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Sea of Forgetfulness Tour

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Father of Contention series, Book 3

 Science fiction and fantasy, Paranormal, Christian

Date Published: July 21, 2020

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

 

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CAN CHOICE EXIST WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF A PROPHECY?

Angelika Juris unexpectedly becomes legal guardian to her sister’s rejected child, Dani… a child with the potential to develop supernatural abilities.

After witnessing a horrific event, Dani develops mental health issues, but is able to overcome her inner turmoil through treatment and her parents’ love. Their lives fall into a comfortable routine filled with dance classes, sleepovers, and video game marathons.

Until the accident.

At the age of thirteen, Dani is involved in a tragic highway disaster, and as a result of her injuries, her powers manifest. Afraid to tell her parents about her newfound abilities, and even more afraid of harming them, Dani is lured away to find her estranged mutant brothers, seeking answers about her origins and how to control her new power.

Guided by an amulet and map—a gift sent from her brother, Tomas Scholz—Dani embarks on an adventure where she meets a young boy, Jonathan. He is lost, with no memories of his identity, his family, or his home. With nowhere else to turn, Jonathan joins Dani on her quest, and together they battle pirates, the undead, and finally, her evil family—a family that is a far cry from what she expected.

Will Dani deny her destiny and resist the evil plans of her siblings, or will she succumb to her role in fulfilling the prophecy—being the path and the key—that ends in the fall of mankind?

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EXCERPT

The next day, Ang was showered and dressed in beige slacks, a white lace blouse and a powder-blue scarf by eight o’clock in the morning. Not only did she have a funeral to plan, having an appointment with the Lakehead Funeral Home scheduled for later that afternoon, but most importantly, they had their first family therapy appointment at nine o’clock.

“Anthony, time to get up.” Ang nudged the mound of snoring covers as she left the bedroom and crept up the stairs to Dani’s room. The door was ajar.

Strange.

Dani always insisted on sleeping with her door closed. Ang suddenly had an overwhelming sensation that something was wrong. Fear dampened her skin.

“Dani?” she called out before entering the darkened room.

The butterfly comforter was rumpled and thrown aside in a heap. The bed, empty.

“Dani!” Ang hollered, looking around the room and finding it vacant. Sprinting down the hall to the bathroom, she found it, too, was empty.

“Dani!” Ang yelled. Why wasn’t Dani responding? Surely, she could hear her, no matter what part of the house she was in. Frantic now, Ang scrambled back down the stairs, hair on end, muscles tense.

Anthony, hearing his wife’s screams, met her at the base of the stairs.

“It’s Dani. She’s not in her room.” Grabbing Anthony’s forearms, she desperately searched his eyes, “Have you seen her?”

“No, not since last night,” he replied. “Where would she go? She hasn’t left her room in days. Relax Angel, she’s in here somewhere.”

“Or Tomas has her.”

“We can’t jump to conclusions. We’ll find her…don’t worry.”

Together they scoured the upstairs, looking behind sofas, in closets, Anthony even running outside and checking the backyard behind the bushes where Dani had hidden before.

No Dani.

One place remained unsearched. The basement.

Dani would never go down to the basement. The child had been so terrified of Ronnie, it hadn’t even crossed Ang’s mind to look there, but they had run out of other options. Unless Dani had left the house, it was the last place she could be hiding.

Stumbling down the stairs, legs weak from fear, Ang then entered Ronnie’s room. It had been ages since she had gone down there, hadn’t even bothered to clean up after her ever since she discovered Ronnie was using drugs. Denial? Perhaps. Even when the police searched the house, Ang had remained upstairs. She knew eventually she would have come down to pack up her sister’s belongings, but procrastination had set in. The task too difficult to withstand just yet.

She was immediately accosted by the smell of her sister, and although stale and sour it sparked childhood memories…back to times when they were less hateful toward each other.

Ang flicked on the light. She didn’t see Dani at first. A heap of unwashed blankets blocked her view. Then she noticed a little pink slipper poking out. Dani’s foot? Her heart dropped out of her chest.

 

About the Author
Lanie Mores has her Honours Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and is a certified hypnotherapist and personal trainer. She lives in Ontario with her husband, son, and forever barking fur babies, Batman and Petri. Sea of Forgetfulness follows Father of Contention and the awardwinning Guardian of Angel in a fourpart series.

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Uphill and Into the Wind Tour

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Non Fiction / Memoir

Date to be Published: 10/15/20

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

 

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It’s 1973. Our nation is torn apart by the Vietnam War, and the massacre of
unarmed students at Kent State. The Vice President has resigned for bribery
and tax evasion. The President is being investigated for engaging in
criminal activity.

At twenty-three, David Reed has become embittered by political strife and
corruption. Disenchanted with his future, he wants out. Along with new
friends, Rusty and Susie, David leaves everything he knows to cross the
United States with little more than his bicycle and a camera.

