Dinner for Two

by Drea Stein

Get this book FREE on Amazon Kindle. Don't delay.

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BLURB:

Sean and Darby love food - but is their relationship a recipe for disaster - Or a chance to make kitchen magic?

Find out in Dinner for Two, Book 1 in The Queensbay contemporary romance series

Sean Callahan was a hot shot big city chef whose high handed ways got him into trouble one too many times. Now he's in a small town hoping for another shot at the big leagues.

Darby Reese is a big city lawyer who can bake like an angel. Unfortunately, a life lived according to the law has left her burned out. So when the chance comes to run her family's deli in the small town of Queensbay, Darby's happy to take it.

But when Sean, the former chef du jour walks into her kitchen, she's definitely not prepared for sparks to fly. Will the two of them be able to find the recipe for happily ever after?

Book one in the Queensbay Series, a contemporary romance series.
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Excerpt One:

“I’m Sean Callahan.” He stuck out his hand.

She looked at it, shrugged and said. “We met already, remember?”

He did his best to keep smiling, but her hostility was wearing him down. “Yeah, about that.”

“I assume your mushrooms worked out for you?” Her tone was frostily polite as she turned and began to walk.

Surprised, he had to move quickly to keep up with her. “You know, I have plenty more,” he said, “if you need some. I didn’t mean to send you back to the store.” Friendly. If you were friendly, then someone else was supposed to be friendly back, right? Apparently, this one wasn’t going to give him an inch.

She looked at him, and he noticed that she had a small smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. “I managed to improvise.” Her tone was clipped, and it didn’t take a genius to deduce that she was pissed at him.

He ran a hand through his hair. Usually he didn’t have to work this hard to get a girl to like him. Women seemed to find him charming, at least at first. Until they got pissed off when he decided it was time to move on. Unfortunately, Darby seemed to have moved straight on to the pissed stage, without even giving him a chance. Okay, so he’d not been on his best behavior that morning, at least until he’d gotten a good look at her.

He turned on his high-wattage smile, the one that always worked, and tried his best bad-boy-turned-sorry look. “Sorry, sugar, it was a bit of a crazy morning. I hadn’t had my coffee yet. You know how that goes, right?”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Drea Stein is the author of the Queensbay contemporary romance series. She lives in rural New Jersey – yup, there really is such a thing – with her family and writes in an old barn. Visit her at www.dreastein.com or https://www.facebook.com/DreaSteinAuthor

http://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Two-Queensbay-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00HGWY6LO/

The Face Transplant

by R. Arundel

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BLURB:
Dr. Matthew MacAulay is a Facial Transplant Surgeon at a prestigious New York hospital. His friend and mentor, Tom Grabowski, dies under mysterious circumstances. Matthew is forced to investigate. He uncovers his friend’s secret. A new technique that allows perfect facial transplants. No incisions, no scars. The surgeon is able to transplant one person’s face to another with the perfect result. Tom was able to accomplish this monumental feat with the help of Alice, a supercomputer robot with almost human abilities. While trying to find the people responsible for murdering his friend Tom, Matthew realizes he is the prime suspect. Matthew must flee for his life with the help of Dr. Sarah Larsson, a colleague and reluctant helper who has a secret of her own. Alice helps them make sense of a baffling series of seemingly unrelated events. Matthew is forced to undergo a facial transplant to hide his identity and help to uncover the truth. The clues carry Matthew and Sarah around the world. Matthew stumbles onto a sinister plot of monumental proportions, the real reason Tom was murdered. This discovery leads Matthew all the way to The White House with a dramatic conclusion. Matthew never wavers in his quest for the truth and perseveres against all the odds. He must race to stop a major catastrophe, ratcheting up the excitement until the thrilling conclusion. The Face Transplant is a powerful medical suspense thriller of the first order. The novel was written by a surgeon. The novel has a realism that only a surgeon can bring. The plot weaves politics, medicine and espionage into a tightly paced, intelligent thriller. The novel crescendos page by page to a totally unexpected conclusion.


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Excerpt One:

 The poem The Beautiful Life

The Beautiful Life

Time and space are infinite. There is no beginning and no end.

