Monday 30 January 2017

3 Ways Readers Can Support Authors plus my Annual Birthday Goodreads Giveaway…

Yup it’s that time again. My annual Birthday Goodreads Giveaway starting on February 2nd (and let’s not forget it’s Groundhog Day too). I figured what better way to kick off the month of February and celebrate my birthday than to have a Goodreads Giveaway for Book #1 of The Last Timekeepers young adult time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis, and the prequel, Legend of the Timekeepers. BTW—both giveaways are international so no one is left out in the cold! This just one way I can thank my readers yearly, as well as give back to the reading community of Goodreads. Thank you, readers, I wouldn’t be doing what I love without all of you!

So what can readers do for their favorite authors? Glad you asked, as it sure gets expensive shipping the winning novels all over the world. Any help to get the word out about an author’s book would be most appreciated! Below are three easy ways a READER could contribute to the success of an author on Goodreads:

ADD a new book to your shelves, one you are reading, want to read, or a book that inspires you. Simple and fast.

WRITE A REVIEW for a book. If you do a lot of Amazon book reviews, feel free to grab the content from there and repost it to Goodreads. And if you want to be a real rock star of the review world, grab your Goodreads review and cross post it to Amazon.

RATE BOOKS. This is easy and oh-so-simple. Give books a starred rating. You don't even have to write a review to do this one.

That’s it! It doesn’t matter if a reader chooses one way or all three, us authors truly appreciate your support. Oh, and there’s plenty of time to enter as both giveaways run from February 2nd to February 25th. All shares and tweets would be most appreciated! Did I mention I’m signing the book, and throwing in a couple of signed postcards to sweeten the pot? Now, only if I can find a way so that the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow…

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Cheers, keep warm, and good luck!




Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis by Sharon Ledwith

The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends February 25, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway



Goodreads Book Giveaway

Legend of the Timekeepers by Sharon Ledwith

Legend of the Timekeepers

by Sharon Ledwith

Giveaway ends February 25, 2017.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway

Monday 23 January 2017

Beat the Winter Blues with Savory Sausage Soup...

I'm in my virtual kitchen to whip up a batch of my hearty, savory sausage soup to help my readers ward off the cold and keep those winter blues at bay. This is a fantastic soup to serve to your crew, and freezes well. Salad, hard rolls, and wine (red or white) complete this meal! You can make it 24 hours ahead of time without the noodles and wait to add noodles when you reheat the soup to serve.

SAVORY SAUSAGE SOUP

1½ pounds sweet Italian sausage*
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 small onions, chopped
2 (16 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1¼ cup dry red wine
5 cups beef broth
½ tsp. dried basil
½ tsp. dried oregano
2 zucchini, sliced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
3 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package spinach fettuccine pasta (or plain, whatever your heart desires)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, cook sausage over medium heat until brown. Remove with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Drain fat from pan, reserving 3 tablespoons. If desired, instead of ground sausage, cut sausages in thin slices.

Sauté garlic and onion in reserved fat for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, wine, broth, basil, and oregano. Transfer to a slow cooker, and stir in sausage, zucchini, bell pepper, and parsley.

Cover, and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.

Break pasta into smaller pieces and drop into boiling water. Cook until al dente, about 7 minutes after the water returns to the boil. Drain water, and add pasta to slow cooker. Simmer for a few minutes, and season with salt and pepper before serving.

Serve topped with grated parmesan.

* Use ground sausage or links you’ve broken into bits or sliced thin.

This recipe can also be made on your stovetop. Follow the directions, but instead of the slow cooker, combine all your ingredients in your original pot. Simmer partially covered for 1 hour.

Give yourself a well-deserved break while your soup simmers. Sit back, prop up your feet, and open a book you’ve been meaning to read. May I make a suggestion? Why not pick up one of The Last Timekeepers adventures, and peruse the time traveling troop's latest mission?

Thursday 19 January 2017

Book Launch Tour: The Sun God's HEIR - RETURN: Book One by Elliott Baker...


Welcome to the Book Launch and Free on Kindle Promotion Tour for 
The Sun God's Heir: Return, Book 1.

