Introducing The Ice Bridge by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

Hello Everyone! I was delighted to learn that The Ice Bridge by Kathryn Meyer Griffith has recently been rereleased, featuring a beautifully redesigned cover. I've already had the pleasure of reading approximately eighteen of Ms. Griffith's twenty-two currently published books. Of those twenty-two books, twenty of them have been released as audiobooks distributed by Audible.

The two newest releases are, of course, The Ice Bridge and Blood Forge by Kathryn Meyer Griffith. The Ice Bridge is narrated by Ashley Arnold and Blood Forge is narrated by Marilyn Ghigliotti. I haven't had the pleasure of reading either book as yet - although I hope to at some point in the very near future.

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.

Connect and Socialize with Kathryn!

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Amazon Author Page

The Ice Bridge by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2015)

Length: 254 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon and Audible!

The Ice Bridge Blurb:

She’ll fall in love again…with a man and the island. Charlotte returns to her Aunt Bess and Mackinac Island, a quaint retreat that welcomes summer tourists and allows no cars to renew herself and write about the island’s ghosts.

She’s come to help Bess with her heartache, an ended love with Shaun, and to renew a friendship with neighbor Hannah.

In winter Mackinac closes down and everyone looks forward to the ice bridge that freezes across the Straits of Mackinac.

Until Hannah disappears into the icy waters crossing it.

Everyone says it’s an accident. But Charlotte and her admirer cop friend, Mac, don’t think so. Something isn’t right. Hannah was too smart to go off the path.

So it’s murder…but why…how…by whom? In the end, it’s Mac - and perhaps Hannah’s ghost - who saves Charlotte and Bess’s lives when the killer decides they’re too close to the truth and tries to kill them, too.

May you read well and often

May you all have the most Blessed of Christmases!

MySpace background: CoolSpaceTricks.com

Hello everyone! :) I hope that you all have a wonderful and much blessed Christmas filled with as much friendly and family togetherness as you could wish for. :) Both Mom and I are feeling fine, although it's definitely not looking anything at all like Christmas - absolutely no snow, and yesterday's high was about 72 degrees Celsius outside!

The kitties are really getting into the Christmas spirit - 'Santa Paws' bought them a stocking full of catnip and kitty toys, and the purrs of thanks resounded around the room. Right at the moment, every one of the girls is sprawled about the room sleeping off their excess excitement. Fun was had by all - humans and kitties alike!

May you read well and often

Our Library Visit For December

Hello Everyone! How are you on this fine Wednesday? I'm doing just fine. :)  Well, Mom and I had hoped to go to our local library yesterday afternoon to do some Christmas shopping at the library's perpetual book sale. It ended up that we didn't actually go out yesterday because it rained the entire day. So, we just changed the day of our outing!

We got to the library at approximately 12:30 P. M. and immediately went inside. Then we spent approximately an hour and a half happily perusing the Library Book Sale. By about 2:00 P. M., our downstairs tenant, Pamela, picked us up and dropped us off at Walmart to do some last minute Christmas shopping.

Between us, we bought 32 books at the Library Book Sale - 14 paperbacks, 8 oversized paperbacks and 10 hardcovers. We spent approximately $28 altogether. It turned out to be a fairly good haul for a Christmas shopping trip, if I do say so myself. ;) We actually were pretty restrained this time, completely filling up two canvas tote bags and that was all! :)

At the moment, I'm having a little bit of trouble deciding which book I want to read next. There are just so many great books on my bookshelf that I just can't decide what to read next! ;)

May you read well and often

Here Are Some Books That I'm Hoping to Read!

Back in January of 2015, I posted about eight books that I wanted to read to celebrate National Readathon Day on January 24th! Granted, I didn't get to finish reading that many books back on the actual day, yet that post did inspire me to post more about the books that I'm currently reading or planning to read very soon. Since I last posted about the books I was hoping to read back in August of 2015, I have read four of the eight books that I highlighted in that post.

I'm hoping to do this type of post approximately every four months or so, and plan to read between two to three books that I mention in the post, before the next post. Wish me luck! Here's my potential reading list for the next few months:

Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua (2010)

Length: 357 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Awakened by a Kiss Blurb:

Three classic fairytales - Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, and Little Red Riding Hood - cleverly retold with enough sensual twists to prove wickedly ever after does exist....

