Booke Feature; Asylum Bound, Stuart Townsend

Meet the Hogarthian characters of St.Paul’s Mental Hospital: Grace, white-haired, with dementia, on her first day in this terrible place which has always haunted her dreams;  Percy, the crystal radio buff, with severe depression; Harry, so damaged by his time in a Japanese POW camp; Walter and his wayward girl-friend Minnie; Tom, whose delusions involve coded messages via the BBC News; Betty,  who won’t quite fit in her coffin, needing a bit of encouragement; and many others

Also meet Stuart, the novice student nurse, having to shave a corpse on his very first day and working fearfully on nights, struggling desperately for breath as a patient’s powerful hands grip his throat.

How did a naïve novice cope with the alien world of the mental asylum in the 1970s?

Asylum Bound is a wild weird walk through his experiences in a bizarre world of terrible extremes.
In this world there are no shades of grey, just extremes of aggression, sadness and institutionalization - of both patients and staff. In this strange world Stuart discovers the origins of psychiatry and its terrible treatments - lobotomy, E.C.T., insulin shock and even aversion therapy for underwear snatchers!

Yet he also discovers a rich vein of humor and humanity.

But the asylum system is dying on its feet. The patients are leaving, care is slowly moving into the community - and, thank God, the obvious abuses are on the decline. It is such a different world from anything he has experienced - a brave new world and a life-changing revelation.

For Stuart, what started as novelty, progressed to fascination but ended in tragedy.

Sadly, Asylum Bound is all true.

It’s taken me a year - finished my psychiatric career to do it - been living on dog food (if i was lucky) - fingers still sticky from the ink - quills scattered all over the floor – incontinent most of the time from worry - excrement up to window level - wife and kids left without me noticing - however, the book is finished, done and printed, in e-version and paperback. It'll take a few copies sold to rid me of the detritus that has built up, but Asylum Bound is told. Now no one can say to me -"you should write a book". Now I can say - "I have". Is my experience similar to yours? Were you shocked by your first glimpse of a hospital or asylum? Was the weirdness and chaos as disturbing, yet as thrilling, as mine? Have a read and let me know. Amazon has Asylum Bound

Links:

Now available in paperback and kindle versions from Amazon and selected bookshops

Website:

Read the first chapter of Asylum Bound

follow @asylumboundbook on Twitter or Stuart Townsend on Facebook

Sure I'm a Writer...I mean...I have a Blog...

There has been no small amount of buzz lately about review blogs and reviewers in general.

As an author, I can assure you that a decent "I didn't hate it" comment or two on Amazon or Goodreads or B&N or AllRomance Ebooks is a real "thank god I don't suck" sort of moment, especially when you are just starting out.

But when your books start getting picked up for regular reviewing on the "big sites" or even the sorta big sites, now that ladies and gents is nail biting time. And as an author who has had her fair share of "meh" and "oh hell no's" from some of the bigger sites early on my writing career I've been happy/lucky/thrilled/broke from bribery (KIDDING) to be the recipient of some very good, some would say excellent reviews lately for the Stewart Realty series which has received multiple Gold Stars, Top Picks and five stars/diamonds/kisses from many reviewers. And the Turkish Delights series is not far behind, plus Cheeky Blonde has been so well received I wrote a sequel to that sucker.

And I will admit that I paid for a review once. Once. Trust me that will never ever happen again. Ever.

But the fuss is about how so many reviewers have other lives (oh, the nerve). Ones that sometimes involve doing marketing work for publishers, or authors but who still want to maintain objectivity and legitimacy when they review books other than those for the publisher or author who pays them.

I was sort of heated about this a few weeks ago, but I'm over it. I get it. If a reviewer dislikes my characters and feels a need to make thinly veiled facebook rants about them well, this is America, that is the internet. Believe what you will about that reviewer's opinion. That is how it works.

And I've been on the receiving end of some anger myself, having submitted a review of a book I read...in a book club. I guess as an author I'm not allowed to have an opinion either?

So, bottom line is this: We all know what review sites we can trust. But what I have found as my Stewart Realty series overcomes the above mentioned various challenges because the bottom line is it does NOT follow traditional romance "rules" for characters or plot necessarily--I think if you read a book, any book, and you feel strongly about it good or bad, you are allowed to say whatever you want about it. And all you newbie authors best gird your loins and grow a few more layers of skin because it is rough out here.

For the record, the readers who are falling in made lust/love with the Stewart Realty crew and making it a top seller for Amazon in the family saga/ domestic life/urban fiction genres tell me they are going with the ultimate "review"--the recommendation of a friend.

