Straight Chatting from the Library: Dorothy Rosby

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

The Witches’ Bridge by Barbee Oliver Carleton published in 1967. I think it’s been republished under the name The Mystery of the Witches' Bridge. I don’t remember much about it, except that when I’d finished it, I realized I was hooked on reading in general and mysteries in particular.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading So Many Doors by Oakley Hall, I’ve Never Metaphor I Didn’t Like by Dr. Mardy Grothe and The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

One book at a time or multiples?

I usually read three books at a time: A main one, which could be a novel or nonfiction; what I call a “little-at-a-time book” which is a book of short pieces like essays, stories or poetry that I read one or two of each day; and some kind of daily devotional or meditation type of book.

Favorite book you've read this year?

Louise Pennys’ How the Light Gets In. Although it may be my favorite because I just finished it so it’s fresh in my mind. I loved it!

When do you do most of your reading?

In the evening before I go to bed. It’s my way to wind down. I’m a big fan of murder mysteries though, so it doesn’t always work that way.

Favorite book to recommend?

The ones I’ve written. 😊

How do you keep your books organized?

We have two bookcases in our home organized carefully using the home library version of the Dewey Decimal System: organized by book size. It’s not always easy to locate what you’re looking for, but it looks really pretty. We have a third bookcase hidden away in our office where our guests won’t see it and judge us harshly. It doesn’t look pretty at all. It’s organized using what I call the Dewey Decimated System which I created to overcome the main obstacle presented by bookcases made of wood: they don’t stretch. The shelves have bowed slightly though. There are books sticking out every which way, books on top of it and a stack of books growing from the floor beside it. This bookcase contains books I plan to read someday and there are a lot of those.

What would make you not finish a book?

I used to force myself to finish a book, no matter what. Now I give it 50 pages. If it’s starting to feel like a chore to stay focused as I’m reading, I give up on it. There are just too many books I want to read to waste time on one that doesn’t keep my attention.

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Christmas comes but once a year; chaos never ends! Happy Halloween, merry Christmas and joyful Lumpy Rug Day. That’s real, by the way. Lumpy Rug Day is celebrated every May 3, though “celebrated” might be too strong a word. It’s the American way to create a celebration for everything, then turn it into a chore or worse, a nightmare. ’Tis the Season to Feel Inadequate is a collection of humorous essays about how we let our expectations steal the joy out of Christmas and other holidays and special events. It’s understanding for those who think Christmas form letters can be honest—or they can be interesting. And it’s empathy for anyone who’s ever gotten poison ivy during Nude Recreation Week or eaten all their Halloween candy and had to hand out instant oatmeal packets to their trick-or-treaters.

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from "The First Year of the Rest of Your Life"

… I’ve studied the topic of New Year’s resolutions. And from my extensive research, I’ve gleaned the following tips for keeping them:

1.Write them down. The simple act of putting your resolutions on paper will make them seem more doable and make you feel more committed to them. Also, if you fail you’ll have your list ready when it comes time to make resolutions next year.

2.Frame your resolutions in a positive way. For example, instead of saying “next year I will stop being a couch potato,” say “Next year, I will become a couch asparagus, which has fewer carbohydrates.”

3.Don’t let setbacks discourage you. If you fall off the wagon get right back in the saddle! Tomorrow’s another day. Never say die. Then next year resolve to stop using clichés.

4.Keep a journal of your progress. It could look something like this. January 1: I resolve to walk the dog daily. This is going to be so fun! January 2: Spotty and I walked four blocks. We are bonding and getting fit at the same time! Tomorrow we’ll do five. January 3: Spotty and I walked four blocks again. It’s okay once we’re walking but I hate getting up early. January 4: Spotty and I walked just two blocks today. It’s so cold this time of year. January 5: I forgot to walk Spotty. January 6: Spotty isn’t my dog. We got him for the kids. Let them walk him.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dorothy Rosby is an author humor columnist whose work regularly appears in publications throughout the West and Midwest. Her humor writing has been recognized by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, the National Federation of Press Women and the South Dakota Newspaper Association. In 2022 she was named the global winner in the Erma Bombeck Writers Competition in the humor writing category. She’s the author of four books of humorous essays.

