Small Wonders: Release and Pre-Order

Bluish, flowery and leafy background with Small Wonders on a digital device in the forefront.
Text: The world is full of Small Wonders, Releases June 6, 2023, Available for Pre-Order Now at most of your favorite distributors.

Purchase and Pre-Order Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6WZ6E

About the Book

The world is filled with amazing things, if we will just stop a moment and take notice. In this vast universe, we are but tiny individuals, filled with awe and amazement. From reflections on first love, to reflections on growing old. The poems within these pages express a lifetime of unique reflections on Small Wonders.


Final Stop on the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” Book Blog Tour

Tour Banner: Poetry Treasures 3: Passions on a beach in front of treasure chest.
Text: List of contributing authors, book title and "WordCrafter Book Blog Tours Presents"

This is the final stop in the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour. We’ve had a fantastic tour, with opportunities to hear from almost every contributor to the anthology. Every stop featured at two poets, sharing their works, which offers a nice taste of what you can expect in the anthology.

We’re also running a great giveaway for three digital copies of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions. You can find a schedule with links to each stop at the end of this post, if you missed a stop, so be sure to visit each one and leave a comment for additional entries in the giveaway.

Giveaway

Comment and let us know you were there, and get a chance to win a copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions in the digital format of your choice.Follow the tour and leave your comments along the way. One entry per stop.

Today’s Stop

On this tour stop we’ll hear poetry readings by two of the contributing authors to the anthology, Poetry Treasures 3: Passions, Judy Mastrangelo and Yvette Prior.

Meet Judy Mastrangelo

Judy Mastrangelo is a talented artist and poet, who has published several illustrated children’s books and two decks of Oracle cards. I first met her when I reviewed both her book, , and her Oracle cards, and I recently reviewed her Oracle cards, as well. Her illustrations are always bright and colorful. She does absolutely amazing nature and fantasy paintings. And in Poetry Treasures 3: Passions, she demonstrates her poetic talents, which are equally amazing.

Head shot: Judy Mastrangelo

Judy Mastrangelo has written and illustrated several books, which include themes of Poetry, Fairytales, and Fairies. She follows in the tradition of “The Art of the Golden Age of Illustration”. Some of her titles include: a series of four Fairy books: “Portal to the Land of Fae” which include Flower Fairies, Fairy Tale Fairies, Secrets of the Fairies, and Mystical Fairies. Additional books include “What Do Bunnies Do All Day?”, “Enchanted Fairy Tales”, which she illustrated and adapted, “The Star”, illustrating the poem Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and her new fairy tale “The Magic Blanket”. Besides creating books, her artwork has been used in several Inspirational Oracle Card Decks, as well as some that she has also written herself. She licenses her artwork for many products, including Art Prints and Wall Murals. Judy has taught Creative Drama and Dance as well as Painting, to Children and Adults, and has directed her own Community Theater for all ages. As part of her work, she enjoys encouraging people to develop their own Imagination and Artistic Talents.

You can visit her at www.judymastrangelo.com

“Gaia’s Love”, by Judy Mastrangelo


Gaia’s Love

Gaia’s Love permeates throughout.

Her deep passion for every water droplet, leaf, flower, 

butterfly, frog, and snail, can be seen and felt.

Breath deeply of the Air surrounding her.

She appears out of Purple Sunset, Sunrise Clouds.

She can be seen reflected in ripping waters, 

rising from her earthly hills and mountains,

as graceful leaves, rainbows,  

and flowers bedeck her.

Painting: "Gaia's Love", byJudy Mastrangelo
IMage: Huge Goddess emerging from riverwith mountains in the background and rainbow above head. A wnged deer is at the river's edge, under the trees.
Wine bottle and glass next to Poetry Treasures 3: Passions
Text: "Fine wine and poetry. They just go together.", a listt of contributors, and "Available in digital and print editions at your favorite retailer through Books2Read"

Meet Yvette Prior

Yvette Prior is another poet whose work was new to me before being introduced on “Treasuring Poetry”, but I quickly saw what a talented poet she is. She took a different approach to the poetry reading than the others and got creative with it. Instead of reading a single poem, she’s reading samples of each of her poems featured in Poetry Treasures 3: Passions, and made a beautiful video to go with it.