The trio gets more than they bargain for, with menacing animals, extreme
weather, and astonishing encounters.

Uphill and Into the Wind recounts an odyssey that spans 5420 miles on
bicycles. It chronicles the sudden and surprising glories of nature, the raw
beauty of the land, and the majesty of the mountains. But that is just the
start. Through it all, the three are changed forever, in ways they did not
expect, by their long journey into the unknown.

 

Uphill and Into the Wind tablet

EXCERPT

In a few days I’m going to begin riding a bicycle across the continent. Having been a stonemason for the last two years, I’ve finished my last day of work, and drive down the rural, two-lane road in my vintage 1950 Studebaker, windows open to the faint stirrings of early spring greens. Blasting Steely Dan’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” from my AM radio, I’m singing along, excited to begin a new chapter of my life. 

As I walk into our grand bachelor apartment, known for its legendary parties, my roommates Henry and Kevin ask if I have plans for the evening. When I ask why, they announce that they are throwing our bike trippin’ threesome—Rusty, Susie, and me—a bon voyage party.

Kevin is my best friend; we’ve been together since kindergarten. He’s short and stocky like me, but with dirty-blonde hair, a booming laugh, and parents who are “lace-curtain” Irish.

I grew up next door to Henry, the most upbeat guy I know; his freckled face is set in a permanent grin. Henry takes karate and teaches me the horse stance, great for strengthening a bicyclist’s quad muscles.

Our dearest friends attend the party and shower us with encouragement. These are our blood brothers and soul sisters we’re leaving, to set out into the great unknown, terra incognita, on an asphalt ribbon of highway. We feast on lasagna, and drink Anchor Steam beer.

Henry gathers everyone in the living room, raises a frosted mug and shouts over the hubbub. “A toast to Susie, Rusty, and David. May you have clear skies and easy climbs. And take all the love in this room with you.”

The room erupts. “Here, here!”

Kevin chimes in with an Irish toast. “May the wind be always at your back.” 

“It won’t be,” quips Toby from the crowd. “You’re heading west.” 

Laughter.

“Then may the road NOT rise up to meet you,” replies Kevin.

More laughter.

Susie looks sidelong at me and whispers, “I hope I’ll do okay.” 

“You’ll be fine,” I say.

I turn to Kevin and Henry. “I’ll miss you guys—and the apartment. We’ve had it great here.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll take care of the place ’til you get back,” says Henry, beaming.

“Whenever that is,” snorts Kevin.

The morning of April sixteenth, still just spring, is mostly cloudy and chilly. We circle around in the street, testing the balance of our hauling loads. This is going to take some getting used to, like driving a semi after you’re used to a VW bug. Still, we set off about eleven a.m. after a group photo in front of my apartment, whooping excited cries and waving goodbye to our friends. I feel a great sense of adventure heading west, from East Orange through Orange and West Orange, from the haze and smog of the inner city to suburbia where the air is fresh and clear. 

Our first climb, aptly named First Mountain, is steep and just over a mile long. Halfway up, I stop to find Susie, she’s way down at the bottom, walking her bike up the grade, only three miles into the trip.

 About the Author

David Reed has spent a lifetime studying the natural world, from his youth
in the woods, his University training, his apprenticeship as a stonemason,
and his travels on a bicycle, to his career as an award-winning landscape
architect.

A career highlight includes re-designing four major gardens in San
Diego’s jewel, Balboa Park.

A visual storyteller, David has guest lectured at the San Diego Museum of
Art, Rutgers University, Kansas State University, The New School of
Architecture, and other venues. His professional work has been published in
Sunset Magazine, Garden Design Magazine, and Building Stone Magazine.

Uphill and Into the Wind is David’s debut memoir. But his work has
been published in A Year in Ink, the San Diego Writers, Ink Anthology and
awarded at the Southern California Writers Conference.

David believes that life is “out there,” in the forest, and on
the land, not inside the box.

He currently resides in San Diego with his wife and family.

 

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A Holo World Tour

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Book 2, Hiding Can’t Save You Series

Science Fiction, Dystopian, Cyberpunk, Robotics, Genetic Engineering,
YA

Date Published: A Holo World: 10/13/20

 

Invisible illusions are John’s first inclination that things are not
quite as they seem in Amber City.

Following the aftermath of the destruction to the city caused by the
criminal mastermind named Crofar, John’s world flips upside down. Not
only does John have to hunt down Crofar, but he also has to figure out his
own problems. Everything around John glitches out of existence and reappears
as if it never left. Simultaneously, John’s visions of the future
start fading away which may signify his death.

A team of soldiers called the Renegades, John’s best friend Chase,
and a feisty girl named Hazel are not experiencing what John is going
through. In a sudden change of events, John’s surroundings vaporize
and all that is left is darkness and the voices of his dead parents.

