A Whisper in the Trees by Susan Dalessandro – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Susan Dalessandro 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.

For Gabby Patterson, a dedicated, but sometimes obsessive, cross-country runner, junior year is her time to shine. She has to start thinking about tomorrow: the future college recruiters and scholarship offers. But today means beating her impossibly skinny rivals any way she can.

Then eerie encounters in the woods and a cute secretive guy with the same quirky musical tastes interfere in Gabby’s plans. Sweet CJ is connected to the forest mystery… and to what’s happening to Gabby. But hard truths aren’t that easy to run from…

Enjoy an Excerpt

My stomach groans and I brace my hand on the trunk of a small tree, a sudden bout of dizziness overwhelming me.

I can’t stand here all day, so I proceed into the woods, beneath the canopy of tall, sturdy oaks and sheltering pine trees. Fallen leaves crunch underfoot as I follow the dirt path, narrowing as it skirts the edge of the cliff. Hurrying, I push deeper into the heart of the forest before I steel myself and take the plunge into the clearing, the place that’s caused me such angst these last few weeks.

I pause as a breeze splays loose strands of my ponytail across my face. The cool air refreshes as it passes through my nose and my mouth, filling my lungs. Okay, this isn’t so bad. But as I shuffle to the other side, a fog descends upon me like damp, heavy drapes. Dizziness slams me and I lose my balance, my vision blurring. I slump to the ground, fatigue sinking into my bones. That’s when the music cues and the song streams through me. An ache throbs in my head. My empty stomach groans as I rise off the grass and brush myself off. Just leave me alone.

About the Author: I’m a lifelong lover of books and storytelling and hold an M.A. In Applied Math, a subject which finds its way into many of my stories.

I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my husband, two sons and two dogs. I gather story ideas as I run in the early mornings with my dogs. Running is the perfect environment for me to think and create.

My debut novel, Complex Solutions, a YA coming of age thriller, released March 16, 2021. Strong Enough, a YA novel, part of the Play Like A Girl series, came out on August 8, 2023. My latest novel, A Whisper In The Trees, a YA romance with paranormal elements, releases on June 30, 2025 with The Wild Rose Press.

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Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic by Marilyn Levinson – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Marilyn Levinson will be awarding a paperback copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner.

Fifth grader Rufus is unhappy when he has to attend a Samhain celebration with his mother, Grandma, and Aunt Ruth instead of going Trick or Treat with his friends. He’s thrilled when, later that night, his Uncle Hector shows up outside his window and offers to take him for a ride in the sky. Rufus’s family have told him that his uncle is evil and he should have nothing to do with Hector, but Rufus is enthralled by his uncle’s fabulous realm that includes a small zoo and a stable of horses. He’s less interested in learning about his uncle’s businesses that he, as his uncle’s heir apparent, will inherit one day. Then Uncle Hector tells Rufus he has to do something for him, something Rufus finds impossible to do. Uncle Hector wields his magical powers to force Rufus’s hand, but Rufus’s little sister finds out and encourages him to ask for help. It’s Grandma who decides what they must do, and it’s not something Uncle Hector ever thought would happen.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Mrs. Brewster poked her head in the room to say it was time to come outside and watch the fireworks. We traipsed through the kitchen and out onto the Brewsters’ patio that faced their enormous backyard. Many adults were already in their seats, but Mr. Brewster, who wasn’t a witch, led us to the very first row. Then he went to talk to the men who would be setting off the fireworks.

The display was spectacular. We oohed and ahed as multi-colored bursts of light exploded in every conceivable shape. Ten minutes into the show, a band of yellow light more dazzling than any we’d seen so far spanned the sky. It arced over the Brewsters’ backyard and turned into a rainbow so brilliant I found myself blinking.

Silence fell. The fireworks died away. No one moved. All eyes were glued on the figure gliding through the air who came to stand atop the rainbow.

There could be no doubt he was a witch. He was dressed in black like us, except for his voluminous cape, which was bright red, the color of blood. He spread the cape wide, holding an end in each outstretched hand and bowed. A communal gasp—half-shock, half-disapproval—rose from the adults behind me. We stared, transfixed, as a young male witch fluttered about before coming to stand beside him.

