Sunday, June 30, 2013

HORSE COUNTRY By Christine Meunier

 Horse Country Excerpt
Lise Hemmingway smiled to herself, studiously reading the available jobs listed on the sheet in front of her.
She silently thanked whichever genius had decided to start a company that focused solely on advertising jobs in the equine industry and lining up capable people to take on these jobs anywhere across the globe. At nineteen years of age, the slim brunette already boasted a strong love of horses and had proven herself capable of handling and caring for excitable Thoroughbreds many a time.
Just recently, she had finished up a six-month stint at a large stud in the Hunter Valley, working with weanlings and previously foaling down mares. Now in February and barely scraping the surface of what the year had to offer her, she had traveled to South Australia with a friend, helping out with a few yearlings for the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale to earn a bit of extra money before moving on to Victoria.
Having given up on school at the age of sixteen Lise had quickly learnt what hard work was involved in working in the thoroughbred field. This was now especially true, with the equine industry quickly adopting the idea of employing those who had taken the time to learn the theory and gain the piece of paper.
Eager to improve herself though, she had delighted her past employers by asking lots of questions, often volunteering for tasks others shied away from and consistently turning up early or staying behind late. It was obvious to others that she was aware that working with horses wasn’t at all a nine to five job, but rather, a lifestyle.
***
Listen to the author read the below Horse Country Excerpt
Glancing out of the school window across the green oval the bored sixteen-year-old sighed, admitting to herself that it would be a lot more exhilarating racing her palomino gelding around the emerald surface than sitting in a stuffy room while their teacher marked the role.
Calling her name he gained her attention, marking her off before addressing the class.
“Morning everyone. Over the next fifteen minutes or so, I want you to have a think about what you’re going to do after year twelve.
“Because you’re in year eleven, I know most of you have already picked subjects that coincide with what you plan on studying in University. But, today I’d like you to have a think about what you want as a job after your studies and list five different possibilities for me. This year you’re going to do two bouts of work experience, so we will try and line these up with your preferences,” a balding fifty something pedagogue informed the general consensus of bored teens before him.
She smiled to herself, mentally correcting the teacher as she stared at the blank piece of paper in front of her. She didn’t want a job – she wanted a career.
***

Christine Meunier considers herself introduced to the wonderful world of horses at the late age of 13 when her parents agreed to lease a horse for her. She started experiencing horses via books from a young age and continues to do so, but recognises that horses cannot be learnt solely from books.
She has been studying horses from age 16, starting with the Certificate II in Horse Studies and is currently undertaking her Bachelor of Equine Science via distance education.
She has worked at numerous Thoroughbred Studs in North East Victoria before following her passion for breeding horses over to the Irish National Stud in Kildare.
Christine at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales, 2009. Photo by Kathie Thomas
She then gained experience in a couple of Melbourne based horse riding schools, instructing at a basicv level before heading off overseas again, this time to South Africa to spend hours in the saddle of endurance and trail horses on the Wild Coast.
Particularly passionate about the world of breeding horses, she teaches equine studies focused on breeding, at TAFE.
Other Writings
Christine writes about horses online at Suite101.com.
Christine also writes a blog about equine education – EQUUS.

 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Thundering LUV by LM Preston




L.M. Preston was born in Washington, DC.  She loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl.  A Techie and Educator for over sixteen years, she started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids.  She has an obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.  She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing. In addition to being an author, she's also a Moderator for Yalitchat.ning.org, 2012 Vice President of Mid Atlantic Book Association and 2012 co-chair for the Maryland Writer's Conference.





 
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Excerpt (3): Jewel

 

Jewel pictured Matt, muscular frame, thick shoulders, all the makings of a star quarterback, topped with curly red hair. Crap, he was gorgeous. What was she thinking, maybe she shouldn’t end it? “Uh…,”

                “You’re scaring me. Talk to me, you know I love you like crazy. When you don’t answer my calls I’m thinking you don’t love me anymore,” Matt sounded almost whiny and she hated when they did that. Whined, cried, and made her feel like a she-witch.

