Book Signing Day

 

Kos Island - Greece

High everyone - today finds me doing my 1st ever book signing event, and it's on the sunny Greek Island of Kos.

As well as the book itself, Guardian T-shirts, Baseball Caps and Tote Bags will be available.

Requests have been made for me to read excerpts from the book - so - while I drone on, you will be glad to know nibbles and refreshments have been laid on.

Don't forget the competition! All those purchasing a book today can enter.

The Overlord of the Guardians is extremely powerful. Just how powerful will become evident as the series continues. However...ONE of his gifts is way, way stronger than the others.

The first person to guess what his strongest ability is, will receive – free – their choice of either a t-shirt, cap or bag.

AND

The Guardians series will eventually total 6 books. Originally, there were going to be more. How many books were in the original series I devised?

The first to guess will receive a free Guardians Baseball cap.

Remember - the venues are as follows:

 

See you there!

 

Guest Interview

Christie Choida Gucker

 

Hi everyone,

TODAY, I have the great pleasure of introducing you all to a fellow author from Pagan Writers Press, Christie Choida Gucker.

 

Christie, tell us a bit about yourself – Who is Christie Choida Gucker? Reveal something you might not have revealed on your bio.

Well, I'm certainly a risk taker to a degree. But not how more people think. I believe that in order to live life you have to try new things and that includes things you're afraid of. So…afraid of heights - I toss myself out of a hot air balloon on a bungee cord. Scared of sharks - I toss myself into the middle of the ocean to snorkel over a sunken ship. Afraid of ghosts - I toss myself into a haunted library to ghost hunt. Yep. That's me. I'm a little on the crazy side I guess. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Halloween almost as much as Christmas and also work on a haunted trail all throughout October.

You have a story coming out next week entitled, “The Cliff”, what’s it about?

It's about three lifelong friends who make a pact as children, but another pact is made between two of them secretly. When they're all grown up, we see the pacts come back into play and affect their lived. It's an uneven love triangle and full of emotional roller coaster chapters. Speaking of the chapters, not only does the story take place on a cliff but every chapter ends in a cliff hanger.

What was the most difficult thing/scene to write in this story? I think it was trying to take my villain and make everyone like him again by the end of the book! LOL Everyone will have to let me know if it worked. 

Please tell us about any future projects you are planning.

I'm working on a book about a marine biologist who studies sharks called Pacifically You. It's a romance story, but I thought it would be a great venue to reach a new demographic about shark conservation. It's a fun story, with a lot of humor and hot steamy loves scenes but this underlying message about how important sharks are to the survival of our world and how we can all help!

What advice would you give to an unpublished writer?

I would tell them to keep trying and never give up. And if no one will publish you? Then self publish. Make your mark in this world.

 

Personal Round

Do you work at job outside the home or is this only career?

I work in advertising and have for the last 20+ years.

What’s your favorite thing to do? 

Spend time with my family. I love being with my two daughters more than anything. 

Are you a reader?

I am an avid, avid reader. Love reading.

Do you have a special writing method? 

I let the stories come knocking on my head and then when they start to give me a headache I write.

Is writing your only talent?

I'm a musician and an artist as well.

How do you find time to write?

I don't sleep! LOL

Where do you hail from and what do you love most about your hometown?

I hail from New Jersey. I love that we have everything within driving distance. The city, the beach, mountains and farms.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A marine biologist! LOL

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

I stop writing until the characters start knocking on my brain again.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Stephen King hands down. The man knows how to tell a story. He is just an amazing storyteller. He pulls you in and then you can't put the books down.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done in the name of research?

I'm going shark diving! LOL 

What is one novel book that you would recommend?

The entire Twilight Saga or anything by Stephen King. Pet Cemetery was my first.

Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?

I would like to write more paranormal. I love the paranormal.

If you were to enjoy a drink on an evening out, what would it be? Wine, cocktail?

