Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Barn Cats Are Loose! And the IWSG Goodreads Book Club

I’m excited to bring to the world a captivating tale about loss, healing, barn cats.

Follow her blog tour through MC Book Tours for your chance to win a free copy.

HE GAVE ME BARN CATS

By Maria Santomasso-Hyde

Inspired by true events...

Losses send a woman’s soul into its darkest winter...

Maria has cared for her very ill mother for many years. Her burdens are heavy, causing a sadness bordering on darkness. When she discovers her historic barn is now home to a mother cat and kittens, she feels lighter than she has in years. As the kittens grow, they teach her as only animals can do.

Then tragedy strikes. As Maria loses her family, the darkness envelopes her like the heavy fog that blankets her Blue Ridge Mountain home each morning. She creates a scorecard: God: 9, Maria: 0. Her questions turn into anger at God. She searches to find answers as to why her loving God would take away so much in such a short time.

How will she learn to trust again? Can the kittens in her barn help her heal?

Christian Fiction / Christian Life-Death, Grief, Bereavement
$10.95 Print ISBN 978-1-939844-21-7,$3.99 eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-22-4
From Dancing Lemur Press

“...accessible, compelling and deeply infused with the heartbreaking and heart-lifting realities of life.” - Kurt Rheinheimer, Editor in Chief, Blue Ridge County magazine.

“A gracious, gentle tale of faith, told with refreshingly unexpected perspectives.” - Cathy Pickens, award-winning author of the Southern Fried mystery series

“Maria Santomasso-Hyde spins a yarn exquisitely told — a raw and truthful journey that travels from the depth of despair to the edge of salvation.” - Tom Mayer, executive editor, Mountain Times Publications

Formerly a newspaper reporter, Maria Santomasso-Hyde now owns Alta Vista Fine Art Gallery. She lives in Valle Crucis, North Carolina, with her husband, Lee, and The Queen of the Universe (Roma, their Black Cat)… and other Black Cats who decide to move in.
Website / Alta Vista Gallery

Purchase at Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-A-Million / iTunes / Kobo / Nook / Foyles / Indigo / Dancing Lemur Press / Everything Cats
Add on Goodreads


Not on Goodreads?
The IWSG book club is a good reason to join.
 
Don’t do much on Goodreads?
This is an excellent way to dip your toes in a little more.
 
Not enough time in your day?
We read one book every two months.
 
OUR GOAL: The Insecure Writer's Support Group (Book Club) is for writers to read/learn about the writing craft. In this book club, we will swap back and forth between non-fiction writing books and fiction books that demonstrate how to do certain aspects of storytelling. 

No promo. No review or beta reader requests. 

Just writers reading books and discussing those books with other writers.
 
**The first book will be announced on April 1st.**
**The discussion will start on May 17th.**
 
For more details and to join: Book Club

40 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Congrats to Maria on her new book. And the book club sounds great. Just joined it, though not sure I'll be able to read all the books.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Big congratulations to Maria!

Chemist Ken said...

I'm convinced cats can do pretty much anything. Hooray to Maria and her book.

Sandra Cox said...

I love this title and the idea behind it.

Mason Canyon said...

Congrats to Maria on her launch day. It's a great book. Congratulations also on the IWSG Goodreads Book Club. Sounds like it will be very beneficial.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane - love the idea of Maria's book ... animals are so therapeutic and there for us .... while the IWSG Book Club seems like a great idea ... cheers Hilary

Chrys Fey said...

The cover for He Gave Me Barn Cats is lovely. This story is a great one. I got teary eyed several times while reading it. Even on my second read-through!

Thanks for helping to announce the book club! :D

Stephen Tremp said...

I'm seeing Barn Cats making the rounds today. Best wishes for a smashing success! And I joined IWSG Goodreads group.

H. R. Sinclair said...

Congrats Maria!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I like the unique concept and title, Barn Cats. Congrats, Maria. Much success with this one.

Be well, Spunk.

Erika Beebe said...

What a great review! And I am excited about the good reads group. :)

Arlee Bird said...

Maria's book sounds like a winner. A coup for Dancing Lemur!

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Karen Lange said...

Congratulations to Maria! Wishing her much success. Appreciate you sharing this, Diane. Have a great week!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you! It's been a busy day and I appreciate the support.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

This is a definite read for cat lover me. I joined the book club too.

Rhonda Albom said...

Maria's book sounds so intense. Congrats.

emaginette said...

I joined the book club today and can't wait to start. :-)

Anna from elements of emaginette

Dean K Miller said...

Great book title and a good looking book, too. IWSG continues to inspire and amaze. Nicely done on all counts.

Juneta key said...

Congrats on the new book.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

The Cynical Sailor said...

Congrats to Maria on her release. I love her cat's title - Queen of the Universe :-)

Crystal Collier said...

It sounds like a beautiful book.

I wish I spent more time on Goodreads. Seriously, I geek out ONLY over books, but there's just so little time these days.

Sandra Cox said...

I love that we have a book club! I didn't realize that we had one.

Anonymous said...

I can relate to that story. I've questioned God before only to put my Faith back in His hands again. He Gave Me Barn Cats sounds like a good read.

LD Masterson said...

Congratulations to Maria. That book looks like a winner.

Am I correct in assuming the Book Club is for IWSG members only?

nashvillecats2 said...

Congrats to Maria, wonderful post Diane.

Yvonne.

Robin said...

The only people who don't question God and life and death are... well, no one. If you've done any living at all, there are questions. That book sounds really good.

Gina Gao said...

Congrats to Maria! This sounds interesting, thanks for sharing.


www.ficklemillennial.com

Unknown said...

Maria's book sounds so sweet! Wishing her (and the adorable barn cats) much success!!

klahanie said...

Hi Diane,

Wishing Maria the very best with her book. Sounds most thought-provoking.

Here's to a peaceful weekend.

Gary

Nick Wilford said...

Just read about this book on Alex's blog - sounds like a heartwarming read.

kimlajevardi.com said...

Congratulations to Maria!

Michelle Wallace said...

The GR book club is growing... fast!

Sandra Cox said...

Just stopped by to say 'Hey', Diane.
Hope you had a great weekend and have a great week.

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats to Maria!
The book club sounds like it's going to be fun!

Sandra Cox said...

I signed up for the book club but had a problem leaving a comment. I'm sure it's on my end. I haven't been on goodreads in forever.

Nasreen said...

Congratulations to Maria! Sounds interesting premise of her book!

Rachna Chhabria said...

Congrats To Maria and wishing her all the best with her book!

Nicola said...

Congrats to Maria. I love Goodreads and am so pleased IWSG offers another reason to explore books and communicate with other writers/readers. Hope all is well, Diane.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sandra, I've only left one comment and I don't tend to use Goodreads much either.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Sounds like a book after my own heart! I can't get enough animal stories.