Getting to Know Robin Cheeks Barkley from Secrets & Sins by Bettye Griffin #Women #Fiction #MustRead

Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, January 2010

Hi! My name is Robin Cheeks Barkley. I was born in Waukegan, Illinois, on March 12, 1962, the youngest of three children. I grew up in Zion, which is about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. My parents both worked as teachers, and my sister and brother and I were cared for at home by our maternal grandmother, who lived with us. She was deaf, and that had a lot to do with my decision to become an audiologist. Grandma was a very dour woman, and I can count my telling her my career ambitions as one of the few times I ever saw her smile.

In 1989, when I was 27, I married Avaughn Barkley. Avaughn is also from Zion, and while we knew each other casually from school, ours wasn’t one of those high school romances. We didn’t even start dating until I was 26. At the time we were both living in Chicago. I had graduated with my doctorate in audiology and was doing clinical practice at the Loyola University Medical Center. Avaughn, two years older with a degree in finance, was already working at an investment firm in The Loop. It was a whirlwind romance, and I moved into his apartment in Rogers Park. He proposed after six months of living together, and neither of us wanted to wait, so with help from my mother and sister, we put together a simple but elegant ceremony and reception at the Kenosha Public Museum. The ceremony was held in front of a twenty-foot windowed wall that looked out on Lake Michigan. It was lovely.

Avaughn and I lived in Rogers Park for seven more years, until we bought our house in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, a village of 20,000 with Lake Michigan as its eastern border. It’s a beautiful house, and we made it that way. Originally built in the 1970s, it was a relic to the era, with yellow kitchen appliances, shag carpet, and bathrooms done in pastel pink and blue. But the façade was attractive, and it was on the same side of the street as the lake and had a beach behind it. We saw the potential through the dated décor and did a complete remodel of the kitchen and updated the baths. We tore up the carpeting and had it replaced with hardwood. Everyone said that five bedrooms was way too many for two people, but no one said it wasn’t gorgeous. Besides, at the time I still held out hope that…

Avaughn and I started trying to start a family after we’d been married for three years. By then, our careers were on track, and we knew we could provide our children with tons of love and, because we had a good income, all the extras.

I started to worry when six months passed and nothing happened. We both went for workups, and we learned I was the one preventing us from becoming parents. I’d always had female problems, suffering from heavy flows and severe cramps, plus I had recurrent yeast infections. But what did me in was tubal scarring, probably as a result of a ruptured appendix I’d had in college. I began a workup that included having fibroid tumors removed, getting dye injected into my tubes, and a procedure called ZIFT that cost a fortune and wasn’t covered by insurance. Avaughn used to joke that he was going to nickname our child the $100,000 baby.

When it was suggested that we try alternate means of parenthood (i.e. adoption), all the jokes stopped. I sank into a deep depression, one that even our beautiful new house wasn’t enough to pull me out of. Avaughn was honest when he said he couldn’t look upon a child not of his blood as his own. He probably thought he was being equally honest when he reassured me it didn’t matter if it was always just the two of us, but you can never lie to yourself.

At the time I thought we’d settled into a just-the-two-of-us lifestyle. It’s true that infertility has cast a shadow over my life, but once I turned 40 I pretty much put it behind me, acknowledging that my time had passed. I had a good life, and I knew it.

They say a woman can always tell when something’s amiss in her marriage, but I honestly had no idea. I had long since switched to treating hearing and balance problems at a clinic in Racine, but Avaughn continued working in the city, and it wasn’t unusual for him to work late. Since service on the Union Pacific North line usually ends in Waukegan on off hours, if he missed the 6:30 train, he had to wait three hours until 9:30, which didn’t get him home until after 11PM. This usually happened at least once a week, occasionally twice. I didn’t know he was having an affair with an administrative assistant at work until one morning we were making love and he called me by her name. (I’d suggest that any woman who wants to know if her husband is cheating lay some nookie on him first thing in the morning, before he’s fully awake, and see if he makes a verbal slip.)

