A Note to My Future Writing Self #IWSG

I've decided to join the Insecure Writer's Support Group and today is my first post with the group. Today's prompt asks you to describe your future writing self and your future life as if you were already "living the dream." Funny thing is today is my birthday and every year I write a letter to myself for the next year. So, I guess this is a letter to myself whenever that whole "living the dream" thing happens.

I'm imagining by now I have a couple of books published that are bringing in enough income for me to live off of - or at least very close. I can't say what my future life will be like, though, in terms of who is around me or where I live. I don't tend to think like that.

I've only been published once - two poems that were featured on a website called "The Voices Project" but once the initial excitement wears off, what remains is this idea of wanting to do it again. The publishing high doesn't last long. Or maybe it lasts as long as the length of the work. Who knows. I'm imagining if somehow I've managed to make a living off of writing that the publishing high has faded quite a bit and writing is now it's more of a habit and lifestyle.

If my ideal scenario is that I am making a living off of writing than I'm imagining that if I could change anything, I want that excitement back of first publishing my work. How does one change that, though? I guess you can always try something new and maybe that's what I'd like to encourage my future self to do. Don't forget to challenge yourself along the way. Write outside that comfort zone.

Oddly that is what I'm encouraging myself to do this next year. I want to write outside of my usual comfort zone. I am hoping to challenge myself to write in at least 2 unfamiliar genres next year. I also want to challenge myself to finish a previous work that I left undone. I have a few in mind that I want to see complete.

What is your ideal writing life? What does it look like? What would you want to change about that idealized version of your writing life? Tell me in the comments.

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13 comments IWSG, On Writing, Writing

The Best Gift for the Book Lover in Your Life

This post contains an affiliate link for which I will receive a small compensation if you purchase through my link. This pays for very important things like coffee.

Can you believe the holidays are upon us? As a bookworm, I am very aware that it can often be difficult to purchase a book-related gift for someone that loves books. There's always that chance this person has read the book or already owns it or something like that. So what's the solution?

Book of the Month club.

I am absolutely excited to share with you that the Book of the Month club is the perfect gift idea for the book lover in your life! Or the coolest gift to give yourself if you want a treat.

And now through Thursday, November 28th you can get your first month for only $5! Isn't that amazing? So, what you do is sign up via this link here. You can get a free book for yourself! So give a book, get a book! And any new members can get your first box for only $5 using the code FAM5. These codes are good until the end of the year.

So go now and get that amazing gift for the well-read person in your life! Or for you!

This post contains an affiliate link for which I will receive a small compensation if you purchase through my link.

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1 comment

Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, and Crumpets with Author Holly Bell

It's Saturday everyone! Author Holly Bell will be joining us today and sharing her suggestions on this Saturday night. Before we get into her suggestions, here's a little bit about her book Amanda Cadabra and the Hidey-Hole Truth.

Asthmatic furniture restorer and covert witch Amanda Cadabra is a survivor. After all, her family’s bus went over a Cornish cliff. Now the presentable but irritating Inspector Trelawney is dogging her footsteps as he investigates the unexplained deaths. But that’s the least of her problems. Amanda has just got a furniture restoration job at the old English Manor of Sunken Madley with its murky past.

Armed only with a wand and Tempest, her grumpy reincarnated cat, she’s going in. A body, ghosts, hidden tunnels, chills and unexplained lights; can Amanda solve the mystery in time and save the village from the scandal of murder?

This book is set in England, so the language reflects how we spell and speak here (however strange!). This may be a little different from what you’re used to, especially in the US, but never fear, there’s a glossary at the back of the book if you need help.

Doesn't that sound like a fun, exciting read? Make sure you check it out on Amazon.com or add it to your GoodReads list. Now, author Holly Bell will be sharing her suggestions for an amazing Saturday night! Take it away Holly!

As I am a cozy paranormal mystery writer, these are my suggestions for snuggling up with cushions, blanket, and steaming mug of your hot drink of choice, on an autumn weekend night.

The Book

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is generally accepted as the godmother of cozy mysteries. Consequently, I'd recommend the very first book in which her village amateur sleuth, Miss Marple appears: The Murder at the Vicarage. She's a cleverly introduced character, hoving into view apparently in the background, of minor importance, until ….

Christie's first Marple is set in the quintessentially English village of St Mary Mead in 1930s. It has all of the ingredients, and indeed set the tone, of the genre that was not to emerge as a recognised form until the next century. Why has it endured as an international bestseller? Settle in and discover the magic of an entertaining, suprising and charming mystery.