I don't drink so coffee with cream and sugar!
 

Quick answers

George Clooney or Brad Pitt?  I can't have them both at the same time? LMAO

On men…Boxers or briefs?  Commando!!!!

Personal preference…Silk, satin or leather?  Leather! LOL

Harry Potter or Twilight?  TWILIGHT!!!!!!

Chocolate or Vanilla?  Chocolate to eat but my signature scent is Vanilla

Candlelight or dark?  Candlelight all the time!

Cake or fruit?  Oh chocolate again! HAHA

Heels or running shoes?  Riding boots!

What place to travel is on your Bucket List?  France

Was it love at first sight for you when you met your husband?  It was.

What did you notice first when you met him?  His eyes and his beautiful smile. The man is just drop dead gorgeous!

Vampires or werewolves?  Vampires

Magic or psychic powers?  Magic

            A nightmare?  I suffer from Night Terrors so…I have some pretty scary ones all the time.

            Favorite music?  Muse

            Favorite quote? “All the world is a stage and we are merely players.”  

                                       “Performers and portrayers.” 

                                       “Each another's audience beyond the gilded cage.”

 Christie's new book - "The Cliff" is being released next week - Friday 28th September 2012

            There is a release party on Facebook - and everyone is welcome to attend and enjoy the day with her. I shall be there...and hope to see you all there too!

I'm sorry to say - That's it for now!

Thank you so much for being with us today Christie. I know your book has already sold a number of copies even before its release date, and I can’t wait to read it and give it a review.

AND

In bringing the interview to a close – I’d like to take the opportunity to highlight something that we didn’t have time to bring out in the interview itself. Christie is a lady of many hidden talents – More than was revealed. I highlight this fact as she was responsible for designing the awesome book cover you see within my banner and side bar of this blog! I thought I’d mention that fact – because as you can see – it’s a stunning concept and might be something YOU want to avail yourselves of in the future…

So, for all those wanting to find out more about Christie herself, and her books, here are some links to follow:

www.christieacgucker.com
            Twitter @christieagucker
        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christie-AC-Gucker/194852973950799

 

Please Enjoy



The Fire Asylum

(This weeks worthy concept)

(used with kind permission)

As most of you know, I'm ex Military and ex Cop. When you're in that line of work, you develop skills that are very specific to the needs and demands of your job. Those skills can become very diverse and adaptable - flexible if you like - dependent upon the circumstances you find yourself in. While it's true, we in the military/police received basic forms of firefighting education and training, there's no doubt, the real experts for emergency fire and rescue incidents are our Bothers and Sisters in the Fire Service.

 

But don't forget - THEY receive training too. As is true with any emergency service - if the education & training they receive is innovative and inspiring - if it motivates them to exceed, then we're in very safe hands indeed.

 

That's why Im proud to highlight this weeks 'cause' - 

The Fire Asylum - and it's creator, Fire Captain Marty Mayes

Just look at the philosophy behind it's creation.

The unintentional maintenance of mediocrity has been the focal point of the fire service for the last several years. Many of us have worked diligently to move the fire service forward under the guise of safety and health initiatives. While we struggle to move respectfully from one line of duty death to the next, we have failed to acknowledge the embarrassing truth. The truth is that we have, as an industry, remained chained to a style of training that fosters flat work performance—we focus on new tactics without reconsidering training models or overall strategic approaches to fire. These tactics are accepted as a gospel and evangelized with vigor. They spread nationwide without enough regard to strategic relevance or the training models they should fit into. Indeed, too often fire departments do not have an overall training model into which these new tactics can fit properly.

Training is a subtle factor that deeply defines each fire department. When training is driven by the tactic of the day, the training program ceases to be a program—its purpose shrinks to the rote practice of the currently popular tactics. This narrow focus creates pendulum swings from incident to incident. Today, tactic A is a must, but next month tactic B may contradict it, and there is little framework for making meaningful decisions between them. At every switch, the goal is safety, but the required commitment to each new position on tactics make it a place of great peril, precisely because they are not integrated into the training program as a whole. Eventually, inherent perils lead to more casualties, more evaluations, and a new round of must-do tactics—and the pendulum swings again. We are never in balance.

