Thursday, July 17, 2025

New Book Release: The Last Pass in El Paso - by J. Michael King

 

Find it on Amazon HERE



When the mother of 22-year-old Mike Holmes passes away after a long bout of breast cancer, Holmes’ cousin Jimmy convinces him to leave his lifelong home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, move to El Paso, Texas, and enroll in college to earn his bachelor’s degree.

Holmes drives to El Paso, on the USA–Mexico border. He shares a house with Manny, Jimmy’s Mexican friend, thus being thrown directly into Mexican border culture.Holmes enrolls in the Fall semester of the Business program at the Hispanic-majority University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP), where he also takes Spanish classes.

On a Friday night in the fall, Manny and Holmes go to a nearby store to purchase beer and snacks. They encounter a Mexican family from Ciudad Juárez needing help with their pickup truck. Holmes repairs their vehicle and immediately becomes enchanted with Carmen, the pickup owner’s attractive niece, who speaks little English.

During the Spring semester, Holmes gets the unlikely and unexpected coveted opportunity to try out for the UTEP Miners football team with no previous playing experience. Will he make the 100-man roster and be teammates with star quarterback Samuel “Sammy” Sánchez from Juárez, the only true Mexican player in US college football? Will Holmes develop a relationship with Carmen, bridging the international border? Will he earn good grades and graduate? Then what?


About the author: 

The author earned Engineering degrees from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He was employed by a large US manufacturer of diesel engines, holding various positions. He worked and lived in Spain for eight years, traveling throughout western Europe. He also worked in numerous Latin American Spanish-speaking countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Chile, Peru, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic.

The author resides in southern Arizona, USA, and enjoys traveling, learning, hiking, practicing Spanish, wine tasting, and attending concerts.

Monday, July 14, 2025

Writing the book blurb - Every author's nightmare - by Vijaya Schartz


The Blue Phantom glows like a beacon in black space, appears and vanishes,
and never registers on scanners. Rumors say it will save the righteous, the oppressed,
and the downtrodden… and slay the unworthy without mercy.
The space pirates fear it. Their victims pray for it… but its help comes at a price…

The art of the cover blurb is to give a taste without revealing too much.

When I am half-way through writing a novel and I know my story and my characters better, I like to take the first stab at the cover blurb, a short paragraph of about 100+ words, to let the reader know what the novel is about.

First, I need to set the stage. What kind of world is it? In the case of my current WIP the feudal planet was almost destroyed two decades ago and is starting to reorganize itself. Many nobles covet the throne.

Writing the blurb also helps me refocus on the main themes, motivations, and conflicts of the characters in the story. It forces me to reconsider, and to pinpoint the larger scope of the novel beyond the step-by-step sequence of events. Is it about revenge? Thwarting evil? The challenges of doing the right thing? Resisting temptation? Never trusting appearances? Overcoming unsurmountable obstacles? Finding your true self? Coming of age? Seeking salvation for past mistakes? Is it about greed and corruption? Ambition? Intrigue?

Usually in my novels, it’s several of these, but I have to determine which theme dominates this particular story. Then, I can reinforce that theme throughout the book.

It's also time to define my characters in a few words for the reader. In my current project, I define my heroine as a “spiritual warrior woman.” I often have warrior women in my stories, Samurai, soldier, bodyguard, Avenging Angel, Valkyrie, bounty hunter… but this one is different. She adheres to a pure code of conduct, lives in a monastery, and practices meditation and Tai-Chi as well as lethal weapons. She respects all life, loves animals, never took a sip of a fermented drink, and is a strict vegetarian.
Avenging Angel


Bounty hunter
 
Samurai heroine

The other side of that pure heroine is that she lacks life experience. Believing everyone is basically good and worthy is dangerous for a warrior confronting pure evil. That naivety can be her undoing… or her salvation.

But there are other constraints in writing the blurb. Usually, online shoppers on a retail site like Amazon can only see the first one or two lines of the blurb. So, the challenge is to hook the reader with the first words, hoping that he or she will want to click on “more” and read the full book description.

Here is my first try at the blurb for CHI WARRIOR, book 1 of the Protectors series. Look for it releasing from BWL Publishing in November 2025.

