Summertime…and the Indie Reading is Easy (Presented by BookWorks Team)

Summertime…and the Indie Reading is Easy

https://www.bookworks.com/2019/06/summertime-easy-reading-indie-author/

Yay! June is here and we’re more than ready for a little R & R (reading and recreation). It’s been a while since we last published a recommended reading list. Summertime brings opportunities for leisure, so it’s only fitting to offer some easy reading from among the titles in our member BookShop. These are the… 

 BookWorks Team  
AdministratorJune 11, 2019

Yay! June is here and we're more than ready for a little R & R (reading and recreation). It's been a while since we last published a recommended reading list. Summertime brings opportunities for leisure, so it's only fitting to offer some easy reading from among the titles in our member BookShop.

These are the kind of books you'll devour in short order, so kick back...mystery, suspense, thrills, chills, and romance await you.

Enjoy These Easy Reading Titles

The Renaissance Club by Rachel Dacus - A young art historian and fan of Renaissance sculptor, Bernini, dreams her way back to the 17th century in this magical realism romance and time travel adventure.

Murder & Menace (Cryptic Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 2) by KP Stafford - Volume 2 of a 3-part series for cozy mystery fans, with quirky but compelling characters and plenty of small-town politics and mischief, readers rate this a fun, quick read.

Blackmail, Sex and Lies (A Victorian True Crime Murder Mystery) by Kathryn McMaster - Fans of true crime and historical fiction will relish this creative nonfiction telling of an ill-fated love triangle that resulted in all the crimes of passion...scandal, deception, and vengeance.

Not Forgotten by Donna M. Zadunajsky - A secret from the past unexpectedly resurfaces and throws Deanna's life into chaos and jeopardy in this thriller with plenty of unexpected plot twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up to the end.

The Wedding Crasher (A Sam Tate Mystery)by Nikki Stern - Sam Tate is a wounded, complicated, modern woman reinventing herself as a small town sheriff in this intriguing and suspenseful murder mystery.

Blood Virus: A Pandemic by Design by L.A. Hollis - With frighteningly real plausibility, this medical thriller has believable science, well-wrought players, and all the ripped-from-the-headlines suspense to make for a riveting read.

More Easy Reading to Choose From...

The Flip (A Haunting on Long Island Series Book 2) by Michael Phillip Cash - This paranormal thriller about husband and wife house flippers will appeal to readers who love a good ghost story with a dash of historical romance alongside the chills.

Web of Destruction by Gippy Adams Henry - A violent psychopath stalks and torments a woman whose carefully woven web of secrets and lies is about to unspool, sending her shocking past crashing into the present in this edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller.

The Sheriff Meets His Match (A Wounded Hearts Novella # 4) by Jacquie Biggar - Sparks fly when a laid back alpha male who just wants a simple life meets a strong modern newcomer whose life is anything but, for readers who like their romance with a dash of spice, a bit of chaos, and a happy ending.

Playback Effect by Karen A. Wyle - Other people's vivid dreams are for sale via a virtual playback helmet, with dire unexpected consequences, in this hybrid science fiction techno + legal/crime thriller.

Mission to Morocco (A WW II Spy Novel) by J.R. Rogers -  Fans of WWII historical fiction and espionage thrillers will find themselves engrossed in this thoroughly researched and masterfully written spy novel.

The Edge of Darkness (Alpha Core Trilogy Volume 1) by Vikki Romano - Fast-paced science fiction for cyberpunks and those who both love and fear the biotech revolution. Product of a failed cyber-soldier program, special agent Calder McKenna must confront how to destroy the monster without becoming one himself.

Living with Markus by Florence Osmund - Thirty-one-year-old Marc must choose between saving his messed up relatives or saving himself, in this relatable novel about the ties that bind and the ties that strangle in dysfunctional family dynamics.

Which One Will You Read?

