My Sundays are normally set aside for music artists to spotlight their music and while I have several waiting in the wings, I wanted to showcase my latest new story, JONAH!
Jonah was a very different story for me to write. It is fantasy, and yet very much set in reality. I got the idea for the story during a guided meditation, through which I traveled to an uninhabited deadly island and my mission was to transform it into something beautiful.
Well, Jonah doesn’t exactly do that.
However, he is forced to take a good hard look at himself. He is told that there is only one way off the godforsaken island. “You must examine yourself, face your truths and make peace with your demons,” the note read.
Here’s a little backstory. Jonah lived on the streets in a large futuristic city. He’s made his way through brute strength and ruthlessness. Everyone who knew him feared the “Wrath of Jonah.” When he’s arrested and convicted of crimes, he is given a choice of punishment – either imprisonment beneath the ground, or exile to a deserted island. He chose the island.
There are dangerous mythical creatures on the island along with thick tangled brush filled with thorns, stinging nettles and poisonous flowers. It is not an easy place to survive. Jonah tried several times unsuccessfully to swim back to the mainland. He’s doomed to spend the rest of his life in this horrible place.
There are some other characters in the story, as it unfolds, and one of them is a young boy, Titus, who says he lives on the other side of the island where everything is lush and beautiful. But when Titus tries to take Jonah there, legions of green slimy snakes block the way. It is not allowed.
The lesson in this story is that Jonah must face the darkest parts of himself and make peace with the demons within. It is the hardest thing he’s ever tried to do.
Here is the BLURB:
Fantasy meets reality when a young man is forced to choose his punishment for crimes committed. Jonah must decide between imprisonment in a concrete box beneath the earth or be exiled to a deserted, barren island. He chooses the island, but nothing can prepare him for the deadly creatures, and poisonous plants at every turn. Then there’s the maddening isolation that drives him to the brink of insanity. There is only one way off this island and it’s more difficult than anything he’s ever imagined. It’s much easier to face mortal danger than the demons within. Will he find redemption, or another unexpected offer?
Nonnie Jules, founder of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB has added a new category to the #RRBC catalog – Micro Reads.
Here is her definition:
-A micro read is a story, shorter than a short story (standard: up to 7500 words) but longer than a blog post (standard: around 300 – 600 words); -Its word count ranges from 1200 to 3000 words; -It’s a story that feels so good to you, you could put it on your blog as a post, but you want its reach to go farther than your blog, therefore, it is publishable; -A micro read can include one story or up to three stories, and they don’t have to all fall under the same genre. (If you’re a multi-genre writer, this is a great way to introduce all areas of your talent in one quick read); -A micro read can be read in the span of 5 – 10 minutes; -A micro read is only in e-book format; -A micro read should be priced no lower and no higher than $.99 cents.
SO, thanks to Nonnie’s new idea, I give to you my first published Micro Read!
BLURB:
A wild black stallion has cautiously watched a beautiful white mare, from the safety of the forest for many years. He longs to be with her, and ventures close to the barn nightly to communicate with her. They share their deepest desires and secrets. Now it is winter, and the rest of the wild herd has moved on, but the stallion stays. He cannot stand the thought of being so far away from her. The scent of sweet alfalfa hay and enticing lure of the white mare is too much for him. He must find a way to be with her. But will it be worth the risk? Satin and Cinders is a story of courage and determination.
If you have ten minutes and want to check out my new story, it’s available on AMAZON for only 99 cents!
I am SO excited to host this author, Sarah Angleton, here on my blog! She is a new author to me and I have this book on my Kindle. I am anxious to read it. In the meantime, let me share with you some really cool stuff about Sarah and her new book!
I’ll turn it over to Sarah!
Thank you, Jan, for hosting me today!
Lately I’ve come across a question of etiquette I’ve been unable to answer. I’m not always the perfect lady, but I more or less stand up straight and understand basic table manners. I say please and thank you and try to treat everyone I meet with respect, to learn their names and use sir and ma’am when appropriate. I hold open doors, try not to tailgate, and offer sincere compliments when the opportunity presents itself.
But for the life of me I do not know how to respond to the following statement: “I didn’t know you are an author. How cool!”