                “Well I’ve been busy. You know with the girls and we got here today. And since you … know I’ll be gone all summer maybe we should um take a break?” Jewel cleared her throat, feeling like scum. She should really be a pro at this, but she hated it, especially doing it where she had to hear or see her next victim. And she didn’t want to hurt them, she knew they’d be better off with someone who could really fall in love with them. Not someone like her, someone broken. Some of the guys she’d broken up with would cry, other’s had tried to physically hurt her. She’d learned her lesson and tried to break up in as distant a way as possible. But ending this with Matt now on the phone couldn’t be helped.

                “No. I don’t want a vacation from you. I love you. I was thinking about driving up there today. Me and the guys could rent a place nearby. My dad said he’d foot the bill, and since him and my mother split he’ll do anything for me. He even brought me a new convertible, your sexy gold hair would feel good slapping against my face while I drive.” He cleared his throat, “And you’ll be able to ditch your cousin and stay with me – alone.”

                Jewel slapped her forehead. Why couldn’t Matt take a hint. “But I, no I don’t think that’s a good idea. My mom barely let me come with Megs and Amy, because she’s so protective and if she knew I was meeting my boyfriend here she’d think you…and I were you know…,” she cleared her throat. Not only that, but being alone with Matt made her feel extremely uncomfortable. The last time they were alone at her house when he popped over unannounced, he’d almost ripped off her shirt fighting her while they kissed in her living room. He’d tried to force her blouse up, and she fighting him to put it down. If Megs hadn’t come over earlier than planned, Jewel didn’t know what would’ve happened. It was then Jewel decided to break it off with Matt.

                “Say it? C’mon tell me you love me back and I’ll wait to come up. I kinda feel like, Jewel, I really miss you. And you never tell me you love me back. Yeah, you kiss me, tell me how great a person I am, and things other people don’t even notice about me, but you never seem to … give me part of yourself.” Matt cleared his voice, like he was about to continue.

                “It’s because…well, I don’t … I’m not in love with you the way you want me to be. And I’m sorry Matt, I really am, but we need to break up. I can’t do this to you anymore,” Jewel felt like a lowlife. Again and again, she couldn’t give up hope that she’d find someone, somebody out there that her heart connected too. She’d thought it was Matt, felt a little flutter in her tummy when they’d first met, but it died the next day, and by then he’d pressured her to be his girlfriend. And after that, he like all her other ex-boyfriends started to turn scary.
 
 
 
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Friday, June 28, 2013

RBTL PRESENTS Legacy of Blood by J. L. McCoy


Synopsis:
"Skye Morrison begged for death.  Fortunately, someone didn't listen.
Skye awakens to discover she has been irrevocably changed and the unprecedented circumstances of her rebirth have now created a new threat to her very existence. Sired by both the monster Amun and the vampire Archer Rhys, Skye must prove to the army of An Dilis (The Faithful) whose essence is most dominant within her and that she is not a danger to them or society.  The Faithful soon discover that she is unlike any vampire ever created before as she struggles to adjust to her new life and the changes that come with it.
Her recent brush with death has made Skye realize that life is precious and she wastes no time telling the one she loves how she feels about him.
But, Amun finds out that someone interfered with Skye's transformation and the intrusion makes him livid.  He gives Skye 7 days to come to him or he threatens to begin killing the ones she loves most.  
Will Skye be able to survive long enough to enjoy her new life now that Amun is hunting her and everyone she loves?
Book Links 





Author Information 


J. L. McCoy resides in the beautifully weird city of Austin, Texas with her opinionated Pekiweenie Isabel and handsome husband Kenny.  She has always been a passionate reader and enjoys watching movies, traveling, listening to heavy metal/classic rock/80s music, getting mani/pedis with her girls, and singing karaoke.  She loves body art and is hopelessly addicted to Sonic’s ice and Route 44 un-sweet raspberry iced tea. 