Website: https://dorothyrosby.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosbydorothy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/dorothyrosby
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorothyrosby/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578295520
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Tis-the-Season-to-Feel-Inadequate-Audiobook/B0CBW57GYM

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Straight Browsing from the Library: The Poseidon Project by William Podojil

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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What is the sweetest thing someone has done for you?

I’ve been fortunate to have amazing people in my life and have had so many wonderful things done for me, I can’t choose just one. But there is one I remember vividly. When my oldest son was about 12, he posted a drawing he made of my husband and me, “Happy Father’s Day to my two dads.” I found this incredibly sweet, thoughtful and completely unexpected.

How would you spend ten thousand bucks?

I would buy a business class plane trip to somewhere I’ve never been.

Where do you get your best ideas?

I think of my best ideas when I’m on one of my daily walks.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

I usually start with characters first.

What does your main character do that makes him/her special.

Lukas, the lead male protagonist, has a genius level IQ, is incredibly adept at cyber technology, always in control and calmly focuses on his work. But he cloaks a sensitive heart below all of that logic. He is still hurt from something that happened to him in a past relationship and has walled himself off to protect himself from more hurt. He meets Taylor during a very trying time in his life, but somehow Lukas trusts him and starts to melt the shield he put around himself.

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The Poseidon Project is an international suspense thriller and the first book in The Herb Society Mysteries series

Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends now must face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures; the world’s.



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The explosion was deafening. A huge fireball engulfed the Iveco box truck with a force that knocked Molly, Donna, Linda, and John off their feet. Having been already seated, Lukas instinctively shielded Taylor from the force of the blast that was over one hundred feet away. The explanation of the Hindenburg explosion his mom had referenced two days ago flashed through his mind. The hydrogen collection tank must have had a leak or breached from being overfilled. But unlike the Hindenburg, there was not a zeppelin-sized supply of hydrogen on the Demeter unit, or what was left of it. The explosion was sudden, strong, and brief. The flames quickly burned through the truck’s cargo area, then slowly burned the embers of what little was left. The truck was destroyed, as was Demeter. Zip- Tie’s blackened remains smoldered on the ground, about ten feet from the blast.

Betty and Patrick stood at the top of the terrace waving their arms and appeared to be yelling something. Lukas could not hear much other than the ringing in his ears, and he assumed the rest of the group was partially deaf as they struggled to get to their feet. Lukas had shielded Taylor’s body, and his hearing appeared to be unaffected. Taylor kissed Lukas on the cheek and mouthed Thank you. Or at least Lukas thought he said it silently.

Betty held the fourth Glock in her hand and ran toward the group to help them ascend the terrace. “We’ve gotta get out of here!” she yelled, hoping their damaged ears could hear her. She knew it was only a few minutes before the Dubai police came to investigate the source of the explosion in the city center.

“Where is Malik?” Betty asked as John, Donna, and Molly rubbed their ears, hoping to regain their hearing.

“He ran that way.” Taylor pointed in the direction of the Burj Khalifa. “I saw him for an instant right after the blast.”

Patrick raced toward the group. “Police are on their way. I hear the sirens. Let’s go, everybody!” Patrick and Taylor, both injured, were able to shepherd the group up to the Sprinter van, get in, and buckle up for what was going to be a quick getaway.

Betty slammed on the accelerator, and the van lurched forward. She could see the flashing police lights about a quarter of a mile to her right. She turned left, hoping to avoid them. “Patrick, I need you to navigate! I don’t know where I am!” Betty yelled with a tinge of panic in her voice. Patrick stood up and sat in the passenger seat to help navigate.

Taylor quickly dialed his daughter. She answered on the first ring tone. “Dad, where are you?”

“Get the Goose ready. We’ll be there in—” He looked at Patrick, who held up his hands with fingers extended. “—ten to fifteen minutes. Please clear a take- off slot for us in twenty-five minutes from now.”

“Got it, Dad. Drive safely.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

E. William Podojil has worked as a writer, advisor and international business executive while living in the Netherlands and the United States. He studied screenwriting at UCLA. His first novel, The Tenth Man, was published in 2004, by Haworth Press. His latest novel, The Poseidon Project, will be published by Wild Rose Press in August, 2024 as the first book in the Herb Society Mysteries series.

