~ You'll Identify With This Book So Much It'll Be Like A REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME!

“What a marvelous story.”

~Coffee Time Romance and More

Reviewer’s award

(5 Cups)

~*~

“Compelling, page turner. Put your worries aside for a

few hours and enjoy what this story has to offer.”

~RT Book Reviews

Please welcome back today's guests, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare, writing as K.M. DAUGHTERS. They were here last month with their wonderful FILL THE STADIUM, today they are returning to share a little bit more about themselves and their REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME, a contemporary romance, releasing today! Isn't that a sharp cover?

Now ladies, let's get right to it. Please tell us where you live.

Kathie lives on the Outer Banks in North Carolina and loves living there. Pat lives in the Chicago suburbs and loves living there as long as it’s not winter.


Now please share with us a little about your families. Married? Kids? Pets?

Pat is married and has two daughters, a stepson, two granddaughters and one grandson.

Kathie is married and has two sons, four granddaughters, one grandson and one Boston terrier.



Sounds like quite the groups! If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why?

One of Kathie’s dogs. They are treated like royalty.



I see! When trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

You mean there’s some kind of candy I wouldn’t like?


Too true! Foolish question! Here's a fun one...if you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be?

Daughter1 and Daughter2.


Ahh. Should have known. Name your favorite children's story.

Kathie – Twilight Twins by Michael Lynch and Pat – Slippers With The Turned Up Toes by Michael Lynch



I never heard of either of those. May have to check them out. What was your nickname growing up or now?

Kuruku and Lightbulb



Never had those answers before! Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?

Our Dad. We write stories like him.



What is your biggest pet peeve?

Dishonesty.


What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without?

Television.


It is pretty entertaining, isn't it? One more for ya...what are your three favorite smells?

Lilacs, Lily of the Valley and CHOCOLATE.


Thus the candy comment! Thank you for joining us, ladies! Now, let's find out more about REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME...

Blurb ~

College reunions are the worst--except when they lead to love.

Lizzie Moran is desperate to help her best friend’s husband recover from grief-stricken despair after her friend passes away. But their love was unlike anything Lizzie has ever seen. A love she knows will never happen for her, considering the bad choices she’s made.

Jack Clark is ready to take whatever measures necessary to yank his brother out of the abyss he’s fallen into after his wife’s death. And when he meets the lovely Lizzie who has the same goal, he is perfectly willing to put aside their differences, for the sake of his brother.

Tensions escalate when Jack and Lizzie are forced to attend a reunion together—and the fact that Lizzie’s former fiancé, the man who dumped her the same day her parents died, will be there doesn’t help. But an unlikely matchmaker has a plan—and if it succeeds, Jack and Lizzie might just realize they are meant for each other.

Excerpt ~

…He shook her hand, just skimming her knuckles with his fingers, a pleasant connection. So this is the famous Lizzie, now he was sorry for not meshing.

Beguiling smile, tender eyes, legs even better close up. On the skinny side, but appealing curves where it counts. Plus she obviously cares about Charlie and that means a great deal.

“Oh. Jack finally.” She brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “Mari told me so much about you. Nice to meet you.”

She bent her head and surveyed the floor.

“Looking for your dog?” He turned toward the back of the house joining in the search.

“Ah, yes. Marty. Marty!” she blasted.

Good lungs.

His ears vibrated. The dog tore from behind him toward Lizzie with jubilant owner worship yips. Lizzie scooped up the little dog and let her lick the side of her cheek unhindered. Made Jack want to be a Boston terrier.

Love that last line!

Author Bios ~

K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. The penname is dedicated to the memory of their parents, “K”ay and “M”ickey Lynch. K.M. Daughters is the author of 13 award winning romance genre novels. The “Daughters” are wives, mothers and grandmothers residing in the Chicago suburbs and on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Visitors are most welcome at http://www.kmdaughters.com

You can buy REUNION FOR THE FIRST TIME at: 

https://www.amazon.com/Reunion-First-Time-K-Daughters-ebook/dp/B01G4J2G8E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466171356&sr=8-1&keywords=Reunion+For+The+First+Time

~ This Summer You Need To Be READING BETWEEN THE LIVES! ~

So happy to have friend author Ashantay Peters on today with her latest release, BETWEEN THE LIVES! Love the title, and isn't this cover stunning? Let's find out a little about Ashantay...




When did your love for writing start?

My love of story telling started when I was playing with my paper dolls. Those poor dolls had all manner of tragedies besetting them. A bit later, I began writing down some of the stories, but didn’t finish anything until high school. Many, many years (decades) later, I got a bit more serious.



