Tuesday, July 16, 2013

#CoverReval From @mtnmoxiegirl Author Amber Lea Easton

Welcome to Through Stephanie's Eyes and today you're in for an extra special treat. One of my friends and fellow authors has written a memoir of her journey to come back after the death of her husband. She details her struggle as well as that of her children to understand their loss and then to be able to go on without the head of their family. 

One of my own worst fears is losing my husband and having to go on with my life without him. Author Amber Lea Easton not only lived the nightmare, but somehow made it through taking care of herself and her children in the process. I'm honored that she agreed to share the cover of her new book with me here and on all of my sister blogs. The book should be available the beginning of August.  Until then, take a look at the amazing cover!



BLURB

One moment is all it takes to change a life forever.  In one instant—in my husband's final act—he stripped away my identity as wife, stay at home mom, and best friend.  In one moment our world crumbled from beneath our feet. He'd been the center of our universe, but then he was gone.  Everything I ever believed to be true unraveled before my eyes.  

Free Fall is our journey of piecing our lives back together again—overcoming children's anxiety as we traversed the brutal grief and trauma process, learning to say the word "widow" without cringing, surviving the fall out from friends and family who simply didn't understand our journey, triumphing over the stigma of "suicide", forgiving my husband, and finding peace amidst chaos.

This memoir is for other widows, widowers, survivors of suicide, children, or loved ones who need encouragement that there is another side to grief. There is. We're there now. We're looking back and holding our hands out to you saying, "hang in there, you're not alone, and you'll get here, too." 

About the Author

Amber Lea Easton is a multi-published cross genre author of romantic suspense, action adventure, mystery thrillers. Her current releases cross all boundaries and appeal to a wide audience. If you love a clever plot, action that will leave you breathless, riveting characters and sexy love scenes, her books will appeal to you. "Smart is sexy," Easton says, which is why she focuses on smart heroines who always have a lot to lose yet find the courage to face their fears to overcome adversity. She's an avid reader of all genres or "whatever turns her on in the moment".
Easton grew up in Hartford, South Dakota, where she spent her time daydreaming of big adventures over the horizon under a giant blue South Dakota sky. Now living in Colorado, she's an avid traveler who incorporates her real life travels into her novels as much as possible (minus the illegal activities her characters become immersed in--she swears). To her, setting is another character in the novel and often serves as an inspiration. Love is her motivation for all things--whether it be writing, traveling, playing with her dogs or hanging with her two teenagers--if it's not done with love, then what's the point?


Where to Find Amber



Monday, July 8, 2013

#OhMy!Monday: Author David Russell Presents Literary Erotica At It's Finest


Welcome to Oh My Monday. I'm Stephanie Ryan and your host today for a real treat. Don't let the title of the post fool you. Today's guest author has written a piece of erotic literature, but it's definitely not in the same explicit categories as that of my alter egos. This novel has been described as "literary, lyrical, and poetic." That alone intrigued me and the excerpt provided piqued my interest enough that I wanted to find out more. Trust me. This is not like many novels labeled as erotica. 

This is a beautiful example that there are many different levels to erotic literature with varying heat levels. That's what makes all of it fabulous! So sit back and enjoy author David Russells' Self's Blossom.


Blurb

This is about a young woman's self-discovery. Selene is a 'success story', having become a top journalist, while retaining her dazzling looks. However, in the past she has had unhappy relationships, and feels she has missed out on hedonistic fun.  This she obtains, firstly with a young stranger on a beach, and finally with enigmatic Hudson: tryst is preceded by cultural tourism, and careful sizing up of minds. Afterwards Selene returns to her 'I stand on my own' attitude.

While she is on holiday, her mind is free to ramble, often into Selene's chequered past. Flashback blurs into the present, past-rooted interior monologue into direct observation. The dialogue is sparse. Selene is a cautious, premeditative type, in whom thought, reflection and analysis outweigh direct action.


Selene’s subtle, monitoring mind coolly observes and controls all the events. Maybe she is super-confident, or perhaps has a deep, underlying insecurity. She is many things to many readers.



Excerpt

Here, she was on a beach, pure and simple. Now the sea breathed heavily, whispering and murmuring to her. It was returning her stare, speaking to her. It was the spirit of love, beckoning her with a pulsing, sinewy body. In all its lines, shades, and fleeting forms, Selene saw the essence of pure beauty, all grace of form, flesh, limb and feature. It was in one, all the lovers of whom she could possibly dream, conflated into one elemental ideal. He, pure love in soul, bade her to enter his domain and make it hers. His arms moved her hands to unclasp, unbutton, and unzip . . . the blossom emerged. The sun became the eye of all that was not earth, and Selene loved fully, though the pallor of her skin left her momentarily abashed.

At first she lay in the tide's path, the top of her head at its most extreme mark. The sand bank made a soft bed. The sea lover smoothly caressed her calves, thighs, hips, breasts, shoulders, and cheeks before retreating to pause in his mossy pinnacles. Three times this action was repeated, and then Selene stood up, wading in with arms outstretched. Her arms were linked, as she stood up to her neck in the saline flow. The balls and heels of her feet wobbled, slithering on the moss. With the next wave, she lost her balance – her breath prepared in unison with the hissing around her. She threw her head back, once again horizontal, and launched into a backstroke, sweeping and circling. She parted her legs wide with each thrust of motion, each sweep of self-propulsion pushing out to answer the cavernous currents of his passion. Seven circles gave her a delicious, warm bliss –then the sea lover, well pleased, carried her back to a near-dry bed. Aching and contented, Selene dozed a while.

About the Author

Born in the UK, 1940. David has been writing erotica since the mid-1980s. Published extensively in magazines and anthologies (including anthologies from Forward Press in Peterborough UK.

Book Publications 'Prickling Counterpoints' (Selected Poetry & Prose), Deadline Books 1998, 'Romantic Undress' (Erotic Poetry & Prose) JazzClaw Publications 2000. Current romantica/erotica publications are 'Self's Blossom' (novella), and 'Explorations' (short story), published by Devine Destinies; 'Therapy Rapture' (poetry,prose and artwork) published by Rose Dog Books. Forthcoming are two short stories, 'My Dream of Madonna/An Ecstatic Rendezvous', to be published by XoXo Publishing.

Also recordedsinger-songwriter: vinyl album, 'Bricolage' recorded by Billy Childish for Hangman Records 1992; CD albums 'Bacteria
Shrapnel' and 'The Burglars of Britain' (1998)