Join Linda Dahl, author of the horror novel, Gringa in a Strange Land (Robert D. Reed Publishers, January ‘10) , as she virtually tours the blogosphere in January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Gringa in a Strange Land

Gringa in a Strange Land brings back the exhilarating and confusing time of the “counterculture” in the early 1970’s.

Erica Mason, an American woman living in Mexico, is torn between working to become an artist and the lure of the drug culture.

Set mostly in the colonial city of Merida in the Yucatan peninsula, the story also moves among Mayan ruins, laid-back beaches and the cities of Belize and Oaxaca.

A host of bohemian expats and Mexicans, and the complex character of Mexico itself, infuse this portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-American, culminating in an unexpected resolution.

About Linda Dahl

I have always loved to write about characters, usually edgy, little-known folks with wonderful stories and talents. I love places too and music, above all jazz. As a girl, I dreamed of traveling around the world and as soon as I could, I took to the road. I was fortunate to live and work in a number of Latin American countries. After college (Latin American Studies, University of Wisconsin), I moved to the Yucatan in Mexico, and then made the pilgrimage to another foreign country called New York with a suitcase and several hundred dollars. This was in the mid-l970’s.

Finding the requisite cheap, shabby apartment (you could still do so in those days), I started writing in earnest. I had a number of ridiculous jobs to pay the rent, such as writing reviews of C- movies I never actually saw (no one else seemed to be watching them either), driving an ice-cream truck in Central park for just one day until I had a fender-bender, and writing a history of all the world’s cheese with a two-week deadline for a manic food editor. I managed also to produce novels, biographies and essays about women in jazz, and quirky travel articles about such topics as the Carmen Miranda Museum in Rio, a priestess of Candomble, a.k.a. voodoo (interview in rudimentary Portuguese), and a Mayan folk healer.

I am happy to say that most of my writing efforts have been published, well-reviewed and are still in print. My latest novel, a love-child, is “Gringa in a Strange Land,” available in January 2010.

http://www.lindadahl.com/

Read an Excerpt

***

Linda Dahl’s GRINGA IN A STRANGE LAND VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘10 will officially begin on January 4th and end on January 29th. You can visit Linda’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of January to find out more about this great book and talented author!

*If you would like to review this book, please contact Jaime at jmfictionscribe (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au

Join Kay Marshall Strom, author of the nonfiction book, The Second-Half Adventure: Don’t Just Retire – Use Your Time, Skills & Resources to Change the World (Moody Publishers, October ‘09) , as she virtually tours the blogosphere in January and February on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Kay Marshall Strom

Kay Marshall Strom has written thirty-six published books, numerous magazine articles, and two screenplays.  Four of her books have been chosen as book club selections, eleven have been translated into foreign languages, and one was optioned for a movie. Her writing is also included in numerous volumes and compilations, including the bestselling Conversations on Purpose for Women (Zondervan 2005) and various editions of the NIV Devotional Bibles.

In addition to her writing, Kay taught writing classes through the California State University system for ten years, and still teaches at writers conferences around the country.  In 2008, she was invited to India to teach writing in order to give a voice to those not normally heard.

A sought-after speaker, Kay is in demand for retreats and special events throughout the US and around the world.

Kay and her husband Dan Kline make their home in the Pacific Northwest.

You can visit her website at www.kaystrom.com.

About The Second Half Adventure

Whoever you are, whatever your skills and experiences, you can use what you have gained in life to help change the world.  In connection with The Finishers Project, The Second-Half Adventure will enable you to analyze where you have been, where you want to go in the second-half of your life, and how to start preparing today.

Through the stories of individuals and couples who have found meaningful involvements—from business people to housewives, from engineers to artists—this book will help you infuse your special God-given years with purpose and eternal significance.  The best adventure is yet to come!

Read the Excerpt

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

(coming soon!)

Kay Marshall Strom’s  THE SECOND-HALF ADVENTURE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Jan. 4 and end on Feb. 26 ‘10. You can visit Kay’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of January and February to find out more about this great book and its talented author. If you would like to host Kay, please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife@yahoo.com before Dec. 23 for a January review or before Jan. 25 for a February review.

Join Maryann Paige, author of the horror novel, Cemetery Gates (Club Lighthouse Publishing, August ‘09) , as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Cemetery Gates

All the signs are there.

