#MMBBR #Review I Liked My Life by @AbbyFabiaschi @StMartinsPress

A story from debut author Abby Fabiaschi that is "as absorbing as it is illuminating, and as witty as it is heartbreaking."

Maddy is a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother, host of excellent parties, giver of thoughtful gifts, and bestower of a searingly perceptive piece of advice or two. She is the cornerstone of her family, a true matriarch...until she commits suicide, leaving her husband Brady and teenage daughter Eve heartbroken and reeling, wondering what happened. How could the exuberant, exacting woman they loved disappear so abruptly, seemingly without reason, from their lives? How they can possibly continue without her? As they sift through details of her last days, trying to understand the woman they thought they knew, Brady and Eve are forced to come to terms with unsettling truths.

Maddy, however, isn’t ready to leave her family forever. Watching from beyond, she tries to find the perfect replacement for herself. Along comes Rory: pretty, caring, and spontaneous, with just the right bit of edge...but who also harbors a tragedy of her own. Will the mystery of Maddy ever come to rest? And can her family make peace with their history and begin to heal?

Abby Fabiaschi is a human rights advocate and Board Chair for Her Future Coalition, an international nonprofit with a unique prosperity model that uplifts victims from human trafficking and extreme abuse. In 2012 Abby resigned from her executive post in high tech to pursue a career in writing. I LIKED MY LIFE is her first novel. She and her family divide their time between West Hartford, Connecticut, and Park City, Utah. 
Learn more at www.abbyfabiaschi.com.

Wow, this book is amazing.  It is heartbreaking, hopeful, honest and hard to put down.  What a thoughtful and important read about love, loss and finding answers.  Sometime facing a loss forces us to look within ourselves and determine how to move forward.  This book will make you want to be a better person and will leave you completely satisfied upon the conclusion.  Brilliant and thought provoking I LIKED MY LIFE is a must read for winter and all book clubs!!!

#MMBBR #Showcase In This Life by @ChristineBrae #FirstLine @BookTrib

In This Life follows the story of Anna Dillon, who wants to escape her busy life in New York City before she starts medical school in the spring. She ends up volunteering on a medical mission in Thailand with her best friend, Dante. There she meets the passionate and enigmatic Jude Grayson. They’re immediately drawn to him and they share a brief, but fervent affair.

Then Anna has to rush home for a medical emergency, and Jude promises that he’ll stay in touch. But he doesn’t, and Anna tries desperately to move on.

Five years later, and she’s married Dante, after giving up hope that Jude will ever return. And then one day, in a chance meeting, they come face to face again. Anna then she learns the life-altering secret of why Jude never called, and why they can’t be together. But passion that ignited on that Thai beach never died, and it becomes impossible for them to stay apart.

Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Her second book, His Wounded Light was released in December, 2013.

Christine's third book, Insipid, is a standalone that was released in June, 2014, and her fourth book, In This Life is scheduled for release in January 2016. 

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

Christine is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin Literary Management.

This book was quite the read.  It was a multilayered story that kept me guessing until the end.  I was instantly drawn into the story and the beautiful writing.  I found that there was a nice blend of setting, characters and story that keep me fully engaged throughout.  I am excited that this book was optioned for a film because I would love to see this book play out on the big screen.

#FirstLine One for me, please, Miss.

1.)    What inspired you to write In This Life?

I wrote In This Life at a time when I was searching for answers for the inexplicable things that had   happened to me in the last two years. My books are a reflection of my emotions and feelings at various stages in my life. The stories may or may not be all fiction, but the emotions, thoughts and words are real.

2.)    Was there anyone specific who you based Anna off of? What about Dante or Jude?

Yes, but if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you.

3.)    What was the hardest part about writing this book?

I think that the most difficult part about writing this book was trying to find the best way to give every character a personality and a voice. This book is focused on Anna and her journey as a girl and as a woman. But it is also a story about friendship and destiny. I wanted to write a story that would express the answers that I was searching for a few years ago. Something happened to me, something so out of the blue – and since I’ve always believed that things happen for a reason, I wanted to let people know – hey you know what, despite all your wishes, and prayers and everything you do to make things work out in your favor, sometimes, it’s just not meant for you. It’s a hard thing to accept, you know? And it took two years for me to really figure things out.