Podojil currently resides in Northeast Ohio with his husband and three sons. He travels extensively and writes about his experiences on his website www.ewpodojil.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewilliampodojil
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EWPodojil
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ewilliampodojil/

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Mindcraft by Darryl Vidal

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Darryl Vidal will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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On the eve of the Global MindCraft Universe Challenge, Justin Turner, a teenage master of the titular virtual reality game, and his friends (known online as the Digital Mavericks) discover a sinister underbelly within the MindCraft Universe that may use artificial intelligence and virtual manipulation to end the world as we know it.






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The foray into EduNex’s Curriculum base unfolded like a treasure trove of knowledge, offering a profound depth of data and information across every conceivable discipline and subject. In the core of his academic pilgrimage lay a technological marvel that wove the fabric of education and technology into an academic spider’s web—EduNex. The school's Learning Management System stood as the bedrock of educational efficacy. A ubiquitous platform that boosts every student’s aptitude in every aspect of their learning experience.

EduNex wasn't just an LMS; it was an educational ecosystem that had become the standard across all schools in the state. Its influence extended far beyond the confines of a traditional learning management system. When Justin navigated its intuitive VR interface, he often found himself immersed in a world where every nuance of the learning process was invisibly aided. It wasn’t a cheating platform—more of a virtual world book encyclopedia—without the book.

The scope of EduNex was staggering. It served as the central repository for student information¬—a digital canvas where class syllabi, schedules, grades, and academic reports coexisted. But it went further, seamlessly integrating the intricacies of remote and hybrid learning. Voice and video conferencing brought the classroom to life, transcending physical boundaries and fostering an environment where learning knew no limits and no borders.

Everything on EduNex is collaborative. Whether with peer students, teachers, subject-matter-experts, researchers, or anyone else with an Internet connection—every module within the EduNex suite offered the ability to collaborate.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Darryl Vidal is an accomplished entrepreneur, author and education technology consultant with over 30 years of experience working with the largest school districts in Southern California. He is a futurist and fan of Artificial Intelligence, and an avid reader of the sciences, philosophy, and techno-thrillers.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Information Management and a Master’s Degree (MA Ed) in Education (Instructional Technology) from California State University, San Bernardino. He has also published eight critically acclaimed books on Educational Technology, Ed Tech Strategic Planning and Digital Transformation, and has developed the formal strategic planning and project management methodology known as MapIT.

Darryl has been a student and teacher of the art of Kenpo Karate for over 50 years. He has been teaching Karate in Murrieta for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past 30+ years. He also founded and heads the Murrieta Stick Fighting Club (Filipino Martial Arts). This has led to him earning the highest honor given in martial arts when he was promoted to Grandmaster - Ju Dan, 10th Degree Black Belt in 2012.

He is widely known for his appearance in 1984’s The Karate Kid, playing himself in the tournament semi-finals, as well as acting as a stunt-double for Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi). He is also credited with inventing the iconic Crane Kick.

MindCraft: The Educational Singularity is Darryl’s second novel in over twenty years and his first science fiction endeavor.

Main Book Page: https://whimsillusion.com/bookshelf/buy-mindcraft-the-educational-singularity
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/MindCraft-Educational-Singularity-Darryl-Vidal-ebook/dp/B0DHHLHLTC
Hard Cover: https://whimsillusion.com/mindcraft-the-educational-singularity-hard-cover/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vidal.k.karate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockbreakerboy

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Straight Browsing from the Library: The Fate of our Union by Hildebrand Hengest Hermannson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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A mountainous thundering bull breaks up battling tribesmen, summoning three struggling youths, as an insidious unseen enemy turns tribes against tribes—pitting rich against poor, sons against fathers, and men against gods. Its insatiable hunger for division threatens to plunge mankind into a dystopian realm ruled by man-eating wolves.

A miraculous seven-headed horse, a symbol of unity, assembles the struggling youths of extraordinary origin into a journey of self-discovery. There Sunu the Saxon Poet, Rufus the Roman Stoic, and Keresaspa the Sarmatian Priestess must overcome pride, aversion, and unforgiveness; there they must learn from historical heroes, philosophers, and amazingly similar gods to battle the unseen monster and its rising wolfmen.

Fated to part ways to face the demons at home, Sunu, Rufus, and Keresaspa must reunite as they bring divided peoples together to fight the source tearing everyone apart. They must heed the divine wisdom of the seven-headed horse and justly wield the seven magic weapons they’ve mysteriously been given to overcome the unseen enemy and understand the higher purpose of the mountainous thundering bull.