Head Shot: Yvette Prior

Yvette Prior lives on the East Coast of the United States with her spouse, Chris, and together they have three adult children, two grandchildren, and no pets (after having many dogs over the years).

Yvette enjoys working with people and her varied work background includes education, social work, hospitality management, and lots of outreach. Her passion area is studying about health and wellness and after earning a Ph.D. in I-O Psychology, she poured into waiting book projects and she has not stopped writing since.

Her goal as a writer is to educate, edify, and encourage readers. Her personal blog can be found at priorhouse.wordpress.com

About Yvette & Her Poetry

My name is Yvette Prior and I am excited to be a part of the 2023 Treasuring Poetry series, which features the theme of passions for this third volume. 

The four poems I submitted for this anthology were created during a very special time in my life – a time of setback in one area and then a time of joyous celebration with a marriage anniversary milestone. I think the energy – from persevering and celebrating – can be felt in each poem.

The first poem, “Dancing with Angst”, explores how setback (and life’s angst) can be embraced (danced with) to cultivate growth and humility. When we yield, it can lead to stability. “Angst is more than only woe. Even though – we are glad to see it go – it can magnify joy, changement to stir up appreciation; you cannot fully know, how dancing with angst helps growth, until you have been cut down, pounded out, unwound.”

The “Quiet Fuel of Passion” poem reminds us that humans are guided by values, which “are always screaming, beneath the scenes, often quiet, and unheard.” This poem is a call for self awareness about what you might be striving for and to make sure it is meaning laden. 

The third poem, “We are a Bird, said He” unfolded after a February date night and then led to a fun part of an anniversary celebration; my husband and I celebrated our decades-long union by using metaphor and real-life examples from birds. 

Lastly, the “Poetic Sleep” poem unfolded after a night of restlessness, where rhymes were churning in my mind. In the morning, all ideas were gone and this poem is meant to connect with other writers who have sometimes had the flood of ideas come – to then wake and see it all go. 

I highly encourage you to get a copy of the Treasuring Poetry 3: Passions anthology, because the diverse and eloquently written poems offer enrichment and delight.

Poetry Excerpts by Yvette Prior

Tour Schedule

Mon. 4/17 – Opening Day – Readings by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer & Smitha Vishwanath – Writing to be Read

Tues. 4/18 – Guest Post from Colleen Chesebro & Reading by Robbie Cheadle of poem by Chris Hall – Patty’s World

Wed. 4/19 – Readings by D. Wallace Peach & Abbie Taylor – The Many Showers of Blessing

Thurs. 4/20 –Reading by Willow Willers & a Guest Post by Patty Fletcher/Review – Carla Loves to Read

Fri. 4/21 – Readings by Penny Wilson & Yvette Calliero – Robbie’s Inspiration

Sat. 4/22 – Closing Post – Readings by Yvette Prior & Judy Mastrangelo – Writing to be Read

Wrap Up

That wrap things up for both this post and for the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed this stop, and if you’ve missed any stops, you can drop in via the links in the schedule above. Remember, commenting at each stop earns you more entries in the giveaway. Thanks for following along and joining in on the fun. And don’t forget to pick up your copy of Poetry Treasures 3 Passions today!

About PoetryTreasures 3: Passions

 Passions treasures within.

Open the cover

and you will discover

the Poetry Treasures

of guests on

 Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s

2022 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series

on Writing to be Read.

Included are treasures from:

Patty Fletcher, D. Wallace Peach, Yvette Prior,

Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro, Abbie Taylor,

Yvette Calliero, , Smitha Vishwaneth,

Chris Hall, Willow Willers, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer,

and Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Purchase your copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions from your favorite book distributor through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR

___________________________________

Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!


Day 2 of the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” Book Blog Tour

Day 2 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour finds us over at Patty’s Worlds, where we’ll meet contributing poets Colleen Chesebro and Chris Hall, and Robbie Cheadle reads a poem for each of them. It’s the release day for this very special anthology. Come join in the fun, and be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a free digital copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions.


Welcome to the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” Book Blog Tour

Welcome to the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour! This is a very special tour, because at each stop, you will meet not one, but two of the contributing poets of the anthology. We’ve got a great tour planned with readings and inspiration posts from the authors, and book reviews. (Scroll down for the tour schedule with links, but be aware that the links won’t function until each post goes live.)Plus we have a great giveaway, so follow the tour to meet the contributing authors and additional chances to win a digital copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions!