It was really a challenge to embody these characters with that one lesson.

4.)    In This Life was just optioned to become a movie? How does that feel?

Oh my gosh! I still can’t believe that it happened! I mean, how funny is it that someone reads your book by mistake, gets hooked, and contacts you about optioning it for film? And then, that person becomes your friend! Sometimes, I forget how famous Adrian and Emmanuelle really are. They are just so down to earth and real, it’s like finding a long lost friend and picking up where you leave off.

5.)     Are there any secrets or details that you’re allowed to share? Will you be involved in the screenwriting process?

I’m just so fortunate that the actors who optioned the book are keeping me so involved and updated every step of the way! As everyone knows, it takes a very long time to make a movie. Adrian feels so strongly about keeping the essence of the story intact, that they have been in discussions with screenwriters for quite a while. I am happy to report that we should have a screenplay in the next few weeks.

6.)    Is there anything else you’ve got planned for the future?

The movie option was the highlight of my 2016 year! I am so looking forward to the next phase of this process and seeing who will be cast as Jude and Dante! But I must tell you – I have a new book, Eight Goodbyes – which I just finished and am so proud to share with you this year. It’s a simple, not angsty, not tear-jerkery book that I really think you’ll enjoy. The movie and a new book and two book tours this year – I think I can tell you that I’ve got 2017 well covered.

#MMBBR #Review #FirstLine Searching for John Hughes by @imjasondiamond @HarperCollins

For all fans of John Hughes and his hit films such as National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sixteen Candles, and Home Alone, comes Jason Diamond’s hilarious memoir of growing up obsessed with the iconic filmmaker’s movies—a preoccupation that eventually convinces Diamond he should write Hughes’ biography and travel to New York City on a quest that is as funny as it is hopeless.

For as long as Jason Diamond can remember, he’s been infatuated with John Hughes’ movies. From the outrageous, raunchy antics in National Lampoon’s Vacation to the teenage angst in The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink to the insanely clever and unforgettable Home Alone, Jason could not get enough of Hughes’ films. And so the seed was planted in his mind that it should fall to him to write a biography of his favorite filmmaker. It didn’t matter to Jason that he had no qualifications, training, background, platform, or direction. Thus went the years-long, delusional, earnest, and assiduous quest to reach his goal. But no book came out of these years, and no book will. What he did get was a story that fills the pages of this unconventional, hilarious memoir.

In Searching for John Hughes, Jason tells how a Jewish kid from a broken home in a Chicago suburb—sometimes homeless, always restless—found comfort and connection in the likewise broken lives in the suburban Chicago of John Hughes’ oeuvre. He moved to New York to become a writer. He started to write a book he had no business writing. In the meantime, he brewed coffee and guarded cupcake cafes. All the while, he watched John Hughes movies religiously.

Though his original biography of Hughes has long since been abandoned, Jason has discovered he is a writer through and through. And the adversity of going for broke has now been transformed into wisdom. Or, at least, a really, really good story.

In other words, this is a memoir of growing up. One part big dream, one part big failure, one part John Hughes movies, one part Chicago, and one part New York. It’s a story of what comes after the “Go for it!” part of the command to young creatives to pursue their dreams—no matter how absurd they might seem at first.

I personally loved this book.  It brought back so many great memories of watching all those John Hughes movies and living vicariously through the actresses in the movies.  But, there is more to this book than movie references, there is a deep and meaningful story with a main character that you cannot help but root for.  This book is about following your dreams and completing a goal no matter the ups and downs.  It is about finding out that one path may lead to another and that we must go with the flow.  Written with humor and depth of story this book is not to be missed for those who grow up watching Hughes films.  You may want to reserve additional time to binge watch all the movies after you are done reading, because you will certainly want to!