Many have come before you and many will come after. You are lucky to be here.

Enjoy this moment; take pleasure.

Match your expectations to reality, if you don't, someone will be disappointed. Be willing to learn, it is the only thing that will keep you young. Take pleasure in life's endless beats, if you listen hard enough you will hear the beautiful rhythm.

Laugh always and laugh loud.

Life is full of irony, laugh when it occurs. Sometimes you will have to laugh at yourself to avoid crying. Laugh loud, laugh often.

Be satisfied with your accomplishments, your life, your career. They are yours and yours alone. No one could have done better given your circumstances, your challenges, your gifts. Be grateful. But remember, no one could have done worse given your circumstances, your challenges, your gifts. So do not become conceited. Be modest.

Understand and accept that not all people live congruently. Some are violent, treacherous, and deceitful. Pity them, they have not yet learned to live with grace. But be careful and avoid them if you can. You have every right to happiness, peace and love.

Take time to Love. Be ready for love anywhere, anytime. In the end only love endures. It cannot be diminished. Accept love wherever you find it.

Love endures.

Always be cautious of those who are too friendly or those who profess no vices. For those who seem the best friend may turn out the opposite.                                                                                Those who proclaim no vices may be the most vile.

Maintain and nurture a spiritual life.

It will sustain you when all else departs. Hold it gently, but firmly. Let each person come to their own place, in their own time, on their own terms.

Remember one day it will all come to an end. When it does, what really matters?

That you lived. That you loved. That you tried.

Above all else never forget, life is a gift.

When you receive a gift, especially an unexpected gift, you must take it gently, cherish it dearly, and use it fearlessly.

And never forget to say thanks.

R. Arundel


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Robert was born in London, United Kingdom.  His early formative years were spent in Toronto Canada.  Robert attended the University of Toronto Medical School.  After obtaining his Doctor of Medicine degree he completed surgical training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto and obtained certification from the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Robert Mounsey practices surgery in private practice in Toronto.

R. Arundel studied Film Studies at Ryerson University, after this he began writing screenplays and novels. The Face Transplant is his debut novel.

R. Arundel is married and lives in Toronto, Canada. When not writing or practicing surgery Robert can be found cycling.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Face-Transplant-R-Arundel/dp/0991979907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405768133&sr=8-1&keywords=the+face+transplant+r.+arundel

www.thefacetransplant.com

www.twitter.com/TheFaceTranspla

Have you ever decided on or forgone a trip based on a stereotypical image of your destination? Many people do. Most of their images come from television.  Years ago, I met some wonderful British folks in Orlando, Florida. They had flown in to see Disneyworld, even though I met them one sunny winter afternoon at a water park. The talkative couple admitted they were surprised how peaceful their trip had been. Especially, when they knew all about the natural disasters the States offered including hurricanes, earthquakes, and hailstorms with golf ball-sized ice pellets. Then they went on to confide their fears of race riots, traffic jams, and carjacking.  While the States offered kidnapping possibilities, they still came lured by The Magic Kingdom. There is talk about Disney building their own airport for cautious foreign visitors. As long as they were on Disney properties, nothing bad could happen to them.

Not all stereotypes are bad, just not very correct. When I made my way through Europe as a college student. Dynasty and Dallas television shows were popular abroad. Whenever I conversed with someone unfamiliar with the United States, they’d ask me  either if I lived on a big ranch like South Fork, from the Dallas show or give me a name of a friend in the US, that they expected me to know. Their image of the US swung between huge mansions filled with conniving family members to a small community where everyone knew each other.

Traveling is broadening in the aspect that it destroys your myths of what a place is like. Two people can visit the same place and have two different experiences too.  When I went to Las Vegas with my husband, I expected glamourous high rollers in tuxedoes and sequined gowns crowding the lobbies. Sunburned conference attenders, elderly people with walkers and oxygen tanks, and hundreds of Asian tourists milled around the fountains and buffets, instead.

