The 3-Day Reset Spotlight & Teaser

About The 3-Day Reset

Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Seal Press (May 6, 2014)

Eating healthy can be a struggle. It’s hard to choose broccoli and brown rice instead of hot, cheesy pizza. And diets often ask you to cut out different foods all at once, leaving you feeling deprived.

In The 3-Day Reset, Pooja Mottl outlines 10 simple ways you can change your cravings and start eating whole, healthy, delicious foods—three days at a time. Each reset takes only 72 hours to complete, which means you’ll be able to stay focused on healthy eating from start to finish.

Resets include: sugar, wheat, salt, chocolate, yogurt, chicken, beverages, breakfast, salad, and takeout.

Accessible, fun, engaging, and packed with over 30 delicious recipes, pantry makeover lists, shopping guides, tidbits on food history, and other smart tools, The 3-Day Reset will set you on the course to healthy eating… and help you stay there for good.

“In The 3-Day Reset, Pooja delivers an empowering blueprint for choosing these foods while demonstrating that healthy and delicious go hand in hand.”—John Mackey, co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market

“I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn how to get healthier.”—Alejandro Junger, New York Times bestselling author of Clean

“This book is so in sync with the times! We all need ‘clean fuel,’ and with this book, Pooja supplies the easy answers.”—Michael Olajide Jr., author of Sleekify and celebrity fitness trainer

“The 3-Day Reset will help you make a healthier connection to what you eat, and change your black-and-white food world into vibrant technicolor.”—Rebecca Katz, author of The Longevity Kitchen: Satisfying, Big-Flavor Recipes Featuring the Top 16 Age-Busting Power Foods

 “The 3-Day Reset gets to the heart of what it means to eat well.”—Cheryl Forberg, New York Times bestselling author, James Beard Award–winning chef, and the nutritionist for The Biggest Loser

Sugar Reset

Sweet stuff rocks. To many of us, sugary foods are as good as it gets—more tempting than sour, more satisfying than spicy, more comforting than salty. This makes sense since we’re programmed to like sweet things from the moment we’re born—one of the reasons why we enjoy our mother’s sweet breast milk as babies.

The problem is, the majority of sweetness we’re now eating doesn’t suit our biology.

Instead of satisfying our sweet tooth with things like ripe summer berries, dried figs, grapes, and raw honey (all WAMP foods), we’re drowning ourselves with processed table sugar and corn syrup.

And it’s everywhere. Processed sugar has managed to tiptoe its way into almost all kinds of foods without our noticing. It is a main ingredient in peanut butters, salad dressings, marinades, barbecue sauces, sports drinks, frozen pizza, and crackers. Even savory foods, like breads, pasta sauce, and chicken broth, are laden with processed sugars.

Sadly, it’s fair to say that sugar is the lifeblood of the food industry.

Sugar goes down like water, and we’re consuming it with reckless abandon. According to the USDA, the average American eats about twenty-two teaspoons of sugar, or about 13 percent of our total calories, each and every day. Okay, let’s think about this for a second: That’s like opening up your kitchen silverware drawer, grabbing a teaspoon, jamming it into your sugar bowl, and sticking it straight inside your mouth twenty-two times a day.

It doesn’t help that sugar is notoriously difficult to detect in foods. Not only is there no distinct line item for “added sugars” on the nutrition-facts panel of your food’s label, but sugar also masquerades under a long and complicated list of aliases that would make even Jason Bourne weep with jealousy. “Dextrose,” “fructose,” “cane juice,” and “maltose” all mean that sugar has been added to your food. Same with “invert sugar,” “corn-syrup solids,” and “lactose.”

Apart from the obvious health consequences that arise from consuming too much processed sugar—like diabetes, weight gain, obesity, and hypertension—eating sugar may very well be the single biggest impediment to falling in love with healthy food. As we learned in The Power of WAMP, processed sugar exploits our innate biological weaknesses, lulling us into addiction and desensitizing our taste buds to the point that we can no longer find deliciousness in the kind of food that wants to love us back. When we become accustomed to processed sugar, suddenly, sweet WAMP foods become nothing short of sacrifices. A bowl of oats with cinnamon and banana pales in comparison to a vanilla-glazed scone from Starbucks or a bowl of Froot Loops. Even the best loose-leaf tea no longer tastes good without an extra sugar packet or two.

