Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I’ve often thought about this scenario. On one hand I’d love to be famous. It

would be nice to live day-to-day without worrying about whether I’ll be able to

pay the bills this month and put food on the table for my children. It’d also be

nice to receive recognition for the accomplishments that made me famous. On

the other hand, I’m a very private person and love having my space. I couldn’t

deal with the pressure of being in the spotlight, having people follow my every

move, or always being judged. I guess the real question I’d have to ask myself is

would I be willing to give up my privacy in order to support my family. The

answer to that question is absolutely.

Before making a telephone call, do you rehearse what you are going to say?

I’m terrible on the phone. I have a slight phobia of talking to people that I don’t

know and so when I’m put in a situation that requires me to talk, whether in

person or on the phone, I become a stuttering mess. So yes, I rehearse what I

want to say so that I can go into the conversation with a plan but it usually never

goes the way I want it to. I’d prefer to text or email any day.

If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it

be?

That’s a hard question! I guess if I had to pick one thing to change it would be

that I wish I had grown up around family. We moved around a lot when I was a

kid and so I was only able to see some family members on special occasions like

holidays. The older I got, the less family came around and we hardly had the

chance to go visit them since they all live out of state. As time passes, bonds

become weaker and so I only have a couple of extended relatives that visit

occasionally.

What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

My greatest accomplishment by far is giving birth to two beautiful, healthy

daughters. No doubt about it.

What projects are you working on now?

I’m half done writing a paranormal thriller titled The Stager. I’m really excited

about it and hope to have it done soon. I started it a couple years ago but had to

put it aside. I also have book two in the Juniper Grove Chronicles started but it

will likely be awhile before I’m able to get back to it. I’m not the type of writer

who can write multiple books a year. I wish I were though.

Is there anything else that you would like to add?

I’d love to let readers know about an exciting new program that I offer. It is the

JGBS Review Library and readers can receive a free review copy of the books we

have listed in exchange for posting their honest review to Amazon. Each and

every review, whether positive or negative, help authors and so I want to try

everything I can to help my fellow authors succeed. So if any readers would like

to show their support for authors, please stop by the JGBS Review Library at

http://junipergrovebooksolutions.com/review-library/

Juniper Grove Book Solutions

Title: Destiny Awaits

Series: Juniper Grove Chronicles Book 1

Author: Jaidis Shaw

Published: July 18th, 2014

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly

Publishing

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Awards: 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Award

Finalist – YA Paranormal

Synopsis:

She wants a normal life. They want her dead.

Destiny has other plans.

Twenty-year-old Alayna Scott receives visions

around water, but even her foresight couldn’t

prepare her for the tragic accident that claimed the

lives of her parents. With everything she loves

gone, Alayna packs up and moves to the small

town of Juniper Grove in hopes of starting over.

Jayden McKnight can’t explain the attraction that he feels whenever Alayna is near, but he does

know that he will do whatever it takes to win her heart. When a vampire selects Alayna as his

next victim, Jayden will stop at nothing to ensure her safety – even if that means bringing

Alayna into a world that she never knew existed.

Love blossoms, challenges are made, and Alayna will find herself fighting not only to survive,

but to understand what she has become.

Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DestinyAwaits

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destiny-awaits-jaidis-

shaw/1111216925?ean=9781500769048

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22607031-destiny-awaits

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jaidis-Shaw/e/B0070OE758

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJaidisShaw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaidisShaw

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5556095.Jaidis_Shaw

Blog: http://www.junipergrove.net/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jaidisshaw/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jaidisshaw

Juniper Grove Book Solutions: http://junipergrovebooksolutions.com/

Excerpt:

Sunlight caught the crystal that hung from the rear view mirror, and rainbow bursts of color

radiated throughout the car. My parents and I had gotten up early so that we could make the three

hour drive to my uncle’s house, but from the line of backed up traffic in front of us, it seemed

that it would take us longer. I leaned back in my seat and let the music blaring in my earbuds

help pass the time. My mother turned in her seat in the front, and I glanced at her. Seeing her

mouth my name, I pulled one side of the earbuds out of my ear.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“I asked if you were hungry,” she replied. “Your father thinks that we should get off the

interstate at the next exit and grab something to eat while the traffic clears up.”

“Sure, that’s fine with me. It’s a good idea, anyway, since Uncle John turned vegetarian. There’s

no telling what he’s going to try to get us to eat.”

My father’s hearty laugh rumbled through the car. “Do you remember that rolled up spinach

thing he tried to feed us last time?”

“How could I forget?” I said.

Mom sprung to her brother’s defense. “It wasn’t so bad.”

“Then how come you didn’t eat it? I saw you slip it to the dog when you thought nobody was

watching.” My father glanced at my mother while she tried to come up with a retort.

“If you saw that, then it’s obvious that I wasn’t sneaky enough.” She crossed her arms over her

chest and stared out the window.

My dad laughed as he flipped on the turn signal and merged into the right lane, coming to a stop

behind a logging truck. I looked at the long logs protruding from the flatbed. “It always makes

me nervous when they hang off like that,” I said. A shiver raced over my body.

“It’s okay. They make sure to load them on so that they won’t come off,” my dad reassured me.

