New bestsellers for the avid reader on your gift list

Posted on December 17, 2018 Written by
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The big day is a week away, but there’s still time to fill an e-reader with books for you or someone else. And your favorite bestselling authors have new titles for every reader’s genre of choice. Here are the latest releases. 

Action thrillers

Seek and Destroy: Eva Driscoll Thriller 2

Seek and Destroy by Alan McDermott cover

By Alan McDermott

She got away once. They can’t let it happen again.

Eva Driscoll is on the run. She has a new identity, and the best part of $2 million liberated from the CIA. Henry Langton is dead but his sinister allies are circling, and not even a presidential pardon can help Eva against an organization that operates above the White House.

With agents around the globe and no tactic off limits, Langton’s men are calling the shots. When they track down ex-CIA computer expert Farooq Naser and threaten Andrew Harvey and Tom Gray, Eva knows they will come for her next. She needs to run—and fast—but what chance does one woman have against the most powerful group in the United States, with just a few ex-spooks and a couple of mercenaries on her side?

But her pursuers should know that, even backed into a corner, Eva Driscoll is not the kind of prey to give up without a fight. But will it mean hurting those she cares for the most?

Kindle edition | Paperback

Wired Courage by Toby Neal cover

Wired Courage: Paradise Crime book 9

By Toby Neal

What would you do if your family was threatened?

Sophie just wants to settle down with her unusual family—but a powerful presence sweeps in to steal her joy. At her most vulnerable physically and emotionally, Sophie must rise up to hunt down those who would take what’s most precious to her. The boundaries of love and friendship are tested as the men in her life grapple with their roles, each trying to help—but in the end, it’s Sophie who must face the darkness from her past and vanquish it.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBookstore | Google Play

Lovely Night to Die: The Quiet Assassin

By Caleb Pirtle III

A Lovely Night to Die by Caleb Pirtle III cover

Why should she fall in love with a man she defended in court/ Does she know he’s a CIA assassin? Does she know he has orders to kill the President? Does she know she will die if he fails? What else doesn’t she know?

He has angered his chief, the one-eyed Bohemian, by refusing to kill an accountant who accidentally saw the details of a top-secret mission. Sand sees no reason why an innocent man should die. Roland Sand is a CIA assassin ordered to kill the President of the United States. If he doesn’t, his rogue chief will kill the woman he loves. He has seconds to make up his mind.

Exclusive to Kindle edition

Romantic suspense

Finding You

By D.G. Torrens

Finding You by D.G. Torrens cover

Eden Marshall catches the eye of the wealthy and mysterious bachelor, Noah Ainsworth. Noah has been hiding away in his ivory tower for far too long. He decides it’s time to start living again. Eden Marshall is his motivation—captivated by her, he begins to trust in love again. Until a dark secret from his past threatens all that he loves.

Kindle | Paperback

Mystery and suspense

Torn Roots: A Hawaiian Storm

By Scott Bury

Torn Roots by Scott Bury cover

FBI Special Agent Vanessa Storm’s first assignment in Hawai‘i takes her to Maui’s rain-soaked shore to find a kidnapped woman. Arson, foreign developers, a strident environmentalist, a taciturn geologist, a rogue Homeland Security agent and a too-chill local police lieutenant, turn a search for a missing woman into a labyrinth through Maui’s jungles that threatens to explode into an international incident.

Kindle edition | Paperback

Palm Trees & Snowflakes: Hawaiian Storm 2

By Scott Bury

Palm Trees and Snowflakes by Scott Bury cover

In Honolulu, where the palm trees are strung with lights for the holidays, FBI Special Agents Vanessa Storm and Alan Terakawa have their hands full trying to stop the deadly flow of snowflake, the newest designer drug. Time is running out to stop this lethal flood.

Amazon e-book

Fantasy

Defenders of the Realm

By Corinne O’Flynn

Defenders of the Realm cover by Lisa Maniforld and Corinne O'Flynn

War is here. There is no escape.

A witch at risk.

For Marigold, the questions keep mounting while answers remain elusive. With the drama surrounding her mother growing darker and the intrigue regarding her missing sister deepening, Marigold struggles to face reality over the lengths her family is willing to go to get what they want.

