Meet Ric Wasley

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Things your Mama told you ... but were you paying attention?

Musings from Ric Wasley

Remember how your Mama told you to "sit up straight, eat your broccoli and if you can't something nice, don't say anything at all."
That last one has been kind of tough to follow hasn't it?
Yeah, me too.

I mean it would be a whole lot easier to be nice if the world wasn’t just chock full of jerks wouldn't it? And it always seems that those "jerks" are constantly doing annoying things to tick us off.
You know what I'm talking about. It's those "jerks" that are always listening to the music we hate and voting for those other jerk politicians that we despise. And to make matters worse, when we try and give these "jerks" the benefits of our very well thought out and reasonable points of view these "jerks" not only don't appreciate the clarity of our insightful logic ... they've actually got the nerve to argue with us... Jerks!

And so we go from childhood to old age, fully convinced that We are right and all those who don't believe as we do are not only wrong and uniformed but... 'jerks".

Well they must be, right? After all we are intelligent and scholarly so why wouldn't any reasonable person like what we like and believe as we believe?

This puzzled me too. Until one day while engaged in a philosophical debate it suddenly occurred to me - do you suppose that this guy believes in his cause and is just as convinced of its virtue as I am of mine?

And guess what?
I found that to contemplate that others who don't believe as we do may have just as valid opinion and point of view is one of the hardest things that we Homo Sapiens ever have to contend with.
Compared to allowing your fellow humans their own unique perspective and accepting it as valid is for most of us, harder than swimming the English Channel encased in full plate amour and more morally trying than following Mother Theresa into to slums of Calcutta.
Send me off to Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition but please, please don't force me to admit that one of those benighted fools who doesn't share my world view might just be ... right.

Yeah. And I, like maybe you, am one of the worst offenders.
So can I get a big, "Amen" for all of us who have come to this hard truth?
And maybe we should remember one more thing that momma told us...
"Live and let live."

The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif FREE August 8-10

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The River by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

How far do we go until we’ve gone too far?
The South Nahanni River has a history of mysterious deaths, disappearances and headless corpses, but it may also hold the key to humanity’s survival―or its destruction.
Seven years ago, Del Hawthorne’s father and three of his friends disappeared near the Nahanni River and were presumed dead. When one of the missing men stumbles onto the University grounds, alive but barely recognizable and aging before her eyes, Del is shocked. Especially when the man tells her something inconceivable. Her father is still alive!
Gathering a group of volunteers, Del travels to the Nahanni River to rescue her father. There, she finds a secret underground river that plunges her into a technologically advanced world of nanobots and painful serums. Del uncovers a conspiracy of unimaginable horror, a plot that threatens to destroy us all. Will humanity be sacrificed for the taste of eternal life?
At what point have we become…God?
Book Details:
FREE Kindle edition - August 8-10
Editorial Reviews:
"Cheryl Kaye Tardif has once again captivated readers in her third novel and latest suspense thriller, The River. Set in the wilds of Canada's north,The River combines intrigue, science, love and adventure and is sure to keep readers clamoring for more." ―Edmonton Sun
"Exciting and vivid…A thrilling adventure where science sniffs harder, desperate to find the fountain-of-youth." ―Midwest Book Review
"Superb! The River is Tardif’s most exciting novel yet! Full of unpredictable twists and lurching turns, The River is a non-stop adventure into Canada’s mysterious north." ―Kelly Komm, author of Sacrifice
"Cheryl Kaye Tardif specializes in mile-a-minute pot-boiler mysteries." ―Edmonton Sun
Available at:

Meet Susan J. McLeod

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Why I Wrote My Book

When I was ten years old my parents took us to the Corning Museum of Glass, about 90 minutes from our house. There are three things I remember vividly from that trip: how my brother wouldn’t stay on his side of the seat, getting a large lollipop to keep me quiet, and seeing ancient Egyptian artifacts for the first time.
I was instantly hooked on the colorful figurines and vases. They were the prettiest objects in the whole museum. I thought about them all the way home. At school the next day, I borrowed a book from the library and began to learn more. I haven’t stopped since.

