Kathryn Meyer Griffith, Author of the Incredibly Popular Dinosaur Lake, Chats About the Creation of Her Novel and the Cultural Fascination With Dinosaurs

Monday, June 30, 2014

Hi there, everyone! I hope that you're all having a wonderful day - I certainly am! :) Anyway, I have a real treat for the readers and followers of Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Kathryn Meyer Griffith, author of 19 published books, 2 novellas and 12 short stories, originally wrote a backstory about Dinosaur Lake - a Finalist for the 2014 EPIC Ebook Awards in the Suspense/Thriller Category - back on August 30, 2012!

Yes, I realize that this was almost two years ago, and that I'm just getting around to posting it today, but in my own defense I literally just found Ms. Griffith's guest post while I was perusing several old emails. Since this guest post was written, Ms. Griffith has since gone on to publish 3 more books, 2 novellas and 12 short stories. As a matter of fact, one of those books is the recently published Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising - the sequel to Dinosaur Lake - which I had the pleasure of reading back in April of this year. Here is my review. :) 

Ms. Griffith was also kind enough to send me a copy of Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising last month, and I sincerely hope to start reading it very soon!

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a wife of almost 35 years (husband, Russell), mother (one son, James) and grandmother (two grandchildren, Caitlyn and Joshua). She was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 23 years; and has published with Dorchester, Kensington, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Amazon Kindle Direct, Damnation Books and Eternal Press, and Amazon Publishing. Six years ago Kathryn crossed over into e-books as well as paperbacks and now all her old/new books are in ebooks...and soon to be in Audio Books from ACX.

She loves cats and nature, classic rock and country music (her brother, J. S. Meyer www.jsmeyermusic.com, is a singer/songwriter and does the songs for all her self-made book trailers that are on her websites). Kathryn loves to interact with her readers, so visit her at either of the following websites: www.myspace.com/kathrynmeyergriffith or www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeyergriffith to see all of her book covers and trailers.

Connect and Socialize with Kathryn!


Synopsis from Goodreads:

An ancient predator has been reborn in the caves beneath Crater Lake…and it’s hungry. 

Ex-cop Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for eight years and he likes his park and his life the way it’s been. Safe. Tranquil. Predictable. But he’s about to be tested in so many ways. First the earthquakes begin…people begin to go missing…then there’s some mysterious water creature that’s taken up residence in the caves below Crater Lake and it’s not only growing in size, it’s aggressive and cunning…and very hungry. 

And it’s decided it likes human beings. To eat.

And it can come up onto land.

So Henry, with the help of his wife, Ann; a young paleontologist named Justin; and a band of brave men must not only protect his park and his people from the monster but somehow find where it lives and destroy it…before it can kill again.

Coming to Amazon on 29 August 2012!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Prehistoric creatures have again invaded Crater Lake National Park 
…and this time there’s more than one. 

Henry Shore has been Chief Park Ranger at Crater Lake National Park for thirteen years now and thought the days when he’d had to fight a rogue dinosaur that lived in the caves below the lake were long over. Until one of his park rangers, to save a visitor’s life, is in a deadly struggle out in the woods with a new breed of dinosaur worse than the last one. It’s as big as a man, but this one is a young one. And growing. 

Then more of the creatures begin to show up everywhere, threatening people and destroying the tranquility and safety of his beloved park. 

A tourist trolley filled with fifteen people is snatched up off the crater’s rim by another version of the younger one…but this one has grown into a giant with fangs, claws and a deadly tail. And this one has wings. Ugly Gargoyles, Henry calls them. For this one isn’t alone. They’re flying beyond the park’s boundaries into the neighboring towns. 

So Henry, with the help of his son-in-law, a paleontologist named Justin, and a band of brave park rangers, and a few good soldiers, must not only protect his park and his people from monsters once more but find their lair and destroy it and them before the creatures kill again.

Coming to Amazon on 27 March 2014!

I would like to welcome Kathryn Meyer Griffith, author of Dinosaur Lake to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Ms. Griffith was kind enough to write a guest post for me and here it is below in her own words:

'Dinosaur Lake’s Backstory Essay'
by Kathryn Meyer Griffith 

Of all my 16 novels Dinosaur Lake has the strangest story attached to its creation, death and rebirth…20 years later…of any of them.

Not so much because, as a few of my books, it took so long to write or publish, but because in 1993 it was contracted, edited and the final galleys had been proofed by me for a 5th paperback book release from Zebra (Kensington Publishing) after 3 earlier novels with Leisure Books. I even had a stack of the full-color, printed and embossed covers; it was only weeks before it was to go to the bookshelves (in those days the brick and mortar stores were still king, no Internet or ebooks). I strongly believed it’d be my breakout book. You know, the book that’d make my career and launch me into the stratosphere with Stephen King and Anne Rice? How wrong I’d be. But, hey, I thought who wouldn’t love a tale of a cunning but malevolent rampaging prehistoric dinosaur living in Crater Lake, Oregon, and the Park Ranger who, along with a ragtag gang of heroes who’d try to stop it? I mean, I’d always loved anything about dinosaurs…dinosaur books, playing with those little plastic figurines and watching old stop-action dinosaur movies of the 1950’s and 60’s…who hadn’t?

Apparently someone. My new editor at Zebra.

