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Monday, May 26, 2014

The Olympus Cloud (Adventures of a Dreamer) by Stephen Randel

The Olympus Cloud (Adventures of a Dreamer)

by Stephen Randel

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adventure

Book Description

Do you ever wonder what your dog is dreaming about when its paws twitch? You might be surprised….

Some dogs can spend up to sixteen hours a day sleeping. For Max, a pugnacious French bulldog from Texas, this provides plenty of time for him to explore the world through his vivid imagination. His dreams are a doorway to excitement and adventure. Whether he’s solving mysteries, rescuing other animals, or just plain saving the day, Max’s heroic exploits carry him around the block, around the country, and even around the planet. From the plains of Africa to the battlefields of France and into outer space, Max matches wits with everything from a zombie accountant to rodent gangsters and a myriad of mythical creatures. And in the end, the fearless and faithful little dog always makes it home in time for dinner.

My Review

Maximilian, (Max, for short) makes his return in Stephen Randel’s new book THE OLYMPUS CLOUD-adventures of a dreamer. Max is a small but powerful French bulldog with complex and vivid dreams that include a tremendous array of awesome characters, situations, and heart-pounding tales of intrigue. All experienced from the floors and furnishings of a big white house that he shares with his human, Bennett. Generally outside of my picks for reading material, THE OLYMPUS CLOUD opened my eyes to a whole other world of writing and I just rolled right through this book and couldn’t put it down.  I loved that all of these exciting tales were taking place in the mind of a dog, and carried me to all these different time periods and even other worlds! All jam-packed with explosive colors, smells, and sights that made me completely forget that I was even reading! Instead, I was riding along with this invincible little bulldog, joyfully witnessing first-hand all his adventures! I absolutely am in awe of this book and can’t wait to get my hands on Mr. Randel’s other books, and hopefully will be starting another today… Very highly recommended!


Author Info

Stephen Randel was born in Houston, Texas.  He is a graduate of Texas Christian University.  Steve now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and their rescue dog.  He is the author of The Chupacabra: A Borderline Crazy Tale of Coyotes, Cash & Cartels and Trail of the Chupacabra: An Avery Bartholomew Pendleton Misadventure.

Purchase Link: AMAZON


Author Website: www.stephenrandel.com

Monday, May 19, 2014

hey all. just posted my review of this fine book to GOODREADS. why? cuz this book kills it, recovery-wise. I've returned to it again a number of times as a much needed addendum (replacement) to most of the nauseating recovery oriented slop available. It even has taken an esteemed place on top of the magic blue book on the nitestand! bucky straight up keeps it real, to use the modern parlance. If your strugglin' in (or out) of the rooms, do yourself a tremendous solid and buy these words! 

available for cheap for kindle, too! 

click here for the review on GOODREADS:

Thursday, May 15, 2014

virtual book tour with Tiffany Pitts, Author of the book  DOUBLE BLIND

Double Blind
By Tiffany Pitts

Genre: Adult Fiction, Humor


Book Synopsis

Delilah Pelham’s brother, Paul, is missing. She should probably be worried about that but honestly, he’s been in trouble since the day he learned the words “trust me." In fact, if it weren’t for his roommate, Carl, she would gladly leave him to his fate.

Carl is a good guy, even if he’s a bit of a dork. Okay, a large slice of a dork. Possibly the entire cake.

But he wants to help, as do his gamer friends, which is how Deli finds herself in the middle of Hong Kong with the King of the Dorks, running from creepy guys with slicked-back hair and shiny black guns.

Back at home, Carl’s friends aren’t faring nearly as well. All they had to do was monitor the situation and feed Deli’s cat while she was gone. How could that possibly end in bloodshed?

There is an answer, of course, but no one ever thinks to ask the cat.

