Cherie Colyer's Blog, page 6

I'm delighted to welcome Sydney Winward to my blog. Her newest book Selkie is part of an exciting new series. Before we learn more about this paranormal historical romance, let's meet Sydney.


What inspired you to write this book?

Something about me and my writing is I get inspired off pictures. Pinterest is my best friend. Only when I’m coming up with a new idea. Otherwise, it’s a gigantic distraction. Selkie was first inspired by a picture of a man wearing fur cloak with snow falling in his hair. This transitioned into shifters, selkie, and a prince. But the story just wasn’t coming together like I wanted. This ended up shifting into selkie and Vikings, which ended up working really well for my characters and storyline.


Tell us a guilt pleasure…books you can’t get enough of?

Ugh, okay, I’m a HUGE fan of secret baby books (shhhhhh!!) I love babies. I love children. And there’s something really sexy about a good dad. Don’t judge! ;)


What do you do when you’re not writing?

One of my favorite things to do when I’m not reading or writing is making costumes or dresses. I love working with fabric and watching as a project comes together in the end. It’s something I love to do for fun and to unwind from a stressful day.


About the book
Selkie Author: Sydney WinwardGenre: Paranormal historical romance
Tagline: How can he marry one woman when his heart sings for another?
Blurb
No one has ever managed to capture a selkie. Until now…
On their wedding day, Klaus Lovik’s bride is stolen by an enemy chieftain. He will travel to the ends of the earth to find her, and in desperation, he captures a selkie and uses her as a bartering piece. But the selkie’s magic is powerful enough to drown entire islands, and if he’s not careful, he might find himself in a watery grave.
Mayla Brior is gifted with the power to shed her seal skin, enabling her to walk on land. But when a man robs her of the pelt, she is forced to follow his commands, endangering her skin, and preventing her return to the sea.
Venturing into enemy territory, Klaus and Mayla bond, escalating their relationship into more than adversaries. He realizes his pending nuptials are a dreadful mistake. But it might be too late to choose another path, especially when he knows he has to eventually let her go.
Read Selkie today !

Peek between the pages…

Whoever put the hole in the boat clearly wanted him dead.

He eyed the selkie. “It wasn’t you, was it?”

“Me?” she screeched. “I can’t swim in this form!”

“Odin’s horns, woman! You are supposed to be a seal!”

“Yes, with my pelt.”

A frustrated growl escaped him. If he didn’t think of something and fast, it appeared as if they might both drown before they reached dry land.

He unsheathed his ax and cut strips of cloth from the quilts, and then he stuffed the hole before returning to the task of scooping water out and throwing it overboard.

He breathed heavily from the exertion, perspiration lining his brow. “How long can you hold your breath?” he huffed. “In the event that we may need to abandon ship.”

Her voice shook with her answer. “An hour.”

“An hour? Are you jesting?”

“No. Can’t you do the same?”

He chuckled humorlessly as he began to toss things out of the vessel. The blankets went first. Then the fishing net. Followed by several horn bowls and spoons. With a grimace, he threw out his bow and arrows next.

The boat continued to fill with water. Saving it was a hopeless endeavor.


About the author:

Sydney Winward is an award-winning fantasy and paranormal romance author who dabbles in the occasional historical fiction. She loves building complex worlds filled with magic, strong characters, and emotional stories that can make you laugh and cry.

Sydney is the author of The Bloodborn Series and the Sunlight and Shadows Series. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, thinking about stories, or going on adventures with her children. She lives in Utah with her husband and three amazing kids.

Connect with SydneyWebsite ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Tiktok


Thanks for stopping by! More books from this exciting new series coming. 

I'm delighted to welcome Susie Black back to my blog. I have a fun round of This or That with Susie, and and excerpt from her latest cozy mystery Death by Pins and Needles. Plus, Susie shared a link to her swimsuit fit guide, a handy guide to woman's swimsuits. 
Without further ado, let's start with This or That. 
Good guys or bad guys? Bad guysGood girls or bad girls? Bad girlsMorning or night? NightFavorite food? PizzaFavorite beverage? LemonadeCoffee or tea? CoffeeeBook, paperback, or audiobook? eBookPlotter or Pantster? CombinationFavorite season? FallDogs or cats? DogsFavorite holiday? ThanksgivingFavorite movie? Some Like it HotIronman or Superman? SupermanWonder Woman of Top Model? Wonder WomanNight on the town or cozy evening in? Cozy Evening InFavorite book? A Tree Grows In BrooklynFavorite fictional world? The present timeLast book read? The Disappearing Names- Avis AdamsBlack or white? WhiteStilettos or flipflops or sneakers? SneakersFavorite song? Surfin’ USA- The Beach BoysChicken or steak? SteakCake, cookies, or pie? PieFavorite junk food? Chocolate or pretzelsFavorite thing to do to relax? SailingParanormal or Historical? HistoricalFavorite TV show? MASHHot or cold? HotFavorite vacation? Cancun, MexicoBeach or mountains? Beach
I like the bad boys and girls too! Do you have anything in common with Susie?
About the book
Death by Pins and NeedlesAuthor: Susie BlackGenre: Humorous Cozy Mystery
Who wanted Lissa Charney dead? The list was as long as your arm…but which one actually killed her?
Blurb
Set in the heart of the competitive Los Angeles Apparel Industry, Death by Pins and Needles is the story of one ruthless woman who didn’t care who she had to step on to get to the top. Lissa Charney is the showroom manager of a ladies’ swimwear line in the California Apparel Mart. Since Lissa didn’t think any of the rules applied to her, she had no problem breaking them all. From job stealing to dumping a boyfriend when he needed her the most, selfish and self-centered Lissa’s list of enemies rivaled those of Al Capone. So, when Lissa is murdered, no one on the swimwear aisle was particularly surprised…the only surprise was what had taken so long. The last thing Mermaid Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected to find when she opened the closet door was nasty competitor Lissa Charney’s battered corpse nailed to the wall. When Holly’s colleague is wrongly arrested for Lissa’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to sniff out the real killer.
Read it today! Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Bub ~ Goodreads

Industry Photos provided by Susie Black

Peek between the pages...
Countries were formed faster than the pace of the never-ending parade of pie charts and problems at our weekly production meeting. The endurance test snore-fest finally ended an eternity later at four-forty-five. I grabbed my purse and messenger bag, ran out of the factory as if my hair caught fire, and drove like a bat out of hell to the mart. I checked my watch for the bazzillionth time while stuck behind a local DASH bus creeping along at a snail’s pace on Main Street. I finally drove past Ninth Street and made an illegal left turn into the mart. I careened around the subterranean parking structure ramp on two wheels and screeched to a halt into the first open space. The elevator Goddess smiled at me, and I miraculously got to the swimwear floor at five-fifteen.

