Archive for the ‘Guest Post’ Category

Land Of Two Moons By D. L. Gardner ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: March 4, 2026 in Action/Adventure, giveaways, Guest Post, YA
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Political unrest, war over valuable mines, forbidden love,
and a homesick dragon bound in chains threaten the land of two moons.

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Land of Two Moons

by D.L. Gardner

Genre: YA Epic SciFi Fantasy Adventure

“The gritty
reality of trench warfare and the smoky chaos of riots is striking in D. L.
Gardner’s Land of Two Moons…a rich and ambitious fantasy novel that
successfully builds a world trembling on the brink of magical and political
upheaval. This is a delicate, intricate novel that rewards patient
reading.” – Independent Book Review

Arthur and Hallie are twin siblings, son and daughter of the
Duke of Lodesmoor. Humble teenagers who befriend the village people and
sympathize with their grievances. Their father, Lord Balmier, whose duchy is
approaching financial collapse, uses his subjects as pawns in a battle over a
string of valuable mines.

Lord Balmier sees his son’s sympathy toward the serfs as an
alliance against him and soon acts to squelch Arthur’s sedition.

Hallie clings to a forbidden love, and both siblings must
resist their father’s harsh rule.

All the while they are unaware that their mother keeps a
mystical dragon named Killian, bound in chains by a spell, whose fate will
affect them all.

As the twin moons approach a rare and magical eclipse,
alliances shift, secrets unravel, and Arthur and Hallie must choose between
loyalty, freedom, and sacrifice to save their people and themselves.

 

“With strong
pacing and a cast of memorable characters – including a homesick dragon, this
is the perfect book for fans of the ‘fantasy’ genre. Highly recommended!” – The
Wishing Shelf

***Check
out the kickstarter campaign!**

Amazon * B&N * Books2Read

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Land of Two Moons will be a limited edition leather
hardcover signed and numbered, a special edition case laminate hardcover, an
eBook, and a paperback with printed edges. A rigid slip case is available for
the hardcovers.

***Check out the kickstarter campaign!**

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Prologue

     Pattin didn’t know what they were fighting for. All he
knew was that when their commander yelled the order he was to let loose his
arrows toward another trench opposite theirs somewhere in the Red Sands desert.
Rumor was they were fighting over mines, dukes, power, and money. Nothing he’d
ever be privy to. It didn’t matter. He was here because he’d been conscripted.

He’d been in this trench for nine days straight. Hot,
drenched in sweat, sick to his stomach, and with little to eat or drink. Tired
of swatting flies and stepping over the bodies of his comrades, he was ready to
leave. No one wanted to be here, especially not the lads from Bidsworth, and
especially not on the front lines.

He spat the dust out of his mouth and bit another piece
of jerky.

“When is she going to come for us?” he asked his
friend.

“Tonight, they said. Maybe,” Ivan whispered.

“What do you mean, maybe? She promised.”

“She can only take five at a time.”

“Bloody Marks, she’s been here every night for a week.
What’s she going to do, get everyone but us? The more people who leave, the
less chance of survival for those who stay. I’m too young to die in this rat
hole.”

Ivan shrugged—a hint that he wasn’t happy about the
situation either.

“We could try and make a run for it on our own,” Pattin
whispered, his lips barely moving, glancing around the desolate countryside.

Over the sand, the heat waves danced, crafting a mirage
of water, a deceptive illusion that only a fool would pursue. Bait for the
enemy. Pattin licked his lips, wishing for a drink of cool water from the
springs in Bidsworth, his homeland, a wealthy duchy whose stone structures
mirrored the color of the red earth. Here in the wasteland, iron ore poisoned
the vegetation, and there was nothing but dust as far as the horizon. The
soldiers hated this place, and rumors of desertion were burning the ears of the
agents at base. The officers were watching the troops like hawks.

“Fool. We’d have bolts in our backs, dead. Is that what
you want? If I’m going to desert, I’m doing it with Kezia.” Ivan wiped the
sweat from his brow; his face caked with red earth. Even his eyelashes were
laden with dirt.

“What makes her so special that she can get us out with
no one noticing?”

Ivan snickered and glared at him. “She’s the duke’s
daughter, remember? Plus, she’s smart, crafty, and wicked.”

“Duke sabotages his own army through his daughter!”
Pattin mumbled.

“Stop complaining or she’ll never come and get you.”

Pattin wiped his brow, his mouth fixed in a frown. She
might not come for him at all. It’s everyone else’s luck to be saved by a
duchess.

“Heads up!” The dreaded warning arrived just
as a flurry of bolts blotted out the sun.

Pattin covered his head with his shield. Ivan lifted
his own targe to cover his body while the plummeting projectiles thundered on
it.

“Move!” came the command.

Like a terrified beetle, Pattin crouched on the ground
and joined the others, locking his shield with Ivan’s as the company crawled
through the trench, hands and knees bleeding, while avoiding the corpses of
friends who didn’t survive. Away from the onslaught they moved, abandoning
their supplies. Someone would be sent back for them when the sun settled on the
horizon and the two moons rose.

Soon everyone here would have to leave the trenches and
charge at the enemy. That was a standard maneuver, and it was just a matter of
time. Hand to hand combat would kill him, Pattin was certain. With practiced
ease, he could loose an arrow, always striking the mark. But his end would come
by the cold steel of a sword. He hoped it would be tomorrow. He wasn’t ready to
die today.

Maybe Kezia would draw his name and come for him
tonight. Maybe he would live through this bloody war, after all.

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What kind of world ruler would you be?

Ha! This is a loaded question. Thank you, Silver Dagger Blog Tour for posing it to me.

Shall I start my campaign now? Or should I wait until the deep freeze?

In all honesty, I would probably be the worst world leader ever. But then, you can’t be a leader unless someone follows you and I was never very successful at having more than a cluster of children running along behind me.

Why wouldn’t I be a good leader?

  • I can’t hear very well. My husband and I spend more time saying “What?” than having a real conversation.
  • My voice doesn’t carry. I’ve been to book events and said “Hello” to a dozen people and they walk on by.
  • I hate talking in front of an audience. So much, I stutter. I was in a play in high school once. I was the Countess in You Can’t Take it With You. I looked really pretty in this gorgeous dress with a shiny tiara in my hair. I was so nervous I forgot all my lines. It was embarrassing and everyone was mad at me. I never got cast in another part again, thank goodness.
  • I find it difficult making a decision. Just the other day I was ordering something from a home-based business, and I changed my mind so many times I flooded them with emails. No one knew what I was ordering.
  • When I do make a decision, I think about it afterwards until I conclude I made the wrong decision. Then it’s too late and then I feel guilty.
  • I don’t fly. If I had to go to a country overseas, I’d have to take a cruise boat. That would hold up a few meetings, I think.
  • As far as the campaign? I detest competition. Once they started slandering me, I’d drop out. I’m not much of a soldier. I am certainly not officer material. I can think of having a backbone. I give my characters in my stories plenty of valor and honor. It’s all wannabe for me. I have inner strength, but rarely does it show outwardly. Unless I’m mad. Then everyone hides.

So. In conclusion, please do not nominate me for world leader. I don’t even want to tell them how to do their job!

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D.L. Gardner is an
award-winning author, artist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with over 28
published works to her credit. Writing and painting are her passions and
fantasy her forte. When she’s not pounding keys on the computer, she’s canning
salsa, picking apples, listening to the voices of critters in the woods, or
watching flowers grow. She loves visiting far-off lands through books by both
reading and writing.

Her genres include all fantasy, historical, and mystery.

