Thursday, October 29, 2015

Book Blitz Tour - A Gathering of Butterflies by Sean C. Wright


Welcome to my tour stop for "A Gathering of Butterflies" by Sean C. Wright.  The tour runs from October 26-30 and the full tour schedule can be found here.



ABOUT THE BOOK



Tales of steely but vulnerable women of color will melt your heart while lifting your spirits… A fierce grandmother keeps her grandson from the clutches of Old Scratch in Devil Does Dallas. An alien abduction transforms a large, miserable woman in Hazel Hogan. A country girl meets a city girl on her birthday, and struggles to decide if the girl’s heart is dark or light in Bubble Bath Twelve. And methodical Genie forms an unlikely relationship in Heaven’s Halfway House while in a coma.







ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sean C. Wright, Author

Sean C. Wright is native to Dallas, TX, and earned a degree in English from University of North Texas. She is the author of the short story collection A Gathering of Butterflies, the novella Honey Riley. Actress Jessica Biel directed a short film based on her winning essay in 2010: Sodales (18 minutes). For more information about her writing skills and how she can assist you with yours–for business or consumer needs–visit http://www.iwrightaway.com/.



EXCERPT

Devil Does Dallas
One, two, three
The devil’s after me.
Four, five, six
He started throwing sticks.
Seven, eight, nine
He missed me every time.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.  Amen!
-- Children’s song
             “It’s time again,” Lucifer said aloud, “to remind them that I’m still here. “
Pay It Forward with Kindness, Oprah’s Angel Network, Feed the Hungry, Save a Tree, Adopt a Child from a Third World Country, Live Greener.  And the Debauchery Report was pitiful.  Murder was down fifteen percent, lying twenty-five.  Adultery numbers plummeted a whopping forty percent.
Lucifer’s cloven feet clopped on the hot, stone floor as he strolled to the cages that held his three pet snakes -- Slither, Hiss and Fangs.   
“Daddy’s going away for a little while, babies.  You be. . .bad.”
 Saddam Hussein caught sight of Lucifer walking out of Hell. 
“Where are you going, Boss?” 
“Up there to recruit,” Lucifer told him, “Keep the fires burning until I get back.”
Lucifer liked Saddam.  He reminded Lucifer of himself when he was expelled from Heaven.   Whenever Lucifer’s internal fires dimmed, he recalled the incident.  It helped him keep his venom.  
God frowned when Lucifer rolled around Heaven on roller skates.
God shook his head when Lucifer tie-dyed his white frock. 
God scowled when Lucifer got the rebel angels together and played what would later be labeled The Devil’s Music – Rock ‘n Roll and jazz.    Not everybody wanted to hear harps’ incessant plink, plink, plink.
“Lucifer,” God had said, pursing his lips, when he got called into the office, “It’s just not working out.”
“What?” he had asked.
“Souls are here for peace and serenity.  You and the other angels you associate with are disruptive.”
“But, God, not all people lived their earthly lives the same, so why should everyone live the afterlife the same?
“Son, please give me your wings,” God retorted, his voice keeping its even cadence.  His voice hadn’t wavered, but Lucifer saw God’s face had That Look.  It was the look He had when someone begged Him to help, but He couldn’t because the person’s prayers weren’t destiny.  Then God’s sad face became His omniscient one. 
“You think I’m trouble,” Lucifer had growled.
“I didn’t say that—“
“You didn’t have to, God.  I’ve known you an eternity!” 
And with that, he had removed his wings from his back, thrown them in God’s face, and stormed out of Heaven.  Lucifer had even scared himself with the sudden display of temper, but he felt happier and freer than he had ever felt in his afterlife.  But Lucifer hadn’t wanted to steal God’s glory.  He only wanted fun.
Lucifer treaded the murk to Earth’s portals, his scaly lips curling in annoyance.  Recruiting would be so much easier if it weren’t for the rules.  He could only stay on Earth each time in terms of 6 – 6 years, 6 months, and 6 days; 6 months, 6 days, and six hours, and so on.  Lucifer could not make anyone do anything.  He could only tempt, that is, dangle the bait and collect those souls that bit.   Once a person realized who he was, he had to leave Earth – even if his term of sixes had not been finished.
His anger had pushed aside his focus.  Where was Lucifer going on Earth?  Did it really matter?  Potential sinners were everywhere.  Here was as good a place as any.  Lucifer rose from the earth, taking gentle care to brush off the grub worms and beetles that clung to him; he had a soft spot for creepy, crawly things in decaying matter.  He scanned the sable of night until he found the pot of bubbling decadence.  A city.   Pin points of candy-colored lights, tall buildings, and the faint roar of car motors.   
He was so excited that he did not even take note of the sign:  WELCOME TO DALLAS.
Lucifer stood under a lamp post in the thick of downtown.  Sometimes a small child or a dog spotted him, but there was no chance of that here.    
Lucifer zeroed in on a Latina, waiting for the bus.   Esperanza.  She was twenty-eight.  Esperanza was the oldest of six children.  Growing up, her mother had given her slaps and ugly words when her younger siblings got into mischief or she burned the food.  A hole.  She had lost her father at seventeen.   The hole widened.  After her father’s death, Esperanza spent her adult life helping her thankless mother, who never learned to speak English.  When the lack of love and validation yielded self-loathing, she swallowed a whole bottle of pills at twenty-one.  Esperanza spent four months in a mental hospital.   When her mother had died of a stroke two years ago, she had thought, “Madre, may you eat a burnt dinner with el diablo every night.” She was single and worked as a maid cleaning warehouses in downtown Dallas. Esperanza did nothing more exciting than eat Hot Pockets and watch American Idol and Spanish soap operas at home. 
Lucifer could hardly wait to see what came next.   But just before he could get more information, Esperanza reached into the neck of her blouse, pulled out a rope of beads.   She fingered the charm on the end of the necklace absentmindedly.  Let it dangle, exposed.  Lucifer recoiled.  A crucifix.  Damn, Esperanza’s name meant hope and she had the faith! 
Her bus came.  Esperanza climbed on and it pulled away.  Lucifer looked after her, his beady eyes glazed with disgust. 
But the night was yet a baby. 

