S.K. Nicholls – update on a new novel

Happy Birthday, S.K. Nicholls!

S.K. Nicholls has been previously promoted on Reading Recommendations. She’s back now to tell us about a book recently published, the first in a new detective series.

Naked Alliances: A Richard Noggin Novel (The Naked Eye Series Volume 1)
by S.K. Nicholls
Publisher: Brave Blue Heron Books
Genre: Crime fiction

When a young immigrant woman and an exotic dancer are forced to flee men with guns and have no place to hide, Richard Noggin, P.I., can’t turn his back—even if helping out makes him a target. Richard plans to impress an aspiring politician by taking on a big white-collar case that could take him from the streets to an air-conditioned office. Instead,he’s handed a cold case and quickly finds himself sucked into a shadowy world of sex, secrets and…murder. Marked for a bullet and stretched thin by his investigations, Richard reluctantly teams up with the unlikely, brassy custodian of the young woman on the run. With bodies piling up, Richard and his companion are forced to go undercover in a most unlikely locale: the Leisure Lagoon, a nudist resort. Going undercover in this instance will mean going uncovered…but lives are at stake—and this Naked Eye will have to juggle to keep his balls in the air and connect the dots before anyone else is murdered. As his pulse-quickening quest for answers leads from the dark corners of Orlando’s Little Saigon to the sunny exposure of the Leisure Lagoon, Richard will be put to the test. Just how much will this Naked Eye have to bear…or bare? The heat is on in this quirky Sunshine State crime thriller.

**From smt: I had the opportunity to beta-read and provide suggestions on this novel almost a couple of years ago now, and thought at the time that this was going to be a great novel once it was published. Since publication, I received a complimentary copy and reread. I’m happy to say that this novel is now better than I expected it could be! Well done, S.K. Nicholls! You are sure to find many new readers and fans for this detective series! Congratulations!

Where to purchase and for more information:
S.K. Nicholls’s blog and website
Amazon
Now also available in an Audible edition!

Tim Baker – Reading Recommendation Revisited

Tim Baker was the second author featured on Reading Recommendations way back in November, 2013, and he’s been a terrific support of the site, and of me and my books – as well as being a great pal! – ever since. He also came back during the following year with updates on new books in August, 2014, and November, 2014. So when I decided to begin offering new promotions to authors I’d already featured, it was definite I had to begin with Tim! He even came up with the name for the series:
Reading Recommendation Revisited!
Welcome back, Tim Baker!

RRR: Since your first promotion on RR, what have you been doing?
TB: If memory serves the last thing I shared with your audience was the release of Path of a Bullet, A Collection of Short Stories Featuring Ike. Since then I have begun work on my next novel. It’s a book I began writing in 1988, but never finished. Rather than trying to finish the one I started, I am starting from scratch, keeping the overall concept and theme (Karma) and bringing the story into the 21st century. Full Circle will explore how our actions not only affect others, but how they also have a way of coming back to us.

It will be a slight departure from my usual work. I’m not sure if Ike will even appear or not, but rest assured Ike’s next adventure is ready to be written as soon as Full Circle is complete (No promises, but the next Ike book may even be out before Christmas, if I can finish Full Circle early enough).

RRR: What else have you been doing, outside of writing?
TB: Between writing and marketing I don’t have too much time for mountain climbing and such, but I did do something recently that I was very happy to accomplish. While in high school I became a certified SCUBA diver. It was fun and easy, since I had lots of disposable income and plenty of free time. Back then I did some diving in Rhode Island, but nothing to rave about.

After college I found myself in the role of “single, working parent” so SCUBA was the first luxury to be cast aside. My gear was sold off for a ridiculously low price, and I figured it was “fun while it lasted.” At least I could always say I had done it.

This year, after the release of Eyewitness Blues, I decided to get back in the water. I found a dive instructor and explained my situation. He gave me a fast-track recertification course and I am happy to say I am, once again, a certified SCUBA diver. I can also say that diving off the coast of Florida is a far cry from diving in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island!!