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Other Books in the Skye Morrison Series  





Praise  


"[Legacy of Blood] left me breathless and wanting more."  -NarlyNut's Book Lovers and Reviews

"J.L. McCoy takes us on a continued ride of intense, enthralling, page turning fascination."(praise for The Original Sin) -NarlyNut's Book Lovers and Reviews

"And I can't wait to sink my fangs into the next book, to see what the hell is going on with Skye. Once again I give this book Five GOTHIC stars!!!" (praise for The Original Sin) -CYNTHIA SHEPP BOOK REVIEWS & EDITING

"This series floored me! I was sucked in (pun intended) from the very beginning." -Bex 'N' Books

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

LEAVING EVA a book by Jennifer Sivec

Leaving EvaAbandoned as a child, Brynn is adopted into a violent and tumultuous world under the deceptive guise of a Mother's love. She accidentally discovers a secret way to survive. Brynn is left to fend for herself, as those who are supposed to love and protect her most, fail.

In High School, Brynn unexpectedly falls for sweet, handsome Adam. He tries to teach her that she can have hope and happiness, if she only will embrace it. As an adult, it appears as though Brynn has her life together. No one except for Adam really knows her secret pain and history has an unkind way of repeating itself.

Suddenly she is faced with destroying her greatest love, and the need to confront her own fear before it swallows her completely. In the end, Brynn discovers a truth about herself that changes everything, and gives her the freedom to accept the beautiful possibilities of what life can be. Abandoned as a child, Brynn is adopted into a violent and tumultuous world under the deceptive guise of a Mother's love. She accidentally discovers a secret way to survive. Brynn is left to fend for herself, as those who are supposed to love and protect her most, fail.

BOOK @ AMAZON

BOOK @ BARNES AND NOBLE

Jennifer SivecVisit Jennifer Sivec on Facebook


Jennifer is from Oberlin, Ohio and is married to her best friend and love, who keeps her laughing and focused. They have two energetic little sons who give them purpose and happiness.

Writing has been Jennifer's saving grace her entire life and her very personal passion, fueled by her early love of reading. Early influences were Classics such as Little Women, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, and Shakespeare. She has always written solely for sanity, sanctity of the soul, and peace of mind.

"Leaving Eva" is Jennifer's first complete work, and has been several years in the making. It was inspired by her own abandonment as a child.

Jennifer can be contacted at jennifersivec@yahoo.com or you can find her author page, Jennifer Sivec on Facebook.

Leaving Evawww.goodreads.com

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Have you met Agy Wilson ?

This may seem off topic to a blog on art, and I've had people sometimes defriend me in the social cyber sphere because I've got opinions and share them. Okay sometimes A LOT. But that's what an artist does, I think.

Artists, whether they be into music, paint and pixels, words on a page, movement or any other expression are meant to EXPRESS. I'm arrogant enough, I want what I manifest to be worth my time in this place called Earth, so I work hard not just at that whole art thing, but the people thing as well. So this might SEEM off topic, but for me it is intrinsic to art--- especially my art. And this is from someone who is very uncomfortable with feeling and fearful of just about everything. I just work every day to get over it, sometimes more successful than others.

I've said this before, I will keep saying it, because I keep forgetting it. In order to create anything worthy of art, I embrace my fears. Sometimes I'm ham-handed in my efforts, sometimes it takes me a WHILE to get it. But anything worth creating has taken that wrangle and effort. I could say the same for my life.

This was recently brought home to me again, after another particularly brutal time, prior to these events.

I had complained of a hurt a bit ago, because I'd shown up at one of my favorite libraries and received the kind of reception I often get, and dread. In all fairness, it was bad timing, it was a hot day, there was a whirlwind of activity (which is true of most libraries nowadays and they work UNDER BUDGET, most of them are stressed, because they are a dedicated lot. Really, because of my movement around the last few years, I've visited a few libraries and I had been worried about the libraries. Now I'm worried for the librarians. The economic stresses have reached well into their structure and the full time job they used to do they must do in less than twenty hours, and still be gracious to people and meet all the public needs of their job. Usually with less staff. But I digress).

