Book Series Feature and Giveaway: ANGELA'S EPISTLES by Rita Kruger

About the series: ANGELA’S EPISTLES

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1. The Gap Year -> ***FREE*** during September

Book one in the Angela’s Epistles series.

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

I am tired of living in mother’s shadow. She is a formidable woman who paved the way for all females, no, all humans, in the judiciary by securing a seat in the Intergalactic High Court. But her success is my hell. Why, you ask? Because no-one sees me. They only see Margaret Wright’s daughter. And next to her I look weak. Unworthy. Not up to par. 

I exchange my Intergalactic Bureau of Investigations career for something less fabulous. Bounty hunting. I even consider moving to a new planet! But then I kiss Bren, my best friend. Fine, if you insist, she is my only friend. These are the first steps in growing a spine. I am kicking against everything I have known.

But is twenty-eight too late to bloom? And will I be able to withstand Margaret’s fierce attempts to pull me back into the shadows?

The year is 2053 and Angela Wright, sometimes funny, always sarcastic, kicker of ass and hunter of criminals, ventures out into space. And the cold wide world.

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2. Sins of the Fathers -> ONLY 0.99c during September

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

This is book two in Angela’s Epistles series

Angela Wright is a woman on a mission. Several missions, in fact. First she wants what we all long for: to be a person in her own right. But Angela was born to a mother who has an ego the size of Planet Earth, and she has always lived in the shadows of Margaret Wright.

Secondly, she wants to learn how to love Bren, her best friend since childhood. Bren has always had her back, no matter what. She is the only person on the planet that looks at Angela without seeing Margaret, her mother.

Thirdly, she has to catch a criminal on the Intergalactic Bureau of Investigation's Top 10 list. Nuremburg is a dangerous cop-killer.

Fourthly, Angela has to track down the man that is stalking her girlfriend.

With the help of a growing team of people, Angela sets forth to win the day. Finally, she is blooming!

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3. Dancing in the Dark -> ONLY 0.99c during September

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

This is book three of Angela’s Epistles Series.

Finally I taste success in my career as a bounty hunter. The Top Ten list of worst criminals was changing because of what I did. Having conquered this new career, I now turned my mind to new endeavours. 

Bren, my girlfriend, is still plagued by a stalker, and the police was not helping much. 

In between everything I start to read father’s journals, at last. He speaks about a betrayal. They are also filled with concern for the atrocities that was happening on Uranus. Therefore I set forth to rescue my brother from the Black Widow (Uranus). I have a brilliant scheme, a map, and just in case, a Plan B. 

But can she leave Uranus untouched? Will its darkness touch her? Will she, and the team of people who are gathering, be able to get to the stalker before he gets to Bren?

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4. Dark Eclipse -> ONLY 0.99c during September

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

This is book four in the Angela’s Epistles Series.

The attack on Bren unleashes all kinds of trouble in Angela’s life. With Bren and Angelo both in hospital, she is almost living there. Heading for a nervous breakdown, she is able to get them both in one room, with a guard outside. And an extra bed for herself.

In the middle of this she needs to find answers. What really happened on the night Bren was attacked? Where did she go? And why did she make those calls to Bren? 

No, WHO made those calls to Bren?

Prof Linden and the top students go through Bren’s case file and find some irregularities. Evidence is missing. The police investigation is going nowhere. All fingers point to the stalker being a policeman. Soon the Intergalactic Bureau of Investigation takes over. Can they find the truth?

And Margaret wants the journals her father wrote for her. She is willing to take Angela to court. 

Adulthood has a fierce bite. Can Angela hold on amidst all the twists and turns life is throwing at her?

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5. Masquerade -> ONLY 0.99c during September

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

This is book five in the Angela’s Epistles Series.

Life after the attack on Bren is hard on our relationship. Her walls are up so high I cannot reach her. But I know it’s not only the attack. I lied to her. Everything between us is tainted.

Angelo has found love! I’m happy to have my brother here. Only, he isn’t my brother, is he?

The board members of Search International is having a party. Only, it turns into the worst idea ever. I should have expected that for them. Anyway. The new target on the International Bureau of Investigation’s Top Ten list is Identity Thief. This means I have to go to the bank right after the party to ensure my money is protected properly.