The problem is stereotypes are easy for both television and movie producers. There isn’t a lot of background needed because the viewer mentally fills in the details. People readily accept stereotypes from previously viewed material. Travel promotions often play a part in the stereotypes too. Everyone thought a cruise was the best travel deal out there until recent news footage displaying stranded cruise liner passengers holding up SOS signs for the news helicopters. That in itself has become a bit of a stereotype too. Some people now fear going on cruises afraid, they might become a news item.

Here’s a bite-sized chunk of my stereotypes about my recent visit to California. My hairdresser told me he grew up in San Diego. This surprised me because the plainspoken man did not strike me as a fashionista. He asked me what my images were about our planned trip.

I expected glorious weather, palm trees, huge traffic jams, and tons of stars and aspiring stars lining the streets. “No stars in San Diego, that’s LA,” he explained as he colored my roots. The myth of the beautiful people died a little.

We landed in the San Diego airport, which was surprisingly small after the behemoth of the Minneapolis airport and walked outside to a gorgeous sunny day. As for the natives, they were a diverse, friendly group herding the incoming tourists in the right direction.

Missing were the plastic Barbie doll people, instead I met a wide variety of people with differing accents. Traffic was challenging, but not the massive gridlock I expected. One native explained that we’d fly out before hitting the horrendous holiday traffic jams. She also advised me what roads not to use. Overall, Californians tended to be on the helpful side, guiding us to the better deals, restaurants, and roads to travel.

I did find the San Diego area beautiful, crowded, and expensive. That would be more of a fact than a stereotype.  Traveling can be eye opening. As for the people, they were the best part.     

Wallis Simpson, the American socialite who caused the British king to abdicate his throne for love, most famous quote is, “You can never be too thin or too rich.” In a country where the average waistline is growing rapidly, losing weight is almost as desirous as winning the lottery.

My husband and I set out together to lose weight. My primary goal was to eliminate the added pounds that made my work with preschoolers diificult. There’s a lot of kneeling and squatting involved. Getting back on my feet was an ordeal. I also wanted to fit back into an entire closet of size ten clothes. 

Years ago, I chaperoned a youth theme park trip. Most of the adults walked up to a roller coaster along with the children. Out of the eight adults, only two  could fit into the narrow seats. I managed, just barely.  Nope, I had no grandiose dreams of being a size four only the ability to easily sit in a roller coaster seat without the teen attendant speculating if he could get the bar down over my girth.

This desire to lose weight existed for both my husband and I, but we only half-heartedly pursued it, especially when our gym membership produced strained muscles without any positive changes to our physiques. We blamed our inability to shed unwanted pounds on our age.  Our attitude changed with a hair appointment.  The newly slim figure of our hairdresser did it. While he trimmed off my spilt ends, he explained how he went on an Atkins program and lost fifty pounds in the last year.

Most people think of the Atkins diet has devouring endless mountains of meat. I did.  It  also includes fruits, vegetable, nuts, and dairy products. It is more notable for what it doesn’t include, sugar.  The no sugar challenge changed my grocery shopping immensely. I was no longer, a fan of processed food because it contained so much sugar even in canned vegetables and bread. Even processed meat has sugar in it.

Would you eat something that would stack the weight on, increase your dental bill, affect your mood negatively, cause wrinkles, and multiply your rate of heart attack?  Of course not, that may be why you try to avoid fast food or candy bars. A regular size yogurt has more sugar in it than a candy bar that you denied yourself in your effort to lose weight. Don't get me started on drinks.

This isn’t my opinion or even the Atkins folks; it comes from years of testing and medical professionals. CNN recently aired a video why sugar is worse than fat. Low-fat or lite products came on the market in the eighties. They replaced the fat with extra sugar actually shooting up the calorie count of low fat food. Not surprisingly, the average American’s weight shot up too. We currently have more obese children in the history of the country than ever before.   Part of the blame goes to the Standard American Diet of processed and fast food and the rest to kids too consumed with technology to go out and play. 

The movie, Killer at Large explains in detail how the obesity epidemic occurred. It is amazing how many opportunities we have to impulse eat that never existed twenty years ago. 

