Excerpt Tour: Flamingo Café by Jackie Kang

FLAMINGO CAFE

Jackie Kang

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Women's Fiction

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A storm is brewing off the coast of Florida, but chaos has already made landfall for four women of Palm Beach society. Abigail, a self-appointed Cuban princess and queen of the WAGs, suddenly finds herself penniless and on the streets. Claudia, a Greek entrepreneur and CEO of a prestigious international clothing line, is entering her golden years only to realize secrets can weigh you down. Cassy, a barista and owner of the Flamingo Cafe, is doing her best to recover from a tragic past. Meanwhile her best friend, Bri, also harbors a secret: a romantic tet-a-tet with Cassy's brother Nick. Each woman has played her part in a society obsessed with appearances and secrecy for years. So, when Hurricane Odette blows through town, exposing those secrets, it's no surprise their lives collide like a clap of thunder. Only one thing is certain: if they don't work together, Mother Nature will teach them the hardest lessons of their lives.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt

Flummoxed, I search up and down the road, desperate for anyone that might have borne witness to my almost demise. 

To my utter disbelief, there isn't a single person nearby. I try to calculate the probability of being alone on the street at this time of the day. But after a few unsuccessful attempts, I recognize I'm too rattled to actually do the math. 

Still shaking, I quickly and carefully gather my tire- stained note cards from the ground and make my way to the other side of the street. It’s not until I’m outside the entrance of the Flamingo Café that the adrenaline starts to dissipate from my body, leaving me unsteady and shaky on my feet. 

As I'm standing by myself, rehashing the events in my head and trying to take slow, steady breaths, the door to the café opens. A gentleman in a suit and tie exits, holding a pale-pink paper bag at his side. He tips his head at me. “Great shirt,” he says, holding the door open, expecting me to pass through. 

The abrupt manifestation of this man on the street sends a new rush of adrenaline into my bloodstream, while at the same time, I'm hit with a strong surge of disbelief. 

Where was this guy a few minutes ago? 

His presence would have been invaluable, serving as a witness to the accident or even possibly helping to prevent it. But, instead, he was inside the café, taking his sweet time stocking up on Cassy's famous Key lime pie rolls and grabbing an iced coffee, oblivious to my plight. 

“Um, are you headed inside?” 

With a start, I notice the gentleman is still staring at me expectantly, continuing to hold the door open. I shake myself out of my trance, remembering his prior compliment, and remind myself the appropriate thing to do in these situations is to offer a response of some kind. 

Looking down at my cerulean blue Save the Manatee t-shirt, I push a strand of hair out of my eyes and manage a reserved “Yes, thank you” before sliding past him into the air-conditioned café, avoiding any further conversation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When not spending her time creating make-believe people and places, Jackie Kang lives in Kirkland, WA with her very real family of 1 husband, 2 dogs, and 3 children. In her past life, Jackie has held jobs as a personal trainer, a spa manager, a dental assistant, and an office manager, but her true love is writing and sharing a well-crafted story. Jackie is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association.

Website: http://www.jackiekangwritesbooks.com   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacqulineK/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacqulinekang/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flamingo-Caf%C3%A9-Jackie-Kang-ebook/dp/B0DCC4NCJ5/ref=sr_1_1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Giveaway

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt Tour: Encounters With Old Coyote by Laura Koerber

 

ENCOUNTERS WITH OLD COYOTE

Laura Koerber

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Magical Realism

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"One thing about people—they need to tell stories. They can't stop themselves. Stories all the time. That's how they understand things." So said Coyote to Andrea, shortly after she died. Andrea had never believed in any kind of afterlife or gods, so she was surprised to find herself still somewhat alive, floating in the form of a ghost in the soft, dry desert air of Nevada. She was even more surprised to meet a supernatural being with a coyote's face, antlers, and the supplies for making coffee.

"I don't understand why I'm a ghost," Andrea said.

Coyote set his coffee cup down on the dirt beside his rock. He glanced at Andrea, grimaced, and said, “Okay, I'll try to explain. Since you humans like stories, I'll try to explain that way. I'll tell you some stories.”