But we can—right now—slam on the brakes and put this train in reverse. All we have to do is reset our relationship with sugar. We need to put an end to our sugar ignorance and off-kilter sweet palate and relearn sugar from the ground up. We also need the opportunity to experience what it’s like not to have processed sugar in our lives, and give our taste buds the chance to be awakened and excited by the superior flavor that comes from WAMP sweetness.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About Pooja Mottl

Pooja Mottl is a professionally trained Natural Foods Chef, Healthy Eating Coach, and Healthy Living Expert whose work has captivated audiences from Good Morning America to the Huffington Post. She is a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, a world-renowned institution for pairing culinary training with health promoting food. Pooja also holds a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from Cornell University and is an NSCA-CPT certified personal trainer. Pooja advises private clients on healthy eating and has taught cooking classes at Whole Foods Market. She regularly blogs for the Huffington Post and Gaiam.com. 

Pooja has appeared on Good Morning America, WGN TV, Martha Stewart Radio, Style.com, the Green Festival, HuffPost Live, and a variety of additional media outlets.

Pooja lives and works in Greenwich, Connecticut. Mottl is a wife and proud mom to a baby girl named Valentina and a five-year-old, over-confident Brussels Griffon.

Connect with Pooja at her website, 3DayReset.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and  Instagram.

Thanks to TLC for including me on this tour. 

Please visit other stops on The 3-Day Reset blog tour page.

The Memory Witch by Heather Topham Wood Release Day

I'm so excited to read this book! And it's releasing today...

About The Memory Witch 

Ten years ago, Quinn Jacobs’ mother made a bargain with a local witch—steal away Quinn’s memories from the first eight years of her life and in return, Quinn would spend a year in servitude to the witch.

On Quinn’s eighteenth birthday, she’s forced to leave her home and friends behind. For the next year, she’ll live at the Chadwick House, learning everything she needs to know about being a spellcaster. As her powers grow, Quinn begins to unravel the secrets of the past and the reason her mother was so desperate to conceal the horrifying truth.

Publication Date: December 15, 2013

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

10 Tips to Becoming the Best Writer You Can Be

Here are a few tips that really helped me during the writing process for my Second Sight series and The Memory Witch. Some of the tips you may have heard time and time again, but they really do work.

Tune Out Everyone’s Voice in Your Head

I unfortunately put way too much thought in what other people think. This can really make your story suffer if you’re constantly wondering over other’s reactions. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least you know you put yourself out there.

Get Organized

Whether you’re old school and use a notebook for organizational purposes or rely on a program like Scrivener, staying organized while writing can be extremely helpful. As an example, I keep both an outline and character descriptions close at hand while I write for quick reference.

Just Write

If you obsess over every single word you put on paper, you may end up sacrificing some of your creative energy. This is where free writing exercises can be very helpful. Browse writer’s blogs and you’re bound to come upon some free writing topics and exercises you can tackle.

Don’t Be Afraid to Hit the Delete Button

Getting rid of stuff that just isn’t working is a must. Don’t be afraid to cut huge chunks out of your novel. Save each previous draft and if end up having use for the scenes down the road, so be it.

Walk Away for Awhile

I once heard a reference that writers have a tendency to have beer goggles on while writing. You may love every single word you write one night, but then wake up the morning and wonder what the hell you were thinking. Fresh perspective can definitely help you become the best writer possible.

Don’t Lose Yourself in the Editing Process

Feedback can be very helpful in the writing process, but opinions are subjective. What works for one reader may not for another. Although you may be inclined to change certain aspects based on a single opinion, wait until you get more input. As an example, an editor I spoke with wanted me to make my main character in First Visions “nicer” and gave me examples of what a “good” woman would and would not do. I think if I followed her advice, I would’ve ended up with a dreadfully boring story.

Show Don’t Tell

This is probably one of the helpful pieces of advice I received during the editorial process. Use dialogue and the character’s actions keep the story moving. Wordy descriptions can end up hurting the pace of your novel.

Read Everything You Can Possibly Get Your Hands On

My husband will laugh at me when he sees me reading a trashy magazine or book and I tell him I’m working. Being well read can enhance your vocabulary, improve your grammar and help you find inspiration for your work.

Stick to a Routine

I have two boys under seven which makes finding the time to write exceedingly difficult. Each night after they go to bed, even if I’m not in the mood, I’ll write at least something.

Get Rid of the Distractions

I’ll be in the middle of writing a pivotal scene when all of a sudden my phone will ring or my inbox will chime. Or I’ll receive a text from my sister stating I have to go on Facebook right now and look at this raunchy picture posted by so and so. A good piece of advice I heard before is to write on a computer without internet access.