Giveaway

Comment and let us know you were there, and get a chance to win a copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions in the digital format of your choice.Follow the tour and leave your comments along the way. One entry per stop.

About Poetry Treasures 3: Passions

 Passions treasures within.

Open the cover

and you will discover

the Poetry Treasures

of guests on

 Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s

2022 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series

on Writing to be Read.

Included are treasures from:

Patty Fletcher, D. Wallace Peach, Yvette Prior,

Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro, Abbie Taylor,

Yvette Calliero, Smitha Vishwaneth,

Chris Hall, Willow Willers, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer,

and Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Book Cover: Poetry Treasures 3: Passions on a background of a clam shell filled with gems

Purchase Poetry Treasures 3: Passions from your favorite distributor through Books2Read

Today’s Stop

On today’s stop, we have video readings from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and Smitha Vishwanath. Rosemerry is sharing a reading of her poem, “Twenty Years Ago, Ten Years Ago, Last Week”, and Smitha is sharing a reading of her poem, ” “. Both of these lovely poems are featured in Poetry Treasures 3: Passions.

Meet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Today’s stop features a peotry reading by contributing Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, which is a real treat. Rosemerry is a performance poet, and I was privileged to attend one of her live performances back in 2010. She was spectacular. The way she draws you into the poem and makes you feel her words is amazing. Rosemerry is a wonderful, vibrant lady, who embraces the written word as if it were a lover, caressing and shaping it into what she needs it to be. I had the pleasure of featuring an interview with her, right here on Writing to be Read. That’s why I asked Robbie to invite her to be a guest on “Treasuring Poetry”, and why I am so pleased to have her work featured in this WordCrafter anthology. It is a privilege and an honor to work with her. I hope you will enjoy this reading as much as I have.

Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer co-hosts Emerging Form (a podcast on creative process), Secret Agents of Change (a surreptitious kindness cabal) and Soul Writer’s Circle. Her poetry has appeared on A Prairie Home Companion, PBS News Hour, O Magazine, American Life in Poetry, onCarnegie Hall stage, and on river rocks she leaves around town. Her collection Hush won the Halcyon Prize. Naked for Tea was a finalist for the Able Muse Book Award. Her most recent collection is All the Honey. Her daily audio series, The Poetic Path, can be found on the Ritual app, her daily poetry practice can be read on her blog, A Hundred Falling Veils, and her book of mindfulness poetry prompts is Exploring Poetry of Presence II. One-word mantra: Adjust.

https://www.wordwoman.com/

Headshot: Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Twenty Years Ago, Ten Years Ago, Last Week

If I could go back in time
and offer advice to my younger self,
I wouldn’t.
I would let her fail all over again.
I’d let her falter. I’d let her lose.
I’d let her stumble
and struggle and bomb.
But I would lean in close
and let her know
I am deeply in love with her.
It’s so easy now to give her this,
this self-compassion in full bloom,
this thing she believed
was impossible.

Reading of “Twenty Years Ago, Ten Years Ago, Last Week”

“Twenty Years Ago, Ten Years Ago, Last Week”, by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
Treasure chest in front of rocks with a copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions leaning against each corner on gem strwn sand.

Meet Smitha Vishwanath

I first met Smitha Viswaneth through her interview with Robbie Cheadle on the “Treasuring Poetry” blog series, right here, on Writing to be Read, so I can’t say that I know her well, but I’ve been learning a lot about her. Smitha is an award winning poet of a National Poetry Month Challenge two years in a row, and she’s been nominated poet of the month several times on Spillword. She has poetry published in several online publications, and her debut novel, Coming Home, just came out last month.

Smitha Vinwnath sitting on a couch

Smitha Vishwanath is your quintessential ‘bored banker’ turned writer. After a rewarding career in Banking in the Middle East where she worked for leading banks in senior positions, she quit and moved to India in July 2018 with her husband who had been transferred to the country on an international assignment. Thereon she began her writing journey.