I opened my mouth to reply but stopped when I heard a screech of tires behind us. Turning my

head, I locked eyes with the man in the driver’s seat of the truck that was hurtling toward us. The

truck slammed into the back of our car, and my mother’s scream echoed in the tight space around

me. A shower of white stars filled my vision as pain ripped through my shoulder and cut off my

own scream. As the darkness closed in around me, I heard the faint shrill of sirens in the

distance.

October 22, 2015

Tell us where you are from and a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and wrote my first short story in grammar school. It was about a

boy whose toy tin truck was given to the government in a metal drive during WWII that eventually

became part of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the first atom bomb. A ten-year-old thinking

about nuclear holocaust? I was a weird kid. I didn’t write another story until I was in college. A SyFy work

written in the style of the Golden Age of Scientific Fiction writers. Then, about twenty years ago, I

started writing fiction. I should have kept writing at ten.

What was hardest part of creating this work?

In a way, MURRAN as a story has been blessed. Once I finished my research and started writing, the

story told itself.

What was your inspiration for writing this work?

Many years ago, back in the 80s, and based on some of my experiences growing up in Brooklyn, I was

aware of gang members. On the streets you had no choice. Those young teens saw themselves as

‘warriors’ – bad asses, having to prove themselves. As a writer, I thought what if one of the teens in the

gang really wanted to prove his courage. Really show he was a ‘warrior’. Like hunting a bear with

nothing but a knife. But I thought, that wouldn’t work. No bears in Brooklyn unless you break into the

Brooklyn Zoo. I didn’t know where to go with that at the time so the idea just sat in the back of my head.

A decade or so later, I went on African Safari and learned about the Maasai tribe and of their ‘rite of

passage’ to manhood by killing a lion.  Hey! I thought. What if the gang member tried to hunt and kill a

lion? But there were no lions in Brooklyn and that’s when I realized that if the gang member was an

African-American, I could figure a way for him to get to Africa and kill his lion to become a warrior.  The

story of MURRAN just fell into place after that.

Of all the ethnic cultures you could have used, why did you select the black culture?

The story of MURRAN led me there: To make my main character an African-American. But it also gave

me a vehicle to pursue an alienation theme. If any ethnic group in our country has been alienated the

most, it’s the Africa-Americans because of the manner that they arrived to America. When asked what

tribe are you from of an African-American – there is no answer. But almost every other ethnic and

European culture in our society can point to a ‘tribe’ they came from. MURRAN gives me the

opportunity to provide a way for the threatened culture of the Maasai tribe – a proud and brave culture

with a strong rite of passage for their youth – to be introduced and hopefully embraced by today’s

African-Americans who seem to want to live a true African culture.

It seems that you didn’t let much hold you back when adding descriptive backdrop to the story – could

you share some of the personal history you have and added while writing?

I wanted the book to be real. Gritty. Raw. The characters and their experiences, and the locals are

composites from real biographies or autobiographies of gang and Maasai life.  The backdrop of the story

comes from my personal experiences of growing up in Brooklyn combined with a large amount of

research on the Maasai.

We know that you wrote this work with a purpose – in your own words – what did you want to convey

to the readers?

I wanted to show that Black America once had a true unique culture that was abandoned in the mid 20th

century for what they claim is an African-American culture today.  African Americans had a unique Black

culture called the Black Renaissance and it took place in the early part of the 20th century. A Renaissance

steeped in values and a culture unique to Blacks. The music, literature, way of life and culture were a big

draw to the ‘swells’ in Manhattan. Drawing them to Harlem at night to enjoy it. I learned about this era

of Black culture from a book by Tony Brown – part of my research for MURRAN – and how the core

fabric of the black community was torn apart. I myself experienced some of the fragments of the Black

Renaissance as a youth while going to night school at CCNY in Harlem.

Do you worry that you may be called a racist for your remarks in the book?

Any racist views – supposed or otherwise – held in the book come from my characters own life

experiences. The Grandmother speaks of the Black Renaissance from her personal experience of the

times and how it shaped her opinion of the next generation of Blacks calling themselves African-

American.  Matumbo, as a true African, comes to America to study and can’t understand the attempt of

Blacks Americans calling themselves African.  The characters use the ‘N’ word. I personally do not, and

find it demeaning. In the book, it is only the Black characters that use the derogatory language – not the

whites in the story.

Still, you claim that the values held by the Black community in your book are not racist.

The values proposed in the book for today’s black community are those of the Maasai. Trey learns of

these values and sees how the Maasai community successfully works while his Black community does

not. When Trey asks why, he is told that the Maasai practice the 3 Rs. Trey replied “Readin, writin, and

rithmatic?” “Hardly” was the response he was given. The Maasai culture’s core values are Respect for

one’s self and others, Responsibility for one’s actions and their community, and the celebration of

Ritual. Is there anything racist about those values?

As a white male, did you think it might be thought of as strange writing a story about a culture you are

not a part of and can only empathize?

Let’s take an old saying about writing that goes: Write what you know.  I disagree with that.  You write

what you CAN know. I put a ton of research into my stories – then – I find a story polisher who has

experience in the subject matter and have them check my research and add dimensions to the story. As

for Africa and the Maasai, it’s research but also my personal experience of traveling to Africa several

times.

How do you feel about your work of fiction addressing such strong moral issues?

