Guest Blog - Living the Dream

written by: Shanon Grey

I was thinking back, oh these many years, to all the things I wanted to be when I grew up. My first memory is of an Indian. That was because my “boyfriend” had just gotten a pair of six shooters for his sixth birthday and I wanted to show him up with a bow and arrow. I did, too. With my long blonde hair in braids, I sent that arrow flying and the rubber sucker stuck right in the middle of his forehead. His mother wouldn’t let him play with me for two whole weeks. I was devastated. I moved on to being a bareback rider for the circus which, I’ll have you know, I practiced for on the Indian pony (the Indian theme was obviously sticking in the back of my mind) I got when I was eleven. When my new stepmother saw me standing on top of Silver (we won’t go there), she shrieked so loud I fell off right into the trough. For that, I was grounded for two weeks. Do you see a theme here? As I got older, it became an airline stewardess, a racecar driver, a policewoman (I’m old), a doctor, and a teacher. I am sure there were many, many others in between.

You might notice that none of those was writer. That never crossed my mind. Why? Because what I knew of writers came from a very strict, narrow perception of what a good writer was. They had to write for the Post or the Times or become the elite novelist, which I promise you, didn’t include anything I would have enjoyed writing. It wasn’t until I left home and discovered a whole other world of fiction that I began toying with the idea. One of the things that fed the idea of writing was all those things I’d wanted to be when I grew up.

As an author, I can be (well, at least my characters can be) all the various things I’ve ever dreamed of and more. I think the Indian thing might be off the table. Maybe not. Ironically, Native Americans feature strongly in my stories about Ruthorford and the Gatekeepers so, yes, I even have that ~ minus the bow and arrow. I don’t believe anyone would trust me with a bow and arrow to this day.

Looking back, I see that my desires centered around strong women. In my stories, my characters, not only the heroines, are strong people. In The Shoppe of Spells, Morgan has been leading a quiet, relatively normal life, when she is yanked from that world into a world she never knew existed and she if forced to play a major role in what happens around her. I love that. I love having characters who have to discover themselves, especially when they have no idea of their potential.

So, in my world, I am still the bareback rider atop the white stallion leaping through rings of fire, or the doctor closing in on a cure. In the world I create, my characters have begun to use far more of their brains and have developed abilities that we can only pretend to understand. What I enjoy is that fact that these are normal, everyday people dealing with extraordinary circumstances and having to adjust to what they are becoming. In The Shoppe of Spells, Morgan finds out that she can see auras and, from that, determine a person’s health. That sounds wonderful ~ until she inadvertently blinks and is looking at her parents in a way she really never intended. I let my characters have their dreams while keeping their shortcomings.

As for me, I continue to think of all the things I want to do when I grow up and, because of the written word, I get to go out and do them.

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Thank you, Shanon! You can buy her latest novel "Shoppe of Spells" at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Goblin Rebellion

by: Rex Jameson

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Five years after the Uldram catastrophe, the elf Routan sits in a shattered home filled with the faded memories of his murdered children. King Elandril has done nothing to bring Lucifer and the demons to justice, and despite the assurances of the government, Routan remains convinced that the Elven Realm is in grave danger. Assistance comes from the creator of the Order Primal, and together, he and Routan will shake the foundations of the multiverse.

Length: 95,000 words (approx. 392 pages in print)

The Goblin Rebellion is the sequel to Lucifer's Odyssey and the second book in the Primal Patterns series.

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This is a guy novel. Not to say that women can't enjoy it, I did. But this one guys will get too. There is so much talk of primal patterns and shadows and universe stuff...honestly it's hard to wrap my head around most of it. But that being said, it doesn't take away from the story. Even though I don't get it, it adds validity to what the characters are doing. Their magic is drawn from their primal pattern.

Well if you want to read this one, I recommend you get Lucifer's Odyssey first. That story goes from Lucifer (Prince of the Chaos primal) being trapped on Earth in the Order primal. He does finally escape and then a whole mess of exciting stuff happens.

I will say one thing, these books keep you on the edge of your seat no matter what is going on. Lucifer isn't the bad guy either, he's the good guy and Jehova - Lucifer's cousin is the bad guy. Jehova is a tinkerer and he left Chaos to create his own primal pattern. Did I mention he's kind of a jerk? He thinks his work is of the utmost importance and will stop at nothing to continue it. That includes taking out another primal pattern. In the first book he tries attacking the Chaos primal, since that didn't work he's back trying to take out the Elvin primal.

And that's all I'm telling you. It's only $2.99 for the e-book at Amazon and really that's a HUGE bargain considering how long and jammed full of excitement it is.

The Shoppe of Spells

by: Shanon Grey

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
The Gatekeepers Series, Book One

When is a whole more than the sum of its parts? When it has ties to the quaint little town of Ruthorford, Georgia—as Morgan Briscoe discovers when a cryptic message threatens to change her life forever.

Morgan’s relatively normal life is turned on its ear when she learns not only that she is adopted, but her birth parents are dead and she now holds half-interest in a business with their ward, Dorian Drake, who, despite his riveting good looks, can barely conceal his hostility toward his new partner.