“Greetings, my fellow sorcerers,” the older witch intoned. “We have come to wish you Good Samhain.”

His keen gaze sliced through the crowd seeking something, someone. A current coursed through me when his eyes met mine. He nodded, and I found myself nodding back.

Suddenly his right leg buckled and he stumbled. The young witch reached out to support him. Angry, the older witch brushed him away. His young companion vanished as awkwardly as he’d arrived.

Alone now, the older witch gave us a mocking smile as he and the rainbow faded from sight.

I was left thrilled, mystified, and frightened. Who was this powerful witch, and what did he want with me?

About the Author: A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Marilyn’s middle grade novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council “Children’s Choice.” A new edition, the first book in a series of four, came out in 2023. Rufus and the Witch’s Drudge, the second book in the Rufus series, was released in 2024. Her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn, came out in a new edition in January, 2024. Soon to be published are new editions of And Don’t Bring Jeremy, which received six state nominees, and Getting Back to Normal.

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Boo’s Blue Poo and Goo by Toni Nelson – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Toni Nelson 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.

‘Give a helping hand to someone in trouble today and you will be richly rewarded!’

Diamonte De Dazzle (owner of the world’s most famous department store) read her daily horoscope and was puzzled. Who was in trouble?

Who, what, why, when and where? How on earth could she help?

She then encountered Boo, a homeless blue cat, trying to escape from TCC, the horribly horrible Cat Catcher. Boo was the only truly blue cat on the planet, so TCC intended on cat-napping and exhibiting her to become rich and famous.

(Evil laugh from TCC . . .)

The combination of an eccentric department store owner, as well as TCC, two snobby socialites, plus a fashion event which is unexpectedly and thoroughly thrown into chaos, is life- changing.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Meet Boo: A sweet-natured, gentle, cuddly, affectionate cat—as well as being a gorgeously gorgeous cat! Few adults realized how lovely Boo was, because few adults would approach her. This was because Boo was blue. Blue! She was born blue, and the colour hadn’t faded … in fact, if anything, she seemed to grow ever bluer. Children liked her very much. They wanted to cuddle her, stroke her, and play with her. They knew she was simply a cat, no matter what colour she was.

Boo was homeless. She had to live on the streets of the city in all kinds of weather; sometimes she was freezing cold, and sometimes she was so hot she wished she could unzip her blue coat, take it off, and cool down. She was very wary of all the tall people who were constantly walking past her, but most people were so busy looking at their phones, or hurrying somewhere, that they rarely noticed her as she hunted for food.

As if that wasn’t enough, Boo also had to keep a look out for The Cat Catcher— known as TCC—an extremely grumpy man. Not only was TCC grumpy, but he was also a bully! He was employed by the City Council to remove stray animals from the city streets. Unfortunately, TCC had spotted Boo some time ago … and was now obsessed with catching her.

About the Author: Toni is Australian-born, considering herself extremely fortunate to have had parents who encouraged her love of books. Seventy years on, she is still an ardent reader.

(Thanks Mum and Dad.)

She enjoys writing, previously assisting in the production of a monthly community newspaper: The Bayswater Buzz.

This story is derived from a brief news report she watched some years ago, which has somehow morphed into this book.

She truly hopes you enjoy the story of Boo, the blue cat.

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The Adventures of the Unicorn Poo by Reice Godfrey – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Reice Godfrey 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.

Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

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Once upon a time there was a little boy called Sonny and a little girl called Bailee.

They were going to go on an adventure to find a magical Unicorn.

Bailee asked Sonny, “How are we going to find a Unicorn?”

Sonny said, “We have to find some Unicorn POO!”

About the Author: Join Sonny and Bailee on their adventure to find a magical Unicorn. The only way to find the magical Unicorn is to follow the trail of POOs until they find a rainbow-coloured, cotton-candy smelling, glitter-covered POO.

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Character Interview by Dana Hammer – Guest Blog and giveaway

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

Character Interview

In Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens, Fanny attends a summer camp for aspiring sirens. As you might have guessed, the camp has…issues. What follows is an interview between a disgruntled parent and Lotus, one of the sirens who runs the camp. The parent’s name is Tiana Jost.