From Jan. 18-22, 2017,  the Kindle version of The Sun God's Heir: Return, Book 1 will be FREE for everyone.


About The Sun God's Heir: Return, Book 1:

The Sun God’s Heir is a swashbuckling series, set at the end of the seventeenth century in France, Spain and northern Africa. Slavery is a common plague along the European coast and into this wild time, an ancient Egyptian general armed with dark arts has managed to return and re-embody, intent on recreating the reign of terror he began as Pharaoh. René Gilbert must remember his own former lifetime at the feet of Akhenaten to have a chance to defeat Horemheb. A secret sect has waited in Morocco for three thousand years for his arrival.

Book Information:

Title: The Sun God's Heir: Return, Book 1

Author Name: Elliott Baker

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Release Date: January 2, 2017

Amazon Link:  

Visit the Blogs Participating in the Book Launch and Free on Kindle Promotion:

Praise for The Sun God's Heir: Return:

A great read! From the first sword fight I could not put it down. Adventure, romance, action with just the right amount of his history and mysticism. The main character Rene displays all the qualities a true hero should; loyal, smart, humble, and a ferocious warrior all opponents will fear before their end. I could not help but feel fully immersed in the story. One of the best reads I can remember, I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!! ~ Jason Battistelli

The Sun God’s Heir is a page turner. The development of the characters made you really care what happens next to each person, good or evil. The descriptions of the ships, homes and countryside transported me into the era and made me feel like I was one of the onlookers or a part of the story itself. The moment I finished I had to have the second book to see what happens next. Fabulous!” ~
Karyn Krause Cumberland, Esquire

The Sun God’s Heir is a fascinating combination of historical period fiction, sci-fi, and political intrigue. Elliott Baker weaves a tale that one would have to be catatonic not to enjoy. The character development ranks among the best I’ve read; truly, by halfway through the book I found myself thinking like Rene (the main character) in my own daily life. This is the sign of mastery of character depth which is so often lacking in contemporary fiction. And the pacing! Rarely does a book seem to move at the speed of a movie without feeling haphazard. I applaud Elliott for pulling that off, as only an experienced screenwriter or playwright could. If you like a quality story that bridges traditional genre boundaries, then the Sun God’s Heir is for you! ~ Joshua Bartlett

Excerpt:

The boatswain, a large man with scars on his arms and face, walked over to stand in front of René. “Chain him to the mast.”
Their gazes met.
“Don’t look at me, boy.” He backhanded René in the face. “Look down at the deck when I talk to you. You’re some over-fed nobleman’s kid thinkin’ you make the rules. Surprised you ain’t cryin’ for your mama. You got a mama, boy?” he asked and laughed. When René didn’t answer, he hit him again. “I asked you a question, boy. Don’t try my patience,cause I ain’t got none.”
“My mother died when I was born.” René studied the man’s feet to see how he moved. All the while he cataloged everything in his peripheral vision.
“Well, not to worry, you will be seeing her soon.” The boatswain turned to walk away then turned back and hit René again. His bitter laugh floated across the deck. “I just had to do that.”
Though they had chained him in a way that forced him to stand, René had enough slack to turn and see most of the ship. He was aboard an English slave ship. She was an older carrack in design with the raised forecastle. She had seen better days, though. The fact that she was still on the seas suggested either a cutthroat reputation or an experienced captain. Under the wear, the ship was surprisingly clean, her ropes and sails newly repaired and in good order. Second rate though she might be, she was seaworthy. This was a veteran crew, competent in their tasks, and not likely to make mistakes that might allow him to escape. Escape. Even if he could, where would he go in the middle of the ocean?
Do not rush fate. One thing at a time. Do what you can do.
His master’s voice echoed within his head.
He had to pick a fight and hope he survived long enough to create allies. The next time the big boatswain walked by, René laughed. “What are you findin’ so funny, boy?” The man stuck his face within inches of René’s.
The boatswain’s right leg was shorter than his left and René doubted anyone brought that fact to his attention without regret.
“You walk funny.” René called out loud and clear. There was no profit to him if he got beat up and no one knew why.
All work within the sound of René’s voice stopped. Silence reigned. René had guessed right, and now he needed to survive his insight.
The boatswain froze, disbelief written on his face. The disbelief changed to rage. “What did you say?” Spittle flew from his mouth.
Even the captain had turned to watch. René counted on the fact that Gaspard’s agent had given the captain a great deal of money along with explicit instructions that did not include throwing a dead boy overboard. What he could not know was how close to dead the agent considered acceptable.
“I said you walk funny,” René said— louder this time, so there was no mistake in his words.
“Do you know what a cat is, boy?” The veins in the man’s neck pulsed. His eyes were shot red with blood. 