Blurb for the entire series, called: The Protectors

A few decades ago, a cataclysm devastated the feudal planet. Today, as simple life returns, an elite of mighty warriors protect the Celestial Gate, expecting benevolent Immortals to return from the stars. But they struggle against alien races with advanced technology, who covet their natural resources, and plan to enslave the defenseless population.

Chi Warrior – Book 1 

A spiritual warrior woman faces a fearsome barbarian with a wolf, a double-edged prophecy, and a black cloud with wings.

Anila trained all her life in the monastery of the Celestial Gate, ready to take the vows of the mighty Protectors. That’s all she’s ever known, all she ever wanted.

When a barbarian horde descends from the north, Bayar Khan, their leader, seems unstoppable, determined to destroy everything in his path. Rumors of his cruelty make the most powerful princes tremble in their stone fortresses.

But in the inevitable clash, nothing is as it seems… blurring the lines between good and evil, an ancient enemy rises in the shadows, and the falling darkness threatens Anila and everyone she loves.

In the meantime, you can find all my available novels with strong heroines and brave heroes on my author page at:

"Phenomenal world building, characters the readers care about, and an intriguing mystery... all the elements one expects from a Vijaya Schartz story! Easily recommended!" Debbie - CK2sKwipsandKritique
amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo


Happy Reading!
Vijaya Schartz, author

 

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

New Book Release: Sun City, 85373 - by Savannah Hendricks

Find it on Amazon HERE

 

Winner of the 2025 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Spring Competition - Women's Fiction

Kelly needs a break, even if it’s only for the weekend. But visiting her aunt in Sun City turns into an unexpected care-giving situation, prompting her to face avoided decisions.

Welcome to Palms Place, a small complex of nine ’70s-style apartments, located in the vibrant 55+ community of Sun City. As a resident, you’ll enjoy access to a resort-style pool, and an outdoor entertainment area where you can join in the FNF (Friday Night Fun), happening year-round, as well as a grill station. In addition, you’ll have access to close parking, and a secure courtyard with plentiful greenery.

Kelly, a burned-out social worker living in Flagstaff, takes a weekend respite to visit her Aunt Paula at Palms Place, in Sun City. She expects a nice, relaxing and quiet time in the retirement community. What she gets is anything but. At the Palms Place apartment complex, life is full of laughter, trouble, and love. Will these lively residents add to Kelly's issues or help her fix them?

*Annually, 10% of the proceeds from the sale of this book, and all Savannah’s books are donated to dog rescue organizations


About the author:


Savannah is a multi-genre, award-winning author. Readers can find something special in each of her humorously wholesome romances, heartfelt coming of age/women's fiction, and meaningful children's picture books, all while helping dogs! Annually, 10% of the proceeds from all of Savannah's books go to a local dog rescue organization. Because READING IS BETTER WITH A DOG.

Savannah has worked as a nanny, an underwriter, with special needs preschoolers and for the last 12 years, she's been a medical social worker.

Give her a follow on social media where she shares her adventures in Arizona, gardening, puzzling, red wine, cooking/baking, and love for her dogs.


Sunday, July 6, 2025

New Book Release: The GOODLANDS: A Wide-Open West Mystery - by Christine Haese

Find it on Amazon HERE


 


Someone killed four Mexican gray wolves near the Continental Divide Trail in New Mexico. As federal and state wildlife investigators return from the grisly investigation scene, they accidentally stumble into illegal activities and become victims of a deadly ambush.

Sam Rios, Law Enforcement Officer for the U.S. Forest Service returns to the family ranch in Arizona to recuperate from his injuries suffered in the attack. Upon his arrival, he receives the heartbreaking news of his Papá’s death. Career-altering decisions and the fate of his ancestral home are threatened, and Sam’s world transforms rapidly when he struggles with new responsibilities and mysterious activities at the ranch.

Readers are invited to visit majestic wilderness lands, the charming town of Rimtop, and historic archaeological sites. Come sit on the front porch of the historic Rios Ranch and meet its cowboys: their music, food, horses, traditions, and humor. The townsfolk are mostly friendly with diverse, intertwined relationships, simmering romances, and loitering back stories that unravel to the very end.