Carry on writing, reviewing, blogging or whatever---just keep reading too!
cheers
Liz

NOTE: VEGAS MIRACLE, my smoking HOT menage romance is on sale for the Labor Day weekend!
buy it! http://www.amazon.com/Vegas-Miracle-ebook/dp/B007ZDVTZU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346259504&sr=8-1&keywords=vegas+miracle

Book Feature; The Mask of Deceit, Hettie Ashwin

MEDIA RELEASE:

Even though it is speculative fiction, the novel The Mask of Deceit couldn’t be more timely.

News headlines constantly scream about corruption, cover ups, and environmental issues. This insightful novel paints a grim picture of the inevitable result if these issues are allowed to continue.

When asked her motivation for writing the novel, author HettieAshwin said, ‘I set out to write a quest book with a modern theme. At the time, there was a lot of political talk about GM food and superbugs so I used these themes in a speculative fiction context. I wrote about the science that is happening in the 21st Century and what would it be like if it were to go awry.’

The story is set in the future and is a story that will horrify and amaze the reader. 

It is a story of a world after carbon trading, after conglomerate GM food production, after the global warming crisis. This is the world of the main character, Anton. It is a world of fear of the natural environment and virtual imprisonment in a city totally controlled by government.

When his partner Buloké disappears, Anton sets out in search of her. Leaving the city and the only life he has ever known, Anton embarks on a journey to a place that to him is only legend. Fighting for his life against a controlling government, hoards of rapacious arthropods, and the freezing cold, Anton discovers a whole new world. A world he didn’t believe existed. What he learns in this wondrous place will change his life forever and set him on a quest to fight for truth against a government rife with corruption and deceit.

When asked if there was message in her novel that she wanted readers to grasp, Hettie said, ‘Be careful of government freedoms. Governments appear to give you stability, freedom, and choice, but it is a double edged sword. One man can make a difference; it just takes courage to be an individual. Everyone needs hope for the future.’

Even though it is speculative fiction, the author conducted extensive research in genetics, modified food, global predictions, weather predictions, global warming, insects and their survival, human endurance, physics of magnetism, and positive atmospheric pressure for the book.

***

Author Bio

Hettie Ashwin has been widely published in magazines and on-line.  Her writing includes humorous column style articles, short stories, novels and non fiction boating pieces, which is handy as she lives on a boat in Queensland Australia. She also has had some of her short stories included in anthologies in UK, USA and Australia. Hettie has won several writing competitions and her Speculative fiction novel and Thriller novel (a competition winner) are published by Morris Publishing. Hettie also self published a humorous novel and a collection of short stories in 2010. 

-- 

This book can be purchased via Morrispublishingaustralia http://www.morrispublishingaustralia.com/  or from  http://hettieashwin.blogspot.com.au/p/published-books-to-buy.html 

Hettie Ashwin on the web.

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Book Feature: Descended Jett, Dana Pratola

When a reclusive businessman takes an interest in Haven’s artwork, she knows it’s an answer to prayer. But Jett Cestone is an enigma with a disconcerting connection to the young women in his employ. He’s by far the most unusual man she’s ever met.
Haven is the most interesting woman to ever cross Jett’s path. But she’s too naïve and pure to learn what goes on in his home. Too bad he wants her more than he’s wanted anyone or anything in his life.

Buy on Amazon

Visit Author's Website

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If Writers Were On Reality TV....

Greetings Writers and those who Promote Us~
For reasons I don't quite wish to admit, I've seen a sh*t ton of reality television this summer. Everything from "Face Off" where radical, whiny artists of some kind I'm not sure what create gross, icky costumes/puppets and stuff for models. And have to all live in the same house while competing.

Then there are the various and sundry model walk-offs or whatever.  And Chopped (one of my favs), Cupcakes Wars, Craft Wars, Fear Factor, Say Yes to the Dress, Say Yes to the Fat Girl Dress, various Hillbilly renditions of all of the above including something about "gypsies" which could easily be labelled "Trailer Park Trash Wedding (FORGIVE ME IF ONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUR FAMILIES. I grew up in South East Kentucky. Ergo: I am allowed to make fun of people who would or should be from there and get themselves a tv show).

It's gotten me thinking .... what if you threw a bunch of WRITERS in a house, told them they had exactly a month to get:
1.  An agent's contract
2.  10,000 Twitter followers
3.  A viral FB page with over 100k "likes"
4. A minimum of 20 re-tweets per day
5.  A feature interview on the Today Show or (bonus points) The Daily Show
6.  A movie option
7. OH YEAH you have to write a 90k novel.