Lotus: Hello, this is Lotus, how may I help you?

Tiana: Hi, Lotus. I’m Tiana, Cleo’s mother.

Lotus: Oh…

Tiana: Yeah. What kind of camp are you running there? What is the matter with you people?

Lotus: Well, we all have our flaws, Tiana. We are imperfect beings, just trying to exist on this imperfect planet. You know?

Tiana: No. I don’t know. My daughter got stung by a poisonous something or other-

Lotus: Portuguese man-of-war.

Tiana: Yeah. That. And then your lack of medical care sent her into a coma! A coma! What do you have to say for yourselves?

Lotus: I can assure you that she was given the best medical care we could, given that we are located on an island with no hospital. But sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to. You know? Like, this one time I made a whole batch of peanut butter balls, and I stashed them in my nightstand, thinking I could ration them out and eat one every night before I went to bed. But you know what happened?

Tiana:…

Lotus: Ants. Ants happed, Tiana.

Tiana:…

Lotus: Because ants love sweet treats, so-

Tiana: I DON’T CARE ABOUT ANTS!

Lotus: That’s a shame. Ants care about you.

Tiana: I can’t handle this. Is there someone else I can talk to?

Lotus: Well, my partners are…indisposed. They’re in deep water, so to speak.

(Giggles)

Tiana: I have no idea what you’re laughing about. My daughter could have been killed, and it seems like you don’t even care.

Lotus: Do you like poetry? I do. When I get all worked up about stuff that’s out of my control, I like to recite this little ditty to myself. It’s by Alabi. It goes: Life may not let me choose my lot,
But whether I’d be happy or not…That is my choice. Lovely, right?

Tiana: No. It’s infuriating, and I need some actual answers from you.

Lotus: Alright. Here are some answers. Your daughter was the victim of an unfortunate stinging. We don’t know why she went into a coma. Maybe her body had some kind of severe allergic reaction. When we realized the extent of the damage, we shipped her home to you, where she could receive proper medical care. We were informed that she came out of the coma, and is fine now.

Tiana: Yes, but-

Lotus: Not finished. It has been four moon cycles since she was sent home. Why are you calling me now, after all this time?

Tiana: Because…

Lotus: Whatever the problem is, I’m here to listen.

Tiana: I just…

Lotus: You can tell me.

Tiana: There was a…chemical spill.

Lotus: Oh no!

Tiana: Our house is damaged beyond repair. We don’t have any money to buy a new house. It’s all just…

Lotus: I understand. You were hoping that I could give you money. Is that right?

Tiana: Hey! I’m not out of line here. My kid was seriously injured!

Lotus: Of course she was. But, moving on — tell me about this chemical spill. How did it happen?

Tiana: It was a hazmat truck. It crashed on the overpass, and all the contents spilled onto our house. It was some kind of radioactive stuff. We had to evacuate, and our house is totally uninhabitable.

Lotus: That is completely unacceptable. Something has to be done.

Tiana: So…you’ll give me some money? For damages?

Lotus: No way! I can’t afford that kind of payout! We live on a self sustaining island. All I have to offer is chickens and sand — I would have to sell organs to pay you more than a few hundred dollars.

Tiana: Oh.

Lotus: But there is something else I can offer you.

Tiana: We aren’t interested in attending your camp again.

Lotus: I’m not offering that. I’m offering something much better. Justice.

Tiana: What?

Lotus: Toxic waste is a huge problem, not just for you, but for the whole planet. It ruins everything, destroys ecosystems, makes humans sick, and is just plain evil. I think that the way this toxic waste was handled is deeply problematic. We on Feather Island have ways of solving these kinds of problems.

Tiana: What ways? What are you talking about?

Lotus: Well…I’d rather not discuss it on an unencrypted line. But maybe I could pay you a visit, so we can discuss our options?

Tiana: Um…I guess.

Lotus: Great! Sit tight, and I’ll be there within the week. Tell Cleo I’m excited to see her.

Tiana: I will. But what’s going to happen? Are you going to get them to pay me for damages, or…

Lotus: You’ll see. Everything is going to work out perfectly. Don’t you worry about a thing.

