Welcome to my M&Ms (Majendi’s Mental Moments)

I am Majendi Jarrett, a marketing graduate from University of Bedfordshire with a career spanning across the Paper and Appliance industries. I am an author, an advocate for mental health wellbeing and a speaker at schools, churches and corporate events. FB ADS 9I lost my youngest son to suicide in 2020 and my focus is to help others especially the parents and carers of young people with mental health issues through this blog, Majendi's Mental Moments.

This blog will focus on practical tips once a month for parents and carers with loved ones suffering with anxiety or other mental health issues.

Understanding your young person’s Mental Health: 5 Tips

Seek professional help if you notice these 5 things about your child’s behaviour
As a mother who has been blindsided by my son’s suicide, I would like to share 5 things which at the time were red flags which I was not aware of at the time.

1. Complaining about lack of friends
Your teenager or pre-teens child regularly complains about lack of friends and someone to connect with at school or social circle.

2. Withdrawing from social events
Your teenager or pre-teens child does not want to attend social events and this could range from one or two family members visiting to attending family wedding.

3. Making “mountains from molehills”
Every little disagreement becomes a “biggie” Something as minor as leaving the tissue box empty becomes a big argument.

4. Body consciousness
Any comment about their body knocks their self-esteem, being tall, being skinny, having a small gap in their teeth, the way they speak, all of these to name a few become an issue.

5. Constant Rumination
Finally, my last tip is your child continuously brings up the same topic of discussion previously exhausted 2 days ago and wants to rehash it all over again.

Visit https://www.majendijarrett.com/ for more information or check Majendi's book on Amazon now!

Someone to Kiss, by Jamie Anderson is A Hilarious and Heartening Take on the Pitfalls of Modern Dating

2. STK Cover Small Compressed WebAs the clock strikes midnight over a disastrous New Year’s Eve and happy couples celebrate all around her, Kate makes a resolution, hastily scrawled on the back of a napkin, that next New Year’s Eve she will have found someone of her own to kiss.

But when you’re a forty-something cat-mom who’d rather binge Netflix than brave the singles scene, finding someone to kiss turns out to be harder than it sounds. Kate is totally unprepared for navigating hook-up apps, speed-dating, and sliding into somebody’s DMs.

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, Kate seems further than ever from reaching her goal. As relationships crumble around her and dark long-kept secrets spill out, could Kate's fixation on her quest cause her to let true love slip through her fingers forever?

Someone to Kiss is a wry and witty romantic comedy, tackling serious issues with real heart. The perfect new read for fans of Beth O’Leary, Jennifer Weiner and JoJo Moyes.

About Jamie3. Jamie Author Pic 1 1

Jamie Anderson is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A proud Canadian and Saskatchewanian, she wanted to set her first two novels in the place she was born and raised. She works in content marketing, has a certificate in professional writing and has done a smattering of freelance writing, character development and copyediting over the past several years. She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been reading for longer than that. She lives happily with her mountain of books, her TV and her two plants.

Check out Someone to Kiss on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG955RF3 

Not quite ready to commit? Sign-up to Jamie's newsletter https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cxifz0ucfv You’ll receive exclusive deals, special offers and a FREE copy of Jamie’s sweet, uplifting novella Running from Christmas as a welcome gift!

What to Expect When You’re Expecting to Get Published

By Jamie Anderson, author of Someone to Kiss2. STK Cover Small Compressed Web

Do you know all the steps a writer goes through to get a book published? I certainly didn't before it happened to me. If you're planning on going the traditional route, here is a good idea of what you can expect, based on my own experiences with Someone to Kiss:

 

