Monday, January 18, 2021

Sleighed: A Christmas Tale #ShortStory by Award-Winning @WendyJayneScott #NewRelease #Free

 Hello, beautiful readers! Christmas may be over, but a cute Christmas story is enjoyable at any time of the year. Please join me in welcoming award-winning author Wendy Scott as she shares with you her newest short story, Sleighed! It is free from January 18-22 on Amazon. 


Thanks, Yvette. In March 2019, my sister (who lives in Canada), visited me in New Zealand, and we embarked on a memory tour. We revisited places from our childhood, including Queenstown, where our grandmother used to live.




Our great-grandfather had been an engineer on the iconic century-old coal fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, back in the day when it transported stock and supplies across Lake Wakatipu. We enjoyed a delightful sunny cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm.

During our travels, we set a challenge, to each write a 1500 word story. I chose to write a Children’s Christmas story, based on a writing prompt from my Aspiring Author Series, and that’s how, ‘Sleighed’, came to be created.



I have already read this story and can tell you that it's wonderful! Wendy takes a different take on the world of the North Pole, and I loved it. I hope you will pick up your copy of Sleighed this week, especially since it is FREE from January 18-22!

And while you're add it, get to know Wendy Scott a little better!


About Wendy:

Wendy Scott has a New Zealand Certificate in Science (Chemistry), which allows her to dabble with fuming potions and strange substances, satisfying her inner witch.

Wendy writes short stories, fantasy, and children’s novels. Her books have won multiple awards.

One of the creeds she lives by is to always – Live a life less ordinary!

Full book list http://www.wendyjscott.com/

Amazon Universal Link http://mybook.to/Sleighed

 

Connect with Wendy:

Children’s Websites

http://www.authorchildrens.com

http://www.hieroglyph.ws

http://www.tails-wjscott.com

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ChildrenAuthorWJScott

 

Twitter:

@WendyJayneScott 

https://twitter.com/WendyJayneScott/

 

Pinterest:

https://nz.pinterest.com/wendyscottbooks/






Wednesday, January 6, 2021

BOOK TOUR DAY 17! GHOSTLY INTERFERENCE #romance #ghost #newrelease @jansikes3

Hello, beautiful readers! I am excited to share with you an award-winning indie author, Jan Sikes. I have read several of her stories and have loved them all. Today, she will share with you her newest release. Take it away, Jan!

First, I want to thank Yvette for allowing me to take over her blog space to talk about my new book, Ghostly Interference!

CAN READING LEAD TO WRITING?

I can answer that question with an absolute and resounding YES! Reading can and very often does lead to writing. I’ve never met an author that didn’t love to read a good story.

Thinking back and trying to remember the first time I read a book, I realize it's been well over sixty years that I've been an avid reader.

In elementary school, I loved losing myself in stories, especially fairy tales. I checked the Grimms Book of Fairy Tales out of the school library so many times they had to make a new card. Oh, how I loved getting lost in those fairy tales where everyone lived happily ever after.

Not only did I read the words in books, I lived the words. In my mind’s eye, I could clearly visualize the characters as the words brought them to life. I could see the setting where the story took place and literally put myself there.

Through the written word, I've traveled all over the world. I've seen Paris, Rome, Venice, Ireland, England, Japan, Australia, Switzerland and every state in the United States. I learned about sex by reading Harold Robbin’s novels. I learned about survival from John Steinbeck and Erskine Caldwell. I got lost in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, where I first learned about abuse and social criticism. I learned about the inner-workings of politics by reading Captains and The Kings by Taylor Caldwell. I could go on and on, but you catch my drift. If I listed all the great books I’ve read, this blog would go on for pages.

Needless to say, I LOVE to read.

As a child growing up, my parents adhered to a strict holy-roller religion, which meant we had no TV in our home because it was considered to be of the devil. My older sister and I literally received our worldly education through reading. Many nights after Mama called for lights out, we would huddle under our covers with a flashlight and continue reading until we fell asleep. As a result, both she and I are authors today.

I always have one goal when I write a story, and that is to entertain. However, I find that I cannot write a story without a message contained somewhere in the pages. My passion is writing stories that encourage people to reach for their dreams, to believe in something greater.

In Ghostly Interference, Jag Peters confesses to Rena that he’s always dreamed of playing music on big stages around the world. He doesn’t know where the desire comes from. It’s always been there.

EXCERPT:

“I told you a little about me. Now it’s your turn.”

Jag turned toward her. “Not much to tell. You already know where I work. I write computer programs, make decent money, live in an apartment behind my mom’s house, and drive a Toyota.”

“Aw, come on. Tell me something personal. That’s just stuff.”

“Okay.” Jag pulled his feet out of the water and faced her. “You have to promise you won’t laugh.”

She grinned. “I promise.”

“When I was a kid, I dreamed of being a rock star. I play the keyboard, and I thought that would be the best life in the world; to be on stage and have adoring fans, women clamoring for me and men wanting to be me.”

Rena whispered, “That was a little boy’s dream. What does the man want?”

Jag lowered his head. “I don’t think about it anymore.”

“What you mean is that you settled. You chose a life that’s safe with no risks.”

Jag nodded. “My dad died my first year in college. He never approved of me playing music.”

***

I’d love to know what inspires you to reach for your dreams.

BOOK BLURB

Jag Peters has one goal in his quiet comfortable life—to keep his karma slate wiped clean. A near-miss crash with a candy apple red Harley threatens to upend his safe world. He tracks down the rider to apologize properly. Slipping into a seedy biker bar, he discovers the rider isn't a "he", it's a "she", a dark-haired beauty.

Rena Jett is a troubled soul, who lives in a rough world. She wants no part of Jag's apology, but even while she pushes him away, she is attracted to him. When he claims to see a ghost—her brother—can she trust him? And could her brother's final gift, a magical rune stone with the symbol for "happily ever after" have the power to heal her wounds and allow opposites to find common ground—perhaps even love?

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/NHaLVSe_flI

 

BOOK PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Interference-White-Rune-Sikes-ebook/dp/B08KW1KFMW/

BARNES & NOBLE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghostly-interference-jan-sikes/1137871003?

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ghostly-interference

iTUNES: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ghostly-interference/id1535082886

GOOGLE PLAY: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=PCwNEAAAQBAJ

 


 JAN SIKES

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

http://www.jansikes.com

https://jansikesblog.com/

https://www.twitter.com/jansikes3

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CS9K8DK  (Author Page)