By 1994, after four novels with them, I’d lost my sweet editor there and a new one took her place...and over the next year he didn’t like anything I wrote for him and later that year Zebra unceremoniously dropped me and my book (Predator…which never came out but still lingers to this very day like some weird ghost book in every computer on the global Internet) only six weeks away from going to the bookstore shelves. When we were editing the book and deciding on the title and the cover, I’d begged the new editor not to call it Predator (his choice as they hadn’t liked my American Loch Ness Monster title), bad title since there was a popular movie out of that name and the movie, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, was nothing about a dinosaur, and the cover was awful, an empty boat on a lake…what!!! Having that book - my first ever - dumped like that was a crushing experience, let me tell you. I had a stack of finished, printed covers and my final edits were done! But nothing my agent or I could say or do would change their minds. They said they were cutting their horror lines and setting adrift a lot of their mid-list horror authors because horror (in 1994) was on the decline. The new editor-that-didn’t-like-my-writing explained: “And no one wants to read a book about a dinosaur.” Yeah, sure.

And six months later Jurassic Park the book came out! We all know how that story ended, don’t we? People loved the book, the movies; they loved dinosaurs.

I’ll never know the real reason they cut the book but that male editor never bought another book from me…which was another weird thing because when I’d met him in New York (I went for a Horror Convention) in the summer of 1993 he’d taken my husband and I out to lunch and gushed over me and said how much he’d loved my last release Witches. Hmmm.

Anyway, I got to keep my advance but the book was officially dead. It never came out. I grieved.

I was so disgusted I stashed it in a drawer somewhere and tried to forget it.

Until now. After I’d finished revising and rereleasing all my new/old 15 books (and besides paperbacks they’re in ebooks for the first time ever) from Eternal Press/Damnation Books in June of 2012 I remembered about my American Loch Ness Monster novel, took it out and reread it.

Whoa, like a lot of my older novels now years later I could see what was wrong with it and how to fix it. Back then I hadn’t seen the head-hopping I did or the awkward phrasing, stiff or overly dramatic dialogue, repetitive words and other things I’ve learned since to recognize and stay away from. Of course, computers help make the editing so much easier. I think I’d done the original book on my electric typewriter.

Anyway, telling myself the dumping of that book had been a turning point in my writing life - sending me in the wrong direction for a long time apparently…I couldn’t sell a book for eight long years after that - I decided to rewrite and finally release it. In fact, I was going to do something that twenty years ago would have been unheard of and frowned on…self-publish the book myself. With Kindle Direct. For the first time in forty years I was walking away from the traditional publishers and going on my own. Thank you J.A. Konrath’s blog! I figured I could sell the Kindle ebook a lot cheaper and, thus, use it to introduce (as enticement) more readers to my writing and perhaps, if they liked it, they’d buy more of my other fifteen novels, novellas and various short stories.

It could work, right?

So here it is, retitled, rewritten, updated and with an amazing new cover I love by Dawne Dominique… Dinosaur Lake. I hope my readers will like it.

***
Written this thirtieth day of Aug, 2012 by the author Kathryn Meyer Griffith E-mail me at rdgriff@htc.net - I love to hear from my readers.
***
Novels and Short Stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith

All available on Amazon on my page - check 'em out!

May you read well and often

Christine Amsden - Mind Games

Friday, June 27, 2014

36. Mind Games by Christine Amsden (2014)
The Cassie Scot Series Book 3
Length: 275 pages
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Started: 17 June 2014
Finished: 27 June 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Christine Amsden for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 5 April 2014
Why do I have it? I like paranormal mysteries and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. I'm also completely hooked on The Cassie Scot Series as well.

Two months after she's left standing alone on Evan Blackwood's doorstep, Cassie Scot is heart-broken and devastated; and she still doesn't understand the reason why. With a seer's warning of "Beware your heart and soul..." constantly running through her mind, Cassie has tried to find out the reason behind his abrupt behavior change towards her. Yet, with Evan gone and Eagle Rock in need, Cassie finds herself in quite a conundrum.

So, she does what she's done before: she surrounds herself with family, friends and works diligently in her new job at the sheriff's department; but nothing helps. The only thing that finally allows her heal and move on is the love of a new man - mind mage Matthew Blair. As a senator and also the son of Eagle Rock's mayor, Matthew is - to Cassie's mind - captivating, utterly charming, and...irresistible.

Matthew may also be the only one capable of keeping the non-magical residents of Eagle Rock from exacting vigilante justice after a beloved pastor's wife is murdered. It looks like a sorcerer is to blame; but while Cassie tries to figure out who, others take matters into their own hands. With tensions running as hot as this, a single spark just might be enough to set the entire town of Eagle Rock ablaze. 

Let me say right from the start, that I'm completely hooked on this series! :) This is the third book in The Cassie Scot Series, and the plot is just as exciting as the first two books in the series. I give Mind Games a definite A! It was difficult for me to leave Eagle Rock behind when I turned the last page. These characters stayed with me for quite a while; and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Ms. Amsden's next book; which just happens to be Book 4 in The Cassie Scot Series - Stolen Dreams! I want to know what happens next.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Michael Phillip Cash - Schism: The Battle For Darracia

Friday, June 20, 2014

35. Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)
The Battle For Darracia Saga Book 1
Length: 202 pages
Genre: Science Fiction
Started: 9 June 2014
Finished: 20 June 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Michael Phillip Cash and to Red Feather Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read. I received my first copy of this book from him in February. After it won a couple of awards, in April a second copy of the book arrived in the mail from Red Feather Publishing.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 8 February 2014; Since 2 April 2014
Why do I have it? I like science fiction and Michael Phillip Cash is a new author for me.

Darracia is a planet in turmoil. An ever-widening social gap between its inhabitants is causing severe unrest, and that is quickly fracturing a once peaceful world. Already struggling with his identity, nineteen-year-old Prince V'sair dreams of someday wielding the elusive Fireblade - the key to a warrior's heart. However, deep in his heart, he secretly doubts his worthiness to harness such immense power.

