Friday, September 27, 2013

Way2Kool Designs

Way2Kool Designs has a new look check it out. www.way2kooldesigns.com

Authors if you need a web design or book covers, bookmarks, post cards book ads go check it out. Affordable prices you can't beat.

Patty
Way2KoolDesigns.com

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Lost Years. 5th in the Lilly Series is now Availble



This is the 5th book I have read in this series now. The author has so much heart, thought and talent that goes into her series you can’t help but be drawn into it.

This book takes you back to when Diego Junior was a teenager which explains some details from the story that came out before The Lost Years. “Memoirs of a Mobster”.

We all think of mobsters, gangsters and drug dealers as unscrupulous, evil people, and most of them are. But with Judy’s Lilly Series they are more than just mobsters and gangsters. They are people who love and hurt, who have children just like anyone else. Some are not given a choice to be who they are, some are born into it. Some try to run from it and get new starts, but where ever they go trouble finds them.

Lilly did her best to try and take Junior away from all that. To have a normal life, but with the name Monitiago being known as the biggest crime lords in the United States and Mexico that is not an easy task.

Junior has shot and killed people, including a couple of his uncles. Junior now feels there may be something wrong with him. He has no regret for what he does, until he falls in love for the very first time and of course with someone else girlfriend, which leads to a whole lot of trouble.

The Uncles have done a good job with grooming him, and teaching him how to protect himself. But not only that, they taught him to respect women as well. Like no sex. And that family and friendship are also very important. Junior gets into trouble; he gets grounded, just like any normal teenager. The only difference between him and other teenagers is he knows how to shoot and will kill you if he has to.

Judy Serrano has so much going on in the stories, she tells parts that terrify you, parts that bring a smile to your face and parts that brings tears to your eyes. She reminds me of the author Danielle Steel who brings out the same emotions in her stories. But don’t take my word for it. Go out and buy the book and if you haven’t read any of the Lilly series buy them all. You won’t be disappointed. I would love to see this series turn into a movie or a TV mini-series one day.

I can’t wait to see what she has coming out next. Judy Serrano is awe-inspiring, outstanding story teller.


Purchase at your local bookstores are at www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com


Interview with Charles Larlham

Welcome Charles Larlham. Thank you for agreeing to do and interview with us.
 
 
 
1.      My first question is, what made you want to tell your story?
a.       I remember most everything that happens to me, and I loved to tell stories about some of those things to my friends. Eventually, I wrote a couple, and then a couple more, and then...
b.      About three years ago I began writing my stories on a writers’ social media site called Gather.com. It wasn’t long before site members started saying I should make a book of them. After a while I strung a bunch together in a single file and discovered I had about ninety thousand words. Sunuvvagun... I had written a book about my youth and all I’d been doing was telling stories.
 
2.      Would you say you can from a large town or a small town?
a.       No town at all, Patty. I grew up on a “gentleman’s farm” about three miles outside the Village of Mantua, Ohio, a village of about a thousand people.
 
3.      Do you have siblings? And if so how do they feel about your writing this book about you and the Old Man?
a.       I have a brother about a year and a half younger than I. He has his own concerns, and the book isn’t really of much interest to him. You’ll meet him in the book.
b.      I also have a sister, Lyndella, about six years younger than I am and she’s very proud of the whole idea. She thinks I glossed over some rough patches, but rough patches are for books of self-analysis. This is a book about the good times I often didn’t recognize until they were past.
 
4.      If you could pick out the one most important childhood memory what would it be?
a.       My twelfth birthday – in The Old Man and Me, it’s a whole chapter entitled “The Best Birthday Ever.” It may be the most important memory of my childhood for my readers, too.
 
5.       Your mother Hattie Larlham started the Hattie Larlham Foundation. Could you tell your readers what the Hattie Larlham is all about? And how that got started?
a.       Oh my, now that’s a big question. The Hattie Larlham Foundation cares for more than fifteen hundred developmentally disabled children and adults, both at the main campus at our old farmstead and in homes and home-like environments. It has expanded so much since we started with a half-dozen children in our home that it would take this whole interview to describe it fully.
b.      It got started with a my mother’s dream to find a way to help the families of developmentally disabled children in Ohio, and the children as well. But it just never seemed to get off the ground. Then a neighbor family was forced to take a child they couldn’t care for home from the hospital. Mother’s response was, “Somebody ought to do something!” According to her, backed by the Old Man, I responded (wholly out of exasperation), “Well, aren’t we somebody?” As it turned out... we were.
 