(Call ends)

It’s the end of the school year. For most kids, it’s time to relax and get ready for summer. For Fanny, there’s work. She has a brand-new baby brother, and she’s been hired by Zeus to look after his “injured” son. And she still has her and her friends’ cheesemaking business! Fanny is overwhelmed.

But then she meets three sirens who want Fanny to join them on Feather Island for a summer of singing, instrument playing, and fun at the beach. The program is totally free and could start an amazing musical career-the thing that Fanny has always wanted the most.

Athena and Gemma are dead set against it. Athena says that the sirens are bad news; that their whole purpose in life is to lure men to their deaths with their beautiful singing. Gemma says that Feather Island is part of a network of unmappable islands, the type of place where criminals and sketchy organizations hoard their wealth and do their crimes.

Surely, the sirens don’t do that anymore, right? All that stuff was a long time ago. If the sirens want to keep their island paradise a secret, well, that’s not so weird, is it? Fanny has talked to them, and she just knows that they aren’t as evil as everyone says. They are perfectly nice ladies.

Right?

Follow Fanny Fitzpatrick as she navigates big sisterhood, friends who disapprove of her life choices, burning ambitions, and a bunch of sirens luring her away to their private island.

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The thing with funerals is, you have to be sad. Or at least, you have to act sad, because it’s ghoulish and weird to be happy at a funeral, even if you really, really didn’t like the person who died. But when someone dies, you can’t say you didn’t like them. You have to pretend that whoever died was a nice person, who you will miss very much.

That’s the situation I’m in today. I’m at a funeral for my cousin, Ava May. And it IS sad that she’s dead. OBVIOUSLY. My aunt and uncle are devastated, and my mom has been crying all morning, and even my dad got a little teary, and I don’t think he liked Ava May either, but of course he can never say that, because she’s dead.

The thing with Ava May is, she was never nice to me. Ever. She was always saying terrible things about my family because we don’t have as much money as hers. My aunt is an oceanographer and a college professor, and my uncle is an investment banker, and together I think they make a lot more money than us, but that doesn’t mean my family is trash or whatever. My family is fine. But Ava May was always like, “Oh my god, who doesn’t have a pool in this day and age? Don’t you get hot in the summer?” And “I can’t believe you’ve never been to France. You’re so provincial.”

But now Ava May is dead, and I can’t be mad at her anymore, because A) it would be petty and B) it wouldn’t do any good.

About the Author: Dana Hammer is a novelist, screenwriter and playwright. She has won over forty awards and honors for her writing, few of which generated income, all of which were deeply appreciated. She is not a cannibal, but she is the author of A Cannibals Guide to Fasting. Dana is also the author of middle grade fantasy My Best Friend Athena which was inspired by a desire to write something her 9 year old daughter could read.

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Coming Up with Titles by L.T. Getty – Guest Post and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. L.T. Getty 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.

Coming Up With Titles

Coming up with Fantasy Titles is easy! Just pick a format:

1) A _______ of _________ ; if you’re feeling dangerous making it a little longer:
2) A ________ of ________ & _________
Or go with Good Old Classic
3) ___________ of the ___________

Switch around “of” to “and” as needed or like a good boomer add a “The”, then pick from the following list:

Moon
Sword
Throne
Ash
Fire
Wolf
Prince
Sea
Crown
Midnight

I’m kidding. These are popular formats. Famous examples include:

1) The Wheel of Time; Tower of Obsidian; The Sword of Truth
2) A Court of Thorns and Roses; A Song of Ice and Fire; A Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds
3) The Lord of the Rings; Gardens of the Moon; Faith of the Fallen

Again kidding – Tower of Obsidian isn’t famous.

Whether we’re talking about an individual book or are coming up with a series name, you usually need something relatively short and punchy, unique and memorable. Why short? Because it will get a nickname otherwise and, while I have no problem using ACoTaR and TLotR, those are famous, if you’re not careful it’ll be that book with the dragons and it had red. Also, it may be listed with the series title, and again, these are famous, but A Song of Ice and Fire: A Dance with Dragons or The Wheel of Time: Fires from Heaven; but it’s more common for books for young readers, such as Harry Potter & the Philosopher’s Stone or Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief. I don’t know how much you care about covers but, I’d like the title not to be completely crammed in there.