The impetuous young prince will soon be tested beyond the point of endurance. For the coming battle for supremacy will pit brother against brother - and in order to overcome his uncle Staf Nuen's lust for power, Prince V'sair will discover his true destiny. Will the energy of the Elements guide the young prince to that destiny or will Staf Nuen finally conquer Darracia?

I actually began reading this book back in April, but due to my schedule, I had to set the book aside temporarily. I am so delighted that I was eventually able to read this book when I did. I was completely drawn into the plot right from the start. Mr. Cash certainly knows how to create believable, well-developed and true-to-life characters - even if they are aliens from another planet! - and an engrossing and intriguing plot.

I give this book a definite A+! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and look forward to reading the next book in the series - Collision: The Battle For Darracia - sometime very soon.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Introducing Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash!

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Back in February of 2014, my Mom received a copy of Schism: The Battle For Darracia, although she immediately passed the book on to me, since she doesn't usually read science fiction herself. I like reading some light science fiction, so Mom gave it to me instead. I started reading this book back in April, but had to put the book aside temporarily due to my schedule.

I was delighted to learn recently that four books by Michael Phillip Cash have won several awards! Congratulations on such a great achievement, Mr. Cash - it is certainly well-deserved. I am currently reading Schism: The Battle For Darracia - a Finalist for the Foreword Review's Book of the Year Award of 2013 in the Science Fiction Category, and the book also received Second Place for the Rebecca's Reads Readers Choice Awards of 2013 in the Science Fiction Category.

As of Tuesday, June 17th, I'm on page 63 (about 30%) into Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash, and am thoroughly enjoying the story so far. As a matter of fact, I just received the second book in The Darracia Saga - Collision: The Battle For Darracia on Thursday, May 22nd from my Mom. Mr. Cash's publicist, Red Feather Publishing had sent her a copy, and she had again passed it on to me. I hope to start reading this book sometime very soon

Right at the moment, all I know is that Mom put Collision: The Battle For Darracia somewhere safely in my room; I just have to figure out where! lol! :)  

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award winning and best selling author of horror, paranormal, and science fiction novels. Stillwell: A Haunting on Long IslandThe Hanging Tree, and Schism: The Battle For Darracia have all been named to Foreword Review's Book of the Year Awards. Michael currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!


Schism: The Battle For Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash (2013)
Length: 202 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Schism: The Battle For Darracia Blurb: 

On the planet Darracia, an ever-widening social gap between its inhabitants is causing turmoil that is fracturing a once peaceful world. Struggling with his identity, nineteen year old Prince V'sair must harness the power of the elusive Fireblade, the secret to a warrior's heart, in order to overcome his uncle Staf Nuen's lust for supremacy. Will the energy of the Elements guide the young prince to his true destiny or will Staf Nuen conquer Darracia? 

After the success of his first three books (Brood XStillwell, and The Hanging Tree) Michael is fulfilling a dream and creating his own epic fantasy world. Schism: The Battle For Darracia is the first book in a planned series.

Schism: The Battle For Darracia Book Trailer:


May you read well and often

Blog Tour For Stolen Dreams - Book 4 of the Cassie Scot Series - by Christine Amsden From July 16, 2014 to October 15, 2014 - Come Join Us!

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Christine Amsden will be touring the blogosphere to promote her young adult Paranormal Mystery Stolen Dreams - Book 4 in her Cassie Scot Series. This virtual book tour is being hosted by the author herself and will last from July 16, to October 15, 2014!

Ms. Amsden is also doing an awesome giveaway - she is giving away a $100 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner at the end of her Blog Tour. Be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and I wish you all the very best of good luck in taking part!

Stolen Dreams Blog Tour Information:

Meet Christine Amsden

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams. (You can learn more here.)

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.

Connect and Socialize with Christine!


About Stolen Dreams:

Edward Scot and Victor Blackwood have despised one another for nearly a quarter of a century, but now their simmering hatred is about to erupt.

When Cassie Scot returns home from her sojourn in Pennsylvania, she finds that her family has taken a hostage. Desperate to end the fighting before someone dies, Cassie seeks help from local seer Abigail Hastings, Evan Blackwood’s grandmother. But Abigail has seen her own death, and when it comes at the hand of Cassie’s father, Victor Blackwood kills Edward Scot.

But things may not be precisely as they appear.

Evan persuades Cassie to help him learn the truth, teaming them up once again in their darkest hour. New revelations about Evan and his family make it difficult for Cassie to cling to a shield of anger, but can Evan and Cassie stop a feud that has taken on a life of its own? Conclusion to the Cassie Scot Series.

Purchase Your Copy From Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

Christine Amsden is giving away an Awesome $100 Amazon Giftcard!