I suppose my greatest achievement in the field of Egyptology was my performance of Cleopatra Dying. I had to memorize the poem by Thomas Stephens Collier and recite it when I was fourteen. “Hark! I hear the legions coming/ Hear the cries of triumph swell/ But, proud Caesar, dead I scorn you/ Egypt, Anthony, farewell.”

I still get letters from people today telling me how much I touched their lives with my moving death scene. Okay, that’s a lie. But I do get letters from people telling me how much they enjoyed Soul and Shadow. Every one means so much to me. There’s nothing I love more than sharing stories. I want others to feel the pleasure I get when a book transports me. And I like to share knowledge as well. Are you aware that eating a fried mouse was a cure for toothache in ancient Egyptian times? No? Well, now you are. And you may win Jeopardy one day because of it.

Should you choose to read Soul and Shadow, you may notice that I got in a reference to the glassblower. If you find it, tell me, and I’ll send you a lollipop.

Meet James Hoch

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Why Write?

One of my recent blogs on Red Room (http://redroom.com/member/james-hoch) was titled “Why Read?” It presented several reasons why I have been a lifelong avid reader. This blog taps into reasons why I gravitated to writing.

So as I was cleaning the pool at the campground that I’m working at, the owner asked, “Why do you like to write?” No one had asked me that before. I paused with skimmer in hand, searched for an intelligent answer, and said that it was a creative switch of gears since I was no longer composing music.  After he left as I was vacuuming a ton of sand off the bottom (I get a lot of time to reflect while cleaning the pool) I determined that there were actually bigger reasons why I enjoy writing, like for example, playing God. As I tell my story, I get to create the characters. I can make them stunning, dressed to the nines or dirty and homeless. I can mold their features, giving them a hip hairstyle and coloring as well as interesting facial features and body type. Then, there’s the setting, placing the characters in locations that I may know or have dreamed about.

Another big reason I enjoy writing is the challenge to tell a good story.  The kind that captures the reader and makes them want to stay with you to the end, making your novel a real “page turner.”  Here’s where I get to use my imagination, something I don’t think I ever lost from my childhood. I also believe it is an ability that many lose as they get older. (Read my blog “Flexing the Imagination Muscle” http://redroom.com/member/james-hoch/blog/flexing-the-imagination-muscle)

Additionally, there is the task of choosing the right word to fit the sentence whether it’s finding the appropriate color description for a sunset or the perfect word for that penetrating scream. Of course, there’s the whole grammar business, making one’s sentences something your high school English teacher would be proud of.

Frequently, I hear people say, “I’ve always wanted to write a book.” Going from the desire to having the finished product in your hand really is an enormous effort.  I don’t think most people realize what is involved.  It is a tedious, long process.  From the writing period, to the editing stage, and finally to the marketing scene, the journey can be very trying and discouraging.  And then, there is the parade of rejections and building up that thick skin.  Many a time I’ve wondered if it is all worth it.  Of course, it is when someone remarks, “I really enjoyed your book” or they give you a five-star review. 

Imajin Books (www.imajinbooks.com) is kicking off their Summer Sizzle 2012 with all sorts of enticements to get you reading.  Of course, I’d like to suggest my novel, HECKEL CASEY. One reviewer said it’s, “a relaxing summer read that fulfills the guilty pleasure of a totally enjoyable book. http://amzn.to/M8n2wB  #eBook #thriller