Choose a title to suit your taste and take some time to relax and enjoy an easy reading escape. We'll be back soon with more great recommendations from our indie authors. Share your feedback and/or review when you do. We're happy to consider your suggestions for future reading lists so send them our way.

The Knowing by Brit Lunden: BlueInk Review

The Knowing by Brit Lunden: BlueInk Review

                                                                                          

Chelshire Inc. Presents Marketing Indieworld

Chelshire Inc. Presents Marketing Indieworld

FEATURING Award-winning Author's ANGELA HAUSMAN, PH. D, WITH CAROLE P. ROMAN AND JULIE GERBER You've written your opus. You hit publish. Now what? Well, sales won't find you. You have to market your book. And, there are charlatans out there ready to take your hard-earned money in exchange for snake oil--empty promises and little to show for their efforts. But, you don't have to face bankruptcy. You can market your book all by yourself without having to go back to school for a business degree. In fact, Angie has a Ph.D. in marketing so she brought cutting-edge marketing tactics to this book and, as an author, she knows what works in this context. Carole is an award-winning author of children's books and, under the pen name, Brit Lunden writes thrillers. Julie owns an agency with years of experience helping authors. In this book, we bring all our skills and years of experience to help you, the Indie author. We show you how to market your book with relatively inexpensive and effective marketing tools. And, when I say show, that's what I mean. We don't just give you some general advice and throw you to the wolves. We give you step-by-step instructions, templates, screenshots, and links to videos that walk you through everything you need to do to make your book marketing a success. Purchase Meet Angela Hausman, Ph. D. What’s motivated you to write this book? Well, I’ve spent my career writing, as a marketing professor, and recently made the jump into writing novels. Just like every other novelist, I had to work on marketing my books to readers, so I joined a bunch of Facebook groups, Goodreads groups, and went to a bunch of author meetup groups. Through this, I connected with authors, which wasgreat support for my writing journey, but I noticed a common thread in all the groups—how do you market your books? I realized that advice authors were getting was incredibly general, such as join Goodreads. That’s great advice, but beyond joining some groups and building your connections on Goodreads, what was an author doing to get more book sales? In marketing, as with everything else, the devil is in the details and no one was sharing this. Even in webinars, the advice was more of a promotion for the hosts services than true advice. Thus, there was a disconnect between what authors needed to know about marketing and what they were getting. So, several friends, including my co-authors, encouraged me to share my expertise. How is Marketing Indieworld different from other books on the market? Well, for one thing, I’m a nationally-recognized leader in digital marketing. I teach digital marketing and host one of the most influential blogs on marketing that focuses on digital. I have aPhD in marketing, so I understand the concepts behind what works in digital marketing. You could say I know my stuff. Next, I’m not writing a book to get clients. Frankly, the clients I work with are mostly midsized businesses and I bill out at $250/ hour. Not that I’m not happy to share my expertise with fellow Indie writers, but I’m not really looking to make money by providing services to them. My only goal is to help Indie authors, so I didn’t hold anything back to upsell you later. Finally, after teaching this stuff to undergrads for decades (yes, sadly), I know how to break concepts down to their basic components. I know you have to show, not just tell (just like in writing). The book is chock full of screenshots, snippets of code you can just copy and paste, and examples to help guide you. Why should an Indie writer buy your book? I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t want to buy it.  At $3.49 it’s a bargain It’s full of links, images, screenshots, worksheets, and outlines to help you market your book Increasingly, it’s even hard for authors of books published through traditional publishers to succeed without doing much of their own marketing Everything is written in plain language, with a minimum of jargon so it’s easy to understand regardless of how new you are too this I’ve used years of experience and hundreds of hours of research over the last decade to winnow the wheat from the chaff. I’m only giving you the best stuff and, in some cases, I’ve even arranged for discounts from providers like web hosting and design (just use the links in the book to get them). Tell us a little more about you. So, I live with my 2 dogs in Northern Virginia and teach at several local universities (including George Washington and James Madison). I started writing in 7thgrade; creating a series of sci fi short stories about a visitor from another planet. A friendly one. I received a lot of acclaim from friends, family, teachers, and fellow 7thgraders. One teacher even had me put it on as a play using my classmates as the cast. Then, life took over; school, marriage, a job, and kids. I continued writing but it was all academic (publish or perish). About 3 years ago, I decided to try my hand at writing again, creating Buried Ladies. Before I even finished the first book, another book started taking shape and now I’m about 1/3 of the way through my 5thbook. The books are filled with a cast of characters, both good and bad. They’re dark; something I call apocalyptic thrillers because there’s not a murder mystery, there’s an existential threat to our existence in each book, such as bioterrorism in Azure’s Revenge. Some of the characters appear in multiple books, although each book highlights a different character from the cast. What’s your writing process like? I’m apantser. I don’t outline anything. I start with a threat that we might face as a people. The 5thbook is about domestic terrorism from white nationalists. You will believe this could happen as you read the story. It almost reads like a true crime novel. I keep a notebook next to me as I write. I jot down names (I’m terrible with names and my writing experiences the same problem), characteristics like hair color, height, etc., location details, and research notes. In my second book, Scars of the Past, there was a terror plot fomented by Ukrainians. I filled pages of research on Ukrainian history and the conflict with Russia over Crimea. How do you deal with writer’s block? I see this all over the groups; writers complaining about writer’s block. I’m not sure there is such a thing as writer’s block. I think it’s fear and insecurity. It’s almost like committing a thought to paper means it must be perfect. And, that’s not true. No one will see what you’ve written until you decide to show it to them. Until then, it’s between you and your writing device. So, don’t worry. Just write. If it’s terrible, throw it out. No big deal. Just write. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, that’s what editing is for. I had a creative writing instructor in college tell me a writer needs to throw away at least 100,000 words before they write anything decent. That’s an entire novel worth of words. Writer’s block is the writersecond guessing themselves; worrying whether their writing is good enough. It is. Just write. Even if what you’re writing is nonsense. Just write. If the inspiration gods aren’t smiling down today, just write words without worrying if they fit together. Write jumbled letters. It doesn’t matter. Just write. Treat writing like it’s a job. Set aside time to write and use that time to write something, anything. But, give yourself permission to play hooky sometimes. If I get really stuck on a scene, I just move to the next scene or write stuff I know is no good, stuff I’ll have to cull out later. Then, when my time to write is over, I take long walks to clear my mind and listen to what my characters tell me. Then, I write that.

WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK! MARKETING INDIEWORLD Enter Contest CHECK OUT THE SISTER BOOK TO MARKETING INDIEWORLD NAVIGATING INDIEWORLD Order Bulwark Here

Copyright © 2019 CHELSHIRE, INC., All rights reserved.

State Of Publishing

Carole P. Roman and R.L. Jackson discuss publishing, magazine news and other topics dealing with the indie publishing industry.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indieauthorsroundtable/2019/05/15/state-of-publishing

Feathered Quill: The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology (Book 1)

The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology (Book 1)

The Knowing by Brit Lunden

By: Brit Lunden
Publisher: Chelshire
Publication Date: March 2019
ISBN: 978-1947188990
Reviewed By: Holly Connors
Review Date: April 11, 2019

Author Brit Lunden starts out her new "Bulwark Anthology" series in the same way she started (with her initial offering, Bulwark), with a fast-paced, satisfying story that will have readers glued to the pages, trying to figure out what is going to happen next.

In The Knowing, the first book in the "Bulwark Anthology," the reader is re-introduced to JB Stratton, an elderly man who we first met in Bulwark. JB played a small role in that story, briefly taking care of an out-of-town couple hurt in a car accident. When the injured woman saw a picture of JB's late, beloved wife and made a nasty accusation, JB didn't take it lightly. After all, his late wife Ellie was, and would always be, his soul mate. If you didn't read Bulwark, it's not necessary to read it before reading this novella, but I'd recommend it as it's a great read. But for those without a copy of that first book, fear not, as the author covers those events in the first chapter of The Knowing.