Stolen Dreams Book Publicity Tour Schedule:


Wednesday, July 16 - Book Review at Cassandra Lost in Books
Wednesday, July 16 - Guest Post “Thirty-Six Point Font” at The Reading Addict
Thursday, July 17 - Book Review at Miki’s Hope
Thursday, July 17 - Guest Post “What’s Next” at Cassandra Lost in Books
Friday, July 18 - Book Review at D. E. Haggerty
Friday, July 18 - Guest Post “A Universe of Possibility” at The Avid Reader
Monday, July 21 - Special Feature at Miki’s Hope
Monday, July 21 - LIVE! Blogtalk Radio at Other Worlds of Romance
Tuesday, July 22 - Special Feature at Lissette E. Manning
Wednesday, July 23 - Book Review at Wall-to-wall books
Tuesday, July 23 - Book Review at Books, Books, and More Books
Thursday, July 24 - Special Feature at Cruising Susan Book Reviews
Friday, July 25 - Book Review at Cruising Susan Book Reviews
Friday, July 25 - Special Feature at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Monday, July 28 - Special Feature at Chapter Break
Tuesday, July 29 - Book Review at KT Book Reviews
Wednesday, July 30 - Book Review at The Book Review
Thursday, July 31 - Special Feature at Murder By 4
Friday, August 1 - Book Review at Once Upon a YA Book
Friday, August 1 - Book Review at The Insane Ramblings of a Crazed Writer
Monday, August 4 - Book Review at Pink Fluffy Hearts
Tuesday, August 5 - Book Review at Genuine Jen
Tuesday, August 5 - Special Feature at RhythemPoets
Wednesday, August 6 - Character Interview at Genuine Jen
Wednesday, August 6 - Special Feature at Offbeat Vagabond
Thursday, August 7 - Book Review at Books Are Love
Friday, August 8 - Special Feature at Books Are Love
Monday, August 11 - Book Review at The Book Junkie
Tuesday, August 12 - Book Review at Pure Jonel Book Reviews
Wednesday, August 13 - Special Feature at KT Book Reviews
Thursday, August 14 - Book Review at Read Books and Live Green
Thursday, August 14 - Special Feature at The Book Review
Friday, August 15 - Book Review at L. Avery Brown
Monday, August 18 - Book Review at Biblio Belles
Tuesday, August 19 - Book Review at Zili in the Sky
Tuesday, August 19 - Special Feature at Zili in the Sky
Wednesday, August 20 - Book Review at Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
Wednesday, August 20 - Special Feature at Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
Thursday, August 21 - Special Feature at Dora Machado
Friday, August 22 - Special Feature at Maria DeVivo
Monday, August 25 - Book Review at RhythemPoets
Tuesday, August 26 - Special Feature at Shah Wharton
Wednesday, August 27 - Book Review at The Avid Reader
Thursday, August 28 - Mind Games Audio Review at A Little Bit of R and R
Friday, August 29 - Book Review at Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews
Tuesday, September 2 - Book Review at The Reading Addict
Wednesday, September 3 - Book Review at Short and Sweet Reviews
Thursday, September 4 - Book Review at Lovely Reads
Friday, September 5 - Special Feature at Dalene’s Book Reviews
Monday, September 8 - Book Review at Chapter Break
Tuesday, September 9 - Book Review at Hide the Matches
Tuesday, September 9 - Book Review at Rogue Reviews
Wednesday, September 10 - Interview at Pure Jonel Book Reviews
Thursday, September 11 - Book Review at Sara’s Organized Chaos
Friday, September 12 - Book Review at Lissette E. Manning
Monday, September 15 - Book Review at The Real World According To Sam
Monday, September 15 - Special Feature at Little Miss Drama Queen
Tuesday, September 16 - Book Review at Mary’s Cup of Tea
Wednesday, September 17 - Book Review at The Story of a Writer
Wednesday, September 17 - Special Feature at The Real World According To Sam
Thursday, September 18 - Book Review at All In One Place
Friday, September 19 - Book Review at Little Miss Drama Queen
Monday, September 22 - Book Review at Tanya’s Book Nook
Tuesday, September 23 - Book Review at Laura’s ramblins and reviews
Wednesday, September 24 - Special Feature at Interstellar Woman of Mystery
Thursday, September 25 - Book Review at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Friday, September 26 - Book Review at The Canon
Monday, September 29 - Special Feature at All In One Place
Tuesday, September 30 - Book Review at D’eBook Sharing Book Reviews
Wednesday, October 1 - Book Review at Bound 4 Escape
Thursday, October 2 - Book Review at Brooke Blogs
Friday, October 3 - Book Review at The Alaskan Book Cafe
Monday, October 6 - Special Feature at The Alaskan Book Cafe
Tuesday, October 7 - Book Review at Ashley’s Bookshelf
Tuesday, October 7 - Special Feature at Pure Jonel Book Reviews
Wednesday, October 8 - Book Review at Literally Jen
Thursday, October 9 - Book Review at Offbeat Vagabond
Friday, October 10 - Book Review at A Little Bit of R and R
Monday, October 13 - Book Review at Fallen Over Books Review
Monday, October 13 - Special Feature at Brooke Blogs
Tuesday, October 14 - Book Review at Dalene’s Book Reviews
Tuesday, October 14 - Special Feature at Sheila Deeth
Wednesday, October 15 - Book Review at Sheila Deeth

May you read well and often

Introducing To Kill For His Queen by Carolina West!

Friday, June 13, 2014

Meet Carolina West

Carolina West is a high school student living with her mother and younger sister in Arizona. She has been writing since she was fourteen years old. This is her first book.

To Kill For His Queen by Carolina West (2012)
Length: 216 pages
Purchase your copy from IUniverse!

To Kill For His Queen Blurb: 

Living in the world of werewolves, vampires, and dark magic can have a certain effect on a child, especially when that child is Hassen Mason, who seems destined to bring ruin to those he loves. Hassen was abandoned as a child and was immersed in the world of magic by the strange creatures that raised him. His lineage was a mystery, but no mystery buried in the past can stay buried for long - especially when that mystery is strong enough to span centuries.

An accident leaves Hassen without memories, and he must find a way to remember who he was and what his life meant to him before his past creeps up and kills him. He encounters evils worse than abandonment - vengeful demons and walking dead. Somehow, Hassen’s family was involved in this dark underworld. Now he has to fight his own internal battle: Is he a good guy or one of the villains?