Author Bio

Tiffany grew up in the Seattle area in a time when the Super Sonics were huge and Starbucks was just a store at the end of the Market. Tragedy struck early in her life as her family moved to New Jersey mere months before Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet” album hit record stores. It took nearly a decade to wean herself off the hairspray. But Seattle called her back, so she went; eventually earning a degree in Botany (pronounced “Bar tending”) at the University of Washington.
She made one more valiant attempt to leave the PNW after college by travelling around the country doing not much of value and making very stupid decisions. She is thankful every day that the internet was not a huge deal in those years. Then Seattle called again so she picked up and moved home where she spent many years being a scientist of middling talent in several labs that she absolutely did not blow up—except for that one time and everyone agreed not to talk about that any more.
Now she divides her time between writing fiction and raising two kids who are wonderful but, for some reason, won’t stop licking things. 



My Review of Double Blind by Tiffany Pitts



TOESY’S DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, SEATTLE
‘The cat was its Overlord. The bean would follow the commands of the Overlord with accuracy and aplomb because that was the bean’s job. It existed to do the Overlord’s bidding and the bean was nothing if not professional. It did not think about how much fun it was having with the Overlord because fun is not in a bean’s job description. However, were the bean ever to become self-aware, it is probable that the first autonomous word it uttered would be Wheee!
                                                                                                            ~from DOUBLE BLIND

This is the most incredible book I’ve read in a long time! Now I’m a sucker for crime noir. The darker, the better. Especially when its mixed with humor and sharp dialogue. This is that, and so much more! In the first page, I knew this book was a champ.

I then began to really absorb the flow of Double Blind. The book opens on our hero, Deli, (Delilah Pelham, to be exact) confronting a monster. After a symphony of structured mayhem, our protagonist easily prevails. Then the book ignites! Tiffany’s characters are complex, colorful, beautifully detailed (right down to the awesomely noir names) and she flows seamlessly from personality to personality until you feel personally involved in the story, and not just an observer. Then she drags you in even further! This amazing plot also centers around a bitchin’ 30 lb Maine Coon called Toesy, and a handful of magic robot beans. Tiffany even displays the unique writing prowess to speak from both of these characters individual viewpoints and voices (including the robobeans)! The dialogues in this book are absolutely genuine and ingenious, the twists & turns spellbinding, the tale a technological marvel, and the command of the language stunning. You’d be hard pressed to find a cooler and more imaginative plot, anywhere. I don’t even know what to say about this spectacular book! To tell any more would make me a spoiler and I want to highly encourage everyone that I encounter to read this thriller. Its that good!

TIFFANY PITTS is my new favorite author! Hands down. Can’t wait for her next one, and I see massive hugeness in her future…

FIVE STARS!


Social media links:


Twitter: @snickerpants

Website:
www.snickerpants.com

Facebook page name is Tiffany Pitts, Author. 

Monday, May 12, 2014

the kick ass human being award for the week 

I hold her in high regard for refusing to be shamed or shot down by a whole contigent of douchey scumbags who's only goal is to attempt to build themselves up at the expense of others. 

to anyone who participates in these LAME shenanigans, 
I got a couple of words for you...

FUCK YOU! 



Sunday, May 11, 2014

heres some good news: the hip priests have a hole bevy a new tunes in the can, & we will be hearin' it toot sweet. 
goddamn fantastikal!



a really cool event comin' to olympia, as we move closer 
to a ZINE FEST of our own...


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

first aid kit ~ hard believer



So you ask for my opinion well what is there to say
To be honest and just foolish won't make you want to stay
You've got to go on and get moving and I can't do that for you
Got so many plans and so much you want to do

Love is tough, time is rough
On me

Well I see you've got your bible your delusion imagery
Well I don't need your eternity or your meaning to feel free
I just live because I love to and that's enough you see
So don't come preach about morality that's just human sense to me

Love is tough, time is rough
On me

And it's one life and it's this life and it's beautiful

Love is tough, time is rough

On me

Book Blitz for Calculated by Renee Novelle

 
Calculated: Synopsis

An investigative journalist gets an unlikely tip from a mysterious informant. Dismissing it as impossible, she disregards the information and drops the story. Until the informant turns up dead, as predicted.

Plunged into the murky waters of a seedy underground prostitution ring, this psychological thriller provides twist upon dark twist in a story that would ultimately pin the church and several government officials in the largest murder cover-up the city has ever witnessed.