RRR: Is there one marketing tip or trick you discovered while promoting your own books that worked particularly well and that you’d like to share with other authors?
TB: I wish I could say “Yes, do this, that and the other thing, and you’ll sell a million books.” But, since I am not writing this from the deck of my yacht, I obviously haven’t discovered the magic potion of marketing. My approach is to be relentless, and to keep trying different things. The way I see it is this … and I’ll probably write a blog post about this, so you’re hearing it here first!! Selling your books is like getting thrown off a boat in the middle of the ocean. Your only choice is to swim your ass off until you reach land, either that or sink and drown.

RRR: Please recommend three other authors whose work you have “discovered” or rediscovered this past year whom every reader should consider reading.
TB: The first name I want to put out there is Walker Newton. Walker passed away recently, but prior to his passing, he and I had begun to develop a friendship. He wrote stories in a similar vein as mine, based in St. Augustine. We exchanged books recently and I really love his work.

Second on the list would be my good friend Becky Pourchot. Becky began her career writing personal memoirs, then moved to YA Paranormal stories. Her new book, Open Souls, is an adult, paranormal thriller. I had the pleasure of being one of her beta-readers and I can honestly say that it’s a very enjoyable book.

Third – I would like to promote the Holy Trinity of Florida Crime Fiction – three authors whose work is near-and-dear to my heart not only because they all write stories set in Florida, but because they all share my offbeat style of storytelling. It’s no surprise that my work has been compared to all three of them since they are three of my four favorite authors. They are Tim Dorsey, Carl Hiassen and Randy Wayne White.

Thank you, Tim!

Jorja DuPont-Olivia – update on a new novel

Jorja Dupont-Olivia was previously featured on Reading Recommendations in July 2014, and is back now to tell us about her new novel.

Chasing Butterflies in the Mystical Forest
by Jorja DuPont-Olivia
New Adult/contemporary women’s fiction/magical realism

Lizzy and Dee are chasing butterflies once again, this time in the Mystical Forest. Life is often something other than what we think it is. When darkness takes over, we can stay in the shadows or step out and search for truth, which brings light.

Dee’s search takes her to the Mystical Forest where secrets are abundant. As she grapples with what’s real and what is not, Dee’s precious friendship with Lizzy may be at stake.

Alone in her travels, will Dee find her true path? Will her quest for happiness be found in a mysterious childhood chest? Can a family curse she discovers be broken? Is Dee’s fate to be alone her entire life? The answers lie hidden somewhere in the Mystical Forest.

Where to purchase:
Available in eBook, paperback, hardcover
AMAZON
Book A Million
Barnes and Noble

Elle Boca

Elle Boca

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Unelmoija: The Timeshifter, book four of the Miami urban fantasy series about superhumans

Quick description: Amy’s past is catching up with her in a way that could only happen to a Weeia. She is drifting in her own timeline and must be careful not to change anything or she may never find her way to a familiar present. Even routine activities like fixing dinner or speedwalking with Duncan are becoming challenges. Will she and her friends solve the mystery in time for Amy to realize her ultimate destiny?

Brief biography:
Elle is the author of the Weeia urban fantasy series set in Miami, Florida in the United States (based on a four county area of real life South Florida). Growing up the only child of a monkey mother and a rabbit father she learned to keep herself entertained and spend time reading.

Elle makes her home with her king cat husband in South Florida. When not writing and creating fantastical beings she likes photographing nature and wildlife, eating baked goods, watching movies, and dreaming of going on safari.

Links to buy Elle’s book:
Amazon – eBook and paperback

Elle’s promo links:
Twitter
Goodreads
Author website

What are you working on now?
Unelmoija: Paradox – book five in the Miami urban fantasy Weeia series

Elle’s reading recommendation:
The Girl by Madhuri Blaylock

Steve Boone

I am very pleased to be featuring Steve Boone as our Reading Recommendations author today! Steve was one of the founding members of a musical group that was very important to many of us who grew up during the 60s – The Lovin! Spoonful! Thanks to Tim Baker, previously featured on this blog, for interviewing Steve on his Surf 97.3 FM Friday evening radio program and making it possible for me to connect with Steve, inviting him to participate in my blog. (And one other piece of information I discovered about Steve during that interview is that he has sailed to Bequia!)