Shifters by Halli Lilburn FREE August 6/7

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 Reality shifting could destroy Lina's life—or help her overthrow a government conspiracy…
While coping with classes and crushes at an elite private school that has a 'big brother' approach to surveillance and implants strange I.D. tags under each student's skin, Lina Pawlak discovers that students are disappearing. A government agency, Special Force, is creating a superior race of humans by weeding out those with “corrupt” DNA. 
Lina yearns to be a normal teenage girl, though she's anything but "normal." She's a shifter, and her realities are about to multiply. Shifting from one reality to the next, she clings to sanity, tries to prevent a mass genocide and deals with a reoccurring dilemma—she can’t save everyone in every reality.
FREE Kindle edition - August 6/7
Editorial Reviews:
"In Halli Lilburn's sci-fi adventure, Shifters, a group of elite students traverse a minefield of alternate realities to discover there's one enduring thing worth fighting for—their freedom." —Judith Graves, author of the Skinned series
"A spellbinder that captures the reader on the first page. Eerily insightful and possible, chilling." —Christina Francine, Midwest Book Review
"Shifters is more than just a YA book. It's a book that causes you to stop and think about the way that we view anyone who is different than us. It will move you and have you turning the pages." —Jeff Rivera, author ofForever My Lady
Available at:

Meet Gloria Ferris

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CHEAT THE HANGMAN
Nominated for the Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award
Winner of the 2012 Bony Blithe Award
By Gloria Ferris


When the first draft of Cheat the Hangman was completed, I knew there would be many revisions before I could write the final “End”. So, I set the manuscript aside for a few months, then waded back in. I read it through without making a single change, not because it was so darn wonderful, but because there was something — missing.

The setting is a Georgian mansion in a small town, to me the ideal place for the protagonist to discover a victim murdered in 1943. The characters range from the irrepressible protagonist, Lyris Pembrooke, to a very proper butler, with an ornery veteran, a vicious 25 pound cat, a scheming ex-husband, and a sexy new boyfriend to liven things up.

Yes, the setting, plot, and characters created the perfect storm of mystery, emotion, and fun. But, the story could be even better. It needed something more. After brainstorming with pen and notepad for days, weeks — heck, it could have been months, it’s all a blur — I got it!

I’m about as psychic as a doorknob, but I decided to add a paranormal element to Cheat the Hangman. I re-wrote the manuscript, making Lyris a reluctant intuitive. I added Aunt Clem, an accomplished medium who tries to help Lyris accept herself. And, finally — Leander, a spirit guide here to assist Lyris on her spiritual journey. He may have been Winston Churchill in a previous life, or maybe John Lennon. Anyway, he gives Lyris a nudge in the direction of the killer.

Future Lyris Pembrooke stories will feature more murders, old and new, and explore the rocky relationship between Lyris and Leander. I’m left to wonder where the idea to add a supernatural element to CTH came from. Is there really a Leander? Is he my spirit guide?
Of course not. No way.

Amazon Ebook: http://tinyurl.com/7z5mlx3
Gloria Ferris Mysteries blog: http://tinyurl.com/7j6f78e
Website: http://tinyurl.com/7k5rumv
Twitter: @GloriaFerris

Meet Our Authors on our blog and theirs

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This month our authors want to connect with readers, so we're featuring them here on our blog. Check back daily to see who's up next.

Also, many of our authors are posting special posts on their blogs this month. I've invited them to list their links in the comments section below. We hope you'll check them all out! We have some of the BEST authors in the world. :-)

Meet Eileen Schuh

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 It was a dark and lonely time in my life when she came to me…a tiny girl on a ridge, lying on her belly, watching danger unfolding in the valley below. Listening.  Her anticipation was so intense it hurt my lungs. Grasped tightly in her fingers were autumn grasses. She was barely breathing. Afraid to move.

I saw her there each time I closed my eyes. She was waiting…

Each night, night after night, as I lay down to sleep, she came to me. Afraid. Excited. Alone. Always on her belly on an autumn ridge. Once I heard the distant squeal of sirens. Once the thump of an approaching helicopter reverberated through the ground beneath her chest.

There came a night when I could stand it no longer. I needed to know who she was. What she was doing on that ridge. What was happening in the valley below. I flicked on the lights and made my way to my laptop.  I had no one to meet in the morning, no one to care if I was up all night. There was no one but me in that tiny cabin in the forest, and it would only be me the next day…and the day after.