Will Sam Rios, his family and friends, unearth the evidence to explain his father’s dying words? How can he help his beloved friend, Mag, protect herself from a dangerous marriage. Fate intervenes when an old buckskin mare trots home with an empty saddle.


About the author:


Christine Haese is a native of Arizona, a published author, and lives with her husband in the White Mountains near the New Mexico border. She journals and writes about Western adventures, colorful characters, hiking, exploring, gardening, pets, livestock, wildlife, and wild lives.

Friday, July 4, 2025

New Book Release: Crown Of Spears - by Anthony Garcia

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Shipwrecked on a foreign shore. Torn between faith and survival. Tested in fire and blood.

When the Spanish galleon San Felipe y Santiago is shattered on the shores of an uncharted land, Father Ignacio de Montemayor finds himself stranded with a band of desperate survivors in the heart of an unforgiving wilderness. A man of God among soldiers, mutineers, and lost souls, Ignacio must navigate not only the perils of the jungle but the shifting alliances and tensions within his own ranks.

As hunger gnaws and tempers fray, salvation appears in the form of a mysterious leader—don Juan de Yllescas, a Spanish-African noble ruling over a thriving settlement beyond the frontier. But Ignacio soon realizes that survival comes at a cost. Torn between his duty to Spain and the unexpected bonds he forms with the people of Santa María del Oro, he must confront a question more dangerous than any enemy blade: Where does his true loyalty lie?

Rich in historical detail and driven by unforgettable characters, CROWN OF SPEARS is an epic tale of survival, faith, and the clash of empires. Fans of Bernard Cornwell, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, and Patrick O’Brian will find themselves swept away in this gripping historical adventure.

Will Ignacio remain a servant of the empire, or will he forge his own destiny in a land where faith and steel reign supreme?


From the author:


I am a writer and publisher with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling. Beginning in the comic book industry, I founded a publishing company and authored two graphic novels: Professor Roentgen’s Mysterious Rays, a historical exploration of the discovery of the X-ray, and Project Dark Matter, a thrilling superhero adventure. As the editor and contributor to The Hierograph, an anthology spotlighting emerging comics creators, my work has also appeared in The Compendium, a publication for Steampunk enthusiasts. Now turning my focus to prose, I have just finished Crown of Spears, a full-length novel that marks the next chapter in my literary journey.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

New Book Release: The Risk of Sorrow: Intimate Conversations with a Holocaust Survivor - by Valerie Foster

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


“A beautiful, honest portrayal not only of survival, but of a friendship built from the telling of such a devastating experience.” –Kim Klett, Regional Education Corps, United States Holocaust Memorial

Helen Handler was just fifteen years old when she found herself alone in Auschwitz. The horrors she faced, family she lost, and lessons she learned would shape every moment of her life in ways few people could imagine. After rebuilding her life in America, and sharing her dramatic tale of survival to one group of high school students, she feels a unique connection with Irish-Catholic teacher, Valerie Foster, and entrusts her with her inspiring story. Helen bares her soul, challenging Valerie to listen, learn, and search her own self. The teacher becomes the student as their weekly visits begin to sculpt the profile of a Holocaust survivor as rarely seen before.

More than a Holocaust memoir, The Risk of Sorrow is an intimate look at two women of different generations, religions, and cultures who forge an extraordinary friendship as together they examine deep questions of survival, faith, humanity, and love. This is a story for today's world.



About the author:


Valerie Foster is an award-winning educator and author of two memoirs and a short story. The Risk of Sorrow: Conversations with Holocaust Survivor, Helen Handler, is now archived in six countries. Dancing With a Demon was named Best Nonfiction Narrative by American Book Fest and Finalist by International Book Awards. Her short story, “Loss,” was published in the River Poets Anthology, and she was editor of and contributing essayist in Women Wronged: Discrimination, Repression, & Sexism from the Sixties to Now. With public speaking in Vancouver, B.C., Los Angeles, San Diego, Texas, New Jersey, and throughout Arizona, she has been featured in several magazines and television/radio interviews. She lives in Phoenix, AZ.

