Tour Schedule ​

  THE WICKED TREE, a MG dark fantasy that will appeal to fans of Jonathan Auxier’s THE NIGHT GARDENER and Mary Downing Hahn’s TOOK. If you love SERAFINA AND THE BLACK CLOAK, then THE WICKED TREE is for you!   

The Wicked Tree by Kristin Thorsness 
Publication Date:  October 8, 2019  | Publisher:  Month9Books 
 SYNOPSIS:
       Deep in the woods, a gnarled tree grows. Its thick, black trunk twists angrily up into the night sky. Held in place by the magic of a long-ago patriarch, it has waited centuries to lure a descendant into its trap. 
        When Tavorian Kreet and his mom move in with his great-grandmother, Tav is forbidden to go into the woods on the estate. But like most eleven-year-olds, he just can't resist. 
          After secretly exploring the woods, Tav begins having dreams about a supernatural tree. Soon, the dreams change from pleasant to dark and menacing. On a dare, Tav ventures farther into the woods with his new friend, Harper. There, they meet a mysterious, mute boy named Edward who lives in a decrepit cabin nearby. Afraid, and unable to speak, Edward scrawls "Wicked Tree" on the ground. 
           Determined to help Edward, Tav enlists Harper, and they search the estate for clues to Edward’s identity and how to help him. 
             With Harper's help, Tav pieces together the Kreet family history and discovers an ancient curse. If Tav wants to save his friends and family, he must go into the heart of the woods, find the Wicked Tree, and confront a most evil magic. 
Link to Goodreads | ~ Purchase Link Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks   ​

 GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

• One (1) winner will win a Starbucks Gift Card  

 RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (The Chronicles of the Stone #1) by Fiona Ingram  
Published December 14th 2016 | 324 pages
SYNOPSIS:
    A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realise they are in terrible danger. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them.
    They survive terrifying dangers in a hostile environment (such as a giant cobra, as well as sinking sand), pursued by enemies in their quest to solve the secret of the sacred scarab. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out. They must also learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor.
     With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive … only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another! Book bonus includes a Readers’ Guide to Ancient Egypt for young explorers, plus hand-drawn pictures from Adam’s journal of what the cousins saw in Egypt. 

The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone #3) by Fiona Ingram ​
Published November 17th 2017 by Bublish Incorporated
ISBN: 1946229466 (ISBN13: 9781946229465) | Paperback, 318 pages
SYNOPSIS:
      Continuing the adventure that ended in Britain just a short while ago, cousins Adam and Justin Sinclair, with their friend Kim Maleka, are now hunting for the third Stone of Power, one of seven mysterious stones lost centuries ago. The third stone might be located in an ancient city, hidden in the depths of the Mexican jungle.
    When their small plane crashes in the jungle, Adam, Justin, Kim, and James are rescued by an uncontacted tribe. James, who is wounded, must stay behind as the kids, with only a young boy, Tukum, as their guide, make their way through the dense and dangerous jungle to find the city. River rafting on a crocodile-infested river and evading predators are just part of this hazardous task.
       Of course, their old adversary Dr. Khalid is close behind as the kids press on in search of the lost city of stone gods. But he is not the worst of their problems. This time Adam will clash with a terrible enemy who adopts the persona of an evil Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, and is keen to revive the ancient tradition of human sacrifice. Adam, Justin, and Tukum must play a dreadful ball game of life and death and maybe survive. Will they emerge alive from the jungle? Will Dr. Khalid find the third Stone of Power before they do? 