Steve Boone aka John S. Boone and John Stephen Boone. Steve Boone is my professional name.

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Hotter Than A Match Head, Life on the Run with The Lovin’ Spoonful – memoir

Quick description: Steve Boone’s memoir comprises two nearly separate lives in one book with his role as a founding member of the Rock Hall of Fame band The Lovin” Spoonful as he charts it’s way from conception to now 50 years later, and his other life as a high seas pot smuggler with the drama of sinking boats and eluding Coast Guard interceptors.

Brief biography:
Steve was born into the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C., just as WW II was turning in the allies’ favor in the Pacific. His dad’s life in the hotel business took him from the Pocono Mts of eastern Pennsylvania to the Atlantic coasts of Florida and Long Island, N.Y.. Sailing and sports with a future in The Marine Corps was abruptly ended by a terrible auto crash in 1960, but the fortunate gift of a guitar from his mom while recovering led to a chance meeting of two similar travelers on life’s highway, and The Lovin’ Spoonful was born.

Three intense years and 10 top 20 hits later became all the life of a rock and roller he needed, so buying a 56’ sailboat in the US Virgin Islands became his get-away – a return to what he hoped would be sanity of sorts that the music business had nearly driven out of him.

Life on the high seas had its ups and downs and Steve sailed on to fantastic adventures and excitement that met if not exceeded the level of life as a rock star.

40 some years after the Lovin’ Spoonful’s demise, a fortuitous meeting with Tony Moss led to the writing of this book which Steve feels finally tells all about what caused the Spoonful’s career to abruptly end and aided in Steve’s journey back to a life more easily managed and maintained!

Links to buy Steve’s book:
ECW Press – eBook and paperback
Amazon – eBook and paperback
Kobo – eBook
Chapters/Indigo – paperback

Paperback may be purchased from Major Bookstores across Canada and the US.

Steve’s promo links:
Website and Friction Zone Blog
Blogspot Blog
Twitter

What are you working on now?
Steve is working out the logistics for a book and music tour in the US and Canada with his friend, musician and fellow Lovin’ Spoonful bandmate, Jerry Yester, who has recently published a book, as well. Also, The Lovin’ Spoonful has recently announced a 50th Anniversary Tour that will begin in the spring of 2015.

S.K. Nicholls

S.K. Nicholls

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Red Clay and Roses is a roman à clef in the vein of historical fiction

Quick description: Red Clay and Roses is a fictionalized true story of life in the Deep South during the time of Jim Crow Law, and before Roe vs. Wade. Women were supposed to keep quiet and serve, abortion was illegal, adoption difficult, and racism rampant. The discovery of an old ledger opens a window into the dynamics of the 1950s-60s, when the world was beginning to change. Steeped in history, this novel deeply penetrates the surface of a complex era as the cast of characters grapples with inequality in the Jim Crow South.

Brief biography:
Susan Koone Nicholls is a retired R.N. living in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, Greg, a rocket scientist. She was born, raised and educated in Georgia, where she also raised her family. She has three children, a step-son, and two grandchildren. Orphaned from her mother at an early age, she spent time in foster care and in a children’s group home in the North Georgia Mountains, The Ethyl Harpst Home. All proceeds from book sales of Red Clay and Roses are donated to The Russell Home for Atypical Children.

Links to buy S.K.’s book:
Amazon – eBook and paperback
iTunes – eBook
Barnes and Noble – eBook
Kobo – eBook
Smashwords – eBook

S.K.’s promo links:
Blog: S.K. Nicholls mybrandofgenius
Facebook author page
Twitter

What are you working on now?
The Richard Noggin novels in the Naked Eye Series, a crime fiction series set in a fictionalized nudist resort inspired by my family’s resort here in Central Florida.