Monday, June 30, 2025

New Book Release: The Butterfly's Secret: Book 2 of the Butterfly Series - by Josephine DeFalco

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Can you ever really go home again? Leandra is a young woman when she returns to her beloved Appalachian hills, finally recognizing her deep-rooted love for her land and people. Her life starts over, revealing many new roles, some of which she chooses and some which are thrust upon her. As time passes, more and more secrets are revealed to her and then buried, all the time redefining who she has become.

At some point, she must share these secrets or die with them. As the years pass by, she makes a decision that will forever change the Barker family and future generations.

“Josephine DeFalco’s latest historical novel is a bittersweet story about life’s enduring connections—to family, to community, and to the places we call home. With descriptive prose, she treats the reader to the sights, sounds, and scents of Appalachia, to a time and place that has passed and yet lives on in secrets revealed and memories shared.”
Jessica McCann, award-winning novelist and co-leader of the Historical Novel Society, Arizona Chapter

"Beautifully written. In the mist of the Appalachian Mountains life and death, age and youth, relationships and regrets are presented in this portrait of one woman’s journey to understand the purpose of her life and all the memories folded within."
Emil Cicogna, author and instructor in the College of Education, Grand Canyon University


About the author:

Josephine DeFalco, born and raised in central Arizona, grew up among cactus wrens, horny toads, and grapefruit wars with the neighborhood boys. A lifelong writer and health professional, she holds degrees in nutrition and nursing, and has worked as a registered dietitian, health editor, and EMT. While raising three children, she began publishing both fiction and nonfiction, drawing inspiration from her roots and passion for wellness. Her historical novel The Nightbird’s Song received a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite, while her Best Little nonfiction series—starting with The Best Little Bread Book and The Best Little Herb Book—reflects her commitment to organic gardening, simple living, and homegrown food. Josephine writes from her farms in Arizona and Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband, two dogs, and several pampered hens.


Saturday, June 28, 2025

New Book Release: Critters Aren't for Cuddles - by Meaghan Cavanaugh

 

Find it on Amazon HERE



Critters Aren’t for Cuddles is a playful yet powerful children’s book that uses catchy rhymes and vivid illustrations to remind readers—young and old—that wild animals deserve space, respect, and a little peace and quiet. With each page, readers meet a new critter in its natural habitat and learn why even the cutest creatures aren’t meant for hugs. Lighthearted in tone but grounded in an important message, this book encourages a love for wildlife that honors boundaries.


About the author:

 Meaghan Cavanaugh is an author and illustrator who rediscovered her love of storytelling after a long hiatus. Her debut children’s book, Critters Aren’t for Cuddles, blends humor, heart, and a deep respect for wildlife. With more books on the way—ranging from playful to poignant—her work explores themes of belonging, passion, and the importance of treating the natural world with care. A devoted dog lover and foster, Meaghan founded Smudge Mark Publishing in honor of her beloved rescue pup, Smudge. Originally from New Mexico and now based in Arizona, she draws inspiration from the desert landscape and the joyful chaos of life with animals. Her goal: to create stories that are fun, thoughtful, and just wild enough to stay with readers long after the last page.


Thursday, June 26, 2025

New Book Release: In the Face of Fear (Hidden Appearances) - by Michelle D. Bates

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Marie thought she had finally found a sense of stability, but secrets have a way of unraveling when least expected. Just as she begins to feel safe, new threats emerge that could expose her carefully guarded past. She gains an unexpected ally when she confides in her supervisor, Sara, about the nightmare she escaped. Yet even the best-kept secrets have a way of slipping through the cracks.

As close calls and unexpected encounters put her at risk, Marie must navigate a delicate balance between keeping her life intact and staying hidden from the one person she fears most. As the past threatens to collide with her present, Marie must decide whether to keep running or stand her ground and fight for the life she’s built.


About the author: 

Michelle D. Bates is a freelance writer, fiction e-book author, and member of the Arizona Authors Association. The knowledge she has gained from the creative and fiction writing classes taken at Rio Salado College has helped her complete her first fiction novel. Her fiction e-book, Hidden Appearances, is published by On-Demand Publishing LLC (CreateSpace). Her second novel, In the Line of Fire, the second installment to Hidden Appearances, was published in 2015 and is now available on Amazon. Her latest project is in the works and will be released in Spring 2025.