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab - Fiona Ingram
Truly a wonderful adventure. I can totally understand why this story received so many awards. I learned so much about Ancient Egypt. This story is a wealth of historical information.
It was hard for me to put the book down after I started reading. Ms Ingram did a fabulous job of putting a great story together with so much history and adventure.
The characters are well-developed. I enjoyed getting to know each one of them. I could actually picture myself there with them in their travels.
I highly recommend this story to others. Middle school age children will love it.
I give this a literary rating of 5/5

AUTHOR BIO:
    I can’t remember NOT having a book in my hand. My schoolmates called me a bookworm, and nothing’s changed since then. I was brought up on the children’s classics because my parents are also avid readers. My earliest story-telling talents came to the fore when, from the age of ten, I entertained my three younger brothers and their friends with serialized tales of children undertaking dangerous and exciting exploits, which they survived through courage and ingenuity (of course!). Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and skeletons leaping out of coffins were hot favourites in the cast of characters that populated “Gruesome Gables” where all these adventures were played out. We also acted out the stories for my long-suffering parents, whom I see now were remarkably tolerant of my budding thespian and script-writing talents!
      I graduated from the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, with a double first in my B.A. (French & Drama). After completing my Honors in Drama at Natal, I then went to the University of the Witwatersrand to do my Masters degree in French-African literature. I also studied drama at The Drama Studio in London and mime at L’Ecole Jacques le Coq in Paris. Upon my return to South Africa, I immersed myself in teaching drama at community centres, and became involved in producing community and grassroots theatre with local playwrights and performers in Natal for several years.
      A move to Johannesburg took me in a new direction—that of journalism. I have written freelance for the last fifteen years on everything from serial killers to relationship advice (making me a popular dinner guest to revive any flagging conversations). Writing a children’s book—The Secret of the Sacred Scarab—was an unexpected step, inspired by a recent trip to Egypt. The tale of the sacred scarab began life as a little anecdotal tale for my 2 nephews (then 10 and 12), who had accompanied me on the Egyptian trip. We had a marvellous time and it truly was the catalyst in changing my career. This short story grew into a children’s book, the first in the adventure series, Chronicles of the Stone. After the usual spate of rejections from snobby (British) agents, which I believe it every writer’s baptism of fire, I discovered America and made the decision to be published there. The book has done well there, even though the young heroes are South African, and has already garnered two impressive fiction nominations.
I’m already immersed in the next book in the series—The Search for the Stone of Excalibur—a huge treat for young King Arthur fans (and older ones as well). Although I do not have children of my own, I have an adopted teenage foster child, from an underprivileged background who is just discovering the joys of reading for pleasure. My interests include literature, art, theatre, collecting antiques, animals, music, movies, and wondering when I am going to be the next J.K. Rowling.
​

Bertie's Book of Spooky Wonders by Ocelot Emerson
Publication Date: October 15, 2019 | Publisher: Tantrum Books
SYNOPSIS:
Twelve-year-old Bertie Blount is great at causing trouble. When she's forced to leave behind her dad and friends in North Carolina so her mom can marry the most boring optometrist in the world, Bertie has a chance at a fresh start.

But when Bertie arrives in Pennsylvania, she doesn’t just bring trouble; she brings disaster. In a moment of anger, Bertie unwittingly triggers an accident that puts her future stepbrother in a coma.

Broken and desperate to make things right, Bertie prays for a miracle. Instead, the universe gives her a pair of supernatural sunglasses, a wise-cracking doppleganger, and a terrifying ghost that sends Bertie on a dangerous mission to find the one thing that just might save her stepbrother’s life.
Add to Goodreads  |  Pre-Order Link: Amazon 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
      Ocelot Emerson is the freakish result of a mad scientist's experiment gone horribly wrong. Born half magnificent cat, half malicious human, Ocie escaped from the secret International Prison For Wayward Creatures, and into a deep dark woods, only to be captured by a pack of ravenous ghost wolves. In a stroke of good fortune, the Great Spirit Wolves set aside their natural disdain for all things feline and accepted the cat person into their pack, where they taught Ocie how to hunt and tell bizarre yet heartwarming tales. Bertie’s Book of Spooky Wonders is Ocelot’s first novel aimed at feral and phenomenally gifted children. That means you, kid!