  1. Write a book
    This step can take anywhere from a few months to several decades, during which time you will stop and start and rewrite and cry and doubt both your skill and your worth, more times than you can count. But, guess what? You will finish. You can finish. If I can, anyone can.
  2. Edit your book
    Yes, you do need to edit your book before you start sending it out to agents and publishers. I didn't know this part. Only after your book is perfect can you start the next step. I would suggest hiring an editor and getting some people to read and critique. I did both and it really helped. Except I didn't hire an editor, a friend edited mine for free, because I'm cheap.
  3. Query Agents and Publishers
    This step is basically like applying for a job. You send your cover letter (query letter) and your resume (a synopsis, and a certain number of pages from your novel, depending on what is asked for), and wait several months until someone gets back to you. Or, in my case, doesn't get back to you. Just kidding, several agents and publishers did get back to me saying my book wasn't for them. Out of the over 100 queries I sent out, only one agent gave feedback on why she didn't think it was for her. From what I understand, this is pretty typical. Agents and publishers get thousands of queries a week and many say on their websites that they won't respond at all if they don't want to move forward. I'd say don't get discouraged if you don't hear back, but you will get discouraged because it's super discouraging. Almost every writer goes through it though, so know that you're not alone.
  4. Get accepted by an agent  
    I don't know much (anything) about this step because I skipped it. Most publishers don't accept queries unless they're through agents, but I found one who did. Normally, if an agent likes your query letter and pages, they will ask for either more pages or a full manuscript. If they like that, they'll contact you and make an offer. Then, from what I understand, you will work together on your manuscript until it's ready, they will pitch it to multiple publishers and you'll sit on your couch and drink until you hear back. Sometimes multiple publishers want your book so there is a bidding war (every author's dream). Sometimes there isn't.
  5. Find a publisher
    Based on the fact that I sent out my manuscript to over 100 agents and publishers and didn't get it accepted, I knew there was definitely something wrong with it. But, because I never got feedback, I didn't know what it was. I am extremely grateful that an indie publisher in the UK decided to give my book a chance. She liked the idea enough that she was willing to go through it and tell me what was wrong so I could fix it.
    Note: If your book gets sold to a larger publisher, you will get assigned to an editor who will work with you through these next few steps. I took a different route because my publisher is small (but mighty).
  1. Publisher Manuscript Assessment
    After I signed the contract, my publisher went through my book, made some edits and sent me back a manuscript assessment that outlined the major things I had to change. These things were: make it more of a romance (I'd initially written it as women's fiction with sort of a romantic arc), tighten up the structure, change the tense, shorten it by 10,000 words and take out the creepy parts. After I had done all these things and addressed all her comments, I understood fully why no one else had wanted it. It became a much better book because of her feedback. Have I said how grateful I am for her taking a chance on me? I’m very, very grateful.
  2. Rewrite your manuscript
    The biggest piece of advice I can probably give is to be wide open to feedback. You may think your book is perfect just the way it is because you’re an amazing writer, and I’m sure you are an amazing writer, but getting feedback from someone who is in the industry and, more importantly, someone who hasn’t lived inside your book for as long as you have, is extremely valuable. My book is so, so much better because of all the feedback I got. Rewrites sometimes suck, but they are often necessary.
  1. Developmental edit
    Once your publisher is happy with your revisions, your manuscript is sent over to a Developmental Editor who will review it for theme, structure, character likability and other, big picture things. Here are the highlights of what mine came back with:
  • Show more, tell less (let your reader make their own interpretations of things)
  • Add more tension/conflict/raise the stakes (why do we care?)
  • Your main character seems over-indulgent (she was)
  • Don’t reveal everything all at once
  • You need a better location in your novel than nowhere
    This is a good article on different types of editing if you’re curious.
  1. Align with all the developmental edit feedback, because it was excellent, and get to work on making your book better
    This is what this step included for me:
  • Edit and rewrite one quarter of my book
  • Hate it, and myself
  • Get talked off the ledge by my publisher
  • Go back to the start and edit/rewrite half
  • Love life again
  • Finish the second half in the next two weeks
  1. View book cover design brief
    For those who don’t know, (me, several months ago) a design brief is a document outlining your novel and then describing what you want the cover to look like (with examples) and what you don’t want it to look like (with examples). My publisher somehow read my mind and knew exactly what I wanted and didn’t.
  1. View book cover design proof
    After the book cover has been designed, your publisher will send it to you and you will cry because it is so perfect and send it to all your friends.
    Note: This is about the time when your friends really start getting tired of you talking about your book. But will you care? No.
  1. Copy edit
    This is actually going on while you’re crying over your book cover design. The copy editor will edit and provide feedback on grammar, spelling, etc. but also for tone and consistency. The person who did the copy edit of Someone To Kiss gave some great feedback, specifically the suggestion to tone down one of the secondary characters, which I (eventually) happily agreed with.
  1. More rewrites
    Now your book is even BETTER if you can believe it.
  1. Beta readers
    Your book will then get sent to beta readers, some of whom you will find, and some of whom will be found by your publisher. My beta readers were a group of amazing men and women, from Canada and the UK, who generously took time out of their busy days to read my book and give their well-thought-out feedback. And, while the feedback led to another overhaul and extensive rewrites, it all contributed to making the book a LOT better and I'm very grateful to the group.
  1. More rewrites
    A couple of key things I learned from the beta reader feedback were that my main character was not a very good cat mom (very fair) and she was also not super likable and maybe there should be a more defined character arc so at the end people don't want to punch her in the face (also fair). I hope that the rewrites do the feedback justice.
  1. Proofreader
    Next your book will go to a proofreader who will read it specifically looking for grammar, spelling errors, etc., and also gave some suggestions on word choices.
  1. Final revision
    This revision basically consists of accepting or rejecting the proofreader’s changes. This was my favourite part because I’m a giant nerd and love grammar. It was almost like a party as I gleefully went through the word document and excitedly exclaimed things out loud like “Great choice!” or “Nice catch” or “I didn't know that!” And this, my friends, is why I will be single forever.
  1. Layout
    Finally, your manuscript is off to layout where it will be made to look like a real book! This is very exciting, mostly because you are DONE WITH THE WRITING PART! You’re done! You can now just sit back and never read it again because you know if you do you will find something wrong and it will be too late and you will never let it go for the rest of your life.
  1. Promotion
    Except you’re really not done with the writing part because you will be writing newsletters and social posts and guest blogs and emails like it is your full-time job until your book launches, and well after it has launched, until everyone in the world has read it and Reece Witherspoon makes it into a movie and you’re rich and famous and you quit your actual full-time job and move to an island with all of your books.
    You’ll also probably have to learn how to use TikTok, if you’re in your forties like me, because that’s where it’s at for books nowadays. If you’re skeptical of this advice, just ask Colleen Hoover.
  1. Launch your book!
    This is very exciting, or at least I assume it is, as of writing this, my book has not launched yet.
  1. Start your second book
    Ideally this is done while everything above is happening when you have some “down time.” I’ve yet to experience this magical concept but I have faith that someday it will happen.
  2. Go back to step one

Good luck!