Currently we are living in a time of deep political and cultural divides. I feel we need creative works that

hold up a mirror to those divides and propose solutions. I also believe that we need to understand and

engage on this African proverb with our youth of any color or race: “If we don’t initiate the young, they

will burn down the village to feel the heat.” Gang membership is NOT a rite of passage nor is being able

to score high in ‘Grand Theft Auto’.  As the grandmother and old Maasai shaman in MURRAN say ,

“What African-Americans need today is a revival – not a rebellion.”

How has this work impacted your life?

Murran gave me a way to explore my own alienation I experienced in my late 20s. At that time I had to

radically re-align my social and political positions that I was taught. It was during the 60s. I more or less

self-medicated myself by reading everything I could on alienation and came to realize I still had core

values I could build from. My books are, in one form or another, are a way of exploring that theme.

Do you foresee more work like this in your future or will you be moving in a different direction for your

next piece?

I am going to stay with the theme of alienation in my next book – a coming of age story of an alienated

American boy growing up against the backdrop of Japan in WWII. It’s called ‘iJin’ which means alien or

outcast. After that, I have an historical ‘WHAT IF’ thriller to write.

What does it mean to be a best-selling author?

A following: Not so much for the money – though that would be nice – but to know people enjoy what I

create and want to read more. Let’s face it. Every creative person is somewhat of a narcissist. We want

to be liked and that our creations are appreciated.

MURRAN synopsis

All Trey wants is power—power over his life, power over his community, and power

over the streets.

His father dead and his mother a drug addict, Trey and his sister Nichelle go to live with

their grandmother in Brooklyn. Surrounded by inner-city crime and conflicting ideologies, Trey

seeks security and recognition by becoming a member of a small street crew.

After being enticed into helping a larger, violent gang and framed for a crime he didn’t

commit, Trey flees to a Maasai village in Kenya with his English teacher and mentor, Mr.

Jackson. Though initially repulsed by the customs of the tribe, Trey slowly comes to value the

traditions and morals of the Masaai and understand what Black African culture truly is. Only

after battling lions, disapproving Maasai elders, and his own fears does Trey begin to understand

what true power and manhood mean and what he must do to achieve them.

Honest and unafraid, Murran is a tale of a young African-American teen coming of age

amidst the pitfalls and threats of 1980s Brooklyn, all the while learning to be the man and leader

his community needs.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

~Blog Tour & Giveaway~ Basking in the Light by Saylor Storm

Title:  Basking in the Light

Author:   Saylor Storm

Published:  October 6th, 2015

Recommended Age:  18+

Synopsis:  Ambitious budding reporter, Ellen Singer, grows weary of being alone and pursues a partner through an online dating site; it turns out to be the worst decision of her life. Courted by a handsome, successful author, she is abducted and held captive by his murderous younger brother on a remote island. Ellen fights for her health and sanity while in captivity. She is forced to witness monstrous acts by her captor all the while dependent on him for her survival. Ultimately she is saved by seasoned FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, and rushed to the hospital in a fight for her life. Family and friends stand by hoping for Ellen’s complete recovery. The young reporter pulls through only to struggle with the psychological aftermath of her abduction. Is tenacious Ellen capable of returning to her former self or is she forever altered by her horrific experience? And, what part, if any, does Arnie Darrow play in her recovery?

Two-4-One BONUS – During the blog tour – Purchase Basking in the Light, and receive the novellaReclamation FREE … After purchase send Saylor an email at Saylor@SaylorStorm.com  And Saylor will respond with your bonus book.

In Basking in the Light, aspiring reporter, Ellen Singer, survives being captured and held hostage by serial killers for months. Reclamation takes us where Basking in the Light left off; where Ellen is left with the arduous task of rebuilding her life both physically and mentally. With devoted FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, by her side she is able to overcome her many obstacles and in the end he proclaims his deep love for the woman he has grown to admire and revere. Does Ellen reciprocate his feelings, or has her ordeal left her emotionally incapable of returning Arnie’s love?

About the Author:

Reality becomes fantasy, or is it that imagination turns into real life experience? Saylor Storm is fascinated by how frequently the line between reality and fantasy crosses in her writing practice. She feels that writing novels is an astonishing way to play with something from real life and turning into something fun or playful and sometimes a bit twisted. Her characters all experience real life joy and pain, reinvention, survival and victory. They share the process of evolution and expansion. The places in her stories take place where she has lived or visited, from the beaches of Malibu to the islands in Fiji and destinations in between, including the monastery in one of her novels. Saylor’s stories reflect her many personal interests including fitness, wine, healthy foods. She’s intrigued by the spiritual world and that of metaphysics. She hopes the reader is as entertained reading her books as she is writing them. One of Saylor’s many passions is hiking. Readers can enjoy fabulous photos of her treks posted on her Facebook page, author Saylor Storm. She loves hearing from her readers.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Basking in the Light: Excerpt Chapter 6

A boy’s view of the world is affected by what the mother has demonstrated.

Jonny meticulously swept his tiny cabin. The sand was a constant problem. Living on the beach had its benefits, but Jonny had no patience for the daily task. He grumbled under his breath as he opened the front door and pushed the sand back outside with his broom.

