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

The Insecure Writer's Support Group Twitter Pitch Party and New Book Formatting Prices

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.


Optional question of the month - Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?

I’m actually working on an old story right now. I have two stories completed one half finished for my Four in Darkness book. I had two other ideas, but the ghost one just isn’t working. (Which is a shame as it had a great ending.) So for the 4th story, I’m rewriting a story I put together in my 20s called The Frozen Soul. This one will be The Alien. (The others are The Vampire, The Werewolf, and The Shark.)


Our big announcement today:

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Twitter Pitch Party!
 

#IWSGPit

July 27, 2017

8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time

All writers and authors are invited to participate in our very first Twitter Pitch. Invite your writer friends and your publisher/agent.

Create a Twitter-length pitch for your completed and polished manuscript and leave room for genre, age, and the hashtag. On July 27, Tweet your pitch. If your pitch receives a favorite/heart from a publisher/agent check their submission guidelines and send your requested query.

Many writers have seen their books published from a Twitter pitch - it’s a quick and easy way to put your manuscript in front of publishers and agents.

Rules:

Writers may send out 1 Twitter pitch every 1 hour per manuscript.

Publishers/Agents will favorite/heart pitches they are interested in. Publishers can either Tweet basic submission guidelines or direct writers to their submission guidelines. (Writers, please do not favorite/heart pitches.)

Pitches must include GENRE/AGE and the hashtag #IWSGPit. (See site for list.)

Please join us on July 27!


We have some great new swag up at the site - now you can buy mugs and erasers, too. Visit the Swag page.

I’ve also reduced my prices for print and ebook formatting:

Print - $60
Ebook - $30
Combo - $75

I’ve formatting hundreds of books for Dancing Lemur Press LLC and clients. Custom work and fast turnaround. See Spunk On A Stick for full details.

Think you might join us on July 27?

Release of The Remnant and Living Under a Tsunami Threat

Available today!

The Remnant

By William Michael Davidson

One nation, without God...

Colton Pierce apprehends Abberants—those who display symptoms of faith—and quarantines them on a remote island to ensure public safety. Years prior, the government released a genetically-engineered super flu that destroyed the genes believed to be the biological source of spiritual experience in an effort to rid the world of terrorism. As an extractor with the Center for Theological Control, Colton is dedicated to the cause.

But Colton's steadfast commitment is challenged when he learns his own son has been targeted for extraction. An underground militia, the Remnant, agrees to help Colton save his son in exchange for his assistance with their plan to free the Aberrants on the island.

Colton is faced with the most important decision of his life. Remain faithful to the CTC? Or give up everything to save his son?

$15.95, 6x9 Trade paperback, 242 pages, $4.99 EBook
Science Fiction (FIC028000) / Christian Futuristic Fiction (FIC0402020)
Print ISBN 978-1-939844-29-3 eBook ISBN 978-1-939844-30-9

William Michael Davidson lives in Long Beach, California with his wife and two daughters. A believer that "good living produces good writing," Davidson writes early in the morning so he can get outside, exercise, spend time with people, and experience as much as possible. A writer of speculative fiction, he enjoys stories that deal with humanity's inherent need for redemption.


Follow the tour for your chance to win a free copy: MC Book Tours
Purchase the eBook: Amazon / iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo
Purchase the print book: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Chapters / Books A Million / Book Depository / Foyles
Mark to-read on Goodreads