A small glimpse allows John to see the hand of his mother, injecting his
neck with a serum that allows her to control him like a robot. The rest of
John’s future is now out of his control and there is nothing he can do
to change that. It’s time for fate to take the wheel, or maybe this
was all part of a plan.

 

 

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The Uncontrolled: 9/18/20

 

Tracking Devices, Mind Control, and Visions of the Future

 

An action-packed adventure set against the loss of free will that comes
from a mind-control serum.

The robotic way people smile is John’s first inclination that things
are not quite as they seem in Amber City.

At the age of fourteen, everyone is “vaccinated” with a
biological implant that makes people controllable. John is supposed to get
his shot the very next day, until he and his parents find out about the
mind-controlling chip requiring his family to devise a plan to put a stop to
this once and for all, but things don’t go exactly as planned.

Along with his friend Chase, and an irrepressible girl named Hazel, the
three of them find themselves in the world of the controlled, where they
must try to escape the notice of this powerful society and its leader,
Crofar. As the trio of teenagers attempt to defeat Crofar on their own, they
stumble upon the Renegades, a formidable group of “the
uncontrolled,” led by Maximus.

Warily forming an alliance with the teenagers, the numbers are not in their
favor, and the uncontrolled are barely holding their own. Until that is,
they realize they have a secret weapon. John starts to have regular visions
of the future, which can change in interesting ways when certain variables
are adjusted.

While John has visions they can use to win the war against Crofar, things
become complicated because Crofar has visions too. With two adversaries who
can see the future, only one can outsmart the other.

The Uncontrolled is an adventurous, sci-fi book written by award-winning
teen author Zachary Astrowsky.

Available from Amazon HERE

A Holo World phone

EXCERPT

C HAPTER 1

“Everyone get up and search for Crofar now!” I watched as the veins nearly popped out of the neck of a soldier barking orders to all of the Renegades surrounding me. I had seen this man before during the battle against Crofar. His intimidating appearance made it apparent why he was selected to join the Renegades and made saving the world possible. After his voice filled the room with words dominant enough to persuade all of the soldiers around me to holster their weapons and put on their bulky and torn vests, people started to file out of the data room in order to explore deeper into the remains of the emptied base. Everyone besides Chase, Hazel, and me rummaged through gear and prepared to search for the criminal mastermind who had somehow slid through our fingers like beef juice on Taco Tuesday. Some soldiers nervously fumbled with their equipment while the rest casually geared-up. The frantic bustle reminded me of the most hectic day of my entire life, the last day of school. Like me, most students apathetically walked to the buses while others screamed as they sprinted across the entire school yard just so that they could get home faster. Although I tried fighting my controversial opinion, I was excited to see what school would be like now that the world was uncontrolled. However, that regular lifestyle would have to wait until we either found Crofar or confirmed his death.

About the Author

 Zachary is a 16-year-old high school student. His debut novel, The
Uncontrolled, was originally published in March of 2018. The book was
re-launched in September of 2020 with a new sci-fi cover. The sequel, A Holo
World, is expected to be released October 13, 2020.

Aside from writing, Zachary loved science and playing lacrosse for his
school’s varsity team and a club team.

 

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A War Apart Teaser Tuesday

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Historical Romance / 20th Century Historical Literature  

 

Date Published: November 11, 2020  

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press 

 

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Anger at her cheating husband spurs grieving war widow Rosemary Hopkins to spend an impromptu night with an overseas-bound soldier. Fearing her small hometown would discover her secret, she makes him promise to not write her. Yet, she can’t forget him.  

Eager to talk to a pretty girl before shipping out to fight the Germans, Guy Nolan impulsively implies they’re married and buys her ticket. The encounter transforms into the most memorable night of his life when he falls for a woman he will never see again.  

While Guy tries to stay alive in combat, Rosemary finds work in a secret defense plant and a possible future with another soldier. Will she choose security or passion? Can she survive another loss?   

Read an Excerpt 

I need a ticket to Kerrville, Tennessee.” Her fingers squeezed the strap of her purse. “I need to get there as soon as possible.”  

He clerk grunted but held his tongue as he pulled out a book of timetables and flipped through its pages.  

Fastest would be to route you through Chicago. Then south.”  

How long will it take?” she asked hopefully, maybe she’d misunderstood his conversation with the man in front of her.  

He looked up and eyed her over his glasses. “It’s just about forty hours to Chicago on the Zephyr. Another day or so going south.”  

That’s good. I told my mother I’d be there in three or four days.”  

Ma’am, that’s travel time. Heading east cross country, the earliest civilian tickets we have available are for next Thursday, if they haven’t already sold out.” 

