Blogging

Blogger’s Books: Darlene Foster

~ beetleypete ~ 21 Comments

It is my pleasure to feature a book from Canadian writer and blogger, Darlene.

This is the latest in her very popular ‘Amanda’ series. This time, our heroine is in Holland.

Here is Darlene’s bio.

Darlene Foster is a Canadian author who has written the popular Amanda Travels series, featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places where she encounters mystery and adventure while learning about another culture. Readers of all ages enjoy travelling with Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in various countries. Darlene has won prizes for her short stories and a number of them have been published in anthologies. She has also written a bi-lingual book for English/Spanish readers.

Darlene grew up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, where her love of reading inspired her to travel the world and write stories. Over the years she held wonderful jobs such as an employment counsellor, ESL teacher, recruiter, and retail manager, and wrote whenever she had a few spare minutes. She is now retired and has a home in Spain where she writes full time. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her books, she likes to spend time with her husband and entertaining dog, Dot.

Her books include: Amanda in Arabia: The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain: The Girl in The Painting, Amanda in England: The Missing Novel, Amanda in Alberta: The Writing on the Stone, Amanda on The Danube: The Sounds of Music, Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind, and Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action. Amanda in Malta: The Sleeping Lady will be released in the spring of 2021.

And the book’s synopsis.

Amanda in Holland: Missing in Action (Amanda Travels #7)
by Darlene Foster

Alongside her best friend Leah, Amanda is in Holland to see all the sights: tulips, canals, Anne Frank House, windmills, and even a wooden shoe factory. She is also keen to find out what happened to her great uncle, who never returned from World War II. What she doesn’t expect is to find and fall in love with an abandoned puppy named Joey. While trying to find a home for him, she meets Jan, a Dutch boy who offers to help, a suspicious gardener, a strange woman on a bicycle, and an overprotective goose named Gerald. Follow intrepid traveler Amanda around Holland as she encounters danger and intrigue while trying to solve another mystery in a foreign country.

If you would like to find out more about Darlene’s books, and buy some, please use one of the links that follow.

Amazon Canada https://www.amazon.ca/Amanda-Holland-Missing-Darlene-Foster/dp/1771681713/
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-Holland-Missing-Action-Travels-ebook/dp/B07L9LVK4J
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Holland-Missing-Action-Travels/dp/1771681713/
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amanda-in-holland-darlene-foster/1130013153
Waterstones https://www.waterstones.com/book/amanda-in-holland/darlene-foster/9781771681711
Chapters/Indigo https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/amanda-in-holland-missing-in/9781771681711

Blogger’s Books: Marjorie Mallon

~ beetleypete ~ 41 Comments

I am very happy to feature the latest book from Marjorie Mallon. Originally from Singapore, Marjorie is now based in the lovely city of Cambridge, England. She is a blogger and published author who does a lot to help promote other writers. Please give her the support of this great community.

Marjorie has sent me a bio, and a complete synopsis of her new book ‘This Is Lockdown’.
I will let her tell you the rest.

Author Bio

I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my parents Paula and Ronald, only sister to my elder brother Donald. I spent my early childhood in a mountainous court dwelling in the Peak District in Hong Kong.

It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six-foot hunk of a Rock God husband. My two enchanted daughters often return with a cheery smile.
Sometimes when the mood takes me, I adopt an alter ego, M J – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheroes!

When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practice Tai Chi and Yoga. If the mood takes me, I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

My favourite genres to write are: YA fantasy, magical realism, and various forms of poetry. I blog about books, writing, photography and inspiration at: https://mjmallon.com.
I enjoy writing articles celebrating the spiritual realm, my love of nature and all things magical, mystical, and mysterious. One of my greatest pleasures is reading. I’ve written over 150 reviews at my lovely blog home: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

I’m a member of a professional writing body. SCBWI, the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators.