I hear a version of this exact statement at least once a day, especially anytime there’s a little extra buzz because I’m launching a new book, which I have recently done.
Like most writers, I’m a bit of an introvert. Though I could write you a brilliant essay about what I do, when we meet in person, I will most likely shy away from the center of attention and won’t have much to say about myself.
Of course, if I’m asked a direct question, like “What is it that you do?” I’ll gladly answer. If that leads to follow-up questions, I’ll answer those too. And heaven forbid you ask me about my latest book, because that’s when I will launch into an elevator-worthy pitch about a lost manuscript, a 19th century conspiracy theory, dangerous religious fanaticism, and a dashing conman. That question, my friend, you may come to regret asking.
But the most frequently reoccurring comment I get is not a question. And this poor introvert doesn’t know how she is supposed to respond. I mean, I’m not likely to go to my next dental appointment and say, “Oh wow, you’re a hygienist. That’s cool!”
So, I’ve decided on a few options. I could simply say, “Why, yes, you’re right, it is pretty cool.” I imagine this is accompanied by a point and wink.
Probably not my style.
I could also respond with complete honesty: “Sometimes it’s cool, but mostly it means I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer in my basement, typing and then deleting and then typing again while battling a crushing sense of self-doubt with every rejection I receive. You know, on the good days.”
I’m guessing no one wants to hear this.
Or I could turn it back on the speaker and say, “Yep. You should give it a try.”
Actually, I have said that.
But most of the time I shrug and just say, “I enjoy it.”
No one knows how to respond to that, either, but I figure if I speak last, then I won the conversation. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works. Unless I want to tell someone about my book. Really, all he or she has to do is ask.
Book Blurb:
New York, 1872.
Diviner Ada Moses is a finder of hidden things and a keeper of secrets. In her possession is a lost manuscript with the power to destroy the faith of tens of thousands of believers.
When a man seeking the truth knocks at her door with a conspiracy theory on his lips and assassins at his heels, she must make a choice.
Spurred by news of a ritualistic murder and the arrival of a package containing the victim’s bloody shirt, Ada must either attempt to vanish with the truth or return the burden she has long borne to the prophet responsible for one of the most successful deceptions in US history.
Protecting someone else’s secret may save Ada’s life, but is that worth forcing her own demons into the light?
Author Bio:
SARAH ANGLETON is the author of the historical novels Gentleman of Misfortune and Smoke Rose to Heaven as well as the humor collection Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense. She lives with her husband, two sons, and one loyal dog near St. Louis, where she loves rooting for the Cardinals but doesn’t care for the pizza.
Sarah is giving away 5 e-book copies of SMOKE ROSE TO HEAVEN and all you have to do for a chance to win a copy is to leave a comment below. To follow along with the rest of her tour, please drop in on her 4WillsPub tour page.
We ask that you click on the author’s RWISA Profile below and visit all of his profile pages – some offering more insight into the member and others showcasing the author’s talent.
Lastly, we ask that you support this member as well as the host of this blog, by sharing this page and the author’s profile pages across all your social media platforms.
Now, we’d like to give you a chance at some of this awesome promotion for yourself!
Have you written that book or short story you want the whole world to know about? Are you looking for a great way to promote your creative endeavors? Perhaps you’re seeking to add some prestige to your body of work! If this sounds like you, we invite you to come on over to RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA.
At RWISA, we invite and accept into membership only the very best writers the Indie community has to offer.
If your work is exemplary and speaks for itself, stop by the RWISA website today at RaveWriters.wordpress.com and find out how you can submit your sample of writing for consideration.
We’re an exclusive bunch but we’d love to have you join us!
NOTE: If you’re looking to improve your writing while taking another route to membership into RWISA, while you’re at the site, visit RWISA UNIVERSITY!
Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to leave us a comment and a “LIKE” below!
And if you’re looking for a great book to read, John has a couple of recommendations!
We ask that you click on the author’s RWISA Profile below and visit all of her profile pages – some offering more insight into the member and others showcasing the author’s talent.
Lastly, we ask that you support this member as well as the host of this blog, by sharing this page and the author’s profile pages across all your social media platforms.