As for our diet, my husband and I both lost around thirty pounds each over a six-month span. My joints no longer creak or complain when I squat or kneel. I am also able to sleep better and don’t suffer the mood swings I did previously. We both have more energy and are able to golf, dance, and ride roller coasters. Most people assume we’ll go back to the old style of eating since we lost the weight we wanted.

Nope, I don’t want to make it easy for that weight to find me. Instead, we eat mindfully, aware of the origin of our food. It’s harder to find food that is sugar free, but it does exist. Check out my blog where I rate various low carb recipes and food products.  In fact, I am getting ready to do a Thanksgiving blog.

Most successful weight loss plans are a version of the Atkins diet. It is basically the same diet used on The Biggest Loser reality show. Keep in mind, those folks do five hours of exercise a day too. Don’t expect your results to be as fast, but do exercise around thirty minutes a day.

Was it hard? Was it worth it? The first two weeks were tough. Now, it is more planning than anything else. We do eat items like nachos and pizza, but we buy the mixes from a LC Foods. We even go out, but have a list of restaurant that serve healthy alternatives. Occasionally, we have a splurge, but not too much. I remember all too well the work and time that went into losing the weight. Ironically, since we’ve grown used to a diet of fresh fruits and veggies, the occasional ‘normal’ dessert is too sweet.

Who else remembers the Peanuts specials where the kids had to write an essay on what they did that summer? Charlie Brown remembered playing baseball games where they came close to winning. Many movies, cartoons, and editorials have taken on the famous summer vacation essay. I dreaded it as a kid. Never assigned it as a teacher either. It only pointed out the obvious;glorious summer was over. What did I do over my summer?

I'm glad we were able to do the two things that symbolize summer here in Indiana, the state fair and a visit to Holiday World theme park.  I hope I never lose my enjoyment of these two excursions. The highlight of my fair trip was I got to pet the baby pigs in the photo.

BLURB:

A secret she must never share. A secret that two warring species are determined to control. A universe’s future at stake.

Twenty-year-old Cassiel Winters joins Earth’s new space academy in hopes of finding her brother, one of Command’s top pilots and her only family, who’s been reported MIA. But she quickly realizes she may not be cut out for life in space, where female cadets are outnumbered, competition’s fierce, and she’s already failed her hand-to-hand combat test once.

Even the station’s most respected officer, Lt. Damian King, probably can’t help Cassiel pass the second time around – so why is he so interested in her progress? If only one of her freaky déjà vu visions would offer an answer instead of mysterious messages like hide.

When Cassiel’s manipulated into a perilous mission, she encounters a warrior species bred to protect the universe from an even greater threat. And she learns that her secret visions are at the heart of it all.

Now Cassiel must fight to control her own destiny and race to save her brother – even if it means pretending to be the pawn of Prime Or’ic, the cold-as-steel Thell’eon leader. Even if it means risking her life, facing hard truths, and making the ultimate sacrifice.

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EXCERPT
Or’ic. I can’t believe I recognize him by sight alone. I sink back as he leans onto the downcore.

“We . . . pushed you,” he says quietly. Crap, he does know I’m awake. “We would understand you better,” he adds, almost

whispering. “We would know where you are strong and where you are fragile.”

What in the Jupiter is he talking about?

“We would understand the human. And to begin, you would choose from now on.”

Choose? Choose what?

Despite my ardent desire to never move from this downcore, a propensity to survive and an incredible need to eat something gets the better of me, and I roll over and sit up.

He leans back off, giving me space. I sigh because he’s smiling in my peripheral vision. I don’t want to look at him directly. I can’t believe how hungry I am. How long was I out? Seth’s at my side scanning me.

“What do you mean I get to choose?” I ask quietly, staring at Lor’s large bare feet across the room.

“You agreed to work with us for the sake of your brother. My Kirs, we mistook your cooperation for consent.”

“You mean you think you own me!”

We glare at each other. But, but his posture is, oh, relaxed. And I’m deeply unsettled when he looks away first. He folds his arms awkwardly across his chest, muscles squished out, and then uncrosses them.

