The Dark Phantom Review

Voodoo Princess

Friday, November 23

The Literary Nook

Write and Take Flight

Monday, November 26

My Bookish Pleasures

Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic

Tuesday, November 27

From Paperback to Leatherbound

Wednesday, November 28

She Writes

Inkslinger’s Opus

Thursday, November 29

The Dark Phantom

Friday, November 30

The Revolving Bookshelf

Book Blast: The Lady with the Purple Hat by Otilia Greco

Posted in Uncategorized on November 29, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: The Lady With the Purple Hat

Author: Otilia Greco

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: General Fiction

Format: Ebook

Ten years ago, Daisy left her husband, Bernard, to create a new life for herself. But now as their divorce proceedings continue to drag on and Bernard battles terminal cancer, Daisy determines she would rather be his widow than his ex-wife and decides to play with fate.

After she dons an outlandish large purple hat to disguise her face, Daisy glides through the hospital corridors, hell-bent on poisoning her husband to accelerate his death. When she finally arrives at his door and opens it, she is shocked to see a woman sitting by his bedside. With her plan foiled, Daisy rushes out of the room as she transforms from the hunter into the hunted. Still obsessed with ending Bernard’s life, Daisy retreats into her memories, unaware that a surprise is waiting in the shadows. Now only time will tell if fate will intervene to save Daisy or if she will lose her soul to the dark side, where it can never be retrieved.

In this contemporary thriller, a woman intent on ending her husband’s life is propelled on a journey through her memories that leads her to an unexpected truth.

PURCHASE HERE

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Otilia Greco was born in the Swiss Alps; was educated in Switzerland, England, and Paris; and is fluent in six languages. She graduated from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and developed an appreciation for history and cultures.<!– [if supportFields]> FILLIN "" <![endif]–><!– [if supportFields]><![endif]–>Otilia and her husband worked internationally, lived for several years in California, and now reside in Switzerland. This is her third book.

GIVEAWAY

Otilia IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins November 19 and ends on November 30.
Winners will be contacted via email on December 1.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, November 19

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LeatherboundFriday, November 23

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A Title WaveMonday, November 26

All Inclusive Retort

The Literary NookTuesday, November 27

Voodoo Princess
C’est La TWednesday, November 28

The Revolving Bookshelf

The Dark PhantomThursday, November 29

The Book Refuge

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The Zen Reader

I’m Shelf-ish

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Book Blast: The Employee Millionaire

Posted in Uncategorized on November 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: The Employee Millionaire

Author: H.J. Chammas

Publisher: PartridgeSingapore

Genre: Business/Economics

Format: Ebook

When the financial crisis erupted in 2008, thousands of people lost jobs they thought theyd always have to sustain their standard of living. For H. J. Chammas, it was a wakeup call to escape struggling to make ends meet. It was time to take charge of his life and stop acting like a lab rat following a set program. In this detailed guidebook to buying, owning, and managing rental properties, he gives readers a plan that you wont find in other books. Instead of promoting foolish risks, he helps you leverage your position as an employee to achieve financial freedom. Learn how to: evaluate the current state of your finances; overcome limiting beliefs about money and investing; set personal objectives to achieve financial freedom; and think and operate like a seasoned real estate investor. Chammas shares real-life examples that will help you build a personalized investment blueprint to build your rental property portfolio and become wealthy. From identifying and closing deals, getting approved for loans, renting out properties, dealing with tenants, and capitalizing on opportunities, this book will challenge how youve always looked at life, finances, investments, and real estate.

PURCHASE HERE

H.J. Chammas is a self-made “Employee Millionaire” who has achieved financial freedom by investing in rental properties throughout Asia, Dubai and Europe. With over 10 years of real estate industry and investing experience, as well as property management, he brings forward a blueprint for real estate investing in a simple and clear manner.

He is the founder and CEO of the Employee Millionaire, a company that empowers employees to achieve financial freedom and become millionaires with real estate investing.

To emulate Chammas’ success in single family real estate investment, sign up for his program on http://www.employeemillionaire.com to learn the sound investing principles and avail of free templates and worksheets that makes rental properties investing almost on autopilot.