Now, we’d like to give you a chance at some of this awesome promotion for yourself!
Have you written that book or short story you want the whole world to know about? Are you looking for a great way to promote your creative endeavors? Perhaps you’re seeking to add some prestige to your body of work! If this sounds like you, we invite you to come on over to RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA.
At RWISA, we invite and accept into membership only the very best writers the Indie community has to offer.
If your work is exemplary and speaks for itself, stop by the RWISA website today at RaveWriters.wordpress.com and find out how you can submit your sample of writing for consideration.
We’re an exclusive bunch but we’d love to have you join us!
NOTE: If you’re looking to improve your writing while taking another route to membership into RWISA, while you’re at the site, visit RWISA UNIVERSITY!
Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to leave us a comment and a “LIKE” below!
Today I’m traveling. Well, not literally, but RWISA author, Heather Kindt, has featured me in an interview on her blog site today. I’d be thrilled if you’d stop by and leave a comment!
I am thrilled to be the first host of the first #RRBC SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR Blog tour of 2020! Congratulations to Forrest Stepnowski for landing in this hot seat!
Take it away, Forrest!
Writer’s Q&A
When did you start writing and what inspired you to write?
Answer: I began writing when I was twelve-years-old after experiencing one of the most depressing times of my life. The summer of 1987, I attempted toend my life. I struggled with a great many things, such as identity and traumatic stress caused by events that occurred during my earlier childhood. Events I do not talk about very often, but one day I will put them pen to paper, as they say. Anyways, during the fall of 1987 I was lucky to have an incredible English Teacher by the name of Mrs. Carr. Now our school was not the prettiest or fanciest, but we were lucky to have passionate instructors who truly loved teaching.
Mrs. Carr commented on my writing style during a 1:1 session. She asked me if I ever thought of becoming a writer when I grew up and I fell off my chair laughing at her. She had a great sense of humor generally, however, she made it clear she was being quite sincere. She said she saw great potential in my writing style and with everything I had gone through in my life, she felt it would be quite therapeutic for me. In an effort to appease her, I said I would think about. I will admit I was quite resistant to writing, as we were in an impoverished East San Diego region called “El Barrio Logan.” The school was in the middle of the barrio where is was riddled with drugs and gangs. Anything artistic was not considered exactly “normal” in this part of town.
The day after Mrs. Carr and I had our conversation, she decided to spring on the class what she called a “pop writers challenge.” Even though it was not much of a contest, she would present these “challenges” with passion and great hype. The challenge that day was to write a poem about our past summer vacation. She implored us to make it lyrical. I remember her words to this day, “I want you to tell me a story through your poem… I want to laugh with you if it was a funny event… I want to cry with you and feel your pain if it was a sad event.” She liked playing music during these challenges and for that day’s challenge she played “Moonlight Sonata”. To be honest, the first couple of minutes of the challenge I froze. My summer was filled with a rollercoaster of emotions as I stated earlier. I let the music take me into my emotions and that day I wrote my first poem titled “Freeze”.
My teacher liked to showcase our work to the class, so the following day Mrs. Carr did her usual impassioned speech on how impressed she was with each and everyone one of us but stated a few of the authors from yesterday’s challenged that stood out. The poetic works that were shared were ranged from romantic, well as romantic as a 12-year-old could be, to the extremely humorous. The last poetic works she shared was “Freeze” however she did not disclose the author to the class. She said, “after I read this poem, I will leave it up to the author whether or not they want to share their identity.” She tearfully read my poem, as if she was in my soul and was feeling the pain I endured. My peers were in awe, making comments like “I want to give them a hug whoever they are” and “That poem should be published.” After the tears shed from my peers and continued statements I slowly stood up. This is how this author was born.
Excerpts from “Journey to the Rainbow’s End” by Forrest Robert Stepnowski
The Embrace
You are the warmth of my embrace, and the endless rhythm of my heart,
The whisper of the wind and the song of endless dreams realized,
How fortunate am I, when I’ve always thought I was one of those unfortunate souls?
You are the angel I have always dreamed of, but always thought never existed,
The sparkle of the heavens and the dance of a falling star,
When did I become the lucky one, to be captured by your light and love?