Sleeping Beau: Five years ago, the notorious rake, Adrien d'Aspe, Marquis de Beaulain, was awakened by a sensuous kiss - and experienced a night of raw ecstasy that was branded into his memory. Years later, he spots his mysterious seductress - and this time, he has no intention of letting her go...

Little Red Writing: Nicolas de Savignac, Comte de Lambelle, has been assigned by the King to uncover the secret identity of the author writing scandalous stories about powerful courtiers. He never expected his investigation would lead to his grandmother's house, or to a ravishing woman who would stir his deepest hunger...

Bewitching in Boots: Elisabeth de Roussel, daughter of the King, is accustomed to getting what she wants - and she wants Tristan de Tiersonnier, Comte de Saint-Marcel, an ex-commander of the King's private Guard. A recent injury has forced Tristan to leave his distinguished position, but Elisabeth is determined to make him see he's every bit the man he once was - and more than man enough for her...

So, this book has been on my TBR pile since December of 2014 and as I'm a lover of any type of fairytale retellings, this seemed like the kind of book that I'd like. I've just dipped into the first couple of chapters of Sleeping Beau on January 18, 2015, and I think that it's going to be good.

Autumn in Carthage by Christopher Zenos (2014)

Length: 332 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Autumn in Carthage Blurb:

The nether side of passion is madness.

Nathan Price is a college professor with crippling impairments, seeking escape from his prison of necessity. One day, in a package of seventeenth-century documents from Salem Village, he stumbles across a letter by his best friend, Jamie, who had disappeared six months before. The document is dated 1692 - the height of the Witch Trials. The only potential lead: a single mention of Carthage, a tiny town in the Wisconsin northern highland.

The mystery catapults Nathan from Chicago to the Wisconsin wilderness. There, he meets Alanna, heir to an astonishing Mittel-European legacy of power and sacrifice. In her, and in the gentle townsfolk of Carthage, Nathan finds the refuge for which he has long yearned. But Simon, the town elder, is driven by demons of his own, and may well be entangled in Jamie's disappearance and that of several Carthaginians. As darkness stretches toward Alanna, Nathan may have no choice but to risk it all...

Moving from the grimness of Chicago's South Side to the Wisconsin hinterlands to seventeenth-century Salem, this is a story of love, of sacrifice, of terrible passions - and of two wounded souls quietly reaching for the deep peace of sanctuary.

This book has been on my TBR pile since March of 2014, and after starting to read it on May 16, 2014, I had to unfortunately set it aside for a while. I hope that I can start reading this book again sometime.

BlindSight: Adams Thriller Complete by Susan Peterson Wisnewski (2015)

Length: 239 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

BlindSight: Adams Thriller Complete Blurb:

The dead will speak, but only if she’s willing to listen.

Tisha Adams' life is upended when she witnesses a murder on her train commute.

When the body disappears, she teams up with Detective Murphy, a man with mysterious abilities. But Tisha is keeping a secret of her own, a skill she’s always hated and feared. The dead speak to her.

But as the body count rises, and those closest to Tisha are drawn into the nightmare, Tisha’s only choice is to reach out to her estranged grandmother to learn more about her intuitive talents. In a race against the clock to rescue those in danger and solve the murders, she’ll need all her abilities. 

Even the gift she’s been afraid to use.

This book has been on my TBR pile since June of 2015, and have hopes that I can start reading this book very soon.

Fields of Elysium: A Romantic Fantasy by A. B. Whelan (2013)
Length: 424 pages
Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Fields of Elysium: A Romantic Fantasy Blurb:

CAN LOVE MEND A HEART FULL OF HATE?

Small town girl, Molly Bennett, moves to Los Angeles where she becomes an outsider while attending Beverly Hills High School. It seems life cannot be any more dreadful. Then one day after school, something magical happens.

On a secluded hike in the Hollywood Hills, Molly chases her disobedient mutt and only friend into a hidden cavern. She stumbles upon a strange glimmering gateway that transports her to Arkana, a planet that is the cradle of an advanced human race. There, teenagers navigate amazing flying in vehicles, compete in perilous games for glory, and possess supernatural powers. While Molly tries to wrap her mind around this unbelievable discovery, she meets the alluring and mysterious Victor Sorren. 

