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The Ex Factor - An In Depth Book ReviewPosted on 2006-Nov-2 at 08:18 - 3 Comments - Post Comment - LinkThe Ex FactorA Book Review from Accentuate Services By Michelle L Devon Most of us have had an EX somewhere in our past. Whether it’s an EX best friend, EX lover, or EX spouse, we’ve all had an occasion in which someone left out lives (became an EX), and quite often, not under the best of circumstances. Seeking justice, revenge, and evening the playing field are fantasies we all may have had during those moments of anger after experiencing a loss, a betrayal, a broken promise, or a broken trust, yet most of us only entertain the fantasies in our minds, until time heals the wound to a point where we allow the universe to deal justice as deserved. However, the nine (9) authors of The Ex Factor have actually taken those fantasies and thoughts of justified endings toward an EX and turned them into reality, if only for a few moments while read on the pages of this book. Here you will find what the publisher has noted: justified endings to bad Exes, and for anyone who has even entertained thoughts of moral, universal accounting for a wrong done them, The Ex Factor will not fail to satisfy. Separated into three categories: The Hand of Retribution, The Hand of Justice, and the Hand of Fate—you will find in the 304 pages of the Ex Factor anthology, twenty-two (22) different short stories, each spinning their own tale of karma taking a hand in dealing cosmic balancing. The first story in The Ex Factor anthology is entitled Camp Keller, by author BJ Bourg. Drawing me in from the beginning with an action scene, though the middle, and ending with strong action, this short story definitely leaves the reader with a sense of uneasiness. We learn that, while some people may appear to change, the core of who a person is never leaves them, and when the chips are down, people show their true colors. The Big Blonde is our second story in The Ex Factor, by Colin Conway, where we are taken through a modern day Mickey Spillane style detective story, clichés and all, as we watch what appears to be a love triangle expand into much more, and concludes with a murder—but just who was killed? This short story concludes with an expected ‘happy’ ending, at least for two of the people in our story, and an unforgettable memory for our hapless detective. From detectives to dreaming, we move to our next story in the anthology, written by Michy Anderson, who also writes under the penname Michelle L Devon, as we read Dream Walking. With a bit of a supernatural twist, we find our lead character in this short story able to enter others minds, through her dreams, where she is able to uncover her husband’s affair. In the end, we wonder just how the universe decided to deal justice, when we read what happens to all a party of this love triangle. We all have issues, but in Frank Zafiro’s short story, Core Issue, we realize a couple of things. First, we realize that some situations are not always as they would appear, and secondly, we learn that sometimes the people who appear to have it together the most are really the ones with most ‘issues’. There is no limit to what a mother might do for her child, as any good mom will tell you, but would you go so far as to commit murder? In Earl Staggs short story, The Waitress, it seems one mother was willing to do just about anything to give her son a better life, and because of this, she ends up the prime suspect to a murder of a prominent attorney. Will the small town Chief of Police she has befriended believe her profession of innocence? Sandra Seamans writes our next short story, where a backwoods town has a type of justice all its own, where everyone knows everyone else, and justice is served country style. Sometimes living with your own choices is justice served and there’s simply nothing the courts or law could do that would compare to Country Justice. In A Lover’s Understanding, we take a supernatural walk with author Patricia Harrington into the truth, hidden behind a façade of love, and revealed by a ghost from the past. Colin Conway returns in this next short story to spin a tale of Loyalty Lost. A change in schedule, a lost Zippo lighter, and the ultimate deception all lead up to Robert making a snap decision to take back his life by taking justice into his own hands. Police officer partners should, after all, be able to completely trust each other, shouldn’t they? Spousal abuse is often under reported and the perpetrators of this violent crime seldom receive the justice they so rightfully deserve. Many agencies across the country have been created to help battered women escape abusive relationships and rebuild their lives. In Katt Dunsmore’s short story, Victory House is just that type of agency, but with a supernatural twist that gives the abusive 'toads' a fitting final sentence. Some of us dread our High School Reunion and connecting with our past and old friend. In Jill Maser’s story, we take a trip down memory lane with Ron, and learn that sometimes the things we have dreamed about since high school are really better left in the past. For Kent, after a shared lunch with his old high school friend, we watch as he receives his just desserts. BJ Bourg comes back for another round with his next story in The Ex Factor anthology, Death Notice. In this story, we learn that age makes no difference to love, jealousy, and revenge. We also learn that even death isn’t always what it seems. Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it, and it might not be quite as sweet as you thought it would be… this is what Stan learns in Frank Zafiro’s story, Helping Out. As for our lead character and police officer, Aaron, he learns that sometimes sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong, even when you had good intentions, leads to nothing but trouble. Vanity—the elusive fountain of youth—many of sought it through the years, and in Daddy’s Girl, Nonna’s Angel, by Katt Dunsmore, a mother seeks to find her immortal youth through her own daughter. At least, she does until Nonna Anna steps in and gives the vain mother exactly what she seeks—a chance to recapture her youth, literally. Sam Hollis lives with the painful knowledge that not all criminals, especially those who batter their wives, receive the justice they deserve. A memory from the past haunts him to the point of obsession, causing him to lose everything that means anything to him, including his marriage. In Earl Staggs short story, Battered, Sam finds a way to redeem himself and his sister through a case that consumes his every waking thought—but once solved, can Sam redeem himself in his wife’s eyes and save their marriage? There’s those who do things purely for their own selfish motivations, and we know that this is true of most criminal types. However, Sandra Seamans gives us a look into a one criminal who decides to go straight and retire from her life of crime, but not before she performs one more ‘job’ For Mary. Michy Anderson wields the hand of fate in The Crazy Cat Lady, when Karla believes she has the purrrfect solution to her fiancé’s infidelity with Karla’s ex-best friend. However, during her ‘special’ engagement dinner, an ill timed ringing of the doorbell makes Karla rethink her conclusions. In this story, revenge is definitely a dish best served with tuna. Meow. Straight from an episode of the Twilight Zone, the Cosmo Effect, by Jill Maser, shows us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but not in the scalpel of a plastic surgeon who holds a grudge. You can’t always pick your neighbors, as we learn in Katt Dunsmore’s short story, Wisteria Lane, when Daniel’s ex-wife and his brother, who had an affair and are now married to each other, decide to move next door to him and his new wife, Roberta. For some reason, Roberta just can’t get her wisteria vines to grow. While Roberta is away on a business trip, Daniel finds the perfect fertilizer for Roberta’s vines and discovers a way to take care of his pesky new neighbor problem. If you can’t trust family, who can you trust? In Earl Staggs’ short story, Brother-In-Law, we follow the thought processes of a brother who regrets not having protected his sister in order to prevent her death, but finds a way to avenge it. If you’re an abuser and have an ego, be careful whom you pick for your drinking buddies. Michy Anderson takes empathy to a whole new level in her short story, The Empath. It’s one thing to feel for someone, but it’s another thing entirely to feel what another feels and act upon it. Take a bus ride with the unsuspecting Brock as he takes a trip from prison down the path of retribution, in Victim Notification. BJ Bourg thrills us with a plot twisting story, in which a man, convicted of beating his wife and sentenced to prison, is finally released, and is on his way to seek revenge—only to find that his new confidante has reason to seek her own revenge too. In our last story, summing up the ‘Hands’ theme for The Ex Factor anthology of short stories, we find Frank Zafiro’s installment, Take a Hand. The universe often deals it’s own version of justice, but as our lead character in this short story learns, sometimes you have to give the universe a bit of a helping hand. Twenty-two stories of justified endings to bad Exes, nine authors sharing their versions of universal karma, The Ex Factor is a page turner that is hard to put down for long. No matter how you feel about justice, revenge, and vengeance, there is sure to be a story in The Ex Factor with which you can personal relate. While most of us would only dream of seeking revenge against an EX, The Ex Factor offers to those who have been wronged a moment of escape, in which the universe fairly deals with unfair situations. Accentuate Services and Michelle L Devon highly recommends this chilling anthology to anyone who is interested reading genres of light horror, crime and suspense, and drama. There is a little something for everyone in The Ex Factor. The Ex Factor - READY TO GO!Posted on 2006-Oct-5 at 11:19 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - LinkThe Ex Factor...Order