‘Roads’ is the first book she has co-authored. Having lived and studied in different countries and different states within India and worked with different cultures, Smitha understands that ‘change’ and ‘ups and downs’ are very much a part of life. It is this experience that reflects in her poems and her writing which are filled with positivity, acceptance and willingness to change for the better.

She also writes regularly through her blog: https://lifeateacher.wordpress.com

A child called, ‘Passion’

A child called, Passion,
I met him on my walk, one day
and asked him to come home.
He replied, ‘On one condition-
only if you give me your undivided attention.’

‘How difficult could that be? aloud, I wondered,
I raised a family with children- two!’
Smiling impishly, he said ‘Not much, if you surrendered.”
I laughed at his presumptuousness
Little knowing how true to his words he’d be.

The moment, Passion, walked in through my door
He obscured the rest of the world from sight
and kept me waking into the night
He pranced around all day-tireless, and unbound.
It made me loathe the day, him, I found.

Passion was a stubborn child
demanding complete allegiance.
His appetite was unappeased,
his thirst unquenched;
he made no allowance!

A ruthless master, a sorcerer
He turned me into a willing slave.
I fulfilled his every bidding;
the years went by, I couldn’t tell
and the children flew before I knew.

But, Passion, he stayed behind.
I grew old, and he grew kind.
Passion, that stubborn child
remained wilful until the end
and refused to leave,

even though my body was hard to mend.
He nourished my body and fed my soul
And made me feel as good as whole.
Passion, that stubborn child, simply would not let go;
no doctor could understand that child’s miraculous cure.

So, if you ever cross paths with a child called, ‘Passion.’
Hold onto him with a firm hand
Even if you must endure.
Lug around for a while if you must-
but don’t ever let go.

For when all the others leave-
He will be standing by your side
For, Passion, is a stubborn child
and loyal as can be
Let nobody tell you otherwise.

Reading of “A Child Called ‘Passion'”

Wrap Up

That’s it for the first stop on the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Book Blog Tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting Rosemerry and Smitha and the samples of their works. As an extra added treat, you can catch an interview with Robbie Cheadle and I on the Word Craft Poetry site with Colleen Chesebro, which happens to coincide with our opening day. So, after you’ve met our two poets, Rosemerry and Smitha, you might click on the link above to pop in and check that interview about the anthology, too.

A raving five-star review of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions on Goodreads.

Raving Revue

“…It’s an eclectic collection and a fabulous way to discover new poets to read. Expect varying interpretations of poetic passions. Not all are amorous! Some are thoughtful, personal to the author, (the author’s interests, experiences and loves,) and many have deep insight into human trials and tribulations…”

M.J. Mallon

You can find the full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128125978-poetry-treasures-3#CommunityReviews

Follow the tour to meet other contributing authors and for more chances to enter the giveaway. The links in the schedule below won’t work until each post goes live. Tomorrow we will be over at Patty’s World with Patty Fletcher with a guest post from Contributing author, Colleen Chesebro and a reading by Robbie Cheadle of contributing author, Chris Hall’s poem, ” What Will Become of Us?”, so don’t miss it. I hope to see you there.

Tour schedule 4/17 – 4/21

Monday – Opening Day – Readings by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer & Smitha Vishwanath – Writing to be Read

Tuesday – Guest Post from Colleen Chesebro & Reading by Robbie Cheadle of poem by Chris Hall – Patty’s Worlds

Wednesday – Readings by D. Wallace Peach & Abbie Taylor – The Many Showers of Blessing

Thursday –Reading by Willow Willers & a Guest Post by Patty Fletcher/Review – Carla Loves to Read

Friday – Readings by Penny Wilson & Yvette Calliero – Robbie’s Inspiration

Saturday – Closing Post – Reading by Yvette Prior & Guest Post by Judy Mastrangelo – Writing to be Read

Pirate guarding his booty at sword point with a copy of Poetry Treasures 3: Passions on top. Dialog balloon says, "Shiver me timbers! Get your copy of Poetry Treasures 3: PAssions today or I'll make ye walk the plank! Arrgh!" Text: Poetry Treasures 3: Passions Available at your favorite book distributors through Books2Read

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!


Celebrate National Poetry Month with WordCrafter Press: New Release!