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At a low point in my Clark Kent career, I decided to try my hand at freelance writing.  Starry-eyed, I imagined creating my land of milk and honey with writing, my life blood.  There would be gratifying assignments, like crafting crisp business proposals; or fun ones, like assisting a grade-school child with his or her English paper.  I’d collect my fee, go on my merry way and await the next awesome project.

Oh, how ignorant I was about The Freelance Writing Dance!  Sometimes you get dipped without warning.  People suddenly want you to pirouette with no preparation.  And sometimes you’re dancing with someone who has two left feet.

You may be well-aware of the potential chaos within the choreography.  But if you were like me and did not, here are some tips before you put on your Freelance Writing Dance shoes:

Establish rules on the dance floor beforehand.  You write for a client, they pay you and that’s the end of the story, right?  That’s the way it should be but it sometimes isn’t.  I had clients avoid me like a bad date once I did the writing and it was time to pay.  Infuriating.  Others said they had no problem paying but could they meet me in a business parking lot at midnight and bring the funds?  Inconvenient and creepy.   These experiences taught me a valuable lesson: let people know what they can expect from you before you start writing for them.  And in turn, what you expect from them.  Just like maids stated that they “didn’t do windows” back in the day before they were hired, we, unfortunately must do the same.  I drew up a short and sweet document letting clients know up front when payment is expected, payment options, etc.  If the client doesn’t agree to my policies, that’s fine.  At least it saved me from heartache down the road.  If they do agree but deviate from the terms later, I’m somewhat protected.

Dance like you really mean it.  This tip piggybacks on the first one.  When I first decided to freelance full-time, I didn’t count on the possibility of having projects overlapping on occasion. I was going crazy. I knew I had to do something when my passion for writing began to wane.  Fortunately, the solution was simple: get organized.  I overhauled my study, eradicating clutter and got an updated computer.  I also make great use of my dry erase calendar.  It’s comforting to have deadlines sprawled out for an entire month right at my fingertips.  I know different organizational systems work for different writers but you need one nonetheless.  Nothing is more dismaying to a writer than missing a deadline.  My experience has been there is no half-stepping in freelancing; you must mind your business like a business. 

Play nice in the ballroom.  This may seem like the most logical tip but it’s a shame how rarely it’s practiced.  True story:  About 3 years ago, I exchanged business cards with a woman I met at a creative career mixer.  I included her on my email distribution list for informative emails about events and other things I thought were helpful.  Imagine my surprise when she replied to my email one day, telling me to “stop spamming” her!    I apologized and removed her from my email address book.  Well, imagine my surprise again when she emailed me months later with some of the same “spam,” an event she was promoting.  Fortunately, I took the high road.  I replied, politely reminding her about the inflammatory email she sent me months earlier.  And oh, would she please remove me from her distribution list, too?  My point with this cautionary tale is that people in the creative industry, such as writers, run in tight circles.  I describe what that woman had as The Cinderella Syndrome.  She was unfriendly to someone who she felt had no value to her at the time but found that the person did later.  I’ve found it really pays off to cultivate positive relationships whenever possible.  Playing nice has effortlessly led me to some fabulous referrals. 

The Freelance Writing Dance sometimes threw me for a loop but I am figuring it out and learning the complicated steps.  When you make writing and business tango partners, it’s not always easy but the challenge is exhilarating.  I am recovering from the sudden dips and pirouettes with much more grace.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

Engaging in a Secret Affair - Right or Wrong? By Miss Know It All


Miss Know It All
A poster on one of the social networks, of which I am member, had asked the following question: My friend is planning a secret affair and wanted my advice. What is the best way to conduct a secret affair? Are there any good tips to avoid getting caught, like hiding text messages, apps and emails, etc? I said, “Get another secret pay as you go phone.” Do you have any other ideas?

