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Sneak Peek: The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar

By
Jocie McKade
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0

The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar

In ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of a disgraced Persian lord, is devastated by the news. Her father sees this edict as a stroke of good fortune, an opportunity to settle his mounting debts by killing the Jewish physician, Adin, and seizing his belongings. Instead, he meets his own untimely end, leaving Roxannah destitute and adrift. Desperate and determined to support her mother, Roxannah approaches Adin—the man whose kind eyes still haunt her—to help her find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.

In the opulent palace of Susa, Roxannah tries to survive the spiteful ploys of the other cooks as she ascends through the ranks. Her culinary talent earns her the trust and mentorship of Queen Esther, who is herself navigating treacherous palace politics as whispers denounce her inability to produce an heir. When Roxannah and Adin uncover a sinister plot against Amestris, the king’s most powerful wife and Esther’s archenemy, they find themselves tasked with the impossible job of discovering the culprit. As secrets unravel and alliances are tested, the fate of Esther’s reign hangs in the balance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tessa Afshar’s biblical fiction has been on Publishers Weekly, CBA, and ECPA bestseller lists and has been translated into twelve languages. Tessa’s books have received the Christy, INSPY, and ECPA Christian Book Awards, and are Carol, Christy, and ECPA Christian Book Award finalists. Born in the Middle East, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. Tessa is a devoted wife, a mediocre gardener, and an enthusiastic cook of biblical recipes.

Learn more at TessaAfshar.com.

Sneak Peek: Watch Your Back by Terri Parlato

By
Jocie McKade
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0

Watch Your Back by Terri Parlato

Amid the depths of a bleak Boston winter, a recently married couple find their lives and their relationship unraveling after a series of deadly accidents, in this brilliantly twisting domestic thriller perfect for fans of Stacy Willingham, Greer Hendricks, and Megan Miranda.

Accidents happen, no matter how careful or well-intentioned you are. Psychiatrist Eve Thayer frequently reassures her patients of that fact. There are even times when accidents have good consequences—like when Eve met her now-husband, Nathan, at his collision shop after another car ran her off the road.

After a whirlwind courtship, Nathan and Eve have settled into domestic life. They have a lovely home on a quiet street, a beautiful baby girl, and even the perfect babysitter to care for her. And yet, something isn’t quite right.

The stress in Eva’s life is mounting, both professionally and personally. Though the clinic where she works has been remodeled since its notorious days as an institution for the criminally insane, she feels increasingly uneasy there. And in her own neighborhood, a break-in at a nearby empty house hasn’t helped, either.

Detective Rita Myers hasn’t yet figured out whether Eve is a target or a suspect, but every disturbing discovery in this usually peaceful neighborhood seems to revolve around her. Only as a deadly ice storm crashes through does it become clear just how far from perfect Eve and Nathan’s lives really are. And as the cracks in the surface come to light, so do the sinister secrets that lie beneath . . .

David Hare’s Play “Beat the Devil” to be Released as an Audible Original

By
Jocie McKade
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0

Audible is pleased to announce the upcoming audio release of Beat the Devil, written and performed by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and BAFTA-winning director David Hare (Skylight, The Hours, The Reader). The Audible Original is set to release October 24, 2024, with Audible founder Don Katz serving as executive producer.

Beat the Devil is a raw, powerful first-hand account of contracting Covid-19 in its first wave, told by one of the most decorated artists of our time. On the same day that the UK government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to a conspicuously late lock-down, David Hare, celebrated playwright and screenwriter, contracted Covid. Nobody seemed to know much about it then, and many doctors are not altogether sure they know much more today. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare recalls the delirium of his illness, which mixed with fear, dream, honest medicine and dishonest politics to create a monologue of furious urgency and power.

In August 2020, Beat the Devil’s world premiere production, starring Ralph Fiennes at the Bridge Theatre in London, marked the return of live, socially distanced indoor theater in the West End. In New York, Hare performed the monologue for a two-night engagement at the Public Theater in November 2023. Now, this astute commentary reflecting on an unimaginable time will be accessible direct to listeners’ ears across the globe.

Among his many accolades, David Hare has been called “our best writer of contemporary drama” (Sunday Times) and “Britain’s greatest living playwright” (Mail on Sunday). The Telegraph said that Beat the Devil “flung open the theater doors again with a heart-stopping flourish in David Hare’s most personal piece to date. It reminds us why Hare matters but also why theatre does – as a place to gather together to confront society’s darkest days and demons.”