Then he meets Carissa - a woman he suspects he knew before he lost his memory. She has had a similarly troubled past, and although the two of them are from different worlds, they find a common bond that even dark spirits cannot break. Will Hassen’s good side be strong enough to battle the side that longs to be bad? Will Carissa’s love keep him sane, or will the truth about his family finally cast him into the endless abyss of insanity?


May you read well and often

Calling All Book Reviewers!

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Hello everyone! :) I hope that you are all having a wonderful day today. I know that I am! ;) Anyway, I recently saw on Facebook that author Kathryn Meyer Griffith is looking for more reviews for her books, and because I think she is such a remarkable writer, I thought that I would make a request of all the readers of Emeraldfire's Bookmark.

Like so many authors out there, Ms. Griffith is always on the look out for more reviewers for her books - most specifically her Four Spooky Short Stories. All that is required from these potential reviewers, is a willingness to read the book, and also to write a fair and honest review of what you read. As I've said before, this is just a request of all the readers of my blog - but if you do decide to review any of the books in Four Spooky Short Stories, I would appreciate it very much! And I know that Ms. Griffith would as well. ;)

Meet Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Since childhood I’ve been an artist and worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over forty-two years ago now, and have had twenty (ten romantic horror, two horror novels, two romantic SF horror, one romantic suspense, one romantic time travel, one historical romance and three murder mysteries) previous novels, two novellas and twelve short stories published from Zebra Books, Leisure Books, Avalon Books, The Wild Rose Press, Damnation Books/Eternal Press; and I’ve self-published my last five novels with Amazon Kindle Direct and my dinosaur novels are my best-sellers.

I’ve been married to Russell for thirty-six years; have a son, James, and two grandchildren, Joshua and Caitlyn, and I live in a small quaint town in Illinois, which is right across the JB Bridge from St. Louis, Mo. We have three quirky cats, ghost cat Sasha and Cleo, and live cat Sasha (Too), and the five of us live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk singer in my youth with my brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.

2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my horror novel The Last Vampire - Revised Author’s Edition ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *FINALIST* for my thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.


Four Spooky Short Stories by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2013)
Length: 103 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Four Spooky Short Stories Blurb:

Four contemporary spooky short stories:

Ghost Brother

So what happens after you die? Do you go to heaven, or hell? Or do you go to a special place fashioned just for you based on the life you’d lived in the real world? Based on how you treated people? What you did to them?

And do ghosts exist? Do they roam the earth and plague the living, persuade them to do things they shouldn’t do?

Two brothers and their tale follow; their journey through life and death.

Do you believe in ghosts? Some do.


Running with the Train

Sarah has always been lonely. Searching for a love she’s begun to believe will never come. Her family and friends depend, need her…but they can’t give her what she wants. True, eternal love. Like the wolves have.

So she goes on an adventure of a lifetime to the Grand Canyon; rides the train from Williams to the South Rim and sees these huge wolves running alongside in the evening twilight; scurrying unbelievably below on the Canyon’s ledges among the trees. She’s told there are no wolves but she hears their haunting cries. No one else sees or hears them. Just her.

Has her loneliness made her crazy?


The Banshee and the Witch

What would you do to live forever, stay young forever? To find true love again?

And if you were a white witch with the magical powers to make it happen…and the secret of how to do it, would you?

So when the banshee comes calling for you one rainy dark night you’ll do what you have to do to get what you desire the most. More time.


Too Close to the Edge

Artist Penelope had been looking forward to going with her husband, sister and brother-in-law to see the Grand Canyon…even though she was terrified of heights and, when she got there, couldn’t bear to get too close to the edge. She watched people balancing on one foot, acting foolish, taking photos, oblivious of the death waiting below them. It scared her.

Especially when a woman relates a story of a small child that fell into the Canyon the day before. Over the edge.

Then she sees a young girl go over the rim and no one will believe her.

For there was no child that had died - that day anyway.

Was she seeing things that weren’t there, or was there another explanation?


May you read well and often

Introducing the Cover For The Donor Part One by Nikki Rae!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Meet Nikki Rae

Nikki Rae is a writer who lives in New Jersey. As an independent author, she has appeared numerously on Amazon Best Seller lists and she concentrates on making her imaginary characters as real as possible. Nikki writes mainly dark, scary, romantic tales, but she’ll try anything once. When she is not writing, reading, or thinking, you can find her spending time with animals, drawing in a quiet corner, or studying people. Closely. 

The Donor Part One by Nikki Rae (2014)
Length: 31 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

The Donor Part One Blurb:

Casey Williams and her family are poor. Her parents work non-stop and so does she, just so they can keep the trailer roof from leaking.

They’re getting by fine enough when the headaches start. Then there’s the nosebleeds. And the inevitable doctor’s bills.

Fortunately for Casey, there’s MyTrueMatch.com: an exclusive, quick, and almost easy way to pay it all back before her parents even have to know.

All she has to do is give a man she’s never met whatever he wants from her body.
Inside or out.

[Disclaimer: This is a serial novella that will be told in parts about the length of a short story (20-30 pages).]


The Donor Part One Cover Reveal:

 
May you read well and often

Justine, Juan and Marco Borrego - War of the Gods

34. War of the Gods by Justine, Juan and Marco Borrego (2013)
The Chimera Box Series Book 1
Length: 35 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Started: 4 June 2014
Finished: 9 June 2014
Where did it come from? From Netgalley
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 16 January 2014
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Justine, Juan and Marco Borrego are new authors for me.