Book Details:
 Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races (Water Dragon Races, #1) by K.D. Halbrook 
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) | Publication date: June 4th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Middle-Grade
Synopsis:    Set in a vivid, Arab-inspired world filled with friendly and fearsome water dragons, K.D. Halbrook’s Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races is a middle-grade fantasy adventure, with illustrations by Ilse Gort, that’s perfect for fans of Tui T. Sutherland, Sayantani DasGupta, and Roshani Chokshi.
    Silver’s dreams of becoming a legendary water dragon racer come true when she befriends a rare dragon that can swim and fly.
    Thirteen-year-old Silver Batal calls the desert home, but her heart belongs to the waters. Although she’s expected to become a jeweler like her father, Silver harbors a secret and forbidden wish to race water dragons. Destiny comes calling when her friendship with a mysterious old woman leads her to Hiyyan, a baby dragon that can swim and fly. 
    Risking everything, Silver, Hiyyan, and her resourceful cousin Brajon set off across the desert to join the legendary races in the royal city. But the road to Calidia is filled with danger, and the trio must band together as they encounter ferocious cave beasts, clever desert foxes, and cutthroat competition.
Goodreads | Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo |

GIVEAWAY!

Blitz-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

• Print copy of Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races

This grand prize giveaway - ends June 6th:

​Jagger Jones and the Mummy’s Ankh
by Malayna Evans
Publication Date: May 28, 2019
Publisher: Month9Books
Jagger Jones is a whiz kid from Chicago’s South Side. Ask him anything about Ancient Egypt, and Jagger can fill hours
describing all that he knows. But when he and his precocious little sister Aria fall more than three thousand years back in
time to the court of Amarna, Egypt, Jagger discovers a truth that rocks his world: books don’t teach you everything there
is to know.
Mummies, pyramids, and cool hieroglyphics make awesome movie props, but the ancient court of Amarna is full of over-
sized scorpions, magical amulets, and evil deities determined to scare unwanted visitors away. If Jagger and Aria are to
return safely home, they must find nine soul-infested gemstones, defeat an evil general, save the royal family, and figure
out how to rescue themselves!
Armed only with Jagger’s knowledge of history and a few modern objects mined from his pockets and Aria’s sparkly
purse, the siblings have exactly one week to solve supernatural riddles and rescue the royal family. If they can pull it off,
Jagger Jones just might return to Chicago a hero.
Link to Goodreads | ~ Purchase Links: Goggle Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER SIX: Dressed to … kidnap?
        “Are we getting makeovers?” Aria squealed happily, hugging her purse to her chest.
        Jagger moaned as Tatia draped a dress over his sister. The answer was obvious.
     Aria was thrilled with the white gown and elaborate jewels the princess gave her, even happier when she got made up to look like an ancient Egyptian princess. Things got iffy when Tatia wanted to shave Aria’s head. Aria didn’t care if kids in Egypt were bald. She was dedicated to her thick curls. After a short but frightening stare-down, Tatia caved to Aria’s will, just as Mom had every time she and Aria disagreed on her clothing. The princess braided Aria’s hair into cornrows and placed a blue and gold headband on her head. His sister looked like a pint-sized Cleopatra.
       “No.” Jagger shook his head when Tatia turned to him and lifted a blade to his hair. “I’ve been growing my ‘fro. You’re not touching it.”
        “You’ll draw unwanted attention with that hair,” the princess insisted.
        “I’m used to that.” He backed away from the princess and her blade. “We know how to blend in. We’re from Chicago.” He paused. “It’s, you know, diverse.”
         Tatia cocked her head to the side.
        “We’re biracial,” he explained. “Our mom is black, and our dad is white.”
        The princess shrugged. “Your hair is fine, Jagger Jones. But it’s not long enough to braid. We must cut it.”
        “I don’t want to cut it.” He put his hands on his head. The last time someone had suggested Jagger cut his hair, he was sitting on a stage with five other kids, staring out at an audience. A guy from the opposing debate team used Jagger’s hair in his argument, comparing the government’s need to trim its “out of control” budget with Jagger’s supposed need for a haircut. Jagger never forgot how it felt to be singled out for something that was a part of him in front of all those people. Kids snickered, judges wiggled in discomfort, and Grams sagged with sadness. Mom looked like she wanted to go all mama bear on the kid. But it was Gramps’ reaction that steeled Jagger’s spine. Gramps smiled. And that smile gave Jagger exactly what he needed in that moment. His hair might not have looked like that of the other.