The Film 

Want a break? Or once you've read the final page, smiled, and exhaled with wonderment, you'll be ready for more. So, my recommendation would be to have lined up Murder She Said. This is based on Christie's 4.50 from Paddington, starring the talented character actress Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple. Now, this was not the author's vision of her heroine. However, she was a great admirer of Rutherford's work, and the film, made in 1961, has a charm all of its own. There are three others in the Rutherford-Marple series, and you can watch them all free of charge at The Daily Motion, starting with the one suggested, https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6bycfa or on YouTube.

The Wild Card

What is the ideal accompaniment to the book and film? It surely has to be English crumpets, toasted with a generous spread of butter melting through the holes in the top, deep into the luscious centre. Failing that, Victoria Sandwich (with tea, naturally).

There you have it, the essential cozy mystery Saturday night, a trip back in time with a glorious culinary experience in the present.

Happy reading, watching and … tasting!

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11 comments Books, Saturday Night

The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later [Book Review]

Do you ever read a book at the best possible time? Recently, I had the chance to read The Unfaithful Widow Ten Years Later by Barbara Barth and it was the one thing I needed to read lately.

Before I get into my review, here's a bit about the book:

Picking up where The Unfaithful Widow ended, Ten Years Later continues the author’s journey from widow to a slightly askew woman. A memoir written with warmth and candor on being single again, aging, and finding a creative path surrounded by dogs, friends, laughter, and a bit of craziness. Barbara Barth shares stories on the adventures that followed her first year alone as she moved headfirst into a new life, listening to her heart, sometimes not so wisely, but always full speed ahead. Join her on the ride of her life, from owning an antique shop to moving to a Victorian cottage outside of Atlanta, and all the follies in between. Going into the next decade with six dogs by her side, the author proves you are only as old as you feel, and happiness begins with a grateful heart. A funny and engaging memoir for anyone who wants to be their own superhero facing life’s good and bad moments.

What I Thought

This book immediately caught my heart and attention. Barbara has such a way with words and drawing you into the moments of her life. The words "free spirit" comes to mind as I read her memoir. What inspired me after reading this book was how much Barbara wanted to help others, meet people, and bring everyone together. Reading this book made me feel like we were sitting down to coffee together and she was sharing her experiences with me. Barbara reminded me that we're never too old to follow a dream, try new things, try love, and put ourselves out there. 

If you need to be inspired, you absolutely must read Barbara's book. I promise you will finish the book refreshed, renewed, and energized.

Purchase the book now on Amazon.com

About the Author, Barbara Barth

Author, blogger, sometimes antique dealer, dog hoarder, bedazzled by life. Widowed ten years ago, Barth writes about finding a creative path back to happiness. Her recent move to a 1906 historic cottage brought many surprises, including discovering the Monroe–Walton Center for the Arts where she started the monthly Walton Writers group and is on the MWCA Board as Literary Arts Chair. Barth is a contributor to Walton Living Magazine and a former blogger for The Balancing Act, Lifetime Television’s morning show for women. Currently, she lives with six dogs, rescue dogs that rescued her.

Visit her website at https://www.barbarabarthwriter.com/, follow her on Twitter @writerwithdogs, and follow her Amazon author page.

I received the above book in exchange for my honest review.

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9 comments Book Review, Memoir

What Should I Do With All of My Notebooks

I admit this has become a slightly obsessive topic for me. This is the fourth time I've blogged about it. In case you are curious, the first time I talked about how refreshing it was. The second time I reflected on how refreshing it was. The third time I talked about this subject I was expressing concerns about whether I was right about doing this at all.

And now here I am again to talk about this.

So, cleaning out a closet recently, I noticed how many bags of notebooks I had, despite recent purging attempts. I read through some of the pages, realizing how illegible my handwriting is, and wondered about keeping these notebooks. Some of the notebooks are fairly recent and every now and then I'll sort through them and feel inspired. Yet, they are taking up closet space and I end up feeling cluttered keeping them.

I thought about stapling them into a weird paper stuffed scrapbook. That never felt right. So, there they sit.

I wonder if all writers feel like I do - not being able to let go completely, yet not sure what to do with notebooks that stack up. Even as I transition into being more of a digital writer and typing my stories, the stack of notebooks remains (and newly accumulate, much to my dismay).