I loved paper dolls, too. I thought they were so cool! Wish we had more of them these days. What is the best thing you’ve learned about writing and/or the publishing business?

The generosity of successful writers towards unpublished authors is amazing and encouraging. I’ll never forget Jennifer Crusie telling me I had done something awesome just by finishing a book. Kinda put my efforts into perspective.

That is awesome! And it's funny, that would be my answer to that question, too. Authors are extraordinarily generous people! What is something you struggle with when you write?

I struggle with allowing the story to unfold organically – to let the characters tell me how the story will go rather than controlling every scene. So, yes, I’m a recovering control freak.



Ahh. That's more me in real life. My author self needs to crack down on my characters a little instead of having them run nilly-willy all over the page. Do you have hobbies that you’d like to share?

When I’m stuck on a plot point, or just taking a break from writing, I enjoy beading and adult coloring books. Color is important to my creativity, along with music, but I have no musical talent, so there you go.


Gotta get me one of those coloring books! Where do you live?

I live in Western North Carolina, just south of Asheville. A beautiful area with mountains, lakes, and rivers. If I weren’t living here, I think I’d enjoy the mountains of Costa Rica or Portofino, Italy. Unfortunately, I have no facility for languages, so if Engligh isn’t spoken, I’m stuck.

Okay, now a few just for fun. If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why?

A hummingbird. I’d go on long trips and sample lots of different flowers. Hard to fall into a rut that way!


See, silly question, but I love it! People choose so many different things! When trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

Those softish candy chunks wrapped in orange or black wrappers that tasted kind of like make-believe maple, or maybe they were meant to be peanut butter. I’m still not sure, but cringe when I see them in the store at Halloween.


Exactly! Bleck! What CD is in your CD player right now? 

Probably Eric Clapton. I’m too lazy to look, but that’s a safe bet.

Name your favorite children's story.

I have two favorites. Mr. Popper’s Penguins and Miss Pickerel Goes to Mars. I’m not sure how often I read those books, but have a feeling the librarian hid them behind her desk when she saw me coming, just to give others kids a chance at the titles. 

Loved Mr. Popper's Penguins! Never saw the movie, though. What are your three favorite smells?

Lilacs, peonies, roses. Although onions and garlic sauteed in olive oil are up there!

I love onions and garlic sauteing in olive oil! That exact thing is on my list, too.

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

Oh, my pleasure! Now, let's find out a little more about READING BETWEEN THE LIVES...

Blurb ~

Supernatural skeptic Gabriella Jung sees a psychic for answers to romance questions. Can't hurt, right? She scoffs at the prediction that she faces parallel lives and alternate dimensions. Hours later, she's having visions, and not from too much wine.



Adrian Comstock can't explain his instant attraction to Gabby. Although she's off limits, she haunts his dreams. But when the dreams change from seductive to realistic depictions of tense showdowns in the 1860s, Adrian is baffled, yet still unable to stay away.



Gabby's reality unravels as the flood of visions increases. Can computer geek Adrian help her navigate time, space, and the 1860s? Or will they remain forever trapped in a time loop?

Excerpt ~

“You know, if I had a beautiful, sexy woman like yours, I’d treat her the way she deserved rather than embarrassing her by coming on to the server in front of her. Or even behind her back.”

His brown gaze entangled mine. “No offense, sweets, but you look too intelligent to stick yourself with low-rent goods.”

I don’t know if I’d have responded even if the royal blue light emanating from around his hands and head hadn’t caught my eye. My elbow rested on the table with my chin in my hand for a better look in a fluid motion I hadn’t known I could execute.

In what seemed a totally natural move, my gaze traveled from the light phenomenon to Mr. Calendar’s eyes. If I thought I’d been hypnotized by the blue marvel, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw in his caramel-colored orbs.

Maybe brown eyes appear more sincere in the way a puppy can get you to share treats without conscious decision. I’m not sure, but I thought I saw a warm regard in his gaze. Interest, and not solely in who would pick up the tab. His scanning look told me this guy might really think me sexy. My brain synapses stuttered.

His slow smile suggested he’d surmised my calculation of his hotness factor. To the tenth decimal. And he didn’t mind my interest.


Nicely worded!

Links ~

The Wild Rose Press – http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4332-reading-between-the-lives.html

Amazon –

https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Between-Lives-Ashantay-Peters-ebook/dp/B01G45PLXK/

Author Bio ~

Ashantay Peters lives in the North Carolina mountains, the perfect location to escape by reading. She likes to flex her writing muscles with a variety of genres, which is why she’s penned paranormal books along with romantic suspense and contemporary romance. All her books contain humor because what’s life without laughter?