Morgan discovers that she is more than she seems and together she and Dorian have the ability to control a portal to another dimension. Unable to contain their growing attraction, Morgan and Dorian dance around their desires and her burgeoning abilities, until danger forces them to face their destiny.

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Shanon Grey weaves romance and suspense with threads of the paranormal.

THE SHOPPE OF SPELLS is the first in her series, THE GATEKEEPERS, about the quaint town of Ruthorford, Georgia and its very special inhabitants. PENNYROYAL CHRISTMAS ~A Ruthorford Holiday Story~ is out in e-format as well. MEADOW’S KEEP is due to be released this spring. Under contract with Crossroads Publishing House, her books are available in e-format and print at most booksellers.

Shanon spent her life on coasts, both the beautiful Atlantic and the balmy Gulf. Hurricane Katrina taught her the fragility of life and the strength of friendship, family, and starting over.

She just found out that her son salvaged notes and pages of her original novel, Capricorn’s Child, which she thought has been destroyed with everything else. (Ironically, a neighbor found her marriage certificate in a tree.) She plans to resurrect her original novel one day.

She currently lives in Coweta County, Georgia, trading the familiarity of the coast for the lush beauty and wonder of the mountains, where her husband fulfilled her lifelong dream—to live in a cottage in the woods, where inspiration abounds.

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You can join her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShanonGrey, follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ShanonGrey and visit her website at www.shanongrey.com. Contact her at shanongreybooks@yahoo.com. She would love to hear from you.

Witches in Flight

by: Debora Geary

Available at Amazon

Synopsis:
Ghosts from Lizard's past--and the man who wants to be her future.

The empty places in Elsie's soul--and the temptations of raspberry-laced courage.

Walk once more with Jennie's students as they come to the end of their WitchLight journeys.

Ah--just read it. You know you want to :-).

Witches Under Way is the final book in the WitchLight spin-off trilogy, set in the world of the A Modern Witch series.

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You know my favorite thing about reading this WitchLight Trilogy? It's the burst of self confidence I get, the desire to fly free toward my bliss. Everyone should be able to find what they love, that's not always easy but everyone should be able to find some happiness. And there's nothing like a dose of Lizard and Elsie to remind me what I'm striving for.

The other thing I love, is the healing calm her stories carry. They make me weep with the unconditional love all the witches have for each other, this is present in both the WitchLight Trilogy and A Modern Witch series. The easy manor they impart wisdom, and even take criticism. It is best imbibed after reading a dark tale. This time it followed Jonathan Kellerman's newest novel, Victims. And that was a pretty horrid tale. I didn't even wait before picking up this book, I closed the one and opened the other. It healed my heart. (And don't misunderstand me, I LOVED Mr. Kellerman's novel too, but it can get dark!)

And finally, I love (am jealous of) the way those witches can eat cookies and ice cream like it's going out of style and not gain weight. Granted they are burning through it, it just makes me wish I were a witch like in her books. Sadly the reality does not come with the metabolism boost. lol

In this novel, the girls are finishing up their time on parole. They have learned so much, and worked so hard to...not even reinvent themselves. To grow, and live up to their potential. Lizard always put herself down as being too stupid, although she's a fracking genius! And Elsie, she's working to keep that stick out of her bum. lol

These are just the main characters the story revolves around. There are a mess of other witches and regular people that have love to share and laughs to give. There will be laughter, tears, and sharp intakes of breath. But this is a smooth read that weaves a tale that will live with you long after you finish.

I truly can't say anymore. If you haven't read these, pick up from the 1st one, Witches on Parole. Next is Witches Under Way. Oh and if you don't have a Kindle, you can purchase the book from Amazon, then e-mail your receipt to Debora Geary to get a version for your e-reader of choice. Just visit her website here.

Book Spotlight - Closing Costs

by: Liz Crowe

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Love conquers all? Not likely, according to Sara Thornton. She’s spent eight years coming to terms with the new parameters of her life while resigning herself to the idea that “happily ever afters” are best left to fairytales. Sales manager for her successful real estate office and juggling an added element of responsibility she never thought she’d face, Sara continues to struggle with the men in her life. Love, for her, has only meant hurt, broken trust and anger; all of which she’s completely banished from her life, so she claims.

Jack Gordon has come a long way since his earlier days of obsession with Sara. As general manager of Stewart Realty, his own level of responsibility for others’ well-being has ramped up. He’s even honed his caretaking skills, now that he has someone who loves him unconditionally.

Continuing to try and rebuild their relationship, they grow close as friends. But, the ultimate question remains unanswered; the one he keeps asking, no matter how many times she says no. Sara isn’t prepared for the keen focus of his need–to have her back, once and for all. And her stubborn resistance nearly rips both lives apart

The epic conclusion to The Realtors series, Closing Costs brings Jack and Sara truly full circle. Proving that the heat of lust and obsession; the need for control and to be mastered in many areas of life can lead to love —surprising you when you least expect it – if you will only allow it.

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