The first thing I would consider if this is going to be a standalone or a series and figure out if you want a running theme. For instance, I have another series called Rogue Healer, and the format follows Person’s Something: Witchslayer’s Scion, Magus Gambit, Titan’s Ascent, and the working title for the next in the sequence is Hawk’s Flight, but that might change. I like having meaning about what’s going on in the story, so it’s not uncommon for me to be drafting and come up with a title midway or even after I have a working draft.

I had several considerations when naming A Fable of Wood and String. My father pointed out The Puppet Master was already taken and not at all original, but that was always my intended name for the duology as a whole and never each book. Several contenders included Songs Foxes Sing, Of Shepherds and Foxes, and my first solid one I came up with was A Ballad of Wood and String – music plays an integral part of the story – but The Hunger Games launched a new book/movie in 2023 (The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), so I decided that would sound too much like piggy-backing, so I changed Ballad to Fable. I wouldn’t begrudge anyone else if they chose not to do this, but my niece also is not a fan of The Hunger Games, so I wanted to distance myself between the two.

I considered A Jig of Wood and String but it didn’t sound right. To me, etymology is important, and a Fable is usually a short morality tale often featuring talking animals. It has other definitions though:

fable
noun
1. a short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters; apologue: Aesop’s fables.
the fable of the tortoise and the hare;
Aesop’s fables.
2. a story not founded on fact:
This biography is largely a self-laudatory fable.
3. a story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents; legend:
the fables of gods and heroes.
4. legends or myths collectively:
the heroes of Greek fable.
5. an untruth; falsehood:
This boast of a cure is a medical fable.
6. the plot of an epic, a dramatic poem, or a play.
7. idle talk:
old wives’ fables.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fable

Most of these work, so one could argue which one I meant. It’s a work of fiction (2), but that’s using it in the vaguest way possible. I’d argue foremostly it’s also the plot of an epic (6) and about supernatural events (3), so the fact that the foxes talk are a bonus.

Wood & String has several meanings. The first and most obvious is that marionettes are traditionally made of wood (and plaster, glass, etc) and are controlled by string. The second is the mandolin Lily plays and uses is again made of wood and strings. Finally, there’s the dynamic between the fox and the jorogumo. The jorogumo spins a web of lies and deceit and catches her victims. In this case she turns them into marionettes and controls them via strings. The fox on the other hand’s normal domain is the woods. This implies a game between two supernatural creatures with human beings in the balance.

So how does one start coming up with names? This is the case whether you’re trying to come up with a business name or even for chapters. Practice. Take a book or show you love and come up with something else that would work in a pinch. It’s not as easy as it first appears, but if you practice, I promise it’ll get easier. Look up words similar to the ones that the author/creator has already used and see if you can evoke a similar mood or theme or, consider if you wanted to go for a complete rebrand. How would you do it differently?

How are you at coming up with titles? Any trends you love, others you wish would go away? Comment below.


Would it hurt you to just do as you’re told?

The O’Connell siblings live in the shadow of their parent’s past, held back by obligation to keep the people of Stagmil safe when their father has to lead the non-hunters of their village to drive off a wyvern.

Lily doesn’t trust the stranger who calls herself Madeline when she staggers into the pastoral lands. The puppeteer seems to take an interest in Lily’s talent with the family mandoline, and she teaches Lily new music. Lily’s had songs stuck in her head before, but nothing like this.

Twins Seth and Tiffany however can’t wait for their father to return so they can get on with the shearing. Seth should at least be helping hunt the wyvern, and Tiffany wants to take her best friend Molly and head to the nearest city and see the world.

The twins and several other villagers are lured by song into the woods and transformed into marionettes: Seth breaking free before he can be strung, and Lily tainted in a way she doesn’t understand. They have the skills to track the woman down, but to restore Seth to his body, and rescue Tiffany and the others?

Tracking the woman takes them far from the familiar woodlands they know, across the sea to an enchanted castle, where in an effort to rescue their sister they’ll learn something much more sinister than turning folk into puppets is going on. They’ll get help, of course, but not from who they expected.