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“Jupiter is right reason, chief regulator,” Rufus praised he who permeates the air as moisture, knowing he sounded more interesting the way he appeared in poems. “Through the clouds, the Thunderer rides his horse-drawn chariot, followed by power, strength, and victory. With his bolts, he famously slew godless giants and the water serpent Typhoeus.”

“He’s like Thunor!” Sunu lit up with intrigue. “Except Thunor slew giants and a giant water serpent, Jörmungand, with a hammer, and his chariot is drawn by goats.”

“The goat is also sacred to Jupiter, along with the oak, rock, and bull.” Rufus glanced from oak to rock for Amalthaea but only saw Tanngnjóstr. “Still, many think Thunor is more like Hercules, as they are both chariot-riding, cudgel-swinging warriors with a lengthy list of deeds.”

Sunu’s ears perked. “And they are?”

“Hercules slew the Hydra, an enormous water serpent, like Jörmungand, and took oxen from a giant, Cacus in the cave, like Hymir in the mountain; both Hercules and Thunor fought and slew them with club and hammer.”

Sunu imagined the deeds side by side. “Are you telling me the truth?”

“In truth, the parallels are quite striking.” Rufus chuckled as he pretended to swing a cudgel. “For they also have a heavenly father and an earthly mother, who produced a quick-tempered, far-traveling son who can out-eat and out-drink anyone in the cosmos!”

Sunu hoisted a golden brow. “Interesting.”

“Unfortunately,” Rufus’s tone was no laughing matter, “they were also fated to die by the serpents’ poison.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Hildebrand Hengest Hermannson’s deep-rooted fire for Indo-European culture and Western Philosophy ignites his first novel, The Fate of Our Union, the inaugural piece in a planned series. His work draws inspiration from the national epics The Saga of the Volsungs (Norse), Mahabharata (Indian), Aenid (Roman), Odyssey (Greek), Táin Bó Cúailnge (Celtic), and Shahnameh (Iranian), weaving these rich cultures into original stories featuring fantasy world-building, dynamic characters, and intricate plots and themes. His Wild Hunt of thought breathes life into his spiritual, ethical, and cultural interests, inspiring us all to strive for imperishable virtue.

Website: https://www.hhhermannson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HHHermannson
Twitter: https://x.com/HHHermannson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hhhermannson77/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hhhermannson/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214514568-the-fate-of-our-union
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZS7TD5V?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

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Straight Browsing at the Library: One Night Stands and Lesson Plans by M. Jayne LaDow

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Jayne LaDow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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In the close-knit town of Marchfield, where gossip spreads faster than a teenager’s texts, English teacher Audrey Fremont and Algebra instructor Oz Taylor find themselves at the center of a scandal—and a romance neither saw coming.

A few too many drinks at Happy Hour and a glimpse of his infuriatingly sexy shoulders lead to a one-night stand that should have ended there—but didn’t. Relentlessly organized and a bit of a perfectionist, Audrey is horrified to discover that Oz is one of her new coworkers. Yet, stolen glances in the hallway, moments in the copy room, and snarky banter make keeping it “no strings attached” nearly impossible to maintain.

With meddling friends and nosy colleagues already placing bets on their romance, Audrey and Oz can’t ignore the chemistry simmering between them. But just when Audrey thinks she’s got everything under control, a surprise confession from Oz leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

In a town where everyone’s watching, Audrey and Oz must decide: will they keep playing it safe, or risk their hearts on a love that could change everything?

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Val giggled. “Audrey and Oz were trading tongues."

“Stop it!” Audrey jumped off my lap. I missed her soft, warm body immediately.

“Damn,” Keith whistled. “You do know, Audrey, he uses that tongue to teach math."

Bobby high-fived Keith and then bent over laughing. When Bobby stood back up, her face was red. She gasped for breath between chuckles. Mel patted her back.

I stood up, brushing past my not-so-well-meaning friends to stand by Red.

“Audrey likes big axes," Val rapped while the others laughed. Audrey’s lips twitched and then straightened as she seemed to choke down the urge to join in.

“Sir Mix-A-Lot should sue your ass for butchering his song,” I joked.

And of course, Bobby jumped in. “And when Oz walks in with his big hard ax–”

“Are you buffoons drunk?” I interrupted her, crossing my arms over my chest.