For more information, please check out the book on GoodReads.

 

About Heather Topham Wood

 

Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She’s the author of the paranormal romance Second Sight series and the standalone The Disappearing Girl.

Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.

Find out more about Heather on Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and her website.

 

Buy The Memory Witch on Amazon.

 

Scam Factory by G. Gordon Dean: Author Interview, Guest Post, and Giveaway

I'm honored to host G. Gordon Dean today. Not only was he kind enough to answer some questions and write a guest post, but there's a giveaway, too... one lucky reader will receive an eBook. See details below.

Thanks to G. Gordon Dean and Tribute Books for including me on the tour.

Now to the fun stuff...

About Scam Factory

Whoever said 'white-collar crime doesn’t pay' never lived in Washington D.C. TierGroup is a business consultancy firm located in the heart of DC. Its Division Heads have a very cold and calculating unorthodox approach to conducting business. Protecting and serving their clients is the only thing that matters. Nevertheless, loyalty can swing both ways in this journey through greed, corruption, and absolute lack of accountability.

As a former Las Vegas Casino Surveillance Director, Michael Crayter, a straight shooter, becomes an unaware, almost, employee of TierGroup in mid-2001. His transformation takes many shapes from idea man to fraud guru. He embarks on a journey to Iraq, through Hurricane Katrina and eventually takes part in one of the biggest scams in the history of the United States - the TARP funding program. His boss, Charles “The Czar” Zarin, is the ultimate manipulation mentor. Michael Crayter’s experience will last for more than eight years and will make his old Vegas job seem like child’s play.

The investment opportunities the United States has to offer during this timeframe are seemingly endless and the public joins in on the greed. The whole country is riding high on the inflated value train with careless abandonment. There are no regulations followed or laws unbroken by the Mortgage Lenders, Stock Brokers, and Bankers. The bubble is getting bigger and the clock is ticking. It's every man for himself. Divide and conquer. Borrow and spend. No one sees the tsunami coming, except for Charles Zarin. Capitalism will be turned upside down and the money spigot will run dry.

By late 2007 the bubble bursts and our country’s economy is left in ruins. The Treasury is sent in to bail out the white-collar thieves. While losing most of its clients TierGroup and Michael Crayter are left to fend for themselves. The tables are turned on the fat-cat bankers who caused the meltdown. Michael Crayter uses his hard gained experience to get even with the fake bastards. Almost everyone loyal to TierGroup gets away with highway robbery and the American taxpayer is left holding the bag. Michael Crayter begins to tell his story, in this Four Part first-person narrative, during a 2005 interview at FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.

Buy on Kindle or Nook.

About G. Gordon Dean

G. Gordon Dean is a Real Estate agent and Business Consultant currently living in Arizona. He has been a media buff for over two decades. As a media buff he has kept himself well aware of past and current events in business, government, and politics. He lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for over 30 years. This is his first novel.

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Interview

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Please tell us about your current release.

SCAM FACTORY is a modern day White-Collar Crime Novel that begins in 2001 and continues into 2009. The 4-part story tells about the events that led to the U. S. Financial Crash that started in late 2007. The story’s main character, Michael Crayter, begins a new career, in mid-life, with an ultra-private Washington D.C. Consulting Firm. The Consulting Firm (TierGroup) represents seventeen of the worlds’ largest and most powerful industries who are making tremendous financial gains with no end in sight. SCAM FACTORY is also a story that takes its reader to Iraq, New Orleans, the Caribbean, and other major US cities. I believe I have described the story well in the Back Cover Copy and Prologue.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

The journey for writing SCAM FACTORY started with a dream I had one night about interviewing for an executive position at a major Consulting Firm. I landed the job in my dream, but after I woke up, I still had no idea what they did. I thought to myself: That was not a legitimate company, it was a Scam Factory. Then I further thought to myself that it might make an interesting book or even a movie. The war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, and the U.S. financial crash, which all occurred within the last 12 years, were also a perfect fit for this story.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

I designed and created the book cover with help of an associate. The title says it all: SCAM FACTORY.  There is a silhouette of Washington D.C. in the background on the bottom of the cover, with the Washington Monument broadly standing out almost like a smoke stack from a factory, and sub tittles give the reader added information about the story. The font colors are also mean to stand out. I may add a light watermark of hurricane Katrina in the background later.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

