Broken relationships were a constant in Mae’s life, causing her to swear off men forever. Unwittingly lured to Ireland, Mae finds herself knee-deep in a hidden world she never knew existed and head over heels for the very man that tricked her to coming there. His deception is complicated by his own feelings for the one person that holds the key to merging the ancient races that once ruled the ancient word.

Mae finds herself in an underground world of witches, and vampires, which are half-breeds of aliens long gone. She learns about her own unique parentage and powers, which she must study in order to control, before they consume her.

Beck and Helen’s love for one another spans across a millennium, her human soul reincarnated to match Beck’s own immortality. This time however the body she occupies is of a being that cannot be eclipsed by her return. After waiting two hundred years, Beck finds himself tormented by Helen’s inability to return and his growing love for her new host.

Some of the underworld creatures welcome her with open arms as a savior, while others seek to destroy the abomination they believe her to be. Will the knowledge of her existence cause a race war when the true power of her blood is discovered? Or will love become her ultimate downfall? 

Schedule (Tour Now Full - Thank You)
February 6 - Meet & Greet at the VBT Cafe' Blog
February 10 - Reviewed at Brewster's Bookshelf
February 13 -  Reviewed at Kindle The Fire 
February 15 - Interviewed at BK Media Entertainment
February 18 - Interviewed at Unnecessary Musings
February 21 - Guest Blogging with Louise Wise
February 23 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
February 27 - Reviewed & Spotlight at Faerotic Prose
February 28 - Reviewed at Ce's Ce's Garden of Reviews
February 29 - Review & Spotlight at A Bookalicious Story
March 2 - Interviewed by Brenda Woody & Steve Tindle
March 5 - Reviewed & Interviewed by Cait Lavender
March 7 - Reviewed at Words I Write Crazy 
March 8 - Reviewed and Guest Blogging at For The Love of Reading
March 9 - Reviewed & Interviewed at From The TBR Pile
March 12 - Reviewed & Guest Blogging with Natalie Nicole Bates 

Alex Kosmitoras’s life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all. 

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival—an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to “see” the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

Book Teaser:  Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still "see" things others can't.  When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.
Book Trailer:  http://youtu.be/tZjskE5zjzM

Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Farsighted is her very first novel. When she's not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

Schedule (Now Closed - Thank You)
January 22 - Meet & Greet at VBT Cafe' Blog
January 24 - Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Lori's Reading Corner
January 26 - Interview & Giveaway at AZ Publishing Services
January 26 - Interviewed at KWOD Radio
January 31 - Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine
February 2 - Guest Blogging at Mad Moose Mama
February 4 - Guest Blogging at Been There, Read That
February 6 - Interviewed at Paranormal Romance
February 8 - Review, Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Cece's Garden of Reviews
February 10 - Reviewed, Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Book Reader Addicts
February 13 - Interviewed at BK Media Entertainment 
February 15 - Guest Blogging with Natalie Nicole Bates
February 16 - Guest Blogging at Kindling The Fire
February 17 - Reviewed & Interviewed at Ink-Puddle
February 19 - Reviewed, Guest Blogging & Giveaway at Words I Write Crazy
February 21 - Interviewed at This Author's Life
February 23 - Interviewed by Louise James
February 27 - Interviewed at Unnecessary Musings
February 28 - Reviewed at Persephone's Winged Reviews
February 29 - Reviewed at S.W.A.K.R.
March 2 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words
March 6 - Guest Blogging at Mother, Gamer, Writer
March 8 - Reviewed & Interviewed at Ink Spots & Roses

Cora Parks is a lifelong Atlantan whose vision is to bring proactive tax counsel and personal responsibility to the masses in the area of taxation.

She is the author and editor of the financial blog Tax Today, a blog that provides readers with information on an array of federal tax topics. She is currently collaborating with PYPTW Inc, a nonprofit organization to start a low income tax clinic in metro Atlanta.

Schedule
This tour now closed for signups - Thank You.
February 22 - Meet & Greet at VBT Cafe' Blog
February 24 - Review, Guest Blog & Giveaway at Taking Time for Mommy
February 27 - Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc.
February 28 - Book Feature at Walker's Musing
March 2 -  Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine 
March 5 - Twitter Fiesta & Giveaway
March 8 -  Featured at Authors Promoting Authors
March 13 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words
March 15 - Interviewed at Writing Innovations
March 16 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services

Joana James is a 28 year old author from the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. She is an I.T. professional by day but in her free time she escapes from the logical world of technology into the artistic world. She is an avid reader and her kindle is her favourite piece of technology. Music is her best friend and that manifests itself through her love for dance and singing.

