Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Emily could never forget Matt. If nothing else, she would surely remember his cerulean blue eyes. They were the color of the thin line that separated the ocean from the sky. His gaze was that brilliant horizon that kept her steady so she never got lost in the wide majesty of the stars, or the treacherous depths of the ocean. Their souls were one, keeping each other on the right course, oblivious to the rest of the world.

- Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book One
by Amy Lignor
Chapter Two

Paul H. Magid - Lifting the Wheel of Karma - Author Interview

My thanks to Paul H. Magid for stopping by City Girl Who Loves to Read for an author interview during the blog tour for his book, Lifting the Wheel of Karma.

1. Why did you choose this setting?
The setting was integral to the story thematically in several ways. Firstly, the setting was physically essential as an element of the historical context that the story unfolds in. It’s hard to say more in regards to the physical necessity without giving away vital information that is better discovered as the story unfolds. Thematically, the setting –both the mountains of Montana as well as the remote mystical mountains of the Himalayas of India, were a key component, because by stripping away the “afflictions of modernity”, the reader is unencumbered on the spiritual journey to discover insights just as the main character does, as well as internal questions the reader asks him/herself about Life, Purpose, Destiny, and Duty (known as Dharma in Eastern philosophy).

2. How is it a fundamental part of your overall theme?
The setting is absolutely a fundamental element to the myriad of themes –family, forgiveness, and healing. I think it would be fair to say that to go on a journey emotionally and spiritually, it certain helps to go on a journey physically as well.

3. How challenging was it to write about?
Oh my goodness, was the setting a challenge to write about. Not only did I need to convey the texture and essence of a horse farm in Montana, but than I had the near Herculean task of conveying the essence of a five thousand year old culture and history!!! It took decades of research, travel, and more hard work than I never imagined I’d be capable of doing.

4. How did you develop your setting as you wrote your book?
For me, setting develops not so much as a physical entity, but rather as an experience. Knowing what elements –from native vs. improved pasture grasses in Montana, the shapes of individual mountain peaks high up in the Heavens of the Himalayan mountains- are only a prelude to feeling those elements.

5. How do you transport them there through your writing?
I decided right from the outset that I wanted the reader to feel as if they were on the journey with Joseph, the high school boy who is the main character. For me, that entailed sights, sounds, smells, textures, as well as what effects the journey would have on a person physically, as well as mentally, emotionally, and ultimately, spiritually. The reader needed to know, I feel, that the air in India is thick, not polluted, but pungent and bursting with life. So for me, it was about adding layer upon layer of texture to bring the journey to Life.

6. How do you introduce them to an area they may not be familiar with?
When I introduce the reader to a new area, I start with enabling them to experience the event just as if they were there. First there is the recognition of the physical surroundings, then there is the mental processing of those physical surroundings in regards to what effect they have on the traveler –in this case the reader. After processing the effects, there is the process of what the setting means to the traveler/reader in regards to the journey that has been undertaken, and how that does or does not lead the achievement of the goals that been decided, consciously or subconsciously, that are necessary for fulfillment to occur.

7. How do you go about making the setting come alive for the reader?
The reader must feel everything exactly as the characters do. That’s what makes the setting come alive and ring true.

About the Book
Lifting the Wheel of Karma

Book Details:
Price: $15.00 paperback, $9.99 Kindle
Format: Paperback, Kindle
Publisher: Point Dume Press
Published: September 2011
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9780984016068
Genre: Fiction, Spirituality
Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle

Blurb:
A Profound Spiritual Journey of Extraordinary Healing and Redemption - a modern tale that harkens back to the myths of antiquity. It takes you on a remarkable journey, while exploring the themes of healing, redemption, forgiveness, sacrifice, and ultimately...peace within.

Joseph Connell is a gifted high school athlete from Montana, loved deeply by his family, yet tormented by nightmarish visions he can neither explain nor escape.

He believes the answer to what threatens to crush him can be found in the knowledge possessed by a mystical old wise man, who lives deep within the remote Himalayas of India.

If Joseph is ever to find the peace he so desperately seeks, he must get this wise old man to reveal what he truly knows, but that will not be easy…for this sage knows far more than he admits.

About the Author
Paul H. Magid

Paul H. Magid started writing his debut novel, LIFTING THE WHEEL OF KARMA, twenty-five years ago while still in high school. It took him so long to complete because he tried repeatedly to abandon it, but the work refused to be forsaken. Eventually he realized that sharing this story with the world was, in fact, his Dharma.

