My Writing Process by Jessica Rakus – Guest Post and Giveaway

May 6, 2026 By 2 Comments

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

I started writing as a teenager, the summer before I started high school. It was a magical time where I could write instead of paying attention in class, bring my notebook to my evening job at Walmart and jot some lines when things were quiet in the fabric department, and stay up until three in the morning reworking random scenes. Those were the days!

Now, in my mid-forties, with two busy kids, finding a single moment to even breathe is special. Hearing my own thoughts, let alone the thoughts of my characters, is a bonus.

This has obviously changed my writing process – I take the chance to write any time I can get it, including jotting down a few lines on my phone or writing on the back of a receipt I dug out of my purse. But since that becomes a disaster, I have to corral myself a bit.

I’m very much a pantser when it comes to writing, so while I have a general idea of where I want the story to end up, I mostly just let the characters get there how they want (or sometimes they end up somewhere completely different, and that’s okay). This means I can’t just write scenes willy nilly as they come to me. This has ended up in so many situations where I write a scene I love, and I can’t make it fit with where the story starts going, and then I have to set that scene aside and just read it by myself and think of what could have been. I have to write the whole story in order, beginning to end. Once that’s done, I can slow down and go back in and find moments that need more and let myself toss random lines in, or remember that I really wanted a scene where two of my characters meet for the first time simply because I think that moment would be funny, even though it doesn’t serve the plot, given that the whole story happened without it.

I do find that I hit a wall around the 75% finished first draft stage, which I think is tied to writing the story start to finish – I would argue the 75% mark of most books is where the book hits a wall. It’s usually a moment of calm before the storm that is the climax of the book. The climax is the fun part! The part where everything is going well for the characters is boring! Let’s ruin their lives, come on! But all in all, this process works for me, and it got me here to Haven Strong. I hope you love the book, and the journey they took me on.

Josephine Grant lives a charmed life – a husband, three perfect children, strong bonds with family and friends in the small town where she’s lived her entire life. She’s the helper, the hostess, the one who always shows up. The person who can do it all.

Then the bus carrying her son’s basketball team crashes, and Jo’s husband and son are among the lives lost. Now she has a new identity. Widow. Single mother. Woman who lost everything. Grief begins to tear apart the place that’s always been her home. Infighting among friends. Gossip and rumors. Wounds that may never heal and bonds that just might.

Now Jo has to rebuild her life, but as the person who thinks of herself as the helper, asking others to help hold her together is impossible. Jo must learn to lean on others as she learns to stand on her own.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Josephine Grant?”

The grocery bag in my hands threatened to fall. He was here for me.

I’d known it since I first saw him, and praying I was wrong had done nothing.

I swallowed hard before turning. “Yes?”

He didn’t speak again until he’d navigated the driveway and stood in front of me. I set down the bag of groceries; my shaking hands and knees had rendered holding things impossible.

“Could we step inside for a moment to speak?” he asked.

I glanced toward the door. “My daughters are inside.”

He nodded, seeming to understand my concern. Whatever he had to say, he didn’t want them to overhear any more than I did.

“Mrs. Grant, I’m so sorry. There was an accident earlier today involving a bus. Two of the people on the bus were identified as Stephen and Matthew Grant.”

No. No no no.

“We’re still trying to figure out exactly what happened, but emergency personnel at the scene did everything they could for everyone. I’m sorry to tell you they passed away at the scene.”

My legs gave out and I collapsed to the ground. Cold seeped through the knees of my jeans, but I didn’t care. My head dropped, my forehead settling into the gray slush that lined the driveway.

The officer crouched beside me as a sob burst from my throat.

“Is there someone who can come stay with you?”

Crumbled on the ground, I struggled to extract my cell phone from my back pocket, but I lacked the strength to pull myself up. Finally I got it. Through the blur of tears, I fumbled to find the button to make a phone call. Instead I landed on random apps, frustration adding to the crush in my chest.

The officer took my phone gently from my hand. “What name?”

“Esther Franklin,” I replied. “My mother.”

He stepped away, and without someone standing over me, I could no longer stop the tears. I sobbed into the cold gray concrete, praying my daughters wouldn’t come looking for me.

About the Author Jessica Rakus is a debut novelist, after many, many years of writing practice. She currently lives in Louisiana, after living briefly in seven other states.

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Versions of Nirvana by H.C. Turk – Spotlight and Giveaway

May 4, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. H.C. Turk will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In order to save her family, an 18th-century witch entertains suicide, thereby entering a coma-like trance that lasts 300 years. In this magical state, she reaches into the future to guide other people who long for redemption.

England, 1710. Young Alba knows she is a witch, but the term means nothing until her mother is executed for witchcraft. Then Alba enters a trance that causes everyone around her debilitating emotions, just like Alba’s. The trance, which is Alba’s magic, does not appear again until years later when her mentor is arrested and sentenced to death. Panicked, Alba stabs herself in the heart. Instead of dying, she enters a “false sleep” (coma), a state of spiritual consciousness. Hoping to find peace for others, she seeks similar souls in the future.