He had a daily routine and did not like to alter from it. After sweeping, he took a long walk to town. Jonny wore the same outfit every day: a beige shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of well-worn jeans, and a grey vest. On his feet was a pair of Keen sandals. His long hair, tousled with curls, bounced slightly as he walked. With determination he walked directly to his favorite spot with his treasured cooler in tow.

As odd as Jonny was, the townspeople were used to him and his daily walks to the local coffee shop, where he sat every day, talking to himself and ordering nothing. People ignored him and found him to be harmless.

Jonny returned to his small cabin, before dark, where he would prepare a simple meal and go to bed early. This day there was an interruption in his routine. When he returned to the cabin, he had a visitor.

“Where have you been?” Jim wanted to know.

“I t-took a w-walk, like I always d-do, so w-what?”

“You didn’t talk to anyone, did you?”

“No, I n-never t-talk to anyone. Just like you t-told me. Why are y-you here?”

“I have a surprise for you. I told you that I found her; she’s here, in the car. Come help me get her out of the car.”

“D-do I get to k-keep her?”

“Yes, but you have to keep it a secret.”

“I will! I promise!”

Jonny followed his older brother to the blue sedan in the driveway. Jim popped the trunk. Jonny could make out a woman wearing a white blouse and red shorts. She was tied with rope and tape and was passed out cold.

“She is p-perfect! Why is she s-sleeping?”

“I had to drug her. Help me get her inside.”

The men each carried an end of the body. Jim was at least a foot taller than his younger brother. They placed her on the bed. Jim returned to the car and retrieved a small duffle bag.

“W-what are you g-going to d-do with that?” Jonny asked.

“Just watch.”

Jim pulled an old wooden rocking chair to the center of the room and chained it to a hook he had screwed in to the ceiling.

“Help me get her in the chair,” Jim instructed.

The two men placed her in the chair and cut loose the rope and tape. Jim re-taped Ellen’s ankles and wrists together, then placed a heavy chain over the tape and secured it to a hook that he had screwed in to the floor.

“This should hold her.”

“W-what d-do I d-do if she w-wakes up?”

“She can scream all she wants to, no one will hear her out here. She’s yours; you can do whatever you want with her. I’ll be back tomorrow with food and supplies.”

Jonny smiled at his big brother, “Thank you, J-Jim, she’s p-perfect.”

Giveaway 1: Signed print copies of Basking in the Light by Saylor Storm

Giveaway 2: Freshwater Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set

Listen to author Saylor Storm as she discusses her new release, Basking in the Light!

View the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/78PJ1tYFQwY

Title: Basking in the Light
Author: Saylor Storm
Published: October 6th, 2015
Recommended Age: 18+
Synopsis: Ambitious budding reporter, Ellen Singer, grows weary of being alone and pursues a partner through an online dating site; it turns out to be the worst decision of her life. Courted by a handsome, successful author, she is abducted and held captive by his murderous younger brother on a remote island. Ellen fights for her health and sanity while in captivity. She is forced to witness monstrous acts by her captor all the while dependent on him for her survival. Ultimately she is saved by seasoned FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, and rushed to the hospital in a fight for her life. Family and friends stand by hoping for Ellen’s complete recovery. The young reporter pulls through only to struggle with the psychological aftermath of her abduction. Is tenacious Ellen capable of returning to her former self or is she forever altered by her horrific experience? And, what part, if any, does Arnie Darrow play in her recovery?
photo reclamation.jpg

Two-4-One BONUS – During the blog tour – Purchase Basking in the Light, and receive the novella Reclamation FREE … After purchase send Saylor an email at Saylor@SaylorStorm.com And Saylor will respond with your bonus book.

In Basking in the Light, aspiring reporter, Ellen Singer, survives being captured and held hostage by serial killers for months. Reclamation takes us where Basking in the Light left off; where Ellen is left with the arduous task of rebuilding her life both physically and mentally. With devoted FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, by her side she is able to overcome her many obstacles and in the end he proclaims his deep love for the woman he has grown to admire and revere. Does Ellen reciprocate his feelings, or has her ordeal left her emotionally incapable of returning Arnie’s love?
photo Saylor-Storm.jpgAbout the Author:

Reality becomes fantasy, or is it that imagination turns into real life experience? Saylor Storm is fascinated by how frequently the line between reality and fantasy crosses in her writing practice. She feels that writing novels is an astonishing way to play with something from real life and turning into something fun or playful and sometimes a bit twisted. Her characters all experience real life joy and pain, reinvention, survival and victory. They share the process of evolution and expansion. The places in her stories take place where she has lived or visited, from the beaches of Malibu to the islands in Fiji and destinations in between, including the monastery in one of her novels. Saylor’s stories reflect her many personal interests including fitness, wine, healthy foods. She’s intrigued by the spiritual world and that of metaphysics. She hopes the reader is as entertained reading her books as she is writing them. One of Saylor’s many passions is hiking. Readers can enjoy fabulous photos of her treks posted on her Facebook page, author Saylor Storm. She loves hearing from her readers.
Interview with Saylor:

How did you start your writing career?

One day I was sitting in a divorce attorney’s conference room waiting for an initial consultation. My mind started to wander and I suddenly felt like a character in a romance novel. Several months later I was hiking and the rest of the story played out in my head. I wrote that story and have never stopped churning out one book after another.