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
​    Malayna Evans is the author of the middle grade time travel series, Jagger Jones. Malayna earned her Ph.D. in
Egyptology from the University of Chicago and has used her background to craft a tale loaded with historical
details, attested ancient actors, and a magical adventure full of gods, mummies and wriggling creatures.
    Malayna enjoys a busy life of reading, writing, and playing in Oak Park, Illinois with her two kids, a spoiled
rescue dog named Caesar, and a dwarf hamster named Pedicure.
Instagram | Twitter | FB | Website

Book Details:
Book Title:  Free Pizza by G.C. McRae
Category:  Middle-Grade Fiction, 360 pages | Genre:  Humorous Fiction
Publisher:  MacDonald Warne Media | Release date:  May 1, 2019
Format available for review:  print & ebook 
Tour dates: May 1 to 17, 2019
Content Rating: PG (No sex or drugs, occasional profanity.)
Book Description:
​      Brian McSpadden is always hungry. Does he have a disease? Worms? Does it have something to do with his being adopted? He spends his days at his crazy friend Danny’s house, hoping for snacks, but nothing seems to fill the void.
      Then Brian receives a mysterious birthday card that says, Free Pizza. He soon discovers the card has nothing to do with food and everything to do with the big questions in his life: where did I come from, why did my mother give me up and is there anyone out there who will like me the way I am?
Buy the Book: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Add to Goodreads

GUEST POST:  Wiggle Room by G.C. McRae      When I do author visits to schools, kids and teachers often ask about my process. And I wish I had a straight forward answer for them. In planning for writing fiction, I never seem to get it just right. I either plan too much or too little. If anybody saw the dumb corners I paint myself into, they’d wonder how I ever got a single chapter out into the world.
        Obviously, you can’t plan everything. You still have to leave a little creative wiggle room for the actual writing process. But the wiggle room is my downfall. My brain takes any hint of freedom as license to deviate from all my careful preparations. I think I know where I’m going. But the truth is, I have flung myself into a foreign country. Things are fine when I’m on the plane and in the taxi. But the moment I step out onto the street, I notice there are wild dogs peeing on lampposts. Street vendors are trying to sell me monkey brains on a stick. And oh, look, I’ve left my wallet in the departing taxi.
       To get myself back on track, I think, I just need to write a tighter outline. Check it more often, put myself on a shorter chain. Well, with my latest book, Free Pizza, the chain was far too short. The outline I wrote was so detailed it was impossible to deviate from it without ruining the whole thing. The book gave me a cramp every time I tried to work on it.
       While I was shaking my cortices out, waiting for the cramp to ease, I started on another book, Kana and the Red Pilot. I know, I thought, I won’t write an outline at all! I’ll just have fun wiggling all over the computer screen! Things went well for a hundred pages. I had a great time breaking rules, introducing characters on the fly, abusing the rules of grammar and storytelling for dramatic effect. But when I wrote a crazy scene without any lead-up or precedent, I had to call time out. Why had I written this? What might happen next to justify it? That’s when an outline became my best friend - in order to save my characters the embarrassment of having their impassioned conversations and tender moments obliterated with the click of the Delete button.
        After Kana, I returned to Free Pizza, determined to fix it. And the only way to fix it was going to involve some bolt-cutters. The first thing I did was chop out half of the story. It was my favorite half, but I consoled myself by thinking I could use it for a sequel later, so, no loss. With a simpler arc, I now had the wiggle room I needed to flesh out the characters and situations in a light-hearted way. Whew! Catastrophe averted. Story completed. And, I must say, done far better than my outlining brain ever imagined.
    So how much outline do you need? How much wiggle room? The answers seem to be different for each book. And though I resent what seems like wasted time running after taxis and working things out to the last detail, somehow things always seem to work out.