That is a very good question. I had to do some research on this since SCAM FACTORY is a work of fiction. I only found one white-collar fiction book being sold today to compare it to: “RUDIGER” by David Lender. It had some of the same types of crimes committed in parts of my book. Several modern Nonfiction books, currently on the market, also include many of the same types of crimes that I wrote about. I didn’t have much luck, but it could be that I don’t know where to look.  Maybe someone out there will find other comparable books and share them with us.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Over all I can say that writing SCAM FACTORY is the biggest quirk because I only type with two fingers! I was not using the ‘Tab’ key where needed and hit the ‘Hard Return’ key too often, which made more than double the work for editing and formatting. This is my first novel and I am almost surprised that I was able to accomplish the challenging task of writing it.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

SCAM FACTORY -PART 3- Chapter 20 –Failure Is An Option:

During a private meeting with the three largest U.S. bank owners Michael Crayter (the CEO of TierGroup) speaks privately with Henry Strassburger (the secret owner of 100 independent banks) against the strong advice of his legal team. Michael knows that now is the time to take advantage of a very lucrative opportunity, find cracks in the system, and manipulate Strassburger. Their ‘mutual’ goal is to keep Strassburgers interest in the 100 independent banks a secret while acquiring the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funding from the US Treasury Department. The amount Strassburgers’ banks need is about $125 million for each bank (or $12.5 billion total). Michael Crayter does not trust Strassburger at all. He senses Strassburger is hiding the 100 banks loses and making false statements about their true financial condition to the government. What Henry Strassburger does not realize is that Michael Crayter does not intend to help him keep the banks from taking major loses or closing.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I am not sure about that right now. I have two or three other fictional book ideas in mind, but want to see how this one goes. I have been told that SCAM FACTORY would make a great movie, so a movie script may be in the works in the near future.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I am not an avid reader, but I am always interested in new documentaries, news, and events that help me stay connected to current events. I watch programs on public television, cable and learning channels, and other major media outlets. I am usually going over Business and Real Estate opportunities being offered by others. Sometimes I am doing the actual business planning, modeling, and research for others, which requires a ton of evaluation, writing, and revisions.

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Guest Post

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SCAM FACTORY started out as a dream I had about a job interview with a high-end consulting firm. I initially thought that my dream would make a great movie, but I decided to write a book instead. As I began to develop the plot and story lines I realized I could tie it all in with, past and current, real life events in the U.S. from 2001-2009. It was also relatively easy to combine some of my business experience, and people I have run across over the years, into this story. I grew up in Las Vegas and lived there for about thirty-five years so knowing about Scams, or coming up with my own for this book, wasn’t so hard. The TRUE events that led to the U.S. financial crash, mass business failures, and declines in property values in late 2007 were nothing but ammunition for this novel.

SCAM FACTORY is not a story about the guy in the white cowboy hat saving the town and riding off into the sunset. It is fiction based on reality with a ‘true to life’ outcome. The characters in this story get away with White-Collar crimes just as the real life participants did. The characters are sadistic and have a knack of getting away with almost everything, just like the in real world. It is as simple as that. One of the messages I wanted to convey in writing this story was to show what kinds of professionals were out there exploiting our businesses and citizens without legal retribution. The characters are mostly cold, calculating, and narcissistic.               

I figured that using a first person narrative was the best way to tell the story. There are many subjects involved in this story so I divided SCAM FACTORY into four parts to further make it easier to read and understand. Loyalties are lost and revenge is certainly in the plot, but figuring out how to write about it was the key to the story. There is no mention of any existing, or real life, companies-only industries and fictional business entities. Another challenge was making the fictional writing seem realistic. Several of the initial book reviewers were asking if some of the events in the story actually took place. The answer is probably yes, except that only a hand full of people knows how those events really took place.

The consulting firm in (TierGroup) in this story, that represents the seventeen major industries, is politically neutral. The idea is that if your money is green then TierGroup, and its clients, do not really care what your political affiliation is. This is also very relevant in the real world, but it seems to be changing for the worst. Although SCAM FACTORY contains many dark sides, it strongly reflects a ‘behind the closed door’ characterization of the reality we have faced over the last six years. The lessons we are still learning as a country are obvious and it may take many more years to recover. Control, perception, manipulation, and greed are still the number one driving forces in the business world today, but on the other hand, there are always two sides to a coin. Only time will tell.

Enjoy SCAM FACTORY and become a fan on Facebook.

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Giveaway

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I'm thrilled to be giving away an eBook copy of Scam Factory to one lucky reader .

To enter to win, please leave your name and email address in the comments below. The contest will close at 5:00pm EST on Friday, January 11.