In another life I might have gone off on such a thing (more likely it wouldn't have happened, we would have both been in a much better place). Instead I walked away hurt and vented a little at home and online and felt bad.

When I found an old friend volunteered at the library, I almost didn't go, but I have determined I was going to give people the opportunity to make their interaction with me about something other than appearances. And I needed to confront my fears, again. And besides, I could just ignore the offending person. Except a BUNCH of wonderful things happened. First I found my elder daughter's first teacher worked there. Then my friend came in, and I got to thank her so much for mentoring me when I really needed that beginning push. She encouraged me along the way, and I was able to give her a hug for having missed her for so long.

And that wasn't even the wonderful, WONDERFUL thing. The person who hurt my feelings came up and asked if I illustrated, I informed her that I wrote and illustrated and we'd met. Her whole demeanor sagged. She'd thought she'd recognized me, and she felt horrible for the way she'd treated me and apologized. She wanted to take the time to view what I'd wanted to share before, and the things she said more than made up for the initial hurt. I left the library bolstered, elated and mostly restored.

Except I'd not been gracious and had been extremely defensive. At first I felt exonerated and happy, I'd been right, I really was someone she would find good in and want to have around (have you noticed I love kids and books?!) But it quickly wore off and flattened. I really didn't like the way I'd dealt with her, even if it was still too raw and she'd originally been off to a bad start. Goodness knows I've done that so often. The best is when people could see my humanity and not only forgave me for it, but embraced me. I determined I would not only apologize, and explain to her how it hurt, and that what she did MATTERED. I want to know that about myself, so why not do that for someone else?

Then the truly great thing happened. It was work, hadn't planned on taking the walk, it threw a wrench in my timing, but it was exactly what I needed to do.

In the course of the apology I found we had so many things in common, I had been correct, I'd caught her not only at a bad time on that particular day, but there had been struggles on lots of levels that immediately made me glad I felt the remorse. She told me about an event, that I ended up attending and the speaker was inspirational. The speaker needed help getting her book published, and I'm happy to have met her and hope to help her in her goal. 

The librarian was a fount of information, I know she'll help in some of my goals (I want to be able to get my e-books into the libraries, but it's a process, as well as get the word out about my books and efforts). I had an idea for a book I hope to work jointly on with her, because I know absolutely it's a necessary thing, and I have a feeling we'll have a great time working on it.

So what's this got to do with art? Art is about feeling, taking chances, bracing and then embracing your fears,  and then articulating all that so you can take others on a similar journey. Art is about empathy. If your life is not empathic to a certain degree-- how can you hope to make art? That doesn't mean to run out and become Mother Theresa (though we probably could use a few more like her). But it does mean, suspending judgment and ask more questions. Don't take things at FACE value (you'd not talk to me, because truth be told, the thing I hate is people who used to know me wanting to know whatever happened to me-- lack of funds and care darling-- and others dismissing me, because I've lived close to the bone and after 56 years, it shows. I don't need pity but I'll take your empathy and I will return that gift polished and shined).

Doesn't matter how fearful you are, learn and push yourself to live fearlessly, and you will be able to create something that people will respond to. It will make you an artist. I thank everyone in my life good, bad and even the indifferent (you haters, you know who you are!) because you've made me the artist I am.

For those of you who read this and are disappointed, I'm sorry. For the others, live fearlessly (not stupidly, don't do anything that will imperil you!) but by all means let me know if and how it affects what you create.