Want to read my finished product? Check out my debut novel Someone to Kiss on Amazon. Not quite ready to commit? Download my free Christmas romance novel, Running from Christmas.

About Jamie

3. Jamie Author Pic 1 1Jamie Anderson is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A proud Canadian and Saskatchewanian, she wanted to set her first two novels in the place she was born and raised.

She works in content marketing, has a certificate in professional writing and has done a smattering of freelance writing, character development and copyediting over the past several years.

She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been reading for longer than that. She lives happily with her mountain of books, her TV and her two plants.

What the Psychic Saw: True Love in the Tea leaves

screenshot 2021 02 11 at 12.03.53

Have you ever visited a psychic? Would you like to gaze into a crystal ball during these uncertain pandemic days and be reassured that yes, everything is going to be all right? If so, you’re not alone.

I recently read an article in The New York Times about how the pandemic has led many suffering from anxiety and fear to seek spiritual guidance via online psychic readings. Fortune tellers are seeing a big increase in business, as stress about the future has turned their customers to the supernatural for clues or answers. Most want to know when the pandemic will end; others seek guidance in finding romance when social distancing is the new normal. Those who suddenly lost their jobs are eager to make a career switch but don’t know where to begin.

Although I’ve been hit by pangs of frustration and despair over the past year, I’ve not consulted a psychic. Nor do I plan to. However, I can understand and relate to people who are overwhelmed and can’t see a way forward, as I was in a similar situation when I was forty-one. A supernatural session with Angelica turned my life around.

On my forty-first birthday, I’d fully expected Hank, my boyfriend of seven years, to propose. We’d been living together for three years, and the next logical step seemed to be marriage and maybe motherhood. (I say “maybe” because of my age.) He and I loved one another, got along better than most couples we knew, and existed in a happy day-to-day bubble. We both had satisfying careers, close friends, a comfy apartment with a grand piano, and shared many of the same values, except when it came to visualizing our future as a couple.

 

screenshot 2021 02 14 at 12.26.47

Even though Hank had been upfront about not wanting to settle down and raise a family due to his “advanced age of 51 years,” a year earlier, he’d given me an antique rose gold “friendship” ring that hinted at a change of heart. I truly believed it was only a matter of time before he would board the family bandwagon. When no engagement ring materialized on my birthday the following year, I realized I had a big decision to make. I once again broached the long-term commitment issue with Hank, who hadn’t budged yet insisted there was room to compromise. How do you compromise on having a kid? I wanted to know. He had no answer.

Although I was devastated by this final impasse, I knew that continuing with Hank’s non-plans meant sacrificing my own. It was only a matter of time before I’d become bitter and our love turn sour. On the other hand, as long as I didn’t dwell in the future, I was content with our status quo. Did I really want to go through the upheaval of another failed love relationship and re-enter the dating scene in my early 40s? Perish the thought!

Thankfully, my best friend Jenni saw the situation more clearly than I did. “If Hank can’t commit after seven years, ten or fifteen might not be enough either,” she warned. Ouch. Unless I was willing to “hang in there for the long haul,” it was high time to “settle down, not settle for.” She had a point.

Jenni confided that she had been stuck in a similar predicament years earlier and had visited a fortune teller, Angelica, as a last resort. The session had helped put her future into perspective, and over time, she emerged more at peace with herself and her choices.

“Desperation pretty much sums up how I’m feeling,” I told my friend.

 

screenshot 2021 02 11 at 12.03.35

“Then let me see if Angelica is still in business,” Jenni said, “and if so, I’ll schedule a session for you as a birthday present.”

At first, I dismissed the psychic realm as a bunch of hocus-pocus until I remembered that my mother had visited a fortune teller at age twenty, also after a failed romance. “Lady Olga” had read my mother’s tea leaves and predicted that she and her current beau would soon be parting ways. Her future husband, a man with the initial “J,” would soon enter her life, and they’d wed six months later. Soon after, my mother met “Joseph,” whom she married right on schedule. If my parents’ destined love and long, happy marriage was a testimony to the power of the tea leaves, I couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense. I told Jenni I was open to meeting Angelica.

As I approached Angelica’s home one week later, I worried about her predictions. What if she told me that Hank and I were finished? Even though it was a distinct possibility, I wasn’t sure I was ready to have a stranger sound the death knell of our love. I rang the doorbell, my heart leaping around my chest.

Angelica’s sing-song voice and ethereal presence set me at ease, as did the cloister-like interior of her home: a statue of Mother Mary greeted me in the living room; religious icons and paintings of angels hung from the walls. After introducing ourselves, Angelica asked me to sit without crossing my arms or legs so she could “tune in” properly. I obeyed. She closed her eyes and asked my “Higher Guides” to envelop us in a “golden circle of healing light and protection.”