6.      Your bio said you were a soldier for three years. Were you ever deployed?
a.       I was a soldier from August 1962 until August of 1965. During that time I was sent to South Korea for thirteen months. I suppose it was technically a deployment, since that conflict was only under truce. There was no surrender, no winner, no loser and no end.
b.      The two Koreas were not officially in an active combat situation, although there were constant “incidents.”
 
7.      How old were you during World War II?
a.       I was born the end of July 1942, about seven months after Pearl Harbor. I was barely three when WWII ended.
 
8.      How did the great depression impact your family and town?
a.       It affected the Old Man and Mother a great deal. As did many people, they worried constantly about whether they were about to find themselves in similar circumstances again. What we could buy was often tempered by a need to do without and put that money aside for something “important.”
 
9.      Getting back to your books. How does it feel to be a first time author so late in your life? And if you could give one piece of advice to other people in your age group, on how to tell their stories or how to get started. What would that advice be?
a.       Ah, one of those questions. How does it feel? I don’t think about it a lot, but when I do there is a great sense of wonder. I guess it’s tinged with a bit of wistfulness, because I tried selling short stories when there were magazines that bought them, and I tried writing novels, but I always ran out of story at about 30,000 words. I kind of wish I’d tried this genre’ a lot earlier. But it is what it is.
b.      I can only tell other people what I did, and what my kid brother told me a long time ago. I just wrote as if I were telling stories in a bar, around a campfire, in the barracks... wherever. What Giles told me was to add the background... talk about the setting, describe the room, the woods, the sky above you, the dog trotting by and distracting you. Modern writing teachers say, “Show the story, don’t tell it.” That’s why my stories take off on tangents. It keeps people interested and they learn something.
 
10.  Have you started writing your second book in the series yet? Have any ideas when that will be available?
a.       I have the second book about ninety-five per cent written, and about fifty percent edited. I will write at least one more story about undergraduate college days, and there may be a couple more that I’ll drop in if I get time to write them.
b.      I have not discussed a publishing target with Black Rose Writing, but I would think it would be out by early spring 2014. Book Three is about 50 percent ready as well, and it might be a story for this time next year. Whether there would be more, I can’t say.
 
11.  Ok I have to ask. Your name is Charles and I know your friends call you Chuck but your Initials are RC. What does the R Stand for?
a.       My given name is Richard Charles Larlham. Richard was also the Old Man’s first name, and he went by “Dick.” People would ask Mother, “How’s Dick?” After I came along, the question & answer session would go something like this: A friend would ask, “Hello, Pat. How’s Dick?” Mother would answer, “Oh, he’s fine. Has to work this weekend.” The friend would then ask, “And little Dickie?”
b.      Mother hated diminutive names, so I quickly became Charles, and then Chuck (although never to Mother).
 
Well Chuck I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to us and to let your readers know more about you.
 
You can find Chuck Larlham on the web at these locations,
 
 
Chuck’s first book “The Old Man and Me” is now currently available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble or order them from any of your favorite book stores.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Interview with author RC Larlham

RC Larlham has agree to do an interview with us September 19, 2013
The day his book entitled " The Old Man and Me will be released from Blackrose Writing
We invite you all to come out and here what he has to say.
 
The Old Man and Me
Welcome to my Author’s website. My first book, “The Old Man and Me: Extraordinary Stories from an Ordinary Childhood Post WWII,” begins my story of growing up in the 1940s and 1950s. The book is published by Black Rose Writing, and the planned Release Date is September 19, 2013. Black Rose and I hope to count you among its readers and fans. This is planned to be a series of at least three books, and it is my hope that all of them bring joy (and a bit of education) to all who read them.