She loves to hear from readers and promises not to stalk anyone who contacts her.

Contact Links

Website -www.ashantay.com

Email - ashantay.peters@gmail.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com.ashantay.peters

https://www.amazon.com/author/ashantaypeters

~ You Need To Meet The DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE! ~

Good morning! We're in the midst of bridal season, so I'm happy to be teaming up with Rock Star PR to bring you the opportunity to hear about and pre-order New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery's latest release ~ DAUGHTERS OF THE BRIDE! (Releasing July 12th!) You can also enter to win Susan's Bridal Survival Kit! (details below) First, let's hear about the book...


Blurb ~

With Joy, Love, and a Little Trepidation Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You To the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother's



Courtney ~ The Misfit ~

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom's wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family's view of her—and how she views herself—forever.

Sienna ~ The Free Spirit ~

When Sienna's boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say "I do" even if she's not sure she does?

Rachel ~ The Cynic ~

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom's wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she's forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she'll let pride stand in the way of her own happily ever after.

A must-read for anyone who has survived the wedding of a sister, a mother, a daughter—as told by #1 New York Times bestselling author and master storyteller Susan Mallery!


Links ~

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Bride-Susan-Mallery/dp/0373789718/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466690479&sr=8-1&keywords=susan+mallery+daughters+of+the+bride

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughters-of-the-bride-susan-mallery/1123016762?ean=9780373799435


iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/daughters-of-the-bride/id1063229178?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4


Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/daughters-of-the-bride

Giveaway ~

Bridal Survival Kit:

21 lucky readers will win a “Bridal Survival Kit”- one for each day of this special pre-pub tour.

Kit Includes:

· A Daughters of the Bride four-chapter excerpt book with bonus content and $2 coupon

· A Daughters of the Bride Post-It book

· A Susan Mallery pen

· A Drunken Red-Nosed Honey Bee ceramic honeypot

· Essie “Blushing Bride” nail polish with tutu

· A gift bag of Jordan almonds

· Two votive candles

· Hershey Kisses

· A Daughters of the Bride bookmark

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27877466-daughters-of-the-bride


a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Author Bio ~ 

Susan Mallery is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels about the relationships that define women's lives—romance, friendship, family. With compassion and humor, Susan keenly observes how people think and feel, in stories that take readers on an emotional journey. Sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, and always uplifting, Susan's books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list, thanks to her ever growing legions of fans.

Susan lives in Seattle with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a tattletale toy poodle. Animals play a big role in her books, as well, as she believes they're an integral component to a happy life. Visit her online at:

Website: http://www.susanmallery.com/

Newsletter: http://www.susanmallery.com/join-mailing-list.php

Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanmallery

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SusanMallery

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/susanmallery/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/susanmallery

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8716.Susan_Mallery

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1XalKZb

~ Take a Walk With Us Along The DEVIL'S PROMENADE! ~

I am absolutely thrilled to have on with us today one of my favorite authors--Alicia Dean! And she brings along a book from a very unusual project, A World of Gothic--Gothic mysteries written by different authors and set in locations around the globe. But let's find out a little bit more about her first.

Alicia, when did your love for writing start?

When I first began reading. I’ve wanted to write since I was a child.

What is something you struggle with when you write?

There are three main things I struggle with, the beginning, middle, and end. J Haha, although that’s true, I know it’s not what you meant. I probably struggle with characterization the most. I’m a plot driven writer and I don’t always bring the characters to life like I should.

How do you balance the demands of your everyday life and your writing life?

Aaarrrgggghhhh…I don’t! I just try to focus on the most pressing thing at the moment. I ignore my writing more than I should so that I can take care of other things, but I haven’t gone completely insane yet, so I guess I’m managing. The best way I can balance is to get up two hours earlier than I have to in order to get in some writing. And, I try to hibernate and block out everything except writing on weekends when I can.

Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

Yes, I’m a legal assistant in a family law firm. It doesn’t really ‘mesh’ but I love what I do. It does give me lots of material for books, though. Divorce and paternity cases can get kind of crazy.

Where do you live?

Edmond, Oklahoma. Where would you love to live? Maybe Alaska, except when it’s light 24 hours a day.

When trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

Those nasty orange fluffy peanuts.


Amen. How did that company stay in business when only a handful of people like them? Name your favorite children's story.

Little Match Girl

Oh, my gosh! That's so depressing! What is your biggest pet peeve?

People asking me questions. HA! Just kidding. I have a lot of pet peeves. One of them is rude/loud eating noises. And people blowing their noses in restaurants. And making out in public. Especially ugly people.

What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without?