Let's just ponder the possibilities shall we?

The alcohol that would consumed?  The egos that would be crushed? The introverts forced out from in front of their computer and made to interact? The caffeine bill? The cat memes?

It truly boggles the mind. Especially that cat meme thing....

You laugh...but I see it--The Writers' Cave LIVE with tears, extra marital sex, the works!

Whew, now, I can go watch Honey Boo Boo Chile---yes I am sickened and cannot take my eyes OFF it...

later
Liz

P.S. CONDITIONAL OFFER: THE STEWART REALTY SERIES BOOK 5 is available for Pre - Order on ARe...and releases Saturday, August 25!

Book Feature: Virginia Justice Book One: Serial Games, K. Victoria Chase

Virginia Justice Book One: Serial Games 

FBI profiler Maggie Weston has a reputation for identifying the most gruesome of killers. But her reputation is put on the line when US Marshal Brandon Worth walks into her office with news the one case that haunted her the most, John Michael Burrows, has escaped federal custody. Brandon needs her help; she understands how Burrows thinks and the best tracker on the east coast isn't about to pass up her expertise. Maggie and Brandon have to work together to catch a serial murderer and the closer they get to Burrows, the more their hearts become involved. While insecurities and bitterness threaten a budding relationship between Maggie and Brandon, an elusive killer terrorizes a small Virginia county with a game he plans on winning. 

A Christian interracial romantic suspense.

EXCERPT 

Maggie's eyes slowly traveled the width of the elevator door until they found Brandon's reflection in the mirrored panels lining the inside of the car. Broad shoulders rippled down to muscular biceps that contracted with the force he used to grip the rail behind him.

She needed to assert herself now.

"I'm going to go over some of the documentation the district attorney's office faxed us to see if I might be able to find the missing link enabling Burrows to escape custody."

Brandon's eyes narrowed. Obviously business wasn't what he wanted to hear, and how easily he could read her discomfort troubled her. He had an uncanny knack for interpreting her body language. What did that mean? Whatever it meant, she didn't have the time to analyze it now. She straightened her shoulders. "Knowing who helped him escape can perhaps shed some light on his next move."

Brandon's level stare remained.

Ok, he's not buying it. Regardless, I refuse to fall...

"Do you forgive me?"

"What?" The question about forgiveness startled her. He had apologized but she wasn't interested in discussing it. All she wanted to do was wash the smoke out of her hair and crash. It was going on midnight... or past it; she had lost track of time.

In one stride he was in front of her, one arm around her waist, the other guiding her chin up. His lips were warm and smooth as they glided over hers. He pulled back and disappointment filled Maggie at the loss of his heat. She stared into the dark thunderstorm whirling in his eyes.

"Do you forgive me?" His hoarse voice rumbled through to her inner core.

The elevator bell chimed. Startled, Maggie nearly jumped at the ring. She turned to the console. Her numbered floor illuminated.

"Saved by the bell." He released her.

Maggie couldn't resist looking at him. His eyes were veiled but the confident smirk returned. As the elevator doors opened, Maggie wondered who would be the more difficult challenge to overcome: Burrows or Brandon?

Buy Links:

Amazon

B&N

iTunes

Publisher

Bio

From childhood, K. Victoria Chase enjoyed writing stories and plays and reading Christian romance. She received degrees in Criminal Justice and Diplomacy and worked as a federal law enforcement officer for several years before deciding to try her hand at writing a complete novel. Serial Games (Virginia Justice Book One) is the third completed work and the first published by Desert Breeze Publishing. Book two of the series, Marked by the Mob, will be released in November 2012. She has recently signed with Astraea Press for the first in her Santiago Brothers series, Rafael. Until she can make writing a full-time venture, K. Victoria Chase continues to work in the field of counterterrorism, identifying potential terrorists that threaten the United States and the world. She currently resides in Leesburg, VA and writes both clean and Christian interracial romance.

Links:

Website: http://www.kvictoriachase.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/K-Victoria-Chase-Author/221185567951125

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kvictoriachase

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762404.K_Victoria_Chase

Erotic Corner - Know when to fight or stand down

Any author that writes for me or talks to me and is mentored by me learns a few things about publishing, hopefully from my rather...direct tone, rather than the school of hard knocks.  I strive as an editor to teach my authors, strive as an author to be an example of my peers (even if I look better in a dress than some of you :P ) Over the years of my career I've learned quite a few things about fighting battles and tact.  And patience.  The last lesson has been one of the hardest to learn even as I mature into a more confident Alpha.