Once the book is released, there will be opportunities to order the book directly, including author’s signature. We’ll make a chapter available to read as soon as possible (and when the second book begins its journey to publication we’ll offer an early chapter as a teaser). There will be links to other author sites and chances to win free books.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

New Release: Symbiotic Mates 7: Cullen and the Kindred Spirit

A new release is always cause for celebration, but this one is extra special to me because it's been a long time coming. Books one to six have been revised, lengthened and re-released by Siren Publishing. Here's a look at book seven which features a new couple and brings back all your old favorites.

 This title is offered at a 10% New Release discount. Offer ends midnight CST, September 14th.

Symbiotic Mates 7: Cullen and the Kindred Spirit


What happens when natural enemies suddenly become blood mates?

 Vampire Cullen Blackhawk gets caught helping a wolf-shifter rescue his human mates from the Colony. Now he's forced to accompany the fugitives to Arcadia and spy on the pack. Cullen figures the humans will be his blood donors, but the shifter leaves Arcadia and takes Cullen's only food source with him. Then the unthinkable happens. Cullen finds himself attracted to an omega wolf.

 Mika Hill's role in the pack has always been that of submissive slut, but Cullen treats him like an equal and Mika shows his gratitude by offering Cullen blood. A starving Cullen can't help himself, and now he's forced to confront his escalating feelings for an omega who's mated to someone else. Mika falls hard for Cullen, but he knows there's no future for a wolf and a vampire. Or is there? Mika will do anything to keep Cullen—even if it means forcing a blood-mating.

Available at Bookstrand:

http://www.bookstrand.com/symbiotic-mates-7-cullen-and-the-kindred-spirit

Happy Reading!

 Gale

  [Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, vampires, shape-shifters, HEA]



Monday, July 22, 2013

THE LOST YEARS Review- 5th book in the series of Easter Lilly


The Lost Years by Judy Serrano - Coming September 19th, 2013

Judy’s Lilly Series they are more than just mobsters and gangsters. They are people who love and hurt, who have children just like anyone else. Some are not given a choice to be who they are, some are born into it. Some try to run from it and get new starts, but where ever they go trouble finds them.
Lilly did her best to try and take Junior away from all that. To have a normal life, but with the name Monitiago being known as the biggest crime lords in the United States and Mexico that is not an easy task.
Junior has shot and killed people, including a couple of his uncles. Junior now feels there may be something wrong with him. He has no regret for what he does, until he falls in love for the very first time and of course with someone else girlfriend, which leads to a whole lot of trouble.
The Uncles have done a good job with grooming him, and teaching him how to protect himself. But not only that, they taught him to respect women as well. Like no sex. And that family and friendship are also very important. Junior gets into trouble; he gets grounded, just like any normal teenager. The only difference between him and other teenagers is he knows how to shoot and will kill you if he has to.
Judy Serrano has so much going on in the stories, she tells parts that terrify you, parts that bring a smile to your face and parts that brings tears to your eyes. She reminds me of the author Danielle Steel who brings out the same emotions in her stories. But don’t take my word for it. Go out and buy the book and if you haven’t read any of the Lilly series buy them all. You won’t be disappointed. I would love to see this series turn into a movie or a TV mini-series one day.
I can’t wait to see what she has coming out next. Judy Serrano is awe-inspiring, outstanding story teller.

Visit Judy on the web at www.judyserrano.com

Friday, July 12, 2013

It's Release Day! Symbiotic Mates 4: Damian and the Doctor


Symbiotic Mates 4: Damian and the Doctor

[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, with M/F elements, vampires, shape-shifters, HEA]

Damian Starling, a scarred and reclusive vampire, believes no man will ever be able to look past his damaged face and love him. When Damian is put in charge of a captured wolf, he enjoys the growing friendship between him and an animal that doesn't care what he looks like. Damian is ordered to get the wolf to shift, but he's torn. He wants to know the man inside the animal, but Damian fears if the lycan sheds his fur, he'll turn away in disgust.

Doc Alder, a lycan physician, knows the vampires have some sinister plan for him, but he intends to go down fighting—as a wolf. Nothing can persuade him to shift to human form until a scarred vampire gains his trust. Doc shifts, and what started as friendship turns to blazing passion. The men fight their growing feelings, but soon learn that some bonds can never be broken.