Seven-year-old Justin is an ordinary little boy. He imagines living in a world full of mythical creatures and having thrilling adventures, similar to those that he studies about at school in Greek mythology. Then, one day, his mother brings home something that she calls a chimera box. When Justin asks her what the word 'chimera' means, he learns that it is derived from Greek mythology - describing anything perceived as wildly imaginative. 

As a naturally reserved child, Justin is initially wary of the box; but his wariness soon turns to curiosity, and then intrigue. Finally, on a dull and rainy day, he finds the courage to step inside the chimera box. Having the confidence to take that first step, Justin enters a magical world which exceeds even his wildest imagination.

He travels to dangerous lands and comes face to face with terrifying creatures. His journey into this newly discovered world is made alongside, and under the guidance of, the faithful Greek goddess, Gaea. Gaea has absolute faith in Justin's abilities - and she helps him to believe in himself and in his formidable skills, in preparation for the most challenging battle he will ever fight.

Justin will confront Hades; doing battle with Cronus and the Cyclops, in order to fulfill the prophecy and save all the trapped and defenseless gods, who are at the mercy of the combined wrath of Zeus and Jupiter. Justin must learn to face his fears and ultimately find the courage to endure many struggles and battles. Together Justin and Gaea must defeat the evil - the fate of the gods lies in their hands. 

War of the Gods is the first book in an exciting new series, written for children from the ages of five to ten. Each subsequent book in this series follows a different child's journey as they step into the magical chimera box; a special vessel which allows a child’s creativity and imagination to flourish, enabling them to transform into a different character. In order for this transformation to take place, the child must find their hero within. The chimera box will grant each child the ability to go anywhere and become anyone or anything their heart desires; a place where dreams come alive and where there are no boundaries to what voyage a child can go on.

I originally chose this book because I love reading anything having to do with mythology. In my opinion, this is a very intriguing premise and I'm curious to find out where this series will lead. I suppose only the chimera box will tell. I give War of the Gods by Justine, Juan and Marco Borrego a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Austin Washington - The Education of George Washington: How a Forgotten Book Shaped the Character of a Hero

Sunday, June 8, 2014

33. The Education of George Washington: How a Forgotten Book Shaped the Character of a Hero by Austin Washington (2014)
Length: 327 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started: 12 May 2014
Finished: 8 June 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 14 April 2014
Why do I have it? I like non-fiction and Austin Washington is a new author for me.

When we hear the name George Washington, we immediately think of America's first president - a man of honor, bravery and leadership - a great general, and a humble gentleman. While he most certainly was all these things, as well as so much more; it is sometimes difficult to see the man through the blindingly brilliant glare of his reputation. But the father of our nation didn't emerge fully formed in commemorative marble and coated in Revolutionary glory.

George Washington created America. But what made George Washington the man he was? How did he become this man of such stature - who, even in his own time, was regarded as the embodiment of honor, courage and integrity? Who better than George Washington's own great-nephew, Austin Washington, to reveal the secret that he has discovered about Washington's past that explains his true model for conduct, honor, and leadership - an example that we could all use.

As an historian, Austin Washington has discovered the answer. It lies in a book - a book that was crucial to the formation of George Washington's character - but was subsequently forgotten for generations. Now this lost source has finally been uncovered and explored, and Austin Washington has found the key to his great-uncle's tremendous achievements - all within the pages of a simple book - one that changed George Washington's life; and ultimately all of us as well.

The Education of George Washington: How a Forgotten Book Shaped the Character of a Hero by Austin Washington definitely took much longer to read than I was expecting, although I'm entirely certain that this is due to my own slow reading pace, and has absolutely nothing to do with the book itself. I enjoyed reading this book very much. I appreciated the easy writing style that the author used, and must say that to me, George Washington became more of a living and breathing person, and less of the dry historical figure who is portrayed in most history books. I give this book an A! and I look forward to reading more from Austin Washington in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Introducing The Color of Evil Series by Connie Corcoran Wilson!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Hello everyone! :) I'm delighted to announce that to celebrate the release of Khaki=Killer, book three of Connie Corcoran Wilson's hugely successful The Color of Evil Series, Amazon will be hosting several days of free Kindle downloads for each book in the series. These books will only be free for a short period of time, so you had better hurry and grab your copy today!

The free Kindle downloads begin with The Color of Evil - on May 17th to 21st, 2014! The free Kindle downloads continue with Red is For Rage - free from Amazon from June 26th to June 30th, 2014! The free Kindle downloads conclude with the release of Khaki=Killer - free from Amazon from July 8th to July 12th, 2014!

I had the pleasure of reading the first book in The Color of Evil Series, The Color of Evil, in December of 2012. Ms. Wilson was kind enough to send me copies of the next two books in the series: Red is For Rage and Khaki=Killer as well, so I hope to start reading them sometime very soon.

Meet Connie Corcoran Wilson

Connie (Corcoran) Wilson taught composition at 6 IA/IL colleges and wrote for 5 newspapers. She currently writes for 6 blogs, was named 2008 Content Producer of the Year by Associated Content (2009), Midwestern Writing Center Writer of the Year (March 30, 2010), received the Illinois Women's Press Association Silver Feather Award on June 6, 2012, and has received numerous E-Lit Gold Medal awards for her works, including the first book in The Color of Evil series. She currently is a Featured Contributor for Yahoo, reviewing movies, television, entertainment and politics.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Berkeley, Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University and the University of Chicago, she was film and book critic for the Quad City Times during the 70’s and 80’s. Her (Jan., 2011) nonfiction release It Came from the ‘70s: From The Godfather to Apocalypse Now consists of 50 reviews written during the seventies, with 76 photos, major cast and interactive trivia.