Links:
Authors Website:https://mjmallon.com
Authors Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/M-J-Mallon/e/B074CGNK4L
Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and @curseof_time
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjmallonauthor/
#ABRSC: Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17064826.M_J_Mallon BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/m-j-mallon
Collaborative Group: https://www.facebook.com/pg/5SpiritualSisters/

This Is Lockdown is a compilation/anthology of twenty-nine authors, bloggers and creatives from the UK, Ireland, US, Australia, Zimbabwe and Italy.

How did it come about?

I’d started writing my COVID diaries and asked fellow authors to answer this question: How do writers, creatives, artists and bookish souls cope with isolation? Is their capacity to cope different from the rest of the population? It’s an interesting question and one that fascinates me.

I featured many authors on my blog, and these ‘isolation writers,’ contributed their pieces to the anthology.

So, encouraged by this, I kept on writing short stories, flash fiction and poetry. I compiled these pieces of writing and photographs from my walks in This Is Lockdown and included the ‘isolation writers’ and several other pieces and poetry from authors and bloggers.

The fabulous authors, bloggers and creatives who’ve contributed their isolation pieces, poetry and writings to This Is Lockdown – I’d like to give a shout out to them all.

Richard Dee, (Sci Fi , Steampunk, Amateur Detective author,) Catherine Fearns, (Amazon Bestselling Author of Police Procedural/Mysteries and Music Journalist,) Lynn Fraser, (Author,) Jackie Carreira, (Writer, musician, designer and aspiring philosopher,) Willow Willers, (Poet and writer,) Sharon Marchisello, (Murder Mystery, Financial non-fiction,) Fi Phillips , (Author, Copy Writer) Jeannie Wycherley, (dark stories, suspense, horror,) Chantelle Atkins, (urban fiction, teen/YA,) Tracie Barton-Barrett, (Speaker/author,) Peter Taylor- Gooby, (Crime, Love Stories, Political Fiction,) Ritu Bhathal, (Chick Lit romance, poet,) Alice May , (Author, Artist and Speaker,) Miriam Owen, (Blogger and Doctoral Researcher,) Drew Neary and Ceri Williams (Ghost Horror, Supernatural,) Katherine Mezzacappa, (Author name: Katie Hutton,) (Historical Fiction/Romance,) Sally Cronin, (huge supporter of indie community/blogger/author) Debby Gies (D G Kaye), (Memoirist/NonFiction,) Adele Marie Park, (Fantasy, horror, urban fantasy,) Marian Wood, (blogger, poet and writer.) Samantha Murdoch, (Writer, Blogger,) Beaton Mabaso (Blogger, African Storyteller,) Frank Prem (Poet, Author,) Anne Goodwin (Author, Book Blogger) Sherri Matthews (Writer, Photographer, Blogger,) and Jane Horwood and Melissa Santiago-Val – Community Masks 4 NHS.

This Is Lockdown is an anthology and compilation of diaries, short stories, flash fiction, contributions from the ‘isolation writers,’ plus poetry written during the time of lockdown in the UK. This Is Lockdown is written from a writer’s perspective highlighting the simple pleasures of day-to-day life during such an uncertain and frightening time. It also gives a glimpse of the blogging, writing world. The book showcases several authors and their thoughts on what it is like to experience ‘isolation’ as a writer. I also discuss the handling of the pandemic and my thoughts on what might happen next. In the final part of the book I include my latest short story idea: a YA romance and various short pieces of poetry, and flash fiction inspired by the pandemic.
This Is Lockdown buying Link:
Universal link: mybook.to/Thisislockdown
Amazon UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CD1MCFB?pf_rd_r=NPA6S5SQJ30A6VYX87Q5&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e
Amazon US link:

Blogger’s Books: Susan M. Toy

~ beetleypete ~ 16 Comments

Today I bring you not only a book by Susan, but also a complete list of the many authors featured on her website. Susan is a writer, a former publisher’s representative, and blogger. Originally from Canada, she is now based on the idyllic island of Bequia, in The Grenadines. She has more than one blog, and is incredibly supportive in her efforts to promote fellow writers and bloggers.

This is one of her books, part of a series she has written based on life on her island.

Here is the short verson of her own bio.