And then the hunt starts.

Can Angela find a way to reach Bren in her tower of pain? How deep does the investigation into the mining atrocities in her father’s journals go? And what other secrets will he share with her? Will Margaret change her mind about wanting the journals? And can Angela find the Identity Thief before he finds her?

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6. Close Cuts -> ONLY 0.99c during September

Genre: Science-fiction action, LGBT Romance

This is book six in the Angela’s Epistles Series.

Follow the escapades of Angela, Bren and the people they love. This time Angela has to face enemies from within and without. But can she do this without the support of her lover, Bren, who had always been the rock on which she could stand?

Margaret, her mother, is still fighting her around every corner. Added to this is a trusted friend that turns into an enemy. 

The Identity Thief seems like a walk in the park in the middle of Angela's storms. But will she ever find this elusive criminal? 

What new secrets will her father's journal reveal? Can she heal the damage to her relationship with Bren before it is too late? Can she survive in a world filled with people that want to kill her?

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About Rita Kruger:

Rita Kruger recently moved to Springs, South Africa. She is granddaughter, daughter, mother, and grandmother. Most of childhood happened within the pages of books. Stories conspired to carry her away from the world she knew. The places and people books introduced her to were much more exciting than her boring existence.

She surrounds herself with what enriches her body, mind and soul. Family. Friends. Nature. Great food. Good wine. Mountains of books. She writes novels challenging major themes of her life in the genres of fantasy, science-fiction and horror, which she loves.

Connect with Rita online:

Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/Rita-Kruger-s-Readers-105850257447878/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/RitaKrugerWrite

Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rita-kruger

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17444271.Rita_Kruger

Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06XHCL14D

Webpage:https://www.ritakrugerwrites.com

Guest Post: The Writing Life by Walter Salvadore Pereira

My writing life has been a topsy-turvy one. On some days the mind is fertile and brimming with amazing ideas. You are literally flying and spoiled for options for even a complex situation. On the other hand, on a bad day progress is pedestrian and you struggle for even a simple solution.

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This is universal and not an odd case. So, how does one balance it? The way I tackle it, I spend longer spells in writing on good days and curtail it on the off days or even skip it and instead, go for long walks to rejuvenate the mind. It would be a good idea to indulge in reading on those days, which goes a long way in fertilizing the mind.

In case the knots refuse to loosen up, it is best to lay-off the writing altogether for a few days, letting the mind to recoup. Personally, I have gone through the entire gamut of emotions while writing my first book, “Bheem – The Saga of Madhavpur”. It took me a mammoth five years to complete, which includes a break of over a year when I was stuck for direction at a crucial juncture of the story. Midway, I struggled in vain to steer it in a satisfactory direction and even reached a stage where I was thinking of shelving it. But the very thought of the humongous amount of time spent on the book, brought to the fore the will to continue. I needed time to steer the mind back on track and they say time is a great healer. So, I decided to leave in on the back burner and left it there for almost a year.

In the intervening period, I hit upon the idea of a scientist being hounded by a powerful mafia gang – a protagonist, against a powerful antagonist - a formula that I had hit upon with success in all my four books. The result was my first published book titled “This Nightmare is for Real”. To me it was a great story and I naturally I dreamed that a few publishers would vie to publish it. Little did I know that the experience was going to be traumatic! The wait was long and in the end, my dreams were dashed as I received rejection letters from a few publishers, while others didn’t even bother to acknowledge.

I wasn’t going to let my book go into obscurity. That made me clutch at every straw I found. Consequently, in that gloomy period, I was easy prey for vultures with soothing words how I was getting a raw deal from the traditional publishers and how they can help publish my book! They were supporting so many new authors and the irrefutable proof the number of new authors finding their books in print. Of course, they couldn’t manage to do it entirely on their own and I would have to share the cost. Also, on the brighter side, the royalties were generous as compared to those offered by the traditional publisher and I stood every chance of recovering my cost swiftly. Much later, I came across an apt summation from an experienced author about the self-publishers: When someone receives his or her full remuneration in advance, there is nothing left to gain by putting in additional efforts!