Dead things everywhere. Nightmares of bloody bodies and eaten corpses. Michael knows he’s coming for him. The prophecy cannot be fulfilled without him. From behind the Cemetery Gates, his brother, Shane, enters the world. He’ll force Michael and the others to take their rightful place at his side.

When Michael decides to go to a neighbor’s party, a beautiful stranger thrusts him into his past. Through meditation, Michael is thrown back into a world he had long tried to forget. He works quickly because time is short. Shane is on the prowl. He’ll force Michael to fulfill his destiny.

Only, Michael has a problem with what he was created to do, and he’s tired of running. As he recalls who and what he is, he realizes he’s humankind’s only hope for survival. He decides to battle his brother, not only for the woman he loves, but also for the redemption of his soul.

About Maryann Paige

Maryann Paige was born in Brooklyn, New York, lived in Nevada and Texas and landed back in her home state. She resides in the beautiful Hudson Valley and uses the area as the setting for her novels and stories.

She attributes the idea for her first novel, Hidden Shadows, to her younger son, who claims to have met the shadow people on a nightly basis. After researching and learning of them, she decided to write a novel loosely based on her son’s experiences.

Please visit Maryann at www.maryannpaige.com.

Read an Excerpt

Gloria moved closer into the shadows and stood before him.

“What can I do for you?” she asked.

“In a bit of a rush this evening?” he snickered.

“Yes, I am. I want to get the hell out of here.”

“Where are you heading to?”

“Away from this mess.”

“Feel bad for what occurred here?” He said with a grin.

She was shocked that he asked her that, “Of course I do. An innocent man is dead, and for what?”

“For what? I cannot believe you asked that.”

“Two innocent men are dead,” she answered, putting down her head.

“Oh, please, Gloria, spare me your sentimental nonsense. With all of the evil you’ve unleashed on the world, you’re sorry for this? Sorry for stopping the one man that can bring us all down?”

Maryann Paige’s CEMETERY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on December 1st and end on December 16th. You can visit Maryann’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December to find out more about this great book and talented author!

Join Cindy Vallar, author of the historical romance novel, The Scottish Thistle (Amber Quill Press), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author

A retired librarian, Cindy Vallar is the Associate Editor of Industry for Solander, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society, and writes the “Red Pencil” column where she profiles authors and compares a selection from their published historical novels with an early draft of that work. She also reviews for their journal, Historical Novels Review. She is the Editor of Pirates and Privateers, a freelance editor, and a content editor for Pyrates Way magazine. She belongs to the Historical Novel Society, the Red River Branch of Clan Cameron, the Scottish Clans of North Texas, the Laffite Society, the Louisiana Historical Society, and the National Maritime Historical Society.

Cindy’s love of Scotland has taken her to that country several times to do research and attend an international gathering of Clan Cameron on the chief’s estate in 2001. She also covered that gathering for the Scottish journal, Dalriada. In 2005 the Commissioner of Clan Cameron in North America invited her to the clan’s North American Rally, where he presented Cindy with the first Friend of Clan Cameron Award. She’s also served as the Co-membership Director and Secretary of the Red River Branch of the Clan Cameron Association North America.

Her two passions, pirates and Scotland, have led Cindy to share her knowledge with others through the workshops she conducts online and in-person. She is an instructor for several Romance Writers of America’s chapters. She invites you to visit her award-winning web site, Thistles & Pirates (http://www.cindyvallar.com/), to learn more.

About The Scottish Thistle

Loyalty and honor.  A Highland warrior prizes both more than life, and when he swears his oath on the dirk, he must obey or die.  Duncan Cameron heeds his chief’s order without question, but discovers his wife-to-be is no fair maiden.  Although women are no longer trained in the art of fighting, Rory MacGregor follows in the footsteps of her Celtic ancestors.  Secrets from the past and superstitious folk endanger Rory and Duncan as much as Bonnie Prince Charlie and his uprising to win back the British throne for his father.  Rory and Duncan must make difficult choices that pit honor and duty against trust and love.

Read an Excerpt:

Earlier, Thistle had blessed the torrential rain. Now, the smuggler cursed it. A lightning bolt slashed the ink-black sky. The shadows of the night blurred, and Thistle shuddered. The premonition descended with the finality of a coffin lid being nailed shut.

Thistle stood at the left hand of a dark-haired man. Swirls of mist curled around their feet and shadowy forms rose up between them, separating Thistle from the stranger. A flash of steel pierced the darkness. The white mist turned bright red, then faded to nothingness.