After a long silence, she began to tell me things about myself that even Jenni didn’t know, such as falling out of a tree as a child, a long-ago pet who “still hovers around you.” My body language eased up as I realized that Angelica was more Glinda of Oz than the Wicked Witch of the West. Could she wave her magic wand and change Hank’s aversion to marriage and motherhood? The answer became clear as she uttered her first prediction.

“Soon you’ll be living in Eastern Europe,” she said in a voice brimming with excitement.

 

screenshot 2021 02 11 at 11.29.14

I jolted. “What on earth would I be doing there?” Although I longed to explore more of Europe, a long-distance move was not a consideration. My career, friends, parents, and Hank were all in Massachusetts.

“I see you standing in front of a room of students,” she continued. “It seems you’re teaching English.” I squirmed in my seat. “Tell me, Linda, is this something you’ve been thinking of?”

“Absolutely not!” I almost blurted out. I’d been working as a development director at a local nonprofit and had started interviewing with other organizations that would take my career to the next level. Without wanting to divulge too much, I politely told Angelica that no, teaching overseas was not even a remote possibility.

As she went on to describe scenes from my “Odyssey” abroad—singing and playing piano, traveling to exotic locales, and meeting attractive men—I had to stop her, as her sixth sense obviously needed some fine-tuning.

“Um, Angelica,” I said timidly, “can you back up a bit. I’m still involved in a relationship here that I’m hoping will work out.” Without revealing too much detail, I told her about the proposal that didn’t happen and the ring Hank had given me the year before. “Even though we have diverging views on marriage and parenthood, all this time I’ve felt that Hank was my soul mate,” I continued.

Angelica dropped her dreamy eyelids again and sat in silence for a long while. When she finally looked at me, I sensed at once that was the one who was off-track. “I’m sorry, Linda, if this isn’t what you want to hear, but your relationship with Hank isn’t working because he’s not your destined love.” I burst into tears; she reached over and handed me a box of tissues. “What I’m getting at is that your true love isn’t here in the U.S.”

“He’s not?” I glanced around the room.

“No, your future spouse is waiting for you in Europe.”

 

screenshot 2021 02 12 at 12.27.37 1

Europe? My eyes widened. “Can you tell me what he looks like?”

Angelica squinted and moments later said, “I see a tall man with glasses.” That certainly narrows the field down to a few million. His image was “fuzzy,” which meant he wasn’t coming into my life for a while. It seemed that my “Higher Guides” didn’t want me to know more details. “But don’t worry, Linda,” Angelica added. “The spirit of your Russian grandmotherer is watching over you. She’ll lead you to the right place.”

“Would that be Russia?”

“Not necessarily.” She tossed aside a few shimmery strands of silver-gray hair. “But I believe a Russian icon will lead you to your future husband.” That seemed highly doubtful, as I hadn’t seen a Russian icon up close in years.

Angelica ended the session by sharing scenes from the Odyssey that awaited me if I had the courage to embrace it. I thanked her and left, feeling conflicted and confused. She hadn’t offered any affirmation about Hank; on the contrary, he was a barrier to fulfilling my personal goals. Yet, it was exhilarating to think the future could be so alluring. I longed to see more of the world, but for the past seven years, I’d deferred to Hank’s preference to stay within a five-mile radius of home. Now that I thought about it, why had I put my travel plans on hold? I was also eager to reconnect with my passion for classical music, another Odyssey selling point.

Over the next few weeks, I pondered Angelica’s words, which had unearthed some of my deeply buried frustrations with Hank. I discussed the pros and cons of leaving him and moving overseas with Jenni and my parents. I even researched opportunities for English teachers abroad and lusted after photos of the Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, where I envisioned walking in my musical idol’s footsteps.

One year later, I would volunteer for the Friends of the Liszt Academy and two years later, I would sing onstage there. Aside from my musical immersion in Budapest, many other predictions Angelica had made came true. Which ones, exactly and how did they come about? For more information, visit my website page: https://lindajamsen.com/odyssey-of-love/ or order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Love-Memoir-Seeking-Finding-ebook/dp/B092LNSG2J

 

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Books You Should Definitely Read This Women’s Day

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With International Women's Day just around the corner we at BooksGoSocial have curated a list of great books to celebrate and support female authors.

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So shed your winter skin and break out one of these excellent reads.

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 Quantum Lace by Bella St John
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Once upon a time… Sounds like a simple enough way to start a story – and particularly a story about time travel, but what does it mean, ‘once upon a time'? What is time?

Clocks can tell us what time it is, but they cannot tell us what time is!  
The story of time travel you are about to read, while a work of fiction, is largely based on real science, real people and real events.
Where fact leaves off and fiction begins is for you to decide.
“Intriguing! I have never heard anyone presentsuch a compelling notion of how time travel could ACTUALLY work. Makes me want to test it for myself.”
Jonathan McTaggart

.515vPBLi3SLThe Enchanted Swans by Christy Nicholas

In pre-Celtic Ireland, Fionnuala was a fae princess, born to a life of luxury. She knew her duty and loved her family. She missed her mother, who died in childbirth when Fionnuala was but ten years old. Still, she had hopes and dreams of love and a full life.