Along the way he has worked as a Wall Street financial analyst, a waiter (not a very good one), a Hollywood Agent Trainee, a real estate developer, a summer day camp director, an award winning screenwriter, and independent filmmaker—including his autobiographical film, A LIFE UNFINISHED, which screened in The Hamptons International Film Festival.

Connect with Paul:
Web Site
Facebook (book)
Facebook (author)

About the Tour

Tribute Books Blog Tours

Lifting the Wheel of Karma Blog Tour Site

Tour Participants:

January 1 (review)
Dad of Divas

January 2 (review)
Crazed Mind

January 3 (review)
Minding Spot

January 4 (review)
Live to Read

January 5 (review)
vvb32 reads

January 5 (author interview)
You Gotta Read Reviews Guest Blog

January 6 (review)
Tic Toc

January 6 (review)
Tribute Books Mama

January 7 (author interview)
Tribute Books Mama

January 8 (review)
Red Adept Reviews

January 9 (author interview)
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

January 10 (review)
My Favorite Things

January 10 (review)
Knits & Reads

January 10 (review)
Adventures of Frugal Mom

January 11 (author interview)
The Book Connection

January 12 (review)
Book Dragon's Lair

January 13 (review)
Bibliophilic Book Blog

January 13 (review)
Concert Katie

January 14 (review)
My Tower of Books

January 15 (review)
Cheryl's Book Nook

January 16 (review)
Tribute Books Reviews & Giveaways

January 17 (guest post)
CMash Loves to Read

January 18 (review)
Community Bookstop

January 18 (review)
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

January 19 (guest post)
Community Bookstop

January 20 (guest post)
Splashes of Joy

January 21 (guest post)
A Bookalicious Story

January 22 (author interview)
City Girl Who Loves to Read

January 23 (review)
The True Book Addict

January 23 (review)
Proud Book Nerd

January 24 (guest post)
Proud Book Nerd

January 26 (guest post)
Ascroft, eh?

January 27 (review)
Whispering Winds Book Reviews

January 28 (review)
Scorpion Stalking Duck

January 29 (author interview)
The Plot Thickens

January 30 (review)
Celtic Lady's Reviews

January 31 (author interview)
The Character Connection

Sallie Lundy-Frommer - Yesterday's Daughter - Author Interview

My thanks to Sallie Lundy-Frommer for stopping by City Girl Who Loves to Read for an author interview during the blog tour for her book, Yesterday's Daughter.

Author Interview

1. Why did you choose this setting?
It was an easy decision to begin the story in Staten Island, New York before moving on to other locations. It’s familiar to me. I grew up there and only moved away after marriage. In my heart, Staten Island will always have a special place although I dreamed of the time when I could move away and visit all kinds of exotic places. With the story of Malachi and Sapphira, I was able to travel to distant places and experience new worlds.

2. How is it a fundamental part of your overall theme?
Staten Island, New York is fundamental to the overall theme of Yesterday’s Daughter because it represents beginnings. It’s where the story begins. It’s where we first encounter Sapphira. From there, readers watch Sapphira experience many firsts, love, betrayal, and danger as she evolves into a force to be reckoned with.

3. How challenging was it to write about?
In some ways, it was easy to write because the story has been in my dreams for years. But in other ways it was one of the hardest things I’ve done. I felt a huge responsibility to get it right, to tell Malachi and Sapphira’s story just as they showed it to me. I feared I just wouldn’t be able to do it, having never written a book before.

4. How did you develop your setting as you wrote your book?
The setting developed as the story unfolded to me. I didn’t do mountains of research in advance. I only researched what I needed to. But, there was no conscious decision to select specific settings or locations. The settings were character driven. Sapphira and Malachi chose the settings and just showed them to me. It may sound hokey, but it’s the truth.

5. How do you transport them there through your writing?
I transport the reader through the story by building the emotional tension and making the characters relatable. The story begins at a simmer and builds to a boil, transporting the reader through dangers and adventures.

6. How do you introduce them to an area they may not be familiar with?
To introduce readers to areas they aren’t familiar with, I relied heavily on giving as much detail as possible without overdoing it. You know, it’s funny that you should ask this question. After my first draft, one of the first critiques I gave myself was that more description was needed for readers to understand the locations they weren’t familiar with and to give the story more depth.