You are my life, my love, and my laughter during the endless darkness that tries to consume me,
The shield of the knight in shining armor when the dragons and demons appear to be on the attack,
How you make me feel just by your glance and the caress of your touch?
You are the beauty that I never could imagine in my deepest fantasies,
The mystery discovered and the joy of the sunshine upon
the cascading waterfall and the rainbows end,
How incredible I feel when I look at you and know that I am home?
You are the warmth of my embrace, and the endless rhythm of my heart,
The whisper of the wind and the song of endless dreams realized
How fortunate am I, when I’ve always thought I was one of those unfortunate souls?
Unfortunate soul, I am no more.
Freeze (written in 1987)
Feeling sorry for myself,
Freeze.
Seeing death as a way out,
Freeze.
Showing scars in memory,
Freeze.
Feeling sharp steel against my flesh,
Freeze.
Drops of red coloration fall upon the ground,
Freeze.
Life is flying past thy eyes,
Freeze.
Horrible memories come into mind,
Freeze.
Life is healing,
Think.
Loved ones are near,
Care.
Good memories appear,
Care.
Love is in my mind,
Care.
Drops of red fade away,
Care.
I am alive,
Love.
The ice has melted…
Journey to the Rainbow’s End: A Drag Queen’s Odyssey (Available on Kindle and Paperback)
About Forrest Robert Stepnowski
Forrest Robert Stepnowski is an advocate, writer, social worker, and performance artist in the Pacific Northwest. He has been writing poetic works and prose for most of his life. He realized how important it would be to share his work with others, who may have tread similar paths of self-hate, self-deprecation, and self-loathing, in the hopes that they find they weren’t alone. Helping others who have been deemed as “different” because of varying sexual orientations or identities to realize that they are not deviants nor are the “against human nature” has always been of grave importance to him. He wants this group of beautiful people to know they are part of a collective, on an island where being different is embraced and accepted.
i AM THRILLED TO TURN MY BLOG OVER TO A FELLOW rave reviews book club member, suzanne burke!
Hello, and welcome to the Cover Reveal of my New Psychological Thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad.”
The Reckoning Squad
By
S. Burke
Available to Pre-Order NOW.
Release Date: Monday FEBRUARY 24th, 2020.
Mystery>Psychological Thriller & Suspense >
It is such an exciting time for an author when releasing a new book! I would be remiss in not sharing my heartfelt thanks to the marvelous people who gave of their time so readily to beta read my latest book. Their valuable insights helped me enormously when crafting “The Reckoning Squad”
At long last, I’m able to share the cover and blurb for “The Reckoning Squad” my latest Psychological Thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad ” is due for release on Monday, February 24th, 2020.
It is NOW available for Pre-Order.
I have many good friends sharing this cover across the blogosphere today and tomorrow, so you’re likely to see it pop up in various places. Thank you to everyone participating in my cover reveal splash, and to everyone dropping by to share in my excitement. Here’s my new baby . . .
With much gratitude to Eeva Lancaster at The Book Khaleesi for the cover creation.
Presenting “The Reckoning Squad” A Psychological thriller.
“The Reckoning Squad“
BLURB:
The Reckoning Squad was the new name being whispered in the darkened corridors of the powerful in Washington. The name was whispered with awe, and the whispers grew louder.
Twenty people had been carefully vetted and recruited to undergo specialized training. Training engineered to break them utterly, intended to shatter everything they once believed themselves capable of surviving. Only the best of them made it through the twelve weeks of hell. They now formed a cohesive black-ops unit, known as The Reckoning Squad.
Their facility is breached, and the team’s numbers are decimated. The survivors know that they’re in a fight for their lives. They have been betrayed from within. Trust has now become a rare commodity. They want answers.
The betrayers don’t understand just what they’ve unleashed.
But they are about to find out.
The Reckoning Squad are coming, and they have just rewritten the rules.
#
Here’s an extract from the Prologue.
Prologue.
New York: November 8, 2003.