“You would understand us,” he beseeches me, hands out. He places them on the downcore, searching the room, until he spots what he’s looking for. He returns with a stool and sits on it, making him eye level with me. A first. “Our beliefs,” he starts and stops. I’ve never seen him this . . . uncertain. “Kirs spend a lifetime training and fighting Aeon. We strive to achieve a perfect Horde, knowing the likelihood is incredibly small. And still we prevail. To get the chance to have, to fight with a sift,” he corrects himself, “with you, is . . . sacred. Once given, it is understood to be a right that is earned.”

“So you think I was, what, given to you?” He rolls his eyes, frustrated. Ah, that’s more familiar.

When he focuses back on me, his eyes are different. Earnest, I think.

“Think of how you ‘fell’ into our path. ESE sent you to our ship! You! When you took my beacon portal, then I knew for certain. It was our destiny to have a sift. You belong to us!”

His vehemence scares me more than the simple deduction. Those things all happened, but not so that I could be his sift. Not even so I could help ESE get the sift (isn’t that ironic?). But so that I could save Daz! I’m certain of this. Being their sift is not my destiny. And even if I believed in that crap, I would never belong to them. Or anyone.

“I’m a human being, Or’ic!”

Grab your copy of this riveting tale.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Effect-Renegade-Heroes-Book-ebook/dp/B00MRML5TY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408478073&sr=8-1&keywords=Rose+Shababy

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-blue-effect-rose-shababy/1120028782?ean=2940046069686

iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-blue-effect/id904295984?mt=11

BLURB:  
Daniel Marten crossed the Burning Sea and convinced himself that he is the Prophesied One.  But what does that mean?  In this second installment of the Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, Daniel forges new alliances in his bid to save Naphthali from the Emperor.  He meets the Tene’breon, a magical race that has evolved to use the Weave as effortlessly as he breathes air.  The leaders of this race recognize him for what he is…but they also see something more.

            Naphthali has been dramatically altered by the rule of a new governor, a man whose power is tied to Daniel in a horrifying way.    How far will Daniel go to save Naphthali?  And what is the secret that binds his destiny with his new allies?  Only time will tell in The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Revealed.

Meet Author Ron Hartman

Tell us about yourself:  I’m a pharmacist who lives in Iowa.  I have a full-time job at a pharmacy, and a part time job directing a program at a community college that trains future pharmacy technicians.  I have a wife and three kids that I adore, and I spend my free time at soccer/football/basketball/track/choir/orchestra/jazz band/boy scout events.  I try to write at least one page per day, but as you can probably tell, I’m a little busy…


What was your first book?  My first book was The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Foretold, which came out in November of 2012.  It started Daniel Marten’s tale, a man from our world brought to a strange new one when he is involved in a car accident.  Everyone recognizes him as a savior from scars he sustained in the accident, but he has no idea what they’re talking about, and just wants to get back home to his family.  The sequel to this is Prophecy Revealed, which is why I’m here today.

Describe your first break.  I struggled with getting published for nearly two years.  I worked through probably sixty different agents and publishing houses, collecting rejection after rejection.  I finally got my break when an author in a neighboring town had a press release in my local paper about his book.  It mentioned that his publishing house was Rogue Phoenix Press, which I contacted.  They said yes!  And they’ve been great to work with ever since.  If you are in the market for a publisher, give Arlo and the gang a try.  You won’t be disappointed.


What is your favorite genre to read? To write?  I have pretty wide-ranging tastes in what I read and write, and my favorite tends to fluctuate.  Currently my favorite to read is historical fiction.  I love reading tales about the Roman legions, or Genghis Khan, and my favorite authors in this field are Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow.  My favorite to write is a little trickier…I think that genres pick me for the books I write, not the other way around, and I love the genre I’m writing in when I’m writing it.  Currently it would be a tie between fantasy, as I finish revisions on the last Prophecy Chronicles novel, and mainstream fiction, as I work on the rough draft of my next work.  It is about forgiveness, and what happens when you do, or do not, ask for or receive it.


What makes a protagonist interesting?  Internal struggle that you can relate to.  For Daniel Marten, the protagonist in The Prophecy Chronicles, his inner struggles center around missing his family and the incredible guilt he feels for all the sacrifices people have made because they believe in him.  If you give your protagonist real feelings, with real concerns, how can anyone help but be drawn to them?