7. How do you go about making the setting come alive for the reader?
As indicated in the previous question, after the first draft I knew the story wasn’t quite right, that it was lacking in depth and color. So, I mentally reviewed the scenes as they’d been shown to me by the characters and realized I hadn’t described everything revealed to me. I added detailed descriptions of the surroundings, like textures, odors and other details. It made the settings come alive with dimension and scope. I think of my first draft as being in black and white and my final draft as being in color.

About the Book
Yesterday's Daughter

Book Details:
Price: $12.99 paperback, $9.99 ebook
Format: Paperback, ebook
Publisher: Self-published
Published: January 2011
Pages: 250
ISBN: 9781460925232
Genre: Vampire Romance
Buy Links: Amazon, Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Blurb:
An emotionally laden paranormal vampire romance novel woven with layers of betrayal, love and loss.

Grace Stone, who later learns her true identity is Sapphira, is a loner who survives abuse in the foster care system after being abandoned as a child. A brilliant student, she escapes from her brutal foster parents as a teenager and creates a life for herself. But, her life is little more than existence; plagued with questions about what she really is, a family that she has never known and the never-ending need to keep her differences hidden.

She is alone and lonely, believing it will always remain so until Malachi appears in her life. Malachi, a Guardian of the vampire communities, has searched for his life mate, Sapphira, for decades. He refuses to cease searching for Sapphira even though she is believed dead by all. Conflict arises over the decades between Malachi and his family because of his refusals to accept another mate. But his very soul drives him on to continue his search, knowing that he could not exist if Sapphira were not in the world, somewhere.

About the Author
Sallie Lundy-Frommer

I can’t remember a time when vampires have gotten more attention. With shows like True Blood, The Vampire Diaries and Being Human and popular books like the Twilight and Dark Series, it’s seems like they’re everywhere. Vampires have always been my favorite supernatural characters. But why? Why am I fascinated with these fantasy beings? Why are you? My interest drove me to write a book, Yesterday’s Daughter. But I could have written about anything, werewolves, cat people or some other paranormal beings, but I chose vampires. Why, I wrote about vampires? I’m not sure I can fully explain why. Maybe I chose vampires because they exude prowess and majesty. But, that would be an all too simple answer. And when I think about it, I know it’s not a complete answer. But it’s a start. What do you think? Why are so many people so interested in these mythical creatures.

As for me, I was born on a farm in the rural South to a family of migrant farm workers. At an early age,my family moved to the urban North-East. Now I live in the suburban North-East with my husband and a large assortment of plants. I hold bachelors and masters degrees in Human Resource Management and currently work in the health care industry.

Connect with Sallie:
Web Site
Facebook (author)
Facebook (book)
Twitter
Blog

About the Tour

Tribute Books Blog Tours

Yesterday's Daughter Blog Tour Site

Tour Participants:

January 2
Sapphyria's Book Reviews

January 3
Unabridged Bookshelf

January 4
BookChowDown

January 5
The Ink Puddle

January 6
Paranormal Indulgence

January 7
The Writer's Voice

January 9
Addicted to Romance

January 10
The Character Connection

January 10
Mom in Love with Fiction

January 11
The Plot Thickens

January 11
Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

January 12
Books-n-Kisses

January 13
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!

January 13
Reader Girls

January 16
City Girl Who Loves to Read

January 17
Xpresso Reads

January 17
The Wormhole

January 18
Lisa's World of Books

January 20
Mrs. Papillion The Book Worm

January 24
vvb32 reads

January 30
From the TBR Pile

Follow Friday

Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

I would say in my possession at least 100 including The Scorpio Races, but my wish list is MUCH longer!

Tom Mach - Stories to Enjoy - Guest Post

Guest Post

"How to Form Different Settings Successfully in Writing a Compilation of Short Stories"
by Tom Mach

In writing a novel, an author has time to create and embellish a setting for his characters. She can return to that same setting in another chapter and expand on that setting so well that it becomes one of her characters. Not so with a short story where the author is involved in one particular setting and has to make both the scene and the back-story and the plot and the characters come alive rather quickly.

Each of my sixteen short stories in Stories to Enjoy requires a different setting. In “Burning Faith” a landscaper is on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. In “The Hen Party” three amateur painters are in an artist’s residence in Kansas City. In “Priscilla’s New Word” a grade school child is in a classroom and having a difficult time reading the blackboard. All of these settings are described enough such that the reader can easily fill in her imagination the details of these settings.

For instance, in “Breakfast, Over Easy” a man named Chuck seated at a table at the California Broadway Diner in San Diego. While the diner itself is not described, there are enough elements in the story to enable the reader to “see” this diner. Chuck is seated so that he can see people come into or leaving the diner. There is a large clock on the diner wall that tells Chuck that Larry, a friend he was expecting, is late. Then more description….