Germany, 1942: An American soldier is mortally wounded. In his final moment, he experiences the glory of a beautiful life, if only in his dreams. He enters a spiritual realm filled with warm family adventures, metaphysical escapades that are alternately hilarious and horrific, yet always lead away from anguish. Directed by Alba’s unseen influence, Andrew fights for solace, and wins.

Indonesia, 2003: A young American woman on a Western Pacific island must relive an ancient, tortuous journey through a primitive environment in order to redeem the foreigners in the country. Influenced by a power she can only sense in her heart (Alba), Connie seeks a solution of acceptance instead of rejection.

Told with humor and compassion, the heart of the book is the longing to find peace despite haunting failure, and finding joy in helping others achieve the same.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Though I am obligated to share my story of survival, the forces compelling me to do so are impossible to suss, being infinite and immortal. Hereby accept my testimony, which I create for the benefit of my peers, on behalf of the Creator.

By “Creator,” I do not refer to the deities worshiped by the world’s disparate cultures. Understand that the greatest creative force in the universe is not all gods, but all goodness. My story is additionally difficult to convey because there you are, believing that witches are atheists. You would know more about God if He had given you the power of magic as He did me.

We need not begin with my appearance, though people expect this. What we see of others is the first thing we know of them, prior to grasping their generosity or avarice. Very well, then, I am average in appearance for a British lady in her teens. My mother, even at her end, was average in appearance for a British wench in her eighties, though her true age was half that again.

“At her end.” We are getting to that. Only now can I get away from that, after being blessed with redemption, which is a most holy form of magic.

I was born on Man’s Isle in the Irish Sea, sinners’ names used by witches, who are too naive to invent languages or coffee houses. (“Sinner” is the name witches have for those people of societies and cities.) Witches celebrate neither anniversaries nor holidays, and since our calendar consists of the seasons about us, I know not my date of birth, my numerical age. Suffice to say that the year of our Lord is 1700 and something, the “something” part a variable when the future is no different from today.

About the Author: H. C. Turk is a writer, sound artist, and visual artist. His novels have been published by Villard and Tor. His short fiction, sound pieces, movies, and visual art have appeared in numerous magazines, websites, podcasts, and film festivals. He used to paint houses (not as an art form.)

Book Video | Website | BandCamp | Substack | Facebook

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The Art of Book Covers by Raven Howell – Guest Blog and Giveaway

April 29, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Raven Howell will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Art of Book Covers

During childhood, I fell in love with Shel Silverstein’s books. Even at a young age, I was conscious of how appealing his book covers were. Most of them taunted the reader’s curiosity with stark, playful black and white artwork involving kooky, wiggly drawn children and other magical meanderings. Even the font styles had a consistency throughout his book catalog.

As an adult and full-time writer, I understand how these imageries on the Silverstein book covers set expectations for what was inside. His covers displayed consistent author branding designed in intriguing, creative ways. And if font styles communicate tone, his suggested a mix of zany and comedic.

You may know that book covers are key to snagging a potential book buyer’s attention. Up to 75% of consumers decide on purchasing a book based on its cover design. And we’re talking the artwork has a mere 4-5 seconds to garner attention, so you can imagine how important it is if you’re a book creator.

Professional illustrations on the outside usually indicate high-quality on the inside, but the opposite is true also. Amateur artwork can deter a book buyer. The psychological impact of several elements makes a profound difference. Things like the typography, colors used, the imagery, and even the hierarchy (like the areas your eye is directed to first) all determine whether the book will sell or not.

As a children’s author, I enjoy watching and following along the trends in current book cover art for the kids’ communities. My recent picture book, WORD UP! was illustrated by Joe Rocco. Joe’s a professional American illustrator and designer with 25 years of experience in editorial publishing, animation, and work centered on children’s publications. His experience and sophisticated sense of using high-impact vibrancy birthed an eye-catching and fun electric blue/neon yellow, quirky book cover for us.

Children’s book covers in general used to have a much more cluttered feel and look. Today the trends in books with children in the story line are toward authenticity – depicting diverse ethnicities and abilities, and a wider variety of emotions.

Books with environmental themes lean toward expansive landscape (or seascape) imagery. Many have a hand-drawn effect, artwork with a tone of warmth.

For humorous books and early readers, the trend is toward standout characters paired with character expression, and abstract images. And I love the kids’ books with interactive fonts – they’re integrated into the artwork itself.

Designers are using more white space to aid in visual clarity. Neon-pastel shades are taking over the traditional primary colors, and many book covers are created for phone scanning, allowing characters or story sequences to animate.

We’ve come a long way from when Shel Silverstein was writing and illustrating books, but regardless of technical advances, and creative evolution, if a book touches your heart, whether that’s because the cover invited you into the story or not – I hope you revel in the inspiration!

