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Book Spotlight: High Noon by Laura Westbrook

06 Monday Apr 2020

Posted by ehmusings in romance, Spotlight

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Title: High Noon: A Sweet Romance

Author: Laura Westbrook

Genre: Sweet Romance

Length: Novella

Website: https://laurawestbrookauthor.com/

Blurb:

If there’s one thing Lynn hates, it’s dressing up, which suits her just fine working on the set crew of an old west theme park. Wearing jeans and a T-shirt while making set pieces in an old saloon makes her feel right at home. And meeting Luke, one of the actors playing a rugged sheriff, doesn’t hurt either.

But when her boss pulls her into his office and says she’ll be one of those actors, she’s faced with her fear, while also wondering if it’ll position her closer to Luke. Back when she was on the set crew, he barely gave her a second look. Now that she works closer with him, sparks are starting to fly.

When Lynn accidentally gets Luke’s friend fired, everything changes. It’s up to her to find a wild west solution to this modern-day problem and hopefully bag the sheriff at the same time.

If you enjoy sweet romance stories with happily ever afters, no cliffhangers, and a southwestern twist, then you’ll love this third installment in Laura Westbrook’s heartwarming series.

You can find it here:

Amazon USA | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada

Amazon Australia | Amazon Germany | Amazon France

Amazon Italy | Amazon India | Amazon Netherlands

Amazon Japan | Amazon Spain | Amazon Brazil | Amazon Mexico

  (and all other Amazon websites)

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Spotlight: Restore Her by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

25 Saturday Jan 2020

Posted by ehmusings in Self Help, Spotlight

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After reading Chapter 4 it stirred up some things on the inside of me and activated my journey to connect back with my purpose. For over 20 years I have fulfilled another mans passion and allowed my own purpose to die, however after reading this chapter I’m getting back on track and moving forward. As I began to reminisce growing up as a young girl, it was brought back to my memory the things that I spoke and meditated on over my life regarding what I wanted to be when I grew up. This brought forth a sense of excitement and child like faith all over again. I sense my purpose has awakened it will be fulfilled and lives will be changed for the better because the desire God placed on the inside of me shall come to pass! Thanks for the opportunity to share. ~ Sheronda Odums  

You’ve probably heard the saying by Roy T. Bennet, “You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

It’s true that during the times you step outside your element, you experience who you really are. It’s about facing our fears and doing things we are passionate about.

We often live our lives with the “I cannot,” “I don’t want to,” or “it’s too difficult” thoughts that keep us stuck and unhappy. It’s only until we realize that when we stop letting our negative thoughts control us, that we find our true self.

Stepping into the unknown is frightening, the place just beyond where we can see the outcome of doing it. That’s the part that makes our hearts pump faster, make us break out into a cold sweat and yet, we yearn to see what’s there.

Staying in our comfort zone keeps us from stepping into that unknown. It keeps us secure and safe. Your comfort zone is the basis of your life now. It’s how you define who and what you currently are.

But what would happen if you stretched outside that zone? Would bad things happen? Or would you suddenly be excited about life?

How do you know if you should step into the unknown? Begin by writing down 10 things that doesn’t scare you and you do often. This could be things like traveling by bus, giving a public speech, or whatever it is that doesn’t scare you. It’ll be different for each person, because we all have different comfort zones.

Describe how it feels to live within your comfort zone. Be as detailed as possible using feeling words. How does it make you feel to be in your body, your mind, and your life?

Then ask yourself these questions:

1. Are there things you want to achieve but haven’t yet?

2. Are you dissatisfied with your daily life?

3. Do you want to achieve big things?

4. Do your goals and passions keep appearing, tugging at you?

5. Are there material or immaterial things you want that you don’t have?

6. Are you struggling with finding meaning in your life?

7. Are you feeling jealous of others who have achieved or done things you secretly want?

Once you’ve answered these questions, think about what’s keeping you from going after what you want. What makes you uncomfortable? Is it fear? Are you reluctant to take chances or make changes?