What is the best thing about being a writer?  Creating something where there was nothing before.  For me it is exhilarating to put the final words to a story, to look at what you’d created and share it with the world.  I don’t love that feeling quite as much as the feeling I had when I first saw each of my children, but it’s pretty close…


What makes a protagonist interesting?  Internal struggle that you can relate to.  For Daniel Marten, the protagonist in The Prophecy Chronicles, his inner struggles center around missing his family and the incredible guilt he feels for all the sacrifices people have made because they believe in him.  If you give your protagonist real feelings, with real concerns, how can anyone help but be drawn to them?


What is the best thing about being a writer?  Creating something where there was nothing before.  For me it is exhilarating to put the final words to a story, to look at what you’d created and share it with the world.  I don’t love that feeling quite as much as the feeling I had when I first saw each of my children, but it’s pretty close…


What is the worst thing?  Putting the first words on the page!  There is nothing more daunting, even when you have a full outline to follow, than deciding how exactly to open the flood gates.  You know the entire story is there, but how do you get it started?  That is without a doubt the hardest part.



Pantser or plotter?  I’m definitely a plotter.  You don’t want to get lost.  If you’re driving without a map, that can be very dangerous!  To me when you’re driving a story, not only do you need to know where you’re going, you need to be able to get around the twists and turns on the road without wiping out.   With The Prophecy Chronicles I had kind of a loose outline, and just let the story flow.  With my newest project I’m trying out a much more focused outline.  Hopefully that will help me to streamline the process and  produce the tale faster. 

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.  As you may have guessed from the answers above, I’ve already started on another project.  Currently I’m finishing the revisions of the third and final book in The Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, which will tentatively be called Prophecy Fulfilled.  My new book is more mainstream fiction.  Since you asked for a taste, here is the rough draft of the opening sequence:

The phone rang in the middle of the night, its strident cries shrill enough to pull the man from his numb stupor.  He rolled over, ignoring the soft moan from the woman beside him, and grabbed his cell.  “’Lo?” he asked, still half asleep.

            “Sam.”  His name.  It wasn’t asked, like “Is this Sam?”  No, it was a statement, and he recognized the voice making the statement, bringing him fully awake.

            “Yeah.”  His voice was barely a whisper.

            There was silence for just a second on the other end, measured out in a digitized drone.  “Jester’s dead.”

            Blood rushed to Sam’s weathered cheeks, flushing his face.  Suddenly his own heartbeat roared louder in his ears than the drone of the cell.  His vision blurred and his hands started to shake.  “I’m comin’,” he murmured.  Numb fingers, shaking almost too badly to press the buttons, cancelled the call.

            Pretty exciting, huh?



Just for fun

Cat or dog person?  I guess I’m more of a cat person.  I prefer animals that can fend for themselves if you want to go to the Bahamas…  We have two cats, named Twinkles and Rose (my daughter named them when she was in kindergarten).

Favorite food?  My favorite food fluctuates with the seasons.  My favorite in the summer is a Blueberry Milkshake.  In the fall I like anything with pumpkin in it.  In the winter I like hearty beef stew, and in the spring I like fresh salads with grilled chicken on them.

Favorite book?  The Bible.  How can you go wrong?  It’s got every possible genre and context under the sun…

Favorite movie?  Like foods, my favorite here also fluctuates.  I’d say probably the closest to an all-time favorite would be Star Wars, but I watched that so much when I was young, and again now with my kids, that I’ve lost some of my passion for it.  My current favorites of the last couple years have been The Heat and Guardians of the Galaxy.  Both made me laugh and left me wanting more, essential for a good movie!

Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there)  The Alden Suites in St Pete’s Beach, Florida.  It is right on the gulf, with beautiful white sand beaches.  My wife and I went there once on an anniversary trip and loved it so much we took the kids back with us.  When I think of the perfect get-away, that’s it.  It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect for us!