Today! The EX FactorJustified Endings to Bad EXes Horror/Crime/Thriller Short Story Anthology Available U.S. Distribution Includes: Ingrams • Baker & Taylor • Blackwell Book Services • Coutts • Gardners • Holt Jackson SAN 850-9409 The EX Factor is filled with disturbing tales to leave a touch of satisfaction in the heart of anyone who has ever suffered the pangs of a relationship gone sour. From accidents to intentions…from the supernatural to the physical…from wishes to actions… from breaking laws to upholding them…from revenge to justice…The EX Factor covers it all. Nine engaging authors bring warmth to cold,bitter hearts, and maybe also to those of us who have a twisted sense of what is truly fair in this world. With twenty-two short stories combined into a single chilling volume, they take matters of the unjustly treated heart into their own hands: Stories from the Hand of Justice serve the readers a plentiful feast that never gets cold and always satisfies. Stories from the Hand of Retribution provide a "fast food" serving for the impatient reader. $13.95 • 5" x 8" • 304 pages Paperback • Perfect Bound ISBN-10: 0-9785447-9-X ISBN-13: 978-0-9785447-9-9 Stories from the Hand of Fate hold an exotic blend to tantalize the palate of twisted taste buds. Michy Anderson (aka Michelle L Devon): Author of In A Perfect World; Sidewalk Chalk; Sienna Sunrise; Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh; Another Lifetime; and coming soon, Cloud Pictures. (that's me!!!!) B.J. Bourg: Author of Absent the Soul; Contributing Author to: Seven by Seven; and Stories of Strength Anthologies. Colin Conway: His short stories have appeared at several e-zines including Crime Scene Scotland; Shred of Evidence; and The Green Muse. Katt Dunsmore: Her stories and essays appear in Crime and Suspense Magazine; Silver Moon Magazine; and Mouth Full of Bullets. Patricia Harrington: Author of Death Stalks the Khmer; Death Comes Too Soon; Contributing Author to: Mystery In Mind; When I Was A Child; Murder by Six; and Teacher Miracles Anthologies. Jill Maser: Author of The White Horse Pike Pictorial History. Sandra Seamans: Her short stories have been published in Crime and Suspense; A Cruel World; and Apollo's Lyre. 26345 Dayflower Boulevard Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 www.KobocaPublishing.com info@KobocaPublishing.com Earl Staggs: 2002 Derringer Award Winner; Author of Memoy Of A Murder; President of the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Frank Zafiro: Author of Under A Raging Moon; and Heroes Often Fail (Koboca Publishing 2007); Contributing Author to: By The Chimney With Care; Map of Murder; and Seven by Seven Anthologies. Bad EXes Everywhere...Beware! Order your copy today!!! CLICK HERE! Keeper of the Flame, by Catherine ChasePosted on 2006-Sep-30 at 04:43 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link Keeper of the Flame, by Catherine Chase
Book Description The mystical land of Draecus-a land closed off from all others for generations. In Mikaelia, it is remembered only in bedtime stories passed down through the ages. With the war for the lands of Mikaelia now over, the human female Jarnell fights her family's wishes of marriage to unite two noble houses and strengthen the family holdings. Running away, she seeks out her elven friend, Dekion, and gains a startling traveling companion in the form of a half-orscha warrior, Sahri-tah. Coming together after the devastating wars between the races of their land, the three of them battle against their own distrusts of each other's races to search for Dekion's father, who was lost during wars. Following their only lead, given to them by a crazed man in the streets of Sel Lorst, they find themselves in the lost, magical land of Draecus where a war between humans and orscha has just begun. While they wait, the companions become caught up in the war that crosses the once peaceful Draecus. They must fight to stay alive long enough for the portals to open again and allow them passage back to their own land. At the same time, Jarnell, a follower of the Goddess of passion, fights the desire to stay in the arms of Daedic, the only man to ever bring to life the flames of passion in her body, mind, and soul. Review Ms. Chase has written a novel that intricately weaves several storylines together skillfully into one cohesive story, that while it stands alone, leaves the reader begging to know more. With fanciful but believable characters, races such as the elves, orscha, and a race of people known as the Aishtoullar, which are similar to characters we have seen in other fantasy novels, but with a new twist that is unlike anything a reader might find in any other fantasy novel - the characters of Keeper of the Flame will not fail to delight and keep you drawn into the story. The story begins with the birth of Jarnell, our unlikely heroine, who came into this world and into her station in a rather chaotic way, to fulfill a destiny, unknown to her, her family, or her companions--a destiny known only to that Goddess she serves, but to whom she has never committed herself