I have been a bookseller, an award-winning publishing sales representative, a literacy teacher, and a promoter of fellow authors and their books through my company, Alberta Books Canada. I am also an author and publisher, under my imprints, IslandCatEditions and IslandShorts. Through Alberta Books Canada, I represented authors directly, helping them find promotion for themselves and their books, seeking out new readers, and assisting them in making wise career decisions.

In Feb. 2012, I decided to put into action some of my ideas concerning the new direction of publishing and I ePublished my novel, Island in the Clouds. In June, 2012, the print edition was released. I continue to experiment with new ways to promote and sell both the eBook and print editions.

I read widely, preferring fiction and short stories. I’m also an accomplished amateur cook with a particular interest in baking, and I own a library of over 500 cookbooks that I continue to consult, in spite of the speed of internet searches for recipes. There’s just something about pulling out a stack of books in the morning and flipping through the pages while sipping a coffee, planning the evening meal, that just can’t be matched by enter and click. I don’t mind, however, reading e-books.

On this page, you can access a whole world of books, and the authors who wrote them.
https://islandeditions.wordpress.com/authors-readers-international-list-of-authors/

If you would like to discover more aboout Susan, her own work, or her life now, please follow some of the links below, and get in touch.
She may even be happy to promote you and your book!

https://readingrecommendations.wordpress.com/
https://islandeditions.wordpress.com/
You can find her books through this Amazon link, and hopefully buy your own copy.

Blogger’s Books: Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

~ beetleypete ~ 18 Comments

Today I am featuring a non-fiction book from American writer, Maryanne.

Here is her own short bio.

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is an international author, award-winning journalist, and public speaker. Her latest book “Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Here” can be found in Barnes & Noble bookstores.
She is the sole proprietor of her home-based business “Pear Tree Enterprises” (www.peartreeenterprises.com). She works as an editor, ghost writer, and public speaker.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta received a medal for “Best Speaker” at Toastmasters International. She was awarded Toastmasters Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding performance and valued contribution to Toastmasters District 83 Annual 2019 Conference.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta resides in New Jersey, with her husband, Dennis, and their beloved cats.

This is her book blurb for “Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero”

What’s holding you back from being the extraordinary person you were created to be?
Inspirational author and speaker Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta walks you through ten steps you can start taking today to elevate your life to next-level joy, success, and contentment. A survivor of intense bullying, Maryanne shares her hard-won wisdom to empower you to embrace your uniqueness, connect with the people who deserve you, and cultivate the courage to create the life you’ve always wanted.
You’ll learn how to love, respect, and advocate for yourself so you can become your own superhero–no cape required!

Here is an Amazon link that you can use to find out more, and buy a copy if you wish to do so.

Maryanne is also running workshops based on her book, and you can find out more about those from this link.

I am also giving workshops based on the book. The link is here: https://courses.allfalfa.com/en/listings/975347-be-extraordinary-10-ways-to-become-your-own-hero
The Workshops are $40 per class, but if someone is struggling due to lay-offs because of covid, I will get them in FREE!

Please try to find time to welcome Maryanne to our great community.

Blogger’s Books: Jeanne Owens

~ beetleypete ~ 9 Comments

Today I am featuring the latest book from North American writer, Jeanne Owens.
https://jeanneowensauthor.wordpress.com/
https://jeanneowens.weebly.com/

This is Jeanne’s description and synopsis. As you can see, it is the second book in a series.

Chronicles of Riss
Book 2 of Adventures in Sorcery

Confronting evil sorcerers. Fighting monsters. Dueling metal golems. Searching for a sea monster. Hunting lost treasure. Finding a missing show dog. Competing in talent contests. Helping lost children. These are just some of the widely varied exploits that the young mercenary sorceress Marissa “Riss” Cobalt shares in this second Adventures in Sorcery book. Riss reveals how she ended up as a mercenary and chronicles some of the many adventures, ranging from fun to serious, that she’s had prior to the events of Kismet and Tell.

I consider it as a YA Fantasy and is a collection of fun, light-hearted short stories.