The smuggler’s eyes flew open! Thistle strained to hear, but thunder and wind obliterated other sounds. Lightning flashed; in the instant it illuminated mountain and glen, Thistle glimpsed a lone rider spurring his mount along the rough Highland track bordered by tall firs. He stiffened and toppled from his horse. Two caterans crept forward from the trees. While one searched their unconscious victim, the other rifled his satchel.

As the smuggler’s four companions surrounded the caterans, Thistle stepped onto a wind-smoothed boulder. With an arrow nocked taut against the string of the black longbow, Thistle aimed the lethal missile at one cateran’s heart and waited.

A flash of white light followed by a jarring thunderclap startled the thief. He raised his head and screamed. His companion dropped the pilfered booty. He fell to his knees and crossed himself. “Please, Thistle, spare us! We meant no harm.”

The smuggler smelled their fear and snickered beneath the mask. “Are ye saying the man sprawled in the mud is after taking a wee nap during such a fierce storm?”

They cried out, each trying to shout down the other.

“We found him here!”

“He is dead!”

The rider moaned.

“Dead, ye say? Then he comes back to haunt ye.” Thistle stepped closer and spoke words laced with menace. “Truis! Be gone! If ever I find ye in these bens again, I willna be so forgiving.”

The caterans scrambled over each other in their haste to escape. Thistle waited until the darkness swallowed them before jumping from the boulder to kneel beside the stranger. The short wooden hilt of a sgian protruded from the man’s upper back. Thistle extracted the knife, then bandaged the wound with a piece of black cloth ripped from the smuggler’s own shirt.

The stranger moaned. Easing him onto his back, Thistle braced the stranger’s head and shoulder against a thigh. The man’s eyes fluttered open.

“Can ye ride?” Thistle asked.

The rider nodded.

Thistle gave him over to the other smugglers and went to collect the stranger’s stallion. When Thistle reached for its reins, the horse flared its nostrils and snorted. Its hooves clattered on stones. Thistle grabbed its halter, stroked its neck, and whispered soothing words in Gaelic. The stallion whinnied, ceased its clawing of the earth, and grew calm. After the others helped the rider remount, Thistle swung up behind him. The two men who took the van wove their way through the rocks and into the woods. Thistle followed while the remaining pair brought up the rear.

Fallen pine needles muffled their footfalls. Firs towered over them, providing some respite from the rain. They climbed the mountain in a zigzag fashion. When they reached the northern edge of the pine canopy, Thistle nudged the stallion onto a rough dirt track along a bluff of jagged cliffs. Immense sea waves crashed against the rocks below, forcing white spume high into the air. The crescendo rivaled the beating of a thousand war drums, while the roiling tempest matched the frenzied turmoil that churned within Thistle.

The Watch, who safeguarded against further rebellion, kept a lookout for outlaws and smugglers, especially those with bounties on their heads. If the Watch discovered them, they would all hang. By rescuing the stranger, Thistle compounded the danger faced on their occasional midnight sojourns. Yet, having suffered injustice at the hands of others, the smuggler refused to ignore a stranger who needed help.

Aware that it was foolhardy to remain in the vicinity any longer, Thistle prodded the stallion toward the ruins of a stone tower. When they reached the broch, two men lifted the stranger from the horse and carried him inside.

Thistle turned to the remaining smugglers. “Take the horse to Andrew. He will see to its keeping. Keep a sharp lookout.”

They nodded and hurried on their way. Thistle stooped to enter the narrow passageway of the broch whose ancient builders had constructed the high circular walls of stone without benefit of mortar. Continuing past a tiny guard chamber on the left until reaching a spacious center courtyard, Thistle straightened and looked heavenward. Instead of a sloping thatched roof, the tower opened to a purplish pink sky. The deluge of the past two days had ended; the sun would again shine on the Highlands.

The windowless broch consisted of two tapering concave walls with a staircase between them. Hundreds of years ago the steps had led to wooden galleries, but the timbers had long since rotted away, leaving stairs that led nowhere. The entryway into the staircase was several feet off the ground. After clambering inside, Thistle felt along the outer wall. There was a soft click, then rumbling echoed through the ruin as a stone slab opened.

The small group descended the hidden steps that smugglers had added after the original inhabitants of the broch had disappeared. Thistle extracted a burning torch from its holder on the wall, and the secret entrance to the stairs closed. They wound their way through a tunnel to an underground chamber where the men propped the stranger against a damp wall.