Computer/cellphone/kindle

Okay, that could all be one thing, so we'll let you get away with it. What are your three favorite smells?

Coffee, rain, babies

I can't stand the taste of straight up coffee, but I like it when it flavors something else, and the smell is heavenly! Thanks for sharing a little bit of yourself with us, Alicia! Let's find out more about Devil’s Promenade: A World of Gothic – United States...

Blurb ~

Amidst a blizzard, paranormal debunker Camille Burditt arrives at Devil’s Promenade in Oklahoma to research a supernatural 'spook light' for her latest book. There she encounters a ghostly being, which she dismisses as a figment of her imagination. But as the apparition becomes too persistent to deny, Camille realizes the woman’s ghost is quite real—and that her demise was not accidental. 

Declan Rush—the inhospitable, reclusive owner of the inn—is linked to the deceased woman, but he is less than forthcoming. Despite his unfriendliness, Camille is oddly drawn to him, even though she suspects his connection to the spirit might be that of killer to victim.

Excerpt ~

The blackness around me was broken only by the blinking of the cell tower lights ahead and a sliver of moonlight. Even through my coat and the blanket I’d wrapped around my shoulders, frigid air seeped through my bones. From a distance came the low rumble of cars and a keening sound I was growing accustomed to. The possibility of coyotes no longer frightened me—at least not as much as it had in the beginning—but the haunted wail still sent a shiver through my body.

I’d been out for hours when my lids grew heavy, in spite of the nap I’d taken. I poured the last of the coffee from the thermos into the cup and drank the lukewarm liquid. I checked my phone, which was only good as a clock now that I had no service. Four a.m. Six hours. If I hadn’t seen it by now, I probably wouldn’t see it.

I stared down the road, stretching my eyes wide to keep them open. I wasn’t going to make it. I was so sleepy…

I yawned so hard my jaw ached. Definitely time to go in. I reached for the golf cart key, then stopped mid-motion when a glimmer of light caught my eye. I jerked my head up.

There…at the end of the road between the overhang of skeletal tree branches, an orange-yellow ball of light appeared. It hung in the air for a moment before moving in a bouncy motion from left to right. Oh wow… Was I really seeing it?

I blinked and looked again.

The light was still there.

I jumped out of the cart. “Oh my God. The spook light,” I whispered in awe.

I no longer felt the cold, and I was no longer sleepy. My insides jittered, but from excitement rather than fear. In one of the articles I’d read, a psychic claimed the light wasn’t actually a light, but a dimension to another world…that it could lead to danger. But still, I wasn’t afraid.

This was amazing. Beyond amazing. I fumbled out my cell phone and snapped a few photos. I touched the thumbnail and breathed a sigh of relief. Unlike Eleanor had in the video, they hadn’t disappeared. I’d actually gotten pictures.

I glanced around, feeling alone, wishing someone were here to share it with me. I let out a scoffing chuckle. Be honest, you wish Declan were here to share it with you.

In spite of my humiliation, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since last night. I couldn’t help but wonder how he would treat me when we saw one another again. No doubt, after my clumsy attempt to hit on him, it would be awkward to say the least.

I hung out for another half an hour, until the spook light disappeared. I was disappointed, but I’d known it wouldn’t last forever. At least I had seen it. And I had pictures.

Jillian had to let me write this new book. Now, I could prove that the spook light existed. And, knowing it was real, I could make the book even a more entertaining read by sharing about the legends.

I climbed into the cart and headed back to the inn, my mind brimming with possibilities now that I had an entirely new outlook on the phenomenon. I couldn’t wait to revise the book.

Available July 8th! Amazon pre-order link: https://amzn.com/B01GNGTU96

Author Bio ~

Alicia Dean is a suspense and paranormal author in Edmond, Oklahoma. She wrote her first romance at age 11, and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL, and watching her favorite televisions shows.

You can find Alicia here:

*** Sign up for our Novel Notes Newsletter, a multi-author newsletter where we give away a $25 gift card each month: 

https://www.facebook.com/NovelNotesAuthors

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alicia-Dean-559598754221926/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean

You can pre-order DEVIL'S PROMENADE here:

https://amzn.com/B01GNGTU96

Available July 8th!

~ This Book Will Cause Readers to FILL THE STADIUM and Stand Up and Cheer! ~

Please welcome the dynamic duo to the spotlight today, the team of Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare, writing as K.M. Daughters. And as a special treat, Pat and Kathie have brought along NFL quarterback Ramsey Delaney!