or her sword completely--a destiny that Jarnell is not too sure she can fulfill. From there, we are introduced to a variety of characters, all linked to Jarnell in some way, and we watch their adventures as they travel on their quest, a quest that, should they fail, would ultimately mean the destruction of two worlds. On this quest, we are taken through a series of events that show us war and destruction but also love and friendship, and the bonds of blood, family, not to mention a great romance thrown in the middle of all the other chaos. It's a good balance, and a believable plot with which any reader can relate. Keeper of the Flame is a story about passion... passion for life, passion for love, passion for following one's destiny, in spite of all the obstacles. The writing style of this book is almost poetic in nature, but it is very easy to read. The imagery is beautiful, the lands created drawn as pictures through words. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to more of Ms. Chase's creations. To purchase this book from Amazon.com, click HERE. To visit the publisher's website, click HERE. If you have a book you have written and would like reviewed, all you have to do is mail one free copy to Michelle L Devon and she will write you a professional book review, ready to use for advertising, web copy, and she will post it on all online retailers review systems (Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, etc) as well as carrying the book in her own online bookstore and including your review on all her book review blogs and her website. The only thing Ms. Devon asks in return is on free copy of the book mailed to her and her links to her website be included anywhere you use or post the review. For more information, visit www.AccentuateServices.com In A Perfect World...Posted on 2006-Sep-30 at 04:17 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link In A Perfect World, a Series on Lost Love and Redemption
"In a perfect world, we would never have a broken heart...but ours is not a perfect world...so I write the words you may never read and share them with those who will understand...until the world is perfect...again." With our busy lives, with the text message, the email, the cell phone—we communicate at lightening speed, but rarely talk anymore. Technology is an amazing thing, but it cannot touch us in those places deep in our hearts and souls where only another human being can touch us. In a Perfect World is a compilation of many emotional writings. In these pages, you will see the full range of emotion—from love to hatred, from fear to peace. Every reader will easily find something that can can relate to events in their own lives. The goal of the author is to touch readers in those places in the heart and soul that may not have been touched in a very long time.From the Back Cover Why I Write Take a walk with me Down this street that is in my mind Past the houses, past the sidewalks Past the children's playgrounds and ball parks Walk past all the things you see And wander into my memories The
past, the present, the future All rolled into one event Inside myself I
control my destiny Beyond the physical boundaries Into that part deep
in my soul Lingering in places only I know When you read the
words Written and meant to be shared You touch this place inside Experience the tears I've cried See the love and anger too The disappointments and dreams come true
I don't write for me And I
don't even write for you I write because I'm compelled To share a story
I must tell It's not a talent I have been given It is ordained,
predetermined I write because I have no choice I write because God gave me the voice For every heart my words will touch And for my own heart too I write to share compassion I write with fevered passion To show the world the human side Of conflict, anger, pain and pride Summary In a Perfect World, A Series on Lost Love and Redemption, is a book of prose, poetry, and short stories of a poignant or philosophical nature, relating to the subject of lost love, redemption from the past and learning from one's mistakes. The book takes you through a journey from the depths of despair, through acceptance and understanding, and leaves you finally with that feeling of redemption, where the world may not always be the way we plan, but in the end, everything does have a purpose and meaning. This book is a compliation of over 20 years worth of writing on this subject of lost love and redemption. Beginning with the following dedication: To my biggest fan, my muse, We start the reading adventure with the understanding that, even in this work, the love of someone very special has inspired and driven the writings inside the pages of the book. Moving through other selected pieces, such as the title piece, In a Perfect World, and then to a piece in the middle of the book entitled Embrace the Night, we see how love begins and then ends, and swirls into the darkness. As the darkness lifts, we find pieces entitled Perception, Courage and Overcome that clearly show how the past is beginning to redeem itself. With