Write Down 10 Things That Scare You.

Now describe how it would feel if you were living outside your comfort zone. Be as detailed as possible. Describe in detail how it feels, what you see, hear or where you are.  Use images, color, or visualization to help you create your life.

Take your time with these steps. Once you realize what’s keeping you from stepping into the unknown you can begin taking small steps outside your comfort zone to get there.

Your life can be as fulfilled and exciting as you desire it to be once you step into the unknown where you find your true self. 

Cheryl Lacey- Donovan is a servant leader. She is one of the most-requested motivational speakers and media personalities. And corporate CEO’s whose platform has reached and served thousands of people. She is transforming her own life and it is her mission to teach others that it is possible to do the same. 

She is a best-selling, author, educator, and mentor. Her journey continues as she seeks to readers and listeners to become healed, enlightened, and renewed while sharing her own life experiences. The 7 Steps to Healing, Enlightenment, and Renewal is her highly anticipated new release dedicated to women of a certain age seeking to restore their identity, their spirit, their purpose, and passion, and more.  

Cheryl’s new release RestoreHER 7 Steps to Healing, Enlightenment, and Renewal

Find out more here:

Book Landing page: 

RestoreHer the Book

Book Trailer

Connect with the Author

Website: http://www.cherylspeaks.org

Facebook, Twitter. Instagram: @cherylspeaksnow

Email: cheryl@cherylspeaks.org 

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Spotlight: Creed of the Guardian by CR Richards

09 Wednesday Oct 2019

Posted by ehmusings in Fantasy, Spotlight

≈ 1 Comment

CREED OF THE GUARDIAN (HEART OF THE WARRIOR – BOOK THREE)

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Print ISBN: 978-0990669470

Print Price: $19.99

Kindle ISBN: 978-0-9906694-8-7

Kindle Price: $3.99

Release Date:  October 18, 2019

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2m19SOO

BN: https://bit.ly/2m2ofCs

Bio:

C.R. Richards’ literary career began when she interned as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper. She wore several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. A co-author of horror and urban fantasy novels, her first solo fiction project – The Mutant Casebook Series – was published by Whiskey Creek Press in 2013. Phantom Harvest (Book One in the series) is the winner of the 2014 EPIC eBook Awards for Fantasy Fiction. Cynthia is an active member of the Horror Writers Association, EPIC and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. For more information about her books, visit her website: http://www.crrichards.com

Books and Short Fiction by C.R. Richards: Phantom Harvest (2013), Lost Man’s Parish (2014), Pariah (2014), The Lords of Valdeon (2015) and The Obsidian Gates (2017)

Synopsis:

Protect the Innocent. Punish the Guilty.

Seth the Ice Lion, now an Apprentice in the Jalora Legion, reluctantly travels aboard ship with his new battalion. Western Beta’s mission seems a dull assignment. Guarding miles of bogs and old ruins should be a simple task, but Seth soon learns nothing is easy for the Bearer of the Lion Ring. The Jalora is the embodiment of Good and the source of Seth’s power. It commands he search North Marsh for a relic capable of saving his homeland from the ravenous appetite of the Jackal invaders. Surrounded by deadly bogs and savage beasts, he must find the relic before the Lion Spirit inside of him takes control of their shared body.

Invaders from across the sea hold a firm grip on Valdeon, but their thirst for blood remains unsated. They lust for the riches of Andara. Using fear and greed as weapons, the Jackal enlist aid from the continent’s unscrupulous mercenaries to prepare for a larger invasion. They build a stronghold – Stone Fang Fortress – in the Bloodtooth Mountains of the north. It is here they prepare to conquer the free world.