Joana writes stories that portray the reality of her world. Her first book, a two-part short story series called Rise from the Ashes featured the lives of two young girls struggling in dire circumstances.

Her latest book, Nightmare at Emerald High, brings to the fore a world that everybody knows exists but no one talks about.
http://joanajames.webs.com

1776: An English payroll ship loses sight of its convoy and wrecks on the shoals of a small, remote Caribbean island during a terrible storm, marooning its crew and a small group of soldiers. After rescuing the gold and burying it on the island, they are overrun by a tribe of cannibals, leaving the treasure hidden... Today: Jimmy Quigley, a small town cop, inherits a boat and a treasure map from his Uncle Jackson, a renowned world explorer. He hooks up with Evelyn Quinn, who also received a small inheritance from his uncle. He heads to the Caribbean with Evelyn and her friend, Kristin, and his friend, Rick, for some fun in the sun and a possible treasure hunt. When the boat is ransacked by thieves not once, but twice, Jimmy wonders if his uncle's warning to watch his back has more to it than he first thought. With his friends' safety and the fate of the Lorraine gold in mind, Jimmy heads off into the biggest adventure of his life...

Schedule (15 Stops, 1 minimum Paperback Review)
All reviewers will get a paperback mailed to them.

December 26 - Meet & Greet at VBT Cafe' Blog
December 29 - Interviewed at Reviews & Interviews
December 31 - Guest Blogging at Ashley's Bookshelf
January 2 - Guest Blogging with Cindy Vine
January 4 - Interviewed at Writing Innovations
January 6 - Guest Blogging at Wise Words
January 8 -  Guest Blogging at BK Walker Books Etc. 
January 10 - Interviewed by Louise James
January 14 - Interviewed at Written in Blood
January 17 - Six of a Story at Authors Promoting Authors
January 23 - Interviewed at BK Media Entertainment
January 26 - Interviewed at Unnecessary Musings
January 30 - Guest Blogging at AZ Publishing Services
February 1 - Reviewed at Mad Moose Mama
February 3 - Guest Blogging at Words I Write Crazy

Suze Hall is at a crossroads. Her nemesis at work, Wanda, has been promoted and now will be her boss. Her husband, Bob, is leaving her and the three kids for a six-month sabbatical down under. To top it off, her best friend, Marcia, is missing in action--playing footsie with some new boyfriend!

Adding to this disaster stew, David, the gorgeous hunk who broke her young-girl's heart has coincidentally popped back into her life and has something she desperately needs to keep her job.

Walking with Elephants, a lighthearted slice-of-life story, brings to the table the serious work/family issues facing women today. It explores the modern dichotomy of a workplace that is filled with homemakers who still must cook, clean, carpool on nights and weekends, shop for prom dresses, and "create" the holidays—such as Suze. But it also is filled with women who have the same drive as men, have no family responsibilities, and will do what ever it takes to get ahead.  

So step into the shoes of Suze Hall and commiserate over workplace politics, titillate your sexual fantasies, ride the wave of a working mother, and fall-down laughing.

The cover is a symbol of the message of empowerment of women. The protagonist, Suze, writes and essay at the end of the novel suggesting a paradigm shift from the patriarchal societies that have been in place for centuries to a matriarchy, such as is found in nature. Like elephants, hence the title.

 Reviewer said it's like Bridget Jones meets Erma Bombeck

Walking with Elephants is Karen Bell’s first novel, although she is not new to writing. After earning a graduate degree in mass communication she spent 15 years as an editor and writer of business materials. She says, “Inspiration for this novel came from my direct contact with the joys of Corporate America and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother.” Currently, Ms. Bell resides in Ponte Vedra, Fl with her husband and photos of her children, granddaughters, and grandson who live everywhere BUT Ponte Vedra, Fl

In the Fall of 2001, John Manning’s life is in turmoil. His six-year-old daughter Lucy needs a kidney transplant, and his travel agency is in financial distress because of the 9/11 tragedy. A lapse in his health insurance means he also has to quickly secure funds for his daughter’s operation. John had worked his way out of difficult situations before, but now he’s out of solutions.

