The Sovereign Self by Stacey Dutton – Spotlight

December 5, 2025 By Leave a Comment

The sixties often bring a renewed focus on what feels authentic, grounded, and internally aligned. The Sovereign Self by Stacey Dutton explores these themes through the lens of emotional mastery and personal sovereignty.The Sovereign Self invites readers into a deeper understanding of the inner shifts that accompany the sixties. Stacey Dutton reflects on how emotional patterns formed in earlier decades begin to surface, revealing opportunities for clarity and self-governance. She examines topics such as identity evolution, emotional curation, shifting relationships, boundaries, joy, the body’s changes, and the practice of stillness. The book offers guidance on transitioning from reaction to response, choosing presence over performance, and cultivating a grounded relationship with oneself. Dutton presents this decade as a period of refinement and self-return, where women can embrace emotional sovereignty with intention and depth.

You are not done. You are still becoming. Let this manifesto be your guide to a luminous, inner-driven life—filled with joy, purpose, self-love, and emotional mastery.

By the time we reach our sixties, we’ve lived a multitude of lives—witnessing history, heartbreak, and countless personal revolutions. We’ve been daughters, lovers, mothers, professionals, creators, and caretakers. Now, standing at the threshold of a new era, we are free from old expectations and ready to claim a life that is truly our own. Yet change can bring uncertainty.

If you’ve wondered what lies ahead or how to thrive in the years to come, Stacey Dutton’s The Sovereign Self is your essential companion. Discover how the mental, emotional, and physical shifts associated with aging can become sources of power, clarity, and freedom. With practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement, this book will help you.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

THE MIND AS AN EMOTIONAL ATHLETE

Much like physical strength, emotional mastery requires active engagement. A woman does not wake up one morning emotionally agile, just as she does not develop high muscle tone overnight. Emotional engagement is a practice, like going to Pilates class or lifting weights a few times a week. And yet, many women enter their sixties believing that emotional maturity should be automatic, a natural byproduct of their age.

This is a fallacy. A woman who neglects her emotional strength and agility will find herself bound by old wounds, reactive tendencies, and outdated narratives.

But a woman who deliberately trains her mind—who practices stillness, discernment, and inquiry—will discover a different reality. She will no longer be pulled into every emotional undercurrent. She will not be at the mercy of her past. She will move through her days with a kind of cultivated stillness, unshaken by the temporary and attuned to what truly matters.

This is the foundation of everything that follows in her life.

About the Author: Stacey Dutton is an entertainment executive, creative producer, and emotional mastery advocate with more than three decades of experience across the music, television, and film industries. She was the original on-air host of TLC/Discovery’s Clean Sweep and later the casting director for the Emmy Award–winning Clean House on The Style Network. Through her developing platform, LiveSovereignSelf.com, she guides women in their third act toward clarity, boundaries, and emotional sovereignty. Stacey lives in New Preston, Connecticut, with her husband and their rescue dog.

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A Day with Me Behind the Scenes by M. Jayne LaDow – Guest Post and Giveaway

December 5, 2025 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Jayne LaDow 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.

A Day with Me Behind the Scenes

People imagine writers living glamorous lives—typing away in cozy coffee shops, inspiration flowing like wine, manuscripts practically writing themselves.

My reality? I write in the cracks.

A sentence here while the coffee brews. A paragraph there between loading the dishwasher and figuring out what’s for dinner. I used to write sitting next to my mother-in-law during our afternoon TV sessions in her final years. Now I write from my recliner, usually with all three cats staging a hostile takeover of my workspace.

Gino is the boss. He doesn’t sit on the laptop—he just stares at me with those unblinking cat eyes until I bend to his will, which usually involves stopping mid-sentence to provide chin scratches. Jonesy is the cuddler, determined to wedge his entire fluffy body between the keyboard and my arms, oozing over the keys like some kind of purring lava flow. And George? George wants to play. Constantly. He brings me toys to throw, strings to dangle, and the unwavering belief that right now is the perfect time for fetch, regardless of whether I’m mid-sex-scene or trying to figure out whodunit.

On a good day, I knock out several thousand words. On a bad day, I do literally everything except write—reorganize my files, scroll social media (which takes up the most time, let’s be honest), convince myself I need to research 1997 fashion trends for the fourth time, and maybe vacuum.

