Valerie Joan Connors "In Her Keeping"

Available on Amazon, Kindle and Barnes & Noble

Bell Bridge Books (August 15, 2013)

From Valerie Connors: About the book and the inspiration behind the story.

 

My inspiration for the book was an eight-week old, 20 pound tiger cub named Meka, that my husband and I met in September of 2010 on a weekend visit to North Carolina.  I got to feed the cub a bottle, and it was an amazing experience that would change my life forever, but also tugged at that empty place in my heart that always longed for children of my own.  In the days and weeks that followed, I couldn't get the cub out of my head.  I began to do research about tigers in captivity in the United States, and the dwindling number of tigers remaining in the wild.  I discovered a whole new world, most of it sad, some of it tragic.  But in the midst of it all were a whole group of kind-hearted individuals who devote their lives to caring for these animals in accredited sanctuaries. They rescue tigers and other big cats from abuse and neglect, and give them a safe place in which to live out their lives as comfortably as possible in spite of their captivity.  It never really occurred to me that such a problem existed.  But people engage in some really cruel behaviors with these animals, taking them away from their mothers too soon in order to let people handle them all day long for photo ops, or thinking that they would make a really great pet, only to discover later, when the animals weigh 400 pounds and could kill you in an instant, that they really hadn't thought it through.  Sometimes these animals, the lucky ones, end up in sanctuaries where trained and responsible handlers love and care for them.  What happens to the others is very sad indeed.

 

The plight of tigers in captivity in the United States is something most people are unaware of.  It’s an unfortunate result of shortsightedness and uninformed decision making over a long period of time.   Sadly, unless something is done, these magnificent creatures will soon disappear from the world entirely.  That loss will be significant.

 

In Her Keeping is about one of the good sanctuaries, and a woman who desperately wants a child of her own.  But after eight years she has tried and failed to accomplish it.  But when she finds herself caring for a tiger cub instead, she learns that motherhood can take many forms.

 

 

 

About The Author:

 

 

Author Valerie Joan Connors

 

 

In Her Keeping is Valerie Connors' second novel, but first through a traditional publisher, Bell Bridge Books.  In 2010 she self-published Give Me Liberty, the story of a young woman’s journey in 1953 from a small town in Michigan to New York City, where she struggles to fulfill her destiny. 

 

Valerie Connors is working on two more novels and hopes to get on in the loop for publication in 2014. During normal business hours she is employed by an architectural design firm as their Operations Manager, which deals with IT and Human Resources. In May of this year she was installed as the President of the Atlanta Writers Club after serving on the board for two years. She and her husband live in the Metro Atlanta area.

 

 

What They're Saying About In Her Keeping:

 

 

"A warm and inspiring novel of second chances, starting over, and learning that happiness comes in all forms and all (tiger) stripes.    ...New York Times bestselling author, DEBORAH SMITH

 

 

"Valerie Joan Connors scores a home run with her wonderful story about two fascinating subjects:  true love and tigers." …New York Times Bestselling Author, HAYWOOD SMITH

 

 

"Valerie Joan Connors knows her tigers, both real and ephemeral. In Her Keeping is a cinematic tale of love lost, and love found."   ...JESSICA HANDLER, author of Braving The Fire: A Guide to Writing Through Grief and Loss, and Invisible Sisters: A Memoir.

 

 

"Valerie Connors' novel offers a refreshing variant on a woman's journey of self-discovery. On the surface In Her Keeping appears to be about Sylvia Holt re-channeling her desire for motherhood by nurturing big cats. Deep down, however, this is a story about her reconnection with people and her renewed trust in the wisdom of the heart." .... GEORGE

WEINSTEIN, author of Hardscrabble Road.

 

Meka

 

 

Links:

 

Author's Web

 

Amazon

 

Kindle

 

Give Me Liberty

 

Bell Bridge Books Interview

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book signing with husband and members of the Atlanta Writers Club

 

Roy Dimond New Release "The Rubicon Effect"

 

New release from author Roy Dimond September 9, 2013. Available on Amazon and Kindle . Use the Look Inside feature on Amazon to read pages from the book.



“I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe in a fate that falls on them unless they act.” —Buddha
 

About the Book:

A new Pope, a new US President, and the end of the world. What happens when we cross the Rubicon, and there is no going back to the way things used to be? How do you solve problems with no solutions? These are the questions author Roy Dimond dares to ask in his new thriller.