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions next to a wine bottle and half-full glass. Left side text includes list of contributor names.  Top text: "Fine wine and poetry. They just go togerther." Right side text: "Available in digital and print editions at your favorite retailer through Books2Read

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions will release on April 18 and is available for pre-order now. This exceptional collection of poets & poetry includes the works of guests from the 2022 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series, as they share their passions with us. Learn more about this anthology and help WordCrafter Press send this poetry anthology off right with a book blog tour April 17 – 21, starting right here, on Writing to be Read.

About Poetry Treasures 3: Passions

Book Cover on digital reader: Poetry Treasures 3: Passions

 Passions treasures within.

Open the cover

and you will discover

the Poetry Treasures

of guests on

 Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s

2022 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series

on Writing to be Read.

Included are treasures from:

Patty Fletcher, D. Wallace Peach, Yvette Prior,

Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro, Abbie Taylor,

Yvette Calliero, , Smitha Vishwanath,

Chris Hall, Willow Willers, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer,

and Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions is available for pre-order now from your favorite book distributors through Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/b5qnBR


WordCrafter News

Open Submissions Deadline Approaching

Submissions are open for the 2023 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, but the deadline of April 30th is fast approaching. This year I’m looking for the scariest story. So, send me your monsters, your zombies, your ghosts and your ghouls. Make me sweat. Keep me awake at night. Make me tremble in fear. And most importantly, make me think about your story long after I’ve put it down. The winner gets a $25 Amazon gift card and a guaranteed spot in WordCrafter’s annual anthology. You can find the full submission guidelines here.

April Release: Poetry Treasures 3: Passions

Each year WordCrafter Press puts out a poetry anthology, featuring the works of the previous year’s “Treasuring Poetry” blog series with Robbie Cheadle, which features poet/author guests from all around the globe. We release the anthology in the Poetry Treasures series in April each year, as a nod to National Poetry Month here in the U.S. This year’s anthology features the poetry of Robbie Cheadle, Smitha Vishwanath, Abbie Taylor, Chris Hall, Yvette M. Calleiro, Willow Willars, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Patty Fletcher, Yvette Prior, Judy Mastrangelo, Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro and D. Wallace Peach. If you follow the blog series, I know you’ll agree that this line-up of poets comprises an all star cast of contributors.

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions will be released in April, in celebration of National Poetry Month, here in the U.S. Watch for updates on the release here,on Writing to be Read.

Delilah Tour Giveaway Winners

We had a great tour to celebrate the release of Delilah with most of your favorite distributors last week. You all gave it a great send off. I want to give a big round of applause for the hosts on this one; Robbie Cheadle, Miriam Hurdle and our brand new host, Kay Castenada, who did a fabulous debut tour stop. Also thanks so much to all those who participated and followed the tour. And now, the part of the tour where I get to give back a little. For this tour, we are giving away two digital copies and one signed print copy of Delilah.

So, without further ado…

The winners of the WordCrafter Delilah Book Blog Tour Giveaway are

The two digital copies go to Mae Clair and Jennie.

Jacqui Murray will recieve a signed print copy of Delilah.

All winners need to contact me at kayebooth@yahoo.com to claim their prize.

Congratulations to the winners!

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Want exclusive content? Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. She won’t flood your inbox, she NEVER sells her list, and you might get a freebie occasionally. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, just for joining.


The Final Stop on the WordCrafter “Delilah” Book Blog Tour

To wrap up the WordCrafter Delilah Book Blog Tour, I thought we’d explore the Indian characters featured in Delilah. Baby Doe Tabor isn’t the only historic character featured in the book, although Old Sugar isn’t well known. In fact, most people have probably never heard of her at all. The Ute characters were intended to be representative of the Indian population in Colorado, but somehow, they worked their way into my heart and became an integral part of the story.

The Ute Indians

The Ute Indians once roamed on lands spread over the Great Basin and central and southern mountains of Colorado, but by the 1860s, they had been split up into three amalgamated bands, the Uncompahgre, the Weenuche, and the White River band. In 1881, they began relocation of the White River an Uncompahgre Utes, following the 1879 Meeker masacre at the White River Indian Agency. Delilah’s Ute friends, Eagle Feather, Old Sugar, and Dancing Falcon are from the White River band, which were all relocated to a reservation in eastern Utah by the 1890s. When Delilah meets the Ute family, it is 1882, and they are holdouts, who resisted the relocation and lived independently, near Leadville.