I get ideas constantly—at the food bank while sorting cans, making dinner, in the shower. I’ve learned to write them down or record voice memos wherever I am. Yes, people look at me weird when I start muttering plot points in the cereal aisle. Eh.

My bestie and I book-talk daily. Right now we’re reading Fake as Puck by Sarah Smith (very spicy, highly recommend). Soon it’ll be Christmas romances and cozy mysteries, because we’re seasonal like that. She keeps me sane and reminds me why I love reading and writing in the first place.

I manage my own social media and online presence—not very well, but I try. I post five days a week even though I’m pretty sure no one’s listening. I volunteer with Creative Footnotes, help out at the food bank, and somehow juggle it all.

And my family? They think it’s hilarious. Every time I mention a new book, one of them asks if this one has Fabio on the cover or if there are sweaty pirates involved.

The answer is no. But honestly? There probably should be.

She set out to solve a mystery, not to fall in love.

In 1997 Virginia Beach, some truths refuse to stay buried…

Dani Jones is used to lesson plans and late-night grading, not murder. But when a student’s uncle confronts her after class and then disappears, her world tilts. Days later, during a Chesapeake Bay cleanup, she is there when his body is found, hidden in the marsh. As the last person to see him alive, Dani is suddenly at the center of a mystery that rattles the quiet coastal town.

Enter Gavin Larkhurst, a sharp-tongued radio newsman with a protective streak. His feelings for Dani make him desperate to keep her safe—even when she refuses to stop digging. But trust is fragile when danger lurks around every corner, and someone will do anything to keep the past buried.

Equal parts mystery and romance, A Pilgrimage of Whispered Truths is a spicy whodunit about uncovering secrets, risking your heart, and the lessons that change everything.

Enjoy an Excerpt

The ocean had always been her refuge. Even now, with storm clouds bruising the horizon, Dani walked the shoreline barefoot, the wind tugging strands of hair across her face. The water hissed over the sand like something whispering secrets it could no longer keep.

She tried to quiet her mind—to let the rhythm of the waves wash away the questions still circling like gulls. But the past few days wouldn’t let her rest: Carl Rendell’s fury, the burned church, Brian’s haunted silence. Each memory rose and fell with the tide, reshaping itself into something sharper.

A flash of color caught her eye—a shard of glass half-buried near her foot. She bent to pick it up. Red, warped by heat. A fragment of stained glass.

Her breath hitched.

She turned it over in her palm, the edges cutting faintly into her skin, and for a moment she imagined the flames reflected there, licking at the sky. The wind howled, cold and certain.

Whatever she’d stumbled into, it wasn’t finished with her yet.

She slipped the shard into her pocket, the salt wind stinging her eyes, and kept walking toward the dark line of the pier, where the sea met the secrets she could no longer ignore.

About the Author:

M. Jayne LaDow is a playwright and author who leapt into writing romance after thirty-three years wrangling middle school English students. Her rom-coms and spicy cozy mysteries are inspired by her years in education, where she was regularly pied in the face, sang classroom karaoke, and dressed up like characters from novels.

She’s the author of The Marchfield Series — One Night Stands and Lesson Plans, Learning Goals and Dancing Poles, Pop Quizzes and Stolen Kisses, Tardy Pass, No Questions Asked, and the upcoming Budget Cuts and Midnight Lust — and the Tides of Truth Series, beginning with A Pilgrimage of Whispered Truth: A Steamy Cozy Mystery set in 1997 Virginia Beach.

She firmly believes every great story starts with a dash of trouble and a happily ever after.

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Cloud Hands by Nancy J. Nelson – Spotlight

December 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Cloud Hands: The Disclosure Files – Book One begins with the ordinary rhythms of a summer caretaker role before revealing a much larger network of concealed operations. Nancy J. Nelson’s story gradually expands from household routines to global implications involving secrecy, power, and change.

Version 1.0.0

Vicki Heywood intends to find stability after a difficult loss, taking on the task of supervising two teenagers for the season. However, small inconsistencies accumulate into signs of something deeper at play. She becomes aware of hidden medical advancements, unpublicized encounters, and technologies protected by the Partnership—an organization with influence surpassing traditional governance. As the teens bring their own observations forward, the three of them begin uncovering links that place them at risk. What unfolds is a struggle shaped not only by political forces but also by questions about truth, potential, and humanity’s capacity for transformation. Through these events, the narrative highlights how awakening often begins through ordinary circumstances that lead to extraordinary revelations.