Words are the windows through which children view the world. Familiar, uncommon, short and sweet, long and quirky; words make all the difference.

In Word Up, discover how a word packs a punch and possesses the power to heal, hurt, help, and humble. Watch children learn how to choose words wisely, and to recognize that sometimes, the simplicity of kindness itself is expressed in gentle silence.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Words are mighty!
Words are strong!
We write them,
Speak them,
Sing our song.

I hope you learn new words today,
And think about the ones you say.

About the Author: Raven Howell is the author of over 25 picture books for children. She’s a writer for several children’s magazines. Raven contributes The Book Bug column for Story Monsters Ink magazine, is the Arts & Crafts Director of Kids Corner, and Publishing & Creative Director with Red Clover Reader. She is a contributing author for Reading is Fundamental SoCal and I Am a Promise Books, and a story book writer for world-wide educational programs.

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10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me by Jenna Jaxon – Guest Blog and Giveaway

April 28, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jenna Jaxon 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.

10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Me

I think this is such an interesting post topic because we all want to know more of the nitty gritty details about our favorite authors’ lives, right? Well, here are some of the little known facts about Jenna Jaxon. (Some of these things you may know if you’ve read my blog over the years, but several of them are things I don’t think I’ve EVER told my readers.)

1. When I was a senior in high school, I was on the fencing team (even then I loved the romance of swordplay). The coach was technically not an associate of the school (he taught fencing at the local YMCA and all of us took lessons from him there) and so rather innocently I flirted with him and right after my 18th birthday, started dating him. He was ten years older than me (not a problem in my book as historical heroes are often much older than the heroine) and was very intelligent and good looking. We dated for about three or four months before he broke it off to date a woman closer to his age. I wasn’t really crushed, but it did sting a little.

2. This is related to number one above: after taking lessons from my fencing coach for almost a year, I qualified for and actually competed in the USA Fencing National Championship.

3. Also related to number one above: Because I was the only girl on our high school fencing team, I ended up as a contestant for Homecoming Queen that year! I’m still amazed when I look at that yearbook and I’m in the pictures with all the other contestants. (I was SO not that girl.)

4. The very first live theater production I ever saw was my high school’s production of Oklahoma! when I was about thirteen years old. A friend of mine was playing Will and I still remember the scene where Will was trying to get his $50 back so he could marry Ado Annie. Fast forward 10 years and I saw my first Broadway musical, Sweeney Todd with the original cast. It’s still my favorite musical.

5. The first time I went to Ireland, I kissed the Blarney Stone (which may have given me mono!).

6. The first story I ever wrote was a six-page masterpiece called Miss Priss Finds a Kitten. They say write what you know and I’d grown up with cats all my life. So, in the third grade, I wrote and illustrated my very own story about cats.

7. I cannot stand beer. Cannot drink it. It tastes like what I imagine swamp water tastes like. Even when I was going to England (a college class for 3 weeks in May my senior year) for the first time and the tour director made all of us try lager and lime (mine ended up half lager, half lime) I still couldn’t drink it.

8. I met my husband when I was hired to do a show with him for the Army. We fell in love working on the production and playing Space Invaders together.

9. In 2015 the university I work for did a production of Little Shop of Horrors, one of my favorite musicals. I wanted to be in the chorus, just so I could sing the song “Skid Row” but my boss, who was the director, told me I could be on Skid Row as a bag lady ONLY if I also played the role of the first customer at the flower shop—a character who had lines. I am not an actor, I don’t like being on stage at all usually, but I wanted to be in the show so badly I said yes. I had fun with it—but I was terrified every night when I went on and had to say lines.

10. This is one that actually a lot of people know: I began writing romance because I became gluten-intolerant. And when I went on a gluten-free diet, it gave me so much creative energy I had to put it somewhere. I read Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Everlasting about that time and when I finished the book I said to myself, “I could write something like this,” and sat down and started writing my first book. And the rest, as they say, is history.

A scandalous mistake…or a wicked way to happiness?

Hoping to compromise herself, Lady Amantha Easton sneaks into the bedroom of her would-be suitor only to find a total stranger there—a totally handsome, charming stranger to be sure—but not at all the man she plans to marry. She leaves his room with her reputation intact—barely—only to fall victim to the gentleman’s charms in a public place. Now Amantha must face the fate she’s tried to avoid—marriage to a man who will never love her.

All Rafael Beauregard wanted was a warm bed and a good night’s sleep…but what he got was an unexpected romp with a beautiful vixen and a fiery kiss that left him wanting more. An excellent trade, except now he’s got to marry Lady Amantha, one of the most willful women he’s ever met. So Rafe’s challenge is to persuade her that marriage to him might be the best thing for them both…once he convinces himself.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“What is it, love? What’s wrong?”

“Father,” was all she could get out at first.

“You went to see him? He didn’t agree to grant your request?”

Amantha nodded and sniffed. Rafe reached into his breast pocket and produced a handkerchief. “He g…gave me a choice. Marry you or…or be put in p…prison.”