Excerpt Four

He heard a noise and turned to see Meadow Song walking across the map room at the tower's top. He walked through the double doors to greet her and was surprised when she pulled him in close, hugging him tight. His left arm wrapped around her waist and his hand slid up her back until it cupped the base of her neck. She tilted her head up as he leaned in and their lips brushed together. Her tongue darted in his mouth, soft and sweet, and a hot rush bloomed inside him as he pressed into her, responding to her need with his own. Barely registering over his desire, a part of Daniel's mind whispered, so different from Ashley. The feel, the taste…   

He gasped and pulled away. Meadow Song looked up at him, her eyebrows raised. "What is it?" Her voice was low and husky.

Daniel hesitated before breathing, "I-I love you."

Her face lit with a soft radiance. "And I you. Why do you stop?"

Daniel's arm fell away and he stepped back. It was too easy to lose his resolve when he stood in her warm embrace. "I can't," he whispered. He closed his eyes and saw Ashley. "I may never see them again, but I can't betray them."

Meadow Song frowned before understanding dawned. "Ashley is a fortunate woman." Daniel's heart wrenched at the pain in her whisper.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Author Bio:  Ron Hartman has had a life-long passion for the written word and is an avid reader.  The Prophecy Chronicles are his first written works.  The first in the series, Prophecy Foretold, was released in October of 2012.  Prophecy Revealed is the second in the trilogy.  Ron graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in 2000 and lives in Ottumwa, Iowa with his wife and three children.

Website link: www.prophecychronicles.com

Purchase link at Rogue Phoenix Press: http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysite.com/category_v3.aspx?categoryid=96

 

Let's Meet Author A. William Benitez


Tell us about yourself:

For more than 30 years I have operated one-person businesses. Twelve years of my life were spent managing federally-assisted housing programs for local government.

I established a small publishing company to publish the books and a monthly newsletter and did consulting and public speaking on housing related topics for agencies and organizations in cities across the country. I wrote and published nine guidebooks on the subject of housing rehabilitation.

When the federal housing programs dried up I owned and operated a woodworking business for over twenty years, first in Tampa, Florida and then in Austin, Texas. During these years I began writing books about my experiences.

In 2007 I established my present publishing company, Positive Imaging, LLC. To date I have published sixteen paperback books and over a half dozen ebooks.

My computer experience dates back almost twenty years and began in response to poor technical support for our computer. I used home study to acquire A+ and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Certifications.

I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida and moved to Austin, Texas in 1986, where I now live with my wife, Barbara Frances.

What was your first book?

The first book I wrote was a guide to housing rehabilitation that I was asked to write by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. It was a detailed guide on how to operate housing programs in local communities using federal funding.


What is your favorite genre to read?

I enjoy reading mysteries but my favorite to write is business how-to. My latest book, which is about relationship, is a total departure from anything I’ve written before.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I gives me the opportunity to share things that I learned over many years with others.

What is the worst thing?

When I don’t have enough time to write because of other work that needs to be done.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking?

Since I enjoy sharing what I have learned I plan to continue writing in the how to genre.

What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.

I want to write a detailed book on how to operate a financially successful, one person, home based business. Unlike many such books I want to focus on simple methods that will attract customers and allow you to have time for enjoyment instead of having to work all the time.

Just for fun

I love to write so it’s fun but I also enjoy traveling. We recently returned from a wonderful trip to Paris.

Cat or dog person?

I don’t have a pet but I like cats.

Favorite food?

I love pizza but don’t get to eat it often any more so my favorite now is sausage of almost all kinds.

Favorite book?

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran because it had such a significant impact on my life.

Favorite movie?

Doctor Zhivago, a powerful and unforgettable epic.


Favorite vacation destination (you just have to want to go there)

We just got back from Paris and we loved the great art and enjoyed walking throughout the city. Right now it’s my favorite.


It was great getting to know about you. Now, I'm interested in the Relatonships book.

Relationship: Notes on Love, Mutual Respect, Boundaries, Marriage, and Divorce

by A. William Benitez

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BLURB:

 

When I decided to write this book on relationship, my wife Barbara was surprised and cautioned me by saying that she would not dare write such a book because it was such a varied topic with so many nuances. That scared me because she is certainly more qualified to write about relationship than I am. I hesitated for a while but then I jumped in.