S.K.’s reading recommendation:
I just read Tim Dorsey’s Tiger Shrimp Tango and am just nuts over his anti-hero serial killers, Serge and Coleman. I’ve been following them across Florida for eight years and they never fail to surprise me or make me laugh out loud. I mean death by lobster, who woulda thunk it? Dorsey is clever and his writing is tight.

Jane V. Blanchard

Jane V. Blanchard

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Women of the Way: Embracing the Camino is a nonfiction travel memoir.

Quick description: Women of the Way: Embracing the Camino is a heartfelt and personal recounting of the author’s 500-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.

Learn how she prepared for the trek, the daily rituals in long-distance walking, the camaraderie and conversations with women she met along the way, the personal changes, and the beauty and appeal of the most popular of all the pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela, the Camino Francés.

Brief biography:
As a backpacker, I write about my adventures for your escape and entertainment.

I am an adventurer, author, public speaker, and blogger. I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, lived in Hampstead, New Hampshire, twenty-three years before moving to Sarasota, Florida, where I now reside.

I climbed Mount Washington, in 1974. Since that initial ascent, I have climbed twenty of the forty 4,000-foot mountains in New England.

I started mountain bike racing at age 50; in 2002, I won second place in the Masters Division EFTA (Eastern Fat Tire Association) Championship Series.

In September and October 2011 and at 60 years old, I took my first long walk–the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain. As I walked, I talked with women from different nations. The book, Women of the Way, weaves these conversations with my journey.

When I married Dennis in 1974, we joked about creating a lifetime of memories to chat about when sitting in our rockers in old age. At 64 years old, we are still creating memories, experiencing life as fully as possible, and looking forward to a long future.

In 2013 we hiked and biked through thirteen European countries, and now I am writing about those adventures. My next book will be on Hadrian’s Wall Path.

This year we returned to Europe and back packed for seven weeks. I plan to write about those adventures for your escape and entertainment.

Links to buy Jane’s book:
The print and ebook are available on Amazon. You can purchase an autographed copy at Women of the Way order page

Jane’s promo links:
Email: janevblanchard (at) gmail.com
The book web site
Author’s blog
Facebook page
Pinterest
Twitter
Youtube. Book Trailer–Women of the Way: Embracing the Camino

What are you working on now?
I am currently working (about 90% done) on a book about my hiking adventures on Hadrian’s Wall.

Jane’s reading recommendation:
I just found a new serial paranormal romance writer whose books I cannot put down: D. S. Williams’ The Nememiah Chronicles are addictive.

Prior to this I read Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers. It is a compilation of 10 full length novels and 2 long novellas. These works by comtemporary authors gave me hours of reading pleasure.

Gerald W. Darnell

Gerald W. Darnell

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Reelfoot is my latest release – November 2013. It is classified as Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Quick description: The eleventh installment of my Carson Reno Mystery Series is set in Western Tennessee, including Memphis and several smaller communities.

An ex-Memphis cop, and a friend of Carson, is in trouble – but what kind of trouble? While trying to answer that question, Carson finds more questions – and all with no answers. What Carson also finds is trouble coming from all directions. The Mafia, the Teamsters Union, an unhappy sheriff and some very rough characters are all looking for his friend, and Carson is in the middle of this mess. An apparently senseless murder only complicates Carson’s problems, which makes getting to the truth more difficult. Things are not what they seem in Carson Reno’s adventure at Reelfoot.

Brief biography:
A Florida native, Gerald grew up and attended high school in the small town of Humboldt, Tennessee. Following graduation from the University of Tennessee, he spent time in Hopkinsville, KY, Memphis, TN, Boston, MA and Newport, AR before moving back to Florida – where he now lives.