Writers, what do you do with your notebooks? What can you ideas suggest to me?

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5 comments notebooks, On Writing, writer's notebook

Letting Myself Relax and Not Being On All the Time

Lately, I've been making it a habit to not be so available on my phone and email as much anymore. Whether it's emails from authors or pending projects, I realize how important it is to have "off" moments. I wonder if our gig economy has made it harder for us to relax. Or maybe it's always been hard for us.

I'll be honest it's hard to let go sometimes. I'll see an author question come in, whether for WOW! Women on Writing or for this blog, and I'll wonder if I should reply. Then I say to myself that it's okay to not be available. It's okay to have "off" time. I think that's the hard thing about doing freelance work. It's tough to let go.

So, today if this sounds like you, make sure you give yourself "clock out" time. Clock out for the day and stop checking your email. Turn off notifications for social media. Make sure you are present in your own life sometimes.

How have you stopped doing so much? Do you give yourself clock out time?

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12 comments Life Lessons, Writing

Comic Books, Godzilla, and Video Games with Author Hugh Fritz

Can you tell I am still tweaking the subject line? Another Saturday night is upon us everyone! Today I have author Hugh Fritz. I recently reviewed his book Made to be Broken. Read my review if sci-fi books intrigue you!

Now, here are author Hugh Fritz suggestions for your Saturday night!

What is your Saturday night reading suggestion?

Although comic books are not considered literature, I recommend the Immortal Iron Fist. It has the perfect balance of science fiction and fantasy. There’s a dragon, an android that
does martial arts, portals to other dimensions, and a cast of characters with unique superpowers. It seems like it should be all over the place, but the writers made it work.

What is your Saturday night movie suggestion?

Anything with Godzilla. So much has been done that you could spend years looking for Godzilla movies and barely scratch the surface. I still get suggestions from friends once in a while for a title that I’ve never heard of before.

What is your Saturday night wild card suggestion?

I relax and clear my mind with video games. The modern ones are too complicated for my taste so my go-to is the Nintendo 64. They’re challenging enough to hold my attention but not difficult enough to be
frustrating. For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than opening a beer and playing the original Super Smash Brothers.

Special thank you to author Hugh Fritz for his suggestions!

About Made to be Broken:

Flarence knows that Genies are supposed to help their masters by granting wishes, but he’s never been comfortable taking orders. To him, pummeling bad guys with magically enhanced weaponry feels like a much better way to use his powers. Darren is a gangster who wants to leave his reckless life behind so he can focus on providing for his family. Unfortunately, there are people in the neighborhood who won’t let him move on. Soleil is a humble man who tries to lead a passive lifestyle. In times of peace or times of war, he can be found cleaning his cafe or singing along with rock-’n’-roll tunes while tending to his houseplants. Darren, Soleil, and Flarence will have to work together and step outside their comfort zones when a rogue Genie and a hot-headed police officer threaten the lives of their loved ones. Flarence will be challenged to work with a criminal, Soleil will be forced to leave his sanctuary and act to help his friends, and Darren will face the possibility that being a gentle and caring family man may not be an option for him.

Made to be Broken is now available to purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.
About the Author

Hugh Fritz is a fan of monsters, mad scientists, sorcerers, and anything that involves being with incredible powers beating each other senseless. After years of writing research papers, he decided it was time to give reality a rest and let his imagination run wild. This is his first book, and it has been an illuminating experience making the transition from reader to author.

He was born in Chicago where he spent most of his life until moving to the Southwest in 2015. He finds inspiration bouncing ideas off other novelists in a critique group, but hours of television and finding the right songs to put him in the writing mood play an important role as well. He has no plans to end the Genies' adventures here, so be on the lookout for more magical mischief in the next book of the Mystic Rampage series.

Find Hugh Fritz online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HughFritz1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stories-by-Hugh-Fritz-397896477228957/

Author's Website: http://www.hughfritz.com/

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3 comments Books, Saturday Night

Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz [Review]

This is probably one of the fastest years of my life. I can't believe we're looking at the end of 2019!

Well if you are hoping to add some books to your reading list, I highly HIGHLY recommend you check out this book Made to be Broken by Hugh Fritz.