Connie’s continuing short story collection, Hellfire and Damnation, stories focused on the 9 Circles of Hell described in Dante's Inferno will soon have a third installment. Her screenplay based on her novel Out of Time was a winner in the 2007 “Writer’s Digest” competition.

In addition to interviewing Kurt Vonnegut, William F. Nolan, David Morrell, Joe Hill, Frederik Pohl, Jon Land, John Irving and Anne Perry for print and online publications, Connie taught for 33 years, founded and was CEO of 2 businesses (Sylvan Learning Center #3301 and Prometric Testing Center #3301), has a son (Scott) and a daughter (Stacey) born 19 years apart, is married 45 years to husband, Craig. Her twin granddaughters, Ava and Elise, who appear on the cover of her humorous book of essays, Laughing Through Life, turned four on January 11, 2013.

She lives in Chicago and in the IA/IL Quad Cities.


The Color of Evil by Connie Corcoran Wilson (2012)
Length: 254 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

The Color of Evil Blurb:

Tad McGreevy has a power that he has never revealed, not even to his life-long best friend, Stevie Scranton. When Tad looks at others, he sees colors. These auras tell Tad whether a person is good or evil. At night, Tad dreams about the evil-doers, reliving their crimes in horrifyingly vivid detail.

But Tad doesn't know if the evil acts he witnesses in his nightmares are happening now, are already over, or are going to occur in the future. He has no control over the horrifying visions. He has been told (by his parents) never to speak of his power. All Tad knows is that he wants to protect those he loves. And he wants the bad dreams to stop.

At Tad's eighth birthday party (April 1, 1995) in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the clown his parents hire to entertain Tad's third-grade classmates is one of the bad people. Pogo, the Killer Clown (aka Michael Clay) is a serial killer. So begins 53 nights of terror as Tad relives Pogo's crime, awakens screaming, and recites the terrifying details to his disbelieving family. The situation becomes so dire that Tad is hospitalized in a private institution under the care of a psychiatrist--who also does not believe the small boy's stories.

And then the police arrest Pogo, the Killer Clown.

Flash forward to the beginning of Tad's junior year in high school, 8 years later. Tad is 16 and recovered from the spring of his third-grade year. When Michael Clay was caught and imprisoned, the crime spree ended and so did Tad's bad dreams.

Until now, in the year of our Lord 2003, when evil once again stalks the land.

This is a terrifying, intense story of the dark people and places that lurk just beneath the surface of seemingly normal small-town America. As one reviewer says, "Wilson nails the darkness beneath the surface of small-town Midwestern life with an intense story based on fact."

Tad must wage a silent war against those who would harm the ones he loves. A battle to the death.

Red is For Rage by Connie Corcoran Wilson (2013)
Length: 260 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Red is For Rage Blurb:

Red is For Rage is the second book in the award-winning The Color of Evil series by Connie (Corcoran) Wilson. The Color of Evil won the E-Lit Gold Medal for Horror (Jenkins Group), and the Silver Feather (IWPA). 

In Book Two, we learn more about the exact nature of Tad’s paranormal power, Tetrachromatic Super Vision. Can this keen sight help Tad find Stevie Scranton? Will Tad suffer another breakdown from reliving the crimes of serial killer Michael Clay (aka, Pogo, the Killer Clown), as he did when only eight years old? Can Tad learn to harness his special sight to help his loved ones?

When Stevie Scranton goes missing, best friend Tad vows to do everything he can to find him. Even if Stevie is dead, Sally and Earl Scranton, (his parents), and Shannon, (Stevie’s older sister), crave closure. Tad enlists the help of retired policeman Charlie Chandler and a team of volunteers, including Charlie’s old partner, Evelyn Hoeflinger. This rag-tag team of detectives continues searching for Stevie Scranton, the runty misfit of Cedar Falls’ Sky High. In their search, they discover a monster every bit as dangerous as Pogo and must confront him in order to save Stevie.

Tad sees auras around others that tell him whether they are good or evil. The truly evil are surrounded by a khaki aura (THE COLOR OF EVIL). At night, Tad suffers vivid nightmares that depict the crimes of the evil-doers. Michael Clay (the serial killer Pogo) escapes custody. On the loose again, Pogo’s actions restart the vicious cycle of violent nightmares. Pogo poses a threat to the entire town of Cedar Falls, but he is especially a threat to Tad McGreevy.

Pogo has one main goal: kill Tad McGreevy so that Tad cannot disclose Clay’s location. Pogo doesn’t realize that, up until now, Tad has been unable to harness the paranormal ability he possesses. Now, Tad McGreevy must try to learn to use his unique gift. Stevie Scranton’s fate hangs in the balance. Tad’s power, if precognitive, could save everyone he loves.

Jenny SanGiovanni returns from her father’s home in Boulder, Colorado, to finish her senior year with her old classmates. She brings home a new set of problems. Jeremy Gustaffsson, the fifth-year senior boyfriend in Jenny’s junior year, graduated. But Jeremy is still in town, still obsessed with Jenny, still dangerous. When Jenny broke up with Jeremy, it made Jeremy mad. Bad things happen to good people when Jeremy Gustaffsson gets angry and descends into a red rage.

All Jenny’s cheerleader friends from her junior year are back. Many, like Janice Kramer, Heather Crompton and Melody Harris, have problems of their own. Jenny deals with adolescent issues such as self-esteem and self-worth, problems that tax her soul. But Jenny is not alone. Another Sky High student is driven to the brink. Will that individual plunge into the abyss of despair?