All her dreams were stolen from her, ripped away in a torrent of envy and magic.

Now she must care for her three brothers while learning to live under an evil curse. Will she find a way to break the spell, or would they remain swans, tethered to three places for nine hundred years?

Available now on Amazon!.


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The Six and the Crystals of Ialana by Katlynn Brooke51BMc2Nti5L

Mutant creatures, a Reptilian Dragon King, and a mysterious shape shifter… For fans of epic fantasy, the first book in the Ialana Series delivers a thrilling and fast-paced adventure saga.

The quest, 500 years in the making to find and restore the lost crystals of Ialana, unites six young people who, along with a seventh between the ages of 15-21, were all born with a secret buried deep within.

Guided by a shared dream, they leave the only homes they have ever known and set out on a life-altering quest through a maze of mountain caves and tunnels where they encounter insidious creatures, but none so dangerous, perhaps, as one of their very own.

Available now on Amazon!


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 51Ta8HoBe8L. SX331 BO1,204,203,200The Long Road Home by Carolyn M. Bowen

Kate’s life was in turmoil after the death of her parents. She’d always been protected and sheltered by them. Suddenly she finds herself with a conniving fiancé living under her roof, a powerful businessman with terrorist ties from across the ocean trying to kill her and more family secrets than most American politicians. S

he was also unaware that a half brother she knew nothing of was about to enter her life. Her situation was getting precarious right at the moment she was least able to cope with it.

Available now on Amazon!

 


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Old Baggage: It's Never Too Late for a New Beginning by Toni Kief

It took most of her life, but Elizabeth Donovan has finally had enough. Years of a difficult marriage, she has finally fought back. She had no choice but to leave the life behind and face the secret from her youth.

The old life doesn’t want to let go, as she stumbles into the mystery that involves her deeper than she ever could imagine.

Old Baggage is the overdue coming of age for a woman learning to stand on her own..

Available now on Amazon!

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41b2Ob0Ib0LLa Vita by Don Arsenault

1920. Assunta and her young daughters, Marietta and Maddalena, leave their mountain commune in the Gran Sasso of Italy and begin their journey to the promised better life in America where Camillo, her long-absent husband and father of the girls, waits for them.

The story takes us from the confusion of their departure in Antwerp, the crossing of the Atlantic in steerage, their detainment on Ellis Island, to the mountains of northern New Hampshire where, after the birth of two more children, their better life is cut short by Camillo’s death.

Available now on Amazon!


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Hot Lemon and Honey by Catherine DeVrye
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‘Information in this book can lead you on the road to success.’ So commented the late Sir Edmund Hillary, first man to conquer Everest:

This book is for you if:

  • You want to reach your personal summit of success; however you define it in your own heart
  • You sometimes make mountains out of molehills
  • You want better balance between your professional and personal life
  • You need a boost of common sense, perspective and inspiration in times of change

.Available now on Amazon!


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 TouchStone for play by Sydney Jamesson

Charismatic and sexy Ayden Stone is a multi-talented media mogul by day and playboy by night, seducing and discarding women, seeking only sexual pleasure without commitment. He is looking for the love of his life, but is settling for stand-ins—then Fate intervenes.

A chance meeting with shy school teacher Elizabeth Parker triggers a passionate reaction in him that he cannot explain. Unable to help himself, he is drawn to her by a kind of gravitational force.

Up close, he recognises her charm and beauty and is consumed by the idea that they have met before.

.Available now on Amazon!..


Palette of Secrets by Joan Fallon
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Nancy Miller, a well-known artist, is approaching the end of her life.

She has been persuaded by her agent to publish her memoirs, and Ana agrees to help, but the task is more difficult than either of them ever imagined.

Talking about her life brings back memories that Nancy would rather forget, and it soon becomes obvious to Ana that there is a terrible secret in Nancy's past which, if revealed could ruin her reputation and devastate her family.

.

Available now on Amazon!.


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 51PJX94YQhLHer Other Family by Edward Dreyfus

HER OTHER FAMILY tells the story of Marianna Bolton, a young, married, LA woman who, after learning that she was adopted by the man she thought to be her father, sets out to find her birth father. She discovers that he is the son of a mafia capo and has a large family on the east coast.

She is caught in a moral and psychological dilemma: should she leave her husband of five years and the comfortable life they created, to become a part of the exciting, though immoral life of la famiglia?

Why after living a law-and-order life, would she even consider giving it all up to become a member of an organized crime family?

 Available now on Amazon!


.Soul of a Warrior by Denna Holm51MiKTO 2LL

A handsome blond stranger shows up at Kimi Wicker’s place of work claiming to be her mate. But he also claims to be from another world. She does what any sane woman would do in her situation.

She runs.

Tagging along are her two best friends and a feisty tabby cat. No one could anticipate the second stranger showing up, one with a completely different agenda.