Enjoy an Excerpt

There was a little cluster of forget-me-nots arranged in a vase on the table in front of Vicki. They had been Beth’s favorite flowers. Small and vibrant, so cute they made you smile. Just like Beth herself.

The waitress put a cup of coffee and a pastry before her, and the same in front of the man seated across the table. Kurt Martinsson—she had called him Professor Martinsson when he taught her senior business seminar a decade earlier—added some sugar to his cup before he took a sip. Well-built, dark hair with a touch of gray at his temples. He had aged well. His bespoke sports jacket, manicured nails, and expensive haircut suggested he was also doing well.

“It was kind of you to look me up, Professor Martinsson, especially after all this time. To be honest, I haven’t been getting out much.” She hadn’t been getting out at all. What was the point? Their parents had died in a car accident several years back, and now Beth was gone too. Per her request, there had been a closed casket; the chemo had ravaged her body and taken all her hair. There was no amount of makeup, no wig good enough, that could have fixed that.

“I heard about your sister, Vicki; I’m so sorry. I understand you left your position at the Department of State to look after her.”

Beth had argued against that. “I’m young and strong; I’ll be able to beat this—there’s no reason for you to leave the job you worked so hard to get. Mom and Dad were so proud that you became a diplomat—they wouldn’t have wanted you to give that up.” She had been wrong about being able to beat the cancer, but right that their parents had been proud. They would have been just as proud to see their youngest open up her own flower shop in a prime location in downtown Los Angeles.

About the Author: Nancy J. Nelson is an author known for compelling narratives that explore mind-expanding questions about humanity’s next steps. Her most recent book, Cloud Hands: The Disclosure Files – Book One, has earned acclaim among readers drawn to thoughtful, visionary science fiction. Nelson comes into writing after 25 years as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State and now lives in Los Angeles. Learn more through her website.

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Handling Negative Criticism by Forest McMullin – Guest Blog and Giveaway

December 2, 2025 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Handling Negative Criticism

Handling negative criticism can be a difficult skill to learn. We put much of our identity and years of our lives into creating something that we believe deserves to be out in the world. When someone disparages it, we can easily and understandably bristle and shut down. We can dismiss their thoughts and assume the critic doesn’t realize what we were trying to do and just doesn’t “get it”. We can be defensive and argumentative. And we can end up not hearing things that might make our work better.

For years I was a college professor, teaching photography at an art school. My job required me to criticize my students’ work almost daily. As a result, I developed the skill of being critical while still being constructive and honest. This meant I always included something positive in my critique of student work, except when someone just didn’t try, in which case all bets were off. By leading with the positive, students tended to be much more receptive to the real analysis that followed.

It is quite possible to become so close to our work that we are blind to the ways it functions. We can’t be objective to its qualities and need an outside critic to help us pierce our subjective bubble.

The criticism we receive for our writing may not be as considered. In fact, it may be ignorant, misguided, or downright cruel. But– and this is a big but–we owe it to ourselves and our creative output to listen to it with as much humility as we can muster. We should be committed to making our work the best it can be and hearing and listening, really listening, to honest criticism is an essential component in that process.

I’m not suggesting that we take all advice and criticism to heart. Actually, I think the greatest challenge facing us as creative practitioners is to determine which input is useful and which we can and should ignore. Finding that balance is essential. But, it will lead us toward producing a product that pleases and excites both our readers and ourselves.

A photograph can tell the truth. It can also get you killed.

Ethan McGuire’s relentless pursuit of explosive stories has cost him his family, his integrity, and now–possibly–his life. While documenting the rise of white supremacist movements in Western New York, Ethan encounters a world of neo-Nazis, heavily armed survivalists, rogue FBI agents, and violent criminals, all with something to hide. But when a crew of ruthless bank robbers starts hunting him for photos he doesn’t even know he has, the stakes turn deadly.

As his enemies close in and his family becomes a target, Ethan must expose the truth–before it buries him. Shooting at Shadows is a relentless thriller and chilling cautionary tale, inspired by the author’s real-life experiences as a photojournalist. It exposes the darkness lurking beneath the surface of American extremism–and the cost of bringing it to light.

“One hopes that McMullin has further adventures planned for his unlikely hero.” –Kirkus Reviews

“…a provocative thriller exploring highly pertinent themes in American culture today…” –Fredrick Soukup, author of Blood up North

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Let’s do this.”