Two seemingly unrelated events will soon affect the entire world! The Holy Church has just ordained the first South American Pope. Born into poverty and raised on the mean streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the new leader of the Holy Church intends to bring the church kicking and screaming into the 21st century. While at the same time, the death of the Venezuelan President has opened the door to a new, rising political star and her plan to inspire an entire world. The Pope finds himself cleverly trapped in a web, from which he cannot escape, when the Republican nominees for President and Vice President of the United States of America, Richard Delaney, and his stunning running mate, Michelle Yakin, propose a horrific solution. However, three visionaries: a mysterious Elder from the Andes Mountains, who calls himself Older Brother, the second term, lame duck, President of the United States of America, and an environmentalist, see another way . . . Unfortunately, the time to act is running out. Mother Nature may have crossed the Rubicon and there is no turning back. The Apocalypse, the End of Days has arrived and humanity is to be judged.

Published by Raven's Wing Books, an imprint of Grey Gate Media, LLC. ISBN 978-1618071002



About the Author:

Author Roy Dimond

Roy Dimond was featured on Book Talk on August 15, 2013 with his novel The Singing Bowl. You can read that post by clicking  here. We welcome Roy back today with his new release this month, The Rubicon Effect.

From a recent interview, Roy talks about his main character in The Rubicon Effect. You can read the full interview on the Authors Promotion (Authors Promotion and Books Marketing, a new blog on WordPress.com site)


Sam Albright, my main character, doesn’t suffer fools and seldom has doubts. He’s an environmentalist who knows what’s coming, Armageddon, and worse, he knows that it is already too late to affect Global Climate Change. 

 However, at a deeper level, I think the main character is really the psyche of mankind. Behind the scenes, it is really all humanity that drives my characters. From the newly elected Pope, to the second term lame duck President, from the new President of Venezuela, to the Republican right-wing they really only represent the needs, desires, and dreams of humanity. None of my characters got to where they are on their own; humanity raised them to the positions they have. That’s why I say my story is really about what drives mankind… hope or fear.

And a little personal information about the author from the same interview.

Before I was a writer I was working with at-risk families as a Youth Worker. It was there that I found so many enriching and fascinating people and I often draw from that experience to find characters and plots for my novels.  I then began traveling, and have had the good fortune to find many interesting places. Again these experiences have often found a way into my writing.

 In my spare time I hike and am fortunate enough to live with my wife in one of the most beautiful places on the planet aptly named Garden Bay, on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.


 Links:

Author Website

Author Interview

Amazon

Kindle

Facebook Author Page

Grey Gate Media

Smashwords

Goodreads 

 

Edward G. Kardos "Elias and the Legend of Sirok"

Available on Amazon and Kindle.

About The Book:

Into the world of dreams and fears . . . Elias and the Legend of Sirok takes you on a hero's journey. Elias, an artist, is at odds with his life on his father's farm, and is forced to make a decision about his future. His grandmother, Nagymama prepares him for a journey of discovery that takes him from his Hungarian village into a supernatural world. Here he faces powers and mystical beings - some that he strives to understand, while others he is forced to battle. With help from Zoltan, a wise man, he finally confronts the Sarkany, a dragon that changes shape at whim and will.

Will Elias triumph over the dark powers around him? If he survives, what will he learn about life and himself?

About The Author:

Edward Kardos

 

 

"Inspiration for my writing comes from the beauty that surrounds me both in people and the places I visit. My wife and I have four great children and we live in Richmond, Virginia." Edward Kardos

 

 

From an Author Interview:

 

Who did you write the book for?

"As always, I write first for myself. I write what’s meaningful to me, but the story of Elias will appeal to young readers and young at heart readers too. If you have ever been in a position that you were afraid to take that next step, you will enjoy taking this journey with Elias."

Is there a central message in the book?

"To be true to oneself would be the central theme. I believe that it is only when we follow our heart that we realize our dreams."

What inspired you to write this book?

"People. Courageous people who know what’s most important to them and live their life to the fullest. So many of us do not follow our hearts for reasons of conditioning, of guilt or fear.  We can fear both our failures as well as our successes and it takes courage to step out of our comfort zone and make a difference in not only our own lives but a difference in the lives of others."

Who should buy this book?

"Young people who enjoy action and adventure. I can see Baby Boomers or even the parents of Boomers buying it for young readers but wanting a copy of their own—I think the story reminds us that in our busy day we eventually come home and when we do, we come home to ourselves. We’ve got to be happy with who we are well before we can be happy with others."

Read the full interview on the author's website.


