of ancient origin. As their realities shift and converge, the narrative explores the weight of human choice and the persistent echo of memory across different eras.

A gold Russian Orthodox cross, an icon whispered to possess inexplicable healing properties, begins to surface across multiple lifetimes and fractured timelines. Four strangers find themselves pulled into its mysterious field of influence—from the coastal bustle of Sydney and the urban sprawl of Atlanta to the stark, quiet isolation of a post-apocalyptic Siberian tundra. In Georgia, Kate Davies observes the icon’s strange effect on a suffering child, while in Australia, Finley Minor is haunted by visions of potential futures and the heavy consequence of every action. Jia Li MacPherson, a former thief and Shibari performer, carries secrets that powerful forces are desperate to keep buried. Meanwhile, a century ahead, a monk named Wallace Deng Moroz clings to visions of a cure in a world nearly destroyed by a genetic engineering catastrophe and radical political polarization.
Their meeting feels fated, yet it is ultimately shaped by the difficult choices they must make regarding which version of the future they will inhabit and what they are willing to surrender to reach it.

One mysterious icon. Four fractured timelines. A global conspiracy. A leap in consciousness that could heal the world—or end it.

Threads of religion, mysticism, and past lives are woven throughout IKONA, a work of visionary fiction that explores the intersection of ancient mystery and the future of human consciousness.

When a centuries-old Russian Orthodox cross begins to fracture the fabric of linear time, four strangers are pulled into a convergence that spans centuries:

In Atlanta, Kate Davies witnesses the icon’s inexplicable healing power on a dying child.

In Sydney, Finley Minor is haunted by visions of possible futures and the crushing weight of consequence.

In Hong Kong, Jia Li MacPherson—former thief and Shibari performer—holds secrets a shadowy power will kill to keep buried.

In the Future, Wallace Deng Moroz, a monk living a century ahead, clings to a vision of a cure in a world silenced by a genetic engineering catastrophe.

As a global conspiracy unfolds from the neon pulse of the city to the frozen silence of the Siberian tundra, these four souls must confront a terrifying reality: the cross is more than a relic—it is a key to a future they can barely comprehend.

Their convergence is destined, but their choices will shape the final timeline. Merging high-stakes suspense with deep metaphysical inquiry, IKONA is a large-scale exploration of shifting realities, memory, and the ultimate price of healing a broken world.

Which version of the future will you choose to inhabit?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Finley Minor was by his own accounts an empty man, a listless man, spiritually and emotionally sparse. Blink a thousand times and his course in life would not have shifted an inch. He was motionless like a chameleon in the presence of a threat. But this was not fact, only fear, and that of a man who knew that he’d not lived at full throttle and had succumbed to the fate of it —a slow and shallow life. He ruminated on it. He judged himself for it. He laughed at his own expense, without thinking he might ever change a thing.

In the way one always has a beginning, a great excuse, this was Finley’s: at the age of seven, in his native England, he sat on the beach as his stick wove tessellations in the sand (almost of its own accord, it seemed in retrospect), and he looked to the horizon towards France with the open, impressionable curiosity of his young age. He wondered at the sea’s depth, its great distance, how one might (as many had) swim across the channel, what creatures might lurk there, what they might feel like against bare skin. He imagined something slimy and cold, fanged, and slithering. The waves seemed to roar at him, even though they descended in the rockpools with the gentleness of pooling cream.

He stood, determined to satisfy his curiosity. He took halting steps over the rocks and shells, straight ahead, then bearing left around a rock face that jutted into the sea. He sat on a big, flat rock and stared into the gray water. He heard his father calling out his name, but ignored him. The water rushed in again and again, and each time reached further and further, first sucking at his toes, then his heels, then his knees. His curiosity fled; he became afraid, and all sound was magnified, the dull ocean roar, the seagull squawking a few feet away, his heartbeat. He knew he had to go back to shore. He waved to his father, stood, and took a faltering step. There was a low murmur; the water fizzled once more in retreat from the rocky sand like the gasping breath of a dying man. He felt dizzy and fell to his knees. He crouched on all fours and steadied himself as the water swirled and grasped at him, and the sky looped and the clouds fell from the corner of his eyes. He felt his head winched back towards the horizon, and the sea reached for his throat. Blackness.

When he came to, dragged back to shore by his father, he announced that his aunt would never return from her Côte D’Azur holiday. He wagged his finger towards the surf and pulled a face, “Over there, there is smooching.”