The driver pulled across the lot and into the space closest to the entrance. The other three men immediately got out and walked into the bank as they pulled down their ski masks. At the same time, they opened their coats and swung out submachine guns on shoulder straps.

BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!BAM!

The first man in the door sprayed the ceiling of the waiting area with bullets from his gun. Chunks of drop ceiling flew apart and fell to the floor as dust and smoke filled the air.

“THIS IS A HOLD UP. GET ON THE FLOOR. NOW!”

One of the men stood and looked out the front door. A second one raced to the desk of the manager, grabbed her by her hair and threw her to the floor as he screamed, “AND DON’T TOUCH THAT ALARM BUTTON OR YOU WILL DIE!”

The third man jumped on the tellers’ counter and pointed his gun, first at the tellers, then to the half door that led to the waiting area. “Away from your drawers, get out there and lie on the floor. Keep your hands where we can see them. No cell phones. No heroes. Everybody lives to see another Friday night fish fry.”

A blond woman was visibly very pregnant, eight months or so it appeared, and when she got to the front she struggled to get down. “HURRY UP!” the second man screamed.

“HEY,” the man on the counter yelled. “Get her a chair!”

“What the hell, man?”

“DO IT!”

“Damn,” he complained, but he went behind the manager’s desk, pulled the chair out, and pushed it to behind the woman. “SIT!” he yelled in her face.

The third man jumped down from the counter on the tellers’ side and let his gun hang again from its shoulder strap. He pulled a black plastic garbage bag from his coat pocket and calmly went from drawer to drawer pulling out stacks of fives, tens, twenties, fifties, hundreds, all bundled with paper wrappers. He took a moment flexing each before he threw them in the bag. The few that were stiff he left on the counter. He knew they would explode with purple dye as soon as they were a few yards outside the bank.

About the Author: Forest McMullin is a writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Earlier in his career, he was a photojournalist who specialized in photographing fringe social groups. Today he writes both long and short form fiction, Shooting at Shadows is his first novel.

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The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica del Valle – Spotlight

December 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment

Some stories begin with a small disruption—something subtle enough to shift a character onto a different path. The Book of Four Journeys by Veronica del Valle gathers four narratives rooted in that early moment of departure. Each tale highlights the instant when routine loosens, a boundary is crossed, and the world ahead grows wider than expected.

The Book of Four Journeys introduces four separate tales linked by the idea that every adventure changes the one who undertakes it. The stories center on Alfalfa Spooly, Mumik and Pimnik, Neboo McCloudy, and Lincoln Jax—each encountering a path that leads into uncertainty, risk, and discovery.

Alfalfa Spooly, a dedicated postman, takes on a mission that requires him to step across the threshold into the unknown, forcing him to face challenges far beyond the routines he knows. Siblings Mumik and Pimnik begin in different places but move through unfamiliar territories as they search for one another, uncovering new dangers and surprises along the way. Neboo McCloudy, a grumpy but determined creature, confronts his greatest fears as he seeks a secret treasure connected to a world beyond what he understands. And Lincoln Jax, an orphan girl driven by longing and curiosity, travels toward a hidden kingdom that may hold the answers she has been seeking.
Across these four stories, Veronica del Valle weaves adventures that blend peculiar characters, unpredictability, and the quiet courage required to face the unknown.

Read an Excerpt

Mumik Opipok opened his eyes and knew straight away what he had to do. It would take courage, loads of it. He would have to summon it all because he was not the most confident person. In fact, Mumik Opipok’s life had so far been dotted with doubtful moments: should I fish with my fishing rod or with my net? Should I walk to the lake or go on my sledge? Should I wear my white scarf or my checquered one? Should I make fish fillet, or seafood chowder for lunch? For each choice, Mumik debated with himself for hours, and when he finally made a choice, he would second-guess it one more time. Just in case.

But not that morning. Mumik was more confident than he had ever been about any decision. In fact, he had made up his mind as soon as he’d heard what the White Bright Sprite had told him. He knew what he had to do. There was no other way to look at it.

From that moment, his day was dedicated to getting everything ready for his journey. He borrowed an old sailboat courtesy of a former sailor-turned-igloo-maker who had a spare boat. It was rusty, but it floated and that was what mattered. The former sailor-turned-igloo-maker taught Mumik the essentials of sailing: the menaces one can find at sea, how to read charts, how to trim the mainsail and how to use a sextant to let the stars guide him to his destination.