So come along with Coyote and Andrea as they share stories about life and death, spiders in the bathroom and how Andrea lost her bra at a truck stop, enemy gods and pottery shards, adventures in vomit, what scientists say about dark matter and the fifth force, and other topics both sublime and ridiculous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

The next day Andrea saw the supernatural being. She'd spent most of the night curled up next to her body on the sleeping bag. Desolate and lost, what else could she do? Her body had looked frail and lonely, and she'd felt the same frailty and loneliness in what remained of her heart. In fact, she felt as if her ghost self was nothing more than her feelings expressed as a variation in the air. So, looking for comfort, she'd laid her ghost self down on the sleeping bag and curved herself around the small form of her body. All night long she'd studied the stars and worried about what the day would bring. 

    

The dawn had arrived gently as the stars winked out and the sky shaded from black to gray to a tender blue. The mountains, lit by the morning sun, were briefly yellow, then blue, then settled into beige and dark green. Dusty and dry, the flat land around Andrea's campsite was a landscape of scrubby grass and sagebrush. 

Andrea drifted slowly up and away from the body in the sleeping bag. She was feeling a lack of morning coffee and moved carefully, as if her ghost body might disintegrate, leaving her with nothing at all but a sad, disoriented consciousness. It was strange to get up and meet the day without any of the usual morning rituals: no breakfast, no teeth-brushing, no purring cat.

She was rotating slowly in the air, looking around with growing desperation, when the spirit emerged from the dawn light. He came into being gently, as if created by the molecules of morning air: a shape not quite human, not quite coyote, and completely unlike anything she'd ever seen before. With a full head of spiky deer antlers, bluish gray fur, and yellow coyote eyes, he clearly was a supernatural manifestation. 

Andrea stared into his yellow eyes, terrified. Her thoughts skittered around in her head. Should she fly away? Hide? But there was no place to hide in the flat, open landscape. She shrank back away warily and kept watch. The strange spirit approached her calmly, with the causal air of someone dropping in to visit a neighbor. Nodding briefly, he said, “Hi there.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ABOUT the AUTHOR

I live on a island in the Puget Sound with my husband and my dogs. I am a retired teacher, presently doing in -home care for disabled people while volunteering at a cat rescue

My degree is in art, and I am a painter, graphic artist, and ceramic sculptor. The writing started about five years ago, a surprise to me and everyone who knows me, since I had never written anything before. To my immense gratitude, my first book received outstanding reviews and made the Kirkus Review list of one hundred best indy books of 2015. 

Since then, I have written ten books. People seem to like them; I get lots of four and five star reviews. My books are a bit unconventional; I mix magical realism with dystopia in many of them. My stories tend to be character-driven and include ghosts and spirits.

 

I think I learned to write by reading. I am a voracious omnivore of books. 

Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jill-kearney/dog-thief-kearney/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt Tour: Alexandr by Chris DeBrie

 

ALEXANDR

Chris DeBrie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Graphic Novel Thriller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexandr is a professional hitman with one client. His recent marriage to a childhood friend has him ready for retirement. But he doesn't yet realize that his final target is different than all the rest. Follow Alex into a version of Earth which includes superhumans, witches, and otherworldly beings. DeBrie brings you dozens of characters and situations, seemingly all on the same course to destruction.

Amazon

FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DeBrie has published more than fifteen comic books and novels, including the mystery “Cap’n Random”. He has produced music for rockers and hip hoppers, coached youth basketball, hoards a special Swedish meatball recipe, and tutors elementary school students. Call him a multihyphenate, or a jack of all trades, master of none… your choice. Find us on socials by typing “With Lurv” into your browser.

http://www.StuffedWithLurv.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPX7WY3R

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3060250.Chris_DeBrie

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555876923020

https://www.instagram.com/stuffedwithlurv/

https://mewe.com/withlurv/posts

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt Tour: Exiles by L.J. Ambrosio

               

EXILES

L.J. Ambrosio

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Literary Fiction/Coming of Age

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In this final chapter, Ron's story concludes from Reflections on the Boulevard (2023). Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

 “So, then what is your name? American in Paris?” 

“Okay, Louie, my name is Ron. Happy now? I have already seen that movie. Book. Now.”

“There you go again speaking that strange language with no emotions. My name is not pronounced Louie it is Loo-ee like our former kings! That is how you say it!”

Speaking carefully, yet getting more annoyed, Ron asked him for the book back again, to no avail. He tried again now speaking to him in English, “What is the book you took?”