And now for something completely different, this weeks coloring page...

https://www.facebook.com/agy.Wilson



www.barnesandnoble.com NANA'S GIFT

Nana's Gift


www.barnesandnoble.com~roomwars

Room Wars



Image of Agy Wilson

I love family, art, environment, history, calligraphy and all things language. It's only natural for me throw it into a huge pot and cook up my books. When I'm not playing with kids or pets, I'm usually immersing myself in my work.
 
 
 
 







 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Children's books author JOSH RADER IS ON THE SPOTLIGHT with DETECTIVE STEPHY WEPHY HOLMES


 
Josh Rader



A children picture book series about a girl, Stephanie, who helps solve mysteries. When the time calls, she becomes Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes. See what clues she uses to solve the case.


Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes in the Missing Cake (Children's picture book)Before dinner, Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes wanted to see what's for dinner. It was meatloaf, which she didn't like but they were going to have chocolate cake for dessert. But when her mother went to look at the cake, it was gone. It was up to Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes to use the clues to help solve the mystery of the missing cake. See if Detective Stephy Wephy Holmes can solve the mystery.

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Detective Stephy Wephy.blogspot.com

Monday, June 24, 2013

RBTL PRESENTS a 4 BOOK BLOG TOUR THE WORLD AMONG US by BETH ANN MASARIK

 
Title: Murderous Regrets
Author: Beth Ann Masarik
Series: The World Among Us (Prequel #1)
Genre: YA/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hydra Publications
Release Date: Mar 28 2013
Word Count: 3,746
Number of Pages: 20 pages
Blurb/Synopsis:
Leon Greene is accused of murdering his best friend, Jason Aysel, and the world wants to know if he really did it. Cue Elise Stevenson, the top news reporter for the Daily Gazette who gets the scoop. Will Leon tell her the truth and his motives behind the murder?

*this is a short story based off the soon to be released novel, The World Among Us: Prince of Darkness.

Book Links






Title: Hell Bound
Author: Beth Ann Masarik
Series: The World Among Us (Prequel #2)
Genre: YA/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hydra Publications 
Release Date: April 4 2013
Word Count: 3,826
Number of Pages: 20 pages
Blurb/Synopsis:
After impressing her boss with her interview with werewolf, Leon Greene, Elise is Hell Bound to an interview with the Lord of the Underworld himself. Mr. Murphy wants her to find the dirty scoop on Hades himself, and foil his plot to take over the world. Will she survive the clutches of Hell?

*this is a short story based off the soon to be released novel, The World Among Us: Prince of Darkness.

Book Links




Title: Hell’s Captive 
Author: Beth Ann Masarik
Series: The World Among Us (Prequel #3)
Genre: YA/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hydra Publications 
Release Date: April 14 2013
Word Count: 6,632
Number of Pages: 33 pages
Blurb/Synopsis:
As if interviewing Hades himself wasn’t enough, Elise gets sucked into doing an interview with his son, Prince Damien. It turns out that the Prince of Darkness has a few tricks up his sleeve himself, and is head over heels for the girl he murdered. Will Elise uncover the Prince of Darkness’s deepest, darkest secrets?
After just barely escaping Hell, Elise is assigned yet another 

*this is a short story based off the soon to be released novel, The World Among Us: Prince of Darkness.

Book Links





Author: Beth Ann Masarik
Series: The World Among Us (Prequel #4)
Genre: YA/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hydra Publications 
Release Date: April 22 2013
Word Count: 7, 841
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Blurb/Synopsis:
Raul Blackoak's world is tossed upside down one evening when he stumbles upon a damsel in distress. What he wasn't expecting was that his life would be changed forever by her. Because he risks his own life to save her, he is caught between two worlds; the world to which he belongs, and the human world. Will he be able to balance being in both worlds? Or will he have to give up one to be happily ever after in the other?


Book Links




Author Bio

Beth Ann Masarik is a Young Adult author and writer, indie publisher, and youth advocate. She writes Young Adult fantasy and urban fantasy novels that are mostly about forbidden romance and have some sort of magical creatures in them. Her debut novel, The World Among Us: Prince of Darkness was first published with Otherworld Publications. Unfortunately, OWP closed on December 31, 2012, and the book is no longer available. However, she has signed with Hydra Publications, and it will be released sometime in 2013.  You can visit her author website at www.bethannmasarik.com and the series website at www.theworldamongussaga.com for more details on my publishing adventures.