A Fae warrior in turmoil.
Navigating his new position in the King’s court should be enough to keep Eamonn busy, but he can’t stop thinking about Marigold’s illness, and her willingness to put herself in harm’s way–both of which could be deadly. He failed the king once before, he will not do it again.

The portals between the realms are broken and the Veil is under attack. The battle waged by the wolves–and their odd alliance with the witches–threatens everything the Fae hold dear.

And despite it all, the prophecy continues to unfold.

Amazon

Memoir

Freckled: A Memoir of Growing up Wild in Hawaii 

By Toby Neal

Freckled cover by Toby Neal

For fans of The Glass Castle and Educated, comes mystery author Toby Neal’s personal story of surviving a wild childhood in paradise.

Born in 1965 to hippie surfer parents who just want to ride waves, use substances, and hide from society, red-headed Toby grows up as one of only a few hundred Caucasian “haole” people on the rugged, beautiful North Shore of Kauai, Hawaii.

“I wish I could slow down time, turn every moment to honey and watch it drip by.” Told from the immersive, first-person view of a child experiencing turbulent times as they occur, Freckled will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget as Toby catches an octopus with her bare hands to feed the family, careens on her first bike down a rugged dirt trail deep in the jungle, and makes money by selling magic mushrooms to a drug dealer. Living in tents and off the land without electricity or communication with the outside world, Toby escapes into reading and imagination to deal with racial harassment and indifferent parenting.

Toby’s idealistic parents, breaking away from high achieving families, struggle with mental health and addiction issues as they try to live according to their own rules. Despite the hardship and deprivations of life on Kauai, they return again and again to an island whose hold on them is more powerful than any drug, as sensitive and resilient Toby clings to a dream of academic achievement and a “normal” life.

Publishing December 30. 

Kindle edition |iBookstore  | Nook  |  Kobo 

Non-fiction

Book Reviews for Author Success

By Barb Drozdowich

BookReview Secrets cover by Barb Drozdowich

No idea where to start to get reviews for your book? Worried about hiring a professional service or contacting blogs to get those five-star marks? Award-winning author and professional reviewer Barb Drozdowich knows reviews inside and out. As the owner of the world’s largest reviewer database, let her break down the complex and confusing world of author testimonials to help you get the feedback you need to make your book a success.

Amazon e-book

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Thursday teaser: How to Self-Publish a Book

Posted on September 6, 2018 Written by
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How to self-publish a bookBy Barb Drozdowich

Self-publishing—or Indie publishing, as it is also known—is the publishing equalizer. Gate-keepers are removed and authors can publish a book they feel has merit. Along with the removal of many of the gate-keepers, in recent years much of the stigma has also been removed. Authors who choose to publish their own work are capable of having a respectable and successful career as published authors.

So…you are interested in learning about self-publishing. Do you use the term “Self-Publishing” or “Indie-Publishing” or “Independent Publishing”? In my mind all these phrases mean the same thing.  They all refer to the act of publishing a book where you are the driver of the operation—you may ask for, and receive, help, but you make all the decisions.

I am the proud author of 15 self-published books, have sold thousands of copies and I am frequently answering questions about or dispelling myths about self-publishing. As a result, I decided to put fingers to keyboard and explain the process of self-publishing.

Why self-publishing? Really, aren’t there several books out there that deal with the subject? There are, and I’ve read most of them. Many of the books available focus on either the US or the UK or don’t specify the differences experienced by self-publishers in different countries. That is where this book is different. I will point out the differences and provide as many sources of information I can find for folks in different countries.

Is there a learning curve? 

Yes! 

I do feel the learning curve is reasonable, but in my experience, many well-meaning people scare authors off this path.

I approach the world of authors and publishing differently than most authors.  My background is in teaching science and running a technical training department. I’m a stats geek and I tend to analyze things, to study things. I don’t think things work, I know they do and why they do. I read a lot and I research a lot.  The origins for most of my books have been either a problem point that I discover or a subject that I get a lot of questions on. 

There is no one way to publish a book. 

Maybe that’s what creates confusion in many authors—the number of choices that exist. As you’ll see in this book, I view publishing as steps on a flow chart or as stops on a road map. Steps that are easily identified and described. They are all steps that the average author can carry out—perhaps with a bit of help—but they don’t require any special skill other than some patience and a little bit of stubbornness. There are a variety of choices available for most of the steps. We’ll talk about the choices available and talk about the pros and cons of each.