Once the refresher chapter is complete, it's on to the new story. The reader is transported back 52 years, to a slower time in Bulwark, GA, where JB is a high school student, a star football player, and dirt poor. Between working on his parents' farm, school work, and football practice, the young man has no time for anything else. That is until Ellie Bronson, a blonde, blue-eyed, beautiful young woman, one year younger than JB, arrives from Connecticut. JB is smitten, but he's also shy and too ill-at-ease to ask Ellie for a date.

Soon, JB could think of nothing but Ellie. It was as if he knew her, but that was impossible because she'd just moved to Georgia. Something out of his past perhaps? Still, he couldn't stop thinking of her, nor could he shake the feeling of knowing her from...where? And then he started dreaming about Ellie. But the dreams...they were unusual and left him uneasy which was particularly odd because he couldn't remember what they were about. 

At last, JB and Ellie connect and their romance begins. Things are going great until Ellie's brother finds out about the couple and decides to put an end to JB's desires. JB gets knocked out and that's when things get really odd, or fantastic, depending on your point of view. JB is transported to a Civil War battlefield, or is it just a dream? Readers will be pulled into the story to find out, and eager to learn how Ellie fits into the story.

The Knowing, a novella of just 80 pages is a quick read, made all the quicker because you won't want to stop reading until the very end. I was eager to dive into this story because Bulwark, the short story that started this series, was such an enjoyable read. I wanted to re-visit the town of Bulwark, GA and learn what other oddities were awaiting the reader. I was initially surprised to learn that this story didn't revolve around Sheriff Clay Finnes, the main character in Bulwark, but instead a minor player from that book. While I look forward to meeting Clay in another story in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed learning JB and Ellie's backstory. There's just enough supernatural "something" going on to keep the reader wondering, as well as asking themselves, "do I have a soul mate?" Here's hoping that there will be a lot more books in this anthology series! 

Quill says: A very satisfying start to the "Bulwark Anthology" series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

For more information on The Knowing: A Bulwark Anthology, please visit the author's website: www.britlunden.com 

Purchase on Amazon today!: https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-Bulwark-Anthology-Book/dp/1947188992/ 

 Link to Article: https://featheredquill.com/the-knowing/

Kids Book Giveaway!

*Kid's Book Giveaway!* Congratulations to Dr. Krissy Bonning-Gould, on the upcoming release of her new book, The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book. To celebrate, I'm giving away an advance copy of her book along with my book, Mindfulness for Kids, to play and teach your child.

To enter, comment below with a GIF or emoji of how you would feel if you won. I'll pick a winner on Friday, March 22nd. Giveaway open to U.S. residents.

https://www.facebook.com/CarolePRomanAwardWinningAuthorAndBooks

https://www.amazon.com/Mindfulness-Kids-Activities-Happy-Control/dp/164152085X

https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Toddler-Activity-Book-Activities/dp/1641523514

My Review:

In today's age, people have forgotten the simple joy of playing outside. Video games have taken over as a favorite past time, and children don't even think of the many different activities available at their fingertips. The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book is chock-filled with both indoor and outdoor fun-filled things to do. Chrissy Bonning-Gould uses everyday products that can be found in any home and changes them into useful tools to occupy a child for hours. All the activities center around discovery, as well as learning, but either way, they provide ways to engage children in communicating with both a parent and each other. Lovely gift to give to a new parent or a great gift in a child's goodie bag.

https://www.facebook.com/CarolePRomanAwardWinningAuthorAndBooks/

Oh Susannah Series Unpacks Stressful Situations - BookTrib

Oh Susannah Series Unpacks Stressful Situations

https://booktrib.com/2019/02/oh-susannah-series-unpacks-stressful-situations-for-kids/

Published on February 20, 2019  in Children's Books  by Rebecca Proulx

Carole P. Roman, author of many beloved children’s books, unpacks the stress of school and bustle of a busy home in her Oh Susannah series. The instantly lovable third-grader Susannah illustrates how easy it is to feel frightened or overwhelmed by a mountain of responsibilities just going about your everyday activities, and most importantly how students and parents can work together to reduce anxiety.