the final piece, entitled The End, we can clearly see that while the future is unclear, things are indeed changing, and perhaps we even find a little bit of hope. "And I wait. Not knowing what I am waiting for, not knowing what the next moments will bring when I hear that door open. Not knowing what the future holds for my life, but feeling as though something is changing, something I have no control over... It has come to an end. And so it all begins again." In a Perfect World retails for $9.95 USD, but you can purchase it from Amazon.com, the author's website, or the publisher's website at discounted prices. With exceptional reviews from those who have read the book, and the general consensus that In a Perfect World will take you on an emotional journey of highs and lows, this book is an excellent choice to add to any collection of poetry and prose. Pick up your copy today! Blast From the Past - And Some NewsPosted on 2006-Aug-29 at 01:55 - 0 Comments - Post Comment - Link The above picture was taken almost to the day 18 years ago. Blows me away... Friend of mine and I were talking on the phone about old times, how things change, how people change and sometimes are not who they seemed to be, and somewhere through all of that, I started going through old photo albums and found this picture of myself and my daughter. I'm the bigger one, for those who don't know, and my daughter is the one who refused to smile for the photo. (she's the one with no hair, if you were wondering) At this time, you can see, I colored my hair, because red heads were not so popular in the late 80s - ah, the things we do for beauty. Yet, the one who has changed the most is the baby... she's now almost 19 and just started her first semester of college last week. I still have been unable to get the brat boy into jr high school, but we are working on it. Right now, I'm home schooling him, which isn't going all that well. Hopefully, we'll have a decision from the school district tomorrow and he can begin his first day of jr. high on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to having some down and alone time during the day while I'm working... So anyway, got me to thinking a bit about how things change and how people change and how far we travel down the roads of life... the outside is different, but how different am I on the inside? A lot, I think... the whole direction of my life has changed, in fact, over the last 18 years since this photo above was taken. Well, to start with, when this picture was taken, I fully expected that I would be married, have four children, be happy and prosperous, and would be an efficiency expert. Yes, that's what I wanted to be at the time... went to college to get a degree in psychology and then was going to go on to get an MBA and the two combined were going to make me the hatchet lady - you know, the one who comes in and reviews how everything is run, makes all these changes, fires and hires people, impliments new procedures, and then dumps and runs on to the next assignment, leaving the company to figure it out from there. I was young, in love, had this great kid, and had my life planned out almost to the letter. My how things change... I'm not married, although this last year I actually DID propose to someone, sorta... can you imagine? I only have two kids (which I'm glad for now!), I never got that MBA, although at one point I was accepted into the law program at the University of Texas, and I'm now an editor and a writer-freelance, working from home. I'm a bit older, heavier, perhaps a bit wiser, a lot less naive about the word, and perhaps a bit jaded. Not what I had pictured, and many dreams lost or forgotten, but in many ways more than I had ever hoped for with many dreams beginning to come true. All in all, I can't complaint too much, although I still do every now and then. The last year has been a difficult one for me and one of a lot of transition and change. I've gone from complete failure to complete success to complete failure and back again about three times over in the last five-seven years. I've lost money, lost a couple of jobs, lost in love... but I've gained insight, wisdom, and have a job I wouldn't trade anything for. My health has gone from good to bad to worse and back again, and finally has settled at a level I can tolerate. My weight has gone from too thin to way too heavy to somewhere in between and we won't even talk about where that is now. I've gone from pure elation to the depths of dark depression to a state of contentedness... I was talking to someone very special to me a couple of nights ago, and in the conversation he said that if he could give me one thing, it would be happiness... happiness is there, it just often escapes me, for many reasons. There are things that make me feel happy, being happy is something I'm working on though. It will take time, but it will be there. I'm not unhappy though, don't think it for a moment. There is so much that excites me and the future is looking brighter every day. There are things I miss. There are some things I regret and would change