I will put each name in a hat and have my trusty assistant (my lovely 12-year-old daughter) pick one. The winner will be announced here.

Good luck!

Blog Tour: Gilded Wings (The Angel Chronicles #2), Amy Lignor: Read-Along Excerpt, Guest Post, & Giveaway

As part of Tribute Books blog tour, I am featuring information about Amy Lignor's Gilded Wings (The Angel Chronicles #2). I am so excited to share this information because I loved the first book, Until Next time (read my full 4.5-star review here).

Enjoy the read-along excerpt and guest post below. And, don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway!

But first...

Gilded Wings Summary

The Beloved Angel-Warrior Team from Until Next Time Returns!When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become...

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget...

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams...

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.

As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.

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Excerpt

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The man raised an eyebrow, as Drew explained, “They’ve just come off the Island —new employees for Mr. Carrow.”

“Ah, then that would make this fine young lady the new tutor?”

Anya nodded but remained silent. The image of the policeman pulling her through the crowd, saving her from the terrible fate that’d befallen so many, flashed before her eyes. She felt humbled before Henry. In Anya’s eyes he represented a group who truly deserved respect for pledging their lives to save others.

Drew cleared his throat. “Yes, this is Anna...Churchill. She’s originally from Russia. Anna was a governess there and speaks all kinds of languages. Very smart, this one.”

Confusion raced through Anya, as she listened to the strange lies being told.

Henry bowed. “Well, the young Carrow is in good hands then. Yu’ll like the family, miss. One o’ the very best, if you ask me. Not like these other robber barons around ’ere.”

“Actually,” Anya’s voice grew loud. “My name is pronounced Anya, not Anna. And...Churchill—”

Henry held up his hand and smiled. “S’kay, miss. Yu’ll soon find out that a more native name helps.”

“Native name?”

“You’re more apt to fit in as a Churchill in this neighborhood.”

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Guest Post

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An Angel/Warrior Team Arrive in America

Ellis Island is the place where our angel/warrior team once again ‘find’ each other for adventure number two…and what an amazing place it was.

 

Emily is one of the people stepping off that boat. On a hideous ride where some got so ill they had to return home and never set foot in the land of opportunity, Emily was surrounded by people who  went from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other; happy and excited, knowing that they would make their mark in America, or depressed, angry and practically mad with disease, wondering if they would make it at all.

When our angel steps onto this ‘welcoming’ land, she immediately faces some truly heartbreaking incidents as she slowly walks up the lines toward a young man behind a desk whose job it is to check her in and offer her the chance at a brand new life. That young man is another immigrant who was lucky just a little while before, when he walked off the boat with his father, was accepted into the country and brought into the home of a very kind, wealthy man. He works at the Island to give back to others for the good luck he received. Even though he had to watch a man in a white coat write a letter on his father’s forehead in chalk - a letter that had him sent home on the next available boat to never be seen again - Mathew had found a home on America’s shores.

You are talking about a very frightening moment for a great many people; you are also talking about a building that, to some, looked a lot like the monument of Alcatraz. There were rules you had to abide by and an interview you had to pass in order to make it through the Island and out the other side where New York City waited. Support, friendship, help - these were key to a family’s survival…and some stories did not turn out well.

The ‘golden doors’ were opened to the immigrants and without that - without America standing up and placing that ‘Lady’ in the harbor with her torch that was the statue that still stands for the pride and honor we have in this country, we would’ve missed out on a great many who brought amazement to one and all.

From the magic of Harry Houdini who stepped off the boat in 1914 (who Emily has the pleasure to see later on) to Theodore Roosevelt who stepped off on the Island and went on to become the President of the nation that accepted him to Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein - even the much beloved Disney World would not have existed without the Island, seeing as that Walt stepped off the boat in 1919 and began a career that has brought the most entertainment and amazement for children and adults. These incredible imaginations, pioneering spirits - these people gave America a huge gift - and we can all be thankful that we had the ability to welcome them into the fold.  

So as you watch Emily and Matthew - two immigrants who were given a chance in America - remember how honored we have all been by the arrivals of the good, hard workers who made this country what it is today. And…who knew? Among the pioneers and intellects and entertainment gurus came an angel and a warrior who touched lives in ways that no one could possibly have dreamed of.

Until Next Time, Everybody, Amy

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Amy Lignor's Bio

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

 

For more information about the author, please visit her blog, website, Facebook page, and on Twitter and GoodReads.