Reluctantly, Louie took it out of his pants, then handed it back to Ron answering in English too. “Thoreau! On Walden Pond.”

Ron, took the book and looked at the young man as he tried to read his intent in stealing it, “So, you like Thoreau that much to steal him or what?”

“I do not know his writings; the only nineteenth century American I am familiar with is Whitman and Leaves of Grass. I did read Civil Disobedience by Thoreau in class. It was great, but I wanted to read another of his works.”

“Louie, you speak English very well."

“I studied the language at the university. I used to believe America led the world. Not anymore.”

“Well, I will not call the police. Tomorrow, I recommend you go back to the bookstore and become a Tumbleweed. “

“A what?” Louie said, with shock.

“A Tumbleweed, like me and you,” Ron said firmly.

Ron instructed Louie in the steps to joining the Tumbleweeds at Shakespeare and Company. “Write a one-page biography, bring it to the store, joining it with the 30,000 other biographies that are housed there. You must work a 2-hour shift at the bookstore taking care of the books, dusting them, and putting them back on their shelves. And you must read one book every day. You can sleep any night at the bookstore with all the other weary travelers. Keep the book, then come back and tell me if you want to be a Tumbleweed.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at 7 Universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ljambrosio

Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig

Palace Marketplace: https://market.thepalaceproject.org/item/5900746

Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/16927020

Barnes and Noble; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exiles-lj-ambrosio/1145295484;jsessionid=6BEBDF0D8FDBD00DC37A1EAACF96C083.prodny_store01-atgap12

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/exiles/id6482298566

Everand: https://www.everand.com/book/720323806/Exiles-Reflections-of-Michael-Trilogy

Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1071509419

Vivlio: https://shop.vivlio.com/product/9798990212138_9798990212138_10020/exiles

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1546995

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/exiles-65

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Reflections-Michael-Trilogy-Ambrosio/dp/B0CZHY93GQ/ref=sr_1_1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

L.J. Ambrosio will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a dragonfly necklace, or a second dragonfly necklace to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Belega by Dianne Hartsock Excerpt Tour

 

Belega

by Dianne Hartsock

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erotic Fantasy Romance (M/M)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Karthagans have regained their ancient powers of manipulating nature, but at the price of madness. In their lust for control, they've destroyed their island and most of their race. They come now to Belega, where one of them, Camron, seeks domination over the known world. The Mage has come from the northern continent of Sennia to bring peace but finding his strength no match for the coming struggle, he passes his abilities on to Natan, who only desires a simple life.

Now only Natan has the ability to stop Camron, but the personal cost is more than he imagines. It is only with the combined strength of his friends, his Karthagan lover, Kavi, and his deep desire to bring lasting peace to the earth, that he finds the courage to overcome Camron and restore balance to the world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

“Intruder!” One of the soldiers recovered enough to shout, lunging for him. Kavi broke his arm with a quick sidestep and a twist of the man’s arm around his back. Snatching the soldier’s knife from his belt, he laughed as men came at him with their clumsy swords and fumbling knives. He’d sparred every day since childhood with better warriors than these. He shoved the wounded soldier from him, then silently cleared a wide field around himself with three soldiers dead and several missing their fingers.

Kavi strode toward the gates, drawing on the energy of the earth that came so easily to his people as horsemen rode up to block his way. A powerfully built man jumped from his mount to confront him. Landlan. “You cannot leave, my dear. You’re to be held for aiding in the murder of Lord Gargary.” 

Kavi heard his words, but power flowed in him and he made to walk around the man. Landlan reached out to restrain him, jumping back at the glitter of the knife in his hand. Landlan beckoned another horseman forward. This one trained an arrow on Kavi’s heart. Kavi looked at the soldiers. The thrumming of power in his ears made it difficult to think, and he couldn’t focus his eyes. He stepped back to widen the space around him.

“Let me through,” he said, his voice sounding strange to his own ears. 

Landlan shivered, and then anger swept over his face. “No. I think I’ll kill you instead.” He motioned to the bowman with a jerk of his head. 

Kavi laughed, a wild high-pitched note that set men’s teeth on edge. He opened his arms. “People of Belega.” He’d raised his voice and all within hearing stopped in their tracks at the throb of power in the air. “You’ve hated and feared me since I first stepped on your shores. You fear my people because of our gifts. I’ll show you that you were right to fear.” 