if I could, but I do believe that in the end everything that has happened has happened for a reason, and truth be known, everything has lead me to the place I am, and I'm not in a bad place at all. I went out for an early dinner tonight with the kids and a friend of mine, and my son ended up in a giggle fit... something to do with tapioca pudding and maggots... which I guess you have to be a 12 year old boy to know why that is so funny. As I watched him laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath, his face turning bright red... I laughed. I mean, I truly laughed, and in this moment, I guess I realize that when it all comes down to it, there's nothing that matters in this world when you can laugh like that. I envy this in my children. They have always understood this. Sometimes, mom can learn a lot from her kids. So for my news... another change is on the way in my life. I have a contract to write a screenplay and the advance will be released to me in October - this has been one of my dreams, and it is coming true as I type this. I'm amazed. The end of November or first part of December, I plan to achieve another one of my dreams... moving to Austin, where I will be collaberating with a team of writers on this screenplay/script adaptation from a novel. I've dreamed of it for years and now, that dream is just right around the corner. Making this decision was difficult. There are many reason I thought I needed to stay here - fear being the biggest motivator. Fear of the unknown, fear of my own success or failure, and fear of stepping out on that limb to only watch it break. No, it doesn't look like I expected it to, but I've learned a long time ago that our dreams come to us best when we let go of the expectations and let God and the universe bring them to us as efficiently and perfectly as possible. There is another I have hoped would be coming with me on this journey, and we'll see how that all comes to fruition or not, but for now, I'm not placing any expectations on that - just letting it flow the way that God sees fit for me and this other person. Next month, I begin making the plans to make this dream come true... even if it also ends up not looking like I planned. In the meantime, I am living my life as best I know how, doing things the only way I know how, and I'm barely breathing, but there are days that the tears in my eyes are not tears of sorrow, but are truly tears of gratitude for all that the Universe has provided me - I love and am loved well...even though it's not how I pictured it would be. I have hope, family, friends... even though that is not how I pictured it would be either... I am living the beginngs of my dreams, and I can't possibly explain in words, no matter how good of a writer I might be, exactly what that feels like... and in this essence, it does not matter any longer if the dream doesn't look exactly like I pictured it would... it's freeing... releasing... and gratifying in the depths of my soul. Now, it's time to start tying up the loose ends of my life, grabbing ahold of all that matters most and making the most of it, for time is short, and there is so much left to do...and finding the one(s) who will accompany me on my journey and share the path with me as I walk forward into the unknown. At one time, this would have scared the hell out of me. Today, I radiate with joy and excitement of all the possibilities presented to me. To those of you who read me here and have followed my journey this last year, including when I wiped out my blog in February and essentially started my path over again... I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and soul for the support, encouragement, fellowship and friendship you have offered me these many months. Come December or January, I will wipe out all of these posts, and a new blog will be started and everone here can join me on the journey of one woman who is following her heartfelt dreams and desires... There is much to do... so much left to say... and so much left to talk about, but right now, I am going to log off and enjoy the somewhat melancholy but at the same time peaceful feeling that comes from knowing that one journey is coming to an end soon, but another new and exciting one is about to begin.... I'll be back tomorrow with a less deep but hopefully entertaining post about something I read the other day and my opinions on it... I think I'll make you laugh, but tonight, I'm pensive and contemplative, and later, I hope to have a very important conversation with a very important person in my life. Wish me luck and love and light... I'm going to need all I can muster to make this next step... I know that when I leap, the one who catches me as I'm falling will be the one who will fly with me when I spread my wings in the flicker of a heartbeat... I will fly... Love and stuff, Michy www.accentuateservices.com www.MichelleLDevon.com First PostPosted on 2006-Jul-2 at 03:23 - 1 Comments - Post Comment - LinkJust trying this out to see how it looks. Be back later to post more. |
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