    Mummies, pyramids, and cool hieroglyphics make awesome movie props, but the ancient court of Amarna is full of over-sized scorpions, magical amulets, and evil deities determined to scare unwanted visitors away. If Jagger and Aria are toreturn safely home, they must find nine soul-infested gemstones, defeat an evil general, save the royal family, and figure out how to rescue themselves!
    Armed only with Jagger’s knowledge of history and a few modern objects mined from his pockets and Aria’s sparkly
purse, the siblings have exactly one week to solve supernatural riddles and rescue the royal family. If they can pull it off, Jagger Jones just might return to Chicago a hero.
Link toGoodreads | ~ Pre-order Link: Amazon

ABOUT the AUTHOR:
Malayna Evans is the author of the middle grade time travel series, Jagger Jones. Malayna earned her Ph.D. in
Egyptology from the University of Chicago and has used her background to craft a tale loaded with historical
details, attested ancient actors, and a magical adventure full of gods, mummies and wriggling creatures.
Malayna enjoys a busy life of reading, writing, and playing in Oak Park, Illinois with her two kids, a spoiled
rescue dog named Caesar, and a dwarf hamster named Pedicure.
Instagram | Twitter | FB | Website

Giveaway!
 One (1) winner will win a digital copy of any previously published Month9Books title of their choosing
Enter by clicking on the RAFFLECOPTER Link below!

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

Book Details:
The Haunting of Elmwood Manor (a Pekin Dewlap Mystery) by Pamela McCord 
Published by: Acorn Publishing | Publication date: March 1st 2019
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery
Synopsis:
    Pekin Dewlap hasn’t seen a ghost since she was twelve. But she’d do anything to get them back. Starting a ghostbusting business with her two best friends, Amber and Scout, seems like the perfect way to accomplish her goal. Of course, playing with ghosts isn’t high on their wish list, so Pekin has to do some arm-twisting to get them on board.
     Once committed, Pekin and her friends find themselves in deep, trying to solve the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Miranda Talbert. Miranda went missing in 1918, and her spirit has wandered the halls of Elmwood Manor for the last hundred years.
     In the midst of finding Miranda, discovering her budding feelings for Scout, and consoling a terrified Amber, Pekin is met by an angry ghost set on thwarting her plans. Will the Ghosties be able to help Miranda, or will Pekin’s business die before she solves the mystery?
Goodreads | ~ Purchase:  Amazon | B&N | iBooks: 

The Haunting of Elmwood Manor - Pamela McCord 
    I absolutely love this creative story. The storyline is fantastic and the characters convey so many emotions. There is anger, confusion, fear, love, sadness and happiness. I felt all the emotions strong because the characters are so well-developed. My heart was racing and I couldn't put it down.
    The book cover and title are great. They are a perfect fit for the story.
     I highly recommend this story. Teen age and older readers will love it.
I give this book a literary rating of Five Stars.
​reviewed by Vickie

                  Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• $25 Amazon gift card

This grand prize giveaway - ends April 18th
Enter by clicking on the Rafflecopter Link Below!

Paperback, 267 pages | ISBN: 1946700304 (ISBN13: 9781946700308)
Published April 2nd 2019 by Tantrum Books

Baseball is Roger McGillicutty’s whole life. That is until he wakes one Saturday to find he is no longer a normal eleven-year-old boy. He’s a five-foot-tall praying mantis.

Roger has school on Monday, the carnival comes to town next week, and his baseball team is poised to play their biggest rival in one week. Being a giant bug will seriously cramp Roger’s style!

To Roger’s surprise, his parents and friends are supportive. Even his dog isn’t spooked. But not everyone’s thrilled about Roger’s change. Some people are frightened and others would like nothing more than to squash him into the ground like the bug he is.