After all, last Seth checked, foxes are only supposed to have the one tail.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The figure in black started to play something else, and the other’s eyes widened. Tiffany shouted something, and they all reached for the soft wax of the candle but didn’t know what they were doing. In the haste of grabbing the candle, it was knocked to the ground.

Seth ignored his companions and nocked his bow. “Stop what you’re doing or I’ll shoot!”

The figure seemed undeterred. Seth knew he was about to commit murder, but he didn’t care and he wouldn’t leave Louis or any of them to whatever that doppelganger was, and this thing was obviously part of this plot. He loosed the arrow, and the figure only stopped playing to bat it away with the sword hidden under the cloak. Impossible, Seth thought, nocking another with a second between his fingers for quick redraw. He might not be the finest archer—but at this range he didn’t have to be, and no one could deflect arrows in succession for long.

Someone screamed. It looked like Rebecca was caught in a web when she tried to bolt from the glen between two trees. Seth unsheathed his long knife and went to help her, but the figure of Not-Lily appeared, taking off her face and standing near Rebecca. The face was completely blank underneath; Seth let out a surprised gasp before she replaced that face with something with six red eyes, two in the normal place with another four running up her forehead.

Then he saw it—her—grow. The lower half of her body swelled and became massive, bulbous, like the back half of a centaur; her body remained about the same size, but rather than fur and four legs, shimmering black hair and eight legs protruded from the torso, longer at the bend than Dale was tall. She towered over Rebecca. A giant spider . . . woman? There was something eerily feminine about it, a sort of terrible beauty that froze him when his instincts told him to move. She stepped over Rebecca, barrelling down on Seth. He loosed another arrow at her head, but she dodged and shot out webbing from her hands that knocked him backwards, pinning him to the grass. More spider silk flew and pinned his arm to the grass.

Seth tried to wriggle free the monster chased after Dale, and to Seth’s horror, caught him with long strands at his wrists, and wrangled him like a marionette. Dale wriggled against the webbing and she dragged him back, and it seemed that he was transforming in the shadow, shrinking and becoming . . . something else. Seth unbuttoned his over shirt to try to free himself.

Dale was reduced to the size of a doll, and the spider had shifted him to a web in the canopy before going after Tiffany. Brigid flailed between two trees, seemingly stuck in a giant web.

Louis cut Seth free and thrust the bow into Seth’s hand. He shouted something and Seth realized that if he got her attention, there wouldn’t be another time. Louis released his sling in the dark. Seth couldn’t see the rock’s trajectory but the spider reeled, leaving Tiffany and moved with intent on the pair of them. They darted in opposite directions, and by luck the creature honed in on Louis, giving Seth enough time to fire. The arrow bounced off the creature’s bulbous body.

Out of the corner of his eye, Seth thought he saw a fox or coyote dart from the bush and bound through the grass. It ran behind the mandolin-playing creature and bit it in the butt. Suddenly there were two people, but Seth couldn’t watch them.

Seth let loose another arrow, narrowly missing the torso, and shouted at the others to run—he wasn’t sure who it had now, was it Rebecca or Molly? The light was too poor for him to be certain, but whoever the spider held she was shrinking fast.

The creature turned, six red and black eyes focused on Seth, and came down on him with full force. Seth found his limbs caught by two bands of silk and forced above his head, and he was hoisted into the air. He locked eyes with Louis who was looking not only smaller, but . . . wooden. Against his control, Seth raised his hands to his ears and removed the wax, and sound same rushing back.

About the Author L.T. Getty is a Manitoba Paramedic. She received her degree in English in 2006 from the University of Winnipeg, and has gone on to write several novels. Her latest title, Titan’s Ascent, is a sword and sorcery forthcoming from Champagne Books for 2025.

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Where is Love? by Annie Caboose – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Annie Caboose 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.

While walking in the garden one day, Annie, a curious little ant from Hillsville, meets a single poppy flower called Love. They become instant friends, sharing stories, laughing and talking for hours on end. Then one autumn day Annie goes to visit Love, but Love is not there. Remembering the rhyme that Love told her, she sets off on an adventure to find Love.

Love is with you every day.
Love is never far away.
Go search, go find and then you’ll see
All the places Love can be.