5 Questions with John Ford Clayton, Author of ‘Manipulated’

Posted in Uncategorized on November 26, 2018| 1 Comment »

John Ford Clayton lives in Harriman, Tennessee with his wife Kara, and canine companions Lucy, Ginger and Clyde. He has two grown sons, Ben and Eli, and a daughter-in-law, Christina. He earned a BS in Finance from Murray State University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is active in his East Tennessee John Ford Clayton Photo community having served on the local boards of the Boys and Girls Club and a federal credit union, on church leadership and creative teams, and on a parks and recreation advisory committee. When he’s not writing he works as a project management consultant supporting Federal project teams. John is a huge fan of Disney parks and University of Kentucky basketball. Visit his website at www.johnfordclayton.com.
Find out more about Manipulated.

Q: What’s inside the mind of a political thriller author?

A: In our hyper-polarized 2018 political climate, where any discussion of politics can quickly turn toxic, my primary thought is, there must be a better way. This current partisan rancour can’t continue. We seem to be rapidly approaching a time where the country is either going to explode or find a way to heal itself. Manipulated explores an alternative reality where that healing process begins. It is an outlet to provide a glimmer of hope in what appears to be a hopeless situation. It dares to ask, what if we didn’t settle for two firmly entrenched political parties but instead forged a third path out of this abyss. What if?

Q: Tell us why readers should buy Manipulated.

A: The 2016 presidential election elicited raw emotions from many Americans. Okay, I already know what you’re thinking, “politics, no thank you!!” Believe me, I understand. For countless political observers the entire election process demonstrated the ugly underbelly of our country, regardless of which side of the political aisle you call home. Manipulated reimagines that election cycle.

Manipulated chronicles a 70-year clandestine effort to seize control of the United States at the foundational level. It’s all happening right under the noses of an unsuspecting nation. The long-awaited scheme will come to fruition with the 2016 presidential Manipulated - Cover art election. Everything is going according to plan, but then something happens. A new voice emerges. A strangely authentic candidate captures the fascination of the American people. But is it too late? Has the machine gotten too large to overcome? The stakes are high. The survival of the nation as we know it hangs in the balance.

Q: What makes a good political thriller?

A: A political thriller must thread the needle of not being so far-fetched that it is unbelievable but far enough from reality that it is compelling. It must have a rapidly evolving storyline that demands the reader to ask, “what’s next?” It must have characters that the reader cares about, including those they love and those they want to strangle. In the end the author owes a debt to the reader’s investment of time paid off in the currency of an ending that leaves them moved, fulfilled, and satisfied.

Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

A: My website www.johnfordclayton.conm provides information about me and my book. I am on social media at www.facebook.com/johnfordclayton and www.twitter.com/johnfordclayton.

Q: What has writing taught you?

A: Writing is hard. It requires energy, focus, and a stubborn commitment. It demands equal parts of the left brain and right brain. The left brain is necessary to produce an organized storyline that stays focused on evolving the plot. The right brain is the source of colourful characters, interesting scenes, and intriguing dialog. While the story can always be improved, there must come a time when the writer is complete and transfers the product into the hands of the reader. The reader is the ultimate arbiter of whether a book is successful. The reader is always right.

Book Feature: Lydie of Peruwelz by Richard Burack, Sr., MD

Posted in Uncategorized on November 22, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: Lydie of Peruwelz

Author: Richard Burack, Sr., MD

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Ebook

In 1839, Lydie Fougnies, 20 years old, is attractive, refined, and educated. Her father is a well-to-do businessman. She meets Felippe Van Hendryk, single child of wealthy aristocrats. They fall in love and a two-year chaste affair leads to talk of marriage. However, his class-conscious, bigoted mother severs their relationship because Lydie is not from high society. Unhappy Felippe is sent to university in Switzerland where he marries, and divorces, the wanton daughter of a wealthy Swiss banker. Lydie is angry and resentful. She is a victim of emotion and, bent on revenge, she cannot think rationally. Believing she can wreak revenge on Mme Van Hendryk by proving her worth only if she belongs to the aristocracy, she directs her attention to Count Hippolyte de Bocarmé, a farmer who lives in a dreary, desolate 16th century chateau. Unschooled and crude, his size and strength seduce her. Certain that the rustic, prodigal son of a fine family can easily be led to the altar, she mentors him in reading, writing, and manners. Never does she suspect that he’s a conscienceless psychopathic felon. He conceals his craving to know her sexually, and plans to steal her family’s fortune.