And when Little League officials oust Roger from baseball, his world collapses.
​
When a reporter from the city comes snooping around rumors of a man-sized baseball-playing praying mantis, Roger must choose between hiding his true self or being the hero he’s always wanted to be.
ADD to GOODREADS | ~ Purchase Links:
Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD  |

AUTHOR BIO:
​Tom Alan Brosz actually is a rocket scientist (sort of), having done design and engineering work in the private
space industry back before the private space industry was cool. His qualifications for writing this book are that
he has experience in raising children who like bugs, and raising pet mantises for those children. Normal-sized
mantises, of course.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

TOUR SCHEDULE.

​

​One (1) winner will win a Starbucks Gift-card!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway by clicking the link below.
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY!

Metl: The Angel Weapon by Scott Wilson
Publication Date: March 5, 2019 | Publisher: Month9Books

Thirteen-year-old Caden Aire spends his days working in the fields and his nights sleeping in a horse stable, all under the
watch of Metl—Earth's mysterious and artificial second moon, a looming relic of humanity's lost era.
But Caden's simple life changes when one night, a fiery red X suddenly appears on Metl's surface, and the same red Xs start glowing on his palms.
Now Caden must find the only person who knows what's happening to him, but he doesn't have much time. Metl has started on an impact course with Earth, and to stop it, Caden will have to face both the unsettling truth about his world… and about himself.
Link to Goodreads | ~  Purchase Links:
Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

METL: The Angel Weapon - Scott Wilson

This story has so much happening in it you just have to keep reading to see what will happen next. I really like the friendship between Caden and Annika and how important Deber is to Caden.
The characters are well-developed. It is easy to feel their emotions. I was never sure who to trust with all the twists and turns the story takes.
The title and book cover are perfect for the story and I love the illustrations in the book.
I recommend this book to other readers.
I give it a literary rating of 5/5
written by vickie

Giveaway Details:

- One (1) winner will receive a Starbucks Gift Card

Scott Wilson works as a translator and editor for the Japanese news-entertainment website SoraNews24. He
runs ScottWritesStuff, a creative writing livestream on Twitch, and in his free time can be found playing video
games and Magic: The Gathering with friends. Metl: The ANGEL Weapon is his first novel. He lives in the
Japanese countryside with his wife.
​ 
Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

Book & Author Details:
The Haunting of Elmwood Manor (a Pekin Dewlap Mystery) by Pamela McCord 
Published by: Acorn Publishing | Publication date: March 1st 2019
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery
Synopsis:
Pekin Dewlap hasn’t seen a ghost since she was twelve. But she’d do anything to get them back. Starting a ghostbusting business with her two best friends, Amber and Scout, seems like the perfect way to accomplish her goal. Of course, playing with ghosts isn’t high on their wish list, so Pekin has to do some arm-twisting to get them on board.

Once committed, Pekin and her friends find themselves in deep, trying to solve the disappearance of fourteen-year-old Miranda Talbert. Miranda went missing in 1918, and her spirit has wandered the halls of Elmwood Manor for the last hundred years.

In the midst of finding Miranda, discovering her budding feelings for Scout, and consoling a terrified Amber, Pekin is met by an angry ghost set on thwarting her plans. Will the Ghosties be able to help Miranda, or will Pekin’s business die before she solves the mystery?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42770560-the-haunting-of-elmwood-manor-a-pekin-dewlap-mystery?ac=1&from_search=true

Purchase:
Amazon: https://books2read.com/u/mZLaZR?store=amazon
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130546375
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/the-haunting-of-elmwood-manor/id1452018257?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

​AUTHOR BIO:
Pam was born in Arkansas several decades ago. She’s not sure if that makes her a Southern Girl or if moving to Southern California when she was five revokes her Southern Girl card.  She started writing later in life when she was challenged by a friend to create a book out of his story idea.  Reaching the first 5,000 words was a milestone, but with time and hard work she managed to finish an entire book, much to her surprise.  Since then, she’s written several novels, in several genres. Romance, middle grade and paranormal comprise most of her work. Pam has spent over 40 years working as a legal secretary at a law firm in Orange County, California. Aside from writing, she follows the stock market, buying, selling and trading stocks and options. In contrast to that, she loves trips to Las Vegas where she can spend many happy hours at the Pai Gow tables. She shares a condo with her very own My Cat From Hell TV star, Allie, who manages to exude just enough affection to make her scary feral ways tolerable.
Author links: 
https://www.pamelamccordbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pamela.mccord.9