David Hare said, “In early 2020, there was no prediction of what one day might look like, and how it might differ from the next, when experiencing Covid-19. The best way I knew how to explore this time was to write what became Beat the Devil. When this piece was first performed, it was for a socially distanced audience, and I’m grateful to Audible that this story will now be available to so many more. I hope listeners empathize with the rage and urgency I felt during this harrowing time, and find catharsis in the ultimate recovery.”

Don Katz said, “David Hare created an artful, historically profound monologue that provides a necessary revisit of the societal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As one of the world’s greatest living playwrights, David brings humor and humanity to a time of tragedy and within the intimate format of an Audible Original, listeners can peer deeply into the human condition. I believe David’s story could heal the broad disassociation left by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially now when we are still feeling the societal effects of that time.”

Glenda Benevides Grammy Award Considered Musician Author Two New Book Releases

By
Jocie McKade
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0

Soul On Fire, The Power Of Owning Your Full Self Expression, is how to keep inspired daily, activate your own insights, passions and have daily mantras to help shift the way you take care of ourselves while doing it with grace and ease.
Growing our self-love is medicine to our soul and to the world’s broken heart. When you heal, we all heal. When you give yourself more grace, understanding and compassion you are able to give this to others and the world. To live a life with a soul on fire is the way life has the fullest self-expression and freedom!

Soul On Fire: The Power Of Owning Your Full Self Expression! – Kindle edition by Benevides, Glenda . Self-Help Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Having clarity, courage, confidence and commitment is a reflection of your core being. Whether you’re an introvert or an extravert foundations for a Badass Goddess lifestyle begins with you creating a self-care environment that works.

Creating the right conditions supports a thriving uplifted experience in all aspects of your Goddess self. It’s then body, mind, spirit flourishes and anything and everything is possible.

It’s Ritual! The Ritual of building an invigorating self-care Badass Goddess lifestyle is a very direct and potent way of understanding who you truly are. It’s something you can rely on daily, that gives you a strong foundation in this amazing and ever-changing world.

Amazon.com: Own The Goddess Within eBook : Benevides, Glenda: Kindle Store

We Walk On Past” is a poignant and socially conscious song that delves into the issues of indifference and neglect in society. Through its evocative lyrics, the song highlights various forms of suffering and injustice that people often overlook or ignore.

The song’s verses paint vivid pictures of different individuals in distress, such as a lonely woman, a hungry child, a broken soldier, a homeless man, a missing father, a sister gone, a jailed brother, and a dying person. These characters represent the broader issues of poverty, war, family disintegration, and systemic inequality. The recurring phrase “we walk on past, the pride of it all” underscores the collective apathy and pride that prevent society from addressing these issues.

The chorus emphasizes the shared responsibility in this neglect, as it repeats the act of walking past these tragedies, highlighting a sense of communal complicity. The repetition of “walk past” and “the pride of it all” serves as a powerful reminder of the moral and ethical failings that allow such suffering to continue unchecked.

Overall, “We Walk On Past” is a call to action, urging listeners to recognize and confront the pride and apathy that contribute to societal neglect and to take steps towards compassion and justice.

GLENDA’S MUSIC CREATES ACTION!
EVERYTIME, YOU BUY A SINGLE, EP, MERCH OR COURAGE BOOK. I PLANT A TREE FOR YOU!
YES, every time you buy a song, I’m planting a tree!
It’s Simple: You buy my song or EP and I plant a Tree for you.

I give back by planting a tree for all music purchased. Together we can be In action and apart of the solution!  Thank You!

To Plant More Trees!  https://onetreeplanted.org           

PLANT A TREE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Glenda Benevides is not just a musician; she is a force of nature, seamlessly weaving together the threads of music and storytelling to inspire audiences worldwide. Her journey from a Grammy-considered artist to a recording academy voting member has been punctuated by her unwavering commitment to spreading messages of courage, unity, and action through her artistry. Glenda is not only an award-winning performer but also an acclaimed author, with her book Courage serving as a testament to her dedication to empowering others.

Glenda Benevides is more than just a performer and writer; she is a catalyst for positive change, igniting audiences with her powerful messages of courage, unity, and action. Through her music, storytelling, and insightful talks, Glenda inspires others to embrace clarity, courage, confidence, commitment, and community, empowering them to create meaningful impact in their lives and the world around them. We can do this together!