 

Buy Gilded Wings

Kindle

Nook

iBookstore

Smashwords

PDF

 

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Other Blog Tour Stops

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Giveaway

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Against My Will, Benjamin Berkley (3.5 stars) Review and Guest Post

Description of Against My Will
Publisher: Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.,
September 1, 2012
Category: Fiction- Relationships, Abuse, Romance, Holocaust, Suspense
Available in: Print and PDF, 247 pages

AGAINST MY WILL is the life changing novel about Danielle, a victim of marital abuse, who finds the strength to leave her husband and pursue a career in law.

Danielle Landau knows she should feel lucky, but she can’t feel anything but dread. Not only did she pass the New York Bar, but she married the man her father says is just right for her and lives in a fashionable new loft in Queens. But the man who seems like the perfect catch is a perfect nightmare at home. Jacob tries to control her career, her daily routine, and even what she eats. He ignores her desires and belittles her every chance he gets. Soon, Danielle doesn’t recognize her husband or herself, and she struggles to find a way out.

Danielle tries to talk to her father but he dismisses her marital problems. But she can confide in her Nana Rose, a Holocaust survivor who lost her entire family at the hands of the Nazis. Rose helped raise Danielle and her brother when their mother died when Danielle was only three. Having faced death, Rose is Danielle’s source of security. But while Danielle holds on to the fragile belief that her father’s prince charming will change, she is raped by her husband on the night of their one year wedding anniversary.

Now, Danielle has to escape. And with the help of her beloved Nana, Danielle moves across the country and starts to rebuild her life. But will she be able to escape her past? And when one of her clients finds herself in the same terrible situation, will Danielle have the strength to help her?

As we follow Danielle on her journey of terror and recovery, we see her story intersect with the diary entries of her Nana as a young girl held captive in a concentration camp. The entries begin with Rose waking up in a hospital after the liberation of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp. Graphically she recounts the train ride to the camp and the emotional separation of her from her family upon arrival. And the full weight of the family’s secrets becomes clear. This is a story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately, it’s about love.

*****

Thanks to Benjamin Berkley for providing some additional insight about Against My Will:

How difficult was it to write what sounds like an emotionally draining and challenging novel?

After visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria and seeing firsthand how difficult it was to survive, drawing from my experience and then crafting a story about my character Irene was most emotional. Even more, contrasting her experiences from 75 years ago to those of a modern young girl who is in the grips of an abusive relationship caused me to pause many times as I too struggled to find the right words.

Did you find it difficult to wrap up the book and say goodbye to this character?

As for my character of Danielle, everyone likes a happy ending and I thought my readers would feel cheated if Danielle did not find the love of her life. Likewise, for everything that she endured, she deserved to find happiness. Finally, I cannot promise that I have said goodbye to her character so stay tuned.

*****

Review

On the surface, Danielle Landau has it together: she just recently passed the New York bar exam and is about to marry a guy her family likes. The problem, she's not in love. She looks past all the warning signs about Jacob, her new husband, in the hopes that things will get better. They don't. One evening, Jacob's controlling behavior escalates and pushes past what Danielle can overlook. 

Thanks to the support of her Nana, who has been through a life most of us can't fathom, Danielle flees to California and starts over. There she begins to heal, passing the California bar exam and joining the District Attorney's office. When she becomes involved with a client with a similar situation, Danielle finds the courage and strength to get justice for her client and a sense of closure for herself.  

Along the way, she meets Cliff. He brings the element she wasn't sure she'd ever find, a real and protective love. One she hadn't known since losing her Nana.

Although the story is told from Danielle's point of view, it's interlaced with diary entries from her Nana detailing the horrors of World War II. The author effectively switches back and forth, using both women to show the "story of survival, self-discovery, justice, and ultimately about love."

But because I was reading Danielle's story alongside Nana's, it was even harder to accept Danielle's fate. Today, woman have so much more power to avoid situations like Jacob. The warning signs weren't small. In fact, they were glaring. I couldn't help but compare Nana's situation, where she had no power and faced horrific world events, with Danielle's situation, where she should have. I found myself aggravated with Danielle until she left. Then I saw the strength of her character, and I felt invested as a reader. By the end, I was a fan.

I commend the author for taking on very delicate subjects and not shying away from the horrors associated with them. The novel would benefit from better editing, but the story is powerful. I recommend it for readers who appreciate a raw and honest journey of strength and endurance.