When the sailing class was over, Mumik walked home. He lived in an igloo of bluish blocks of ice in the Northernmost Part of the World. “The top of the globe,” he liked to say. This was a place shrouded in eternal winter, which meant it was always very very cold, but also very very snowy, silvery white and spotless. His good friend, Koko, a wordy and cunning Arctic fox, was waiting by his front door.

“All ready?” Koko asked.

“Almost,” Mumik answered. “Where are Sesi and Sila?”

“Around the back of the igloo, sleeping like true grey wolves,” Koko said.

Mumik went inside and packed some items of clothing, his fishing rod, some cans of food and many bottles of water. He was aware he was not the best planner, but he figured he would be fine with the things he had selected. Before sunset, everything was ready. He would leave in the morning.

When the full moon lit the sky, Mumik went outside and woke up Sesi and Sila.

“Come on, my friends, time for one last ride.”

About the Author:
Veronica del Valle is the author of The Word-Keeper and The Book of Four Journeys. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University and has worked as an editor and writer for news organizations and magazines in both London and Argentina. She has also taught creative writing at Universidad de San Andrés. Now based in Buenos Aires, she continues to write stories shaped by her love of language, imagination, and adventure. Learn more at her website and on Instagram.

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If I’d never heard of me, would I read my book? by Austin S. Camacho – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 28, 2025 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Austin S. Camacho 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.

If I’d never heard of me, would I read my book?

Well, the first thing I look for in a novel is interesting characters. This book stars Skye Maddox who is no ordinary assassin—she is meticulous, principled, and views her work as both a profession and a challenge. Hired by Milo Williams, a grieving father whose son was murdered after a botched kidnapping, Skye is tasked with eliminating everyone responsible. Milo provides her a starting point, but the real mission is to climb the ladder of crime, one target at a time, until she reaches the true mastermind.

I also love books with a lot of action, and this one has it in spades. As she works her way through the criminal underworld of Washington, D.C., Skye’s assignments pit her against violent gang members, corrupt judges, and ruthless mob bosses. Each step forces her deeper into a deadly web of organized crime, Yakuza involvement, and betrayal. Along the way, she gains reluctant allies—like Brandon, a terrified mouthpiece for a mobster who wants out, and her therapist Jayla, the only person who knows her true name and glimpses her conflicted psyche.

Even in a high-action book, I like to meet complex characters like Skye. Her assignments are never just about pulling the trigger. Skye prides herself on precision, creativity, and leaving law enforcement baffled in her wake. But her professional detachment is tested as she confronts echoes of her traumatic past, the ghost of her first kill, and the dangerous possibility of trust and connection in a world where both are liabilities.

Suspense is another factor I look for in a new book. In this one, the tension escalates as Skye maneuvers between rival factions—Hetman’s criminal empire, Kobayashi’s Yakuza contingent, and law enforcement circling closer to the truth. Every move sharpens the line between hunter and hunted, and Skye must decide whether she’s fulfilling a contract, enacting justice, or simply proving herself the best at her deadly craft.

In the end, True Target is just what I look for when I want a fun read: a high-stakes thriller that blends relentless action with psychological depth, following an assassin bound by her own rules, haunted by her past, and driven toward a final reckoning where survival means outsmarting everyone—including herself.

Skye Maddox is a contract assassin driven by both personal demons and professional discipline. Hired by grieving father Milo Williams to hunt down the chain of men responsible for his son’s death, Skye takes on a mission that escalates into a war with Washington, D.C.’s most dangerous underworld figures led by a man known only as Hetman. As she climbs Milo’s ladder of revenge, Skye uncovers a web of corruption that links drug dealers, judges, mobsters, and even international crime syndicates.

The story escalates through brutal shootouts, betrayals, and psychological games, as Skye pushes deeper into Hetman’s empire. Each success makes her a bigger target. In the end, she must weigh the cost of finishing Milo’s revenge against the danger of becoming just another expendable weapon in someone else’s war.

Enjoy an Excerpt

When Jayla stood, Skye raised a palm to stop her. “Yes. Yes, all right. I just finished an assignment, but it was part of a larger contract so I’m feeling like both the situations you mentioned. I’m on the job, and I just took a player off the board.”