And what of the adults? What has the stress of Stevie’s nine-month ordeal done to Earl and Sally Scranton’s marriage? What problems confront the other adults in Cedar Falls as three evil-doers rise up to create chaos and do them harm?

Red is For Rage and rage runs rampant in this small Iowa town in the year of our Lord 2004.

Khaki=Killer by Connie Corcoran Wilson (2014)
Length: 220 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Khaki=Killer Blurb:

Khaki=Killer, the third novel in The Color of Evil series, follows young Tad McGreevy and friends at Cedar Falls' Sky High Lab School through the second semester of their senior year.

Recently named a "PageTurner" by Shelf Unbound magazine and NABE Pinnacle Thriller winner, the series details the adventures of the young man (Tad McGreevy) with the power to detect auras around others (Tetrachromatic Super Vision) and to relive the crimes of those with "the color of evil" in his dreams. Khaki=Killer.


Praise For The Color of Evil Series:

As reviewer (True Review) Andy Andrews put it: "Wilson makes all this count and mixes the ugly and the good in ways that can turn out to be rewarding for readers...There are moments of a real gift here...deft touches...especially between Stevie (Scranton) and his girlfriend, that are quite touching and even inspired...So, I remain happy to follow this series, I am assuming this series will reach a conclusion and I cannot wait to see how Wilson writes it."

"Connie Corcoran Wilson weaves a deftly fine scalpel in an age where a crude blade is more the norm. Her work is a smooth, subtle hybrid mix of science fiction, thriller, and horror that realizes a unique and pointed vision in the great tradition of Phillip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury. Her voice is a wonder to behold, at once dark and somber while maintaining a glimmer of hope that shines in the hearts of her heroes, who cling to the light. Like Stephen King, nothing escapes her discerning eye, the result of which is tale after tale that bleed life onto the page, both literally and figuratively." -
Jon Land, bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong Series

"Connie Wilson is back - She's good! She's DAMN good! In a world of mainly bad-to-fair writers, she stands above the crowd with plot, description , and strong character. Believe me, you'll enjoy her latest! that's a guarantee!...She's a born storyteller!" -
William F. Nolan, Living Legend in Dark Fantasy, Logan's Run, Logan's World, Nightworlds

"Wilson's characters come alive on the page. Comparisons to Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Philip K. Dick aside, Wilson has spent 33 years teaching students in this age range. She knows what she is talking about."-
Gary Braver, author of Flashback and 8 other thrillers.

"The Color of Evil series is old-school psychological horror, artfully blended with new-school shocks and twists. ..Bravo!" -
Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author, multiple Bram Stoker winner

May you read well and often

Blog Tour For The Dancing Boy by Michael Matson From July 1, 2014 to July 31, 2014 - Come Join Us!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that Michael Matson will be touring the blogosphere to promote his Contemporary Mystery The Dancing Boy This virtual book tour is being hosted by Pump up Your Book and will last from July 1, to July 31, 2014!

The Dancing Boy Blog Tour Information:


Meet Michael Matson

Michael Matson was born in Helena, Montana, and was immediately issued a 10-gallon Stetson and a pair of snakeskin boots. After formative years spent in New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, California, Hawaii and Japan, Michael earned a journalism degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. Following a brief military stint in Oklahoma, where he first encountered red, sticky mud, heavy rain and tarantulas, he returned to Seattle and worked as an advertising agency copywriter, creative director and video producer.

In 2007 he (regretfully) left Seattle for Mexico to have time to write and has since published The Diamond Tree, a fairytale for all ages; Bareback Rider, an inspirational adventure for children; and Takeshi’s Choice, a mystery novel. His short story “Gato” was selected for inclusion in Short Story America’s 2014 anthology. His second mystery novel: The Dancing Boy, was released by Dark Oak Mysteries, a division of Oak Tree Press in April 2014.

He lives with his wife María Guadalupe (Tai), in Morelia, the colonial capital city of Michoacán, where, despite all the bad publicity given the area by U.S. news media, he has never seen a narcotraficante.


Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads


About The Dancing Boy:

Treat Mikkelson is not exactly a burnt-out case but he’s grown tired of his life as a criminologist, weary of memories of a marriage gone wrong and of his time in Vietnam. Trying to burn the bridges to his past, he finds and remodels a cabin on a small Pacific Northwest Island, settles down to enjoy fishing, setting his crab pot, digging for clams and documenting the lives of his island neighbors.

When an elderly woman in the nearby tourist town of La Conner is found dead however, the victim of what appears to be an accidental fall, Mikkelson is persuaded to look into her death. The discovery that it was murder leads to something even more shocking: the human trafficking of young boys brought into the US and Canada.

Purchase Your Copy From Amazon and Barnes and Noble!

The Dancing Boy Book Publicity Tour Schedule:


Tuesday, July 1 - Book Excerpt and Book Review at My Life, Loves and Passion
Thursday, July 3 - Book Spotlight and Book Excerpt at Room With Books
Monday, July 7 - Author Interview at The Writer’s Life
Monday, July 14 - Book Spotlight and Book Excerpt at Read My First Chapter
Tuesday, July 15 - Book Review at Readalot
Thursday, July 17 - Book Spotlight and Book Review at Emeraldfire's Bookmark
Friday, July 18 - Author Guest Post, Book Spotlight, Book Excerpt and Book Review at Jersey Girl Book Reviews
Monday, July 21 - Author Interview as As The Page Turns
Friday, July 25 - Book Spotlight at Bound 2 Escape
Monday, July 28 - Book Review at Deal Sharing Aunt
Thursday, July 31 - Book Review at The Top Shelf

May you read well and often