Old Sugar

Old Sugar was a true to life historical person, who inspired the character of the same name, but she never lived in Leadville. Old Sugar would sit outside the general store all day and she would lash out with her knife and cut any white man who got too close to her. It seems the store keeper tried to make her leave once and she came after him, so they had little choice but to let her sit there and give her a wide berth. I had to wonder why. Why was she sitting there? Why did she hate white men enough to lash out that way? Why didn’t she gety up and move to a less populated spot? I found her to be interesting, and I just had to make her a character and move her to Leadville to make the acquaintance of Delilah. She’s not really a supporting character, but her role turned out to be larger than I imagined when I created her character.

Eagle Feather

Eagle Feather, Old Sugar’s son and Dancing Falcon’s father, originally existed only in the background as a washed up brave who had turned to the bottle as he watched everything be taken from his people, but he ends up playing an important role, when Delilah finds she needs his help to save the mine payroll and rescue his son. When I wrote Eagle Feather and Old Sugar into the story, I didn’t realize what a big role either would play. They were both intended to be interesting characaters which represented the Ute presence in Colorado at the time.

Dancing Falcon

I just love the character of Dancing Falcon. I loved writing him and I enjoy going back and reading him, which is why he easily became a supporting character right from the start. Dancing Falcon is a wise old twelve year old, who knows a lot about the goings on in Leadville and about the Ute ways. His purpose in the story is to offer Delilah guidance and fill her in on what she needs to know, but he becomes an integral part of the story. It is because of Dancing Falcon that Delilah becomes Grizzly Woman and is adopted into the Ute tribe.

An Excerpt from Delilah

Final Thoughts

Well, that’s about all for the WordCrafter Delilah Book Blog Tour. Thank you all for joining in the fun. I hope you all have picked up an interesting piece of history or found my writing and researching for this series helpful in some way. I’ve certainly enjoyed writing the posts and discussing the books and the characters with you. Remember, you can enter the giveaway at each stop for more chances to win, and if you missed a stop, you can follow the links below to stop by and check it out. I’ll be closing out the contest tomorrow, 3/24, so there may still be time to get in on it. And I’ll be announcing the winner in my post for Monday 3/27.

Delilah Tour Schedule

Mon. 3/20 – Opening Day Post– Writing to be Read/ Guest post (Baby Doe Tabor/Delilah) – The Showers of Blessings

Tues. 3/21 – Interview with author Kaye Lynne Booth / Review – Robbie’s Inspiration

Wed. 3/22 – Guest post (Big Nose Kate/Sarah) – BookPlaces

Thurs. 3/23 – Guest post (“Aunt” Clara Brown/Marta) – Roberta Writes

Fri. 3/24 – Closing Post (Ute Indians of Colorado in 1880s/Delilah Excerpt) – Writing to be Read

References

Ute History and the Ute Mountain Tribe. Colorado Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/ute-history-and-ute-mountain-ute-tribe

Meeker Incident. Colorado Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/meeker-incident

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About the Author

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets. Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!


Day 3 of the WordCrafter “Delilah” Book Blog Tour

Day 3 of the WordCrafter Delilah Book Blog Tour finds us over at Kay Castenada’s Book Places with a guest post from me about the historic supporting character which will be featured in Sarah: Book 2 of the Women in the West adventure series, “Big Nose” Kate Elder, companion of the infamous Doc Holliday. Join us for the fun, and be sure to leave a comment for a chance to enter the giveaway. See you there!


Welcome to the WordCrafter “Delilah” Book Blog Tour

I’m excited to welcome you to the WordCrafter Delilah Book Blog Tour. We’ve got interesting behind the scenes posts from all three books in the Women in the West adventure series at each stop, which introduce you to some of the characters in the series, Robbie Cheadle shares an author interview, a couple of reviews, and I think there’san excerpt from Delilah in there somewhere. Maybe I should just post the schedule here. I’ll post it with links, but they won’t work until each post goes live.