Wanda, a client of John’s travel agency, is facing similar difficulties. Her livelihood as a drug dealer has also been hit hard by 9/11. Increased airport security has stymied her transport of cocaine via airline flights. As a single parent, she wants to leave this dangerous profession and break free from her drug-lord boss Jamel, but a lack of funds has curtailed attempts to move and start a new life with her daughter Tonya.

Desperate times lead to desperate measures, and John and Wanda form a partnership to smuggle cocaine via cruise ships. John’s industry knowledge and connections help circumvent transportation risks, while Wanda’s knowledge of the drug industry helps them distribute and sell the product.

Despite a near-death experience on their first run, it was a financial success, and Wanda coaxes John into another trip. Meanwhile Jamel is becoming suspicious of Wanda.

John’s half-brother Travis, a Durham police detective battling his own demons, can’t connect the dots between John and Wanda. Yet, he continues to line his pocket with ill-gotten gains. Lucy and John are the most important people in Travis’ life and he would do anything they asked to help—if they would only ask.

How far should a father go to save his child? Can a man and woman from completely different worlds help each other? Could they fall in love? And who will live to see the summer of 2002? Find the answers in Shades of Gray, a debut novel by Andy Holloman.

 Just like the protagonist in my novel, Shades of Gray,  I was the owner of  travel agency for 12 years (mostly in the 90′s).  But this is the only similarity between myself and John Manning!   (I never ventured into the cocaine business, I swear.)

 I grew up in Greenville, NC and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Economics.  All through high school and college, I was notorious for scribbling out stories and ideas for novels (hey, this was before wordprocessors!)  and always kept them in a top secret shoe box. (and the box is so top secret that I’ve been trying to find it for 15 years!).

       After college, I fell into the travel industry by accident and was able to grow a travel business  into an Inc. 500 company.  The agency grew  through the use of the Internet and by acquiring three other companies.  Late in the 1990’s, I became familiar with the story of one of the my company’s clients who was murdered in Durham, NC and was a suspected drug smuggler.    This story and the subsequent downfall of the travel agency industry (and my company)  after 9/11,  planted a seed in my head that grew into my first published novel, Shades of Gray.  I began writing this novel in 2003, shelved after completion in 2006, and revived in 2011 thanks to a great friend from a writers group in Cary, NC.

      Today, I live in the Raleigh, NC area.  I am the father of three,  and have been happily married for 20 years.  I enjoy (mostly) attending my kids sporting and school events, supporting the local real estate industry, and watching fine films with my wonderful wife.  Whenever possible, I enjoy the beauty of North Carolina’s mountains,  running, camping, and short walks on the beaches of the Outer Banks (several references to OBX in my book) .    I am also an avid reader (time permitting), and a social media goofball.   Most evenings I can be found tapping out my next novel,  due for release in late 2013.   Stay tuned!

What Are You Afraid Of? - A Children's Picture Book

While this book is set during Halloween, it's really a book which addresses the issue of dealing with a child's fears and is meant to be read during any season by any child dealing with any fear. The setting came about because the author's dog is actually afraid of children in costumes on Halloween, and the idea seemed just funny enough an approach to work with this very important subject. Please read the Note from the Author to find out more about why this book was written. “Why does the night have to be so dark?” the big dog named Drake gave a low bark. 

Everyone has fears, even a big dog like Drake. In fact, the big dog named Drake is afraid of the children in costumes on Halloween. He really only likes the candy his boy drops.

Lucky for Drake, the old dog named Zoe is there to help him forget his fears with a fun game.
Drake and Zoe can’t wait for you to play along. 

Note From The Author:

What Are You Afraid Of? is more than a story to help children overcome
their fears. What Are You Afraid Of? is a book about acknowledging a children's fears and dealing with them in ways that do not stifle a child's imagination and creativity. So, indulge me while I state a few ideas.

Children can easily be made to feel small and defenseless in this big
world, while at the same time, children have very vivid imaginations, which
can cause further anxiety over things that are intangible, confusing, and scary. Therefore, how we deal with a child's fears may have tremendous implications on how we foster, or hinder, their creative growth.

While fear can be a manifestation of imagination, so too can compassion
and empathy. Compassion is a product of the imagination as well, being able to ‘see’ ourselves in another’s shoes. So, it only stands to reason, that if we stifle the imagination, we may be stifling the child’s potential to care for the world around him later on. A creative mind is a terrible thing to waste.