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Get to know D.L. through her websites and blogs or send her a message her on Kickstarter.

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Currently a FINALIST (2025 March) in
the Cannes World Wide Film Festival for her screen adaption of her book An
Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody.

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Other awards include Wishing
Shelf book Award 2023 for audio, B.R.A.G. Award 2022 for the Cho Nisi series,
Book Excellence Award 2019 and 2015 for Ian’s Realm and Cassandra’s Castle.
Best Screenplay adaptation from her book Dylan at the Paris Screenplay Awards,
Mile Hill International Screenplay Awards, L.A. Edge Awards, European
Cinematography Awards, and Moondance Film Festival. Best Screenplay Award for
adaptation from her book An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody at Veers Film
Festival, Best Screenplay Award for adaptation of Ian’s Realm at the Twin Falls
Sandwiches Film Festival and many more.

  

Website * Newsletter * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!

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Enter the Land of Two Moons Giveaway Here

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Detective Ryan Mysteries By Clive Fleury ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: February 14, 2026 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Guest Post
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The truth doesn’t sleep — and neither does Detective Ryan.

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Off Season

A Detective Ryan Mystery #1

by Clive Fleury

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Detective Ryan
navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold
case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan’s career with Sydney’s prestigious Organized Crime Unit
is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city’s most powerful drug
dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach
town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned
rest. But not this year! With the detective’s arrival, the town suddenly
becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both
victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the
beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who
disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a
contract taken out on Ryan’s life, and it’s clear that the detective has jumped
out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth
and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order
of the day.

Praise For OFF SEASON

 

“Off Season is a sensational and thrilling mystery
that will take its reader on a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns
galore while always entertaining and thrilling you!”

 —Aimee – GOODREADS
review

 

“Attention grabber. Moves quickly and smoothly. Informative.
Enjoyable. Don’t miss.”

—Margaret – GOODREADS review

“Fleury masterfully crafts a narrative that is both
fast-paced and intricately plotted. The story kicks off with a bang and
maintains its momentum throughout, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing
cliffhanger. The plot is peppered with unexpected twists and turns, keeping
readers interested.”

—J. Komrie – GOODREADS review

“Great build-up of suspense, a layered plot, and an enticing
protagonist. Takes a lot of turns, which I love. This is definitely a page
turner for anyone who loves a good crime mystery.”

—Carolina Rolim – Verified AMAZON reader review

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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All Or None

A Detective Ryan Mystery #2

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to
the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is
assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and
running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following
the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to
past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the
detective finds that he too, is in the killer’s crosshairs. But Ryan is
distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old
university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new
obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to
her recent medical tests? And there’s another pressing problem-the plague of
rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan’s hands are well and truly full!

Praise For ALL OR NONE

A riveting read. Anyone who likes mystery and crime, you
won’t be able to put this down. Thought it was an elegant continuation of this
universe. – Carolina R, Amazon Reviewer

I really enjoyed this book. I love it when you keep changing
your mind about who did it to find out at the end that you’re still
wrong. – Nancy F., Goodreads Reviewer

All or None exceeded my expectations. The murders kept me
guessing, but what I loved most was Ryan himself tough on the outside,
vulnerable on the inside, and surrounded by challenges that made him relatable.
– Mary M., Goodreads Reviewer

I devoured this ARC in two sittings. The tension builds
perfectly, and the clues are woven in so well that you feel like you’re
investigating alongside Ryan and Zoe. The personal subplots (his mom, the
romance, even the rats!) add depth without slowing down the action. –
Minor C, Goodreads Reviewer

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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What inspired you to write this book? 

My decision to write “All or None” the second book in the Detective Ryan mystery series, came because I really liked the characters – Detective Ramesh Ryan, Zoe Yang, Mumta Ryan — in “Off Season” the first book in the series. I wanted to explore where they would take me.

What can we expect from you in the future? 

Definitely more Detective Ryan mystery novels.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in ALL OR NONE?

In my latest novel “All Or None” Detective Ramesh Ryan remains the principal character. He’s bright, determined, and loves being a detective. However, he is socially inept, a bit of a mother’s boy, and can be too stubborn and too much of a loner for his own good.

Detective Zoe Yang is Ryan’s junior partner. New to Sydney, she likes being a detective, but it is not for her the be all and end all of life. A Ying to Ryan’s Yang, she is social, friendly and outgoing. She is also indecisive… unsure about whether to stay in the city or return to beach life on the Central Coast.

Mumta Ryan,  Ramesh Ryan’s mother, was born in India, and met her late husband, British-born banker Harold, in Australia. Although financially secure, Harold’s death ten years ago has left an indelible mark on her, and she doesn’t intend to remarry.  She loves trying new things and flits from one passion/pastime to another.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

I’ve always loved thrillers and mysteries and so writing books that have both these elements was a no brainer. I live for part of the year in a suburb in Sydney, Australia called Potts Point. It is full of unusual and quirky people. I draw my characters and inspiration from here.

Where did you come up with the names in the story? 

Names are my bête noire. I always have difficulty plucking characters names out of the ether. I regularly have to go back to change a name when I am halfway through a book because I think of a better name. This can cause major editing problems, and is not something I would encourage any writer to do.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

Finishing it.

I think people who don’t write for a living have this romantic notion of writing being a profession that is carefree and full of excitement. Nothing could be further from the truth. Writing is all about discipline… It doesn’t matter how you feel you have to aim to get a certain number of words on a page every day. It’s hard graft, and it’s only when you finally reach the end of a novel do you get that feeling of excitement and achievement.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel? 

It’s always difficult to come up with a title for a first novel, particularly when, as in this case, the book is number one in a series. In my case I wanted a title that was short and snappy, and gave some information about one of the themes of the novel. I thought Off Season fitted the bill, as the book is about a city detective who is assigned to a sleepy town during the winter when there are no tourists.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

I would love to have Dev Patel to play my lead detective, Detective Ramesh Ryan in a TV series.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination? 

The jobs my lead characters do are real, but who or what they are comes mostly from my imagination.

Is there a writer whose brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why? 

Lee Childs/James Grant. I would like to pick his brains on how he had the discipline to write so many books about the same character, Jack Reacher, and to make all the novels interesting.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I left university in one form or another — first as a journalist, then as a screen writer and finally, now, as an author.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? 

The advantage of writing a series is that after the first novel, the principal characters are established. Future books allow you to explore and expand on their quirks and idiosyncrasies. However, other characters, those who begin as minor players, can start to push their way into a book and become more important.

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Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and
screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and
producer. He has written six books, most recently ‘All Or None’, the second
novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

‘All Or None’ sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of
things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a
worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further
sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit’s, crime thrillers, and cop
and detective stories will love this novel.

Clive’s other books include ‘Off Season’ – book one in the
Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; ‘Kill Code’ – a dystopian science fiction
novel set in a world facing climate change;
‘Scary Lizzy’  – a novel about an
eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy
Next Door ‘ –  a story of what happens
when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he
seems.  He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin
and The Curse of The Four’ – a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage
boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $25 giveaway!

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Enter the Detective Ryan Mysteries Giveaway Here

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

A Quiet Kind Of Wrong By Mary Frances Hill ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: January 29, 2026 in giveaways, Guest Post, thriller
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Book Details:

​  A QUIET KIND OF WRONG (A Novel)

By Mary Frances Hill
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  266 pages

Genre: Thriller, Domestic Thriller
Publisher: Mary Frances Hill
Release date:  September 2025
Content Rating:  PG-13 + M: Non explicit sex scenes; a few curse words in dialogue and conversation. No violence

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Book Description:

​One mistake. One secret. One family about to unravel.