Edward Kardos is also the author of Zen Master Next Door, Parables for Enlightened Everyday Living and Yours, Aiden. All are available on Amazon.

Links:

Author Website

Facebook Page

Amazon Author Page

Elias and the Legend of Sirok on Amazon

Smashwords e-book

Author's Blog

“Ed Kardos is a soul searcher. He writes from the head and heart, finding true meaning in the vagaries of life." —Dean King, bestselling author of Skeletons on the Zahara

 

Roy Dimond "The Singing Bowl"

Available on Amazon and Kindle. Other sales sites listed below.

Publisher: Green Dragon Publishing Group; 2 edition (March 13, 2013)

 

About The Book:


A Tibetan monk embarks on a journey filled with harrowing dangers and strange mysteries. His quest is to find a lost book and save an ancient way of life. Under attack from Chinese Communists, a monk travelling the wilds of Tibet is given a daunting task--to bring a way of life back from the brink. That's the spellbinding journey revealed in Roy Dimond's new, action-packed adventure tale. Given an ancient artifact from his monastery, the sacred "Singing Bowl," the young monk beads out on a trek to find a lost book and reunite a broken circle to keep his centuries-old civilization alive.

Amazon Reader Reviews:

"The Singing Bowl is a novel of amazing scope. It's a story of political intrigue, a mystery, a travelogue, a romance, but most of all, a powerful tale of an inner spiritual journey."

"Mr. Dimond had me from the first line, 'Today my heart broke and a world shattered.' "

"This epic story is an ultimate must-read in your life backpack!"



About The Author:

 

Roy Dimond at Machu Piccu

"I was not always a writer.  For most of my adult life I was a Youth Worker meaning that I worked with families that were struggling, or children who were having a hard time.  It was a profession that was both rewarding and heart breaking.  In the thirty years that I was a Youth Worker, I learned two things that led me on a journey half way around the world and back.  When I returned — I began writing." 

 

For thirty years, Roy Dimond worked with at risk families and presented workshops at universities and colleges. Roy draws inspiration for his novels from a combination of this experience and his varied explorations of such locales as Cuzco, Kyoto, Santorini and Tsumago. Five years of research and travel reinforced with fifty years of meditation culminated in The Singing Bowl and it's powerful message.

 

Dimond lives with his wife in Garden Bay, a small fishing village on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. When not traveling, Roy can be found in his log home overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean writing his next novel.

Upcoming Releases: The Rubicon Effect, published by Grey Gate Media and Saving Our Pennys.

Links:

Author's Website

Author's Facebook Page

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Tower Books

Waterstones

Goodreads

AuthorsDen

YouTube

The Wall Street Journal




 

Tudor Rubato won Best Contemporary Cover at the RONE awards

 

Buy On Kindle

As a follow-up to our post on author Jamie Salisbury on August 6, 2013 (link to post) we are pleased to announce her cover for Tudor Rubato won  Best Contemporary Cover at the RONE awards Friday night in Las Vegas!!

From Jamie:

 I certainly cannot take credit because fantastic cover artists like Fiona Jayde is the person responsible for taking my ideas and making them come to life!! Thanks Fiona!! You rock girl!!

Jamie Salisbury "Life and Lies"

Available on Kindle and Secret Cravings Publishing

 

Life and Lies, the conclusion/sequel to Rockin' the Boss now available!

 

 

About the Book:

 

Heat Index: Sizzling   

 

The world is his oyster and Max Frazier knows that each and every pearl is his for the taking.  At the top, a theater bearing his name in Las Vegas, performances sold out months in advance and record sales through the roof. Things couldn't get any better, could they?

 

Ashleigh Thomas, the fiery, no nonsense businesswoman who orchestrated this success, the only woman he's truly ever wanted is his bed and life. But first he and Ashleigh have a mission to do, one he never wanted her involved in.

 

Alive and quite well, Ashleigh's thought to be dead husband Richard lurks in the background, teasing and taunting. He deals in the underbelly of life - the sex trade business. Max and Ashleigh infiltrate his world of sex clubs and more with one objective in mind…to put an end to Richard's evilness and bring him to justice.

 

In doing so Ashleigh and Max discover a bond which expands and deepens as Max introduces and schools Ashleigh in the BDSM lifestyle. Will she allow him to lead her into temptation, and ultimately submit to Max? Or is her stubbornness and independent nature too much for even Max to contain?