Tour Schedule

Mon. 3/20 – Opening Day Post– Writing to be Read/ Guest post (Baby Doe Tabor/Delilah) – The Showers of Blessings

Tues. 3/21 – Interview/Review – Robbie’s Inspiration

Wed. 3/22 – Guest post (Big Nose Kate/Sarah)/Review – BookPlaces

Thurs. 3/23 – Guest post (“Aunt” Clara Brown/Marta)- Roberta Writes

Fri. 3/24 – Closing Post (Ute Indians of Colorado in 1880s/Delilah Excerpt) – Writing to be Read

Follow the tour and learn more about Delilah and the Women in the West adventure series, with an opportunity to enter the giveaway at every stop.

Delilah Give Away

I’m giving away two digital copies, 

and one signed print copy

of

Delilah

Leave a comment to enter. 

Multiple entries are allowed, 

so leave a comment at each stop for more chances.

The Trailer

Delilah and the Women in the West

On with the tour…

Our first stop on the tour is over at Miriam Hurdle’s The Many Showers of Blessings, with a guest post from me on the historical supporting character in Delilah, Baby Doe Tabor. So, follow the link for a behind the scenes post from Delilah.

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Chatting with the Pros: Interview with author RA Winter

It’s been several years since I posted a “Chatting with the Pros” interview, but today I have a very special post with an author I’ve known for several years, In fact, she was a contributing author to the original Ask the Authors writing reference anthology back in 2018. She’s got a new book coming out tomorrow, Themis’ Revenge. It is book 4 of her Queens of the Underworld series. She’s a multi-genre author and she’s joining me here to share with us about her writing and her new release, which is always very exciting.

About the Author

I started writing under my married name, writing genealogy books as history was my first love. Now I write stories that give me joy-be it fantasy, magical realism, ghosts, urban fiction, or romance. All my novels contain strong females with sass, sarcasm, and humor. You know, women exactly like me. I love animals and it doesn’t matter what kind either. I’ve even petted a crocodile in Egypt-tried to take him home too. Apparently, that’s not allowed.

Our Chat

Please tell us a little about yourself to start out.  

RA Winter: Currently, I’m in Pittsburgh, PA but I’ve lived all over the world; Turkey, Germany, Egypt, Jordan and tons of states in the US. I love to travel but hate to fly!  I’ve been working as Federal Agent since 2013, I won’t tell you which agency, but lets just say that it’s interesting.

You write what your heart tells you too, making you a multi-genre author. What are the genres that you have written in? 

RA Winter: I’ve dipped my toe in a few genres and I always include romantic elements. Contemporary,  magical realism, low-fantasy, high fantasy,  western fantasy (which is becoming a thing. I finally got to write a Sleeping Beauty retelling at a rodeo with spirits!), historical, paranormal, Greek myth, sci-fi and I’ve also published nonfiction.

What is your favorite genre to write in so far? Why?

RA Winter: I adore writing fantasy. I love the descriptions, the world building-my world-my rules!  My novels end up being in the 300-400 page range so they aren’t your typical 1000 page high fantasy.

What genre do you classify Themis’ Revenge? Why?  

RA Winter: Got Zeus? I do!  I’ll take you on a journey from Olympus to Hades, Tartarus and into the real world. I have dragons, werewolves, arrogant gods (yes, Zeus), sexy scenes, a romance with Ares and Death (oh my!) and that one little pesky secret and mystery that is threaded through each book. Can you guess the ending?  (Bane’s Wish will be out in April). Multiple genres collide in this series with myth-based fantasy action being the main focus.

What inspired the Queens of the Underworld series?

RA Winter: You remember Supernatural, the TV series?  Well, in the show, Death is a person and I was like-she needs a romance. Then the whole-how do I bring Death alive idea started. Then I had to have a bad guy, and a world to build on, so I tinkered with bits of mythology to find the right pieces.  I had taken courses in Greek mythology in college years ago and loved all the backstabbing, romance, and intrigue and wanted to capitalize on my knowledge. I actually took a couple more classes to freshen my memory and spark new ideas.

What do you enjoy about writing the books in this series?

RA Winter: I do not like stories to end! I love to read. If I find a world that I enjoy and characters that I’m invested in-I don’t want to put the novel to rest. It’s like stranding them in no-man’s land and walking away. Writing a series is a way to keep characters alive and build on the setting/plot/features from prior books until those unruly characters are ready to die.  It’s also much more complicated to write.  You have to remember picky details like eye color, sex, boots or shoes? WTF is his sons name? so a story bible is imperative. As is a wonderful, patient, honest editor.