Thistle doffed a tricorn hat and squatted to examine the man’s face in the flickering light. Thistle gasped. The face in my vision!

The crooked nose indicated it had been broken more than once. A small scar creased the man’s chin. Dark brown curls fell across a brow bloodied by a ragged gash several inches in length. When Thistle dabbed at the dried blood, the stranger’s hand encircled Thistle’s wrist and held tight.

“Who?” the stranger whispered.

“Who am I?” Thistle asked, transfixed by the man’s purple eyes. The same hue as in the vision.

The stranger nodded.

“Thistle.”

Surprise, then pain, flashed across the man’s face. His hand fell to his side.

“Ye must wait a wee longer before I tend to your wounds. Until then, perhaps ye might be after answering a few questions.”

The man gave a slight nod.

“’Tis unusual to find a stranger riding alone in these parts. Caterans prey on unsuspecting travelers, especially those daft enough to travel at night. If not daft, then perhaps ye are a spy sent to ferret me out for the excise men.”

“I search for a man.”

“What man?”

“He calls himself Angus.”

“Of what clan? ’Tis a common enough name among Highlanders.”

“The nameless clan.”

“The outlawed Clan Gregor.”

It was a statement, not a question. Thistle despised the necessity of hiding behind a mask, but the law left little choice. The king had handed down a royal edict against the MacGregors during the previous century, and while other clans had been forgiven for past wrongdoings, Thistle’s had not.

“Mayhap I can help, stranger. What business have ye with Angus?”

“I bring a message from Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel. Angus will understand.”

“And have ye a name?”

“Duncan of Clan Cameron.”

“How do I ken ye are not a spy come to harm the MacGregors? Can ye prove what ye say?”

The man grimaced. Thistle waited until the pain passed from his face before repeating the question. “Can ye prove what ye say?”

“Rannoch Moor.”

Festering memories assaulted Thistle. Baying hounds. Bloodied swords. Tormented wails. The stench of death. Thistle’s throat constricted. Gasping for air, Thistle yanked off the dank, woolen mask.

Duncan’s eyes widened, and he drew a sharp breath. His lips moved, but no words came. His eyes closed and his head sank onto his chest.

Thistle’s companions drew near.

“Dead?” Thistle asked.

“No, I think he fainted,” one answered, in a voice laced with amusement.

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“Though this extraordinary debut novel is best labeled historical fiction, it contains a strong romantic element and a touch of the fey. So truly do Rory and Duncan come alive that to identify with them is to imagine being witness oneself to a piece of history. The Scottish Thistle is a book to savor, one that cannot or should not be read in one sitting. It’s too rich, too vivid, too moving to be gulped down. Brutality and villainy are there, but so are marvelous characters, warm human emotions, family love and loyalty and passion. The Scottish Thistle is sure to please readers of all sorts: those who want to laugh and cry, and those who enjoy well-researched history presented with verve.”—Jane Bowers, Romance Reviews Today

Cindy Vallar’s THE SCOTTISH THISTLE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Dec 16. You can visit Cindy’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December to find out more about this great book and its talented author.

Join Stephen V. Masse, author of the suspense fiction novel, A Jolly Good Fellow (Good Harbor Press, Sept. ‘08), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December on his second virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author:

Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing and historical biography, and was the author of a weekly column, “Out of Control.” His first novel, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. When not writing, he restores and renovates homes in the Boston area, and serves as an ambassador each year in the Santa Claus Anonymous fundraising benefit. You can visit his website at www.ajollygoodfellowthebook.com.

About A Jolly Good Fellow

Two weeks before Christmas, Duncan Wagner gets into his car for another attempt at kidnapping the son of his most despised enemy, State Representative Win Booker. When he drives into the wealthy Boston suburb, he is surprised to find the boy hitchhiking.

So begins Wagner’s quest for revenge as he finds himself face to face with a real boy, and without a clue about how to run a kidnapping. Wagner, a self-styled charity Santa Claus, comes to realize that eleven year old Gabriel Booker is truly a runaway, much more curious than scared. Gabriel has no idea who Duncan Wagner is—or could be.