Before we get into what I thought about the book, here's the book summary:

Flarence knows that Genies are supposed to help their masters by granting wishes, but he’s never been comfortable taking orders. To him, pummeling bad guys with magically enhanced weaponry feels like a much better way to use his powers. Darren is a gangster who wants to leave his reckless life behind so he can focus on providing for his family. Unfortunately, there are people in the neighborhood who won’t let him move on. Soleil is a humble man who tries to lead a passive lifestyle. In times of peace or times of war, he can be found cleaning his cafe or singing along with rock-’n’-roll tunes while tending to his houseplants. Darren, Soleil, and Flarence will have to work together and step outside their comfort zones when a rogue Genie and a hot-headed police officer threaten the lives of their loved ones. Flarence will be challenged to work with a criminal, Soleil will be forced to leave his sanctuary and act to help his friends, and Darren will face the possibility that being a gentle and caring family man may not be an option for him.

What I Thought

Wow, this book was sure different! The book immediately drew me right from the beginning. I love books that use fantastical elements in the midst of a thriller. This was definitely not a "meandering" tale. Kind of a perfect book to read in the midst of a foggy, October day. I loved the strong characterization and the strong dialogue. This author also taught me a thing or two about writing action scenes. This ends on a cliff hanger which really makes me look forward to reading the next one. 

Made to be Broken is now available to purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and IndieBound.

About the Author

Hugh Fritz is a fan of monsters, mad scientists, sorcerers, and anything that involves being with incredible powers beating each other senseless. After years of writing research papers, he decided it was time to give reality a rest and let his imagination run wild. This is his first book, and it has been an illuminating experience making the transition from reader to author.

He was born in Chicago where he spent most of his life until moving to the Southwest in 2015. He finds inspiration bouncing ideas off other novelists in a critique group, but hours of television and finding the right songs to put him in the writing mood play an important role as well. He has no plans to end the Genies' adventures here, so be on the lookout for more magical mischief in the next book of the Mystic Rampage series.

Find Hugh Fritz online:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HughFritz1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stories-by-Hugh-Fritz-397896477228957/

Author's Website: http://www.hughfritz.com/

I received the above mentioned book in exchange for my honest review.

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4 comments Books, Science Fiction

Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone [Book Review]

I've been in such a different type of reading mood. From historical fiction and now to romance, it seems my reading tastes have changed a bit lately. Today, I am here to share with you an adorable romance novel called Love, Chocolate, and a Dog Named Al Capone by Abigail Drake.

Book Summary

Capone, the newly acquired puppy of Miss Josephine St. Clair, owner of Bartleby's Books, is a literature-loving Labrador. Obsessed with Jane Austen, and cursed with a terrible name, Capone hopes to change his doggie karma and prove he's just as much a gentleman as the heroes in his favorite books...by finding the perfect Mr. Darcy for the lonely and bookishly adorable Miss Josie.

Unfortunately, the only men Miss Josie seems to encounter aren't Darcys at all. They're Wickhams, Churchills, and Willoughbys. Even worse, there is trouble afoot. Someone has been sabotaging Miss Josie's business, and all signs point to her evil ex. Can Capone find a way to save Bartleby's Books, help Miss Josie find her true love, and earn, at long last, a name befitting a true gentleman?

What I Thought

First of all, I love the idea of the setting being a bookstore (it goes along with my daydream of owning one someday). This book is written from the perspective of the pup, Capone. He desperately wants two things 1) Miss Josie to meet her Darcy and 2) to get a new name (he's a gentleman, not a criminal, after all!). I love the fact that the pup Capone identified with being a gentleman and so desperately tried to be one, even in the midst of eating the wrong things and pooping out non-food items.

I'm not normally one for romance, but this one took me by total surprise. I LOVE the voices of each animal in the book. One scene that was my favorite is that Josie was on a date and - without revealing any fun details - a scary situation happens. Well, there was a tough acting dog there and the moment things get scary this tough dog acts frightened. It definitely made me smile to hear the dog's voice responding to the scary moment, especially one so tough-guy acting after all. The cool thing is that Capone comes to the rescue! 

Oddly, while there are Pride and Prejudice references, it isn't a requirement to be familiar with that book at all to enjoy this book. Actually, I've read Pride and Prejudice before and didn't like it and I still enjoyed this book a lot. Also one funny thing about this book is that there are definitely some bowel movement descriptions (well, it's a book written from a dog's perspective). I thought that made it funny and realistic to me.

Overall, I recommend this book so much! If you love dogs and love romance, you'll love this book. You can purchase it now on Amazon.com and add it to your GoodReads list.