One of the things I keep seeing in publishing, be it erotic or non is the snarky, bitchy, whiny behavior displayed by authors in a variety of circumstances.  For example, bad reviews.

I always tell my authors to stand up to the publishers and editors when the time is right.  I'll fight my editors at Decadent over dialogue tags, POV changes and those sorts of things because I know I'm right and ultimately MY ass is on the line when it comes time to do the math on sales.  Yes, the publisher has a large vested interest but if I'm not a new author and I've already cultivated an audience and defined the author/reader contract, then I KNOW what they're going to expect from me.  It's MY job to deliver it to them without fail, without change (growth is okay, in fact, preferred) EVERY SINGLE TIME.  So yeah, Val and Kate will occasionally have to just let me roll with whatever edits, trusting that I'm not some newbie.

If I were, I'd be smart to listen to them.   They have experience I need.  Unless I can justify a plot point or a style issue, (and usually new authors can't, they lack the experience to plot properly, and that's okay) I should listen to my editors.

Regarding reviews and bad press - LET IT BE.  If I received a bad review from a site (and I have had a few, believe me) my best move is to LET THAT BE. Unless I can spin that into some sort of huge controversy that wastes my time but is justified by a LARGE sales spike, I'm better off telling myself that the reviewer is a moron if my fan base disagrees with him/her, and my sales reflect that.  Yes, there are a number of poorly published books out there that sell yet don't deserve to sit on the book shelf, let alone my bathroom floor, but that's the nature of free market economics.

In an upcoming marketing course I'm teaching to my writers before releasing to the public for a fee, I'm going to cover this concept in depth.  Even in sex writing, if you're writing the purest, hottest smut, for publication, you'll have to understand that some battles cannot be fought and won, even if you're right.

When you DO choose to fight battles, make sure you use tact, decorum and diplomacy.  I'm seeing a lot of bad author behavior on social media and while I eschew it myself, it took years of learning on the streets of hard knocks (in publishing we've got more than one street of hard knocks...we roll deep like that!)

Annoying behavior will have dire consequences, no matter how well you sell, how awesome you write, if you do not learn when to fight and when to stand down, you will be knocked down . Getting up from that is not easy.  Just ask any author who started in this business s fourteen years ago and isn't where they should be.

Menage Bound - A tired corporate exec seeks two dominant men.   On Amazon
Dark Sensualities and Primal Instincts - Paranormal Erotic Romance out from Sizzler Editions

Book Feature: I'm Prohibited, Hanz Medina

Blurb: 

 Enter the disturbing world of Syd, an innocent child plunged into a hell of domestic violence and abuse. Look through his eyes as he tries to make sense of mental illness, demonic possession and other taboos society would rather not confront. Carefully crafted together from the real life suffering of the author and two of his childhood friends, the narrative will grip you with the rawness and honesty of its contents. I’m Prohibited will take you on a journey that is both disturbing and hopeful, when you see what evil people can inflict on children’s lives and how children can rise above these misfortunes to live in compassion and forgiveness.

Synopsis/Review: 

 I’m Prohibited tells the tale of main character Syd and his family. Delving into how his multi-cultural parents first met, the book tells the story of their life together then merges into how Syd was born and raised from his point of view as a child. It shows him encountering a mentally-ill and violent mother and her abuse and neglect, as well as the merciless rape he endured as a child when he then went on to being a slave to other's sexual pleasures. It also sheds light on his relationship with a father who loved him, but wasn’t always present, and a grandfather that was the light in his dark world.

I’m Prohibited, which might be considered a controversial publication based on its violence and taboo subject matter, was recently released to create awareness for the abused and neglected. With many people committing suicide from coping with daily abuse, neglect, bullying and not being able to deal with the repercussions of such, this e-book gives them a voice. It’s for the modern world so that they may open their eyes and be educated about the truths of these inflictions that occur in some families.

What I’m Prohibited has achieved thus far:

1. Stageplay adaptation in 2013, kickstarting in parts Asia to create awareness.
2. Donated a sum of the proceeds to MercyRelief.org 
3. Crying letters and emails
4. Connected with many readers, helping them relate to my story and to other victims and survivors of abuse.

Link To Buy:

 Smashwords: 

Amazon Kindle: 

Kobo: 

Barnes & Noble: 

 


Ask Medina anything:

 Email: hanzmedina (at) outlook.com

Trailers, Reviews, Book Clubs and Beer

Greetings followers and friends (and even you stalkers and haters. I did yoga. I am one with myself and embrace the hate and squeeze it between my...never mind).