Barnes & Noble Presents “The Mighty Red” by Louise Erdrich as Their October 2024 National Book Club Selection

By
Jocie McKade
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Barnes & Noble announces The Mighty Red as their October National Book Club pick and welcomes readers to join author Louise Erdrich at a free live virtual event on Tuesday, October 1st at 3PM ET. The author will be in conversation with Lexie Smyth, Category Manager for Fiction at Barnes & Noble, and Jenna Seery, Associate Producer, Digital Content at Barnes & Noble, to discuss the title as well as answer questions from audience members. Attendees must register via Eventbrite to access the livestream on Zoom. 

“There’s a reason Louise Erdrich has won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award,” said Lexie Smyth, Category Manager for Fiction at Barnes & Noble. “The Mighty Red is a testament to Erdrich’s masterful storytelling abilities. She seamlessly ties together stories of the bond between a mother and a daughter, the economic realities of rural America, a fascinating love triangle, and our connection to the land we live on. This is an immersive read that begs for conversation. I can’t wait to talk about it with our Book Club readers.”

Louise Erdrich returns with her new gem of a novel — brimming with humor, heart and rich scenery set along the Red River Valley in North Dakota in the early 2000s. The story unfolds as a young Kismet abandons her promising future to instead marry Gary, whose family owns the largest nearby sugar beet farm— offering her financial security, social status, and the dwindling prospect of love. Matters only worsen when an unforeseen scandal suddenly alienates Kismet and her mother from the town. Empathetic, insightful, wise and endearing, this story delivers everything readers have come to expect from an Erdrich novel. Cinematic in its setting with dimensional characters who are as flawed as they are fascinating — this book is sure to appeal to lovers of Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead and Ann Patchett’s The Dutch House.

The Barnes & Noble Book Club selects a newly published work of fiction each month, chosen by their booksellers to provoke, engage and enthrall book lovers. The Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition of The Mighty Red features sprayed edges and a bonus essay from Louise Erdrich about the genesis of this book.

“What a delight to have The Mighty Red chosen as the Barnes & Noble October Book Club selection,” said author Louise Erdrich. “I can only think how much the characters in this book would love to be chosen! Thank you, Barnes & Noble, for including my book in the best of company.”

Leading up to the event, readers can share their thoughts and engage in conversation on social media using the hashtag #BNBookClub. During the livestream, readers are encouraged to participate in the discussion and submit questions to be answered throughout.  

The enthusiasm and word-of-mouth recommendations of Barnes & Noble booksellers across the country have sparked ardent praise from readers nationwide, turning great novels into bestsellers. Previous Barnes & Noble Book Club selections have included: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller, The Night Ship by Jess Kidd, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and The Cloisters by Katy Hays.   

Sneak Peek: North Is the Night: Deluxe Limited Edition By Emily Rath

By
Jocie McKade
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0

North Is the Night: Deluxe Limited Edition By Emily Rath

***DELUXE LIMITED FIRST PRINT RUN with stenciled edges, a beautiful foil-stamped hardcover, exclusive interior design with full-color illustrated endpapers, and a reversible foil dust jacket!*** Only while supplies last.

Two bold young women defy the gods and mortals, living and dead, in this darkly mythical, Finnish folklore-inspired fantasy duology for readers of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, Danielle L. Jensen, Thea Guanzon, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

In the Finnish wilderness, more than wolves roam the dark forests. For Siiri and Aina, summer’s fading light is a harbinger of unwelcome change. Land-hungry Swedes venture north, threatening the peace; a zealous Christian priest denounces the old ways; and young women have begun to disappear.

Siiri vows to protect Aina from danger. But even Siiri cannot stop a death goddess from dragging her friend to Tuonela, the mythical underworld. Determined to save Aina, Siiri braves a dangerous journey north to seek the greatest shaman of legend, the only person to venture to the realm of death and return alive.

In Tuonela, the cruel Witch Queen turns Aina’s every waking moment into a living nightmare. But armed with compassion and cleverness, Aina learns the truth of her capture: the king of the underworld himself has plans for her. To return home, Aina must bargain her heart—as Siiri plots a daring rescue of the woman she loves the most.

Indie Author Top 5 Halloween Reads From Author Tricia Copeland

By
Jocie McKade
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0

This month I’m featuring my indie author top 5 Halloween reads. All these books contain strong characters and stories with unique paranormal or supernatural twists.

Here’s my Indie Author Top 5 Halloween Reads list. Scroll down to learn more and find the links for each book.