Anyway, nearly nineteen years of marriage got tossed out with the garbage that day. Avaughn’s girlfriend moved up to Kenosha to be closer to him. That wasn’t a surprise, but what damn near tore me to pieces was when I found out they were having a baby. Avaughn Barkley is going to be a daddy at 50 years old, while I’d go to my grave childless.

As for me, after the divorce I went headlong into an affair with the son of family friends. He was about a dozen years younger than me, and I’m proud to say I wore him out. It was short, wasn’t particularly sweet, but very sexy. There’s been no one since, and sometimes I wonder if there ever will be. Not because I’m carrying a torch for Avaughn—heaven forbid—but because there just aren’t a lot of available men my age, and certainly not here in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. I’m already dreading my high school reunion in May, and I’m thinking about not even going. All my former classmates know that Avaughn and I are divorced and that his girlfriend is pregnant. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what went wrong between us.

Even if I were to meet someone, it would be awfully hard to carry on a relationship. You see, Avaughn and I are legally divorced and have been for over a year now, but our house, that beautiful house I so lovingly remodeled and decorated until it was show-room perfect, the one everyone said was too large for us, is holding us captive. It’s a bad market, and…well, let me put it this way…

Anyone looking to buy a house so Avaughn and I can finally stop living under the same damn roof?

eBook only, published January 3, 2014.

This is contemporary women's fiction and does contain sex.

From the Author: Secrets & Sins contains several plot twists that I hope will come as a surprise to readers. I love getting reviews, but if you choose to write one, PLEASE be considerate of other readers who haven't read the book yet by not divulging these twists in the plot. Thank you so much! -- B.

In this sweeping, 115K-word novel, Bettye Griffin introduces readers to the Cheeks family of Zion, Illinois: Eldest daughter Faye, whose placid, orderly life is about to be disrupted in a way she never could have imagined...middle child and only son Scott, who brings new meaning to the phrase 'midlife crisis'...and youngest daughter Robin, who is divorced from but not exactly rid of her former spouse.

At the center of the story is their mother, Julia Scott Cheeks, who along with her devoted husband Melvin, has tried to keep two scandalous family secrets hidden and has been successful for 55 years...but when Robin mentions the name of the former classmate she has a romantic interest in, Julia fears that the events she has tried so hard and for so long to keep her children from knowing are in danger of being exposed...

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Read more about Robin in Secrets & Sins, out now! Kindle owners can get it at Amazon or at Bettye’s eStore. Readers needing EPUB formats for Nooks, Sonys, or other eReaders, or who need PDF formats can get theirs from Bettye’s eStore, where no registration is required and where eBooks always cost $1 less than at other eTailers.

Also, the prequel to Secrets & Sins is a free download! Sinner Man:A Short Prequel is available for download at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and the Bunderful Books website.

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Bettye Griffin writes novels about romance in the real world. Her first novel, At Long Last Love, was published in 1998. Bettye expanded to women’s fiction with the publication of The People Next Door in 2005. In 2009, while still writing for a traditional publisher, Bettye launched Bunderful Books and eventually became an independent writer and publisher. In this capacity she publishes both new and backlist titles, including Something Real (2012) and Where There’s Smoke (2013). A native of Yonkers, New York, Bettye now lives, writes, and eats cheese from her home in Southeast Wisconsin. Secrets & Sins is her 24th novel and her first independently published women’s fiction.

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Genre - Women's Fiction, Family Saga

Rating – R

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Website www.bettyegriffin.com

Getting Personal with #Fantasy #Author T.D. Von Dohren @tdvondohren #AmReading

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? 

For me, it would be having enough income from my writing to live a comfortable life in Europe. Because of my background in film and television from a young age, I’ve also always envisioned my book as a film so it’s a huge dream of mine to see a book of mine adapted for the big screen.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?

I love questions like this… I would love to meet the real Cleopatra. So many stories are told about this woman who is depicted as one of the first strong independent women that it would be interesting to sort the fact from fiction. For his extensive experience turning is books into films, Stephen King would be a fascinating person to talk to, and while there are many more, I’ll round it out at 3 with Henry Cavill. Yes, he’s a gorgeous man and yes he has an extremely sexy accent but there is something in his eyes that intrigues me. A depth that hints at there being more to him than we see on the surface and something inside me just loves a good mystery!