But don’t forget to look within
For often, that’s where Love begins.

May Annie’s story inspire anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved being, to look and perhaps still find them within their lives and within themselves.

Enjoy an Excerpt

About the Author:

Annie, a.k.a. the Caboose, is the youngest of nine children. Her loving mother read her lots of children’s stories, including some she wrote herself. Inspired by her mom, Annie wrote her first book, Where is Love? She resides on a lake in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, fascinated by the many birds that live there too.

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The Brave Prince in the Enchanted Forest by Beverly Brown – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Beverly Brown will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In the heart of a lush, beautiful serene forest, where butterflies, birds and bees freely dance in the gently breeze, a magical tale unfolds. Meet Prince, a majestic Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who loves this serene place that they call The Enchanted Forest. As the appointed guardian of this homeland by the beautiful Forest Fairy Princess Jenna Joy, Prince learns things about himself, makes new friends and protects the sanctity of the forest. This story is a heartwarming tale of courage, friendship and the beauty of nature. Follow Prince’s pawprints as he navigates his way through the forest and you will be immersed into a world of wonder and joy. You will be enchanted and reminded of all the magic and extraordinary powers that lie within the hearts of our loyal, furry companions.

Enjoy an Excerpt

In recognition of the Cavalier’s promise, Princess Jenna Joy placed a golden crown with red jewels, a symbol not only of royalty but also of untapped magical powers, atop his little head. She named him Prince, in honor of becoming the first leader of the forest.

At that time, a bolt of energy went through Prince’s body.

He felt different.

He felt special.

He felt more responsible.

He even felt taller.

About the Author: Beverly Brown is an author who has a passion for storytelling. With a 20-year career as a Human Resources Leader, she has honed her understanding of people and their unique stories – a skill she brings to her writing, infusing her tales with warmth, empathy, and insight.

Beyond the pages of writing and outside the corporate world, Beverly is a culinary enthusiast who finds joy in cooking and sharing meals with her family in Atlanta, Georgia.

She is an avid traveler, seeking inspiration in the diverse cultures and landscapes she encounters, and a dedicated gardener, nurturing her plants with the same care she pours into her storytelling. As a lifelong learner, Beverly is constantly seeking new knowledge and experiences, whether in her professional field or her personal pursuits.

Beverly is a certified Pet Grief Counselor and uses those skills to support families in managing the grief cycle of their beloved family pet. Through her Facebook group Paws in Paradise Support Group, she is helping to build another community where members support each other with compassion and understanding.

Her writing reflects this curiosity, offering readers stories that are as enriching as they are enchanting. Drawing inspiration from her personal experiences with her own fur babies, her stories are a testament to the gentle nature and loyal spirit of these charming canines.

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Winter Blogfest: Diane Billas

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a free e-copy of my book Superficial, open internationally. 

A New Tradition by Diane Billas

When I envision the holidays, you know what I see, me sitting curled up on the couch by the Christmas tree with a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a good holiday book. In reality that barely happens because of the craziness of the season, but one can always dream!

Another vision I get when I think about the holidays is the Christmas my family had last year. Most years my husband and Itravel to both families for Christmas, and let me tell you, they are not close to each other. We’d spend two plus hours in the car on Christmas day and arrive tired/stressed for Christmas dinner.

But last year was different. It was our first Christmas with our son, and we decided to stay home. We could see our extended families at some point, but we wanted Christmas to be time together with our new little family and it was glorious. We wore our Christmas pjs, helped our little one open his gifts, drank boozy hot chocolate while watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, and it was even warm enough to go to the playground. It was simple, but I absolutely loved it.

And you know what, we are hoping to do the same thing again this year. It’s going to be our new Christmas tradition to stay home and visit family before or after the craziness of the holidays, so we can just enjoy our time with them, and ourselves. I am also determined to sit by our Christmas tree and read a fun holiday book.

 

Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Lea’s friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

 

Diane Billas is an award-winning author of the YA sapphic contemporary romance novel DOES LOVE ALWAYS WIN?, featured in Parents Magazine, and the YA superhero novel SUPERFICIAL, both with Creative James Media. Her sapphic short story, THE PROM DO-OVER will be featured in the PROM PERFECT anthology, out Spring 2025 with Wild Ink Publishing.