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

Stephen Masse does an excellent job of creating memorable, likeable characters. He takes a man and a boy from very different backgrounds and creates a tight bond of friendship between them. The story itself is full of numerous twists and turns and is an extremely fast read. The 203 pages really fly by, and I finished the book in one morning.” -Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads

“A Jolly Good Fellow” is delightfully funny, with a unique plot, an amazing cast of characters, and enough suspense to keep the reading guessing right up to the surprising unexpected conclusion. Stephen V. Masse is witty, clever, and entertaining. His books are destined to become best sellers. I am eager to read his upcoming book “Short Circus.” -Richard Blake for Reader Views

Stephen Masse’s A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Dec 16. You can visit Stephen’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December to find out more about this great book and its talented author.

Join David Berner, author of the self-help memoir, Accidental Lessons: A Memoir of a Rookie Teacher and a Life Renewed (AEG/Strategic Book Group), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author

David W. Berner is an award-winning journalist, writer, documentarian, and teacher. His most recent book, Accidental Lessons—A Memoir of a Rookie Teacher and a Life Renewed, was published by AEG/Strategic in February, 2009. His essays and reporting have been published in numerous magazines and literary journals, and his broadcast work has been aired on National Public Radio, the CBS Radio Network, and public radio stations across the United States. David is an associate professor at Columbia College Chicago, teaching writing, audio documentary, and radio narrative.

For more information you can visit www.davidwberner.com or www.accidentallessons.com.

About Accidental Lessons

Accidental Lessons is a remarkable memoir by successful Chicago journalist David W. Berner. Berner takes the reader inside his own personal journey; a heart wrenching and inspirational account of self-discovery. After a series of personal upheavals – his marriage falls apart, his father becomes terminally ill, and his career crumbles – this  respected reporter makes a difficult decision that changes his life forever. Berner takes a job in a public school outside Chicago where the students are facing traumatic obstacles – dysfunctional families, gangs, and drugs. What he learns from them teaches him invaluable lessons about himself, who he is, and why he became a journalist in the first place – to seek out the truth and give voice to those who need their story told.

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“BERNER HAS GIVEN US A BEAUTIFUL, ELEGANTLY WRITTEN BOOK IN THE TRADITION OF BLACKBOARD JUNGLE AND TO SIR WITH LOVE – THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT BERNER’S STORY IS NOT FICTION, IT’S TRUE.” – Thomas E. Kennedy, 2008 Winner of the National Magazine Award and author of Riding the Dog: A Look Back at America

“This book rings true for a lot of people. It’s not just about teachers, it’s about all of us who are trying to find out who we are, what we want to be, and how to find our place in the world. I’ve read other things from David Berner and listened to him on the radio for years in Chicago, and this is as solid as his other work as a reporter and writer. Good read!” -Gene

David Berner’s ACCIDENTAL LESSONS VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Dec 16. You can visit David’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December  to find out more about this great book and its talented author.

Join Michael Anthony, author of the Iraq war memoir, Mass Casualties : A Young Medic’s True Story of Death, Deception, and Dishonor in Iraq , (Adams Media), as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December and January on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author

Michael Anthony (MA) seemed destined to serve from the day he was born.  The youngest of seven children, Michael has four brothers and two sisters, all but one of whom joined the military. His father and two grandfathers were also in the Military.

After graduating high school, he joined the Army Reserves, went through basic training, and then went through job training to become an Operating Room Medic. One year later he returned home and enrolled in college to begin his first semester. Almost immediately upon finishing his first semester he was shipped off to Wisconsin to train for four months before he would leave and spend his next year in Iraq. Michael is now back in the States and working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in creative writing.

You can visit his website at www.masscasualties.com

About Mass Casualties

“Look around,” the drill sergeant said. “In a few years, or even a few months, several of you will be dead. Some of you will be severely wounded or so badly mutilated that your own mother can’t stand the sight of you. And for the real unlucky ones, you will come home so emotionally disfigured that you wish you had died over there.”

It was Week 7 of basic training . . . eighteen years old and I was preparing myself to die.

They say the Army makes a man out of you, but for eighteen-year-old SPC Michael Anthony, this fabled rite of passage is instead a dark and dangerous journey. After obtaining his parents’ approval to enlist at seventeen, Anthony begins this journey with an unshakeable faith in the military based on his family’s long tradition of service. But when he finds himself in a medical unit of misfits as lost as he is, Anthony not only witnesses firsthand the unspeakable horror of war, he experiences the undeniable misconduct of the military. Everything he’s ever believed in dissolves, forcing Anthony to rethink his ideals and ultimately risk his career—and his freedom—to challenge the military that once commanded his loyalty.