“Prison!” What kind of monster would threaten his own daughter with prison? And what kind of power did such a man wield? “He’s going to send you to Newgate? On whose authority?”

“His own authority.” She wiped her eyes and nose then clenched the square of linen in her fist. “And not Newgate. Not a real prison. But he will turn his northernmost property, Woolston Lodge in Northumberland, into a prison. He will send me there tomorrow, with no clothes and no friends, just a jailor and armed guards for the rest of my life.” Tears threatened again and Rafe pulled her head back to his shoulder.

“Shh, love. Don’t think about it. We won’t let that happen, will we?” She shook her head and nestled deeper. The small movement of acquiescence shot straight to his heart. He could fix this. “I am afraid, though, that I’m going to have to change my mind about our marriage.”

She sat bolt upright, terror widening her eyes as she stared at him.

Damn. He hadn’t meant to frighten her even more. His own fault for drinking that second brandy.

“Shhh.” He ran a gentle thumb down her delicate jaw line, cupping her chin and pulling her face close enough that she had to look into his eyes. “Amantha, I just meant I now want to marry you more than anything in the world.”

About the Author: Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling author of historical romance, writing in a variety of time periods because she believes that passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all these elements into her own stories.

She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets–including Olive, an almost silent cat, Earl Grey, a very curious bunny, and a Shar-pei mix dog named Frenchie.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | BookBub | Amazon | Twitter

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

My Friends and I Spot Series by T.X. Troan – Spotlight and Giveaway

April 23, 2026 By 2 Comments

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

Perfect for curious minds and sharp eyes, these interactive puzzle picture books encourage creativity and exploration while fostering a love of reading. Can you and your friends find everything that lurks in these places? Get ready for unforgettable adventures filled with magic, mystery, and a whole lot of fun!

Fantasyland (Book 1) Blurb

Join Evan and Page on an enchanting adventure in My Friends and I Spot Fantasyland: A Puzzle Picture Book! From creepy spiders lurking in shadowy corners to shimmering butterflies fluttering through sunlit glades, this captivating search-and-find journey invites readers of all ages to step into a vibrant world brimming with delightful surprises and mysterious wonders.

Perfect for curious minds and sharp eyes, this interactive puzzle picture book encourages creativity and exploration while fostering a love of reading. Can you and your friends find everything that lurks in this place? Get ready for an unforgettable adventure filled with magic, mystery, and a whole lot of fun!

Time Travel (Book 2) Blurb

Embark on an exhilarating journey with Jason and Mary as they navigate through unexpected challenges and captivating experiences.

This children’s book combines fun dialogues with engaging search-and-find illustrations to offer young readers an exciting exploration of imagination and adventure throughout various periods and places in time. Each page will not only encourage reading but also develop observation skills and spark curiosity about history, science fiction, and the ocean’s mysteries.

About the Author Thuan Doan is an award-winning author of the Sophia Freeman series. He conceived his first middle-grade fantasy novel, Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain, during a trip to Gabriola Island, British Columbia in the summer of 2013. Then he took his work and settled in a small town of Enderby, where it’s peaceful and quiet.

Thuan is writing under a pen name of T.X. Troan. “X” stands for Xu, his grandmother’s name who passed away. And “Troan” is a combination of his parents’ names.

“No matter how this turns out, I want my family to be a part of this wonderful journey.”

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The Process of Producing a Children’s Book by Eva Legre Zigre – Guest Blog and Giveaway

April 22, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Legre Zigre 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.

THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING A CHILDREN’S BOOK

As a new author, I am amazed by all that goes into producing a children’s book.

Upon my first visit to the city of Temecula, California, I was struck by the beauty and lushness of the parks and wineries, for which Temecula is known. The longer I stayed, the more I became aware of the community. The people were very friendly, and a simple conversation while waiting in line or sitting on a bench at a park gave me insight into the pride and love people had for this small inland community.

I was easily accepted as a transplant and encouraged to explore more of the city, and so I did. There were so many places, hidden and out in the open, that took my breath away or had me vowing to visit, my list of places to go to in Temecula became extensive.

I share all of this because it is the inspiration behind my new children’s board book, ‘RJ’s Adventures in Temecula’. Well, that and my son, whom the main character is inspired by.

Of the many places I visited in Temecula, only thirteen attractions are included in RJ’s Adventures in Temecula, because I didn’t want the book to intimidate young readers, and since it is a board book, the pages can get expensive. If I had unlimited funds, though, my book would have featured at least 30 different places in Temecula.
Since I wanted to keep the book about the community, I hired two great artists from Temecula; first being my photographer, who took hundreds of pictures as we searched for the perfect shot of the sites I had in mind. Second was my illustrator, who drew from the photographs I chose, adding RJ’s character as she went.

The entire time I was in contact with the various attractions to ensure that permission was granted, images were approved, and contracts were signed, allowing me to sell and promote my books using their likeness.