Jayla jotted in her notebook. She always collected the euphemisms Skye used for her profession. “So, tell me about this latest assignment. How do you feel about this player you’ve taken off the board? Was it, in your mind, a just action?”

“You always want to go there,” Skye said, shaking her head. “What did I tell you? The first rule of the assassin’s doctrine. The target has got to deserve it.”

“Oh, yes,” Jayla said with a half-smile. “Your job, while criminal, does have rules.”

“I misspoke earlier,” Skye said, sliding a slim dagger out of her boot. “It’s not a job. It’s a profession. All professions have their rules. For doctors, rule number one is ‘do no harm’, right? For an assassin, it’s that the target has got to deserve it.” Skye began to absently flip the dagger in the air, catching it by its tip each time. “In this case, this bastard kidnapped my client’s son. I don’t know how they got him. My client kept his family totally under the radar. But once he got the ransom demand, the client agreed to pay, and the ransom money was in transit but not fast enough to suit the kidnappers. They killed the boy, I think just to make a point. Just to be snotty. The action took place overseas and no way the police would ever have gotten close to the killer.”

Jayla nodded. “I think I understand. So, you were hired to…”

“Correct the balance,” Skye said, standing.

About the Author: Austin S. Camacho is the author of eight novels about Washington DC-based private eye Hannibal Jones, five in the Stark and O’Brien international adventure-thriller series, and the detective novel Beyond Blue. His short stories have been featured in several anthologies and he is featured in the Edgar nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey. He is a past president of the Maryland Writers Association, past Vice President of the Virginia Writers Club, and one of the creators of the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity literary conference.

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What Kind of Writer Am I? by J.A. Boulet – Guest Spot and Giveaway

November 26, 2025 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. J. A. Boulet 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.

What Kind of Writer Am I?

I am a character-driven underwriter. No, I don’t write insurance policies lol. What I mean by underwriting is that I write my first draft so fast that I typically fall short of my goal of 70-75K word count. My characters quickly over the story. It is like trying to write a story on a freight train with fast-moving scenes and movie-like characters, who are all hurtling me towards the end.

But do not worry, I am also a very methodical professional author. My first draft is never complete without a full story edit, in which I add chapters and tidbits of information to round out the story and slow it down just a tad. I always achieve my goal of 70k words at the very least, but never seem to write a novel of 100k words or more. It is just not in me lol.

I typically have at least 2-3 book ideas scheduled to be written. With the time allotted to me, that means I have to get cracking and finish that book!

The outcome is that readers will enjoy my fast-paced stories that are hard to put down. You can typically finish my books in 3-7 days, depending on your style of reading. Enjoy! Thanks for following along on my 1833 Brothers & Sisters book tour, and leave a review if you liked it!

A peek into the Underground Railroad and the tumultuous period before the American Civil War.

In 1833 Philadelphia, the northern states of America were changing, and not everyone was keen on altering the status quo. Black slaves were being freed, and new slaves were no longer allowed.

But the southern states didn’t always agree. Natives were being thrown out of their homes for living too close to gold, and escaped black slaves were being hunted down. Jesse Eastman controls the affluent Eastman Empire and frees a former slave, his half-sister Georgina. But some family members don’t like it.

When an estranged brother gets the idea to let a ruthless gang of property buyers initiate a takeover, all hell breaks loose.

1833 Brothers & Sisters will pull you into an old western-style family saga, filled with greed, marital love, family conflict, and smoking gun shootouts.

Enjoy an Excerpt

When Zee stepped back into the mansion, several angry shouts from the office raised the hairs on her neck. She padded quickly up the stairs and turned to look down the stairs behind her. Billy stormed out of the main floor office, flanked by Jesse, Xavier, and Samuel.

Jesse was waving a large document in his hand. His dress shoes clacked on the marble floors as he chased Billy from the house. “This is not a legal document!” Jesse shouted, his voice reverberating against the tiled ceiling. “You don’t even have signing authority for the Empire!”

Billy brazenly turned and shouted back. “I am an Eastman! I can sign a bill of sale for my family business.” His voice thundered across the entire mansion.

Jesse’s face turned red, and his breathing expanded and contracted in his chest as he tried to control his urge to punch his brother in the face. “Get out,” Jesse calmly stated.

“What?” Billy shouted.

“You heard me,” Jesse replied quietly. Xavier and Samuel positioned themselves to quickly intervene if the two brothers began physically fighting.

“You’re telling me to leave?” Billy’s finger flew in the air and pointed accusingly at Jesse.