Tell us about your favorite character from a book.

I’ve always loved Travis McGee from the John D. MacDonald books. A little rough and rugged, I think he subconsciously has inspired my FBI agent character, Arnie Darrow.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

I’ve always wanted to go to the Seychelle Islands. They seem so remote and exotic.

Tell us about your current release.

Basking in the Light is about a young reporter who decides to try online dating and it turns out to be the worst decision of her life! She is held captive for months by a serial killer in a small, dark cabin while chained to a rocking chair. The FBI gets involved and it becomes a race against time to save her.

Tell us bout your next release.

We are planning a second love trivia book with an emphasis on the science of kissing for a Valentine’s Day release.

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

My father has been my inspiration to me. He always wanted to write a book and did so quite late in life. He never had the opportunity to promote the book; something that he would have enjoyed. He also worked on his memoirs, but they were incomplete. I am working on finishing the memoirs for him.

What was the hardest part about writing Basking in the Light?

Trying to accurately describe dismembering a body!

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing this book?

How serial killers end up the way that they do. When you see the big picture, their behavior actually makes a lot of sense.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website
Basking in the Light: Excerpt Chapter 6

A boy’s view of the world is affected by what the mother has demonstrated.

Jonny meticulously swept his tiny cabin. The sand was a constant problem. Living on the beach had its benefits, but Jonny had no patience for the daily task. He grumbled under his breath as he opened the front door and pushed the sand back outside with his broom.
He had a daily routine and did not like to alter from it. After sweeping, he took a long walk to town. Jonny wore the same outfit every day: a beige shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of well-worn jeans, and a grey vest. On his feet was a pair of Keen sandals. His long hair, tousled with curls, bounced slightly as he walked. With determination he walked directly to his favorite spot with his treasured cooler in tow.
As odd as Jonny was, the townspeople were used to him and his daily walks to the local coffee shop, where he sat every day, talking to himself and ordering nothing. People ignored him and found him to be harmless.
Jonny returned to his small cabin, before dark, where he would prepare a simple meal and go to bed early. This day there was an interruption in his routine. When he returned to the cabin, he had a visitor.
“Where have you been?” Jim wanted to know.
“I t-took a w-walk, like I always d-do, so w-what?”
“You didn’t talk to anyone, did you?”
“No, I n-never t-talk to anyone. Just like you t-told me. Why are y-you here?”
“I have a surprise for you. I told you that I found her; she’s here, in the car. Come help me get her out of the car.”
“D-do I get to k-keep her?”
“Yes, but you have to keep it a secret.”
“I will! I promise!”
Jonny followed his older brother to the blue sedan in the driveway. Jim popped the trunk. Jonny could make out a woman wearing a white blouse and red shorts. She was tied with rope and tape and was passed out cold.
“She is p-perfect! Why is she s-sleeping?”
“I had to drug her. Help me get her inside.”
The men each carried an end of the body. Jim was at least a foot taller than his younger brother. They placed her on the bed. Jim returned to the car and retrieved a small duffle bag.
“W-what are you g-going to d-do with that?” Jonny asked.
“Just watch.”
Jim pulled an old wooden rocking chair to the center of the room and chained it to a hook he had screwed in to the ceiling.
“Help me get her in the chair,” Jim instructed.
The two men placed her in the chair and cut loose the rope and tape. Jim re-taped Ellen’s ankles and wrists together, then placed a heavy chain over the tape and secured it to a hook that he had screwed in to the floor.
“This should hold her.”
“W-what d-do I d-do if she w-wakes up?”
“She can scream all she wants to, no one will hear her out here. She’s yours; you can do whatever you want with her. I’ll be back tomorrow with food and supplies.”
Jonny smiled at his big brother, “Thank you, J-Jim, she’s p-perfect.”
photo raffleticket – IMAGE.png
Giveaway 1: Signed print copies of Basking in the Light by Saylor Storm
a Rafflecopter giveaway
//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

photo Pearl set giveaway.jpg

Giveaway 2: Freshwater Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set
a Rafflecopter giveaway//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Listen to author Saylor Storm as she discusses her new release, Basking in the Light!
View the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/78PJ1tYFQwY

What would constitute a perfect day for you?

A perfect day for me would be getting to sleep in with no interruption. Then

maybe workout, have some coffee, write thousands of words, and still have

time to spend with the family. Then go to bed and sleep soundly.

If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of

a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

I would choose to retain my mind. If I had the mind of a thirty-year-old at 90,

I’d still be able to write and make money…then I’d pay for surgery to look

younger. LOL!!! Plus, why would you want to have a nice body, but a

worthless brain? To me, it doesn’t make sense.

For what do you feel most grateful?

I am most grateful for my family. They are the greatest support, and my

whole world. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one quality or ability, what

would it be?

The ability to write books a lot faster with the same quality. That

would be awesome, because right now I’m a snail writer. It’s very frustrating.

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or

anything else, what would you want to know?

I would want to know the lineup of bestselling genres, and then I’d jump on it

before everyone else does. Haha!

What’s next on the horizon for you?

I have a bunch of ideas sitting in folders in my computer, and next year I’d

like to start chopping that list down, and start new stories.