Quotes

"Now I faced a moral dilemma. I knew the rules, and the right thing to do would be to decline his kind offer and go to my crate. Alone. But I heard the voice inside my head, the one always telling me to do naughty things."

"A quest could be the thing to push me into the realm of true gentleman status. The only question was where to begin?"

"Acting on instinct, I placed my head on her lap and stared up at her with my big, puppy eyes. I wanted to physically convey my sympathy to her, and it seemed to work."

About the Author

Award-winning author Abigail Drake has spent her life traveling the world and collecting stories wherever she visited. She majored in Japanese and Economics in college, and is a book hoarder, a coffee drinker, a linguistics geek, and an eternal optimist. She writes women’s fiction and young adult fiction with smart, sassy, funny heroines, and she also enjoys blogging about the adventures of her mischievous Labrador retriever, Capone.

Abigail is the winner of the prestigious 2017 Prism Award for her book Traveller, and the International Digital Award for her young adult novel, Tiger Lily. In addition, she was named a finalist in the Golden Pen, the Golden Leaf, the Dante Rossetti Book Award, and the Cygnus Award for Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction. Learn more about http://abigaildrake.com.

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10 comments Book Review, Dogs, Romance

A Writing Update and Monthly Goals

I kept meaning to do a general blog update this week, so I figured taking on the #NovemberBloggingChallenge would be a great time to do this. I think my first couple of years of blogging were the most fun and I had a great community, due in part to my involvement in Writer's Digest online community. Also, I think blogging was a bit different from 2011 - 2012. At least for me. Social media has really taken off and I wonder if that impacted the community vibe blogging once had for me.

Anyways, it was sad to hear the news of the death of a blogging buddy I once had when I first started my blog. Diane Carlise blogged over here. I really lost touch with reading other's blogs, actually, but I never forgot how wonderful the community felt when I first started.

One thing that I can say about this past year is that my creative writing has really taken off. I have been doing a lot of short story writing and submitting. I may not get published this year but I am at a great pace.

My monthly goals are wrapped up in this challenge as well as NaNoWriMo (sort of). I am attempting a half-NaNoWriMo, actually. I am hoping to complete 5 stories that are around 5,000 words each. We'll see how this goes.

You may or may not notice that my blog has a new design! I love it. It's much cleaner and feels like it's much easier to read. So, that also inspired me.

Anyways, I'd love to know what your goals are this month. Are you taking part in National Novel Writing Month? What else is challenging you? 

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3 comments Blogging, Writing Prompt

#NovemberBlogChallenge - Taking on a Month of Writing

Okay between NaNoWriMo and blogging, I think I've bitten off more than I can chew when it comes to writing this month. I thought I'd decide to give this challenge a try. Encouraged by Phyllis of VerifiedMom.com, I am signing up for 30 Days of Blogging this November.

So, for the first day of November, I am reintroducing myself. I think that's poignant considering I haven't done a personal post in a really long time.

Who Am I?

My name is Nicole Pyles and I am a blogger and writer. In case you don't know, I put together blog tours for a writing website called, WOW! Women on Writing. It's fun working with authors and getting to read books I otherwise wouldn't have read.

I start this blog in 2011 when I graduated from college and I have kept it ever since. I'm surprised it has lasted this long, to be honest! I did a lot of writing about writing when I first started the blog. It then evolved into being about creative writing. And now I do a lot of blogging about authors and books I've read. I lost a bit of the community I had with blogging so this is why I wanted to join this challenge and hopefully gain some new readers.

One interesting thing to me is that over the last few years I became closer to the Lord and really began a more serious walk with Him. I don't blog about my Christian faith a lot, though, although maybe that can change. Who knows?

So, what comes next? I have for you the beautifully made button featuring the challenge:

Happy writing!

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2 comments Blog Hop, Blogging Goals, On Writing

A Saturday Evening with Author Steven Max Russo (And Giveaway!)

Happy Saturday night everyone! I'm excited to invite back Steven Max Russo to my blog again and he is our Saturday night host. Before I share his suggestions for Saturday night, I'd like to tell you a little bit about his newest book, The Dead Don't Sleep.

About the Book:

Frank Thompson, a recent widower and aging Vietnam veteran is down from Maine visiting his nephew, Bill, and his family in New Jersey.

While at a trap range, he and his nephew have a chance encounter with a strange man who claims to remember Frank from the war.

That night, the windows in Bill’s home are shattered along with the quiet peaceful lives the two men had been living.