Where the hell was Larry today? I tossed my paper on the table and managed to spill the coffee I had left in my cup. I ignored everyone’s fixed gaze at my clumsiness. I wiped the mess I made on the table with as many napkins as my hand could hold.

Notice that it isn’t necessary for me to describe the wallpaper or the size of the table or the number of people in the diner. Those details would only distract the reader from the core of the story itself. In “Doll House” when Leland enters a bar named Johnnie’s he’s met by a brown-and-white English Foxhound who jumps up at him, snapping and growling. Why did I bother describing the dog? Because Leland learns it’s the owner’s robot dog—and that information gives the reader an important clue as to what happens when he goes home to his girlfriend. (Sorry, can’t give you more than that—you’ll have to read the story yourself.) But the point is that while I do describe the bar somewhat—the large crowd, the barstools, the bartender serving drinks—the bar itself is not important to the story. We’ve all been to bars and have a good idea as to what one looks like.

If the setting was an integral part of the story itself, then yes, there would be more description. In “Frozen History”, another story in Stories to Enjoy, Dante is sitting in his apartment balcony overlooking Manhattan. Here I describe three F-15 fighter jets streaking across the blue sky, the shrill blast of an emergency siren, the approach of a helicopter about to land on the roof of Century Bank, and the red, white, and blue lights flashing from a Pepsi sign. All of this is important because in a few minutes incoming missiles from Iran will freeze, as will all of this activity I’ve just described.

Book Summary

This unique collection of 16 short stories written by prize-winner Tom Mach includes stories such as "Real Characters," which is about a writer who gets his wish--that his characters come alive.... "Breakfast, Over Easy" makes you wonder about loyalty in the face of temptation.... "When Kansas Women Were Not Free" takes you to a time when women were less free than former males slaves.... "Son" make you think differently about compassion. One novelist describes STORIES TO ENJOY as "memorable and intriguing, with O. Henry twists that are sure to surprise and entertain."

Excerpt

The professor focused his entire attention on what Ford’s Theater looked like back in April of 1865. He imagined himself to be John Wilkes Booth’s friend and stagehand—Edman Spangler. After a long while he felt himself growing exceedingly tired, and when he opened his eyes he found himself in the real Ford’s Theater. There was no one in the presidential box and Wilson, who now believed he was indeed Mr. Spangler, ran his hand over the balustrade.

“Spangler,” a voice called out to him from below, “are you still working on removing the partition of the box to make room for the President and General Grant?”

It was John Wilkes Booth himself speaking to him!

Bio

Tom Mach wrote two successful historical novels, Sissy! and All Parts Together, both of which have won rave reviews and were listed among the 150 best Kansas books in 2011.Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a viable entrant for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Award. He also wrote a collection of short stories entitled Stories To Enjoy which received positive reviews. Tom’s other novels include: An Innocent Murdered, Advent, and Homer the Roamer.

His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award. In addition to several awards for his poetry, Writer’s Digest awarded him ninth place in a field of 3,000 entrants. His website is: www.TomMach.com He also has a popular blog for writers of both prose and verse at http://tommach.tumblr.com

Links

http://twitter.com/kansasauthor

http://www.facebook.com/kansasauthor

http://www.linkedin.com/in/tommach

http://tommach.tumblr.com

Giveaway

PLEASE MENTION THE PRIZE THAT THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY (a $25 Amazon gift card to one randomly drawn commenter) and encourage your readers to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/11/vbt-stories-to-enjoy-by-tom-mach.html

FINAL SNEAK PEEK of Chapter Twenty of the young adult ebook "The Priest and the Peaches" - NOW AVAILABLE

A final sneak peek of chapter twenty of The Priest and the Peaches - a young adult ebook release from Tribute Books by Larry Peterson

NOW AVAILABLE!

buy links
Kindle - $2.99
Nook - $4.95
iPad - $4.99
PDF - $4.95
Smashwords - $4.99

CHAPTER TWENTY
Beatrice Amon and the Peaches

Teddy said uneasily, “Well look, Father. I can't help but think that all Miss Amon did by calling the cops was cause a whole bunch of trouble for all of us—even you.”

The priest’s exasperation with the young man's remarks was obvious. “Oh really? That's what you think, is it? Did you listen to one word I just said? Did you?”