I have written about relationship before but was not satisfied with the results but now, for some unknown reason, I felt ready to tackle this huge topic and feel good about this book. I don’t see myself as an expert on relationship but I definitely have a lot to share that may be helpful to others.

The book contains ten chapters including What is Love, What is A Good Relationship, Fostering and Nurturing Relationships, Harming Relationships, Mutual Respect, Boundaries, Marriage, Breakups and Divorce, Helpful Tips, Final Thoughts, plus a Preface and an Introduction.
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EXCERPT

What Is Love?

Love is essential in relationship so before writing this book I needed a clear definition of love. What is love? Asking that question of everyone you know and you would surely hear many different answers. I’m certain that would be the same if asking many writers on the topic. Clearly, coming up with a definition of love is no small task. Once you ask the question and come up with all those definitions of love, some will seem quite accurate and most will probably contain at least a kernel of truth. It would be no surprise if most individuals believed their definition was right on target and more accurate than most. Some may actually sound really good because they fit in with some of our own beliefs or feelings about love.

In spite of our feelings, and how good some of these definitions sound to us, some of them may not ring true to a few of us because love’s nuances vary so much with each individual. In spite of all our efforts, love sometimes seems to defy any single definition. That’s the reason I was so hesitant to create my own definition of love, but I felt it was absolutely necessary to refer to one clear definition of love, with which I was comfortable, to write this book.

Even though this wasn’t the first time I tried to develop a viable definition of love, it wasn’t any easier. With all my previous attempts it seemed that I always wound up describing what love isn't instead of what it is. That seemed like a much simpler task, but it just wasn’t enough to be part of this book and after several attempts I finally came up with the following definition.

Definition of Love

Love is caring for another person enough to want for her what she wants for herself, even if what she desires is not in your best interest.

With a quick read this may seem like a simple, straightforward definition that most can accept. After all, most individuals would say they want what is best for their partner. When reading carefully, it becomes obvious that it’s not that simple because it’s not solely about what you want for your partner, it’s actually about what your partner wants for herself. It can still be simple if you want what your partner wants but what if she wants something you don’t believe is best. Would you be willing to accept what she wants? If you believe she’s making a mistake, perhaps you could be convincing enough to change her mind. But what if you fail? Would you be willing to accept her choice under those circumstances? Does this definition still seem simple to you? Things could become much more complicated and your answer may affect the long-term happiness of your relationship.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I spent most of my adult life self-employed after being born into the construction business. I worked with my father and then spent more than ten years as a general contractor, building homes and commercial buildings in Tampa, Florida.

For more than twelve years, I worked as a government official running housing related programs for the City of Tampa and then operated a publishing and consulting business on housing rehabilitation. During this time, I testified on this subject before the Housing Sub Committee of the U.S. Congress.

For several years, I operated an active woodworking business in Tampa, Florida and then in Austin, Texas. My cabinets, furniture, and carvings can be found in private homes, businesses, churches, and public buildings in both cities.

In 1996, I began working for the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas and am now the IT Manager.

In 2007 I established a new writing and publishing business called Positive Imaging, LLC and now write and publish how to books.

My first marriage ended after 17 years and I remained single for 14 years before marrying Barbara. We have been married over twenty-three years and share a happy and healthy relationship. We now live in Austin, Texas.

I learned a great deal from my first marriage and other relationships. However, my years with Barbara have been my most valuable learning and growing experience and definitely the happiest years of my life.

All the information in this book is based on my first-hand experiences, a small amount of research, and discussions with other couples. I sincerely hope that you will find it of real value in your own relationships. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at:

bill@positive-imaging.com


BUY LINKS:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relationship-a-william-benitez/1120077591?ean=9780985687670

http://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Respect-Boundaries-Marriage-Divorce/dp/0985687673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409752415&sr=8-1&keywords=relationship+a.+william+benitez

http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/book/relationship-notes-on-love-mutual-respect-boundaries-marriage-and-divorce/48788268/