This searing memoir chronicles the experiences that change one young soldier forever. A seasoned veteran before the age of twenty-one, he faces the truth about the war—and himself—in this shocking and unprecedented eyewitness account.

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“Michael Anthony’s memoir is not about the politics of Iraq. Instead it takes us deep inside the war, inside and outside the operating room, the barracks, the talk of the soldiers, the feeling of the situation. It joins the body of war literature in a unique and powerful way.”
—Howard Zinn, Civil Rights Leader, Historian
Author of: A People’s History of the United States

“Anthony’s painful account of his time at war is at times difficult to read. This coming of age war memoir details the very gut wrenching journey he takes into manhood in the backdrop of grueling combat. His voice is unique and deserves to be heard. We may not all agree with why we fight, but I am proud to be of a generation with Warriors like Anthony, who are compelled to share these important life altering experiences.”
—David Bellavia, Iraq Veteran
Author of: House to House: An Epic Memoir of War

Michael Anthony’s MASS CASUALTIES VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Jan. 30. You can visit Michael’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December and January to find out more about this great book and its talented author. If you would like to host Michael, please contact Tracee Gleichner at reviewfromhere@aol.com before Dec. 23 for a January review.

Join Dot Ryan, author of the book of the civil war historical fiction novel , Corrigans’ Pool (iUniverse), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December and January on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author

Dot Ryan, born and raised in Bee County in South Texas, makes her home in “the sparkling city by the sea,” Corpus Christi, Texas, with husband, Sam. Corrigans’ Pool is Dot’s first novel. She is busy writing her second and third works of fiction.  You can visit her website at www.dotryanbooks.com.

About Corrigans’ Pool

Bitter with thoughts of the darkly handsome stranger who promised to marry her and then left town without a word, Ella Corrigan hastily weds a neighboring planter—a man whose cold indifference is merely a disguise for cunning insanity. His cruelty to his slaves horrifies her and, even though her family has owned slaves for generations, she questions the concept of human bondage for the first time while desperately missing her cherished Greenpoole plantation and Corrigan’s Pool … a beautiful phenomenon of nature that the slaves call “Conjuring Pool” for reasons they cannot explain when asked.

The South is embroiled in a bitter Civil War by the time Ella Corrigan discovers that Corrigans’ Pool is much more than the exquisitely beautiful pond she had thought it to be all her life. But by the time she learns its dangerous secret she is deeply entangled in a secret of her own … one that has made her a virtual prisoner, hopelessly trapped in a world dreadfully different from her previous existence as mistress of her gentle father’s palatial plantation home along the Savannah River. Stunned by what she sees, she must harden herself to her new surroundings or perish … along with the cowed and scarred Negroes who toil in her husband’s rice swamps and cotton fields. Always in the back of her mind, are memories of the man who loved her and left her, the man she has long blamed for her misery.

Read the Excerpt!

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“Upon finishing Dot Ryan’s debut novel, Corrigans’ Pool, readers will feel thankful that this remarkable writing talent has burst on the scene and chosen to share such a gem. Ryan’s storytelling ability and masterful use of setting, dialogue, and characterization add up to an exquisite piece of historical fiction.

Corrigans’ Pool manages to blend romance, mystery, humor, and tragedy with flawless precision. Ryan paints a picture of the old South with a colorful palette of respectful admiration and stark reality, drawing readers into the beauty of the land as well as the horror of the war that threatened to destroy it. Each character is vibrant in their individuality, and every scene is drawn with a rich detail that engages the reader and evokes emotion without becoming cumbersome. The romance is moving but subtle, the mystery is suspenseful, and the story flows smoothly toward a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

Readers are sure to be enthralled with this exceptional novel, and they will be pleased to know that Ryan is currently penning the sequel. Corrigans’ Pool is a superior achievement, and author Dot Ryan is undeniably a talent not to be missed. Highly recommended.”

–Jeannine Chartier Hanscom

Dot Ryan’s  CORRIGANS’ POOL VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Jan. 30. You can visit Dot’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December and January to find out more about this great book and its talented author. If you would like to host Dot, please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife@yahoo.com before Dec. 23 for a January review.