#FirstLine ~ I wasn't paying attention to the people waiting in the line for cupcakes; I was just looking up at a night sky dotted with flurries of snow bravely falling onto rooftops and parked cars.

#MMBBR #Showcase The Magician's Workshop, Volume One (The Magician's Workshop) by Christopher Hansen and @jrfehr

Everyone in the islands of O’Ceea has a magical ability: whatever they imagine can be brought into existence. Whoever becomes a master over these powers is granted the title of magician and is given fame, power, riches, and glory. This volume of books follows the journey of a group of kids as they strive to rise to the top and become members of the Magician’s Workshop. 

Layauna desperately wants to create beautiful things with her magical powers, but all she can seem to do is make horrible, savage monsters. For years she has tried to hide her creations, but when her power is at last discovered by a great magician, she realizes that what she’s tried to hide might actually be of tremendous value.

Kai just wants to use his powers to have fun and play with his friends. Unfortunately, nearly everyone on his island sees him as a bad influence, so he’s forced to meet them in secret. When one of the creatures they create gets out of control and starts flinging fireballs at their town, Kai is tempted to believe that he is as nefarious as people say. However, his prospects change when two mysterious visitors arrive, praising his ability and making extraordinary promises about his future.

Follow the adventures of Kai, Layauna, and a boatload of other characters as they struggle to grow up well in this fantastical world.

The first glimmering Chris Hansen had that there was far more to reality than he had ever imagined occurred six days after his ninth birthday. 
“Christopher!” cried a wise, old sage. “Life is full of deep magic. Miraculous things happen all the time and all around us, if you know where to look for them.” 
Full of expectation and childlike optimism, Chris began searching for this magic, prepared to be surprised and amazed by it. And he was: he found Wonder! Now he’s chosen to write stories about it.












 When J.R. Fehr popped out of the womb, he knew there was more to the world than the four boring hospital walls that he was seeing. “Zango!” his newborn mind exclaimed as he saw people appear and disappear through a mysterious portal in the wall. As a child he found life wowtazzling, but as he grew older the cold water of reality hit him, and the magic he once knew vanished. After spending some wet and shivering years lost in a joyless wasteland, he once again began to see magic in the world. He writes because the Wonder of true life is far grander than anything he ever thought possible.

Webpage: www.oceea.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQGHGBH

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32948256-the-magician-s-workshop-volume-one

The Magician’s Workshop, Volume One

Authors: Christopher Hansen, J.R. Fehr

Published by: Wondertale, California

Ebook Publication Date: November 8, 2016

Paperback Publication Date: April 25, 2017 (estimated)

ebook ISBN: 1-945353-11-2

ebook ASIN: B01MQGHGBH

Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Magic

Ages: 12 and up.

Length: 85,000 words / 290 pages

Q.  What inspires your writing?

Chris: I’m an easily inspired person. I have a long list of books I’d love to write. For this book, I was inspired by creativity. I find it monkey flipping incredible that we have the ability to create things. For me this ability has led to this novel. But it could have been a poem, a drawing, or a video. Creativity led me as a little kid to go out in rainstorms and make little rafts out of sticks that I placed into the stream of water that flowed down my street. My son is building a light saber right now, and my daughter is making Play-doh. Some people express their creativity in business, others with numbers, and still others with clothing. We can design giant skyscrapers or decorate our small dorm room. The expressions of our creativity are endless, and I find it mega inspiring.

Jon:  I guess I’d have to say my writing is inspired by life and the magic that is our existence. All around us is such wonder and beauty. How could all of this exist? It is so inescapably perfect in every way. I’m captivated by the wonder of the universe every time I step outside, interact with someone, or even just use any of my senses. Life is magical. Therefore, I feel inspired just by the very nature of being alive.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Chris: There are so many, but I will say it's the actual act of writing. To be more specific, one of my favorite things in life is when time disappears while I’m writing. Every so often I discover hours have passed as if they were minutes. In those times, writing is effortless, and words flow without friction. 