Ramsey, please tell us a little bit about yourself? Why did you become a quarterback? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Good morning, M.J. Since I’m on injured reserve for the Massachusetts Dragons I have extra time to focus on the kids at The Good Sports Club I founded. Of course, I’m ready whenever Coach Beltzer needs me to quarterback for him. I’d say I’m strong in pass completion and I don’t want to jinx myself, but I haven’t thrown an interception in 20 games. Weaknesses? Can’t think of any… Well, maybe for a beautiful woman and her two small boys.



Ahh... Well, Ram, what is your earliest childhood memory?

Believe it or not I was kind of a puny kid. I remember that I was always the last one chosen for teams and was frequently knocked down on the playground. The Good Sports Club was born out of those memories. It’s a place where kids can participate on their level without worrying about ridicule.



Sounds wonderful! How did you meet Nikki? What was your first impression of her?

She came storming into my office like a Mama bear protecting her cub. It was all a misunderstanding. I thought she was a little spitfire and I also couldn’t get her out of my mind.


Now for a toughie...what is it that you want out of life?

A cure for ALD.


Yes! Wouldn't that be something. For those of you who aren't familiar with this disease, 
"Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, is a deadly genetic disease that affects 1 in 18 000 people. It most severely affects boys and men. This brain disorder destroys myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the brain's neurons -- the nerve cells that allow us to think and to control our muscles. It knows no racial, ethnic or geographic barriers.

The most devastating form of ALD appears in childhood, generally between the ages of four and ten years old. Normal, healthy boys suddenly begin to regress. At first, they simply show behavioral problems, such as withdrawal or difficulty concentrating. Gradually, as the disease ravages their brain, their symptoms grow worse, including blindness and deafness, seizures, loss of muscle control, and progressive dementia. This relentless downward spiral leads to either death or permanent disability, usually within 2 to 5 years from diagnosis." (http://www.stopald.org/what-is-ald/) Truly a cruel disease. 

How about we lighten things up a bit. If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? 

It would be “Enginee” from my Highland U quarterbacking days.

There's a story in there somewhere, but we're all out of time. Thank you for joining us, Ram. It was a delight spending time with you. Not let's find out a little bit more about FILL THE STADIUM...

Blurb ~

Nikki Lambert’s husband purposely stalls his truck in the path of the midnight freight on the same day her eldest son, Jack, is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.
Injured NFL quarterback, Ramsey Delaney is benched from his starting position leaving him ample time for more hands-on involvement in The Good Sports Club, a community center he established where Nikki’s sons, Jack and Rocky are enrolled.


Jack’s deteriorating motor skills concern Ram’s employees who bar Jack from attending the club without Ram’s knowledge. Nikki wants nothing but normalcy for Jack and she heatedly confronts Ram for depriving her son of a beloved activity. Ram immediately reinstates Jack forging the fateful bond between Nikki and her boys’ number-one sports hero.

Ram is instantly attracted to Nikki. He wants to win her heart more than he’s ever wanted to win a game. But after her husband’s terrible abandonment will Nikki trust Ram’s motives and open her heart to love again?

Excerpt ~

"It’s not funny Ram. How dare you hire people to tear up my house without my knowledge? What the hell were you thinking?"

Shrugging his shoulders he replied, "I don't know. That I'm helping you?"

She dragged her fingers through her hair. His stomach tightened yearning to thread his fingers through her silky hair, too. In the next second he questioned his motives once more, something he had done repeatedly since she had stormed his office the first time. Ram still remained satisfied that he wasn't trying to buy or to manipulate her affections. Whether or not she'd ever see him the way that he saw her, Ram had to help Jack. The compulsion had become near obsession. He'd spend his last dime and would have fought anyone who had tried to stop him, including Nikki.

Nikki pinned him with a penetrating glare, tense and unsmiling.

"Say something," he said.

“I can take care of my son.”

“I never said you couldn’t. No one could give Jack better care than you. I just want you to let me help you."

She wagged her head, no. “It’s too much Ram. I can’t accept it.”

"I think it might be a little late to refuse.” He smiled but the dark stare she gave him had him back stepping, “Look,” he said, holding his palms up in supplication, "Let’s be honest. I have been paid an obscene amount of money to play football. More than I will ever need. I have the money to fix up your house for Jack, and you don't have money to spare. It's nothing. It's what friends do for each other."

“You’re out of your mind. It’s too much.” Her chest heaved.

She sighed and he detected a slight softening in her eyes and a minuscule slackening of her shoulders.

Encouraged Ram paced a step closer. “What can I say? I’m just a dumb jock.”