Join Hope Edelman, author of the book of the personal memoir, The Possibility of Everything (Ballantine Books), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Hope Edelman

Hope Edelman holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and a master’s degree in English from the University of Iowa. She is the author of five nonfiction books: the international bestseller Motherless Daughters (1994), which was translated into seven languages; Letters from Motherless Daughters (1995), an edited collection of letters from readers; Mother of My Mother (1999), which looks at the depth and influence of the grandmother-granddaughter relationship; Motherless Mothers (2006), about the experience of being a mother when you don’t have one, from HarperCollins; and The Possibility of Everything (2009), her first book-length memoir, set in Topanga Canyon, California, and Belize.

Hope has lectured widely on the long-term effects of early parent loss. She has appeared on national and local television throughout the U.S., including the Today show and Good Morning America, and has also appeared on TV and radio in Toronto; Vancouver; London; Sydney; Melbourne, Australia; and Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, New Zealand.

She began her journalism career with a part-time job at Outside magazine, and soon after interned for three months at the Salem Statesman-Journal in Salem, Oregon. Her first full-time editorial job was at Whittle Communications in Knoxville, Tennessee. From there, she went on to the University of Iowa, earning a master’s degree in creative nonfiction writing in 1992, one of the first of its kind.

Since then, her articles and essays have appeared in numerous publications, such as the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, the Dallas Morning News, Glamour, Child, Parenting, Seventeen, Real Simple, Self, The Iowa Review, and The Crab Orchard Review, and many anthologies, including The Bitch in the House, Toddler, Blindsided By a Diaper, and Behind the Bedroom Door.

She is the recipient of a New York Times Notable Book of the Year designation and a Pushcart Prize for creative nonfiction. Nearly every July you can find her at the Iowa Summer Writing Festival in Iowa City, and periodically at other conferences and festivals throughout the U.S.

Hope plays piano and guitar (sort of); cooks a mean French Toast; and has discovered an unexpected aptitude for sixth-grade math. She lives in Topanga, California, with her husband, their two daughters, a fat cat named Timmy (“No, Mom, tell them he’s buff!”) and their pet tarantula, Billy Bob.

You can visit her website at www.hopeedelman.com.

The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman (click on cover to purchase)

About The Possibility of Everything

From the bestselling author of Motherless Daughters, the real-life story of one woman’s search for a cure to her family’s escalating troubles, and the leap of faith that changed everything for her.

In the autumn of 2000, Hope Edelman was a woman adrift, questioning her place in her marriage, her profession, and the larger world. Feeling vulnerable and isolated, she was primed for change. Into her stagnant routine dropped Dodo, her three-year-old daughter Maya’s curiously disruptive imaginary friend. Confused and worried about how to handle Maya and Dodo’s apparent hold on her, Edelman and her husband made the unlikely choice to bring her to Mayan healers in Belize, hoping that a shaman might help them banish Dodo-and, as they came to understand, all he represented-from their lives.

Examining how an otherwise mainstream mother and wife finds herself making this unorthodox choice, The Possibility of Everything chronicles the magical week in Central America that transformed Edelman from a person whose past had led her to believe only in the visible and the “proven” to someone open to the idea of larger, unseen forces. A deeply affecting and beautifully written memoir of a family’s emotional journey, it explores what Edelman and her husband went looking for in the jungle-and what they ultimately discovered-as parents, as spouses, and as ordinary people-about the things that possess and destroy, or that can heal us all.

Read the Excerpt!

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“Edelman writes eloquently about her struggle… With vivid descriptions of Belize and its Mayan history, The Possibility of Everything is an intimate account of the struggles of parenting, partnering and faith.”

—People

“Part mystery, part travelogue, part memoir, the book explores the gaps between science and faith, children and parents, and what we believe and what we wish for.”

—Redbook

“The Possibility of Everything returns to [Edelman’s] theme of mothers and daughters, place and purpose, and chronicles a profound spiritual awakening.”

—Malibu Times

“The true beauty of this book—and there is so much that is beautiful… is that Edelman relentlessly dissects her own perspectives and feelings with an uncommon courage…”

—Oregonian

The Possibility of Everything is a well-crafted tale of skepticism versus spirituality… Edelman’s writing soars highest when depicting her family’s eye-opening encounters in the humid tropical jungle with—just possibly—the supernatural.”

—Entertainment Weekly

“The book… stands as a rich example of memoir writing, much as her previous book Motherless Daughters did.”

—Albuquerque Journal

Watch the Trailer!