Chastity Adams checked the time, ran a brush through her long blonde curls and hurriedly grabbed her school books. She shoved them into her backpack and slipped on her gloves. One quick look from her bedroom window was enough to tell her just how windy it was outside. The last of the fall leaves still clung bravely to the branches all the while knowing it was futile. The others swirled in small angry spirals across her backyard. She grabbed her coat, pulled on a beanie, and loosely draped a scarf across her shoulders. Chastity was unaware of how pretty she looked with her long curls falling in a soft curtain around her. Her mind was too busy to cloud it with vanity.
She suddenly recalled a decision she’d made yesterday.
Chastity hurried down the hallway to her brother Nathan’s room and knocked on the door.
Nathan stood looking down at her from his 6′ 3″, rubbing his eyes and leaning on the wall. “What’s up, squirt?”
Chastity ignored the nickname, she’d be thirteen in a couple of days then she’d ask her big brother to quit using it, “I was just wondering if you had some gloves and maybe a beanie or scarf you don’t ever wear.”
“Why would you need them?”
Chastity flushed a deep shade of pink, “There’s this boy at school, he kinda always looks cold. He’s still wearing the same stuff he was wearing back in June. It’s way too cold now for shorts and a tee-shirt. So, I figured maybe his folks just didn’t have enough money to buy him some warmer stuff, you know? I mean he could have one of mine, but he already gets picked on enough and adding bright girl colored stuff would just make it worse.”
“You off on another one of your missions to save the world, squirt?”
“I’m not! But it just doesn’t seem right that some folks have too much and some folks never have enough. That’s all.”
Her brother looked at her closely and nodded. “Okay. I guess I have some stuff I don’t really need.”
His sister flung her arms around him. “You are the best brother ever! You wouldn’t maybe have an old hoodie as well?”
Nathan knew he’d lose an argument with his kid sister. He had never been able to deny her anything. And the little minx knew it.
His eyes followed her as she left the room with her donated bootie. He tried to shrug off the thought that his friends may start looking at his kid sister a little differently, and soon.
Then he grinned and was comforted by the knowledge that the squirt was capable of laying them out flat on the ground, courtesy of the karate lessons she’d undertaken since the age of five. If she didn’t dissuade them they’d have to come through him. That wasn’t about to happen. This whole big brother thing had suddenly altered in a way he hadn’t anticipated happening quite so soon.
***
Travis Wilson shivered as he stepped outside and hurriedly locked the front door behind him. The baggy shorts and tee-shirt he was wearing gave him no armor to fight off the cold November wind. He steeled himself to brace it, picked up his violin case and hurried to catch the school bus.
He climbed on and made his way quickly down to the back corner and grabbed the window seat. He spoke to no one and kept his eyes averted, but he couldn’t shut his ears off from hearing the nasty comments from the other kids that sat nearest to him. “You going away to a beach somewhere, freak? Don’t much like your choice of swimwear.”
The guy had secured himself a good laugh with that one.
Then the other comments started. Kids seemed to grow braver when they formed a pack. Travis knew they weren’t all cruel, not normally, but the need they had to belong trashed all over their distaste at what they were doing. Driven by the desire to be considered popular inspired them to be as cruel as they could be. Their words lacerated his already damaged soul and Travis felt his face darken with the shame of it. He didn’t respond either by word or action, knowing they’d soon become bored with their bullying of him and move their spiteful tongues on to some other kid they deemed to be weak and an easy target.
He looked out the window and sighed with relief when he spotted Chastity Adams and her best friends readying to climb on board at the bus stop. Chastity was different from the rest of them. He always felt a little better about his day when she’d seek him out and give him a smile. He looked across at her then, just as she turned. He knew she had caught the wistful look on his face. She simply smiled across at him and turned back to her chattering best friends.
He caught the smile and burned it into his memory. He would remember it when the darkness descended again. It would help keep him warm.
I want to offer a HUGE “Thank You” to Rox Burkey for this incredibly poignant review of “Flowers and Stone!”
Honestly, I have known this author for a long time. I’ve listened to her play guitar, heard the sadness when she shared some details of her life and love of Rick Sikes, and cheered loudly at her achievements and awards. I had only read a few of her poems and a short story, until she suggested I consider Flowers and Stone.