The official prognosis was that he’d had an epileptic fit, though none of the tests proved it. He must have passed out, in that case, the doctor pronounced, low blood sugar, a low-level virus, dehydration.

But Finley knew, only he knew.

The ocean had rent a hole in his soul, and let in the future.

About the Author: M.D. Dixon is a novelist, somatic therapist, and explorer of the intersections between the psyche and the sacred, science and mysticism, trauma and transformation. Holding a Ph.D. in the social sciences with a focus on Russia and Ukraine, Dixon has spent nearly fifteen years in therapeutic practice in Sydney, Australia. Dixon’s debut novel, IKONA, weaves visionary fiction, myth, and metaphysics to illuminate the evolution of consciousness. Dixon also hosts The Shattering Place, a podcast on multidimensional healing and the awakening human story, launching in early 2026.

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The Obscura Syndicate by Raven Storme – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 23, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Storme will be awarding a signed paperback and book plate to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lira was meant to die for the throne.

Cassian Vale was trained to be the blade that ended her.

But the moment he hesitates—one heartbeat, one breath—everything forbidden ignites.

Now the deadliest man in the Syndicate is the only thing standing between Lira and a prophecy that demands her blood. He should fear her. He should kill her. Instead… he can’t stop wanting her.

She’s the girl marked for sacrifice.
He’s the weapon shaped to obey.

Together, they become the spark that threatens to burn Obscura to ashes.

As Lira’s power awakens and the throne tightens its grip, their desire becomes its own kind of danger—raw, consuming, and impossible to survive untouched. Enemies hunt them. Shadows follow them. And the kingdom whispers one truth:

If Cassian doesn’t ruin her, she’ll ruin him.

A dark, seductive story of prophecy, power, and a love so intense it could topple a kingdom.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The blade was colder than I expected.

Cassian Vale stood close enough that I could feel his breath against my temple, slow and steady—unbothered by the fact that he was about to end my life. His hand didn’t shake. His voice didn’t rise.

“Any last words?” he asked quietly.

I laughed.

It startled him. I felt it in the brief hitch of his breath, the infinitesimal pause before instinct took over again.

“You look disappointed,” I said. “Were you hoping I’d beg?”

His grip tightened at my throat—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind me how easily he could. “I don’t enjoy this,” he said.

“Then why are you here?”

His mouth hovered near my ear. “Because Obscura demands obedience.”

My pulse raced—not with fear, but with something sharper. Dangerous.

“And what do you demand?” I whispered.

The blade lowered.

For the first time in his life, Cassian Vale hesitated.

About the Author: Raven 🐦‍⬛ Storme writes dark, smut-heavy romance for readers who crave obsession, power struggles, and secrets whispered in the dark. Living in Pennsylvania, she’s been married for fourteen years and shares her life with fourteen dogs—because calm has never been her aesthetic.

Her debut series, The Obscura Syndicate, dives into forbidden desire, shadowy loyalties, and characters who blur every moral line. Raven believes love is messy, passion is dangerous, and the best stories live in the dark.

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Vinny’s World Tour by Jacqueline Marie – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 20, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jacqueline Marie will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What if your child grew up believing there were no limits on who they could become or what they could achieve? Join Vinny, a curious little boy from a small town, as he turns creativity into adventure by creating a Secret Map of his dreams.

Vinny’s journey shows kids that imagination is a powerful tool for building confidence and belief. The story ends with a Secret Map activity, a fun school activity or birthday tradition.

Enjoy an Excerpt

About the Author: Jackie Wallace is a serial entrepreneur, podcaster, and author whose passion for learning through trial and error has consistently driven her to transform obstacles into opportunities. As a business owner and self-starter, she’s passionate about sharing insights with ambitious professionals and spotlighting their unique success stories. To date, she has interviewed over 300 people who took the leap of faith to pursue their passions.

With over 35 years of leadership experience, she is also a certified life coach who helps others gain clarity, build confidence, and move forward with purpose.

Her professional background includes a B.S. in General Management from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan, and a Certification for Professional Life Coach from World Coach Institute Inc.

Above all, Jackie is most proud of being a wife, a mother of three, and the owner of two rescue dogs.

For upcoming releases or more information, you can visit her website, check out her podcast, or follow her on Facebook.

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