Jane Taylor seems to have it all—a loving husband, a successful career as a children’s book author, and a picture-perfect life in Orange County. But one terrible night, she hits her neighbor’s teenage son, panics, and drives away. The police never come to arrest her.

For a year, Jane hides behind her carefully constructed suburban façade. Then a true crime podcaster revisits the unsolved case, and her son, Noah, a podcast addict, discovers the guilt-soaked letters Jane has been writing to the victim.

When Jane resolves to confess, Noah begs her for time. He’s sure the truth about that night is more complicated. Terrified of what her imprisonment would do to her family, Jane reluctantly agrees to Noah’s request. But as their search for answers pulls them deeper into the secrets of their seemingly safe neighborhood, Jane soon realizes that she’s not the only one hiding something.

Dark, twist-filled, and emotionally charged, A Quiet Kind of Wrong explores guilt, family loyalty, and how far we’ll go to protect the lives we’ve created, even when they’re built on lies.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon 
​add to goodreads
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Guest Post By Author Mary Frances Hill
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Why Place Matters in Thrillers

Because of my husband’s career in the consumer products and vitamin industry, I’ve moved fourteen times—all within the US. I’ve lived in Florida, Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, California, and New Hampshire, bouncing between small towns, suburbs, and big cities. It’s a lifestyle that forces you to pay attention. New rules. New rhythms. New unspoken expectations.

All that moving didn’t just shape who I am. It shaped how I write.

Living in so many different places taught me how profoundly setting influences behavior. In a tiny New Hampshire town like Lake Sunapee, rumors feel dangerous, almost inescapable. In a city like Los Angeles, they dissolve into the noise. People are too busy, too career-focused, too scattered to care. In upper-middle-class suburbs like Princeton, New Jersey, keeping up with the Joneses can feel like a competitive sport. But in places like Key West, Florida, or Venice, California, conformity is practically a crime and individuality reigns supreme.

When I sit down to write a novel, setting is always my first decision… before plot, before characters, before the inciting incident. Writers often say that in the most memorable novels, the setting becomes a character in its own right. I think that’s especially true of thrillers.

Consider The Shining without the isolated hotel. Or Shiver without the French Alps. The Beach without its too-perfect tropical paradise. Or Gone Girl without the claustrophobic Missouri river town. Set those stories anywhere else, and they lose much of their power, their menace.

Why does place matter so much?

When I was a teenager in the late 80’s, living in Lawrenceville, New Jersey (population 2,116), I complained endlessly about how small and suffocating it felt. My mother would always say, “You take yourself with you wherever you go. Your problems too.” She wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t entirely right either.

If you’re painfully shy, a big city lets you disappear. You can blend in, avoid eye contact, live anonymously. But in a town where everyone knows your name and your cousin’s, you can’t hide. You’re forced to interact. To be seen. To confront the parts of yourself you’d rather ignore.

That, I think, is one of the secrets of truly great thrillers. Their authors trap their protagonists in the exact place where their fears and weaknesses are impossible to escape. Clarice Starling may have fled her uncle’s sheep ranch in Montana, but she can’t flee the prison corridors of The Silence of the Lambs.

In my thriller, A Quiet Kind of Wrong, Jane Taylor is desperate to conceal her crime, but that’s nearly impossible in the Orange County suburbs, where neighbors are observant, curious, and deeply invested in one another’s lives.

In thrillers, place isn’t just a backdrop. It’s pressure. It’s exposure. It’s the thing that refuses to let the protagonist, or the reader, look away.

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Meet Author Mary Frances Hill:

Mary Frances Hill was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The daughter of a music professor and an elementary school teacher, she obtained a master’s degree in counseling psychology and worked as a therapist before raising two children. Mary currently lives in Southern California with her Russian Blue and Scottish Straight cats, her Pyredoodle puppy, her golfer husband, and her adult son and daughter. She is an avid dog walker and home renovator and loves binge-watching true crime documentaries and mysteries. She is the author of three novels: The Worm Man, The Heaven Spot, and A Quiet Kind of Wrong.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~ instagram ~  Goodreads 

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Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template
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QUIET KIND OF WRONG (a novel) Book Tour Giveaway

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Islands In The Mist By J.M. Hofer ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: January 26, 2026 in Fantasy, giveaways, Guest Post
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Book Details:

 ISLANDS IN THE MIST
(Book 1)
by J.M. Hofer 

Category:  Adult Fiction (18 yrs +),  394 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher:  Indie
Release date:   July 10, 2014
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it’s not gory or explicit

 

 

Book Description:

Set in Iron Age Britain and steeped in Welsh legend, the Islands in the Mist series brings to life the magic and mystery of the Arthurian Age.

In Islands in the Mist, we meet the great warrior, Bran, called home from the battlefield to his mother’s deathbed. He honors her final wish by vowing to solve the mystery of what fatally attacked her in the night. Though many have dismissed it as a wolf attack, she insists it was not, and encourages him to seek the counsel of Talhaiarn, druid advisor to their clan.

On his journey, Bran encounters the fiery Lucia, widow to a Roman centurion, and her strangely-gifted stable boy, Gwion–an enigmatic child graced with understanding beyond his years. Lucia possesses “the Sight,” an ability that has plagued her from the time she was a small girl, tormenting her with disturbing visions of events that invariably come to pass. Fate leads her to discover many of her maternal ancestors were masterful women gifted with similar psychic abilities and that some of them have been watching her from the shadows for years.

Upon returning to his village, Bran finds himself at odds with the hot-tempered Aelhaearn, who is determined to become their clan’s next chieftain. To Aelhaearn’s disappointment, Bran’s sister, now priestess in her mother’s place, convinces the clan to choose Bran for the honor instead. In the aftermath of their conflict, Bran discovers something shocking about his rival that causes him to rue his sister’s decision.

As everyone strives to unravel the mystery surrounding their nocturnal enemies, their creator patiently carries out her plan, woven from the exploited weaknesses of her opponents. Slowly, all but one are pulled into the seductive maelstrom of her power.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
B&N ~ BAM
add to Goodreads

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Titus And The Christian Coin By Dennis Conrad ~ Guest Post and Giveaway

Posted: January 9, 2026 in Excerpt, giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
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Book Details:

Titus and the Christian Coin: An Adventure of Faith and Freedom

by Dennis Conrad

Category:  Teen and Young Adult Fiction (Ages 12-18),  132 pages
Genre:  Christian Teen and Young Adult Ancient Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Write4Christ Publishing
Release date:   November 3, 2025
Format available for review:  print-softback (USA only), ebook (EPUB), audiobook (audible-download)
Tour dates: Jan 6 to Feb 2, 2025
Content Rating:  G. This Christian book is for teens and young adult.

Real. Raw. Riveting. A true story of redemption.

​Dennis does an excellent job stirring up the heart and imagination of his reader. A must read for all Christians, both young and old. — Derek Singer, Pastor, Canyon Lake Community Church, Canyon Lake, California
Dennis Conrad crafts an entertaining and enduring tale in Titus and the Christian Coin. He does not sidestep the difficult, real-life questions that Christians still ask today, but rather masterfully interweaves the context of an ancient setting with relatable and timeless struggles. A great read for anyone, especially in the young adult genre. — David Finnern, award-winning novelist/journalist and author of the Lost Tales and Sunken Mysteries series.
Titus and the Christian Coin, by Dennis Conrad is a wonderful story of faith and God’s sovereignty. The story is gripping and inspiring while telling the story of Christian history during the time of Constantine. It also shows the importance of hope, hard work, and forgiveness. This book should be on every middle young adult’s reading list. — Terrie Hellard-Brown, award-winning author and podcaster

Book Description:

​When Titus refuses to deny his Christian faith, Roman persecution destroys his family and condemns him to a brutal life in the copper mines of northern Italy.