Fifteen minutes to prepare for my meeting with the Queen of Mean, Sue Ellen Magee -the nasty, my time is valuable but yours isn’t powerful swimwear buyer at Bainbridge Department Stores. And of course, the one available time in her majesty’s busy schedule? Five-thirty on Friday afternoon. Good thing my social life is in a dry spell. Ok, ok, so it’s non-existent, but let’s not quibble over small details. If one existed, it would not be Sue Ellen’s problem if I had to break a date. It begs the question. Did she ever go out on one? As if. Is Cruella de Ville’s dance card full? Catty? Too bad. Meow.

An empty swimwear aisle. Not a surprise. Fridays the whole industry gets out of Dodge early. Crap. In my rush to get to the mart, I left my showroom key in my office desk drawer. I didn’t remember it until I got halfway to the mart, but didn’t have enough time to turn back for it. No biggie; our showroom manager Patti practically lived in the showroom. Except for today. Fanfreakingtastic. A delivery notification was taped next to Patti’s sorry, had to leave early note. With no one else around, the guy left the package of fabric swatches for my meeting with Sue Ellen at Lissa Charney’s showroom. My heart sank. Cripes, of all the competitors to leave it with, the guy chose the one who closes shop the earliest. Unless by some miracle lazy Lissa stayed late, count me screwed.

Explaining this key thing to crabby Sue Ellen ought to be scads of fun; the same as an appendectomy with no anesthetic. Then I remembered. Lissa and Patti exchanged keys in case of an emergency. I walked to Lissa’s in case God made a mistake, and by some miracle, she’d stuck around. For giggles and squeaks, I pushed on Lissa’s door. Remarkably, it opened. Hot Diggity Dog. Amazingly, the fabric Goddess covered my play. My envelope with the fabric swatches lay on the first workstation table. Now for the key, and I’d be all set.

“Lissa,” I called out, “It’s Holly from Mermaid. I came for my package. Thanks a bunch for accepting it. Listen, Patti left early and I forgot my showroom key in my desk drawer at the factory. Can you give me my spare?” Dead silence. Weird. Maybe she’s on the phone with her office door closed?

“Lissa,” I funneled my hands around my mouth into a megaphone and yelled, “It’s Holly Schlivnik from Mermaid.” Still a whole lotta dead air. God short-changed me in the height department at four feet nine inches tall, but the Good Lord compensated for it by blessing me with a strong set of pipes. Unless the woman was deaf as a post, no way she couldn’t hear me.

I went back to Lissa’s office. Lights are on, but nobody’s home. Where the Sam Hill could she be? Not in the showroom. Not in her office. Not in the kitchen. Not in the copier room. In the ladies’ room? Abducted by aliens? Hiding in a closet?

I was out of options and time; so, for giggles and squeaks, I pulled open the doors to the enormous sample closet that stretched across the back wall and peered inside. Good news. I found Lissa Charney. The question was; did she have my key? A dozen swimsuits picture -framed Lissa’s battered, bloody corpse like a museum exhibit. She’d been shot through the heart with a nail gun and hung crucifixion style by her appendages to the back of the closet.

Naturally, I burst out laughing.


Ladies, 
Susie Black is offering you her Swimwear Fit Guide. No mater if you are tall, short, thick, thin, buster or not, there is a swimsuit for you, and Susie's guide will help you find it. 
Grab your swimsuit guide!


About the author:
Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Contact Susie at:   Website ~ E-mail ~ Linktree

I'm happy to welcome Avis M. Adams to my blog. She answered a quick round of This or That and shared an intriguing excerpt from her new book, The Disappearing Names. Please help me welcome, Avis.


This or That 
Morning or night? MorningCoffee or tea? CoffeeeBook, paperback, or audiobook? eBookPlotter or Pantster? HybridFavorite season? FallNight on the town or cozy evening in? Cozy evening inCake, cookies, or pie? PieParanormal or Historical:? Historical

Do you have anything in common with Avis? 

About the book
The Disappearing NamesAuthor: Avis M. AdamsGenre: YA, fantasy, time travel
If she could just go back in time one week, she could retrieve the key and her dad wouldn’t have to leave. What could go wrong?
Blurb
Sam wants her father back. On an underground tour in Seattle, Sam learns the legend of the Roman Bricks and how they transport people to the past. A plan forms and she stays behind and touches the glowing bricks, but Nicole tries to stop her. When the dust settles, they are in a strange room where a kid wants to know who they are. It is soon apparent that they aren’t in Seattle anymore or in their own time. They are in 1901 Portland in the Shanghai Tunnels.
Sam and Nicole begin the journey to get home, but first they must understand how the bricks work and who to trust. Grandma Meyer gives her the answer, but can Sam trust her? Racing against the clock, Sam learns the hard way that if she’s not careful she could run out of time.
Read it today! ~ 

Peek between the pages...

Archie cleared his throat and turned to the wall. He pointed at two bricks, longer and narrower than the rest. “Around this same time, another legend started about these bricks, referred to as the Roman Bricks. They are a shade of pink, not red like the rest, and it takes two stacked one on the other to make them the same height as the others.”

A lighter colored mortar filled the space around them, as though to patch a hole. If Archie had not pointed them out, Sam wouldn’t have noticed them.

“Roman Bricks? Hmm.” She shuffled to get closer. Dad had mentioned bricks.

“Bricks?” Nicole crossed her arms. “Pffft.”

Sam nudged Nicole. “Pay attention, or Mrs. Phelps . . .”

Nicole shook her head, but her frown remained.

Sam had to get closer to those bricks, but a stack of wood and an old door with Koko Hair Tonic painted across the top leaned against the wall. Yellow “caution” tape cordoned off the area around the wall. How could she examine them with all that junk in the way?

“So, what’s that legend about?” a gray-haired man asked.

Had he read her mind? She tensed, waiting for the answer.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Archie rubbed his hands together. “Legend has it that they came from Romania when the Roman dominated Europe. Experts say the mica dust in them gives them their glow, but it’s rumored that magic is stamped right into the clay.”



