Life as a submariner

I’ve been on the Voice of Indie Podcast and had a great time. The guys are still going strong, and today they’re promoting a book by Robert Williscroft and Jerry Pait. This is a group of stories about Jerry’s time in the United States Navy, as a submariner.

Let’s make them feel welcome. Check out the book, and if you have a moment, tune into the podcast on Wednesday. Don’t forget to use those sharing buttons on your way out. It will help them, and me.

# # #

Jerry Pait enlisted on September 15, 1964, was assigned to Fleet Sonar School, volunteered for subs, and ended up on USS Entemedor (SS-340). After Advanced Sonar School, he was transferred as an STS-2 to USS Von Steuben (SSBN 632B) in the Philly yards right after her collision off Cadiz, Spain. I was a newly minted Lt. j.g., fresh out of Poseidon Missile School, having come through the NESEP program and Univ. of Washington in marine and atmosphere physics. I guess the skipper made me Sonar Officer because I was a former sonar tech. Jerry and I served together until I left for the Man-in-the-Sea Program and ultimately Operation Ivy Bells, tapping into Soviet underwater communications cables in the Sea of Okhotsk.

Jerry went on to become COB on Von Steuben, served in a senior position in Sonar/Torpedoman School, and then was commissioned as an LDO Ensign. He returned briefly to Von Steuben and then served as a division officer on several sub tenders. After that, he was assigned to NOTU, supervising underwater ballistic missile launchings for several years, working closely with NASA. He rose to Lt. Cmdr., was selected for Cmdr. But was mustered out on retirement as part of Clinton’s force reduction efforts.

Jerry took a senior field position with the major defense contractor Brown & Root, but during his first year, he fell from 20 feet in a way that fractured his back and cracked his skull. He survived, received a significant settlement, and has struggled ever since to regain as much function as possible.

I was on Jerry’s emailing list. He began to send out periodic stories from his past. They were fascinating, and the response from his list was remarkable. I saw their potential and contacted Jerry—we hadn’t communicated directly with each other in decades. I suggested that I work with him to compile his stories into a coherent whole, and that we put out a book. He agreed, so we found a publisher who was willing to work with us on this strange project, and we completed the book last month.

Jerry’s book, Sŭbmarine-Ër: 30 Years of Hijinks & Keeping the Fleet Afloat, will be released on September 15, exactly 58 years after he enlisted. The book is on pre-publication sale right now as an ebook for only 99¢. The ebook price will rise to $3.99 on September 15. Each chapter has a color photo that illustrates the contents of that chapter. The trade paperback printed version has half-tone photos and will sell for $19.95 The hardbound, jacketed edition is in full color throughout and will sell for $36.95. Both will be available for pre-order within two or three days.

Why am I doing this? Jerry is our brother—and he’s a genuine American hero. His story deserves to be told far and wide. I’m not here selling books. I’m here asking you to help me preserve the memory of one of the best among us. By purchasing the ebook on pre-order (only 99¢), you will help boost his sales ranking, so that on September 15, the release date, his ranking will shoot up. If you want the trade paperback, or the really cool hardbound, jacketed, full color version, you can pre-order those as well from Amazon or any other online bookseller, or you can order it from your favorite brick and mortar store as well. Should you want an autographed copy, please use the Contact form at FreshInkGroup.com, and I will put you into direct contact with Jerry.

The Book Trailer!

            https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=6pklESG3x-w

Live Interactive Podcast with Pait and Williscroft!

Call (516) 453-9902 or hashtag #FreshInkGroup in tweets during the show.

The Book Blurb!

Lieutenant Commander Jerry Pait’s semi-autobiographical collection of sixty stories recounts his thirty years in and around the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet. Ranging from light-hearted to wrenching, all are poignant inside looks at naval operations rarely seen by outsiders. Topics include the real story behind the shuttle Challenger tragedy, risking his own life underwater, discovering a Soviet spy living across the street, surviving when a DELTA Rocket engine ignites, critical missions, and the everyday lives of men and women of the fleet. Dive into Sŭbmarine-Ër for hijinks and breathtaking adventure with this poignant memoir by a true American hero.