Diane Billas lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son. When she’s not writing she can be found reading multiple books at once, performing the French horn and piano, or dreaming of the next country she’s going to visit

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Winter Blogfest: Rosemary Morris

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Indira and Daisy.

 

Christmas Past by Rosemary Morris

My earliest memory of Christmas, in the year the 2nd World War ended, is of my mother taking me to Hamley’s the famous toy shop in Regent Street, London, when I was five years old. Doll’s houses, doll’s house furniture, prams and beautiful dolls with eyes that opened and closed enchanted me. I fell in love with one with dainty underwear, a sugar-candy-pink organdie dress and bonnet. I begged mother to buy it for me. She refused and told me not to cry. On Christmas day I unwrapped my present from my parents. Speechless with delight I cuddled the doll, I named Rosebud. Years later, my mother told me she took me to the toy shop because she thought a child should choose a doll which she liked best.

The run up to Christmas did not begin as early as it has in recent years. About a fortnight prior to Santa Claus bringing my stocking with a tangerine in the toe, some chocolate coins, a children’s annual and a few small toys, shopkeepers decorated their windows, we knew Christmas was near; and on the last day of term at my convent school, where a nun took the role of Mother Christmas instead of a male Father Christmas, my friends and I were in the festive spirit.

At home I enjoyed making multi-coloured paper chains from strips of multi-paper. They were hung across the ceiling in the lounge, their ends meeting at the large paper bell in the centre. In the room decorated with holly and Christmas cards were on the mantlepiece, my friends came to my party on the twenty-third. We played hunt the thimble, musical chairs and blind man’s bluff, followed by a sumptuous tea. Food was rationed but to provide the treat Mother had saved, for example. When parents came to collect the children, I said goodbye and gave each one a small present bought at Hamley’s.

On Christmas Eve Father brought a Christmas tree home. Nothing can completely recover what was, in my eyes, the magic of decorating it with tinsel, fragile baubles that would glitter in the light shed by tiny candles in holders and a dainty fairy doll on the top.

Tucked up in bed before I slept, I wondered what my presents from my parents, grandparents, other relatives and my mother’s best friend, who I called Aunty May, contained. As soon as I could write, I dreaded the task of writing thank you letters with pen and ink. I resented having to thank Aunty May for the children’s book Alice in Wonderland. Although I was a young book worm, I disliked the story and instead of being grateful stamped on Alice Through The Looking Glass which she gave me on the next year.

Yet Christmas was not merely about fun and presents. At Sunday school we studied the Nativity, helped to arrange the creche in the church, with figures of baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. I loved the atmosphere and the ‘playing of the merry organ and sweet singing in the choir.’ At home we enjoyed a traditional lunch and, at teatime, my mother’s homemade fruit cake covered with marzipan under a layer of snow-white icing sugar.

On Boxing Day, we ate delicious leftovers, and in the evening family and friends gathered at our house to enjoy each other’s company.

 

Grammar schoolgirls fourteen-year-old Indira Nathwani and Daisy Royston have been best friends since they were four years old. Indira lives in Southeast England with her wealthy Hindu family, an older brother, pious grandfather, parents, and aunt and uncle. In their temple room her grandfather teaches her to worship and serve God with love and devotion. Daisy lives with her mother, a single parent who works hard to provide for her. Since her devout Christian grandmother’s death, Daisy rarely attends church. Sometimes she and Indira agree to disagree about their cultures and religions, but it never affects their friendship. However, Indira, who is not allowed to go out alone, is envious of her best friend’s freedom. Daisy’s only known relative is her mother, who she loves and appreciates, but she struggles not to envy Indira for having a large, perfect family. Daisy stays at the Nathwani’s house to celebrate Diwali and the Hindu new year on the next day. To reciprocate, Daisy’s mother invites Indira to stay for three nights at her house to celebrate Christmas. The Nathwani family’s refusal leads to tragedy, which Indira is blamed for, then a shocking revelation causes distress. Indira is distraught and Daisy realises Indira’s family is not perfect. 

“A fascinating view of two vastly different cultures shown through these two teenage girls.”

Maggi Andersen.

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