​Underground, surrounded by despair and danger, he must choose between hatred and hope, revenge and redemption.

From a mine collapse to an emperor’s audience hall, Titus’s journey spans the Roman Empire during Constantine’s transformative reign. Alongside Tribune Felix, he discovers that true freedom comes through forgiveness, not force. Authentic historical details bring ancient Rome to life while timeless themes of faith, friendship, and courage inspire modern readers.

This gripping adventure combines accurate historical research with compelling storytelling. Readers will witness early Christian persecution, experience Roman culture, and walk through Constantine’s palace while following Titus’s transformation from broken slave to Roman citizen.

An unforgettable tale where archaeological accuracy meets heart-pounding adventure, proving that faith can triumph over the darkest circumstances and that God’s love never abandons His people.

​Buy the Book
Amazon ~ Audible
add to goodreads
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Guest Post
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Left on the Cutting Room Floor

Titus’s story was edited and reedited several times. The final edit makes the story come alive and allows readers to become emersed in the world of 312 A.D. Rome.

“Outtakes” are scenes of movies that are cut and do not show up in the final version of the film. The same happens while editing a book. Some deleted facts and scenes were cut or rewritten prior to the final published version.

Titus, the main character, and Felix, a high-ranking Roman official, ride horses on their adventure from northern Italy to Rome.

Before the final rewrite Titus’s feet were in stirrups and he was holding on to the saddle’s pommel for grip and stability. The question: Was this accurate for Italy in 312 A.D.?

After further study, I learned that although stirrups were used in China as early as 300 B.C., they were not used in Europe until the 600s. Pommels did not exist in Italy in 312 A.D. Rather, saddles had horns at the corners of the saddle for holding on and to attach supplies.

Additionally, before editing, several pages detailed the construction of the Arch of Constantine. My coauthor artfully used less than a page of dialogue to explain how artists repurposed sections of other existing arches to complete Constantine’s arch on schedule.

Blessings to you and yours,

Dennis Conrad

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Meet Author Dennis Conrad:

Dennis Conrad began writing stories for children in 2007. Over the years, he and his wife, Diane, have enterained their 11 nieces and nephews. He has taught high school through univeristy and around the world. He’s helped many to see God in their lives.
As a former coin collector of fifty years, Dennis combines his love of Jesus, the Bible, children’s literature, and writing stories about coins.
He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators and a Fellow of the National Writing Project.
connect with the authors: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads

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TITUS AND THE EMPERORS COIN Series Book Tour Giveaway

 

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High Couch Of Silistra By Janet Morris ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: December 28, 2025 in Dystopian, Fantasy, giveaways, Guest Post
Tags: , , ,
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High Couch of Silistra, first of the notorious
Silistra Quartet, brings us to a realm where thought alters probability, where
creativity is inextricably linked to the urge to own and dominate, and where
the universe itself is amenable to a focused mind.

Rooted deeply in humanity’s mythic past yet unaware
of the planet Earth, High Couch of Silistra begins one woman’s mythic quest for
self-knowledge – with surprising results.

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High Couch of Silistra

The Silistra Quartet Book 1

by Janet Morris

Genre: Dystopian Epic SciFi Fantasy Romance

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Biology shapes reality…

One woman’s mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow…

Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized
stars.

Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.

“Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure.” – Charles N. Brown,
Locus Magazine

“The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in
tomorrow’s universe”

– Frederik Pohl

“The best single example of prostitution used in fantasy is Janet Morris’
Silistra series… Estri’s character is most like that of Ishtar who describes
herself as “‘a prostitute compassionate am I'” because she
“symbolizes the creative submission to the demands of instinct, to the
chaos of nature …the free woman, as opposed to the domesticated woman”.
Linking Estri with these lunar and water symbols is not difficult because of
the moon’s eternal virginity (the strength of integrity) links with her changeability
(the prostitute’s switching of lovers). […]

Morris strengthens the moon imagery by having Estri as a
well-keepress because wells, fountains, and the moon as the orb which controls
water have long been associated with fertility, […] In a sense, she is like
the moon because she is apparently eternal, never waxing or waning except in
her pursuit of the quest; she is the prototypical wanderer like the moon and
Ishtar. She is the eternal night symbol of the moon in opposition to the
Day-Keepers […]

 At her majority (her
three hundredth birthday), she is given a silver-cubed hologram letter from her
mother, containing a videotape of her conception by the savage bronzed
barbarian god from another world. […] If Estri’s mother then acts as a bawd,
willing her lineage as Well-Keepress to her daughter, then Estri’s
great-grandmother Astria as foundress of the Well becomes a further mother-bawd
figure when she offers her prophetic advice in her letter: “Guard Astria
for you may lose it, and more. Beware of one who is not as he seems. Stray not
in the port city of Baniev …look well about you, for your father’s daughter’s
brother seeks you”. Having no brother that she knows of does not stay
Estri from undertaking the heroic quest of finding her father.”

 – Anne K. Kaler, The
Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine

Amazon * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

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I am Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi, former Well-Keepress of Astria on the planet
Silistra. I have begun three times to tell this story, and three times I have
been interrupted. This, then, the fourth attempt, will surely prove successful.

Perhaps you have heard of Silistra, the planet that was catalyst to the sexual
revolution in the year twenty-two thousand, seven hundred and four Bipedal
Federate Standard Time, or of the Silistran serums that lengthen life and
restore vitality in virtually any bipedal life form, or perhaps you have at
some time contracted the services of a Silistran telepath, or a precognitive,
or a deep reader. It is possible that you have in your own home the
scintillating, indestructible web-cloth woven by our domestic arachnids, or
have seen holograms of our golachits, those intelligent builder-beetles who
exude from their mouths a translucent, superhard substance called gol and
create from this gol, under the guidance of the chit-guards, the formidable and
resplendent structures in which we live and work.

And perhaps you have seen no web-cloth, no gol, never been ill, and are not
interested in sex. If so, you may never have heard of Silistra.

I carry Silistra in my mind’s eye, here under this alien sun. In my mind alone
can I look out the east window of my beloved exercise hall in Well Astria and
see the sun’s rising burst upon the jewel-like towers and keeps of the Inner
Well and a thousand rainbows arc and dance in the greening sky.

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What is something unique/quirky about you?

I breed Morgan horses. I consult with Morgan breeders to help them choose breeding combinations to achieve a desired result.

I am also a song writer; I play bass guitar with my husband Chris who sings and plays guitar. We have an album on MCA records. Look for Christopher Crosby Morris on Soundcloud or N1M.com

Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I wrote my first novel, High Couch of Silistra in 1975; a friend sent it to an agent who chose to represent me; I had already written the second book in the Silistra Quartet and my agent told me not to disclose that until they finalized the contract for the first one. When the publisher learned of the others, Bantam Books bought the succeeding three. When the fourth book was published, the series already had four million copies in print. Suddenly I was a novelist specializing in environmental, gender, historical and political subjects. In the process, Chris became my editor and ultimately a co-writer. Since then, we have co-authored many books.

Who is your hero and why?

Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-socratic philosopher, whose Cosmic Fragments foreshadow our knowledge of reality and how to perceive it. Among his precepts is the statement that change alone is unchanging. I’ve worked Heraclitus’ fragments in here and there throughout our books.

Which of your novels can you imagine being made into a movie?