Gerald worked as a Senior Manager with several Fortune 100 companies, before officially retiring in 2007. His non-fiction book, Don’t Wake Me Until It’s Time To Go, is a bio-narrative including humorous stories and events spanning his life from pre-high school to retirement.

His fiction books are what he calls ‘Fiction for Fun’. They use real geography and include pictures and characters some readers might recognize. The Carson Reno Mystery Series are adventure mysteries set in the early 1960 time period, with the primary geography being Memphis and small southern towns. Core characters continue through each book, along with new and unique characters for each story.

During the early 70’s the author worked from an office in the Memphis Peabody Hotel, so many of the events about the hotel in Carson Reno’s stories are real, as well as many of the characters you meet.

Links to buy Gerald’s book:
Amazon Author Page
Gerald’s Storefront – Lulu
Bookcountry.com
Author’s Den

Gerald’s promo links:
Website
Carson Reno Mysteries Series
Facebook
Twitter

What are you working on now?
Justifiable Homicide – the next adventure in my Carson Reno Mystery Series. Scheduled for release October/November 2014

Gerald’s reading recommendation:
Fired Up by Thomas Weston

Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Average Joe’s Story: Quest for Confidence was officially released on August 5th. It’s currently available in Kindle format on Amazon. The book may come off as a little self-improvement, but it is the first in what will be a series in general business.

Quick description: Average Joe’s Story tells Average Joe’s journey in real time starting from the lowest point, and gradually building success or failure over time. Average Joe’s Story introduces Average Joe to the audience, lays out the events that shaped his psyche, and provides insight from a collection of successful and interesting people who illustrate the framework for confidence. Average Joe’s Story is appealing to the reader because it approaches some of the same old material from an entirely different perspective relying purely on stories as opposed to dry facts and figures.

Brief biography:
Christopher L. Hedges is a cancer patient who is using his journey in writing to liberate himself from his current shackles of disability. He was groomed for success following the plan that most people believe is the path, squandered opportunities for which people would sell their soul, and finally learned that tragedy can provide the knowledge of a better way of doing things.

Links to buy Chris’s book:
Amazon – eBook, Paperback, Hardcover
Barnes & Noble – Hardcover

Chris’s promo links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

What are you working on now?
Now my world revolves around marketing. Basically I‘m single-mindedly focused on promoting my current book. I get out for as many speaking events as I can. I actively seek out reviews and PR wherever possible. However, my attention is fixated on my 20,700 mile book tour where I’m trying to visit all 100 of the top book Markets in America.

Chris’s reading recommendation:
I just finished Malcolm Gladwell’s new book David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants. I highly recommend all of Malcolm’s work. I’m also working my way through You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself which I’m basing some of my blogs on. I think we are all sales people, and this is an easy read on the subject of sales.

Jorja DuPont Oliva

Jorja DuPont Oliva

What is your latest release and what genre is it? Chasing Butterflies in the Magical Garden
New Adult/contemporary women’s fiction/magical realism

Quick description: Lizzy and Dee discover true friendship in the magical garden we call life. As their small town grows so do they. To each girl, the butterflies mean something different. They learn along the way that if they look beyond the things they cannot see, they may find what we are looking for.

Brief biography:
Jorja DuPont Oliva is a small town girl with big dreams. She is a small business owner, a wife, a mother and a lover of animals. She has always been intrigued with the ironies of life. After chasing her own butterflies -the opportunity to write a book – it magically appeared. Jorja has completed Book Two of the Chasing Butterflies Series and hopes to have it released fall 2014. Chasing Butterflies in the Mystical Forest

Links to buy Jorja’s book:
AMAZON – eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Amazon Worldwide – eBook
Barnes and Noble – paperback
GOODREADS
BOOKS A MILLION – Hardcover

Jorja’s promo links:
BLOG
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn

What are you working on now?
Chasing Butterflies book number three is in the works!

Jorja’s reading recommendation:
All of Sarah Addison Allen’s books had me hooked. She is the reason I started writing. I would read all of her magical worlds and see how my life was just as magical!