 

Order Yours!

Digital editions at 99 cents during pre-sale are available in all major ebook formats—Kindle, Nook, Kobo, GPlay, iBooks, and 200+ more—worldwide. Full-color jacketed hardcovers and softcovers are appearing at retailer sites over the next week.

Amazon

Jagged Feathers – @jansikes3 #NewRelease #RomanticSuspense #WhiteRuneSeries

Jan Sikes is a dear friend, a Story Empire colleague, and an incredible author. She’s taking her newest publication on tour and chose Entertaining Stories to spread the word. Check out her excerpts, and please use those sharing buttons.

***

Thank you, Craig, for inviting me to your blog site today to talk about my new book, JAGGED FEATHERS! I appreciate your generosity.

Today, I want to talk about one aspect of my new book that required a lot of research and that is drug cartels. My knowledge of these powerful organizations comes from watching “Queen of the South” and “Ozarks.” So, I needed to do some actual research to give my story a believability factor. They show up early in the book, but their appearance only raises questions for Vann. Questions that Nakina hesitates to answer.

EXCERPT #1:

Vann slipped her backpack off and lifted her onto the seat, glad for his determination to stay in excellent physical shape following his rehab. She hardly weighed anything. He tossed the backpack onto the floorboard, and Champion jumped in.

One thing for sure, this woman was no ordinary street person with her fancy inlaid boots and soft leather jacket.

Only two blocks away, the black SUV approached faster.

He met her dark eyes, pools of sadness and despair, when she gripped his hand. “Please, mister. You can’t take me to a hospital. They’ll find me there.”

Vann sprinted to the driver’s side, keeping an eye on the approaching vehicle now only a block away. The hairs on his arms stood on end like they always did when in enemy territory.

Time to move. He jammed the gears, and tires squealed as he made a U-turn, meeting the SUV head-on.

The window on the driver’s side lowered, and the unmistakable glint of blue metal sent him sailing down a side street. But not before a bullet whizzed by the jeep, missing its target.

“Oh, hell! Get down,” he yelled.

A sharp turn down a deserted alleyway put him closer to the highway. He pressed on the gas.

With one eye on the rearview mirror, he took fast zigzag turns until he reached the main road.

He’d lost them. But questions flew around his head like a swarm of angry bees.

EXCERPT #2:

(Nakina is talking) “So, I came to work on a Friday morning, and there were two Latin American men dressed in expensive suits waiting to see Mr. Gordon. They weren’t on his schedule, and I’d never seen them. He hadn’t arrived yet, so I asked them if they wanted to wait. But Mr. Gordon didn’t come in. When I tried to call him, he didn’t answer. I started getting a bad feeling. And I got flashes of men with angry faces, cursing, and the sound of a shovel connecting with hard ground.”

“What did you do?” Vann tried to imagine her fear.

She cleared her throat. “I told the men that I didn’t know where Mr. Gordon was, and he wasn’t answering his phone. They left after an hour or so.”

“Who do you suppose they were?”

“I’m getting to that. Almost the minute the two men were out of sight, Mr. Gordon crawled through the window in his office and called for me. He was disheveled and looked as though he’d been trekking through the woods, with dirt and pieces of leaves and grass on his clothes.”

“I hope you locked the office door behind the two men when they left.”

“I hadn’t, but as soon as Mr. Gordon came in, I did. He was wild-eyed and almost incoherent. He shoved this package in my hands along with the key and told me to deliver them. Then he handed me a bus ticket. I was totally freaked out and tried to ask questions. The only thing he said was that the Montoya Cartel was going to kill him. He said this package would take care of his wife and son and that I was the only person he trusted to deliver it.”

Vann scrubbed his chin and leaned forward. “The Montoya Drug Cartel?”

Nakina nodded.

“That’s who is after you?”

***

I’ve never had any first-hand dealings with a drug cartel, thank goodness, but I do enjoy watching the shows that expose their inner workings. I won’t ask if anyone has ever had a run-in with one of these powerful organizations, but I will ask how many have watched “Queen of the South” or “Ozarks?” Your thoughts?