All of them. I write cinematically, our books are vivid adventures I undertake without knowing the destination.  I, the Sun, The Sacred Band, and Outpassage are particularly suited to film. The Threshold Series is a feast of opportunities for today’s special effects creators.

What inspired you, to write The Silistra Quartet?

The Silistra Quartet was a unique departure for me and it included issues of women’s rights in the 70’s before Handmaid’s Tale.

Convince us why you feel High Couch of Silistra is a must read.

The Silistra series in which High Couch of Silistra is book 1 blazed a new trail in science fiction and fantasy, many critics saying that I had created a new pantheon of warrior women giving rise to heroines like Xena. Today it is more important than ever for everyone to accept women in leadership roles and I would like to think we had something to do with gaining them more recognition.

Who designed your book covers?

Most of my covers, including High Couch of Silistra, are realized by Roy Mauritsen, a gifted graphic artist.

Advice to writers?

As for advice to writers, here is all I know: write the story you want to read. Start at the beginning, go to the end, and stop. Seriously. From start to finish you must inhabit the construct in a manner that makes the reader choose to continue; if I, as the writer, can’t feel what it’s like being there, my readers can’t either. So close your eyes, look at your feet where they are standing on the story’s ground; tell me what you see. Tell me what you hear. Ask at the end of each paragraph ‘what happens next?’. If you lose touch with it, wait until you’re back inside it. Tell the story that comes to you, and from you, to me.

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Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in
1976 and published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris
Morris or others. She contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy
series Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a
mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She
created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell,
writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The
Little Helliad, with Chris Morris. She wrote the bestselling Silistra Quartet
in the 1970s, including High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the
Abyss, and The Carnelian Throne. This quartet had more than four million copies
in Bantam print alone, and was translated into German, French, Italian, Russian
and other languages. In the 1980s, Baen Books released a second edition of this
landmark series. The third edition is the Author’s Cut edition, newly revised
by the author for Perseid Press. Most of her fiction work has been in the
fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical
and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several
book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal
weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national
security topics.

Janet said: ‘People often ask what book to read
first. I recommend “I, the Sun” if you like ancient history;
“The Sacred Band,” a novel, if you like heroic fantasy; “Lawyers
in Hell” if you like historical fantasy set in hell;
“Outpassage” if you like hard science fiction; “High Couch of
Silistra” if you like far-future dystopian or philosophical novels. I am
most enthusiastic about the definitive Perseid Press Author’s Cut editions,
which I revised and expanded.’

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Enter the High Couch of Silistra Giveaway Here

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Tamanrasett By Edward Parr ~ Guest Post and Giveaway

Posted: November 25, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Guest Post, Historical
Tags: ,
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Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for Tamanrasett organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Edward Parr will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B&N Gift Card to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Tamanrasett

By Edward Parr

 

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis

TAMANRASSET is historical fiction set on the edge of the Sahara as the ancient world begins to fade and great empires collide. Four strangers—a mature Foreign Legionnaire, a Sharif’s wrathful son, an ambitious American archaeologist, and an abandoned Swedish widow—become adrift and isolated, but when their paths intersect, the fragile connections between them tell a story of survival and fate on the edge of the abyss. Blending the sweep of classic adventure with the horror of a great historical calamities, Edward Parr’s TAMANRASSET is a saga about the crossroads where nomads meet.

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Enjoy this peek inside:

Demoreau knelt beside Lieutenant Claussen. The Sergent had been in plenty of actions during more than twenty years of service in the Legion: The sun beating down, the barrel of his rifle smoking and hot from constant firing, the taste of sand and sulfur in his mouth as he and his comrades fought off their enraged enemy with nerves of steel and cooler heads. “Que voulez-vous? C’est la Legion!” A part of him relished it. He had a calmness of mind gained through years of experience and training. As he raised his rifle to aim at the advancing tribesmen, he recalled to his mind the melody of a fine composition, the death waltz by Saint-Saëns, which unrolled in his inner ear, turning his blood to ice. He hummed the tune as his rifle fired and his deadly accurate shooting dropped one rider after another.

Claussen was a good Lieutenant and had plenty of courage, but that did not mean he couldn’t benefit from Demoreau’s experience. The Sergent turned and faced his commander: “We’re being overwhelmed and losing too many men, Sir: We can’t maintain this position. We must move east onto the ridge where there’s cover among the rocks.”

“I know, but it may be too far, Sergent,” Claussen replied.

“Yes, it might,” the Sergent agreed, “but we still have to go: We’ll certainly all be killed if we stay here.”

Claussen looked distraught, but as he looked Demoreau in the eyes his nerve was hardened. Everything had to be done “par règlement” in the Foreign Legion. He nodded: “Yes, give the order, Sergent. Withdraw to the ridge; smartly, now.”

© 2025 by Edward Parr and Edwardian Press (New Orleans, Louisiana)

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Author Guest Post

A Journey Fraught with Peril

My novel Tamanrasset: Crossroads of the Nomad was inspired by the amazing body of action-adventure stories written about the French Foreign Legion which are set in the tumultuous early 20th century of northern Africa. As much as I enjoy these stories when taken in isolation in the spirit they were written at the time, its difficult to ignore subsequent events. I knew that if I were to write a new adventure of that era, I would absolutely need to show both sides of the story: Who were the Legionnaires? Who were the people fighting the French Foreign Legion, and what were their objectives? What were they really like?

As I continued doing research, it seemed to me that not only were a lot of the potential characters in the story Muslim, but that in some fundamental way Islam is a part of that place. There can be no doubt that writing about Islam and writing Muslim characters is fraught with peril. Just ask author Salman Rushdie: his novel, The Satanic Verses, contains a plotline where the Prophet is alleged to have transcribed verses dictated by Satan. This resulted in Iran’s Supreme Leader issuing a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s assassination, followed by years of threats, hiding, and even a violent attack on the author in 2022. But I will say that there is nothing like that in my novel. For the record, I specifically wanted readers to see the Muslim characters as real, sympathetic people, people practicing a rigorous but perhaps even understandable religion, a religion where the meaning of Qur’anic verses have been argued over for centuries in the same way as verses of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are argued over by Jewish and Christian scholars. The people of northern Africa are a varied and diverse people who for the most part live in communities of kind, like-minded individuals, men and women. In the end, I even elected to hire a sensitivity reader, a Muslim woman educator in Morocco, to give me her thoughts. I incorporated all of her invaluable suggestions.

I also wanted to make clear that the anger experienced by the native people of northern Africa, regardless of religion, was in some cases justified, and that any violence that ensued came not from religion per se but from the treatment of the native people whose countries were actually being violently conquered by France. Once France began to march soldiers directly into Morocco, it’s hardly surprising that locals would push back. On the other hand, I had no interest in vilifying the French Foreign Legionnaires who served in northern Africa. The vast majority of those soldiers enlisted in the Foreign Legion for personal reasons – some joined to avoid the law, to become a soldier the only place they could, or to find adventure, among many other reasons. Most Legionnaires were not French, and the aims of the French government were mostly irrelevant to them. The Legion asks its recruits to dedicate themselves to their fellow Legionnaires and to serve with honor even in the most desperate and the most boring deployments, and that’s the ethos and brotherhood I wanted to depict.

In the end, I hope the story is one that can be taken at face value and without assuming any underlying ideological objective on my part. The story is, ultimately, about the vast emptiness of the Sahara, and those who were there before the world changed and the vast unknown places disappeared forever. Needless to say, the array of people there at the time was remarkable.