I’ll leave the rest to your imagination, but with an earnest prayer that God forbid you tread that path laden with pain and despair, ending with utter disappointment, not to mention the loss of hard earned money.

In the intervening period, I had begun work on my fairy tale and took it to a satisfactory conclusion. Once again, began the painful process of submissions and the ensuing long wait and then the inevitable rejections. Of course, I received offers from a few self-publishing outfits, but being wiser from the first shattering experience, I politely declined. Ultimately, I decided to publish it on Amazon Kindle.

The above is by no means meant to dissuade new authors from taking to self-publishing. My intention is to caution them and if they are able to find ways to safeguard their interests, it is their call.

About the Author

After spending over 25 years in the Middle East, the author, aged 75, now leads a retired life. He lives with his wife and son in Thane, near Mumbai. He has been passionate about writing from his early days.

His first book was a fast-paced sci-fi novel titled “This Nightmare is for Real”, was self-published. That was followed by a historical fiction titled “Bheem – The Sage of Madhavpur”, again a self-publication. A third book, a fairy tale titled “The Missing Fairy Princess” which was published on Kindle Select during the first week of June 2019, while a fourth on the oft-discussed topic of cross-border terrorism titled “The Carnivore has a Heart” is slated for publication shortly thereafter again on Kindle Select.

Find Walter on social media:   Facebook  Twitter   Website

Mindfulness Guest Post Opportunity for Bloggers and Authors

I am looking for guest posts for the month of September. If you like to write about the life of an author or blogger this is an opportunity for you.

The twelfth of September is Mindfulness Awareness day and as a mindfulness practitioner, I want to help spread the word of the benefits of the practice. Mindfulness is the practice of being present and focused in the moment without judgement of yourself or others.

If you are interested in contributing a post about practicing mindfulness in your life as a writer or blogger (or both) then please keep reading.

Here are the requirements:

1. Post must be about your LIFE as a mindfulness practitioner - formally recognised or not.
2. How do you practice being mindful in your daily life - work, kids, relationships, writing, hobbies, art, crafts, household chores, spiritual practice - the works. Some emphasis is required (please) on your writing schedule. Blogging and journaling also count as writing.
3. Pick one day of the week, and tell my readers what your schedule looks like, from waking up to bedtime. Offer lessons learned, benefits gained, what works for you, what doesn't, etc.
4. If you are mindfulness meditation practitioner - please include that in your post.
5. Word count 1500 to 2000 words, minimum. You are welcome to go up to 4k, as long as the post is relevant and keeps to topic.
6. Use references if necessary, and use your own life experiences as the basis for your article.
7. No advertising, but you are encouraged to include links to your website/blog, social media profiles, etc. - max 5 links.
8. Author bio - +/- 300 words, or shorter if you prefer. A recent picture of fairly high resolution - at least 100dpi x 100dpi.
9. Deadline for submissions: 31 August 2019. Please submit your post using the email address in the graphic below. Subject: Mindfulness Post
   

   
   And that is my story for today. For more regular updates follow #TheTinyBroom on Twitter.
   
   Until next time!
   💜 Linzé
   

   

   
   
   
   

#CampNaNoWriMoWinner, tiny blog tweets, and a free book

Life can be tough in the boat of contemplation. It is where I am right now, after finishing Camp NaNo that is. The book, The Last Gryphon, still has 4 pages left to edit, but that is on my schedule for this coming week. After many years of attempting to revise (or edit) during a pressure month like Camp NaNo, I finally managed it. Rather proud of myself, I have to say.

In a recent newsletter from Buffer (a social media scheduler that I use) they mention tiny blog posts now trending on Twitter. I am not sure about the trending part, but decided to give it a go. So be on the lookout for #TheTinyBroom tweeting twice a week @LinzeBrandon.
The Big Broom (this blog 😉) with continue the good work as per usual, so no need to replace the old broom in the closet. At least not yet.

The Last Gryphon is scheduled for publication in September, but if you want a taste in the meantime, Part 1 of the story, Galen's Hope, is already available in the Journey anthology. Journey is still free until the 31st, so grab yourself a copy and get to know Galen and Richard on the start of their quest to fulfil their queen's final wish.

