Thank you to everyone who has been reading my books, promoting my titles, and writing reviews. You are appreciated more than you realize! I have a new release just about ready and will fill you in within the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, take a break and enjoy a flash fiction smile.

A Blessing in Disguise

After her five-hour, white-knuckled trip, Mandy pulled into a semi-plowed parking space. With a sigh of relief, she turned off the car’s engine. Big fluffy flakes of snow were beautifully swirling. Sliding around the highway, however, was no way to enjoy the scenery.

Though a snowstorm had been predicted, its magnitude was a surprise. A multitude of accidents made driving treacherous with drivers unable to maneuver the roadways. Even the snowplows were having trouble navigating.

On her way to look at a house for sale in a new town, Mandy was disappointed that driving conditions forced her to get a hotel room, yet relieved to have found a hotel. She was trudging to the back of the car to get her luggage when a ball of snow whizzed past her ear and splatted against the rear window. Exhausted and one-hundred-twenty miles from her planned destination, Mandy was in no mood for a snowball battle. With a scowl, she turned to locate the origin of the icy, white missile.

Covered in snow, a laughing woman waived and approached Mandy.

“Sorry! I was aiming for the lamp post.”

Despite her initial irritation, a smile tugged at Mandy’s lips. “No problem. Are you the welcoming committee?”

“I am today,” the lady answered. “I’m Bev.”

Bev’s forest-green eyes radiated warmth despite the frigid temperature. Her cheeks were the same shade as her red parka. Dark, damp curls escaped the hood of her jacket, and were fringed with snowflakes.

  “Hi, I’m Mandy.”

“Where are you headed?” Bev asked.

“Lewistown,” Mandy answered. “I’m looking for a new home there.”

“I live in Lewistown,” Bev said. “Maybe we’ll be neighbors!”

“It’s possible,” Marcy said. “I’m still house hunting.”

“I can fill you in on all the Lewistown gossip.”

Mandy opened the trunk and like an old friend, Bev reached for the duffle bag. Mandy grabbed her briefcase and an overfilled tote. She followed Bev toward the hotel’s entrance.

“After you check in, you can help me finish my snowman.” Bev pointed to a mound of snow.

Aware that the ache had disappeared from her forehead, Marcy said, “It has been years since I built a snowman.”

“Then it’s time for you to re-visit the joys of frosty fingers and a runny nose.” Bev tilted her head. “Listen!”

Mandy listened, though for what she didn’t know.

Bev scrunched her forehead and pursed her lips. “I thought I heard something earlier, but it stopped before I could figure out where it was coming from.”

Then Mandy heard a squeak that became a soft wail. Motionless, the women tried to pinpoint the source.

“There.” Mandy pointed to a dark-colored Buick parked in snow that rose halfway up the tires.

Bev dropped the duffle bag in front of the hotel’s revolving door and strode toward the icy car. Mandy dropped her luggage and followed.

After shuffling through the deep snow, Bev scrunched down and looked under the vehicle. She reached behind the car’s front wheel and captured a limp, soaked, gray kitten, covered with tiny ice balls.

“You poor little thing,” she murmured, and held the baby toward Mandy.

Mandy took the half-frozen creature, wiped away the snow and ran her fingers over the cold little body to loosen ice chips that stuck to the fur. She unzipped her jacket and tucked the kitten inside. Nestled between her flannel shirt and wool jacket, the shivering creature would warm up in no time. Mandy pressed her hand against the outside of the thick jacket to support the baby and pulled the zipper halfway up to create a cocoon.

“I wonder how long she’s been under there?”

“There aren’t any kitty footprints and I’m sure that car has been here all night. I would guess she’s been hiding since the storm started.” Mandy felt a slight vibration as the kitten purred. “Let’s hope this place allows pets. If they don’t, I’ll be sleeping in my car.”

Always an animal lover, it still surprised Mandy that it took her all of twenty-five seconds to fall in love with the warm little fur ball.

“Under the circumstances, I’m sure the hotel will be glad for any business,” Bev said. “Besides, she is adorable. Can you keep her?”

Mandy hesitated. With an upcoming move and a new job, how would she manage having a kitten to care for? And then she felt tiny needle-like pricks against her diaphragm. The kitten was getting comfortable and kneading the flannel shirt where she snuggled.

With a wide grin, Mandy said, “Of course, I’ll keep her.”