‘What?” she gasped. “But you don’t understand. I have to get there.” She gripped the counter with her free hand, holding on for dear life. “I can’t stay here. I…I…” The words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t say it, yet she had to make him understand. “My husband…”  

A man pushed his way to her side, a man in a uniform. “I have orders to report to Camp Atterbury, Indiana. And she’s going home to stay with her sick mother, isn’t that right, dear?”  

Rosemary looked up into soft green eyes peering from beneath bushy brows. He nodded ever so slightly and for some odd reason she instinctively trusted him.   

About the Author


Barbara Whitaker writes historical romances with a focus on the World War II era. Originally from a small town in Tennessee, she currently calls Florida home. You can visit Barbara’s website at https://www.barbarawhitaker.com/
 

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Latch Key Kids Blitz

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Fiction, Coming of Age, Dark Humor 

 

Date Published: September 2020 

Publisher: Paragraph Line Books 

 

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Latch Key Kids, the long-awaited follow-up to Small Town Punk, chronicles the enduring impact one life can have on another.  

Resilience and the power of sibling friendship combine into a surprising, ingeniously layered comic novel about a boy inventing himself.  

In Latch Key Kids, Sheppard strips the flesh from the bone. He makes you laugh by combining searing wit with keen social observation. 

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Also by John L. Sheppard

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Small Town Punk 

Publisher: g Publishing 

Trapped in dreary Sarasota, Florida in the early 1980s—during Reagan’s “Morning in America,”—going to high school with junior fascists by day, working at Pizza Hut by night, his family a dysfunctional nightmare, 17-year old Buzz Pepper feels that nothing matters in life beyond drinking, drugs and punk rock. 

As the country around him is becoming more conservative and corporate, and adulthood seems like the ultimate corrupt existence, Buzz can only find solace within a close-knit group of fellow disillusioned teens, which includes his devoted younger sister, Sissy. As they drive around in Buzz’s beat-up van, encountering redneck cops, mocking the local “geezers,” and wondering if there is any meaning in what seems to be a meaningless world, Small Town Punk perfectly captures how it is to be young, yet feel that you have no future. 

In the tradition of Hairstyles of the Dammed and Perks of Being A Wallflower, Small Town Punk is a brutally funny and poignant coming of age story that brilliantly evokes the surging joy, confusion and rage of youth. 

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 Read an Excerpt 

Years later, Sissy would say, “You remember. Of course you remember. How could you forget?” 

No,” I’d insist. “I don’t remember that at all.” 

The summer we moved to Sarasota, one of the local news anchors shot herself live on television with a gray, little pistol. Bang, went the report, sounding like someone clapping together a pair of wood blocks. That’s the way Sissy told the story. I don’t remember any of it. 

Sissy and I were up early, she told me, eating Cocoa Puffs out of the box, dry. We paused and looked at each other, stopping mid-crunch. Sissy swallowed her mouthful of cereal and asked, “Did that just happen?” 

Did what just happen?” I asked. 

That cereal. I remember that. My teeth were sugary rough. I sucked at my molars. But the dead woman. Was there a dead woman? And why did Sissy insist on watching this woman every morning on some public affairs show called Suncoast Digest? 

Wait. I remember that part. It was because the anchor was clearly weird, for one thing. Like you knew that one day she’d do something odd on the air and if we missed it, Sissy would never forgive me. 

For another, the anchor had a recognizable accent. She was from our part of Ohio. It was like hearing the voice of home listening to Christine. Christine! That was the anchor’s name. 

The picture on the color set wiggled. It made everything orange, or maybe that was the 1970’s. Maybe the 1970’s were particularly lurid. There was this dead woman slumped over in a field of wiggling orange. There was another person screaming. A man wearing a headset ran up. He waved at the camera and then some color bars glowed. They were primary colors. Soon enough, an episode of Gentle Ben came on to replace Suncoast Digest. A boy and his pet bear. Sissy turned the dial, clunking through the channels that we could get from the antenna on the roof. She found nothing satisfying and turned off the set. 

You have so much to learn about life, little brother,” Sissy said. 

I’m your big brother,” I said. 

Sure you are.” 

But I am. I’m almost two years older.” 

Do we have any orange juice?” Sissy smiled, showing off her dimpled cheeks. Adults liked to pinch them. “Do you think she’s really dead?” 

Who?” 

My God, you’re dumb. How’d you get so dumb?” 

I don’t know. I think I got it from Dad.” 

That makes sense.” She stood up, so I stood up, too. She handed me the box of Cocoa Puffs. I rolled up the waxpaper bag inside and clicked the boxtop shut. “That weird anchor lady. You think she really shot herself?” 

I don’t know. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

She made a little fist and rapped gently on the side of my head. “Knock-knock. Anybody home?” 

Stop making fun of me.” 

You make it so easy, little brother.” She went into the kitchen and I followed her. 

About the Author 


John L Sheppard wrote Small Town Punk. He lives in Illinois.
 

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