BOOK BLITZ: Still Beautiful: The Color of Beauty By Kevin Bates

Still Beautiful: The Color of Beauty

By Kevin Bates

Genre: Poetry

Paperback price $13.99

"Still Beautiful" takes readers on a path of nostalgia; a time where "Black is beautiful" wasn't just a phrase, it was a way of life. Kevin's words paint memorable portraits of social injustices, marches, afros, and grandmas's cooking. His poems show us how unity is important in getting through tough times, and no matter the issue Black is the color of Beauty.

About the Author

I am a devoted reader and writer. Each day is spent wandering in the world of words. Never lost just going to different places. My frequent reader miles are piled up with many words. Gaining many thoughts then sharing with friends and family. I’ve learned words shared correctly through speech or in print can be very powerful. I hope to share them with you so we come to an understanding not to be powerful but to be your brother under God.

As a kid my mother brought me into the world of words. She would read with her sweet angelic voice taking me so far away doing things I never did before. Living the adventures of the people she read about. She teaching me the words she thought I do not know. Soon afterward when I asked her to read another she would tell me to pick a book off the shelf & to read it myself.

Links: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kevin_W_Bates

Website: http://www.kevinwbates.com/

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h25ozQ

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/34854694-kevin-bates

COVER REVEAL: In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree By Michael McLellan

In the Shadow of the Hanging Tree
By Michael McLellan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: January 2017

Henry was born into slavery; his young life spent working in tobacco drying sheds on Missouri plantations. Freed at the onset of the Civil War, he’s alone, starving, and on the run from Confederate militiamen.

Five years later, Clara Hanfield, the daughter of a powerful New York shipping magnate, escapes her tyrannical father and travels west in pursuit of John Elliot, the man she loves. John, a U.S. Army lieutenant, was sent to the Dakota Territory where he discovers a government conspiracy to incite an all-out war with the Indians; a war meant to finally eliminate them as an obstacle to the westward expansion.

Henry finds himself caught in the middle.

Aided by Clara, John, and his native ally, Standing Elk, Henry must battle hatred, greed, and the ghosts of his past during this turbulent and troubling time in American history.

About the Author

Michael’s love of books began with Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle when he was seven-years-old. Later influenced by the works of John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, Stephen King, and Cormac McCarthy, Michael developed his style of storytelling. A self-proclaimed blue-collar writer, he draws on his experiences and observations to bring relevant and compelling topics to life. 

Michael lives in Northern California, and when he’s not writing, he can usually be found wandering around the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.

His body of work includes the 2014 novel After and Again, the 2015 novel American Flowers, and the shorts Joe Price and Anywhere But Here. Michael’s newest novel, Shadow of the Hanging Tree, is expected to be published in January 2017 by Sweet Candy Press.

Links:

Author’s Website: http://michaelamclellan.com/

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelAMcLellanOfficial

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9802085.Michael_A_McLellan

Publisher: Sweet Candy Press http://www.sweetcandypress.com

The publisher is giving away 5 Advanced Reader Copies! Enter below:

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW: Disintegration (Book Two, The Todor Trilogy) By Jenna Newell Hiott

Disintegration (Book Two, The Todor Trilogy)

By Jenna Newell Hiott

Genre: Fantasy, Visionary & Metaphysical Fiction

Aerie has fallen, and the land of Todor is on the brink of war. Famine and decay have touched every corner of the land. If Todor is to survive, Gemynd, Numa and Soman must fully embrace their powers, even as they continue to uncover more secrets and lies. Can Soman survive the aftermath of his role in the destruction of Aerie? Will Numa’s love for Gemynd endure even after she sees the horrors of the Iturtian pit? And is Gemynd his father’s puppet or his protégé? The betrayals of the past weigh heavy, but can the three move beyond them in order to work for the good of Todor? Or will their inability to forgive propel them into war?
Thundering toward an epic conclusion, Disintegration is the second book in the Todor trilogy. In it, author Jenna Newell Hiott paints a stunning portrait of humanity at its rawest, giving a revealing glimpse of how it fares when everything teeters on the brink of destruction.










My Review:

The three young ones from Revelation are no longer young. They have grown to be fierce. Disintegration opens up with great destruction. Gemynd and Soman are carrying the torches of their past, and making choices that affect each other’s territory and lives. Numa is stuck in the middle receiving and having a love for them both. The story heats up in this second installment. Characters that I once admired are showing a darker side which keeps things interesting. This is a thoroughly intriguing book from start to finish, and I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series! Five Stars!

About the Author

Author, healer, all-around kook, Jenna Newell Hiott boasts of having a limitless imagination, unless it’s naptime. While many of us had an imaginary friend as children, Jenna had an entire imaginary family—complete with a second set of parents and three siblings—all of whom lived in a make-believe world of Jenna’s own creation. One could say she’s been writing fantasy fiction since she was old enough to use words. And she never outgrew it. Out of this hyperactive imagination, and a life steeped in metaphysics, Jenna created the land of Todor: a world of magic, intrigue, and power plays.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennanewellhiottauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennahiott

Website: http://www.jennanewellhiott.com 

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ebdiuq

The author is hosting a $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway during her tour!