I think it’s important to let you know what you will learn from this book. We will start off talking about the various types of editing and how to find an editor for your project. We will talk about how to get an ISBN from whatever agency is appropriate for your country. We will talk about what all the various file formats are we will need to publish our book and how to either create them ourselves or how to find a professional formatter. We will learn all about cover graphics and how to find a graphic designer to help create the perfect cover for your book. We will learn how straightforward it is to publish a book to the various retailers where your book will be for sale. We will learn about e-readers and how straightforward they are to use. We will learn about the differences between all the retailers and learn how to get paid. Along the way, we’ll learn the meaning of all those words that published authors use that don’t seem to be part of the normal English language. We’ll learn a bunch of bits and pieces that make the whole thing much easier! And homework. I’ll be assigning homework, but it will be fun homework. Think “reading a book” kind of fun.

Lastly, I’ll give you lots and lots of help. At the end of this book, you’ll find a glossary, a list of resource articles, a list of helpful videos, an extensive list of writers’ groups and a few odds and ends of resource material that I just had to include!

Are you excited to begin? I hope so. Let’s end this introduction with a quote from a group that I will mention several times in this book—the Alliance of Independent Authors.

“What self-publishing doesn’t do is absolve us of the responsibility of learning our craft and our art.” 

~ Alliance of Independent Authors

Barb Drozdowich

is the author of 15 books, over 40 YouTube videos an online Goodreads course and an online WordPress course, all focused on helping authors and bloggers. Barb lives in the mountains of British Columbia with her family.

Learn more about Barb from her

And follow her on  Twitter @sugarbeatbc. 

 

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Thursday teaser: #excerpt from The Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing in Canada

Posted on April 19, 2018 Written by
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This week’s teaser excerpt comes from the newest author’s guide

By Barb Drozdowich

Self-publishing—or Indie publishing, as it is also known—is the publishing equalizer. Gate-keepers are removed and authors can publish a book they feel has merit. Along with the removal of many of the gate-keepers, in recent years much of the stigma has also been removed. Authors who choose to publish their own work are capable of having a respectable and successful career as published author.

So…you are interested in learning about self-publishing. Do you use the term “Self-Publishing” or “Indie-Publishing” or “Independent Publishing”? In my mind all these phrases mean the same thing.  They all refer to the act of publishing a book where you are the driver of the operation—you may ask for, and receive, help, but you make all the decisions.

I am the proud author of 15 self-published books, have sold thousands of copies and I am frequently answering questions about or dispelling myths about self-publishing. As a result, I decided to put fingers to keyboard and explain the process of self-publishing in Canada.

Why Canada? To start with, that’s where I live. My second reason is to outline the differences between self-publishing in Canada compared to other countries. There are quite a few books available that talk about self-publishing in the US or in the UK, but we Canadians have some distinct differences from other countries—advantages as well as disadvantages.

Is there a learning curve?

Yes!

I do feel the learning curve is reasonable, but in my experience, many well-meaning people scare authors off this path.

I approach the world of authors and publishing differently than most authors.  My background is in teaching science and running a technical training department. I’m a stats geek and I tend to analyze things, to study things. I don’t *think* things work, I *know* they do and *why* they do. I read a lot and I research a lot.  The origins for most of my books have been either a problem point that I discover or a subject that I get a lot of questions on.

*There is no one way to publish a book. *

Maybe that’s what creates confusion in many authors—the number of choices that exist. As you’ll see in this book, I view publishing as steps on a flow chart or as stops on a road map. Steps that are easily identified and described. They are all steps that the average author can carry out—perhaps with a bit of help—but they don’t require any special skill other than some patience and a little bit of stubbornness. There are a variety of choices available for most of the steps. We’ll talk about the choices available and talk about the pros and cons of each.

I think it’s important to let you know what you will learn from this book. We will start off talking about the various types of editing and how to find an editor for your project. We will talk about how to get a free ISBN from the government—one of the perks of being Canadian! We will talk about what all the various file formats are we will need to publish our book and how to either create them ourselves or how to find a professional formatter. We will learn all about cover graphics and how to find a graphic designer to help create the perfect cover for your book. We will learn how straightforward it is to publish a book to the various retailers where your book will be for sale. We will learn about e-readers and how straightforward they are to use. We will learn about the differences between all the retailers and learn how to get paid. Along the way, we’ll learn the meaning of all those words that published authors use that don’t seem to be part of the normal English language. We’ll learn a bunch of bits and pieces that make the whole thing much easier! And homework. I’ll be assigning homework, but it will be fun homework. Think “reading a book” kind of fun.