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About Author Edward Parr:

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Edward (“Ted”) Parr studied playwriting at New York University in the 1980’s, worked with artists Robert Wilson, Anne Bogart, and the Bread and Puppet Theater, and staged his own plays Off-Off-Broadway, including Trask, Mythographia, Jason and Medea, Rising and an original translation of Oedipus Rex before pursuing a lengthy career in the law and public service. He published his Kingdoms Fall trilogy of World War One espionage adventure novels which were collectively awarded Best First Novel and Best Historical Fiction Novel by Literary Classics in 2016. He has always had a strong interest in expanding narrative forms, and in his novel writing, he explores older genres of fiction (like the pulp fiction French Foreign Legion adventures or early espionage fiction) as inspiration to examine historical periods of transformation. His main writing inspirations are Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Bernard Cornwell, Georges Surdez, and Patrick O’Brien.

 

Socials: Website / LinkedIn / Goodreads / Amazon / Reddit / Instagram / Facebook

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Sister Acts By Sharon Adelman Reyes ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: November 14, 2025 in giveaways, Guest Post, women's fiction
Tags: ,
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Book Details:

​ SISTER ACTS

by Sharon Adelman Reyes

Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  448 pages
Genre: Women’s Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Lake Grove Press
Release date:  August 2025
Content Rating: PG: Very mild profanity, mild romantic scene with some kissing.

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Synopsis:

​Four sisters. Four clashing personalities. Four different ways of living in the world.

Sister Acts explores the impact of loss on three generations of one family –- in particular, the degree to which, to paraphrase Phyllis Chesler, women are capable of inhumanity toward other women. At times heartbreaking and at times hilarious, the novel illuminates the resilience that can come from knowing one’s roots and the estrangement that can result from trying to escape them.

Sophie Malinsky’s sudden death leaves her Left-wing Jewish family in disarray. Rather than bringing her young daughters closer, the loss creates a tangle of jealousies and recriminations. Rose, the eldest, recognizing their father’s limitations, at first tries to become a surrogate mother for her three sisters. But they resent her efforts, each one channeling – or repressing – her grief in a different way. In the absence of Sophie’s love and guidance, two sisters lose their way. Naomi moves to Mexico and tries to shed her Jewish identity. Betti ends up in Nashville pursuing a dream, never realized, of stardom as a rockabilly musician. A fourth sister, Marla, strives for dominance from an early age. Her jealousy of Rose leads to a toxic rivalry that persists well into middle age, affecting their own daughters as well. Lurking behind the conflicts is a family secret that Sophie had planned, but failed, to reveal. Decades later, when Rose finally uncovers it, the Malinskys’ saga finally comes into sharp focus.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N
​add to goodreads
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Guest Post From Author Sharon Adelman Reyes
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  Why write?

Why write? For me, writing is like indelible ink laid down on the fabric of our lives. Fiction in particular is a way of discovering who we really are and what we truly think. Writing a novel gives me a feeling that I cannot be silenced and that my ideas will always have an audience. My evolution as a writer is also the story of my life. Sister Acts is the latest chapter. It’s not a memoir – the characters are fictional – but it does draw on the experience of families in which early loss leads to lifelong dysfunction.

As a child, I wrote for the sheer joy of creative invention. In high school, I took a turn towards self-expression, usually through poetry. When I launched my career as an educator, I began to write stories drawing on my observations of children, youth, and family dynamics. Later, as a college professor, my writing took on an academic tone. (Thankfully, that didn’t last long.) Looking for ways to bring deeper meaning to the printed page, I began to explore the genre of narrative research through observations and interviews. From there it was a short step to creative non-fiction, telling true stories using literary techniques. Once again writing was enjoyable!

Finally, I formed a writing group with a non-competitive circle of women engaged in diverse projects. At the time, I was the only non-fiction writer, exploring educational themes using journalistic techniques. Soon I became rather envious of my fiction-writing companions, who seemed to be having more fun with the printed word. Why not join them? I thought. So I took the plunge and began writing short stories. It was addictive! It took a few years, but those stories formed the nucleus of a novel that would become Sister Acts.

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Meet Author Sharon Adelman Reyes:

Sharon Adelman Reyes is a writer, editor, and equestrienne in Oregon, living on the slopes of an extinct volcano and looking out on an active one. During a lengthy professional career, she has published various works drawing on her experiences in multicultural teaching. Sister Acts is her first novel.

connect with the author: goodreads

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SISTER ACTS Book Tour Giveaway

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Unfollow Me By Kathryn Caraway ~ Guest Post And Giveaway

Posted: November 12, 2025 in giveaways, Guest Post, Memoir, suspense
Tags: , ,
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First comes the true story.

Then comes her fictional revenge.

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Unfollow Me

A Terrifying True Story of a Sadistic Stalker

by Kathryn Caraway

Genre: True Crime Memoir

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#1 Amazon New
Release!

What if the man
stalking you worked in IT—at the police department?

“Think it couldn’t happen to you? Think again. Read. This. Book.” —John
DeDakis, Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and former editor on CNN’s
“The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer”

This true crime case is told with brutal honesty,
exposing the silent terror of stalking. Gripping details of kidnapping,
intimate partner abuse, and surveillance using everyday tools engrained in
society—and most households—uncovers systemic blindspots. From
overlooked police reports to exhausting court battles, it’s a story of a
woman’s resilience in the face of relentless fear. A must read for fans of true
crime, survival stories, and psychological thrillers.

Stalkers don’t just
hide in the shadows. Some log in.

Kathryn meets Todd, a charming IT expert for the police
department. He coaxes her into a brief relationship and turns a normal breakup
into a reign of terror. Todd isn’t just obsessed—he’s inside Kathryn’s home
network.

He doesn’t have to be in her house to watch her. Or hear
her.

He sees her text messages—on his screen.

He can follow her car without ever leaving his house.

And he even tells her why: “You are mine. And I don’t
share.”

When Todd asks Kathryn if she wants to see death coming, she
tells him no. Now she waits for it every day. Dismissed by officers, Kathryn
builds a case police can no longer ignore. But the more she learns about Todd’s
past, the more she suspects he might be tied to the unsolved murder of a woman
she has only one thing in common with: Todd.

And if she’s right, she might be next . . .

“A powerful, riveting
account about a woman being victimized by a modern-day monster.” —Kirkus
Reviews

“Urgency of feeling
pulses throughout . . .” —BookLife

“An inspiring story
of survival . . . the horrors of stalking and its devastating effects on the
mental health of those targeted . . .” —Chanticleer Book Reviews
& Media

“The specificity of emotion, the
physiological response to trauma, and the intellectual clarity . . . give this
book its power.” —Independent Book Review

“Unfollow Me kept me on the
edge of my seat from beginning to end. Caraway’s will to get justice in her
case and her composure through it all shows a resilience that not many
possess.” —Memoir Magazine

* 2024 Grand Prize Winner in Narrative
Nonfiction (Journey Award, Non-Fiction Overcoming Adversity)

* 2024 1st Place Winner in
Thriller/Suspense (Clue Award)

* 2024 1st Place Winner in
Non-Fiction Cover Design

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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He Follows Me

by Kathryn Caraway

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

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Kathryn Caraway
thought a conviction would end the nightmare. She was wrong.

Todd Bennett is getting out of jail—and he hasn’t forgotten
her. The government offers her a lifeline: new name, new life, new country. But
freedom comes at a cost and safety is an illusion.

U.S. Marshal Wes Kade doesn’t care about feelings. He cares
about results. Cold, disciplined, and relentless, he has built a career on
keeping people alive. But something about this case doesn’t add up. He realizes
this isn’t personal—it’s war.

With nowhere left to hide, Kathryn must face the terrifying
truth that some nightmares never end.