He is a Sentinel Apprentice, whose hatred toward people from Earth is beyond understanding.

Yet every time Victor unpredictably saves Molly’s life, his heart draws closer to hers, no matter how much he tries to fight against it. It further complicates things that their growing friendship is strictly forbidden. Earth people are prohibited in Arkana, yet Molly continues to cross through the portal to Arkana to see Victor. Torn between their double lives, they go down a dangerous path, from where there is no return and multiple endings.

Would you fight to be with the one you truly love? What cost would you be willing to sacrifice for that love?

Fields of Elysium is a suspenseful romantic tale full of forbidden secrets, danger, deception, and the never-ending fight for true love.

I downloaded this ebook for free from Amazon in March of 2015, but haven't had a chance to start reading it yet.

The Shell Seeker by Christine Nolfi (2015)

Length: 105 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

The Shell Seeker Blurb:

In South Carolina, there’s more than magic in the air. Now policewoman Lei Texeira must solve the case of the Pirate Necklace.

The famed emeralds, spirited in the 1700s from the pirate Blackbeard’s ship, have been snatched once again. This time, the bling was taken from Marie-Therese Belvedere, a woman whose cruelty is only topped by her arrogance.

Lei doesn’t care for the icy socialite, but she feels an instant connection with the woman’s stepdaughter. An unlucky star has followed Sydney Belvedere her entire life. If the necklace isn’t found, she’ll lose a treasure more dear than the finest gem. 

Only the magic of Lei’s intuition stands between Sydney and unspeakable loss.

Seal of a Monk by Eden Baylee (2015)

Length: 92 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Seal of a Monk Blurb:

The ancient jungles of Kauai provide the perfect setting for self-discovery. 

Despite the terror she experienced on her last trip, Lainey Lee returns to Hawaii to manage a silent meditation course on the Coconut Coast. Twenty-five women are under her care for ten days in a beautiful and remote location. Lainey expects to find inner peace, but four days into the course, one of the meditators disappears without a trace.

Did the girl leave of her own free will, or was she lured away by a strange cult? Lainey is frantic to answer these questions. As her desperation grows, she finds help from an unexpected source - a retired Navy SEAL named Maximillian Scott.

Now, Lainey has two mysteries to solve: what happened to the missing girl and the case of her own heart. Can she ever trust a man again?

Torn Roots by Scott Bury (2015)

Length: 131 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Torn Roots Blurb:

Hawaii is known for volcanoes and sandy beaches. Beauty and danger reign.

After breaking a case of murdered poachers in Maui's national park, Detective Pono Kaihale accepts a short-term position as Acting Lieutenant in Hana on the island's rain-forest coast. He is looking forward to redirecting lost hikers and moderating mild lovers' spats, and enjoying the natural beauty of the southeast shore. But by his second week on the job, Pono finds trouble here comes in unexpected forms.

As environmentalists, property developers, protesters, arsonists, kidnappers and a rogue Homeland Security agent converge on his new post, Pono feels like the eye of a brewing storm. And when a new FBI agent gets involved, Pono realizes the stakes are much higher than a quiet period in his career. 

Lives will be lost if he doesn't solve this mystery quickly.

Money Makes it Deadlier by Julie C. Gilbert (2015)

Length: 101 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Money Makes it Deadlier Blurb:

Money can buy many things, but can it purchase a permanent solution to divorce? 

Martin Cantrell would like to know the answer to that question. He has money, respect, and power, but he also has a monthly alimony payment that’s making him miserable. When a friend offers to deal with the “ex” problem for a fee, he can hardly say no. Time is of the essence. The life insurance policy on his ex-wife expires in less than two months. 

Unaware of the plans set in motion, Special Agent Marcella Scott goes about her business as usual, only now, she finally has an excuse to dress up on the job. She’s been asked to go undercover to check out some banks. One of the branches just happens to be managed by Martin Cantrell’s ex-wife.

What’s an agent to do when a perfectly peaceful morning turns into a hostage-taking standoff?