  1. On the Romance Side – Linsey Hall’s Romance Rules for Werewolves, #3 of the Charming Cover series
  2. On the apocalyptic side – Catherine Greenall’s A Quirk of Destiny, Apocalyptic Trilogy
  3. On the fantasy side – P.M. Hernandez’s Flesh and Stone, Whitewood Journals
  4. On the shifter side – Tia Silverthorne Bach’s Chasing Memories, Tala Prophecy series
  5. On the ghosty side – Sandy Goldsworthy’s Aftermath, The Afterworld Saga

 

On the Romance Side – Linsey Hall’s Romance Rules for Werewolves, , #3 of the Charming Cove series

I’m not usually a romantasy reader, but I picked up this series and couldn’t stop reading. In the magical village of Charming Cover in scenic Britian a coven of witches occupy the always perfect town, mostly unbeknownst to the humans. Charming Cove has become a draw for other paranormal beings including vampires and werewolves. In this edition, we find our heroine in her newly inherited magical house following a rough breakup. If she doesn’t renovate the house in thirty days, she’ll lose it. To make things more complicated, a grumpy werewolf says he got there first.

On the apocalyptic side – Catherine Greenall’s A Quirk of Destiny, Apocalyptic Trilogy

Callum stumbles across information about a food testing coverup and finds himself running for his life. Not only does he fear the scientist that produced the problem, now there are mutants with paranormal powers hunting humans. This book is an action packed, what-if based on real science from an author in the know. Much of it skirts too close to real life scenarios making it the perfect Halloween season read.

 

 

 

On the fantasy side – P.M. Hernandez’s Flesh and Stone, Whitewood Journals

This book pulled me in from the start and although I hadn’t considered myself a gargoyle fan, I am now. The main character inherits a manor guarded by stone gargoyles, or at least what seem to be stone gargoyles. The imagination put into the plot and world building that develops throughout the series kept me reading. More than just a gargoyle-human love story, this book series will keep you guessing.

 

 

 

On the shifter side – Tia Silverthorne Bach’s Chasing Memories, Tala Prophecy series

One of my first werewolf shifter series reads, I love the Tala Prophecy series. The female main character is thrown into a world of shifter wolves when her family is attacked by a pack of wolves in Yellowstone Park. On the heels of this incident, a strange new and alluring teen enters her life. Can she trust him with her new discoveries? This series is a wild ride blending shifter and magic lore.

 

 

 

On the ghosty side – Sandy Goldsworthy’s Aftermath, The Afterworld Saga

This series is more than meets the eye and the first book dips your toe into a world of angels and demons. After losing her father, and just before her senior year of high school, Emma moves in with her aunt. She is instantly drawn to Ben, but his world is just as complicated as hers. Many forces are at play and the truth about their connection will blow you away!

I hope you enjoy all these indie author top 5 Halloween reads that will take you off the beaten path of Halloween-themed books!

 

Happy reading!
Tricia Copeland

Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben To Write First Collaborative Suspense Novel, Grand Central Publishing To Publish in Fall 2025

By
Jocie McKade
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0

Ben Sevier, President & Publisher of Grand Central Publishing (GCP), announced today the acquisition of a new suspense novel by two luminaries of the book and entertainment worlds, Oscar winning actor, producer, New York Times bestselling author and Reese’s Book Club/Hello Sunshine founder Reese Witherspoon and # 1 international bestselling author and TV creator Harlan Coben. Sevier brokered the North American rights deal with Cait Hoyt at CAA for Witherspoon and Lisa Erbach Vance at the Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency for Coben. Century, a division of Penguin Random House UK, will publish simultaneously in the UK and Commonwealth (excluding Canada). The book will be published around the world in the Fall of 2025 in hardcover, e-book and audio editions.

The novel is Witherspoon’s debut and is based on her original idea, while Coben’s dozens of number one bestsellers promise the inventive storytelling and signature twists his millions of readers know so well. Witherspoon and Coben have been developing the concept, creating characters, and writing pages over many months of collaboration. A screen adaptation is also in development.

Witherspoon said of the acquisition, “To say I am a fan of Harlan’s body of work is a massive understatement… the fact that he found my idea for this thriller intriguing enough to want to partner with me on it as co-author is a dream becoming a reality. Scheming with Harlan on how to thrill audiences with mysterious characters and complex narrative twists and turns has already been more fun than I can describe. I can’t wait for everyone to read what we have been imagining.”