“Yes, Billy,” Jesse glowered, the anger still evident in his voice. “You attempted to sell the company illegally for a fraction of what it is worth to a bunch of thugs from Texas.” Jesse ground his teeth and clenched his hands into balls of anger. “You are officially extradited from the Eastman family. Father did it to me, and I am now doing it to you.” Jesse took two large strides towards his brother.

Billy jumped to the side to avoid a direct hit, but that wasn’t what Jesse was doing.

About the Author:J. A. Boulet is a passionate historical fiction novelist weaving tales with strong romantic themes. Raised in a Hungarian refugee family, J. A. was born and grew up in Canada with strong moral convictions, which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. Her university studies ranged from photojournalism to accounting. After decades of working in accounting, J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually.

She lives in the Niagara region of Canada with her two sons, a crested gecko, a large Doberdor dog, and a small orchard of fruit trees.

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Watch Things Grow by Jay L O’Callaghan – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 19, 2025 By Leave a Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jay L O’Callaghan 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.

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Curious brothers Zack and Liam love healthy food—but they’ve never grown their own! With help from Mum and Dad, they learn how tiny seeds turn into fruits and vegetables. They discover the magic of plants, the power of patience, and why nature matters.

But will their plants really grow? And what surprises will the garden bring?

Watch Things Grow is a fun and engaging story that inspires young readers to connect with nature, get their hands dirty, and see the world in a new way. It’s the first book in an exciting series that explores the wonders of nature, creativity, and the joy of learning through hands-on adventures!

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When we plant seeds of Life, we can watch things grow, and we truly grow because we reap what we sow.

This is true for all life forms, whether big or small, short or tall.

When we plant trees, fruits and vegetables, we will grow in more ways than you may ever know.

About the Author:Jay O’Callaghan has been crafting stories through writing, directing, and producing for over 15 years. With a Digital Media and Film & Television Production diploma he co-founded 4word Thought Entertainment in 2007, bringing narratives to life through music videos, corporate films, advertisements, and short films.

A career highlight was designing the graphic interface for the Kids B Safe smartphone application and directing its promotional campaign. Away from the screen, Jay spent 15 years as a chef in the aged-care industry, mastering the art of nourishing body and soul.

A storyteller at heart, Jay has transitioned from film to full-time writing, developing a captivating children’s book series inspired by his own kids, and other books for young readers. His work blends imagination with rich storytelling, drawing from his deep interests in philosophy, history, and antiquities. Beyond writing, he is an illustrator, painter, and avid gardener, always exploring creativity in various forms. With a passion for promoting a healthy and balanced lifestyle, he brings thoughtfulness and depth to every project he undertakes.

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , ,

Verb Tenses by M.G. da Mota – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 18, 2025 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M G da Mota will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Thirty-four-year-old Raquel Whiteman has it all: beauty, a high-powered career, a very rich fiancée, a loving brother and a stepfather she adores. Life is good. Until her mother commits suicide. Clearing the paraphernalia of her mother’s life she finds old photographs and journals which plunge her into a search for the truth about her real father and early childhood, forsaking everything including her engagement to travel a path she is powerless to resist. Like a giant wave the past travels fast and comes crashing down on her, flooding her mind with incomprehensible fragmented memories and continuous questions – What? Why? Why?

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Ken’s journal, December 2017

In hindsight, I would have acted differently. Hindsight is a great thing. It’s a shame we don’t have it when we most need it. We would then be able to weigh our decisions and ensure the future wouldn’t be negatively impacted. As it stands, regret sets in and regret is a useless feeling, as it always arrives too late. I wonder why we even have it within the range of our human emotions. With her strict Catholic upbringing my darling Matilde would have said that God decided humans needed to feel regret to enable them to eventually redeem themselves of their sins. She would have added that we are not to question God’s reasons, as we don’t understand them. Sadly, I don’t believe in God. I believe in Matilde and my love for her. I believe in my children and the people I care about, which is probably the whole list of my beliefs though actually that is not strictly true. I believe in science and the scientific approach. It is logical and based on fact and evidence.

All these thoughts however are irrelevant. They are just ramblings of an old man with too much time on his hands.

I continue to worry about my children even though they are now middle-aged and can fend for themselves very well. But I suppose that once a dad, always a dad.