Michelle is a native Chicagoan but currently resides in Arizona. She is a driven and motivated writer with a vivid imagination who believes in taking her readers on a journey through the characters of her book. She firmly believes that reading is a way of escaping the things around you and succumbing to the fantasy or other world that a story can create. Michelle has always turned to her dreams to escape times of sadness, frustration, and even boredom. She would always tell her friends and family that she has more fun and excitement in her dreams than in her actual life. It was that very sentiment that led her to writing her first fiction novel.

Michelle is an author that writes with passion and has the ability to paint a vivid picture with her words that draws the readers into her stories. The characters in her stories are ones that everyone can relate to in some form or fashion. Being able to write stories that not only thoroughly entertain readers but cause readers to totally immerse themselves in her stories is an on-going goal that she plans to continually accomplish.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

New Book Release: Aria: A poetry chapbook of free form verse on life, death, loss, love, and the mundane absurdities of the human condition - by Michael Ballard

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Welcome to Michael Ballard’s Aria, a chapbook of 26 poems that mixes humor, honesty, and keen insight to reflect on the moments that define our lives.

Highlights of Aria:

  • Everyday Life with a Twist: From quirky musings on aging (“Geezer Wednesday”, “Zero to Sixty in Six Seconds”) to bittersweet reflections on love and death (“Search Party”, “How to Say Farewell”), Ballard captures life’s absurdities and tender truths.
  • Sharp and Poignant: Find beauty in unexpected places (“Bungee Jumping”), face the specter of mortality (“Dead Coyote by the Roadside”), and pause to reflect on the mundane (“Airline Food”, “The Dental Hygienist Cleans While the Agnostic Dreams”).
  • Humor Meets Angst: Enjoy the delicate balance between humor and serious ruminations on mortality in “Whenever I Go to the Grocery Store” and “Thank You, Neptune Society”.
  • A Celebration of Life: From the sentimental relationship with his dog (“Jayme”) to the profound connection we share as a human race (“Aria”), Michael Ballard’s collection runs the gamut of emotion as it strives to illuminate what it means to be alive.

Available now—Step into the world of Aria. Experience poetry that lifts the heart while navigating the struggles of everyday life.


About the author:

Once an inhabitant along the sandy shores of Long Beach, California, Michael Ballard now spends whatever remains of his hour upon this stage ensconced on the desert sands of Tucson, Arizona. Much of his strutting and fretting will be dedicated to writing, reading, watching classic films, and the pursuit of affordable golf lessons.

Sunday, June 22, 2025

New book release: Finding a Sport for Hector - by David ZM Allison

 

Buy it on Amazon HERE


Hector has tried every sport—basketball, soccer, baseball, even swimming—and let’s just say… he’s still looking.

But when he stumbles onto the track, something finally clicks.

A story of persistence, awkwardness, and finding your “thing,” Finding a Sport for Hector celebrates the kids who take the long way around… and still end up exactly where they belong.


About the author:


David ZM Allison is a writer, coach, and founder of Clumsy Courage™ — a creative brand built to inspire honesty, momentum, and heart-led growth.

A former English major at the University of Pennsylvania, David has spent years writing poetry, collecting stories, and coaching hundreds of runners — from first-timers to professional triathletes. In 2007–08, he even chased his own dream of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon.

But it wasn’t until 2025, approaching the age of 55, that he made a commitment to share the creative work he’d quietly carried for decades. He had filled files and notebooks with poems, stories, unfinished novels, songs, and one-liners — never fully believing they’d find a home. Now, he’s ripped off the bandage.

All Kinds of Families was his debut children’s book — a joyful celebration of how love shapes the families we build. (It even forgot the title page at first. Oops. That got fixed.) Since then, he’s published Finding a Sport for Hector and is currently building a library of honest, heart-forward stories — all offered in the spirit of permission: to start where you are, mess up, and keep going anyway.

David lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his amazing wife Zoraida (happily married since 1998), their two awesome kids, and their quirky tripod dog Ripley — who barks way too much but is loved all the same. When he’s not writing, running, or reading, he’s cheering on his kids and searching for joy, abundance, and the freedom to live fully — one honest word at a time.

