Saturday, October 26, 2013

Cupcakes Aren't Just For Eating by Laina Turner (Book Tour & Giveaway)

Laina Turner Mystery Tour

@lturnermolaski

About The Author:

Who am I? It kind of depends on the day. I am a human compendium of unrelated things. I used to think I was just weird, had shiny ball syndrome and couldn’t focus, scattered, you name it. Then I decided it was OK to be all over the place as long as each avenue I wanted to explore had meaning and purpose or was fun. So I embrace the fact I am a college professor, a writer of fiction and non-fiction, promoter of other authors, human resource professional, business consultant, mom, and all around interesting person (according to my closest friends).

When I’m not working toward my goals I like, ok fine, LOVE wine, coffee, shopping, and books. I enjoy my kids, they are awesome. I hate the cold but yet live in the mid-west. Vegas is one of my favorite spots as I love to people watch and if I ever get married again it will definitely be in a drive through chapel by a fake Elvis.

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Genre: Mystery Suspense
Publisher: Five Seas InkAmazon

Book Description:

Trixie, Berklie, and Sophie are enjoying the success of their bookstore/coffee shop/wine bar, Read-Wine, and planning for Sophie’s upcoming wedding when they start receiving hang up calls. At first they chalk it up to a wrong number but soon the caller reveals himself. It’s Stephen making good on his threat. He wants his money back. The fact that the police confiscated it doesn’t matter to him. He wants it back and has given them a deadline. A deadline they need to meet before anyone else ends up dead.

Finding out Sophie’s fiancé isn’t who he says he is a shock but his alter ego might come in handy getting Stephen to leave them alone. But with this much money at stake will he? Or are they in danger?

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Thursday, October 24, 2013

If I Had To Choose...Guest Post & Giveaway - Feminine Transitions by Alyscia Cunningham

If I Had To Choose…

My favorite image

If I had to choose my favorite image it would be my first self-portrait titled “By Any Means”. I was inspired to shoot this image in 2004 after reading a short bio on Harriet Tubman.

Her strength and determination was always an inspiration to me since a little girl.

It’s been said that Tubman carried a pistol to threaten the slaves if they decided to turn back, telling them, "You'll be free or die." I’m certainly sure she also carried it for protection in case they were threatened in any way.

If I survived being a “rebellious” slave, I would have done the same.

I cannot fathom what it must have been like to simply live during those times but I truly admire Tubman’s dedication.

During this particular point of my life, I was experiencing personal challenges. I was at a stressful period. Reading over Harriet’s story reminded me that my situation wasn’t as difficult as it could be. Additionally, it placed my focus on pushing through and doing whatever is necessary to move forward.

ALYSCIA CUNNINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

Alyscia Cunningham is a lifestyle photographer. Her main focus

is human images and how it can be incorporated with light and

shadow. She tends to use dramatic lighting in many of her

images because it fosters greater interaction between you and

the photographs, as you tend to analyze it a little more.

Likewise, the use of close ups creates a sense of intimacy and

usually draws a greater emotional reaction from you.

Website | Facebook

FEMININE TRANSITIONS

"Life on the planet is born of woman"

Adrienne Rich

For women, aging brings with it an inner

grace and beauty that is more than skin

deep. From birth to old age, women

transition through many physical,

psychological, and emotional phases that

are recorded on their faces.

Feminine Transitions: A Photographic

Celebration of Natural Beauty is a

refreshing and inspiring, full-color, hard

cover, book of photography. Its pages

present a series of portraits that reveal the

elegance and subtly honest beauty of

female faces between the ages of 7 weeks and 103 years.

Copies will be available and mailed in September 2013 (exact date TBA).

Never before has a book so vividly projected the images of women in all

stages of life in a way that reveals who they really are as women.Feminine

Transitions unmasks women and exquisitely demonstrates that young is

beautiful, old is beautiful, and natural is beautiful.

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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Book Review: Journey To Jazzland (Book Tour & Giveaway)

About The Author:

Born and raised in Fairhaven, Massachusetts and attended University of Lowell (now University of Massachusetts, Lowell). It was there that I learned to love jazz. I have been performing jazz and other kinds of music for over 20 years, throughout the New England area. I live in North Reading, Massachusetts with my husband Richard, and my son Charlie.

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Genre: Children's Book

Publisher: Flying Turtle Publishing

Release Date: July 1, 2013

Amazon

Book Description:

Join Windy Flute, Spitz Trumpet and their friends as they travel to a legendary place where music is joyous, creative and free.

Okay, can I just say this was such a cute book. The illustrations were amazing and the story was just fantastic.

You see, Windy Flute realizes that she can play other notes then just what the conductor tells her, and she finds these new notes enthralling. When the conductor asks her if she is in Jazzland, she sets out to find it. I loved the Journey To Jazzland, watching the different instruments they picked up along the way.

When they find their way to the bridge that will take them to Jazzland, something amazing happens and they realize that they can do anything.

Such a beautiful story that your kids are going to LOVE! Wait until you see the vibrant colors and amazing illustrations too.

Excerpt:

One day during an orchestra rehearsal, Windy Flute was playing a piece of music and her mind started to wander. Over and over, she had practiced this piece and played this piece. Feeling bored, she felt that she wanted to be a little different.

Then something special happened. She began to hear notes that weren’t on the page of sheet music on her stand! When she started playing what she heard, Windy realized these new notes made her feel better. The harmonies and the melodies were the same, but the music moved differently. Before she could figure things out, she was interrupted by a stern voice.

“Excuse me, Ms. Flute, do you mind playing with the rest of us? Where do you think you are — Jazzland?” said Mr. Conductor, scowling down at her.

After the rehearsal, Mr. Conductor gave Windy a severe look and stomped off the stage.

Windy turned to her friends in the woodwind section. “What’s Jazzland?” she asked. She was still thinking about the good feelings she got from playing different notes.

“It’s a myth,” said Mr. Bassoon.

“That’s right,” said Mr. Oboe, “It’s a legend. It doesn’t really exist.”

“I think it exists,” said Spitz Trumpet.

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Monday, October 7, 2013

It's Monday...

So my day just isn't starting out well at all. I thought one of my cats were hurt only to find out it was the TV, I know, I know, work started out a bust and sometimes I have to wonder why I do what I do, then I remember, and even though it doesn't make my job easy, I still love my job.

The bright side - we're about to get a heavy downpour, which is a PLUS since we haven't had rain in over 20 days and our spring is almost dry. We've been conserving water every which way and I'll be glad to have it full again.

So here are some new pix I took of our lovely furry babes...