Just a catch up post today. What in the World Is Liz Up To This Week?

Well, I'm having a decent release week for Lust on Tap although I'm discovering a fair few regular rabid Liz fans finding it disappointing which makes me think hard about staying true to my voice.  Regardless, I love the premise of this book, and think it contains some interesting, complex characters. I may revisit it someday and add the epilogue I have for it, then again, maybe I won't.














My next brewery based book: Paradise Hops, releases from Tri Destiny Publishing on October 15. I really really love this one and am told by a couple of my Beta readers that is my best yet. It's a tough story, as many of mine are, with a twist, as you know I love to throw in. Here is the blurb:

 A brutal attack left Lori  Brockton convinced she was damaged goods. By the time she emerges from hiding two years later, ready to run her family's famous brewery, she's determined to be independent--never rely on anyone ever again. Nearly a year of working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, teaches her all she needs to know about the business. Then, she comes face-to-face with masculine perfection in a suit and her world is rocked in more ways than one. Garret Hunter is the new Brockton business manager who takes one look at the beautiful, sad young woman and his entire existence coalesces around winning her heart. 

But standing between Garrett and what he believes is his true love, is a six-feet six-inch blond-haired bad boy brewer.

Eli Buchannan is a craft beer rock star, recently hired by Brockton to drag the company into the 21st century. He brings innovation and attitude plus a prima donna ladies man reputation.  But he's sworn off anything resembling commitment, personal or professional, after getting burned at his last job on both fronts. 

Garret Hunter is “The Perfect Man” -- handsome, successful, stable, eager to settle down. Eli Buchannan... is not.  Compelling, smoking hot, creative and elusive, he represents everything Lori Brockton should avoid.  But just as she makes a difficult choice, a drastic life-changing shift occurs, and nothing is ever the same again.

What else is up this week? I have a killer book trailer for the next Stewart Realty Book: Conditional Offer. It releases August 25 and allow me to just say RIGHT NOW: This book is not meant as a standalone PERIOD.  please, if you are interested in this book, join the many thousands (now) of readers who have read books 1-4 THEN jump into the story with us here!

Here's a buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=stewart+realty+liz+crowe

CLICK HERE FOR THE TRAILER (because yet again blogger won't let me embed the thing)

Let's see....what else....I have a huge weekend of beer starting Thursday with a big event downtown Ann Arbor...and the Ypsilanti Heritage Fest's first go at having a "craft beer tent" is making me tear my ever loving hair out but it will all be good---and busy for yours truly.

I'm working on a follow up to the top selling CHEEKY BLONDE.  HONEY RED will be a story involving Jen's brother Cam and Sean's brother Liam plus Hannah, a hot red head employee of Garrison Brothers Brewing. It will be a very nice book. But you know, I like all my books!

cheers kids

Liz

Book Giveway: The Teacher's Billionaire, Christina Tetreault

Callie Taylor's life is turned upside down when she learns the truth about her birth following the death of her mother.  Not only is her father alive, but he's none other than presidential candidate Senator Warren Sherbrooke. 

Billionaire and confirmed bachelor, Dylan Talbot, is devoted to his family.  When his stepfather Warren Sherbrooke receives a letter from a past love telling him they have a daughter together, Dylan is instantly suspicious. In order to keep the media vultures away and protect Warren's political aspirations, Dylan convinces Warren to let him handle the situation. 

As Callie and Dylan spend time together, they can't resist the feelings that blossom between them.  However, when Callie learns the real reason he has been spending time with her their fledgling romance is put in jeopardy and only complete honesty can save it.

Except

Slowly she dropped her arm back down and turned around expecting Dylan to step back.  He didn't move.  Rather he reached out to brush a stray piece of hair off her face.

  As if on autopilot Callie closed her eyes as his fingers skimmed down her check and neck to her shoulder.  With the weight of his hand resting on her shoulder, she waited not sure what to expect.  And then she felt just the slightest bit of pressure as his lips settled over hers.  Everything seemed to stop.  The only things she was aware of were his callused hand on her shoulder and his lips on hers.  The kiss was gentle.  Tender.

  This shouldn't be happening.  Not with this man.

  Even as her brain protested, Callie's body responded.  She wanted to feel his hard-muscled body pressed up against hers.  Even though she knew she should break contact, she took a step closer and rested her hands on his wide shoulders.

Chistina is giving away one free copy of The Teacher's Billionaire. To be in the running please comment on this blog post and a winner will be chosen within one week.

Buy Links:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-teachers-billionaire/id533213772
B&N
Amazon
Smashwords