Available at Bookstrand:



Happy Reading!

Gale

Twitter: https://twitter.com/galestanley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaleStanleyBooks

Monday, July 1, 2013

The Ballerina & The Fighter (Book 1)



New Release
The Ballerina & The Fighter
by Ursula Sinclair
A new adult contemporary romance.

Do you know what happens when boy meets girl? Maybe. Still. Wouldn't you like to know.

Blurb

I travel through life dancing.

All I ever wanted to do was dance, as did my best friend. We'd made so many plans together, but one night an explosion changed it all. Only one of us survived, and I promised myself I'd succeed for us both. And I did, until an accident almost ruined my career, but Maze came back into my life when I needed him most. He pulled me out of the depths of my despair. But could I save him now?

I travel through life fighting.

It had always been Ivy; from the first moment I saw her leaping through the air like she had wings to lift her from the ground. But she was my dream, something I wanted more than anything else in my life. I promised myself I would stay away from her. Violence followed me everywhere and I tried to keep her far away from it. She was my point of illumination in the dark, tumultuous world I lived in. But I could not stay away from her. Not when I knew she needed me. As much as I needed her. But could she accept me as I am?
 



Thursday, June 20, 2013

Thomas Thorpe. Author of "The Forth Conspiracy



When I managed Mars Missions for NASA, I was often asked, “do you believe in the face on Mars?” A fellow by the name of Hoglan made lots of money speculating on the possibility that the face was constructed by aliens. Such imaginings are not all crazy and have spurred the investigation of canals on the planet for hundreds of years. People strive to understand their environment and nothing excites the mind like solving a good mystery. Mankind seeks enlightenment, answers to the unknown, it is in his nature. No matter if you’re a scientist trying to understand the universe, a police detective solving a life or death case or just someone looking for missing car keys, we learn from the process and recover from our mistakes. So my answer to “do I believe there’s face on Mars” is, no, better camera resolution  shows it to be a mesa covered with rocks, but then again, what about those microbe fossils in the Allen Hill meteorite and traces of methane in the atmosphere?
I write historical mystery thrillers set around the world in the first half of the nineteenth century. The era was interesting and turbulent. Nations struggled with self-government, having emerged from colonialism or repressive monarchies. Word of the French and American revolutions spread worldwide. Tensions flared between traditional royalists and young radicals who promoted new ideas of democracy to free themselves from repressive social classes. As a result, conspiracies abounded and murders were common.
Into the mix, are thrust the Darmons, who solve mysteries occurring worldwide between 1820-1845. William and Elizabeth, her sister Emily and brother-in-law Charles and youngest sister, Victoria. They’re world traveling aristocrats whose money provides access, but encounters with other cultures make them truly “fish out of water.” The six novels are set in  England, America, Egypt, Canada, Brazil, Russia and India.
 Finding a publisher for a select audience can take as much time for a new writer as writing his novel. Research is the key to publishing any historical book and today's Internet provides a wealth of sources. Publication of my first book came from shopping it around along with the ten thousand other writers seeking publication in this country every day. The now defunct PortTown Publishing Company originally published the first four novels of the Darmon series. However, they went out of business in 2006. Consequently, Black Rose Writing began releasing the new series in reverse order, starting with the previously unpublished Book 6: Without Redemption (2009) set in India and Book 5: Desperate Crossing (2010) set in Russia of the 1840’s. Book 4: Fair Wind to Bahia set in Brazil and Book 3: Patriote Peril (2011). Book 2: The Forth Conspiracy came out January of this year.
After publication is secured, marketing began. Prior to a book’s release, advance work included setting up reviews, writing press releases, scheduling book signings, and seeking ways to create publicity. Agents and publicists can help, but chances are one has to work their way up the sales ladder to get noticed by major catalogs. Once a paperback is published, an author should be prepared to meet and greet at bookstores over the following year. This can be fun, as said on the TV show, Pawn Stars: “You never know what is going to come thru that door.” Recently, a father and two teenaged sons passed by my table. I asked, “How about a mystery?” to which he responded: “No thanks, I’m here for a specific book, something like How to Coach Soccer for Dummies”. One of his sons, looking perplexed, burst out: “So you think we’re dummies?” Another question I often get is: My son reads everything, is this book appropriate for an 8 year old?”
In conclusion, let me say that historical events are often ignored when presented in textbooks. People sometimes think our ancestors were primitive and uneducated because they lacked today's technology. Unless one experiences the reality of past circumstances thru historical novels, their true relevance may be missed. I hope the Darmon series enlightens readers to challenges of the time.