I was blessed to receive some advice from city officials, business owners and a few children’s book readers and writers, which opened doors with a printer, libraries, and bookstores. This kept me encouraged because, though I was able to share this in a short article, the process took close to a year.

Still, I kept reminding myself why I started this journey and what I wanted to see come out of it, and that gave me the encouragement to keep moving forward. Now I have a beautiful book that my children and others in my community can read for years to come.

If you’ve had a chance to visit Temecula, California, you’d be one of many who have had the privilege of watching hot air balloons take flight during sunrise and descend at sunset, walking the grounds of one of the most beautiful rose gardens in California, and visiting a rare and noble tree that looks to have stood the test of time. You will find some of the most popular and heavily visited sights in Temecula, beautifully illustrated and captured in child-like conversation.

RJ’s Adventures in Temecula is a vibrantly colored board book featuring thirteen of Temecula’s most visited attractions. The illustrations jump off the page, offering children fun images to look at while learning more about Temecula, California’s historic sights.

Beware. Your child may ask to visit some of the attractions presented in this 20-page book, such as Professor Pennypickles’ Workshop or the Sugarplum Zoo and Chocolates. Come visit for a week, but first, do your research and take this adventure around Temecula, California with RJ.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Hello Friend!

My name is RJ.

Welcome to the beautiful and sunny city of Temecula. Today is a great day to show you around!

Are you ready for an exciting tour?

About the Author: Eva Legre-Zigre is a children’s book author passionate about writing stories that reflect the beauty of communities. Inspired by years of experience as a nanny and a volunteer teacher, she crafts engaging stories that encourage creativity and wonderment in children. Her passion for community, culture, and finding beautiful differences in various states throughout the country gives her the desire to share those unique and exciting places with children.

A resident of Temecula, California, known for its wineries, Mrs. Legre-Zigre was inspired by her own child to find and highlight family- and child-friendly attractions in her city. Some of these attractions are featured in her debut book.

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:IGY6 by Dean Sali – Spotlight and Giveaway

April 20, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Dean Sali 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.

;IGY6 is more than just a self-help guide, it is a beacon of hope for those in the military and beyond. Whether you are a soldier, a veteran, or someone who supports them, this book provides invaluable insights and practical advice that can make a real difference. Readers will find solace in the shared experiences and learn how to navigate the complexities of PTSD towards a better, more fulfilling life.

Enjoy an Excerpt

I’ve wanted to write ;IGY6 for some time now. I have complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and I’m lactose intolerant. It’s a heavy list, and my doctor, a gastrointestinal specialist, calls me his medical miracle because he’s never had a patient with this combination. Lucky me.

PTSD can be extremely difficult, but doing nothing about it is a big mistake. If sharing my experience helps you to take a step I waited too long to take, then it’s worth every word.

“;IGY6” stands for “I got your six,” military slang for “I’ve got your back.” But there’s much more to it than that. The “6” is your six o’clock position—your back— and “got your six” is a pledge to be there for each other. The semicolon at the front is a symbol from the suicide prevention initiative called Project Semicolon, and it represents a pause instead of an ending, a reminder that your story isn’t over.1 When paired with IGY6, the semicolon sends a powerful message to those living with PTSD: “You’re not alone, and we’ve got your six.” A related movement, the ;IGY6 Foundation, highlights the sobering statistic that an average of twenty-two US veterans die by suicide every day.2 Imagine a world where we all watched out for each other. That’s the promise at the heart of this book.

1 Project Semicolon. “Our Mission.” Project Semicolon

About the Author:Dean Sali is a resolute advocate for personal growth, resilience, and inner healing. With a background in the military and law enforcement, he has faced intense challenges that tested his strength, confidence, and sense of purpose. He served on a UN tour in Rwanda in 1994, an experience that deeply shaped his perspective on trauma, recovery, and the human spirit. His journey with PTSD has given him firsthand insight into the struggles of rebuilding from within, and he has spent years exploring methods of healing, including chi exercises, mindfulness, and reconnecting with nature.

Beyond his professional experiences, Dean is a devoted father of four, with a granddaughter on the way. His writing is deeply personal, offering practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement to those seeking clarity, confidence, and peace. Through his work, Dean hopes to inspire others to embrace their own healing journey and discover the strength they already carry inside.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Non-Fiction Tagged With: , , ,

House of Cards: Surviving Munchausen by Proxy and a Mother’s Web of Lies by Phillippa Mann – Spotlight and Giveaway

April 13, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Phillippa Mann 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.

A raw and unflinching memoir of survival, truth, and transformation. Phillippa Mann takes readers deep into the fractured world of a girl who grew up living with a monster–a world where love and fear shared the same face, and silence became a means of survival.

Through heartbreak, chaos, and betrayal, Phillippa’s voice emerges from the shadows as she begins to piece together a life that was never hers to begin with. Her journey is one of courage and reckoning, of facing the unbearable truths that shaped her, and finding strength in vulnerability.