But is it true, or has the journalist merely been used as a pawn in a greater scheme? And how many people is she willing to sacrifice trying to figure it out?


Excerpt:  

When she arrived at the little facility her building provided, a quick look around confirmed she was the only one there. Just as she’d hoped, and exactly how she liked it to be. Smiling in satisfaction, she flipped on the television that was perched on the wall, and turned up the music on her iPod as loud as she could handle it. The multiple distractions would help her get through the extra mile she was planning to conquer. With chilled water bottle in place, she cranked up the treadmill to a nice brisk pace.
As her breathing picked up speed and her muscles began to warm, Ana’s eye caught a red flash along the bottom of the screen. Breaking News filled the bar, and the too-chipper-for-their-own-good reporters were suddenly getting serious. Since the volume was still muted, Ana couldn’t understand exactly what was going on, only that they were showing the wide stretch of river that ran along the outskirts of the city. She wiped the first beads of sweat from her brow, and used the remote to turn the volume of the television higher while simultaneously adjusting her music.
As the reporters spoke, home-video footage of something floating in the water rolled before her eyes. The camera zoomed in, the frame ever so shaky, and it became clearly apparent that the “something” was a person - face down with long brown hair spread out like a Catholic halo. It appeared another victim had been pulled out of the water; the count was quickly tallying up. A young woman this time, and possibly one who had gone missing the night before.
Ana’s pulse skipped a few beats as they replayed the video over and over. There was something familiar about the long, lean body. Slowing the treadmill to a stop, she ripped the ear buds from her head to give the segment her entire attention.
...it appears at first glance that the victim suffered from a deep cut to the throat, and received multiple stab wounds to the chest...
The beads of accumulated sweat turned cold on Ana’s brow. She immediately reached for her phone and dialed Kylie’s number.
“What the hell, Ana?” Came her friend’s groggy voice.
“Turn your TV on. Channel four. Hurry.” Ana said, eyes transfixed to the screen in front of her. “Recognize that face?”
...It’s thought the victim may be one of the young girls recently reported missing. The screen flashed candids of three possible women. All brunettes. All tall and thin. All roughly the same age. Among them was a photo of Mara, just as Ana had expected there would be.
But the body was too bloated and disfigured to be absolutely certain, and an autopsy would be needed.
... The body will be taken in for processing where officials hope to shed more light on the case in the near future. In the mean time, they’re cautioning residents to avoid....
“Did you see that?” Ana’s voice escaped in more of a demand than a question. “Please tell me I’m seeing things.”
“Oh my god...” Kylie whispered into the receiver, confirming the dread that was building in Ana’s stomach. “Do you really think it’s her?”
“I know for a fact it is.” Ana declared, the pull in her gut getting stronger by the minute. “The autopsy will confirm it.”
“So, what does this mean exactly now?”
“That maybe I should have been listening a little closer when I was talking to Mara.” She said with regret as she swiped her forehead with the back of her hand. “And maybe I should have asked more questions. There’s a story here, I’m sure of it now.”
“What are you going to do?” Kylie’s voice was decidedly more alert now.
Ana shook her head. “I have no idea.”
Though if she were to be truthful with herself in that moment, she’d already made up her mind. Ana flipped off the television, and left the little gym to get started.

About Renee Novelle

Formerly a freelance journalist, Novelle has found placement of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her writing to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She has launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.


In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. Writing under the names Renee Novelle and R.S. Novelle, she has a publication schedule that includes Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Paranormal Fiction, Contemporary Women’s fiction, Chick Lit, and New Adult.

Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, summa cum laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you’re meant to be.

for more info follow these links~

Friday, May 2, 2014

good morning, fellow humans! Its early, and already the SCUMBAG SUIT OF THE DAY AWARD is going out to:


this jackass (with help from the rest of the republican POSs) blocked a national increase of the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10/hr.

you, sir, suck dry shit.


Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) click here to find out why:

Thursday, May 1, 2014

night time's the right time for turbonegro...




                         happy beltane! 

Its beautiful and sunny here in west olympia today! maybe we can get out to soak up some of that old D that we are so deprived of here in the pacific NW...