I snuggled down on the sofa, pulled an afghan around me, and began to write the young girl’s story.
Her name was Katrina. In the valley below, was The Traz biker gang compound. Speeding in from the highway was the tactical team. And off in the distance was a police chopper…

Katrina’s life unfolded, novel after novel after novel. And thus there came to be The BackTracker series.

THE TRAZ Book I also comes in a School Edition because that young girl had much to teach.
Also in paperback.

Book II FATAL ERROR soon to be released by Imajin Books.

Heckel Casey by James Hoch FREE August 4/5

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Sometimes the world needs a hero...
Former high school teacher Heckel Casey knows how civilization collapsed in this post-apocalyptic world. And he knows who is responsible for the evil that has nearly decimated humanity. His journey across the country slowly reveals that there is a power growing inside of him that is strong enough to confront the evil and eliminate it.
Sometimes the world needs a savior...
Encountering attacks from hellish snakes, demonic bikers, violent tempests, not to mention self-doubt, deception and betrayal, Heckel must overcome these ‘bumps’ in the road to lead his companions to the ultimate battle to save humanity.
This world needs Heckel Casey.
FREE Kindle Edition - August 4/5
Editorial Reviews:
"James Hoch has a way of bringing Heckel to life with captivating and clean writing. Heckel Casey is a must read post-apocalyptic thriller that you won't want to miss. Looking forward to more from Mr. Hoch." —Jeff Bennington, bestselling author of Reunion
"Heckel Casey by James Hoch is the classic struggle between good and evil. Reminiscent of Stephen King's The Stand, the story follows Heckel and Sela across the country as they gather an army of end-of-the-world survivors for a showdown with Madeline, the devil's hand-picked protégé. Hoch proves to be a master storyteller with an impeccable sense of pacing. He uses his characters' conversations to fill in back story and increase tension. As a result, Heckel Casey grabs the reader from prologue to epilogue. I look forward to a sequel." —Roxanne Smolen, bestselling author of The Amazing Wolf Boy
"I just finished reading Heckel...I really don't know what to say except that your book needs to be read by our entire world. The fight between good and evil has progressively become more and more blatant in our past decade; you have brought it further to light by allowing the reader to become a part of 'it,' to live the battle against 'it' through the lives and eyes of Heckel, Sela and friends, if only metaphorically, and then to empower the reader with the antidote—HOPE!...easy to read, hard to put down, well written, an excellent novel for these troubling times." —Bev Suszek, library technician
Available at:

Dark Water by Chynna Laird FREE August 4-6

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Chynna Laird

Chynna Laird is a psychology major, freelance writer and author living in Edmonton, Alberta, with her partner, Steve, and their three daughters—Jaimie, Jordhan and Sophie—and beautiful boy, Xander. Chynna's passion is helping children and families living with Sensory Processing Disorder and other special needs.
You'll find her work in many online and in-print parenting, inspirational, Christian and other writing publications in Canada, United States, Australia and Britain. In addition, she's authored an award-winning children's book (I'm Not Weird, I Have SPD), two memoirs (the multi award-winning Not Just Spirited: A Mom's Sensational Journey With SPD and White Elephants), a young adult novel (Blackbird Flies), an adult suspense thriller (Out Of Sync), and a young adult paranormal suspense (Dark Water).
Please visit Chynna's website and blogs to get a feel for her work and what inspires her.
FREE Kindle edition - August 4-6
Books:
Some answers are found far beneath the surface…
Sixteen-year-old Freesia Worth has a mystery to solve—the disappearance of her mother at their family lake house. Her traumatized sister Sage hasn't said a word ever since that day. After almost a year, Detective Barry Cuaco has found nothing but frustrating dead ends. Soon he'll have to let the case go. But Freesia isn’t making it easy for him. She needs answers. Now.