Richard Burack has a BA from the University of Wisconsin and an MD from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He served as a Medical Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard in the Pacific Theater during the Korean War. In 1960 he was appointed to the pharmacology faculty at Harvard Medical School, and later practiced internal medicine before embarking on a career as a medical director for two U.S. non-pharmaceutical corporations. In retirement, he was a part-time physician at a charity hospital in St. Lucia and has devoted himself to writing. In 1967, Dr. Burack published The Handbook of Prescription Drugs, alerting doctors and the public to the availability of less costly generic medications. Fifty years later, the public buys the majority of its prescription drugs as “generics.” He and his wife, Mary, reside in New Hampshire. They have five children and ten grandchildren.

Talking Craft with Ray Sutherland, Author of ‘Secret Agent Angel’

Posted in Uncategorized on November 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Headshot Ray Sutherland is a Kentucky native who grew up on a farm outside of Bowling Green. He served in the Army, spent two years in Germany, received his B.A. in religion from Western Kentucky University, and his PhD in the Bible from Vanderbilt University. Ray has served of Professor of Biblical Studies at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke for over thirty years, pastored a small church for nine years, and is retired from the Army Reserve. He and his wife Regina live in North Carolina and have two sons and four grandchildren.

Website: raysutherland.com

Find out more: Amazon / B&N / Kobo

INTERVIEW:

Q: Congratulations on the release of your latest book, Secret Agent Angel. To begin with, can you gives us a brief summary of what the story is about and what compelled you to write it?

A: Billy Graham said that angels are God’s secret agents and I decided to write the fictional adventures of one of those secret agent angels. I wrote it in the first person from the angel’s perspective somewhat along the lines of the secret agent and detective novels of the 50’s and 60’s by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Mickey Spillane, and Donald Hamilton, which were often told in first person. Samuel the angel comes to earth in human form to help persuade some people to make right decisions in crises. He visits an accountant who is tempted to steal. He goes along with two truckers who befriend an abused boy. He helps a war veteran find forgiveness of his former enemies. He helps some porters on their trip down the Ho Chi Minh trail. All of these things come together in a snowbound truck stop where a fire demon comes to destroy one man’s faith. Or his life. Forty years of angelic work all come together for that one confrontation.

Q: What do you think makes a good inspirational suspense? Could you narrow it down to the three most important elements? Is it even possible to narrow it down?

front cover final A: Suspense and inspiration, both of which are provided in “Secret Agent Angel.” Most importantly, it is a well-told story and highly entertaining. The suspense comes from the tense situations in which Samuel the angel and his companions find themselves. The inspiration comes from the people in the story learning about their spiritual talents and their ability to do what is right. Even the angel learns some things.

Q: How did you go about plotting your story? Or did you discover it as you worked on the book?

A: I don’t work from a written outline but I certainly have a mental one. I planned out the opening, the major turning point and the ending, including the climax. Then I wrote the whole book with those plans in mind. I keep a detailed plan in mind for the next couple of episodes.

Q: Tell us something interesting about your protagonist and how you developed him or her. Did you do any character interviews or sketches prior to the actual writing?

A:There are no real angels around for me to watch so I had to improvise what I thought about how an angel would act. There are a few short accounts in the Bible about angel’s appearing, but they are very short of details. Much more helpful was the apocryphal/deutero-canonical book of Tobit which features an angel appearing as a human, so I relied on that account fairly heavily. But I had to use a lot of imagination.

Q: In the same light, how did you create your antagonist or villain? What steps did you take to make him or her realistic?

A: I have known some people very much like the angel’s opponents in the story. So the villains are composites of people I have known.

Q: How did you keep your narrative exciting throughout the novel? Could you offer some practical, specific tips?

A: I mostly used my own reaction as a guide. If an episode excited and entertained me, I kept at it. If it didn’t, I didn’t write it and found another way which I found to be exciting and entertaining.

Q: Setting is also quite important and in many cases it becomes like a character itself. What tools of the trade did you use in your writing to bring the setting to life?

A: A standard writers’ adage is to write what you know and in Secret Agent Angel, I followed that advice. I haven’t yet met any real angels, but most of the situations in which Samuel the secret agent angel finds himself are very similar to things I have done in my own life. I was assigned to tanks in the army. My first job was loading and unloading trucks. The owner of the truck company also owned a truck stop, so I spent some time in it and other truck stops as well. I have visited many hospitals in the course of my pastoral duties. All of those settings appeared in the novel. One part which does not come from my own experience is the chapter about porters on the Ho Chi Minh trail just before the Tet offensive. I had to do a lot of research for that, but I enjoyed that challenge.