BOOK TRAILER LINK: https://youtu.be/CwGRyRVMyLE

BLURB:

Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master’s scars. If only the white rune’s magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann.

On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann’s cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed.

A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks.

Will these two not only survive, but find an unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both?

UNIVERSAL PURCHASE LINK https://linktr.ee/Rijanjks

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

WEBSITE: http://www.jansikes.com

BLOG: http://www.jansikesblog.com

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/jansikes3

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanSikesBooks

PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/jks0851/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7095856.Jan_Sikes

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jan-sikes

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jansikes/

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.amazon.com/Jan-Sikes/e/B00CS9K8DK

Incursion, on #LisaBurtonRadio

Hey there all you space marines, special ops, and saboteurs. You’ve landed on Lisa Burton Radio. The only show that brings you the characters from the books you love.

I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl, and my special guest today is Irene Sol Vianini. “Welcome to the show, Irene.”

“Thanks for having me. So many interesting people have been here before. It’s a true honor to be one of them now.”

“Your story is a bit different than many people we get on the show. To set the stage a bit, aliens are about to invade Earth. A special unit is assembled to wreak havoc upon them, prior to them reaching the outer Earth colonies. You are part of this special unit. What can you tell us about that.”

“I’m a scientist on the factory ship Lapland. Our part of the mission is to build any parts the marines and fighter arms might need, and also to do any quick development. Let me give you an example of why a factory ship needs scientists and not just engineers: let’s say the marines are seeing action on some surface where the conditions are bad for their suits. The science arm might get called on to create a mono-molecular coating to protect them. We can then put that formula into the nano-factories and presto, one less thing for the troops to worry about.

“Let’s cut the crap here. You are part of a radical group of pacifists. Mission Specialist might be your cover, but what is your actual mission?”

“What? I can’t believe… I see someone’s been talking out of turn. All right, if that’s the way you want to play this, then yeah, let’s discuss it. Sure, I’m trying to stop this mission. It’s just another case where humans are aggressors. We’ve been killing each other for millennia, so why are we going to stop now that we have someone else to be unpleasant to? I see this radio panders to the militaristic side of things – even your intro talks to marines, specialists and saboteurs… tell me something: can you be any more jingoistic?”

“Nice try, but the question was about your actual mission.”

“Look. I know you have to sell advertising space, so the truth isn’t what you want on this show, but let’s be honest. Anyone with more than a few brain cells to spare knows that this is all our fault, and if we stop listening to the arms manufacturers who are making trillions out of this war, the aliens – if they even exist – will just go back o their lives and leave us alone.”

“I understand your point of view, but you have to be absolutely correct. You’re risking the lives of millions of people upon a theory. Aliens are headed toward Earth, and they have some huge assed weapons with them. Certainly, you can’t ignore that.”

“Of course they have big-ass weapons. What would you do if you came into contact with a species as destructive as ours?”

“Okay, the direct question isn’t working here. How about this one? What are you going to do to make sure the space marines and others don’t prolong this war?”

“I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve. A few other sane people have managed to sabotage he launch of this mission. They’ve messed with the navigation systems to ensure that the task force won’t end up anywhere near where they think they should be. They’ll end up in a system that looks similar enough to pass muster but is actually really far away from the fighting. My job is to keep them in the dark for as long as possible so they don’t even try to turn around and do something about it until it’s much too late.”

“Okay, so a team of zealots on a suicide mission are infiltrated by a different zealot with an opposing mission, but all during this time there are aliens approaching Earth, bent on destruction and packing enough firepower to get the job done. Makes my processors heat up. Does that sound about right?”

“No. You’re like so many others. You’re looking at the details, the crap in the news. You have to look at the bigger picture here. If we don’t stop this vicious circle once and for all, humanity will be locked in this disaster forever. A few thousand marines, or a million human lives are a small price to pay to finally save the race. My own life is such a tiny thing. To die knowing I made such a huge difference would be worth it.”

“So you know that you’re on a suicide mission too. If your group gets destroyed, you will too. How do you plan for something like that? Did you write a Will, or did you leave more of a Manifesto?”