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BOOK BLITZ: STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS By Sumita Mukherjee

STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS

By Sumita Mukherjee

Genre: Educational Projects for Kids

STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step instruction book for parents and children. It introduces kids between the ages of four and ten to the magic of electronics, game and toy designing, printing, understanding basic scientific principles and most importantly, they’ll have a blast making them. Inside this book you will find projects on LED cards, dance pads, handmade soaps, bubble blowers, Play-Doh circuits, cloud lanterns, scribbling bots and more!

Created by NASA STEM certified leader, Sumita Mukherjee, this book is jam packed with projects that will engage any bored child. The hands-on projects are broken into areas of practical implementation: Party, Build, Toys and Art. They have also been sorted according to levels of difficultly and STEAM relevance. Adding one or two experiments per week can get your child excited about science, inventions, science fair projects and overall classroom performance.

There is also a BONUS material list for STEAM DIY KIDS, to make it easier for parents to plan and prepare in advance.

What’s particularly exciting is that STEAM AHEAD! DIY FOR KIDS is available for only $1.99 through December. Perfect for keeping children busy during the holiday season. And that’s not all! For those who purchase the book this week, a freebie downloadable brain doodle book is also available by entering your purchase information at http://wizkids.club/freegift. Don’t miss out. Visit Amazon today to grab this special deal! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRIRG69

About the Author

Sumita Mukherjee is a NASA STEM certified leader and children’s book author. She has been fortunate enough to travel around the globe, explore many countries and meet different people. Mysteries and adventures have been captured from there in the form of Keiko and Kenzo’s travel adventure series. These books are to inspire young readers to know and appreciate various countries, develop a love for discovery and learn about the world around them. Her series of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) books encourages kids to invent and explore, to empower themselves and see themselves as world leaders and problem solvers. Her books celebrate diversity, spark curiosity and capture children's imaginations! Sumita currently lives in Toronto with her family.

Her website, WizKids.Club was created with a vision to raise the next generation of creative leaders. WizKids.Club offers highly engaging kids activities, educational books, experiments, hands-on projects, DIYs, travel stories and engineering books perfect for children 4-12 years to spark creativity and scientific learning.

Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wizkidsdotclub 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wizkidsdotclub/

Website: http://wizkids.club/

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRIRG69

The author is giving one lucky reader a $10 Amazon Gift Card!

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT & REVIEW: Revelation (Book One, Todor Trilogy) By Jenna Newell Hiott

Revelation (Book One, Todor Trilogy)

By Jenna Newell Hiott

Genre: Fantasy, Visionary & Metaphysical Fiction

In a land where magic was created through the spilling of blood, turmoil is looming. Grief and despair flood the land of Todor, and its creators—the omniscient Deis—consider destroying it altogether. That is, until a single spot of joy attracts their attention: the idyllic village of Aerie. Believing in the hope found there, the Deis give Todor one more chance. They place three infants within this village who are unknowingly tasked with ending Todor’s suffering.

As the three chosen ones grow, they discover that their beloved village is a haven of secrets, and nothing is as they believe. Can Gemynd, Soman, and Numa move beyond the secrets of Aerie in order to learn the truth about themselves and the world they thought they knew? With impending war, passionate love, and the heartbreak of separation facing them at every turn, will they do what is required to save Creation?

An imaginative fantasy debut from Jenna Newell Hiott, Revelation combines intrigue, passion, and magic to create a mythic tale like no other. The first book in the epic Todor trilogy, Revelation introduces readers to a unique fantasy realm—intelligent and layered with hidden truths, it will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.

My Review:

Revelation is a fantastical tale about three special children born on the same night. The trio grow up together and hold a tight bond. Their connection brings them to make challenging decisions about their love and loyalty to each other.

The author called me into this plot and realm with her grand writing style. The fantasy world that she manifested through her imagination is based on joy and equality. I find that to be a remarkable concept which is why I give this book 5 stars.

About the Author

Author, healer, all-around kook, Jenna Newell Hiott boasts of having a limitless imagination, unless it’s naptime. While many of us had an imaginary friend as children, Jenna had an entire imaginary family—complete with a second set of parents and three siblings—all of whom lived in a make-believe world of Jenna’s own creation. One could say she’s been writing fantasy fiction since she was old enough to use words. And she never outgrew it. Out of this hyperactive imagination, and a life steeped in metaphysics, Jenna create the land of Todor: a world of magic, intrigue, and power plays.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennanewellhiottauthor/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennahiott

Website: http://www.jennanewellhiott.com

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dZWDqP

The author is hosting a $10 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway during her tour!

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