As a youth advocate, she, along with her new husband, is one of the adult coordinators of the Our Lady of Fatima youth group that is supported by the current pastor and the parents of the kids in the group.

In addition to writing, she also publishes a bi-monthly e-zine called Literary Lunes Magazine. It is offered as a free black and white e-copy and also offers a low-cost full colored paperback copy of each issue.  For more information, please visit the magazine website at www.literarylunespublications.com  


Author Links

Blog
Facebook Author Page
Facebook The World Among Us Page
Goodreads
Twitter
Website



Sunday, June 23, 2013

TRUTH, BEER and HISTORY'SMASSIVE TAILWIND




Victoria Dougherty Bio
Victoria Dougherty 
Victoria Dougherty has for nearly twenty years distinguished herself as a master storyteller, writing fiction, poetry, drama, speeches, essays, and television news segments/video scripts. 
 
In Prague, Ms. Dougherty co-founded the acclaimed Black Box Theater, translating, producing and acting to sold-out audiences in several Czech plays – from Vaclav Havel’s riveting “Protest” to the unintentionally hilarious communist propaganda play “Karhan’s Men.”  Black Box Theater was profiled in feature articles in USA Today, International Herald Tribune, and numerous European publications.
 
Currently, Ms. Dougherty lives with her family in Charlottesville, VA, and her first novel, The Bone Church will be debuting in  2013.