“A manifesto? I’ll leave a legacy much greater than that. I’ll have saved us from ourselves. And if a few thousand marines get killed for it, or a couple of colonies that shouldn’t even exist get wasted, well, then tough luck. Screw this. Why do I even bother talking to you people? I know who’s paying your bills. The same people getting paid to build more weapons and fighter ships. I sincerely hope you’re among the casualties. Go to hell.”

“Sorry about that everyone. Apparently Irene killed the connection. We have young people in uniform going into harms way. They’ve been infiltrated from the inside by a third faction. I wish I had more for you, but you will have to read the book Incursion, by Gustavo Bondoni to find out what happens. I’ll post all the deets on the website.

I encourage everyone to use those sharing button at the end of this post. I can’t speak for Irene, but Gustavo is pretty cool and he’d do it for you when your character appears on the next Lisa Burton Radio.

***

It was supposed to be a desperate suicide mission, a holding action designed to delay a deadly enemy bent on destroying humanity: five starships sent to their doom, thousands of men and women knowingly laying down their lives to buy time for the besieged human race. And then things got really hairy. Tristan, a highly trained shock marine, wakes up after the trip to find that nothing works: not his equipment, not his ship, not even his body… He joins the race against time to bring their equipment back up to fighting trim and begin to understand what has happened to them and to unravel the layers of confusion and betrayal. But the enemy waiting for them doesn’t care about any of that. They just want to destroy the human incursion as quickly as possible.

Pick up your copy of Incursion

Bio: Gustavo Bondoni is an Argentine novelist and short story writer who writes primarily in English. He has recently released three science fiction novels: Incursion (2017), Siege (2016) and Outside (2017)  His latest book is a comic fantasy novel entitled The Malakiad.  He has over two hundred short stories published in fourteen countries.  They have been translated into seven languages.  Many of the stories are collected in Tenth Orbit and Other Faraway Places (2010) and Virtuoso and Other Stories (2011). The Curse of El Bastardo  (2010) is a short fantasy novel.

His website is at www.gustavobondoni.com.

Twitter:  @gbondoni

Website:  www.gustavobondoni.com

Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Gustavo-Bondoni/e/B004FRVMO2/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

The Nightforce Security series, on #LisaBurtonRadio

Don’t touch that dial. You’ve landed on Lisa Burton Radio, coming at you with 1.21 jigawatts of power all across the cosmos and beyond the veil. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl, bringing you characters from the books you love.

Today we’re going to have a little chat with Danny Caruso, owner of Nightforce Security, a new-ish company in headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania whose employees have rather impressive skillsets.

“Welcome to the show, Danny.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Ma’am! Such formality. Call me Lisa.”

“Sorry. Old habits die hard. Thanks, Lisa. Uh, glad to be here.”

“Don’t sound so enthused. This is supposed to be fun.”

“I know. I’m just not much of a showboat. I do my best work out of the limelight.”

“Then why’d you agree to come on the show today?”

“Because my employees insist I need to do more publicity. We haven’t been taking on the kinds of jobs we expected. We’ve been… sidetracked.”

“Oh? Sounds juicy. Do tell us more.”

“We’re a security firm, right? We’re supposed to be protecting movie stars in town to shoot a film. Singers here for concerts. Businessmen. Politicians at the occasional rally. And don’t get me wrong, we have those clients. But lately, pfft. Might as well have re-upped.”

“Re-upped? Are you former military?”

“See? This is why I hate being in the hot seat. There’s just certain sh—can I swear on the radio?”

“I don’t mind. I can’t speak for the FCC censors, though.”

“There’s stuff I don’t like to talk about.”

“I would think a military background would make you ideally suited for operating a security firm.”

“It does. I just don’t like to discuss it.”

“Seen some bad sh—stuff overseas?”

“What part of ‘don’t like to discuss it’ confused you?”

“Sorry. It’s my job to pry. So, you were saying you’re taking on jobs you didn’t expect.”

“Yeah. Fewer famous people needing a sense of security and more people caught in the middle of life-and-death situations.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“Infuriating.”