Coben said, “I’ve been a huge Reese Witherspoon fan for years.  Be it acting, producing, creating, and even book-club selecting, Reese’s instincts about storytelling across all media are unrivaled. Once we began discussing her idea, there was no turning back.  Collaborating with Reese has been a pure joy and so creatively rewarding.  I could not be more excited about putting this novel out into the world.”

Sevier said, “Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben working together is a powerhouse collaboration that I wouldn’t have dared to dream up. These two masters each possess a virtuoso command of character and an unrivaled reputation for suspense storytelling—across screen and page—and jaws hit the floor as they described their incredible idea to the publishing team at Grand Central. It is clear that their book will be supercharged by the combination of their enormous storytelling gifts. I am incredibly proud that these two authors chose GCP to shepherd their book into the world.”

Reese Witherspoon is an award-winning actress, producer, New York Times bestselling author and founder. In 2016, she established the media brand, Hello Sunshine, which puts women at the center of every story across all platforms– from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series. Hello Sunshine is also home to “Reese’s Book Club,” a community propelled by meaningful connections with stories, authors, and fellow members. Witherspoon is best known for her roles in feature films like WALK THE LINE, WILD, ELECTION and LEGALLY BLONDE as well as Emmy award-winning TV series “Big Little Lies,” “Little Fires Everywhere” and “The Morning Show.”

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-six languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries, with eighty million books in print worldwide. His Myron Bolitar series has earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards.

Coben is also the creator and executive producer of many television shows, including adaptations on Netflix of the # 1 global hit Fool Me Once, Stay Close, The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good, Hold Tight, and The Woods as well as the Amazon Prime series adaptation of Shelter.  His forthcoming TV series include Missing You and Run Away on Netflix, Lazarus on Amazon Prime and many more in the works.

Sneak Peek: The Serial Killer Next Door by Emma Kenny

By
Jocie McKade
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0

The Serial Killer Next Door by Emma Kenny

Taking readers on a journey into the dark side of humanity, Emma Kenny explores the ingredient list of experiences that turns regular people into murderous monsters, with an in-depth analysis of the crimes that shook the world.

From Ted Bundy to Joanna Dennehy, Richard Ramirez to Dennis Rader and many more besides, Emma explores the crime scenes and criminal minds of some of the most notorious serial killers of our time.

Join Emma in this entertaining and informative exposé of their warped and depraved world as she separates truth from myth and lifts the lid on some of the most infamous criminals in modern history. Understand how their minds work, what motivates them and, crucially, what they look for in a victim.

Reawakening A collection of short stories in The Seer of York Universe By Alethea Lyons

By
Jocie McKade
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0

Reawakening by Alethea Lyons

After centuries of suppression, the magic of England is

Reawakening

Return to the world of The Seer of York with this collection of new tales set in the aftermath of The Hiding.

Harper, Grace, Saqib, Heresy, and AJ bond as a team and as a family to save innocents, supernatural and human, despite hunters pursuing them.

Introducing Zero, a starlight cat with a bleak and painful past.

Demonic-possession
Faery circles
Pūcas
And more…

Buy Links:

Amazon.com: Reawakening: A Collection of Short Stories in The Seer of York Universe eBook : Lyons, Alethea, Leggett, Elizabeth, Vassallo, S.D.: Kindle Store

Universal Purchase Link – Reawakening (All Formats)

Praise for Reawakening
“Magical, terrifying, and even ferocious. A new collection of fantastic stories and fractured fairy tales featuring some of your favorites from The Hiding.”
—Tanya Pell, Author of Cicada and Her Wicked Roots
“Lyons’ Reawakening is a cozy mystery blend of pulp detective stories and supernatural tales. Think: Sherlock Holmes meets a Dr Who style monster of the week. Readers will enjoy a yarn about a diverse found family of problem solvers tackling mysteries in a lighthearted, easy to dip into romp featuring different folkloric creatures with a dark heart beating beneath it’s surface…”
—Alexandra Beaumont, Author of Dissonance of Bird Song and Testament of the Stars
“Overall, this collection is further proof that Lyons’ supernatural York is one of the most vividly compelling fantasy universes to be in right now – one part chilling, one part wholesome and all parts must-read.”
—FanFiAddict Review by Ed Crocker, Author of Lightfall

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. Ze enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants zir stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Zir short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website.

Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.

Bonus content for The Hiding & other works can be found on her website: https://alethealyons.wixsite.com/stories/seerofyork

Social media: https://linktr.ee/alethearlyons

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