Themis’ Revenge is Book 4 in the series. Are these stand-alone novels or do readers want to pick up the previous books in the series before reading Themis’ Revenge?

RA Winter: Themis is the prequel. It can be read as a standalone or at any point in the series.  I would prefer that you read it first-but that’s up to the reader. It takes place over four-thousand years ago but the consequences of Themis’s actions are being dealt with today. It digs deep into the stakes of the series. If you read Themis first, you’ll be invested and hopefully solve the mystery that’s driving the series before others do. The other books can be read separately, but you might miss some clues! If the stakes/worldbuilding aesthetics are not paramount to you and you’re just looking for the romance between say–Death and Ares–then jump into Death’s Lover and hopefully you’ll fall in love and come back for the others.

Could you tell us a little about the story?

RA Winter: She is Themis goddess of Justice, only she can write the rules that govern men. Zeus, king of the gods, has other ideas. Not only did he cheat on her, but he changed her laws. Horrified that Zeus has doomed an innocent man to be fed to a Titan god, Themis must descend into the depths of Hades to save the damned soul- without Zeus’s knowledge.

But an omnipotent being guards the prison of Typhoeus. One with blood pulsing through his veins. He’s neither god nor demon, (but sexy as hell with his dark hair, tight abs, gruff manner), and he refuses Themis entry into Tartarus. With no way around him, she must go through him- and step directly into his arms.

In a race against time, Zeus and the Titan god’s hunger, Themis is willing to sacrifice everything to save an innocent soul. But is she willing to risk her heart again?

What was the biggest challenge for you in writing this story?  

RA Winter: Keeping the characters true to their personalities. That’s why Themis’s Revenge starts over four thousand years ago. I had to use the earliest myths of her and show her evolution from a ‘right-wrong-no gray area’ goddess to one who sees that the law shouldn’t be so cut and dried-and neither can relationships!

What was the most fun in writing this story?

RA Winter: Planting the seeds for my big ‘Ah Ha-Gotcha’ moments. I want the reader to be able to see those bits and pieces and put it together-but have Themis totally blindsided and missing those clues. Reactions are golden.

What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given?

RA Winter: For the love of God woman, life can’t be planned-process, improvise, and continue -KC Freeman, author extraordinaire and my overworked editor.  I’m a Virgo. I organize and plan everything. I have schedules for daily, weekly, monthly and over the course of a year.(Sometimes I even do hourly schedules. Ugh.) I have this horrible internal flaw. I follow through then something happens where I can’t complete a task in the time allotted and bam! I quit because I can’t fulfill my plan. It takes me a while to reorganize and return. After a bout of Covid, it took me two years to start writing again. I just couldn’t stick to a schedule I even have an exercise and diet chart. If I get ill-I can go from running 4 miles a day to a year later wondering why I can’t walk 4 miles when I finally restart my plan.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

RA Winter: You have to write it. Take it in chew-able pieces. Have a vision and stick to it-if you have the ending-you can write the rest. I finished my first book because someone told me that I never would publish. My first novel was a graceful uptick of my middle finger in his face. Wonderful image to this day. Hey, there are now 13 books, 2nd book of the year in the NR,  and a USA Today Bestselling author title at the end of my name-so maybe I should thank him?

Um. No. I’m waiting on my next screw-you moment. It’s the challenge that keeps me going.

About the Book

Zeus rewrote her laws. Now, Themis, Goddess of Justice will extract her revenge.

She is Themis goddess of Justice, only she can write the rules that govern men. Zeus, king of the gods, has other ideas. Not only did he cheat on her, but he changed her laws. Horrified that Zeus has doomed an innocent man to be fed to a Titan god, Themis must descend into the depths of hades to save the damned soul- without Zeus’s knowledge.

But an omnipotent being guards the prison of Typhoeus. One with blood pulsing through his veins. He’s neither god nor demon and he refuses her entry into Tartarus. With no way around him, she must go through him- and step directly into his arms.

In a race against time, Zeus and the Titan god’s hunger, Themis is willing to sacrifice everything to save an innocent soul. But is she willing to destroy her own soul by opening her heart again?

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