 

Life has a funny way of dealing the cards. One day you're in bliss with the woman and family you love and longed for, the next it almost disappears. Forever, in the blink of an eye. . .but for the sheer determination of one agent who secretly blames himself for pushing the couple too deep calls in every favor owed him. 

From Jamie:

August is on it's way to being awesome. Not only has Life and Lies released,  Tudor Reunion Tour will be out on August 14th.

Another new feature on the blog: Excerpts! I'll start posting excerpts, perhaps even a chapter there. Check it out!

Contest!!

Awesome August giveaway! I'll be giving you two chances to win copies of one or both Rockin' the Boss and Life and Lies! Now what do I do to enter? Simple! Go to my website (Click here)  Then to the 'contact' tab, fill out the form and voila! You're entered! Drawings will be August 15th and August 31st!


About the author:
 

 

 

 

In the two short years since Jamie Salisbury began publishing her Romance stories, she has seen her historical-romance westerns soar to #1 on Amazon, has been nominated for a 2012 RONE award for her novella Tudor Rubato making the finals, and has expanded her audience to include several now published by Secret Cravings Publishing. 

Currently Jamie lives in the American south. When she's not writing or plotting out her next story, she can be found with her camera, traveling or just chillin' reading a good book. 

This is Jamie's second visit to Book Talk. Read an earlier post on Jamie Salisbury from April 2, 2013 on Book Talk by clicking here.

 

Links:

Blog 

Website

Romance Novel Center

Facebook Author Page

Twitter @JamieRSalisbury

Kindle
 

Remember Contest Drawings August 15th  and August 31st. Check out the author's website! Details above.

                                                                 Jamie Salisbury

                                                                         Women's Fiction Author

                                                                         Contemporary and Historical Romance

 

 

 

 

  

Mama Katie's Lemon Pound Cake Recipe from Julius Thompson's "Ghost of Atlanta"

  

      In my National Gold Medal award winning novel, Ghost of Atlanta, the making of a  lemon pound cake played a crucial inspiration for the characters in the opening chapters of the novel. Since the book's publishing,  I've received numerous requests for the recipe for the lemon pound cake, which comes from my grandmother, Mama Katie, and her famous pound cake.   

       I remember many a day walking into her home in Winder, Georgia, after attending Glenwood High School, and smiling and sniffing that wonderful aroma from the Lemon Pound cake baking in the wood stove oven.

       Mmm...Good!!!!

      Below is the recipe and I hope you enjoy the lemon pound cake with a cup of coffee, while reading Ghost of Atlanta on your ebook reader or a print edition of the novel.

                                                               God Bless,

                                                               J. E. Thompson

 

Use the Look-Inside feature on Amazon to see a bit of the book!

 

 

 

 

     From the Early Chapters of Ghost of Atlanta : When Andy and Grandmother Martha were cooking this lemon pound cake together, it created a bond that lasted a lifetime. More importantly a loving memory that sustains Andy over the years as he faces many trails in his life.

      

 Mama Katie's Lemon Pound Cake! 

     1 (1.5 ounce) bottle lemon extract (only) Real lemons in those days were expensive, but thanks to Mr. Watkins, who made extract in every flavor, this was a fantastic substitute.

     2 cups butter 4 sticks (key ingredient, remember no margarine back then).

     3 cups sugar

     3 1/2 cups flour  (All-purpose): flour divided

       1 1/2 teaspoons  Baking Power

     6 eggs (remember, in a separate bowl crack and sniff, just to be sure they're fresh)

 ===============================================================

1. Pre-heat oven: 275
2. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy.
3. In a separate bowl, sift 3 cups flour (Well today we don't have to sift, but you can) and baking powder.
4. Add eggs to butter/sugar mixture (one at a time) and then add lemon extract, alternating with flour mixture ( You going to think you need liquid, but  you don't. It's supposed to be somewhat stiff)
5. Lightly butter cake pan, then use remaining flour to  flour sides and flute.
6. Pour batter into pan and gently shake to even out.
7. Bake for 2-hours and 30 minutes or 2-hours and 45 minutes, depending on your oven. (With all our modern technology, our grandparents still managed to bake a two and a half cake in an hour and half.)
8. Cake is done when toothpick (inserted into center) comes out clean.
9. Cool and remove carefully from pan.
10. It serves about fifteen slices.

This recipe has been in our family since my Mama Katie was a little girl!

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Links:

 

Click Here to read the July 20, 2012 Book Talk post on Ghost of Atlanta.

Author's Amazon Page  includes other books by Julius Thompson

Buy On Amazon

Kindle

Author's Web