It is a warm day for December though grey and wet. I’m sitting in the conservatory, looking at nothing in particular. I’ve tried to read but cannot concentrate. I can hear the noise from the television. It is tuned into some sports channel. Not that I care about it; it’s all white noise to me but it’s a company of sorts. A fake company of course but I got used to leaving it on all day after Matilde died and, somehow, I feel the need to hear it in the background. I dozed earlier, listening to its distant, monotonous sound. I dreamed that Matilde appeared at the door and called me in for a cup of tea. Then I woke up and of course there was no-one. Just the endless white noise of the TV. I decided to write down some of my thoughts after Matilde was gone from me forever. It’s not for anyone to read but writing my thoughts makes me feel less alone in this house. In hindsight, as mentioned earlier, I’d have done things differently.

About the Author

M G da Mota is Margarida Mota-Bull’s pen name for fiction. She is a Portuguese-British novelist with a love for classical music, ballet and opera. Under her real name she also writes reviews of live concerts, CDs, DVDs and books for two classical music magazines on the web: MusicWeb International and Seen and Heard International. She is a member of the UK Society of Authors, speaks four languages and lives in Sussex with her husband. Her website, called flowingprose.com, contains photos and information.

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

SEAL Watch by Petie McCarty – Spotlight and Giveaway

November 18, 2025 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Petie McCarty 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.

Someone is watching Cory.
She can feel it in her bones . . . but why?

Navy SEAL Sean MacKay’s teammate is murdered after stealing a deadly nerve gas formula from Syrian terrorists. Naval Intelligence believes MacKay’s teammate was a traitor and shipped the stolen formula to his sister in the States for safekeeping. MacKay is ordered to find the sister before the terrorists do and to recover the stolen formula at all costs.

Foreclosure looms for Cory Rigatero as she struggles to keep her rustic resort near Mt. St. Helens afloat after her brother abandoned her to join the SEAL Teams. Cory’s whole world plummets into a tailspin when Sean MacKay shows up at her resort with news of her brother’s death and the shocking suspicion that her brother sent her traitorous classified documents.
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No way will Cory ever trust MacKay—the man who once seduced her and then vanished into the night without a trace.

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Cory stopped in the kitchen on her way outside. “I thought I’d go out front and see if Vern needed any help.”

“He’s all done,” Cookie told her and handed Garth a dog biscuit from the jar on the counter. “He had a boy out front helping him when I peeked out the window a bit ago.”

“A boy? You mean Jasper?”

“No, I’ve never seen this one around here before.” Cookie went back to stirring her pot. “Handsome, though,” she added. “They headed for the barn.”

“I’d better go see who it is,” Cory said, already striding for the back door.

She called out as soon as she reached the open barn doors, and Vern hollered from the small office that doubled as his shop. Cory threaded her way through all the equipment in the back half of the barn. Cookie’s stranger stood up when she appeared in the doorway, and Cory froze.

This was no boy. This was a man. All man. And he literally stole Cory’s breath away. She had read that in novels before. Never believed it to be possible.

Until now.

Shaggy hair and dark brown curls, perfectly teamed with a matching beard, were her first thought. Her second thought was broad—really broad—shoulders beneath his black flannel shirt, and hips so narrow that his black jeans sagged a smidge on his tall, muscular frame. His sleeves were rolled up, and those forearms and biceps belonged to a working man.

Good grief! Stop staring, Cory!

She caught herself before she licked her lips and jerked her gaze back to his face. Blue eyes that snared her gaze like a predator traps unsuspecting prey. Those blue eyes sparkled with just enough mischief to send a wicked flutter through her belly. Blue eyes that looked startlingly familiar.

.
Maybe she just wanted them to look familiar, so she could already know this handsome man.

“Mac here is our new help.”

About the Author

Petie spent a majority of her career at Walt Disney World—”The Most Magical Place on Earth”—where she loved working in the land of fairy tales by day and crafting her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said goodbye to her “day” job to focus on her stories full-time.

These days, Petie spends her time writing new tales for her Cinderella series, her new paranormal-romantic-suspense series, The Watchers, sequels to her Regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and more standalones like Any Fin For Love and Ambush in the Everglades.

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her horticulturist husband and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy, who makes a cameo appearance in Christmas Watch, Book 2 of The Watchers series.

Visit Petie at her website, http://www.petiemccarty.com, or her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/petie.mccarty, to get to know her, learn about her current projects, and discover her other published works.

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