A second favorite thing is the ability to create worlds and characters and then to fall in love with them. 

Jon: I love to create new and fascinating worlds and then meet the characters who live in them. There is nothing more entertaining to me than exploring the limits of imagination. Stories are capable of challenging our perceptions of reality, forcing us to deal with difficult questions, and giving us an opportunity to play in the safety of our imagination. Writing is a wonderful gift.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being a writer?

Chris: There are so many things here as well. I will again say the actual act of writing. Finding the right string of words can be tough.

Jon: The toughest part for me right now is being at a stage where I’m uncertain how to make a living at this. Will I be able to tell stories like this for the rest of my life? I hope so. But it takes time and focus to write, and there are a lot of distractions in the world and demands on my time. 

Q.  If you could not be writer, what would you do/be?

Chris: I’ve been a writing coach and story designer for a long time. It’s always been work that I’ve absolutely loved. 

Jon: If I couldn’t be a writer, my heart would be crushed. I suppose I would want to work with people to some degree, perhaps as a counsellor. It is my hearts desire to make the world a better place through my writing, so in the same way, I want to make the world a better place through my interactions with others.

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?

Jon: In honor of Bilbo Baggins, I think I’d have to go with: “Fehr and Back Again.”

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?

Chris: My favorite book has always been the Bible. And I say that without trying to earn brownie points with God. It’s honestly my favorite book. One reason is that I love people. They absolutely fascinate me. Humans are the most mysterious creatures, and I’ve spent much of my life curious about what makes us tick. I haven’t found any book that does a better job at describing humanity than the Bible. It’s also awesome in all kinds of other ways. I turn to it all the time to help me figure out all manner of things in life. 

Jon: I’ve always been a fan of C.S. Lewis and his fiction, but my favorite book would be without question the Bible. I believe the story found within it is the most powerful and influential love story in human history.

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?

Jon: When I read Pride and Prejudice, I wanted to be Mr. Darcy, because I had a major book crush on Elizabeth. But I always knew I was more like Mr. Bingley.

Q.  What character from all of your book are you most like?

Jon: I’d like to say I’m the most like Aaro, or Kalaya’s dad, but I don’t think I’m there yet. On a good day, I’m probably most like Weston. On a bad day, Jaremon.

Chris: Okay. I can answer this one. I’d say most, if not all of the characters I create have some resemblance to me. I don’t know if any one of them can be said to be the most like me. Each one tends to reflect a fairly small sliver of me. In this book, Kai and Talia both represent parts of my personality. Kai is a silly goofball who loves to spend time with his friends. He’s supportive and encouraging to people yet at the same time isolated and cut off from others. He wrestles with a lot of big issues relating to his place in the world. Talia has a big heart. She’s full of emotions that she longs to express. She’s an ambitions dreamer while also being hard working, despite having doubts. She does not know if her dreams are going to work out, as her family history gives no indication of creative/artistic success. But, she’s going to try.

Q.  What is your favorite season?

Chris: Summer. 

Jon: Fall. I love the changing colors of the leaves, the brisk cool air, and the feeling of nearing completion. It’s also very thematic. Halloween, Thanksgiving, the coming of Christmas . . . It’s definitely the best time of year.

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?

Chris: Two of my favorite covers are on The Hobbit and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

As for our cover: the round mediallion-like logo on the cover is actually an ancient symbol in the history of O’Ceea (our story world). It’s not described in Volumes One or Two, but the story of it how it came to be will be revealed later on. 

We spent a lot of time designing it. The final image was designed and illustrated by a super talented artist named Sej Baur. We were really lucky to be able to have her work on this project. 

Q.  Are you working on something new?

Chris: I like to alternate writing fiction with non-fiction projects. Before working on The Magician’s Workshop, I wrote a Creative Writing Curriculum for Junior High and High School students. Now, I’m working on a non-fiction project on a subject that I call “Soul Story.” The basic idea is that when you want to learn something about your physical health, you go and see a doctor who can use tools like stethoscopes and x-rays to look inside your body. But, what if you want to take a peek inside of your soul? Are there any tools you can you use for that? I believe there are, and that telling stories is one of the best ones we have. The fictional tales we tell somehow have the ability to let out something of what is going on inside us. In order to understand what our stories are saying about us, all we need to do is understand how stories communicate these soul stories to us.   