We all know that fears or phobias cannot be easily coerced away by mere
rational or logical arguments. Instead, it seems a better approach to
acknowledge a child's fears and show him or her that you know how he or she feels. We can try to diminish the fears by making light of it and making the child laugh. Ah, laughter is the best medicine! I have read psychologists who recommend playing with fears by role playing until the child laughs or by drawing silly pictures of the object of the fear with the same intention.

With all of this in mind, I came up with this story. I hope the idea of a big
dog being afraid of witches and ghosts is silly enough to begin with, along with the playful Halloween-ish images and the funny rhyming patterns. But more, I hope the games the old comes up with will be games your child can also play to eliminate his or her own fears. Most of all, I wish for you and your child to enjoy the story. May you laugh! 
Come visit our FaceBook Page

Purchase in print at Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

I'm over 40. I don't have a blankie. I have vodka.

PRAISE for Rachel Thompson and The Mancode: Exposed...

I absolutely just love the work of Rachel Thompson. Not only is she an amazing person, her writing is witty, humorous, and OMG Brilliant! Where the heck does she come up with this stuff?
~BK Walker, bkwalkerbooks.com

As a long time warrior in the Battle of the Sexes, I would have won a lot more skirmishes had I had a copy of the Mancode in my saddle. Reaching back towards my shotgun, I would have found this book instead. Instead of shooting the man, I could have said, "Stop acting like a man!" 
Get smart: Buy the Mancode and stop wasting bullets.
~Beth Wareham, former senior editor at Simon & Schuster, publishing consultant 

www.rachelintheoc.com
***
THE BOOK
Is it possible to truly expose men? 


Men, women, sex, love, stereotypes. Important world topics like garages, lingerie, and um, chocolate? It's a melting pot (okay, now you're just getting hungry)...


But more than that, it's about all the levels in which we communicate...viewed through Thompson's looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark.


Thompson explores controversial questions like: <ul><li>Can we outrun our DNA? </li><li>Will we women always be slaves to our talkative nature (après sex)? </li><li>Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding? </li><li>Can we transfer man's paper towel changing abilities from garage to kitchen? </li></ul> 
"Women see a man scratching his stuff and want to run away. Quickly. Men see a woman rearranging her breasts, he's mesmerized. Imagine that." 

I have this theory, based on too many martinis one night, that women speak in circles and men speak in points. #thinkaboutit MORE PRAISEFinally! A woman who gets what I'm going through every day, from that whole spitting thing to my deep, abiding love for chocolate. Well done!
~Amber Scott, author of #1 bestselling books IRISH MOON, FIERCE DAWN & WANTED

'Mancode: Exposed' is a scathingly funny, rapid fire and heartfelt look at guys. Author Rachel Thompson delivers a satirical piece that invokes strong shades of Penny Marshall and Seth MacFarlane.
~Casey Ryan, Host & Creator, Cutting Room FloorAgree or disagree, Thompson will have you laughing! BUY IT!
Read and see for yourself!
***Can't get enough of Rachel's snarky humor? Purchase A Walk In The Snark, her #1 bestselling humorous and at times, poignant collection of essays which hit #1 on the Kindle Motherhood list EIGHT times so far this year! 

***Want to learn more about self-publishing, eBooks, and social media? Pick up Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-Publishing Success, cowritten by Rachel Thompson, Carolyn McCray and Amber Scott!

***Want something completely different? Check out the horror anthology The Evil Within just released October, 2011! All the stories are reallllly scaaaarrry. Rachel's is titled There Are No Monsters. Boo. 

***Want to learn about Rachel's experience with self-publishing? Check out Our Indie Experience (An Indie Book Collective Anthology), released November, 2011! The good, the bad, and the searingly honest. Rachel's tip: hire an editor, a proofreader, AND a formatter. Want to learn more? Buy the book!

*Adult Content*

What would your 20-year-old self think of the 40-year-old you’ve become?

For Steve, Sophia, Dave, and Brooke, life hasn’t turned out as planned. Rather than easy fame and fortune, these happy-go-lucky teenagers of the 1980's found young adulthood a mystifying series of dead-end jobs, failed relationships, family scandal, and surging frustration. 

Now approaching middle age, all they want is to reverse their gradual alienation from life and one another, reconnecting with their earlier, innocent selves. 

But there’s a catch. Before any of them can move forward, they must collectively confront the outrageous night back in college that first drove them apart, revealing secrets potentially shattering everything they ever were. 

Nothing is out of bounds in this stunning, often hilarious, and ultimately uplifting look within the secret lives of what is surely America’s Most Disillusioned Generation.