Q: Did you know the theme(s) of your novel from the start or is this something you discovered after completing the first draft? Is this theme(s) recurrent in your other work?

A:The theme that the spirit world is at work in our world is that is one thing that I have seen in my own life and experience. I had that theme firmly in mind when I started the book. That God is at work around us is as much an underlying assumption of the book as it is a theme. It is very much present in my next book, a historical novel about King David, the biblical king of Israel.

Q: Where does craft end and art begin? Do you think editing can destroy the initial creative thrust of an author?

A:Editing is an absolute necessity, both self-editing and outside editing. Editing can be done in such a way as to be a problem with creativity, but I did not have that problem. My editor at Black Opal, Faith, did an excellent job and was very helpful.

Q: What three things, in your opinion, make a successful novelist?

A:Reading widely and learning from great writers is mandatory. Being persistent. Keep at the writing and finish the project. Write the book, then prepare the manuscript for submission. Be persistent in submitting it. Every writer gets rejection. Get over it and send it out again. And again. And again. Constant improvement is a necessity. Learn as you go. Figure out what works. Learn to self-edit. Like any job, writing requires certain skills and attributes. Learn them, use them, and keep getting better.

Q: A famous writer once wrote that being an author is like having to do homework for the rest of your life. Thoughts?

A:Homework was forced drudgery and basically useless, so I seldom did it, especially over Christmas vacation. Writing is work but it is enjoyable work. It is only forced on me by myself.

Q: Are there any resources, books, workshops or sites about craft that you’ve found helpful during your writing career?

A:Read great books, classics and current. Learn how the masters wrote, then find your own style. Dictionaries, use a good thesaurus, and follow Heinlein’s rules which are in the next question and answer.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers about the craft of writing?

A: Robert A. Heinlein said it best. His Five Rules for Writers:

You must write.
You must finish what you write.
You must refrain from rewriting, except to editorial order.
You must put the work on the market.
You must keep the work on the market until it is sold.

He is right and I can give no better advice.

Book Review: Vita Antequam Mortem by Brett E. Walker

Posted in Uncategorized on November 8, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: Vita Antequam Mortem

Author: Brett E. Walker

Publisher: XLibrisUS

Genre: Fiction

Format: Ebook

This story is about a group of friends with very different personalities who party hard, do drugs, and go through life struggles together. Within this group of friends is Chase, who discovers what it feels like to experience true love at its finest. Throughout this tale, he endures undeniable pain both physically and emotionally, comprehends being alone for the very first time, and discovers what it feels like to have death in his family that takes away the meaning of his life. His mental state is tested throughout these series of events, bringing him to the brink of insanity. He is ultimately forced to make a decision that will stay with him for years to come, if not the rest of his life. Come take a hard look inside a weathered, imperfect, but genuinely beautiful mind.

PURCHASE HERE

My Review:

This was a hard book for me to read. Being the mom of teenagers, I could easily see how the friends in this book struggled through their different personalities and tried to experience as much of life as they could (I see it with my own children). But, by the end of the book I feel in love with Chase, and the author does a phenomenal job of taking you through his trials and triumphs to show you who he really is. This is a great book and one I highly recommend reading.

Brett Walker was born and raised in Poughkeepsie New York. He is a first time author and is very excited about this story he has put together for readers to enjoy. What inspired him to write this story is the ups and downs people go through in life. Brett Walker is one of those guys who you don’t expect to make it very far- A product of the hood and the suburbs, the underdog, an everyday example of what it is to be human… but this is what is so appealing about his story. He is just like you, just like the rest of the world. He has fell in love suffered heartbreak, and lost loved ones who meant the world to him, but somehow he has survived. Somehow he has surpassed everyone’s expectations, and he has thrived