“In that case, consider her a housewarming present,” Bev said. “I’m in room 827. Call me when you get settled in.”

Without waiting for a response, Bev snatched the duffle bag and went inside. Still supporting the tiny ball of fur, Mandy hoisted the tote bag over her shoulder, grabbed her briefcase and strode to the front desk where her duffle bag was waiting.

“Good afternoon,” the desk clerk greeted. “Welcome to the Amadeus Hotel. How long will you be staying?”

“One night, if my colleague can stay, too.” She unzipped her jacket to allow a glimpse inside.

“No problem,” the clerk smiled.

Mandy got a turkey sandwich from the vending machine, then went to her room and fed some turkey to the kitten. She dumped the contents of her briefcase on the table, lined the empty case with a flannel shirt, and put the exhausted kitten in the impromptu bed, where the little critter promptly fell asleep. She called Bev.

“Hi,” Bev answered.

“Let’s make the best snowman ever!” Mandy replied.

“Afterward, we can have dinner and I’ll fill you in on life in Lewistown,” Bev said.

With a lopsided grin, Mandy dashed outside. The snowstorm that wrecked her plans for the day had been a blessing in disguise. She had a new furry roommate, she liked Bev, and it had been a long time since she’d played in the snow.

                                                            ###

GIVEAWAY:  3 e-book copies of HYPE! Leave a comment below for your chance to win! 

High school student, Cici, is at the center of Yvette Calleiro’s NEW RELEASE and it is a good one! Keep reading for an introduction to HYPE.

High School Life

How many of you can recall your high school years? Or perhaps you’re in high school right now. For me, that was many moons ago, but I remember it so clearly. Join me for a short trip down memory lane…

Everyone always told me that high school would be the best years of my life, but it didn’t turn out that way for me. For many, those years are the most difficult. Teens try to shed their childlike ways and grow into independent, young adults while still being treated like children. They both struggle to fit in and stand out. They attempt to have relationships while dealing with raging hormones and inexperience. As if that wasn’t enough, they strive to do well in their classes to set themselves up for a successful future. Honestly, I would never want to go back to those years! Lol!

When I started writing HYPE ten years ago, I was teaching ninth and tenth grade. I also sponsored the Key Club, which consisted of students in all high school grade levels. I was surrounded, day in and day out, with students. They spoke freely around me about their relationships, their insecurities, their hopes and dreams, and their frustrations. I admired their tenacity and their vulnerability. So, when I created my characters, I wanted them to be authentic and relatable.

Here is a scene from a moment when Cici’s emotions get the better of her:

I button my jeans and shove the front of my shirt into the waistband and inspect myself in the mirror. “Why can’t my life be normal?”

I lean against the counter as the tears flow down my cheeks. The hard sobs come so I lower the toilet seat and plop myself on it to allow my heart to have a strong cry. Every painful memory rams through me as the waterfall of tears cascades down my face. I pull my legs up and hug them close to me, lowering my head to my knees.

Eventually, the tears subside as the numbness coats me again. I lower my legs and rise. I splash water on my face to remove the salty traces of my breakdown. Facing the mirror again, I roll my puffy eyes. I open the drawer and pull out the hardcore concealer. I’ve got to cover this weakness as best as I can. I really hate hormones.

My phone bings the reminder I’ve set to make sure I’m not late for school, and I’m nowhere near ready. I quickly finish my make-up and throw my hair into a loose ponytail. It’ll have to do. I rush to the closet and grab the closest pair of tennis shoes and shove my feet into them. I grab my bag and run down the stairs to the kitchen to grab a banana. I’m out the door, praying I’m not late.

I hate all the symptoms that come with my period. I guess this meltdown is overdue, especially since I’ve used the whole PMS excuse one time too many with Dee. Mother Nature’s payback sucks.

I park in my usual spot and check my makeup one last time in the mirror. I take a deep breath, put on my emotionless mask, and exit the car, ready to take on the day. I avoid conversations with everyone as much as I can. I tell Dee I have my period, and she leaves me alone. I’m grateful for small gestures of kindness.

HYPE is a young adult contemporary story that takes place in Cici’s high school years. Teens will definitely connect with the story, but I believe adults will enjoy reliving their high school moments through Cici’s activities and classes. I must warn you: it isn’t all pep rallies and parties. Come for the fun but be prepared for the drama because Cici gets it all. 😉

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.

Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

Amazon Links:

Hype – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7BFNXG

The One Discovered (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4L2Q40

The One Enlightened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R0QI51I

The One Betrayed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 3) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191O1892

The One Revealed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 4) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBKJHIO

The One Awakened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 5) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781WT73J

The One Chosen – A Diasodz Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0986Q6P1D

Breathless – A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLVDHQX

To follow along with the rest of this tour, please visit Yvette M Calleiro’s tour page.

GIVEAWAY:  $25 Amazon Gift Card & 1 e-book or paperback copy of one book in the Haunted Shores series (Winner’s choice).  Simply leave a comment below for your chance to win! 

For those of you who haven’t discovered Randy Overbeck, it is my pleasure to introduce him. For those of you who already know him, you won’t be surprised to see another Haunted Shores Mystery that will keep you turning the pages!

But first, Randy has shared some background about Crystal River and why his latest mystery is set in that quaint Florida town.

Why Crystal River?

            As my readers know, my settings are as important to my best-selling novels as the whodunit puzzles and the engaging characters. In selecting a venue for my Haunted Shores Mysteries, I search for remarkable resort locations, but those probably less well known. No place like Myrtle Beach or Malibu or Fort Lauderdale will do. I hope part of the fun of reading my novels is discovering another gem of a location to put on readers’ “to visit” list.

            In completing the research for the third entry in the series, I had already decided to take my protagonist, Darrell, and his new wife, Erin, to someplace in Florida for their honeymoon. So I did a considerable amount of advance research on various locations in the Sunshine State and then began the onsite Investigations. To make a long story short, after checking out different possibilities, I fell in love with Crystal River. The small town has a charm all its own and turned out to be the perfect setting for my story. Here are just a few of the reasons it is a “must visit” place.

1. Crystal River is a quaint town that has an “old Florida charm,” unlike most Florida tourist stops. Located on the Gulf coast about an hour north of Tampa, the town is populated with retro hotels like the Plantation at Crystal River—featured in my novel, by the way—even including one called Port Paradise where Elvis Presley filmed Follow That Dream in the ‘60s. (Insert pic of Follow That Dream)
2. The coastal section of the town—and indeed the whole of Citrus County— boasts a bit of everything. A few miles outside of town, visitors can enjoy a charming, if small, white sand beach with enough surf to enjoy the fun waters of the Gulf. (Insert pic of beach) Other sections of the coastline are still wild and unspoiled with forests running right to the water. Still other parts of the coast merge with swamp lands extending inland, creating vibrant eco-systems for fish and wildlife.
3. The town has cultivated a small park called the Three Sisters’ Springs, whose warm waters welcome hundreds of manatees every year, from December through February. In fact, this fresh water spring is the only place in the US where visitors can swim with the massive, gentle creatures. (Insert a pic of manatees) This alone makes the trip to Crystal River well worth it. It’s an experience visitors say they never forget.
4. If you’re a biker or runner, Crystal River offers six incredible bike/running trails which run through all the eco-systems, along the shore, through vine-tangled forests and over salt marshes. Although none of the trails are too strenuous, all labeled easy to moderate, they provide various lengths of breathtaking beauty and glimpses of wildlife, both birds and mammals.
5. The town of Crystal River sits at the mouth of Kings Bay—which dumps into the Gulf of Mexico—and faces due west. This creates the perfect setting for an evening seafood meal at one the fine restaurants like Charlie’s Fish House—also featured in the novel—all while watching the sunset ignite the blue-green waters of the Bay. As Darrel and Erin learn, it’s the perfect romantic way to end a day, especially after a day on the trails or swimming with the manatees. (Insert pic of sunset)
6. If you’re an avid water sportsman, you’d be hard pressed to find a more attractive location. Because the area offers both salt and fresh water habitats, visitors can choose from boating, kayaking, scuba diving, water skiing and some of the best fishing anywhere. In fact, Crystal River is one of the few places you can dive for scallops in the summer.

I have to admit, like many others, I’d never heard of Crystal River before I completed my research. When I had the chance to visit—right before the pandemic closed everything down, thank heaven—I was taken by the small town charm and beauty of the area. After meeting the locals, I decided it was the perfect setting for my Christmas ghost story/mystery, SCARLET AT CRYSTAL RIVER. (Insert cover of SCARLET) I think when you read my new novel, you may fall in love with the beautiful town as well.

“Overbeck’s writing transports you into real-life landscapes and imagined locations with a seamlessness that makes it hard to tell one from the other. The beauties of the Florida Gulf coast, the swampy growth that borders the greenery of well-fertilized fields, the posh interior of an ag magnate’s two story, all create a land that is seen, heard, smelled and felt.”—KRL News and Reviews

All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida. Only a pair of ghosts decide to intrude on their celebration. And not just any ghosts, the spirits of two young Latino children. Unwilling at first to derail the honeymoon for yet another ghost hunt, Darrell finally concedes when a painting of the kids comes alive, weeping and pleading for his help.

            When he and Erin track down the artist, they discover the children’s family were migrant workers the next county over. But when they travel there, their questions about the kids gets their car shot up and Erin hospitalized. Torn between fear and rage, Darrell must decide how far he will go to get justice for two young children he never even knew.

            Darrell and Erin thought they were heading to Florida for a carefree honeymoon, but the ghosts of two immigrants children haunt them, pleading for help.

“Scarlet at Crystal River is an eerie paranormal mystery I couldn’t stop reading. Randy Overbeck is a masterful writer of the paranormal, drawing the reader in before instilling shivers down the spine. 5+ stars.” –N. N. Light’s Book Heaven

“A rollercoaster of a mystery, hurtling up and down hills and sharp corners until the very end, when the reader is left slightly breathless, waiting for their hearts to beat back to a normal rhythm. ★★★★★—ReadersView

“Scarlet at Crystal River is a suspenseful paranormal novel with compelling characters and an enigmatic mystery that drives the story to a riveting conclusion. Overbeck is a master at building tension–-this is easily a one-sitting read.” ★★★★★—Literary Titan

“This is another masterpiece from Randy Overbeck. His excellent writing style has left me speechless for one more time. He writes in a way that makes you feel what the characters feel and you have no choice but to partake in the journey with them.” ★★★★★—Ioanna’s Reviews, Greece

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scarlet-at-crystal-river-randy-overbeck/1139873947?ean=9781509237876

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57841458-scarlet-at-crystal-river?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=RTpsYLU6mO&rank=3

https://www.bookbub.com/books/scarlet-at-crystal-river-by-randy-overbeck

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for four decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake, Crimson at Cape May and Scarlet at Crystal River have earned five star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year–ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

https://twitter.com/OverbeckRandy/media

https://www.facebook.com/authorrandyoverbeck

https://www.instagram.com/authorrandyoverbeck/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KOC0LH2GQRSAjwxOFr5rg

Tik Tok @authorrandyo

• Release by Wild Rose Press—September 13, 2021
• Paranormal mystery
• 364 pp.
• Mild

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the authors’ tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site.  If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and his work!
 

Halloween, or All Hallows Eve, came into being via the Celtic festival of Samhain, a celebration of the end of summer and the bounty from autumn harvest. But the Celts also believed that once a year, from October 31^st to November 1^st, the spirits could leave their realm and interact with humans. It is with that in mind, that I wrote JOIN ME.

JOIN ME

He walked along the corridor, with slippers slapping on the floor. The air was foggy, damp and cold. The man was tired, sad, and old. His friend was waiting down the hall. He moved with care. He must not fall. Just once each year, she came at night and stayed until the dawn’s first light.

She was his special childhood friend, but he felt he had caused her end. Although she was alive no more, she’d meet him by the kitchen door. Electric failed when she got there, and lavender would fill the air. But candles would provide the light. They’d flicker through the cold dark night.

She’d laugh and tell him she had come to play. She wanted to have fun. This night was special, Halloween! It was twelve months, since last he’d seen his faithful friend of many years. When she arrived, sometimes his tears still fell, as he remembered when she left him. She was only ten.

They’d been close to the railroad track. He often wished he could go back to that October thirty-first. That cold, dark night he made the worst decision of his early life. He let her walk alone that night. They’d talked of costumes, tricks and treats, and after dinner where they’d meet.

Renee was picking lavender. Having such fun, she never heard the train. It rumbled down the track and struck her squarely in the back. A momentary jolt of pain, her life extinguished by the train. Her spirit floated to his side and there she wanted to abide.

It happened sixty years ago. Since then he’d never truly known a peaceful day in all his life. Her death had filled it with such strife. She never blamed him for her death, but told him she could never rest without her friend and so she stayed in every place they’d ever played.