Find out in Money Makes it Deadlier. This story takes place several months before the events of Black Jasmine, book 3 of the Lei Crime Series

May you read well and often

Kimber Leigh Wheaton - Tortured Souls

39. Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton (2014)
The Orion Circle Series Book 1
Length: 349 pages
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Started: 7 December 2015
Finished: 16 December 2015
Where did it come from? I originally downloaded a copy of this book for free from Amazon; although, many thanks to Kimber Leigh Wheaton as well for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 15 December 2014 from Amazon; Since 18 November 2015 from Kimber Leigh.
Why do I have it? I like paranormal mysteries and Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a new author for me.

Fifteen-year-old Kassandra 'Kacie' Ramsey has always been able to see ghosts - ever since she was a little girl. Some people might call her ability a gift; but Kacie would definitely say it is a curse. In fact, she has done her absolute best throughout her life to completely ignore her power, since all her so-called 'gift' has brought her is heartache and pain. As a matter of fact, Kacie would go so far as to say that her gift is ruining her life.

Kacie's mother left the family after walking in on Kacie talking with a spirit, and her father and brother still blame her for it. They may not have said anything about the incident specifically, but Kacie has sensed the subtle changes in their attitudes toward her all the same. Since her mother walked away from them, Kacie has done all she can to keep the spirits away. Yet as much as she has tried to ignore them, the ghosts have continued to be remarkably persistent in their attempts to communicate.

And it seems like things are getting steadily worse for Kacie, if that's even possible. A startling new power is beginning to emerge - a terrifying and gruesome new talent that Kacie sincerely wishes would go away. Nightly visions of a crazed psychopath's viciousness - scenes of ritualistic and murderous brutality - have recently begun to plague Kacie's dreams. And now, some malevolent presence is relentlessly pursuing her and driving her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom manifests itself at a party, Kacie's longtime secret crush - Logan - saves her. When he invites her to join 'The Orion Circle', Kacie is genuinely flattered - yet undeniably mortified - by the exclusive society's sudden interest in her. 'The Orion Circle' is a group of supernatural hunters and investigators with chapters in schools all over the country. So, with the help of the Circle, Kacie soon learns to embrace her supernatural abilities; and for the first time in her life Kacie feels more in control of her powers rather than simply being a victim of them.

Yet the being known as the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. In life, he was a demented serial killer who targeted children. During that lifetime, he kidnapped and murdered thirteen children - imprisoning their innocent souls within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he searches for a way to return to the mortal realm and continue his demonic mission.

Drawing his power from the pure souls of the children that he trapped inside his house so long ago, he travels into the realm of dreams to find the perfect vessel. He recognizes something in Kacie that he has never seen before - a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul. Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan by her side, Kacie must fight the Foxblood Demon. Yet can they banish such a powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but also her eternal soul to the monster.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, this was a captivating story with an intriguing and fast-paced plot. I found these characters to be well-developed and extremely likable. This was such a great start to the series; I can't wait to read the next book. I give Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton a definite A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Emeraldfire's Bookmark Welcomes Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton and the Members of the Paranormal Investigation Society The Orion Circle

I would very much like to welcome both Kimber Leigh Wheaton, author of the young adult Paranormal Thrillers, Tortured Souls and Twisted Sisters and The Orion Circle, a Paranormal Investigation Society that explores all manner of supernatural or paranormal occurrences. The Orion Circle returns in Twisted Sisters - the thrilling sequel to Ms. Wheaton's award-winning Tortured Souls. Thank you so much again for stopping by Emeraldfire's Bookmark, Ms. Wheaton and Orion Circle members: Rebecca Travers; Carl Loughton; Raven Sawyer; Blake Warner; Kassandra 'Kacie' Ramsey; Logan Finley and Daniel Westin. Welcome to Emeraldfire's Bookmark, ladies and gentlemen!

Meet Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works as an editor for two publishers, as well as select indie authors. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games, superheroes, villains, and chocolate - not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) 

Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA and a Silver Medal for YA Mystery/Horror in the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

Synopsis of Tortured Souls:

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts - and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity. 

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before - a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul. 

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Synopsis of Twisted Sisters:

It’s a child’s toy - what could go wrong?

While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.

But this isn’t any ordinary haunting. These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness - these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.

Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?

Coming to Amazon on 25 October 2015!