“Do tell.”

“I can’t talk about my cases.”

“Okay. Well, let’s change topics then, shall we? I understand you’re off the market now.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are in a committed relationship, correct?”

“Oh, that. Um… you were asking about cases. Here’s one for you. Noah Crawford, my right-hand man, just stumbled into one hell of a—oh, sorry.”

“Hell’s a place. I think you’re okay.”

“Right. Anyway, Noah was licking his wounds after a one-night stand.”

“Don’t single men often prefer no-strings fun?”

“Noah is the consummate bachelor. Or he was. Until the one who got away. He didn’t even catch her name. Had a bug up his… butt about it for the better part of a week.”

“Then what?”

“Then it all hit the fan. He bumped into her, but before they talked about things, they found themselves hostages in the middle of a heist. Of sorts.”

“Of sorts?”

“Well, he hasn’t written his final report yet, so I don’t have all the details. Just another job-that-isn’t.”

“What do you mean, job-that-isn’t?”

“We keep falling into these crazy situations. We aren’t hired, but there we are. Doing favors for someone or being in the victim pool. We don’t get money for that. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind helping where I can and I’d never turn down someone in need.”

“Hero complex?”

“Something like that, I guess. But I have to pay the bills, too. And that’s why I’m here today—trying to drum up some paying customers. Don’t suppose you need a bodyguard?”

“Sorry. Robots can take care of themselves. But if I did, you’d be the first person I’d call.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. I—hold on a second. I see we have a caller. Hello, you’re on with Lisa and Danny.”

“Hey, boss. Mind if I ask why you’re talking about my love life on the radio?”

“Uh… hey, Noah. Didn’t realize you planned on catching the show.”

“We nagged your sorry ass to do it. Think we weren’t going to tune in when the show was on?”

“We? We, who?”

“Me, Mac, Ethan. Cap’s here. We’re at his bar. The whole joint’s listening.”

“Perfect.”

“Even Gianni, Vinnie, Nico, and Coz are here. They brought their women.”

“Wait a minute. Noah, are you talking about the Notaro sisters and the Brotherhood?”

“Sorry, Lisa. Rude of me not to say hello.”

“Hi. Now, back to my questions. Are you telling me you know the Notaros and the Medici Protectorate?”

“Yeah. Danny introduced us. He and the guys go way back.”

“Danny, you’ve been holding out on me.”

“How so?”

“I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a few of your friends before. I never did hear how their situation turned out.”

“That’s not my story to tell.”

“You like to hold your cards close to your vest, don’t you?”

“Speaking of cards, did I mention Noah’s exploits took place in a casino?”

“Hey! Stop talking about me. You’ve got your own story to tell.”

“Lisa, where’s the disconnect button?”

“Oh, Danny. You think I’m going to cut off this conversation? It’s way too juicy.”

“We’re all hanging out at Cap’s bar, if you want to join us, Lisa. One Ugly Mug.”

“Sounds like an entertaining evening, but I believe Craig has plans for me after this.”

“Noah, don’t you have something productive to do right now?”

“Nope.”

“Do you like your job?”

“Yeah.”

“Then find something to do.”

“I’m off the clock, boss. Nothing but time on my hands. I can talk all night.”

“So, Lisa, I was telling you about Noah crashing and burning with this girl he met.”

“Okay, boss. Hanging up now. Lisa, the invitation stands. Anytime you want to hang out with us, just drop by.”

“Thanks, Noah.”

“Hang up, Crawford.”

“Geez, Dan. I’m going. We’re all still listening, though.”

“Noah!”

“All right. Bye.”

“Dickhead. Oh, shit. Damn it! Sorry, Lisa.”

“No worries. I know how you military guys are.”

“Ex-military.”

“Old habits die hard, right?”

“Exactly.”

“If the censors have a problem with it, they’ll bleep it out.”

“I’ve said enough, anyway. I think I’ll take off. I’ve got some employees who need a stern talking to.”

“He’s a handful, isn’t he?”

“They all are, Lisa. They all are.”

“Must make things at work… interesting.”