Jon: I’m currently working on a short novel for kids 8-12 called “Glandorious the Glorious.” It’s about a very childish man who is transported to a magical land and transformed into a not-so-mighty hero. I’m excited to see what will happen with Glandorious and his mis-adventures.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by? 

Chris: Congratulations on reading all the way to the end of this! I will leave you with an idea that may be new to you. After spending most of my life working with stories and storytellers I have come to understand that stories have a lot more to offer us than most people allow them to. They are much more than amusements to entertain us. Stories speak to us in a powerful way, and they deserve to be heard. Not every story should be listened to. The ones I’ve found best to open my ear to are the ones that move me. A story that affects you is a story that has something to say to you. When you run across one that does this, I encourage you to stop and listen to what it is saying.  

#MMBBR #Review #PictureBook Invincible and Sparkly by L.L. Crandall

What happens when two loved-filled girls turn to loyalty, hope, and belief in self when confronting danger, loss, and self-doubt. In Invincible and Sparkly, Kama and Ella follow their hearts to find out.

L.L. Crandall started spinning stories as a child as she tried to entertain her younger sister at night when they were supposed to be going to sleep. In the dark, her stories typically took on a scary or paranormal element -- didn't do much to put her and her sister to sleep. Today, she hopes her stories entertain children with fantasy and fun, while offering subtle messages of hope and self-determination.

#MMBBR #Review #MrMommyBooknerd The Seventh Plague: A Sigma Force Novel by @jamesrollins @WmMorrowBks

In a breathtaking blend of scientific intrigue and historical mystery, #1 New York Times bestselling mastermind, James Rollins, reveals an ancient threat hidden within the pages of the Bible, one that threatens the modern world in

The Seventh Plague

If the biblical plagues of Egypt truly happened--could they happen again--on a global scale?

Two years after vanishing into the Sudanese desert, the leader of a British archeological expedition, Professor Harold McCabe, comes stumbling out of the sands, frantic and delirious, but he dies before he can tell his story. The mystery deepens when an autopsy uncovers a bizarre corruption: someone had begun to mummify the professor's body--while he was still alive.

His strange remains are returned to London for further study, when alarming news arrives from Egypt. The medical team who had performed the man's autopsy has fallen ill with an unknown disease, one that is quickly spreading throughout Cairo. Fearing the worst, a colleague of the professor reaches out to a longtime friend: Painter Crowe, the director of Sigma Force. The call is urgent, for Professor McCabe had vanished into the desert while searching for proof of the ten plagues of Moses. As the pandemic grows, a disturbing question arises.

Are those plagues starting again?

Before Director Crowe can investigate, a mysterious group of assassins leaves behind a fiery wake of destruction and death, erasing all evidence. With the professor's body incinerated, his home firebombed, Sigma Force must turn to the archaeologist's only daughter, Jane McCabe, for help. While sifting through what's left of her father's work, she discovers a puzzling connection, tying the current threat to a shocking historical mystery, one involving the travels of Mark Twain, the genius of Nikola Tesla, and the adventures of famous explorer, Henry Morgan Stanley.

To unravel a secret going back millennia, Director Crowe and Commander Grayson Pierce will be thrust to opposite sides of the globe. One will search for the truth, traveling from the plague-ridden streets of Cairo to a vast ancient tomb buried under the burning sands of the Sudan; the other will struggle to stop a mad genius locked within a remote Arctic engineering complex, risking the lives of all those he holds dear.

As the global crisis grows ever larger, Sigma Force will confront a threat born of the ancient past and made real by the latest science--a danger that will unleash a cascading series of plagues, culminating in a scourge that could kill all of the world's children . . . decimating mankind forever.