Lastly, I’ll give you lots and lots of help. At the end of this book, you’ll find a glossary, a list of resource articles, a list of helpful videos, an extensive list of writers groups and a few odds and ends of resource material that I just had to include!

Are you excited to begin? I hope so. Let’s end this introduction with a quote from a group that I will mention several times in this book—the Alliance of Independent Authors.

*“What self-publishing doesn’t do is absolve us of the responsibility of learning our craft and our art.” *

*~ Alliance of Independent Authors*

About The Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing in Canada

Are you under the impression that self-publishing is just to technical a task for writers to do themselves?

Is your lack of understanding holding you back from self-publishing your book?

The self-publishing world can be overwhelming if you don’t take the time to plan the steps needed to successfully publish your book. That’s where I come in. I have spent many years in the industry and accrued an impressive list of notes and references I’m happy to share to help you on this new adventure.

We’ll start at the beginning- where else? I’ll guide you through formatting, editing, getting your first ISBN, and uploading your manuscripts to the venue of your choice. There will be homework, I was once a science teacher, but it will be fun and hopefully inspirational, too.

So come along with me, and let your new journey to success begin!

An in-depth, perfect guide for every beginning author – a must read! 
~Mimi Barbour, USA Today & NY Times Bestselling Author

Get it from Amazon.

About the author

About the author

Social Media and WordPress consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught in colleges, universities and in the banking industry. More recently, she brings her 15+ years of teaching experience and a deep love of books to help authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She delights in taking technical subjects and making them understandable by the average person. She owns Bakerview Consulting and manages the popular blog, Sugarbeat’s Books, where she talks about romance novels.

She is the author of 10 books, over 30 YouTube videos and an online WordPress course, all focused on helping authors and bloggers. Barb lives in the mountains of British Columbia with her family.

She can be found on her

And follow her on  Twitter @sugarbeatbc.

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New BestSelling release: The Author’s Guide to Self-Publishing for Canadians

Posted on March 24, 2018 Written by
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By Barb Drozdowich

Are you under the impression that self-publishing is just to technical a task for writers to do themselves?

Is your lack of understanding holding you back from self-publishing your book?

The self-publishing world can be overwhelming if you don’t take the time to plan the steps needed to successfully publish your book. That’s where I come in. I have spent many years in the industry and accrued an impressive list of notes and references I’m happy to share to help you on this new adventure.

We’ll start at the beginning- where else? I’ll guide you through formatting, editing, getting your first ISBN, and uploading your manuscripts to the venue of your choice. There will be homework, I was once a science teacher, but it will be fun and hopefully inspirational, too.

So come along with me, and let your new journey to success begin!

Now available on Amazon. 

About the author

Social Media and WordPress Consultant Barb Drozdowich has taught in colleges, universities and in the banking industry. More recently, she brings her 15+ years of teaching experience and a deep love of books to help authors develop the social media platform needed to succeed in today’s fast evolving publishing world. She delights in taking technical subjects and making them understandable by the average person. She owns Bakerview Consulting and manages the popular blog, Sugarbeat’s Books, where she talks about Romance novels.

She is the author of 10 books, over 30 YouTube videos and an online WordPress course, all focused on helping authors and bloggers. Barb lives in the mountains of British Columbia with her family.

She can be found on her Author Website, Business blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Goodreads, and YouTube

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Feed your need for great reads: New books from your favourite Bestselling authors

Posted on March 1, 2018 Written by
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Your favorite BestSelling authors have been working hard to feed your hunger for great new books in every genre. Here are some of the latest releases over just the past two months to feed your need for great reading.

Non-fiction

Barb Drozdowich has updated her Complete Mailing List Toolkit for 2018, with a free video course on using MailChimp and Mailerlite. This bundle of four books provides strategies for list building and step-by-step guidelines for creating content that turns readers into lifelong fans.