More than a story of pain, House of Cards is a testament to the power of healing and self-forgiveness. It reminds every survivor that bringing hidden truths into the light is not the end – it’s the beginning of reclaiming your story and rebuilding the foundation of who you were always meant to be.

Enjoy an Excerpt

As I embarked on this new chapter of motherhood and marriage, I began to re-evaluate some of the stories I had been told since childhood. How could my dad have been in bed with another man if he was married to my mother? And if he was gay, why would he marry my stepmom and then later adopt my little brother, further building a life with her? It didn’t even make sense in my mind.

He often reminisced about our family camping trips and his visits to us. I recall wondering whether his twin brother had merely shared those memories with him and why he had not wanted to see us when we were little, as it was obviously my dad I was visiting as I got older. Eventually, I mustered the courage to initiate a conversation with him. When my baby was approximately six months old, I wrote a letter to my dad expressing my need to ask him some questions and inquiring if he would be willing to visit for a discussion. He promptly called me upon receiving the letter to arrange a time for his visit.

I had prepared a list of inquiries, including whether he had been unfaithful to my mother, if she had discovered him in bed with another person (I lacked the courage to specify it was with a man), and whether he had a twin brother named Christian. He firmly denied all these allegations. Part of me wishes I had probed further or engaged in a more profound dialogue regarding my concerns; there was so much to unravel from those topics, yet at that moment, I felt content with the answers I received. For a while, I did not dwell on it too much, as I was preoccupied with my new baby.

I returned to work a few afternoons each week, and my nan would take the bus to my home to care for my son. I recall one day returning home to find his diaper on backward, and I thought about how challenging it must have been for her to fasten the sticky tabs at the back. My nan was an incredibly kind woman, and my son was undoubtedly the apple of her eye; she clearly cherished her time spent with him, and I wish she had been around longer to watch all my children grow up.

About the Author Phillippa Mann is a Canadian author who is passionate about helping others find healing through shared experience.

Her memoir, House of Cards:
Surviving Munchausen by Proxy and a Mother’s Web of Lies, explores the emotional journey of growing up in chaos and reclaiming strength through forgiveness and self-discovery.

Family is at the heart of everything Phillippa does. She and her husband share a love of creating together, and their children and grandchildren inspire her every day to live with gratitude, laughter, and purpose. When she’s not writing, Phillippa can be found playing with her Corgi, Glenn, crafting handmade gifts, baking cookies and cupcakes for her family business, Sweet Lavender Designs, which she started in memory of a dear friend.

She is currently working on her next creative project, a heartwarming children’s book titled Hop Hop and the Great Garden Adventure, inspired by the wonder and imagination of her grandchildren.

Website | Instagram

Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Non-Fiction Tagged With: , , ,

Practical Tips on How to Write like an Austenesque Darling by Morgan Blake – Guest Post and Giveaway

April 9, 2026 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Morgan Blake will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

*****
Hello readers of Long and Short Reviews! I am happy to be here as part of my book tour for The Cherry Trees of Rosings, and I hope to leave you thoroughly entertained by the end of this guest post—much like my intentions with my book, which is a comic relief variation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice with a slightly spooky plotline.

So how do I intend to do the entertaining?

By giving you some practical tips on how to write like an Austenesque darling—who is completely, entirely, and quite ardently obsessed with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy!

Step 1: You will need a good cup of tea.

Preferably one that has been made the *proper way* by boiling water in a kettle, over fire. No microwave shenanigans, thank you!

Then—it is important to note that this is still Step 1—stand by a window and gaze longingly at the trees, bees, and pastoral greens outside.

All while sipping from said cup of *properly prepared* steaming tea.

In case one finds oneself stuck in concrete quagmire with not a single tree in sight, this is the point where the tea drinking and longingly gazing routine must be turned towards one’s computer so one can vicariously watch a tomato gardener (with a side hustle of growing giant pumpkins) wax eloquently about their little patch of backyard greens on Youtube.

How else is one supposed to channel their inner 19th century British, sharp-sighted and quick-witted, satirical Austen?

After all, too much grime and not enough greens has been known to cause one’s writing spirit to enter a Dickensian realm. Or find itself in the gothic archways and airs of faraway moorlands and meadow deeps, à la Emily Brontë.

No, no! One must go pastoral to get the austenesque spirit just right.

And bonus points if said pastoral quest becomes a momentary escape from squabbling neighbors or family members who just cannot keep their opinions to themselves if their life depended on it!

Step 2: (Of course) deals with the above-mentioned squabbling neighbors and family members.

…because one cannot write Austenesque romance if there isn’t a healthy dose of ridiculousness occurring everywhere at once!

After all, to have incisive wit, one must first be in the presence of people who demand your wit to rise to the occasion. Perhaps with perfect politeness, much like the British. It’s the dealer’s choice.

Step 3: Sit down and write a basic plot outline.