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

For me, relaxing is often spending time on my own as by stepping away from the rest of my world, it allows me the time to clear my head and allow my instincts to guide me if I’m facing any challenges. It’s also generally when I have my best ideas. This can be as simple as taking myself out to brunch on a Saturday morning with a good book, seeing a movie or taking a day trip to the spa for a facial or massage. If I’m looking to have a good time, I’ll often head out with friends to an out of the way bar to check out a band or organise a dinner party or wine and cheese night at my place.

What’s your favorite meal?

As a food lover, this is tough. I love a good steak at The Keg, a chain of restaurants in Canada with the most mouth-watering, cooked to perfection piece of beef you will ever taste. But the best meal I have ever had was pistachio duck at this gorgeous little restaurant right next door to Shakespeare and Co bookstore in Paris. It’s to die for.

If you could do any job in the world what would you do?

Hmm, if it wasn’t so hard to get into, I’d be a film maker/ actor. I love the idea of being able to step into the shoes of someone else for a while. Taking the time to really understand and become that character. And then there is the storytelling aspect of it all which of course I love! ☺

What are you most passionate about? What gets you fired up?

Narrow minded people drive me nuts. It’s why I love travel so much because it opens your eyes to how the rest of the world lives, how they view things, their beliefs and culture and it helps you to be naturally more accepting of those who are different to you. Everyone has the right to be happy and fulfilled, and it is not up to us to judge what that looks like for anyone other than ourselves.

Are you a city slicker or a country lover?

I love cities that don’t feel like cities with lots of green space and areas of calm. But I also love the country to relax. There is nothing better than getting away from all the technology, the schedules, the stress and just focusing yourself for a little while. It’s the best way to clear your mind and refocus.

When you get free time on the internet or you go to the library – what do you want to read about?

Travel. I have an odd hobby of planning out imaginary trips when I get bored. I’ll pick where I want to go, cost out my accommodation and flights, any sightseeing I want to do, even look at local public transport costs… then I’ll close it down and start a new one. It makes me a bit of a whiz at online vacation booking but allows me to travel to those places even if it’s just in mind over my lunch break.

Do you find the time to read?

I used to read a lot. But after spending a week pumping out the last 10,000 words of my novel, reading and re-reading it to ensure it made sense, I needed a bit of a break from reading. But I can feel the urge starting to softly pull at me again already.

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

“Dream as if you'll live forever.  Live as if you'll die today.”  - James Dean. So he isn’t the best example of following this advice but it’s a premise I live be each day. To be open to and ready to take advantage of opportunities that come your way. Be positive that no matter how bad things get, they can always be worse, and will work out in the long run. And take the time to enjoy life’s small moments. It’s the small joys that will make you smile on even the worst days.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?

I’m still seeing the world! But at the moment, top of the list is the Chateau de Versaille just outside Paris. I can see why the Kings and Queens of the past spent so much time there. It’s so peaceful and calming, and even today on a clear summer weekend you will find local families enjoying picnics in the grassy fields and riding bikes around a picturesque lake filled with couples in tiny rowboats. It’s a place that truly inspires.

What do Jesus Christ, a Greek Goddess, and a thousand-year-old Vampyre have in common? This intriguing and thought provoking story will make you question everything you think you know about myth and religion. Chhaya, a vampire born over a millennium ago, discovers she is the descendant of an ancient bloodline-the blood of Christ. As the power in her awakens, Chhaya must use her new gifts as the Daughter of the Moon to fight against the corrupt coven leader Khai in order to protect the doors to heaven and hell and prevent the end of days on earth. Whether a fan of fantasy, religious theories, or mythology, you'll be inspired to ask what is good and what is evil.

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Genre - Fiction Fantasy

Rating – PG

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Make the Most of your #Radio Interview by South Africa’s Top Psychic @ShannonWalbran #WriteTip

It’s so wonderful for us to hear your voice, it’s as if you’re sitting in our home. It’s a great opportunity to promote your book or your project. Smile when you speak, we can tell.

If you’re being interviewed, submit your own questions. Producers will thank you for saving them time. You’ll benefit by steering the conversation. Write out the answers and practice reading them aloud to a friend.

Create soundbites. If you had time for only one sentence, what would your top message for us be? Two? Time your soundbites to less than ten seconds and edit them down to three or four words. One of my messages is, “Always remember you are guided!”

When you’re on the air, speak only to the host. Imagine that he or she is the only person listening. Forget about us in the audience - there could be five people tuning in or five million. If you and the host are having a lively conversation, everyone will be fascinated. Say the host’s name while you’re speaking and make eye contact. We listeners can feel the connection.

If you get asked a question you didn’t anticipate, laugh to buy yourself a moment.  Then start your answer with the word “Yes.” Even if you’re going to disagree with the question’s point, you’ll be in the driver’s seat: “Ha ha ha! Yes, Caroline, many people do ask whether believing in angels is silly!  What I’ve found is that it gives me comfort, confidence, and direction.”

Remember you’re the expert on what you know. It’s perfectly fine to take calls from listeners and share your experiences. If you’re being interviewed about your book, be sure to mention, “As I write about in my book Guided…” for people who are just tuning in. You don’t have to solve all the world’s problems, just speak from your own position.

Have fun. It’s over in a flash! Try to get your contact information (your website) for example on air so we can reach you to find out more.

Follow up and get the podcast. Edit it down to just your interview segment using an editor such as Garage Band. Post it on your website, and link to it using your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts.  Be sure to send it out with your next newsletter so we can listen at leisure.

Consider using the podcast as the soundtrack to a Youtube video trailer about your book.  Even a slideshow of the book cover, your headshot, and a series of photos representing the book’s setting could make a great promotional piece.

In GUIDED! Shannon combines practical how-to’s and case studies with magical worldwide adventures, reminiscent of Elizabeth Gifford’s Eat, Pray, Love and Sonia Choquette’s Trust Your Vibes.

Shannon’s voice in GUIDED! How to Communicate with Your Spirit Guides is as strong and bright as her personality. Her concise and ‘to the point’ method of writing is refreshing.

In the biography section of the book, Shannon is candid about her tumultuous journey, which includes much sadness and hardship. She writes with empathy.

There are two main sections to the book:

Part I – Ways to Hear from your Guides – is practical and describes in detail how to make a connection with your angelic helpers.

Part II is an inspiring biography of Shannon’s life and is as entertaining as it is informative.

For an interview or review, contact: Ben, the rep for Pat Grayson, Publisher Graysonian Press, pat@graysonian.com or (083) 610-1113. For more information on Graysonian Press, a South African publisher of spiritual and inspirational books, go to www.graysonian.com

BOOK REVIEW

“Guided: How to communicate with your spirit guides” by Shannon Walbran

Review date : 2009-03-06

Book review by Rev. Dr. Ralph Thomas Shepherd for Body and Mind by Antonet–Nirvana Lange.

This book by Shannon Walbran, seeks to assist readers to discovers their own soul’s purposes’ and learn techniques to improve your health, happiness and enlightenment. Shannon does this by describing her own life plan and how she was led through very exciting and thrilling life experiences.

Shannon was led from the US where she was born in 1969, the same year as Anastasia, the Russian leader for social and cultural change currently becoming an international phenomenon. Shannon describes in detail her childhood and the accompanying struggles that contribute to her future. She had a childhood embedded in spirituality and describes her consciousness of fairies and other supernatural experiences. Later she also describes her struggles with her high school activities like ADD and food allergies. One can see them as instrumental in forming her spiritual stature in the years to come.

As Shannon moves into adulthood, we will see her undergoing multi-cultural experiences thereby continuing her ‘spiritual schooling’ which is now opening up for her in a most remarkable way. Shannon is now living in South Africa and is proving a successful guide for those wanting an in depth understanding of their own lives.

Most people only experience spiritual events as separate from normal phenomenon. It seems that with what we are currently experiencing globally. Humanity is standing on the brink of a global crisis of immense proportions. Within the next few years, a whole new paradigm of human development will reveal the work of Shannon Walbran as crucial for human beings as she will be able to help many people to see a meaning future for themselves and their families.

Shannon’s background in radio and not-for-profit work has prepared her for the kind of life that bridges both the spiritual and physical world. Her book, “Guided” will help many souls find solace in the years to come.

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Genre - Spiritual, Memoir, Non-fiction, Self-Help

Rating – G

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Website www.ShannonWalbran.com

Why Do They Leave Christianity & Come to Islam? by Aicha Zoubair #Religion #AmReading #BlogTour

The Birth of Jesus

The Christians who celebrate Christmas must know that Jesus was not born on the 25^th of December some 2000 years ago, as the church falsely claims. There is no evidence of such date given in the entire Bible, but on the contrary, the 25^th of December corresponds to the birth of many pagan sun Gods. Sol invictus, (the unconquered sun) for example was the sun God of the Roman Empire. Christmas is just another name for the winter festival called Saturnalia that the pagans used to celebrate on that day in Rome. The truth is that Jesus was most probably born in midsummer and not winter from evidence both in the Bible and the Quran.

The evidence in the Bible is found in Luke 2:7-8: “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.”

The shepherds in Palestine do not let their flocks at night in the thick of December and the suggestion that Mary had other children by stating that “she gave birth to her first born” is not accepted in Islam. If she gave birth as a virgin, it means that she was very special and was not meant to marry a man in her life.

If you have ever wondered how Islam and Christianity are similar and different, be ready to learn some of the most interesting facts in this well written and well researched book.
You think you are saved in Christ, think again! This book overthrows the lies that has been spread in the name of Jesus and will make you reflect upon your Christian beliefs. Salvation cannot be found in the blooded cross but is found in the last scripture: the Quran.

You will understand why Islam in its many pure forms attracts so many in the Western part of the world. With thousands upon thousands leaving Christianity behind, you might wonder what Islam has to offer what Christianity does not… Did Jesus really die while being crucified, as he was a submitter to God's will? With scriptural evidences, you will learn that the name of God was removed from the Bible. Not only does the author's new book answer these questions, it is also objective research into the Muslim and Christian scriptures, to understand why Jesus was sent for and what his message was… 

If you are ready to learn why Islam is the religion of truth that God wants all of us to follow, or if you are currently interested in learning how Islam is different from what you learn and see on television, the author's new book is a must to read. You will not be disappointed, as you will learn a lot, and maybe even see an opportunity to change your spiritual life for the better.

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Genre - Religion

Rating – G

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S.M. McEachern on What Inspired Her to Write "Sunset Rising" @smmceachern #YA #Dystopian #TBR

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

Worlds Collide is the second book of the Sunset Rising series.  Sunset Rising ended in a bit of a cliffhanger and Worlds Collide picks up exactly where it left off.  I’ve done a lot world-building in this second novel and introduced new characters. Some mysteries from the first book are solved in WC, but new ones are added in preparation for the third book. The first three books will establish a series that could go on for infinity (kinda like Star Trek).

When did you first know you could be a writer?

I always knew I wanted to be a writer, so it’s kind of weird that it took me so long to write my first novel. I did a lot of academic writing throughout my studies and career, so I guess that helped satiate my desire to knit words together.  However, when I had my first child, I made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom (and that was a tough thing to do!), so that writing outlet was gone. Now both my kids are in school and I have more time to myself.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My teenage daughter and I do buddies reads all the time, mostly young adult contemporary fiction.  Before we started reading together, I hadn’t really read any young adult novels. I fell in love with the genre! And I already had an idea for a novel, based on academic research I had done years ago, so everything just came together and I started writing.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

If you could hit a “reset” button on the world, what would you change about it? Would you try to rebuild what we already have or go in a completely different direction? I hope the Sunset Rising series will get readers thinking about what kind of future lays before us and what they can do now to shape it.

How much of the book is realistic?

Sunset Rising is science fiction/fantasy with roots firmly planted in reality.  I think anyone who keeps abreast of world events (politics, climate change, dwindling resources) accepts there’s a possibility of a third world war. In chapter seven, my main character flips through some old, preserved magazines and scans the news headlines leading up to the nuclear war.  Three out of four of the headlines were taken directly from the news on the day I wrote that page.  I wrote a trivia question about it on Goodreads if anyone wants to check it out: https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/show/168358-in-chapter-seven-of-sunset-rising-book

Can you tell us about your main character? 

Sunny O’Donnell is a seventeen-year-old slave born in the Pit.  At heart, she’s very stubborn and extremely resourceful.  When her life starts to fall apart, and every one she loves is threatened, she looks for a way out. The “way out” means teaming up with someone she considers the enemy, but she’s willing to make that sacrifice in order to save everyone she loves.  She just doesn’t count on her enemy being a good guy. So begins an unexpected romance that seems destined to fail.

How did you develop your plot and characters?

My plot was pretty much developed when I started writing Sunset Rising. My characters always develop as I write them, which means even though I have a plot worked-out, my characters sometimes take it in a different direction.  In writing circles, I’m what you call a pantser—I write by the seat of my pants.  I have a rough outline in my head, but no direct path from point A to point B.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? 

There are two sides to everything I write: what I meant and what the reader perceives.  These two things don’t always agree.  Beta readers are the best people to let me know when I’ve missed the mark.  Then comes the hard part of rewriting what I said in order to clarify it for the reader.

Why did you choose to write this particular book? 

Sunset Rising is a cautionary tale. I’ve woven a lot of current real world problems into my story, such as: bonded slavery, human rights, poverty, nuclear arms, and corruption in the government.  It’s my sincere hope that young adults who enjoyed reading Sunset Rising might visit my blog and see the links for UN Slavery Today and United Nations News Centre.  You can find my blog here: http://smmceachern.wordpress.com/category/my-posts/

What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?

The absolute most beneficial “tool” an author can have: Readers.   Readers have, and always will, determine the worth of a book.  Charles Dickens, J.R.R. Tolkien, Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain were all authors that didn’t have support when they started out, other than readers. They wrote their stories and sent them out to the masses and the masses gave them feedback.  Sounds a lot like self-publishing, doesn’t it?  Charles Dickens actually did try to go the traditional publishing route, but “A Christmas Carol” was rejected, so he self-published.

How much research goes into your stories?

As a reader, nothing takes me out of story faster than bad science.  So I’ve put a lot of research into the Sunset Rising series.  The first book of the series was inspired by my academic research on the Biodome experiment in Arizona. My background in International Development (aiding developing worlds) allowed me to create the political system between the Dome and the Pit.  And in my second book, Worlds Collide, I’ve researched nanotechnology with the help of a scientist from the National Institute for Nanaotechnology (NINT) in Canada.

February 2024: Desperate to find refuge from the nuclear storm, a group of civilians discover a secret government bio-dome. Greeted by a hail of bullets and told to turn back, the frantic refugees stand their ground and are eventually permitted entry.  But the price of admission is high.

283 years later...  Sunny O'Donnell is a seventeen-year-old slave who has never seen the sun.  She was born in the Pit, a subterranean extension of the bio-dome. Though life had never been easy, the last couple of months had become a nightmare. Her mom was killed in the annual Cull, and her dad thought it was a good time to give up on life.  Reyes Crowe, her long-time boyfriend, was pressuring her to get married, even though it would mean abandoning her father.

She didn't think things could get any worse until she was forced upstairs to the Dome to be a servant-girl at a bachelor party.  That's when she met Leisel Holt, the president's daughter, and her fiancé, Jack Kenner.

Now Sunny is wanted for treason.  If they catch her, she'll be executed.

She thought Leisel's betrayal was the end.  But it was just the beginning.

"Sunset Rising" is Book One of a series.

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Genre - YA Science Fiction, Dystopian

Rating – PG-16

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Website http://smmceachern.wordpress.com