After book one of this first series, I am truly hooked on her writing. In this debut novel, Jan Sikes creates the scenes in a way that makes you feel you are a part of the story. I could hear the music, see characters with their smiles and tears, and more than once had to dry my eyes as emotions coursed through me at different places in this story.
This complex love story centers around Luke Stone and Darlina Flowers, an unlikely couple at first glance. Luke, an experienced musician and older man, and Darlina a young inexperienced woman, learn many lessons from each other. I like how Luke, smitten early on for this special girl, goes to extraordinary lengths to find out if he should be serious. Ms. Sikes details the steps leading up to this meeting, though this meeting touched a chord of sweetness in my heart and kept me until the end of this book.
“ The bell rang, announcing someone’s arrival. She half turned. “May I…” She paused in mid-question, shocked to see Luke standing there with the trademark crooked grin on his face. “…Help you?” she finished.
“That is exactly what I’ve been asking myself,” Luke replied.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you were for real or a figment of my imagination.”
“For real?”
Luke’s smile widened, “Yes, for real. You see, I thought maybe I just made you up so had to come and see.”
Darlina didn’t reply, and Luke quickly continued, I brought you a little something.”
She stood and walked to the open window that separated her and Luke. “Okay, what did you bring me and more importantly, why? After all, you barely know me.”
She wondered what kind of strings might be attached to any gift from Luke Stone.
Luke fished the small box out of his pocked and handed it to her. Their hands briefly touched, and an electrical current passed between them. She looked up at Luke, then down at the box.
“Open it,” Luke encouraged.
Darlina gasped as she opened the box to find the delicate gold heart necklace. “Oh, Luke, how beautiful. I’m not sure what to say.”
“Well, you could say thank you, and you could say that you’ll have dinner with me, just me, and you could say that you’ll give a chance to redeem myself.”
From this point forward I was drawn into the story as these people travel down the road of growing up, growing together, and realizing their differences are key to their magic. In many ways he is a rogue and she is naïve, but in the 70s the music and freedom was what they both wanted and needed. Its easy to recommend this love story to college age and above. There is more to the story and thankfully more books in the series.
Multi-Award-Winning author, Jan Sikes, has been called a wordsmith by her peers. Jan openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author, but she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation.
She published four biographical fiction books about the journey of two people moving through adversity in order to grow and learn to become better humans. She believes with all her heart there is something worthy of sharing in these stories. Bits and pieces of wisdom, hard-learned lessons and above and beyond all, love. True love that you read about in fiction stories and yet this is truth. The old saying that truth is stranger than fiction fits these stories.
Jan also releases a music CD of original songs along with each book that fits the time period of the story. Why? Because the stories revolve and evolve around a passion for music.
Jan has published a book of poetry and art and nine short stories.
Author Jan Sikes is widowed, lives in North Texas, volunteers at music festivals, has five incredible grandchildren and serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Authors Institute of History, and the Executive Council at Rave Writers’ Int’l Society of Authors. She is also a member of the Writer’s League of Texas and Authors Marketing Guild.
This international book club of which I am a proud member, has a new home, new URL and new look!
But, it’s still the same organization with the same mission: {The Mission and Goal of the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB are to Profile, Promote & Propel the careers of Indie authors. The only way that we can do that, is by supporting each of our authors with book sales and HONEST reviews.
The RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB is a not just an organization, it’s a community. Our mantra at RRBC is those that are most supportive here, are the ones who are most supported here. Those who are expecting to add their name to our roster and then just disappear without making any connections within the club, or without supporting any of their fellow members, probably won’t get out of it what they are expecting. What you put in, is what you’ll get out.
RRBC has a huge catalog of all genres! RRBC CATALOG I read at least 80% from this catalog and I’d love to find your book listed!
You will not find an organization anywhere in the world that offers what the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB does! If you are an Indie Author struggling to keep your boat afloat in a huge sea of other books and authors, take a look at this club and see if it possibly fits your needs. But, I want to stress again that TO BE SUPPORTED, YOU MUST GIVE SUPPORT TO OTHERS! That’s how it works.
If this interests you, as an Indie or Traditionally published author, and you decide to join, please give my name as the person who referred you! I’d be honored!