Well, the procrastination had to end at some point and matters taken into hand.

And the best way to do so is to channel your favourite Austen novel, without forgetting that you are to bring something new to the table, for the delight and fascination of an ardently engaged Austenesque community all over the world.

Fear not though!

Austenesque folks will gladly attend a Regency ball, as they would show up for a lecture on the parallels between Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and Mr. Knightley in Emma, as they would rewatch their favourite Austen BBC series for the thirty thousandth time, or visit Bath or Chatsworth House or Lyme Regis, like they would read genre-bending stories about their favourite Austen characters from new authors, both historical and modern alike.
The only requirement is that one retains the Austenesque spirit while one ventures into realms heretofore unexplored, or re-explored.

…and that one do so decisively, wittily, intriguingly, and intelligently!

Step 4: Read something Austenesque.

Because of course I have to shamelessly plug my book The Cherry Trees of Rosings in my book tour!

How else is one to make a living?

To be clear though, the slightly spooky plot of The Cherry Trees of Rosings is my version of bringing something new to the table. (As mentioned in Step 3.) All while mashing my favourite trope of ghost x human romance to Austen’s Pride and Prejudice… where the ghostly Mr. Darcy is not a ghost at all, but simply stuck between life and death in an unfortunate string of events.

I mean, can it get hotter than a handsome Mr. Darcy popping out of the blue in the most inconvenient of places right beside Lizzy?

Or any more slow burn than Lizzy finally developing feelings for the man, but neither being able to touch the other, or even hold hands?

All of which occurs while Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins keep up their endless shenanigans and petty villainy. (Oof!)

The Cherry Trees of Rosings is a novella-length quick read for all who love themselves an Austenesque good time, complete with a happy ending and an intense kiss.

You can grab yourself a copy for your home library, or borrow to read The Cherry Trees of Rosings on Kindle Unlimited.

A Pride & Prejudice variation with a slightly paranormal, mainly comic twist!

When Elizabeth Bennet visits her newly-married friend, Charlotte Collins, at the Hunsford parsonage, she has no idea that Mr. Darcy (he of the arrogant demeanor and perpetual cause of annoyance!) shall turn up to ruin her blissful, idyllic days.

Only, Mr. Darcy is not himself. And then Elizabeth stumbles straight through him one day… like one would an apparition! Goodness gracious!

“Mr. Darcy, I do not know what you mean, but I would appreciate it if you would desist from haunting me!”

“I apologize, Miss Bennet, for scaring you,” Mr. Darcy said, almost regretfully.

To solve her haunting problem, Elizabeth must team up with Mr. Darcy to find out what happened to him, and along the way discover that maybe he is not all that he seemed at first. And that maybe… she doesn’t hate him after all.

“You wish to write the letter now?” he asked as she moved past him with the candle.

“Well, to be honest,” she glanced at him. “I would prefer to sleep. But since you are here, I do not see why not.”

From the antics of Lady Catherine de Bourgh to the hilarity of Mr. Collins’ advice on staying fit, The Cherry Trees of Rosings shall make you laugh and cry in equal measure. And wonder: Will our favourite couple find their happy ever after?

Spoiler: Yes, they will!

This Pride and Prejudice variation features our favourite Regency romance couple from Jane Austen’s original classic in a somewhat spooky setup. ✨ But fear not, dear readers! ✨ This story is not scary in the least. Prepare for a chuckle fest and abundant cups of tea!

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Mr. Collins, you know how I despise green beans!”

Lady Catherine’s brows drew down with annoyance as she looked over the tiny list Charlotte had handed her a few moments ago. It was about the gift baskets the Collinses were tasked with distributing for Easter; one of the yearly tasks of the parsonage.

“You shall not present that vegetable to the congregation,” she emphasized, mouth twisting into a moue of distaste.

Mr. Collins nodded his head vigorously. “Indeed, your ladyship.”

“Potatoes will do very well. Very well, indeed…”
More head nodding from her cousin.

Elizabeth held back a chuckle as the spectacle unfolded before her.

She had been somewhat right in her estimation of Lady Catherine from Mr. Collins’ extensive effusions. But once the introductions were made, she was pleasantly surprised to find that the great lady was even more ridiculous than she had imagined. Her father would be dearly entertained by such human folly once she wrote to him.

“Potatoes are vegetables for the hard-working,” Lady Catherine continued sagely. Then she picked up a cream tart from the platter before her and bit into it.

“You are quite right, your ladyship, as always,” Mr. Collins said. “I merely wished to place the beans in the baskets for the sick—”

“You should speak on the virtues of potatoes in your sermon, Mr. Collins,” the lady said, dusting off the crumbs from her fingers before fixing a glare on her parson.

About the Author Morgan Blake writes regency romance novels and Austenesque variations of Pride & Prejudice that are sometimes steamy, sometimes not. Satire is the name of the game and happy ever afters the goal!