Tsunami Crimes

L. Diane’s Question for Chrys: Have you ever lived in an area where a tsunami could happen?

I live on the east coast of Central Florida. According to Google Maps, I’m roughly sixteen miles away from the closest beach. Tsunamis usually travel 1-2 miles inland. In extreme cases, one can reach up to ten miles. With those numbers, a tsunami won’t likely reach my home, but I could very well be within the reach of a tsunami if I’m anywhere within three miles of the coast. (I’m discounting the extreme case scenario.)
With that said, I researched the probability of this happening. According to scientist, the chances of a tsunami hitting Florida are very small, because the Atlantic doesn’t have large faults like the Pacific.
And yet, it’s not completely impossible. Experts say that the collapse of the volcanic structure in the Canary Islands could send a mega-tsunami into the East coast. There’s a bit of good luck on our side, though. Florida’s shallow waters would act as a breakwater, forcing the tsunami to lose energy.
Coincidently, while I was looking for the answer to this question, I discovered that January of last year, a meteotsunami hit Naples, Florida. Meteotsunamis aren’t like normal tsunamis that occur from a quake or impact. “Meteo” means it’s caused by weather, such as a hurricane or thunderstorm. The one that struck Florida brought the water level off the coast to seven feet, which is six feet higher than the usual high tide.
But a meteotsunami can still be devastating. In 2008, a meteotsunami from Hurricane Ike destroyed a part of Texas (Bolivar Peninsula).
So, yes, I suppose I do live in an area where a tsunami could happen. *gulp*

Beth and Donovan have come a long way from Hurricane Sabrina and the San Francisco earthquake. Now they are approaching their wedding day and anxiously waiting to promise each other a lifetime of love. The journey down the aisle isn’t smooth, though, as they receive threats from the followers of the notorious criminal, Jackson Storm. They think they’ll be safe in Hawaii, but distance can’t stop these killers. Not even a tsunami can.

This monstrous wave is the most devastating disaster Beth has ever faced. It leaves her beaten, frightened. Is she a widow on her honeymoon? As she struggles to hold herself together and find Donovan, she’s kidnapped by Jackson's men.

Fearing her dead, Donovan searches the rubble and shelters with no luck. The thought of her being swept out to sea is almost too much for him to bear, but the reality is much worse. She’s being used as bait to get him to fall into a deadly trap.

If they live through this disaster, they may never be the same again.

Tsunami Crimes on SALE for $2.99!

BUY LINKS: Amazon US / Amazon UK / NOOK / The Wild Rose Press

Chrys Fey is the author of the Disaster Crimes Series. She is a blogger, reader, auntie, vegetarian, and cat Lover. Get Lightning Crimes (Disaster Crimes 2.5) for FREE!

FIND CHRYS: Facebook / Twitter / Website / Blog / Amazon / Goodreads

Can you envision a future where spiritual beliefs are outlawed? Do you live with the threat of a tsunami?

The Insecure Writer's Support Group - Announcements and Reader Experience

It’s time for another edition of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

First, some IWSG announcements:

Two new team members joined us last month - Heather Gardner and C. Lee McKenzie! We want to welcome Heather and C. Lee and let them know their contributions to the IWSG will be appreciated.


We also set up a IWSG Merchandise page. Now you can show off that you are an insecure writer.

This month we welcome new members to the IWSG blogging:
Blue Fox Cafe, Kathy S Collier/Author, My Brain Injourney, The Write Project, Write Accountable, Going Solo with spelling errors, 60 Second Saga, Putting the Clothes On, Taking the Gloves Off, Northern Lights Gothic - KT Wagner, Danger, Love, and Mystery, Ray Pace at LargeLiterature for Kids, Fiction Playground, DB McNicol, Author, and Larry D. Mihm.

Today’s optional question:

How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

It changed some in that I noted grammar rules wrong more often.

But it really changed when I added reading submission manuscripts, because then I’m looking at a story with a very critical eye. Passive writing really leaps out at me. And don’t get me started on typos in query letters.


Otherwise, I am full steam ahead with three upcoming releases and another one pending. (I think my official title should be “Juggler.”) I’m always on the lookout for a great story though, so check out the submission guidelines for Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and her imprint, Freedom Fox Press.


The Remnant comes out next Tuesday. Thanks to MC Book Tours for spreading the word.

MC Book Tours is also looking for hosts for the He Gave Me Barn Cats tour in March. See the SITE for details.

The Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life authors started a website for the IWSG anthology - Lost Hero Anthology.
That book comes out May 2.