Three veterans from a special combat unit directed by the CIA during the Vietnam War have gathered to discuss what they are going to do about a man they claim killed one of their own over forty years ago.

Jasper, Birdie and Pogo were part of a team that called themselves the National League All Stars. They were a squad of psychopathic killers trained by Special Forces to cause death and mayhem during the war. Now, they have banded together to hunt down and kill the professional soldier who led them all those years ago.

Drawing on his military training and a resurgent bloodlust from his tortured past, Frank prepares for a final, violent reckoning that will bring him full circle with the war that never left him.

Be sure to add it to your GoodReads list. 

Now, onto author Steven Max Russo's Saturday night suggestion!

What is your Saturday night reading suggestion?

Hey, it’s the weekend! Let’s have a little excitement! How about we read Jordan Harper’s She Rides Shotgun, a rollercoaster of a novel about a young girl, her outlaw father, and their struggle to stay alive after a white supremacist prison gang has put a bounty on both their lives.

A father’s love for his child, along with sex, violence, murder, and non-stop mayhem drive this story. Not for the faint of heart!

Perfect with a glass of wine or perhaps a nice craft IPA.

Wait, what am I saying?

No, let’s wash down this gritty prose with shot of cheap whisky in a dirty glass!

What is your Saturday night movie suggestion?

Don’t want to read? How about we get our adrenaline rush watching an oldie but goodie, a Robert Ludlum book brought to the screen with Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in the Bourne Identity.

An amnesiac government operative trying to remember who he is – and what he is. An elite assassin programmed to kill without mercy, on the run from the black ops government agency that recruited and then brainwashed him in the first place – while both using and protecting a young woman who is slowly helping him regain some of his memory.

What is your Saturday night wild card suggestion?

What’s that?

Childish? Immature? Selfish?

No, no, I was only kidding about all that. What I meant was how about we forget the book and the movie and instead go out for a nice, romantic dinner, just the two of us.

I’ll get a bottle of wine, and you my love, can pick out any restaurant your heart desires.

Yes, of course, I was planning on leaving my phone with the ESPN app at home.

About Steven Max Russo

Steve has spent the majority of his professional career as an advertising copywriter and agency owner. He got interested in writing fiction after one of his short stories was accepted by an online literary journal in 2013.

Then he caught the bug and began writing seriously. The publication of his first novel, Thieves, has garnered praise from
renowned crime and thriller authors from around the globe. With a gritty writing style and a unique voice, he is quickly winning a legion of new fans.

Steve’s second novel, The Dead Don’t Sleep, is slated for release
in November of 2019. Steve is proud to call New Jersey

his home.

Be sure to check out his website http://www.stevenmaxrussobooks.com.

I am also excited to announce that I get to giveaway a copy of his book Thieves. (You can read my interview with the author here!) 

About the Book Thieves (purchase your copy here if you can't wait for the giveaway!)

Esmeralda works for a housecleaning service during the day and as a restaurant hostess at night. Just out of high school, she is the sole support for her mother and two young siblings.

She has drive and ambition. What she doesn't have is money.

She knows of a home in the upscale town of Mendham, NJ, that will be empty for more than a month. The rich people who live there go away the same time every year to spend time at their vacation home. Having cleaned the house, she also knows it contains a fair amount of cash and valuables.

Sitting with Ray, one of her co-workers one night, she casually mentions a "what if" scenario; Ray tells Skooley, a white trash drifter who recently moved to New Jersey from South Florida, and a plan is hatched.

It isn't long before Esmeralda finds herself trapped by both circumstance and greed, forced to try and defend herself against one of her partners in crime, who she quickly discovers is far more dangerous than she ever thought possible.

Enter via Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends November 15th. US Only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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13 comments giveaway, Steven Max Russo

Should Books Contain Trigger Warnings?

This week over at the WOW! Women on Writing blog I discussed the need for trigger warnings in books. All of this came about because of a recent book review I read where someone had been reading a Stephen King book and desired a trigger warning for some of the content.

After googling some conversations and articles online about this subject, I find it isn't as clear cut as you might think. Trigger warnings can be a respectful tool to help those with PTSD. However, what complicates it is, one person's trigger may not seem as obvious as you might think.

So, I'd love for you to read the blog post and come back and tell me what you think! Read it here.

Do you think books should contain trigger warnings? 

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4 comments Books, On Writing, Reading, Trigger Warnings