Morgan loves exploring themes of personal identity, inner strength, social discourse and hope alongside enduring love in her stories. She also believes that strong heroes and heroines are not enough to make a tale worth telling. They need a supporting cast of good and not-so-good characters that add more punch and vibrancy… and some dramatic ridiculousness!

Morgan is a cat friend, tropical girl who prefers winter clothes, perennial fantasy/historical fiction nerd, and a night owl.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
Buy the book at your favorite online venue.

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

A Real Collusion by Stu Strumwasser – Spotlight and Giveaway

April 6, 2026 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stu Strumwasser 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.

A Real Collusion is about the secret conspiracy between the Republican and Democratic parties to control the US government through an illegal duopoly.

From the author of the bestselling novel, The Organ Broker, (hailed by Lee Child, New York Times # 1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package”) comes, A Real Collusion, a stunning political thriller and expose.

A Real Collusion is a David Vs. Goliath(s) story about a man who accidentally becomes the leader of an independent political movement that nearly takes down the two-party system in America, while exposing a conspiracy that affects the results of the 2016 election. It explores universal and deeply human themes of loss, and the tension between justice and power. In the opening sentence the narrator points out that, “Ordinary people often do extraordinary things.” The characters in the book do, and the action is driven by the fantastic events of a unique political satire. It is also the heartfelt story of regular people struggling with lost love, alienation and nearly universal disaffection who find strength in enduring loyalty and friendship

This is the story of John Campbell (a regular guy from the lower east side of Manhattan) as recounted by his friend Skip Winters. Skip becomes John’s campaign manager and later, a congressman in his own right. He narrates the stunning-but-plausible story of how John Campbell and The American Coalition race to popularity, raising over a hundred million dollars from grassroots contributors—and become a threat to the political duopoly of the Democratic and Republican parties. The book sprinkles in references to real events from recent history, and real political leaders including Trump, John McCain, and more. This imbues the novel with a sense of realism, albeit one of an alternate reality. Skip discovers a deep-seated conspiracy within our political system whose leaders orchestrate a murder, destroy his friend and tip the scales of the election. The novel turns out to be Skip’s exposé of the secret collaboration between the two major political parties in our country—a cooperation to protect the duopoly that is, in part, real.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Fenterman and I are forever bound by the one and only direct interaction that he ever had with John Campbell. The tragic events of that day ruined all of our lives, and I will never forgive him for it. Or his handlers.

I have spoken to Father MacCauly about this. I am not a particularly religious man and yet I have prayed—I have prayed less for John, or myself, or our country, than I have prayed, truthfully, for the strength to stop despising Steven Fenterman, to let go of the hate that consumes me, even now, years later. I cannot. Nonetheless, beginning around a year after it happened, every few months I got in the car and somberly headed up the Taconic Parkway toward Ossining. I made those drives alone, leaving the radio off, preferring to listen only to the rasp of the wind upon the windshield and frame of my car. I drove, deliberately and obediently, to Ossining Correctional Facility, otherwise known as Sing Sing. I went to visit the man who was the object of more of my hatred than any other person or thing I have ever been repulsed or angered by. I am probably the only visitor who saw Steven Fenterman who didn’t fall into three distinct categories: media, Secret Service, or women obsessed with murderers on death row.

The first time I made the long, quiet drive to Sing Sing, past the suburbs and through the tree-lined stretches of highway in Westchester and Putnam counties, I was shocked that Fenterman agreed to see me. It was the summer of 2016. Trump had clinched the Republican nomination in May and Hillary clinched for the Democrats a few weeks later. I was running for Congress at the time but was still largely unrecognized out in public. I fully expected to be denied access, turned away at the rifle-guarded gates, pointed back to the city after having accomplished nothing more than sending a signal. Still, I wanted him to know that I had been there. I wanted that vermin to think about it—alone in the worn bed of his barren cell—that I had driven an hour along that tree-lined stretch. I wanted him to know that I was thinking about him, that I remained committed. I wanted him to be reminded, every god-damned day, that someone hadn’t forgotten, and to be afforded constant reminders of the fate that he was slipping forward toward there on death row. He should know that I want to confront him, I had thought. He should never stop thinking about all of it, not for one second, never be allowed the respite of a lapse in those memories—just like me. However, the irascible bastard admitted me.

About the Author: Stu Strumwasser is a modern-day muckraker who writes literary novels that address important sociopolitical issues. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) and shortlisted as one of five finalists for the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing. Strumwasser was also the primary songwriter and drummer for the indie rock band Channeling Owen. He is a longtime investment professional (investing in sustainable technology that improves the manner in which we make food) and hails from Brooklyn NY. His new novel, A Real Collusion, is both an exposé and analysis of broken government and a fictional David Vs. Goliath(s) story of the man who almost took down the two-party system in America.

Read his recent op-ed piece in Fortune Magazine.

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | TikTok

To read the first two chapters of the novel.

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Google Play Books, Apple Books, or Payhip.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Non-Fiction Tagged With: , , ,
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