Author Bios ~

K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. The penname is dedicated to the memory of their parents, “K”ay and “M”ickey Lynch. K.M. Daughters is the author of 13 award winning romance genre novels. The “Daughters” are wives, mothers and grandmothers residing in the Chicago suburbs and on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Visitors are most welcome at http://www.kmdaughters.com

You can buy FILL THE STADIUM here:

http://www.amazon.com/Fill-Stadium-K-Daughters-Team/dp/150920489X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465263299&sr=1-1&keywords=fill+the+stadium

~ Take a Waltz Down INSPIRATION STREET! ~

Please welcome former columnist turned author Darrell Laurant to the spotlight!


I first “met” Darrell when I ran across his blog, “Snowflakes in a Blizzard.” Darrell, tell us what you mean by that title.

It has to do with the fact that there are currently more than 15 million books listed on Amazon. I was standing at my living room window in Lake George, NY one day, watching it snow (it snows a lot up here), when the thought occurred to me that getting noticed as a new writer these days is like a snowflake trying to stand out in a blizzard. Hence the name for a free book marketing service that I started to help other authors who are struggling to have their work recognized and appreciated.


That analogy is so apt! When did your love for writing start?

In the womb, probably -- my mother is an excellent writer. When I was about 8, I mimeographed a little newspaper and sold it around my neighborhood for a nickel. I suspect people bought it because they thought it was cute. I'm no longer cute, but still writing.


That sounds just like the way Stephen King got his start! What is something you struggle with when you write?


How much is too much and how little is too little. As a longtime journalist, I'm very conscious of the need to engage readers without boring or tiring them, and that's a fine line to walk.


Indeed! Give us a brief glimpse at your road to publication. 

It was a bit unorthodox. With my first book, "Even Here," I went to an acquaintance who ran a printing company and asked if he would print my book with nothing upfront and let me pay him back out of the money it brought in. To my amazement, he agreed, and the book sold over 3,000 copies in just a local area. (He got repaid).



That's the first time I received that answer! I know you are retired now, but could you tell us a bit about what it was like being a columnist?


I had a wonderful job with a small daily in Lynchburg, VA -- so wonderful that I passed on a couple of offers from larger papers and stayed there more than 30 years. As a columnist, I generally produced stories that fell somewhere in between editorials and news. I could write about people just because they were interesting, and not because they'd done anything newsworthy in the previous five minutes. And because I was the only writer on staff with a photo next to my column, I wound up as a sort of mini-celebrity in the community (mixed blessing). My editors gave me a lot of leeway, and at four times a week, I came up with over 5,000 columns during my career, trying never to repeat any of them.



Wow! I'm sure that was a challenge! Do you have a job/hobby outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing?

I also run the aforementioned Snowflakes in a Blizzard (snowflakesarise.wordpress.com), which meshes quite well.


Do you have any other hobbies that you’d like to share?


Reading, traveling, playing pool, finding new music to listen to and participating in a couple of fantasy sports leagues.

Ugh! My husband does fantasy sports, too. He really enjoys them! Where do you live?

In Lake George, NY, which is beautiful but a bit cold -- winter comes early and spring comes late. Maybe someday we can afford to flee to a warmer refuge from December through March. I make a better snowbird than penguin.


Ha! Love that! I'd rather be a snowbird, too! Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?

My wife Gail and I are both Upstate New York natives and have been married for more than 40 years. We have a daughter in Lynchburg, a son in Colorado and four grandchildren. We also love dogs and have three, a German shepherd and two malte-poo "ankle biters." They're more fun to watch than TV.



Which leads right into my next question. If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why? 

A tiger, because I'm not as assertive as I should be. Tigers are very assertive.


What was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?

My Kindle, on which I am currently juggling about 12 books.


Me, too. I didn't think I would like it, because I was more old school and into paper books, but when you can hold dozen of books in one hand, what's not to like? What CD is in your CD player right now?


"Bittertown," by Lori McKenna, whom I just recently discovered. Like Neil Young, Steve Earle, Springsteen and others, she has kind of a quirky voice, but it works.


Name your favorite children's story.

The Secret Garden.


Interesting... What was your nickname growing up or now?

In Lynchburg, it was "Durl," because that's what "Darrell" sounds like with a southern accent.


Reminds me of the Bob Newhart Show when there was Larry, his brother Darrell, and his other brother Darrell. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?


1. Failure to communicate. It irks me, for instance, when I send out an article query and never get a response. No matter how busy an editor claims to be, how much time does it take to hit "reply" and say either "Would like to hear more" or "Thanks, but not for us"? If it's the latter, you can then move on to someone else, instead of being on permanent hold.


2. (A tie). The fact that it's become incredibly difficult to contact with a real human being on the phone. The automated systems that confront me rarely address whatever problem or issue I may have, and so often there is no alternative. I guess that also goes back to communication.