Anonymous


When I read the question, I made the following comment: “Once two people participate in an affair, it's no longer a secret” and left it at that. But I was stunned by some of the comments posted, which have been paraphrased for clarity:


Your wife or girlfriend will always find out. We women just have a way of finding out about secret affairs. Now that does not mean every women will not accept her husband for having a secret affair, if she is having the same too.

The best way to keep an affair a secret is to always meet at a hotel in another city, at least 100-miles from your home. But in today’s world, with everyone using the same DAMN iPhone, it becomes very hard to keep your calls and messages a secret.

I think meeting in different places, and a secret mobile phone kept in the car. Tell nobody about it, although best friends can cover. 100 miles mean more time away; so that might not work. With an iPhone, it is best to switch off GPS. What about smelling of perfume?

Well, if she or he gets a whiff of the secret mobile phone kept in the car, then that is the ultimate giveaway.

Don't know, I’m asking how to cover your tracks.

The best way to have a secret affair is in your head! The truth always comes out, as one lie always leads to the next and bigger lie, until it all gets exposed. Since there is more technology to use, it also leaves more evidence to be discovered. When a woman wants to find out, she will... and she will pick up on the slightest bit of guilt your friend may have. Any change in his ways, she will pick up on. Women have a way to sniff stuff out...it’s a gift.

Now mind you, I am not one to judge anyone who decides to cheat on their spouse, because what is done in the dark will sooner or later come to light, which may have dire consequences.


We would like to know what your take is on the question, and how would you answer this person if the question was put to you? Post your answers in the comment box.

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Saturday, October 24, 2015

Book Blitz Tour - TEMPTED TO TOUCH BY NIGERIA LOCKLEY




ISBN: 978-0-9964687-0-1

Publisher: Inheritance Books

Pages: 130

Genre(s): Christian Fiction, African-American, Contemporary, Women's Fiction

Publication Date:  10/25/15

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Plot Summary

Kira Seagram is frustrated by her husband Mason’s zeal for the Lord, so she pours all of her attention into her work and reserves her soprano singing skills for the shower. Kira would rather not use them if she get can’t the adoration and recognition she feels she deserves and doubts she’ll find singing lead for Mason’s choir. When a routine drop off at her son, Nate’s private school turns into a ten-year reunion with her ex-boyfriend, Quincy McAdams, Kira isn’t interested in Mason's half-hearted affection or willing to keep her voice to herself. With a firm offer from Quincy to help Kira cut a demo and possibly revive the love they let die, Kira has some choices to make. When Kira finds herself tempted to touch will she remain faithful to her husband or yield to the desires of her flesh?

Book Links





Inheritance Books is currently running a pre-order special on all paperback versions. You can pre-order the paperback version of Tempted to Touch at 20% and receive an autographed copy.

Author Bio

Nigeria Lockley, Author
Nigeria Lockley possesses two Master's degrees, one in English Secondary Education, which she utilizes as an educator with the New York City Department of Education. Her second Master's degree is in Creative Writing. Born at Dawn is Nigeria's first published novel. Nigeria serves as the Vice President of Bridges Family Services, a not-for-profit organization that assists student parents interested in pursuing a degree in higher education. She is also the deaconess and clerk for her spiritual home King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Church of God. Nigeria is a New York native who resides in Harlem with her husband and two daughters. Join her online at www.NigeriaLockley.com

  

Why the Author Wrote Tempted to Touch

I just wanted to write this story that was in my head. A passion project. At least that was what I thought. About a month after I started writing Tempted… I kept hearing the protagonist’s voice directly—like she wanted to tell the story herself. But I didn’t want her to. I found myself fighting with the first person.

I share just about everything I do. I’m a reality t.v. star without a show. However, I do have a blog. When I found myself at a writing halt I voiced my struggle my blog, The Neophyte Author and tried to run away from the first person narrator even after my sister-author-friend, Unoma Nwankwor told me I could do it. The running stopped once I received a phone call from the one and only Michelle Stimpson—author, educator, and my unofficial mentor (I dubbed her my mentor in head, but that’s another story). She’s written over twenty books and more than half of them are in first person. Michelle was kind enough to walk me through her decision to write her first novel, Boaz Brown in first person. It was very natural and easy f her during that instance because she and the protagonist of Boaz Brown shared a lot of the same issues.

Instantly I knew why I no longer had a passion for my passion project. Kira was me and I was Kira. Married and in trouble. When I began Tempted to Touch my husband and I were in this awful and icky place that is usually filled with cussing and drink throwing on reality t.v. Since I’m Christian it was filled with a lot of “Satan I rebuke you” and “The devil is a liar”. I realized then that I would be writing my unhappiness. That wasn’t something I felt comfortable with at the same time I knew that Tempted to Touch was a story that needed to be told. Of course, to keep things on the up and up between my husband and I embellished a bit and gave the characters issues to fight about that were slightly different from ours. Regardless of the changes, I believe that I’ve found healing in certain areas of my marriage and I know that God will use this story to help other women find some healing in their marriage.

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© 2015 Diverse Book Tours

Monday, October 19, 2015

SunQuest Cruises SOLARIS - Award-Winning Venue for All Occasions

Three-Deck Yacht Offers Memorable Experience for Any Group Big or Small. From weddings and holiday parties to groups and corporate meetings, the SOLARIS yacht is an award-winning venue featuring event planners and executive chefs.


As the only dining and entertainment yacht in Northwest Florida, SunQuest Cruises SOLARIS offers a memorable venue on the water for all occasions and any size group. The SOLARIS is a 125-foot, 3-deck yacht featuring an open-air sky deck, covered outdoor seating, a full-service mahogany bar and spacious indoor spaces with panoramic windows. The yacht allows for versatile seating arrangements for up to 150 guests and unlimited options for menus and décor.

“To truly experience what our area has to offer, you have to get on the water. The sky’s the limit for what our experienced team can accomplish on the SOLARIS,” stated James Murray, General Manager for SOLARIS. “Our guests enjoy a luxurious yacht experience at a tremendous value with an unforgettable, all-inclusive experience.”

All events include full services from the SunQuest Cruises’ team of event planners, executive chefs and staff that coordinate events on a weekly basis from start to finish for people who are local or across the country. The team has earned a variety of review-based awards for SOLARIS events and weddings, including the Knot’s “Best of Weddings” award for six consecutive years, the Knot’s Wedding “Hall of Fame”, Wedding Wire, Best of the Emerald Coast and Best In Destin. The SOLARIS also offers an all-inclusive experience with its convenient location at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, offering a multitude of accommodation, transportation, dining and entertainment options for guests.

This month, the SOLARIS was voted “Best Wedding and Reception Venue” and “Best Wedding Planner Company” by the readers of Emerald Coast Magazine for the sixth consecutive year.  The SOLARIS was built specifically for weddings by the Murray family, who own and operate the company. The open-air, sky deck features a bridal platform where couples can say their vows in a private, majestic setting while cruising into the sunset and enjoying unlimited views. Brides can prepare for the big moment in the private bridal suite as a secluded, serene space to spend time with friends and family. The three decks of indoor and outdoor spaces offer a weather-proof venue and the event planners ensure a stress-free experience. Beach weddings and off-site catering services are also available.

A recipient of the 2014 Tripadvisor.com Certificate of Excellence Award, the SOLARIS cruises year-round for weekly dinner and dancing cruises with live entertainment and chef-prepared coastal cuisines. After taking in the coastal breezes and panoramic landscapes and toasting to the sunset on the sky deck, guests indulge in a four-course meal freshly prepared on-board, featuring the freshest seafood and prime steaks. While cruising the local bay, guests can dance under the moonlight to live music and enjoy a fireworks show during the summer. The SOLARIS dinner cruise appeals to all ages, from vacationing families to couples or groups celebrating a birthday, anniversary or engagement.

Groups can host a semi-private event on one deck of the SOLARIS or a private event on the entire yacht. The versatile spaces of the SOLARIS lend to any occasion from corporate receptions and social gatherings on the open-air sky deck to banquets, holiday parties or classroom-style seating for meetings on the main deck. The chefs and event planners can accommodate all requests including buffets, plated dinners, passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations, A/V equipment, live entertainment and décor.

For additional information, videos and photos, visit www.SunQuestCruises.com or call 850.650.2519.

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Monday, October 12, 2015

Upcoming Events from Ella D. Curry Creations

2016 Atlanta Chocolate Social

Black Pearls Literary Excellence Awards



2016 ATL Chocolate Social & Awards Show

Thursday Night, July 28, 2016

Time7:00-10:00 pm EST
Location:  Loews Atlanta Hotel
1065 Peachtree Street N.E.Atlanta, GA 30309

No tickets sold at the door

Attire: Semi-formal


For additional information

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Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother's Wisdom
by Alysia Burton Steele


Purchase Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother's Wisdom http://amzn.com/B00P74VI50

Author’s Links

    Instagram   
Facebook

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Ellis and The Magic Mirror by Cerece Rennie Murphy


If you'd like to learn more about Ellis and The Magic Mirror,
you can visit the series websit at http://www.theellisseries.com

Book Details on Website  

FaceBook Fans  

Purchase Ellis and The Magic Mirror by Cerece RennieMurphy



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