Rollins delivers again in The Seventh Plague.  A storyline that continues to intrigue and follows his tried and true writing style of engaging the reader with present day technology, real world fighting tactics, and secrets shrouded in mysticism.  Each chapter leaves you asking questions to include at one point, “are the bad guys, really bad guys?”.  Sigma Force’s staple of characters expertly fulfills their roles and we are further exposed to the assassin world where Seichan learned how to hone her craft.

The bigger issue and question all fans of Rollins need to start asking, “It’s time to adapt these books not to movies but to original series via Netflix, Amazon, Cinimax, etc.  A single two hour movie can not do justice to the development of characters and storylines these books deserve.  Great TV could happen by turning each individual novel into a multiple episode series worthy of binge watching. 

#MMBBR #Review Nina the Neighborhood Ninja by @SoniaPanigrahy #TinySparksPress

Meet Nina the Neighborhood Ninja!

CALLING ALL GIRLS TO FIND THEIR INNER SUPERHERO! 

SMART! 

STRONG! 

SPEEDY! 

Nina's a girl who takes charge. 

She uses her brain and her muscles to complete rescue missions. She doesn't mind getting dirty and climbing trees. It's all part of the life of the everyday girl superhero. 

Young readers are encouraged to recognize that the traits of being smart, strong, and speedy exist within themselves. Young girls will find Nina the Neighborhood Ninja to be a positive affirmation that they too can be superheroes.

Author Sonia Panigrahy created "Nina the Neighborhood Ninja" out of a lifelong love of reading. Sonia was surprised that she could not find books for girls that realistically identified females as intelligent, tough, brave, and adventurous. 

After unsuccessful attempts to find a young girl superhero protagonist on the pages of a book, especially one of color, she gave up. Then she created her own. Read more at www.soniapanigrahy.com.

This book is GREAT.  It is a great story about being a good person, making the world better and finding joy in helping others.  I think the world needs more Neighborhood Ninjas.  I love Nina...she is spunky, smart and ready to take action.  She helps because it is right, not for attention or accolades.  I think this is one of those books that can be used in classrooms to help create Neighborhood Ninja action plans.  The world is made better by many small actions with great impact.  I cannot wait to read this to my kids in my classes and to create an Art Through Stories project for this book.  I am certain it will be a HUGE hit!

#MMBBR #Showcase THE ENEMY WITHIN by @burnaisesauz

Seventeen-year-old Max has always felt like an outsider. When the agonizing apocalyptic visions begin, he decides suicide is his only escape. He soon finds himself in a psych ward under the guidance of a therapist who sees something exceptional in him. Just as he begins to leave the hallucinations behind, Max discovers the visions weren't just in his head.

There are three others who have shared those same thoughts and they've been searching for Max. Like him, they are something more than human. Each of them possesses certain abilities, which they're going to need when a covert military group begins hunting them down. As the danger escalates, Max doesn’t know which side to trust. But in the end, his choice will decide the fate of both species.

THE ENEMY WITHIN is geared toward mature YA and New Adults. The novel is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, both as paperback and ebook. 

A little bit about me: I'm a former lawyer turned writer. I currently have several sci-fi and action-adventure screenplays in development at various major studios, including Gold Circle, Summit/Lionsgate Entertainment, and MGM/Splendid Entertainment, and my comic book series AGON was published by Zenescope Entertainment. 

Web: www.scottburn.xyz
Twitter: @burnaisesauz

Goodreads: Scott Burn

Q.  What inspires your writing?
A.  There are some writers who wake up energized to dive into their story. I’m not one of those writers. Every day is a battle through brutal terrain. But on those rare days when I write something great, or something I can see how to make it great - for me that’s one of the greatest feelings; there’s nothing else like it. Each day is a journey to recapture that feeling.