Rejecting the light’s brilliant ray, she said she would not go. She’d stay. He only saw her once each year, but every single day he’d hear her plea for him to leave the earth, to die, then join her in rebirth. He walked along the corridor to coax her toward the light once more.

###

 

Happy Halloween, everyone!

If you enjoy unique stories of intrigue with a touch of romance, this author’s short story is for you. It is my pleasure to introduce Pat Garcia, musician, songwriter, and author of TURN THE LIGHT ON.

Pat is passionate about her writing, as is evident from the following essay and an excerpt from her book.

WRITING CRAFT

Writing is a craft that must be developed. I am not one of those writers who believes that everyone can write a book.  I don’t think a well-written book falls from Heaven.

If a writer wants their work read, then they must know something about point of view, deep point of view, structure, sentence styling, and how to weave back story into their stories so that it doesn’t seem like they are just dumping words on the reader.

I have many craft books on writing, but I admit that I haven’t read them all the way through.

I choose what I need to read to help me write a specific chapter or even one or two paragraphs.  When I was trying to grasp point of view, I picked up Sol Stein’s books:  How to Grow A Novel and Stein On Writing.  I have other books on the point of view, but Stein does an excellent job helping me.

The structure of a story was another thing that I needed to learn, and the book that I have sitting on my desk always is The Hero’s Journey by Christoph Vogler. I cannot tell you the number of times that I have studied this book until I grasped the essence of what Vogler was saying in a particular chapter. As I began Turn The Light On, I wanted to show Della in her ordinary world. Vogler says, and I quote him here, “If you’re going to show a fish out of his customary element, you first have to show him in that ordinary world to create a vivid contrast with the strange new world he is about to enter.” That is what I wanted to achieve with the opening. I wanted to show Della’s fear, curiosity, and inability to say no to a journey that would forever change her life.

Turn The Light On opens with a Bible Verse that mirrors Della’s dilemma and her fears. Her ordinary world has begun to tumble.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)

EXCERPT:

Della Cartwright sat in Macey Bergstein’s office in Frankfurt, Germany. She balled her hands into fists, flexing them, waiting for Macey, her boss, to express her opinion about the unexplained money transfers in Della’s private bank account. A plane flew over their building, and Della’s eyes followed its path as she gazed out of the window behind Macey. How she could have gotten involved with a man in a counter-terrorist group was puzzling. Downright despicable. Until now, she had made a name for herself as the Foreign Exchange Settlements department’s queen. Everyone in the department acknowledged her magical abilities. Her intuitiveness and her strong sense of discernment had caught errors and even settled deals, which would have cost dealers their jobs if she had not noticed the mistakes. Yet, she had managed to let a man whose name she didn’t even know wrap her in his web.

Fear engulfed her. What if he was not only a counterterrorist, but also using her to launder money? Her hands shook as she considered the consequences of the mistakes she’d made, and what could happen to her. She didn’t relish standing before a disbelieving judge trying to explain her stupidity.

AUTHOR BIO

Pat Garcia can’t remember a day when she didn’t desire to write. At the age of three, Pat wrote her first story. No one could understand it because she hadn’t learned to write. So, she read the scribble on her paper to whoever would listen. Born in Blythe, Georgia, (USA), she is also a musician, singer, and songwriter and has released five CDs.

BOOK BLURB

Would you ever accept a dinner invitation to meet a stranger who never spoke one word to you during your time together? Would you accept that you could not even sit at the same table with them? How about, you don’t even know their name and you continue this “game” for months?

Meet Della Cartwright. A superstar at what she does professionally, but when the tall, mysterious, Italian stranger, Alessio Terracina, enters her world, she begins to question her judgment and everything about her.

In this short story which takes place over the course of one day, this otherwise savvy businesswoman is led into making decisions that could jeopardize her professional life and maybe even cost her her freedom. But the greatest danger…just might be to her fragile heart.

CONTACTS

Author website – https://patgarciaauthor.com/

Facebook FanPage – https://www.facebook.com/patgarciaauthor

Twitter – @pat_garcia

Thanks for supporting the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB’S October Spotlight Author! To learn more about this author and all the wonderful perks she is receiving under this spotlight, please visit the RRBC SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR forum.