A gripping
psychological thriller where survival isn’t just about escape—it’s about
fighting back.

 

Wow! I have absolutely DEVOURED this book, and Kathryn
Caraway has become my new favorite author! He Follows Me is the fictional
follow-up to Unfollow Me, and it does not disappoint. What starts as a
semi-cozy read turns into a tense thriller with an absolutely explosive ending!
Give this one a read, especially if you have read Unfollow Me!  – Goodreads reviewer

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

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Here’s the Thing About Stalking: It Never Ends

The man who stalked me was convicted. On paper, the story looks over. But in real life, it lingers. It never really goes away. A conviction doesn’t erase the obsession. It doesn’t guarantee my safety.

Well-meaning people might say, “He’ll move on. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

But there’s plenty I worry about. When he asked me if I wanted to see death coming, I never realized how that split second answer would define the rest of my life. I answered “no” and have waited every day since for a death I won’t see coming.

A conviction is not closure. A sentence completed is not guaranteed safety.

A job application being rejected because of his criminal history could incite him.

A woman he is interested in who learns about his past and pulls away could put me back in his crosshairs.

Or maybe, one day, he will simply wake up and decide I ruined his life.

The truth is, he doesn’t need a reason at all. That’s why I remain vigilant about my anonymity and my safety. I don’t see it as fear; I see it as survival. As I traversed the publishing process, I’ve been asked variations of the same question that I’m sure readers will have once the book is commercially available:

“Since he was convicted why can’t you just publish under your own name?”

“If your story is true, why can’t you use real names in the book?”

For me, the answer is simple, though it’s not always understood by others: publishing my true crime memoir has the potential to enrage him. To lead him straight back to me.

Sometimes they come back.

By my count, I am his sixth victim. The seventh was a witness in my stalking case. So even though he moved on to another, he still circled back to me. It happens.

Amie Harwick, who was once engaged to Drew Carey, had a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend and stalker, Gareth Pursehouse, that expired. It wasn’t renewed. Five years after it expired, Gareth Pursehouse killed Amie Harwick.

That’s the thing about stalking. It is not a neat, contained story. I don’t consider myself a survivor of stalking. In fact, I fear the moment that I let my guard down, he will resurface.

Maybe it’s been years. Or a decade has passed and a feeling of safety returns. The joy of simple things eases their way back into my life like going to the grocery store and not scanning every vehicle in the parking lot or every face in the aisle.

I’ve moved on, but I can never be certain that he has. Maybe he is waiting for me to slip online. Maybe he is waiting for a moment of vulnerability—a relative’s funeral announcement that lists my name along with the date and time of service; or a birthday party or wedding details posted on social media that he thinks I will attend.

And, just like that, I will suffer a death I won’t see coming.

Being a victim of stalking influences every decision I make—right down to the name printed on the book cover. I keep my circle tight. I stay aware. And above all, I will not apologize for protecting myself.

If you’re among the 1 in 3 women or 1 in 6 men who have experienced it, you know that’s the thing about stalking—it never ends.

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Kathryn Caraway lived life as the target of a stalker for years.
After her perpetrator’s conviction, Kathryn founded the Unfollow Me Project to raise
education and awareness of the debilitating effects of stalking, as well as to
offer support to those being stalked. For more information, go to https://unfollowme.com.

Website * Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bluesky * Tiktok * Amazon * Goodreads

 

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Unfollow Me

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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What Goes Around By Michael Wendroff ~ Guest Post and Giveaway

Posted: October 19, 2025 in Excerpt, giveaways, Guest Post, thriller
Tags: , ,
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A relentless thriller that explores the unbreakable bonds
that transcend time.

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What Goes Around

by Michael Wendroff

Genre: Thriller

‘Relentless and gritty, Wendroff
expertly weaves a narrative that begs, “just one more page”.’ J.D. Barker, New York Times bestselling
author

EVIL HAS MANY FACES

Chilling murders terrorize a town and bring together two detectives to face
the hardest tasks of their lives. Jack Ludlum, who relies on his brawn to get
things done, is now paired with his archenemy, Jill Jarred, a brilliant
investigator with keen intuition. As they delve into the secret world of incels
and white supremacists, and conflict between local authorities and the FBI
rages, a media frenzy further complicates the mission.

Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or something entirely different? Will
the detectives’ clashing personalities be their undoing, or can they unite to
stop the killer before they kill each other?

What Goes Around is a
dynamic thriller that examines the intricacies of love, loss, and the
unbreakable bonds that transcend time. With its pulse-pounding pace,
captivating characters, and a revelatory twist that challenges the boundaries
of life and death, this novel will keep you hooked from the first page to the
last, and thinking long afterwards.

‘Starts off at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its
unexpected conclusion.’ Lisa Black, New
York Times bestselling author of the Locard Institute thrillers

‘An adrenaline-fueled novel, the action breathlessly driven by two
detectives relentlessly pursuing the bloody trails left by a serial killer with
a dark sense of justice, deadly groups of white supremacists, and one lonely,
alienated boy caught up in the violence.’ Kathleen Kent, New York Times bestselling author

‘Fast-paced propulsive thriller that doesn’t let up – highly
recommended!’ Lori Brand, author

 

‘I could barely put this book down! The
twists and turns. The references to current political climate and the
unanswered “who dun it” questions kept me engaged until the last page. Great
read. Fast paced and an unexpected ending. Kudos for Wendroff’s debut novel!’ –
Amazon review

 

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story
keeps you on the edge of your seat. He is a colorful writer and the characters
just come to life. They become very real, and the interplay between them is
really intriguing. I highly recommend this book.’ – Amazon review

 

**Paperback
edition just released Oct 7, 2025 – Get it now!**

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Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

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“It was midnight in the garden-less apartment. Good and evil were still at odds.

A cold wind whipped by, rustling the leaves while he was wrestling with his thoughts.

He hadn’t slept at all the prior night and couldn’t think straight now. He didn’t want to be

there but ended up going along—mostly to make sure things didn’t get too out of hand.

He and Dylan had watched Jose enter the basement apartment a few minutes

earlier. They checked their supplies one more time under the moonless sky. They peered

at each other, dressed in black, faces covered in charcoal powder, the whites of their eyes

the most evident part of their visages. A cat screeched in the distance. An owl fled to the

heavens. Dylan nodded to him.

He took out his hammer, and with one loud crash, he smashed through the window,

pieces of glass exploding around him.”

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When did the title “What Goes Around” come to you?

I have to admit that it came from my publisher, not me. My name had been “Perennial.” My publisher came to me and said that for a thriller, they thought they could do better. Now, in my marketing career I would often have ad agencies come in and show me a number of ads and I would normally end up having them make revisions or come back with new ads. I thought the same thing would happen here, but it didn’t. As soon as they suggested What Goes Around, I knew that was it! Not only does it sound like a thriller, but it totally ties into the entire book’s theme. Plus I also think the potential reader that sees the title completes the phrase in their own mind, so I’ve already made a connection with them.

 

Described as relentless and gritty and about to go into second print…what do you want us to know about the book?

 

It’s actually now into its third printing, I’m proud to say. It was published in the USA,UK and Australia in hardcover. You can get it at The Island Book shop in Venice. It is also available on Amazon in eBook and audiobooks. I’m amazed how popular audiobooks have become. And to my surprise, my agent sold foreign translation rights in Japanese, Hungarian, and Italian.

You mentioned, “relentless and gritty,” and I was thrilled to see that the author who said that has now made it to #1 on the bestseller list. In fact, JD Barker’s full quote was, “Relentless and gritty, Wendroff weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…'” And that’s exactly what I wanted to achieve–a page turner that the reader can’t put down.