“Work is hard. Often dangerous. But the guys make it fun. I wouldn’t want them any other way.”

“I’m guessing you’re headed to One Ugly Mug now. Please give my best to the Notaros and the Brotherhood.”

“Will do.”

“And listeners, if you’re in the need for the services of a first-rate security firm, might I suggest Nightforce Security? You can’t feel safer than when you’re in the care of a team of former special ops officers.”

“I didn’t say anything about special forces.”

“Am I wrong?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Thanks for dropping by, Danny.”

“Thank you, Lisa.”

“All right, folks. Thanks for checking out the show. Please use those ‘like’ and ‘share’ buttons down below. The guys at Nightforce Security could use the support, and I know Staci will happily return the favor if I have you on the air.”

* * *

Staci Troilo’s Nightforce Security Series is a spinoff of her Medici Protectorate Series. The security firm, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, makes use of the talents and specialties of the people it employs—people with elite military and law enforcement backgrounds.

Visit old Brotherhood friends and meet the new crew destined to make your heart stop and your fingers flip the page for more.

Password is the novel that starts the series. Danny Caruso is busy expanding his security firm when an old friend approaches him with a job. Next thing he knows, he’s protecting the world’s most private and stubborn woman from an unidentified threat. Secrets, lies, and subterfuge slow him down, and if he can’t solve the mystery, they’ll cost him everything. Universal Purchase Link

Second in the series is the novella Gamble, which is available now. Noah Crawford can’t get a one-night stand out of his head. He can’t even track her down, because she didn’t give him her name. While trying to forget her, he goes to a casino with friends and runs into her. Before he can try to pick up where things left off, armed men take them hostage. The stakes are high, and they’re cut off from help. Noah needs to take them down or he could lose everything. Universal Purchase Link

Staci Troilo writes because she has hundreds of stories in her head. She publishes because people told her she should share them. She’s a multi-genre author whose love for writing is only surpassed by her love for family and friends, and that relationship-centric focus is featured in her work.

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KAYOS on #LisaBurtonRadio

Coming at you with one point twenty one jigawatts of power, this is Lisa Burton Radio. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl. With me on the phone today is Commander Liam Joffener. “Welcome to the show, Commander.”

“I’m glad to take a few minutes out of my day to speak with you.”

“My understanding is that you’re trying to capture a criminal named Lareina Elliot. How can my broadcast help you?”

“Elliot is no less than a domestic terrorist. She is responsible for several deaths. Not the least among them being the assassination of a hospital volunteer. She has three underage hostages who are in imminent danger. And, while we do have an interstate Department of Protection manhunt underway, it is important for people not to panic. Agent Christian Deverell is our top CCSA — Crisis Containment and Suppression Architect. He is familiar with her motives as well as her cross-race involvements. It won’t be long before he flushes her out and that is where the public comes in. We need eyes and ears. Not to act, but to see, hear and let us know. She and her people have a disregard for segregation policies, which makes her stand out even as she endangers us all.”

“Hang on a second. Segregation policies? Why would segregation ever return, and who gets to decide which ones are the elite people?”

“This isn’t last century. Everyone knows proper segregation is necessary, for the good of all and the harm of none. Each of those youngsters are from a different ethnic background. They are all equally in danger. She ripped those kids out of the Excellent Program. The EP is the place where brilliance is revealed. Those young minds are the best hope this country has right now. It is their unique differences that bring us answers. By harming those children — which obviously is her ultimate plan, Lareina Elliot is fueling yet another Civil War.”

“Why would she do that? What is her purpose?”

“To repeat myself. Her purpose is to start another Civil War. She has known relations in the anti-government hate group know as the Revolutionaries who seek to undermine government rule at every turn.”

“So this guy you put on the case, Christian Deverell I think you called him, his job isn’t really to arrest Lareina and bring her in, is it?”

“Deverell is a Crisis Containment and Suppression Architect. His job is to protect our citizens by removing the threat of terrorism. What else would he do…but bring her in…to face…justice? However, if she doesn’t wish to comply, she is, a murderer. He will deal with her as such.”