For those who don’t know her, I am delighted to introduce Roberta Eaton Cheadle and her latest novel, A GHOST AND HIS GOLD. Roberta combines history with fiction and weaves a story that is educational as well as entertaining. Leave a comment below for a chance to win one of four copies of this historical fiction.

A Ghost and His Gold

The gun used by the Boers during the Second Anglo Boer War

Mauser Model 93/95

Prior to the Second Anglo Boer War, Imperial Germany supplied the two Boer Republics with tens of thousands of modern Mauser rifles. The most common of these was the Mauser Model 93/95 chambered for the 7x57mm cartridge.

This is how Tactical Life Magazine describes the Mauser Model 93/95:

“Paul Mauser’s first smokeless-powder, bolt-action, charger-loaded, magazine-fed rifle featured a tubular receiver that held a one-piece both with dual front-locking lugs. The bolt was drilled out from the rear to allow insertion of the firing mechanism. The cock-on-closing bolt, with its non-rotating extractor, prevented double-feeds and made bolt manipulations smoother. It also featured a staggered-row-style box magazine that could be reloaded and fed cartridges more smoothly, and because it was completely enclosed by the stock, it was hard to damage.” Source: https://www.tactical-life.com/firearms/second-boer-war-rifles/

Picture credits: https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/longgun_reviews_st_boermodel_201007/99362

The Boers treasured their guns. Here is a short extract from A Ghost and His Gold about Pieter’s Mauser:

“Something’s wrong.

Clambering out of bed, he stumbles across the uneven floor of the bedroom and down the passageway. By the time he reaches the front door, his eyes have adjusted fully to the darkness, and he can make out the shapes of the furniture in the voorkamer, a large room at the front of the farmhouse where Marta receives visitors.

Grabbing his loaded Mauser rifle from its hooks on the wall near the door, he hesitates for a moment to admire its smooth and shiny wooden length. The feel of the gun in his hands gives him confidence; he is an excellent marksman.

This gun brought me a lot of respect.

His ability with a gun had been his saving grace when, as a young man, his peers had been mystified by his interest in books and writing and had liked to share their derogatory thoughts in that regard.

The chilly wind strikes him as he opens the door in his nightclothes and bare feet, the gun raised cautiously, ready to fire. The wind blows straight through his clothing, leaving him feeling vulnerable and naked, despite his trusty weapon. The cold front that arrived during the night has dropped the temperatures below freezing.

I’m tired of winter and it’s only June. We still have the whole of July and August to get through.

He shivers as he peers into the heavy dark, searching for the owner of the voice. “Who’s there?””

BOOK BLURB:

After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summons a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904.

Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom in his sleep with a knife. But, Estelle isn’t alone. Who are the shadows lurking in the background – one in an old-fashioned slouch hat and the other, a soldier, carrying a rifle?

After discovering their house has been built on the site of one of the original farms in Irene, Michelle becomes convinced that the answer to her horrifying visions lie in the past. She must unravel the stories of the three phantoms’ lives, and the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths during the Second Anglo Boer War, in order to understand how they are tied together and why they are trapped in the world of ghosts between life and death. As the reasons behind Estelle’s malevolent behaviour towards Tom unfold, Michelle’s marriage comes under severe pressure and both their lives are threatened.

AUTHOR BIO:

Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has short stories and poems in several anthologies and has 2 published novels, Through the Nethergate, a historical supernatural fantasy, and A Ghost and His Gold, a historical paranormal novel set in South Africa.

Roberta has 9 children’s books published under the name Robbie Cheadle.

Roberta was educated at the University of South Africa where she achieved a Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1996 and a Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1997. She was admitted as a member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000.

Roberta has worked in corporate finance from 2001 until the present date and has written 7 publications relating to investing in Africa. She has won several awards over her 20-year career in the category of Transactional Support Services.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Robbie Cheadle

Website

https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Blog

https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle

Twitter

Tweets by bakeandwrite

Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Website

https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Blog

https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19631306.Roberta_Eaton_Cheadle

Twitter

Tweets by RobertaEaton17

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites/?modal=admin_todo_tour

AMAZON OR OTHER PURCHASE LINKS:

TSL Publications:

A Ghost and His Gold – Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Lulu.com:

https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/robert-eaton-cheadle/a-ghost-and-his-gold/ebook/product-d858km.html?page=1&pageSize=4

_{Amazon.com:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096H39FG3/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0}

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site.  If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and her work!