Meet the Members of the Illustrious Paranormal Society 'The Orion Circle'

Meet Rebecca Travers - Chief Investigator

Meet Carl Loughton - Computer and Technology Expert 

Meet Raven Sawyer - Monster Hunter and Sensitive 

Meet Blake Warner - Alpha Werewolf

Meet Kassandra 'Kacie' Ramsey - Physical and Dream Medium 

Meet Logan Finley - Physical Medium and Precognitive 

Meet Daniel Westin - Clairsentient and Sensitive 

May you read well and often

Introducing Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith!

Hello Everyone! I was delighted to learn that Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith was just recently rereleased with a totally redesigned cover. Vampire Blood by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is the prequel of Human No Longer, which I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing back in July of 2013. I would advise you all to grab your own copy as soon as possible!

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.

Connect and Socialize with Kathryn!

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Amazon Author Page

Vampire Blood: Prequel to Human No Longer by Kathryn Meyer Griffith (2015)

Length: 264 pages

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

Vampire Blood: Prequel to Human No Longer Blurb:

For years the vampire family lived in the shadows, hidden by the night and people's disbelief; feeding on animals or throw away people who would never be missed. As the family moves into an old theater to cover up their crimes, the youngest are restless and determined to live as they like. Killing and feeding when and where they want. Feeding on who they want. 

Only the oldest vampires have managed to keep them in check. But no longer. Unaware of the nightstalking menace, the townspeople of Summer Haven, Florida, blithely go about their daily lives until, one by one, they disappear. 

Screams are heard in the night. Fear grows. But the lost are never found...alive. 

Jenny Lacey and her father, who are hired to renovate the old Grand Theater, can't escape when they find themselves caught up in the middle of the vampire's war. In the end, it's up to Jenny, her brother and her ex-husband to get rid of the bloodthirsty fiends that are destroying their town...if they can.

May you read well and often

Blog Tour For Mirror World by John Calicchia From January 4, 2016 to March 31, 2016 - Come Join Us!

Hello Everyone! I am extremely happy to announce that John Calicchia will be touring the blogosphere to promote his young adult Fantasy novel Mirror World. This is Mr. Calicchia's first virtual book tour with Pump up Your Book! He will be coming to a blog near you from January 4, to March 31, 2016! Come join us for all the fun!

Mr. Calicchia is also doing an awesome giveaway - he is giving away two (2) $25 Amazon Gift Cards to two lucky winners at the end of his 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!

Mirror World Blog Tour Information:

Meet John Calicchia

I’m John Calicchia and I write stories of fantasy, action and adventure. In the fall of 2015 my book Mirror World was released! It’s a story of two powerful young sisters and their epic battle against evil. But, this book has something in it most do not: hidden secrets.

It’s a teen and young adult fiction book with a self-help book hidden inside. You see...after publishing in psychology books and journals for decades I felt my writing was not helping the young people I love to work with. So, I took famous psychology studies and put it in the characters and plot in Mirror World. As you become part of the story you can learn about psychology or you can just enjoy the story! You can also get a free copy of the users guide to help you understand the psychology behind the book by joining my website www.johncalicchia.com.

John Calicchia Ph.D. is a professor of psychology who also works with children and young adults as a licensed psychologist. He lives near Boston with his lovely wife and two amazing daughters. You can usually find him in the pool swimming with his two big dogs.

Connect and Socialize with John!

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

About Mirror World:

What would you do if you saw the future apocalypse of the world in a mirror? Would you try to save the world and those you love, or die trying?

Welcome to my life, this is the vision of the future I’ve been cursed to see. - Cailyssa Larkin

When Cailyssa Larkin looks in a mirror she has an ominous feeling that someone is watching her. Stranger still, she has visions that foretell the future. While visiting her Uncle Spencer, Cailyssa gazes into a mirror and sees a dark future that only she can change. With the future of her own world hanging in the balance, Cailyssa bravely enters the portal to the Mirror World. Here, the Dark Lord controls all the mirrors and bends reflections so all creatures see evil within themselves.

With her sister Terry, her mysterious best friend Daemon, and a host of weird and wonderful creatures, Cailyssa embarks on an epic quest to overcome the evil forces trying to destroy her world. She can only defeat the Dark Lord by finding her true self and discovering the family secret that has led her to Mirror World.

This book, written by a psychology professor, integrates famous psychological studies in the story. Readers will enjoy learning important life lessons through the psychological concepts illustrated in the book.

Purchase your copy from Amazon!