Friday, June 20, 2025

New Book Release: Lurlene Hurlbutt and the Goo Goo Cluster - by Dan Baldwin

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Lurlene Hurlbutt, the aging owner of the Winslow, Arizona weekly newspaper, sends her only reporter east along Route 66 to find big stories in small towns. Her unstated goal is for him to locate a long-forgotten and missing country-western singer/songwriter with a distinct presentation and style – “Whisperin’ Peter Pitiful.” The reporter discovers comic situations, tragic events, psychic investigators, oddly interesting people and places only found on “the Mother Road.” Eventually, he also discovers the story behind the singer’s disappearance, Hurlbutt’s startling connection to him and a surprising example of redemption.


About the author:


Dan Baldwin is a ghostwriter with more than 50 business books to his credit. He is also a novelist who has six published Westerns, three mysteries, a political/crime-thriller, and two short story collections, and four non-fiction works on the paranormal. Awards for his novels include:

Finalist - National Indie Excellence Award for Caldera III-A Man of Blood and Trapp Canyon.

Finalist - New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards for Sparky and the King and Bock's Canyon

Winner - New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards for They Are Not Yet Lots - a non-fiction work about psychic detecting.

The paranormal investigative book (with Dwight and Rhonda Hull) Speaking with the Spirits of the Old Southwest -Conversations with Miners, Outlaws, and Pioneers Who Still Roam Ghost Towns will be published by Lewellyn Worldwide in May, 2018

He is an avid hiker, especially in Arizona's Superstition Mountains and the Mogollon Rim country. He "plays at" the Native American flute and the kalimba. Check out Dan's work on his fiction web page www.fourknightspress.com and his non-fiction site www.danbaldwin.com.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

New Book Release: ALL KINDS OF FAMILIES - by David ZM Allison

 

Purchase it on Amazon HERE



Spaghetti tacos. Hallway broomstick rock concerts. Snort-laughs at the airport.

All Kinds of Families is a warm, tender celebration of everyday life in families of all shapes and stories — adoptive, foster, blended, chosen, and everything in between.

Through meaningful moments and real-life details, this picture book gently reminds us that a loving family comes in endless combinations.

Each one is unique — and all are rooted in the same joy. Perfect for classrooms, bedtime, or simply reading together, this is a book for every kind of home — and every kind of heart.

About the author:

David ZM Allison is a writer, coach, and founder of Clumsy Courage™ — a creative brand built to inspire honesty, momentum, and heart-led growth.

A former English major at the University of Pennsylvania, David has spent years writing poetry, collecting stories, and coaching hundreds of runners — from first-timers to professional triathletes. In 2007–08, he even chased his own dream of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the marathon.

But it wasn’t until 2025, approaching the age of 55, that he made a commitment to share the creative work he’d quietly carried for decades. He had filled files and notebooks with poems, stories, unfinished novels, songs, and one-liners — never fully believing they’d find a home. Now, he’s ripped off the bandage.

All Kinds of Families was his debut children’s book — a joyful celebration of how love shapes the families we build. (It even forgot the title page at first. Oops. That got fixed.) Since then, he’s published Finding a Sport for Hector and is currently building a library of honest, heart-forward stories — all offered in the spirit of permission: to start where you are, mess up, and keep going anyway.

David lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his amazing wife Zoraida (happily married since 1998), their two awesome kids, and their quirky tripod dog Ripley — who barks way too much but is loved all the same. When he’s not writing, running, or reading, he’s cheering on his kids and searching for joy, abundance, and the freedom to live fully — one honest word at a time.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Did time travelers reset our timeline? by Vijaya Schartz

 

Recently a new theory emerged to explain the slew of discoveries of ancient ruins from civilizations we never knew existed. We are all familiar with the stories of the Great Flood that erased ancient civilizations, and with the extinction of the dinosaurs, but there is another theory.

The new theory, based on the principle that time is not linear and all timelines exist at the same time, is that time travelers from the future are constantly monitoring our progress and resetting the timeline when we go off-course.

The recent discovery of Gobekli tepe baffled scientists
Who built it? and who buried it?