Monday, August 9th, is the start of RRBC’s 6th Annual Writers’  Conference & Book Expo. There will be games, prizes, surprises and other goodies, so be sure to visit each Author Booth, take a look around, and for a chance to win a door prize, leave a comment. Every Author is giving away a door prize and visitor comments are the entries. The more booths you comment on, the more chances you’ll have to win a door prize.

How about a virtual Scavenger Hunt? In each Author Booth, you will find a clue. If you find the correct answer to all the clues and are the first to submit your answers, you could be the prize winner. There’s also a game called “Two Truths and a Lie” which is always fun. The author will tell you three things, but only two are true. Can you see through the lie?

 The conference will include a READING ROOM and one of our members is going to blow you away showcasing their talent!

If you’re into BINGO, purchase your BINGO cards and join us for a game or two!

And what we all wait for every year – the RAFFLE!  Enter for your chance to win one of (7) $100 Amazon gift cards, a variety of gift certificates, ebooks and more. The raffle is open to the public. Raffle tickets are only $5, so snag your tickets today. The more tickets you buy, the greater your chances of winning, but  please do not purchase more than 7 tickets.

This year for the first time ever, we’ve added our BEST BOOK COVER CONTEST!  This contest is open to the general public so go ahead and enter your book cover(s) now!  Share your comments with us and let us know which one you think is best.

Click for a full ITINERARY OF EVENTS.

 The venue opens at 5 PM CT on Monday, 8/9/21.  I hope to see you there! 

In the event of minor time delays, please check the sidebar of the RRBC website for updates.

Greetings, everyone.

Those of you who have been here before will notice a difference. Stories by Karen got a facelift! I don’t mind the wrinkles around my eyes, but it was time to eliminate the wrinkles on this website. A nonsurgical overhaul solved the problem. Please take a minute to visit the links above. You’ll learn a little bit about me and the writing that I’ve done.

With the new look comes a new agenda. Book reviews, author interviews, short stories, book previews, and writing tips are being lined up for your reading pleasure. Authors who would like to be featured on Stories by Karen, are invited to send their author bio and contact information to: Features4StoriesbyKaren@yahoo.com.

I am planning to showcase a few authors each month. Flash fiction, poetry, and book previews, if available, will be included with author introductions and interviews. There is a lot of talent in the writing world and I’m looking forward to sharing some of it.

Thank you for stopping by. Best wishes for a wonderful August!

It is my pleasure to shine a spotlight on Nonnie Jules. Not only an accomplished author, Nonnie is also the President of Rave Reviews Book Club and the founder of Rave Writers International Society of Authors. Her goal is to instill the importance of professionalism and reputation in the literary arena, and she works tirelessly toward that end.

E-QUAL-I-TY

If only there was no color, dividing like a wall…

If only there was tolerance, extended to us all…

If only there was understanding…

There would be no need to hate…

If only there was unity…

Peace would be our state.

If we only took the time, we would have the chance to learn…

That respect should be a given – no need to work to earn…

If only there was patience…

Our hearts and minds would be…

Open to the concept… 

Of this world of E-QUAL-I-TY.

~Nonnie Jules

NO PEDIGREE – https://www.amazon.com/NO-PEDIGREE-Really-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B083SB1RMN/

Author: Nonnie Jules
Blurb:  Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Baylee never quite fit in…anywhere. She was taunted and teased because her clothes had no designer labels, and spit upon because her only pair of shoes had holes in the bottom. The butt of many jokes, she was excluded from all social activities, sneered at by the parents of her peers after school as she waited for the bus, watching them drive away in their fancy cars; assaulted in the most unthinkable fashion.
Having been born to a white father and a black native American mother didn’t make things any easier. In fact, that circumstance made her life ten times harder – until the day she made them all stand up, take notice, and regret every ugly word and deed they had inflicted upon her.

Social Media:  Twitter:  @Nonnie Jules

Facebook:  facebook.com/nonnie.jules

Blog:  NonnieWrites.wordpress.com

Thank you for supporting the books and authors along the RRBC ’20 WC&BE SPONSORS BLOG TOUR!  These authors are generous in their support of others so we want to show our support of them in return.  You may follow along each day of the tour by visiting the tour’s home page.  Be sure to leave a comment below to ensure that you have a chance at winning a $20 Amazon Gift Card!