Q.  What is your favorite thing about being a writer?
A.  That success or failure exist solely in my hands.

Q.  What is the toughest part of being a writer?
A.  The same thing.

Q.  If you could not be writer, what would you do/be?
A.  Although my background is in law, I’ve always felt like the best writers have a remarkable understanding of human nature: motivations, flaws and strengths… to me the best alternative would be a psychologist. I do love sitting with people, listening to their stories and trying to help them get to the core of whatever their issue is.

Q.  What would the story of your life be entitled?
A.  It probably evolves as I go but right now I’m partial to - So Close...

Q.  What is your favorite book of all time?
A.  I’m a huge Thomas Berger fan. I’ve read his book Neighbors many times and it never gets old. If your readers enjoy dark comedies, I couldn’t give it higher praise.

Q.  Which character from ANY book are you most like?
A.  Hank Devereaux from Richard Russo’s Straight Man. Give it a read, awesome novel.

Q.  What character from all of your book are you most like?
A.  For those who have had a chance to read The Enemy Within, I’m probably closest to the character Kitamura.

Q.  Which book would you love to take a weekend vacation inside of?
A.  Recently people have been recommending to me that I’m missing out not having read John Scalzi’s books. So that’s the next escape author I’ll be diving into as soon as I finish the David Sedaris book I’m loving, Holidays On Ice.

Q.  What is your favorite season?
A.  The Fall. Although in LA, we don’t get much of a season. I do love the East coast when the leaves change and it’s sunny and crisp outside.  

Q.  What inspired your book cover(s)?  Or what is your favorite book cover and why?
A.  I searched around the globe to find the right artist and found him in Minsk. His name is Maxim Mitenkov, and he does amazing work. He had done a series of remarkable surreal images and I knew immediately when I saw it he was the guy. We went back and forth a bit on how it could work and I couldn’t love the final result more. He did an amazing job capturing the essence of the story in a single image.

Q.  Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.
A.  To me the funniest thing is how promoting the book is even harder than writing it…and writing it was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

Q.  Are you working on something new?
A.  I’ve been working on a new proposal for a sci-fi novel about the convergence between faith and science. It’s coming together, along with a supernatural thriller. One of them will pull me more soon enough and that’s where I’ll go.

Q.  Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?
A.  I hope your readers enjoy The Enemy Within. If they do, please come visit me at my website and let me know what you think.

#MMBBR #Highlight #Giveaway THE RISING by @heathergraham and @JonDLand @MacmillanLib @torbooks

'Stranger Things' Meets 'X-Files' and ‘Independence Day’ in Romantic, Genre-Bending New SF Thriller

by Bestselling Authors Heather Graham and Jon Land

“…this genre-blender has elements of a suspense thriller, but, at its core, the novel is 1950s-style science fiction…this is a treat for fans of retro genre mash-ups.”—Booklist

“…ambitious, technology-centered SF thriller…”—Publishers Weekly

“A mind-blowing, thrill-a-minute ride.” —Tess Gerritsen​

“The authors of The Rising write in a manner comparable to James Patterson. The chapters are very short, making it easy to keep reading and hard to put down. I love James Patterson books, and I found this to be equally entertaining.”—Manhattan Book Review

“Human relationships are at the core of this juggernaut...Somewhere in the heavens, Rod Serling is looking down and applauding Heather Graham and Jon Land.”—Suspense Magazine

THE RISING 

(​on sale 1/17/17) by acclaimed thriller-suspense

novelists  Heather Graham and Jon Land is the pulse-pounding adventure of a young man and woman racing to save our world from a terrible fate. An addictive read, this action-packed and mysterious novel tells the story of the endurance of young love, and how quickly two lives can be changed forever.

THE RISING combines Graham's talent for writing suspense and romance with Land's heart-pounding action sequences, making it nearly impossible to put down! Check out the book trailer here, which was featured in USA TODAY.

 

HEATHER GRAHAM is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, RT Book Reviews, and more. Visit her online at theoriginalheathergraham.com.

JON LAND is the USA Today bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, including the bestselling series featuring female Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong. He is also the co-author of the nonfiction bestseller Betrayal. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island and can be found on the web at jonlandbooks.com.

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