Meet the Author:


Award winning novelist and international playwright Elliott B. Baker grew up in Jacksonville, Florida but has spent the last thirty-five years or so living in sunny New Hampshire. With four musicals and one play published and produced throughout the United States, in New Zealand, Portugal, England, and Canada, Elliott is pleased to offer his first novel, Return, book one of The Sun God’s Heir trilogy. Among his many work experiences, Elliott was a practicing hypnotherapist for seven years. A member of the Authors Guild and the Dramatists Guild, Elliott lives in New Hampshire with his wife Sally Ann. 

You can find Elliott at the following places:





Monday 16 January 2017

Book Review: Unintended by Justine Alley Dowsett and Murandy Damodred…

Who doesn’t love a good Shakespearean-style tale that makes the reader want to throttle the characters in one chapter, and by the middle of the book, cheer for those same characters? Throw in the fact that Dowsett and Damodred created a whole new fantasy world to cast their eclectic characters, and then give them so many ups and downs, you felt sorry for them one minute, and wished for their demise the next. Honestly, it was like riding a medieval roller coaster right along with the characters!

So what’s my take on a story that’s all about a Clan Chief’s Daughter, a Crown Prince, an Ismeran Lord, and a dethroned Princess? This is what I posted on Amazon and Goodreads…

A 4-Star Frolic Shakespearean-style!

Dowsett and Damodred hooked me in from the moment their character, Kenzie en Shareed marries the wrong guy. What a faux pas! From there, the dominoes fall one after the other as the cast of Unintended try to right wrongs in the most hysterical and sometimes disturbing ways. I really enjoyed the fantasy world of Ismera the pair of imaginative authors created, which gave me a nostalgic feeling of Old World Scotland and Britain, coupled with their use of modern day language to bridge the gap of the past and present.

The twists and turns in this romantic comedy end with a few surprises, and leaves the reader feeling satisfied and ready for the next romp in the Ismeran world! Bravo, ladies!

About the Book:

Four people. Four very different lives. Four tales interwoven.

Meet Kenzie en Shareed, the High Clan Chief’s daughter who is sent south to fulfill a treaty by marriage only to marry the wrong man; Kadrean Authier, the Crown Prince who must come to terms with his new bride, even if he doesn’t much like the idea; Garron D’Arbonne, a noble Lord who has been commanded to marry a cool and aloof princess he doesn’t love; and Vivianne Chappelle, a young and ambitious woman who is in love with her abusive father’s manservant and must find a way to avoid having her entire future decided for her.

Fate and wills collide in this Shakespearian-style romantic comedy about good intentions and their unintentional consequences.

Purchase Links:

Amazon ~ 



Mirror World Publishing ~ 



Meet the Authors:

Murandy Damodred and Justine Alley Dowsett

With a background in Drama and Communications from the University of Windsor, Murandy Damodred (left) enjoys fantasy fiction with strong romantic subplots. She is an avid roleplayer and is happiest when living vicariously through her characters. Though she’d rather think of herself as the heroine of her next novel, in the real world she is an expert in sales and management living in Windsor, Ontario.

From obtaining a BA in Drama at the University of Windsor to becoming an entrepreneur in video game production and later, publishing, Justine Alley Dowsett’s unswerving ambition has always led her to pursue her dreams. Today she lives in Windsor, Ontario and is still writing and publishing fiction novels. When not focusing on growing her business, she enjoys role-playing with friends and developing new ideas to write about.

Connect with the Authors:

Publisher: Mirror World Publishing