Audrey turned away and let out a soft sound beside me. I heard her take a deep, shaky breath. If these idiots made her cry, they would regret it. I hated it when women cried.

I followed her, reaching over to pat her shoulder. What should I say? When she looked up at me, I braced myself for a look of wet humiliation. But Audrey’s green eyes sparkled as she burst out in laughter.

“Big, hard ax,” she gasped between giggles.

My own lips quivered, and I let out a chuckle. “My ax is pretty impressive.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

M. Jayne LaDow is a playwright and author who leapt into writing romance after spending thirty-three years wrangling middle school English students. Her rom-coms are hilariously inspired by her years in education, where she was regularly pied in the face, sang classroom karaoke, and dressed up like characters from novels. She resides with her very patient husband, two brilliant yet snarky children, three cuddly rescue cats, a toe-biting tortoise, and a bearded dragon who judges her life choices from his terrarium.

Website: https://mjladow.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D58S6PHL/allbooks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/M-Jayne-LaDow/61559414725278/
Substack: https://substack.com/@mjladow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjladow/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/m-jayne-ladow
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/67d8f1c8-9dbf-4447-a232-b34013a37bfc
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49955411.M_Jayne_LaDo

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Straight Chatting from the Library: The Mystery at Love's Manor by David W. Thompson

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Pros and Cons of Writing in My Genre

This question is pertinent to me with the release of my latest novel, “The Mystery at Love’s Manor.” Mysteries have entertained me for as long as I can remember, but this release will be my first foray into the genre.

Conventional wisdom is that writers should stick with one genre throughout their careers to build readership. They should find the genre they love and run with it. From a purely financial point of view, I can see the attraction of this route. Score one for “staying in your lane.”

But what if you have more than one love as a reader or author? Must we remain monogamous in our literary choices? I have always been an eclectic reader, from the backs of cereal boxes to the occasional high-brow classic (points for that to my many literature teachers over the years). As writers, we are told to write what we know, but I believe we should write what we love. I would find it very limiting to stick with one narrow genre. This round goes to writing in the genre where your story takes you.

Of course, we must consider our craft. Some say that sticking with one genre hones our writing, defines the tropes for our genre, and develops proper pacing for the effect we are trying to achieve. If you have laser-focused your writing and found the only genre that draws you in and puts a smile on your face, I’d say that’s the route for you.

By contrast, if your reading and writing leave you turning the page for the next clue in a who-done-it, anxiously awaiting when the two friends become lovers, hoping your hero will survive the apocalypse, or on pins and needles as your starship enters an unknown galaxy, join the club. What better way to expand your horizons to become the best writer you can be?

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Emma Love never thought she'd return to her hometown after years away from her estranged family. But when her sister-in-law is kidnapped, Emma puts her life on hold to help an old flame, Deputy Sam Mattingley, solve the case and bring Gwen home. With a degree in Criminal Justice and part-time experience working at a detective agency, Emma's skills are tested. As the layers of secrecy are peeled back, Emma realizes the mystery shrouding Love's Manor and her brother's marriage is more intricate than anyone could have fathomed. Can she navigate the convoluted trail of clues and locate Gwen before it's too late? And what of her long-suppressed feelings for Sam Mattingley…are they merely a product of nostalgia…or something more?

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“Nana, you are home. This is your room. See? There’s the window you love looking out of.”

“I do love my window, and they don’t like me seeing everything that I see, but it’s still not my room. It just looks like my room. Somebody’s trying to trick me, Sarah. There are all these people outside day and night. This isn’t my home.”

“We did have a lot of company today, Nana.”

“At least I don’t hear all the voices at night like I used to. Maybe the ghosts are too old to be wandering about.”

“I didn’t know you believed in ghosts, Nana.”

“Well, I talk to my husband Frank all the time, don’t I? And there’s an old woman too, old as me. Sometimes I hear Maya scrambling around. Do you remember her, Sarah?”

“I sure do. I talk to her sometimes in my dreams.”

Nana turned in her chair and clutched my arm until it hurt. She stared at me with a disturbing intensity.

“You saw something, didn’t you…that day?”

“When Nana?”

“When what? Did I tell you about the potatoes? We had a good crop this year. We won’t go hungry this winter.”

Maria came in with coffee for Nana then, and I said my goodbyes.