Until next time!
💜 Linzé

A bright star at a dreary book fair

We had another book fair yesterday, this time at a large mall to celebrate the opening of a library in the mall. Although the event for me was a letdown in terms of book sales, I did have the privilege to meet and chat to the other authors, some new and some old acquaintances which made the day seem less grey.

Linzé's table at the book fair - 8 June 2019

One particular highlight was chatting to the mother of a young writer. The girl, now fifteen, published her first book at age eleven under the guidance of her mother, who is not a writer herself.

What was of particular interest to me was the reason for that first book: bullying. The girl's mother discovered by accident that her daughter was being bullied at school. This had been unknown to her until she read the girl's journal. After taking steps to rectify the bullying, the mother then encouraged the young girl to write a book about bullying. This was the first step, and her third book is presently being edited for publication.

When the young lady joined our conversation, it became clear that this aspiring engineer had big dreams in those shiny brown eyes. While chatting about her history and future plans, I was reminded once again why I love being an indie author - the sharing and support. Usually, this happens in the form of support of a fellow author struggling with some kind of issue. This time, however, it was pure pleasure to dole out advice and support to a young author who knew what she wanted for herself.

As an engineer, writing to me started as an escape from a particularly stressful job, and yet I can no longer see myself not doing it. Twenty-five books later and the bug still bites daily.

Like many other authors in the world, writing is not my primary source of income, and I am perfectly happy with that. I also told this to the young author and her mother - writing does not have to be a job, but our stories are still something that we can share with the world purely because of our love of the written word.

If you too want to discover the powerful impact of journal writing, my latest book Reflect. Grow. Become. is available this month at 75% off. The offer is only available to the first 20 purchases.

Until next time...

💜 Linzé

  

Guest post: Telling a story by Lenard Hale

THE DEMON'S CRYSTAL is Lenard Hale's thrilling first novel - Amazon

One of the most obvious questions I get to hear from people is that, “What inspired you to write this book?” Many years back I had dreamt of telling stories. I used to refer blogs about writers, their novels, their experiences. And in one such blog there was a question. “Why you want to write a novel?” There were several radio buttons with options like, ‘You wanna get rich by writing? You want to earn living out of writing? It’s your passion of writing? You want to get some fame by becoming an author? And few other options. I still remember that I was in my 10^thgrade at that time but I knew my best answer from those options, and it was; “You have a story to tell”. Yes, I had and I wished if it really was something people would enjoy, why not write a novel and show them the power of a sci-fi imagination. That’s where the idea started floating in.

The Demon’s Crystal, a thrilling adventure is a story I felt takes the readers to a next level of adventure, to a next level that we see in movies, ha ha. Well, one of my editors had commented on my writing style and said that it is very cinematic, and which she felt great to enjoy. Being a plot-driven story, it is something that definitely makes you think, ‘so what happens next?’ I think readers would love to read it. One of the readers even said in a review that because of the antagonist, the story gets more exciting. And I think I am good in creating good and powerful antagonists and villains. Apart from that, to be honest, sometimes it could make readers think about some particular aspects in the story, but they are all connected, which you will only get to realize when you reach the end. Even after the end of first novel there are several secrets, I would say exciting secrets, which would get further revealed in the sequel and keep the readers hooked. 

So, yeah, The Demon’s Crystal would give you a thrilling experience with elements of Sci-Fi and Fantasy to enjoy with. And there’s much more to come 😉

About the Author

Puru J (writing as Lenard Hale) is a core IT guy for his day job, but he’s always been happier writing stories than writing code. Writing a novel has been on his bucket list for years; completing The Demon’s Crystal, a sci-f adventure, is that dream becoming a reality. When not absorbed in weaving new stories, Puru J can be found enjoying music, traveling to new locales, riding his bike, and spending too much time in front of his computer. 

