A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR

Hi, Everyone. The Virtual Book Tour for my Tween Paranormal novel A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT started on Monday. If you have a chance, please stop by some of the awesome blogs that are hosting me and join in the fun. I enjoy reading your comments and will answer as best I can. The schedule is below. Thanks. See you there.

A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat VBT Schedule

October 7^th

First chapter review at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

 

 

 

October 8^th

 

 

Author interview at Blogcritics

 

 

 

October 9^th

 

 

Author interview at As the Pages Turn

 

 

 

October 10^th

 

 

Author interview at Between the Covers

 

 

 

October 11^th

 

 

Author interview at The Dark Phantom Review

 

 

 

October 14^th

 

 

Guest post at Authors and Appetizers

 

 

 

October 15^th

 

 

Author interview at Broowaha

 

 

 

October 16^th

 

 

Guest post at The Crypto-Capers Review

 

 

 

October 17^th

 

 

Author interview at Examiner

 

 

 

October 18^th

 

 

Guest post at Literarily Speaking

 

 

 

October 21^st

 

 

Guest post at Tribute Books Reviews and Giveaways

 

 

 

October 22^nd

 

 

Book spotlight at The Writer’s Life

 

 

 

October 23^rd

 

 

Guest post at Penny’s Tales

 

 

 

October 24^th

 

 

Book spotlight at Cheryl’s Book Nook

 

 

 

October 25th

 

 

Book spotlight at Review from Here

 

 

 

 

October 28th

 

 

 

Book review at　This Kid Reviews Books　

 

 

 

October 29th

 

 

Book review at Cheryl’s Book Nook

 

 

 

October 31^st

 

 

Book review at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection

Book tour highlights at The Book Rack

 

 

Thanks for your visit.

Happy Reading



A NICE START TO THE NEW YEAR

Well, here it is, a new year. I don't make resolutions because I never keep them. But I welcome 2013 with a new book, so that's good news. Yes, my mg/tween paranormal eBook, A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT, is scheduled for a January 4th release as an eBook.

 

The talented artist that did this great cover is Nika Dixon.

Blurb:

Thirteen-year-old Erik Burks’ life is falling apart. When he discovers a lace bra in the glove compartment of his dad’s car, his mom leaves his father and drags Erik from being king of the hill in Texas to the bottom of the pits in South Carolina. No Dad, no baseball, no friends, just Starry Knight (a girl who reads minds) and her equally weird brother, Stormy, the twins that live down the block.

Just when Erik thinks life can’t get any worse, while hanging out at the beach one evening, he and the twins notice lights radiating from the lighthouse. The only problem is the lighthouse was deactivated years ago. Stranger still, a ship materializes in the moonlit harbor. Curious, the twins and a reluctant Erik investigate and discover the ghost of a blockade runner, a phantom cat, and a pirate who prowls Charleston Harbor, all searching for rest.

A former nonbeliever in the existence of ghosts, Erik cannot deny the proof before him. And he has a revelation: The ghosts may be the answer to his desire to return home. Erik soon makes a deal with the ghosts. He’ll help them find what they’re looking for so their spirits can rest in peace. In return, the ghosts will scare Erik’s mother so she’ll be on the next flight back to Texas. Star thinks his plan stinks, but Erik wants his life back, even at the cost of his mother’s sanity.
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You can read an excerpt at the publishers and even pre-order if you enjoy ghost stories, MuseItUp Publishing. It's available for all different kinds of eReaders.

HAVE A HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!

A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT

Today, my post is short. I’m in the middle of edits for my forthcoming MG/Tween novel A PIRATE, A BLOCKADE RUNNER, AND A CAT. I used to hate history. Who cared who discovered what and where and when? So all through school, I cruised, learning what was necessary, forgetting most of it afterwards. Then, as an adult, I started researching my family. And history suddenly came alive. These were not just names who lived in different time periods. They were real live people who breathed, loved, and worked hard, like we do today. When I could place my ancestors in different time periods, that part of history came alive for me. They sailed across the sea to establish new homes and families. They fought for their rights and to make America the grand country it is today. History soon became my passion.

My YA historical novel CAVES, CANNONS, AND CRINOLINES is set during the Civil War, one of my favorite time periods. Another of my forthcoming stories for Tweens, SCATTERED TO THE WINDS, is set in the 1920s and deals with the Orphan Trains.



My mother and aunt - Orphan Train Riders

The story due out in January 2013, about the pirates and blockade runners, is set during the present, but the ghosts lived in the past. Yes, the pirates, the blockade runner, and the cat are all ghosts. It was a fun story to write. The editing is not so much fun. But necessary.

I discovered I got carried away with ellipses and dashes. What was I thinking? Now, I’m deleting most of them. Using the tracking on my computer is driving me crazy, but I’m learning. Delete. Accept. Reject. Oh, boy. What happened to the old-fashioned way of editing?

So, from Erik, Star, and Storm, the characters in my story, along with the ghosts, James (blockade runner), Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard (pirates), and Dixie the ghost cat goodbye for now. See you soon.

Thanks to Chris and Lea at MuseItUp Publishing for giving my characters a chance to share their story with you.

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=412&category_id=197&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

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