 


Price: $16.95
 Published: Black Rose Writing
 Release Date: February 2013
 Inventory Status: Ingram distributor
 ISBN 978-1-61296-163-7
 Format: Paperback, 221 pages

William Darmon and his wife Elizabeth, owners of Mayfair Hall, fall victim to rival Forth family who introduce a bill into Parliament called the Writ of Confiscation. It will repossess the Darmon's ancestral home unless they can find their missing deed. A late family friend hid the document on a trip to Egypt decades earlier, leaving a clue to its location only visible in the night sky of 1825. As the Darmons begin to unravel the mystery, a Forth body turns up on their doorstep.
William and brother-in-law, Charles set off for the Mediterranean only to be waylaid by Greek independence fighters on the eve of a massive  Egyptian invasion. William's escape finds him   stranded in the Sahara far behind Forth members attempting to destroy his property title.
 
Historically accurate, non-stop suspense.
Available at Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Nook, Amazon, Ingram, Blackrosewriting.com

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

"Linked" by Judy Serrano

LINKED

Daphne Foster is a substitute teacher stuck in an English class, waiting for that dreaded parent-teacher conference. With much preparation and anxiety, she encounters the unforgettable Charlie Cross. His charm and good looks, win her over but rumors of his involvement with organized crime make his continued disappearances disturbing.

In walks Heathcliff Vanderpool, creating a love triangle of unusual sorts. Unknown to Daphne, Heathcliff and Charlie are old friends: Older than she could have imagined. With Charlie away on business, Daphne and Heathcliff discover a passion between them lying beneath the surface. As their souls link, pulling away from Charlie becomes next to impossible. Will his involvement in organized crime consume them both before she’s able to get free? When you become “linked,” the choice may not be your own.
   
Review
 
 Wow another great story.
 
Judy Serrano is such a wonderful and talented story teller. There is not much she leaves out that don’t catch your attention.
 
You have suspense, thriller, paranormal and romance all rolled into one. The idea of taking gangsters, and making them vampires, what and awesome combination.
 
What I like the best was these were not your normal vampires that you read about or see in movies. And oh yes there were also werewolves and sabers you had to worry about as well. There was even one part of the book that brought a smile to my face, but not going to ruin it by telling you. You will just have to read the book and find out. But if you are a Judy Serrano fan you will understand what brought on my smile.
 
I’m always sad when I reach the end of one of Judy’s stories. I don’t want it to end. You can’t help but get caught up in it all. You can’t help but fall in love with her characters. Her stories bring on so many different types of emotions.
 
Watch out Laurell Hamilton and your Anita Blake series. Judy Serrano is in town and she has gangster vampires.
 
Way2Kool Design Review
5 Stars

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Interview with Judy Serrano


Welcome Judy, So glad you to have you join us today.


  1. The first question I have to ask is; what made you decide to write about gangsters and the crime syndicate?

That is a good question. For starters, I began this book as an attempt to write about successful marriages. It never even entered that realm. I sat down and started writing Lilly and she took me on her own journey. No idea really, why she headed for the Montiago men.

2. You named your first book in the series Easter’s Lilly. How did you come up with that title?

Everything significant happens to Lilly on Easter. It is as though Easter owns Lilly. Throughout the series, Easter Sunday is a significant date. That’s how it came about.

3. I have always loved reading series. I find that when I get done with reading I feel sad the book is finished; I want to know more about the characters and what is going to happen next. I fall in love with all your characters in your Easter’s Lilly Series. Do you prefer writing series to single stories and if so why?

So far all of my novels are part of a series. I fall in love with my characters and can’t bear to let them go. I naturally end each book with a new storyline on the way. I am not sure if I will ever write a single book with no sequel.

