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.

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

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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:

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"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
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Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, author

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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.

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

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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.

New Book Release: Crown Of Spears - by Anthony Garcia

 

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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.

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

 

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“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.