John Calicchia is Giving Away Two (2) $25 Amazon Gift Cards!

Terms and Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
• This giveaway begins January 4 and ends March 31.
• Winners will be contacted via email on February 1.
• Winners have 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mirror World Book Publicity Tour Schedule:

Monday, January 4 - First Chapter Reveal and Tour Kick Off at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, January 5 - Book Feature at The Writer’s Life

Thursday, January 7 - Guest Blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Friday, January 8 - Interview at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

Monday, January 11 - Interview at C.A. Milson’s Blog

Tuesday, January 12 - Book Feature at I’m Shelf-ish

Thursday, January 14 - Interview at The Dark Phantom

Monday, January 18 - Book Feature at CBY Book Club

Wednesday, January 20 - Book Feature at My Bookish Pleasures

Thursday, January 21 - Guest Blogging at Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic

Monday, January 25 - Interview at Examiner

Tuesday, January 26 - Book Feature at Bound 2 Escape

Thursday, January 28 - Book Review at Don’t Judge Read

Friday, January 29 - Book Review at 3 Partners in Shopping
Monday, February 1 - Guest Blogging at The Writer’s Life
Tuesday, February 2 - First Chapter Reveal at Write and Take Flight
Thursday, February 4 - Book Review at Emeraldfire’s Bookmark

Friday, February 5 - Book Feature at Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!

Monday, February 8 - Interview at The Book Rack

Tuesday, February 9 - Interview at C.A. Milson’s Blog

Wednesday, February 10 - Interview at As the Pages Turn

Thursday, February 11 - Book Feature at Jody’s Book Reviews

Tuesday, January 16 - Character Interview at Pimp That Character!

Thursday, February 18 - First Chapter Reveal at Beyond the Books

Monday, February 22 - Interview at Literarily Speaking

Wednesday, February 24 - Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Tuesday, March 1 - Interview at PUYB Virtual Book Club

Wednesday, March 2 - Interview at Literarily Speaking

Friday, March 4 - Book Feature at Around the World in Books

Monday, March 7 - Interview at SheWrites

Wednesday, March 9 - Book Review at Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Thursday, March 10 - First Chapter Reveal at Read My First Chapter

Monday, March 14 - Book Review at Ashley’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, March 15 - Book Review at Book Babble

Wednesday, March 16 - Interview at I’m Shelf-ish

Thursday, March 17 - Book Review at Ali – The Dragon Slayer

Monday, March 21 - Book Feature at The Literary Nook

Monday, March 28 - Book Feature at A Title Wave

Thursday, March 31 - Book Review at Pink Fluffy Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict

Thursday March 31 - Book Review at Deal Sharing Aunt

TBA: Book Review at Laura’s Interests

TBA: Book Review at Wonderland Novels

May you read well and often

Deanna Nowadnick - Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels With God

38. Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels With God by Deanna Nowadnick (2015)
Length: 143 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction
Started: 26 November 2015
Finished: 4 December 2015
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Deanna Nowadnick for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 22 August 2015
Why do I have it? I like non-fiction and have read and enjoyed Fruit of my Spirit: Reframing Life in God's Grace by this author in the past.

Deanna Nowadnick's humorously inspirational memoir, Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels With God opens with a late-night encounter with local law enforcement. Beneath the harsh glare of a police officer's flashlight, an exhausted Deanna learns the consequences of speeding through a stop sign. Her further personal recollections of other incidents follow. All of these humorous anecdotes are linked to the divine signs that she has encountered in that larger journey through life.

Join Deanna as she shares witty anecdotes and inspirational lessons that she has learned from her travels with God. All around us are signs in life, and it is our decision whether or not we follow. Deanna may be speeding through yet another stop sign - while someone else is carefully navigating a busy street - but together we are all part of a bigger journey, a much greater purpose. Ultimately, we are all part of God's great story.

This is the second book by Deanna Nowadnick that I have read and I must say that I really enjoyed it - just as I enjoyed reading Fruit of my Spirit: Reframing Life in God's Grace in January of 2013. In my opinion, Ms. Nowadnick has an extremely easy writing style; just remarkably conversational and funny. I also appreciated that at the end of every chapter, she allowed readers the chance to evaluate their own lives - whether or not they were seeing the signs that God was showing them. I give this book a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Reading Wrap-up For November at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Emeraldfire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog.