Yes. Communication is key. Thanks for joining us today! Now let's hear a little bit more about INSPIRATION STREET...

Blurb ~

This book describes some of the intriguing people who have lived in the 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pierce Street in Lynchburg, Virginia, but it is also more than that. Through what they accomplished during the days of segregation and beyond, these individuals represent 100 years of African-American history in microcosm.

Author Bio ~

Darrell Laurant is a veteran of more than 40 years in journalism, serving as a sportswriter, reporter and columnist for newspapers in South Carolina and Virginia. Inspiration Street is his fourth book, following Even Here: A Small Virginia Community, a Violent Decade (1992); A City Unto Itself: Lynchburg VA in the 20th Century (1997), and The Kudzu Kid, his first novel, published in 2014. A history major at Belmont Abbey College near Charlotte, North Carolina, he has long been intrigued by the effects of the past on the present and future. The issue of race, especially in the South, has been of particular interest. Laurant retired from the newspaper business in 2013 in order to devote more time to his other writing. He now lives and writes in Lake George, New York. He and his wife Gail have two children—Jeremy Laurant, of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Cindee Layne, of Lynchburg Virginia—and four grandchildren.


You can purchase INSPIRATION STREET here:


http://amzn.com/193820526X

~ Who Wouldn't Be Interested in a GHOST IN THE RAIN? ~

Please help me welcome Marie Treanor with her exciting release, GHOST IN THE RAIN. Marie brought along her rock star hero--and y'all know how I feel about rock stars. So, without further ado, I give you Dan Stewart!

Tell me about yourself? You're a rockstar. Why? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

My name is Dan Stewart. I used to play keyboards in a rock band called Bad Mouth. Aye, that band. Why? Because I love music and when I was 18 years old I wanted to see if I could be famous. Or infamous. Strengths? I’m a good musician, I think. I’m good at organizing people and business. And I suppose I look after my friends, whatever happens, or whatever they’ve done. Weaknesses? I can be too focused and selfish, lose my sense of proportion. I’ve behaved as badly as most rock musicians and I’ve let my friends do the same – with terrible consequences.


What’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My family was always hard working, when they had work. They taught me loyalty and to always try as hard as I could. We weren’t well off. I grew up in a housing scheme in Glasgow, but my mum encouraged me to stick in at school, and to go to uni. I got the others – my pals Liam and Ross and Mick - to do the same, so we could all go to Strathclyde University together. That’s where we formed Bad Mouth and met Islay. Once she joined the band, it really took off and we all dropped out of uni. My parents thought we were nuts.

How did you and Kate meet? What was your first impression of her?

She came at me with a pepper spray. I thought she was insane. Beautiful but insane. No, she arrived in the middle of a storm to study some 18th century letters that I’d acquired along with Invershiel House up in the Highlands. I liked what she got out of those letters, how she perceived the people behind them. I liked that she was afraid of the dark, like a kid, and yet wouldn’t give in. I liked her sense of humour, the way I could talk to her about anything, even the weirdest… I just liked her.

What is it that you want out of life?

When I find out, I’ll let you know. I want to make a difference. And I want to play music. Beyond that, Kate’s opening doors to a life I never imagined before.

Has life handed you any major disappointments?

(Glaring) Are you kidding? You do know what happened to Bad Mouth? Liam, Ross, Islay, are all dead. That’s major. Though disappointment doesn’t quite cover it.

Yes, quite tragic! What CD is in your CD player right now?

A new solo album of Mick’s – the bass player from Bad Mouth. Best thing he’s ever done. I played keyboards on a couple of tracks. Sounds good. When it comes out, you should buy it.

I might just do that. Thank you for joining us today! Now let's hear a little bit more about GHOST IN THE RAIN...

Blurb ~

A haunted Highland house, battered by storms and murder... 

Notorious rocker Dan Stewart isn’t anything like Dr. Kate Yorke imagined. Arriving at his remote home in the Scottish Highlands to research some valuable letters - only to discover he’s forgotten their appointment - Kate soaks up the Gothic atmosphere of Invershiel House. But it’s the owner who truly fascinates her.

Reclusive and abrupt, Dan is haunted by the deaths of his fellow band members, especially his one time lover Islay Lamont, whose shade seems to flit around the grounds in the rain. But the ghost is not the only mystery Kate encounters. Light bulbs disappear around her – and only Dan knows she’s scared of the dark. Then she trips over a dead body which inexplicably vanishes.

It becomes a race against time to find the identity of the body and the killer. And to discover if she and Danny have any kind of future together. Or even at all...