​GIVEAWAY
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

• $25 Amazon gift card

This grand prize giveaway - ends March 7th:

Book Details:
Darcy The Dog Who Talked by Liane Carter
Category:  Adult Non-fiction, 152 pages
Genre:  Pets / Memoir (told from dog's perspective)
Publisher:  Independently published
Release date:  June 18, 2018 | Tour dates:  Nov 26 to Dec 21, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild language - such as hell, bloody, damn)
Book Description:

I'd never adopted a dog before. I had no idea what to do and this dog needed someone who did. An abused dog and a clueless human, we embarked on a journey of love, struggles and joy. 

"Every abandoned Darcy dog needs a Liane." 
- Teresa Roberts, Veterinary Nurse, Hertfordshire, England

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
This book a delightful tale of the true experiences and memoirs of Darcy, the Dog Who Talked and her owners, with her owner's interpretations of she perceived as Darcy's thoughts. 
Darcy was a "special case" at the animal shelter which Liane volunteered at. When Liane and her husband, Lee, decided to adopt a dog, Darcy was an unlikely candidate, yet, stole Liane's heart with the total support of Lee.
This is not only a story of a strong love relationship of various individuals, but of the blessings which can be experienced by adopting , loving and caring for any who may seem undesirable because of imperfections.
This is a tale one can laugh with,  share compassion with and cry with.
Liane does an excellent job in creating emotions and in relating this story in a captivating way.
The reader can feel a part of her experiences.
Her first book of Tammy, the Little Cat with a Big Attitude was great and very well-written, but I feel this one is even written better!, which says a lot!
I offer a Five Stars rating.
*This book was gifted me, with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.

About the Author:
Devoted to giving her readers smiles, tears and tension in both her poignant non-fiction and fast-paced fantasy adventures, Liane Carter bares her soul. Author of The Chronicles of Joya, The Dream Devils, Darcy: The Dog Who Talked and Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, she has written features and a weekly column for Costa Blanca News, articles for Writing Magazine, and has taught over 150 writing workshops. She pours her innate joy into her books and also expresses it in nature, playing instruments, creating art and dancing.
Connect with Liane: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

Here is the tour schedule.

Giveaway:
Prizes:
1st prize: An 11 x 14 inch print of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude book cover signed by the author and the illustrator, an 11 x 14 inch print of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked book cover signed by the author and the illustrator, a signed paperback of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, a signed paperback of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked, and a $10 Amazon GC

2nd prize: A signed paperback of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, a signed paperback of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked, and a $10 Amazon GC

3rd prize: Paperbacks of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude and Darcy: The Dog Who Talked
(Giveaway ends Dec 29, 2018)

Book Details:
Book Title: Tammy The Little Cat With a Big Attitude by Liane Carter
Category: ** Adult Non-fiction, 140 pages
Genre:  **Pets / Memoir (told from cat's perspective)
Publisher:  Independently published |Release date:  September 28, 2018
Format available for review:  print and ebook (mobi)
Tour dates:  Nov 26 to Dec 21, 2018
Content Rating: PG (mild language - hell used three times like 'What the hell'. 'Bloody' used 6 times)
Book Description:
I was snatched from my mum when I was only two weeks old, and what happened next was bigger than any kitten could imagine.