  4. In the Easter Lilly series, we have the hot looking crime boss Diego, we also have his sexy looking brother Max, the right hand man, and we can’t leave out the smooth sensual other brother, Hector the protector. Now for a question that all your female fans want to know. Did you base any of those men on your husband? As for looks and romance. Readers want to know lol.

I will never tell.

  5. You’re a substitute teacher and you teach a writing class at a college. You’re a mother and a wife and from what I have read on your facebook you’re constantly on the go for one member of the family to the next. How do you find the time to also write?

Good question. Don’t tell my boss but I do a lot of my writing while I am subbing. Usually the teachers will give me something to hand out for the kids to do and they pay little attention to me. But, I do help them out when needed, so it can be a rough situation. It’s a good thing I can write with noise going on all around me or Lilly would probably still be held up in some basement somewhere, waiting for me to come back and get her out.

6. How do you start your books? Do you start out with a character sheet? Does the story come easily for you? Do you ever get stuck trying to find out what to write next?

I never plan a single thing. I sit down at my MacBook, put my fingers on the keys, and my characters push their way out of my head and onto the paper. I often dream storylines or one will hit me while I’m driving to work. I sometimes find myself with not enough words and at that point will seek the counsel of my husband. I will tell him what’s going on in the book and he will start suggesting new things for a new storyline. I often say to him, “I just need one more big thing.” Then we usually come up with something together.

7. You have a new book coming out called Linked, which is a paranormal romance about Vampires. What made you decided to write this type of book?

Actually, Linked started out as a gangster book. At one point it became apparent that vampires were involved. I had no idea they were vamps until they told me.

8. You also have a 5th book in the Easter Lilly series, (The Lost Years) which you are working on. Do you have any idea when that will be out and can you tell us a little bit about the book, and will there be another one after that?

The lost years is about Junior as a teenager. Memoirs of a Mobster is Junior as an adult in his 30’s. He has certain ex-girlfriends and history that is explained in more detail in The Lost Years. It is a Young Adult novel and shows Junior’s vulnerability. I do not yet know when it will be released. I think I will aim for May or June. Yes, there is a book after this one. It features Octavio and Junior. It promises to be a steamy ride.

9. If you could nitpick at one thing that writers should not do when they write, what would it be?

I don’t think writers should send out their work for public opinion. The truth of the matter is that you can’t please everyone and certainly there will be people who will not like your writing. If you start asking for public opinion before you let your books out, you may end up not writing what is true to your heart. I say be true to yourself, love what you do and don’t let anyone discourage you from your path.

10. If you could give advice to new writers what would it be?

Don’t write for the market. Write from the heart. Markets change. Your heart will stay constant.

Judy it was so nice to have a chance to ask you some questions I think your readers would be interested. I want to thank you for taking the time to answer some of our question today.

You can find Judy on the web at: www.judyserrano.com
Blog
Facebook

You can purchase her book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or order then from a book store near you.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Welcome Authors, Readers, and Fans.
 

Upcoming Interview with Judy Serrano. Check back in a few days for the date she will be visiting us. What to know the date by email? Enter your email in the email box to the right.

Judy Serrano is the Author of the Easter Lilly Series.

Memoirs of a Mobster is lastest book out and the fourth in the series.

Diego Montiago Jr. was groomed to run the largest criminal organization in both the United States and Mexico by the kingpin of the syndicate himself, who also happens to be his uncle. With no conscience or remorse he becomes a true killer with a reputation that keeps most people at a distance. The betrayal of his high school sweetheart sends Diego into a tailspin, which causes him never to expect love to be a feasible addition to his world. During a lavish birthday party for his mother, his best friend and cousin decides to collect on an overdue debt. Little does he know that this exchange will change him forever. In book four of the series Diego Jr. continues to protect his family and fill the shoes of the former Mexican Godfather, Diego Montiago Sr. His real father, who is the kingpin of the rival organization, begins his deceitful attack, causing Diego to choose his allegiance. The organization engulfs his life and the lives of those around him as the siblings begin to realize that things are not even close to what they appear to be. Will love find Diego Montiago after all? Only time will tell.
 
This book among Easter Lilly, Brother Number Three, and Relatively Close can be purchased at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.