Rating: 3.5 stars

About Benjamin Berkley

Against My Will is Benjamin Berkley’s fifth book and debut novel. He is also the author of four self-help books: “My Wishes, Your Plan for Organizing Your Family’s Needs” (Sourcebooks, June, 2006) “The Complete Executor’s Guide” (Sourcebooks, June 2007) “Winning Your Social Security Disability Case” (Sourcebooks, February, 2008) and “Before You Say I Do Again, A Buyer’s Beware Guide to Remarriage.” (Frederick Fell Publishers, September, 2009).

And though writing is his passion, for over 34 years he has conducted a busy law practice in which he has seen many interesting clients come through his door. One in particular, an older woman with white hair, the kindest smile, and an amazing story became the inspiration for one of his characters for “Against My Will.” Berkley lives in southern California with his wife Phyllis and their cat Riley. He has two grown children and is always bragging about his most beautiful grandson and granddaughter.

*****

Thanks to Virtual Author Book Tours for including me on this blog tour. Please visit more blog stops on the Against My Will tour.

Guest Post from Jolene Perry, Author of Knee Deep (With Excerpt)

I am so excited to be hosting Jolene Perry today.

I reviewed her novel Night Sky earlier this year and really enjoyed it. So when Tribute Books asked me to host an excerpt and guest post from Jolene, I jumped at the chance.

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.
After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

How Knee Deep Came to Be
by Jolene Perry

Sometimes a story is more personal than you expect it to be.

I read an article in an online newspaper that talked about the YA books coming out that year which dealt with abusive relationships.

I'd part mapped one out a while back, and thought maybe I'd work on it - all evidence that the market had just gotten an influx of them didn't sway me the way it should have…

The more I wrote in the story, the more personal it became.

I was not ever hit by my boyfriend in high school. He never screamed and yelled at me - though I heard him trashing his room a few times when I left after an argument, and he didn't hesitate to show me when he was pissed about something.

He'd pick fights with me over the phone and hang up, knowing it meant I'd sneak out to "straighten things out."

There was one really horrible night with him that I'd blocked from my mind for a long time, that I remembered when I was writing, so I used it.

I see these cases my husband talks about with women who are beaten and bruised and making up excuses and going back over and over. One ended in murder a couple of weeks ago. A case my husband will be prosecuting when it goes to trial.

The abuse story I told is nowhere near that dramatic, but so much of Ronnie's story was mine. WAY more than I realized while I was writing it. When I got to the end, and started writing down the parts of her story that were real (I always do this for my author site), I realized more and more how much of me was in that girl.

I stared at my computer screen in shock.

I had one of my best friends, who was a guy, who I shared more with than I probably did to most of my girlfriends - (like Luke from Knee Deep) and a boyfriend I'd known since I was a kid (like Shawn from Knee Deep) And I felt this draw to my boyfriend, only because I'd known him for so long, not because we really had anything left in common.

I felt more like I was stuck in this relationship, and didn't even realize I didn't want to be there until I visited a friend in college and saw how much more LIFE was out there. It was just that the idea of this one person had been in my head for way too long.

And where did I end up? Married to the best friend.

People talk about writing what you know, and then talk about keeping yourself out of your books. But you know what? I KNEW that situation - and I know I'll get some bad reviews (like you always do - ESPECIALLY when you tackle a tough topic) that are going to say that Ronnie's actions weren't believable.

But here's the thing - I told her story, the best way I knew how. Ronnie's reactions with pieces of my truth. And there are some drastic differences, but there are also some startling similarities. So, to me, Ronnie's actions were completely and totally understandable.

And that's the story of how Knee Deep came to be.

*****

Knee Deep Excerpt

My front door opens. “Hello?” Shawn calls.

“In here!” I say back. Suddenly this feels weird. Why would this feel weird? This is just what happens when one of us is stuck at home. Why would today be any different? But my heart’s beating against the inside of my ribs, trying to tell me this is different.

Luke scoots away from the couch. Does he feel it too? That maybe him and me hanging out alone for the day might not have been the best idea?

Shawn steps through the hallway and scowls when his eyes meet mine and then pass to Luke. This shouldn’t be a big deal. Except...I’m so stupid. I was just thinking how I needed to make Shawn’s life outside of his house less stressful, and part of me knew it was weird that Luke was here without Shawn. I thought it, and did nothing. But again, it is just Luke.

“What’re you doing here?” Shawn asks. His dark eyes fix on Luke.

“I figured you’d be here, man.” Luke stands up. “It’s like we always ditch together, right?”