"A gently witty and charming story which draws the reader in from the word 'go' to a truly entrancing feline perspective on human well-intentioned but frequently misguided behaviour when taking on a new pet."
- Mary Ashton, retired veterinary surgeon

"A heart-warming story that really has unique perspective on the ever-important animal-human bond (and how our pets really feel about us)."
- Sommer Pari, licensed veterinary technician

MY REVIEW: (LAWonder10)
Although this is listed as Adult non-fiction, I have chosen to include it in Middle Grade and YA.
This tale begins with a sixteen year old girl who has finally persuaded her mother to allow her to have a kitten for he Birthday present. What appears to be hopeless is obtained with slim hope the kitten will survive.
This is a very entertaining true to life experience of the relationship between a girl and a cantankerous cat, over the space of many years.
It will be difficult for any reader, whether a cat lover or not,  to resist this love story!
**The story is presented from the girl's dramatic portrayal of this actual event, and from what she perceived the kitten would say if she could verbalize it... After all, actions speaks louder than words, especially in this case!
There was a continual, steady "flow' to the story and it was easy to follow.
The only negative I found was toward the end it got slightly "wordy" and the ending could have had more strength to it.
**This is highly recommended for all readers twelve-years-of-age and older.
I offer a Four and a Half Stars rating
*This book was gifted me with no pressure for a positive review. This is my honest review.

About the Author:
Devoted to giving her readers smiles, tears and tension in both her poignant non-fiction and fast-paced fantasy adventures, Liane Carter bares her soul. Author of The Chronicles of Joya, The Dream Devils, Darcy: The Dog Who Talked and Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, she has written features and a weekly column for Costa Blanca News, articles for Writing Magazine, and has taught over 150 writing workshops. She pours her innate joy into her books and also expresses it in nature, playing instruments, creating art and dancing.
Connect with Liane: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

GUEST POST:  Limitless Reading and Writing
        It’s been a journey. I was blessed to be raised in a house where my parents were avid readers and so was my eldest sister. It felt the most glorious treat, like living in ‘grown-up land’, to read all of their books as well as my own. My sister loved Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Shakespeare. My mother loved historical fiction, romance and biographies. And my father loved westerns, war books, thrillers and Wilbur Smith. We were also blessed with a library at the end of our road and, at least once a week, I would walk with four books in my arms and the memories and feelings they’d given me floating around in my heart, along with the anticipation and excitement in my stomach about the next four books waiting for me.
        I dreamed of writing children’s fiction, to create worlds I could wander in, yet had a belief that ‘other people’ did that. So instead I wrote reams of poetry. As an adult, when I finally heard my soul’s howls that she longed to write books, I started writing children’s fiction. Two of my best friends urged me to write books for adults yet writing for adults seemed too scary. I didn’t believe in myself enough, and my friends seemed to believe in me way too much. So the first book I published was a fantasy adventure for a middle grade audience. The second book, more suitable for aged 12 upwards, was leading me to an adult audience. I was surprised by how much the teachers loved reading the book for themselves when I visited a school to do some writing workshops and book signing. I had started working on the sequel to this second book, when our dog, Darcy, died. My husband asked me to write a book about her to remember her, and a close friend asked me to, as well. Grief from her passing grabbed me and kept hurling me into voids, floods of tears and physical pain. I couldn’t focus on the sequel. So …. I wrote about Darcy. I wanted it to honor her and be as honest as possible. I set it out in alternate scenes writing in my voice and allowing Darcy’s personality and perspective to shine through in the scenes written by her. I laughed, smiled and sobbed as I wrote.
        Halfway through the four year journey from start to publication of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked, I told a friend I was thinking of writing a book about our cat, Tammy. I told her a couple of things about her and my friend laughed out loud and said, ‘You have to. I want to read it.’ And so I did. Once again, I wrote it in both my voice and Tammy’s, and this time there was more laughter and less tears. And without realizing, I find myself having published my first two books for adults.
​

Here is the tour schedule.

​Giveaway:
Prizes:
        1st prize: An 11 x 14 inch print of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude book cover signed by the author and the illustrator, an 11 x 14 inch print of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked book cover signed by the author and the illustrator, a signed paperback of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, a signed paperback of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked, and a $10 Amazon GC
        2nd prize: A signed paperback of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude, a signed paperback of Darcy: The Dog Who Talked, and a $10 Amazon GC
         3rd prize: Paperbacks of Tammy: The Little Cat With A Big Attitude and Darcy: The Dog Who Talked
(Giveaway ends Dec 29, 2018)