When we cross the line, go overboard, threaten to destroy the planet, these time travelers have the technology to take us back to the point where things were still on-track, or erase us all together and start from scratch. No memories of the erased civilizations remain, except their engineering achievements in stones. Although buried under millennia of dirt, thanks to lidar technology and drones, they eventually resurface and leave the scientists scratching their heads.

Intriguing subject for a science-fiction author.

Puma Punku in Bolivia defies everything we know about our past.
These perfect blocks interlock like a puzzle with a precision and smoothness
we would find challenging today, especially in such hard stone.
They also wear traces of machinery (drill holes)

On one hand, it’s reassuring to think that we will not be allowed to destroy ourselves or our planet… and on the other, it’s frightening to realize we do not know anything about these future humans or their agenda. If they wanted to destroy us, they would have the technology to do so… and maybe they did in the faraway past.

In the meantime, you can read my award-winning Epic Science Fiction Fantasy novels. There you will find strong heroines, brave heroes, a few intelligent cats, a little romance, and a lot of action, on alien planets and in space.

Here are a few for your perusing. Enjoy!

Azura Chronicles
amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 


The Byzantium series is set on a space station and includes telepathic cats
amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo.


Blue Phantom trilogy
amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 



Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats
amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo FB 


Saturday, June 14, 2025

New Book Release: If Only - by Clay P. Hurtubise

 

Find it on Amazon HERE


Who hasn't thought, if only? If only I played my original lottery numbers, if only I had approached the hottie at the bar, if only I didn't have that ' one for the road'.
Follow Clay through s myriad of if only moments in this collection of short stories.
At the end of this book are instructions on how to have your if only story published in If Only; reader's edition.


About the author:


Born from an accident (condom broke) and having survived many since then, I like to write to share my stories.

Raised in Maine, I ventured out to Wyoming for school when I was 18. The West won my heart, though I did leave some blood and skin there. Meander through my memoir, Drug Trip, for a fun adventure.

My second book, a young adult fiction, is due out in the fall of 2010. It is called Shaman: Devil's Deal. More of my writing may be found on the web site Triond, or simply Google my name.

To publish my book and others, I created Raven House Publishing, a unique publishing site where authors and readers come together: feel free to check it out.

Hope you have a CAW-rific day!

Thursday, June 12, 2025

New Book Release: A New York Lady in Helldorado - by V.C. Williams

 

Find it on Amazon Here


There are many books and movies about the OK Corral and the men and women made famous because of those deadly thirty seconds. But there is another whose life was deeply impacted by that event. A NEW YORK LADY IN HELLDORADO, this story with true crime appeal tells about the first woman to win a case in the US Supreme Court without a man's help. Sarah Herring, now forgotten, didn't get there overnight. It took hard work and guts.

Wild and politically divided, Tombstone is the last place a New York schoolteacher expects to find her purpose. Despite her mother's schemes, it's not marriage. When smart, intuitive Sarah is enlisted by her attorney father to help Wyatt Earp develop his defense testimony, her eyes open to new possibilities. While the sensational reports of Thomas Sorin of the Tombstone Epitaph make nationwide headlines, Sarah faces danger and threats from outlaws and Wyatt's jealous mistress. Revealing his truth, Wyatt helps Sarah find hers. Love for the law convinces her to become a lawyer. But Thomas is a surprise. She loves him, too.

Conflicting passions force a bitter choice. Choosing the law, Sarah feels lost when Thomas leaves to chase his mining dreams. Her father's cold refusal to tutor her in favor of her brother adds to her despair. And when Wyatt, the man she thought she knew, runs to escape the law he swore to uphold, she wonders who to trust. With few options for women, her hope of passing the bar seems impossible. Yet, when tragedy strikes, Sarah proves she is as ruthless and strong-willed as the men who expect her to fail.




About the author:


V.C. Williams is a native Arizonan who makes her home high in the pines. She loves history and coming from a long line of pioneer women, writes Historical Fiction about strong, hardworking women who face the same demands women face today; juggling a desire for independence with marriage and motherhood. V.C. Williams has completed her next Historical Fiction about a strong woman who succeeds in a man's world without sacrificing those she loves. VC Williams is working on a cozy mystery and developing a Young Adult Historical Time Travel.