If this is the kind of genre that appeals to you, then please follow one of the links to discover more, and buy your copy.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U1UCNC2
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chronicles-of-riss-jeanne-owens/1121294655?ean=2940151740395&itm=1&usri=2940151740395
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id972017358
Page Foundry: http://www.inktera.com/store/title/54eead72-02ea-498e-ab1e-9017bf040c47
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/chronicles-of-riss
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/257070571/Chronicles-of-Riss-Adventures-in-Sorcery-2
Oyster: https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/q4hHSsSi63UXxidqUvEC89/chronicles-of-riss-adventures-in-sorcery-2
24Symbols: https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=930674

Please take some time to use the link above the book photo to check out Jeanne’s website, and get to know this very nice lady who is a great part of our blogging community.

Book Promotion Offer: Update

~ beetleypete ~ 5 Comments

Just to let everyone know that I have had a very good response to my recent offer to promote books, or feature bloggers. I now have a list to work through, publishing one each day.

If you have sent me your own details to be featured, they will appear in time.

To anyone still thinking about responding to this, it is not time-limited, and I will feature the books of any bloggers in this community whenever they have one to promote.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me the details of their books, and best wishes to you all.

Blogger’s Books: Jack Eason

~ beetleypete ~ 22 Comments

I have featured Suffolk-based blogger and writer Jack Eason here before, with his excellent novel ‘Race Against Time’. Now I am happy to get the chance to promote his latest book, which is on sale for just 0.99p, and free for Kindle Unlimited users.

This is the synopsis.

A science-fiction story with a difference.

Apart from chronicling the ultimate change of life for a select few individuals, it questions all accepted ideas by closeminded academics that leave no room for alternative thinking by some among their number.

It is also about a woman born ten years after the Romans left Britannia forever and a man born in the twentieth century.

Add to that everything that is currently environmentally wrong with our planet today, and you have all the necessary ingredients for an enthralling tale.

You can find out more about Jack and his other books by following the links below. Please try to find time to support another one of the great writers in our community.

https://whizbuzz.wordpress.com/2020/01/14/the-magisters-jack-eason/
https://www.facebook.com/jack.eason.18?fref=ts

Here is a link to Jack’s blog, where you can find out more, and read his many interesting articles.
https://havewehadhelp.wordpress.com/

Blogger’s Books: Cathy Cade

~ beetleypete ~ 28 Comments

Today I am featuring British blogger and writer, Cathy Cade. She has published a new book of short stories wich might appeal to many of you.

Here is her own short bio.

Cathy is a retired librarian. Her stories have been published in Scribble and Flash Fiction Magazine, and in anthologies, including To Hull and Back Short Stories 2018, Where the Wild Winds Blow and A Following Wind. Her story-verse, A Year Before Christmas, is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. Her collection of short stories: Witch Way, and other ambiguous stories can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com, and from Smashwords.


Find Cathy online at http://www.cathy-cade.com

Her new book is ‘Witch Way, and other ambiguous stories’.

Here are some links where you can find out more about Cathy’s work, and also buy any books that you like the look of.

http://www.facebook.com/cathycade.wordsmith

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/cathincade
https://www.goodreads.com/cathycade

Please find some time to support this great member of our blogging community.

Book Promotion: The Response

~ beetleypete ~ 12 Comments

I am delighted to say I have had a great response to the book promotion offer.

To those of you who have contacted me, I say “Thank You”. But please be aware that I will be publishing them in the order received, so there may be a delay until you see your promotional post on here. Though never fear, it will appear!

This is not time-limited, so if you are not quite ready yet, send me the details when you are.

Best wishes, Pete.

Long Day, Late Start On Blogging.

~ beetleypete ~ 29 Comments

I had a lot to do today, something very rare in the world of beetleypete. Ollie had to be left for almost six hours, which hasn’t happened in over four years.

He was exceptionally pleased to see me when I got back, and received extra treats for being so well-behaved on his own.

Anyway, the point of this short post is to apologise for any late replies to comments or messages, and to let you know that any posts I have missed will be caught up with tomorrow.

I am still around for a while this evening, but by my standards, I will be having an early night.