Puru J chose to write under a pen name because he has frequently heard that a good sci-f can only be written by westerners. Though he hails from the land of Bollywood, Puru J has always had a deep love for Hollywood, as he grew up watching western films. Over time, and even though he loves India very much, his desire grew to write his own sci-f adventure story starring western protagonists and their culture. Despite westerners dominating the genre, and those around him doubting his passions for western stories, he didn’t let the naysayers stop him. He hopes readers won’t be deterred by his Indian heritage, and simply enjoy the story he wrote solely to entertain others—and not just westerners, but anyone in the world who enjoys a fun sci-fi adventure. 

Follow Lenard online

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Guest Post: Dreams by Francine Beaton

4th book in the series

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When I was younger (much younger), I wanted to be a school teacher. That’s it. Nothing else. When I left school I got a bursary to pay for my studies, but I couldn’t take it. My mother had to make a choice. She was a single parent. Either my brother or I could study and as it was the norm at the time, the man was considered to be the breadwinner so it was decided that he should study. In the end, neither of us went to university, as I turned down my bursary and got a job at the Department of Education as a clerk. Two weeks later my brother was drafted into the army.

I could’ve argued that it wasn’t fair. I got the bursary, he hadn’t. My mother only had to pay for my books and transport but I knew it wouldn’t help. It was the mindset in South Africa in the early eighties so I just had to abide by it. 

I could’ve sulked–okay, I did and some days I still do but then, how would my life had turned out? Would I ever have achieved what I did if I became a teacher as I dreamed? I don’t think so.

In a way I had achieved my goal when I became a lecturer in my early thirties. I gave software- and secretarial training to adults at a private college in Pretoria. I loved it but I was good at it so I got headhunted to work for an international organisation in Cape Town. I gave training and used my organisational skills to organise new offices in various government departments. 

I achieved my dream to become a teacher. It took longer and a roundabout way–for those living in South Africa and understand Afrikaans, you will understand the expression “I made ’n Kaapse draai”. Literally it means you take a Cape turn but figuratively speaking it means I took the long road to achieve my dream.

Dreams. Goals. Hope. This is what my newest release, Playing by the Rules,is all about. 

Ulrich Fölscher wants to play rugby for the Buffaloes and the Springboks and eventually become the best chef in town. In that order. There is no place for romance in his life. Obeying Coach Brady’s command to stay away from his daughter is easy, until he meets Samantha. She is everything he needs–warm, bubbly–and possibly, the missing ingredient he lacks to spice up his life.

Sammy is a professional athlete and she too knows the rules. But it is hard to resist Ulrich’s quiet strength, focused determination and, most of all, his delectable kisses.

Both know how to fight for what they want. But as their desire for each other intensifies, so does the pressure to make a choice. Can Ulrich and Sammy continue to play by the rules or risk it all for love?

Sammy learned that love is to make sacrifices to give the one you loved the opportunity to fulfil their dreams. But was it enough? What if Ulrich never gets his opportunity? When do you decide that you worked hard but never seem to reach your dream?

I’ve recently watched a movie on Netflix called Brampton’s Ownabout a baseball player who dreamed of being drafted into the bigger league. For 12 years he tried, waiting for the drafts but each year he missed it. When he turned thirty he thought it was time to give up. Then he got the call only to be disappointed again. What did he do? Gave up? No, when the new season starts, he was there, trying again.

The story made me realise that if you want something bad enough, you will carry on, no matter what. 

Sometimes you have to break your dream down in small chunks and take it one step at a time. Sometimes it may feel if you take one step forward and three steps back and that’s okay, as long as you take another step forward. And then another. That’s what it is all about. Don’t give up on your dreams.

About the Author

Romance author Francine Beaton published her first romance novel—a contemporary sports romance called EYE ON THE BALL—in April 2018 after she wrote her first novel in July 2016. Her latest novel, PLAYING BY THE RULES, will be the fourth in her PLAYING FOR GLORY SERIES and her twelfth novel. Francine calls Pretoria home until the travel bug bites again. She loves travelling to faraway places and considers Scotland her second home. When she’s not reading or writing about love and Happily Ever After, she’s most likely busy painting or taking photos of everything that catches her eye. During rugby season, you’ll either find her next to the pitch or in front of the television, following her favourite teams. It’s probably easy to figure out why her debut novel, Eye on the Ball, and the series,Playing for Glory, has rugby as a theme.

Follow Francine online:

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