Now Teddy was unnerved. When Father Sullivan got angry he seemed to grow two feet in height. He became very intimidating, especially for an 18 year old who knew him since the third grade. “Yes, Father, I was listening.”

“No, Teddy, you weren’t. You were too busy thinking about how much you don't like Miss Amon. Your pride has gotten in the way of your faith. L-Y-N, remember? Time to move on, Teddy. Miss Amon is not the mean-spirited person you think she is. In fact, none of you really know anything about her, do you? Now, you’re going to have to take this pride of yours and stuff it in your back pocket and sit on it. The fact is, you owe Miss Amon something.”

www.ThePriestAndThePeaches.com

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

SNEAK PEEK of Chapter Nineteen of the young adult ebook "The Priest and the Peaches" - NOW AVAILABLE

A sneak peek of chapter nineteen of The Priest and the Peaches - a young adult ebook release from Tribute Books by Larry Peterson

NOW AVAILABLE!

buy links
Kindle - $2.99
Nook - $4.95
iPad - $4.99
PDF - $4.95
Smashwords - $4.99

CHAPTER NINETEEN
Father Sullivan visits Beatrice

He pushed the doorbell and waited. He heard a faint voice coming from inside. “Oh, just a moment, please. I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm not moving very well. Hold on, please.” It sounded like someone was trapped in a deep hole calling for help as they attempted to climb out.

A few moments passed before Miss Amon slowly opened the door. She was dressed in a floor-length, gray housecoat, a maroon, button-down wool sweater and a pair of rubber boots. Her body was sort of listing to one side and she was holding an ice pack to her bruised forehead.

“Oh my, Beatrice, you look awful. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Oh no, Father. I'll be all right. It's those kids upstairs. My apartment is destroyed. I was almost killed. I don't know what happened up there or what they were doing. All I know is, I'm lucky to be alive.”

“May I come in, Beatrice?”

“Oh, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Of course, Father, come in.”

Father Sullivan followed the slow moving, lucky-to-be-alive woman into her apartment. She immediately headed to the sofa, as she fell more than sat on it. She took a deep breath while simultaneously emitting a soft moan. Leaning her head back, she removed the ice pack, shook it to rearrange the ice inside it before placing it back on her forehead.

Father took in the entire performance. “Well, Beatrice, tell me what happened here today. And what in heaven's name happened to your head?”

www.ThePriestAndThePeaches.com

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

SNEAK PEEK of Chapter Eighteen of the young adult ebook "The Priest and the Peaches" - NOW AVAILABLE

A sneak peek of chapter eighteen of The Priest and the Peaches - a young adult ebook release from Tribute Books by Larry Peterson

NOW AVAILABLE!
Holiday Special
Kindle version only 99 cents until January 2
buy link
Kindle - $0.99

other available buy links
Nook - $4.95
PDF - $4.95
Smashwords - $4.99

Coming soon:
iPad ($4.99)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Running from the cops

“Don't do it, Dancer. Please don't leave us here alone.”

“You wanna go home, don't you?”

“Yeah, but...”

“Then be quiet and take care of Joey.”

Officer Joe was by the doorway with his back to the room talking to the nurse in the hallway. Dancer stepped quietly to the side of the unsuspecting policeman then bolted from the room. Officer Tommy, talking on the pay phone in the lobby, caught a glimpse of someone running. He turned to see Dancer headed for the exit. He dropped the phone as he ran after him but Dancer made it outside. He turned left and kept going—running faster than he ever had in his life.

Officer Tommy shouted, “Dancer, stop right now. You come back here!”

Dancer turned to see Officer Tommy gaining on him. He knew he was no match for the fleet-footed policeman. As he rounded the corner of the hospital he crashed into someone. The man instinctively raised his forearms to protect himself. He held onto Dancer preventing him from getting away. A second later, Officer Tommy grabbed Dancer by the arm. Dancer started hollering, “Leave me alone! I didn't do anything. Let me go!”

Surprisingly, Officer Tommy said, “I'm sorry. Are you all right, Father?”

Dancer turned and looked up at the man he almost knocked over. It was Father Sullivan.

www.ThePriestAndThePeaches.com

Take a seven day journey with the five, newly orphaned Peach kids, as they begin their struggle to remain a family while planning their dad's funeral.

They find an ally in the local parish priest, Father Tim Sullivan, who tries his best to guide them through the strange, unchartered and turbulent waters of "grown-up world." A story that is sad, funny, and inspiring as it shows how the power of family love and faith can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.