“I don’t know, it just seems like a return to a status based society always leads to eliminating dissidents. Nobody wants to listen to them and try to understand. Maybe find a new solution that helps everyone.”

“The solution we have helps everyone. I don’t think you have to worry about Lareina being heard. She has been heard, with distinct clarity. An Excellence Program graduate herself, she has been a counselor at our preparatory school, The Presque Isle Academy, for five or six years, now. In fact, she and Deverell studied together and he was her liaison for the program kids with disciplinary and disruption issues. She has had every channel available to air her imagined grievances.”

“So they were a couple?”

“Elliot is black. Deverell is white. They were never romantically involved.”

“Of course they weren’t. How will being dead make her happier? I’ve been the odd one out, and don’t appreciate all the segregation talk.”

“Lareina cannot live in the world as it is today. She can’t make it into a utopia that never existed. She can’t take lives and punish innocent children as a means of making war durning this troubled time in our great nation. If it comes to death -and I didn’t say that, you did. If it comes to her death she won’t have the weight of all those victims of her actions on her head. She won’t be destroying Deverell’s reputation any longer. She won’t be destroying the lives of the children she was entrusted to guide. She won’t be exposing the Excellence Program to its enemies.”

“I kind of hope they get back together and stick it to the system.”

“Isn’t going to happen. No one beats the system. Not my system, anyway. I have another man on both of them. MaKade knows how to take care of business. You’re sounding like a dissident sympathizer. Where is this radio station of yours anyway?”

“Hhhhgggghhh, shhhhhhh, Sorry static on the line, gotta go.

“You can read all about Lareina and Christian, and all the other players in KAYOS: The Bad & The Worse, by Tracy Ball. I’ll include all the deets on the website. Now I’m off to scrub all my digital signals and make sure Commander Joffener and his jackbooted thugs can’t find me.”

***

Blurb: 

Hell has two fires— War and Women
Lareina Elliot discovered her idea for making students loyal to the government is being implemented to further the war. It has become her life’s work to undermine that effort.

Agent Christian Deverell promised to protect Lareina, always. But that was before he flipped sides, before their history got dirty, before he commissioned her adopted brother to assassinate her.

Cpl. Silas McKade never misses. He has a death warrant for Lareina—the woman who means everything to him— and a soul full of hatred for Christian—- the man he wants to be. He’s either going to break Lareina’s heart or stop it altogether.

Amazon Black Rose Press Barnes & Noble
Bio: 

Novelist, Reviewer, Content Editor, Blogger, T-shirt Wearer, and Professional Snacker; Tracy A. Ball is a native Baltimorean and a veteran West Virginian whose family is blended from three cultures. She has opened her home to foster children, drug addicts, AIDS victims and anyone who needed an assist. She has an equal number of conservative and liberal friends. She knows people who have committed murder and people who have dined with the Pope.
Which is why she writes sweet stories about tough love.

…and naps a lot.

Her other published works include:

The Right Way To Be Wrong

The Tiger & The Snake (Dangerous Love Anthology)

Civil Warriors ( 2nd edition coming soon)

Connect with Tracy on social media:

Facebook Twitter Webpage Author Services

Meet Natalie Ducey #RRBC

As part of the Rave Reviews Book Club, I occasionally get to host authors on their spotlight tours. The most supportive authors are chosen for this spot, and Natalie is a super supporter. I want you guys to give her a warm welcome, and don’t be afraid to use those sharing buttons at the bottom.

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Thank you for joining me today on this fourth day of the “Spotlight” tour!

Today, I’d love to share an extension of my poetry that is very near and dear to my heart.

When passion and purpose collide.
Did you know that the simple act of piecing together a jigsaw puzzle can offer therapeutic benefits? It can, and the promising findings were impossible to ignore. While stimulating the brain, it also acts as a form of meditation, allowing the mind to relax. This simultaneous action has shown promising findings for people living with dementia, and can be a valuable source of reprieve for individuals living and coping with mental illness, including PTSD.

My twin sister (Nicole) and I are both proud wives of long-serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces. We didn’t plan it that way. But we are blessed beyond measure.