About the Author:

Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved

with her husband and children to Alaska. She’s a daydreamer and a caffeine and

peppermint addict who loves to laugh, loves to read, and loves to escape reality. One of

her greatest joys is creating fantasy worlds filled with adventure and romance and sharing

it with others. One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe and ride away on her

magical unicorn. Until then…she’ll keep writing!

Social media links:

Website: http://cameorenae.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CameoRenaeFanPage

Blog: http://cameorenae.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @CameoRenae

Friday, October 16, 2015

~Blog Tour & Giveaway PLUS Interview~ Basking in the Light by Saylor Storm

Title:  Basking in the Light

Author:   Saylor Storm

Published:  October 6th, 2015

Recommended Age:  18+

Synopsis:  Ambitious budding reporter, Ellen Singer, grows weary of being alone and pursues a partner through an online dating site; it turns out to be the worst decision of her life. Courted by a handsome, successful author, she is abducted and held captive by his murderous younger brother on a remote island. Ellen fights for her health and sanity while in captivity. She is forced to witness monstrous acts by her captor all the while dependent on him for her survival. Ultimately she is saved by seasoned FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, and rushed to the hospital in a fight for her life. Family and friends stand by hoping for Ellen’s complete recovery. The young reporter pulls through only to struggle with the psychological aftermath of her abduction. Is tenacious Ellen capable of returning to her former self or is she forever altered by her horrific experience? And, what part, if any, does Arnie Darrow play in her recovery?

Two-4-One BONUS – During the blog tour – Purchase Basking in the Light, and receive the novella Reclamation FREE … After purchase send Saylor an email at Saylor@SaylorStorm.com  And Saylor will respond with your bonus book.

In Basking in the Light, aspiring reporter, Ellen Singer, survives being captured and held hostage by serial killers for months. Reclamation takes us whereBasking in the Light left off; where Ellen is left with the arduous task of rebuilding her life both physically and mentally. With devoted FBI agent, Arnie Darrow, by her side she is able to overcome her many obstacles and in the end he proclaims his deep love for the woman he has grown to admire and revere. Does Ellen reciprocate his feelings, or has her ordeal left her emotionally incapable of returning Arnie’s love?

Reality becomes fantasy, or is it that imagination turns into real life experience? Saylor Storm is fascinated by how frequently the line between reality and fantasy crosses in her writing practice. She feels that writing novels is an astonishing way to play with something from real life and turning into something fun or playful and sometimes a bit twisted. Her characters all experience real life joy and pain, reinvention, survival and victory. They share the process of evolution and expansion. The places in her stories take place where she has lived or visited, from the beaches of Malibu to the islands in Fiji and destinations in between, including the monastery in one of her novels. Saylor’s stories reflect her many personal interests including fitness, wine, healthy foods. She’s intrigued by the spiritual world and that of metaphysics. She hopes the reader is as entertained reading her books as she is writing them. One of Saylor’s many passions is hiking. Readers can enjoy fabulous photos of her treks posted on her Facebook page, author Saylor Storm. She loves hearing from her readers.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Basking in the Light: Excerpt Chapter 6

A boy’s view of the world is affected by what the mother has demonstrated.

Jonny meticulously swept his tiny cabin. The sand was a constant problem. Living on the beach had its benefits, but Jonny had no patience for the daily task. He grumbled under his breath as he opened the front door and pushed the sand back outside with his broom.

He had a daily routine and did not like to alter from it. After sweeping, he took a long walk to town. Jonny wore the same outfit every day: a beige shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a pair of well-worn jeans, and a grey vest. On his feet was a pair of Keen sandals. His long hair, tousled with curls, bounced slightly as he walked. With determination he walked directly to his favorite spot with his treasured cooler in tow.

As odd as Jonny was, the townspeople were used to him and his daily walks to the local coffee shop, where he sat every day, talking to himself and ordering nothing. People ignored him and found him to be harmless.

Jonny returned to his small cabin, before dark, where he would prepare a simple meal and go to bed early. This day there was an interruption in his routine. When he returned to the cabin, he had a visitor.

“Where have you been?” Jim wanted to know.

“I t-took a w-walk, like I always d-do, so w-what?”

“You didn’t talk to anyone, did you?”

“No, I n-never t-talk to anyone. Just like you t-told me. Why are y-you here?”

“I have a surprise for you. I told you that I found her; she’s here, in the car. Come help me get her out of the car.”

“D-do I get to k-keep her?”

“Yes, but you have to keep it a secret.”

“I will! I promise!”

Jonny followed his older brother to the blue sedan in the driveway. Jim popped the trunk. Jonny could make out a woman wearing a white blouse and red shorts. She was tied with rope and tape and was passed out cold.

“She is p-perfect! Why is she s-sleeping?”

“I had to drug her. Help me get her inside.”

The men each carried an end of the body. Jim was at least a foot taller than his younger brother. They placed her on the bed. Jim returned to the car and retrieved a small duffle bag.

“W-what are you g-going to d-do with that?” Jonny asked.

“Just watch.”

Jim pulled an old wooden rocking chair to the center of the room and chained it to a hook he had screwed in to the ceiling.

“Help me get her in the chair,” Jim instructed.