Available now on Amazon!


adiroAdirondacks Artemis by D. L. Luke

Author D.L. Luke vividly portrays the intriguing tale of one of life's greatest fears-being lost in the wilderness. In Adirondacks, Artemis faces not only her present fears but fears for the future with only her dog and past experiences to guide her through her lonely introspection, her strengths, and weaknesses.

Artemis and her dog are left deserted and alone with winter approaching, in the Adirondacks, with only a prayer and a hope for survival. Real and imaginary fears cloud Artemis's judgment, but not her desire to reach the county road and safety.

Available on Amazon!


 

that melviinThat Melvin Bray by Margaret McBride

A heartfelt story about friendship, hope, and forgiveness: two childhood friends, Maggie and Lizzy, seek self-discovery and personal healing. They ultimately find inspiration after searching to reveal the reasons for Maggie's lifelong tendencies toward self-denial as the “great pretender”

A courageous book which stirs the soul, this novel demonstrates that the written word is far from silent. This journey of healing undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression, as it not only provides divine inspiration to accept life's disappointments but also recognition of the compelling power of forgiveness. After all, if the heart truly forgives, there is nothing to forget.

Available on Amazon!


one perfect loveOne Perfect Love by Maryann Miller

Fans of ONE SMALL VICTORY can finally discover if Jenny and Steve can find true love together.

They both want, and need, that special someone in their lives, and the memories of the electricity that sparked between them two years ago are still strong for both of them. They couldn't act on that chemistry because of professional boundaries that had to be respected between a police detective and a civilian working as a confidential informant, not to mention the emotional wounds they both were experiencing. But the wounds have healed, as much as deep wounds can, and they believe they are ready now. Jenny has gone back to being a mother and flower-shop owner and no longer works for the drug task force.

Available on Amazon!


beltwayBeltway Betrayers by Taylor Marsh

There's a secret. 
A woman is heard whimpering in a parking garage.
A dark side to the powerfully rich is exposed.
And Alex Gantry is at the center of it all.
After several frightening events that shook Alex’s world, things have settled down.
So it seems…

Elite life coach, Alex Gantry, is enjoying her new life in the Washington, D.C. Beltway. T.J. Gale, who’s part greenpreneur, part leader of a quick-strike unit of former military and intelligence professionals, has set her heart aflame.

Alex and T.J. are in love. Enter Jett Spence, a man who once was part of T.J.’s world but who is now an unknown, because no one can tell whose side he’s on.

Available now on Amazon!


cooks crooksCooks, Crooks and a Corpse by Maria Grazia Swan

Can't resist lighthearted comedy dressed with a little mystery that never takes you down a dark road?

Good, because that’s what you get when you put two hot Italian imports together. Meet the hot pink Fiat 500 and its owner, real estate agent Monica Baker.

Now stir in a dead body, a caterer about to lose her license, a real estate office coming off the rails, a goofy Great Dane, and a lively heroine who can’t help falling for the brooding bad boy. This is the world of Monica Baker: a high-speed mystery with a serving of mischief and a side of laughs.

Available now on Amazon!


 

my perfect lifeMy Perfect Life at Cornish Cottage by S J Crabb

A deliciously romantic and humorous read about love, loss and starting again.

Sophie Bailey is your typical yummy mummy. She lives in a small village where life is all coffee mornings and party plan.

You may think she has the perfect life – she certainly did until she woke up one morning and her husband dropped a life changing bomb into the mix. Maybe I should let her explain.

A bittersweet love story that will have you laughing out loud before crying into your latte. When life explodes around you who can you really count on?

This is a story of shattered dreams and broken promises. When life deals you a hard blow you have no choice but to carry on. Throw in a mad dose of humour and you can get through anything. Can't you?

Available now on Amazon!


healing bearHealing Bear by Amber Belmont

Are some people too broken to love?

When the rudest man she’s ever met storms up to Abi Palmer’s stand at a wedding fayre, it’s hate at first sight. There’s absolutely no way she’d ever do anything for Nathan or his family. So what if he’s tall, dark and alpha? She’s had more than her fill of shifter ego.

But when she’s forced to spend more time with him, she gets to see a different side to Nathan, a softer, gentler side. Abi wonders whether she can heal this broken bear’s wounds.

Will Nathan be able to melt her heart or is it just another one of his games?

Available Now on Amazon!


calling all womenCalling All Women: From Glass Slipper to Glass Ceiling by Cristina Carballo-Perelman M.D

The author challenges today's woman to become empowered in this compelling and dynamic book.

Why have women not achieved equality in socio-economic, educational opportunities, voting and health? Why do men still outnumber women in positions of power? How can we change these perceptions and realities forever and create a new world for future generations?

A MUST read for women!

Available now on Amazon!


 

beforeBefore the Darkness by Annette Creswell

In pre-World War Two London, Penny works as a maternity nurse at the Royal Women's Hospital.

Happy in her work and with two really good friends and several doctor suitors, little does she realise how her life will be changed by a chance lunch-time encounter.

Who is the ruggedly handsome man who helps her? And how will their lives entwine as the war clouds gather?

Available now on Amazon!


alsonAlone by Laura Burke

The killer is terrified that everyone they meet will somehow know what happened, will know their shame. And so, they pave the nation’s seminars with the corpses of physicians, believing only the deaths of their tormentors will finally set them free of their debilitating fear of humiliation.