In the late 1990s I wrote a novella that chronicled the life of a teen-age boy who was the product of a one night stand between an African-American soldier and a Czech mother during the liberation of Pilsen in 1945.  His story was complex, as he was growing up in Czechoslovakia in the midst of hard-line Stalinist oppression.
I never published it and it’s still sitting in a drawer somewhere.  To be honest, it’s probably not very good.  But the story that inspired it is, and I wanted to share it with my friend Catalina, who herself has a great appreciation for history and all its quirks. 
By Victoria Dougherty
In 1995 I had the good fortune to accompany a Czech film crew to a celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the city of Pilsen, Czech Republic by us Americans. 
 It was a joyous event filled with music, great beer (it is the town of Pilsen, after all, where the name Pilsner comes from), hearty food (dumplings, anyone?), and scores of veterans from all the world over.  Freedom was new to that part of the world, and it still felt like a dream.  The way it must feel in the aftermath of winning the lottery.  
About an hour into the merriment, parade watching, and copious beer drinking, I realized that if I didn’t find a bathroom, things might get ugly.
I ran into what I think was a welcome center and was immediately pointed in the direction of a clean, unisex toilet by a kindly woman manning a beer tap.
When I emerged, I figured I could use another beer, so I went over to the woman at the tap and started digging some coins out of my pocket.
“No, no,” she said, and handed me the beer free of charge.  “Sit down.” 
She offered me a platter studded with several rows of Topinky, which is basically the Czech version of bruschetta:  slices of rye bread fried in lard, spread with a thick layer of lard (think cream cheese on a bagel), and topped with diced raw onions and a sprinkle of salt and paprika.
“You’re American, so you’re used to the truth,” she said between bites of Topinky.  She pointed outside at the celebration.  “But for us, you can see it’s still a luxury.” 
And that’s when she told me her story. 
It so happened that of the American troops that liberated Pilsen, at least one was an African-American regiment.  In the wild revelry that lasted for days after the citizens of Pilsen were finally freed from the Nazis… well, let’s just say there were a lot of very grateful Czech women and a lot of handsome men in uniform around.  Not to mention fountains of really great beer to fuel the fire.   My new beer wench friend happened to be one of those grateful women, and about nine months after the partying died down, she gave birth to a beautiful, brown baby boy.
Now, what was then Czechoslovakia didn’t have the same kind of racial baggage that we had over here in the United States.  People of color (unless you were a gypsy) really were just that, and garnered stares only because they were exotic.  So, while an unwed mother was still a bit of a scandal back in the mid to late 1940s, the fact that the child was dark skinned was neither here nor there. 
Except for one little problem. 
Once the Soviets took over the country, they took over the country’s history as well and declared that it was in fact the Russians – not the Americans – who liberated Pilsen.  Contradicting this new truth carried some pretty heavy consequences, which left my new friend in a pickle:  fair-skinned babies could be explained away easily, but the dark ones gave new meaning to the ethnic term “Black Russian.”
“So, what happened?” I asked.
“At first I was scared they might take my son.  You know, disappear him,” she said.  “But it was funny.  Instead, people started to pretend he looked like everyone else.   I met my husband a couple of years after the war and people would go out of their way to tell me how much my dark son looked like my husband and our other children.  Even people who knew.  It was crazy.  Without talking about it, everyone began to lie.”
She started to wonder if she had imagined making love to an African American soldier and pondered other reasons that could explain her son’s skin color.  Maybe her child had inherited a recessive gene?
“At times,” she said.  “I really thought I was going crazy.  Even my husband started going along with it.”
One thing kept her sanity.
She was walking in the market with her son the first time it happened.  He was little – maybe four or five – and right in front of her at a fruit stall, she spied a little boy just like hers:  the same age, the same color.  The other boy’s mother saw them, too.
“What did you do?” I asked her.
“Nothing.” 
She told me that she and the other mother smiled at each other and went their separate ways.  It was too dangerous for them to start talking.  What they could say would only bring trouble.
And that wasn’t the only mother she encountered over the years.  There were a good handful in Pilsen, and when they saw each other on the street, they always smiled the satisfied smile of someone who knows the truth.  Not only was it proof positive that they weren’t crazy, but also a reminder that they were being ruled by lies and that there really was a better life out there.   A life without fear, invented histories, and hopelessness.  She told me she was very proud that the father of her child was American.
I guess it’s one of history’s little ironies that a dark skinned boy was a symbol of truth and hope in a totalitarian society, and one of oppression and bitterness left over from a Civil War and a slave trade in a free one.  I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her son’s father went home to a segregated society.
Victoria DoughertyBut I did have the heart to tell her what I know to be true:  that as long as people are free to speak, things can change quickly.  Lies are contradicted - subject to a constant stream of information, bad policies are over-turned, even hearts and minds evolve.  

 




http://victoriadougherty.wordpress.com/


After secretly witnessing the murder of his father at the hands of a Nazi thug, Czech hockey star Felix Andel sets his sights on revenge.  Soon Felix and his half-Jewish lover, Magdalena Ruza, become embroiled in a Prague Underground plot to assassinate the man who ordered the hit on his father:  Hitler’s nefarious Minister of Propaganda, Josef Goebbels.

But in the surreal and paranoid underworld of wartime Prague, Felix and Magdalena must forge unlikely alliances in their quest—with a mysterious Roman Catholic Cardinal, a reckless sculptor intent on making a big political statement, and a gypsy with a dangerous sex life. 

When the assassination attempt against Goebbels goes wildly wrong, fierce historical winds blow the lovers in separate directions.  Critically wounded and slipping into a fog of extraordinary visions, Felix’s destiny is sealed at The Bone Church, a mystical pilgrimage site on the outskirts of Prague where he experiences a religious conversion.  Magdalena, abandoned by the Cardinal who promised her safe passage out of the country, goes deep into hiding lest she be rounded up and transported to Auschwitz.  

Twelve years pass. 