The two men placed her in the chair and cut loose the rope and tape. Jim re-taped Ellen’s ankles and wrists together, then placed a heavy chain over the tape and secured it to a hook that he had screwed in to the floor.

“This should hold her.”

“W-what d-do I d-do if she w-wakes up?”

“She can scream all she wants to, no one will hear her out here. She’s yours; you can do whatever you want with her. I’ll be back tomorrow with food and supplies.”

Jonny smiled at his big brother, “Thank you, J-Jim, she’s p-perfect.”

Interview with Saylor Storm

Describe your relationship with a good book.

I become consumed with a good book and will stay up all night until I finish it. I read War and Peace in 2 days!

Please describe your work ethic as an author.

My minimum goal as an author is to produce 3 pieces of work a year. Each book is researched thoroughly and as accurately as possible. I focus most of my time on marketing and like to teach other authors how to do the same.

How do you balance your work as an author with the other aspects of your life?

Writing is a solitary, stationary experience so I try to balance it by spending time with family and friends as well as getting outside and exercising. Hiking is my favorite exercise, but I also ride horses and go to the gym.

Why did you write this book?

I had an idea from a comment that a friend made about a weird little man with a blue and white cooler by his side, and quickly the entire story unfolded in my head. I felt compelled to get the idea on paper. I also liked the idea of writing a thriller for the first time as I had never had an idea for one before.

What experiences from your past do you find yourself drawing upon repeatedly for inspiration in your work?

I find that I am frequently drawing upon past experiences to use in my books. For example, places where I have lived or my characters speaking French: I lived in France for a short time.

What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years, both as an author and in your outside life?

I hope to complete at least 15 more books and to expand as an author into different genres and improve in my writing abilities. I hope to continue working in the media; writing articles and working in radio and television. I would like to spend more time teaching and getting more involved with philanthropic endeavors.

Since you are a storyteller, please tell one about yourself.

I was born into an average, middle class family in the Midwest. I got married to my high school sweetheart and we had four kids. We never left our hometown, not even to travel. I stayed at home as a full time mom. Nothing unusual or exciting has ever happened in my life.

Giveaway 1: Signed print copies of Basking in the Light by Saylor Storm

Giveaway 2: Freshwater Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set

Listen to author Saylor Storm as she discusses her new release, Basking in the Light!

View the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/78PJ1tYFQwY

Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I was Almost Famous once (Here I am in big blue sunglasses like

KATE HUDSON. NOT THE SAME AT ALL.)

I was almost famous when I was the Executive Producer of the Don Imus program

on MSNBC. Everyone at MSNBC hated me from the moment I walked in because they

all hated Imus—even though he was higher rated than any other show. All the other

producers thought they were born to uphold the Great Tradition of News and

completely ignored the fact that generally, more people got their news from a talker

like Imus than from the stiff anchors on morning news. It was long ago, but the

result was that I was left completely alone to fool around with three hours of live TV

every weekday morning.

One of the things I realized was that I needed to steal audience from the people who

otherwise would listen to the show on the radio. The easiest way to do that was to

1) make sure “MSNBC” was mentioned all the time by Imus and his staff and , 2)

provoke as many incidents as possible that the audience wanted to see.

THE SHOW WAS DONE WITH SIX REMOTE CONTROLLED CAMERAS IN IMUS’ STUDIO-30 MILES AWAY IN

QUEENS-AND SO I PUT ONE IN MY CONTROL ROOM IN SECAUCUS. (REMIND ME TO TELL YOU HOW

MUCH I HATE NEW JERSEY IN GENERAL AND SECAUCUS IN PARTICULAR SOMEDAY.) THE

MANAGEMENT QUITE SENSIBLY WERE SO FRIGHTENED OF WHAT I MIGHT SAY THAT THEY TOLD THE

ENGINEERS TO NEVER GIVE ME A MICROPHONE—THAT DIDN’T LAST.

I MADE IT A POINT TO ALWAYS WEAR A SUIT AND SUSPENDERS INTO WORK AND MADE SURE TO LOOK

AS STUFFY AND DISAPPROVING AS POSSIBLE. AS A RESULT, IMUS BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT ME AS “THAT

FAT BASTARD IN NEW JERSEY” AND COMPLAIN THAT I WAS EDITING OUT ALL THE FUNNY PARTS OF

THE SHOW. I WOULD STAND UP AND WAVE MY HANDS AND SHOUT (SILENTLY) AND PLAY THE ROLE OF

A STUFFED SHIRT. THREE TIMES, IMUS HAD THE CAMERAS IN QUEENS COVERED OR DISCONNECTED

(ONCE BECAUSE WE CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT OF EATING FRIED CHICKEN AGAINST THE STRICT

ORDERS OF HIS WIFE.)

NATURALLY, MY RATINGS WOULD INSTANTLY RISE WHENEVER SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD

HAPPEN SO I KEPT COMING UP WITH NEW THINGS—VIDEOS OF HIS BUDDIES, CLIPS OF GREAT

MOMENTS, GUESTS REPORTERS IN THE STUDIO, CONTESTS FOR FANS TO VISIT THE CONTROL ROOM,

ETC.

IT ALL WORKED QUITE WELL.