The true place of balance for us is in our calling, our natural desire to be firefighters. We need to train our native capacity for evaluating and managing fire regardless of particular tactics. This is why I created the Fire Asylum™. The Asylum is a place for firefighters to learn in an environment that is true to our personality types. Every incident is a riddle to be solved, independent of regional tactics. Here, understanding and developing your inner riddle-master is equally important as understanding your inner warrior. Our Crucible-based academics™ are designed not only to embrace our calling but to inspire it.

used with kind permission

(If you see this man - give him a hug! Blame me - he'll understand)

 

Capt. Marty Mayes is a 25 year veteran of the fire service, with experience in police, EMS and private security. He has long since had a passion for training.

 

Please make yourselves familiar with his site, his concept and the refinement it offers.

Remember

The Guardians are make believe - THIS is real-life.

It's good to know we're in safe hands

"Remember the fallen, Cherish the living. Honor the crucible."

 

Guardian Angels

 

Now available in Print and ebook format

 

from

 

Pagan Writers Press - Amazon.com - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords.

 

 

Find out more about the world's only Global Emergency Rescue Service and what their arrival means for you.

This weeks Highlighted Cause

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Emergency Services. I'm very happy to announce my very first blog covering some of the worthy causes/services being brought to my attention during the promotion of my 1st major novel - Guardian Angels.

As you know, I will be supporting all of you in the emergency services who face danger each and every working day by highlighting the hurdles you face, the obstacles you so often have to overcome to get the job done, and sometimes, the hidden dangers you face too.

It is my aim to ensure two such cases are highlighted every month.

 

This weeks highlight:

Firesmoke Coalition

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

 

Between 1997 and 2006, there were 30,564 fire deaths and 151,575 injuries attributable to fire. Only 1% of those represent burn injuries. The leading cause of fire death: SMOKE Inhalation.

 

 

The mission of the Fire Smoke Coalition is to focus the required attention and resources on the deadly and life-long consequences of breathing fire smoke by teaching firefighters and first responders how to Prevent, Protect, Detect, Diagnose, and appropriately Treat the exposure if it occurs. The Coalition is comprised of firefighters and the medical community – all who embrace the challenge of teaching firefighters how to stay alive – and prevent the disease, illness and death associated with today’s deadly fire smoke.

Please aquaint yourselves with this worthy educational and life-saving message and SPREAD THE WORD.
http://www.firesmoke.org/

Book Review

 

Ashley Rae - Not My Mother: A Memoir

 

 

I'm sure most of us have heard that saying, "All life's a stage".

That was brought to my mind as I enjoyed this thoroughly absorbing memoir by Ashley Rae.

 

Her style of writing is remarkably open and honest as it absorbes you into the stark realities of her early years. By the age of twelve, Ashley had survived incest, child abuse, and the deaths of both her biological parents. Although born into a family of Baptists and raised by Buddhists, Ashley never started to find peace and healing until she adopted a different spiritual path altogether as a Pagan while working towards her college degree and starting the career of her dreams.

 

You might be forgiven for thinking her trials were over. But, Ashley went on to loose her job, start a new relationship, and then discover she was pregnant with another man's child all in the same week. Terrified of cesarean surgery, Ashley vowed to give birth to her child outside of the hospital environment. But first of all, she had to find a home!

Alternately absorbing, disturbing, moving, humorous, and heart-warming, Not My Mother: A Memoir, follows a period during Ashley's life that proves "never giving up" has its rewards. Being determined to make the best of life, and to become the mother she had always wanted for herself, Ashley has succeeded in leaving the past behind and now lives for the future.

 

A very rewarding 5 star read