Felix, now a Jesuit priest, is an emissary for people in trouble.  From Vienna, he runs a Vatican-financed operation that smuggles prominent dissidents out of Soviet-occupied countries.  Only this time, it’s Magdalena who needs his help.  After a long exile in various political prisons, she turns up in a bleak corner of the Czech countryside – disgraced, impoverished and struggling to stay alive.  Felix’s superior in Rome, the Cardinal who betrayed Magdalena, reluctantly dispatches him to collect her. 

 With government security forces closing in around them as they run for the border, the émigré priest is forced to confront his past…and the fragility of his faith.  
 

 
 

IS HISTORY THE AGREED UPON LIE?

 

RETURNING PRIDE by JILL SANDERS TOUR STARTS JUNE 24, 2013




Jill Sanders survived 80′s pop music, and life as an identical twin in a chaotic family of nine.  A feat by any standard!  She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, relocating to Colorado for college and a successful IT career at IBM in Boulder.

Narrowly escaping before all creativity was squashed, she jumped at the chance to trade the mundane world of computers for the sexy, exciting world of her own imagination.  She now lives in charming rural Texas writing wonderful novels such as the Pride series.

Her debut novel, Finding Pride, was shortlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards 2013, and has received glowing industry and reader reviews from around the world.  Her latest release is Discovering Pride. Yet another novel, Returning Pride, is slated for July 2013.

To learn more about Jill, visit her website www.jillmsanders.com

Follow her on Twitter: @jillmsanders.







Returning Pride (The Pride #3)
by
 
Iian Jordan runs a successful restaurant that has been in his family for generations, he has a large beautiful house that overlooks the shoreline and his wonderful hometown. Why then, does he feel like something is missing? And he isn't talking about his hearing, which he'd lost in a tragic accident over ten years ago.

No, what he is missing in his life, is the person who'd just driven back into town. Someone he's always loved from afar. Now, he needs to step up and grab what he wants, before she gets away again.

In the past two years, Allison Adams has made a name for herself in the art world. All she wants now is some peace and quiet from all the hassles and pressures of her demanding career. But, when she arrives home, she finds her mother trapped in an illness that consumes her every waking moment.

Just when she thinks she knows the path she wants to follow, everything is taken away from her in one scary night. But, with the help of the good people in her hometown and an old flame, she might just find that returning home was the best thing that could have happened
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Follow the blog trail for excerpts, interviews, and reviews with the links below:

6/24/2013
http://www.ontheprecipice-leslief.blogspot.com
http://marilynslagel.wordpress.com/
http://www.conleycorner.blogspot.com
http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
http://www.tanyarobinson100.blogspot.com
http://4horsemenseriesbr.blogspot.com/
http://kindlebookpromos.luckycinda.com
6/25/2013
www.conleycorner.blogspot.com
http://mjb-wordlovers.blogspot.com
http://waynelmurphy.blogspot.com/
http://thoughtsbyj.wordpress.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
6/26/2013
www.conleycorner.blogspot.com
http://glynissmyauthor.com/blog/
http://comaescritaemdia.blogspot.pt/
http://blog.jonestales.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
6/27/2013
http://sarah-janelehoux.blogspot.ca/
http://jamie-marchant.blogspot.com/
http://darkerpassions.net
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
rainydayreadingreviews.blogspot.com 
6/28/2013
www.krystalmilton.weebly.com
ajwiliamsromanceauthor.blogspot.com
http://robertasdreamworld.wordpress.com
http://www.michelleabbott.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
http://purejonel.blogspot.ca/
6/29/2013
www.1bookloversopinion.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
http://allwehaveisstories.blogspot.co.uk/
http://stephsbookretreat.wordpress.com
www.afternoonbookery.blogspot.com
http://www.empowernetwork.com/titandevelopment
6/30/2013
MeganSJohnston.wordpress.com
http://tometender.blogspot.com/
http://understandingshaestory.blogspot.com/
http://justanotherrabidreader.info
7/1/2013
https://booksandnails.wordpress.com
writtenbydeb.blogspot.com
ilovetoreadblog.com
hello-booklover.tumblr.com