THEN END RESULT WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD (VERY OCCASIONALLY) RECOGNIZE ME IN A

RESTAURANT OR ON THE STREET AND VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE WOULD BE NICE TO ME IN AN

ATTEMPT EITHER TO GET IMUS TO MENTION THEM OR GET HIM TO STOP MENTIONING THEM. I GOT

TO GO TO ALL THE BIG NBC PARTIES, RUB SHOULDERS WITH EXECUTIVES AND VICE-PRESIDENTS, AND

GENERALLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD TIME. IT WASN’T REALLY ALL THAT MUCH AND, WHEN I LEFT

AFTER THREE YEARS, I WAS FORGOTTEN INSTANTLY, BUT IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED. IT WAS LIKE

BEING A OFFICEWORKER AND THEN GETTING A JOB AS A MOTORCYCLE COURIER—IT WAS NICE TO BE

COOL AND NOTICED AND ENVIED.

SIGH.

IT DOESN’T LAST LONG.

If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what

would it be?

Wow, this is easy. I wouldn’t have been raised by a secret alcoholic and an enabler

who couldn’t have made my childhood more miserable if they’d tried. Someone just

asked me the other day if I ever had a dream of a family and children and all. I said,

“No. My only dream was to go to college and then never stay at my parents’ home

again.”

I have to say, they made that pretty easy by cutting me off from all money when I

was 19.

It did give me something to talk about with psychiatrists for years and years but in

the wisdom of Old Age, I have to say that it’s all far more likely that my depression

and anxiety is due to the genetic soup that my depressed and anxious parents

handed down to me rather than the horrible childhood that was the result of

alcohol.

At the time, alcohol was one of the few drugs that would have any affect on

depression. Unfortunately, it had some severe side effects—like having your

children hate you. The new drugs are far more effective with less side effects. I

recommend them whole-heartedly.

(remember, “being depressed” is when you get an “F” on your paper or your book

doesn’t sell and you, quite reasonably feel bad for a while. “Depression” is when you

wake up feeling like you’ve just murdered your best friend EVERY DAMN DAY and

there’s just no reason for it. Very different thing.)

Is there something that you’ve been dreaming of doing for a long time?

Racing cars.

When I was young and crazy (and had more spending money) I took a racing course

from the Skip Barber School. For three days, I spun out, smoked tires, and slowly

learned how to get faster and faster. One of the teachers pulled me aside and told me

that I had some real talent.

Sadly, getting married and having children tends to get in the way of things like that.

I worked at the race track for a few more years—I used to watch Paul Newman race

a Datsun 240x, he was so great!—but I kept doing silly things like buying houses or

paying school tuitions. Now, I’m not at all sure that I still have the reflexes or that

my heart won’t simply explode on a sharp turn.

I would, however, recommend it to anyone anywhere. Racing distills your entire

world down to inches and miles per hour and brings you a crystal clarity you just

can’t get anywhere else. Plus it’s more fun than….well, more fun than anything.

What projects are you working on now?

Right now, I’m editing the memories of the best cameraman to work for ABC News

during the Vietnam War—Tony Hirashiki. I only got to work with him once-in Beirut

where he kept waving me to get in the camera as I ran around a sniper-filled area of

the city. https://youtu.be/2SA-pFf72nY — but everyone would talk about him as this

master of his craft. Now, I’m learning exactly how good he was.

Imagine quitting your job at 28 and flying to a war zone where you might get a freelance

position and then proving your ability to not only keep filming while bullets are going

around you and explosions are showering you with dirt, but make the shots beautiful and

dramatic and show the bravery and humanity of the soldiers you were with?

Now imagine doing it for the next 40 years with good humor, good grace, and

unbelievable skills.

Well, that’s Yasutsune “Tony” Hirashiki. He’s already a brilliant writer who was a star

in Japan when the books were released there (Newsweek called him the 15th Most Liked

Japanese in the World) and all I’m doing is smoothing out his dictionary-translated

Jinglish into the words it deserves. With any luck, I’ll get the Proposal and the book done

in the next couple of months and see if a publisher will pick it up.

What’s next on the horizon for you?

Once I get Tony done, my plan is to write “Taxi Dancer,” which is a private eye novel

set in 1930’s Manila. It comes out of the research I did for “Rescue in the

Philippines” (www.rescueinthephilippines.com) a documentary about how 1300

Jews were saved by being given visas to the Islands back before the Holocaust. As it

turned out, there was a private eye involved named Angel Zervoulakos and I got to

meet his daughter and granddaughter (wonderful people) and they gave me

permission to use him as a base for my character (Angel Pearl)

Before I had to turn into a publisher on January 1st, I’d gotten the first few chapters

written and blocked out the rest of the book. It involves the American troops that

were stationed in Siberia in 1918, the 3 Billion dollars worth of gold that was

captured from the Bolsheviks, the Czechoslovakian Legion that controlled the Trans-

siberian railroad, the battles between communist subversives in the Philippines and,

well, I’ll find out when I get it written.

After that, I’ll start on the third Freelancer novel, “Gambler,” which has Rick Putnam

in New York in 1974 when it was a crime-ridden, dirty, and far more interesting city

and probably has to do with the CIA moving their heroin business back from

Southeast Asia after the war was over.

Stay Tuned

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8c7fd74d2/” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”8c7fd74d2″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_iev0skmf”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src=”//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/l