Hope Edelman’s  THE POSSIBILITY OF EVERYTHING VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Dec. 16th as part of Pump Up Your Book Promotion’s 12 Days of Christmas Virtual Book Tour Special. You can visit Hope’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December to find out more about this great book and its talented author. If you would like to host Hope, please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife@yahoo.com before November 23rd.

Join Sophia White, author of the  inspirational christian book, Jesus is for Everybody (iUniverse), as she virtually tours the blogosphere in December on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About Sophia White

The name “Sophia” is derived from σοφία, the Greek word for wisdom. Author Sophia White has made it her goal to share the divine wisdom and inspiration that God has shared with her with the entire world to revitalize the Christian community in the love and mercy of God.

“Sophia is the true love of God constantly circling, wonderful for human nature and such that is not consumed by age…everlasting until the end of time,” quotes Sophia. “Through illustrations and analogies I want to help people comprehend the consistency of God’s message and be able to conclude for one’s self that the scriptural recordings are more a matter of fact than individual interpretation.”

When she’s not writing Sophia works as an Information Technology Auditor in Washington D.C. and is a volunteer instructor with the Academy of Hope.

“Although I’ve had to travel extensively for my profession, meeting new people from all walks of life has been the highlight of my life,” says Sophia. “The accounting aspect of my job has taught me to seek an intellectual understanding for everything, including spiritual forces. Over the years, God gave me a mission to share my awareness.”

That’s exactly what Sophia has done with Jesus is for Everybody, demystifying the truths of the Bible and helping Christians find their way around the propaganda surrounding religion and back to the simple truths surrounding God’s love.

“Through illustrations and analogies, I want to help people comprehend the consistency of God’s message and be able to conclude for one’s self that the scriptural recordings are more a matter of fact than individual interpretation. What I’ve learned by researching insight for myself is that we must adopt and fully implement a belief system. As you continue to seek knowledge about Christ overall, it becomes evident how God sent His son into the world to help us build faith in everlasting life through Him.”

“The wisdom of this world is foolish in God’s eyes. It is written, “God catches wise people in their own tricks.” It is also written, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise don’t amount to anything.” [1 Corinthians 3:19-20]

Although Sophia is my given name, Sophia is also “a universal figure, representing wisdom, femininity, motherhood and sexuality” as indicated by Dr. Suzanne Schaup in her book written especially for women with a Christian background, interested in expanding our quest for spiritual wholeness. If my teachings represent a mere fraction of “Sophia” it can only be contributed to the grace of an Almighty God.

Find out more about Sophia at www.jesusisforeverybody.org

About Jesus is for Everybody

In today’s society it seems like we have everybody telling us what’s right and what’s wrong. The Christian religion has become an expression not of a relationship with God but of a right wing political standpoint. Author Sophia White takes religion out of the courtroom and puts it back where it belongs-in the hearts of Americans everywhere-with her new book “Jesus is for Everybody.”

In “Jesus is for Everybody” Sophia explores the science behind the scripture, breaking concepts down into simple, everyday applications that make sense for people of every walk of life and reminds people that religion is meant to be built on a deep, personal relationship with God. Many churches have lost that relationship. There are  hundreds of Christians out there floundering because they are so busy trying to be Christians that they’ve forgotten who their father is.

Sophia White revitalizes that love with an exploration of the scriptures of the Bible and the intimate relationship we were meant to have with God in “Jesus is for Everybody.”

Here’s what reviewers have to say!

“Jesus is For Everybody by Sophia White is a lovely book. She has a deep understanding of her walk with God and wants to share that understanding with the reader. She accomplishes this in some unique ways.”

Mylinda Elliot

“If you are looking for information on a relationship with Jesus, White explains things in an easily understood way. She includes passages from the Bible to support her ideas and inspire a nonbeliever. She does not “preach” at all. In fact, her views are never clearly stated. It is obvious she is a believer but she lets the verses support her ideas. You will not feel that she is telling you what to believe but instead showing you different aspects of faith. Even if you don’t agree with the religious aspects, you can see her reasons for her beliefs.”

Jennifer S.

Sophia White’s JESUS IS FOR EVERYBODY VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ‘09 will officially begin on Dec. 1st and end on Dec. 16th as part of Pump Up Your Book Promotion’s 12 Days of Christmas Virtual Book Tour Special. You can visit Sophia’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of December to find out more about this great book and its talented author. If you would like to host Sophia, please contact Tracee Gleichner at reviewfromhere@aol.com before November 23rd.