 

Promoting the book is a challenge but with an MBA in marketing and your background in the publishing field in a literary agency you may’ve seen what it takes. And now that you’ve achieved a lifelong goal of writing your own book, what’s next?

 

I always wanted to write a book and it was really the pandmic that got me going-there was that periodof time when you couldn’t do anything, couldn’t even play tennis or go to the beach. So I was out of excuses and went at it. Rightnow, I’m spending a lot of time promoting it. Authors have to realize that today, writing is only 50% of their time, the other 50% is marketing. I’ve done a lot of podcasts, been reviewed by a lot of bloggers (I’m really happy the reviews have been great), and attend a lot of events, including book clubs. The bookclubs sem to really enjoy having a real writer at their meetings, providing insights about the novel as well as the writing and publishing process. In fact, I’d be happy to join any of your readers book clubs (contact me at wendroffm@gmail.com).

My next goal is to write my second book. I’ve plotted it and researched it, so now time to start writing! It will be another thriller and feature the two main characters from What Goes Around, as publishers tend to like series. It’s like building a brand.

 

What inspires you to write and tell us about your process. Do you write at a certain time, place…You mentioned your office and pool area.I notice you recently enrolled in the Citizens Police Academy in Venice to learn to shoot a taser….what are other things you enjoy researching for your stories. Do you feel it worked for you starting with an outline?

 

I love writing, and my process is plot, research, write, and edit.

I usually write in the mornings, when I’m freshest, either in my office or at the pool. The water inspires me, that’s another reason Venice is great-beaches, ponds-I don’t even mind the alligators staring at me.  I usually sit at my pc to get the story going, and not worry about things like grammer or the specific words, I just want to get the writing flowing. The next morning I will reread what I’d written, and try to make it real writing. Make sure every word fits with the others, make sure each sentence fits with the others. Add the analogies and metaphors. After that’s done, I’ll start scribbling out the next party of the story on my pc, which will be re-written the next day. That process of write then rewrite continues everyday, until I can write my favorite two words: The End

 

But before I actually start the writing itself, comes the plotting. There are actually two types of writers-plotters and pantsers.Pantsers simply sit in front of their computers and write by the seat of their pants. They have no idea where the story is going. That’s not be. I have to know everything upfront, so after ideating I write a detailed plot outline. I need to know not only what the ending will be, but where I’ll plant the red herrings, and where I’ll put the twists and turns. Nut it’s not like things won’t change. Once I became really attached to one of my characters, and the plot called for the character to die, but I couldn’t do it. I had to change the plot. Another time I did kill off a character I loved, but my wife yelled at me because I was walking around for a week in depression. She said “They’re not real!!.” But to an author, they are real!

 

The other thing I do before writing is the researching. Sure there’s Google and Chat GPT, but what I found is best is talking to people who do the types of things that are in your book. Living in Venice, I had a lot of resources. I’d come to know FBI agents and police officers and chiefs. And the Venice Police department is great. It was important for my book to talk to a female detective and they put me in touch with one of their own, Courtney Zak. She was great, and a lot of her insights are in the book. The Venice Police Department actually runs a “Citizens Police Academy” where you can learn about all the different facets of the things they do, and I just finished it, which I highly recommend for anyone.

So talking to people for research is critical. Now, I don’t think I spoke to any serial killers…

 

Anything you want to share about family, kids, upbringing? I like that quote your mother said when you were born, “Nice to see you again.”

 

My mother was an editor at major New York City publishing firms. I distinctly remember her on a weekend sitting cross-legged on her bed, manuscript pages, strewn about, and red pen in hand writing editorial comments all over the pages. So at least I was prepared for my editor’s comments on my book. They weren’t in red pen, but the comments in the margins of the word document were as instructive. But I wasn’t surprised.

She remarried a literary agent, who had many thriller and mystery writer clients, so I probably got my love of the genre from reading all those books, free! Unfortunately he’s no longer with us, but I think still had an impact. My agent had been shopping around my manuscript to publishers, which takes a lot of time. But the very next day after my stepfather died, my book was sold! So I think I had a little help from above.

 

Is there an anecdote you could share about authors you ran into when growing up?

 

Actually, I’ve got one for both!

My stepfather was a literary agent and one of his clients was the bestselling author, Robert Ludlum (many know him for the Jason Bourne movies with Matt Damon). Once I got to stay at his winter home in St. Thomas. I remember waking up one morning, going into his living room and seeing him on the couch writing on a yellow legal pad with a pencil. That’s how he wrote his 450 page novels, by hand! While I admired Ludlum’s plotting and prose, I couldn’t do that! Thankfully, when it came time for me to write What Goes Around, I had a PC!

 

Regarding Capote, I grew up in a bit of a literary milieu, then went to NYU for business. It was when writing my MBA thesis that I was able to marry my love of books with my new love of marketing, as my thesis was on “Marketing in the Publishing Industry.” In fact, the industry’s trade journal, Publishers Weekly, excerpted my thesis in 3 editions, and paid me. That was the first time I got paid for my writing–I liked that!

 

During the research for it I interviewed a lot of publishing executives. One time I was waiting outside the office of the Editor-in-Chief for Simon& Schuster, and finally the door opens, and I’m ushered in and who do I meet–Truman Capote! As a thriller writer, meeting the author of In Cold Blood was amazing! And he looked exactly as you’d imagine.

 

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

 

Believe in yourself and never give up.

 

Write every day, even if it’s only 10 minutes.

 

Learn your craft–there are so many opportunities! Online courses (I took courses on BBC Maestro from Lee Child and Harlan Coben). Conventions-Thrillerfest in NYC puts on great craft seminars. There are writing groups too. Read in your genre and never stop learning.

 

What advice would you give to your neighbors about life?

Wow,that’s a big question.

But I guess it boils down to be nice. Because, What Goes Around, Comes Around!

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Michael Wendroff

Author of “What Goes Around”

https://amzn.to/43wg9Cz

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Michael Wendroff
is the author of What Goes Around, a
debut thriller published by Bloomsbury, which bestselling author Eric Rickstad
calls a “brilliant debut,” and bestselling author Lisa Black says, “starts off
at a breakneck pace and doesn’t let up until it reaches its unexpected
conclusion.” Plus, #1 bestselling author J.D. Black says, “Relentless and
gritty, Wendroff expertly weaves a narrative that begs, ‘just one more page…’”

The book was
inspired by what his mother said to him the second he was born: “Oh! How nice
to see you–Again!”

Michael has an MBA
in marketing from NYU, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He is a global
marketing consultant. He shares his time between New York City, Sarasota,
Florida, and Lake Garda, Italy. He is married and has three wonderful children.

His mother was an
editor (watching his mother scribbling in red ink on manuscript pages at home
on weekends prepared him for his own editor’s comments!). She remarried a
literary agent, so Michael was friendly with many authors, and even spent a
vacation with Robert Ludlum. Watching Ludlum hand-write his 450 page novels on
yellow legal pads didn’t dissuade Michael from trying to write a novel (though
he’s thankful for his PC).

What Goes Around was launched in the USA, UK, and Australia,
and foreign language rights have been sold in Italian, Japanese, and Hungarian.
The hardcover went through 3 printings, and now the trade paperback is
available (along with audio book and e-book).

Fun fact:
Michael’s great-grandfather was brought over by Thomas Edison from the
University of Copenhagen to work with him. He holds a number of patents,
including for plastic buttons. Michael proudly wears button- down shirts
whenever he can.

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What Goes Around

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