Monday, November 5

Interviewed at She Writes

Wednesday, November 7

Guest blogging at Harmonious Publicity

Thursday, November 8

Book reviewed at The Dark Phantom

Friday, November 9

Interviewed at Voodoo Princess

Monday, November 12

Guest blogging at Book Bloggin’ Princess

Tuesday, November 13

Book reviewed at A Title Wave

Wednesday, November 14

Interviewed at The Book Czar

Friday, November 16

Book reviewed at A Book Lover

Monday, November 19

Guest blogging at The Revolving Bookshelf

Wednesday, November 21

Guest blogging at From Paperback to Leatherbound

Friday, November 23

Book reviewed at I’m Shelf-ish

Monday, November 26

Guest blogging at My Bookish Pleasures

Wednesday, November 28

Guest blogging at The Literary Nook

Thursday, November 29

Book reviewed at Lover of Literature

Friday, November 30

Guest blogging at C’est La T

Book Blast: Ben Abdul-Malik Akran by Sotonye Sagbe Boyle

Posted in Uncategorized on November 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: Ben Abdul-Malik Akran

Author: Sotonye Sagbe Boyle

Publisher: AuthorHouse UK

Genre: Fiction

Format: Ebook

When Akran suddenly surfaces out of the blue to cart Ben away to London, like a puppy in a chain, he knows things will never be the same for him again. ‘I don’t like white people,’ Ben tells his father, whom he sees as an ingredient in their evil manipulation. His classroom teacher teaches him, ‘white people perpetrate all the crimes in the world,’ a philosophy which implants in him, and earns him many adversaries–an orgy of killings. Ben joins the deadly Al Qaeda Network to seek for justice when his rivals kill his friends–Amafor, Dandy and beautiful Omar. For him, ‘justice delayed, is justice denied.’ But for his association with the Al Qaeda Network, death means nothing to him anymore…

PURCHASE HERE

BEN IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins October 22 and ends on November 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on November 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 22

Voodoo PrincessTuesday, October 23

The Revolving BookshelfWednesday, October 24

From Paperback to Leatherbound

Inkslinger’s OpusThursday, October 25

Write and Take Flight

The Zen ReaderFriday, October 26

A Title WaveMonday, October 29

The Literary Nook

Lover of LiteratureTuesday, October 30

My Bookish Pleasures

I’m Shelf-ishWednesday, October 31

Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic

Bent Over BookwordsThursday, November 1

A Taste of My MindFriday, November 2

The Dark Phantom

All Inclusive Retort

Book Blast: Helping Hands by Ken Saik

Posted in Uncategorized on November 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Title: Helping Hands

Author: Ken Saik

Publisher: iUniverse

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Format: Ebook

Jill Kreshky is recently divorced. She is doing her best to reclaim her life. After an accident causes her to spend six weeks alone in a hospital, she is haunted by the awareness that she must find a way to once again become part of her children’s lives. Unfortunately, Jill doesn’t have a car, her job is temporarily on hold, her bank account is empty. There is no question that Jill needs encouragement from someone she can trust. After she learns that a church friend, Bill Wynchuk, has been more loyal to her than she ever realized, Jill decides to invite him for supper. As he relies on his faith and skills as a psychologist to lovingly lead Jill to appreciate her inner strength and need for the Lord, she gains insights that propel her down a path of reconciliation that helps her mend relations with her son and return to Ontario to face her greatest fears about her family and unveil a deeply buried secret. In this inspirational story, a woman attempting to reclaim her life is led on an emotional journey, with help from a devoted friend, that ultimately reveals the truth and prompts her to seek forgiveness.

PURCHASE HERE

Ken Saik is a committed Christian who retired after thirty-one years of teaching social studies to pursue writing fiction and poetry. To date, he has published three novellas and a novel, Baggage Burdens. Saik currently resides in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada.

GIVEAWAY

Ken IS GIVING AWAY A $25 GIFT CARD!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Gift Certificate to the e-retailer of your choice
This giveaway begins October 22 and ends on November 2.
Winners will be contacted via email on November 3.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

Monday, October 22

Lover of Literature

The Book Czar

Tuesday, October 23

The Book Refuge

Review From Here

Wednesday, October 24

A Title Wave

C’est La T

Thursday, October 25

Voodoo Princess

Friday, October 26

The Literary Nook

Write and Take Flight

Monday, October 29

My Bookish Pleasures

Confessions of an Eccentric Bookaholic

Tuesday, October 30

From Paperback to Leatherbound

Wednesday, October 31

She Writes

Inkslinger’s Opus

Thursday, November 1

The Dark Phantom

Friday, November 2

The Revolving Bookshelf