About the author: Avis Adams loves to write. Her first YA novel, The Incident, released in 2022. Several of her poems have won awards and been published online and in various literary journals, and Quilcene, her first chapbook was released in 2019. She belongs to the Baker Street Writers Group, and the Flamingo Writers, and is an active member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She loves to present sessions on writing craft at local conferences. She lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, where she writes, hikes, kayaks, gardens, and walks her dog. She teaches English at a local community college.
Connect with Avis

Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ webpage ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram  Facebook ~ Pintrest ~ TikTok ~ Amazon

Thanks for stopping by! Let us know in the comments if you have anything in common with Avis.
Stay safe and have a wonderful day!

I'm delighted to have Kaia Misk with me today. The Firstborn Son, a steamy romance, is packed with suspense. But before we learn more about the book and read an excerpt, let's meet Kaia.
Hi Kaia, thanks for being here today!

What inspired you to write this book?
When I first learned of Nanowrimo, someone dared me to try and write a novel in one month, stating I would never be able to do it. I succeeded. It was not a great book, but I learned more about the craft of writing and went on to write The Firstborn Son.

What are you working on now?
I am working on The Second Son - Book 2 in The Renzi Affairs series.

How did you come up with the characters for the book?
Many of the characters are based on family members and people I know. For example, Nutsy’s character uses the name of my great uncle, Ignatius or Ignazio. He was a president at the Sons of Italy club in my parents’ hometown. His accent was taken from an Italian tailor I worked with for years.

Tell us about your main character.
Frankie Renzi is a mob boss’s son destined to take over the family when his father retires, but he doesn’t want the job. He’s grown the family’s construction company, a legitimate business, into something that can sustain him well into the future. He plans to marry his girlfriend and forego the Mafia way of life.

Tell us about the antagonist.
Frankie’s father, Angelo, loves his son but does not agree with everything Frankie wants. The family’s enforcer, Geno, wants to marry Frankie’s girlfriend and create his own family who would act as an ally to the Renzi family. Angelo agrees with Geno. The Oferti family opposes both of them and Frankie, and plans for Frankie’s girlfriend to marry their boss’s nephew.

What are you reading?
I read every day. Currently, I’m reading a cozy mystery called The Curse of Braeburn Castle by Karen Baugh Menuhin. I’m in a romance book club who chose Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese as our next read.

Tell us about a book that stayed with you long after you finished reading it.
I Can See You by Karen Rose stayed with me because of the character of Noah Webster.

Favorite genre and why? Romantic suspense. Romance is fun but a strong desire to see what happens next keeps me turning the pages.

Did anyone’s writing inspire you to become an author? Joe Lansdale for his banter between characters. Karen Rose for her fantastic and suspenseful stories. David Rosenfelt for making me want to read every word and not skip past overly descriptive parts.

Guilt pleasure…books you can’t get enough of? Tami Hoad wrote the Novak and Liska series about two detectives, one male and one female. I’ve read all of them and some more than once. I wish there more.

Who is your favorite authors?Those I previously mentioned are my favorites.

Tell us something about yourself and how you became an author.
I needed a creative outlet. I instructed people at my office on legal writing from a paralegal’s perspective and ran into the Nanowrimo dare. I wrote some children’s poems when my first nephew was born and made a book for him.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I am a corporate trainer. I have a large family and am usually with them. Also, I walk my dog, Boss.

Describe yourself in 5 words or less.
Sometimes inappropriate, but means well.

Tell us something unique/quirky about yourself.
I’ve never held one job more than 2.5 years.

Where were you born/grew up?
Suburban Pittsburgh, PA.

Who is your hero and why?
I don’t think I have one, although I generally admire people who are honest regardless of fame or monetary success.

What are you passionate about?
Dogs.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
If it’s summer, I like to be near the water. Swimming or kayaking. In winter, I read and stay inside with my dog.

Anything specific you want to tell readers?
I sincerely hope that The Firstborn Son provides readers with an escape from the outside world when they need it.

What makes you laugh out loud?
The humor in everyday life that can’t be put on paper, like my little nephew who complains about his sister’s singing.

What is your favorite comfort food?
Pizzelles, an Italian cookie.

Now for a speed round of This or That...

Morning or night?  Definitely morning.
Coffee or tea?  Tea
eBook, paperback, or audiobook?  Paperback
Favorite season?  Fall
Dogs or cats?  Dogs
Night on the town or cozy evening in?  Cozy evening in
Beach or mountains?  Beach
Stilettos or flipflops or sneakers?  Flipflops

Thanks so much for being here today!

About the book
The Firstborn SonAuthor: Kaia MiskGenre: Romance / Romantic SuspenseHeat level: Medium-High; a few graphic sex scenes
Tagline: Mafia marriage—may the best wiseguy win
Blurb:  Becoming a ruthless mob boss like his father is the last thing Frankie wants, but when Sofia’s father is gunned down, Frankie must become the very thing he loathes to protect the woman he loves.
Sofia was a devoted girlfriend to Frankie, until he stood her up and she questioned his fidelity. Now that she’s alone and rich, mafia suitors slither around her. Marriage to him might be her only hope.
They try to rekindle their love amidst a mob war. But can a hasty marriage withstand what the Mafia has in store?
Grab your copy! Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Goodreads ~ IndieBound ~ Alibris ~ Book Depository



Peek between the pages…

Her hands went to her hips. “I mean someone that puts me first. Like my father.”

“Oh, I’m not signing up to be your father, sweet. I want way more than that.”

Lust, anxiety, and fear of a lonely future came to a fiery head within him. He prowled closer, grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. Heedless of the open window, he braced his arm behind her back with one hand behind her head. When he pressed his mouth against hers, she struggled for a moment. He almost let her go.

Slowly, her body settled. Chest to chest, hip to hip, her voracious kiss gave him hope. But he had to be clever, had to keep her mouth occupied so she wouldn’t argue. He stripped off his shirt and broke the kiss for a second.

Big mistake. She slapped him. The magic ended.

“This can’t happen, Frankie,” she said and stomped away. “You don’t get to seduce me and pretend everything’s all right. I love you. I want your body. I can hardly stand here and look at your chest without ripping the rest of your clothes off. But I need more than you’re giving me.”


About the author: Kaia Misk is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, otherwise known as a “Yinzer.” Her parents grew up across the street from each other in a small town where most people worked in the steel mills. Their Italian and Slovak families were a strong part of her childhood which included foods, holidays and religion. Several of her characters are based on her family members and other Pittsburghers.
Kaia has a background in legal and technical writing including training manuals, training presentations and legal documents. She is also an excellent tailor and patternmaker. Her IMDb page lists her work on two full-length films as a costumer.

She is particularly inspired by the Hat Squad books of Karen Rose and Joe Lansdale’s novels, although her first love was Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. She follows numerous other authors and reads every day. She currently lives in suburban Pittsburgh with her Norwegian Elkhound, Boss.

See more at her website: www.kaiamisk.com

Connect with Kaia:Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads

I'm delighted to be a part of The Matchmaker's Royal Mess by Frieda J. Downing book tour, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours, and to have had the opportunity to ask Frieda a few questions. She will be giving away a paperback copy of The Matchmaker's Royal Mess and a $25 gift card at the end of the tour.

The Matchmaker’s Royal Mess

Frieda J. Downing
Publication date: November 25th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She’d rather give a mountain lion a bikini wax than mess with love again.

Been there, went viral, never going back. Hattie Montague’s life as a backcountry guide for the spoiled and famous suits her just fine, thanks. It’s the only place she feels completely safe being herself. So what if she has nightmares that she can only speak squirrel and craves pine cones for breakfast? It beats leaving yourself vulnerable to humans. Fine, all of them aren’t bad. She likes probably three, so when one needs her help, she drags herself back to civilization. If she can navigate white water rapids, she can babysit a matchmaking office for a weekend. It’s not like she’ll have to deal with people or, you know, be nice. Ew.

Alexander Greye ruined her life ten years ago. Not his proudest moment. Known as the Winter Warlocke, he’s a man born and raised to lead a country with logical precision. Yet around her, he can’t seem to think rationally. He’s never met anyone who dives into the unknown like she does or tames chaos like she can. In a world as perfectly controlled as his, that makes her irresistible and utterly dangerous. And he’s willing to risk it all to thaw his frozen heart.

It’s half past too late when he realizes his carefully laid plans to win her over covered everything except the theft of the Crown Jewels, an abandoned mine where they’d have to face their deepest fears, and the betrayal that forces them to let go.Quite literally.

Warning: Not for the faint of heart. Sassy romantic adventure, with instances of chaos, misunderstandings, and feels. Oh, and the occasional sheep. Sparks will fly, it’s gonna get awkward, and the Happily-Ever-After will be well-earned.

Goodreads / Amazon

Please help me welcome Frieda!

What inspired you to write this book?

I’d like to say it was something deep and meaningful, but initially, it was the picture of a college girl who had access to a shower but really just wanted a bath. Being resourceful, she dug out her plastic storage tote that she’d used to pack her bedding in, emptied it, and filled it with water in her shower. Roommates being roommates, they took a picture of her all crumpled up and happy in her “tub” and posted it. My imagination was off and running about a straight shooting, rough-around-her-many-edges backcountry guide who becomes a royal fish out of water. And a modern, messy fairy tale was born.


What are you working on now?

I’m working on the next book in the series, The Matchmaker’s Not-So-Honest Mistake, a sort of bad boy Cyrano de Bergerac meets The Bachelorette. Luna, a high school teacher, teams up with the Matchmakers to prove to some of her “less popular” teens that anything is possible if you stay true to yourself, including dating the guy or girl of your dreams. The Matchmakers decide to hold a Bachelorette sort of contest to find her perfect match. To make the competition even more exciting (or terrifying, if you ask Luna) they hire Cy, a notorious ladies’ man, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, and her brother’s best friend. His job? Coach the bachelors to provide the ultimate romantic experience. It’s a lighthearted bad boy falls for best friend’s sister romance, if you enjoy chatting tropes.

What are you reading?

Several books, like a lot of you. With my daughter: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. I mean mansions, puzzles, secrets, hunks, romance, danger? Uh, sold. I’m absolutely enjoying it. I’m also reading Double Whammy by Gretchen Archer and am completely entertained. Loving the main character and the fact that things are a whole lot more than what they first appeared to be. Now everything is going sideways, and I’m such a happy reader.


What is your favorite genre and why?

Romantic Comedy, without a doubt, especially when I find writers who can surprise me. I adore it because from start to finish relationships are a gold mine of heartfelt desires, vulnerability, misunderstandings, awkwardness, and just plain dumb decisions sometimes when our hearts overrule our brains. Who hasn’t done something totally mortifying in front of a crush? Who hasn’t gone into a situation with golden intentions, only for everything to explode into an utter trainwreck? It’s just so cathartic. For me, it’s often a fountain of never-ending relatability. Add that Happily-Ever-After, and I just keep coming back for more.


How did you become an author?

I was a stay-at-home mom, and it was a time in my marriage where things weren’t awesome. There was financial stress, my husband was working nights, and we were living with my mother-in-law. One night I saw an ad in a magazine for a writing contest and thought what the heck. I can’t sleep anyway. So I wrote a story for my own jollies, sent it in, and forgot about it. That is, until I won. What I neglected to read in the fine print was the prize was a publishing contract. And so it all began.


What do you do when you’re not writing?

I get into trouble lol. Seriously, because when I get bored, I get sketchy ideas. And sometimes you just gotta try that stuff out, you know? To keep myself out of jail, I read, of course, in all kinds of genres. Aside from that, I love to mountain bike (not the crazy stuff you see on YouTube), kayak (easy Class III or below because I love my life and I’m not twenty anymore), bake crazy new stuff with my family, play Settlers of Catan, and travel. We’re complete travel junkies. Then summers I run an outdoor mystery adventure camp for girls with a sassy partner in crime and some incredible volunteers. We’ve helped over 700 girls learn outdoor skills and overcome fears through searching for clues and solving mysteries. I adore seeing the confidence, strength, and courage they develop.

Author Bio:

Nice to meet you. I’m Frieda. I write sweet contemporary romance as well as romantic adventure.

I blame it on my childhood babysitters. For some reason they thought I shouldn’t ride our family’s buffalo. Believe me, I was just as shocked as you. Though I never did get that buffalo ride, I found plenty of other creative outlets for my adventure needs. Some were good clean fun, some got me kicked out of various and sundry events, and others ended with me getting lost in catacombs. (Not metaphorically speaking. Somewhere there’s an Austrian catacomb caretaker? guy whom I owe dinner and a large apology.)

I like to think I’ve gotten a tiny bit wiser.

I married my best friend and dove head first into the magnificent cyclone known as raising kids. I mountain bike every chance I get, lose my coffee cup daily, and bake a mean lemon merengue pie, if I do say so myself. I may indulge in shenanigans on a regular basis, but I plead the fifth every time.

I suppose it’s important to me that you know how very much I love us crazy, broken humans. We dream so big. We try so hard. Yet somehow, so often, things just go terribly, horribly wrong.

That’s where my books begin… because that’s where the real love story’s found. I hope you enjoy reading them. Most of all, I wish you adventure, joy, and more love than you knew was possible,

Frieda

You can find more at www.friedajdowning.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
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I'm thrilled to welcome Lee Renwick Steele to my blog. She was kind enough to answer a few questions to help us get to know her better. Plus, I have a sneak peek from her debut novel, GRISELDA RELLA, a young adult Cinderella retelling with the heroine and adversary characters reversed.

Please help me welcome Lee!

 

What inspired you to write this book?

I took a class on writing children’s books, and the instructor gave us an assignment to rewrite a folktale or fairy tale and give it unique twist to make it fresh. So I tried a few story starters, found that it was fun, and eventually came up with the concept for GRISELDA RELLA, a young adult Cindrella 

 

What are you reading? 

One of the books I read recently was THE LAST CUENTISTA, by Donna Barba Higuera. I enjoyed the blend of science fiction and folklore.

 

What makes you laugh out loud?

The antics of my cat. She came to live with me several months before the pandemic began, so she gave me ongoing reasons to smile during the lockdown. By now she has me very well trained.

 

About the book

GRISELDA RELLAAuthor: Lee Renwick SteeleGenre: FantasyPublished by The Wild Rose PressReleasing Feb. 22, 2023 (currently on pre-order)
A fairy-blessed gift, an inherited burden, and a scheming stepsister… Cinderella reimagined.
Blurb
Sixteen-year-old Griselda and her father have a secret—fairy sight, a trait punishable by death. Her world is upended when her father is killed, her mother remarries, and her new stepfather dies of illness. Griselda must grapple with her scheming stepsister, the burden of fairy sight inherited from her father, and a pair of fairy-blessed slippers. A young-adult fairy story, GRISELDA RELLA is a reimaging of the Cinderella story, by Charles Perrault, with the heroine and adversary characters reversed.

Pre-order your copy today!

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Peek between the pages...

I strode across the dandelion dotted yard scattering chickens, robins, and fairies in my haste, an open-ended basket swinging from one hand, a pair of clippers clenched in the other, my mind whirling like a storm. No one could replace my father, not for me, not for my family, not for the kingdom.

Reaching the flowers bordering the yard, I threw the basket and clippers on the dirt near the dried-up hyacinths and daffodils. “Stupid bandits,” I sobbed, snot dripping from my nose. “Stupid, stupid bandits.”

The sun, now one-quarter of its journey through the sky, warmed my face but not my heart. I brushed past the flowering red azaleas and pink rhododendrons, skirted around Isabella’s arbor-covered garden bench, angled through the freshly sprouting vegetable and herb gardens, and stumbled my way past the sheds to the fallow field about an arrow’s shot from the cottage. 

I threw my black-clothed self to the ground and glared back at the cottage. How could my mother marry this man, Lord Rella, not yet two months after my father’s death? He was wealthy to be sure, but the man had very little sense—I was sure of it. And he would never be a father to me.

 

About the author:
Lee Renwick Steele lives with an orange and white kitty in a small home situated near red maples, rhododendron shrubs, and abundant avian wildlife: juncos, robins, white-crowned sparrows, towhees, and the occasional flicker pecking in the attic. She has an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults and is a member of her local writers’ association and SCBWI. She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, long walks, spending time with family and friends, and moments of quiet. GRISELDA RELLA is her first novel.

Connect with Lee Renwick Steele:

www.leerenwicksteele.com

 

 

I'm delighted to have a spot on the Realm of Enchantments by E.L Summers Tour hosted by Silver Dagger Book Tours. This anthology is a collection of short stories and poems. E.L Summers will be giving away a $20 Amazon gift card at the end of the tour. Enter below.

Realm of Enchantments

compiled by E.L. Summers

Genre: Epic Fantasy Anthology 

We all wish to escape to a time where the sky is filled with mystical creatures and magic is more commonly found. Replacing not only reality but logic, what adults claim as nothing more than make believe. Yet many throughout the ages hold onto these myths and legends following traditions first created by the ancients. Embark on an epic adventure enjoying these twelve authors, and poets. See firsthand their imagination exploring the realms of fantasy filled with love, family, discovery of your true self, and a bit of dark humor.

There are various fantastical short stories and poems written by E.L Summers, L.N Frost, Katelyn Young, Ben Pick, Natalie Locke, J.M. Celi, Alvin Fraser, Norbert Góra, Lucas Alan Dietsche, Jenna O’Malley, Kurt Wagner, & Samantha Preston-Morris

Amazon* Bookbub

Ignited Melodies

by Emberly Lily Summers

Genre: Fantasy Poetry

What lures us into the realm of fantasy? What makes us leave reality behind for a world created inside our head? Everyone dreams about going on adventures hoping to find things many believe are mere myths while discovering themselves along the way. In this collection of poetry, you may just find yourself lured to a world of dragons, sirens, demons, musicians, ocean adventures, and so much more. Brought to you by an author who tried to bring her own dreams to life.

Amazon* B&N* Bookbub

E.L Summers (Lauren Adele) is native to Baltimore, MD and has been writing for the last ten years. She is a blind author and writes poetry, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. Her debut novel HUNTED: The Immortal’s Kiss cowritten with Luna Nyx Frost is available on Amazon.  She hopes to inspire creativity and imagination to others with her writing. She has had several poems featured in Maryland’s Best Emerging Poets 2019 by Z Publishing and Fae Thee Well: An Anthology and Rogues and Rebels: An Anthology both published by Dreampunk Press. Her inspiration comes from nature, the fantasy and paranormal literature, classic musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked and of course, her favorite music ranging from showtunes to punk rock. Emberly also loves reading about magic, mythology, faeries, witches, and dragons.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hi! I have an urban fantasy spotlight for you today. Pillar of Heaven is the first book in the Pillar of Heaven series. 

Pillar of HeavenAuthor: Kitty ShieldsGenre: Urban FantasyHeat level: PG13
Do you stop assassins from killing your evil boss or help them out?
Blurb:  With the holidays looming and student loans coming to call, Kate McGovern needs to find a good-paying job and fast, preferably away from the masses of caffeine junkies and coffee snobs. But finding a job sucks. Finding your first proper job after college when you have no experience and no idea what you want to do really sucks. Then Kate’s favorite customer puts her up for an executive assistant gig with one of the richest men in Boston. And suddenly, Kate’s luck has changed. The catch? Her new boss expects her to read his mind. Literally. And she’s pretty sure he’s evil. No big deal. First jobs are always tough, right?
Grab your copyPillar of Heaven (Book 1)


Peek between the pages...

“I’m sorry,” Kate said. “We’re out of the cinnamon dolce syrup.”

In response, the man glared at Kate as if she, personally, had gulped down all of the cinnamon dolce syrup in the back room moments before he walked in just to spite him. Kate couldn’t really blame him. Honestly, she thought of doing things like that all the time. She called it coffee espionage, and it got her through the day.

For example, she’d spent the better part of the morning rush imagining grabbing a bottle of syrup, cinnamon dolceor otherwise, shaking it like a soda can, and spraying it all over the line of customers. Kate could just see of all those housewives with their Gucci bags and businessmen with their Rolex watches dripping with sticky, flavored syrup. It appealed to Kate on a deep level. This was coffee espionage, and Kate was a master. At least in her head. And also when she gave awful people decaf espresso instead of regular because they deserved it.

Coffee espionage was what kept Kate sane. Sometimes she wondered if she could be convicted of coffee espionage. Then she wondered if jail was better than the post-college slump and surmised, in this economy, it probably was.


Other news...

Pre-order the sequel The Second Pillar! Coming May 16, 2023! 
The Secret Pillar (Book2)

About the author: Kitty Shields (she/her) lives outside Philadelphia, where she writes to overcome the fact that she was born a middle child with hobbit feet, vampire skin, and a tendency to daydream. In her spare time, she binds books, takes bad photos, and tries to avoid the death traps her cat sets for her. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Arcadia University in 2015 and has been published in several journals including The After Happy Hour Review, Furious Gazelle, and Sick Lit among others.
Connect with Kitty:Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Spotify

I'm delighted to have a spot on the The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper by S.M. Morgan book tour hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions, and for the chance to ask him a few questions. S.M. Morgan will be awarding a Kindle Paperwhite, a signed Hardback cover of the book, and a featured character spot in the next Bud Wiper story to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper
by S.M. Morgan
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Blurb:

Help!! My head is being lowered into the swirling vortex of a toilet!”

My name is Teddy, and I’m in the 6th grade. It’s my first day at a different school, and so far, the only person I know is Zane, the school bully. I was just your everyday kid trying to stay off everyone’s radar, but when I met my new best friend, Bud Wiper, everything changed.

Bud is a 6th grade millionaire from 60 years ago.

Yep, that’s right, Bud Wiper is a treasure hunter from the 1940’s who left behind his journal full of life and adventure, and even though we’ve never met, I think he might be the only thing that gets me through the 6th grade alive.

The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper is a fantastic story of bravery and friendship, perfect for kids, middle school students, and adults.
Read it today!

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Nobles ~ Apple ~ Website

Interview with S.M. Morgan

Tell us about your main character. 

Bud Wiper isn't your typical small-town New England kid growing up in the 1950s. Oh no! He actually comes from a long line of famous treasure hunters! Like the real dead treasure hunters! Think of a 13-year-old Rick O'Connell during the '50s, and you have Bud.

 

His birth certificate reads "D. Bud Wiper," a family name, of course(The "D" stands for Douglas), and unfortunately, with a name like that, school is brutal for this kiddo.

 

But for Bud's sake, he doesn't spend much time at school. See, most of the year, he travels with his Father and Mother on massive expeditions where they climb impossible mountain passes, unearth deadly ancient secrets, and, most importantly, rescue treasure from greedy grave robbers.

 

As I mentioned, Bud isn't like most; he lives an odd life full of hard lessons, adventure, and excitement doing the "family business."

 

Tell us three things we'd find if we looked under your hero's bed?

A solved and discarded Vigenère cipher.

A newspaper clipping of Cliff Cunningham's autobiography that gives clues as to where he stashed his most prized treasures(Out of frustration because he couldn't solve it, he tossed it out).

History books, of course!

 

Tell us about a book that stayed with you long after you finished reading it. 

Short-term: Spymaster by Brad Thor - I just finished it, and the next book is in the mail. So it is definitely on my mind.

 

Long-term: The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett - I loved the three main characters in this book. I read this book in one sitting and have re-read it many times.

 

Favorite genre and why?

Thriller and mystery to read and write. Something about foreshadowing and hidden meanings excites me. I also love reading fantasy but writing it... Brandon Sanderson already took the good ideas :).

 

Describe yourself in 5 words or less. 

Quiet

Adventurous

Analytical

Warm

Overthinker

 

What makes you laugh out loud?

Potty humor always gets me.

 

What is your favorite comfort food?

Does quality loose-leaf green tea count? If not, then chicken curry.

 

Peek between the pages…

Leo jumped out of his car and stood in front of Ramsey. “ This not good, mister. Not good. Tell
him, perdoon stary, do it now, or they will surely kill us.”

Give them the book Ramsey,” I said, motioning toward the guard. on his face and then repeated what Leo had told him to say, “Perdoon Stary.” It sounded—strange hearing it from Ramsey with his American accent.

The guards busted out laughing hysterically. Ramsey turned to Leo. “ What did you make me say? ”

“Old fart,” came a voice in a thick Russian accent.

I turned to see a man that looked like he was in charge step forward. He wore a large rounded bill military cap with a red band and golden emblem around the center. “ Nothing in Russia is private. Now give me the book.”

Enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

S.M. Morgan is the author of The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper — A Middle Grade Adventure. He

lives in East Texas with his wife, daughter, and son, and when not writing potty humor for kids,

he is trying to get alone to read more mystery adventure stories.

When the real world calls him to be social, he can be found canoeing with his family or trying to

convince his wife to watch action movies.

Connect with S.M. Morgan

Amazon Author Page 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the CITY SPIES: CITY OF THE DEAD by James Ponti Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:

Title: CITY SPIES: CITY OF THE DEAD

Author: James Ponti

Pub. Date: February 7, 2023

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, ebook, audiobook

Pages: 400

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/CITY-SPIES-CITY-OF-THE-DEAD

 

In this fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies go codebreaking in Cairo in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls.

Codename Kathmandu, better known as Kat, loves logic and order, has a favorite eight-digit number, and can spot a pattern from a mile away. So when a series of cyberattacks hits key locations in London while the spies are testing security for the British Museum, it’s clear that Kat’s skill for finding reason in what seems like randomness makes her the perfect candidate to lead the job.

And while the team follows the deciphered messages to Egypt and the ancient City of the Dead to discover who is behind the attacks and why, Kat soon realizes that there’s another layer to the mystery.

With more players, more clues, and involving higher levels of British Intelligence than ever before, this mission is one of the most complex that the group has faced to date. And it’s also going to bring about a change to the City Spies…

 

Grab the rest of the CITY SPIES BOOKS now!

 

Book Trailer:

Peek between the pages:
British Museum
LONDON, ENGLAND—PRESENT DAY

ON A SLATE GRAY NOVEMBER DAY, ONE hundred years after the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb, a group of five young people converged in a part of London known as Bloomsbury. Like Howard Carter, they were looking to recover treasures of Egyptian antiquity. Except they weren’t going to dig a tunnel in the desert, they were going to sneak through one in an abandoned section of the London Underground. And the artifacts they sought weren’t concealed in some long-forgotten tomb, they were on display at one of the busiest museums in the world.

This was no excavation. It was a heist.

“Testing comms, one, two, three,” Kat said into the microphone hidden in the red remembrance poppy pinned to her lapel. “Can everybody hear me?” “Loud and clear,” said Paris.

“Perfectly,” answered Rio.

“All good on my end,” Brooklyn replied.

There was a pause as they waited for a final voice to check in.

“Sydney, are you not responding because you can’t hear me?” Kat asked. “Or is it because you’re still pouting?” After a moment, Sydney replied, “I’m sorry. I was under the impression nobody cared what I had to say.” “So, pouting,” Paris commented.

“I’m not pouting,” Sydney said defensively. “I’m just . . . disappointed. All I asked was that we slide the break-in a couple hours so we could see the fireworks at Battersea Park. You know how much I love Bonfire Night. It’s going to be huge and everyone’s going to be there.”

“Which is exactly why we’re going to be here,” Kat said. “The police will be spread thin, and there are no celebrations scheduled for Bloomsbury. That means they’ll be elsewhere, which dramatically improves the probability of us not getting caught.”

Kat was the alpha on this mission, which meant she had to come up with the plan to break into the British Museum. She’d studied dozens of famous robberies and noticed that many took place on holidays or during special events, when police and security altered their nor mal patterns and were understaffed. She picked this date because of its connection to one of the most infamous figures in British history.

On November 5, 1605, a soldier-turned-radical named Guy Fawkes was captured before he could exe cute his plan to use thirty-six barrels of gunpowder to blow up Parliament. Ever since, Britons had marked the occasion with raucous public displays that included bon fires, burning effigies, and fireworks.

For Sydney, a born rebel who loved “making things go boom,” it was as if Bonfire Night had been created specifically with her in mind. And here she was in Lon don, so close to some of the biggest celebrations in the country, yet she was going to miss out.

“Just tell me this,” Kat said. “Are you good to go with the mission? Or is this going to be a problem?”

“Of course, I’m good,” Sydney replied. “I never let anything affect our work.”

“Excellent,” Kat said. “And if it makes you feel better, I’ll try to find something for you to blow up.” “I really appreciate it,” Sydney said. “That means a lot.”

Rio cleared his throat and said, “Now that we’ve got everybody’s feelings sorted, can we please get started?” “Yeah,” Brooklyn said, “you know we can’t do anything until you give us the word.”

As the alpha, it was Kat’s responsibility to say the good luck phrase that kicked off every operation. “Okay then,” she said, surveying the museum entrance from her vantage point in the Great Court. “This operation is hot. We are a go.”

And just like that, the City Spies were in action. The five of them were an experimental team of agents, aged twelve to fifteen, who worked for MI6, British Secret Intelligence. They were called in for assignments in which adults would stand out but kids could blend in.

In this instance, the job was to steal two items on display in a special exhibition called “Wonderful Things: One Hundred Years of Tutmania.” They didn’t know why they were stealing them; after all, spies weren’t supposed to ask too many questions. All they’d been told was that it was in the best interests of the British government for them to do so.

Kat had never been the alpha for a mission this big, and she’d prepared for it like she did most things, as though it were a series of complex math equations. She split the heist into two parts so they could, in her words, “isolate the variables.” The theft wouldn’t happen until after the museum closed. But now, while it was still open, they had to set up things for later.

“Everyone good with what they’re supposed to do?” she asked.

“Yes,” Rio said with a groan. “We’ve gone over it and over it and over it.”

“Good,” Kat said. “Repetition leads to fluency, and fluency leads to confidence. It’s a cornerstone of executing complicated mathematical processes.”

“Except this isn’t math,” Rio said. “It’s a break-in.” “You’re so funny,” Kat said. “Everything’s math. Now blend in and disappear. Do your best to stay invisible.” “Don’t worry,” Sydney replied. “We’ll be ghosts.” “Yeah,” Rio added. “Math ghosts.”

With so many kids at the museum, they had no trouble blending in as they went to work on their specific assignments. Kat had even managed to get uniforms which matched those of schools visiting on field trips. This let them enter with large student groups which bypassed the normal security line.

“We’re at the west stairs, and there are no surprises,” Sydney informed the others.

She and Rio were double-checking the route they needed to take later that night. The team had plotted it using a virtual tour of the museum they found online. This let them carefully study every room and look for vulnerabilities. Now, they had to make sure that nothing had changed or been added in the time since the tour was filmed.

“There’s a CCTV camera on the ceiling,” Rio said. “And the entrance to the Egyptian gallery is protected by a roll-down gate that’s operated by a keypad next to the doorway.”

“We’ll be able to control those once Brooklyn hacks their computer system,” said Kat.

“Grab a photo of the keypad,” Brooklyn said. “Make sure it shows the name of the manufacturer so I can download an operator’s manual.”

“Got it,” Sydney answered.

She motioned for Rio to stand near the pad so it would look like she was taking a picture of him and not the device.

“Smile,” she said, and he flashed a goofy grin. Next, they walked through the Egyptian sculpture gallery, where they noted and took pictures of three different security features. There were motion detectors along the wall, closed circuit television cameras on the ceiling, and sensors eighteen inches above the floor that were part of a laser trip-wire system.

They made special note of these locations because, unlike in the movies, there wouldn’t be brightly colored beams of light they could dance around. The lasers would be nearly invisible and tripping any one of them would mean disaster for the mission.