Anyway, I started out November with about two hundred unread books lying around the house and ended the month with...umm...uncountable amounts of books unread. All of the books that I acquired this month came from authors and Amazon.

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Dream Student by J. J. DiBenedetto
- The Adventures of Binkle and Flip by Enid Blyton

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! :))
- Thirteen by Candice F. Ransom
- Damiano by R. A. MacAvoy
- Fey: A Fantasy Novella by C. S. Feldman
- Dream Fragments: Stories From the Dream Series by J. J. DiBenedetto
- Betty and Howard's Excellent Adventure by J. J. DiBenedetto
- Almost Ten and a Half by Candice F. Ransom 
- The Search For the Stone of Excalibur by Fiona Ingram 
- Tortured Souls by Kimber Leigh Wheaton 
- Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton 

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))

- Dream Student by J. J. DiBenedetto
- The Sight by David Clement-Davies

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me, considering. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 2
Pages Read: 486
Grade Range: A+! to B+!

So, there you go! The reading month that was November. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

May you read well and often

May You All Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

I hope that all my blog readers in the United States have a very happy Thanksgiving! May your Thanksgiving be filled with great food, wonderful friendship and all the family ties that you may wish for. :) So, Mom and I had turkey au jus, pan fried potatoes and potatoes au gratin; and stew meat. I had canned pears for dessert while Mom had brussel sprouts. We also had an apple pie for dessert. After that, we may watch a movie or read books for the entire day! :)

May all of you have a wonderfully safe and blessed Thanksgiving. Be sure to find some quiet time for yourselves and count your blessings today when and if you can. I know that I'm incredibly thankful for my continued health and happiness, my daughter's continued health and happiness, that we are both comfortable and love each other as much as we do, and that our family is as well as they are. We are also incredibly thankful for our three kitties - Ruby, Leila and Lollipop.

I also hope that everyone who is away from their families at this time, will know that they are sorely missed, truly loved and deeply appreciated by all! God bless all of you, may you have a very happy and wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

May you read well and often

Enid Blyton - The Adventures of Binkle and Flip

37. The Adventures of Binkle and Flip by Enid Blyton (1967)

The Bad Bunnies Series Book 1

Length: 185 pages 

Genre: Fantasy

Started: 7 October 2015

Finished: 18 November 2015

Where did it come from? This was a birthday present given to me by a friend when I was six years old.

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 1984
Why do I have it? I like fantasy and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Binkle and Flip are a pair of very naughty bunny rabbits who live in Oak Tree Town. Binkle is usually the instigator of many of the practical jokes that are played on the residents of Oak Tree Town; and he somehow always manages to get Flip involved in all of his schemes. From masquerading as chimney sweeps, to fooling their neighbor Herbert the Hedgehog into becoming a carnival attraction, Binkle and Flip are determined to make as much mischief as possible. 

At least until Wily Weasel the policeman catches them and makes them apologize. Each time that the bunnies are caught, they promise never to be naughty again but it doesn't last for long. I must say that I have never read this book before - or maybe I have and just can't remember when - but I still enjoyed reading this book very much. 

I have always enjoyed Enid Blyton as an author, and while this particular book was quite dated, I still found it very sentimental and nostalgic reading. I'm definitely putting this book back on my 'childhood favorites' shelf. I would give this book a B+!

B+! - (85-89%)

May you read well and often

J. J. DiBenedetto - Dream Student

36. Dream Student by J. J. DiBenedetto (2013)

The Dream Series Book 1

Length: 285 pages 

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Started: 2 November 2015

Finished: 11 November 2015

Where did it come from? From Amazon 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 August 2014

Why do I have it? I like paranormal mysteries and J. J. DiBenedetto is a new author for me.

Sara Barnes is just a normal college junior; suffering from all the typical stressors that studying pre-med classes will cause. Honestly, she believes that the most that she has to worry about are final exams, 'Secret Santa' Christmas shopping and deciding whether she likes the cute freshman who lives in the next dorm who's apparently got a serious crush on her. She never would have thought she'd have to contend with a recently acquired psychic ability as well.