Romeo and Juliet kissing in the pool on the TV screen probably isn’t helping anything. Maybe Shawn won’t notice, or maybe it’s just sending my heart into crazy flutters because this tension between Shawn and Luke and, I guess, me, is happening during the most romantic scene of the movie.

“Uh, I don’t know.” Shawn’s still scowling, his brows pulled low and his jaw tight.

“You would’ve hated it,” I say. My eyes catch his, but his are as black as his mood seems to be. I’m so stupid. Why did I have to let Luke stay?

“Yeah, maybe.” Shawn’s narrowed eyes go from Luke to me, back and forth, as if judging the situation. Really? What did he think could possibly happen between Luke and I? Even if this is suddenly on my top three ‘most awkward moments’ ever. I can’t even think about what the other two might be. Maybe I’ve just found number one.

“Romeo and Juliet all day.” Luke laughs, but I know him well enough to see he’s trying really hard to be relaxed. His shoulders are too stiff, and his normal stance is too rigid. I wonder if Shawn sees it too. “Guess I’ll leave you two alone.” Luke’s trying hard to keep his voice light.

“Yeah.” Shawn has yet to return Luke’s smile. “I almost never see my girl anymore.”

It’s like I’m on the edge of my seat, tension pinpricking every part of me. I’ve never seen Shawn like this.

“Well, I should get my ass to rehearsal anyway.” Luke gives Shawn a friendly pat on the shoulder before heading outside.

I don’t watch him go. My eyes are on Shawn, trying to figure out what to expect next.

“What the hell was that?” His sharp gaze is now pointed directly at me.

I stand up and lean to the side, trying to be relaxed. “It didn’t seem like a big deal this morning.” Maybe if I play it off as nothing Shawn won’t be so mad. He knows Luke and I are friends. No big deal, I tell myself again. But I don’t know if I’m trying to convince myself or Shawn.

“Was he here when we were texting?” he asks. His voice may be low, but not in a good way. It’s low in a way that makes him sound like he’s past the edge of reasonable anger.

My body’s screaming for me to take a step back, which makes no sense. This is Shawn. My Shawn. “No.” But I’m weakening by the second, almost shaking inside. His jaw tightens again.

My eyes close as I remember, and dread fills my chest. “He got here as I sent my last one.” Is that bad? Good?

“And you didn’t think to tell me? What the hell is that?”

I jump at the sharpness of his voice. Shawn doesn’t need this stress. I know this. I reach forward to put my arms around him. We just need to hold one another for a minute, then it’ll all be fine.

He stops me, grabbing my arm—hard—just above my wrist.

“This is not okay.” His jaw is set.

“Hey.” My voice shakes. My body shakes. I’m actually scared of Shawn for the first time ever. I jerk my hand once, but he tightens his grip...impossibly tight. My lungs can’t pull in a breath; there’s just not enough air in the room anymore. “Shawn, you’re hurting me.” He can’t mean to hurt me. He can’t.

His face is stuck in a sharp scowl.

“He’s your friend.” My voice is crying. I want to try and pull my shaky arm out of his grasp again, but I’m afraid to; he’s squeezing so hard. Tears are hot against the back of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

“How would you feel if I spent all day with some chick?” The words come out as angry spit from between his teeth.

I open my mouth to answer but can’t, the lump in my throat has taken over. All I can think about is that I need to find something to say so he’ll let me go. Some way to get the air through my throat to form words. “It’s just Luke,” I plead, sucking in a breath.

“Whatever.” He throws my arm back at me, turns, and walks out the door, slamming it hard behind him. My body jumps at the sound.

I stumble backward onto the couch. I’m like a leaf battered about in the wind. Nothing’s working right. I need to sit. Normally I’d run after him, but I have no idea what to expect. And I’m afraid. Of Shawn.

He’s never been that way before. Ever. He’s moody and particular, but this seems...extreme. I’m cradling my wrist with my other hand, afraid to look at any possible damage. It hurts to move it. What just happened here? How did it happen?

It’s like there suddenly must be something fundamentally wrong with the universe. But the TV’s still on. My house looks normal and quiet. I’m still breathing, but Shawn, my Shawn, just hurt me. Lying down seems so anti-climactic, but I can’t bring myself to do anything else.

When Juliet realizes Romeo’s dying the sobs take over, and I pull my knees to my chest as if making myself smaller will somehow dull the pain.

It doesn’t.

*****

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A special thank you to Nicole at Tribute Books for including me in this blog tour. For more information on Tribute Books Blog Tours, please visit their Facebook page.