Will Seth find this powerful relic before the Jackal swarm invades Andara? Or will his people be enslaved under the iron fist of the Jackal Lord? Seth’s answers hide in the deadly bogs of North Marsh…

Online Presence:

Official Website: http://crrichards.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcrrichards

Twitter: http://twitter.com/CR_Richards

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6916667.C_R_Richards  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-richards-7a270b4/

Author Spotlight

Keeping Things Real in a Fantasy Book Series

We experience a tingle of anticipation as we open the cover of a new book. Our fingers smooth across the crisp pages, anxious to find those wonderful words – Chapter One. The first paragraph grabs our attention. We’re drawn further into the story as our guide (the Author) takes us deeper into this intriguing new world. It might be an abandoned ruin in the middle of a haunted forest. Maybe we land on the cobblestone streets of a thriving town. Or the sleek tubes of a futuristic alien city. Wherever we journey, as Readers, we expect the environment to feel real.

Creating a new world is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing for a Fantasy Author. I spent months planning the continent of Andara for my dark fantasy series, Heart of the Warrior. It started with me asking the important questions. Are there differences in the appearance of Andara’s people (dress, race, religion, or body shape)? Of course! Do they have different cultural traditions within each country? Hmm. How do these traditions impact their relationships with others? What languages do they speak? Most of all, I explored the political and cultural differences for each country. I determined which countries were allies, which groups were enemies and why. I’ve documented each factoid in a large volume of information for my reference.

An author builds a tangible world for two primary reasons:

First – Give the characters a realistic place in which to act out their story

I don’t know about you, but if I don’t connect with at least one of the characters in a book, I’ll close the cover and move on. It doesn’t sound fair, but that’s the way it is. I want to bond with a book’s characters. And so many books, so little time.

Fiction and Reality share a common trait: an individual’s environment influences their world view. Someone who’s lived in the Midwest of the United States may have different challenges than a person living in Tokyo, Japan. People are people, no matter where you go. Though we share everyday experiences as human beings; our environment adds slight differences in perspective to those events.

Second – Keep It Real: Parameters Matter

Good fantasy stories set the Reader’s expectations of the extraordinary upfront. The Author gives us hints and brief glimpses of the possibilities of magic or superhuman powers. These subtle signs are delivered before making their full use part of the story. We watch for the sudden sparkle in the air, and when it comes, we get a great sense of satisfaction. The Author has successfully outlined the parameters of their world. We understand what can and cannot happen in the story.

Let me give you an example. We’ve followed a young girl around her little home town all day. Strange things have been happening to her after she rode her bike through some green slime in back of the town’s chemical factory. The little girl accidentally pushes over a heavy barrel. She shrugs, thinking the container was already unstable. We as Readers begin to get an inkling something about her has changed. Happy little accidents like this follow her, building our anticipation. Then she steps up to the plate at a neighborhood baseball game and slams the ball way over the wall, past the chemical plant and out of town limits. We saw it coming. The Author gave us hints about the new parameters of the little girl’s world.

Now, what if the little girl didn’t ride through the green goo? What if she was just an ordinary kid who loves to play baseball with her friends? It might come off as silly and unbelievable if the Author suddenly let her hit the ball like a superhero.

Building vivid and believable worlds is a must for any story. It takes time and work, but the results can make or break your book. Put in the effort. Readers are smart. They will know if you’re handing them lazy writing. If you don’t do the best job you can, they’ll toss your book aside and pick up another.

Take the time to do your job well. Keep writing!

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Spotlight: The Legacy Letters by Carew Papritz

29 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by ehmusings in Spotlight

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Synopsis:

An Award Winning Timeless and Inspirational Love Story about Life.

Rediscovered private letters from a dying father to his children–and his wife–uncover a passionate and powerful guidebook to life.

The letters reveal to us the stories, memories, and music of the father, which ultimately becomes the practical, moral, and spiritual gift and guidebook for his children he’d never live to see, and for his wife, his redemptive story of love.