The ability to see other people's dreams is incredibly embarrassing, disturbing and peculiar to Sara's way of thinking. Watching someone else's private, personal fantasies and uncovering their deepest darkest secrets, leaves her feeling extremely uncomfortable...especially when she can't seem to control this extraordinary ability. Her sixteen-year-old brother might believe whole-heartedly in the paranormal, but Sara is far more skeptical - more scientific and logical in her reasoning.

The worst part of Sara's newly acquired ability is that nobody else realizes that she can see into their dreams. This may be fine for 'nobody else', but Sara is nevertheless mortified by her nightly revelations. She's learning more than she ever wanted to know about her friends and fellow classmates...almost too much. Her abilities are getting stronger too; and way more dangerous: she's beginning to see into someone else's dreams - a terrifying stranger whose dreams could possibly get Sara killed.

In my opinion, I consider myself to be a pretty healthy skeptic when it comes to people having psychic abilities - not entirely disbelieving, but also not completely accepting of such claims. It just seems to me that so many people who claim to have psychic powers, tend to use such gifts for their own purposes. On the other hand, I would say that it must be incredibly difficult to have such powers; especially if the psychic feels the necessity to tell someone about their visions or dreams. There is always the possibility that they will not be believed, or even ridiculed for having such powers.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a well-developed story and an intriguing plot. Sara is such a savvy, strong character and I could totally sympathize with her situation. I would give this book an A+! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A+! - (96-100%)

May you read well and often

Michael Phillip Cash, author of the thrilling science fiction saga, The Battle For Darracia gives some well-needed advice to other aspiring writers

Meet Michael Phillip Cash

Michael Phillip Cash is an award-winning screenwriter and novelist. He's written ten books including the best-selling Brood X, Stillwell, The Flip, The After House, The Hanging Tree, Witches Protection Program, Pokergeist and The Battle for Darracia Series.

Michael resides on the North Shore of Long Island. He writes full-time with his screaming kids in the background.

Connect and Socialize with Michael!

Amazon Author Page * Facebook * Twitter * Website

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The Battle for Darracia Books I, II, and III, are now combined into this one epic novel!

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?

Coming to Amazon on June 11, 2015!

I would like to welcome Michael Phillip Cash, author of The Battle For Darracia Saga, a thrilling science fiction trilogy recently published in one epic novel, to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Mr. Cash was kind enough to write a guest post for me and here it is below in his own words:

'Don't TRY to Write - Just Write!'

by Michael Phillip Cash

There are challenges to anything anyone does, whether it’s owning a business or working in an office, everything has its trials. But I won’t focus on that here. What I will focus on is the benefits of writing full time. Writing full time (for me) is FUN. Is it stressful? Sure. But so is everything else. I simply don’t let the stress get to me because there is no reason. It takes the same amount of effort to enjoy the moment as it does to be annoyed by it.

The way I divvy up my time, I believe, is the most important part of the writing process. I never feel bogged down by my schedule. People ask me if it’s a nine to five job and I tell them ‘no’. For me, RESEARCHING is my nine to five. That’s the most important part of writing. Research your subject. Get familiar with your settings. Play with your ideas. If you’re writing about a certain city, for instance, New York City…go visit! 

Last year, when I wrote Witches Protection Program, I tried to spend as much time as I could in NYC. Scoping out locations, seeing my characters on the street and feeling their reaction to their surroundings – the cars honking, the sounds of people, and the smell of food. Research is as important, if not more important, than actually sitting down and writing. Put your findings on paper. Even if you don’t use it, nothing goes to waste. Keep notes for everything. I have a journal with over 50,000 musings and observations. I keep this as a reference for when I want to add something to a book.

For me, the writing really starts when my wife and kids go to sleep. My son and daughter are in bed by 7:30 P. M. My wife is in bed by 8:30 P. M. Then it’s me, a green tea with fresh mint, my TV on mute and my laptop. The TV has to be set to something mindless, like a cooking show on The Food Network, or travel show on The Travel Channel. If a good movie is on, The Hobbit, for instance... that’s on mute in the background. Then I write until my eyes go. Sometimes it’s an hour, but most nights I plug away for 3 to 4 hours. 

It’s easy to focus on the challenges of writing full time. Yet the more time you waste on the challenges, the less time you have researching and writing your incredible story. It’s as simple as that. As my favorite movie character Yoda once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.” Don’t try to write. Just write. (And research your subject).

May you read well and often