Detective Masson and Tara finally find themselves alone together for a long deserved vacation in sunny Miami. During their first night, they cross paths with a physician attending a seminar in their hotel who feared she was being stalked. Her fear weighs on their minds and tarnishes their efforts to enjoy their vacation. Immediately upon returning home to Chicago, Masson receives a call from FBI Agent Wright.

Available now on Amazon!


beyond deathBeyond Death: The Afterlife Series Book 1 by Deb McEwan

A DEAD WOMAN'S STORY

“With so many supernatural tales on the shelves it’s hard to find something genuinely original yet Beyond Death fits the description well, with author Deb McEwan bringing a distinctive new voice to this ever popular genre.” Book Viral

What really happens when we die? Claire Sylvester is about to find out.
In her strange new world Claire watches the secret lives of those she loves unravel, while deciding who deserves to be saved.

And more than she knows depends on her actions, and those of her unlikely partner.
‘Beyond Death’, a fast-paced paranormal thriller of life, death, deceit and danger.

Available now on Amazon!


the band 4The Band 4: The Air We Breathe by Marguerite Nardone Gruen

Marguerite is on holiday in London, finally free after 27 years of feeling like a hostage to her strict and overbearing parents. Also in London, and struggling with his thoughts of freedom, is Chase Martin―one fourth of the most successful band on the planet―who knows that freedom can only come at the expense of his band-mates.

They come from completely different worlds, but when those worlds collide―on a rainy night in a small coffee shop―nothing will ever be the same again. Before ever laying eyes on him, his pain and anxiety somehow reaches her, and she feels moved to alleviate it… to offer comfort, which he desperately needs.

After years of performing with his band-mates, they are closer than brothers. They are a part of one another, and the compulsion he is feeling to separate from them, is tearing him apart.

Available now on Amazon!


naked nymphThe Naked Nymph in the Dark Flicker by Ray Dyson

Rachel Ann Maddon is about to become America’s next great movie star. Adored by the camera, loved by her public, beautiful Rachel Ann has it all, including a dark secret from her past that threatens to blow up her promising future when her mentor and lover—a man old enough to be her father—turns up dead. Did he fall or was he pushed? Or did the bullet in him do the job? Either way, a homicide investigation will be deadly publicity for Rachel Ann and her family.

Rachel Ann’s movie studio switches into high gear to protect her teetering career, but then Neil Brand, the studio’s security chief, uncovers a blackmail scheme over illicit sex films that threatens other major motion picture stars. As the heat builds, the rich and powerful scramble to get out from under.

That’s when the bodies begin to pile up.

Available now on Amazon!


relentlessRelentless Alien Eyes by Nina Hann

Byron wondered why the beautiful Margaux seemed so different? What is it that makes her so special and alluring. Why can’t he stop thinking about her?

A mysterious loner, she had already made it clear that she was not interested in romance, but that did not deter him from trying to pursue her. Eventually, the star-crossed lovers fall deeply in love only to be separated by a chance encounter with a blinding, white light from above. Several years later, they cross paths with each other.

And yet, Margaux, still traumatized and confused by her memories of the huge, dark eyes, made it all the more difficult for Byron to rekindle their love, a love that never really faded with time. As Margaux and Byron grew closer together, they soon found themselves haunted by the inexplicable secrets of their past. Secrets that will ultimately change their lives.

Available now on Amazon!


lick itLick-it Man by Camille Carida

After a radioactive lollipop turns Beaver Sparker into LICK-IT MAN, women all across the globe are empowered with “enlightened orgasms” and men have the perfect role model.

Author Camille Carida creates a hilarious, smart, and sexy laugh out loud full-color 65 page graphic novel.

Beautifully illustrated by Marvel and DC Comics artist Joe Quinones, this award-winning ebook is a playful and twisted comedic take on the superhero genre combining bawdy sexuality, tongue in cheek humor, and tinges of political satire.

Available now on Amazon!


beats meBeats Me: Love, Poetry, Censorship, from Chicago to Appalachia by Maryrose Carroll

BEATS ME is quintessentially a love story and a “fascinating account os some of the most vibrant, stormy and controversial times in American literature.”

Combining literary history with very personal drama I tell the tale of my husband, Paul Carroll, and his exploits with the censorship of his little magazine, Big Table, by The University of Chicago and the attempted censorship the U. S. Post Office in 1959. His stories, told to me nightly, progress like Scheherazade’s through the course of the last year of his life when he learns he is dying from cancer.

His wounded friendship with Allen Ginsberg evolves over the course of three decades. Allen is pivotal in the first publishing of excerpts of Naked Lunch in Big Table but dictatorial in his directions of how Paul should write his poetry.

Available now on Amazon!


hotlineHotline to Heaven by Darrell Bain

Darrell considers Hotline To Heaven one of his best books, and quite different from anything else he's ever done. Humor, chicanery, sex, betrayal and romance, along with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. It has such a fun plot that it will even have you wondering who you should be cheering for, the rascally villain Ed Tanner, or the innocent young Violet.