By combining the best elements of such inspirational books as Tuesdays with Morrie, The Last Lecture, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, author Carew Papritz, has created an intense and thought-provoking book, filled with  life instructions that The Huffington Post calls: “A Must-Read Book of Wisdom for Life… exquisite, intimate, passionate, humorous and genuine…”

Who Reads This “Everybody Book?”  Romantic and pragmatic, old-fashioned and new-fashioned, life- questioning and life-altering, The Legacy Letters is an “everybody book.”  It appeals to new parents and parents-to-be for its detailed life instructions.  Parents are reading it to and with their children.  Teenagers are rediscovering timeless values and ideas still relevant for a new time.   Grandparents read it for the nostalgia of an earlier time and to read to their grandchildren.  

The Legacy Letters Makes Publishing History— The Legacy Letters and its author, Carew Papritz, recently achieved publishing history by becoming the first book ever to win awards as both a nonfiction book and a fiction book!  Because of its universal appeal, The Legacy Letters is a wonderful book for almost anyone in your life,–a true “everybody” gift book that is universal gift for all.

The Legacy Letters makes The Perfect Gift for All Life Occasions:

Needing gift ideas for birthdays?  Trying to track down that perfect holiday gift?  Look no further.  The Legacy Letters has something for everyone.

Perfect Gift for Mom–As the winner of the Mom’s Choice award, The Legacy Letters makes a perfect gift for mom on her birthday or even as a Mothers Day gift. It truly is a love story about life.

Great Gift for Dad— For that someone who probably has everything–it’s a great gift for dad–as a Fathers Day gift, for his birthday, or anytime.  He’ll love the down to earth cowboy wisdom mixed with inspirational words of what it means to leave behind a legacy for his own children. 

Perfect Book for Expecting Parents—The Legacy Letters was written as life guide from a father to children, which makes it an inspiring gift for expecting parents or as the perfect gift for new parents and their newborn!

Graduation Gift Book—The Legacy Letters is great for someone who’s starting out in life and needs a little advice to help them on their way! Whether graduating from high school or college, have your graduate read the letter, “When You’re Eighteen, Don’t Read This!”

A Memorable Gift for Grandparents. Grandparents who enjoy a stroll down memory lane and also want to share an old-fashioned, back to basics book with their grandchildren will find The Legacy Lettersa gift that gives both ways. 

Gift ideas for Christmas? The Legacy Letters makes a wonderful holiday gift and stocking stuffer.  It’s a small and beautiful book that’s filled with words of wisdom and inspiring quotes about life, love, and everything inbetween. 

Book Lover Ideas? Running out of books to give your favorite book lover? Just read what the Top 50 Amazon Reviewer, Grady Harp, wrote about The Legacy Letters: “Books of this nature and this quality are rare, Keep it in your library and share it with everyone you love.”

If your search for life’s meaning encompasses inspirational books or spiritual books, motivational books, or self-help books, then look no further.  The Legacy Letters has life lessons to live by for every age and generation, a timeless book that reviewers have called, “A nightstand essential.”  

Author Bio: 

Carew Papritz, also known as The Cowboy Philosopher, is the author of the multi-award winning book The Legacy Letters. Though fictional, The Legacy Letters has won acclaim as a life lessons book for all generations, gaining the distinction of being the only book in publishing history to win awards in both fiction and non-fiction categories. A Renaissance Man in an age that lauds the specialist, The Huffington Post says Papritz “intrigues and enlightens, charms and catalyzes change for every reader.”     
As part of his many innovative and adventurous first-ever book signings, Carew truly lives his book’s central message to “live life to the fullest” while signing books on top of volcanoes and horses. These events and other YouTube videos, such as the “I Love to Read” series and his annual literacy-driven charity event, “The Great Book Balloon Launch,” inspire kids and adults to rediscover the joy of reading! Proceeds of the summer’s sales of The Legacy Letters went to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  Proceeds from his recent “First-Ever Book Signing while Stomping Grapes” went to the Seattle Children’s Hospital.  Other charities include Reading is Fundamental and the Military Mama’s Network.    Find his videos at: http://bit.ly/CarewPapritz_YouTube_Channel 

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