He stooped to pick up a handful of dirt. A tiny part of his mind pleaded for reason, but he’d gone beyond that point. Power flowed into him from the earth and from the air he breathed so deeply. He opened his hand and blew lightly on the dust he held. It began to swirl, slowly at first, then with increasing speed, until a tiny whirlwind formed in his open palm. With a sound of delight, he tossed the swirling mass into the night sky.

The cyclone hit Barkuit with a roar of wind and blinding dirt. Men and horses became drawn into the swirling chaos as it touched down. Kavi stood at its calm center with Landlan. The man fell on his knees, unnerved by the terror of the wind. He begged Kavi to stop as the bowman, along with every man within reach, continued to be swept from the walls and streets. Kavi had become part of the storm in all its glory and ignored him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks/?show_switched_toast=1&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

Dianne Hartsock will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt Tour: Alex by Dianne Hartsock

 

ALEX

Dianne Hartsock

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Psychological Thriller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex is twenty and confused. He always is. The world presses on him with its horrors and pain, with scintillating auras that bewilder his eyes and drive the migraines deeper. He hears the cries of the children, sees the brutal images of tortured victims. He feels out of control and his mind slips…

Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he’s compelled to help those who call to him. He’s driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and hopefully uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he’s involved. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn’t always understand.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Dianne-Hartsock-ebook/dp/B0CSYN5Y5C/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dianne+hartsock&qid=1706506377&sr=8-1

JMS Books: https://www.jms-books.com/dianne-hartsock-c-224_445/alex-p-4993.html

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alex-dianne-hartsock/1104468927?ean=9781685506599

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/alex-76

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1519070

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

Alex ran through the cemetery, not even sure how he’d gotten there. He didn’t feel the dry grass and stones biting into his feet. He stumbled into a crumbling headstone and stopped, leaning heavily against it, panting. 

“Where are you?” he yelled at the top of his voice. 

The boy was silent. Alex bit his lip until it bled. He stood for what seemed like hours. Then, he had a faint impression of… 

He moved forward. There were voices around him and someone clutched his arm. He shook them off in exasperation. The boy was close. 

“Alex.” 

A hand reached for him but he pulled away. He could almost feel the boy… 

“Wait!” 

“Jane!” He grabbed her roughly and set her purposefully aside. “Leave me alone.” 

He dropped to his knees close to the fence and dug into the dirt. “I know he’s here.” 

The soil was loose and gave him hope. He looked up with optimism, only to see Jane back away. A strangled cry broke from him as he watched her retreat. Still, there was the boy calling him. Tears stung his eyes as he dug into the black soil. 

Bill Edwards dropped by his side. “What are you doing?” 

He didn’t answer, tortured.  

Roger Criton joined them and started to dig with Alex, shoving his dark hair behind his ears, and the hole deepened. Alex could hardly breathe. Blackness welled up from the pit and entered his lungs, smothering his mind. 

Dig. 

There was no other thought left, and he dug until his nails broke and his fingers bled. The wounds on his wrists tore open, spilling blood into the dirt. He didn’t feel anything as he continued to claw at the earth. 

Ben eventually tried to pull him away. “There’s nothing there, for God’s sake.” 

Bill grunted, scooping dirt with both hands. “He’s been right before.” 

Roger agreed, digging furiously. “The ground seems to have been turned here recently. We’re not ready to stop until he gives up.” 

Ben put a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “What do you think is down there?” 

He gave Ben a vague glance, only to turn back to the widening hole. He forced his fingers deep into the soil, and with a cry of triumph, felt something soft. Bill barked in horror when he uncovered a child’s fingertips. Alex’s head reeled as the blood rushed from his heart. A wild shriek startled him and he turned toward the sound. Something heavy smashed into his head, and he fell, stunned. The world became filled with shouts and darkness as he lay in the dirt-covered grass. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from. Dianne is the author of m/m romance, paranormal/suspense, fantasy adventure, the occasional thriller, and anything else that comes to mind.

She now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. Dianne says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee in her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Blog: https://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsock

FaceBook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/diannehartsockbooks/?show_switched_toast=1&show_switched_tooltip=0&show_podcast_settings=0

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4850270.Dianne_Hartsock

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diannehartsock/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

The author will award a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway