This month’s topic is Guilty Pleasures.
Saxon barbarians threaten to destroy medieval Wales. Lady Branwen becomes Wales’ last hope to unite their divided kingdoms when her father betroths her to a powerful Welsh warlord, the Hammer King. But the fledgling alliance is fraught with enemies from within and without as Branwen becomes the target of assassination attempts and courtly intrigue. A young woman in a world of fierce warriors, she seeks to assert her own authority and preserve Wales against the barbarians. But when she falls for a young hedge knight named Artagan, her world threatens to tear itself apart.
Caught between her duty to her people and her love of a man she cannot have, Branwen must choose whether to preserve her royal marriage or to follow her heart. Somehow she must save her people and remain true to herself, before Saxon invaders and a mysterious traitor try to destroy her.
Branwen’s story combines elements of mystery and romance with Noce’s gift for storytelling.
- buy, read and review the book.
- post about the book on my blog.
- post on facebook with a link to my review.
- post three tweets each Wed. for the month.
- add the cover to my Pinterest folder: Covers that Catch My Eye.
Sign up on my Email Connect (top right margin) to have a shot at being featured, receiving gifts for followers, news about my copywriting class and what I’m learning about how to sell more books. This month, Effective Book Descriptions.
Bish Denham’s cover for her next story from the island paradise of St. John.
It’s 1962. Sam and her best friend, Nick, have the whole island of St. John, in the U. S. Virgin Islands, as their playground. They’ve got a 240-year-old sugar plantation ruins to explore, beaches to swim, and trails to hike.
But when a man disappears like a vapor right in front of them, they must confront a scary new reality. They’re being haunted. By whom? And why? He’s even creeping into Nick’s dreams.
They need help, but the one who might be able to give it is Trumps, a reclusive hunchback who doesn’t like people, especially kids. Are Sam and Nick brave enough to face him? And if they do, will he listen to them?
Their carefree summer games turn into eerie hauntings, and Sam and Nick learn more about themselves and life than they could ever have imagined.
Pre-order today and enter the ghostly tale as soon as it releases.
Bish Denham |
Sign of the Green Dragon is about to poke its nose into the world. August 3!
Still time to pre-order for only .99 if you haven’t already. And if you want to lend a hand with this birth, send up some smoke. I can use all the help I can get. To those who’ve already held up their hands, thanks so much.
I’ll be at Robert Kent’s super Middle Grade Ninja blog today, so stop by and read how I feel about being a hybrid author.
So there you have it. My Guilty Pleasure and a few of new books, too. Now for the Quote of the Week: “Poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another.” Madonna
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – me too .. books everywhere – I do love the sound of your Green Dragon – I'm sure another success here … and I love the idea of Bish's hunchback weaving his tale around the boys, while Mark – I wish him well for his release – and look forward to your review …
Cheers Hilary
cleemckenzie says
Busy summer for writers it seems! Mark's book set in Wales is well-written.
J.H. Moncrieff says
I share your guilty pleasure, and I'm starting your book this week. Can't wait!
Both Mark and Bish's releases sound fantastic. I love exotic settings, and I'd say those qualify.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Both are quite exotic settings! Thanks for reading Dragon.
klahanie says
Hey superstar author, Lee,
Nice mentions for Mark and Bish. All the very best with your book, Lee. Of course, your guilty pleasure is just fine with me aka "GP" aka Gary Pennick. Wow and thanks, Lee!
Your ongoing starstuckest fan,
Gary! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have such a list of "names of plums" that I have trouble keeping up with you.
Medeia Sharif says
Congrats to Bish and Mark, and I look forward to your book.
No guilt needs to be involved with that.
C. Lee McKenzie says
No, you're right. I'm not really.
Kathleen Valentine says
That's a wonderful service you offer and congratulations, again, to Bish. I seem to be running in to her all over the Internet today.
C. Lee McKenzie says
She's on the go, that girl!
Joylene Nowell Butler says
Hi Lee. I twittered the news. But your blog still isn't updating on my blogroll. Darn. I'm switching to wordpress for the same reason.
Joylene Nowell Butler says
Ignore my comment. I got your blog updated. I don't know. LOL
Joylene Nowell Butler says
Ignore my comment. I got your blog updated. I don't know. LOL
Ann Best says
Hi, Lee. Just read a wonderful post Roland Yeomans put up today that has, in his most creative way, a wonderful shout out for Green Dragon that I'm going to pre-order right now. I will definitely review it!
Bish's book sounds wonderful, too.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Ann. I appreciate that. And I'm trying to get over to Roland's site to say hello there. Busy morning.
Chemist Ken says
I don't know if I've raised my hand before this, but I'd be willing to help out with your new book. Let me know what you need.
And it's not a guilty pleasure, it's called marketing. It's what authors have to do, and if you enjoy talking about your book to other people, so much the better.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Ah yes. Marketing. Such fun.
Brandi Kosiner says
new to me but love the cover for Between two fires
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hope you'll look up Mark's book!
Katie L. Carroll says
I'm a bookaholic, too. Though I never have enough time to read, and I don't always get a chance to post reviews of every book I read.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I see your picture in the library when I pull up your site, so I'm sure you love being surrounded by books.
Yvonne Ventresca says
These books sound good! It's the best guilty pleasure to have. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know we share this guilt! In fact, I've seen your special conference skirt that proves it. 🙂
Liz A. says
I don't know if I'd call books a guilty pleasure. A pleasure to be sure, but not something you should feel guilty about loving.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Just wanted to tie in a lot of themes and this was the best I could do.
Denise Covey says
Ha Ha, who doesn't share this guilty pleasure, Lee? My home is a library where books decorate the walls and i love it. Congrats to Mark, to Bish, and to yourself for the new releases which I've pre-ordered. 🙂
And thanks for signing up for WEP Gardens challenge. This is going to be a different sort of challenge judging by the comments so far…
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm excited to read the garden posts. I'm a huge fan of gardens and when I'm not up to my eyeballs in books, I'm up to my knees in dirt!
DMS says
I can relate to your guilty pleasure. 🙂
Mark's book looks and sounds very interesting. I love seeing Bish's new cover and can't wait to read the book.
So excited for you Lee! This is going to be a fun and wild week and month. Enjoy every minute. 🙂
~Jess
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks so much, Jess. If I don't land face first before the 3rd, I'll consider myself lucky.
Patricia Lynne says
Wait, books are a guilty pleasure? I thought they were, like, required for living. ;);)
C. Lee McKenzie says
That, too. So complicated.
Elephant's Child says
I am an unashamed bookaholic. Ok, not very ashamed. There is no room for more books in either my crowded house or head. Which won't stop me.
Congratulations to Mark, Bish, and you. Thank you (and drat you) all.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Ha! Too many book, heh? Guilty as charged here, too. But what's too many of things you adore?
Carol Kilgore says
Congrats to Mark and Bish! Both books sound great. Guilty pleasure for books? I can't imagine, LOL 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Sometimes I stuff in a few extra books in the library which is now out of space. I've promised not to buy so many at a time. Sometimes I don't. But now kindle allows me a lot of latitude.
Laurel Garver says
I agree, books should be all pleasure, no guilt at all. 🙂 My guilty pleasure is 1 line wednesday on twitter. Eats up time when I should be working, but it's fun!
Congrats on your new release, and Mark's and Bish's too!
C. Lee McKenzie says
We all must indulge our Twitter once in a while. Thanks for the visit, Laurel.
Chrys Fey says
Congrats to Mark on being your August Featured Follower!
And congrats to Bish on her cover!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Chrys. You were a great Featured Follower in July.
Roland D. Yeomans says
My new guilty pleasure is STRANGER THINGS on Netflix which I will probably re-watch shamelessly. It has a bit of your SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON to it. Highest of sales there!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh boy. Dragons? I must take a peek.
Shooting Stars Mag says
I do love all things book! That's great you share books other people have written!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It would be pretty dull if I only shared what I've written, so this spices up my blog a bit! Such a variety.
Sarah Foster says
I don't think you should feel guilty about loving books!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I don't really. Just a way to be clever about #InkRipples.
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake says
Great covers! And I love seeing a book set in St. John. I've been there twice and am going back next year.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's such a beautiful spot.
Lexa Cain says
Both Mark's and Bish's books sound amazing! I love the romantic suspense of Mark's and Bish's sounds like Goonies on steroids – awesome! Wishing them both much success! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Very different books here today! That's for sure.
Mark Noce says
Thanks for the shout out, Lee! Much appreciated:) I gladly mentioned it on my blog today:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glad you're my Featured Follower this month!
DEZMOND says
books can't be a GUILTY pleasure because they ain't bad 🙂
That first cover is nice!
C. Lee McKenzie says
You have to allow me some wriggle room. I"m tying in a lot of topics today. 🙂
Libby Heily Author says
I've become really interested in Wales as a setting for a story ever since Beta reading chapters for a friend's novel. What an awesome place to set a book. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's stark. It's exciting. I think you should choose it as a setting.
Mason Canyon says
I can appreciate you guilty pleasure. Congrats to Mark and Bish. Both books look intriguing and have great covers.
Thoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
C. Lee McKenzie says
Just two more to add to that list we all love.
The World of the Blue Bells Trilogy says
My guilty pleasure is BUYING books! If only I had a solid six months of uninterrupted time to work through all the ones on my to be read list!
C. Lee McKenzie says
If you do get that wish, call me!
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Congratulations on your new books, Mark and Bish. The covers are lovely and the blurbs are enticing. Best of luck to both of you. Books are one of my guilty pleasures too, but I don't feel guilty about reading them. It's all pleasure. Sign of the Green Dragon will be visiting my blog Wednesday. It's one of those Pleasures I really enjoyed reading. Way to go, Lee.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I know you're a book nut! And I'm so glad to have you as one of my long-time friends.
EEGiorgi says
Very cool book covers and cool book trailer! Also, I signed up, I hope you like mysteries 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love mysteries! Thanks.
Annalisa Crawford says
That definitely sounds like a pleasure you don't have to be guilty about! As my guilty pleasure is seeing my books featured, I'm signing up for the chance 🙂
Congratulations to Bish and Mark.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm so excited that you'll sign up! This little experiment of mine is keeping me busy, but so happy. Thanks, Annalisa.
Barbara Fisher says
For me, books are all pleasure and absolutely no guilt! Many congratulations to Bish and Mark and of course … you! I will be visiting the Middle Grade Ninja blog as soon as I’ve left this comment.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Barbara! I have to get over there, too!
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
I have the same guilty pleasure. Congrats to Bish and Mark.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm sure there are tons of us. And how great that is.
Pat Hatt says
That is sure a guilty pleasure that requires no guilt at all.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's the best part, isn't it?
Bish Denham says
Ooo, Between Two Fires sounds like a great historical romance! Thanks for the shout-out, Lee! I hope you never, ever feel guilty about helping out fellow authors.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Another beautiful cover, Bish. Congratulations.
Yolanda Renée says
No reason for guilt with that pleasure! Such a generous pleasure!
Love the new book by Bish, can't wait to read it! Congratulations, Bish!
I hope the tour is going gang busters! Such an excellent story!
Happy Monday, and WEP month!
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's right! Another exciting WEP month.
Juneta Key says
Congrats on the book releases everyone and the cover reveal.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's a busy year for writers.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That's a worthy guilty pleasure!
Looking forward to both Mark and Bish's books.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It has replaced others!
nashvillecats2 says
Why should you feel guilty about something you enjoy?
Excellent post Lee, loved the reviews.
Happy August.
Yvonne.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Isn't it a wonderful guilty pleasure?