In the Oh Susannah installment It’s in the Bag, Susannah goes through a trying day at school. Susannah starts the day with unfinished homework. It’s not that she didn’t try. She just couldn’t figure out most of the questions and had trouble focusing. She’d ask her parents for help but they’re always so busy.

Scrambling to gather her supplies along with her unfinished work, she aggravates her mother running late. To her further dismay, her mother insists that Susannah bring a banana to school. Susannah hates bananas. So along with her incomplete assignments, the undesired fruit gets tossed in the bag. Many more unfortunate items join the antagonistic company of anxieties in Susannah’s bag as the day drags on.

A failed pop quiz based on Susannah’s incomplete homework, a form on having correct footwear for gym class and two books she can’t decide between for a report also weigh her down, physically and emotionally.

At the end of the day, noticing their daughter looks stressed and miserable, her parents talk to her about managing work. Susannah feels defeated by all the little tasks that bother her in such a big way, but her parents point out that seemingly small things like a quiz can weigh people down easily emotionally, for both kids and adults. Little troubles can add up quick to a bad day, so it’s important to take steps to relax and manage obstacles.

When Susannah is overwhelmed, her parents suggest deep breathing and organizing her tasks in order of importance. Then Susannah can deal with one item at a time, and seek the help of her parents when she needs it. Her parents also learned an important lesson with Susannah. It’s easy to become occupied with their own crazy schedules, but it’s important to check in on their girl to make sure she’s not feeling anxious and offer assistance when she could use a hand.

Following Susannah through her day, you couldn’t help but sympathize with her ups and downs. A friend and comfort to your own young one, Susannah learns many important lessons and overcomes hurtles such as managing work and trying new things in a way that will appeal to many in a similar position to her.

In her next book in the Oh Susannah series, Things That Go Bump, our stalwart hero moves on from the challenges of school to a sleepover at a house rumored to be haunted. Susannah is excited to spend a night with her friend Lola, but is apprehensive because her home was built over 100 years ago and Lola’s brother claims to have seen ghosts there.

Overcoming her inclination to stay at her own home, Susannah braves the slumber party for Lola’s sake, but must now face her fears of all the spooky things that might go bump in the night while she’s there.

With the help of her friends and peers though, Susannah learns that everyone is scared of something. Having the courage to face your fears is part of learning to overcome them. Sharing the positive messages of finding support when you need it and confronting obstacles with determination and courage, Carole P. Roman has penned a series that will prove a favorite for your own child, ready to take on the world.

Oh Susannah: It’s in the Bag and Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump are now available for purchase.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

CAROLE P. ROMAN:

Prolific children’s author, Carole P. Roman has published over fifty-two award-winning books. Whether it’s pirates, princesses, or discovering the world around us, her books have enchanted educators, parents, and her diverse audience of children. She hosts three blog radio programs and is one of the founders of the magazine, Indie Author’s Monthly. Roman’s been interviewed twice by Forbes Magazine. She’s published a self-help book with media-maven, Julie A. Gerber, called Navigating Indieworld: A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing. Roman writes adult fiction under the pen name, Brit Lunden. She lives on Long Island near her family.

MATEYA ARKOVA:

Mateya Arkova is a children’s illustrator based in Bulgaria. Her illustrations take the readers into a funny cartoonish world with bright pastel colors and curvy lines leading to great adventures. Her favorite sources of inspiration are traveling the world and drawing its vivid colors.