We all know the devastating impact of PTSD.  It hurts everyone. The man or woman suffering with it, their spouses, partners, children, parents, siblings, friends, relatives, and even their pets. Everyone is impacted.  Many of those who are suffering with PTSD are military, police, paramedics, and firefighters. They are our first responders. In their selfless acts of service, they have suffered. It’s painful to see.

We have immense respect for those who serve, those who suffer, and those who struggle to find peace in their minds and hearts. If we can contribute even a small piece of peace, it is our privilege and honour to do so.

It is this inner call to action that Peace by Piece Puzzles was born.

We both have had fulfilling careers in business (Nicole) and counselling (me). Through our work and personal journey, we have witnessed the remarkable power of the human spirit. Equipped with empathy and compassion, we are eager to make a difference. We believe that every act of kindness, every gesture of love and understanding, is an infinite gift of grace. Let’s never underestimate its power, for it is a precious and always timely gift.

What is a Peace by Piece Puzzle?

Along with a beautiful, tranquil image, every Peace by Piece Puzzle carries an inspirational verse, a message of hope and love. The verses are written by me and come from a heart of gratitude. Through my words, I aspire to offer solace and hope, love and understanding.

In our face-paced, dynamic, and often complex lives, a gift to oneself or a loved one is special.  A Peace by Piece Puzzle is a gift from the heart; it is permission to quiet the mind alone, or come together with a loved one in a shared experience. During those moments when words are sometimes hard to find, a Peace by Piece Puzzle can be your voice.

There are eight verses/puzzles available:

o A Mother’s Love

o A Father’s Love

o Mighty Heart

o Into the Light

o To My Sister

o From Me, To You

o Our Story

o Still Me
Today, I would like to share with you the verse “Mighty Heart.” I wrote this piece as a tribute and testament to the power and resiliency of the human spirit. This poem is included in my second and recently published poetry collection, The Heart’s Lullaby.

I believe mental wellness should not be a convoluted concept; it’s an essential piece of our lives. A daily promise to ourselves that we are worthy to be free of inner turmoil, free to love and be loved. Piece by piece, step by step, we can do this. We are all in this together.

Please visit our website, view our puzzles, and share with others.

www.peacebypiecepuzzles.com

Mighty Heart

We admire another’s courage

While doubting our own

Yet we’ve prevailed mighty hardships

Battles waged and won.

We hold no trophies or medallions

No headlines speak our name

We rose from the ashes

And piece by piece we built again.

Our scars tell a story

We braved the fiercest storms

For we’re both the pioneer and vessel

That ventured into the unknown.

We are not of myth or legend

Our hearts know the burden well

We bore, sustained, and survived

For into the fray we sailed.

Fear shall not cage nor define us

Here we stand on vast, shaky ground

So, let’s never doubt our courage

Dare this mighty voyage … both noble and proud.
© Natalie Ducey

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In celebration of my “Spotlight” tour, I’m delighted to say my second and recently published poetry collection The Heart’s Lullaby is currently available for .99 cents!

With a BA in Psychology, Natalie has worked in the Counselling field for 15 years. Through her work and personal journey, she has witnessed the remarkable power of the human spirit. Now, as an author and poet, she is passionate about stories that touch the heart and awaken the soul. Through words, she aspires to offer solace and hope, love and understanding. Natalie is the Co-owner and Writer of Peace by Piece Puzzles. She is the Owner/Writer/Designer of Whispers of the Heart (printable art/poetry/verse). She was born and raised in beautiful Newfoundland, Canada, with her two brothers and twin sister. She now resides in Ontario, Canada, with her husband, a Soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, and their little dog, Bella. She loves kayaking and the freedom and serenity of being one with water. She is an avid reader, passionate writer, and seeker of tranquility along life’s mystifying journey.

You can connect with Natalie on:

Website/Blog – www.natalieducey.com

Facebook – Whispers of the Heart

Twitter – @NatalieDucey

Pinterest – Natalie Ducey

Author Page – Natalie Ducey

Google +1 – Natalie Ducey

GoodReads Author Page – Natalie Ducey

LinkedIn – Natalie Ducey