MEET THE AUTHOR

D.W. Thompson is the mystery genre pen name for award-winning author David W. Thompson. As a multi-genre author, he's been awarded membership in the Horror Writer's Association, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and the Mystery Writers of America. David lives in picturesque Southern Maryland with nearby family and dear old friends.

When he isn't writing, Dave enjoys time with his family, kayaking (flat water, please), fishing, hiking, archery, gardening, winemaking, and pursuing his other "creative passion"- woodcarving.

He'd love to hear your thoughts on his tales that he describes as occasionally twisted, but always honest and original!

Website: https://www.david-w-thompson.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15425511.David_W_Thompson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwthompson1/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidw.thompson.1238/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.-W.-Thompson/author/B0DHY6G5FM

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Straight Browsing from the Library: Curveballs by Gail Taylor

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Taylor will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Here you are on the brink of a journey all about self-discovery and chasing dreams. With personal stories and tools that shaped the author's path, she focuses on embracing authenticity. You'll explore how living with purpose and passion is achievable. This personal-growth book combines cutting-edge technology and music interaction, reflecting the author's belief that music can transform and positively impact individuals and communities.

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If we could look through the ideas swimming around in virtually any person’s head, we would likely find a few limiting beliefs. We can all relate to harbouring these self-defeating thoughts; however, you could build awareness around where limiting beliefs show up for you, and remove them from your mind like gardeners remove weeds from their cherished crops.

Before we talk more about defeating the beliefs that hold you back in life, we will define “limiting beliefs.” First, the adjective “limiting” is not one you would want to use frequently if you are striving to become your best self. We can focus on perceiving our possibilities and abilities as having few limits. The second word, “beliefs,” is also important to consider. We are not talking about facts when we discuss limiting beliefs. They are not necessarily logic or fact-based thoughts, such as two plus two equals four. Beliefs, limited or not, are simply ideas you have based on your past experiences. Unfortunately, they can manifest as a thought or state of mind that you think is the absolute truth and that is what can stop you from doing certain things. They can also be formed by well-meaning people trying to protect you from hurt or embarrassment.

Limiting beliefs are something you might have adopted at an early age, accepting them as facts. You didn’t do well on a math test so decided you couldn’t work with numbers . . . ever. Nerves got the best of you during a class presentation, so you avoided public speaking for the next three decades. A Grade 3 music teacher told you you couldn’t sing, so you never sang again. This is NOT cool, but I actually met a young woman in vocal classes that experienced this, and she had a beautiful voice.

Obviously, beliefs can wield enormous power over your life. The people who have mastered the power of belief are the ones who have learned that self-fulfilling prophecies often manifest in their lives. This explains the optimistic nature of the predictions they make. I fit squarely into the optimist box, and I am constantly and affectionately informed by my husband, Harold, that I wear rose-coloured glasses. Heck, I sleep in them!

I came across this saying early in my journey: “If you think you can, you’re right, and if you think you can’t, you’re right.” How can both possibilities be true? Both possibilities consider the incredible influence your beliefs have over the outcomes. Limiting beliefs can have the power to shut down your dreams before you even start to chase them. The upside is that, once you learn to recognize these adverse beliefs, you can challenge them, which results in their losing their ability to interfere with your growth.

I have found over the years that people have limiting beliefs of various types. They tend to contain phrases like, “I cannot,” “I will never,” “There is no point in trying,” and “I tried that before and it didn’t work, so no use trying again.” They often grow stronger when they are allowed to take up permanent residence in your head. Repeated enough, they become part of you. I have one I’ll share. “I grew up in a family that had no desire for material goods, so I must be damaged for wanting a sports car or a luxury coat.” You can become so attached to these limiting beliefs that you feel threatened when something or someone challenges them.

Imagine your optimistic friend is encouraging you to go back to school (for my friends, the optimist would be me). “You would be great at operations management,” the friend says. “Think of everything you could do with that degree.”

MEET THE AUTHOR

Gail Taylor, a Canadian songwriter, keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and author, is celebrated for inspiring others to take charge of their lives. With forty years of studying personal growth and peak performance, she proves that designing your own life is possible, regardless of your beginnings. Her expertise has made her a sought-after guest on numerous podcasts.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curveballs-Unlocking-Potential-Personal-Inspirational/dp/1779622015/ref=sr_1_1

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