Available from

Mystery, thriller and suspense

Toby Neal’s sixth Paradise Crime book, Wired Justice, hit the stands two days ago. Sophia Ang, her lovable dog Ginger and her dynamic partner Jake Dunn plunge into a new investigation to find a missing young woman—the latest in a string of disappearances.

Toby has also re-published the previous five Paradise Crime books with all new covers.

Available from

J.L. Oakley‘s Hilina Pali, her third Lei Crime Kindle World novella, brings back Auntie Bee Watanabe and her niece, ace crime reporter Wendy Watanabee. Auntie Bee receives mysterious clues pointing to an old injustice. Bee and Wendy team up with a local historian in a race against time to prevent another tragedy from happening at Hilina Pali.

Available from

Cozy mystery

In DelSheree Gladden’s third Eliza Carlisle Mystery, Instigator, Eliza finds herself in a series of embarrassing, injurious and rat-filled situations, and a murder investigation.

Available from

Fantasy

In A New Goddess, Autumn Birt ends the epic fantasy Games of Fire series with a struggle for power over the elements of magic, and over life and death on Earth.

Available from

Poetry

D.G. Torrens’ Abyss is a collection of thought-provoking poetry and prose. The words are like sutures, healing from the inside-out. Abyss takes the reader on a journey through loss, grief and rejection to healing.

Available on Amazon.

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Thursday teaser: New books from your favorite BestSelling authors

Posted on October 26, 2017 Written by
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Fall always feels like the start of a new year, a good time for new initiatives and launching new books—as well as for pumpkin spiced everything.

Your favorite BestSelling authors have been hard at work, and have a tasty selection of new books for you. Take a look, follow the links and think about which titles belong on your gift list—because the holiday season is approaching faster than you want to think.

Barb Drozdowich

The Author’s On-Line Presence: How to Find Readers

Authors: Stop wasting valuable writing time and let Barb break down dry, complex subjects into easy to learn bites without the technobabble.

Get it on

Emily Kimelman

In Sheep’s Clothing: Sydney Rye #9

Sydney Rye is missing, and the Islamic State has a mysterious new enemy. Join the ruthless Robert Maxim and Sydney’s mother in the hunt!

Get it on

Toby Neal

Wired Dark : Paradise Crime #4

Tech security specialist Sophie Ang returns to Maui to solve a series of bizarre threats against a rock star, where she’s tested by a deadly enemy out to destroy everything she loves.

Get it on

Renée Pawlish

The Damned Don’t Die: A Reed Ferguson Mystery #16

A murdered woman’s shy granddaughter hires Reed to clear her name and find the real killer. To complicate matters, romantic sparks fly between her and Cal, Reed’s computer-geek best friend.

Get it on Amazon.

Caleb Pirtle III

Lovely Night to Die: A Special Forces Operation Alpha Kindle World novella.

A deadly assassin must carry out the assignment to assassinate the President of the United States—a mission sanctioned from inside the United States government. If he doesn’t do it, the woman he loves will die.

Get it on Caleb Pirtle III’s Amazon Author page.

 

Last Deadly Lie

The chilling, fearful tale of a small town that has smoldered in the fires of jealousy and selfish greed, then is finally blown apart by lies, gossip and violent death.

Get it on Caleb Pirtle III’s Amazon Author page.

 

Coming in 2018

Toby Neal

Wired Dawn — Paradise Crime Book 5

Security specialist Sophie Ang goes off the grid on Kaua’I to save a young boy, uncovering dark secrets of the jungle as she does so. FBI Special Agent Marcella Scott straps on her Manolos and wades into help, but will they be in time?

Read more about it on the author’s website.

Emily Kimelman

Flock of Wolves — Sydney Rye Book 10

Continue the adventure with Sydney Rye and Blue.

Read more about it on the author’s website.

 

Raine Thomas

Driving Tempo — House of Archer Book 3

A New Adult contemporary rockin’ romance that follows the pulse-pounding Imperfect Harmony and Unsteady Rhythm.

Read more about this on the author’s website.

 

Alan McDermott

A new thriller that will feature readers’ favorite characters from the Tom Gray series and Trojan.

Read more about it on the author’s website.

BestSelling Reads authors are all hard at work on more books that are sure to join your favorites list. Keep coming back to this blog for new announcements about titles, release dates and free previews.

Better yet, subscribe to get these updates in your email.

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