“Bain's characters march across the pages to his fast paced drumbeat to conquer and charm, despite their very human faults and foibles. Hotline to Heaven is a story peppered with the special wit and humor author Darrell Bain fans have come to expect, and spiced with the unexpected that is sure to have new readers joining the fan club.” — Charlene Austin, Writers and Readers Network.

Available now on Amazon!


georginaGeorgina: Holocaust Survivor Stories from the Darkest Days of the Holocaust by Gabriella Kovac 

An Incredible True Story of Survival Audacity and Deception from the Darkest Days of the Holocaust. December 1944 whilst heavy snows fall over Budapest and soldiers battle for the streets,

Georgina a young Jewish woman, is nearly starving to death with her new born son. The battle outside is one of the most savage in the entire war. She knows that to go into the streets is virtually a death sentence or rape, but she must find food within the next few hours or her baby will certainly die. For Georgina there is no choice. Alone and completely vulnerable she heads out into the freezing cold.

Georgina My Mother's Story is an incredible true story of one woman's bravery and daring in Hungary during the Holocaust and through the brutal communist regime beyond. It's the story of a carefree young woman thrust into the worst tragedy in human history- and emerging triumphant.

Available now on Amazon!


weight lossMy 18 Year Weight-loss Journey by Irina Dura

How I Finally Lost 35kg (77 Pounds) While Still Enjoying my Favorite Food!

This book is ideal for those that are struggling to lose weight and need motivation and inspiration from someone that understands the pain and frustration of dealing with obesity and weight-loss.

You will learn from my mistakes, what has and hasn’t worked for me, this alone will save you so much time, pain and frustration!

Learn about the simple strategy I use daily to re-start my metabolism each day and beat weight-loss plateaus. My strategy is not a diet it is a life-style and is designed to help build healthy habits for life.

Learn the first step I had to take which was crucial to my success and has to stay with me for life.

Available now on Amazon!


360 performanceProfessional Performance 360 by Joseph Marcius

“You can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”-Napoleon Hill

The Professional Performance 360 Special Edition: Success authors and entrepreneurs in this book may be considered the offspring of those ambitious goals: Success and Achievement. In this compilation, they share their experiences (both successful as well as those to avoid) to help others better understand the prerequisites of success.

This careful selection of experts highlights the qualities that are required to achieve goals-regardless of their nature. The reader may note that it is no different mindset to set aspirations for lofty goals or down-to-earth ones. In fact, some experts need to work their way up to higher goals while others have a mindset to go for broke-and both make it work!

Available now on Amazon!


like i used to danceLike I Used to Dance by Barbara Frances

“Our kids, my, my, Gracie, where did we go wrong? One marries God, another a Jew, and the last one, the devil!”

Texas, 1951. The Wolanskys—Grace, Bud and their three grown children—are a close-knit clan, deeply rooted in their rural community and traditional faith. On their orderly farm, life seems good and tomorrow always holds promise.

But under the surface, it’s a different story. Grace is beset by dark memories and nameless fears that she keeps secret even from Bud. Their son Andy has said no to becoming a farmer like his dad and, worse, fallen in love with a big-city Jewish girl. Youngest child Regina is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive, alcoholic husband. Even “perfect” daughter Angela’s decision to become a nun takes an unforeseen turn.

And then Ceil Dollard breezes into town.

Available now on Amazon!


my main motherMy Main Mother by Barry Beckham

My Main Mother” is a novel about growing up. Without a father. With a mother who is beautiful, promiscuous, avidly ambitious. In a small town in Maine. In the human jungle of New York.

Growing up defiant and scared, happy and torn up. Growing up black. And growing up human. It is, quite simply, one of the most remarkable novels of the 1960s, and Barry Beckham's first at age 25 to start his distinguished career.

“The scenes of Harlem, of how it feels to be a black getting a flat tire on Times Square, of encountering a homosexual in the Village, of street gangs and boarding houses, of the ironies of racism, are fantastically vivid and compelling.” -The New York Times

Available now on Amazon!


loves timeIn Love's Time by Lilian White

Sweeping through the 1800s, through the despair of poverty and the glory of hope, through shepherding on a croft, through the atmosphere of Fort Worth and Texas to war-torn France and Europe, from modern Brisbane to heady New York City, In Love’s Time is as ageless as the aborigines’ dreamtime; it takes you from tragedy to the triumph that occurs when fortes fortuna juvat (fortune favors the brave).

For Catrine Stewart, it a time of discovery and intrigue…

Available now on Amazon!

Ignoring Gravity

Sandra Danby

ignoring gravity

 

PROLOGUE 1968

There was a sharp slap followed by a cry. The sound of an animal echoed in my ears and my soul and my empty womb and didn’t fade.

‘4lb 3oz. Girl. Write it in the Statement Book, then take it away.’

.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS LATER: ROSE

Someone took her by the arm, forcing her to sit down. Breath warmed her cheek. She was icy all over. She could see nothing, nothing except one word written in the diary.

Adopt.

Suddenly pain, starting at her cheek and spreading through her head. Again, and again. Each slap beat that word deeper into her unconscious.

Adopt.

Rose Haldane fell off the edge of the world.

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