As they mapped the location of two sensors near a giant statue of Rameses II, Rio noticed a security guard standing nearby. His nametag read officer hawk, although his droopy moustache and lumpy physique seemed more walrus than bird of prey.

“Target acquired,” Rio said in a low voice to Sydney. “Why him?” she asked.

“Two things,” Rio answered. “He’s friendly and he’s awkward.”

Sydney gave him a curious look.

“Security guards are supposed to be standoffish to intimidate you,” Rio said. “But notice how he smiles and makes eye contact with people. He wants to connect and be liked.”

“And awkward?”

“His tie’s crooked and his shirt’s tucked in unevenly,” Rio explained. “Not only that, but his ID badge is clipped to his belt instead of his shirt pocket, which makes it easier to lift.”

“It’s scary how well you read people,” Sydney said. “I’ve got skills,” Rio said. “Nice of someone to notice for a change.”

For years, Rio’s ability to read people had been essential to his survival. He’d lived on the streets of Rio de Janeiro and made money by performing magic for tourists on a sidewalk near Copacabana Beach. To do that, he had to know how to read an audience and be able to perform amazing sleight of hand maneuvers. He was about to do both to steal a security card they’d need later.

The lift was a two-person job that they’d done many times. Sydney’s role was to be the diversion. “Excuse me,” she said, approaching the guard. “Do you think you could take a picture of me with this statue in the background?”

According to regulations, the guard wasn’t supposed to do anything except keep an eye on the gallery. However, like Rio said, he was friendly and had trouble say ing no. “Of course,” he replied with a smile. “Let’s make it quick.”

She handed him her phone and struck a pose. He snapped the shot and gave it back to her, but when she looked at the picture, she frowned.

“Ugh,” she said. “I’m sorry could you do it again. My eyes are closed, and it’s backlit so you can’t see my face.” She directed him to move over a few feet, and as she became more difficult, the guard became more distracted. This was when Rio brushed past him and deftly slipped the badge off his belt. Next came the tricky part. Rio had to copy the badge and put it back before the guard noticed it was missing. If it was reported lost, the protocol was for that card to be deactivated, which would render it useless.

Rio slid it into his pocket and pressed it against his phone, which had a built-in scanner and cloning app. After a few seconds, he heard a single beep that told him it was done. Then he moved back to them, where Sydney was unsatisfied with another picture and the guard’s patience was running thin.

Rio nosed into their conversation. “The problem is the light from that window,” he said pointing at the photo on Sydney’s phone. “You need to be on the opposite side of the room.”

The guard wanted no part of this. “I’m not moving to . . .”

“Why don’t I take it?” Rio offered.

“Good idea,” said the guard.

As he handed Sydney’s phone back to her, Rio clipped the ID badge back to the guard’s belt.

“Here you go,” said the guard.

“Thank you for your help,” said Sydney.

They walked away, and once they were out of earshot, Rio whispered, “friendly and awkward, my two favor ite traits.” They crossed the room to take the picture with better lighting so as not to draw suspicion from the guard, and then they went directly to another gal lery and found a door marked staff only. They waited until no one was around, and then Rio held up his phone next to the ID sensor. A light on the sensor turned from red to green and they heard the lock click open.

“We’re all set with the security doors,” Rio said proudly.

“Nice job,” answered Kat.

Excerpt from City of the Dead by James Ponti. Text copyright © 2023.  Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

About James:

JAMES PONTI (he/him/his) is the New York Times bestselling author of three middle grade book series: City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy– nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

1 lucky winner will receive a finished copy of CITY OF THE DEAD, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One: 

1/23/2023

Mythical Books

Excerpt/IG Post

1/23/2023

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

1/24/2023

YA Books Central

Excerpt

1/24/2023

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

1/25/2023

Log Cabin Library

Excerpt

1/25/2023

Kim"s Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

1/26/2023

Blog Write. Read. Live

Excerpt/IG Post

1/26/2023

Lifestyle of Me

Review

1/27/2023

YA Book Nerd

Review/IG Post

1/27/2023

onemused

IG Post

 

Week Two:

1/30/2023

Nerdophiles

Review

1/30/2023

Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog

Review/IG Post

1/31/2023

Wanderingwitchreads

TikTok Review/IG Post

1/31/2023

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

2/1/2023

@ChristenKrumm

IG Review

2/1/2023

Two Points of Interest

Review

2/2/2023

Book-Keeping

Review/IG Post

2/2/2023

@bookmama85

IG Review

2/3/2023

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

2/3/2023

@froggyreadteach

IG Review

 

Monday, February 7, 2023 at 6:00pm CT

Virtual launch event hosted by Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, TX)

In conversation with Kelly Yang (author of NEW FROM HERE and FINALLY SEEN)

 

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 7:00pm ET

In-person event hosted by Little Shop of Stories (Decatur, GA)

In conversation with Laurel Snyder (author of ORPHAN ISLAND and CHARLIE & MOUSE)

 

Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 6:00pm ET

In-person event hosted by Malaprop’s (Asheville, NC)

In conversation with Alan Gratz (author of REFUGEE, GROUND ZERO, and TWO DEGREES)

 

Friday, February 10, 2023 at 5:00pm ET

In-person event hosted by RJ Julia Booksellers (Madison, CT)

In conversation with Lauren Tarshis (author of the I SURVIVED series)

 

Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 3:00pm ET

In-person event hosted by Books of Wonder (New York, NY)

In conversation with Sayantani DasGupta (author of THE FIRE QUEEN series), Chris Grabenstein (author of DOG SQUAD and THE SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE), and Karina Yan Glaser (author of THE VANDERBEEKERS series)

 

Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2:00pm CT

In-person event at St. Louis Public Library hosted by The Novel Neighbor (St. Louis, MO)

In conversation with George Jreije (author of SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA)

 

Monday, February 13, 2023 at 7:00pm CT

In-person event hosted by Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers (Minneapolis, MN)

In conversation with Jacqueline West (author of THE BOOKS OF ELSEWHERE and LONG LOST)

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 5:30pm ET

In-person event hosted by Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh, NC)

In conversation with Kwame Mbalia (author of the TRISTAN STRONG series)

 

Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 10:30am ET

In-person event hosted by Politics & Prose (Washington, D.C.)

 

Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 2:00pm ET

In-person event hosted by The International Spy Museum (Washington, D.C.)

 

Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 2:00pm ET

In-person event hosted at Lake Highland Prep School hosted by Writer’s Block Bookstore (Orlando, FL)

In conversation with Jerry Craft (author of NEW KID and CLASS ACT)