A World of Gothic is a Gothic Mystery Romance Series by authors all over the world. For information on other titles, check out A World of Gothic Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1105411939511452&fref=ts

Buy now from:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/242zolj

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/26t6c5R

B&N: http://bit.ly/1qT8WZn

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1TvPiwg

i-Books: http://apple.co/1YTP2sg

Excerpt ~

I had to acknowledge that my peace was churned up by his unexpected presence here. It wasn’t even an unpleasant feeling; in fact it felt rather…exciting. But it was disturbing.


I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. I suspected Dan Stewart carried such disturbance wherever he went. If I thought about it, the whole house felt different now. As if its peace had gone too; as if it had sprung to life, eager, waiting.


Mocking my own silly fantasy, I stood abruptly and paced around the room, trying to recover my lost concentration. I suspected I was just tired and would work much faster and much better after a good night’s sleep.

I paused by the window to watch the storm. Although the thunder had stopped, the wind and rain were still blasting the trees and rattling the window. Close-up, I could feel the draught through my thick sweater. On impulse, I retrieved my phone from my bag and tried to capture the raging storm on its camera. But it looked too tame on the screen, not deep or dark enough, no real movement in those black clouds still scudding and swirling across the sky. I wished I could paint. For a moment, I even wished I could be part of it, to go outside in it again. There was nothing to stop me, except common sense.

I smiled to myself and lowered the phone, just as a movement in the garden below caught my eye. Someone was out in this. Someone not remotely dressed for it either. Through the darkness and the almost opaque mist of rain, I could make out only that it seemed to be a woman wearing only some kind of floating, white, wispy garment, more like the loungewear of wealthy women of past centuries than anything anyone would wear today for any purpose. The odd garment shimmered as the figure glided across the lawn, impossibly graceful.


On impulse, I raised my phone again and snapped.

Perhaps she moved too quickly. Nothing of her showed on the screen except an indistinct blur of light against blackness. Frowning, I looked again out of the window, but the woman had gone. Vanished.

Gone back inside if she’s got any sense whatsoever.

I could tell myself that, and believe it. I just couldn’t quite silence the tiny voice in my head that whispered I might just have seen a ghost…


And then, before I could laugh myself back to sceptical normality, another figure strode into view. Two figures. A man and a large dog. The dog was trotting along at his side, sniffing the grass. Even in darkness, the man was unmistakably Dan Stewart. He seemed to be wearing the same old khaki jacket. I could see the rain running off him in rivulets. It hadn’t seemed to touch the ghostly woman…

He stopped, gazing ahead, and slowly turned as if looking for something, or someone. Just for a moment, I was tempted. I even raised my phone hand. But it felt too wrong to take a picture of him without permission in his own home. He was facing the house now and without warning, he tipped back his head and caught me staring down at him.

I felt frozen in that distant gaze. Forcing myself, I gave a feeble wave and dragged my eyes free towards the black, wooded hills and the furiously scudding sky. Still, I was aware of him striding back towards the house. I even heard his voice calling to the dog which loped after him.

Restlessly, I abandoned the window. I needed to go to bed. My eyes, my mind, were all far too tired.

Ellie had been quite blasé about leaving the letters out of their locked cabinet. “Even if anyone knew about them, who’d steal them round here?” she’d said reasonably. I took her at her word and just stuffed my own notebook into my bag before picking it up and heading for the closed door, where I paused, because I could hear footsteps pounding up the stairs.


My heart drumming, I waited for them to pass before I left the room. They strode closer, along the hall, and I held my breath. He’d go past; he must go past…


The door flew open, and Dan Stewart stood there, scowling at me. Raindrops stood out on his wet hair and clothes.


No, he wasn’t pretty. But there was something devastatingly attractive about that rough, bony face and those big, grey eyes that seemed much darker than before.

“Did you take any pictures?” he asked abruptly.

A rock star and a ghost. Two characters to get your heart racing. 

Author Bio ~

Marie Treanor lives in Scotland, in a chaotic house by the sea, together with her eccentric husband, three much too smart children and a small dog who rules them all. Most days, she avoids both housekeeping and evil day jobs by writing stories of paranormal romance and fantasy.

Marie is the award winning author of over forty paranormal romances - Indie, New York and E-published.

You can find out more about Marie here: 

 www.MarieTreanor.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Treanor-Paranormal-Romance/105866982782360.

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarieTreanor

And on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marietreanor/ 

Subscribe to her New Release Mailing List: http://www.marietreanor.com/marie-treanor-newsletter/ 

Buy GHOST IN THE RAIN here:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/242zolj

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/26t6c5R

B&N: http://bit.ly/1qT8WZn

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1TvPiwg

i-Books: http://apple.co/1YTP2sg